Oct. 20
Tutor Training Workshop
BATESVILLE — The Ozark Foothills Literacy Project, which serves Fulton, Sharp, Izard and Independence Counties, will offer a Tutor Training Workshop at 1 p.m. at the Literacy Project’s new office, 156 S. Third. St. The organization relies on trained volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring for adult students who are learning to read and speak English. To register or for more information, call (870) 793-5912, email morgan@oflp.org, or visit www.oflp.org.
Yoga Class for Men Only
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will host a one-time event, BRO-GA: A Yoga Class for Men Only, from 6-7:30 p.m. The class provides a way to manage stress, decompress and improve fitness for optimal health. The class will be led by RYT200 certified yoga instructors Lora Adair and Marnie Davis. The cost is $15 per person, or $10 for students with a current student ID. Bring a yoga mat, if possible, or a mat can be purchased for $10 with online registration at www.batesvilleareaartscouncil.org, or call (870) 793-3382 for more information.
Oct. 20 and Oct. 22
Peter Pan & Wendy
SEARCY — Peter Pan & Wendy, directed by Mandy Taylor, will be presented at 6:30 p.m. both days at the Searcy High School Performing Arts Center, 301 N. Ella Drive. The play is by Doug Rand and adapted from the novel by J.M. Barrie. Doors will open at 6 p.m. both days. Tickets are $9 each, or $7 for seniors, military personnel and children younger than 5. Tickets are available online at www.shspeterpan.eventbrite.com, at the box office by calling (501) 207-3745 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at the door.
Oct. 21 and Oct. 22
The Importance of Being Earnest
BEEBE — The theater department at Arkansas State University-Beebe will present The Importance of Being Earnest at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, in the Owen Center Auditorium, 1100 W. Iowa St. The satirical comedy was written by Oscar Wilde. General admission to the show is $5 for adults and $2.50 for seniors. Military members and ASU-Beebe students will receive two free admissions to the performance.
Oct. 22
Barkin’ in the Park
SEARCY — Barkin’ in the Park, an event for dogs and their owners, will take place in Spring Park, at the corner of South Main Street and Pleasure Avenue. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., with the first event at 10:30. There will be three judging classes: Dog Parade, Best Costume and Best Trick, along with games, an agility demonstration, a barn hunt, prizes, exhibitors and refreshments. The main entrance and registration will be on East Woodruff Street across from Simmons Bank. The rain date for the event is Oct. 29. For more information, call (501) 827-1190 or email hss@cablelynx.com.
Pancake Breakfast
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Citizens Police Academy Alumni will have a pancake breakfast and silent auction from 8-10 a.m. in the Federal Emergency Management Agency Room at the Jacksonville Police Department, 1400 Marshall Road. Proceeds from the event will help purchase needed items for the Police Department not covered in its budget. For more information, call Barbie at (501) 256-4487.
Legislator Appreciation Dinner
SALEM — The Fulton County Democrats will have a Legislator Appreciation Dinner in the new Salem Civic Center at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. A social hour will start at 5 p.m., and a ham and bean dinner will be served at 6 p.m. The event will honor four former legislators and one current legislator, and Vincent Insalaco, chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, will be the guest speaker. The admission price is a donation to the Fulton County Democratic Central Committee. Tables for eight can be rented for a $60 donation. To reserve a table, call Barbara Moody at (870) 895-2169 or Carolyn Lewis at (870) 895-2491. RSVPs are requested.
Grief & Loss Support Group Meeting
JACKSONVILLE — The Caring Hearts Grief & Loss Support Group will present a guest speaker, Simone Brock, from 10-11 a.m. at the Christian Church Jacksonville building, 200 E. Martin. Brock, a bereavement specialist with Arkansas Hospice, will teach participants how to deal with the holidays in light of grief or loss. For more information, call Steve Summers at (870) 710-1508.
Artoberfest
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council and Main Street Batesville will host Artoberfest, an arts and music festival on Main Street. The event will feature live music, local and regional artists’ booths, educational demonstrations, a sidewalk-chalk-art competition and other family activities. The free festival is open to the public. For more information, call (870) 793-3382 or email info@batesvilleareaartscouncil.org.
Oct. 25 and Oct. 26
Artist League Workshop
FAIRFIELD BAY — The North Central Arkansas Artist League will present a workshop by Caren Garner of Hot Springs on multimedia techniques for achieving textural effects, with an emphasis on painting animals. The workshop will take place both days at Bayside Studio, on the corner of Arkansas 330 and Greenwood Road, across from Stringbeanz Restaurant. The workshop fee is $75, payable in advance by cash or check to NCA Artist League and given or mailed to treasurer Bonnie Hookman, 237 Pine Hill Road, Fairfield Bay, AR 72088.
ONGOING
Beebe Caregivers Support Group
BEEBE — The Beebe Caregivers Support Group meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Shepherd’s Center of Beebe, 302 N. Main St. For more information, call Sandra Garrett at (501) 940-4021.
Tom Richard Art Exhibit
BEEBE — The Arkansas State University-Beebe Art Department will present the artworks of Tom Richard in the exhibit Peeps, People, Guys, Guns through Oct. 31 in the England Center Art Gallery, 201 N. Orange St. Richard is a professor of art at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. His artworks consist of paintings and drawings that explore issues of identity and history, combining images of toys and art historical references with philosophical and pop-culture quotes. The gallery is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call the gallery at (501) 882-4495.
Studio Art Courses
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Ozarka College in Mountain View will host four-week Studio Art courses through continuing education. The courses, taught by Leah Balowski, will meet from1-4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. There will also be a class from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Class dates are Oct. 24 through Nov. 16; and Nov. 28 through Dec. 21. The tuition for the Monday/Wednesday class is $35 or $30 for ages 60 and older. Tuition for the Tuesday class is $25 or $20 for ages 60 and older. Preregistration is required. To register, contact Lindsay Wilson-Galloway, director of Ozarka College in Mountain View, at (870) 269-5600 or lhgalloway@ozarka.edu.
Halloween Activities
BATESVILLE — The Darkness, a haunted house brought to the city by Main Street Batesville, will open at 7 p.m. today in the Jaycee building, 570 Stadium Drive along the White River, and will be open through Oct. 31. To volunteer for The Darkness, call David Thompson at (870) 793-7136. Also in Batesville, the annual Fun and Safe Halloween on Main Street will start at 5 p.m. Oct. 31. New this year is a costume contest with a cash prize at the Melba Theater at 6:30.
Angel Tree Applications
BATESVILLE — The United Way of North Central Arkansas’ Angel Tree Program assists low-income families in Independence County with Christmas gifts for their children, and parents/guardians can pick up applications from the Department of Human Services, 100 Weaver Ave., or the United Way office in the First Community Bank Southside Branch, 1 Allen Chapel Road. The applications are due to DHS by Oct. 31. Children must be ages 2 to 10 and live in the home listed, and the household must be on SNAP (the supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program). People can pick up names to buy gifts for the Angels from Nov. 15 through Dec. 2. For more information, call the United Way office at (870) 793-5991.
Free GED Classes
MELBOURNE — Free GED classes will be offered at Ozarka College in four locations. Classes will meet in Melbourne from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; in Ash Flat from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; and in Mammoth Spring and Mountain View from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Registration is ongoing. For more information, call the college’s adult education department at (870) 368-2051.
Year-Round Story Time
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 368 E. Main St., will host the Children’s Story Time year-round, at 10 a.m. every Wednesday. The event will include stories, videos and a craft time. Coordinator Katie Treubig said the program is aimed at entertaining preschoolers, but home-schooled school-age children are also welcome. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.
Republicans Meeting
NEWPORT — The Jackson County Republicans meet at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Merchants and Planters Bank, 915 Arkansas 367 N. For more information, call Jeff McDonald at (870) 731-7646.
Friday Night Bingo
HEBER SPRINGS — Friday Night Bingo takes place each week at the American Legion Hall, 49 Park Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available.
Open-Mic Event
FAIRFIELD BAY — An open-mic music event takes place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. the second and third Thursdays of each month at the Fairfield Bay Conference Center. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. The event is open to anyone who would like to sing or play an instrument. For more information, call the center at (501) 884-4202.
Cabot Lions Club Meetings
CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club has regular get-togethers at noon the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Kingpin Sports Grill. Lions serve local communities and protect the planet. Club members provide children with eyeglasses, offer food for seniors and provide assistance during natural disasters. All are invited to attend the meetings.
Pork Roast Fundraiser
HEBER SPRINGS — The Rotary Club of Heber Springs is hosting its annual pork butt roast fundraiser to benefit the club’s community projects and scholarships. The cost is $40 for a 7- to 9-pound fully cooked smoked pork butt. The meat will be available for pickup from 8-9:30 a.m. Oct. 29. For more information, call Rotary Club President John Lyons at (501) 691-9331.
Community Music Concert
BATESVILLE — Ed Casper leads a community music concert from 6-8 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month in the Community Room at First Community Bank, on the corner of Harrison and St. Louis streets. The public is welcome to sing, play, request songs or listen at the free event.
Upcoming
Literacy Project Informational Meeting
ASH FLAT — The Ozark Foothills Literacy Project will offer a brief informational meeting at 11 a.m. Oct. 27 in the Meeting Room of the Ash Flat Library, 11 Arnhart St. Tutor training, which will last about two hours, will follow for those who would like to volunteer. The Literacy Project teaches adults who are learning to read and speak English and relies on trained volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring. For more information, call (870) 793-5912, email info@oflp.org, or visit www.oflp.org.
Fish Fry
AUSTIN — The Tri-Community Fire Department will host a fish fry from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Fire Station No. 1 on Arkansas 321 at Bear Road. Catfish, chicken, french fries, baked beans and all the trimmings, plus dessert and a drink, will be served. The cost is $13 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 11. Children younger than 5 may eat free. Proceeds from the event will go to the Fire Department to purchase equipment. For more information call (501) 213-6444 or (501) 843-3336.
Gospel Music
WILBURN — Friendship Community Church, 1850 Dry Mountain Road, between Wilburn and Ida, will present Alvis Arnold & Friends at 6 p.m. Oct. 29 for a performance of gospel music. For more information, call Linda at (501) 728-3905 or Danita at (501) 206-2505.
50-Year-Ministry Celebration
SALEM — First Missionary Baptist Church invites everyone to an informal celebration for Elder Leon Graves at 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at the church, 217 Fairview Road. The event will include special singing and a presentation of “Leon Graves, This Is Your Life.” Graves has been preaching for 50 years and has served the church as its planting missionary for 39 years. There will be a sandwich, finger-food potluck. Those who cannot attend may send cards to First Missionary Baptist Church, c/o Larry Travelstead, 217 Fairview Road, Salem, AR 72576.
Harvest Share Celebration
JACKSONVILLE — Second Baptist Church, 1117 N. James St., invites everyone to its annual Harvest Share Celebration from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31. The free family-friendly event will feature a hayride, food, games and a climbing wall. For more information, call (501) 985-2502.
Trick-or-Treat on the Square
SEARCY — Trick-or-Treat on the Square will take place from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31 in downtown Searcy. Businesses and organizations are needed to reserve tables to pass out candy. A completed form and a $25 payment are required. Table setup and decorating will begin at 3:30 p.m. Tables will be provided. Prizes will be given for the best Halloween decorations. For more information, call Amy at (501) 279-9007.
Flu Shot Clinic, Mammograms
NEWPORT — Arkansas State University-Newport will host the Jackson County Flu Shot Clinic on Nov. 4 in the ASUN Center for the Arts. Flu shots will be given from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; no appointment is necessary. There is no charge, but if patients have insurance, the Arkansas Department of Health will charge their insurance company for the vaccine. The St. Bernards Mobile Mammogram unit will be on-site to provide mammograms for women 40 and older who have not had one in the past year. Bring a driver’s license and an insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card. Patients may qualify for a free mammogram through the Breast Care Program.
All Things Herbal Course
MELBOURNE — Ozarka College will host All Things Herbal, a continuing-education course, from 5-8 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 7 through Nov. 21, in the Culinary Arts Classroom of the John E. Miller Education Complex. The course, taught by Laura Brush, will include lecture time, as well as hands-on gardening, growing and creating with herbs. The tuition is $35, or $30 for ages 60 and older. For more information or to preregister, contact Candace Killian at (870) 368-2003 or ckillian@ozarka.edu.
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.