News File Photo In this February 2020 file photo, high school students from the Youth Volunteer Corps of Alpena inspect the merchandise after loading tables with books in preparation for the Alpena News Newspapers in Education Book Sale. This year’s sale will be held Saturday at the APlex, in conjunction with the Business Expo.

ALPENA ­– For the first time since 2020, The Alpena News Business Expo and Newspapers in Education Book Sale are returning to the APlex.

The events will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission fee.

The Business Expo will feature dozens of vendors showcasing their goods and services, and there will be prize drawings throughout the day.

Food will be available for purchase, provided by Cops & Doughnuts and Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe.

“I’m super excited because this is a great event that brings together the whole community while giving businesses a chance to show off their stuff,” said Justin Hinkley, publisher/editor of The Alpena News. “It’s a great chance to see what local businesses have to offer.”

Each participating business has provided one of the door prizes that attendees will have a chance to win.

Hinkley added that the NIE Book Sale raises money for a good cause.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, between 12,000 and 15,000 books were donated to the sale. Proceeds will go toward getting newspapers into area classrooms to help students learn about current events and more.

“Newspapers in Education puts newspapers in the classroom so kids can learn literacy, and how to tell fact from opinion, and more,” Hinkley said.

At the sale, books will be priced at $2 per hardcover and $1 per paperback, unless otherwise marked. While coming to the sale early gets you the best selection, latecomers get the deals, at $5 per box from 2 to 4 p.m.

The APlex is located at 701 Woodward Ave. in Alpena.

If you have questions about the NIE Book Sale, call Lifestyles Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or email her at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com.