Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan presents the Northeast Michigan Artists’ Guild’s annual exhibit “Anything Goes,” now through July 30. 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 at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Call 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.

Glass artists Augie and Peggy Matuzak are featured artists for May and June at Thunder Bay Arts Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. Thunder Bay Arts Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.

Tuesday, May 27

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

Courtesy Photo The Dwarf Lake Iris is seen in this courtesy photo. The rare flower blooms mid-May to early June.

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. For more information, call 989-255-4787.

Alpena County Library hosts Early Connections, a socialization program for children ages newborn to 5, and their caregivers, from 10 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday. No registration necessary.

Potential homeowners can find out the steps they need to take to get closer to homeownership. Stop by the Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan offices at 2630 U.S.-23 South in Alpena from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday.

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 welcome.

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

The Alpena Lions Club hosts their weekly meetings at noon on Tuesdays at First Presbyterian Church, Alpena. Visit alpenalionsclub.com or the Alpena Lions Club on Facebook, or call 989-464-5313.

Sewing Club meets from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Alpena County Library’s Makerspace. This club is open to all skill levels, ages 10 and up. Bring your sewing machine, supplies, and a project to work on. Three machines are on site for use. Registration is required by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

Alpena County Library hosts Tinker Tuesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m., for ages 5 and older.

Bay View Center hosts a diversity support meeting at 4 p.m. each Tuesday for those in the LGBTQ community, their families, and supporters, at 710 N. 2nd Ave. Call 989-340-0955.

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

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

The Alpena City Band will rehearse at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Granum Theater at Alpena Community College. All interested musicians are welcome.

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

Wednesday, May 28

The Dwarf Lake Iris grows in abundance at the Misery Bay Nature Preserve every spring in May. This small purple native wildflower carpets the woodland floor and Lake Huron shores, denying the fact that it is rare and endangered. The Dwarf Lake Iris is the designated Michigan State Wildflower — quite the celebrity. The iris blooms from mid-May to early June. Visitors and local residents can find displays of the iris growing on the trails of the Misery Bay Nature Preserve, located at the east end of Misery Bay Road. To get there from Alpena, drive Ford Road then Misery Bay Road almost to the end where you will see the Preserve parking lot on the left. It is open dawn to dusk for self-guided walks using a brochure that is available at the kiosk.

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’s used book store is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday at Alpena County Library.

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

Guys Like Us, a Wednesday morning coffee crew of men coping with cancer, meets at 10 a.m. at Friends Together and via Zoom. Call 989-356-3231 for the link.

Join the Alpena County Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays for Open MakerLab. Staff help is available. Participants ages 5 to 15 will need parental supervision. Call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

The Northeast Michigan Artists Guild (NEMAG) will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the classroom at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. For more information, please email northeastmichiganartistsguild@gmail.com or call Ellen at 989-916-5997.

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

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

S.T.E.A.M. meets at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. Homeschooled and alternatively schooled youth participate in a weekly S.T.E.A.M. activity.

The Alcona County Library Board of Trustees will meet at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Curtis Township branch, 4884 Bamfield Road in Glennie.

Circle of Hope is a women’s only cancer support group 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. Call 989-356-3231, or drop in.

Paws to Read offers the opportunity for participants to read to squirrels from 5 to 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Alpena County Library. Animal rehabilitator Melisa Smith is back with her special squirrel friends, Spech and Daisy. This program is for children up to age 18. Register at bit.ly/4g1qDyL. If you have questions, contact Tina at cstjohn@alpenalibrary.org.

Alpena Sportsmen’s Club, at 4260 M-32 West in Alpena, is open to members and non-members. Skeet and sporting clay shooting are from 5:45 p.m. until dark on Wednesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 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., Alpena.

Thursday, May 29

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

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. Call 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.

Join the Alpena County Library Youth Services Department at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday for weekly storytime with a doughnut theme. Children will listen to a story, sing a song and move, and finish with a craft.

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

Join Harrisville Yoga instructor Liz McNicholas for Stretch and Strengthen, a free series of yoga classes, open to all, at 1 p.m. every Thursday at the Alcona County Library in Harrisville.

ALL will host a seminar called “Outsmart the Scammers” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Newport Center Room 106 at Alpena Community College. Chloe Ferguson from Edward Jones will lead the presentation, discussing how to spot certain red flags with possible scams. There will also be a representative from the Edward Jones corporate fraud department joining via Zoom. He wil discuss what types of fraud and scams they’re encountering. Ferguson is a financial advisor whose purpose is to guide her clients through life milestones, helping them make informed decisions with clarity and confidence. She focuses on wealth strategies, charitable giving, retirement income and saving strategies, and business retirement plans while building genuine relationships with her clients. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and she is a Certified Financial Planner professional. When she is not helping clients, you’ll often find her spending time with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors and traveling.

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

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 30

ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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.

The Hillman VFW Post 2356 hosts its Friday Night Fish Fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday, 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.

Saturday, May 31

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

Great Lakes Great Responsibility will host a community cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Starlite Beach in Alpena. Each year, over 22 million pounds of trash enter the Great Lakes. The purpose of this cleanup is to take action to prevent trash on land from becoming marine debris and microplastics entering the watershed. Choose a neighborhood, parking lot, or stretch of roadway in the Alpena area. Clean that area up on May 31, counting the pieces of trash you collect, then bring bagged trash to Starlite Beach to share your trash count/weight and celebrate the cleanup crew’s collective impact. This event will be held, rain or shine. Cleanup materials will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own gloves, buckets, and trash grabbers. Look for the turquoise tent near the pavilion at Starlite Beach.

The Sunrise Side Co-op 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, at the Alpena Marina at 400 E. Chisholm St., Alpena.

Wolverine State Credit Union is hosting the Fourth Annual Summer of Color 5K Color Run/Walk, benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena. The run/walk will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Carter Street parking lot (between the Holiday Inn and Cellar building). Over the past three years, this event has raised more than $15,000 to support vital programs, meals, and resources for local youth. With the community’s help, organizers hope to make a significant impact this year. The Boys and Girls Club is more than just a place for kids to go — it’s a safe haven where they can discover their potential, build positive relationships, and gain skills that will shape their futures. The club provides free meals, homework help, educational programs, and so much more. By supporting this event, you are investing in the success and well-being of our community’s youth. The route will begin at the Carter Street parking lot, go along the Alpena Bi-Path, around the river, down to the harbor, through Bay View Park and back to the Carter Street parking lot.There will be color stations along the route. Participants will be covered in colors at the end of this fun event. Register, donate, and see more information at givebutter.com/bgcacolorrun2025.

Come out to Austin Brothers Beer Company from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday for a Family Fun Day with Leader Dogs on-site out in the beer garden, puppies to pet and visit with, face painting, a drawing station, and more. Families are invited to come make some “pawsitive” memories while supporting a life-changing mission.

The League of Women Voters of Northeast Michigan invites the public to a community dialogue and reception celebrating women in government at 1 p.m. on Saturday, in the Stillion Room at Alpena County Library. Rescheduled from the original March date because of the ice storm, the May 31 program is celebrating seven women who have served in various roles in the Alpena community over the years. The panelists are Alpena Mayor Cindy Johnson, former State Representative Beverly Bodem, Alpena City Manager Rachel Smolinski, former Alpena Mayor Carol Shafto, District Court Judge Lora Greene, Alpena City Council member Karol Walchak, and Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry. In addition to the panelists, the LWV will honor Vernie Nethercut with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Desserts and refreshments will be provided at this free program. Seating is limited, so attendees are asked to RSVP on the League of Women Voters of Northeast Michigan website at lwvnemi.org.

Sunday, June 1

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, June 2

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. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Euchre starts at 12:30 p.m.

Experienced bridge partners looking for some challenging competition can join the Alpena Duplicate Bridge Club that meets from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Mondays. For more information, call 989-354-2306 or 989-595-5119.

Friends Together North is a cancer support group for men and women that meets at 12:30 p.m. each Monday at the Presque Isle District Library in Rogers City.

If a problem drinker is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help. Confidential and anonymous meetings are held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Monday at the Alano Club located at 3100 Piper Road, Alpena. For more information, contact Diane at 989-821-9601.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No