COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK AREA

June 18

Art Program

FAIRFIELD BAY — Sandra Marson will present a program on the 12 formats of abstract compositions to the North Central Arkansas Artist League at 10 a.m. at the Bayside Art Gallery and Studio, on the corner of Arkansas 330 and Greenwood Road. Marson, who refers to her art as abstract expressionism, lives in Jacksonville and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The public is invited to attend.

Ceremony for Bear Partners Program

MORRILTON — University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis and University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Chancellor Larry Davis will sign a memorandum of understanding at 2 p.m. during a ceremony in the Student Union on the UACCM campus. The schools have partnered to create the Bear Partners program, which allows UACCM students who are earning associate degrees to have access to UCA events, facilities and resources. For more information, visit uca.edu/bearpartners.

June 23

Book Signing

CONWAY — Local author Debbie Fowler will have a book signing at 2 p.m. at the Faulkner County Library. Fowler is the author of ’62 Chevy: An Auto-Biography. A graduate of St. Joseph High School, Fowler spent most of her life in Conway. She and her husband and co-writer, Wayne, with whom she keeps a blog about their various experiences, live near Mountain Home. Read her blog at easilyamusedroadrunners.com. 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.

An Evening of Southern Gospel Music

SHIRLEY — Brian Free & Assurance will perform at 6:30 p.m. at the Shirley High School Auditorium, 210 Blue Devil Drive. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at www.itickets.com or at Carter’s Hardware in Shirley, The Sweet Shoppe and Jack’s in Fairfield Bay, Tractor Supply in Clinton and The Blue Line Diner in Greers Ferry. General admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Premium seating is $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

Much Ado About Nothing

PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN — The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre will perform Much Ado About Nothing at 7:30 p.m. on the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute’s front lawn. There will also be an interactive workshop, a guided tour of the exhibit Art in Its Natural State and food trucks. Activities will start at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so the audience is asked to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Attendees can bring in food but no alcoholic beverages. Admission is free, but registration is requested at rockefellerinstitute.org/institute-programs/much_ado. For more information, call (501) 727-6255 or email pchristenberry@uawri.org. For lodging, call (501) 727-5435.

Vollman Cemetery Fundraiser

BIGELOW — The Vollman Cemetery will have its annual fundraiser in the Bigelow Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. A fish dinner with all the trimmings, prepared by the Oaks family, will be served at 5 p.m., followed by an auction. Plates will be $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and younger. Donations may be mailed to the Vollman Cemetery, P.O. Box 103, Bigelow, AR 72016.

June 23, 24, 29 and 30

Academia Nuts

FAIRFIELD BAY — Our Towne Productions will present the Greff Kreutz comedy Academia Nuts, directed by Seana Garrow, at 7 p.m. Saturday and again June 29 and 30 and at 2 p.m. June 24 at the Fairfield Bay Conference Center, 110 Lost Creek Parkway. Tickets are $18 at the Fairfield Bay Conference Center and the Fairfield Bay Library. For more information, call (501) 844-4202.

Ongoing

Summer Cereal Drive

HEBER SPRINGS — The Seven Springs 2018 June Cereal Drive will take place through June 29. Anyone who wants to donate can bring boxes of cereal to the Seven Springs Health and Rehabilitation Social Office, 1040 Wedding Ford Road. For more details, call Connie Herrin at (501) 281-5115.

Kids Summer Camp Classes

RUSSELLVILLE — The River Valley Arts Center, 1001 E. B St., will offer Kids Summer Camp Classes in June. Art/Drawing/Painting/Pottery, by Jessica Simpson and Winston Taylor, will meet from 2-5 p.m. June 18-22, with a fee of $80 for members and $110 for nonmembers. Art/Drawing/Painting, by Lisa Jones, will meet from 9 a.m. to noon June 18-22, $65/$100. For more information, call (479) 968-2452.

The Music Man

RUSSELLVILLE — The River Valley Arts Center will present The Music Man at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and again June 29 and 30; and at 2 p.m. June 24 and July 1 at The Center for the Arts, 2209 S. Knoxville Ave. For ticket information, call (479) 968-2452.

Fun in the Sun! Art Exhibit

CLINTON — The art exhibit Fun in the Sun! is on display at Ozark Health Medical Center on U.S. 65 in south Clinton. The collection, which will hang through Aug. 6, features 46 original paintings by various local artists. Art is located in the hallways near the cafeteria on the upper level and in the outpatient wing on the lower level. The paintings are for sale for $15 to $350. Proceeds will benefit Hospital Auxiliary projects. For more information, call Joyce Hartmann at (501) 745-6615.

Community Teaching Garden

CONWAY — The Faulkner County Master Gardeners will have a community teaching garden in front of Freyaldenhoven’s nursery, at the corner of Siebenmorgen Road and Bob Courtway Drive. The group meets there at 9 a.m. the first and third Saturdays of each month through September. All are invited to attend and learn to grow their own food.

Friday Night Kruzn

CONWAY — Friday Night Kruzn, a free event, will take place from 6-8 p.m. the third Friday of each month through Oct. 19 at The Village at Hendrix. Cars will be on display, and a donation will be made to the Arkansas Food Bank. For more information, contact Don Searls at (501) 269-1817.

Humane Society Benefit Bingo

GREENBRIER — Bingo, sponsored by the Humane Society of Faulkner County, is played 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 will 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. For more information, call the church at (501) 362-2389.

Yoga Class at the Library

CONWAY — Danny Mize, a registered yoga instructor, teaches a yoga class at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Faulkner County Library. Yoga practitioners of all skill levels are welcome to attend. 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 & John Hawks Senior Wellness & 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.

VFW Tuesday Night Bingo

QUITMAN — Tuesday Night Bingo takes place each week at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1295 Bee Branch Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available. For more information, call (501) 362-9979.

American Legion 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. For more information, call (501) 362-9979.

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

Rupert Wates Concert

CONWAY — The Faulkner County Library will present singer/songwriter Rupert Wates in concert at 2 p.m. June 24. Wates has won more than 40 songwriting and performing awards and was a finalist in the Kerrville New Song Folk Contest in 2018. 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. For more details on Wates, visit www.rupertwatesmusic.com.

Arkansas River Valley Audubon Society Meeting

PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN — The Arkansas River Valley Audubon Society will meet at 7 p.m. June 25 in the Stables Classroom at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. The program will be presented by Dr. Jennifer Ballard, the first wildlife veterinarian with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, whose topic will be Chronic Wasting Disease Management in Arkansas. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served. Call (501) 977-3899 for directions.

Arkansas Coding Academy Open House

CONWAY — The Arkansas Coding Academy will have an open house from 5-7 p.m. June 25 at UCA Downtown, 1105 W. Oak St. Visitors will learn more about the Arkansas Coding Academy and the opportunities offered by coding. Full-time and part-time classes are available. For more information, call UCA Downtown at (501) 852-8223.

League of Women Voters Organizational Meeting

CONWAY — The League of Women Voters in Conway will have an organizational meeting at 6 p.m. June 26 at the Cooperative Extension Service, 844 Faulkner St. All are invited to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to share information about the League of Women Voters and to determine if there is sufficient interest and support to establish a local chapter. The League, a nonpartisan political organization made up of both men and women, encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of major issues and influence public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, email lwvconway@gmail.com.

Watercolor Workshop

RUSSELLVILLE — The River Valley Arts Center, 1001 E. B St., will present a watercolor workshop with Richard Stephens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 29 and 30, with an hour lunch break. The class fee is $160 for members and $190 for nonmembers. Stephens, a native of Hot Springs, graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 1969 with a degree in art. For more information, visit www.rivervalleyartscenter.org/art-classes.html.

Centerville School Reunion

CENTERVILLE — The Centerville School Reunion will take place at 10 a.m. June 30 at Centerville United Methodist Church, 2 miles east of Woolly Hollow State Park. Lunch will be provided by the church, and former students and their families and guests are invited. Centerville UMC sits next to the old school campus and affords a view of the three school buildings that are still standing.

Pine Street Community Museum Collection Picnic

CONWAY — The Pine Street Community Museum project will have a Collection Picnic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 30 at Hendrix College to collect items associated with the Pine Street community, such as photos, articles and artifacts, along with conducting interviews with people who are willing to record their Pine Street-community experiences. Scanners will be set up to copy items, and a photographer will take updated photos of community residents. Refreshments will be served. The museum is set to open in June 2019 on the campus of the Greater Pleasant Branch Baptist Church, the location of the last two existing buildings of the historic Pine Street School. For more information, call (501) 504-2049.

Community Fireworks Display

RUSSELLVILLE — The city of Russellville will present a free community fireworks display on July 4. The display will take place at dark in Old Post Road Park.

Adult Fall Softball League Registration

RUSSELLVILLE — Registration for the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department’s fall softball league will begin July 9 and end at 5 p.m. July 20. Teams may register at the Hughes Community Center, 1000 E. Parkway Drive, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Forms are available in the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department office and at www.russellvillearkansas.org. For more information, call the Hughes Center at (479) 968-1272.

Summer Strings Camp

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Community School of Music’s 10th annual Summer Strings Camp, for students in grades six through 12 who have completed at least one year of private lessons or orchestra, is set for July 15-21 on the campus. Daytime activities include rehearsals, masterclasses, a webinar with young orchestra professionals, ultimate Frisbee and extreme noodling. Night activities, for commuters and on-campus campers, will include a trip to Wild River Country, a movie night and a camp dance. For more information, visit www.uca.edu/csm/camps, call Ronald Jensen-McDaniel at (501) 450-3672, or email ucacsm@uca.edu.

Marvin Williams’ Cooking Adventures

CONWAY — Marvin Williams’ Cooking Adventures: Summertime Favorites will be offered from 6-8 p.m. July 20 at UCA Downtown, 1105 W. Oak St. Join Williams while he makes some of his favorite summertime drinks, such as Purple Rain Lemonade, and desserts, including ice cream and his Cake of Many Colors. Register at uca.edu/outreach/types/culinary-classes or call (501) 450-3118.

3C’s Train-the-Trainer Program

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas will off the 3C’s Train-the-Trainer Program from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 26 and 27 at UCA’s Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center, 201 Donaghey Ave. Based on the book Civility, Compassion and Courage in Schools Today: Strategies for Implementing in K- 12 Classrooms, this course will focus on becoming civility-competent and compassionate, as well as provide an in-depth reflection on how one’s personality impacts authentic program delivery. Register at uca.edu/outreach/types/business/pd or call (501) 450-3118.

Old Soldiers Reunion Parade

HEBER SPRINGS — American Legion Post 64 will host the annual Old Soldiers Reunion Parade at 6 p.m. Aug. 2. The parade will start at Harps Grocery and end at Spring Park. Lineup will be at 5:30. The following prizes will awarded for floats: first place, $500; second place, $350; and third place, $250. The theme is “United We Stand,” and there is no entry fee. The parade will be followed by a carnival in Spring Park and other activities Aug. 3 and 4, including a beauty pageant. For more information, call the Post 64 at (501) 362-9979 or Gabe Cothron at (501) 206-9571.

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.

Upcoming Events