Classes/Lectures
• Cornerstone Community Financial Credit Union offers “Spring Cleaning: Finance Edition” March 20, which includes tips on reviewing insurance policies, loan interest rates, canceling unused services and subscriptions. Debt Awareness Week is March 21-27, ccfinancial.com/spring-cleaning-your-finances.
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation Historian Carol Bacak-Egbo shares women’s history connected to Oakland County Parks in honor of Women’s History Month during “A Governess, An Architect and a Civil War Widow: Stories of Amazing Women,” part of the monthly Fireside Chat series. 7-8 p.m. March 15, via Zoom, facebook.com/ocparks. The next talk, 7-8 p.m. April 13, is about Oakland County towns that have disappeared.
Community activities
• State Rep. Mark Tisdel invites Greater Rochester residents to join him for office hours, 6-8 p.m. March 21 at the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester. Tisdel represents Michigan’s 45th House District which includes Rochester and Rochester Hills and part of Oakland Township. For information, call 517-373-5294.
• Waterford Montessori Academy is co-hosting a reading scavenger hunt for families in honor of National March is Reading Month, 5:30-8 p.m. March 22 at Fork n’ Pint, 4000 Cass Elizabeth Road, and 5:30-8 p.m. March 23 at OverTyme Grill & Tap Room, 4724 Dixie Hwy. Waterford Twp. For information, call Christie McWilliams, at 832-298-7055 or email christie@thechildrensbookdoctor.com.
• “Share Your Rochester Hills Story” entries sought. The city of Rochester Hills is encouraging residents, businesses, and local nonprofits to share the positive things that happened this year at rochesterhills.org/shareyourstory. The deadline for submissions is April 1.
Fundraisers
• Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars Celebration Luncheon is 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. March 16 at University of Detroit Mercy Fitness Center, 4001 West McNichols Road, Detroit, eventbrite.com/e/9th-annual-celebration-luncheon-tickets-191699858437.
• The Rochester Junior Women’s Club is currently accepting applications from area 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations who would like to be considered as a recipient of the club’s fundraising proceeds. To apply for funds, visit rjwc.org to complete and submit the application by March 18. For information, email Carolyn at rjwcpreselect@gmail.com.
• Penn Station East Coast Subs annual fundraising campaign for Down syndrome awareness is through March 21. All cashiers will ask customers if they want to round up for Down syndrome during the fundraising campaign. Penn Station will reward any customer who donates $2 or more with a card for a buy one, get one free sub on a future visit, penn-station.com.
• Shelving Inc., to host its 10th annual Bocce with the Brothers fundraiser to benefit Capuchin Ministries is 6 p.m.-midnight, March 25 at Villa Penna, 43985 Hayes Road, Sterling Heights, shelving.com/bocce-s/3221.htm 313-939-2001, live entertainment and unlimited bocce ball, $60 adv.
• Participating Menards Home Improvement Stores are serving as a drop site for food donations through the month of March. Menards offers a wide variety of non-perishable food items that can be donated to the food pantries, from boxes of cereal to cans of soup, menards.com.
Health/Safety activities
• The Farmington Hills Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association urge all residents to change their smoke alarm batteries when changing their clocks from standard time to daylight savings time, March 13.
• St. Joseph Mercy Oakland to host blood drive, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. March 13, at the hospital, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac, ages 18+. The American Red Cross is especially in need of donors who have O positive or O negative blood types, masks are required regardless of vaccination status. Registration required at redcrossblood.org.
• Birmingham residents are encouraged to take advantage of a new mobile app, GovAlert, which enables them to submit non-emergency concerns or questions to the city. The free app is available for both iOS and Android devices, bhamgov.org/govalert. Concerns may also be submitted on the city’s website at bhamgov.org/citizenrequests.
• State of Michigan COVID-19 hotline for testing or vaccines is 1-888-535-6136, (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.
Libraries
• Brandon Township Public Library, 304 South St., Ortonville. Sneaky Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt, through March 31, no registration necessary, for youth. Visit the Youth Department at the library and find a leprechaun for a chance to win a prize, brandonlibrary.org, 248-627-1460.
• Commerce Township Community Library presents “1920: Life 100 Years Ago; Detroit, Michigan, & America”, 7-8 p.m. March 21, viz Zoom, tinyurl.com/1920comm.
• Orion Township Library presents “When Mark Twain Came to Michigan”, 7 p.m. March 23 at the library, 825 Joslyn Road, Orion Township, 248-693-3000, free.
• Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester, “Turn the Page: The Bob Seger Story”: 7 p.m. March 15, open to RHPL cardholders, register at calendar.rhpl.org, 248-656-2900.
• Troy Public Library presents author Scott Ellsworth to discuss his New York Times bestselling book “The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice”, about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, 7-8:30 p.m. March 16 at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois Road, Troy. Register at troypl.org/calendar or call 248-524-3534, sponsored by the Friends of the Troy Public Library.
• White Lake Township Library, 11005 Elizabeth Lake Road, White Lake Twp. whitelakelibrary.org, 248-698-4942. Friends of White Lake Township Library seeks new or gently used books, audio books, CDs, DVDs, electronic games and consoles to resell, for information, email friends@whitelakelibrary.org. White Lake Township Library Book Sale is March 17-19.
Museum activities
• Great Michigan Read: Book Discussion about Mary Doria Russell’s “The Women of the Copper Country”, the 2021-22 Great Michigan Read, at 6 p.m. March 16 at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy. Program is free. Register at troyhistoricvillage.org.
• “Great Michigan Read: The Art of Coppersmithing-Metalsmith” Rose Weiss presents a hands-on talk on the art and history of coppersmithing, at 6 p.m. March 23 at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, Troy Historical Society Members: $8, non-members: $9. Geared toward adults. Register at www.troyhistoricvillage.org.
Parks/Outdoor activities
• The Magical Maples program will teach participants how to make batches of maple syrup at home. Sap to Syrup is 1-2:15 p.m. March 19 at Wint Nature Center. The program will also include a hike to tap a tree and taste the sap plus take home maple-based treats and recipes. The cost is $7/person/program. Call 248-858-0916 weekdays to register. In addition, nature center staff members will further explore the maple sugaring process with students ages 6-13 during Homeschool Series: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 16 at Wint Nature Center. The cost is $10/child/session. Register with payment by calling 248-858-0916 weekdays. These sessions are designed as a drop-off program for youth. All students are welcome, OaklandCountyParks.com.
• Troy Nature Society to host maple tree syrup tapping guided tours, March 19, outdoors at the Stage Nature Center, 6885 Coolidge Hwy., Troy. Guided tours for small groups to learn how trees are tapped, children will receive a “take-home” craft and attendees will be treated to a mini pancake topped with real maple syrup. Tours start every 15 minutes, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Registration required at stagenaturecenter.org, 248-688-9703. Troy Nature Society and Stage Nature Center members pay $7, troynaturesociety.org/maple-syrup-time, pay $10 for adults; and $7 for ages 4-10; free for ages younger than 4.
• ReLeaf Michigan advises residents to trim oak trees during the winter months when Oak Wilt spread risk is lowest. (It is best to avoid moving firewood to new locations.) For more information, visit the Michigan Oak Wilt Coalition website at michiganoakwilt.org/resources or Releaf Michigan.org or call 1-800-642-7353.
• Maple Sugaring Month at Huron-Clinton Metroparks with activities including “A Pancakes to Go breakfast”, which will be offered each weekend during the month at Hudson Mills and Kensington Metropark, register at www.metroparks.com/maple. Public programming and self-guided sugar bush hikes are available at: Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center; Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center and Kensington Metropark Farm Center, prices vary.
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
Pets
• March Wagness pet adoption at Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center where qualified residents may adopt a dog or cat for just $25, March 11-18. Adoptions are by appointment only between 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., call 248-858-1070, oakgov.com/petadoption/petadoptioncenter/Pages/default.aspx.
Scholarship applications/Student contests
• The National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan is hosting a youth video PSA contest, “Standing up to Bullying or Hate”, open to Oakland County high school girls. The contest encourages entrants to come up with a compelling and imaginative 30-second video. The first prize is $1,000, second is $750 and third is $500. Entries are due by midnight March 28, and the awards will be presented at a ceremony at Bloomfield Township Public Library,1099 Lone Pine Rd, Bloomfield Twp, May 5, ncjwmi.org/youth-video-contest. For information, contact mail@ncjjwmi.org or call 248-355-3300 ext. 0.
• ABC Law Centers partners with the National Speech and Debate Association with the Finch Legal Oratory Competition for high school students to demonstrate their skills through speeches. The first place winner will receive a scholarship and fully funded trip (airfare and accommodations for competitor and chaperone) to Nationals, held on June 12, abclawcenters.com/floc-nsda-2022-legal-oratory-scholarship, contact Dana Zacharias at Dana@mockingbirdmarketing.com, 503-898-0054.
• Lake Trust Foundation is offering two scholarship opportunities for Michigan residents. With the 2022 New Beginnings Scholarship, up to six applicants will be selected to receive a scholarship worth a maximum of $5,000. With the 2022 Michigan Impact Scholarship, five full-tuition scholarships will be awarded to current or incoming Cleary University students studying at their Livingston or Detroit campuses or online. Applications for the two scholarships are open through March 12 at Laketrust.org/Scholarships.
• Bowman Auto Group is offering a $2,500 scholarship to eligible 2022 graduating Clarkston High School seniors who have been accepted at a 2-year or 4-year college or vocational institution, and plan to pursue a degree in a STEAM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) field. To be considered for the scholarship, students should apply at bowmanchevy.com/scholarship by March 24.
• Oakland Community College annual Chancellor’s Scholarship applications will be accepted until March 31. Eligibility criteria and applications are at oaklandcc.edu/finaid/chancellors.aspx.
Support resources
• Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is continuing its virtual support group sessions for Michiganders experiencing the loss of a loved one. For virtual group session times and dates, visit hom.org, call (888) 247-5701 or email kmonts@HOM.ORG.
• 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-tips-during-a.html.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicidepreventionlifeline.org or text 741741.
Submit community events to The Oakland Press online at bit.ly/1iUM73e.