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Little Rock notebook

Ceremony to honor ex-library director

A ceremony is planned for today to honor Bobby Roberts, retired director of the Central Arkansas Library System.

Roberts was head of the library system for 27 years. Today's event is to celebrate him while also raising money for two new initiatives started with donations from Roberts.

One is the Roberts Children's Nutrition Fund, through which the library system will launch a farmer's market this summer and a hunger relief garden to help the community around the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library and Reading Center. The fund also will be used to host nutrition education workshops at other library branches.

Roberts also donated to the Butler Center Photo Exhibit Fund, which supports the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. The center has more than 200,000 historical images and will use this money for more.

Today's event is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Children's Library at 4800 W. 10th St. Remarks will be made at 5 p.m.

State grant sought to fix trails at zoo

The Little Rock Zoo will apply for a recreational trails program grant if the city Board of Directors signs off on the application Tuesday.

The city has to approve the application as a formality. The zoo wants to apply for the grant with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.

Federal funds in the amount of $384,000 will be requested. The grant would require matching funds equal to 20 percent of the project, or $96,000, and a 1 percent administration fee, or $4,800.

The grant application is through the state's Transportation Alternatives Program and Recreational Trails Program.

If selected, the zoo will spend the money to revise and resurface the trails at the zoo to make them more accessible for people with disabilities. Funds also would go toward helping implement the zoo's Storm Water Prevention Plan to stay in compliance with state regulations.

Library sign needs city zoning change

The Central Arkansas Library System is asking city directors to approve a rezoning request to allow the placement of a digital sign at the Main Library's downtown parking deck.

In order to put a digital information sign on the east side of the parking deck at 333 President Clinton Ave., the city would have to rezone the property to Planned Commercial District from its current Urban Use District zoning.

The River Market Design Review Committee and the city Planning Commission have approved the request, even though it does not fully comply with the provisions of the River Market Design Overlay District or the city's sign ordinance.

The double-faced sign is proposed to be 50 inches high and 75 inches wide. It would be on the former Rock Street right of way and would display parking information, as well as information advertising library events and other things pertinent to the campus.

Little Italy history buff set for lunch

A history of Little Italy will be given Wednesday at a Legacies and Lunch session at the Main Library downtown.

From noon to 1 p.m., Chris Dorer will discuss his book, Images of America: Little Italy, and his research on the area at the Main Library's Darragh Center, 100 Rock St.

"Not long after Little Italy was settled in central Arkansas, the community became a Prohibition-era oasis for winemakers and consumers," a news release said.

Little Italy was settled in 1915 by Italian immigrants. It had a reputation during Prohibition of producing clean alcohol during a time when many people died due to poisonous alcohol sold by amateur distillers.

Dorer is a history teacher and chairman of the history department at Little Rock's Central High School. Copies of his book will be available for purchase and he will sign copies after his lecture.

Road improvement is meeting subject

City officials will take part in a public meeting Thursday to discuss plans to improve Rodney Parham Road.

The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church at 62 Pleasant Valley Drive.

The city will present a conceptual study of roadway improvements for Rodney Parham from the intersection of Green Mountain Drive and Hinson Road north to Valley Club Circle.

"The purpose of the meeting is to discuss plans and receive public input for the intersection improvements," a news release said.

$4,000 to be used for extinguishers

The Little Rock Fire Department is receiving a grant to place fire extinguishers in some homes in the city.

A $4,000 grant from the Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission also will pay for the addition of surge protectors at residence halls at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock "to reduce the risk of fires from overloaded electrical outlets," a news release said.

It will provide 250 smoke detectors and 100 extinguishers.

The equipment is distributed on a case-by-case basis, typically by firefighters canvassing neighborhoods. At least six neighborhoods are canvassed each year in areas where fire-related deaths or injuries have occurred.

Firefighters install detectors in homes where there are none and replace batteries in existing detectors.

Residents in need can contact the Fire Department's Prevention Division at (501) 918-3710 to request a smoke alarm.

Metro on 05/01/2016

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