News Photo by Bronwyn Woolman The cast of "The Music Man" poses at a recent rehearsal at Alpena Civic Theatre.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is currently closed until May 22 as they prepare for their upcoming SummerView Exhibit. The gallery is normally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Classes are still being held, and can be viewed online. Visit artintheloft.org, email director@artintheloft.org, or call 989-356-4877 for more information.

∫ Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, closed Tuesday, and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Beverly Benson Wolf’s photography is on display now through July 20 at the museum. The Northeast Michigan Artists’ Guild invites the community to their annual exhibit at the Besser Museum from April 15 through July 24. This year’s theme is “It Figures.” Artists will be in attendance from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the museum to discuss their artwork. The Besser Museum is located at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Call the museum at 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. Dorothea Sandra will be the featured artist for May and June. A reception will be held in her honor from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17 in the TBA Gallery, at 127 W. Chisholm St., downtown Alpena. The reception is open to the public and light refreshments will be served. Spring and summer hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 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.

Today, May 7

∫ ALL will tour the new ACC Machine Technology and Welding Lab at 9:30 a.m. Meet at the ACC Newport Center (door nearest to the Paul Bunyan sculpture). Tour the new Machine Technology and Welding Labs that have just been completed. Previously, they were both located in one lab. Now they have their own labs. The new program labs have been updated with new equipment which provides the program graduates more opportunities and better employees for our industrial community. Andrew Paad, Machine Technology, and Tim Ratz, Welding, are both graduates of the programs they now oversee with education beyond ACC.

∫ 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. 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 May, 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 to join.

∫ 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, at Friends Together, 105 Prentiss St.. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231.

∫ 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.

∫ Knitting Klub and Crochet meets at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library, 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. Call 989-724-6796 for more information.

∫ ALL will host a Card Making class at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at ACC’s M. Briggs Center. The cost is $5 per person. If you have never made a card but would like to try it, this is the class for you. Beginning cardmaking for $5. Nancy will provide the paper and glue. Attendees should bring scissors, a ruler, and a pencil. Nancy Pohl has been making cards and other artistic endeavors for years.

∫ 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. Participants must be age 5 or older.

∫ 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 4 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.

∫ The Alpena City Band will hold its first rehearsal for the 2024 concert season at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 in the Granum Theater at Alpena Community College. All interested musicians are welcome to attend.

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

Wednesday, May 8

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the APlex. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for Open MakerLab. If you have questions, 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.

∫ Alpena County Library offers Tech Help from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

∫ Homeschoolers at the Library for school-aged children and teens promises a burst of inspiration and camaraderie at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library, 1 to 2 p.m. Now every Wednesday! Call 989-724-6796 for more information.

∫ ALL’s Moveable Feast will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Pompeyos Mexican Grill, 1120 S. State Ave., Alpena. Come join your ALL friends for a nice relaxing meal at Pompeyos Mexican Grill. Let the ALL office know that you are planning to attend.

∫ Sewing Club is held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Alpena County Library. Registration is required by calling 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. Come work on your square dance calls. This is an ad hoc event for the purpose of improving your Mainstream and Plus calls. There will be no caller, but experienced dancers will be there to help and fill in a square or half square. The intent is to repeat calls, so the muscle memory is there when you attend a dance.

∫ 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.

∫ Alpena Sportsmen’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.

∫ Hillman High School will hold a band fundraiser special performance at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Patchwood Plaza, 14797 State St. South in Hillman. Admission is $5. Open Mic Night is from 5:30 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.

∫ Rich Rider hosts Open Mic Night from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Black Sheep Pub, 113 S. 2nd Ave., downtown Alpena.

Thursday, May 9

∫ Community Walking Club for Everyone meets at 9 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. Call 989-724-6796 for more information.

∫ 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. on Thursday 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.

∫ MARSP (Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel) will hold their annual meeting on Thursday, May 9. The meeting will start at noon at the First United Methodist Church on Ripley. Come early to visit with other retired school personnel. Les Nixon, area director, will be in charge of the meeting with updates on our pension, insurance and other related topics. A catered lunch will be served at a cost of $12.50, or you can bring your own lunch. Catered lunch reservations were due to Ruth LeBarre at 989-379-2760 on Monday.

∫ Friends Together presents Journaling with Friends, from noon to 1 p.m. every Thursday. Explore creative ways to organize your thoughts. Registration is required by calling 989-356-3231.

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

∫ ALL will hear about the Alpena Senior Citizens Center’s Alzheimer’s Support Programs at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at ACC’s M. Briggs Center. The presentation will focus on the new programs the senior center is offering for those living with dementia and caregivers. We will discuss Miles for Memories, The Memory Cafe, The Monthly Support Group, the Reach Program, and overall answers to questions from the participants. Andrea “Annie” Hepburn, Director, and BJ Sander, Program Manager with the Alpena Senior Citizens Center, are are certified dementia practitioners, REACH certified, and Alzheimer’s support group facilitators with a total of 48 years of experience.

∫ Zoom meditation is at 2 p.m. on Thursdays, led by 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.

∫ Join MyMichigan Health Foundation for a unique event on Thursday ­– the Meat and Greet meat raffle. Hosted by the Development Council’s Annual Support Committee, this fun and fast moving event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at JJ’s Phoenix Room. The evening consists of four rounds of meat to be raffled, anywhere from kielbasa to shrimp to beautiful trays of meat. The winner makes their selection and then another ticket is drawn. Each winner gets to select whatever they like from the current round of meat. When all selections have been won, another round is displayed and it starts all over again. Each round has their particular set of tickets and at the end of the evening, everyone is entered in for the Mega Meat Raffle which consists of a cooler full of meat. The entry fee is $20 and tickets for rounds can be purchased at $20 a stretch. Generous meat donors include Perch’s IGA, Cracker Barrel, Marine Market, Nowicki’s, Plaths, Meijer, B & B Farms, the Farmer’s Market, and others. All funds raised will support advanced health care at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena.

∫ Alpena Civic Theatre presents “The Music Man” by Meredith Willson, opening at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and continuing through Sunday, then again May 16 through 19. Full of lively tunes and beautiful ballads, the show promises to leave theater-goers humming the tunes for days to come. Starring Mike Furtaw as traveling instrument salesman Harold Hill, and Olivia Martin as Marian the Librarian, “The Music Man” features a full cast of 34 people ranging in age from 8 to over 80. The stage will be full of actors and musicians throughout the high-energy show, co-directed by Kirstine Furtaw and Nan Hall. For tickets, call the ACT Box Office at 989-354-3624. The theater is located at 401 River St., Alpena.

∫ The Alcona Historical Society annual meeting and last presentation of the Cabin Fever series will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at the Alcona Township Hall on U.S.-23 in Black River. The program will feature author and historian Dianna Stampfler, professional speaker with 40 years’ experience in radio broadcasting and public speaking. She will present Made in the Mitten: Savoring Michigan’s Rich Foodie and Ag History. The public is welcome to join the Alcona Historical Society for a Michigan-picnic meal at 6 p.m., with the program to follow.

∫ Alpena County Library will host a program called “E.B. Ward: The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes” by author Michael Nagle at 6 p.m. at the library, 211 N. 1st Ave., Alpena. A Gilded Age industrialist becomes Michigan’s wealthiest resident and helps shape the nation. Join the George R. and Edith Angell Cook Special Collections department and author Michael Nagle. For more information, contact Special Collections at 989-356-6188, ext. 17.

∫ 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.

Friday, May 10

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the APlex. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.

∫ Pied Piper School will host its annual greenhouse sale from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Every purchase will support educational programs at Pied Piper. Available plants include petunias, geraniums, begonias, New Guinea impatiens, blazing fire, dahlias, vinca vine, calibrachoa, lantana, thunbergia, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. There will also be window boxes and decorative planters for sale at the Pied Piper Greenhouse, 444 Wilson St., Alpena. For more information, call 989-356-1414.

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

∫ Foodie Friday is back! Get hands-on in creating your lunch by visiting Art in the Loft for an interactive lunch experience. Join featured culinary artist Jess Krawczak as she guides you through building a delicious culinary masterpiece inspired from different cultures and international cuisines! Each session is also vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-friendly. Simply register ahead of time, stop in on your lunch break anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. where a multitude of fresh ingredients, sauces, meats and seasonings will be readily available for you to get hands-on and customize your lunch, then enjoy it at the Loft, or take it with you.

∫ 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. For more information, call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 or email all@alpenacc.edu.

∫ Cricut 101 Class will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Alpena County Library. The library invites creatives ages 18 and up to Cricut 101 in the MakerLab for Community Creativity and Exploration. In Cricut 101, learn the basics of Cricut Design Space software and the tools available in the Makerspace. Once comfortable with the process, participants will create their design using Cricut Design Space to be applied to a tote bag. Two sessions are available, the first on Friday, May 10, and the second on May 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. There is no cost to attend this program, but space is limited and registration is required. To register, visit alpenalibrary.org. For more information, call 989-356-6188, ext. 11.

∫ Join Art in the Loft as Jess Krawczak walks you through the techniques for making homestyle Ramen from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, for $50 per student. Scholarships are available. Apply at artintheloft.org. This hands-on culinary experience is offered for teens and adults to learn and enjoy their delicious creations.