Community activities

•  City of Southfield Annual Touch-a-Truck Event is 1-4 p.m. April 26, at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, (library parking lot). A Sensory Sensitive Hour (no horns or flashing lights) will be observed from 1-2 p.m. The event includes police and fire trucks, tractors, Drone and K-9 Demonstrations, and food trucks, cityofsouthfield.com.

• 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.

• The City of Birmingham is inviting residents to participate in an “I Voted” sticker contest for the upcoming August state primary election and November general election. Birmingham residents can submit their design through the city’s public engagement platform, Engage Birmingham, now through May 4, at https://bhamgov.org/stickercontest.

• Oakland Township Time Capsule invitation to residents of Oakland Township and greater Rochester to participate in Oakland Township Time Capsule, to be opened in 2051. Residents are invited to submit 8.5×11 or smaller photos, letters, stories, news articles, poems, art or history to Oakland Township Historical Society, 384 E. Predmore Road, Oakland Twp. Share personal history or life in Oakland township, or write to children, lamination or gallon storage bags are suggested, small 3D artifacts will be considered. Due by June 1, 2026, with the sealing date in July. Presented by OTHS and a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester.

Fundraisers/Volunteer opportunities

• 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 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.

• 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.

• The Oakland History Center at Pine Grove seeks volunteers to help with cleaning up the grounds and exhibit spaces, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 2, at the center, 405 Cesar Chavez Ave., Pontiac, 248-338-6732, www.ocphs.org.

• Lucky Loop 5K is May 3, at Memorial Park, 31050 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak, Race Day Pick Up is 7:30-8:30 a.m., 5K runners assemble at start line at 8:50 a.m., untimed runners and walkers start at 9:05 a.m.; Kids Fun Run Start Time: 9:45 a.m., https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/RoyalOak/LuckyLoop5K, to support Royal Oak Leprechauns sports.

• From Hunger to Hope Dinner is May 7, at Farmington Hills Manor, 23666 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills, to benefit CARES in Farmington Hills, which provides food and support to residents in need, doors at 5:30 p.m., https://caresfh.org/hungertohope, tickets are $100+.

• 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.

• Annual “Women Helping Women” Luncheon & Fashion Show fundraiser is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 9, at the Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Drive, Rochester. silent auction, raffles, luncheon and a fashion show, All proceeds from the event benefit Grace Centers of Hope’s Women’s Program. Tickets are $125 per person or $750 for a table of 10 and can be purchased at https://gracecentersofhope.org/women-helping-women-luncheon-fashion-show.

• Paddy Scramble is May 11, Rackham Golf Course Huntington Woods, four person scramble, shotgun start at 9 a.m., https://northwoodsleague.com/royal-oak-leprechauns/golf-outing, prices vary, to support Royal Oak Leprechauns sports.

• Annual Ride 2 End Suicide is May 16, at Stony Creek Metropark to raise funds for Common Ground’s suicide awareness and crisis intervention services. The family‑friendly bicycle ride will begin and end at the Eastwood Beach Shelter, with activities before and after the ride. Registration and additional details are available at Ride2EndSuicide.com.

Health/Safety events

• Rochester Community Health and Wellness Fair is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 2, Rochester High School, 1361 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, enter from Livernois, tinyurl.com/rochhealthfair.

Library activities

• Southfield author book signing is 6:30 p.m. April 29, at the Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Road, Southfield, Southfield author Darryle Buchanan book signing for his memoir “Invincible,” https://southfieldlibrary.org.

• “The Safari Girls” Renee Prewitt author Talk and Book Launch: 2-4 p.m. May 3, Pontiac Creative Arts Center, 47 Williams Street, Pontiac, parking across the street, https://pontiacarts.square.site. Additional book signing events are 5-7:30 p.m. May 6, Motor City Java House, 17336 Lahser Rd, Detroit, parking in Redford Theatre Lot; and 9:30 a.m. May 17, at Renaissance Unity Church, following the service held at Emagine Theatre IMAX, 200 N. Main Street, Royal Oak, https://pontiacarts.square.site.

• Berkley Silent Book Club is 6-8 p.m. May 4, at the Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Hwy, Berkley, www.berkleymi.gov/libraryevents.

Museums/History presentations

• “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

• Bond & Bloom, an outdoor event designed for mothers, caregivers and their elementary-age children, presented by Oakland County Parks, will be held at 9 a.m.-noon, May 2 at Wint Nature Center in Independence Oaks County Park in Clarkston. Preregistration at OaklandCountyParks.com, $20 for one caregiver and one child age 3+, additional child-$5, free for younger than 3.

• Cranbrook Art Museum’s artist-designed miniature golf course, Cranbrook on the Green to be open  10 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, May 2-31, then open Wednesday to Sunday, June-August, on the grounds of Cranbrook Art Museum next to Triton Pools. On Mother’s Day weekend (May 9–10), moms or a designated adult can enjoy a complimentary round. Then on Father’s Day (June 21), dads or another designated adult play for free. On Thursday nights, the course and museum are open until 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance or on-site, ticket prices vary and include gallery admission, cranbrook.edu.

• ECHO (Early Childhood Hour Out) program is 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursdays, at Wint Nature Center, 9501 Sashabaw Road, Independence Twp. The program is for parents and caregivers and children and includes a caregiver-led activity provided by nature center staff with coffee, tea and conversation with other caregivers, free and no preregistration is necessary. Caregivers must supervise children at all times. Siblings are welcome, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks. Optional activities may take place outside.

• 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.

Pet clinics

• Pet Wellness Clinics will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 2 at Waterford Oaks County Park; May 9 at Orion Oaks Dog Park, Big Meadows Pavilion; and May 16 at Independence Oaks County Park, Pine Grove Pavilion. Hosted by Oakland County Parks, Oakland County and All About Animals, services will include $10 vaccinations for dogs and cats, $20 microchips, $20 heartworm tests and other preventative treatments including flea prevention and dewormer. For event information, email BrechN@oakgov.com. No appointments are needed. For pet safety, bring dogs on a short leash and cats in a carrier, www.oakgov.com/home/showdocument?id=30261.

Senior activities

• 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.

• Living Well with Dementia Webinar Series-The National Council of Dementia Minds is hosting a three-part webinar series focused on sensory changes, 2 p.m. April 28, May 26 and June 23, via Zoom, register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f267xYYVQGCnIQQ412Cg4w#/registration, free.

• Spring Travel Show is 12:30-2:30 p.m. May 8, at Oxford Senior Center located in Seymour Lake Township Park, 2795 Seymour Lake Road, Oxford, featuring representatives from Collette Travel, Shoreline Tours & Travel and more, presented by Oxford Township Parks and Recreation, call (248) 628-1720 to register.

Support resources

• Postpartum Support Group is 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays May 6-June 10, at Jewish Family Service Oak Park, Crown Pointe Plaza, 25900 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, register at jfsdetroit.org/supportgroups. For questions, contact Rina Hennes Sabes at 248-303-7226 or rsabes@jfsdetroit.org.

• 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.