By Dawn George 
   There was a heavy rainfall the morning Beans and I met to work on an article that began with an interview we had the Fourth of July weekend. We couldn’t meet at Mary Scholl’s Garden in the rain, so we talked at my kitchen table. No Matter how long its been, Michael Gardner- better known as Beans, is always good for a song, a story and a good time had by all!  This year Beans returned during the 4th of July holiday even blowing his Conch atop the Beanmobile in the parade.
    He remembers everyone from way back when in the 70’s, and the music of the sixties - when we thought we could save the world with music!  He always has something new you’ve never heard before as well as old favorites.  I wondered about calling this piece “Music, Friends and the meaning of life according to Beans” or asking his top five most important things in life.  But it came down to what’s really on his mind on a daily basis while he’s gigging, traveling and just getting on with life.
   It’s a trip living the life of a traveling musician—But that’s not all folks, let’s hear it from the man. What’s most important to Beans? Can music change the world, probably not but it’s a start- it opens doors to awareness and then change can happen…For him, once that change did happen, he followed his calling   

Click the photo to go to the Beaver Island Association website.  


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Beaver Island District Library Endowment Has Changed
We are excited to announce the establishment of The Beaver Island District Library Endowment Fund, administered by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation.
The BIDL Endowment will allow our donors' generous gifts to be a permanent legacy to support the library in perpetuity. The endowment fund will provide essential stability and will be a permanent source of unrestricted funding for the library.
You can become a founding member of The Endowment Fund by making a donation or by purchasing a wooden book spine that will be personally engraved with a short message, quote or name. Spines come in three sizes: 1", 2", and 3" and cost $100, $200, and $300 respectively. Each book spine can display up to 25 characters. Your “BOOK” will be proudly displayed on the Endowment Founders Book Shelf. Of course, donations larger than $300 are always appreciated as well. To be considered a founding member, your contribution must be made by August 31, 2022. In addition to the Founders Book Shelf, we will also have shelves honoring the library staff, and Friends of the Library. Unspecified donations will be placed on a Friends of the Library shelf. Call 231-448-2701.
Visit the website:  Beaver Island District Library (michlibrary.org)
See Us on Facebook:  (3) Beaver Island District Library | Facebook