Jan. 8 and 9
Lantern Theatre Auditions
CONWAY — The Conway Community Arts Association and the Lantern Theatre will have auditions for their first show of the 2018 season, Steel Magnolias, at 6:30 p.m. both days at the Lantern Theatre, 1021 Van Ronkle St. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Women 18 and older are encouraged to audition. Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling, will be directed by Carla Grant and presented Feb. 23 through March 4. For more information, email infor@thelanterntheatre.com.
Jan. 9
Architecture Lecture
PERRYVILLE — The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will present Low, Light and Livable: From Modern to Ranch, 1945-1970 at 6:30 p.m. at the Max Milam Library, 609 Aplin St. Holly Hope, AHPP special-projects historian, will present a free program on the history of post-World War II architectural trends in Arkansas. The Perry County Historical and Genealogical Society is sponsoring the free lecture. For more information, contact Hope at (501) 324-9148 or holly.hope@arkansas.gov, or Bill Suffridge at (501) 889-2554 or bjsuffridge@gmail.com.
Jan. 13
Spaghetti dinner
NEW DIXIE — St. Boniface Catholic Church will have its spaghetti and sausage dinner, featuring homemade rolls and peach cobbler, from 4-7 p.m. in St. Boniface Hall. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children younger than 6 may eat free. For carryout meals, call (501) 759-2896.
Ongoing
Jewelry Making Classes
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Library has jewelry making classes for beginners from 6-7 p.m. each Thursday. There is no charge for the classes, but students provide their own supplies or purchase kits in class. Free minor jewelry repair will be offered by the class instructor. Bring broken or outdated costume jewelry to be repaired or updated while you wait, or bring broken jewelry or loose beads to trade for a piece of new jewelry. For more information, email cardsandjewelry@gmail.com or call the library at (501) 327-7482. Scheduled repairs are from 3-5 p.m. this Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to closing this Saturday.
’Tis the Season Art Exhibit
CLINTON — ’Tis the Season is the North Central Arkansas Artist League’s free exhibit at Ozark Health Medical Center on U.S. 65 on the south side of Clinton. The exhibit will be on display until Feb. 12. The new collection includes 40 paintings by eight local artists. Artwork is in the hallways near the cafeteria on the upper level and in the outpatient wing through the skywalk and down the elevator to the lower level. The paintings are for sale for prices from $15 to $350. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Hospital Auxiliary’s projects. For more information, contact league president Charlotte Rierson at (501) 884-6100.
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 event benefit the Sloan-Swindel Spay and Neuter Memorial Fund. For more information, email rescuethestrays@yahoo.com.
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, a 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. 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
ACT Prep Course
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Outreach will offer an ACT Prep Course from 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Jan. 16 to Feb. 8. The course is designed for high school students who have previously scored between 17 and 25 on the ACT or for high-schoolers who have not taken the test. For more information, contact Reuel at rshepherd@uca.edu or (501) 450-3429.
Arkansas Coding Academy Open House
CONWAY — An Arkansas Coding Academy Open House will take place from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 18 at UCA Downtown, 1105 W. Oak St. Visitors will learn about the opportunities offered by the Arkansas Coding Academy. For more information, call Anita at (501) 450-1715.
B.J. Thomas Concert
CONWAY — B.J. Thomas will celebrate nearly 50 years of music in a concert at the University of Central Arkansas’ Reynolds Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18. The concert was originally set for Dec. 3 but was rescheduled after Thomas had knee surgery. All previously printed tickets with the old date are valid for the new date. Tickets range from $30 to $40 for the general public and $10 for children. UCA student tickets are $10 with a valid student ID. 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.
Library Service Fair
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Library will host its fifth annual Library Service Fair from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 20. The event offers an opportunity to connect with community members and for organizations to recruit volunteers, as well as for organizations to reach out to people in need of assistance. To reserve a table at the fair, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org. All library events are free and open to the public.
Couponing for Real Life
CONWAY — Couponing for Real Life will be offered from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 23 at UCA Downtown, 1105 W. Oak St. This beginners course will teach participants to use coupons to maximize savings at grocery stores, retail outlets and restaurants. Sign up, and start saving money. For more information, call Autumn at (501) 450-3118.
Broadway Bound Class
CONWAY — A Broadway Bound class will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 23 to Feb. 6, at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center at the University of Central Arkansas. This class on Broadway musical theater offers a history of American popular-musical styles, as well as a forum to debate social issues such as racism, antisemitism and gender inequality. Participants will Trace American social consciousness from 1900 to the present through the Broadway musical. For more information, call Autumn at (501) 450-3118.
Broadway Bound Trip
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Outreach will offer Broadway Bound, a four-day trip to New York City, on May 7-11. Travelers will spend a week in New York City in the heart of the Theater District and see Anatasia, The Book of Mormon and Dear Evan. The anticipated cost of $1,800 includes airfare, four nights at a hotel (double occupancy), the three shows and shuttle-bus transportation to and from LaGuardia Airport. A nonrefundable deposit of $500 is due Jan. 31. For more information, contact Melissa at meubanks@uca.edu or (501) 450-5100.
Time Out for Tech 2018
RUSSELLVILLE — All high school seniors and their families are invited to Time Out for Tech 2018, hosted by the Arkansas Tech University Office of Admissions on Feb. 1. Check-in and a registered-student-organization fair will start at 8:30 a.m. at Tucker Coliseum, followed by an opening session at 9:30 a.m., when there will be a drawing for three tuition scholarships to Tech for the fall 2018 semester. Preregistration is required for seniors planning to attend Time Out for Tech. Register at www.atu.edu/admissions/timeout.php. For more information, call (800) 582-6953 or (479) 968-0343.
Book Signing
CONWAY — Local author Jasmine Harris will give a book signing at 2 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Faulkner County Library. Harris is a secondary educator and a published poet who is featured in the International Poetry Digest. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in linguistics and is enrolled in graduate school. Her first book is I May Have Been in My Feelings. To stay updated on her next release and current events, visit crownpressbooks.com and follow her on social media, facebook.com/JasmineHarris and Instagram @dr_harris. For more information on the event, email nancy@fcl.org or call (501) 327-7482.
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. The deadline for calendar-item submissions is noon Tuesday.