News Photo by Darby Hinkley From left, Jenny Werda, Ella White PTO treasurer, and Kristin Barden, Ella White PTO president, stand behind some of the classroom raffle baskets to be raffled off on Saturday at the Ella White Christmas Bazaar.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, 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 is closed to the public now through mid-January for the installation of the new “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit. There will be no “Season of Light” exhibit this year. The Besser Museum is located at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Call the museum at 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.

∫ Mark and Lucia Behmer are the Thunder Bay Arts Gallery Featured Artists for Decemeber. 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, Dec. 3

∫ Today is Giving Tuesday. The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is helping to raise awareness and support for many nonprofits in the region. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving. The 24-hour giving event is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) to kick off the holiday giving season. To help the 60 participating local nonprofits take part in Giving Tuesday, the Community Foundation will provide the technical infrastructure through its website and social media to showcase and manage donations, all at no cost to the participating organizations. One hundred percent of every donation will go to the nonprofit of the donors’ choice. Donors can visit cfnem.org on Giving Tuesday and make donations. Donors are also welcome to drop off checks at the Community Foundation offices, 100 N. Ripley St., Suite F, Alpena. Checks must be dropped off today to be counted as a Giving Tuesday donation.

∫ 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.

∫ 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 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. Sessions are held in the Behavioral Health Conference Room at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. The final Dec. 17 session will be held at Joshua Tree Studio and Spa, 112 W. Chisholm St., 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. Registration is required for this class by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ ALL will learn about What’s New at MyMichigan Health Center Alpena from 1 to 3 p.m. today at ACC’s M. Briggs Center. Meet MyMichigan Alpena’s new President Hunter Nostrant and hear an update of recent and upcoming changes. Nostrant began his role in Alpena in September. Prior to joining MyMichigan, Nostrant was president and CEO of Helen Newberry Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center.

∫ 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.

∫ 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, Dec. 4

∫ 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 has 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 book store is currently holding a Christmas special of five books for $3. The public is welcome.

∫ The Family Search Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints offers classes on genealogy and family history on Wednesdays. The first session will be from 10 a.m. to noon, with the second session running from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Alpena Chapel building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 411 Long Rapids Plaza Road, Alpena. To register, 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! Staff help is available if needed. Participants ages 5 to 15 will need parental supervision at all times. If you have questions, call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ The UAW Retirees will hold a gathering at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House. JJ’s is located at 411 N. 2nd Ave., Alpena. A representative from the UAW Trust and BCBS will be at the meeting. The meeting starts at 11 a.m., and then, at about noon, a variety of pizza, breadsticks and salad is served. If you choose to join in the lunch, the cost is $8. People start to arrive a half-hour early for some socializing before the meeting.

∫ ALL will host a Writing Workshop led by Mary Ann Krajnik Crawford from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at M. Briggs Center.

∫ 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.

∫ 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 info, text Joel Suszek at 989-255-4928 or Jeff Welch at 989-255-6068.

∫ 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, Dec. 5

∫ 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.

∫ 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. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center, led by Marilyn Klingshirn.

∫ Zoom Book Club is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, with the Alpena Senior Citizens Center. 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 from 1 to 3 p.m. at M. Briggs Center. Priscilla Homola will lead attendees in the making of a comfort toy — a cuddly bear. These bears are then sent to children in underdeveloped countries. As a child in Zambia said, “The bear is my only friend.”

∫ 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. 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 for this class by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ The Alpena County Republican Party will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Alpena Community College’s Center Building, Room 106.

∫ 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, Dec. 6

∫ 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. 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 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 Alpena Downtown Development Authority is excited to announce the days and times that Santa will be in his house in Culligan Plaza this December. Each Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., Santa’s house will be open. Visitors can stop in to take their photo with Santa, drop off a letter, and tell him what they’d like for Christmas. Santa will be in his house, in Culligan Plaza on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Chisholm Street, right next to the City’s Christmas tree, on the following dates: Friday, Dec. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7 from noon to 4 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 14 from noon to 4 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. The events are free and open to people of all ages. There will be elves on hand to help hold coats, take photos, and assist with the events. Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union and the Alpena High School Key Club are providing volunteers to make Santa’s visits possible. Santa also has a mailbox in front of his house where families can drop off their letters to Santa. If you have questions, call 989-356-6422.

Saturday, Dec. 7

∫ The Ella White Parent Teacher Organization and Ella White Elementary School invite the community to their annual Christmas Bazaar, to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Thunder Bay Junior High School. The event will feature over 60 vendors, a PTO bake sale, and classroom raffle baskets, with the drawing to be held at 2 p.m. All proceeds from the classroom raffle baskets go back to the classrooms. Tickets will be sold near the media center. There will also be a barbecue pulled pork sandwich fundraiser to support the eighth grade Shooters travel basketball team. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be at the event. Pictured above are Jenny Werda, Ella White PTO treasurer, and Kristin Barden, Ella White PTO president, readying the classroom baskets for the raffle.

∫ 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. A Christmas Market will be featured from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit the Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

∫ Grace Lutheran Church will host a Christmas Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7. The sale will feature assorted cookies, breads, candy, and other baked goods. Grace Lutheran Church is located at 119 W. Dunbar St., Alpena.

∫ Frosty’s Festival of Gifts Christmas Bazaar will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 at New Life Lutheran Church, 25 Kirche In The Woods, Spruce. The church is located six miles north of M-72, off Hubbard Lake Road, just south of Mt. Maria Road. Brunch will be served from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring breakfast casserole, sausage, muffins, sweet breads, fruit, and beverages. The bazaar will include a large selection of frozen foods, including quiche, turkey tetrazzini, cabbage rolls, pierogies, soups, and desserts. There will also be fresh holiday baked goods, sauerkraut and pantry items, homemade notecards, RADA cutlery, crafted treasures, fresh green floral arrangements, and more.

∫ Christmas in Presque Isle will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday in Presque Isle Township. Presque Isle community groups have come together with a great lineup of activities for merrymakers of all ages. All events are posted on the Presque Isle Happenings calendar: presqueislelighthouses.org/visit/presque-isle-happenings-calendar. From 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., hear children’s stories at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., there will be refreshments and gift basket drawings at the Portage Store, presented by PI FunRaisers. Lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., by donation, at the East Grand Lake Fire Hall. There will be hot dogs, chili, chips, and drinks. A Christmas Carol Sing-Along will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. at Grand Lake Chapel. Horse-drawn wagon rides will be offered from 1 to 4 p.m. at the New Presque Isle Lighthouse Park, by Presque Isle Township Parks and Recreation. Friends of Grand Lake Library will host a story walk with a winter-themed book. Presque Isle Township Museum Society will offer photos with Santa, decorated house tours, and children’s crafts at the 1905 Keeper’s House. They will also be collecting donations of children’s sized hats, gloves, mittens, and socks from 1 to 7 p.m. In Garrity Hall, Presque Isle Community Women’s Club will offer cookies and cocoa, children’s activities, and a children’s play. At 4 p.m., Presque Isle Harbor Association will host a Lighthouse Trails Hike starting from New Presque Isle Lighthouse Park. Then at 6 p.m. will be the Christmas Tree Lighting by Presque Isle Township Parks and Recreation. There will be Christmas carols by Community Singers, and hot chocolate provided by the Presque Isle Township Museum Society.

∫ Forty Five North Real Estate is planning a special event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Alpena Boosters Club. Get your picture taken with Santa, enjoy a hot cocoa bar, write a letter to Santa, color a picture, decorate your own cookie, and visit with Mrs. Claus and the elves. The Alpena Boosters Club is located at 809 W. Miller St. This is a free event, but donations will be accepted for the Vietnam Veterans 583 Toys for Kids program. Donations of unwrapped toys are also being accepted at Forty Five North Real Estate, 135 W. Chisholm St., now through Dec. 9.

Sunday, Dec. 8

∫ Northeast Michigan Crime Stoppers presents the Buddy Jewell Christmas Show at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Alpena High School Auditorium. Tickets are $18 each, or $45 for the family. For concert and ticket information, call 989-340-6002.

∫ 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.

∫ Remembering Our Children, a grief support group for families who have lost a child of any age, will participate in a Worldwide Candle Lighting at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church, 119 W. Dunbar St. Participants will join R.O.C. in celebrating the life and memory of children who have passed. The evening will include inspirational music, readings, candle lighting, a PowerPoint presentation, and recitation of each child’s name. Light refreshments and time for sharing will follow. Candles will be provided. Attendees may personalize and hang an ornament on the Remembrance Tree. Feel free to bring a picture or special remembrance of your child to display, or wear a shirt with your child’s photo on it. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as the candle lighting ceremony will be held outdoors. If you have questions, call Karen at 989-619-7728 or Polly at 989-356-0849. New, unwrapped toys will be collected for Toys for Kids, in memory of children who have passed.

Editor’s note: The Community Calendar runs every Tuesday on the Lifestyles page. Submit items for the calendar to lifestyles@thealpenanews.com. The deadline is noon Monday.