COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK AREA

Oct. 14

Ballet Arkansas’ Dracula

CONWAY — Ballet Arkansas will present Dracula at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Central Arkansas’ Reynolds Performance Hall. Dracula is family-friendly and appropriate for all ages. Tickets range from $30 to $40 for the general public and $10 for students and children. Senior and military discounts are available. 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.

Oct. 15

Child Abuse Prevention Training

CONWAY — The Stewards of Children Child Abuse Prevention Training will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Central Arkansas’ Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center, 201 Donaghey Ave. The training is free, and all trainees will receive a certificate and two professional-development credit units. For more information, call (501) 450-5274.

Oct. 16

Cleburne County Retired Teachers Meeting

HEBER SPRINGS — The Cleburne County Retired Teachers Association will meet at noon at the Rustic Inn, 404 S. Seventh St. Lacey Smith, a registered nurse and community-outreach coordinator for Baptist Health, will present the program, Hepatitis: Knowing Your ABCs. All retired school personnel are invited to attend.

CASA Volunteer Training

RUSSELLVILLE — Training classes for new CASA Volunteers in Pope County are scheduled to begin Tuesday. A Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer is a trained community member appointed by a judge to represent the interests of abused and neglected children during a dependency case. CASA of the 5th Judicial District is a nonprofit organization covering Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties. Prospective volunteers must be a least 21 years old and undergo local, state and federal background checks. They are provided with initial in-depth training and ongoing continued education. For more information, contact CASA of the 5th Judicial district at (479) 880-1195 or casa5gb@suddenlinkmail.com, or visit www.arcasa5.org or CASA’s Facebook page.

Oct. 17

Sheet Pan Meals

CONWAY — Sheet Pan Meals will meet from 6-8 p.m. at UCA Downtown, 1105 W. Oak St. Connie Tipton has eight quick and easy recipes that only need one pan and a short amount of time to prepare. Participants will learn how to make these quick meals for a family. For more information, call (501) 852-8223.

Oct. 18

Newcomers’ Club Fall Welcome Coffee

CONWAY — The Newcomers’ Club of Conway will host its Fall Welcome Coffee at 10 a.m., with the location to be determined later. Any Conway resident, either new or longtime, who is interested in getting out, meeting new friends or trying new activities, is invited to attend. For more information and directions, call Donna at (501) 472-8447.

Maumelle Newcomers Luncheon

MAUMELLE — A Maumelle Newcomers Luncheon will take place at 11 a.m. at the Maumelle Country Club, 100 Club Manor Drive. The cost is $15. The program will be a fashion show by Essential Frills. For reservations, call Mary Davidson at (501) 944-5518 by Monday.

Women’s Leadership Network: Self Worth

CONWAY — Women’s Leadership Network: Self Worth will be offered from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Central Arkansas’ Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center, 201 Donaghey Ave. The free session will teach participants to appreciate their self-worth. Panelists will include LaKisha M. Johnson, Amy Hawkins and Angela Webster. For more information, call (501) 450-5274.

Oct. 18 and 19

Oil-Painting Workshop

FAIRFIELD BAY — Artists of all levels are invited to register for an oil-painting workshop by Sarah Keathley, featuring florals and still life, to take place Thursday and Friday at Bayside Studio, 100 Greenwood Road. The workshop is sponsored by the North Central Arkansas Artist League, and the fee is $100. For more information, contact NCAAL Vice President Mark Davis at (501) 253-3994.

Oct. 19

Friday Night Kruzn

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

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Music Jamboree and Jam Session

SCOTLAND — The Scotland Community Senior Center, 11763 Arkansas 95 W., will host its second monthly Music Jamboree and Jam Session from 7-9 p.m. People of all ages are welcome to bring their instruments and play. The event is free, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call the center at (501) 592-3377.

NARFE Meeting

GREERS FERRY — The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Large Mouth Pizza, 8379 Edgemont Road. Representatives from Blue Cross/Blue Shield and GEHA (Government Employees Health Association) will discuss the upcoming federal employees health benefits open season and answer questions. All active and retired federal employees are invited to attend. For more information, call Kathy Golding at (501) 206-1375.

Oct. 20

Spaghetti and Sausage Dinner

NEW DIXIE — The Knights of Columbus will have its spaghetti and sausage dinner, featuring homemade rolls and peach cobbler, from 4-7 p.m. at 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) 759-2876.

Ongoing

Eternity House Walk-Through Drama

CONWAY — Eternity House in Conway, celebrating 19 years, will present a life-changing walk-through drama at Point of Grace Baptist Church, 767 U.S. 64B. Shows will take place at 5 p.m. Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. Oct. 24, at 5 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28, and at 7 p.m. Oct. 31. Two nonperishable food items per person at the door will support a local food pantry. Monetary donations to support Eternity House will also be appreciated. There will be a Trunk-or-Treat from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31. For more information, visit www.eternityhouse.org.

Food for Fines

MORRILTON — The Conway County Library will offer its Food for Fines Program through Oct. 31. Patrons can help others in the county by donating nonperishable food items when returning overdue materials to erase the fine for that item, as well as other overdue fines. Each food item represents $1. Patrons may donate up to 10 items to cancel up to $10 of fines. Food items may not be used to waive charges for items that are lost. Patrons are encouraged to bring additional food items. For more information, call at (501) 354-5204.

A Sense of Place Art Exhibit

CLINTON — The current art exhibit, A Sense of Place, in the halls of Ozark Health Medical Center, 2500 U.S. 65 S., will be open through Nov. 12. The exhibit includes more than 50 works — mostly landscapes, as well as florals, still life and wildlife — by members of the North Central Arkansas Artist League. Art is displayed 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 $450. Proceeds will benefit Hospital Auxiliary projects. For more information, call Joyce Hartmann at (501) 745-6615.

TOPS Meetings

CONWAY — TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets each Tuesday at Peace Lutheran Church, at the corner of Donaghey Avenue and Dave Ward Drive. Weigh-in begins at 9:15 a.m., and a support meeting emphasizing weight loss and healthy living takes place from 10-11 a.m. Prospective members are welcome to attend. Enter the church from Donaghey Avenue. For more information, call Peggy at (501) 514-0823 or Sandy at (501) 329-0558.

Fairfield Bay Farmers Market

FAIRFIELD BAY — The Fairfield Bay Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays through October at the Village Mall Gazebo. The market features certified naturally grown produce from the Gathering Place at Meadow Creek. All vendors are welcome to bring bumper-crop vegetables to sell. No preregistration is required.

Neighbor’s Table

RUSSELLVILLE — Neighbor’s Table is a free meal from noon to 1 p.m. every Saturday at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 501 S. Phoenix Ave. The doors open at 11:30 a.m. with free coffee. All are welcome to attend. Neighbor’s Table also sends home sack lunches with guests. All Saints’ has a Loaves and Fishes ministry, which accepts Sunday-morning offerings at the altar of necessities such as cereal, peanut butter, shelf-stable milk, toilet paper, toiletries, hand soap and detergent to be distributed at Neighbor’s Table. For more information on the program or how to help, call the church office at (479) 968-3622.

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

Book Signing

CONWAY — Local author Skylar Overman will sign copies of her book Sky’s High Dreams at 2 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Faulkner County Library. Skylar is in the sixth grade and participates in dance, cheer and pageants. She has a rare birth defect called schizencephaly and is in a wheelchair and is nonverbal. Skylar wants to raise awareness for schizencephaly and help families of children with special needs. 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.

The New Chinese Acrobats

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas’ Reynolds Performance Hall will open its 2018-19 Night Out series with The New Chinese Acrobats at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21. The group combines ancient Chinese acrobatic techniques and modernizes them to capture the attention of audiences of all ages. Tickets are $30 to $40 for the general public and $10 for children. 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.

World Polio Day

CONWAY — Rotarians will celebrate World Polio Day from 4:30-7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the new splash pad at Laurel Park, with a free family-friendly event that includes free food, music and fun. The event will begin with a ribbon-cutting to celebrate World Polio Day and to dedicate the new Rotary Club-funded picnic tables for the pavilion at the splash pad. This event is hosted by the Conway Noon Rotary Club, the Conway Morning Rotary Club and the Young Professionals of Conway.

Bookcase for Every Child Literacy Banquet

CONWAY — Tickets are on sale for the 11th annual Bookcase for Every Child Literacy Banquet, set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Bob and Betty Courtway Middle School Cafeteria. The event will feature a catfish dinner and entertainment by the Sulphur Road Pickers of the Damascus area. Purchase tickets, at $15.95 each or $125 for a table of eight, by calling Jim Davidson at (501) 499-2179, or at Pickles Gap Village, Conway Copies, the Log Cabin Democrat or the Faulkner County Library. Proceeds from the event will be used to build 50 bookcases for children at Head Start centers.

Literary Arts Festival

CONWAY — The Faulkner County Library’s 2018 Literary Arts Festival will feature Mark Spencer, the award-winning author of three novels and two collections of short stories, including “A Haunted Love Story” about his home in Monticello, on Oct. 25. 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.

Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical

FAIRFIELD BAY — Our Towne Productions of Fairfield Bay will present Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical, directed by Janice Thompson, at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27 and Nov. 3, and at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Fairfield Bay Conference Center, 548 Lost Creek Parkway. Tickets are $18 and are available at the center and the Fairfield Bay Library, or call (501) 884-4202 for reservations.

Kidsfest 2018

RUSSELLVILLE — KidsFest 2018 will take place from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Hughes Community Center, 1000 E. Parkway Drive. The free event for all area children, presented by the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department, will feature games, prizes, candy and a hero alley. For more information, call the Hughes Center at (479) 968-1272.

Kirkin’ of the Tartan Worship Service

CONWAY — Grace Presbyterian Church, 1010 Hogan Lane, will have a Kirkin’ of the Tartan worship service at 6 p.m. Oct. 31 to honor the Scottish origins of the Presbyterian Church. The service will begin with a procession into the sanctuary, led by a bagpiper. Following the singing of hymns and a short homily, the service will conclude at 6:30 with the blessing of the tartans. Participants are requested to wear clothing depicting their tartans if they have such. The public is invited to join the celebration. For more information, call the church at (501) 504-6899.

Noah Smith Recital

RUSSELLVILLE — Noah Smith, 17, will give a recital at 7 pm. Nov. 1 on the Chickering grand piano in the nave of All Saints Episcopal Church, 501 S. Phoenix Ave. Smith will also speak briefly about his experiences at the 2018 Lutheran Summer Music camp. Smith is a senior at Russellville High School and a member of the Cyclone Band, and he earned all-region and all-state honors this year in both concert and jazz bands. He sings in the adult choir and serves as assistant organist at All Saints. He plays principal bassoon in the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra and has earned the rank of Life in Boy Scouts. The recital is free and open to the public. For more information, visit lutheranmusicprogram.org.

Russellville Christmas Parade

RUSSELLVILLE — The 2018 Russellville Christmas Parade has been set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Parade entry forms are available at the Recreation and Parks Department office, 1000 E. Parkway, and at www.russellvillearkansas.org. The entry fee is $25 for a float or $100 for a commercial entry other than a float. All parade participants must submit an entry form. The deadline to enter is noon Dec. 3. The rainout date is Dec. 10. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department 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. The deadline for calendar-item submissions is noon Tuesday.

Upcoming Events