Community calendar
Children’s activities
• Cheddar’s Preschool Story Time with Cheddar the Village Mouse and Mrs. Laura is 10:30 a.m., Jan. 5, with stories and crafts for children ages 2-5 at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, Troy Historical Society Members: $5/child and $3/adult; NonMembers: $6/child and $4/ adult. Register at troyhistoricvillage.org
• Morning Munchkins for preschoolers is 10:3011:30 a.m. Jan. 7 at Red Oaks Nature Center, 30300 Hales St., Madison Heights, for preschoolers, story and hands-on, nature-based discovery activity. The series is offered the first Friday of each month. The cost is $4/ child. Program is outdoors, so dress for the weather. Masks are required for programs conducted under the tent. Screening questions and touchless temperature checks upon arrival. Checkin at the white tent near the nature center. In case of inclement weather, event will be canceled. Register with payment at 248-858-0916 weekdays.
• Digger the Groundhog and Mr. Tom teach children ages 5-10 how to use tools and senses to learn about artifacts at 10 a.m. on Jan. 8, at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, Troy Historical Society Members: $5/child and $3/ adult; Non-Members: $6/ child and $4/adult. Register at troyhistoricvillage.org
Community events
• The Orion Area Chamber of Commerce Impact Awards luncheon is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 6, at Paint Creek Country Club, 2375 Stanton Road, Lake Orion, orionareachamber. com/impact-awards, $35 for members, $50 for nonmembers. • Candlelight vigil on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at Veterans Memorial Pointe (Livernois and Avon Roads), Rochester Hills. This event is one of 150 events taking place across the country, including in the U.S. Capitol.
• Discover cooking secrets from a local chef and sample dishes using produce available from Oakland County Farmers Market vendors during a free cooking demonstration held in cooperation with edibleWOW, 10-11 a.m. Jan.
8. Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp, call 248-858-5495 or visit OaklandCountyParks.com
Health/blood drives
• The City of Troy is hosting Red Cross Blood Drives, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 4 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 5, at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy. Donation appointments can be scheduled by calling 313-300-9617, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or by using the free Blood Donor App.
• American Red Cross Blood Drive is 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Costick Center, 28600 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills. Face masks required. Appointments required, register at redcrossblood.org with the sponsor code costickcenter or call 1-800448-3543.
• State of Michigan COVID-19 hotline for testing or vaccines is 1-888-5356136, (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.Fri.), for information, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus or email COVID19@michigan.gov
• Oakland County COVID-19 Vaccination, OaklandCountyVaccine.com
Holiday lights
• Glenlore Trails: Aurora holiday light show is Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 29, following sunset, at 3860 Newton Road, Commerce Township, $25 gen. admission, $20 for ages 65+, $15 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger, glenloretrails.com.
• The Big, Bright Light Show lights up downtown Rochester, nightly from 5 p.m.-midnight through Jan. 2, then every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the weekend of Jan. 15, DowntownRochesterMI. com
Libraries
• Brandon Township Public Library, 304 South St., Ortonville, to host “Manifesting Your Best”, Jan. 3-8 for ages 13+. Pick up materials to make a vision board of goals, must also check out a library item, brandonlibrary.org, 248-627-1460.
• Ferndale Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, Ferndale Library will reopen at 10 a.m. today after being closed for updates to Kids Corner and Atrium. Digital content (for all ages) is available 24/7 to Ferndale Library cardholders, including eBooks/Audiobooks through LIBBY & HOOPLA, streaming music via FREEGAL, and video content from KANOPY. The community room will remain closed until late January, fadl.org.
• Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester, to host “Vision Boarding” with Courtney Jones on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Ring in 2022 by setting an intention around your health and well-being with a vision board to remind you. Event includes supplies, open to RHPL cardholders. Registration is required, visit calendar. rhpl.org or call 248-6562900.
Museums
Michigan Coasts- Keweenaw Peninsula-History talk on Michigan’s northernmost coast and mining industry is 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy. $10/members, $15/nonmembers. Geared toward adults. Register at troyhistoricvillage.org
Parks/outdoor activities
• 2022 Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, 2022 annual pass is $40 for residents ($29 for resident seniors 62+) or $45 for nonresidents ($34 for seniors 62+), metroparks.com
• Trail Hikes by Appointment are Jan. 7-8 at Wint Nature Center in Independence Oaks County Park, 9501 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston. Register for time slots at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Up to three family groups will be admitted per time slot. Park entry fee applies. Masks are recommended, touchless temperature checks and other safety measures. Check-in at the white tent near the nature center. In case of inclement weather, programs will be canceled. Preregistration required by calling 248-858-0916 weekdays, OaklandCountyParks.com
• Friends of the Rouge needs volunteer citizen scientists for its annual Stonefly Search, Jan. 22. Registered volunteers will be assigned to teams and meet in the field at their first sampling site. There will be a “Stonefly Primer” course held via Zoom at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 to prepare volunteers for the Jan. 22 search. Register at therouge.org/bug-huntevents-and-trainings by Jan. 7 or contact Sally Petrella at 734-927-4904 or spetrella@therouge.org. All participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID or show a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the event.
• Bat Real Estate program about native bat species, is 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, via Zoom. Participants can pick up a kit to build a bat house, Jan. 7-21, while supplies last, $25/kit. Program for ages 8+. Register at 248-858-0916 during business hours and select a location to pick up program kits.
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
Shows
• Ultimate Fishing Show is Jan. 6-9 at The Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi, www.UltimateFishingShow.com, $12-adults, $5-children.
Sports
• “Discover Michigan Skiing” learn-to-ski program is through Jan. 31 at participating ski areas, including Mt. Holly in Holly, Pine Knob in Independence Twp., and Mt. Brighton in Brighton. The program includes: a beginner lesson, ski or snowboard rental equipment and a beginnerarea ski lift pass or crosscountry trail pass for a set fee of $45. For information, visit goskimichigan.com
• The “Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport program app allows 4th and 5thgrade students to ski for free, up to three times, at each of the 29 participating ski areas. The cost is $25 per child, which covers operational expenses, all lift tickets are donated by the ski areas. Local participating ski areas include Alpine Valley Ski Area in White Lake Twp.; Mt. Holly Ski Area in Holly and Mt. Brighton in Brighton. For information, visit the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association website at goskimichigan.com, or visit coldiscool.org.
Support resources
• Oxford Bank, Oxford Community Schools, and the Oxford Downtown Development Authority have established the Oxford Community Memorial and Victim’s Fund at oxfordbank.com/donations, to accept donations for the families and community affected by the Oxford High School shooting.
• Genisys Credit Union is accepting donations to assist Oxford families. To donate to Oxford Strong, visit any of the 28 Genisys branch locations in Michigan. Checks can be made payable to Genisys Credit Union- Oxford Strong. For more information, visit genisyscu.org/locations
• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 — call or text 800-231-1127.
• Mental health resources: easterseals.com/ michigan/explore-resources/mental-health-tipsduring-a.html
• Hospice of Michigan continues to offer virtual grief support groups, hom. org
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicidepreventionlifeline. org or text 741741.