March 3
Henderson Choir Performances
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State University choirs will present Music From the Commonwealth at 3 p.m. in the Russell Fine Arts Recital Hall. The performance will feature music originating in countries that are or once were part of the British Commonwealth, as well as student soloists. Admission is free and open to the public.
March 3 – March 8
Youth Art Show
BENTON — The Art Guild of Saline County will sponsor the 31st annual Youth Art Show at Saline Memorial Hospital today through Friday. Ribbons will be awarded for first, second and third places and honorable mention. There will be an open house and reception from 1-3 p.m. today in the hospital atrium, the wing to the left of the main entrance. The public is invited to attend.
March 4
Band Concert
ARKADELPHIA — The Henderson State University Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Evanson Band Hall in the Russell Fine Arts Center. The program, titled Another Time and Place, will feature music that depicts a variety of cultures and historical periods around the world. The free concert is open to the public.
Historical Society Meeting
MALVERN — The Hot Spring County Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. at The Heritage House, 118 W. Second St. The program will be presented by Ashley Parker Graves, regional director of the Mid-Arkansas Regional Library. She will present the history of the library since its founding in 1928. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Kinney Black at (501) 337-0796.
Monday Afternoon Book Club
BRYANT — The Monday Afternoon Book Club will meet at 1 p.m. 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.
Monday with the Master Gardeners
BENTON — The Saline County Master Gardeners and presenter Martha Gills will discuss Gourd Crafting at 6:30 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The program is open to all ages. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
March 5
A Night of Laughter
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Comedian Jeff Love will present A Night of Laughter at 7 p.m. at the Coronado Community Center. To purchase $10 general-admission tickets, visit www.hsvticketsales.com, call (501) 922-5050, or stop by the Coronado Community Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
March 5 and March 7
Spring Cleaning Workshop
BENTON/BRYANT — The Saline County Cooperative Extension Service has partnered with the Saline County Library to offer a two-part workshop on spring cleaning. Part 1, on how to organize and keep your home the most efficient for peace of mind and home harmony, will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant, and at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton. Part 2, on how to make “green” cleaning products, will meet at 6 p.m. March 12 in Bryant and at 6 p.m. March 14 in Benton. The classes, which will be taught by Kris Elliott of the Extension Service, are open to adults 18 and older on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
March 6
Buying/Selling on eBay
BRYANT — A computer class on how to buy and sell items on eBay will be offered for adults 18 and older at 1 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. Attendance is first-come, first-served. For more information, call (501) 778-4766 or (501) 847-2166.
Public Forum
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — A public forum for the Property Owners’ Association Board candidates will be held from 2:30-4 p.m. at the Coronado Community Center. The forum is designed to inform property owners about the candidates before the election. Property owners can submit questions of general interest prior to the event via email at office@kvre.com or fax at (501) 922-6626, or mail to KVRE Forum, P.O. Box 8439, Hot Springs, AR 71910. Submissions should be received by Friday. Questions and comments will not be allowed from the audience during the event.
March 7
General Manager Coffee
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The next Property Owners’ Association General Manager Coffee is set for 3 p.m. at the Coronado Community Center in Hot Springs Village. Developed to provide a public forum for residents and property owners to talk directly with the general manager, the coffees allow discussion of any topic relevant to Hot Springs Village life. For more information, call (501) 922-5530.
Theater Time Thursday
BRYANT — A family-friendly movie selected for ages 12 and younger will be shown at 4 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. For more information, call (501) 847-2166.
Genealogy Society Meeting
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Village Genealogy Society will meet at 2 p.m. in Room 6 of the Coronado Community Center. Guest speaker Elizabeth Robbins, executive director of the Garland County Historical Society, will discuss “World War II in Hot Springs.” The program will examine how Hot Springs reacted to the war, how the war affected the lives of the people, and the impact that three government facilities had on the community. For more information, call Bill Patterson at (501) 922-6965 or Nancy Holder at (608) 692-0162.
Ballet Arkansas Performance
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Ballet Arkansas, the state’s only professional ballet company, will perform Beyond Category at the Woodlands Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The show will feature 10 women and three men in a program of dances to an array of music. To purchase reserved-seat tickets, at $18 each, visit hsvticketsales.com, call (501) 922-4231, or stop by the Woodlands Box Office from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
March 7 –March 9
Opera Workshop
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State University’s Opera Workshop will present Giacomo Puccini’s comic opera Gianni Schicchi at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday in the Arkansas Hall Studio Theatre. All performances will be in English. This classic one-act opera spins a timeless tale of inheritance and greed, love and hate with beautiful music and plenty of laughs. Tickets are $5 and free to Henderson students with a student ID. For more information, visit hsu.edu.
March 7 –March 10
The Odd Couple (Female Version)
BENTON — The Royal Players will present The Odd Couple (Female Version) by Neil Simon on Thursday through March 10, as well as March 14-17, at the Royal Theatre in historic downtown Benton. Thursday through Saturday performances start at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. In 1985, Neil Simon revised The Odd Couple for a female cast. The female version is based on the same story line and the same lead characters, now called Florence Ungar and Olive Madison. Tickets are available online at theroyalplayers.com or may be purchased at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. No reservations are necessary.
March 8
McBeth Tribute
ARKADELPHIA — Celebrating the rich musical legacy of renowned composer W. Francis McBeth, Ouachita Baptist University will welcome the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to the stage of Jones Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature music composed by McBeth, a longtime professor of music at Ouachita and former ASO conductor who died last year at age 78. Tickets for the tribute performance, at $10 each or $5 each for groups of 10 or more, are available at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. For more information, call (870) 245-5555.
Cake Decorating
BENTON — Adults 18 and older are invited to learn the basics of cake decorating at 10 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. Members of the Saline County Cooperative Extension Homemakers Group will teach the class. Attendance is first-come, first-served. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
March 9
Walk, Run and Roll 5K
BENTON — Walkers and runners of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in the first annual Walk, Run and Roll 5K and the MiChild Mile starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Hurricane Lake Estates subdivision’s pavilion in Benton. Sponsored by Friendship Community Care’s MiChild facility in Bryant, the event will help raise funds to purchase therapy equipment to better serve the more than 100 preschool children enrolled at this nonprofit therapy facility. There will be refreshments and a bouncy house for children, as well as a drawing for a child’s bicycle. For more information, call Tammy Bennett at (501) 847-9711.
Daylily Society Meeting
HOT SPRINGS — The Hot Springs Daylily Society will meet at 10 a.m. at the First Methodist Christian Life Center, 218 Pratt St. Yvonne Becker will present a 2011 national-convention overview. Guests and visitors are welcome.
Developing Unique Characters
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Village Writers’ Club will host Developing Unique Characters, an interactive workshop on characterization led by Rolland Mann, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Coronado Community Center. Topics will include creating compelling characters, as well as maintaining a consistent point of view. The registration fee is $40 at the door. Lunch will be $10, or participants may bring their own. For more information, visit www.villagewritersclub.com or call (501) 915-0494.
Chili Day
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Breakfast Lions will host a Chili Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4-7 p.m. at the Desota Event Center. The event will include a silent auction, all-you-can-eat chili, apple pie and a beverage. Tickets are $9 for adults and $4.50 for children younger than 12. For advanced tickets or more information, call (501) 226-5257.
March 9 and March 11
Dearly Beloved Auditions
BENTON — Auditions for the Royal Players production Dearly Beloved, a Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday and at 7 p.m. March 11 at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market in Benton. There will be cold readings from the script, and there are parts for men and women. Some of the adults are young, so older teens may be able to play some parts. Of the seven women, three are a singing trio who perform one song in the play. Those auditioning do not need to prepare a solo, but singers may be handed a simple hymn or similar song to sing with others. Although preferred, the singing is optional to the play. For more information, visit theroyalplayers.com, or call (501) 315-5483.
Ongoing
Naming Requests Accepted
BENTON — The Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission will accept requests until 4 p.m. April 12 for proposals for the opportunity to purchase naming rights of the new Benton Event Center. The proposals will be publicly opened at that time. Any proposals received after the closing time will be returned unopened. Faxed or emailed proposals will not be accepted. Copies of the request for proposal are on file and may be obtained from the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, 607 Market St., or by calling (501) 860-7004. Proposals need to be submitted to the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce in a sealed envelope with the notation “Benton Advertising & Promotion Naming Rights RFP” on the outside.
Habitat Collegiate Challenge
SALINE COUNTY — Habitat for Humanity will host college students from around the country during their spring breaks for three Collegiate Challenge build weeks: Monday through Saturday; March 11-16; and March 23-27. The students will work with Habitat for Humanity of Saline County on local build projects. Habitat is seeking volunteers to provide simple meals for 40 people for breakfast and lunch, or 20 people for dinner during that time. For more information, call (501) 315-5434.
AARP Tax Help
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — AARP Foundation Tax Aide volunteers are available from noon to 5 p.m. every Wednesday through April 10 at the Coronado Community Center. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate incomes, with special attention to those 60 and older. The service is offered in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service. For more information, contact the Coronado Community Center office at (501) 922-5050.
Volunteer Firefighter Applications
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association Department of Public Safety is recruiting volunteer firefighters. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Arkansas driver’s license and a clean driving record. Applicants must also be able to meet minimum volunteer-firefighter training qualifications, attend scheduled meetings and respond to fires. For more information, contact Capt. Jason Miller at (501) 922-2210. Applications are available at the Cortez Fire Station, 110 Cortez Road in Hot Springs Village.
Village Volunteer Auxiliary
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association Board of Directors is creating a volunteer auxiliary, consisting of Village volunteers who are willing to assist their association. Whatever the area of expertise, consider becoming part of this auxiliary, titled the Vocation Volunteer Interest Program. The group also seeks experts for coordinating volunteers. For more information, email sbowen@hsvpoa.org.
Scholarship Donations Accepted
BRYANT — The 2013 Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations from companies to provide scholarships for students with at least a 2.75 grade-point average, as well as demonstrated financial need and community service. Companies can donate $500 for a full scholarship, $250 for a scholarship shared with another sponsor or $100 shared with four other sponsors. The deadline for support is April 1. The scholarships will be awarded in an assembly the first Friday of May at Bryant High School. Donors will be invited to send a company representative to give the certificate of award to the student. For more information, email raeann@bryantcahmber.com.
Free Tax Preparation
The Central Arkansas Development Council is offering free tax-preparation assistance in Saline, Hot Spring and Clark counties. In Clark County, services will be at the Huie Library at Henderson State University, 1100 Henderson St. in Arkadelphia. For an appointment, call (870) 867-0151. In Hot Spring County, services will be at the Malvern/Hot Spring County Library, 202 E. Third St. in Malvern. For an appointment, call (501) 332-5441. In Saline County, services will be at the CADC Senior Activity Center, 210 Jefferson in Benton. The site is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, and walk-ins are accepted. Services will be offered by appointment only at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library, 1800 Smithers Drive in Benton. For an appointment, call (501) 778-1133.
Free Community Classes
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State University’s Ellis College of Arts and Sciences will offer free classes for the Arkadelphia community this spring. All classes will meet at 4 p.m. in the Reynolds Science Center, Room 127. On Thursday, Mary Beth Trubitt will discuss an upcoming archeological dig in the Ouachita National Forest. On March 14, David Bateman and Vince Dunlap will present Antibiotic Resistance: Are You Doing Your Part to Prevent It? For more information, call Linda Mooney at (870) 230-5320.
AARP Tax-Aide Service
BENTON — Free preparation of tax returns, including free E-filing, will be offered for people of all ages from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at an AARP Tax-Aide site at Midtowne Church, 4037 Boone Road in Benton. AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest, free, volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service. The site will provide continuing tax services to taxpayers who have attended the Park Place Baptist site in the past. Walk-ins are welcome but will be served after those with appointments. To schedule an appointment, call Larry at (501) 303-6829.
Sister City Teacher Scholarships
HOT SPRINGS — The Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation will accept applications until March 25 for two teacher scholarships for summer travel to Hanamaki, Japan, Hot Springs’ sister city. Teachers or school administrators currently employed in Garland County public schools are eligible for the program. The scholarship will fully fund travel costs for a seven-day trip to Hanamaki in mid-June. The city of Hanamaki will provide home-stay arrangements, along with tours and educational opportunities. Application information is available through the Sister City Program link on the city of Hot Springs’ home page, www.cityhs.net.
Upcoming
Soup Sunday
BENTON — The women of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Benton will hold a homemade soup luncheon from 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 10 at the church. Takeout-only orders will be filled from 9:45-11 a.m., and eat-in, bottomless bowls will be served from noon to 1:30 p.m. Takeout orders include a quart of soup and will be $8. For eat-in, tickets are $10 and include a drink and dessert. Families of four or more can eat for $35. All proceeds will be distributed to local charities. For more information, call (501) 315-1516.
College Goal Sunday
HOT SPRINGS — Financial-aid counselors will be at National Park Community College from 2-4 p.m. March 10 to help students and parents with the first step toward receiving grants and loans from the federal government to pay for college. College Goal Sunday is the culmination of Say Go College Week and an opportunity for free assistance in submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more information about how to pay for college, visit ADHE.edu, SayGoCollege.com or ArCollegeGoalSunday.org.
Benton Book Club
BENTON — The Benton Book Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. March 11 at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library to discuss the club’s chosen title. The group is open to adults 18 and older. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
Friends of Village Annual Meeting
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The annual meeting of the Friends of Hot Springs Village will be held at 7 p.m. March 11 in the Ouachita Room of the Woodlands. Keynote speakers will be Darin Beckwith and Andy Curry, superintendents of Fountain Lake and Jessieville schools, respectively. They will provide an update on the Fountain Lake lawsuit, joint acquisition of the Boys and Girls Club property, the Jessieville Foundation and academic performance at the schools. Friends of Hot Springs Village is an organization of resident and nonresident property owners dedicated to improving and maintaining the quality of life in the Village and providing support for the board of directors, staff and committees.
Tennis Lessons
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Tennis Association and the Coronado Tennis Center will offer free tennis lessons March 11-21 at the center. For more information or to sign up, visit www.hsvta.net/OURTENNISPROS or call (501) 922-5054.
National Intelligence Program
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Carl W. Ford, a former CIA national intelligence officer and an Arkansas native, will present Introduction to National Intelligence at 7 p.m. March 12. Ford’s program, part of the Ouachita Speaker Series, will take place in the Ouachita Activities Building of the Ponce de Leon Center. General admission is $10, and tickets are available online at www.hsvTicketSales.com or at the Ponce de Leon Center office, 1101 DeSoto Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit OuachitaSpeakerSeries.com.
E-Book Access Sign-up
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Coronado Library will offer e-book access sign-up through the Saline County Library from 9 a.m. to noon March 12 at the Coronado Community Center, Rooms 1-2. Saline County Library representatives will be available to explain the e-book program and to provide an opportunity for patrons to sign up for e-book system access. Participants are asked to bring their e-book device with them to the meeting. Garland County residents must provide a valid Garland County Public Library card to access the program. For more information, call the library at (501) 922-3555.
Daffodil Days Fundraiser
HOT SPRINGS — The 25th annual Garland County American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days will be held from March 12-16. Orders of 50 or more daffodils will be delivered throughout the Hot Springs area on March 12. Smaller orders may be picked up from 8-10 a.m. that day from the National Park Medical Center’s Maurice Room. Volunteers will be selling daffodil bouquets, leis and boutonnieres at Oaklawn Park’s live race meet March 16, which will also feature the annual Daffodil Days Classic Race. Daffodils will be sold from 10 a.m. until they are sold out. To request an order form or for more information, call (501) 620-2705 or visit nationalparkmedical.com.
Fraud Informational Meeting
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association Department of Public Safety will hold a fraud informational meeting from 9-11 a.m. March 13 at the DeSoto Club Event Center. The topic will be on identity theft, which has an estimated 15 million victims every year. For more information, call Public Safety at (501) 922-0011.
Bird-Watching Class
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Learn more about birds in Hot Springs Village at a bird-watching class at 8:30 a.m. March 14 on the Magellan Beaver Dam Trail. Keith Salisbury, a Bird Identification Workshop teacher and a Hot Springs Village Audubon Society member, will serve as guide for the event. Participants are asked to meet in the trail parking lot at 8:30 a.m. In the event of rain, the class will be rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 28 at the same location. For more information, call (501) 922-0322.
3.1 Miles of Hope
BENTON — All ages are invited to register for the 3.1 Miles of Hope 5K run/walk at 8 a.m. March 16 at Tyndall Park in Benton. The event will benefit the American Cancer Society. Registration is $20 per person before Wednesday (a T-shirt is guaranteed with early registration) and $25 thereafter. To register for 3.1 Miles of Hope, visit secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=7511 or email relay4lifesalinecounty@gmail.com for a paper registration form. For more information or to become a sponsor, call (501) 605-6945 or email relay4lifesalinecounty@gmail.com.
Merry Mixers Dance
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Merry Mixers will hold a dance featuring Warren Crow and the Classics Band at 7:30 p.m. March 16 at the Coronado Community Center. A dance lesson will be held at 7 p.m. All dancers are welcome. The group dances to live music twice a month except during the summer. For more information, call (501) 915-8111.
Shakespeare Auditions
BENTON — This year, Saline County Shakespeare in the Park will present The Tempest, by William Shakespeare. Auditions will be held at 10 a.m. March 16 and at 5 p.m. March 17 in the outdoor auditorium at Tyndall Park. Auditioners need to prepare a 1 1/2-minute monologue. If not, some will be available at the auditions. Cold reads from the script will also be required. For more information, contact Lisa Goodrich at (501) 249-3169 or lisagoodrich1980@yahoo.com.
Fire Station Open House
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The community is invited to the Cortez Fire Station Open House from 10 a.m. until noon March 30. Attendees can tour the fire station, training tower, fire engine and rescue truck. Games, activities and goody bags will be available for children. Hot dogs and refreshments will be provided.
Reel Women Festival
BENTON — Reel Arkansas, a nonprofit group based on Facebook, has scheduled the 2013 Reel Women Festival for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 30 at the Royal Theatre in Benton. The festival aims to include films from Tennessee and Mississippi, as well as Arkansas. Two of the films are Sarah Jones’ John Wayne’s Bed and G.B. Shannon’s FreshSkweezed. In addition to film screenings, the festival will have a panel discussion on women in film, with several of the filmmakers in attendance. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, find Reel Arkansas at facebook.com/groups/101481596615960. The festival is seeking submissions of films that feature strong or atypical female roles, as well as films written or directed by women. Submissions are free, and the deadline is March 15. Email Jennifer Mazzacane at jennifer@reelarkansas.com or reelarkansas@gmail.com.
All Majors Job Fair
HOT SPRINGS — The annual National Park Community College All Majors Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 4 in the Fisher Campus Center. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet employers who are hiring; obtain career information; establish contacts through networking; and identify career, summer, temporary and internship opportunities. NPCC is partnering with the Arkansas Workforce Center and expects approximately 40 employers at the event. Interested job seekers are asked to bring copies of their resume, dress professionally and be prepared to interview with an employer. For more information, contact Mary Kay Wurm at mwurm@npcc.edu or (501) 760-4246.
Business Expo
BENTON — The Benton Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Cajun Feast and Business Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11 at First United Methodist Church in Benton. Nine professionally re-papered and draped 10-by-10 booths are available for $100 each. A sign with the company’s name, one table and two chairs will be provided. Dedicated electricity cannot be guaranteed. Vendors will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Approximately 700 people attended last year’s Cajun feast. For more information, call (501) 860-7004.
Library Birthday Celebration
MALVERN — The Hot Spring County Historical Society will celebrate the Mid-Arkansas Regional Library’s 85th year of service with a birthday dinner from 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 13 at the Malvern Country Club. For more information, call Kinney Black at (501) 337-0796.
Spring Concert
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Concert band will present its spring concert at 3 p.m. April 21 at the Woodlands Auditorium in Hot Springs Village. This is an annual event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Hot Springs Village, which will provide a complimentary ice-cream sundae to each attendee, as well as conduct a silent auction, starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased from any member of the Concert Band or the Kiwanis Club; at the Woodlands office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays; or online at www.hsvwoodlands.com. Remaining tickets will be available at the box office prior to the show.
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.