COMMUNITY CALENDAR Contests

• FedEx Corp annual Small Business Grant Contest will offer grants and services to 12 U.S.- based small businesses, distributing a collective prize pool of more than $250,000 including one grand-prize winner with $50,000. The contest is open to U.S.-based for-profit small businesses that have 1-99 employees, and have been operating for six months or more. Participants must apply by March 9 at www.fedex.com/grantcontest. Public voting is March 10-March 24.

• The Village of Rochester Hills, is spotlighting local neighborhood heroes throughout 2021. Nominations are accepted at www. TheVORH.com/Heroes through Dec. 3. One community member and one school teacher will be chosen from all entries submitted each month. The heroes will be acknowledged on The Village of Rochester Hills social media pages and website.

Education activities

• Walsh College will host Financial Futures, a free virtual event highlighting career opportunities in banking, corporate finance and financial services, 8-9:30 p.m. March

2. A panel discussion will include Ashlee deSteiger, founder of Gunder Wealth Management and Richard DeVore, regional president, PNC Bank. John Moore, Ph.D., chair and professor of finance at Walsh will moderate the event which will also include a Q&A session and breakout rooms. Register at apply.walshcollege.edu/register/FinancialFutures.

• Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan is hosting “JA Inspire,” a virtual career event for 8th12th grade students, March 15-June 13. It features downloadable career information, videos, and steps to pursue various careers in different industries. Educators, students and their parents can access the portal and information any time, register at jamichigan.org/ inspiremi.

Fundraisers

• Better Made Snack Foods is partnering with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. During the month of March, Better Made will donate partial proceeds from the sale of Family and Value Size Potato Chips, and 1.5 and 2.5-ounce bags of pork rinds to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society located in Southfield, nationalmssociety.org.

• The Oakland Conservation District Spring Tree & Shrub Sale, has opened to place orders online, to pick up at a later date at 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford Township, behind the waterpark, Oaklandconservationdistrict.org.

• Penn Station East Coast Subs is hosting its 3rd annual roundup campaign for local Down syndrome organizations March 1-21. Customers who donate $2 or more, receive a bounceback card for a buy one, get one free sub on a future visit, For more information, visit www.penn-station.com.

• Leader Dogs for the Blind to host virtual Dinner in the Dark, 7:30 p.m.

March 12. Guests will be able to purchase a Dinner in the Dark kit and view virtual program. Kits include two wine glasses, blindfolds, bibs, program, menu and meal preparation cards, leaderdog.org, $150 per kit, designed for two people.

Gardening activities

• MSU Tollgate Farm 4-H Virtual Interactive Maple Sugaring Adventure for grades K-5 is 2-3 p.m. or 3:30-4:30 p.m., March 1-5. Register at events.anr.msu. edu/VirtualInteractiveMapleSugaringSeries.

• Discover Michigan Fresh, a free virtual educational series, is March 6 with the video shared on the Oakland County Farmers Market’s Facebook page featuring experts from Michigan State University Extension – Health & Nutrition, providing growing, handling and preserving tips, 248-858-5495 or email OCmarket@oakgov.com.

• The Oakland Conservation District Spring Tree & Shrub Sale, has opened to place orders online, to pick up at a later date at 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford, behind the waterpark, Oaklandconservationdistrict.org.

Government/ Legislator meetings

• Mayor Roslyn Grafstein to deliver virtual Madison Heights State of the City Address, at 9 a.m. March

4. To view online, residents can register at tinyurl.com/ y7ra4hsc.

• Clawson Schools Bond Committee Recommendation is 7 p.m. March 1, virtual meeting, video.ibm. com/channel/clawsonboard-meeting, www.clawsonschools.org.

• State Rep. Mark Tisdel to host virtual office hours for residents of the Greater Rochester area, 6-7 p.m. March 8. Tisdel will hold one-on-one meetings. Anyone interested, should call (517) 373-1773 or email MarkTisdel@house.mi.gov to reserve a timeslot within the hour.

Job fairs

• The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) presents the 2021 virtual education workforce job fairs, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). The virtual job fairs are open to employers of educators and educational support staff, and anyone seeking to work in the education field. The job fairs are set for March 3, June 16 and Aug. 4. For information and to register, job seekers and employers should visit bit.ly/MIEDUCATION_JOBFAIRS. For questions, email MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov.

Libraries

• Ferndale Area District Library to host virtual “Field Guide to Renowned Detroit Architectural Sculptor Corrado Parducci”, 7 p.m. March 2 via Zoom, register at bit.ly/3dlkSz9, 248546-2504, ferndalepubliclibrary.org, tiny.cc/parducci.

• Oxford Public Library presents “Electric Cars; Past, Present and Future”, featuring Russell Dore in a virtual presentation at 7 p.m., March 10, via Zoom. Register at www.miopl.org, (248)628-3034.

• The Troy Public Library hosts Kids Meet the Author series featuring three award-winning children’s authors during March is Reading Month, via Zoom. Gordon Korman will be the featured author for grades 3+, March 2. Kelly DiPucchio will be the featured author for early elementary age students, March 10. Supriya Kelkar will join 5th grade+ students, March 30 to talk about writing. Register at troypl.org/calendar. Participants can find copies of books by these authors by searching the library’s catalog or by calling the Youth Services desk at 248-5243541. The library is at 510 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy.

Museums

• The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and the Rochester – Avon Historical Society present “Spectacular Rochester”, historical presentation, noon-1 p.m. March 2, via Zoom, rochesterhills.org/museum, free.

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm presents “Interpreting Women at Mackinac”, 7-8 p.m. March 10, via Zoom, free event, donations accepted. RSVP at rochesterhills.org, rhmuseum@rochesterhills.org.

Parks

• Take and Make kit program “Ecofriends: Bird Feeders”, suitable for ages 8+, $6 per kit, while supplies last, March 5-19. Register at 248858-0916 during business hours to pick up a kit at Red Oaks Nature Center or Independence Oaks County Park. Live Zoom instruction is 7-9 p.m. March 19, OaklandCountyParks.com.

• Maple Magic is 3-4 p.m. March 6 at Red Oaks Nature Center, 30300 Hales St., Madison Heights. Learn to identify maple trees, take a hike to tap a tree and taste the sap, includes a treat and recipes. The cost is $6 per person. Masks are required. Register with payment by calling 248-858-0916, OaklandCountyParks.com.

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks, www.metroparks. com. Park entrance fees apply.

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

Support activities

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

• 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, disasterdistress. samhsa.gov.

Women’s History Month

• The Holocaust Memorial Center (HMC) is hosting “A Call to Spy”, as part of Women’s History Month programs, at 7 p.m. March 1, via Zoom. It features a discussion with Sarah Megan Thomas, who wrote the screenplay and Craig Gralley, author of “Hall of Mirrors: Virginia Hall: America’s Greatest Spy of WWII”. Register at www.holocaustcenter.org/spy.