March 30
Delta Kappa Gamma Meeting
JACKSONVILLE — The Beta Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma will meet at 5 p.m. at the home of Sharon Stuthard, 30 Edgewater. Members are asked to bring toppings for a potato bar. Votes will be taken on new membership applications. For more information on the meeting or membership, call Paula Armstrong at (501) 834-3855.
March 31
Art Class
SEARCY — Marveta’s Gallery will offer a six-week art course at the Carmichael Community Center, beginning Tuesday. For more information or to register, call (501) 279-0070.
April 2
Sign Language
JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will hold a Sign Language for Beginners class at 6:30 p.m. The course continues as a 10-week program, and participants must preregister to attend. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.
Grant-Writing Seminar
BATESVILLE — A Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce grant-writing seminar, sponsored by the White River Planning and Development District and ARcare, will feature two sessions Thursday in the George Rider Room of First Community Bank. The session from 9 a.m. to noon will include intermediate and advanced insight into grant narratives, budgeting and appealing to funders. The session from 12:30-4 p.m. will guide attendees through post-award stewardship practices and the secrets of securing federal funding. Following the seminar, presenter Cheryl Kester of the Kester Group will sign copies of her book Writing to Win Federal Grants. The seminar is open to all. The registration fee is $99 for one session or $150 for the entire day. Lunch will be provided.
Kelly Miller Circus
ASH FLAT — The Kelly Miller Circus will present shows at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. next to Tri-County Farm and Ranch Supply, 455 U.S. 62/412 in Ash Flat. Tickets, at $9 for adults and $6 for students, are available at Rebel Station in Hardy, the Ash Flat City Hall, the Highland City Hall and the Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce office, 2852D U.S. 62/412 in Highland. For more information, call the chamber at (870) 856-3210.
April 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18
To Kill a Mockingbird
SEARCY — Center on the Square will present To Kill a Mockingbird April 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 7:30 p.m. Matinees will be held April 12 and 19, with brunch at 12:30 p.m. and the show at 1:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.centeronthesquare.org or call (501) 368-0111.
April 4
Communitywide Yard Sale
MELBOURNE — The city of Melbourne will hold its annual Spring Communitywide Yard Sale from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. A list of sales will be available for pickup at City Hall on Thursday and Friday. To be added to the list, call City Hall with your name and location by 2 p.m. Wednesday. Sales may be set up at the Charles C. Miller Park. No sales will be allowed in front of Fred’s, Dollar General, Mark’s Pharmacy or Hometown Market. All sales will be held rain or shine. For more information, call the Melbourne City Hall at (870) 368-4215.
Egg Hunt in the Park
CAVE CITY — Curia Lodge 144 of Cave City will host its second annual Egg Hunt in the Park at 11 a.m. in the Cave City Public Park. The free event will include hot dogs, drinks, games and prizes. Everyone is welcome.
Dutch Oven Baking Bonanza
POCAHONTAS — The Dutch Oven Baking Bonanza has been rescheduled for 1-3 p.m. at Davidsonville Historic State Park. Join the park interpreter to make a variety of desserts in Dutch ovens. Admission is $13 per person, and early registration is required. To sign up or for more details, call (870) 892-4708.
ONGOING
Shoe Drive
BATESVILLE — The Humane Society of Independence County is holding a shoe-collection drive through May 4 to raise funds for dog-and-cat spay-and-neuter assistance. Donations of gently worn used or new shoes, sandals or boots can be made at the Bargain Hound Boutique, 228 Ramsey St., Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call (870) 834-4490.
Adult Game Day
JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will offer an Adult Game Day on Wednesday and April 8, 15, 22 and 29, at noon each day. Adults 18 and older are invited to play dominoes, poker, chess, other board games or video games. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.
Ozarka College Evening GED Classes
MELBOURNE — In addition to the free daytime GED classes at Ozarka College, evening classes are now scheduled through Ozarka College’s Adult Education program. GED classes meet from 3-6 p.m. Thursdays at Ozarka College in Mammoth Spring. For more information, call James or Cindy at (870) 625-0411. GED classes meet from 5-8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at Cave City Middle School. For more information, call Trish Turnbough at (870) 283-5392, ext. 1277. GED classes meet from 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at Timbo High School. For more information, call Junior Barham at (870) 213-7388 or (870) 368-2051. Registration is ongoing. For more information, call Ozarka College’s Adult Education Department at (800 ) 821-4335, ext. 2051, or (870) 368-2051.
Baxter County Evening GED Classes
MOUNTAIN HOME — The Baxter County Adult Education program will now offer evening GED classes. The program’s day and evening GED classes are both free of charge. This program is Americans With Disabilities Act-accessible and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission-compliant, and disability accommodations are available upon request. Classes are available from 3-7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and registration is ongoing. For more information, call Jenna Robbins, Baxter County Adult Education instructor, at (870) 425-7974.
Summer Reading Camp
BATESVILLE — Registration is open for Reading is a Superpower! This 2015 Summer Reading Camp for 6- to 12-year-olds, a fundraiser for the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon June 15-18 at First United Methodist Church, 615 E. Main St. Activities will include story time, a superhero obstacle course, a readers theater, creative writing, recipe reading to make super snacks, word games and more. The camp will be led by certified teachers, including Literacy Project board members Ann Walmsley and Julie Reardon. Registration fees are $99 through May 15, plus $75 for each additional sibling. After May 15, the cost is $125, plus $100 for each additional sibling. To register, visit oflp.org/read2015 or call (870) 793-5912. For more information on the Literacy Project, visit www.oflp.org.
Essay Contest for Halberg Ecology Camp Scholarships
CLINTON — The 2015 Essay Contest for Scholarships to the Halberg Ecology Camp in June, presented by the Little Red River Audubon Society, is open to fifth- and sixth-graders who live in one of the following counties: Van Buren, Cleburne, Stone and Searcy. Participants must be 11 or 12 years old when the camp begins June 14 or a second session on June 21. The 200- to 300-word hand-written essays will start with “There is a Mockingbird …” and will be judged on facts and creativity. Mail entries to the Little Red River Audubon Society, P.O. Box 31, Clinton, AR 72031-0031 by April 11. For entry information, email lrras2011@gmail.com. For a camp brochure, visit www.arbirds.org/camp_brochure15.pdf.
Batesville Farmers Market
BATESVILLE — Batesville’s Main Street Farmers Market will open May 2 for the 2015 season and will be open from 8 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturdays of the month through November. The market will set up in the Pocket Park on Main Street. To register for the market, call Cheryl Anderson of Garden Girl Farm at (870) 613-4588. For more information or a vendor application, contact market manager Jean Larson at (208) 869-1445 or jeallo16@gmail.com.
Cabot Farmers Market Opening
CABOT — The Cabot Farmers Market’s 2015 season will begin May 2. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Oct. 3 at 1122 Second St., which is Re:New Community Church’s parking lot (formerly the Bancroft Building). Anyone interested in participating may contact the market at (501) 920-2122 or cabotbeautiful@yahoo.com.
Tea Party Meeting
CABOT — The Jacksonville/Cabot Tea Party meets at 7 p.m. each second Thursday of the month, now in a new location, Grandpa’s Bar-B-Que, 1801 S. Pine St. For more information, call (501) 813-6980.
Searcy Youth Art
SEARCY — A new exhibit, Searcy Youth Art, will be at the Searcy Art Gallery at the historical Black House through Wednesday. The show features the artwork of more than 40 students ranging from kindergartners to eighth-graders from Sidney Deener Elementary School, Westside Elementary, McRae Elementary, Southwest Middle School, Kensett Elementary, Judsonia Elementary and Harding Academy. The display includes pieces in a variety of media, including pastel, crayon, paint, pencil, marker and wax resist, as well as sculptures and mosaics. Gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 pm. Saturday. Admission is free.
Lenten Lunches
HORSESHOE BEND — Faith Presbyterian Church on Church Street will provide soup and sandwiches at noon each Wednesday during Lent. All are welcome, and a new speaker each week will provide a brief message during the meal. The lunch consists of three kinds of homemade soup and various sandwiches. There is no charge, but donations will be accepted.
Boyd Carpenter Scholarship Applications
ASH FLAT — For the 31st year, FNBC Bank will award the Boyd Carpenter Scholarship to a graduating high school senior from Sharp, Izard or Fulton County who plans to seek a four-year degree. FNBC Bank partners with the Arkansas Community Foundation to fund this $4,000 scholarship — $1,000 per year for four years. To apply, visit www.arcf.org/scholarships to complete the online application, due Wednesday. To qualify, students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.5. The scholarship was founded in 1984 to honor Boyd Carpenter, who was then chairman and president of the bank and a devoted advocate for education.
Yoga in the Gallery
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council is offering Yoga in the Gallery classes at 8:45 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. The hour-long sessions will be led by RYT200-certified yoga instructor Marnie Davis. Beginners are welcome, and no preregistration is required. The cost is $10 per session, or attendees may purchase a punch card from BAAC for 10 sessions for $70. For more information, call (870) 793-3382.
WISE Coalition Meeting
SEARCY — The WISE (White County Invested in Substance Abuse Eradication) Coalition meets from noon to 1 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month in the Community Room of the First Community Bank University Branch, 800 E. Beebe Capps Expressway. All are invited to attend and get involved in activities to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in White County youth. For more information, visit wisecoalition@gmail.com or call (501) 388-6555.
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.
Love Cap Group
HEBER SPRINGS — The Love Cap group meets to sew caps on the fourth Wednesday of each month at First Baptist Church. For more information, call Polly at (501) 206-0808.
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.
Chronic Pain Meeting
CABOT — The Cabot Chapter of the American Chronic Pain Association meets from 6-8 p.m. the first Friday of the month at 15361 Arkansas 5. The association is a nonprofit, self-help group designed to teach people with chronic pain to reduce the effects pain has on their work and personal lives. All prospective members are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Michelle Lippert at (501) 259-6069.
Friends of the Library Book Shop
HEBER SPRINGS — The Friends of the Library Book Shop, 2255 Arkansas 25B N., is open from 3:30-7 p.m. Mondays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shop offers a large selection of books at bargain prices. All proceeds from the shop benefit the libraries in Cleburne County.
Second Time Around Bookstore
SEARCY — The Literacy Council of White County operates the Second Time Around Bookstore at 109 E. Center. Proceeds from the sale of donated books support the mission of helping adults in the community improve their literacy and English-language skills. The store and literacy office are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, call (501) 278-5500.
Upcoming
Easter Service
SEARCY — Calvary Chapel Searcy, an extension of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, will hold its annual Easter service at 10 a.m. April 5 under the covered pavilion in Spring Park. For more information, call Sid Langley at (501) 268-7540.
Community Music Session
BATESVILLE — Musicians, singers and listeners are invited to a music session at 6 p.m. April 6 in the Community Room of First Community Bank. All are invited to bring their favorite songs. For more information, call Ed Casper at (870) 307-0258.
Children’s Movie
JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will show the movie Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast, rated G, at 5 p.m. April 7 at the library. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.
Voices of Americans With Disabilities
MELBOURNE — The American Voices Series, sponsored by the Ozarka College Diversity and Cultural Events Committee, will host its third annual event featuring the voices of Americans With Disabilities from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. April 7 in the Lecture Hall of the John E. Miller Education Complex. The event will include three morning speakers, an information fair during the lunch break and a five-person discussion panel in the afternoon. All are welcome to attend. Presentations will be live-streamed to Ozarka College campuses in Ash Flat, Mammoth Spring and Mountain View. For more information or to reserve seats, contact Joan Stirling, Ozarka College vice president of planning and institutional research, at (870) 368-2007 or jstirling@ozarka.edu.
Retired Teachers Association Meeting
JACKSONVILLE — The North Pulaski Retired Teachers Association will meet at 1 p.m. April 9 at First Electric, 1000 S. J.P. Wright Loop Road. Dr. David Lipschitz will present a program on the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as ways to live with the disease. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, call Sharon Johnson at (501) 982-6345.
Book Sale
ASH FLAT — A book sale facilitated by the Ash Flat Library and the BookLovers Brigade will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 9, 10 and 11 at the Ash Flat Community Center on Amhart Street. For more information, call (870) 994-2658 or (870) 847-0148.
Ward Chamber Awards Banquet
WARD — The Ward Chamber of Commerce invites all to its annual awards banquet April 10 at Grace Community Church, 30 Second St. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., with the dinner and program starting at 7 p.m. Retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John “Mickey” Spillane IV will be the keynote speaker. Spillane, a 30-year veteran of the Air Force, will present his message of motivation and leadership. Tickets are $25 per person or $175 per table of eight. For more information, call Sharon Roberts at (501) 743-4395 or Charlie Gastineau at (501) 413-9341, or visit www.wardchamber.com.
Fashion Gala
FAIRFIELD BAY — The 22nd annual Fashion Gala, presented by the Xi Gamma Kappa Chapter, will be held at 1 p.m. April 10 in the St. Francis Parish Hall, 250 Woodlawn Drive. Prizes will be on display, and raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the show. The style show will feature models wearing spring and summer fashions offered by local businesses. Pat Cash will be the narrator. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased from any chapter member or by calling Shirley at (501) 884-5157, Rose at (501) 884-3109 or Sheila at (501) 745-8886.
Canning and Food Preservation Seminar
MAMMOTH SPRING — Ozarka College in Mammoth Spring will offer a canning and food preservation seminar, presented by the Fulton County Extension Office, at noon April 10. Topics will include the testing of pressure cookers, the benefits of home food preservation, food safety, water-bath canning, pressure cooking, dehydrating and resources available through the extension office. The free seminar is open to the public, and registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, contact James Spurlock, director of Ozarka College off-campus operations in Mammoth Spring, at (870) 625-0411 or jmspurlock@ozarka.edu.
Gospel Gathering
BEEBE — Brian Free and Assurance, along with The Representatives, will present a Southern Gospel Gathering at 6:30 p.m. April 10 at First Baptist Church on U.S. 64. There is no admission cost, but a love offering will be taken. For more information, call the church at (501) 882-3342.
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Museum of Military History will present a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day on April 11 at the museum to remember, honor and welcome home Vietnam veterans. The documentary The Last Days in Vietnam will be screened, and an Honor and Remembrance Ceremony will be held. The event will also include live music on the porch, free admission to the museum and dinner on the grounds. Reservations are required for the movie and dinner. For more information or reservations, call the museum at (501) 241-1943.
Crochet Class
JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will hold a Learn to Crochet class at 1:30 p.m. April 11 at the library. Ages 13 and older are eligible to attend, but registration is required. Participants must bring a size H crochet hook. Free yarn will be provided. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.
Sternwheelers and Shovels
NEWPORT — Jacksonport State Park will offer a program in its courthouse on April 11 that will feature unique aspects of Jackson County history on the power of steam engines. At 10 a.m., Jackson County historian Robert Craig will speak on Steam Powered Progress, recounting the steamboat and railroad history of the area and the changes the steam engine brought to the county. Arkansas archaeologist Jamie Chad Brandon will present a program at 11 a.m. on the vast array of archaeological evidence of the steamboat trade in Jacksonport, and a session at 2 p.m. that canvasses the importance of historic archaeology. Admission is free, and refreshments will be provided.
Daylily Society Spring Sale
SEARCY — The White County Daylily Society will hold its annual spring sale, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. to noon April 18 on the east side of the court square on Spring Street, in conjunction with the opening of the White County Farmers Market. All double divisions of lilies will be $4. For more information, call (501) 268-3711.
Arbor Day Celebration
MELBOURNE — Ozarka College will hold an Arbor Day celebration at 3 p.m. April 22, Earth Day, near the new Student Services Center on the Melbourne campus. Students from Ozarka Kid’s Academy will participate in the planting of trees. The event is sponsored by the Tree Board of the City of Melbourne, and all are invited to attend. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the FNBC Student Commons area of the Ozarka College Student Services Center. For more information, contact Josh Wilson, Ozarka College PACE coordinator and grant writer, at (870) 368-2042 or josh.wilson@ozarka.edu.
Poultry Blood-Testing School
BATESVILLE — The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission will conduct a Poultry Blood-Testing School on April 24 at the University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Research Station, 10 miles north of Batesville off Arkansas 69 at 70 Experiment Station Drive. Successful completion of the testing school will earn the participant a Private Blood Tester’s license to test for Pullorum-typhoid in poultry. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m., with classes beginning at 9:40 a.m. and ending by midafternoon. For more information, contact the Fulton County Fair Association at (870) 895-5565 or fultoncountyfair@centurytel.net, or the Fulton County Extension Office at (870) 895-3301.
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.