Almanac

Every Wednesday May 7th, 2025 - Oct 29th, 2025, Except the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Free lessons at 11:30am. Lunch (bring your own) and bridge talk at Noon. ACBL-sanctioned bridge game for $5.00 begins at 12:30pm. For more details, contact Lou Slyker at 248-770-6152 or ljslyker@gmail.com Sponsored by Alden District Library and held at Helena Township Community Center, 8751 Helena Rd, Alden, 231-331-4318.

National Alliance on Mental Illness offers support groups for families and individuals living with a mental health challenge. Groups are confidential, free and no registration is required.

Email info@namigt.org or call 231-944-8448 for more information.

Date: M/T/F July 28 and 29; August 1, 2025
Time: 1 pm–4 pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Location: Thoreson Farm
Kurinuki is a traditional Japanese pottery technique carved from a single clay block. The word means “carving out.” A solid block of clay is minimally shaped and then carved to create the interior and exterior spaces. Spontaneous and showing the marks of the making process, Kurinuki pots tend to be more alive and sculptural than other hand-building methods. An excellent clay experience for beginners, Kurinuki can also be satisfying for experienced clay artists. Some forms made using Kurinuki include yunomi (teacups), boxes, vases, and sippers. In addition, Kurinuki vessels often capture the essence of the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, the beauty within imperfection. Students will be guided in creating a set of yunomi (small drinking vessels with tray) and a small, lidded box.

Taste and learn the difference fresh crushed olive oil makes in inspiring you to create delicious, healthy meals. This class features both the agricultural process of the sourcing, harvesting, and crushing our olive oils and a tasting session focused on the exceptional flavor and quality of our SELECT extra virgin olive oils. We round it off by discussing the outstanding benefits these polyphenol-dense oils bring to your overall health.

The class will be led by Fustini's Traverse City store manager Hannah Parker who has spent her life expanding her food palette with a focus on fresh, healthy, and sustainable ingredients. A local who grew up surrounded by agriculture, Hannah will lead this community class to connect you to a higher quality eating experience.

Registration Fee: $35

WATERCOLOR FOR ALL LEVELS - Charlevoix
JULY 31 2025
THURSDAY
10am - 1pm

REGISTER BY: July 26

CLASS FEE: $50, or $45 for members​

FORMAT: in-person

I’m so excited to return to the Circle to paint with vacationers and residents of the Charlevoix region! In this watercolor-for-all-levels class we’ll create two paintings, two different sizes. We’ll use wet-into-wet techniques and wet-into-dry, and use some unique household tools, beyond the paint brush!

​
SUPPLY LIST
• 140-pound cold press watercolor paper. 9” x 12”, plus a half sheet of 9” x 12”
• A board for your paper. Can be a corrugated box side.
• Painter’s tape to tape your paper down to your board.
• Table Salt (regular and/or Kosher, larger grains).
• White Crayon or white taper candle.
• Brushes: Round brushes that come to a point when wet, including a size 0 or smaller for details, 4, 6, and optional larger.
• Watercolor paint colors: Sap green, a warm yellow, a pink, violet or purple, a deep blue, ocher, a quinacridone gold is optional, green-gold (or can make with sap green and LEMON yellow), cerulean blue, red, burnt sienna, indigo or Payne’s gray, brown. (Don’t worry if you don’t have all these colors; most can be mixed with basic colors such as red, yellow, blue)

SUPPLIES CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED! Contact Megan if you would like her to bring supplies for your use, the cost is $10 per head, bring cash to class and pay teacher directly. Please notify Megan in advance at megan@waterloogroup.com .

Date: M/T/F July 28 and 29; August 1, 2025
Time: 1 pm–4 pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Location: Thoreson Farm
Kurinuki is a traditional Japanese pottery technique carved from a single clay block. The word means “carving out.” A solid block of clay is minimally shaped and then carved to create the interior and exterior spaces. Spontaneous and showing the marks of the making process, Kurinuki pots tend to be more alive and sculptural than other hand-building methods. An excellent clay experience for beginners, Kurinuki can also be satisfying for experienced clay artists. Some forms made using Kurinuki include yunomi (teacups), boxes, vases, and sippers. In addition, Kurinuki vessels often capture the essence of the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, the beauty within imperfection. Students will be guided in creating a set of yunomi (small drinking vessels with tray) and a small, lidded box.

Date: M/T/F July 28 and 29; August 1, 2025
Time: 1 pm–4 pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Location: Thoreson Farm
Kurinuki is a traditional Japanese pottery technique carved from a single clay block. The word means “carving out.” A solid block of clay is minimally shaped and then carved to create the interior and exterior spaces. Spontaneous and showing the marks of the making process, Kurinuki pots tend to be more alive and sculptural than other hand-building methods. An excellent clay experience for beginners, Kurinuki can also be satisfying for experienced clay artists. Some forms made using Kurinuki include yunomi (teacups), boxes, vases, and sippers. In addition, Kurinuki vessels often capture the essence of the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, the beauty within imperfection. Students will be guided in creating a set of yunomi (small drinking vessels with tray) and a small, lidded box.

INTRO TO ACTING
REGISTER
SERIES OF 4 CLASSES:

AUGUST 4, 6, 11, 13
Mondays & Wednesdays
5:30 - 7pm​

CLASS FEE:
$80, or $72 for Members

​FORMAT: In Person

This class is for anyone creative that enjoys television and film, and wants to learn more about the acting process.

You will learn the basic fundamentals of acting, acting exercises, monologues and scene study as well as many other acting related topics.

No prior acting experience is needed!

The class atmosphere will be light hearted and fun! Let’s roll!

Phillip will also answer your questions about working in the entertainment industry and how things work in Hollywood.

Date: 4 Mondays—August 4, 11, 18, and 25 2025
Time: 6 pm—9 pm
Registration Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025
Location: Thoreson Farm
Learn and practice wedging, centering, throwing, and trimming basic forms. Enjoy one-on-one interaction as you learn the skills needed to become comfortable working on the potter’s wheel. In addition, the class will include the basics of decorating, glazing, and firing finished work. Open Studio and one 25# bag of clay included for all three sessions.

Creating art and contributing to the community for over 40 years.

For more info, email taartisansguild@gmail.com

Sponsored by Alden District Library and held at Helena Township Community Center, 8751 Helena Rd, Alden, 231-331-4318.