calendar

TRI-LAKES AREA — TODAY

Celebration Concert

BENTON — First United Methodist Church will hold a concert celebrating the music of Franz Schubert at 4 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary, 200 N. Market St. A reception will follow the concert at 5:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (501) 778-3601.

MONDAY

Habitat Application Meeting

BENTON — Habitat for Humanity of Saline County will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library for anyone interested in learning more about the affordable housing program. Materials on the application process and requirements will be distributed. For more information, call the Habitat office at (501) 315-5434.

TUESDAY

Taste of Bryant

BRYANT — Tickets are available for the Taste of Bryant, to be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Center at Bishop Park, 6401 Boone Road. The Taste of Bryant is a showcase of food in the area. Restaurants, caterers and chefs will serve samples. Tickets are $15 for adults in advance or $20 for adults at the door, and $5 for children ages 7-12. There is no charge for children 6 and younger. Tickets are available at the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce, 109 Roya Lane. For more information, call (501) 847-4702.

THURSDAY

Community Meeting

HOT SPRINGS — City Director Karen Garcia will host a District 5 community meeting at 4:30 p.m. at the Forest Lakes Clubhouse, 305 Forest Lakes Blvd. Residents are encouraged to attend and bring a neighbor. At the meeting, residents will have an opportunity to welcome Hot Springs City Manager David Watkins and his wife, Kay. For more information, call (501) 321-6806.

Watercolor Class

BENTON — Instructor Carolyn Voss will teach a watercolor class for adults 18 and older at 6 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. Camels in pastel will be the theme. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call (501) 847-2166 or (501) 778-4766.

SATURDAY

Backpack Program

BENTON — The Ralph Bunche 10th annual Back to School Backpack Program will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free backpacks filled with school supplies will be distributed to low-income families in the Benton School District. Opening ceremonies will begin at Pleasant Hill AME Church, 302 Reed St. in Benton, with motivational speakers. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. Parents or guardians must be present with a child for registration. Backpacks will be distributed beginning at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Oveta Pledger at (501) 672-0806.

Artist Reception

BENTON — A reception in honor of Benton artist and instructor Pat Reed and her students will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. Their art will remain on display throughout August. The reception and display are open to the public. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.

SATURDAY AND AUG. 5

Village Players Auditions

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Players will hold auditions for Stoops, a front-porch comedy by Ken Bradbury, at 2 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 5 in the Ouachita Building, Room B, at the Ponce de Leon Center in Hot Springs Village. For more information, contact Director Roger Cannell at (501) 922-5280 or rdcmjc@suddenlink. net.

ONGOING

Library Olympics Challenge

BENTON / BRYANT — The Saline County Library is hosting a self-paced Olympic Ga mes challenge for all ages through Aug. 31 at both library locations to celebrate the Summer Olympic Games in London. Participants will receive a ballot with guidelines to complete tasks or questions listed for their age group and can submit a completed ballot for a grand-prize drawing. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.

Story Times Suspended

BENTON/BRYANT — No story times will be held at either Saline County Library location through Saturday to prepare for fall activities. The story times will resume at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton and at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant on Aug. 6. For more information, call (501) 778-4766 or (501) 847-2166.

Meals for Youths

BENTON/ARKADELPHIA — The Central Arkansas Development Council is providing free meals to all eligible children through Thursday at Arkansas Counseling and Associates in Arkadelphia and through Wednesday at the organization’s Benton location. To receive free meals, children must meet income guidelines for free or reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program. Children who are part of households that receive food stamps or benefits under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families are automatically eligible. For more information, call the CADC at (501) 332-5426.

UPCOMING

Book Club

BRYANT — The Monday Afternoon Book Club will meet at 1 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. Dr. Sam Taggart will present his work With a Heavy Heart. The group is open to adults 18 and older. For more information, call (501) 847-2166.

To submit a school or community event for the Tri-Lakes Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Tri-Lakes Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to tlnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.