This week's events in the Tri-Lakes Area

July 10

Prime Time Artists

HOT SPRINGS — The Prime Time Artists will present their first public exhibit of paintings from 5-9 p.m. at the Katchen Art Gallery, 620 W. Grand. Members include Doris Caravalho, Eddy Hill, Karen Holcomb and Melinda Holmes. The show will includes works in oil, pastel and charcoal on a variety of subjects. For more information, call (501) 617-4494.

Retired Teachers Brunch

BENTON — The Saline County Retired Teachers Association will meet at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Benton’s First United Methodist Church. All retired teachers are invited to attend. For more information, call (501) 778-1426.

July 11

Craft Workshop: Watermelon Wreath

BENTON — Adults 18 and older are invited to a craft workshop at 10 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The class will be led by members of the Saline County Cooperative Extension Homemakers group and requires no registration. All supplies will be provided. July’s project is a watermelon wreath. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.

How to Write a Great Short Story

HOT SPRINGS — The Garland County Library will host a presentation by short-story writer Earl Staggs from 1-4 p.m. The event, How to Write a Great Short Story, is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information, call (501) 623-4161.

Saturday

Library Outreach

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Garland County Library staff will make an outreach visit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Harps on Amity Road. Library representatives will issue library cards, offer tech help for e-book and audio-book downloads, answer questions and hold a drawing for a Kindle Fire or Nexus 7 tablet. For more information, visit gclibrary.com.

Summer Sweetheart Pageant

BENTON — The Summer Sweetheart Pageant will be held at 1 p.m. at the Benton Events Center. All contestants will receive a crown. A portion of the proceeds will benefit a Relay for Life team and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. For more information, call (501) 467-4606 or email sweetheart

pageant1@gmail.com.

July 14

Red Cross Blood Drive

ARKADELPHIA — The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1-5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church. Refreshments will be provided. A donor card or photo ID is required. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.

Benton Book Club

BENTON — The Benton Book Club will meet at 5 p.m. 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.

July 14-15

Our Town Auditions

BENTON — The public is invited to audition for the Royal Players’ production of Our Town at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at 111 S. Market St. For more information, visit theroyalplayers.com.

July 14-18

Vacation Bible School

BENTON — Children in grades pre-K through six are invited to join Calvary Baptist Church for Agency D3 Vacation Bible School from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday through July 18 at 612 Valley View Drive. Classes will be divided by age groups and will include music, snacks, arts and crafts. Transportation is available. For more information, call (501) 778-4762.

July 15

Saline Crossing Meeting

BENTON — The Saline Crossing Regional Park & Recreation Area Inc. will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Benton Chamber of Commerce building. The public is invited to attend and help plan for the 200th anniversary of the first pioneer settlement in Saline County. The monthly business meeting will follow the special planning event. For more information, call (501) 778-8661.

Genealogy/Local History Help

BRYANT — Steve Perdue, head of genealogy/local history at the Saline County Library, will be available to answer genealogy and local-history questions from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. For more information, call (501) 778-4766.

July 15-16

Teen Movie Marathon

BRYANT/BENTON — Teens are invited to watch newly released movies from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton. Lunch will be provided. For more information, call (501) 778-4766 or (501) 847-2166.

July 16

Internet/Online Resources

BRYANT — Adults 18 and older are invited to attend a beginning Internet class at 1 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library to discuss popular uses for the Internet, as well as online library resources. No registration is required. For more information, call (501) 847-2166 or (501) 778-4766.

Ongoing

Art Exhibit

HOT SPRINGS — The artwork of Jim Reimer and Bonnie Ricci will be on exhibit during July at The Artists Workshop Gallery, 610 Central Ave. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Ageless Bikers Club

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Ageless Bikers Club holds bicycle rides at 8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are eight different 20-mile rides on relatively flat, quiet country roads. For more information or to sign up for a ride, visit hsvabc.weebly.com.

Summer Splash Art Show

ARKADELPHIA — The Arkadelphia Arts Center will present Summer Splash, a fine-art-and-crafts community art show sponsored by the Caddo River Art Guild. All artwork will be for sale. The center, at 625 Main St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Aug. 2. For more information, call (870) 403-8216.

Mystic Creatures Exhibit

HOT SPRINGS — Garvan Woodland Gardens presents the exhibit Mystic Creatures: Topiary Art Meets Imagination from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 31. Admission is free for members, $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and younger. For more information, call (501) 262-9606.

SummerFest

HOT SPRINGS — Merchants and residents of Park Avenue will present a series of festivals from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the second Saturday of the month through September. Vendors will offer food, crafts, jewelry, tie-dyed items, metal and wood crafts, an organic dog wash, bicycle repair, organic fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers. Entertainment will include music, pottery demonstrations and a plein-air alla-prima painting party.

Toastmasters Meetings

BENTON — The Saline County Toastmasters meet at 12:05 p.m. Thursdays at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church. For more information, call (501) 454-9596.

VFW Bingo

BENTON — Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2256 invites the public to play bingo at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and at 1 p.m. Saturdays at 5323 Sleepy Village Road. Cash prizes are paid to each winner.

Merry Mixers Dance Club

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Merry Mixers dance to live music from 7:30-10:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of every month at the Coronado Community Center. A lesson is held at 7 p.m. on the third Saturday. Admission is $7.50 for first-Saturday dances and $10 for third-Saturday dances. Club members receive a discount for the season. All dancers are welcome. For more information, call (501) 915-8111.

Bingo

HOT SPRINGS — The Quapaw Community Center invites the public to play bingo at 12:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cash prizes are awarded for all games. For more information, call (501) 623-9922.

Rhythmic Interactive Percussion

HOT SPRINGS — The Rhythmic Interactive Percussion musical event takes place from 5-9 p.m. Sundays at Kenneth Adair Park, 358 Central Ave. Participation is encouraged as ensemble members pass out drums, tambourines, maracas and more to audience members. Many weeks, belly dancers, hula-hoopers, poi ball artists and martial artists perform. For more information, call (714) 273-6464.

UPCOMING

Ice Cream Social

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The 2014 Village United Methodist Women’s annual Ice Cream Social and Bake Sale will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. July 18 at Hot Springs Village United Methodist Church. Tickets are $4 per person. Sugar-free and gluten-free products will be available.

Lonesome Dove Discussion

HOT SPRINGS — The Garland County Library will host a discussion of the classic Western novel Lonesome Dove at 10 a.m. July 19. The discussion will be led by local author and writing teacher Sylvia Dickey Smith. For more information, call (501) 623-4161.

Reflux Disease Solutions

HOT SPRINGS — Dr. Adriane Martin will speak about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), its causes and new treatment options at 5:30 p.m. July 21 at National Park Medical Center. Registration is required, and refreshments will be provided. For more information or to register, call Surgery Specialists of Hot Springs at (501) 623-9300.

Basic Landscape Design

HOT SPRINGS — Join gardening expert Janet Carson and landscape architect Bob Byers for a three-session basic landscape-design workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 28 and Aug. 4 and 18 in the Magnolia Room at Garvan Woodland Gardens. Participants will learn how to prepare a base map, basics of selecting the right plants, designing for beauty and low maintenance, and the basic rules of success. The cost of the workshop is $75 for members and $85 for nonmembers, including all basic supplies. Lunch will not be provided. Advance payment and registration are required. For more information, call (501) 262-9606.

Village Tour of Homes

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The 2014 Hot Springs Village Tour of Homes will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 20 from the Woodlands Auditorium parking lot. A catered lunch and cash bar will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Ouachita Room. For more information, visit symphonyguild.org.

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 (501) 378-3500; or email tlnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.

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