Daily
Traverse City
Thursday, February 19th, 2026
Good morning, Traverse City. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 19th of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The 13th annual Guns and Hoses charity hockey game will be held Saturday at Center Ice Arena to raise funds for local first responders — the event honors late Springfield Township Fire Department Lt. Jonathan Miner, who died last year at age 50. 9&10 News
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Four local start-ups will compete in the upcoming TCNewTech pitch competition on Feb. 24 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the City Opera House downtown, hosted by 20Fathoms—Traverse City’s startup incubator. Traverse City Record-Eagle
- ➤ A long-time Traverse City auto dealer Nick Dieleman was promoted by Fox Motors to lead 15 locations in northern and southeast Michigan. He now serves as Vice President — Northern Michigan and Detroit Metro Region and will help manage operations in the competitive Detroit market. Traverse City Record-Eagle
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Traverse City Film Festival announced that the State Theatre at 233 E. Front St. will stay closed until March 8 as cleanup continues after a Feb. 4 roof leak — Tuesday films will be rescheduled and tickets honored. Traverse City Record-Eagle
- ➤ Dennos Museum at NMC opened its Trilobite Treasures exhibit on Jan. 23 to display fossils collected over 35 years that show aquatic life from 250 to 500 million years ago. The exhibit is on view until May 31 and requires general admission. UpNorthLive
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ On Feb. 18, the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance hosted its first Catalyst Conversations event at the Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall, where regional leaders and agricultural experts discussed evolving trends in northern Michigan’s farming industry (over 1,200 farms generate $78.9M in goods). 9&10 News
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Former Mackinac Bridge Authority chairman William Gnodtke died Wednesday after battling cancer. He served 21 years—including 18 as chairman—and managed toll increases to keep the bridge safe. UpNorthLive
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Grand Traverse County Senior Center Network helps older residents overcome loneliness by offering social and active programs. The Traverse City facility relies on Beta (a local transportation service) to ensure seniors have access to daily activities and new opportunities. 9&10 News
- ➤ McLaren HealthCare launched a new AI screening program that analyzes past CT chest scans ordered for other issues to spot early signs of heart disease. The tool is expected to flag 3,000 to 4,000 patients annually (about 8 to 10 percent) in Northern Michigan. UpNorthLive
- ➤ Munson Health care opened a new outpatient specialty clinic in Elk Rapids (at 115 Bridge Street) this week, offering neurology, neurosurgery and rheumatology services plus walk-in lab testing. The facility aims to reduce long travel times for rural patients who previously drove 40 to 50 miles for specialist care. 9&10 News
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ At the Winter Olympics Women’s Aerials final on Wednesday, Northern Michigan natives Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City) finished fifth and Winter Vinecki (Gaylord) placed sixth as they turned in strong performances. UpNorthLive
- ➤ Glen Lake capped its Northwest Conference season with an 86-73 win over Benzie Central Tuesday, Feb. 17, keeping a perfect record while Benzie Central finished second. The game marked their second loss to the Lakers this season. 9&10 News
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Puppy Pals LIVE
2-4 p.m. — City Opera House — Family-friendly fun — Enjoy an action-packed show featuring rescued dogs performing spectacular stunts.
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Light the Darkness: A Midwinter Festival of Art
5-7 p.m. — City Opera House — Free entry — Experience a vibrant marketplace of creativity with juried artistry and live performances.
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Candlelight Concert: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
6:30-7:30 p.m. — Kirkbride Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience a magical evening of music by Coldplay and Imagine Dragons performed by a talented string quartet under candlelight.
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5th Grade HB Elite Boys Tryout
5:00 – 6:15 p.m. — Rajkovich Physical Education Center — $20 — Showcase your skills at the first unified youth basketball development program in Northern Michigan.
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An Evening with Anna Quindlen featuring 'More Than Enough'
2:00 – 3:30 PM — Traverse City Central High School — Cost information not provided — Explore themes of love, hope, and friendship in Anna Quindlen's latest novel during this engaging event.
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Fifth Third Bank Leapin' Leprechaun 5k
1-2 p.m. — Lake Ave, Traverse City, MI — Registration fee — Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a festive 5k race benefiting the NICU at Munson Medical Center.
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Shakespeare Festival at the Village
1-5 p.m. — The Village at Grand Traverse Commons — Free entry — Experience bite-sized Shakespeare performances interspersed with local food and drink in a historic setting.
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Aerie x Folgarelli's Taste of South Africa
Four-course wine dinner — Evening — Grand Traverse Resort and Spa — Ticketed event — Celebrate the bold flavors and heritage of South African cuisine paired with Babylonstoren wines.
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The Lords of 52nd Street Live Performance
8-9 p.m. — Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge — Ticket prices vary — Experience the original band behind Billy Joel’s biggest hits in a high-energy live concert.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Traverse City
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