Free gardening series on tap

MARQUETTE — A free gardening series continues at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Marquette Missionary Church at 1804 Wright St., Marquette.

The final session of the “Growing Your Food in the U.P.” gardening series will introduce the “Seeds Filling Needs” Program which will provide participants with a variety of free seeds that can then be shared with schools, organizations or community group in need of seeds. Another aspect of the “Seeds Filling Needs” Program is to provide free seeds to participants and ask that they “grow a row” for a food bank, church or non-profit organization.

The series is sponsored by Transition Marquette County.

For more information, contact Michael Riesterer at transitionmarquette@gmail.com or call 225-0608.

Human trafficking to be discussed

MARQUETTE — The program “Human Trafficking — What it is and How to Spot the Signs” will be presented by speakers from The Women’s Center and the Michigan State Police at 1 p.m. Thursday.

The program will be at Marquette Hope First Methodist Church, 111 E. Ridge St., Marquette. It is sponsored by the United Methodist Women and all people are encouraged to attend.

Forum on songbirds coming up

MARQUETTE — From work to recover threatened and endangered species, including piping plovers and Kirtland’s warblers, to studying edge effects on songbirds in northern Wisconsin, three biologists assembled to speak at a forum in Marquette this month are highly skilled in their professions.

The event, which features Katie Koch and Vince Cavalieri of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and David Flaspohler from the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Tech, will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Michigan Room at the University Center on the campus of Northern Michigan University.

Koch is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who founded the Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership and Midwest Avian Data Center. She has served on more than two dozen regional and national teams. Koch is focused on conservation of birds in northern forest landscapes, launching the Midwest Migration Network, sustaining Kirtland’s warbler throughout their annual cycle, and growing the Midwest Avian Data Center to be the one-stop shop for bird information throughout the Midwest region.

Cavalieri is also a wildlife biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Service. There, he has been the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery coordinator for five years.

Flaspohler has been an avian conservation biologist in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science for two decades. He received his master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, where he studied edge effects on songbirds in northern Wisconsin. Since then, he has conducted research in other parts of the Great Lakes region, Hawaii and several countries in Latin America.

Children’s carnival set in west end

ISHPEMING — On Friday, the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual Chamber Children’s Carnival presented by title sponsor J-Goods Plumbing and Heating.

The event will take place inside and outside River Rock Lanes and Banquet Center in Ishpeming from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission to this event is free and the event is open to the public.

In a press release, GINCC said it is “excited to yet again offer our community, Chamber Members and their families an event catered to kids.”

There will be free hotdogs and pop for children 12 and under, a bounce house donated by OK Rentals, basketball throw, bean bag toss, duck pond grab, face paint, a dunk tank, and much more.

The games will have several prizes such as candy, ice cream, and other small trinket gifts, along with the brand prize of two bicycles, donated by J-Goods Plumbing & Heating!

To learn more, email ginccdirector@gmail.com, call 906-486-1111, go to gincc.org, or check out the Facebook page: facebook.com/GINCC.

St. Louis hosting rummage sale

HARVEY — A rummage sale is planned at St. Louis the King Church in Harvey from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The church is located at 264 Silver Creek Road in Harvey.

Cardiovascular disease in focus

MARQUETTE — Residents living in and around Marquette can learn about their risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and other chronic conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening.

The Citizen’s Forum at Lakeview Arena, Marquette, will be the site for this event Friday. Preregistration is required.

Screenings are available to those with trouble walking or in wheelchairs. Free parking is available.

Packages start at $149 and consultants will work with an individual to create a package right for him/her. Call 877-237-12878 or visit wwww.lifelinescreening.com.

Chamber chorale performance set

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Chamber Chorale will present “Songs of Love and Compassion” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1700 W. Fair Ave., Marquette.

The performance features Johannes Brahms’ “Liebesleider Waltzer op 52” (Lovesong Waltzes), with four hand piano accompaniment by Dawn Betts and Anna Martin.

The “18 Liebeslieder Waltzes Op. 5” were published in 1869. They were premiered in Vienna the following year by Brahms and Clara Schumann.

With only a few exceptions the songs are each quite short and explore the entire range of the subject of love. There are simple stories, passionate outbursts, brooding melancholy and songs of deep devotion. There will be a freewill donation.

For more information, call 249-9867.