Community Calendar

People of all skill levels, including beginners, are welcome! For more info, contact Sue Archer at 231-944-0013.

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

Adults paint a watercolor card suitable for framing with Becky Dykstra. Materials provided. RSVP.

Every Wednesday May 6th, 2026 - Oct 28th, 2026, Except the 3rd Wednesday of each month and July 29. 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.

Free, peer-led mental health support groups: NAMI Family Support and NAMI Connection Group.

Both held Wednesdays, 12pm at Christ Church, 430 Fair St. (See website for zoom link)

Free, peer-led mental health support: NAMI Connection Group. Held Wednesdays, 5pm Online (see website for zoom link) and at Child & Family Services, 3785 Veterans Dr.

Free, peer-led mental health support groups:

*NAMI Family Support (Mondays at 6pm. Online and in-person at HBA, 3040 Sunset Ln. See website for zoom link.)

*NAMI Connection Group (Mondays at 6pm. Online, see website for zoom link)

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Time: 9 am–12 pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Location: Thoreson Farm.
Skill: All

Other Sessions in 4-Part Series: Kandinsky (July 14). Porter (July 21). Kahn (July 28).

Imagine if history’s greatest landscape painters had the opportunity to paint in Sleeping Bear country, “The Most Beautiful Place In America.” This is a class to not only learn the techniques of plein air painting but also to learn about the methods of history’s great landscape painters. Each class will start off with a brief illustrated presentation, beginning with The History Of Landscape Painting, and moving on to newly featured artists for 2026, including Claude Monet, Wassily Kandinsky, Fairfield Porter, and Wolf Kahn. Following the presentations, students will seek to incorporate ideas learned into their own paintings. The instructor will give frequent demonstrations and provide close personal attention to each student.

Objective: Conceptual Understanding

Outcome: Development of Personal Style

Date: Wednesday–Friday, July 8, 9, and 10, 2026
Time: 9 am–1 pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Location: Thoreson Farm
Skill Level: All

Experience plein air oil painting in various locations throughout the historic Port Oneida landscape. This workshop will introduce plein air painting techniques and teach strategies for depicting natural and rural landscapes. Subjects of study will include: atmosphere, trees, terrain, sky, water, beach, and farm buildings. Each class will begin with a painting demonstration, followed by group painting and individual instruction. We will paint rain or shine! Each day, the weather will present new challenges and learning opportunities. All experience levels are welcome. Only a positive attitude is required.

This class will meet at Thoreson Farm each day and may travel to other farms and beaches throughout the Port Oneida Rural Historic District to enjoy a variety of different painting locations.

Every Wednesday May 6th, 2026 - Oct 28th, 2026, Except the 3rd Wednesday of each month and July 29. 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.

Free, peer-led mental health support groups: NAMI Family Support and NAMI Connection Group.

Both held Wednesdays, 12pm at Christ Church, 430 Fair St. (See website for zoom link)