This week's events

Nov. 22

Thanksgiving Day Dinner

BEEBE — The Beebe First United Methodist Church will have a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 302 N. Main St. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Take-out dinners will be available, and delivery will be available for the Beebe and McRae area. Transportation can be provided for those in the Beebe area. The dinner is free to the public. Those who want to attend may call the church office at (501) 882-6427 or Bill Palmisano at (501) 882-9565.

Cabot Community Thanksgiving Feast

CABOT — The Cabot Community Thanksgiving Feast, a free citywide meal, will be held at the Cabot United Methodist Church on South Pine Street. The event provides a meal for those who may be without a Thanksgiving meal otherwise. For more information or to donate items or make a cash donation, call Heather Moore at (501) 259-3799 or visit cabotfeast.com. Monetary donations may be sent to Grace Family Church, 108 S. Fourth St., Cabot, AR 72023.

Ongoing

Featured Artist

ASH FLAT — The Ash Flat Public Library is showing works of artist Dianne Reidling, featured artist for the library in November. Reidling was born in Memphis, Tenn., and studied at the University of Memphis, the Memphis College of Art and the State Technical Institute of Memphis before receiving a liberal arts degree from Rhodes College. She has worked for many years designing and decorating interiors for the motel industry. Her handmade watercolor greeting cards and framed watercolors will be on display at the library.

Artist of the Month

ASH FLAT — The Ash Flat Public Library will show works of Glenda Plumlee, the library’s November Artist of the Month. Plumlee, who grew up in Salem, is a self-taught artist. She is a member of Mid-South Watercolorists. Watercolor, drawing, and pen and ink are her mediums of choice. In 2004, she helped to organize the Fulton County Arts Council and serves as a board member. Through the council, she has taught children and adult art classes.

Fantasy in Lights Contest

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Advertising and Promotion Commission, along with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department, will host the Jacksonville: Fantasy in Lights Contest for the best decorated home, street, business or church in Jacksonville for Christmas. Nominees will be accepted through Dec. 17, and judging will be after 6 p.m. Dec. 18. Winners will receive a monetary award, a “Winner” sign for their yard and recognition in local newspapers. For more information or to make a nomination, contact the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce at (501) 982-1511 or www.jacksonville-arkansas.com, or Martin Street at (501) 982-0818.

Meditation Class

SEARCY — Dennis Bennett, minister at First Christian Church of Searcy, is teaching a five-week meditation class for the Healthworks Center, part of White County Medical Center. The Healthworks Center is in the WCMC Annex Building on Hartsfield Drive. The classes will continue from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday and Nov. 28. The cost is $5 per class. To attend, call Brenda Engle at (501) 278-8571 or (501) 230-0900.

Technology Classes

CABOT — The Cabot School District is offering free technology classes for the community every Thursday during the day. A class is offered from 8:30-10:30 a.m., and another from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Courses include basic technology, Internet and Microsoft Office. For more information, call (501) 743-3527 or visit cabotschools.org.

Children’s Bible Study

CABOT — Christ United Methodist Church is offering Bible-study adventures for children from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays. Kids are invited to “Berry Blast Theme Park” to learn about the fruits of the spirit. Bible stories, skits, games, snacks and more will be offered. Parents are welcome to join in or drop the kids off for a night of free fun. The church is at 100 Gateway Drive in Cabot, by the Exxon on Arkansas 5. For more information, call Courtney Reed at (501) 231-3631.

Upcoming

HVAC Courses

MAMMOTH SPRING — Ozarka College–Mammoth Spring will offer heating, ventilation and air-conditioning courses as part of continuing education, from Nov. 26 through Dec. 21. Classes will meet from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Mammoth Spring campus, Fifth and Archer streets. The cost is $150 and includes a textbook. The HVAC course will cover the following topics: wiring, refrigeration gauges, volt/ohms, super-heat readings, testing components and capacitors. To sign up for the class, contact Karen Overturf at (870) 368-2005 or koverturf@ozarka.edu.

’Twas the Night Before Christmas

BATESVILLE — Children’s Theatre on Tour, a touring company of the Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre in Little Rock, will perform ’Twas the Night Before Christmas at 7 p.m. Nov. 27 in Independence Hall at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. The presentation is part of the 2012-2013 Performing Arts Series sponsored by First Community Bank and will be offered free of charge. However, seating is limited and tickets are required for admission. Tickets may be obtained at the UACCB cashier window in the Main Classroom Building; at the First Community Bank main branch on the corner of St. Louis and Harrison; or at the Cave City branch on Main Street in Cave City.

Audubon Society Meeting

CLINTON — The Little Red River Audubon Society will meet Nov. 27 at Western Sizzlin in Clinton. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7. Abigail Darrah will discuss “Flock-Following Behavior of the Wedge-Billed Woodcreeper in Amazonian Ecuador.” There will be door prizes after the meeting. For more information, email lrras2011@gmail.com or visit www.littleredriveraudubonsociety.com.

Searcy Driver Safety Class

SEARCY — Arkansas State University-Searcy will hold an AARP Driver Safety course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Technology East building, Room 127. The class is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. To register for the class, call Jerry or Bertie Yates at (501) 283-0283 or (501) 283-0287.

Marked Tree Driver Safety Course

MARKED TREE — Arkansas State University-Newport and AARP will present a driver safety course at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 27 on the ASUN Marked Tree Campus, 33500 U.S. 63 E. The four-hour course costs $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. There is no charge for veterans and their spouses. Participants need to bring their driver’s license and AARP card to the class. Preregistration is required. To preregister, call Charles Abernathy at (870) 239-9696.

Christmas Tree Lighting

BATESVILLE — The annual lighting of the Lyon College Christmas tree will be at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29 on the steps of Brown Chapel. The program will include Scripture reading and a history of the Christmas tree. Lyon College President Donald Weatherman will flip the switch to light the tree. A chili/soup supper and silent auction will be held at the Mabee-Simpson Library following the lighting ceremony.

Yuletide Madrigal Feaste

BEEBE — The Arkansas State University-Beebe Music Department will hold a Yuletide Madrigal Feaste at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 at the University Café in the Student Center, 610 N. Pecan St., on the Beebe campus. Tickets are $20 per person and must be purchased in advance, as seating is limited. Call the ticket office at (501) 882-8951 or stop by the ASU-Beebe Student Center information desk.

Art Show and Sale

MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Mountain View Art Guild will have a fine art and craft show and sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Historical Society Building in Mountain View. Art will be in all media, including watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel and pen and ink. Crafts will include jewelry, cornhusk dolls, punch embroidery and original cards.

Portraits With Pets

BATESVILLE — The Humane Society of Independence County's annual Christmas Portraits with Pets fundraiser will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1. Matthew’s Photography will take portraits in the Town Plaza Shopping Center. Appointments must be made in advance. There is no sitting fee, and photos may contain pets, children, families or any combination. Christmas cards are available. Call (870) 698-1265 or (870) 613-3045 to make an appointment.

Holiday Open House

BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in Batesville will hold a holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 1 at 1770 Myers St. The event, sponsored by the Extension Homemakers Council of Independence County, will include demonstrations, displays and samples of holiday decorations. There will also be gifts, crafts and food. Admission is free, and there will be a booklet of instructions and recipes for $1.

Breakfast With Mrs. Claus

NEWPORT — Breakfast with Mrs. Santa Claus, part of the Arkansas State University-Newport/Iron Mountain Regional Arts Council Children’s Series, is set for Dec. 1 at ASUN. Children will be served scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, French-toast sticks, and milk or juice while Mrs. Claus visits with them. Registration is open for children ages 4-8, and breakfast is free but limited to the first 100 children registered. Breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. in the Student/Community Center at ASUN. To reserve a space for a child, call (870) 512-7704 or email lisa_wilmans@asun.edu.

Festival of Lessons and Carols

BATESVILLE — The Christian Science Society in Batesville will hold its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m. Dec. 2. The church is at 1740 E. College Ave. This event features traditional Christmas music interspersed with Scripture readings. Performers include organist Russell Stinson and the Lyon College Flute Choir, under the direction of Laura Stinson. The program will showcase the church's neo-baroque Flentrop organ. For more information, contact Chandra Huston at (870) 307-7488.

Lonoke County Retired Teachers Meeting

CABOT — The Lonoke County Retired Teachers will meet at noon Dec. 3 at The Diner in Cabot. A Rio de Janiero missionary will be the speaker. Following the meeting, attendees will go to the Cabot Manor Rehab to sing Christmas carols and distribute cards. All retired school employees are invited. Participants are asked to bring nonperishable food items for local food pantries.

Cabot Christmas Parade

CABOT — Cabot’s annual Christmas parade will be at 3 p.m. Dec. 9 with the theme “It’s a Dr. Seuss Christmas!” Participants are asked to select an idea or image that represents their favorite memory or interpretation of this theme and use it to design their float. Entry forms, parade rules and route maps are available at the Veterans Park Community Center and the Cabot Chamber of Commerce office and on www.cabotparks.com. The entry deadline is Dec. 1. Completed forms, along with the $10 entry fee, may be sent to Cabot Christmas Parade, P.O. Box 1101, Cabot, AR 72023. For more information, call (501) 920-2122 or email cabotbeautiful@yahoo.com.

Karate class at UACCB

BATESVILLE — Sensei Don Gregory, 4th-degree black belt/full-range close combat instructor, will teach a training course, Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate, starting in January at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. The course is a traditional martial arts class that offers present-day applications of Shorin-Ryu Karate techniques. The course will run from 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29, in UACCB’s Nursing and Allied Health Fitness Center, Room 922. For more information or to register, call (870) 612-2082.

To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Three Rivers Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; send faxes to (501) 378-3500; or email trnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.

Upcoming Events