Community activities
• Oakland County Prosecutor, and CARE House to host a community event to honor National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, 8:30-9:30 a.m. April 20, at Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp., www.carehouse.org/ncvrw26.
• Women Confronting Racism conference, “The Cost of Silence-The Power of Voice” is April 24, at the Farmington Hills Costick Center, 28600 W 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, www.womenconfrontingracism.com, register by April 14, for a box lunch.
• Friendship Circle’s Pickleball for Friendship event is 2:30-6:30 p.m. April 26, at Greystone Pickleball Club, 900 N Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills, friendshipcircle.org, ticket prices vary.
• TEDxPontiac is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 1, GM Pontiac Engineering Center, 800 N Glenwood Ave., Pontiac, www.tedxpontiac.org, ticket prices vary.
• The City of Farmington Hills, in collaboration with Farmington Public Schools, invites Farmington Public Schools K-12 students to participate in a poster contest to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Entries to the student art contest are open through April 26, at https://form.jotform.com/260745132663153. Students may submit one entry each. Selected winning posters will be professionally reproduced and displayed throughout the community and in promotional materials for the city’s America 250th Celebration at Founders Sports Park on June 25.
• The Oakland County Parks seeks community input on its plans for a new “Grand Attraction” at Waterford Oaks County Park. There are 14 grand attraction options to choose from, including a splash feature, lazy river/winter skating river, rock/ice climbing wall, electric go-karts. Input will be accepted until April 30, at https://engage.oaklandcountyparks.com/en/projects/waterford-oaks-grand-attraction.
Earth Day activities
• 22nd Annual South Lyon Area Creek Cleanup and Earth Day event is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 19, meet at Michigan Seamless Tube and Pipe Company in Truck Parking Lot, 400 McMunn St. South Lyon, (complimentary lunch at noon at the VFW Hall, 125 E. McHattie St., South Lyon), southlyonmi.org, 248-437-4942.
• The City of South Lyon Department of Public Works Annual Arbor Day Ceremony, honoring South Lyon’s continued distinction as a Tree City USA community is 4:30 p.m. April 24, at Columbia Park in Hunter’s Creek subdivision, South Lyon. For information call 248-437-4942 or visit southlyonmi.org.
• Great Farmington Clean-up Earth Day Annual Event is 1-5 p.m. April 25, at Sundquist Pavilion in Riley Park, 33113 Grand River Ave., downtown Farmington. Join other residents in picking up trash across the city, then, go back to the park for pizza. Raffle tickets will be provided when CARES donations (non-perishables, i.e., cans or boxed cereal) are brought, five donated items for one ticket. When picking up trash, there might be areas with poison ivy, so dress appropriately, https://farmgov.com.
• Waterford Annual Earth Day Township Cleanup is 8 a.m.-2 p.m. April 25, clean up along roadways. Register at www.waterfordmi.gov/earthday and pick up supplies and road assignments, 8-10 a.m. April 25, at Town Hall, 5200 Civic Center Dr, Waterford Twp.
• In honor of Earth Day, Bloomfield Township is hosting Operation Clean Sweep, April 25-26, and seeks volunteers to help clean up the appearance of roadways and subdivisions. Those interested should sign up online by April 21, at www.bloomfieldtwpmi.gov/trash/clean-sweep-volunteer-sign-up-form. DPW will provide bags and trash supplies to residents, Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through April 23, at the Public Works building at 4200 Telegraph Road, for information, call 248-594-2800.
Farmers markets/Gardening
• Oakland County Parks is hosting Stewardship Days and asking residents to join staff to help pull invasive species in preparation for native spring flowers, 10 a.m.-noon on the following dates and locations, April 21 at Oak Park Woods in Oak Park; April 23 at Wint Nature Center in Independence Oaks County Park, Independence Twp.; April 29, at Lyon Oaks County Park in Wixom; May 13 at Waterford Oaks County Park. May 27 at Oak Park Woods in Oak Park; June 2 at Turtle Woods in Troy; and June 16 at Oak Park Woods in Oak Park. Dress for the weather outdoors and bring a water bottle. Register by email to Patrick Canniff at canniffp@oakgov.com.
• Craft, Create & Consume, an instructional herb planting and care class is 6-7:30 p.m. April 23 or April 30 at the Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp. Participants will plant herbs in upcycled containers and enjoy light refreshments. $20/person and includes light refreshments, herbs and an upcycled container. Participants can bring their own container, up to 6 inches, adults only. Online registration is required. Register by one day before the event, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks/parks-trails/farmers-market. For information, call 248-858-0916 or email events@oakgov.com.
• Growing Pontiac is a nonprofit which hosts gardening classes and volunteer events in the Pontiac area. Classes are free and donations are always welcome. The Garden Resource Club is free to join. Raised Bed Workshop is April 25. For information, visit www.facebook.com/growingpontiac, or email hello@growingpontiac.org.
Fundraisers/Volunteer opportunities
• Guns and Hoses Annual Southfield Police vs. Fire Charity Hockey Game is 1 p.m. April 19, at the Southfield Sports Arena, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, www.cityofsouthfield.com, $10+.
• The Rochester Rotary Charities invites the community to its annual Wine & Beer Tasting Fundraiser, 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 22, at Bordine’s of Rochester Hills. The event includes wine and beer tastings and offerings from 20+ local restaurants, silent auction, jewelry auction, raffle and live music. Proceeds benefit community-focused efforts and high school scholarships. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/1981551343410?aff=oddtdtcreator, tickets start at $75+ per person (plus fees).
• “Gibby’s Day” Detroit Tigers vs. Milwaukee Brewers is April 23, at Comerica Park, Detroit. A portion of proceeds from tickets go to benefit The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s Foundation. Game time is 1:10 p.m., www.GibbysDay.org, ticket prices vary.
• Shades of Pink Foundation’s A Walk at the Zoo is 7 a.m.-noon, April 25, at the Detroit Zoo, register for individual or team at https://shadesofpinkfoundation.goodworldnow.com/p/a-walk-at-the-zoo, ticket prices vary, donations welcome.
• Friends of Rochester Hills Public Library to host 11th Annual Wine, Wit & Wisdom Fundraiser, 6-9:30 p.m. April 25, at Rochester Hills Public Library in Rochester, featuring lectures, dinner, drinks, silent auction and 50/50 raffle to support the Friends of RHPL. Register at the library or online at rhpl.org/friends. Registration closes April 20, ticket prices vary, ages 21+.
• Buddy’s Pizza to host its 50th Annual “Slice for Life” fundraiser, April 27, donating 20% of dine-in and carry-out sales from all locations statewide to Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Also throughout the month of April, at all Buddy’s Pizza locations, $1 from every Eastern Market Veggie Pizza and Earthworks Garden Veggie Salad sold will go back to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, www.cskdetroit.org/event/50th-annual-buddys-slice-for-life.
• HAVEN’s Seeds of Hope Gala is 6-10:30 p.m. May 1, at Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac, 3600 Centerpoint Parkway, Pontiac, register at https://haven-oakland.org/haven-events/seeds-of-hope-gala.
• OLHSA Walk for Warmth fundraiser is May 9, at Canterbury Village, 2359 Joslyn Court, Orion Twp., visit www.olhsa.org/en-us/walkforwarmth to donate, or raise funds to help provide emergency services for residents in need. Registration at 9 a.m., kick off at 9:30 a.m.
Health/Safety events
• “Being Dead is No Excuse! Planning for Your Final Exit Community Forum on Death and Dying” series will take place at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, April 19, April 26 and May 3, in the Parish Hall at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 16200 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, free and open to the public. For information call 248-557-5430, email Amy Prather at Amy@stdavidssf.org or visit www.stdavidssf.org.
• Oakland County Health Division to host a free virtual training class on how to dispose of unused and expired medications safely, led by a health educator. Virtual training dates are: noon-1:30 p.m. April 22 and May 19. Register at https://bit.ly/4tfLjL2. For questions, contact Nadli Arabo at arabon@oakgov.com, open to adults.
• Mindy Eisenberg of Yoga Moves MS to present a Holistic Health and Wellness Forum for MS (multiple sclerosis) on April 21, at The Mint, at 27000 Evergreen Road, Lathrup Village. Registration for live in-person and virtual events, at https://yogamovesanybody.org/events/2026-holistic-health-and wellness-forum. A complimentary meal/dinner will be served at the live event. Suggested donation-$35.
• The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in partnership with the Detroit Public Library presents 2026 Community Conversations on Cancer. The sessions are held in person at the library Main Branch, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, and virtually via Zoom, from 6-7 p.m. The April 22 session covers the influence of bias in health care, and June 17 covers multiple myeloma. Register at www.karmanos.org/karmanos/karmanos-events/the-road-ahead-understanding-a-colon-cancer-diagno-52313.
Library activities
• The Friends of the Library Spring Used Book Sale is April 22-25, at Wixom Public Library, 49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom. The preview sale for members only, (membership info at wixomlibrary.org/friends) is 5-7:30 p.m. April 22. Regular sale hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. April 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 24, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 25, proceeds benefit the Wixom Public Library, www.wixomlibrary.org.
Museums/History presentations
• Dale Carlson, author to speak at 7 p.m. April 23, Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow Ave, Rochester. Dale Carlson, author, photographer, and architectural historian, will share the stories of the commercial designs for some of Detroit’s elite business community, Albert Kahn Namesakes at American Association-University Women-Rochester branch general meeting, https://rochester-mi.aauw.net/, free and open to the public.
• “Michigan at Gettysburg” is 1-3 p.m. April 26, at the Oakland History Center in downtown Pontiac, as society member Kevin Bellant investigates Michigan’s place in the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg. Admission is free, donations welcome, www.ocphs.org.
• Oakland County Parks Historian Carol Bacak-Egbo presents “A Dead Cow, an Apple Orchard and a Town that Disappeared: Lyon Oaks and Beyond,” 7-8 p.m. April 28, at Lyon Oaks Event Center, free event, preregistration is requested at 248-221-8040.
Parks/Outdoor activities
• Wellness in the Woods series, Bonfire Brain Break is 7-8:30 p.m. April 24, at Wint Nature Center in Independence Oaks County Park, 9501 Sashabaw Road, Independence Twp., learn simple calming tools, all ages. Cost is $5/person.Preregistration with payment required by calling 248-858-0916, OaklandCountyParks.com.
• In recognition of Volunteer Month, Seven Ponds Nature Center is hosting a Volunteer Fair, 4-7 p.m. April 24, at the center, 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden. Admission is free. Each attendee will qualify to enter a free drawing for Seven Ponds swag, register at 810-796-3200, www.sevenponds.org.
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free admission. General park entry fees and vehicle permits have been eliminated for all parks operated by Oakland County Parks, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply. Annual vehicle passes are $40 for residents or $45 for non-residents. Senior citizen pricing on annual passes are available in-person at toll booths or park offices with ID as proof of age.
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
Recycling/Shredding events
• The Detroit Zoo’s annual E-Recycling Event is 9 a.m. to noon, April 18-19. The Detroit Zoological Society invites community members to safely recycle used and unwanted electronics by taking them to the Detroit Zoo’s 10 Mile Road parking lot, where staff will unload items from vehicles. The event is free, registration requested at https://detroitzoo.org/events/e-recycling. Participants can earn a Zoo ticket for small loads (at least 17 gallons), or two tickets for large loads (a full backseat or truckbed).
• Oakland County residents are invited to a document shredding event, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 24 at the Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp. will be shred on site by Shred Corp.’s high volume shred trucks. Also Vibe Credit Union will also be collecting non-perishable food items for local families during the event. For information, call 248-858-5495 or visit OaklandCountyParks.com.
• Residents of RRRASOC communities Farmington, Farmington Hills, Milford, Milford Township, Novi, South Lyon, Southfield, Walled Lake and Wixom – are welcome to take household hazardous waste to safely discard, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 25, at RRRASOC MRF – Truck Entrance, 20875 Mapleridge Ave., Southfield, www.rrrasoc.org. Clothing, shoes, accessories, and small household items will be accepted by Simple Recycling.
Senior activities
• Bloomfield Township Senior Services to host a series of classes offered by Bowers Farm at the Bloomfield Township Senior Center at 4315 Andover Road on the Bloomfield Township Campus. Events include: Bee Hotel Workshop, 1-3 p.m. April 21; and Felting Workshop, 1-3 p.m. May 27. Each event requires registration and has different pricing, register at https://bloomfieldtwp.org/seniors/registration, or call 248-723-3500.
• Tech Help for Seniors “Protect Yourself Online” is 10 a.m. April 28, at Independence Village, 701 Market St., Oxford, presented by Oxford High School students and Oxford Township Parks & Recreation, free with advanced registration at (248) 628-1720, https://oxparkrec.org.
Shows/Career fairs
• Spring Open House is noon to 4 p.m. April 19, at The Student Connection, 42717 Woodward Ave., Suite B, Bloomfield Hills. The Student Connection offers tutoring for students. The Robot Garage will be on site from 1-3 p.m. with building opportunities for all ages. There are cooking activities in the kitchen and refreshments are served, www.thestudentconnect.com.
• Novi Home & Garden Show is April 24-26, at Vibe Credit Union Showplace, (formerly Suburban Collection Showplace) 46100 Grand River Ave. Novi, https://novihomeshow.com, ticket prices vary, parking fees.
Support resources
• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.
• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.
• Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and then press 1 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.