ALPENA — Next week, the Association of Lifelong Learners has a packed schedule with something for everyone.

Currently all programs are via Zoom livestream only. These programs are open to the public. Just send an email to ALL@Alpenacc.edu to receive Zoom connection information.

Monday, March 1

Searching for invasive amphipods, killer shrimp and demon shrimp will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 1.

Every summer the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alpena field office collects samples that are examined for organisms, some barely visible to the naked eye, that could impact game fish species. During the winter months hours of microscope observations are conducted to search for killer shrimp, demon shrimp, and other aquatic invasive macroinvertebrates.

Presenter Anton Gereau II has been a biological science technician (fisheries) with the U.S. FWS for four years; biological science technician with the U.S. Forest Service; undergraduate research technician at Texas Tech University and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Tuesday, March 2

At 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2, Zoom in to learn about the Bagley Street Bridge project.

This presentation is an informal overview of the Bagley Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project, Alpena County.

Ryan Brege is the managing director of Alpena County Road Commission. He has an AAS in Concrete Technology, served 19 years as a road commission employee and was promoted to managing director in May 2020.

Wednesday, March 3

Learn about unusual cuts at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3.

Andrew Doubek will share experiences cooking underappreciated cuts of meat such as heart, tongue and tail, and wild game. Additionally, he will have a casual discussion about the techniques for preparing them.

Doubek is a Physical Therapist at Thunder Bay FYZICAL Therapy. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Michigan Flint. He received his undergraduate degree from Grand Valley University in Biology and is an alumnus of Alpena High School. During his off hours he spends as much time as he can experiencing the beauty that Northern Michigan has to offer.

Thursday, March 4

Is Christ King? Find out at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 4.

Bob Case writes, “The last Sunday of the Christian year, the Sunday before Advent, is Christ the King Sunday. I have always had trouble using the term King in relation to either Jesus or God. I also rarely use any of the Creeds.” 

Recently one of the best New Testament scholars N. T. Wright wrote a book entitled “How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels.” This presentation will be in dialogue with that book and why it says not only is God King, but the Creeds can be dangerous. This by an English Anglican Bishop.

Case is a pastor emeritus from the First Congregational United Church of Christ and has had a difficult time retiring. He continues to offer thoughtful presentations, giving ALL members much to consider and ponder.

Friday, March 5

At 2 p.m. on Friday, March 5, hear about The Changing Face of Northeast Michigan with Carol Shafto. This has been rescheduled from last month.

When did the hair of the region really begin to turn gray? Which county is largest but growing the slowest? Carol Shafto developed this program which compiles Census data covering 40 years (1980-2019) of population, housing and economic data and trends. Are there really more obituaries than birth announcements? Why doesn’t Alpena County have a huge summer population influx like other Lake Huron counties? In which county are more than half of the people over age 60? This and much more will be presented in an interesting, user-friendly look at northeast Michigan including a look ahead at the 2020 census.

Shafto, AICP, is a planner and demographer who managed the Northeast Michigan Regional Census Affiliate through four census periods 1980-2010. She published widely utilized Regional Data Handbooks each census, compiling and analyzing population, housing and economic data and trends. She lectured on demographic trends locally and around the state. She retired from NEMCSA in 2017 where she was director of planning and evaluation.