April 3
Starting a Business in Arkansas
RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present Starting a Business in Arkansas from 9 a.m. to noon at Arkansas Tech University. Workshop participants will learn the steps crucial to starting a business; identify key issues and pitfalls that affect small-business success; and learn start-up requirements. The workshop includes a how-to “New Business Guide” and handouts relevant to each participant’s county licensing requirements. The cost to attend is $30, and veterans may attend free. Seating is limited, and registration is required by calling (479) 356-2067 or visiting asbtdc.org/training/russellville-events.
Pancake Supper
MORRILTON — The First United Methodist Church annual men’s pancake supper will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at 203 Chestnut. The supper will include pancakes, sausage and drinks. There is no charge, but donations are requested. All proceeds will go to local charities. For more information, call Burt Henderson at (501) 208-3122
April 4
Newcomers Coffee
MAUMELLE — A Maumelle Newcomers coffee will be held at 10 a.m. at the Maumelle Community Center. Everyone in the community is invited.
April 5
Paws in the Park
FAIRFIELD BAY — The Paws in the Park dog festival, sponsored by the Laureate Alpha Lambda chapter, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Woodland Mead Park. The event will feature contests, the Fido Fashion Show, a photo booth, face painting, door prizes, food and vendors. For more information, call Annalee at (501) 884-6350 or Beth at (501) 884-4984.
Spring Pageant
CLINTON — The annual Spring Pageant will be held at 4 p.m. at the Van Buren County Fairgrounds. The pageant is open to all ages in all counties in Arkansas. Contestants must preregister by calling (501) 745-8100 or (501) 253-1190, or faxing (501) 745-8100. The pageant is a fundraiser for upcoming youth events.
Boots and Benefactors BBQ
RUSSELLVILLE — The sixth annual Boots and Benefactors BBQ will take place from 4-7 p.m. at the Pope County Fairgrounds, 517 S. Knoxville. The event will feature Some Guy Named Robb, a chuck-wagon dinner, a rider exhibition, door prizes and pony rides. Tickets are $25 per person. Admission is free for children 15 and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket. Proceeds will benefit the Equestrian Zone, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities by providing equine-assisted activities. For tickets, call (479) 970-8351 or visit www.equestrianzone.org.
April 6
Botkinburg Church Grand Opening
BOTKINBURG — The Botkinburg Foursquare Church will host a grand opening Sunday for the church’s new building. The old church was destroyed by a tornado on April 10, 2013. Church services will be at 11 a.m., and Sunday School will start at 10. The public is invited. The first service in the new building was held Feb. 23. The church is at 7054 U.S. 65 N.
April 7
Gubernatorial Forum
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Tea Party will host a gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. in the McGee Center, featuring the two primary-election candidates. The forum will be moderated by Philip Fletcher. Confirmed guests include Asa Hutchinson and Curtis Coleman. The event is open to the public. Following the forum, there will be a meet-and-greet, and light refreshments will be served.
April 8
Retired Teachers Meeting
HEBER SPRINGS — The Cleburne County Retired Teachers Association will meet at noon at the Rustic Inn in Heber Springs. The guest speaker will be Donna Morey, the new director of the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association. All retired school personnel are invited to attend. For more information, call Lavern Penn at (501) 206-0357.
April 9
Human Resources for Businesses
RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will offer Human Resources: What Every Business Should Know from 9 a.m. to noon at Arkansas Tech University. Many topics will be covered. The cost is $40 per person. Seating is limited, and registration is required by calling (479) 356-2067 or visiting asbtdc.org/training/russellville-events.
Ongoing
Computer Training
CONWAY — The Conway Adult Education Center, 125 Center St., is taking registration for computer-training classes and workshops from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday until the sessions begin. For more information, call (501) 450-4810 or visit www.caec.org.
Conway Community Meditation Group
CONWAY — The Conway Community Meditation group meets from 12:30-1:30 p.m. every Tuesday at The Locals, 1024 Van Ronkle St. This session provides a time of unifying harmony with fellow Conway residents. All are welcome. For more information, visit www.thelocals.be/events.
Spanish Practice Group
CONWAY — The Spanish Practice Group meets at 4 p.m. every Friday at The Locals, 1024 Van Ronkle St. Join other Spanish-speaking enthusiasts in conversation. Todos son bienvenidos! For more information, visit www.thelocals.be/events.
Wordpress Conway
CONWAY — Wordpress Conway takes place at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at The Locals, 1024 Van Ronkle St. For anyone who uses Wordpress or wants to learn more about it, this central-Arkansas group can provide help with questions or issues Wordpress users may have. For more information, visit www.thelocals.be/events.
Simply Said Storytelling
CONWAY — Simply Said is an informal, open-mic storytelling time held at 6 p.m. every Thursday at The Locals, 1024 Van Ronkle St. Participants are asked to share a story, no notes, in no more than five minutes. This month’s theme is “Failed New Year’s Resolutions.” For more information, visit www.thelocals.be/events.
The Fiber Circle
CONWAY — The Fiber Circle is held at 5:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of every month at The Locals, 1024 Van Ronkle St. Those who knit, crochet, stitch or pursue any other craft are welcome to work on their own projects or help fellow craftivists with theirs. For more information, visit www.thelocals.be/events.
TeamKID
MAUMELLE — Southern Hills Baptist Fellowship and JumpZone have teamed up to offer a free children’s program, TeamKID, for first- through sixth-graders. The program is held at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday at the JumpZone building. For more information, call (501) 851-7729 or visit www.southernhillsbaptist.tv.
Sign Language Class
CONWAY — A sign language class meets at 5:30 p.m. Mondays at the Faulkner County Library.
Tea Party Meeting
HEBER SPRINGS — Arkansas’ We the People Tea Party of Cleburne County meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of every month at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 1101C W. Main St. Various issues are discussed. For more information, call Marlin Schwartz at (847) 977-5261.
Friends of the Library Book Shop
HEBER SPRINGS — The Friends of The Library Book Shop, 2255 Arkansas 25B N., is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shop offers books at bargain prices. Proceeds from the shop benefit the libraries in Cleburne County. Volunteers are needed. Friends of the Library meet at 1 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. For more information, stop by the shop.
Upcoming
AARP Monthly Chapter Meeting
MAUMELLE — The Maumelle AARP Chapter will meet at 6 p.m. April 10 at the Maumelle Senior Wellness Center. Following a social time, a representative from the Clinton Presidential Center will give a presentation on what the center has to offer, the current exhibit, an upcoming exhibit and a short film narrated by Morgan Freeman. Anyone 50 and older is welcome to attend. For more information, call Betty Hall at (505) 851-6828 or Jan Bowen at (501) 803-0089.
A Doll’s House
CONWAY — The UCA Theatre will present A Doll’s House at 7:30 p.m. April 10-11 and 16-18 in the Snow Fine Arts Center Bridges/Larson Theatre. Tickets are $10 for the general public, and University of Central Arkansas students can get two free tickets with a current student ID. For tickets, call UCA Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or visit Reynolds Performance Hall.
Flower and Plant Sale
PETIT JEAN — The annual flower and plant sale sponsored by the Petit Jean Garden Club of Morrilton will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 11 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12 at the Fullerton Activity Center, 1050 Oak St. (Arkansas 95), on the west side of the Southern Christian Home campus. The many varieties of annuals, grasses, flowering vines, perennials, hanging baskets and potted containers for sale are chosen for their tolerance of the area’s heat and humidity. Master Gardeners will be on-site to help customers with gardening problems and suggest flowers for various conditions. Proceeds from the sale will help fund the club’s plantings and maintenance of gardens at the walking trail, city swimming-pool bathhouse and the Senior Adult Center, as well as a scholarship for a graduating senior in Conway County who plans to pursue a degree in horticulture/agriculture. For more information, call (501) 977-0756.
Bread of Life Food Pantry
MORRILTON — The Bread of Life Food Pantry, a ministry of First Baptist Church Morrilton, will sponsor a fish fry and silent auction from 4-7 p.m. April 12 in the Family Life Center, 200 E. Church St., across from the courthouse. Catfish dinners will be $10 each, or dining in or picking up at a drive-thru. The silent auction will be from 4-6:30 p.m. and include tickets to Jonah at the Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson; day passes to Wild River Country, Magic Springs and Silver Dollar City; Razorback items; hunting and fishing items; sports items; gift certificates to restaurants; and more. Proceeds will benefit the food pantry, which serves patrons in Conway and Perry counties. For more information, call Judy Hammons at (501) 889-8606.
Second Saturday Bingo
HEBER SPRINGS — Second Saturday Bingo will be held April 12 at St. Albert Catholic Church, 21 Park Road. Early-bird games will begin at 5:30 p.m. There is a a $500 jackpot and a concession stand with lots of homemade desserts.
Easter-Egg Hunt
CONWAY — The Sigma Kappa Sorority from the University of Central Arkansas will present an Easter-egg hunt at 2 p.m. April 12 at Laurel Park, across the street from Conway High School. There will be three age groups: birth to 2, 3 to 6 and 7 to 10. A $5 donation per participant is requested. Proceeds will benefit Alzheimer’s Arkansas. The Easter Bunny will be there for pictures. For more information, call (501) 733-2457.
Zumba Dance Party
RUSSELLVILLE — A glow-in-the-dark Zumba dance party will be held from 6-9 p.m. April 12 at the Hughes Center, 1000 E. Parkway. The cost is $20, and all proceeds will go to Relay for Life of Pope and Yell counties. To sign up in advance, email Meagan Green at meganzgreen@gmail.com. Payment may be made at the door.
Flag Retirement Ceremony
MAUMELLE — Bring faded, torn or tattered flags to a ceremony for their dignified retirement at 10 a.m. April 12 at the Veterans Memorial at Lake Willastein in Maumelle. The event is sponsored by the Maumelle Memorial Committee. Flags may also be dropped off in designated boxes in the lobbies of Kroger stores in Maumelle through April 11. For more information, call (501) 813-9024.
Golf Tournament
FAIRFIELD BAY — The Fairfield Bay Library Friends Inc. will host it sixth annual Tee It Up for Literacy golf tournament April 12 at the Indian Hills Country Club in Fairfield Bay. Sign-in will begin at 11 a.m., and food will be available. The shotgun start will be at 1 p.m. The entry fee for the four-person scramble is $55 per player. There will be two flights — men and mixed. The deadline to enter is noon April 10. For more information or to enter, contact the Indian Hills Pro Shop at (501) 844-6018.
QuickBooks Online
RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present QuickBooks Online from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 15 at Arkansas Tech University. The session is designed for business owners and their employees who have little or no experience using the online QuickBooks Harmony platform. Topics will include navigation, setting up a company and working with lists, customers, vendors, inventory, reports and more. A computer with Wi-Fi will be provided for each participant for use during the interactive session. The cost is $65. Seating is limited, and registration is required by calling (479) 356-2067 or visiting asbtdc.org/training/russellville-events.
Computer Classes for Seniors
CONWAY — Connect Arkansas will offer free computer classes for seniors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16 at the Conway Public Library. The hands-on classes will cover frequently asked questions regarding computers and the Internet. The instructor can help participants set up an email account, learn about Facebook, use Word or Excel and download pictures. The class size is limited to five people per one-hour class. To register, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Davanzo Family Concert
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Library will present the Davanzo Family Bluegrass Band at 7 p.m. April 17. Carmen, the father, is from the popular Hometown Bluegrass Band. The Davanzo Family Bluegrass Band also includes mom Bridget and the couple’s three children: Brittany, 18; Monica, 17; and Nick, 14. All library events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Softball Tournament
RUSSELLVILLE — The Russellville Recreation and Parks Department will hold the 19th annual Battle on the Bayou softball tournament at Pleasant View Park on April 19. The USSSA-sanctioned tournament is open for Men’s Class E and Women’s Class D and below teams. The entry fee is $185, plus the sanctioning fee. The deadline to register is noon April 16. For more information, call the Hughes Center at (479) 968-1272 or (479) 880-1519, or email russellvillearsoftball@hotmail.com.
Public Service Fair
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Library will present a spring Public Service Fair from 1-4 p.m. April 19. The purpose of the fair is to alert Faulkner County residents to the services that various organizations offer to those in need, and to offer an opportunity for agencies to promote their organizations and encourage volunteerism in the community. To sign up an agency to participate, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org. The event is free and open to the public.
Credit Union Annual Meeting
CONWAY — The annual meeting for the Arkansas Kraft Employees Federal Credit Union will be from 2-4 p.m. April 21 at the Credit Union office. The agenda will include annual reports, a board-member election, door prizes and refreshments.
World Tai Chi Day
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Library will celebrate World Tai Chi Day from 10 a.m. to noon April 26 with demonstrations of tai chi by the library’s tai chi class, under the instruction of Sachiko Halter. The event is open to the public. The annual World Tai Chi Day includes celebrations in 80 nations and several hundred cities in various time zones, ending with final events in Hawaii. Celebrations include mass tai chi and qigong exhibitions and free classes in many participating cities.
Author Reading
CONWAY — April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Faulkner County Library will feature spoken-word artist, novelist and blogger Turjemia at 2 p.m. April 26 for a reading and discussion. Turjemia’s first novel, Betraying Ayanna, explores the pain of living with abuse and the courage required to forgive and move forward to a fulfilling life. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Political Speaking and Dessert Auction
HEBER SPRINGS — The Wilburn Relay for Life Team will hold a Political Speaking and Dessert Auction on April 26 at the old Wilburn School Cafeteria, on Arkansas 110 in Wilburn. Finger foods will be served at 5 p.m. Stumping will begin at 6, followed by an auction. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information, call Danita Hayes at (501) 206-2505.
Tribute to Mom 5K Run/Walk
MORRILTON — The Tribute to Mom 5K Run/Walk will start at the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church at 7 a.m. May 10. The entry fee is $15 in advance or $20 the day of the race. For an additional $10, participants can take out an ad to pay tribute to their moms in the “Happy Mother’s Day” booklet, to be published by the church. Registration forms and ads are due April 30. entry forms are now available online at cityofmorrilton.com. For more information, contact Charlotte Kindle at (501) 354 3142 (evenings) or charlotte.kindle@yahoo.com; or Joyce Smith at (501) 450-2976 or smith59jm@gmail.com.
To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.