Courtesy Image The above graphic created by Shannon Vivero of Vivero Industries illustrates the Battle of the Bands event happening from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the APlex, 701 Woodward Ave., Alpena. Proceeds will benefit Freedom Recovery Center.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is currently showing its “WinterView” exhibit, on display through Saturday. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit artintheloft.org, or call 989-356-4877.

∫ Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is featuring the Girl Scout exhibit, “Preserving the Past, Promoting the Future — 112 Years of Girl Scouts,” now through March 31. The exhibit is the Silver Award project for Scouts Lucy Duthler and Emma Kinsel. Beverly Wolf’s photography is also on display at the museum, at 491 Johnson St. in Alpena. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, closed Tuesday, and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.

∫ Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena, features 25 local artists’ work on display and for sale. Kamara Marsh is the featured artist for March and April. A reception will be held in her honor from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Winter hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (January through March). Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.

∫ Dragonfly Art Gallery, 116 E. Main St. in Harrisville, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call 989-820-9614.

∫ Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library and the Alpena Downtown Development Authority present a micro-exhibit called “Lost Buildings of Downtown Alpena,” viewable through Thursday on the library’s first floor at 211 N. 1st Ave., Alpena.

Today, Feb. 27

∫ Do you have a prom, bridesmaid, or other formal dress taking up space in your closet? Do you have a suit or tux that just doesn’t fit anymore? Bring them to the Alpena County Library for the free prom attire swap! Clothes must be clean and not damaged. Items can be brought to the library during regular hours on Tuesday. Teens wanting to browse and pick up items can “shop” from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday and 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, and from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

∫ The Association of Lifelong Learners hosts Mexican Train Express dominoes from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.

∫ Great Start Collaborative Playgroup is held weekly at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at Alpena County Library. For children ages newborn to 5, and caregivers. Caregivers will participate in music and movement, social/play activities, and/or math activities with their child or children each week, followed by a short story time. Adults will interact with their child during the program. No registration necessary.

∫ TOPS #1614 Alpena welcomes new members who are looking for support in their weight-loss journey. Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at the First Presbyterian Church at 1600 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena. Weigh-ins start at 9:45 a.m. and meetings start at 10:30 a.m. There is no obligation to join if you attend your first meeting. For more information, call 989-255-4787.

∫ Potential homeowners can find out the steps they need to take to get closer to homeownership from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday at the Habitat for Humanity offices at 2630 U.S.-23 South in Alpena.

∫ Every Tuesday in February, practice ukulele at 10 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of Alcona County Library, with ukuleles available for checkout, and players of all skill levels invited.

∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center offers quilting at 10 a.m. and Spitzer at 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

∫ Good Grief is a grief support group at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, in-person at Friends Together, 105 Prentiss St. and via Zoom. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231 for the link.

∫ The FamilySearch Center is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 411 Long Rapids Plaza in Alpena.

∫ The Alpena Lions Club hosts their weekly meetings at noon on Tuesdays at First Congregational Church, Alpena. For more information, visit alpenalionsclub.com or the Alpena Lions Club on Facebook.

∫ Mindful Movement, a healing, gentle, unique yoga program designed to nourish, inspire and empower each woman healing and dealing with cancer, is at noon on Tuesdays, in-person and via Zoom. For the Zoom link, call Friends Together at 989-356-3231.

∫ Alpena County Library hosts Tinker Tuesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tinker Tuesday is about getting together and exploring projects ranging from Makey Makey, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, 3D Printing, Strawbees, littleBits, Snap Circuits, sewing and more. Let your curiosity take over! Participants must be 5 or older.

∫ Are you impacted by cancer? Whether you are the patient or not, if cancer has left you wanting, you are welcome at the new Tuesday groups meeting at 4:30 p.m., called Making Sense of it … with Friends. On the first Tuesday of the month, join Traci Boyle and friends to experience first-hand the benefit of sound. Learn ways to channel and ease your mind in this hour-long program. Second Tuesdays will be about learning, third Tuesdays about art, and fourth Tuesdays about food, all at 4:30 p.m. at Friends Together, 105 Prentiss St., Alpena. Call 989-356-3231 for more information.

∫ Cub Scouts meet from 6 to 7 p.m., and Boy Scouts meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 727 S. 2nd Ave., Alpena.

∫ Bay View Center hosts a diversity support meeting at 6 p.m. each Tuesday. This weekly potluck is for those in the LGBTQ community, their families, and supporters, at Bay View Center, 710 N. 2nd Ave. If you have questions, call 989-340-0955.

∫ Karaoke Night is from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Black Sheep Pub in downtown Alpena.

Wednesday, Feb. 28

∫ AARP Tax Prep for low/limited income people and for senior citizens is being offered in the Alpena area on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, by appointment only. Call 989-278-8104 to schedule.

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the APlex.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for Open MakerLab. Makers of all ages can tinker, collaborate, and create a project of their choice in our lab. Staff help is available. Participants ages 5 to 15 will need parental supervision. A signed waiver is required. MakerLab rules apply in the lab. Call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center exercise is from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

∫ Guys Like Us is a Wednesday morning coffee crew of men who are coping with cancer, meeting at 10 a.m., in-person at Friends Together and via Zoom. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231 for the link.

∫ Free Family History Classes will be offered from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays at the FamilySearch Center inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 411 Long Rapids Plaza in Alpena.

∫ The February meeting of the Alpena County Library Board of Directors will be held at 4 p.m. in Room 106 of the Newport Center at Alpena Community College, 665 Johnson St.

∫ Sewing Club is held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Alpena County Library. No sewing experience? No problem! This club is open to all skill levels — newbie to expert, ages 10 and up. Bring your sewing machine, supplies, (scissors, straight pins) and a project to work on. For those without a sewing machine, there are three machines on site for use. Registration is required for this class. To register, call Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ ALL offers a Second Square Dancing Class from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at M. Briggs Center.

∫ Women on Wednesday is a support group for women with cancer meeting in-person and via Zoom at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Friends Together. Come for a dash of hope, some laughter, and real talk.

∫ Alpena Sportsman’s Club is a nonprofit located at 4260 M-32 West in Alpena, open to members and non-members — everyone with an interest in shooting sports. Skeet and sporting clay shooting are offered from 5:45 p.m. until dark on Wednesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, text Joel Suszek at 989-255-4928 or Jeff Welch at 989-255-6068.

∫ Tweens ages 9 through 12 are invited to join the Alpena County Library’s monthly Graphic Novel Club! Bring any graphic novel you love and share it with others while learning about graphic novels, how they are made, and how to make one yourself. Each month, the club will decide on the graphic novels they want to read and discuss. The first meeting will be from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the Stillion conference room. If you have questions, contact the Youth Department at 989-356-6188.

∫ Open Mic Night is from 6 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday at Patchwood Plaza in Hillman. For more information, call the Hillman Area Chamber of Commerce at 989-742-3739.

Thursday, Feb. 29

∫ Community Walking Club meets at 9 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ Join the Alpena County Girlfriends at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House at 10 a.m. on Thursdays for coffee and conversation. This is a women-only group whose purpose is to make friends and socialize with women from Alpena County and the surrounding areas.

∫ Join ALL for Spitzer from 10 to 11 a.m. at M. Briggs Center, led by Marilyn Klingshirn.

∫ Zoom Book Club is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Thursday, with the Alpena Senior Citizens Center. For more information, call 989-356-3585.

∫ Pinochle and bridge are held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

∫ ALL will hear from Don La Barre and Anne Gentry about The Modernization of Downtown Alpena at 1:30 p.m. at M. Briggs Center at ACC. For most of Alpena’s history, the city’s layout remained fairly consistent: a centralized commercial and social hub, an industrial waterfront, and residential areas surrounding it. That all changed after World War II when local and national governments sought to “improve” their communities in hopes of combating suburban sprawl and decentralization of stores and community centers. That attitude was in response to a new sense of pride American communities felt as they ended WWII as a political and economic superpower. To usher America into a new, modern era, community leaders, local governments, and architects — with the support of federal funding programs that sought to “modernize” urban and rural centers alike — looked to their traditional city centers to lead the charge. Join Alpena County Library Special Collections Librarian Don La Barre and Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry as they share the story of Alpena’s “modernization” of the downtown.

∫ Yoga meets from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Harrisville branch of Alcona County Library. Learn how simple movement can change your life with Liz every Thursday until March 28, by Harrisville Yoga. Call 989-335-1777.

∫ Zoom meditation is at 2 p.m. with the Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

∫ Needles and Threads group is held from 2:30 to 4:30 pm every Thursday at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. Bring your latest knitting, crocheting, sewing, needlepoint, or other crafts. Call 989-734-2477, ext. 2 with questions. The library is located at 18132 Lake Esau Highway, Presque Isle.

∫ The Alpena County Library offers free computer classes for patrons. Registration is required. To register, call 356-6188, ext. 20. Wednesday’s class begins at 5:30 p.m. in the MakerLab. This course will introduce the student to many of the features of the Microsoft Windows 11 operating system. They will navigate the Windows 11 platform functions and features, including the new Start Menu, Windows 11’s digital assistant, Cortana, the new Quick Access feature in File Explorer, selected features of the Settings menu, and more.

∫ Thursday Eve Serenity Group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 351 Wilson St., Alpena. If a problem drinker has or is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help you. Meetings are anonymous and confidential. Call 989-354-5476 for more information.

Friday, March 1

∫ It’s Popcorn Friday! Head over to the Alcona County Library in Harrisville and savor the magic of a complimentary bag of movie-style buttered popcorn, while supplies last.

∫ An artist’s reception for Kamara Marsh will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Thunder Bay Arts Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. Marsh is the featured artist for March and April.

∫ AARP Tax Prep for low/limited income people and for senior citizens is being offered in the Alpena area on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, by appointment only. Call 989-278-8104 to schedule an appointment.

∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Then at noon, Mahjong is played, and pinochle starts at 12:30 p.m.

∫ Presque Isle District Library’s Posen branch offers knitting and crocheting from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. All levels are welcome. If you have questions, call 989-734-2477.

∫ On Fridays in March, storytime and craft for kids is at 10:30 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ ALL hosts contract bridge from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Fridays at M. Briggs Center. This is an ongoing group of card players who welcome any players at any time. This group is a teaching class but experienced players are also welcome.

∫ The Hillman VFW Post 2356 hosts its Friday Night Fish Fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday night, with your choice of fish or shrimp, potato, coleslaw, roll, and drink. The fish fry is open to the public, and the cost is $12 for the fish dinner or $14 for the shrimp dinner.

∫ ALL hosts square dancing from 4 to 6 p.m. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 or email all@alpenacc.edu.

∫ Rogers City Area Zonta Club presents Dueling Pianos and Comedy Show at 7 p.m. Friday at Belknap Township Hall, 1720 W. County Road 638, Rogers City. Tickets are $20 prior to the event and $25 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m., and you must be 21 to enter. A cash bar and appetizers will be available. The theme will be Roaring ’20s, and there will be a prize for best dressed. There will also be cash giveaways of up to $500 at the event. Tickets are available at the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce and Cory Budnik State Farm. If you have questions, call Karen Spens at 989-351-8010 or Jan Pankner at 989-798-1328.

Saturday, March 2

∫ The Alpena Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mich-e-ke-wis Park, 1302 State Ave. in Alpena. For more information, visit Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

∫ AARP Tax Prep for low/limited income people and for senior citizens is being offered in the Alpena area on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, by appointment only. Please call 989-278-8104 to schedule.

∫ On the first Saturday of the month, the Alpena County Library will be hosting a puzzle swap. The swap will begin at 11 a.m. and end at noon. Puzzlers of all ages are welcome! Bring your old puzzles to swap for new-to-you puzzles, while supplies last. After you pick your new puzzles, sit down to help us complete three ongoing group puzzles. Please note that all donated puzzles must have all pieces present. Please be courteous and limit yourselves to the same number of puzzles you’ve brought in (or two puzzles if you are unable to bring in puzzles to donate). For more information, call the library at 989-356-6188.

∫ On Saturdays in March, forge new friendships, strategize with your party, and let your creativity soar in the teen-exclusive Dungeons and Dragons Club, now meeting upstairs at the Hollyhock Emporium in Harrisville from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

∫ Get ready for the showdown of the year at Rock Recovery, a Battle of the Bands event featuring the best talent from Northern Michigan! On Saturday, the stage will come alive with the energy and power of eight bands competing for the title of Rock Recovery Band 2024. The stakes are high, with a grand prize of $500 and studio time, provided by New Level Productions in Alpena. The all-ages event will be held at the APlex, 701 Woodward Ave., with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the event going until 9 p.m. The cost is $10 per person. Proceeds go to supporting awareness, education, and prevention efforts for those suffering with substance use disorder. By attending Rock Recovery, you’re not just enjoying incredible music; you’re also contributing to a vital community resource. Don’t miss your chance to win big in the guitar raffle. Take home a piece of the music magic and support the cause. Fuel your night with tasty concessions available on site, ensuring you stay energized and ready to rock throughout the event. Get in on the excitement with the 50/50 draw! Half the pot goes to the lucky winner, and the other half directly supports Freedom Recovery Center. Between sets, hear inspiration from speakers sharing stories of recovery and resilience, adding an extra layer of meaning to the evening. This event is presented by Vivero Industries, in partnership with Freedom Recovery Center.

Sunday, March 3

∫ If a problem drinker is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help. Confidential and anonymous meetings are held from 2 to 3 p.m. every Sunday at St. Raphael Church in Mikado.

Monday, March 4

∫ AARP Tax Prep for low/limited income people and for senior citizens is being offered in the Alpena area on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, by appointment only. Call 989-278-8104 to schedule.

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the APlex.

∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Euchre starts at 12:30 p.m.