Mormon Times briefing

President Monson, Bestor, Fribergare among Star Award honorees

OREM — LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson was among those honored with a Star Award at the fourth annual Star Awards event sponsored by the SCERA Center for the Arts. President Monson was named Advocate of the Arts.

In other awards presented at the Feb. 21 event, musician/composer Kurt Bestor received the 2009 Star Award, and artist Arnold Friberg received the Lifetime Achievement honor.

Awards were also given to Marvin Payne for theater, Lee and Linda Wakefield for dance, Gary Price for visual arts, Michael Ballam for music, Bassett Furniture and Alan and Karen Ashton as Friends of the Arts, and Verdalee Barron for volunteerism.

"We recognize that the scope of talent and commitment to the arts in Utah is tremendous, and the Star Awards are a way of calling attention to their achievements and applaud their gifts," said Adam Robertson, SCERA president & CEO. "The challenge of the nominating committee is in choosing from an amazing array of people, which is the kind of challenge every arts organization should have."

Mission-reunion notices are sought

LDS mission-reunion notices are published by the Deseret News as a public service in conjunction with LDS general conference.

Reunion information can be submitted online at deseretnews.com/reunions.

The submission deadline for publication in the Deseret News print edition is noon, Tuesday, March 24. Publication in the general conference special edition of the Deseret News will be Tuesday, March 31.

Reunion notices may be submitted at any time for publication on deseretnews.com. Publication on the Deseret News Web site in most cases is within 24 hours of submission.

Notices that arrive after the March 24 deadline will not be printed in the paper but will be published on the Deseret News Web site.

The Deseret News reserves the right to edit notices for content and length.

Feedback: The office pool question

Ah yes, 'tis the season. The March Madness brackets come out and talk turns to which teams will advance in the NCAA tournament this year.