ALPENA — The Association of Lifelong Learners (ALL) programs for the week of July 27-31 have been announced. A list and a brief description of the events are listed below.

I Was a WAC and then I Wasn’t

This event in on July 28 at the ACC Madeline Briggs Center 140 from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

One woman’s story about transitioning from the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) to the REAL US Army. Never ran that far; never touched a firearm, never been in a helicopter let alone rappelled out of one. How this unprepared 19-year-old struggled, and not only survived but succeeded in the era when women’s roles in the military underwent drastic change.

Wendy Payne, ALL member, and Master Sergeant, US Army, retired, entered the Women’s Army Corps in January 1974. Shortly after basic military training, the WAC version, the transition to the real US Army began. Payne served 20 years and one month, then went to work for General Dynamics, a government contractor for 26 years. Originally from Brown City, she retired from her second career and returned to Michigan, settling with family members in Alpena in 2021.

All You Ever Wanted to Know about Central Dispatch-Alpena 911 Center

This event is slated for Tuesday, July 28 from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the ACC Madeline Briggs Center 140

Rory Sherwood will give a presentation about Alpena County 911 that includes what 911 is and how it operates, the technology and the capabilities that are available, and what the future may hold for Alpena County 911. Sherwood was raised and spent most of his life in Alpena, except for a stint in the U.S. Air Force where he was an Arabic Linguist from 2005 to 2009. He has been a dispatcher for 13 years, dispatching between both Alpena County and Alcona County with the last seven years being in Alpena County. He has been the lead dispatcher for three years.

ALL Second Annual Scavenger Hunt

The hunt will take place on July 29 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the ACC Madeline Briggs Center 140 There is a cost of $5 per team.

How well do you know Alpena? You and your team of up to four people can find out by joining the ALL second annual Alpena Scavenger Hunt.

Starting at the Madeline Briggs Center, teams will be given instructions and a clue sheet for locations around Alpena. Test your knowledge of Alpena’s history and locations using the clues. You will need a car to travel and a phone to take pictures of the group at the site. If you have any questions or want to sign up your team, you can call Lisa at 989-356-3068. Please leave a voicemail with your team name and contact phone number and email if no answer). Teams must be registered by Monday, July 20. Collection of the registration fee will be at Briggs as we gather on Thursday July 23 before the event begins.Lisa Rosenbeck, the facilitator, is enjoying retirement by traveling and attending ALL events.

Historical Alpena Bus Tour

This event is on July 30 at 1:30 p.m. 3 p.m. people will board the bus in the parking lot behind Alpena City Hall near the former pavilion for the Farmer’s Market.

Look for a TBTA bus. Bus boarding available at 1:15 pm. The bus will depart for tour at exactly 1:30 p.m. Number of attendees: Minimum #: 10 Maximum #: 20 Cost: $12.50 includes water, cookies and a souvenir booklet of the ALL Alpena Historical tour.

Boarding passes were being sold at the ALL office July 17 on a first- come first-served basis, but seats were not reserved until the fee was received. You may send a friend to purchase your boarding pass. There will be no refunds unless your seat is filled from a wait list. ALL will maintain a “wait list” of persons who seek to register after the limit has been reached. If you are on the “waitlist” you will be called by the coordinator if a seat has become available. Enjoy a delightful afternoon discovering the history of various Alpena locations. Learn the answer to such questions as why young men flocked to the Alpena area during the Great Depression? What is known as the Greenbaum Block and why? Who was Culligan and why does he have a plaza? Why do we have an “Armory ” and what was on that land before the armory? Join us for facts and stories about early, early Alpena and more as we tour Alpena.

The presenters are James Kieliszewski who has lived in Alpena his entire life and is an avid Alpena Historian and collector of Alpena memorabilia of all sorts. He has been employed by Alpena High School, where he teaches Michigan/Alpena History, Economics, and World History.

Linda Ferguson is a 1960 graduate of the Alpena High School located on 2nd Avenue and is well acquainted with ancient Alpena history.