Sandy McKnight Songwriter Series to Feature Women Artists in May

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LEE, Mass. — The Sandy McKnight Songwriter Series at Appetito will continue its bi-monthly program in May with a focus on five women of song, stage, and screen.

The series, held on the first and third Fridays of each month, will feature two events in May: Friday, May 2, with special guest host Benita Zahn, along with JoAnne Redding and series producer Liv Cummins, and Friday, May 16, showcasing Aimee Van Dyne and Barbara Stein. Both events will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Appetito Restaurant, located at 54 Main Street in Lee.

The Songwriter Series honors the memory of local singer-songwriter Sandy McKnight, who passed away in May 2024.

Benita Zahn, a former NY Emmy Award-winning anchor/reporter now working as a certified Health and Wellness Coach and performer, will co-host the May 2nd event. Liv Cummins, a singer/songwriter, comedy performer, musical theater dramatist, and educator, is the series producer and a longtime collaborator of Sandy McKnight. JoAnne Redding is a singer/songwriter known for her soulful blend of blues, country, jazz, and roots rock.

The May 16 event will feature Aimee Van Dyne, a Folk-Americana singer-songwriter and a two-time John Lennon Songwriting Contest Finalist, and Barbara Stein, a music lover and player whose sound blends alt-rock and Americana blues.

The Sandy McKnight Songwriters Fund, which organizes the series, was created to honor McKnight’s legacy of supporting songwriters and building community. The series includes both featured artists and an open mic session for songwriters.

Appetito Restaurant, owned by Rebecca and Gilbert Clerget, provides the venue for the series.

 

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Lee Middle and High School Semester 1 Honor Roll

High Honors: Students must have a 90 average with no grade below an 85.  These students represent 25 percent of the total student enrollment.
 
Seniors:  Joseph Abderhalden, Riley Albert, Jack Boden, Mia Cashman, Gianna Colello, Jacob Cooper, Rydel Drenga, Hunter Fosby, Isabella Hall, Natalie Hall, Seth Hopkins, Madelyn Kotek, Connor Lewis, Matthew Mairo, William Mairo, Adam Pincelli, Emma Ranzoni, Savannah Rexford, Elyse Thomson
 
Juniors:  Mehmet Atmaca, Alexandra Bernal, Natalie Broderick, Amy Canas Aguilar, David Carlino, Kevin Chen, Jackson Choquette,  Leanna Driscoll, Eleny Guzman, Mitchell Keenan, Nicholas McDonough, Gabriel Nascimento, Anna Oliva, Anwitha Pathri, Maddison Terzigni
 
Sophomores:  Matthew Abderhalden, Leland Davis, Cole DeSantis, Mika Diller, Ian Fennelly, Devyn Fillio, Freshneiderk Guzman Bolanos, Noah Masten, Allie Puntin, Liam Wade
 
Freshmen:  Giana Carlino, Jasmine Filek, Noah Hassmer, Anna Johnson, Cara Korte, Christopher Lenfest, Eva Lovett, Mason Lucy, Michael McLaughlin, Enara O’Connell, Kashish Panwala, Rachel Phillips, Mason Reiners, Camryn Rowe, Sophia Rudolph, Owen Trombley, Brayden Tyer, Violet Vale-Cruz, Charlotte Van Wagner,  Logan Wade
 
Grade 8:  Andrew Adams, Declan Boule, Marc Catolane, Austin Griffin, Jimmy Khant, Bradley Pustinger
 
Grade 7:  Abigail Aichner, Hanne Ciejek, Mikaela DelSoldato, Emma DeSantis, Payton Discawicz, Alexander Gale, Lillian Hassmer, Olivia McGuire, Emmalyn Pachulski, Lena Parisi, Drasti Patel, Milagros Ramirez, Parker Stanton
 
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