this week’s EVENTS

TRI-LAKES AREA — TODAY Creative Writing BRYANT - The Mabel Boswell Memorial Library will hold Creative Writing, a program for people 16 and older taught by Jennifer Watson, at 6 p.m. No registration is required. For more information, call (501) 847-2166.

FRIDAY - MONDAY Memorial Day Palooza HOT SPRINGS - Lake Catherine State Park officials will hold Memorial Day Palooza on Friday through Monday. Park interpreters will lead hikes, lake tours and nature programs. There will also be swimming, games, crafts and a sandcastle competition. Another highlight will be the grand opening of the Nature Cabin for this season. For more information, contact the park at (501) 844-4176 or lakecatherine@arkansas.com.

SATURDAY Full Moon Kayak Tour HOT SPRINGS - Lake Catherine State Park will hold a Full Moon Kayak Tour from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Attendees will join a park interpreter for a moonlit paddle of the lake and see the lake in a whole new way. The park will provide stable, flat-water kayaks that are easy to navigate. No prior kayaking experience is required, but participants should have a good level of comfort on the water. A $15 fee per person includes use of a kayak, paddle and life jacket. Preregistration and payment are required. Space is limited. For more information, contact the park at (501) 844-4176 or lakecatherine@arkansas.com.

Little Miss Arkansas Pageant HOT SPRINGS - The 33rd annual Little Miss Arkansas Pageant, to be held Saturday, is open to anyArkansas girl up to age 17. There are five age groups, with a winner and two alternates named in each. Contestants will compete in sportswear and pageant dress. There is also a photogenic competition in each group and a talent competition for ages 3-17. The pageant will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center. For more information, call (501) 262-2284, email hscvb@hotsprings.org, or visit www.littlemissarkansas.com.

SUNDAY Submissions Deadline BENTON - The deadline has been extended to Sunday forsubmitting stories for Tales From the South, to be taped at 7 p.m. June 13 in the Christian Life Center of First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Market St. in Benton. The NPR show is broadcast at 7 p.m. Thursdays on KUAR 89.1 FM. Show officials are looking for stories from Benton and Saline County that can be read on the show by the authors. Story submissions must meet certain requirements. Full submission guidelines are available at www.talesfromthesouth.com/submissions.html.

MONDAY Concert Band Performance HOT SPRINGS - The Hot Springs Concert Band will begin its 2012 Summer Concerts in the Park series with a performance at 3 p.m. The free concert will be in Whittington Park, at the junction of Whittington Avenue and West Mountain Drive. Attendees are urged to bring chairs. Restrooms will be available, and bottled water will be furnished by Cranford’s Village East Grocery. In case of rain or hot weather, the band will perform in the gymnasium of National Park Community College. If that change occurs, the time will move to 3 p.m., and the site change will be noted on the band’s website the day of the concert. For more information, call the band contact line at (501) 984-1678 or visit www.hotspringsband.org.

Holiday Closures BENTON/BRYANT - The Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton and the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. The libraries will reopen at 9 a.m.Tuesday. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.

UPCOMING Blood Drive BRYANT - The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 2 at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. All eligible donors are invited to attend. For more information, call (501) 847-2166.

Book Club Meeting BRYANT - The Monday Afternoon Book Club will meet at 1 p.m. June 4 at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library to discuss the club’s chosen title. The group is open to adults 18 and older. For more information, call (501) 847-2166.

Reading Kickoff BRYANT/BENTON - The Saline County Library will kick off its 2012 Summer Reading program with two A Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed events. The kickoff celebrations are geared for all ages and will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 9 at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant, and from 2-7 p.m. June 11 at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton. Readers of all ages are welcome to sign up for their respective Summer Reading programs and can participate in crafts, games and other activities - including Greek-themed treats - during the event. For more information, call (501) 778-4766 or (501) 847-2166.

Summer Project BENTON - The Youth United group and its friends will begin construction on a fourth Habitat for Humanity of Saline County home June 9 and continue work through the week of June 11-15. Habitat will hostlocal youths during their summer break to work on the home as part of 2012 Youth United Build Week. Volunteers are needed to provide simple meals for breakfast and lunch on workdays. For information on how to help, call (501) 315-5434 or email laura @habitatsalinecountyar.org.

Art Educator Classes ARKADELPHIA - The Henderson State University Visual Arts Department and the Dawson Education Cooperative will hold the 2012 Summer Intensive Studio Classes for art educators June 25-29 at Henderson. Courses will include ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, painting, digital design, photography, papermaking and curriculum development. Participants will receive 30 hours of professional development approved by the South Arkansas Math and Science STEM Center. For more information or to register, contact Teresa Jester at (870) 230-5036 or jestert@hsu.edu. Employees of Henderson and Ouachita Baptist University will receive a registration discount.

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.