Ferry To Beaver Island The 22 Of March

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beaverisle
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Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:24 pm

Ferry To Beaver Island The 22 Of March

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For Beaver Island residents end of winter means end of gas shortage

By Steve Zucker News-Review Staff Writer
Friday, March 21, 2008 9:31 AM EDT

BEAVER ISLAND â?? Every spring one of the most celebrated events marking the end of winter for Beaver Island residents is the arrival of a U.S Coast Guard cutter to break up the ice in the islandâ??s main harbor.

The cutter is usually followed closely by a Beaver Island Boat Company ferry bringing the first delivery of certain bulky supplies to the island in several months.

This year, the cutterâ??s arrival will bring somewhat louder cheers from island residents as it will mean the end to a short-lived time of gasoline rationing on the island.

Originally scheduled for April 9, the Coast Guard and the ferry moved up their first visit of the season to the island by more than two weeks at the request of island residents.

Coast Guard officials said the cutter Biscayne Bay is scheduled to conduct ice-breaking operations in the Grayâ??s Reef, Charlevoix and Beaver Island harbors on Saturday.

Officials at the Beaver Island Boat Company are hoping to make a run to the island following the Biscayne Bay on Saturday, but those plans are contingent upon weather and ice conditions allowing for a safe passage. Company officials said if they canâ??t make the trip Saturday, theyâ??ll do so as soon as conditions permit. Island residents report that the ice in the harbor at the island is still quite thick.

Barb Schwartzfisher of the Beaver Island Transit Authority said starting Monday, the islandâ??s lone gas station began limiting gasoline sales â?? at $4.29 per gallon â?? to $40 per visit. She said later in the week it was reduced to $20 per visit.

Schwartzfisher and Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce director Steve West said it is very uncommon for gas rationing to be instituted on the island at this point in the season. Both attributed the higher usage to higher snowfall totals prompting more snowplowing activity and overall population growth on the island.

They said most other commodities â?? many of which can be brought by airplane from Charlevoix â?? are in adequate supply.

The ferry paid its last visit to the island on Dec. 22.
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