This week's events in the Three Rivers area

Dec. 7

Festival of Lessons and Carols

BATESVILLE — The annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, sponsored by the music department of Lyon College, will be held at 4 p.m. at the Christian Science Society of Batesville at College and 18th streets. The program uses the traditional English format of nine Christmas carols and nine Christmas readings from the Bible. The church features outstanding acoustics and an internationally renowned Dutch pipe organ situated in the rear gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

Making Christmas Ornaments for Kids

NEWPORT — Making Clay Christmas Ornaments for Kids will be held from 2-3 p.m. at the Jacksonport Courthouse at Jacksonport State Park. Join a park interpreter to make easy and attractive clay ornaments for Christmas. This activity is geared for kids 7-14, who should be prepared to get their hands sticky and not wear good clothes. Admission is free.

Dec. 7-9

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Theatre will present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at 2 p.m. today, and at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the William Carl Garner Visitor Center. Doors will open 30 minutes before the show, and seating is limited. The performances will benefit the Heber Springs Lions Club. For more information, visit www.hebertheatre.com.

Dec. 7, 12-14 and 19-21

The Rented Christmas

SEARCY — The Performing Arts Center on the Square will present The Rented Christmas, written by Norman C. Ahern Jr. and Yvonne Ahern, Dec. 7, 12-14 and Dec. 19-21 at 219 W. Arch Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and matinee performances on Sundays are at 1:30 p.m., with brunch at 12:30 p.m. For dinner and the show, tickets are $29 for adults and $24 for seniors 55 or older and students. For brunch and a matinee, tickets are $27 for adults and $21 for seniors and students. All show-only tickets are $15. Reserve meal tickets 48 hours in advance. For more information or tickets, call (501) 368-0111 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.centeronthesquare.org.

Dec. 8

Independent Tea Party Meeting

SEARCY — The Independent Tea Party of White County will meet at 6:30 p.m. at IHOP. The public is invited. For more information, call (501) 278-9413 or email teaparty@itpwca.org.

AARP Smart Driver Course

SEARCY — The PrimesTimes of White County Medical Center will offer an AARP Smart Driver Course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Hubach Center. Parking will be available behind the hospital off Moore Street. Take the elevator to the first floor. Participants may want to bring a sweater or jacket for comfort. The instructors are Frances and Bill Mizell. The cost of the course is $15 for AARP members with an AARP card or $20 for nonmembers. To register for the class, call the PrimeTimes at (501) 380-1050.

Dec. 9

A Christmas Carol Musical

NEWPORT — A musical production of A Christmas Carol will be performed at 7 p.m. at Arkansas State University-Newport. The second installment of this season’s Patron Series, A Christmas Carol will feature approximately 50 students from Jackson County, Newport and Weiner schools. Tickets for the show are on sale for $20 each at the ASUN Business Office. To purchase reserved seats, call (870) 512-7802 or visit the ASUN Business Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Retired Teachers Christmas Dinner

JACKSONVILLE — The North Pulaski Retired Teachers’ Christmas dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. at First Electric, 1000 S. JP Wright Loop Road Entertainment will be provided by the Pinewood Elementary School Choral Group. Reservations are required by contacting group members Toney Abbott, Linda Remele or Sharon Johnson. For more information, call Johnson at (501) 982-6345.

Blood Drive

HEBER SPRINGS — Defiance Metals Products will hold a blood drive in honor of Miric Richardson from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the bloodmobile at 944 Bypass Road. Donors are needed to help DMP help Miric and other children who are fighting childhood diseases. To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code DMPHS.

Family Movie Night

JACKSONVILLE — A Family Movie Night will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St. The movie, If I Stay, is rated PG-13. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

Free Health Checks and Screenings

BATESVILLE — North Arkansas Home Care will hold free health checks and physical-therapy screenings from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Batesville Senior Center, 1590 E. College. Light snacks will be provided. For more information, call Amy Sanders at (870) 698-1413.

Dec. 10

AARP Smart Driver Safety Course

CABOT — The Cabot AARP Chapter will offer an AARP Smart Driver Safety Course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Cabot, 2003 S. Pine St. The cost of the course is $15 for AARP members with an AARP card or $20 for nonmembers. To register for the class, call Jean Davenport at (501) 843-5694.

Dec. 10 and 17

Adult Game Days

JACKSONVILLE — Adult Game Days will begin at noon Dec. 10 and 17 at the Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St. Adults 18 and older are invited to play dominoes, poker, chess, board games or video games. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

Dec. 11

Movie for Adults

JACKSONVILLE — The movie Expendables 3 will be shown for adults at 5 p.m. at the Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St. The movie is rated PG-13. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

Dec. 12

Are You an Authentic 19th Century Farb?

NEWPORT — Jacksonport State park will hold Are You an Authentic 19th Century Farb? from 3-4 p.m. Friday at the Jacksonport Courthouse. When portraying someone from an earlier time period, it’s difficult to be authentic. Participants will join a park interpreter to test their skills in identifying items that did or did not exist during the American Civil War. Admission is $5.

Dec. 12 and 19

Teen Takeover

JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will present Teen Takeover for ages 13-19 at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19. December will be a video game month. Snacks will be provided. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

Dec. 13

Making Christmas Stockings Workshop

NEWPORT — Jacksonport State park will hold a Making Christmas Stockings Workshop from

10 a.m. to noon at the Jacksonport Courthouse. The stockings that were hung by the fire on Christmas Eve in the 1800s were the children’s regular socks. Join the park interpreter to make a stocking out of felt, glitter, ribbons and other decorations. This is a family-oriented workshop. Admission is free.

Victorian Holiday Ball

POWHATAN — A Victorian Holiday Ball will be held from 7-10 p.m. at Powhatan Historic State Park. Admission is $10 per person. Attendees will experience history, music and dancing as part of Victorian social life. Dance instruction will be provided, and 19th-century costumes are optional. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Powhatan Historic State Park at (870) 878-6765 or powhatan@arkansas.com.

Christmas Brunch and Auction

JACKSONVILLE — The Beta Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma will hold its annual Christmas Brunch and Auction at 10 a.m. Saturday at the home of Sharon Johnson, 2400 Estates Court in Jacksonville. Money raised from the auction will go to the scholarship fund. Reservations are required by contacting Terentia Phillips, Paula Armstrong or Sharon Johnson. For more information, call Johnson at (501) 982-6345.

Second Saturday Bingo

HEBER SPRINGS — Second Saturday Bingo will be held Saturday at St. Albert Catholic Church, 21 Park Road. Games will begin at 5:30 p.m., with a $500 cash prize. Food, including homemade desserts, will be available at the concession stand.

ONGOING

Scholarship Application Deadline

The deadline for applying for White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund Inc. spring 2015 scholarships is Jan. 7. The fund awards scholarships to White County single parents who have minor children and are pursuing postsecondary education in order to achieve skilled employment. The application may be viewed at www.aspsf.org/county_white.html. For more information, contact Executive Director Dan Newsom at wcspsf.inc@gmail.com or (501) 230-2414.

Ozarka College Free GED Classes

MELBOURNE — Free GED classes are being offered at Ozarka College in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mammoth Spring and Mountain View. Classes meet at Ozarka College in Melbourne from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; in Ash Flat from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; and in Mammoth Spring and Mountain View from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Registration is ongoing. For more information, call Ozarka College’s Adult Education Department at (800) 821-4335, ext. 2051, or in Izard County, call (870) 368-2051.

Baxter County Free GED Classes

MOUNTAIN HOME — Free GED classes are offered from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Baxter County Adult Education Center, 1106 U.S. 62 E., Suites 1 and 3. Instruction is available in math, writing skills, reading comprehension and refresher skills for college prep, military or employability. An instructor is available for one-on-one assistance. For more information, call (870) 425-7974.

Toy Drive

PANGBURN — Pangburn Middle School is conducting its third annual toy drive to contribute to Festival of the Stars for Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Donations of toys or money may be dropped off at the school through Thursday. A donor has agreed to match any monetary gifts dollar for dollar, up to $15,000, for Festival of the Stars. For more information or to participate, call Donna Moorehead or Karen Wynne at the school at (501) 728-4912.

Award Nominations

HIGHLAND — The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the E. Wilson Green Award through Wednesday. Nominees should be civic-minded volunteers or organizations that have distinguished themselves through support of the Spring River-area community. The nominee does not have to be a member of the chamber to be considered. For more information, including a complete list of rules, call (870) 856-3210 or email sracc@centurytel.net.

Cabot Civitan Meetings

CABOT — Cabot Civitan Meetings are held at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. For more information, call Tom Nolting at (501) 606-3731.

Tea Party Meeting

CABOT — The Jacksonville/Cabot Tea Party meets at 7 p.m. each second Thursday of the month in Centennial Bank’s Community Room, 300 W. Main St. For more information, call (501) 813-6980.

Pancake Breakfast

MCRAE — A pancake breakfast is held from 7-9 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at McRae Masonic Lodge F. & A.M. No. 687. Donations are accepted.

UPCOMING

Cabot Christmas Parade

CABOT — The annual Cabot Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 14. The parade route will be from South Pine Street/Arkansas 89 at Panther Trail north past the Knights Shopping Center, left onto Pond Street and will end at Central Elementary School. The parade’s theme is “A Cabot Candyland Christmas.” Trophies will be awarded in five categories: school/civic, church, business, animal/equestrian and general/personal. Entry forms, parade rules and route maps are available at the Veterans Park Community Center and the Cabot Chamber of Commerce office and online at www.cabotparks.com. The entry deadline is Monday. Mail completed forms, along with a $10 fee per entry, to Cabot Christmas Parade, P.O. Box 1101, Cabot, AR 72023.

WRHS Clinics Open Houses

CAVE CITY/STRAWBERRY — White River Health System will hold two community open houses on Dec. 16 in Cave City and Strawberry. An open house to introduce Tammy Lusk, the new provider for the Cave City Medical Clinic, will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the clinic, 301 S. Main St. An open house to introduce Amanda Walker, the new provider for the Strawberry Medical Clinic, will be held from 5-6 p.m. at 58 River Drive.

Family Night at the Library

JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will present Family Night at the Library at 4 p.m. Dec. 17. The movie Polar Express, rated G, will be shown. Participants are asked to dress as their favorite character — pajamas are optional. Snacks will be provided. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

Movie for Adults

JACKSONVILLE — A movie for adults will be shown at 5 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St. The film, Into the Storm, is rated PG-13. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

The Nutcracker

SEARCY — The Nutcracker, presented by the Searcy School of Dance, will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Searcy High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance from the Searcy School of Dance or at the dance school’s booth at Ladies Night Out. The School of Dance is at 2023 W. Beebe Capps Expressway. For more information, call (501) 368-0100.

Old Timers Football Game

HEBER SPRINGS —The Old Timers football game fundraiser will be held Jan. 24 at Heber Springs High School. The full-contact football game splits the team into young and old players, and the school provides the equipment. The cost is $35 to play and includes a T-shirt for the event. For more information, call (501) 366-0143.

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.

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