Our Town

North Little Rock notebook

Submarine is site of July 4 events

An annual July 4 fireworks-watching party will be held aboard the USS Razorback, a World War II submarine, on Saturday at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, 120 Riverfront Drive in North Little Rock.

Tickets are $25 for a picnic meal and fireworks. Tickets for ages 4 to 12 are $10 and free for those under 4. To only watch the fireworks from the annual July 4th Pops on the River celebration, tickets are $10.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a silent auction and donation cash bar, followed at 7:30 p.m. with the picnic supper and music by Two Lane Blacktop.

Visitors coming for the fireworks show can begin arriving at 8:30 p.m. for any seats available.

Tickets can be purchased with cash at the door or online at Eventbrite. The submarine party is sponsored by the museum and Women's Action for New Directions.

The museum is on the Arkansas River, one block south of Verizon Arena. The museum is open for tours Wednesday-Sunday during the summer. More information on the museum or scheduled events is available online at aimmuseum.org.

Discount sign-ups for tasting to close

Early registration for booths will end Wednesday for the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce's A Taste for Business on Sept. 24 at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.

The 22nd annual event, formerly Taste of the Town, features samples from local restaurants, caterers and food and beverage distributors that are chamber members.

"Early Bird" booth registrants receive a $50 discount by turning in their registration form by Wednesday, according to a chamber announcement.

Also, for the first time, chamber member nonfood businesses will be able to participate in "A Taste for Business" to showcase their business products and services. This will replace the "Market Arkansas Business Expo." A limited number of nonfood vendor booths are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Proceeds from the event go toward Chamber of Commerce educational programs and scholarships for local students.

Tickets are $15 in advance, a $5 discount. For more information, contact the chamber at (501) 372-5959 or email ashley@nlrchamber.org.

Mayor: Hartwick to be parks director

Bob Rhoads, North Little Rock Parks and Recreation director, will retire by early next year, Mayor Joe Smith told the City Council last week in a letter dated June 16.

Terry Hartwick, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce president and a former North Little Rock mayor, will replace Rhoads, Smith's letter said.

The letter confirmed a June 3 announcement by the Chamber of Commerce that Hartwick would retire at year's end to be named as the city's Parks and Recreation director.

Main Street work to stretch into fall

Street and drainage work that has reduced Main Street to two lanes at North Little Rock High School is scheduled to continue right up until the fall semester begins in mid-August, according to the city's Facebook page.

The $1.05 million project between West 22nd Street and Pershing Boulevard includes a new pedestrian crosswalk between the school and a new student parking lot, new streetlights, sidewalks, and street and drainage work. The cost is being shared by the city and the North Little Rock School District.

Beginning in early August, the city will start work on the resurfacing and leveling of Main Street between the viaduct at 13th Street and the high school at 22nd Street, according to the city post. That work is to conclude in late September.

Metro on 06/28/2015

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