April 28
Gardens and Water Features of Southern China
CHEROKEE VILLAGE — Gardeners are invited to travel virtually to Southern China with Fulton County Master Gardener Michael Quataert and his wife, Carla, at 11 a.m. at the Omaha Center. The couple, who traveled to China last August and September, will show pictures of and describe the gardens and water features they visited. The free event is hosted by the Hill and Dale Garden Club. For more information, call Betty Stokes at (870) 257-2822.
AARP Driver Safety Class
HARDY — An AARP Driver Safety Class will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 411 Church St. The class costs $15 for AARP members with an AARP card and $20 for nonmembers. Participants need to bring their driver’s license. Light refreshments will be served. To register, call (870) 257-5803.
April 29
Iris Show
SEARCY — The White County Iris Society invites all local iris growers to enter irises from their gardens in the society’s annual iris show in the lobby of Regions Bank downtown. Entries for the show will be accepted from 8-9 a.m. Friday at the bank. Judging will begin at 10 a.m. and will conclude by noon, when the public will be allowed to view the judged show. All entries will be removed promptly at 3:45 p.m.
Mother-Daughter Paint Night
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will present a Mother-Daughter Paint Night from 6-8 p.m. at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. The cost is $50 per pair, and preregistration is required. To register, visit www.batesvilleareaartscouncil.org, and click on “Programs.” For more information, call (870) 793-3382 or email baac@suddenlinkmail.com.
Spring Choral Concert
BATESVILLE — A spring choral concert, To Song and Dance We Give the Day!, will be presented at 7:30 pm. in Brown Chapel at Lyon College. Michael Oriatti will direct the Lyon College Concert Chorale, the Batesville Choral Society and the Highlander Youth Singers; with the Lyon College Gospel Choir, under the direction of Markeita Williams; and the Fusion Dance Company of Batesville, directed by Shani Bufford. The program will include selections by Handel, Rameau, Schumann, Brahms and Toch. Special guest Rachel Newell of Arkansas Circus Arts will perform a fire dance. The event is free and open to the public.
April 30
Let’s Go Surfing! Postponement
FAIRFIELD BAY — The Let’s Go Surfing! benefit dance for the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center originally scheduled for Saturday has been rescheduled for Aug. 20.
Annual Spring Free Yard Sale
BATESVILLE — Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church, 2935 Bethesda Road, will host its annual spring free yard sale from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will include clothing, shoes and more, and the items are free to anyone. Donated items may be dropped off at the church from 5-7:30 p.m. today, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.
Vietnam Veterans Commemoration
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, will have a family-friendly event for Vietnam veterans from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum will be open at no charge, and the day will include Vietnam exhibits; live music; veterans-service-organization booths; a car show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; screenings of The Last Days of Vietnam at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; food trucks from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; an Honor and Remembrance Ceremony at 3 p.m.; and dinner from 4-6 p.m. Reservations are required for dinner. For more information, contact the museum at (501) 241-1943 or www.jaxmilmuseum.org.
Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Master Gardeners will have their annual plant sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arkansas National Guard Armory, 1690 White Drive (Arkansas 25). The sale will include flowering annuals, perennials, vegetables, bulbs, bushes, trees and indoor plants, as well as fairy-garden designs and bird houses. Master Gardeners will offer advice on plant selection and gardening techniques, and there will be a Kids’ Corner. Proceeds from the sale will fund Master Gardener activities. For more information, call the extension office at (870) 793-8840 or visit Facebook.
April 30 and May 1
Pioneer Village Spring Open House
SEARCY — Pioneer Village, a late-19th-century village at 1200 Higginson St., will have its annual spring open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. All Village buildings will be open and have costumed guides. The event will include square dancing, live music, craftsman demonstrations, live animals, pioneer games for children and vendors selling food. Admission and parking are free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call (501) 580-6633.
May 2
Community Music Gathering
BATESVILLE — A community music gathering will take place from 6-8 p.m. at First Community Bank. All are welcome to attend and sing, play or listen. Instrumentalists on acoustic or electric guitars, accordions, drums, etc., are asked to bring their favorite oldies, gospel or country tunes. Everybody will get a turn.
ONGOING
Oil-Painting Class
FAIRFIELD BAY — A new oil-painting class will meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center. The five-week class will begin Tuesday and run through May 31. The cost is $45. The instructor is Jim Tindall, who has taught the center’s Painting With Panache acrylic class and has his own studio in Mountain View. A landscape will be painted in the class. To register, call the Education Center at (501) 884-4440.
Summer Bridge Program
NEWPORT — Arkansas State University-Newport will offer a Summer Bridge program May 31-June 29 for high school students desiring to earn four hours of college credit this summer. The courses are priced at ASUN’s normal per-credit hour rates, but scholarship opportunities are available for one-half of tuition to students who qualify. Classes will meet from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at ASUN-Newport. For more information, contact Irina Reynolds, ASUN coordinator of college and life skills, at (870)-512-7702 or irina_reynolds@asun.edu.
ESL Classes
JACKSONVILLE — The El Zocalo Cultural Center will present English as a Second Language classes at 10 a.m. Mondays through May 23 at the Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St. Registration is encouraged. For more information, call the library at (501) 457-5038.
Second Time Around
Bookstore’s New Hours
SEARCY — The Literacy Council of White County operates the Second Time Around Bookstore at 811 S. Main St., Suite D. The literacy office and store’s new hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. The bookstore is closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday. To train as a tutor, to become a bookstore volunteer or for more information, call (501) 278-5500.
UPCOMING
65th National Day of Prayer
SEARCY — The 65th National Day of Prayer will be observed at noon May 5 at the Lightle Senior Center, 2200 E. Moore Ave. Lunch, which is optional, will be served at 11:30 a.m. for a suggested donation of $3 for seniors and $5 for those younger than 60. For more information, call (501) 268-2587 or visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
Pioneer Day Gospel Program
MELBOURNE — The annual Pioneer Day Gospel Program will be at 6:30 p.m. May 6 at the John E. Miller Auditorium at Ozarka College. The Homecoming Choir will have a special guest this year, Aunt Minnie Miles, formerly from Cash’s White River Hoedown in Mountain View. Aunt Minnie is well known in the area for her comedy and her love of gospel music. Admission is free. For more information, call Gayle Cooper at (870) 368-7156 or (870) 368-7741.
SAME Café
SEARCY— The SAME Café will be open from 4-5:30 p.m. May 7 at the West Side Church of Christ, 709 W. Arch St. The SAME Café is open to anyone in the community who would like a free warm meal.
Kentucky Derby Day Fundraiser
NEWPORT — A Kentucky Derby Day fundraiser will take place from 3-6:30 p.m. May 7 at the Newport Country Club. Watch the race, and pick to win, place or show. The event will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, complimentary champagne at race time, a cash bar, horseshoe pitching, door prizes, and silent and live auctions. Participants will have a chance to vote for their favorite lady’s hat. Tickets, at $35 each, are available in Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph and Sharp counties. To purchase tickets, call (870) 994-7844, visit www.gatewaycasa.org, or go to Facebook-gateway casa.
Teen Driving Rodeo
BATESVILLE — A Teen Driving Rodeo will be presented from 1-3 p.m. May 7 at the White Rodgers Facility, 2895 Harrison St. Teens and their parents are invited to participate. Attendees will learn how to be safe drivers by visiting booths on topics that include law enforcement, distracted driving and Arkansas laws. Those who visit all booths will receive a free vehicle emergency kit while supplies last. To register, call (501) 364-3400 or visit www.archildrens.org/ipc.
Dutch Oven Brunch
POCAHONTAS — Davidsonville Historic State Park, 8047 Arkansas 166 S., will offer a Dutch Oven Brunch from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 7 at the park. Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend by bringing Mom to the park and treating her to a Dutch-oven breakfast. Attendees will learn how to use and care for Dutch ovens and will help cook breakfast foods. The workshop is suitable for people with all levels of cooking skills. Admission is $15 per person, and participants must be at least 8 years old. Early registration is required by calling the park at (870) 892-4708.
Arkansas Constitutional Tea Party Meeting
CABOT — The Arkansas Constitutional Tea Party will meet at 7 p.m. May 12 at the King Pin Sports Grill at the Allfam Bowling Center, 2350 Lakewood Drive. The group meets the second Thursday of each month. All are welcome. For more information, call (501) 813-6980.
Corvette Show and Shine
SEARCY — Corvettes of Arkansas, Ltd. will present a Corvette show and shine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14 at Berryhill Park. There is no registration fee. Awards will be given to the people’s choice of cars. The public is invited.
Clothing Drive Challenge
CABOT — A Clothing Drive Challenge to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Open Arms Shelter is being sponsored by the Cabot Lions club. Donations of new or gently worn clothing, coats, belts and shoes (infant through adult sizes), as well as backpacks and suitcases, will be accepted from 8 a.m. to noon May 14 at the Cabot Farmers Market, in the parking lot of ReNew Community Church, 1122 S. Second St. For more information, call (501) 920-2122.
Quilt and Needlework Exhibit
CABOT — The Cabot Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild will present a quilt and needlework exhibit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 13 and from 9 a.m. to noon May 14 at the Cabot Public Library, Arkansas 89 and 10th Street. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Fine Art Show Sale
SEARCY — The Creative Arts Society Fine Art Show Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m May 21 at the White County Fairgrounds, 802 Davis Drive. Artists are welcome to exhibit and sell their original work. The booth-rental fee is $40 and can be prepaid or paid the morning of the show. Haywood Catering will sell barbecue. For more information, call (501) 270-2278 or email thecreativeartssociety@hotmail.com.
Outdoor and ACT Prep Camp
BATESVILLE — Lyon College will host its annual Outdoor and ACT Prep Camp for rising high school juniors and seniors June 5-8. The event will offer a taste of the Lyon Education and Adventure Program (LEAP) and specialized ACT instruction from Stephen Leake, president of College Prep Coach Inc. Outdoor activities will include slacklining, bouldering, kayak polo, ultimate frisbee and a slip-n-slide. The cost is $300, which includes accommodations and meals on campus, outdoor activities and the ACT prep course. For more information or to register, visit lyon.edu/ACTcamp.
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.