COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK AREA

Sept. 23

GirlForce

CONWAY — The Jazzercise Conway Fitness Center, 2625 Donaghey Ave., No. 102, will celebrate the 2017 GirlForce initiative at 6 p.m. with an In Full Force Global Dance Party. Launched at the beginning of 2017, Jazzercise created the global GirlForce initiative to offer young women ages 16-21 a free, safe place to work out, stay active and discover a healthy and fun way to experience the endorphins of the workout high.

Fall Family Craft Program

MORRILTON — The Conway County Library, 101 W. Church St., will celebrate the arrival of fall with a Fall Family Craft Program at 10 a.m. Kids of all ages are invited to create a special craft to get ready for the fall weather and take the unique gift home for their parents. For more information, call the library at (501) 354-5204.

Dog Trick Seminar

CONWAY — A Dog Trick Seminar, open to all dogs, will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Grace United Methodist Church, 10y5 Hogan Lane. Participants will teach their dogs new tricks. All dogs will have the opportunity to learn 15 or more tricks, and many will earn a Novice Trick Dog title. Register by calling Autumn at (501) 450-3118.

Sept. 25

Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Tania León

CONWAY — An Evening with Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Tania León: Turning History into Art will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. Gates and Leon feature are two of the principals of UCA’s College of Fine Arts and Communication-commissioned opera The Little Rock Nine. There will be a preview performance of one scene from the opera and a moderated discussion. Tickets, available at uca.edu/tickets, are $15 for the general public and $5 for students, children and the UCA community. Call UCA Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or toll-free in Arkansas at (866) 810-0012, or visit www.uca.edu/reynolds. For more information, contact Amanda Horton at (501) 450-3682 or ahorton@uca.edu.

Audubon Club Meeting

CONWAY — The Arkansas River Valley Audubon Society will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 110 of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Life Sciences, in the basement’s north hall, at Hendrix College. For directions, call (501) 977-3899. The program, Exploring Arizona: A Look at Scenery, Geology, Plants and a Few Birds, will be presented by member Leif Anderson, an avid birder, who is on a quest to see 50 percent of the birds in each state. Refreshments will be served, and the public is invited to attend.

Sept. 26

Watercolor Class

RUSSELLVILLE — The River Valley Arts Center, 1001 E. B St., will offer a watercolor class by Libby Caston from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants need to bring watercolor paper and paints. For more information, call the Arts Center at (479) 968-2452.

Ongoing

Humane Society Benefit Bingo

GREENBRIER — Bingo, sponsored by the Humane Society of Faulkner County, takes place every third Friday at the Melton Cotton City Event Center, 5 Lois Lane. Pregames start at 5:30 p.m., and full games begin at 6:30. Proceeds from the games benefit the Sloan-Swindel Spay and Neuter Memorial Fund. For more information, email rescuethestrays@yahoo.com.

Conway League of Artists Fall Show and Sale

CONWAY — The Conway League of Artists Fall Show and Sale will have the theme Arkansas: Its People, Flora, Fauna or Vistas. The artwork will be on display Monday through Oct. 20 at the Faulkner County Library. All entries must be delivered to the library from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The entry fee is $20 for one piece, $25 for two and $30 for the maximum of three pieces. Awards will be presented at a closing reception from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20 at the library. All entrants must be members of the Conway League of Artists, but anyone can join the group when entering the show for annual dues of $25. For more information, contact Pauline Butts at (501) 314-8656 or pilan_artist@yahoo.com, or Marilyn Rishkofski at (603) 918-9237 or marilyn@artexperienceinc.com.

Last Call to Sign Up

RUSSELLVILLE — This is the last week to sign up to join a group that will travel on Sept. 29 from the River Valley Arts Center to see a production of The Savannah Sipping Society at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock. The play will star local resident Natalie Canerday. The cost is $50 for members and $58 for nonmembers. A shuttle van will take participants to and from the theater. For more details, call (479) 968-2452.

Introduction to Fox Trot and Waltz

CONWAY — Introduction to Fox Trot and Waltz will meet from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 28 at the Farris Center at the University of Central Arkansas. This beginner course makes a great date night. Register by calling Autumn at (501) 450-3118.

Board Development Workshop Series

CONWAY — A Board Development Workshop Series, designed for nonprofit board members, will meet from 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 11 at UCA Downtown, 1105 Oak St. Topics include Moving Your Donors up the Pyramid; Strategies for Annual Gift Donor Retention and Major Gift Development; Capital Campaign Elements and Planned Giving Knowledge: Skipping Through One to Learn More About the Other; Social Media: Today, Tomorrow and Where You Are; and Share Your Pyramid: Reviewing, Refining and Addressing the Gaps. To register, contact Lesley at (501) 852-7416.

Beginners Dog Obedience Class

CONWAY —A Beginners Dog Obedience Class will meet from 6-7 p.m. Thursdays, today through Nov. 9, at Conway Canine Companions, 8 Lancaster Lane. Guided by instructor Pamela Padgett, participants will teach their dogs “sit, down, leave it, wait, stay” and more. This class is for dogs 10 months or older. Bring the dog’s collar, leash, training treats and proof of vaccinations. Register by calling Autumn at (501) 450-3118.

Orange Art Exhibit

CLINTON — The North Central Arkansas Artist League’s Orange art exhibit is on display through Nov. 6 at Ozark Health Medical Center, 2500 U.S. 65 S. The nearly 50 paintings by 12 artists include watercolors, acrylics, oil paintings, pen and ink, and pointillism, all using the color orange somewhere in the art. The Outpatient Wing display downstairs can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the Cafeteria display, in the hallways upstairs near the cafeteria, is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Bluegrass Music Night

HEBER SPRINGS — Heber Springs Christian Church, 1101 N. Broadway St., offers a bluegrass music night from 6:30-8:30 every Tuesday. Musicians are invited to participate. Free coffee will be available.

Yoga Class at the Library

CONWAY — Danny Mize, registered yoga instructor, teaches a yoga class at 6 p.m. Thursdays at the Faulkner County Library. Mize’s class focuses on feeling good in one’s body and letting go of life’s stress while listening to music. Yoga practitioners of all skill levels, especially beginners, are welcome in the class. All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org.

Faulkner County Coin Club Meetings

CONWAY — The Faulkner County Coin Club meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Ola and John Hawks Senior Wellness and Activity Center, 705 E. Siebenmorgen Road. The 5 p.m. dinner is optional, and a $6 donation is suggested for those 60 and younger. A fellowship time will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. with educational speakers, show-and-tell, news and door prizes. For more information, call (501) 514-0785.

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.

Faulkner County Tea Party Luncheon

CONWAY — The Faulkner County Tea Party has a luncheon at noon every Thursday at Larry’s Pizza, 1068 Markham St. Guest speakers and the members’ “soap box” are featured each week. All who are interested in governmental and business affairs on the county, state or national level are invited to attend.

Upcoming

Pink Night Fundraiser

CONWAY — The Conway Lady Wampus Cats volleyball team will hold the ninth annual Pink Night fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 28 at Buzz Bolding Arena, 2300 Prince St. The junior varsity team will play at 5 p.m. and the varsity team at 6 p.m., both against the North Little Rock Charging Wildcats. Admission is $1, and everyone is encouraged to wear pink. Raffle tickets will be sold for $2 for various prizes, and there will be a silent auction. Proceeds will go to Savannah Westover, 13, a Conway student who has bone cancer. For more information, email assistant coach Andrea Bailey-Fournier at baileya@conwayschools.net.

The Charlie Daniels Band Concert

CONWAY — The Charlie Daniels Band will kick off the 2017-2018 Pops series at the University of Central Arkansas’ Reynolds Performance Hall with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28. Tickets are $30 to $40 for the general public, and $10 for children and UCA students with a valid student ID. For tickets, call UCA Ticket Central from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at (501) 450-3265 or toll-free in Arkansas at (866) 810-0012, or visit www.uca.edu/reynolds.

City Park Splash Pad Closing

RUSSELLVILLE — The last day the City Park splash pad will be open is Oct. 1. City Park is at 915 E. B St. For more information, call Russellville Recreation and Parks at (479) 968-1272.

Taste of Conway

CONWAY — The 2017 Taste of Conway, sponsored by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Conway Expo Center. Tickets are $15 and are available at www.conwaychamber.org or by calling (501) 327-7788.

Paws at the Beach 5K Run/Walk

HEBER SPRINGS — The annual Humane Society’s Paws at the Beach 5K Run/Walk will take place Oct. 7 at Sandy Beach. Race time is 8 a.m., and the course is certified. Register at racesonline.com/events/paws-at-the-beach-5k-1k or at the race from 6:30-7:30 a.m. The entry fee is $30. For more information, contact Eileen Wilroy at hshumanesociety5k@gmail.com or (501) 250-4428.

Daniel Boling Concert

CONWAY — Daniel Boling, a 2014 Kerrville New Folk songwriter contest winner, will perform at 2 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Faulkner County Library. Boling’s songs tell stories about a variety of characters as he plays guitar, banjo and banjitar (a banjo/guitar hybrid) in a fingerpicking style. Boling’s songwriting awards also include first place at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okema, Oklahoma, and the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. To listen to his music, visit danielboling.com/music.html. All library events are free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org.

Website in a Day

RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Tech Small Business and Technology Development Center will present Website in a Day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Arkansas Tech University. Step-by-step, participants will be guided in opening a free account and in creating an attractive, functional, five-page website using Weebly. The cost to attend is $50, and registration is required by Oct. 9 by calling (479) 356-2067 or visiting asbtdc.org/training/russellville-events.

Ladies in Red

CONWAY — The Conway Business and Professional Women are taking nominations for Career Woman of the Year. The deadline to enter is Oct. 13. The winner will be announced at the second annual Ladies In Red reception, set for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at Antioch Baptist Church, 110 S. Amity Road. An application is available on the Conway Business and Professional Women’s Facebook page.

Reformation Bike Ride

AUGSBURG — The 10th annual Augsburg Fall Fest, in celebration of the 500-year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, will host a Reformation Bike Ride at 9 a.m. Oct. 14. There will be a 28-mile Full Reformation ride and a 13-mile Mini-Reformation ride. An entry fee of $20 includes lunch at the Augsburg Fall Fest and a T-shirt ($10 without a shirt). Aid stations and SAG service will be provided. For more information, contact Chuck Campbell at chuckecampbell@hotmail.com. Routes are available at www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1161118954 and Mini-Reformation at www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1161131941. Proceeds from the festival, which is held at Zion Lutheran Church in Augsburg, will benefit the River Valley Christian Clinic and the Augsburg Food Pantry.

Russellville Christmas Parade

RUSSELLVILLE — The 2017 Russellville Christmas Parade has been set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7. The rainout date is Dec 11. All entries must have a Christmas theme. Parade entry forms are available at the Recreation and Parks Department office, 1000 E. Parkway or at www.russellvillearkansas.org. Entry fees are $25 for a float, and $100 for a commercial entry other than a float. Entry forms are required. The deadline to enter is noon Dec. 4. For more information, call Recreation and Parks at (479) 968-1272.

To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.

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