Community Calendar Report for Monday, October 26th, 2026

President Trump rallied Republicans in Port Huron yesterday, urging support for Senate candidate Mike Rogers and governor candidate John James ahead of the November third election. Trump made claims linking Democrat Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed’s campaign called the attacks lies and says he’s focused on lowering costs. Trump also defended the Iran war despite higher gas prices and predicts a favorable end to the tariff dispute with Canada.

#Election2026

Before joining Trump Sunday, Mike Rogers highlighted some differences with the president during a Friday stop in Traverse City. Speaking to business leaders, Rogers opposed Canadian tariffs and called for ending the Iran war. He left open supporting congressional limits on Trump’s war powers if fighting continues into January. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed already supports those limits.

#Election2026

Democrats brought their own presidential support to Michigan Saturday. Barack Obama rallied more than forty-three hundred people in Detroit for Abdul El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson as early voting began. Obama blamed Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war for rising costs and urged voters to elect Democrats as a check on the administration.

#Election2026

And in the governor’s race, Republican John James says he remains competitive despite what he calls a twenty-million-dollar advertising disadvantage. He’s seeking more support for the campaign’s final days and promises to repeal Michigan’s twenty-four-percent wholesale marijuana tax. Recent polls show Democrat Jocelyn Benson ahead, but within the margin of error. A new Republican Party ad buy is helping James narrow the spending gap.

#Election2026

On the Island, Volunteers were busy at the TUNES Studio this weekend getting things ready for winter and their Halloween open house Saturday evening. A new storm door was among the improvements.
#MusicEducation

Decorations and a storm door go up at the TUNES Studio. Photo by Rob Cole

At the Elks on Saturday, Carolyn Moss wins 250 dollars in the Queen of Hearts raffle, but the Queen stays hidden and the pot reaches 21-thousand-490 dollars.

#Fundraising

The Queen hides on at the Elks. The pot approaches $22K. Photo provided by Beaver Island Elks

Finally, a reminder about the Friends of Beaver Island AmVets and their Wreaths Across America campaign, which places wreaths on the graves of vets for the holidays. Seventeen dollars will covers one wreath or thirty-four gets three. Make checks payable to W-A-A and mail to Box Eight, Beaver Island, to arrive before Thanksgiving, or donate online. Go to donate dot wreaths across America dot org and use the map to locate the Island. There’s a link in today’s script online.

https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/Shop/Product/597?tid=FAFEDEA7-D74F-467B-B6DC-E581A64AB17A&pageIds=19520,0&vw=home

Now here’s a look at upcoming events on your Emerald Isle…

First, your meeting planner for the week…

St. James Finance Committee meets today at 1:30. A-A meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00.

Locations and more details for meetings are in the calendar entries online.

On the fun front today…

Monday
Open Hands Breakfast Café returns after its break—a chance to start the week with breakfast and time with your Island neighbors.

Tuesday
Babies and Toddlers Mix-Up at the library at 10:00. Chair Strength Training follows at 10:30 in the BIC Center Hangout.

Highlights for the rest of the week include…

Wednesday
American Mah Jongg starts at 10:00 in the BIC Center Hangout, followed by Afternoon Bingo at 1:00. At 5:00, Time for Art features pumpkin carving and decorating. Pumpkins and supplies are provided. It’s free for those sixty and older and five dollars for everyone else. Take your creation home or leave it for the BIC Center’s Halloween Pumpkin Walk.

Thursday
Women’s Bible Study starts at 10:00 at the Christian Church. Chair Yoga follows at 11:00 at the BIC Center. Burger and a Beer Night starts at 5:00 at the Shamrock. Euchre at Whiskey Point Brewing Company starts at 7:00.

Friday
At school, the annual grade school Halloween Costume Parade starts at 8:15 in the morning. Kids should arrive in costume, and parents should plan to take costumes home afterward. No toy weapons. The BIC Center’s fourth annual Pumpkin Walk runs from all day from 9:00 to 7:00. Senior and Veterans Coffee and Donuts runs from 9:00 to 11:00 in the lobby. Pickleball starts at 10:00 at Peaine Township Park, and Chair Strength Training follows at 10:30 in the BIC Center Hangout. Back at school, the Student Council’s Haunted Hallway runs from 6:00 to 7:00 for all students. Admission is one dollar for kindergarten through sixth grade and five dollars for seventh through twelfth. The older students’ admission includes an after-party from 7:00 to 9:00. Wear your costumes. Face painting is available for three dollars. Candy donations for the haunt can be dropped off this week at the school’s front desk during school hours.

Saturday
The BIC Center’s Pumpkin Walk continues from 11:00 to 7:00. The library’s Halloween party runs from 3:00 to 5:00, with spooky snacks, games and prizes. All are welcome. TUNES hosts a Halloween open house at its studio next to the hardware, with a look inside, cider and sweet treats. Trick-or-treaters can pick up treat bags from 4:30 to 7:30. Everyone is welcome. Trunk or Treat runs from 5:00 to 6:30 at the Gregg Fellowship Center. Prime Rib Night starts at 5:00 at the Shamrock. And, the annual Circle M Halloween Party starts at 8:00. Appetizers appreciated. Costumes encouraged but not required.

Sunday
The Episcopal Mission has services at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00. Mass is at Holy Cross at 12:15.

Looking ahead to coming items of note…
Apex Insurance Services’ Medicare enrollment appointments, postponed because of fog, are now November 5th and 6th. Call 888-858-2739 to schedule.  And, mark your calendars now for the Christmas Bazaar on Sunday November 8^th from 11 to two at the G-F-C.

Winter is coming and so is Christmas. Get ready with the Annual Christmas Bazaar at the GFC on Sunday, November 8^th from 11:00 to 2:00. Graphic from Beaver Island Christian Church

Those are the highlights. Find a full listing of events at calendar dot W-V-B-I dot net.

Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Tara.  If that’s your name, come on down to the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice.

On our Birthday List: On our list today are Cory Sowa and Yvonne Crandall.  Happy Birthday to Yvonne and Cory and, if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at the BIC Center and WVBI.

TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The Island Beltway is running smoothly save for possible delays south of Bill Wagner Campground on East Side Drive. There are no bridge delays, but look out for leaf peeping delays. Let’s be careful out there. Especially in the school zone.

On this date in 1825, the Erie Canal opens, connecting Lake Erie with the Hudson River—and giving Michigan a powerful new connection to the East Coast. Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York sets out from Buffalo aboard the Seneca Chief to celebrate. The canal makes travel and shipping cheaper, helping bring a wave of settlers to Michigan and opening eastern markets to the Great Lakes region.

Governor Clinton aboard the Seneca Chief with representatives from places along the route of the new canal. Repro. of painting; C.Y. Turner, c1905 from New York State Archives from New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Visual Instruction Instructional lantern slides (A3045-78, Call No. Pa TvO)

Our Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is disparate [DISS-puh-rut], an adjective describing things that are markedly different in character or kind. It can also describe a collection of very different elements. The word comes from a Latin verb meaning to separate or make different and has been used in English since the 1500s. For example: “The Island’s musicians bring disparate styles to the stage, from traditional fiddle tunes to rock and roll.”

Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Monday…

Here’s a thought for the day from Governor Dewitt Clinton: “Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power a pageant; but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in frame, unlimited in space and indefinite in duration.”

And on a lighter note…
Why didn’t the jack-o-lantern cross the road?
Because it was afraid. Turns out it had no guts.

That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Monday, October 26th, 2026. I’m Kevin Boyle 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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WEATHER

[Current Condition Report, then…]

Today
Cloudy through midmorning, then gradual clearing. High near 50. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy. Low around 42 lakeside, 35 inland. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of showers before 9 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 54. Southeast wind around 15 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. Low around 47 lakeside, 41 inland. South wind around 15 mph.
Wednesday
Partly sunny. High near 59. South wind around 15 mph.
Wednesday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 51 lakeside, 46 inland.
Thursday
A 50 percent chance of showers before 2 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 58.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy. Low around 44 lakeside, 40 inland.
Friday
Mostly sunny. High near 55.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. Low around 45 lakeside, 40 inland.
Saturday
Partly sunny. High near 56.
Saturday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 47 lakeside, 43 inland.
Sunday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 57.

Air Quality Index this morning is 55.

Fire Danger: Low

Out on the Big Drink…

Photo from the North Lake Michigan Buoy. Provided by the National Data Buoy Center

Today

N wind 10 to 15 kt. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

Tuesday

ESE wind 10 to 15 kt. Mostly cloudy. Waves around 1 ft.

Wednesday

S wind 10 to 15 kt. Partly sunny. Waves 1 to 2 ft.

Thursday

SW wind 10 to 15 kt becoming WNW in the afternoon. Showers likely before 1pm. Waves 1 to 3 ft.

Friday

NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less.

Water Temps: 57 at the mid-lake buoy southwest of Gull Island. 56 in the Straits. Sleeping Bear and Little Traverse Bay not reporting.

Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org

Coming up in our Community Calendar Report…

Trump and Obama rally Michigan voters, while Mike Rogers talks tariffs and the Iran war in Traverse City. Plus, Halloween preparations at TUNES, the Queen still hides at the Elks, and a chance to honor Island veterans. Details ahead in your Community Calendar Report.

Those stories along with more local and state news, a run down of local events, birthdays, this date in history, a thought for the day and yet another even worse pumpkin joke are up after this global and national news from F-S-N…

 [Time check.]

Today’s featured image: Decorations and a storm door go up at the TUNES Studio. Today’s Community Calendar Report has a full rundown of Halloween events. Photo by Rob Cole