The festival drew a crowd of over 1,500 people over three days, creating a vibrant community atmosphere with a diverse array of activities. This year’s festival featured a number of new activities, including live music, art vendors, and a sand sculpting competition. These additions to the traditionals attracted a wider range of attendees and generated excitement among locals and visitors alike.

This year’s event was a resounding success, with over 10,000 attendees. The event featured a diverse range of activities, including live music, art exhibitions, food trucks, and a children’s play area. The event organizers, the group said, were committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all attendees.

In the singles competition, Brendan Schafer took first place with “A Starry Night in Michigan,” Dottie Willison took second place, sculptor’s choice and people’s choice with “Don’t Worry Be Hippie” and Bob May took third place with “Monkey See, Monkey Do.” In the doubles competition, Mitch Guerrero and Mark Mangia took first place and sculptor’s choice with “Cracked Pot City, Home of the Mice” and Tom and Judy Blue took the people’s choice with “Lighthouse View.” Willison also won the Great Lakes Sand Sculpting Championship, and Adam Dennison won the Quicksand Championship. Next year’s event will take place from Aug. 1 to 3, 2025. For more information, visit bluewatersandfest.com or facebook.com/bluewatersandfest.

** Road work underway Area motorists will see a handful of road and intermittent lane closures this week as various projects are completed throughout St. Clair County. All projects are weather dependent. **Detailed and Comprehensive Text:**

The upcoming week promises to be a busy one for motorists navigating St. Clair County, as several road and lane closure projects are scheduled for completion.

• The closure will affect traffic heading westbound on Dyke Road towards Bluebill Road. • The project is expected to be completed by the end of October. ## Bluebill Road Bridge Replacement Project to Affect Traffic Flow in Clay Township

The Bluebill Road Bridge, located off of Dyke Road in Clay Township, will be undergoing a significant structural improvement project. This project, expected to be completed by the end of October, will involve replacing the bridge’s superstructure.

9 for construction. • A portion of Riley Road will be closed due to flooding. A portion of Riley Road between the intersection of Riley Road and Warren Road and the intersection of Riley Road and North Road will be closed for the duration of the closures, due to flooding, beginning on August 26th.

**Friends of the Library: Book Sale to Benefit St.

The sale will take place on Saturday, October 28th, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Friends of the St. Clair County Library are a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the library and its programs. They raise funds through various activities, including book sales, to support the library’s mission.

1 to Sept. 30, 2023. The program is designed to support small businesses in St. Clair County, Michigan, and aims to help them grow and thrive.

The EM-SBN received a Small Business Support Hub grant award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to help launch and grow small businesses in Shiawassee, Lapeer, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac and St. Clair counties. The program utilizes a portion of the state’s American Rescue Plan funding. EM-SBN expands Michigan Small Business Development Center services, coaching and mentoring, access to capital, and provides intense counseling and assistance for up to 40 small business clients per year through the region’s Entrepreneurial Cohort Program. “We are pleased to present such an amazing funding opportunity to our Region 6 communities,” Economic Development Alliance CEO and Eastern Michigan Small Business Hub grant Administrator Dan Casey said, in a release. “As we all know, capital is essential to growing businesses. These funds also will help businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.”

**St. Louis Grants to Boost Small Business Growth**
**St.

The grant program will focus on supporting small businesses in the St. Louis region by providing financial assistance, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The program will be funded by the City of St. Louis and will be available to businesses of all sizes and industries.