Courtesy Photo This featured photo by Matthieu Rytz promotes the film, “Deep Rising,” showing at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher St., Alpena, as part of the Thunder Bay International Film Festival.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is currently showing its “WinterView” exhibit, on display through March 2. 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.

∫ Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is featuring the Girl Scout exhibit, “Preserving the Past, Promoting the Future — 112 Years of Girl Scouts,” now through March 31. The exhibit is the Silver Award project for Scouts Lucy Duthler and Emma Kinsel. The museum, located at 491 Johnson St. in Alpena, 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. 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. Winter hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (January through March). 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.

∫ Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library and the Alpena Downtown Development Authority present a micro-exhibit called “Lost Buildings of Downtown Alpena,” viewable through March 1 on the library’s first floor at 211 N. 1st Ave., Alpena. For more information, contact the George R. Cook and Edith Angell Cook Special Collections Department at 989-356-6188, ext. 17.

Today, Jan. 23

∫ 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 at the Habitat for Humanity offices at 2630 U.S.-23 South in Alpena.

∫ Every Tuesday in January, 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 989-356-3231.

∫ PIF Cider will host a free Sneak Peek of the Thunder Bay International Film Festival from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight.You can just “get your feet wet” at this event. See the trailers, decide what to see, and get your tickets! There will be cider, obviously, and incredible glimpses into what is to come for this year’s festival, which opens Wednesday in Rogers City, continues Thursday in Harrisville, and culminates Friday through Sunday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. PIF Cider is located at 205 W. Chisholm St. in downtown Alpena. For more information, contact Stephanie Gandulla at 989-884-6212 or steph.gandulla@noaa.gov, or visit thunderbayfriends.org.

∫ 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.

∫ Join ALL for Where Are We Headed? This program will be led by Greg Awtry at 1:30 p.m. at M. Briggs Center. We are at a pivotal time in our nation with a historic election coming up this year. We would like to have an open discussion about our country’s most pressing issues, interests, challenges, problems, and opportunities. We will be looking for answers to these questions from our attendees. We will keep this conversation civil and welcome all thoughts and ideas. Hopefully, we can walk away with a better understanding of what our future could be for us, our children, and our grandchildren. If time allows, we can also discuss how we get our news and in what form, and if what we are getting is good enough to help us make well-educated voting decisions. Greg Awtry is a retired newspaper publisher living in Hubbard Lake. Awtry’s columns currently appear twice a month in The Alpena News.

∫ A free Housing Expo geared toward first-time home buyers will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at Art in the Loft, located on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in downtown Alpena. Attendees will learn about programs and services offered by lenders, real estate professionals, and more. These experts will provide market insight tips and tricks to navigate the housing market and home-buying process. There will be door prizes, appetizers, and a cash bar available. This event is brought to you by sponsors Target Alpena, Northland Area Federal Credit Union, and Alpena Community Credit Union. To register, or for more information, email info@alpenachamber.com, or call 989-354-4181.

∫ 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 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, Jan. 24

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the APlex.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon for Open MakerLab. If you have questions, call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ 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 989-356-3231.

∫ On Wednesday, Jan. 24, dive into the world of knowledge and imagination, all within the cozy confines of the Alcona County Library. Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooling family or just curious about the possibilities, Homeschoolers at the Library for school-aged children promises a burst of inspiration and camaraderie from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Alcona County Library Board of Trustees will meet at 2 p.m. in the conference room of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ ALL offers a Second Square Dancing Class from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at M. Briggs Center.

∫ 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.

∫ 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.

∫ Thunder Bay International Film Festival officially starts on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. with TBIFF on the Road at Rogers Theater in Rogers City. Films include “Deep Look: Skeleton Shrimp,” “Horseshoe Crabs: Survival of a Living Dinosaur,” “Earth is Blue: Jellies,” and “Relentless.” Stay after the films for a live discussion. The program costs $10, or is included with the purchase of a Thunder Pass, which gets you into all the programs throughout the festival, which runs through Sunday. Purchase a Thunder Pass for $125 at thunderbayfriends.org.

∫ 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.

Thursday, Jan. 25

∫ 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 JJ’s Steak and Pizza House 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.

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

∫ Zoom Book Club is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Thursday. Pinochle and bridge are held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

∫ Thunder Bay Audubon Society will hold a business meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday in the social room at Grace Lutheran Church in Alpena. Bring your own drink and any leftover Christmas treats. Attendees are also asked to bring a non-perishable item for their food pantry in appreciation for using the meeting space.

∫ Join ALL for Who Is Elon Musk? The program, led by Joe Gentry, will begin at 1:30 p.m. at M. Briggs Center. Elon Musk — Wealthiest person in the world? According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his net worth was $222 billion at the end of 2023 and Forbes indicates his current net worth is $244 billion. He is one of the most polarizing businessmen and investors. His goals are to colonize Mars and save human consciousness, transform transportation via electric vehicles, advance free speech, and protect humans from artificial intelligence. Elon is a doer and he has a significant impact on human progress. Come and hear of his history, his accomplishments, and polarizing personality. Joe Gentry is a trustee at Alpena Community College, a former adjunct for ACC, and is currently the executive director of the United Way of Northeast Michigan.

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

∫ Join PIF Cider from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday for Game Knight with Joel Choate of Collective Effort Gaming. PIF Cider is located at 205 W. Chisholm St.

∫ Partners in Prevention is offering a free Youth Mental Health First Aid course for residents of Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, or Alcona counties. Complete a two-hour self-paced online course, then participate in two in-person instructor-led workshops. The in-person portion is divided between two evening classes: each from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, and Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Green Township Hall, 14261 M-32, Lachine. This free course is a $250 value. For more information, or to register, visit partnersinpreventionnemi.org or call 989-356-2880.

∫ Thrivent will host a free retirement and estate strategies workshop at 6 p.m. on Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 727 S. 2nd Ave., Alpena. Dinner and refreshments will be served. Financial Advisors Mark Jackson and David Miller will lead the presentation. Call 248-247-3322, ext. 2 or email david.miller@thrivent.com to reserve a place for yourself and a guest.

∫ Thunder Bay International Film Festival continues on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. with TBIFF on the Road at the Alcona County Library in Harrisville. Films include “Going Home,” “And Yet, I Remain,” “New Boats,” “Planting Coral Forests,” and “A Death Threat to Everglades Restoration.” The program costs $10, or is included with the purchase of a Thunder Pass, which gets you into all the programs throughout the festival, which runs through Sunday. Purchase a Thunder Pass for $125 at thunderbayfriends.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, Jan. 26

∫ MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena will host a used book sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday in the hospital lobby, hosted by MyMichigan Volunteers.

∫ Partners in Prevention is offering a free Mental Health First Aid course for residents of Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, or Alcona counties. Complete a two-hour self-paced online course, then participate in a five-hour in-person instructor-led workshop from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday in the auditorium at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, 1501 W. Chisholm St. In this blended course you will learn how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in adults. To register, email programs@nemcpi.org, call 989-356-2880, or visit partnersinpreventionnemi.org.

∫ 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.

∫ On Fridays in January, get ready for a world of giggles, wonders, and creativity at 10:30 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. Storytime and Craft for Kids is not just about learning; it’s about unleashing the joy of discovery!

∫ 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 a teaching class but experienced players are welcome anytime.

∫ 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.

∫ Thunder Bay International Film Festival continues on Friday evening at 6 p.m. with the Great Lakes Gala Reception and Films at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher St., Alpena. Films include “Hypnotise,” “Crossing Ontario, The End,” “The Storm Chaser,” “Black Godfather of SCUBA,” and “Patrick and the Whale.” Stay after the films for a live discussion. The program costs $30, or is included with the purchase of a Thunder Pass, which gets you into all the programs throughout the festival, which runs through Sunday. Purchase a Thunder Pass for $125 at thunderbayfriends.org.

Saturday, Jan. 27

∫ 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.

∫ Thunder Bay International Film Festival continues on Saturday, with two programs starting at 10 a.m. Program 4 will include “Bottle Cap,” “Seagrass for Sea Change,” “Protected Waters: Exploring La Jolla,” and “Collision.” Program 5 will include “I Want Sun,” “The Shark with a Thousand Names,” “Truluck,” and “SAGRES.” Then at 1 p.m., Program 6 will feature “PLSTC,” “Restoring the Farallon Islands: A Critical Conservation Opportunity,” “When Hope Breaks Through,” and a live discussion. Also at 1 p.m., Program 7 will feature “WindShipped,” “The Impossible Wave,” “Changing Seas: Vanishing Whales,” “Lost in the Site of Salvation: The Shipwreck of the Atlanta,” and a live discussion. Those programs each cost $10, or are included with the purchase of a Thunder Pass, which gets you into all the programs throughout the festival, which runs through Sunday. Purchase a Thunder Pass for $125 at thunderbayfriends.org. Two free programs are also offered on Saturday — the TBIFF Student Film Competition and awards at 3 p.m., and a Filmmakers’ Panel at 4 p.m. Then at 6 p.m. is the Sanctuary Selections film competition with The Sunset Project. The top five films will be shown, and there will be hors d’oeuvres, live discussions, and the final award presentation, all for $20 per person, or included with a Thunder Pass.

∫ Join other community members in Downtown Alpena for the third annual Cocoa Crawl from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Participating shops, taprooms, and businesses will be passing out cocoa-themed treats, including hot cocoa, chocolates, and some “sweet” deals. Bundle up and enjoy a cozy day of shopping and visiting your favorite downtown stores and businesses. Visit 10 participating stops and be entered to win Downtown Dollars or a downtown gift basket with items donated by participating businesses. Each additional stop you visit will get you an additional entry. Pick up a Cocoa Crawl checklist at any participating business during the event. The drawing will be held Monday, Jan. 29.

∫ Dungeons and Dragons Club meets from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ A Euchre tournament will be at Hillman Senior Center on Saturday, with a meal at 5 p.m. and play at 6 p.m. The entry fee is $20, and prizes and food will be provided. For info, call 989-464-4463 or 989-742-4080.

Sunday, Jan. 28

∫ Thunder Bay International Film Festival continues on Sunday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. Two programs are available at 11 a.m. Program 11 features “Rise of the Clambassador,” “The Arctic Halocline,” “Ripple: Casting for Change,” “Tangled in the Tides,” and live discussion. Program 12 features “Blue Carbon” and “Deep Rising.” Programs showing at 1 p.m. include Program 13: “Deep Look: Barnacles Go to Unbelievable Lengths to Hook Up,” “Gender Outlaw, A Bodysurfing Story,” and “Big Wave Guardians,” and Program 14: “Huff,” “Washed Ashore,” and “Cold Refuge.” Then at 3 p.m., choose from Program 15: “The Gift of Bathsheba,” “Robots in the Deep,” and “Mediterranean: LIFE UNDER SIEGE,” or Program 16: “Inseparable: Ava,” “Havana Libre,” and “Molokai and the Frog.” All Sunday programs are $10, or included with the purchase of a Thunder Pass, which gets you into all the programs throughout the festival. Purchase a Thunder Pass for $125 at thunderbayfriends.org.