COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Business

• The Orion Area Chamber of Commerce 4th Annual Women in Business Conference in celebration of International Women’s Day, March

8. The luncheon is 11:30a.m.-2 p.m. March 8, at Paint Creek Country Club, 2323Stanton Road, Orion Twp. Registration is required at orionareachamber.com or call 248-693-6300, men welcome.

• How to Start a Business InPerson Workshop is 6-7:30p.m. March 15, at Oak Park Community Center, 14200Oak Park Blvd.,

Oak Park, register at tinyurl.com/ mr2attt9.

Charitable activities/ Fundraisers

• Gleaners Community Food

Bank food distribution event is at the Oakland County Farmers Market, 9-11a.m. March 8, while supplies last, for those in need. Drive-up and stay in the vehicle, or walk-up distribution, no need for proof of eligibility. For information, call 248-858-5495 or email OCmarket@oakgov.com.

• Avondale Choir Bowl-La-Rama Fundraiser is 11a.m.-2p.m. March 11, at Classic Lanes, 2145Avon Industrial Drive, Rochester Hills, 248-852-9100, Brian Schott 248-494-2747, Avondalechoir@ gmail.com, $25/bowlers and $15 non-bowlers (food only).

• Strike Up Support for University Hills PTA is 1-4p.m. March 12, at Classic Lanes, 2145Avon Industrial Drive, Rochester Hills, 248-852-9100, kathrynlbaker@ hotmail.com $20/bowler, $10/ non-bowler (food only).

Children’s activities

• Homeschool Program-Maple Sugaring will be held from

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March

9at Red Oaks Nature Center, 30300Hales St. in Madison Heights, and 10:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 15 at Wint Nature Center in Independence Oaks County Park, 9501Sashabaw Road, Independence Twp. Each session is adapted for ages 6-9 and ages 10-13. Preregistration is required; call 248-8580916 on weekdays, no on-site registration will be available. Sessions are designed as dropoff programs for youth. A release form must be completed with registration, $10per child/per session, OaklandCountyParks. com.

• Scout Badge Day-Scouts of America Wolves-Call of the Wild is from 10:30a.m.-12:30p.m. or 2-4p.m. March 11at Red Oaks Nature Center, 30300Hales

St., Madison Heights. Scouts of America Bears can earn their Super Science badge from 10:30 a.m.-12:30p.m. or 2-4p.m.

March 18at Red Oaks Nature Center. Scouts of America Webelos can earn their Earth Rocks badge from 10:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 2-4p.m. March 18at

Wint Nature Center. Naturalists will help scouts complete the requirements to achieve a badge. Rain or shine, portions of the program may be outdoors. Cost is $10/scout per program. Preregistration is required by calling 248-858-0916weekdays or online at OaklandCountyParks.com, or scout leaders can register online at OaklandCountyParks.com.

Community events

• Rochester’s Founder’s Day to be held, 2-4p.m. March 12, in the Calf Barn at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm,1005Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, presented by the Rochester Historical Commission. The event features local authors and entertainment, refreshments. Children are welcome, admission is free but registration is requested at bit. ly/3ZHcWNF.

Education

• Informational webinars about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship are offered: 6:307:30 p.m. March 7, March 21,

April 4, April 18 and May 2. The webinars are free and open to the public. Register in advance at www.michigan.gov/achievement. Completion of the Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to be considered for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, www.fafsa.gov.

• Heartfelt Impressions Learning Center will be holding a community Literacy Night, 6:30-8p.m. March 9, at the Orion Center, 1335Joslyn Road, Orion Twp., heartfeltimpressions.net, www. facebook.com/heartfeltimpressionsclarkston

• Rochester Hills Public Library to host a Preschool Fair, 10a.m.noon, March 11, in the library’s Multipurpose Room. Parents are invited to drop in and visit with representatives from local preschools and childcare centers. Registration is not required. Adults only. For questions, call 248-650-7146.

• Right to Life is sponsoring a High School Oratory Contest for students in Oakland County, at 7p.m. March 16, at Everest Collegiate High School & Academy, 5935Clarkston Road, Clarkston. Students are to give a 5-7 minute speech on one of the following topics: abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, embryonic stem cell research, or human cloning, competing for cash prizes for first through third place ($300, $150, $50). For information, contact

Kelly Luttinen at kluttinennew@gmail.com or by texting or calling 248-979-8129.

Health/Blood drives

• The City of Troy is hosting

Red Cross Blood Drives, 1-7 p.m. March 6 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 17, at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy. Donation appointments can be scheduled by calling 313-3009617or visiting RedCrossBlood. org.

• The Farmington Hills Fire Department to host free car seat safety inspections, March 12by appointment only from 8 a.m. to noon at Fire Station#3, 29260 Grand River, Farmington Hills. To register for an appointment, contact Sara West at swest@fhgov.com.

• American Heart Association Heartsaver Class including CPR, AED and tourniquet training, 5:30-10p.m. March 16, at Farmington Hills Fire Department Fire Station #4, 28711 Drake Road, Farmington Hills. The cost is $10 for Farmington Hills/Farmington residents and $20for nonresidents. Fees are due one week in advance of the class date, ages 12+. To register or for more information contact Sara West at swest@fhgov.com.

Libraries

• Rochester Hills Public Library presents “A Suitable Helper: Men Who Helped Women Gain the Right to Vote” with Anne Nichols from Rochester University, at 7p.m. March 9, in the library’s Multipurpose Room, open to RHPL cardholders. Registration is required at calendar.rhpl.org or call 248-656-2900.

• Friends of the White Lake Township Library Book Sale is March 16-18, with a Friends Only sale on March 15, memberships available at the door at 11005 Elizabeth Lake Road, White Lake Township, whitelakelibrary.org.

• “DeClutter with Heather, DeClutter Bug” is 6-8p.m.

March 20, Springfield Township Library, 12000 Davisburg Road, Davisburg, register at 248-8466550, bit.ly/41GsD9w, cburtrum@springfield.lib.mi.us.

• Rochester Hills Public Library announced that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners pledged to continue supporting the library’s Oakland Talking Book Service (OTBS). OTBS is part of a state-wide program to assist those living with a vision or physical disability, providing access to assistive technology training, digital audiobooks and eBooks, talking books on cassettes, large print materials, and braille matter. The library is at 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester, otbs.rhpl.org, 800-7744542.

Museums

• The Rochester-Avon Historical Society Brown Bag program series features “Life and Times of Eliza Seaman Leggett” an American suffragist and abolitionist who is buried in Pontiac’s Oak

Hill Cemetery. The program is at noon, March 7, at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm1005Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills. This program is free and open to the public, bring a lunch. Registration is required at rochesteravonhistoricalsociety.org or at bit.ly/3XXKuFJ.

• Cabin Fever Lecture Series is held Fridays in March at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm — Calf Barn, 1005Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills. Archaeology at Van Hoosen Farm is 7-8 p.m. March 10, free admission for museum members $5 for non-members, $3for seniors and students. Register at www. rochesterhills.org/musprograms.

• Constitution Café discussing the Second Amendment-The Right to Bear Arms, is 2 p.m. March 12, Troy Historic Village 60 W Wattles Troy, 48098 248 5243570Event takes place inside the Old Church, free. Register at www.troyhistoricvillage.org/programs/constitutioncafes.

• Women In Science Speaker Series is March 12, doors at 2:30p.m., Cranbrook Institute of Science, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 248-6453200, science.cranbrook.edu/ women-rock-science/speakerseries, $15for adults and $10 for children. Members tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

• The Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society presents open houses 1-4p.m. March 5, 12, 17 and 26; and April 2, 21, and 30, at The Orchard Lake Museum, 3951Orchard Lake Road, Orchard Lake. Admission is free, donations are welcome, www.gwbhs. org, 248-757-2451.

• Downton Abbey-inspired Servant’s Life Tours: 11:30-1p.m. or 1:30-3p.m. on select weekends in February and March, Meadow Brook Hall, 350Estate Drive, Rochester, on the campus of Oakland University. $45 each, tickets at meadowbrookhall.org/ servantslife.

Outdoor activities/Parks

• Oakland County Parks manages nest boxes at seven parks for the Eastern Bluebird and other cavity nesting birds. A citizen science information session is 1-2:30 p.m. March 12 at Wint Nature Center in Independence Oaks

County Park, free and open to the public. For information, email Theresa Celusta at celustat@oakgov.com, OaklandCountyParks.com.

• Learn the art of maple sugaring from experts from the Farmington Hills Nature Center. Time slot sessions are offered in March at Heritage Park. Classes will finish with a pure maple syrup treat, $7 per person (free for younger than 2), bit.ly/3YRqXrK.

• Oakland County Parks and Recreation, OaklandCountyParks. com. Park entry fees apply.

• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply.

Shows

• Novi Boat Show is March 9-12, Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100Grand River Ave., Novi, Noviboatshow.net, adults: $12, children 12 and younger-free with adult. Parking is available on-site for $5.

Support resources

• March is National Disability Awareness Month, and Easterseals MORC kicked off its

See the Good campaign. A free virtual webinar is noon — 1p.m. March 21with panelists including Dr. Doru Bali — Easterseals MORC Medical Director. Register in advance at bit.ly/SeeTheGoodWebinar.

• For access to local community services, dial 211(844-8759211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions.

• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 — call or text 800-231-1127.

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center. Pressing 1 after dialing 988will connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.

• Housing Assessment and Resource Agency, www.hud.gov/ states/michigan/homeless.

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