Courtesy Photo Magical creatures will visit with participants Saturday evening at Magic in Our Midst at Island Park in Alpena.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, presents its annual juried art exhibit, called “Food for Thought: The Art of Food.” The exhibit will be on display through Thursday, which is Art in the Loft’s annual fundraiser. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 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 hours are 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 announces that Mark and Lucia Behmer are the TBA Gallery Featured Artists for November and Decemeber. A reception will be held in their honor from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the TBA Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. The reception is free and open to the public. The gallery features more than 20 local artists’ work on display and for sale. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.

Today, Nov. 5

∫ It’s election day. Don’t forget to vote!

∫ The Association of Lifelong Learners hosts Mexican Train Express dominoes from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.

∫ Great Start Collaborative Playgroup is held weekly at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at Alpena County Library. 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, 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.

∫ MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena has launched “Life As Improv,” a new, eight-week adult support group. The free support group will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, now through Dec. 17, in the Behavioral Health Conference Room at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. Registration is required. Call 989-356-8193 or email karen.nowicki-compeau@mymichigan.org.

∫ Sewing Club meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Alpena County Library’s Makerspace. 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 by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ On the first and third Tuesday of the month, Knitting Klub and Crochet meets at 1:15 p.m. at Alcona County Library in Harrisville. This group is for all practitioners of the fiber arts, beginner to advanced.

∫ Alpena County Library hosts Tinker Tuesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. 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 new women’s cancer support group is offered from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m on Tuesdays at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena’s Cancer Center. All women with cancer are welcome. This is a safe, confidential, peer-to-peer support group.

∫ Alpena County Library will host a MarioKart party from 5 to 6:30 p.m., for ages 9 to adult. Come as a family or solo and battle on the Nintendo Switch while playing MarioKart Deluxe at the library.

∫ The Association of Lifelong Learners at Alpena Community College will host its 19th Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auctions from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Besser Technical Center Commons Area on the ACC campus. The public is invited. Takeout meals are available at the ticket table. Along with the dinner, there are two great auctions with items donated by ALL members and community organizations. You do not have to be present to win. Spaghetti dinner prices are $13 for adults, $6 for students (K-college) and free for children age 5 and younger. Purchase dinners at the dining room entry.

∫ 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, Nov. 6

∫ Ollie’s Bargain Outlet will hold its grand opening from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at 2205 U.S.-23 South, Alpena (former location of Neiman’s Family Market).

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

∫ 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 Family Search Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints offers classes on genealogy and family history on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3 p.m. at 411 Long Rapids Plaza, Alpena. Contact Ella Purkiss at 989-306-8090 or ella.mae.purkiss@gmail.com.

∫ 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.

∫ ALL will hold a Writing Workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., led by Mary Ann Krajnik Crawford, who retired from Central Michigan University as emeritus professor of English and director of the Writing Center. She continues to write for the fun of it.

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

∫ 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.

∫ Circle of Hope 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.

∫ 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.

∫ A free award-winning movie called “One with the Whale” will be showing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher St., Alpena. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. This indigenous story of resistance has been featured at many film festivals worldwide, but this is the first time it will be playing in Alpena.

∫ ALL presents Queens of Industry — The Entangled Tale of the Monkshaven, Theano, and Leafield, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at M. Briggs Center, Room 140, led by local history teacher and part-time Great Lakes sailor, Jeff Thomas.

∫ Friends Together offers a cancer support group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday at Alcona Elementary School Library in Lincoln.

∫ 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, Nov. 7

∫ Community Walking Club meets at 9 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. Call 989-724-6796.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library Youth Services Department at 9:15 a.m. each Thursday for Weekly Storytime.

∫ 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. 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.

∫ ALL presents The Mother Bears knitting group from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center, led by Priscilla Homola. Knitters make stuffed bears to send to children in underdeveloped countries as part of the Mother Bear Project.

∫ At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at Alcona County Library, AuSable Valley Audubon will present important information on how to feed birds safely. Learn to recognize and minimize avian diseases that spread at bird feeders, understand how feeding by humans can impact avian behavior, and discover how to attract the species you want to see. Call 989-724-6796 to RSVP.

∫ From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, ALL will get a “behind the scenes” look with Alpena County Jail Administrator Christina Bednarski. Participants will have the opportunity to view a portion of the jail. The presentation will be held in the jail conference room at Alpena County Sheriff’s Department, 4900 M-32, Alpena.

∫ 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 p.m. Thursdays 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.

∫ Sewing Club meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Alpena County Library’s Makerspace. Registration is required by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ Art in the Loft’s annual fundraiser event, “A Taste for Art,” will be held on Thursday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are on sale now at artintheloft.org. Tickets are $100 each, and only 100 tickets are available. The fundraiser will be your last chance to view the current food-themed juried art exhibit on display called “Food for Thought.” In addition to being surrounded by unique artwork, attendees can enjoy a small plate challenge by local chefs, live food carving and sculptures, cooking demonstrations, live music, a culinary-themed live auction, signature cocktails, and more. Art in the Loft is located on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena.

∫ The Alpena County Republican Party will have an informal meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at ACRP headquarters, 139 Ripley St., Alpena.

∫ 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, Nov. 8

∫ 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. 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 VFW Post 2496 Canteen on Connon Street in Alpena is hosting “Mike and Pat Pizza Night” from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday. For take-out orders, call the canteen at 989-340-0385.

∫ 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 cost is $12 for the fish dinner or $14 for the shrimp dinner. The public is invited.

∫ 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.

∫ Alpena County Library will host Teen Candle Makine from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, for ages 12 to 18. Come in and create your own candle using a melting pot, wax, and scents. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required at bit.ly/4eTelZb. If you have questions, contact Tina at cstjohn@alpenalibrary.org.

∫ Thunder Bay Arts announces that Mark and Lucia Behmer are the TBA Gallery Featured Artists for November and Decemeber. A reception will be held in their honor from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the TBA Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. The reception is free and open to the public.

∫ Alpena First United Methodist Church will host a pasty dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $12 each. For tickets, call 989-354-2490 or 989-884-2303. Pasty ingredients are beef, pork, onion, rutabaga, potato, butter, and pepper. Crust ingredients are flour, milk, vegetable shortening, salt, water, and egg. The dinner will be served with salad, pie, coffee, tea, and water. Take-outs will be available. The church is located at 167 S. Ripley Boulevard.

∫ Harvest Community Church is hosting a community shoebox packing party for Operation Christmas Child, with the goal of packing over 600 boxes to be sent to children around the world. The event will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Free Methodist Church on Ripley Boulevard in Alpena. After packing the boxes, coffe and cookies will be offered during a time of fellowship. If you have questions, call Jackie Barber at 989-464-5426 or Sue O’Neill at 586-216-1177. Donations will be accepted to pay for postage for the boxes.

Saturday, Nov. 9

∫ 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. Visit the Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

∫ The Wishing for Christmas Arts and Craft show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the APlex, 701 Woodward Ave., Alpena.

∫ The annual St. Augustine arts and crafts show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Hillman Community Center on Veterans Memorial Highway in Hillman. There will be crafts, a bake sale, and a luncheon.

∫ Hope Lutheran Church will host a holiday bazaar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at 5462 Nicholson Hill Road, Hubbard Lake. A soup and salad luncheon will be available for $12, featuring homemade chicken noodle and cream of broccoli soups, a large selection of homemade salads, delicious desserts, and beverages. A raffle will be held, with the first prize being a beautiful queen-sized quilt, second prize a table runner, and third prize a Christmas tree skirt. There will also be a chance auction, cookie and bake sale, pasties, sauerkraut, tomatoes and stewed tomatoes, dilly carrots, dilly beans, pickles, salsa, jams, jellies, canned fruits and vegetables, and crafts. The church is wheelchair accessible.

∫ Magic in Our Midst, a magical family-friendly event, will be held on Saturday evening at Island Park in Alpena. Guided tours for a group of up to eight people will begin at 5:30 p.m. with tours continuing every 10 minutes until 7:50 p.m. At the start of the walk, participants will be greeted by the Spirit of the Island, Sah-gon-ah-ka-to. Children will receive a small flashlight to be used during the program. Led by a wizard guide, walkers will follow a lighted trail, as animals come alive through pre-recorded voices. After walking the trail (about 30 minutes), groups will be invited to stop at the Northland Area Federal Credit Union trailer in Duck Park for a cup of hot chocolate and a box of animal crackers. This is a free event sponsored by the Thunder Bay River Center. However, everyone must have a time-stamped ticket which can be picked up at the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, 235 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone is invited to experience the fun of Magic in Our Midst.

∫ Downtown Alpena will host a Holiday Open House from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with over 20 downtown businesses participating. Downtown stores, taprooms, and galleries will be kicking off the holiday season with festive displays, promotions, themed drinks, and more. Get a head start on your holiday shopping while supporting local businesses downtown. There will be a Downtown Dollars promo: Buy $75 in Downtown Dollars, get $25 free. Limit one promotion per person. Purchase Downtown Dollars at Parallel 45 Books and Gifts. Downtown Dollars can be used at over 60 downtown businesses and make a great holiday gift.

∫ The Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum will be hosting three bell tolls in November. Every year, the museum and families and guests honor and remember those who have perished on these shipwrecks, in our waters of the Great Lakes. On Nov. 9 will be the Edmond Fitzgerald bell ringing. On Nov. 16 will be the Carl D. Bradley bell ringing. On Nov. 30 will be the Daniel J. Morrell bell ringing. All of these events will begin at 1 p.m. at the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum. The public is invited to attend these free memorial events.

∫ Saturday is Comedy Night at the APlex. Enjoy a fun-filled night with Kate Brindle and Mike Armstrong. Tickets are $10 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m. with music by a local artist, and Brindle will take the stage at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar and some concessions before and during the show.

Sunday, Nov. 10

∫ The Wishing for Christmas Arts and Craft show will continue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the APlex, 701 Woodward Ave., Alpena.

∫ 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, Nov. 11

∫ HAPPY VETERANS DAY! Thank a veteran for their service and sacrifice.