HOMECOMING WEEKEND AND COMMUNITY NEWS

August 02, 2026

HOMECOMING WEEKEND: AUGUST 7 & 8

Join the Beaver Island community for one of the island's most cherished annual traditions! Beginning Friday, August 7, and continuing through Saturday, August 8, 2026, the 51st Annual Bud McDonough Memorial Homecoming Softball Tournament will take place.

At 12:45 p.m. on Friday, August 7, just before the first pitch, Beaver Island's own Sophie McDonough will perform the National Anthem on her fiddle. Then, at 1:00 p.m., Lee Barta will throw the ceremonial first pitch, officially marking the beginning of a great weekend.

Be sure to grab a bite to eat at the ball field and support the Beaver Island Community School Sports Boosters throughout the tournament.

The annual softball tournament is a summer highlight for both locals and visitors as they gather at the ball diamond to reconnect with friends and family while cheering on familiar teams. It's a weekend filled with friendly competition, community spirit, and the pursuit of the tournament championship.

NORTHERN ISLANDER POETRY CONTEST PREPARES FOR VOTING

After five months of submissions, the Northern Islander Poetry Contest has officially closed. While no additional entries are being accepted, now is the perfect time to revisit past editions of the Northern Islander and enjoy the wonderful poems submitted by members of our community.

Each poem serves as a beautiful reminder of Beaver Island, its people, and the unique sense of community that makes the island so special.

If you would like to begin your poetry journey, look back at the April 2026 edition of the Northern Islander, where the first contest entries appeared on page 17. Then, be sure to return on September 1, when all of this year's submissions will be available on the Northern Islander website for official public voting.

COMMUNITY CO-DESIGNED WAVE ENERGY PROTOTYPES DEMONSTRATED IN LAKE MICHIGAN

The following is an excerpt from the August 2026 edition of the Northern Islander. If you are interested in learning more, pick up the latest edition and purchase an annual subscription to enjoy the full story and many more local features.

"The crystal-clear waters of Lake Michigan lapped against the rocky shore of Whiskey Point, Beaver Island, as twenty or so locals gathered near Central Michigan University's boathouse, cookies from the nearby farmers market in hand.

The group centered around four wader-clad researchers standing about knee-deep in the lake. One man stood near a floating device that looked like a three-foot catamaran built around a PVC frame. An inflatable buoy sporting the Michigan block 'M' was tied to a dock farther from shore."

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