ESSA names
new director
The Eureka Springs School of the Arts has named Kelly McDonough executive director after a regional search for candidates. ESSA brings together people with varied backgrounds, ages and skill levels to work with their hands.
McDonough comes to the ESSA with 15 years of experience in grant administration and nonprofit management, as well as a passion for the arts. As an arts volunteer and enthusiast, she has worked with art collectives and museums to support public art events, pop up shows and partnered with an internationally known dance organization to stage a large scale, nontraditional dance performance to raise awareness of the value of the arts in daily life.
Bentonville recognizes
historic preservation
The City of Bentonville accepts nominations for the inaugural historic preservation award, through April 28. The award is to "recognize the accomplishments of those who have taken a committed role in the preservation of Bentonville's historic integrity," a news release states.
The evaluation criteria include consistent property maintenance in terms of preservation or repair; additions and exterior renovations compatible with existing structures; new construction compatibility in terms of harmony, context, setting and historic character; and overall appearance.
A five-member panel of one city council member, one planning commission member, two city staff and one at-large member will chose the winning application.
Information: bentonvillear.com/departments/planning-department/community-programs/historic-preservation-award or 271-3122.
Citizens honored
for service
Bentonville's Mayor Bob McCaslin announced the first-quarter winners of the outstanding citizen award. They are Michael Narx, Amber and Bob Morey and The Torch Club at Boys & Girls Club of Bentonville.
Narx was nominated by Angie Brooks, director of volunteer services at Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter. Brooks first met Narx and his wife, Melissa, in 2014, when Narx was the leader for a group of car enthusiasts and organized an event with the proceeds being donated to the Children's Shelter. The group, called "The Circuit," whose motto is "a charity with horsepower," has been advocating for the children ever since. This group comes together throughout the year to raise money for various organizations throughout Northwest Arkansas, with Narx and his family spending many Saturday mornings setting up for events to raise money for the children's shelter. They have even coordinated events on-site with their "souped up vehicles," revving the engines for the kids to enjoy.
The Moreys were nominated by Chris Hutchens on behalf of the Bentonville Tigers. During football season, they organize the sidelines at home games and load and unload equipment and otherwise support the team for road games. They also support the basketball, baseball, soccer and dance teams; order and sell items at games for fundraisers; organize concessions for all games.
The Torch Club at the Boys & Girls Club of Bentonville was nominated by Bryan Collom. Collom serves as the advisor to this group, but quickly take no credit for all this club does. The Torch Club is a character and leadership organization of the Boys & Girls Club, comprised of 17 11- to 13-year-olds, recording more than 400 hours of community service from August to December. The Torch Club's main areas of focus are service to club and community, health and fitness, education and social recreation. Torch Club members have assisted fellow club members with homework in the Learning Center; guided younger members in using the computers in the Tech Center; helped lead games in the Smart Moves program; adopted a portion of Memorial Park to clean; and volunteered at a local food bank before Thanksgiving. The Torch Club also planned and executed a project, named "The Twelve Days of Torchmas," in which they completed 12 acts of community service to the club and community -- including cleaning the adopted park; making thank-you posters and delivering treats to the police and fire departments; spreading holiday cheer with caroling around the club; sending care packages to soldiers deployed overseas; volunteering at a local food pantry for a second time; reading to the younger club members; donating a portion of the "Healthy Choices Concession Stand" to the Arkansas Children's Hospital; volunteering with the club staff throughout one day with running games and end of day clean up; making a thank-you card for the Station Cafe for being part of the community; making personalized cards to thank the Boys & Girls Club staff for all they do; and providing more than 20 journals to those in need at the Arkansas Children's Shelter.
During National Volunteer Week, April 23-29, under a program called "Points of Light," McCaslin will recognize Joy Shorb. For several years, Shorb has voluntarily picked up trash on a daily basis in parks close to her home -- smiling, encouraging and cheering on visitors and residents while she is out on her daily walks, gathering trash along her way.
The Outstanding Citizen Award program was initiated in January 2011 to recognize the exceptional volunteer contributions of Bentonville residents. There are three award categories: adult, youth and community group. Second quarter 2017 nominations will be accepted until June 16.
Information: bentonvillear.com.
Beran named honorary chairman for Alzheimer's Association Walk
The Alzheimer's Association, Arkansas chapter, named Mr. and Mrs. Paul Beran as the honorary chairpersons for the 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept 9 at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. During his welcoming remarks at the 2016 walk, Paul Beran shared the personal impact Alzheimer's disease has had on his family, citing the loss of both his mother and his wife's mother to the disease.
"Janice and I both saw our mothers live out their last days with Alzheimer's and dementia. It is a devastating condition for the patient and equally, if not more, for the family and caregivers. Seeing those you love suffer from loss of memory -- and, eventually, the loss of life -- is heartbreaking. I was humbled, honored and eager to assist the Arkansas chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to help end this debilitating disease, and I hope this event can help and support those in the community dealing with this disease, as well as their loved ones."
In 2016, the Fort Smith Walk to End Alzheimer's raised nearly $80,000 for care, support and research efforts for those impacted by Alzheimer's.
Information: alz.org/Arkansas/walk.
NAN Our Town on 04/27/2017