News Photo by Darby Hinkley A Christmas tree is transformed into a beautiful pink dress in this display as part of the Season of Light at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is currently closed in preparation for the upcoming “WinterView” exhibit. “WinterView” opens on Friday, in conjunction with Carol Lund’s “Barbie Teaches Art History” exhibit, which will be on display through Dec. 30. “WinterView” will be on display until March 3. Starting back up on Friday, gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit artintheloft.org, email director@artintheloft.org, or call 989-356-4877 for more information.

∫ The annual Season of Light and Community Trees displays are open now through Jan. 6 at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, 491 Johnson St. in Alpena. The display opened on Monday. For more information, 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. Kelly Belew is the featured artist for November and December. The gallery is open from 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, Nov. 21

∫ The Christmas Wish List has many recipients still needing to be matched to donors. Through the Christmas Wish List, the United Way of Northeast Michigan matches generous donors with the specific wishes of less fortunate children in our community. To be matched with a child or family, call 586-703-4019 and leave a message, and your call will be returned. Phone lines are open seven days a week. Please make sure you are matched with a child or family before purchasing items. Bring gifts to the AMA-ESD Central Office on U.S.-23 across from Taco Bell only during the week of collection, Monday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Dec. 1. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. If you prefer to give a monetary donation, send or bring a donation to the United Way office at 108 Water St., Alpena, Michigan 49707.

∫ 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. Looking for social and learning experiences designed to help your child grow? Join ACL for Early Connections, a recurring play and socialization program for children ages newborn to 5, and caregivers. Caregivers will participate in music and movement, social/play activities, and/or math activities with their child or children each week, followed by a short story time. Adults will interact with their child during the program, not sit on the sidelines. 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. To learn more, pick up an application, or discuss options, visit the Habitat for Humanity offices at 2630 U.S.-23 South in Alpena.

∫ Every Tuesday in November, 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, in-person at Friends Together, 105 Prentiss St. and via Zoom. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231 for the link.

∫ At noon on Tuesday, the Alcona Book Club will meet to discuss this month’s book club book, “The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild.” This memoir details Lawrence Anthony’s experiences with rehabilitating a traumatized herd of elephants on his game reserve in South Africa. The book explores themes of bonding and communicating with animals, the interconnectedness of nature, and the challenges of conservation efforts. Join the book club to discuss the book’s themes over coffee and light refreshments.

∫ 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.

∫ Mindful Movement, a healing, gentle, unique yoga program designed to nourish, inspire and empower each woman healing and dealing with cancer, is at noon on Tuesdays, in-person and via Zoom. For more information and the Zoom link, call Friends Together at 989-356-3231.

∫ Knitting Klub & Crochet meets from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. All ages and levels are welcome. Call 989-724-6796 for more information.

∫ Join ALL to Travel to the Baltics — Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, plus Lapland and Finland from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, with your esteemed travel guides Rocky and Ginny Roland. This program will be offered via Zoom. For connection information, call the ALL office at 989-358-2707 or email all@alpenacc.edu. l all@alpenacc.edu. y. Join us for a discussion of travel experiences from a 21-day group tour to the listed locations. This tour (and the talk) will focus on “the real” Baltics and their transition from satellite states to independent countries in the European Union. This will be a great way to experience educational travel. Rocky and Ginny Roland are active ALL members and inveterate travelers. In the last 15 years,, they have taken over 10 cruises, many to somewhat exotic locations with four or five cruises longer than 30 days each.In 2018,, they ventured out on one of their most adventurous tours — — a 39-day land tour (backpacking style) that hit most of the Balkan nations.Rocky and Ginny often share their travel experiences with ALL, with their previous adventure talk being about a 74-day cruise circumnavigating Africa.

∫ 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 6:30 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.

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

Wednesday, Nov. 22

∫ Participate in the Salvation Army’s 2023 Red Kettle collection by driving your car up to Banner Realty, and they will bring out the Red Kettle and ring the bell for you. By calling 989-356-1177 ahead of your arrival, Margie Haaxma, broker of Banner Realty, will greet you wearing a Salvation Army hat with a side bow from the ’40s as a thank-you for helping the children have a good Christmas. ​​Banner Realty is celebrating its 12th annual collection of hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves for a warm winter for children and adults for the Salvation Army. Drop off items from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Banner Realty, 259 S. Ripley Blvd., Alpena, and register for a drawing for a chance to win a gift from your friends at Banner Realty.

∫ 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.

∫ 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.

∫ Bingo is at 12:45 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library for the fall session of Sewing Club, meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. This club is open to all skill levels, from newbie to expert, ages 10 and up. Bring your sewing machine, supplies, and project to work on. For those without a sewing machine, there are three machines on site for use. Registration is required. To register, call 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. Come for a dash of hope, some laughter, and real talk.

∫ Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program of recovery for those with compulsive eating behaviors, meets at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday at 3100 Piper Rd. Alpena, in the back room. For more information, contact Diane R. at 989-821-9601.

∫ Alpena Sportsman’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.

∫ Open Mic Night is from 6 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.

∫ Birch Road String Band will play from 6 to 8 p.m. at PIF Cider in downtown Alpena.

∫ Join the Nucleus Lounge in celebrating its eighth anniversary with musical guests The Douglas Brothers playing at 6 p.m. The celebration continues into the night, with food and drink specials!

Thursday, Nov. 23

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

∫ The 21st Annual Dork Brothers Turkey Trot 5K will take place at 9 a.m. starting at the APlex, rain, snow, sleet, or shine. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Northeast Michigan. Registration is from 8 to 8:45 a.m. Race day entry fee is $25, not including T-shirt. A limited supply of shirts will be available for $10 each. Bundle up and get your race on to earn your Thanksgiving dinner!

∫ Alpena County Library will be closed for the holiday on Thursday and Friday.

∫ From Thursday, Nov. 23 through Saturday, Nov. 25, all branches of the Alcona County Library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, Nov. 24

∫ 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.

∫ 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.

∫ 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. Come brush up on your mainstream and plus 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!

∫ The annual Bolenz Holiday Parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday through downtown Alpena down Chisholm Street and up 2nd Avenue. The tree lighting ceremony and arrival of Santa in Culligan Plaza will follow the parade.

Saturday, Nov. 25

∫ 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 Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

∫ The Alpena High School Key Club will hold a bottle drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the front oval of the high school.

∫ It’s Small Business Saturday, so support a local business today! Downtown Alpena activities include a Holiday Market with Classic Designs by Doreen Thomas CF and Wind Dancer Studio from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Culligan Plaza, with evergreen garland, wreaths, porch pots, and more. Then at 11 a.m. is a Pop Up Shop with Rose Bisanz Pottery and Art at PIF Cider. Falls Creek Holiday Market will be from 4 to 8 p.m. in the park next to Red Brick Tap and Barrel, and Ethan O’Brien will play live from 7 to 9 p.m. at PIF Cider. Come on down!

∫ The Daniel J. Morrell bell ringing will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum at 367 N. Third St. in Rogers City. The public is welcome and admission is free.

∫ Legacy Live will play ’70s and ’80s rock and roll music — a free concert — from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday at the Alpena Eagles, 1960 M-32 West, Alpena. The public is welcome. A cash bar will be available.

Sunday, Nov. 26

∫ If a problem drinker is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help. Confidential, anonymous meetings are 2 to 3 p.m. each Sunday at St. Raphael Church in Mikado.

Monday, Nov. 27

∫ The Association of Lifelong Learners will present the following session at 7 p.m. on Monday at Granum Theatre at Alpena Community College: The Current Middle East Conflict ­­– a Neophyte’s Guide.

This presentation will try to distill massive amounts of scholarship and opinion on the Middle East Conflict into a palatable and understandable guide relating the history of the region to the current Israeli-Hamas war taking place in Gaza. Along the way, we will discuss the history of Palestine (and Palestinians); the formation of the state of Israel; the impact of prior conflicts with other players in the region (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran); the rise of “terrorist” groups like Hamas and Hezbollah; and the current geo-political divisions/areas (Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and others). Finally, we will examine the current conflict in Gaza (and potential spill over into adjacent areas around the region), the humanitarian devastation on both sides, and take a look at the information/disinformation impact on world opinion. Buckle up! This talk will surely generate conversation and controversy. Join in. Presenter Rocky Roland served 27 years in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot and space systems expert. During three years on the Naval War College faculty in Newport, Rhode Island, Roland analyzed and presented learning objectives based on strategies and military operations from Roman times to the immediate past — including the Six-Day War (the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict), the Yom Kippur War (1973), the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm/Desert Sabre (often referred to as the Gulf War). Roland and his wife, Ginny, now live in Alpena, where he is a frequent and popular presenter of educational programs for civic groups and ALL.

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m.

∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. 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 Crochet and Craft is a new support group at Friends Together meeting at 3 p.m. on Mondays. This group is for men and women, and offers crafty ways to overcome “chemobrain.” Call 989-356-3231 for more information.

∫ Friends Together North is a cancer support group for men and women that meets at 3 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.