Courtesy Photo NAFCU delivers 125 pizzas to first responders.

Fireworks fundraiser today

A drive-thru sales event of 2020 Fireworks Supporter bracelets will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, 235 W. Chisholm St.

Chamber staff will be outside the office selling fireworks bracelets. Stop for your chance to get your 2020 Fireworks Supporter bracelet and help reach the goal by May 28 so the city can hopefully have a fireworks show this year.

Social distancing protocol will be followed.

VFW bottle drive/bake sale

VFW Post 2496 in Alpena at 2900 Connon St. is having a bottle/can drive and bake sale from 2 to 6 p.m. on May 29. It will be held in the parking lot, and all cans/bottles should be brought in plastic bags and cash should be brought for purchasing baked goods.

VFW volunteers will be wearing masks, and it is highly encouraged that patrons do the same.

All proceeds are going to the VFW Lounge that is in desperate need of help to re-open its doors.

Bingo will also resume today, at its regularly scheduled time. Wearing masks is highly encouraged and the 6-feet social distancing will be in effect.

Honk and wave parade at Medilodge of RC Saturday

Medilodge of Rogers City will be sponsoring a “Honk and Wave” parade starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.

The parade will start at the Montessori School parking lot at 719 N. Bradley Hwy. in Rogers City. The route will come up the hill and turn into the Medilodge campus where residents will be outside so they can enjoy this parade.

Brush Creek Mill reopening

Brush Creek Mill in Hillman will be opening again at noon on Friday, May 29. The mill will be opening slowly and carefully on the weekends only. Most of the mill’s volunteers are in the “vulnerable” category, so visitors are asked to wear masks. Hand sanitizer will be provided as you enter, and cleaning and sanitizing will be done frequently during the day.

“We will have to limit the number of guests at any one time, but our pergola (built by Eagle Scout, Hunter Linsman in 2015) is a lovely place to sit and enjoy the Thunder Bay River if you must wait,” Kathy Stevens said in a press release.

This year’s first exhibit, “A Reopening Celebration” by the Northeast Michigan Artist Guild, opens at noon on May 30, with a “meet and greet” the artists on the lawn from 1 to 4 p.m. This exhibit is a non-juried selection from each artist’s collection of their work, and should be an exciting look into the artistic mind. The exhibit will run to June 27.

The Rivers Edge gift shop will also be open each Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

“Our vendors have spent this time at home busily working on their various arts/crafts, and you will be pleased to see their creations,” Stevens said. “We realize this is a difficult time for all of us. We won’t be having the large events this summer, large gatherings aren’t safe. But there will be ways to safely have music, and craft shows, and yard sales… smaller perhaps, but still a way to maintain community. We are all in this together. Together we can make it through.”

NAFCU supports restaurants and first responders

Northland Area Federal Credit Union recently donated meals to many different first responder agencies over the past two months.

“In an effort to provide these organizations a little relief from all the important work they are doing during this pandemic, and to support our local restaurants, we are happy to play a small part in supporting our communities during this time,” said Matt Duthler, marketing director for NAFCU. “In at least one restaurant, six employees were able to be employed for the day in order to prepare and deliver the meals.”

Alpena, Gaylord, Oscoda, and Tawas are just some of the areas Northland has purchased food from and donated to law enforcement, EMT, and medical staff.

“Our first responders risk their lives during normal times, and now even more so — we certainly appreciate them and what they are doing for our communities,” said Pete Dzuris, CEO of Northland.

Northland Area Federal Credit Union is relocating headquarters from Oscoda to Alpena and recently construction crews have resumed their work on the four-story building on Bagley Street.