Community calendar

Children’s activities

• MSU Extension Tollgate Farm is hosting interactive virtual STEAM series which includes hands-on activities, interaction with MSU Tollgate staff, and virtual visits to the arboretum, barns, orchards, and forest.

“The Secret Life of Trees” is for students in grades K-2. Class starts Oct. 5, registration closed at 11:59p.m. Oct. 4, register at https://events.anr.msu.edu/ TollgateVirtualTreesWeekly.

For grades 3rd and up, “Follow the Nutrient Trail” explores how plants and animals depend on other living things to help them survive. Class starts Oct. 8, registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 7. Register at https:// events.anr.msu.edu/ TollgateVirtualNutrientCycleWeekly. Teachers register at https://events. anr.msu.edu/TollgateGroupVirtualFarmSeries. For more information, email Ellen Koehler at koehle43@msu.edu.

Community activities

• Free cider and donut from

Yates Cider Mill, 11a.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 31, Village of Rochester Hills gazebo, one per person, while supplies last. www. facebook.com/thevorh/events.

Coronavirus information websites and hotlines

• Oakland County COVID-19

Help Hotline is 248-858-1000 or email to hotline@oakgov.com or text OAKGOV to 28748or visit www.oakgov.com/covid. Nurse on call is 1-800-848-5533or email NOC@OakGov.com.

• State of Michigan COVID-19 hotline - 888-535-6136. For information, visit Michigan.gov/ Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

• Beaumont Health offers information and answers about the coronavirus, at www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/coronavirus or call Beaumont’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-592-4784.

Environmental activities

• Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash launched the 16th annual Kids’ Clean Water 2021Calendar Contest, open to 4th and 5th-grade students in Oakland County. With the theme of “We Can All Help to Keep Oakland County’s Lakes, Streams, Rivers and Watersheds Clean,” artwork may consist of crayon, marker, colored pencil or paint and should be drawn on standard 8 ½ by 11-inch paper, only one entry per student, artwork must be submitted online by 5p.m. Oct. 9, at www.oakgov.com/water.

Fall/Halloween activities

• Fall Hayrides are Friday evenings, Oct. 2-23at Heritage Park, 24915Farmington Road, with rides leaving every half hour from 5:30to 7p.m., $5per person; free for ages younger than 2, rain or shine with the entire program outdoors, in case of severe weather, the ride will be canceled. Pre-registration is recommended, limited seats due to COVID-19, masks are required, temperature checks and health screening questions. Cider, s’mores kit for sale to use at the campfire, https://recreg.fhgov.com, 248-477-1135or email asmith@fhgov.com, www. fhgov.com.

• Downtown Berkley special, Halloween-themed Ladies Night Out is 5-9p.m. Oct. 15and 16and will drawings, shopping deals, food and drink specials and more, www.downtownberkley.com/ ladies-night-out-october.

• Family Field Trips are 4-5 p.m. or 5-6p.m., Wednesdays, through Oct. 28, register at www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms, $8per person, or $25per family (up to 5people), Interactive tour of life in the 19th century. Meet at the Stoney Creek School House, 1051Washington Road, Rochester.

• Family Field Trips are 4-5p.m. or 5-6p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays through Oct. 29at The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, register at www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms, $8per person, or $25per family (up to 5people), Interactive tour of life in the 19th century. Meet at the Farmhouse/Welcome Center, 1005Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills.

Fitness activities/ Sports

• Downtown Rochester Bike Tour is 4-6p.m. Oct. 5. Meet at the Rochester Hills Public Library, west side parking lot at Rotary Gateway Park, $20each, Register by noon, Monday, www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms.

• Downtown Rochester Walking Tours are 10-11:30a.m. Oct. 14 and Oct. 17. Meet at the Rochester Mills parking lot, 400Water St, Rochester. Advance tickets only, $10, Register by Tuesday at noon, www.rochesterhills.org/ musprograms.

Fundraisers

• Macy’s, in partnership with nonprofit Clothes4Souls, hosts its 8th annual “Buy a Coat and We’ll Donate One” campaign.

Buy a coat online at macys.com between Oct. 7-11, and Macy’s, in partnership with Clothes4Souls, will donate a new coat to someone in need, up to 20,000 coats, visit macys.com/macysgives.

• The Suburban Collection announced the launch of “Drive Away Hunger,” a fundraising campaign to raise 1million meals for Gleaners Community Food Bank by the end of 2020, http:// feed.gcfb.org/driveawayhunger.

• Rochester-based nonprofit Neighborhood House is hosting Scare Away Hunger 5K virtually this year. Participants can choose to run, walk or jog anytime, anywhere, through Oct. 18. Race participants may pick up their T-shirts and medals, Sept. 30at the Neighborhood House Food Pantry, 1315N Pine St, Rochester. Registration is $30 per person and $25per student, www.ranh. org/sah.

• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Centro Multicultural La Familia in raising awareness through an online auction and donation center, noon, Oct. 19to 7p.m. Oct. 25, www.32auctions.com/CMLFDVAwareness

Health activities

• Flu shots for all ages, 9 a.m.-1p.m. Oct. 20at the City of Farmington Hills Costick

Center, 28600Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills. Participants must call the Oakland County Health Department Nurse on

Call at 800-848-5533for an appointment. For those without insurance, there is a cash fee of $24, high dose flu shots are $54 for ages 65+, for information, call 248-473-1830.

• Easterseals Michigan is launching a statewide awareness campaign, “Get a Checkup From the Neck up” to emphasize the importance of staying mentally healthy. The checkup is a free, online screening that takes two minutes to complete and can be found on Easterseals’ website. The goal is to encourage at least 1,000screenings on Oct. 8, National Depression Screening Day. To take the mental health screening and learn more about Easterseals Michigan’s CCBHC, visit EastersealsMichigan.com.

• Diabetes PATH – for those with type 2diabetes and their caregivers, information session is 1-1:30p.m. Oct. 6, classes are 1-3p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 13-Nov.

17. Register with Ascension Health at 248-849-5752.

• National Kidney Foundation of Michigan offers interactive online courses on chronic pain, diabetes and tools for caregivers, nkfm. org/PATH.

• Chronic Pain PATH – for those living with chronic pain and their caregivers, information session is 6-6:30p.m. Oct. 7, classes are 6-8p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 14Nov. 18. Register with Ascension Health at 248-849-5752.

• Powerful Tools for Caregivers, information session is 4-4:30 p.m. Oct. 7, classes are 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 14-Nov.

18. Register by email pathprograms@nkfm.org or call 734482-1455.

Lectures

• The Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus will host “Speaking Truth to Power: The White Rose Student AntiNazi Resistance,” 7p.m. Oct. 8, via Zoomwebinar. Featured speaker, author and historian Jud Newborn, will describe how two fanatical Hitler Youth leaders transformed into heroes of the German anti-Nazi resistance, www.holocaustcenter.org.

• “The Power of Your Vote” webinars being organized by National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan include Fall Focus: Protecting Michigan’s Election will be held 5p.m. Oct. 8, and Post-election Reflections: Implications for the Future will be held at 7p.m. Dec. 3, www. ncjwmi.org. Register at https:// us02web.zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_lCgectEbSuyOs9zxJFMvYQ.

Libraries

• Brandon Township Public Library in Ortonville presents Virtual Technology classes, 2-3 p.m. Thursdays, through Nov. 5, on Zoom, registration required at www.brandonlibrary.org/ events, email squick@brandonlibrary.org.

• The Ferndale Library is now offering a new online resource for students, providing comprehensive online learning support on-demand through Tutor.com Learning Suite. Any students in the region and across the school district who possess their own valid Ferndale Library card will be able to login to this online resource, to get help with their homework, access expert tutoring, prepare for tests, and get writing tips, www.ferndalepubliclibrary.org.

• Lyon Township Public Library presents Erin Yun, author of “Pippa Park Raises Her Game”, a book for 4th-8th graders, 1-2 p.m. Oct. 10, online through Zoom, register at https://lyonlib.libcal.com/event/7056346.

• Lyon Township Public Library presents Marney Rich Keenan, author of “The Snow Killings: inside the Oakland County child killer investigation”, 3-4p.m.

Oct. 10, online through Zoom, register at https://lyon-lib.libcal. com/event/7057683, 248-4378800ext. 618.

• Lyon Township Public Library presents Legal Matters Q & A Session with Attorney Ashley Turner, Oakland Mediation Center, 7-8p.m. Oct. 12, online through Zoom, register at https://lyon-lib.libcal.com/ event/6986515.

• Oxford Public Library presents “The 1918Influenza Pandemic & Its Effect on Our Ancestors” is 1-2:30p.m. Oct. 17, online via Zoom, register at http://miopl. evanced.info/signup.

• Rochester Hills Public Library presents “Epic Confrontation: Canada vs. Russia On Ice,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 8, livestream via Zoom, open to the public, register at calendar.rhpl.org or call 248656-2900.

Safety activities

• The Troy Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention

Week campaign, “Serve up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” during Fire PreventionWeek,

Oct. 4=10. This year due to COVID-19the Troy Fire Department Fire Station Open House is virtual on the department’s social media platforms. To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities, followthe Troy Fire Departments Facebook page (@TroyMIFireDept), or subscribe to our YouTube Channel (Troy Fire Department Troy, Michigan)

• The Deterra Drug Deactivation System is available at no charge to Farmington Hills and Farmington residents. Deterra permanently deactivates any medication including opioids, to dispose of unneeded or expired medications. Pouches are available at the Farmington Hills Police Department at 31655W. Eleven Mile Road and the Farmington Public Safety Department at 23600Liberty St. Residents may also drop off prescription medication through Operation Medicine Cabinet,www.fhgov. com

Seniors’ activities

• The Society of Active Retirees, SOAR, has announced registration is open for its fall classes and special events. Classes begin Oct. 12. All classes will be delivered virtually through Zoom and will be taped for on-demand viewing, www.soarexplore.com, 248-626-0296.

Support activities

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicidepreventionlifeline. org or text 741741.

• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Rochester sponsors a non-denominational Cancer Support Group for those going through treatment now or in the past, as well as familymembers and friends. The fall session is 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 29-Nov. 17, via Zoom. Register with Laura Brickley at 248-673-1299.

• The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, provides immediate crisis counseling to people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The helpline connects callers to trained professionals from the closest crisis counseling centers in the nationwide network of centers, http://disasterdistress.samhsa. gov/.

• National Alliance on Mental Health offers support and education for families and individuals living with mental health conditions, 1-800-950-6264, nami. org.

Volunteer opportunities

• The Farmington Hills Nature Center is seeking volunteers to assist with Early Childhood and Homeschool Nature Programming. Candidates will need to submit an application and pass a background check, face masks must be worn while volunteering, 248-477-1135, www.fhgov. com/Activities/Parks-Facilities/ Nature-Center.aspx or email asmith@fhgov.com.

Submit community events to The Oakland Press online at www.bit.ly/1iUM73e