Community Calendar Report for Friday, March 27th, 2026.
First, some news…
A proposed Michigan Senate bill would require drivers aged 75 and older to take vision, written, and driving tests every four years, with annual tests required after age 85. While some support the bill for safety reasons, others argue it discriminates against elderly drivers and suggest testing should be based on driving record or include younger drivers. The bill, introduced by Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-West Bloomfield) on March 18th, has yet to be heard in committee.
The BA.3.2 variant of Covid 19, nicknamed “Cicada,” has been detected in Michigan wastewater samples and 24 other states. While it shows no surge in hospitalizations or unique symptoms, the CDC experts recommend staying up to date on boosters and improving ventilation. Cdc.gov
KC and the Sunshine Band will perform at the National Cherry Festival on July 7th. Tickets went on sale March 20th. cherryfestival.org.
Team 6098 BIROBOT has already gone to Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste Marie yesterday for their first competition event of 2026. The team traveled yesterday to avoid today’s weather, competes Friday and Saturday, and returns Sunday. Follow their progress at TheBlueAlliance.com for links to the webcasts and find out more about BICS’s FRC team at birobot.org.
In the 2026 game REBUILT, alliances score points by collecting FUEL, navigating obstacles, and climbing a TOWER. Ranking Points are earned by achieving specific scoring thresholds and bonuses.
Image below generated by Genspark
Ticket sales for the 2026 Warblers on the Water events, May 22-25, are now open. The festival features new field trips to celebrate Great Lakes Islands biodiversity.
The America 250 Writing Challenge invites you to share your thoughts on America 250. Selected submissions will be compiled into a book. Check out the library for more information.
Meeting Planner
6:00pm Beaver Island AA Meeting – Thursday and Saturday at the BI Christian Church
On the fun front
Friday
8:00am Half day – early dismissal for students and staff at Beaver Island Community School
8:00am Pits open for Team 6098 BIROBOT and opening ceremonies at 10:30am
9:00am Senior + Vets Coffee & Donuts at the BIC Center
10:00am Pickleball at BIC Center
10:30am Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center
[On the radio, kick off your weekend with our fantastic Friday lineup! After the 6:00pm news, enjoy “That Thing with Rich Appel” featuring top forty hits from the 70s. At 9:00pm, tune into “The Titus Jennings Experience” offering music from all genres, followed by “The Midnight Special” with Marilyn Rea Beyer at 11:00pm for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.]
Saturday
8:00am Pits open for Team 6098 BIROBOT and opening ceremonies at 9:00am
1:00pm Fiero Code Club at the Library
1:00pm Girls Who Code at the Beaver Island District Library
★ 3:00pm BIDL Big Read Survival Movie: Sounder. The heartwarming tale of a young boy’s courageous journey to find his father. at the Beaver Island Community Center
5:00pm Prime Rib Night at the Shamrock
6:00pm Beaver Island AA Meeting at the BI Christian Church
★ 6:00 pm BIDL Big Read Survival Movie: Cold River Follows an Adirondack guide, his daughter, and stepson on a 1932 camping trip cut short by early winter. Stranded without food or shelter, the children must find their way home amidst the harsh winterkill conditions.
[On the radio Saturday, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00pm with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, take a trip back to the best of the 80s and 90s with the Mix Tape show hosted by WVBI’s Adam Pettigrew. Mark Beltaire takes over at 9:00 with Rockin’ the Boat and continues at 10:00 with the Blues Cruise. Cousin Dan wraps up the evening with the Too Good Radio Show starting at 11:00.]
Sunday
10:00am Beaver Island Christian Church Worship
12:15pm Sunday Mass at the Holy Cross Church
Team 6098 BIROBOT returns from Sault Ste Marie – welcome home, team!
Also ahead: Spring Break begins Monday, March 30th – no school next week!
Monday
All You Can Eat Pizza & Salad
Mond@ 5:00pm Shamrock Bar & Restaurant
Tuesday
0:00am Babies and Toddlers Mix-Up at the Library
10:00am Pickleball at BIC Center
10:30am Chair Strength Training
2:15pm Homeschool meet up at the Library
6:00pm Beaver Island AA Meeting at the BI Christian Church
Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Brenda and Saturday it’s Andrew. If that’s your name, come on it to the BIC Center to pick out a free drink of your choice.
On our Birthday List today, Belle Smith, Saturday Mary Jane Martin, Kathy Ehinger, Ken McDonald, Sunday Bill Battle and if we missed you on the list Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI. [Some may no longer be with us, but we still honor and remember each person named]
TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly and there are no bridge delays. But, hey, let’s be careful out there, especially in the school zone.
On this date in 1912 In Washington, D.C., Helen Taft, wife of President William Taft, and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, plant two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River. The event commemorated a gift by the Japanese government of some 3,020 cherry trees to the U.S. government.
The planting of Japanese cherry trees along the Potomac was first proposed by socialite Eliza Scidmore, who raised money for the endeavor. Helen Taft had lived in Japan while her husband was president of the Philippine Commission, and knowing the beauty of cherry blossoms she embraced Scidmore’s idea. After learning of the first lady’s interest, the Japanese consul in New York suggested making a gift of the trees to the U.S. government from the city of Tokyo.
Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day
Dross – Something referred to as “dross” is of low value or quality. Dross may also be used as a technical term to refer to unwanted material that is removed from a mineral to make it better.
// He’s a skilled editor who has a talent for turning literary dross into gold.
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday…
Here’s a thought for the day ,,, Faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe – Mitch Albom
On a lighter note… A plumber says to a man, “Why haven’t you paid the bill for the work I did last Friday?” The man replied, “Well it was not what you quoted.” The plumber said, “I didn’t give you a quote.” The man said, “Yes you did when I asked you what day you could come. You said you were free on Friday.”
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, March 27th, 2026. I’m Greg Doig reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios wishing you a great day and asking: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening.
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[Current Condition Report, then…]
Air Quality Index at 8:00 this morning was 73.
Today
A 30 percent chance of snow showers after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 25. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind around 15 mph.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 38.
Monday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Tuesday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Breezy.
Tuesday Night
Showers likely, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy.
Wednesday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy.
Wednesday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.
Thursday
A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy.
Air Quality Index at 4:36 this morning was 1.
Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org
Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…
…all of that along with a run-down of local events, birthdays and more after global and national news from F-S-N. [Time check.]