Spring break is over, but Big Rapids didn’t slow down for a second.

This week on What’s Up Big Rapids, we celebrate a huge win for the University of Michigan basketball program, Chris somehow winning the WUBR March Madness pool, and the long-awaited reopening of the Big Rapids Movie Theater to rave reviews 🎬

We’re joined by Trudi Clark from Papa’s Place, an organization providing care, connection, and community for seniors in our area. It’s a meaningful conversation about how small acts — a visit, a meal, a game — can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

We also cover a packed calendar of local events, new resources for families, and a ton of ways to get involved in the community this spring.

0:00 – Intro & welcome back from Spring Break
1:22 – Thanks to last week’s guest Andrew Hinkle
2:14 – Pat is ready to retire to Florida 🌴
3:28 – Quick audio glitch (we keep it real 😄)
4:30 – Driving in Florida vs Michigan 🚗
5:45 – Thanks again to Mayor Guenther
6:19 – 🎬 Big Rapids Movie Theater reopens to rave reviews
7:35 – Michigan wins the National Championship + Chris wins the bracket 🏀
10:45 – Masters Tournament preview ⛳
12:25 – Featured Creature: Neocaridina Shrimp 🦐
15:00 – April Fool’s recap + city logo fun
16:15 – Guest intro: Trudi Clark (Papa’s Place) ❤️
18:00 – The story behind Papa’s Place
19:45 – Trudi’s 40 years in home care
23:30 – Why connection matters for seniors
25:15 – What to expect when visiting Papa’s Place
26:05 – Activities and options for families
30:22 – Games and engagement for all ability levels
31:20 – Vision for the future
32:38 – How to support Papa’s Place
34:33 – Where to learn more
37:02 – Family Care reopening on Fuller
38:05 – Parent Cafés at the The Bridge Coffee Shop ☕
39:20 – “Tall Cop” presentation on youth safety (May 7)
40:45 – 🎨 WUBR Art Contest — win up to $500
41:45 – Chamber Kickoff Breakfast at The Peaks Event Center
42:25 – Little Village ribbon cutting (Stanwood)
42:55 – Big Rapids Skating Club production ⛸️
43:43 – High Strung Steel live at Sawmill Saloon 🎶
44:45 – Business After Hours at Pioneer News
45:17 – Shoutout to Breazy Films
46:22 – Shoutout to Alley Gutters and Exterior Solutions
47:35 – St. Mary/St. Paul Gala (April 18)
48:15 – Angels of Action Lunch & Learn
49:05 – Ferris Football Championship Parade (April 25) 🏆
50:34 – Karaoke for a Cause (May 1) 🎤
51:33 – Farmers Market kickoff (May 8) 🌱
52:00 – Summerfest (June 6) ☀️
54:18 – Dom’s Corrections: Nutella in space 🚀
56:05 – Outro & goodbyes

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