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COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Courtesy Photo Thunder Bay Trails Association and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a lantern-lit hike/snowshoe/ski from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Norway Ridge Pathway.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. “WinterView 2024” is on display now through March 1, featuring the artwork of over 25 artists, for show and sale. 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 presents its new “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit. Two local artist exhibits are currently on display: Pam O’Neil and Joe Donna. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, closed Tuesday, and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The Besser Museum is located at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Call the museum at 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.

∫ Thunder Bay Arts Gallery features more than 20 local artists’ work on display and for sale. TBA Gallery has switched to winter hours through March — they are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.

Today, Feb. 4

∫ ALL hosts Mexican Train Express Dominoes from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. each Tuesday at M. Briggs Center 143.

∫ 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.

∫ Alpena County Library will host Early Connections, a recurring play and socialization program for children ages 0-5, and their caregivers. This group will meet from 10 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday. This program is free and open to all caregivers with children between the ages of 0 and 5. Caregivers must remain with their child for the duration of the program. No registration necessary.

∫ 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 for more information.

∫ 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 hear about the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at M. Briggs Center. Meag Schwartz and Savannah Obert-Pfeiffer will give an overview of their work cleaning up the shores of our Great Lakes. Schwartz graduated from Alma College with a degree in biology. She earned her master’s in environmental science from Indiana State University. She enjoys outdoor sports. She founded the marine debris prevention nonprofit Great Lakes Great Responsibility. Obert-Pfeiffer is a stewardship education specialist. She earned her degree in sustainability science and society. Her hobbies are painting landscapes, hiking, and baking new recipes.

∫ Knitting Klub and Crochet will be held at 1:15 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Harrisville branch of Alcona County Library, for all practitioners of the fiber arts, from beginner to advanced.

∫ Sewing Club meets from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Alpena County Library’s Makerspace. 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 project to work on. Space and guidance will be provided. For those without a sewing machine, there are three machines on site for use. Registration is required for this class by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ 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 and explore! 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.

∫ A women’s cancer support group meets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays inside the Alpena Cancer Center. Your Safe Space welcomes women with a past or present cancer diagnosis. This is a safe, confidential, peer-to-peer support group.

∫ 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.

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

Wednesday, Feb. 5

∫ AARP Tax-Aide offers free tax prep to senior citizens and also to low-income persons of any age. AARP membership is not required. Services are offered in Alpena at St. Paul Lutheran Church by appointment only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year. No walk-ins. To make an appointment or if you have questions, please call 989-278-8104.

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

∫ Friends of the Library will have a used book store open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday on the third floor of the Alpena County Library. The public is welcome.

∫ 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 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. Participants ages 5 to 15 will need parental supervision at all times. A signed waiver is required prior to using the MakerLab. If you have questions about lab rules, call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ Storytime with Miss Kelly will be held at 10 a.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. Join her for books, games, and a fun craft.

∫ ALL will host a Writing Workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at M. Briggs Center. This writing workshop series focuses on writing, sharing, and feedback. Everyone has stories — some are told, some are written, and some, like memoirs, are written to be shared with others. Sessions will examine issues with writing, share techniques for writing and revising, and practice some editing. Participants write between sessions, share their writing at sessions, and get feedback that they can use for revising and polishing their stories. Mary Ann Krajnik Crawford has been a personal journal writer and teacher of writing for many years. She retired from Central Michigan University as emeritus professor of English and director of the Writing Center and continues to write for the fun of it.

∫ Alpena County Library offers Tech Help from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Do you have a gadget that you need a little help with, or a technology question that you need answered? Get help with your computer, phone, or tablet from ACL’s knowledgeable and patient staff, offering a one-hour, four times a week session with our Technology Specialist on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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

∫ S.T.E.A.M., formerly called Homeschoolers at the Library, will meet at 1 p.m. each Wednesday at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ ALL will hear about Renewable Energy and Its Impact from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at M. Briggs Center, and via Zoom. For the Zoom link, email all@alpenacc.edu. This will be a discussion on the transition to renewable generation at the regional, state, and local levels, and potential impacts to businesses and residents. It will look at decarbonization goals and the impacts of recent legislation in Michigan that requires significant investment in renewable and clean generation sources. This will be an open discussion with opportunities for feedback and questions. Kenneth Dragiewicz received a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1998 and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Saginaw Valley State University in 2003.

∫ Circle of Hope is a women’s only cancer support group that meets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday at Friends Together. This is a supportive, understanding group of women of all ages, all backgrounds, and all cancers. Unite with others, no matter where you are on your cancer journey. You are not alone. For more information, call 989-356-3231, or drop in. No pre-registration is required.

∫ Animal rehabilitator, Melisa Smith, is back with her special squirrel friends, Spech and Daisy! Join the Alpena County Library from 5 to 6 p.m. every other Wednesday, starting on Feb. 5, and read to squirrels in the Paws to Read program. This event is for ages 0 to 18. Register at https://bit.ly/4g1qDyL. If you have questions, call Tina at cstjohn@alpenalibrary.org.

∫ 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 cancer support group at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Alcona Elementary School, 181 N. Barlow Road, Lincoln. This group is for anyone facing cancer, no matter where you are on your journey. You are welcome to bring a support person with you.

∫ 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, Feb. 6

∫ 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 Library Youth Services Department at 9:15 a.m. each Thursday for Weekly Storytime. Come for a few stories, then stay for an activity or craft! All ages are welcome.

∫ 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.

∫ 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.

∫ The Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library will host a presentation on Thursday by Bill Grigg titled Nesting Birds of Thompson’s Harbor Along Old State Road. The presentation will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the library, 18132 Lake Esau Highway, Presque Isle. In case of inclement weather, the backup date is 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 20. Call the library at 989-734-2477, ext. 2, or check their Facebook page for updates.

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

∫ WCMU Public Broadcasting and the Alpena County Library are bringing the Indie Lens Pop-Up experience to you with a film screening at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the library. The featured documentary, “Free for All: The Public Library,” explores the vital role public libraries have played in shaping American society and how they continue serving as essential sanctuaries for people of all backgrounds. This event is free and open to the public. Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood initiative that connects communities through screenings of documentaries from PBS’s Independent Lens series. Since its launch in 2005, the program has hosted over 7,200 events nationwide, engaging around 430,000 people in conversations about important topics affecting local communities.

∫ 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.

∫ On the first Friday of each month, Alcona County Library hosts Free Popcorn Friday. Help yourself to a bag of theater-style popcorn, while supplies last.

Friday, Feb. 7

∫ AARP Tax-Aide offers free tax prep to senior citizens and also to low-income persons of any age. AARP membership is not required. Services are offered in Alpena at St. Paul Lutheran Church by appointment only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year. No walk-ins. To make an appointment or if you have questions, please call 989-278-8104.

∫ 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.

∫ 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. Come brush up on your dancing. Fabulous caller Dave Boggs, of Desert Aire, Washington, will be reviewing mainstream calls and teaching and reviewing plus calls. No partner, no problem — Singles are very welcome!

Saturday, Feb. 8

∫ Join Thunder Bay Trails Association and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for a lantern-lit hike/snowshoe/ski from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Norway Ridge Pathway. Attendees will be able to warm themselves by a fire pit and sip hot cocoa while enjoying the beauty of the trails in the Thunder Bay River State Forest at night. Bring your hiking boots, skis, or bike to enjoy this fun-filled night of nature and community. Parking is available in the Norway Ridge parking lot off of Werth Road and overflow is on Werth Road. There will be volunteers to direct parking. Those in attendance are advised to bring a flashlight and be prepared for the weather. Anyone wishing to volunteer for the event can reach out to thunder.bay.trails@gmail.com or send a message on the TBTA Facebook page.

∫ AARP Tax-Aide offers free tax prep to senior citizens and also to low-income persons of any age. AARP membership is not required. Services are offered in Alpena at St. Paul Lutheran Church by appointment only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year. No walk-ins. To make an appointment or if you have questions, please call 989-278-8104.

∫ 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 the Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

∫ Alpena County Library will host a Scrapbook Society Scrapbooking Crop from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the library, 211 N. 1st Ave., Alpena. The cost is $10 per person, and it is open to teens and adults. A scrapbooking crop is a gathering where a group of people come together to work on their scrapbooking projects, sharing ideas, tools, and supplies in a social setting. If you enjoy scrapbooking and are looking for a community of people who share your hobby, pack up your supplies and join ACL for some memory keeping and paper crafting fun. Attendees will have a six-foot table and access to Cricuts. Lunch of hot soup and rolls will be provided, and attendees are asked to bring a dish to pass. Registration is required, and space is limited. Questions and comments can be directed to Aimee Arbour at scrapbooksocietyapn@gmail.com.

∫ On Saturday, The Alpena News will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the annual Business Expo at the APlex in Alpena. The expo gives local businesses an opportunity to share their products and services with people who may know little about them. The expo runs concurrently with the Kiwanis Club of Alpena Book Sale, which will also be held at the APlex. Both the expo and book sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Books will be $1 per paperback and $2 per hardcover, the same as in previous years.

∫ The Sunrise Side Co-op Market (indoor farmers market) is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, with 40 vendors represented weekly for your bakery, farm products, wellness items and high-end gift needs, located in the blue marina building at 401 E. Chisholm St., Alpena.

∫ SkellaFit Personal Training will host a Free Teen Self-Defense Workshop starting at noon on Saturday at 102 W. Washington Ave., Alpena. This transformative teen self-defense class is open to all survivors of violence ages 13 to 19. Registration is required, so contact Adrianna Gumtow at agumtow@hopeshores.org or call 989-356-2560 Ext. 113 to secure your spot.

Submit Community Calendar items to lifestyles@thealpenanews.com.

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