| Event auctions art for ARC
Tongue-tingling champagne, scrumdiddlyumptious entrees and more than 100 donated artworks make for a night to remember. Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., more than 270 guests are expected to get their fill of food, art and social flair during the 2007 Artists for ARC event, presented by Arc-Winnebago County Disability Association, held at LaSures Banquet Hall. The auction/dinner features a one-hour special event from 5 to 6 p.m. for ticket holders, where guests can enjoy a new champagne buffet and live jazz music with Mario Noche. "Its kind of pre-event where people will actually have an opportunity to meet with and talk to the artists," said Meghann Kasper, board member and ARC volunteer. At 6 p.m., doors open to the main event, where dinner is served and bidding begins on more than 100 art pieces from pottery and paintings to homemade purses, in the live and silent auctions.
Sanders’ tougher rules will help Jackson County
Katheryn Shields' mishandling of professional services contracts attracted lots of negative attention for the former Jackson County executive. The contracts also undermined the credibility of county government. Now Mike Sanders, her successor, says he'll sign an executive order establishing tougher rules for issuing contracts to consultants, lawyers and others. Sanders will discuss his sound plan, which does not need the County Legislature's approval, with lawmakers today. Under the county charter, the contracts can be issued only by the county executive. The charter does not require competitive bids or notification of the Legislature. When Shields gave out dozens of contracts over her 12 years in office, she didn't call for competitive bids. So no one could tell whether the county was getting good deals.
Prize makes Scout cookies better
BAY CITY -- A lucky Girl Scout cookie fan will get a little something extra in a special box of cookies purchased during the Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay second annual "Desserts First" chef competition. Contest organizers will hide a ruby and diamond ring that Herman Hiss & Co. Jewelers of Bay City donated inside one of the cookie boxes. The hunt for the jewels is part of the 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday dessert contest at Bay City's DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center, 1 Wenona Park Place. Mid-Michigan chefs and culinary experts will compete for the People's Choice Award for the best dessert they can concoct with Girl Scout cookies. The ring and other items donated for both silent and live auctions will help fund the Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay Financial Assistance Program, which sends girls to summer camp and other scouting events.
Rare-plant auction boosts UBC garden
Where would the University of B.C. Botanical Garden be without its hard-working Friends of the Garden group, better known as the FOGs? Every year this group of volunteers raises more than $60,000 for the garden. They organize the hugely popular perennial plant sale on Mother's Day every year in May. They are responsible for the equally popular Apple Festival in October. Both events bring in mega-bucks for the botanical garden. .
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