OUR TOWN LOCAL NOTES

District Meets Nov. 4

The Benton County Conservation District will meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 4 at the USDA Service Center in Bentonville.

Information: Gail Sparks at 273-2622, ext. 3.

Dinner Theater Opens At NWACC

Hit arrangements from the TV show “Glee” will be featured this fall when the Chamber Singers and Jazz Ensemble at NorthWest Arkansas Community College present the Flying Tomato Cabaret at 7 p.m. Nov. 5-7 and 12-14 at Shewmaker Center’s Walmart Auditorium. The dinner theater will feature a spaghetti dinner and live entertainment from the 30-member group of vocalists and jazz musicians.

Cost of the dinner with show is $18. All profits will benefit the Chamber Singers and jazz musicians’ continuing education and travel. In the spring of 2011, the group will attend a week of master classes, concerts and Broadway shows in New York City.

Purchase tickets online at www.nwaccChamberSingers.org.

Information: Miles Fish at 619-2237.

Chili Fundraiser Set For Nov. 6

The Centerton A&P Commission is sponsoring a chili dinner fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at New Life Christian Center, 900 W.

Centerton Blvd. All proceeds will benefit the Centerton Police Department. The dinner is $3. There will also be a silent auction, pie auction and raffle.

Ernst To Show ‘Arkansas Autumn’

Tim Ernst, Arkansas wildlife photographer, will present a free, family-friendly program at 2 p.m. Nov. 6 at Rogers Public Library. Multimedia images from his new book, “Arkansas Autumn,” will share the stage with photographs of Icelandic landscapes as he describes his travels.

Information: Lesley Knieriem at 621-1152, ext. 22.

Shrimp Dinner Aids Veterans

Proceeds from a jumbo shrimp dinner Friday will benefit veterans’ programs.

Hours are 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3031, 14160 N. Old Wire Road in Rogers. Plates are $5 each with tickets sold at the door to include eight jumbo shrimp, coleslaw, french fries and drinks available. Sponsored by the National Ghost Rider Association, the event features chefs Edward “Short Round” Gann and Garry “Cowboy” Busey. The country-western band Barb Wire will play from 8 p.m. to midnight at $5 per person.

Information: 636-7042.

Country Show Slated Saturday

The Plummer Family, formerly of Branson, Mo., will perform a traditional country music and comedy show Saturday benefiting the Lowell Volunteer Firefighters Inc. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Elza Tucker Elementary School auditorium in Lowell.

Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12. Advance tickets are on sale at the Lowell Fire Department. Adult tickets will be higher at the door.

Information: 770-0166 ext. 1 or 659-8976.

Benefit Auction Planned Saturday

A benefit auction is planned for Saturday at Calvary Free Will Baptist Church Life Center in Springdale with proceeds benefiting Kay and Jimmy Smith to help with medical expenses for cancer treatments in Dallas.

Drinks and snacks will be available. Live music will be provided. A handmade quilt made by Sara Owen and quilted by Mozell Barker is being raffled.

Those attended are encouraged to bring their favorite baked goods or other items for auctioning. Roy Dalton Phillips will be the auctioneer.

Information: Sara Owen at 756-3397 or Charlene Bowen at 751-1326.

Mother Nature Visits Park

Hobbs State Park - Conservation Area will present “The Living Forest” at the park’s visitor center from 1 to 4 p.m. today.

Join Mother Nature as she introduces her many forest friends (costumed humans).

Each animal’s story will make it easy for children to understand what they can do to make the animals’ lives better. Smokey the Bear will join in the fun, nonscary, holiday treat for the whole family. Strollers and wagons are welcome as families meander along a wide, paved, handicapped-accessible path. Anyone wanting to be like Mother Nature’s animal friends can come in costume.

Cost is $5 plus tax per person, or free for those younger than 3. Registration and pre-payment required.

Healthy refreshments included.

Information and registration: 789-5000.

Entries Are Invited For Poster Contest

The Benton County Conservation District is participating in the National Conservation Poster Contest open to all Benton County students in kindergarten through ninth grade.

Ribbons will be awarded to each participant with categories for Best of Show, first, second and third places.

Best of Show posters will be entered in the state competition.

Posters must be in the Conservation District office, 1401 N.E. McClain Road, Suite 5 in Bentonville, by Nov. 16.

Judges will determine winners in each category at the local level by Nov. 18.

Information: Gail Sparks at 273-2622, ext. 3.

Agency On Aging Assists Caregivers

The Area Agency on Aging will offer a resource event for caregivers on Tuesday at the Bentonville Public Library.

Jean Cosgrove, caregiver specialist, will be available to consult with family members on resources available in the Bentonville area. Grants are available to help with respite to give caregivers a break, as well as services like adult day care, case management, personal care and senior housing. The resource area will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the library.

Information: 442-5194 or 888-286-3611.

Conference Eyes Youth Issues

The Henkel Global Leadership Conference will be from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday at the Holiday Inn, 1500 S. 48th St. in Springdale.

Sponsored by Champions for Kids, the conference will focus on the power of collaboration among private and social sectors to address challenges facing children.

Panelists include Bill Simon, Walmart US president and CEO; David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst; Margaret McKenna, Walmart Foundation president; Billy Shore, executive director of Share Our Strength; Dr. John Agwunobi, Walmart senior vice president and president of health and wellness; and Dr. Ronald Ferguson, Harvard educator.

The conference is limited to 300 participants. The cost of $349 includes an all-day pass and luncheon. Register at championsforkids.org or 582-2008.

Trick-Or-Treaters Parade Square

The ninth annual Trick or Treat on the Square will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday on the Fayetteville downtown square. Local businesses will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters in this familyfriendly event. There will also be games, pictures, a costume contest, a pet costume contest and a pet parade. For more information, call Julie Pennington at the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau at 521-5776.

CAT TV Offers Spooktacular

Working in conjunction with the annual Trick or Treat on the Square and hosted at the Fayetteville Town Center, the second annual Spooktacular will feature a spooky assortment of games and contests. Activities will include bouncy houses, monstrous mini-golf, a haunted house, sinister face painting, a Mad Scientist’s Laboratory and costume contests for children ages 12 and younger. There will also be a costume contest for teens and adults.

The family-friendly event will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday. Cost is $4. Proceeds will support Community Access Television.

NWACC Faculty Presents Concert

The Department of Music at the NorthWest Arkansas Community College will present an evening’s program of music featuring its faculty. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Friday in the Wal-Mart Auditorium of the Shewmaker Workforce Center on campus.

Performers include Carolyn Ford, soprano; John Garst, tenor; Kerry Johnston, organ;

Gloria Febro Grilk, piano; and David Fountain, piano.

There is no admission charge for this concert.

Information: David Fountain 619-4311 or dfountai@nwacc.edu.

Legislative Conference Set

The Arkansas Kids Count Coalition and its member organizations will host a free pre-legislative conference from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 18 at The Jones Center, 922 E. Emma Ave. in Springdale.

Attendees will learn about legislation planned for the 2011 session that will impact Arkansas children; the state budget in tough economic times; and challenges for legislators in considering the education, health and economic well-being of Arkansas children.

Register at http://aacf.eventbrite.com.

Blood Center Sets Drives

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will have blood drives at thefollowing locations:

• Bentonville - 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Highland’s Oncology, 1202 S.E. Eagle Way; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Lowes, 1100 N.W. Lowes Ave.

• Decatur - 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, Decatur Medi Clinic, 346 N. Main St.

• Fayetteville - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Haas Hall Academy, 3155 N. College, Suite 8; and 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Malco Theater, 3956 N. Steele Blvd.

• Gentry - 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Arvest Bank, 320 E. Main St.

• Prairie Grove - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Prairie Grove High School, 500 N. Cole Drive.

• Siloam Springs - Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Arvest Bank, 1645 U.S. 412 W.

• Springdale - 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Springdale High School, 1103 W. Emma Ave.

Red Cross Holds Drives

The American Red Cross will have blood drives at the following locations:

• Farmington - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Farmington High School, 278 W. Main St.

• Tontitown - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tontitown Blood Donation Center, 250 Industrial Circle E.

Miss Winter To Be Chosen

The 2010 Miss Winter Wonderland Pageant will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 20 on the Bentonville square as part of the Winter Wonderland Festival in downtown Bentonville. The pageant is an open invitation and not restricted to Bentonville residents. The winners will ride in the Bentonville WinterWonderland Parade on Dec. 4 as the parade royalty.

Contestants should wear a “holiday” themed outfit (an off-the-rack dress or outfit). No pageant dresses.

Contestants should come ready for the pageant. There will not be a dressing room.

Age divisions include: 0-3 years - Tiny; 4-6 years - Little; 7-9 years - Junior;

10-12 years - Princess; 13-15 years - Teen; and 16-18 years - Miss.

The entry fee is $25.

Deadline for entry is Nov. 18.

All fees must be paid before competition begins.

The entry form may be downloaded at: heartoftheozarks.weebly.com.

Information: Gloria Schwab at 870-723-5255 or [email protected].ar.us.

Our Town, Pages 17 on 10/24/2010

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