March 25
Scooby Doo Mystery Night
BRYANT — The Saline County Library will host a Scooby Doo Mystery Night from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. The come-and-go event is for all ages. Participants are invited to dress as Scooby Doo characters/villains in ’70s attire and piece together clues to solve the mystery. Snacks will be available, along with a Mystery Machine photo opportunity. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
DDG Oboe Trio Performance
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State University’s department of music will present a performance by the DDG Oboe Trio at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell Fine Arts recital hall. The trio of Leanna Booze, Lorraine Duso Kitts and Beth Wheeler began playing together in 2010. In addition to playing the staples of the double-reed trio repertoire, the musicians commission and perform new music. The performance is free and open to the public.
Movie Monday
BENTON — A movie specifically selected for ages 12 and under will be shown at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
March 25 – May 2
Operation JumpStart
HOT SPRINGS — National Park Community College will offer a six-week course, Operation JumpStart: First Step, a nationally recognized training model delivered to individuals considering starting or expanding a small business. The course, which is open to the public, will be held Monday through May 2. Participants will learn essential small-business planning and preparation skills with practical hands-on training. The course fee is $275, with the book included. The course will also include the Business Feasibility Competition with a chance to win up to $1,000 in seed capital for approved business expenses. For more information, contact Barry Ballard at bballard@npcc.edu or (501) 760-6587, or to register, call (501) 760-4223 or visit shortclass.npcc.edu.
March 26
Percussion Ensemble Concert at OBU
ARKADELPHIA — Ouachita Baptist University will host the OBU Percussion Ensemble in concert with guest artist Julie Hill at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Hill is often a guest performer and lecturer on the topic of Brazilian percussion at colleges and universities. For more information about Hill, visit www.utm.edu/jhill. For more information about the percussion ensemble, visit www.obu.edu/percussion.
Crafts for Teens
BRYANT — Teens are invited to participate in a make-and-take craft from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. For more information, call (501) 847-2166.
Tuesday With the Master Gardeners
BRYANT — The Saline County Master Gardeners and presenter Bruce Schraeder will discuss Gardening in Small Areas at 6:30 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. The program is open to all ages. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
March 26–March 29
Salute to the Eagles
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Concerts Association’s final show of the season, Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles, will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the Woodlands Auditorium. For ticket information, call Jim Berdahl at (501) 922-6539 or visit www.hsvwoodlands.com.
March 27
Wednesday Night Book Club
BENTON — Adults age 18 and older are invited to join a monthly book club at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. This month’s selection is The Marriage Plot, by Jeffrey Eugenides. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
March 27 and March 28
Piano Student Concerts
ARKADELPHIA — Piano students at Henderson State University will showcase their talents at two concerts as part of the spring Piano Concert Series. Sophomore Orlando Riveros will collaborate with a visiting piano student from the famed Oberlin Conservatory of Music on Wednesday. Ten other Henderson piano students will play a recital Thursday to celebrate American piano music. Both concerts will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell Fine Arts Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call (870) 230-5017 or email juhnh@hsu.edu.
March 28
Business After Hours
ARKADELPHIA — The Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce will hold Business After Hours from 4-6 p.m. at the Fish Net Restaurant, 5000 Valley St. in Caddo Valley. The Fish Net is showcasing new renovations and new menu items. The public is invited to attend.
March 30
Free Health Screenings
BENTON — The Saline County Library, in partnership with Saline Memorial Hospital, will continue the Well On Your Way wellness series from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library with free preventive-health screenings. No registration is required. Screenings at the event will include blood pressure, blood sugar, balance, cholesterol and pulse oxygen checks, as well as comprehensive foot exams. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
Easter Dance
BRYANT — The Central Arkansas Development Council Bryant Senior Activity Center at Bishop Park will sponsor an Easter Dance on Saturday at the Center at Bishop Park, 6401 Boone Road, No. 3. The event will begin with a potluck at 6 p.m., followed by a dance at 7. The band Tyler’s Bluff will provide entertainment from 7-9:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Proceeds will benefit the Bryant Senior Activity Center. For more information, call Wanda Rowe at (501) 681-0504.
Fire Station Open House
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The community is invited to the Cortez Fire Station Open House from 10 a.m. to noon. 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. 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. The festival will also have a panel discussion on women in film, with several of the filmmakers attending. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, find Reel Arkansas at facebook.com/groups/101481596615960.
Ongoing
Health Walksin the Gardens
HOT SPRINGS — Two of the Garvan Woodland Gardens’ most avid walkers lead guided health walks in the gardens once a week. Anthony Chapel singer Sharon Turrentine leads a three-mile walk at 9 a.m. every Monday. Garvan Woodland Gardens staffer Paula Wallace leads a one-mile walk at 9 a.m. every Tuesday. Walkers are invited to meet at the welcome center to join the groups. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy walking shoes. No reservations are necessary. The guided walks are free to members, while regular gardens admission applies for nonmembers.
Head Start Survey, Applications
CLARK/HOT SPRING COUNTY — Central Arkansas Development Council Head Start Centers in Clark County are conducting a target area survey. Staff will conduct the target-area survey to determine the number of preschool children who may be eligible for the Head Start program in Clark County. To participate, contact the local Head Start office. The Clark County program and the Hot Spring County program are accepting early enrollment applications for the fall 2013 school year. In Amity, call (870) 342-5358; in Arkadelphia, call (870) 246-8931; in Gurdon, call (870) 353-6616; in Malvern, call (501) 337-1502; in Bismarck, call (501) 865-1882; and in Magnet Cove, call (501) 332-6906.
Student Art Show
ARKADELPHIA — The Southwest Region V Student Art Show will be at the Arkadelphia Arts Center through April 6. The exhibit features colorful and creative art from kindergartners through 12th-graders from 10 school districts in the southwest region of Arkansas and is sponsored by the Southwestern Division of the Arkansas Art Educators. Operated by the nonprofit Clark County Arts and Humanities Council, the center is open to the public at no charge. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call (870) 245-3612.
Junior Volunteer Program
HOT SPRINGS — National Park Medical Center is accepting applications for the 2013 Junior Volunteer Summer Service Program, to be held June 10 through Aug. 9. The program teaches teens ages 14 to 18 about the health care industry through observation of various hospital departments. Participants will volunteer four to 32 hours per week at the hospital during the program. May 15 is the deadline to submit complete applications, including an information sheet, two letters of recommendation and a guardian-signed TB-skin-test release form. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by June 1. For more information, call (501) 620-2705 or email mandy.golleher@npmchs.com. Applications are available online at www.nationalparkmedical.com.
Essay Contest
MALVERN — The Malvern-Hot Spring County Library is sponsoring a writing contest for youth ages 7-18 in Hot Spring County. Entrants are asked to write a one- to five-page essay about a book that has special meaning to them, inspired them or made a difference in how they think. Typed essays are preferred but not required. Essays should include the writer’s name, phone number, address, age and school name and be submitted to the library front desk by Thursday. Winners, who will be contacted by April 2, will receive a cash prize, a trophy and two tickets to the library’s 85th Birthday Bash on April 13, when winners will be announced and prizes awarded. For more information, call (501) 332-5441.
Event Center Naming Requests
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. Proposals received after the deadline will be returned unopened. Faxed or emailed proposals will not be accepted. Copies of the request for proposal may be obtained from the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, 607 Market St., or by calling (501) 860-7004. Submit proposals to the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce in a sealed envelope with the notation “Benton Advertising & Promotion Naming Rights RFP” on the outside.
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. The program is 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, call the Coronado Community Center office at (501) 922-5050.
Scholarship Donations
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 award the certificate to the student. For more information, email raeann@bryantchamber.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; call (501) 778-1133.
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.
Upcoming
Monday Afternoon Book Club
BRYANT — The Monday Afternoon Book Club will meet at 1 p.m. April 1 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 Janet Carson will discuss horticulture at 6:30 p.m. April 1 at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The program is open to all ages. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.
Guest Pianist Performance
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State University’s music department will host a performance by renowned Canadian pianist Paul Berkowitz at 7:30 p.m. April 1 in the Russell Fine Arts Building Recital Hall, 604 N. 12th St. Berkowitz concentrates his efforts on the quintessential Romantic piano literature written by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms. Berkowitz has recorded works by these composers on Meridian Records. The free concert is open to the public.
Aerospace Training Information Meeting
HOT SPRINGS — National Park Community College will host a free information session at 6 p.m. April 2 for those who are considering a career in aerospace. The session will be held in the NPCC aerospace lab on the south side of the campus. For more information or to register, contact Vickie Harrison at vharrison@npcc.edu, or call (501) 760-4135.
Genealogy Society Meeting
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Genealogy Society will meet at 2 p.m. April 4 at the Coronado Community Center, Room 6. Guest speaker Nancy Holder will presents a program titled Finding Personalities and Answers to Family Mysteries in Old Letters and Journals. Holder, an active member of the Village Genealogy Club and the Village Writer’s Club, and a native Midwesterner, will show how reading old letters and diaries can elicit emotions in the writer and get to the real story that connects with the facts. For more information, call (501) 922-6965.
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 at the Fisher Campus Center. The free event is 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 employers. For more information, contact Mary Kay Wurm at mwurm@npcc.edu or (501) 760-4246.
Fish and Chicken Dinner
MALVERN — St. Paul United Methodist Church in Malvern at East Mill and Cherry Lane will have a fish and chicken dinner from 4-7 p.m. April 5. The dinners, which include a drink and homemade banana pudding, will be $11 for four pieces, $9 for two pieces and $5 for children 12 and younger. To place a carryout order, call (501) 337-7364.
Plant Sale
BENTON — The Saline County Master Gardeners will hold a plant sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 6 in the old armory building at the Saline County Fairgrounds. The group expects to present 2,000 plants, and the sale is the group’s largest fundraiser for two scholarships awarded each year. There is no charge for admission or parking. For more information, contact Judy at (501) 315-6306 or blackwelltj@sbcglobal.net.
Elvis Tribute Performance
BENTON — A musical tribute celebrating legendary entertainer Elvis Presley will be held at 7 p.m. April 6 at Benton High School’s Butler Auditorium. International award-winning Elvis tribute artist Tony Witt will be joined by one of the top tribute bands on the circuit today, Fever. A portion of the proceeds from the show will go to the Benton High School Music Department, The Royal Players and The Saline County Arts Project. Advance general-admission tickets are on sale for $20 each at area Big Red Stores in Benton, Bryant and Otter Creek; and at Island Hoppers Tanning and Day Spa in Bryant. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tonywitt.com or by calling KingSized Entertainment at (501) 952-6005. Tickets the day of the show will be $25 each.
Lincoln Day Dinner
ARKADELPHIA — The annual Clark County Lincoln Day Dinner will be held April 9 in Ouachita Baptist University’s Walker Conference Center. Rex Nelson, a native of Arkadelphia, an OBU graduate, current president of Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and a columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, will be the keynote speaker. The event will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Walker Center Lobby, followed by a three-course dinner at 6:30. Tickets are $35 for individuals or $200 for a table of six. College students may attend for $20. No tickets will be sold at the door. To purchase tickets or for more information, call Cabe Land and Timber at (870) 353-2063 or email cabeland@iocc.com.
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. Nine professionally repapered and draped 10-by-10-foot 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.
Citizens Police Academy
HOT SPRINGS — The Hot Springs Police Department’s next Citizens Police Academy will begin April 11. Participants will meet with SWAT team members and detectives to learn about patrol functions, department structure and search and seizure, and to ride along with an officer. Class members will meet in the Police Department’s large classroom from 6-9 p.m. Thursdays for eight weeks. The class is free. Each applicant is subject to a thorough background check. Applications may be picked up at the department or printed at www.hotspringspolice.com. The deadline for applications is April 1.
The Servant of Two Masters
ARKADELPHIA — The Henderson State University Theatre will present seven performances of Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters, translated and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi, at 7:30 p.m. April 11-13, April 15 and April 18-20. A reception will follow the opening-night performance. The HSU Theatre Box Office in Arkansas Hall will be open for advance ticket sales from 1-4 p.m. beginning April 8. All seats are reserved. Admission is $8, or free with an HSU student ID. For more information or to make reservations, call (870) 230-5291, or email theatre@hsu.edu.
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.
GriefShare
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — GriefShare, a recovery support program offered at Village Bible Church, will begin April 16. The group is designed to help participants grow and heal after a loss, and the class will meet from 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays through May 21 To register for the class, call Bob Cobb at (501) 915-9119 or Carl Wetzel at (501) 922-5936.
Declaration Amendments Meeting
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Property Owners’ Association will hold a town-hall meeting at 3 p.m. April 18 in the Coronado Community Center Auditorium to outline the amendments to the Hot Springs Village Declaration, as well as the proposed administrative fines. All members are invited to attend this event. For more information, call (501) 922-5530.
Spring Plant Sale
MALVERN — The Hot Spring County Master Gardeners will hold a spring plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 20 at the Hot Spring County Fairgrounds Building on MLK Boulevard in Malvern. There will be a variety of locally grown flowers, vegetables, shrubs and more. For more information, call (501) 332-5267.
Merry Mixers Dance
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Merry Mixers will hold a dance featuring music from the Fab 3 at 7 p.m. April 20 at the Coronado Community Center. The event will include a dance lesson at 7 p.m., followed by dancing at 7:30. The Merry Mixers dance to live music on the first and third Saturdays of the month except during the summer. First-Saturday admission is $7.50, and third-Saturday admission is $10. For more information, call (501) 915-8111.
Band Concert
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Concert Band will present its annual spring concert at 3 p.m. April 21 in the Woodlands Auditorium. The concert is 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 Hot Springs 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.
Flea Market
BENTON — The youth of First Lutheran Church in Benton will present their second annual flea market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27. The group is seeking vendors. Each 8-by-14-foot site costs $10, and more than one site may be reserved. All proceeds from the sale are kept by the vendor. For more information, call Cindy at (501) 844-4275.
Rotary Trip to Kansas City
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Rotary Club will offer a trip Oct. 3-6 to Kansas City, Mo. Accompanied by trip hosts, travelers will visit the U.S. Federal Reserve Money Museum, the Arabia Riverboat Exhibit, the American Jazz Museum and more. The return trip will include a stop at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. The all-inclusive price of the trip, $620 per person, includes a tax-deductible contribution to the charitable activities of the HSV Rotary Charity Corp. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Tony Cifelli at (501) 915-8238, Terry Young at (501) 915-8912, or Paul and Lynda Bridges at (501) 922-6798.
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.