Community calendar

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

• Gleaners Community Food Bank food distribution event is every other Wednesday, at the Oakland County Farmers Market, with the next event, from 9-11 a.m. March 13, while supplies last, for anyone in need. Drive-up and stay in the vehicle, or walkup distribution, no need for proof of eligibility. For information, call 248-8585495 or email OCmarket@ oakgov.com.

• MI-UCP (Michigan United Cerebral Palsy) is celebrating its 75th year by partnering with The Detroit Red Wing Alumni for a fundraising and disability awareness event, March 16. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Arena in Orchard Lake. There will also be a rummage sale and 50/50 raffle. Sled exhibition at 4 p.m., followed by Red Wing Alumni vs. MI-UCP Pucksters at 6p.m., admission is free. Donations can be made in advance at www.mi-ucp. org/hockey or call 248-5575070, Ext. 154.

• Participating Dairy Queen restaurants, DQ.com, are celebrating the first day of spring by giving guests a free small, vanilla softserve cone during Free Cone Day on March 19. Guests may add a dip to their DQ cones for $1. The additional dollar, and donations will benefit pediatric patients at Corewell Health’s Beaumont Children’s, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Beaumont.org/CMN.

• Bocce with the Brothers: 5:30 p.m.-midnight, March 22, Villa Penna, 43985 Hayes Road, Sterling Heights, $75 per person advance only, to benefit Capuchin Ministries, www. boccewiththebrothers.org, includes a buffet dinner, beer and wine, and reserved seating.

• March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness and Education month and Better Made Snack Foods is partnering with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in an effort to educate the public about this disease. Better Made will donate partial proceeds from the sale of

Family and Value Size Potato Chips, and 2.5-ounce bags of pork rinds to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society located in Southfield, nationalMSsociety.org.

• Feeding Detroit Together, benefit for Forgotten Harvest is 6 p.m.-midnight, April 12, at the MGM Grand Detroit in Detroit, gourmet coursed dinner, entertainment, and dancing with live music by The Killer Flamingos, www.forgottenharvest. org/feedingdetroittogether24, $150 each.

• American Red Cross

Blood Drives are hosted throughout the area. Donation appointments can be scheduled by calling 313-300-9617 or visiting www.redcrossblood.org/ give.html/find-drive and entering zip code for nearby locations.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

• Skywarn Spotter Training Program is 7 p.m. March 12, at Novi Civic Center, 45175 W 10 Mile Road, Novi, and 7 p.m. April 16, at Waterford Oaks Activity Center, 2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford Twp., online training available at www.weather. gov/dtx/spotter2.

• Birmingham Youth Assistance is accepting nominations for its Youth in Service award program, for public or private school students in grades 6-12who live or are educated within the Birmingham Public School district and who have demonstrated service in the community. Eligibility criteria and nomination forms are at www.birminghamyouthassistance.com. The deadline is March 15. Questions can be emailed to BYAYouthServingOthers@ gmail.com.

• Oakland Community College Culinary Classes include Spring Cookie Creations for Children ages 6-16, is 10 a.m.-noon March 16. Learn decorating techniques in this hands-on class using royal icing on sugar cookies, at Woodward Corners, 30955 Woodward Ave #305, Royal Oak, $55 each, register at www.oaklandcc.edu/ce/culinary.

• “On The Clock Tour” ahead of NFL Draft is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 19 at The Hawk Community Center, 29995 W. Twelve Mile Road, Farmington Hills. Hosted by the City of Farmington Hills and Visit Detroit, in conjunction with the Detroit Sports Commission, activities including interactive games, arts and crafts, inflatables, and other family-friendly football-themed stations, in addition to free pizza and pop, https://visitdetroit. com/inside-the-d/on-theclock-tour.

• Speaker Lori Miller of the Oakland History Center will present the story of Michigan abolitionist Eliza Seaman Leggett at the Rochester Branch of the American Association of University Women meeting at 3 p.m. March 20, at the Rochester Community House, https://rochester-mi. aauw.net, 248-651-0436, no registration required.

• The Farmington Hills

Police Department to host Citizens Police Academy, held 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesdays, March 19-May 21. The program offers community members insight into law enforcement practices, procedures, and the daily operations of the Farmington Hills Police Department. Most sessions will be held in the Farmington Hills

Police Department training room, 31655 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills. The program is free, space is limited. For information or to sign up, email crimeprevention@fhgov.com.

FESTIVALS/SHOWS

• Novi Boat Show: March 14-17, Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, noviboatshow.net. Adults-$12, ages 12 and younger-free with adult, parking on-site for $10.

• St. Patrick’s Day with Family Fun Outdoor Event: Noon-6 p.m. March 17, The Village of Rochester Hills shopping center, 104 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, activities include visits with Easter Bunny, music, outdoor lawn games, and green beer for ages 21+ to purchase, free admission.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

• The Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation is accepting grant applications in honor of the late founder of Olga’s Kitchen. Women entrepreneurs actively building their business in Michigan can apply for the grants at olgas.com/foundation through May 6. Women applicants must live in the U.S., show financial need and provide a formal business plan. The foundation also seeks donations at https://www.olgas. com/donate.

HEALTH ACTIVITIES

• Yoga Moves MS, a nonprofit, is hosting “Yoga Moves Parkinson’s”, a weekly program, beginning March 6, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Wednesdays, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road in Southfield. The program is free, through a grant from the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s, 248-417-5985, www.YogaMovesMS.org.

• Gazelle Sports at 99W. Maple, Birmingham to host its Birmingham Run Club, all paces are welcome, 2 mile walk and 3.25 mile run option, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Saturdays, https://gazellesports.com/pages/gazellesportsbirmingham.

LIBRARIES

• Mixed-Media Fiber Artist Boisali Biswas, exhibit and opening reception is 2 p.m. March 10 with live music and refreshments at the Ferndale Library, 222E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Art on display March 4-April 6, www.fadl.org/art.

• Friends of the White Lake Township Library to host book sale, March 14-16, at White Lake Township Library, 11005Elizabeth Lake Road, White Lake

Twp., 20 percent discount to teachers with ID. Friends Members Only sale is 5-7 p.m. March 13, memberships available at the door, baked goods for sale, www. whitelakelibrary.org.

• Irish Folk Music History plus Sing-A-Long is 2 p.m. March 17, with local singer/ songwriter Terry Murphy with variations of folk, celtic, bluegrass and rock music, at Ferndale Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, free, all-ages concert, no registration needed, www. fadl.org/irish.

• Rochester Hills Public Library presents “Vaping 101”, an informational program presented by Oakland County Health, 7p.m. March 21, Rochester Hills Public Library. Registration is required. To register, visit calendar.rhpl.org or call 248-656-2900.

MUSEUMS

• Rochester Hills Museum presents Cabin Fever Lecture Series, 7-8p.m. Fridays in March, “Troy in the Roaring Twenties” is March 15, “Art of Illustration — Books for Children” is March 22; “Albert Kahn: The Residences” is March 29; at The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm Calf Barn, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills. Museum members-free, non-members-$5/adults, $3/seniors and students. Register at www.rochesterhills.org/ musprograms.

• “Speaker Series- “A Vatican Astronomer’s View of Galileo”: 10 a.m. March

17, Cranbrook Institute of Science, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, https://science.cranbrook. edu/explore/speaker-series, ticket prices vary.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES/ PARKS

• Maple Magic, learn how to tap a tree and the process of maple sugaring, 1-2 p.m. March 16, Independence Oaks, 9501 Sashabaw Road, Independence Twp., all ages, $5each, preregistration with payment required by calling 248-858-0916 weekdays or visit www.oakgov.com/ community/oakland-county-parks/events.

• Maple Syrup Time is Saturdays, through March 16, Stage Nature Center, 6685 Coolidge Hwy. Troy, guided tours for small groups to learn how trees are tapped, register for a time slot at https://troynaturesociety. org/register-for-programs. Teens and adults-$10, children ages 4-12-$7. Members-$7. Children under 4-free.

• Maple Sugaring events at Huron-Clinton Metroparks, register at www.metroparks. com/maple, prices vary.

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

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

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

• The Michigan Notary Association Legacy Panel offers a free educational event to help attendees plan for retirement, 1-3:30 p.m. March 14, Marian Oakland, 29250 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, www.trinityhealthseniorcommunities. org/michigan/marian-oakland, 248-474-7204.

• Free “Tee Up to Retirement” Lunch & Learn Event with Pro Tips for an Active Lifestyle is 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. March 19, Jewish Senior Life Meer Apartments, 6760W Maple Road, West Bloomfield Twp., for reservations, call Beth at 248592-5026, or email info@ jslmi.org, includes lunch.

• Royal Oak Schools invites the senior citizen community to a luncheon, “Soup and Salad with the Super,” 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 20, at the Royal Oak Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais Ave., Royal Oak. This is an opportunity for senior citizens to eat with the Superintendent of Royal Oak Schools and some accomplished high school seniors.

SUPPORT RESOURCES

• Easterseals MORC is promoting its See the Good campaign during March, for Developmental Disability Awareness Month, to encourage individuals to focus on one’s abilities (not disabilities). Easterseals MORC is encouraging individuals to register for its upcoming free webinar, “The Good We Do Now: Building Successful Futures”, at noon March 19, register in advance at https://bit.ly/SeeTheGoodWebinar2024.

Submit community events online at https://bit. ly/40a2iAm.