Second Chance Animal Shelter will host a cat and kitten adoption event and microchip clinic on Saturday.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, presents its “SummerView 2024” Exhibit, featuring the artwork of nearly 40 artists on display and for sale now through Aug. 31. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Classes are also offered, 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. Linda Beeman, the 2023 juried art show winner, has a solo exhibit on display in the Center Gallery. The 2024 juried art exhibit is on display as well, now through Oct. 30. 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. Gary Etzler, award-winning carver, is the gallery’s featured artist for August. 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. August visiting artists are Karen Cracchiolo and Chuck Schroeder. The Dragonfly Art Gallery was founded in 2009 as a cooperative nonprofit, owned and run by the gallery’s member artists. Find out more about the gallery at dragonflyartgallery.net, as well as on Facebook.

Tuesday, August 20

∫ 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, 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 Family Search Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is closed for regular visits during August. For an appointment, call Ella Purkiss at 989-306-6250.

∫ The Alpena Lions Club hosts their weekly meetings at noon on Tuesdays at First Presbyterian Church, Alpena. For more information, visit alpenalionsclub.com or the Alpena Lions Club on Facebook. For detailed membership information, call 989-464-5313.

∫ ALL will meet at 1:30 p.m. for a Tour of Alpena City Hall, 208 N. 1st Ave., Alpena. This is a guided tour of the Alpena City Hall to learn about the architecture, the history, and some of the folklore of the building. Cindy Johnson served on the Planning Commission for 11 years before being elected to the city council in 2014. On city council, she served as the first female mayor pro tempore for the city for six years before being appointed mayor in January 2024.

∫ Alpena County Library hosts Tinker Tuesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Participants must be age 5 or older.

∫ Bay View Center hosts a diversity support meeting at 4 p.m. each Tuesday. This weekly meeting 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.

∫ Friends Together presents Art With Friends from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month, at Friends Together, 105 Prentiss St., Alpena. For details, visit Facebook.com/friendstogethercancersupport. To register, call 989-356-3231.

∫ 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.

∫ Friends Together hosts a support group for those dealing with cancer. The group meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 15774 State St., Hillman, on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

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

Wednesday, August 21

∫ The Alpena Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at Mich-e-ke-wis Park in Alpena.

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

∫ 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.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library Youth Services Department from 10 to 11 a.m. every Wednesday for weekly storytime and craft. All ages are welcome. If you can’t make it on Wednesday, join ACL at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday mornings for Open MakerLab! Makers of all ages can tinker, collaborate, and create a project of their choice in our lab. Staff help is available if needed. If you have questions, call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ ALL Classroom Technology and Training will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at M. Briggs Center at Alpena Community College.

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

∫ ALL offers pinochle from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at M. Briggs Center with Julie Byrnes.

∫ The Catholic Central High School Class of 1957 is having a social luncheon at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the 19th Hole. Reservations were due on Aug. 18 to give the restaurant a count of the guests. Call Dan Betoski at 989-379-3717.

∫ On Wednesday, S.T.E.A.M. (formerly Homeschoolers at the Library)meets at 1 p.m. at the Harrisville branch of Alcona County Library, followed by Family Movie Matinee at 2 p.m.

∫ 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 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.

∫ Friends Together offers a support group for those dealing with cancer, meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday at Alcona Elementary School Library in Lincoln.

∫ The Long Lake Improvement Association will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Parker House Restaurant in Presque Isle. The public is welcome.

∫ 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, August 22

∫ Alpena County Sheriff’s Office and the Alpena Police Department invite you to Bookbags and Badges, a school supply drive from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 22 and 23 at Walmart. The local police departments are currently running a community initiative to collect school supplies for children of all ages. Once collected, the officers will personally deliver the donated items to area schools. Supplies needed include: pencils, pens, highlighters, loose paper, folders, binders, notebooks, water bottles, tissues, hand sanitizer, crayons, markers, colored pencils, backpacks, scissors, pencil cases, and erasers.

∫ 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 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. Please contact Betty at 734-693-2869 for weekly location.

∫ Join ALL for Spitzer from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center, led by Marilyn Klingshirn.

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

∫ ALL will hear from Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center. In November 2023, the boundaries of the Alpena DDA were expanded to incorporate the north side of Second Avenue, the Thunder Bay River, and the Chisholm Street corridor. Learn about what theboundary expansion means for future development of these key corridors and projects in the works throughout downtown Alpena.

∫ 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. The library is located at 18132 Lake Esau Highway, Presque Isle.

∫ Spratt United Methodist Church will host a soup, sandwich, and dessert dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday. The public is welcome. The ladies of the church are providing the meal. The cost is $12 per adult, and free for children younger than age 12. Spratt United Methodist Church is located at 7440 M-65 South, Lachine. The church number is 989-379-3022.

∫ Alpena County Library will host a diamond painting night, for ages 18 and up, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the library, 211 N. 1st Ave., Alpena. Diamond painting uses kits to decorate an image or item that is glue-ready with rhinestones. Participants will be able to choose from a variety of designs. They will also be able to choose between making a coaster or a bookmark. Registration is required. Call the library at 989-356-6188 or visit alpenalibrary.org.

∫ 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, August 23

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

∫ 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, storytime and craft for kids meets 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.

∫ Grace Episcopal Church on Long Rapids Road in Lachine is hosting an ice cream social from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, open to the public. The cost is by donation. There will be hot dogs, sandwiches, cold salads, and assorted desserts. Thanks to the community’s generous donations, Grace Episcopal was able to give a combined $900 to three different nonprofit organizations. They are grateful for the community support, and invite everyone to attend Friday’s event.

∫ 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.

∫ The Alpena Hockey Association presents the second annual Pucks and Pints Gala: Embracing Heritage and Championing a New Legacy. The event will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday at Northern Lights Arena, 751 Woodward Ave., Alpena. Proceeds will benefit youth hockey in Alpena. The mission of the current board is to make hockey affordable and inclusive for everyone. The evening will take place on The Pond and include a catered dinner, commemorative pint glass, and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $30 per person. Tables of eight can be purchased to guarantee seating with your friends. Sponsorship levels are available for those who wish to contribute at different levels. The “Hometown Hero” sponsorship, at $100, is also available for those who wish to contribute but cannot attend the event.

∫ Desserts at the Harrisville Depot will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at 301 Dock St., Harrisville. Decorate a cupcake, shop at a pop-up bake sale, chat with volunteers, see restoration progress and support efforts to save the Historic Harrisville Depot. This event will be held outdoors, weather permitting. Bring your favorite lawn chair and your sweet tooth, along with a beverage. For more information, visit harrisvilledepot.com.

∫ 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. Visit Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

Saturday, August 24

∫ The Craftmakers’ Cabin in Harrisville will host a flea market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at 106 S. State Road (corner of M-72 and U.S.-23). Present your Flea Market Items/crafts on the south lawn of the Craftmakers’ Cabin. Call Nancy to let her know what you will be selling. You may text her pictures of items you are selling for a Facebook post.

∫ The Harrisville Farmers Market, located in the upper parking lot of the Harrisville Harbor at the corner of N. Lake Street and E. Harbor Lane, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from June through October. Market items are locally produced, grown, harvested, baked, and gathered. For more information, visit The Real Harrisville Harbor Facebook page.

∫ The Sunrise Side Co-op Market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays in the parking lot behind Mango’s Tequila Bar in downtown Alpena. The new farmers market will be open each Saturday through the end of October.

∫ The Homestead Artisan Market and Gallery is in the Kauffman Homestead 8015 E. Grand Lake Road in Grand Lake. The Kauffman Homestead is owned by the Grand Lake Association and is a historical site. The Homestead Artisan Market and Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, now through Labor Day. Visit Homestead Artisan Market and Gallery on Facebook.

∫ Tweens ages 9-13 are invited to join Alpena County Library from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday for laser tag. Attendee will have the opportunity to play multiple short team games. All games will be played in the Stillion Conference Room, unless otherwise specified. Registration is required to attend. Space is limited to 20 players per session. Call 989-356-6188 or visit alpenalibrary.org.

∫ Second Chance Animal Shelter is hosting a cat and kitten adoption event and affordable microchip clinic on Saturday. The microchip clinic is for cats and dogs, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., for $25 per pet. This event is walk-in only; dogs must be on a leash with a well-fitting harness/collar, and cats must be in a crate. The cat and kitten adoption event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The adoption fee for kittens is $100 each or two for $150, which includes a veterinarian checkup, age appropriate vaccinations, and a free coupon for spaying or neutering when they are old enough. The adoption fee for cats is $125, which includes a vet check, rabies vaccination, microchip, and they are already fixed.

∫ Sam Rumbles State Farm Insurance invites the public to the Downtown Drive-In and Dine Car Show from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday in downtown Alpena. All types of unique cars are welcome; it doesn’t have to be a classic to enter. No prior registration necessary. Ballots will be collected for the voters’ choice award, with a winner being announced at 8 p.m. In addition to the car show, there will be food trucks and live music! This free event is open to all ages. This event was rescheduled from the prior weekend because of weather.

∫ True North Radio Network presents the final summer concert of the season, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Alpena Bandshell at Bay View Park. Vinyl Underground will play classic rock and dance music. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and bring the whole family out for end-of-summer fun!

Sunday, August 25

∫ St. Augustine Church will host Fiesta-val, a fundraising event with music, dancing, lives and silent auctions, games for children, Mexican cuisine, raffles, a 50/50 drawing, beer, and wine. Festivities will be held after the 10 a.m. mass on Sunday. The food is being donated by Pompeyos Mexican Grill. The Mexican dinner is $10 per adult, and free for children 12 and younger. Raffle tickets are available for $20 each or 6 for $100, for a chance to win. There will be three grand prize drawings, winner’s choice of $5,000 cash, a trophy buck hunt at LimberLost Farms, or a Legend premium aluminum utility trailer. There will be four second-place drawings for $1,000 cash each, and two third-place drawings for $500 cash each. The drawing will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 27. All proceeds will benefit St. Augustine Church. The church is located at 24138 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hillman. For more information, contact the church office at 989-742-4542, or visit restfulhearts.org.

∫ 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, August 26

∫ The Association of Lifelong Learners play pickleball from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.