Mandilee Hecht

Mandilee Hecht

Elks Award $12,000 in scholarships

The Tawas Area Elks Lodge #2525, the Michigan Elks Association (MEA), and the Elks National Foundation (ENF) awarded $12,000 to five area students as part of the 2024 Most Valuable Student and Community College competitions.

Standish native earns world songwriting award

Donald Benjamin (Satkowiak), a Standish native and CMA/BMI-affiliated performer who tours nationally, has been rewarded for the second time with a World Songwriting Award.The 2024 World Songwriting Awards recognized the Standish-Sterling High School graduate’s current album, “Hello, Midnight,” “Best Traditional Country Song.”He won his second WSA award in the same category in 2020 for a previous single, “Moving Mountains.”The Country Music Association (CMA) artist’s songs have already been considered for recording by singers such as Mo Pitney and Jason Aldean.The 1999 SSC graduate will continue to travel throughout the year.

Registration open for Youth Fine Arts Camp at Standish Art Center

Youngsters will experience a world of fun and fine arts when they participate in week-long classes from July 22 through July 26 at the Northeast Art Center in Standish.Sponsored by the Northeast Michigan Arts Council, and partially funded by the Arenac Community Fund of the Bay Area Community Foundation, a Fine Arts Day Camp, for students 8 to 13 years of age, will feature daily painting, drawing, mixed media and performing arts classes from 9 a.m.

Out and About

This Friday, June 14, the City of Au Gres Library will offer a thank you event to honor librarian Linda Kauffman, who will be retiring on that date.