Local archive
Community
B. Kensa posted the lowest score in the P.A. Systems group at Alpena Golf Club on Sept. 22, while golfers shared low marks on several holes and earned recognition for putting, birdies and chip-ins.
Community
MediLodge of Alpena has received the AHCA/NCAL Silver National Quality Award, placing the 132-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center among only seven Michigan facilities to earn the distinction this year.
Community
Alpena Community College will host an Oct. 21 gathering at the Granum Theatre alongside the Bridge Michigan Issues Summit, giving residents a chance to watch statewide discussions and join local breakout conversations.
Community
The final Aliferis Memorial Race has ended after 25 years, with $677,883.80 raised for local cancer care initiatives and scholarships for future health care professionals.
Community
After 16 years with the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Stephanie Gandulla is moving to Oswego, New York, to lead the new Lake Ontario sanctuary while remaining connected to Alpena and its education and outreach programs.
Community
Alpena County Administrator Jesse Osmer announced a spending freeze from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, while commissioners authorized him to rewrite a policy governing certain elected officials’ accounts.
Community
MyMichigan Urgent Care Alpena will expand its schedule effective September 27, adding Sunday appointments and extending access for patients seeking walk-in treatment.
Community
The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan awarded $70,350 in 2026 Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle grants to 22 projects across Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties. Several Alpena-area organizations received funding for child care, transportation, cancer support, youth programs, a museum restoration and more.
Community
The All Recovery Group will meet every Thursday afternoon at the Bay View Center in Alpena for people navigating mental health and addiction recovery.
Community
St. Paul Lutheran Church’s Outreach Ministry recently donated to the Cancer Center at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, supporting local patients facing difficult times.
Community
The Association of Lifelong Learners has scheduled programs and outings for next week, including travel advice, a history presentation, a Lady Michigan glass-bottom boat tour, a group meal and an exercise-and-aging discussion.
Community Water Street Commons
United Way of Northeast Michigan will host Give Like Dolly Day at Water Street Commons from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and local children’s access to free books.
Community
The Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union donated $100 to the Poetics Lab to support its Prominent Poet series, while its member-funded Community Investment Fund is set to return up to $320,406 to area communities in 2026.
Community
Children at Camper’s Cove connected with Alpena County Sheriff’s Office representative Trayton Tuinstra during the campground’s annual Halloween celebration Saturday.
Community North Second Avenue
The Salvation Army of Alpena County is collecting coats and other winter clothing for local families, with donations accepted at 722 N. 2nd Ave. during weekday hours and through an after-hours drop-off bin.
Community
Eulah Benson is celebrating her 100th birthday in Alpena with family, friends and church members at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House. Known locally as the Purple Lady, Benson has spent a century building a family, running a business, serving others and embracing life’s changes with determination and kindness.
Community
Camper’s Cove owner Mark Hall met Demi Rhode and her infant son, Weston, during the campground’s Halloween costume contest in Alpena on Saturday.
Community
Gaylord rallied twice in the second half to defeat Alpena 30-22 at Wildcat Stadium, sending the Wildcats to their third straight Big North Conference loss.
Community
MyMichigan Health will host a special breast cancer screening event at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena on Oct. 15, with mammograms available from 5 to 7 p.m. Appointments are required, and patients can schedule through the MyMichigan Access Center.
Community
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approved nearly $7 million in disaster assistance, including a $709,225 allocation shared by Alpena and six other counties affected by a severe March 2026 winter storm.
Community
Alpena County voters can cast ballots early at the Alpena Township Civic Building on U.S. 23 North from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, 2026. Voters may also use no-excuse absentee voting, but key mailing and ballot-return deadlines apply.
Community
Alpena County officials discussed alleged fairgrounds violations after the 2026 fair, including missing food licenses, unauthorized camping, property damage, late equipment removal and concerns that the county’s camping license could be jeopardized.
Community
The Boys & Girls Club of Alpena will host its Bowl for Great Futures Halloween Bowling Fundraiser on Oct. 9 at Thunder Bowl Lanes, bringing together bowlers, sponsors, volunteers and supporters to raise money for local youth programs.
Community Thunder Bay River
Visit Alpena highlights a dozen places in and around Alpena for fall color, including lakeside trails, Ocqueoc Falls, wooded pathways, wildflower habitat and dark-sky parks.
Community Lake Huron Waterfront
A livestream from Alpena’s Lake Huron region will take viewers into the Middle Island Sinkhole, an oxygen-poor ecosystem that scientists study for clues about early life on Earth.
Community
The Alpena Lions Club will celebrate its centennial Oct. 16-17 with a Boys & Girls Club fundraiser, a community event at McRae Park and an anniversary banquet at the APlex featuring former Lions International President Brian Sheehan.
Community
The Alpena Township Fire Department’s annual Fire Prevention Open House on Oct. 3 will offer station tours, demonstrations and hands-on activities, with a special focus on lithium-ion battery charging hazards ahead of Fire Prevention Week.
Community
A student-led partnership has brought a permanent beach cleanup station to Starlite Park, giving Alpena residents and visitors buckets to collect litter and help protect Lake Huron.
Community Water Street Commons
Alpena’s city council unanimously approved a temporary downtown safety demonstration that will add painted curb extensions, new crosswalks and flexible posts at four intersections. The Alpena Downtown Development Authority plans to install the changes Oct. 2 during the One Water Gathering, then collect traffic and pedestrian data through December to support possible permanent improvements and a future state grant application.
Community
As the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches, Alpena-area firefighters and residents are reflecting on what they saw, how public safety changed and why younger generations need to learn what happened.
