NOVI — Local children’s author and illustrator Caroline Kerfoot, of West Bloomfield, spoke to students at Orchard Hills Elementary School in Novi March 25 about her book, “Hi, I’m Fox!”

BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Family YMCA is inviting the entire community to join in on the fun activities they have planned for Healthy Kids Day noon-2 p.m. April 29.

ROCHESTER — Downtown Rochester has added a new summer event to its lineup, and organizers are looking for artisan vendors, makers and handmade crafters to help make it a success.

ROCHESTER — The best of southeast Michigan’s growing season is returning to downtown Rochester. Now in its 24th season, the Downtown Rochester Farmers Market will open May 6 at the corner of East Third and Water streets, just one block east of Main Street.

SOUTHFIELD — Umoja is the Swahili word for “unity,” a meaning that Umoja Fine Arts’ owner and curator Ian Grant said he is committed to upholding. The Grant family opened Umoja in 1996 with the ambition of “displaying American life in a positive form, and preserving and recording the historical accounts in graphic form.”

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Imagine being a playwright during the era of William Shakespeare and having to compete with the Tom Brady of the written word. Such is the living hellscape for brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, two struggling playwrights trying to establish themselves in the face of insurmountable competition.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Shelby Gardeners Club will be hosting a presentation on butterflies called “Attract Butterflies to Your Garden and Beneficial Insects” at the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center, 4101 River Bends Drive, at 1 p.m. May 11.

ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Ice Show is making its big return for its 43rd annual event next month.

GROSSE POINTE SHORES — Grosse Pointe Shores will be marking its 20th anniversary as a Tree City USA with an Arbor Day Fun Run and Arbor Day activities starting at 9 a.m. May 7 at Osius Park.

BEVERLY HILLS —The village of Beverly Hills is continuing tradition this year with the annual Spring Park Clean Up.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A dance studio in downtown Utica had two dancers win two national dance categories April 6-9 at the Argentine Tango USA Official Championship & Festival in San Jose, California.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — This spring, eco-conscious residents can responsibly rid their homes of electronic waste, unwanted medication and sensitive paperwork.

BIRMINGHAM — The 21st season of the Birmingham Farmers Market will open on May 7. Local produce and artisan goods will be sold 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 29.

FARMINGTON HILLS — April has arrived, and golf courses around metro Detroit are welcoming golfers back to the links.

ORCHARD LAKE — Last summer, the life of Orchard Lake resident Don R. Powell took a “crazy” turn.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — What do Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter and Snow White all have in common?

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — With Earth Day behind us and Arbor Day on the horizon, doing one’s part for the environment is on the conscious person’s mind. If the call to do something for the planet is coming your way, perhaps planting a tree is the place to start.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Don Paulus is retired, but he fills his time by making toys and donating them to hospitals, restaurants and many other places to put smiles on children’s faces.

TROY — St. Augustine Lutheran Troy Church will host a presentation by Janet Sandison, a speaker on the topic of parenting children on the autism spectrum and mother of well-known author and speaker Ron Sandison.

METRO DETROIT — Michigan farms may be known for crops like cherries and corn, but in recent years, a new homegrown crop has taken the state by storm — the humble, hearty hop.