Troy Graham

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is currently closed to prepare for the upcoming Young Artist exhibit, which opens April 3 and will be on display through April 26. The gallery is normally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Classes are still 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 presents its new “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit. Two local artist exhibits are currently on display: Pam O’Neil and Joe Donna. The museum 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, at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Call 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.

∫ Wendy Werth is the March and April Featured Artist at Thunder Bay Arts Gallery in downtown Alpena. Werth’s colorful artwork includes many painted gourds, such as giraffes and birds, as well as ornaments and paintings to hang on the wall. Thunder Bay Arts Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St., features more than 20 local artists’ work on display and for sale. TBA Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.

Tuesday, March 18

∫ ALL hosts Mexican Train Express Dominoes from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. each Tuesday at M. Briggs Center 143.

∫ 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.

∫ Alpena County Library will host Early Connections, a recurring play and socialization program for children ages 0-5, and their caregivers, from 10 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday.

∫ Potential homeowners can find out the steps they need to take to get closer to homeownership. Stop by the Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan offices at 2630 U.S.-23 South in Alpena from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday for more information.

∫ Every Tuesday, practice ukulele at 10 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of Alcona County Library, with all skill levels welcome.

∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center offers quilting at 10 a.m. and Spitzer at 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

∫ The Alpena Lions Club hosts their weekly meetings at noon on Tuesdays at First Presbyterian Church, Alpena. Visit alpenalionsclub.com or the Alpena Lions Club on Facebook. For detailed membership information, call 989-464-5313.

∫ Knitting Klub and 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.

∫ ALL will host a program on the Northeast Michigan Materials Management Authority from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at M. Briggs Center. This presentation will be about the current recycling facility and what is done there. Bailey Barr will then go over what the future holds with a new building coming in 2026. Barr, the new director of the Northeast Michigan Materials Management Authority, is an Alpena native and is actively involved with the community. He holds an associate’s degree in business management from Alpena Community College.

∫ Marquette musician Troy Graham will perform a free concert featuring Irish folk music at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Alpena County Library. This concert is hosted by the library and WCMU Public Broadcasing. Celebrate the luck of the Irish with Graham, who is bringing his notable Irish, foot-stomping music and good vibes to Alpena. Join the library for an all-ages concert that includes traditional dancing songs, sing alongs, and original songwriting. The public is welcome to attend.

∫ Sewing Club meets from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Alpena County Library’s Makerspace. This club is open to all skill levels, ages 10 and up. Bring your sewing machine, supplies (scissors, straight pins), and project to work on. 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.

∫ 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 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 women’s cancer support group meets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in Alpena Cancer Center. Your Safe Space welcomes women with a past or present cancer diagnosis. 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.

∫ ALL will host Photography Club from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at M. Briggs Center and via Zoom.

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

Wednesday, March 19

∫ AARP TAX-AIDE is no longer accepting new appointments at the Alpena site. AARP TAX-AIDE thanks the community, and looks forward to serving them next tax season.

∫ 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 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 public is welcome.

∫ 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. A signed waiver is required prior to using the MakerLab. MakerLab rules apply in the lab at all times. If you have questions, call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ ALL will host Journal Writing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at M. Briggs Center Room 143. You can write in response to prompts Mary Ann Krajnik Crawford will bring or about whatever you choose. Bring paper or a journal, pens or pencils or a computer. Crawford retired from Central Michigan University as an emeritus professor of English and director of the Writing Center and continues to write for the fun of it.

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

∫ ALL pinochle is 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at M. Briggs Center with Julie Byrnes.

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

∫ Living Hope Church in Alpena will host a Senior Coffee from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday. This event is free and open to seniors. The church is located at 1499 M-32, Alpena.

∫ ALL will host Hobby Radio Made Simple from 1 to 3 p.m. at M. Briggs Center 140. Learn about the amateur radio hobby in its many forms, and how to participate, as well as a brief history of amateur radio, what can be done in this hobby with and without a HAM radio license, equipment needed, and resources to learn more. Kevin Chandler (ki4tbe) has been a licensed amateur radio operator for 18 years. He became interested in this hobby as a pre-teen listening to an amateur radio receiver with his father on winter evenings, finding that hams make contacts worldwide. He is a graduate of both Alpena High School and Alpena Community College and holds a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Oakland University. He also has an EdD from the University of Orlando in educational leadership.

∫ 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. Homeschooled and alternatively schooled youth participate in a weekly S.T.E.A.M. activity, for school-aged youth who are able to read.

∫ Circle of Hope is a women’s only cancer support group that meets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday at Friends Together. This is a supportive, understanding group of women of all ages, all backgrounds, and all cancers. Unite with others, no matter where you are on your cancer journey. You are not alone. For more information, call 989-356-3231, or drop in. No pre-registration is required.

∫ Paws to Read offers the opportunity for participants to read to squirrels from 5 to 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Alpena County Library. Animal rehabilitator Melisa Smith is back with her special squirrel friends, Speech and Daisy. This program is for children up to age 18. Register at bit.ly/4g1qDyL. If you have questions, contact Tina at cstjohn@alpenalibrary.org.

∫ 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.

∫ Friends Together offers a cancer support group at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Alcona Elementary School, 181 N. Barlow Road, Lincoln. This group is for anyone facing cancer, no matter where you are on your journey. You are welcome to bring a support person with you.

∫ 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, March 20

∫ Shark Days at the Sanctuary is a two-day program for children ages 5 to 9 on Thursday and Friday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. Explore the amazing world of sharks within the National Marine Sanctuary system. During this two-day program, students will learn all about sharks through games, films, crafts, and activities. Programs are divided by age, with ages 5 and 6 meeting from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday and Friday, and ages 7 to 9 meeting from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Only 20 spots are available per time slot. The cost is $20 per child, and scholarships are available upon request. Registration is still open, but slots are filling up fast. To register, visit thunderbayfriends.org/index.php/event/shark-days-at-the-sanctuary. Call 989-884-6200, or email Erin.Pilarski@noaa.gov if you have questions.

∫ Community Walking Club 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. Come for a few stories, then stay for an activity or craft! All ages are welcome.

∫ 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. each Thursday, with 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.

∫ Join Harrisville Yoga instructor Liz McNicholas for Stretch and Strengthen, a free series of yoga classes, open to all, at 1 p.m. every Thursday at Alcona County Library in Harrisville.

∫ ALL will host Behind the Scenes with the Alpena County Road Commission from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center, covering upcoming and future road and bridge projects, basic insight on winter maintenance, and an overview of funding sources. Ryan Brege has been employed by the Road Commission for 23 years — 18 years as an engineering technician, and managing director for the last five. Brege is a graduate of Alpena Community College with an associate’s degree in Concrete Technology.

∫ 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. every Thursday at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. Call 989-734-2477, ext. 2 with questions.

∫ 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.

∫ Alpena Civic Theatre presents Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, directed by Bill Powell and Lucas Moquin. The comedy-drama features an all-female cast and offers a moving, yet humorous glimpse into the lives and friendships of six women, all based in a 1980s beauty shop in a small Louisiana town. The play runs at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with the final show at 2 p.m. Sunday. The ACT cast includes Katie Hubbard-Haines as Truvy Jones, Isabel Luther as Annelle Depuy-DeSoto, Olivia Martin as Shelby Eatonton-Latcherie, Sara Kwiatek as Ouiser Boudreaux, Carol Rundell as M’Lynn Eatonton, and Jessica Luther as Clairee Belcher. For tickets, call the Alpena Civic Theatre Box Office at 989-354-3624 or visit ACT at 401 River St., Alpena.

Friday, March 21

∫ 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.

∫ 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.

∫ Alpena County Library will host a Tween/Teen Edible Sculpture Challenge from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday, for ages 8 to 18. Youth will build the edible sculptures within the challenge guidelines. A tween winner and a teen winner will each receive a prize! Sculptures can be eaten afterward. Registration is recommended at bit.ly/406tkJg.

∫ Alex Kasznel and the Board of Directors will be coming through on tour with special guest local Thomas Gun (of Murder Party!/HASRD/The Hubies) at 6 p.m. on Friday at Friendly Foodees, 108 N. 3rd Ave. in Alpena. There is no cover charge.

∫ Alpena Civic Theatre presents Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, directed by Bill Powell and Lucas Moquin. The comedy-drama features an all-female cast and offers a moving, yet humorous glimpse into the lives and friendships of six women, all based in a 1980s beauty shop in a small Louisiana town. The play runs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with the final show at 2 p.m. Sunday. The ACT cast includes Katie Hubbard-Haines as Truvy Jones, Isabel Luther as Annelle Depuy-DeSoto, Olivia Martin as Shelby Eatonton-Latcherie, Sara Kwiatek as Ouiser Boudreaux, Carol Rundell as M’Lynn Eatonton, and Jessica Luther as Clairee Belcher. For tickets, call the Alpena Civic Theatre Box Office at 989-354-3624 or visit ACT at 401 River St., Alpena.

Saturday, March 22

∫ 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 the Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook. It’s time to start planting seeds inside and get a jump on the gardening season. Learn how to start seeds inside and grow varities you can’t buy in the stores. With help from MSU Extension resources and local garden experts Jim Hiske and J.B. Cook, the Alpena Farmers Market will host this workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at 1302 South State Ave., inside the Mich-e-ke-wis Park Warming Shelter. The cost will be $5 if you are a member of the Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market or $15 if you are not. Participants will take home potted plants or seeds to start at home. Space is limited. Call 989-255-9362 to register.

∫ Art in the Loft will host Mini Art Galleries, for ages 6 and up, from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. The cost is $28 per student. Scholarships are available. Join visual artist Lane Blair Olsen as she guides students through creating their own miniature masterpieces, as well as personalized galleries to hang and display them in. Students will begin class designing, building and creating their own unique mini art galleries. Students will use foam and/or cardboard, wooden pieces, a variety of colorful, neutral, and patterned paper (or card stock) to personalize the walls, floors or fixtures as they envision. Students will then draw inspiration from visual and hands-on demonstrations, learning new or refreshing previous techniques in bite-sized form. Students will work with air dry clay, a buffet of sculpture-building materials, watercolor and acrylic paint to create multiple mini masterpieces to hang or display as they desire within the gallery walls they created. All art supplies, as well as a beverage and snack are included. Skill-appropriate scissors and hot glue guns will be utilized at various times throughout class with supervision and assistance as needed.

∫ The Sunrise Side Co-op Market (indoor farmers market) is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, with 40 vendors represented weekly for your bakery, farm products, wellness items and high-end gift needs, located in the blue marina building at 401 E. Chisholm St., Alpena.

∫ Alpena County Library will host Family Bingo for all ages from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Bring your family and win prizes! Limited space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The library is located at 211 N. 1st Ave.

∫ Alpena Civic Theatre presents Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, directed by Bill Powell and Lucas Moquin. The play runs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the final show is at 2 p.m. Sunday. The ACT cast includes Katie Hubbard-Haines as Truvy Jones, Isabel Luther as Annelle Depuy-DeSoto, Olivia Martin as Shelby Eatonton-Latcherie, Sara Kwiatek as Ouiser Boudreaux, Carol Rundell as M’Lynn Eatonton, and Jessica Luther as Clairee Belcher. For tickets, call the Alpena Civic Theatre Box Office at 989-354-3624 or visit ACT at 401 River St., Alpena.

Sunday, March 23

∫ A Joyous Celebration of Musical Gifts will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at First Congregational UCC, 201 S. 2nd Ave., Alpena. The community is invited to come celebrate the gift of music and dedicate the new Yamaha Digital Grand Piano in honor of Barbara Diamond. Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful performances by talented pianists: Jean Martin-Brown, Suelyn Bartz, Sandy Jarmuzewski, Ted Rockwell, Nick Stone, Kat Tomaszewski, and Julie Wood. This event is free and open to the public.

∫ 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.

Submit Community Calendar items to lifestyles@thealpenanews.com.