Community Calendar Report for Thursday, March 26th, 2026.
First, some news…
The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office is using virtual reality technology to train deputies in realistic, high-pressure situations. The immersive training system allows officers to practice de-escalation and use-of-force techniques in various scenarios, providing a controlled, cost-effective training environment.
Jordan Valley Outfitters offers guided rafting trips on the Jordan River in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The trips are available year-round, providing a unique experience with scenic views, wildlife, and historical insights. The company also has a gift shop with souvenirs and refreshments.
Code in Place offers free online access to Stanford’s CS106A, an introductory Python programming course. The course, starting April 20th, 2026, is designed for learners with no programming experience and includes a shareable portfolio and certification. Visit codeinplace.stanford.edu/
Team 6098 BIROBOT went 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.
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
Thursday
10:00am Pickleball at BIC Center
10:00am Women’s Bible Study at the BI Christian Church
10:30am Senior Tai Chi at the BIC Center
5:00pm Burger & a Beer at the Shamrock
5:00pm Pickleball at BIC Center
6:00pm Beaver Island AA Meeting at the BI Christian Church
7:00pm Euchre Night at WPBC
[On the radio Thursday evening, drop in for W-V-B-I’s The Underground with Leila Freijy at 7:00 – two hours of underground grunge sound and more from the 80s and 90s.]
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!
Today’s BIC Center Name of the Day is Zach and yesterday, Valerie. 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 Maria Lodico, Joan LaFreniere, Charley Pop, Clay Siller, and Larissa McGinnity 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 1953 On March 26, 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk announced the successful testing of a polio vaccine, a disease that caused 58,000 new cases and over 3,000 deaths in the US in 1952. Polio, a disease that attacks the nervous system and causes paralysis, was a major epidemic in the early 20th century. Treatments were limited until Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was afflicted with polio, helped raise funds for research and treatment.
Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day Zany describes people or things that are very strange and silly.
// The cartoon series centers around two zany characters, best friends who also happen to be space aliens, constantly amusing each other with outrageous antics.
Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Thursday…
Here’s a thought for the day “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. “Proverbs 16:24
On a lighter note… how do you restart a robot? You kick it in the robutt!
That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Thursday, March 26th, 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.
Thursday
A slight chance of freezing rain before 10am, then rain showers likely between 10am and noon, then snow showers likely after noon. Patchy fog after 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Thursday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 13. Blustery, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph.
Friday
A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 25. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northeast wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 32.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 40.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.
Tuesday
A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.
Tuesday Night
A chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 29. Breezy.
Wednesday
A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Breezy.
Air Quality Index at 8:00 this morning was 73.
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.]