Our Town

North Little Rock notebook

Christmas display at park to go dark

Holiday Lights, a drive-thru display during December in Burns Park, is being discontinued after 12 years because of the expense, namely the man-hours required to set up and remove the lights and maintain them, Parks and Recreation Director Bob Rhoads told the City Council last week.

In a letter to Mayor Joe Smith, Rhoads said the cost is about $30,000 each year for 10 staff members working daily for about four weeks to set up and take down the display. Workers also are needed to turn lights on each night and to monitor the displays.

About $6,000-$8,000 is carried over each year from display sponsorships and the fee charged for visitors to drive through the display, Rhoads said. The money is reinvested into new lights, repairs and new displays for the next year.

The Holiday Lights program began in 2003 as a project by the Fraternal Order of Police to raise funds, and with start-up money from the city. The group discontinued its sponsorship after the first year, said a summary of the program provided to the City Council. The parks department continued the projected for the next 11 years.

The lights may be used with other holiday displays downtown in conjunction with the annual Christmas parade and at other sites during December, Smith said.

Broadway Bridge exhibit set to open

"Give Our Regards to Broadway," an exhibit by the city's History Commission about the life of the Broadway Bridge between North Little Rock and Little Rock, will open to the public June 19.

An invitation-only reception will kick off the exhibit June 18 at the newly renamed North Little Rock Heritage Center, formerly the History Commission building, 506 Main St. Photographer Greg Davis will be featured as guest artist, in conjunction with the monthly Argenta Art Walk.

The exhibit is free and will remain at the Heritage Center until late August.

The Broadway Bridge is to be torn down and replaced next year.

Church to hold fair to aid 'underserved'

Antioch St. Stephens Baptist Church at 6000 Lynch Drive will host a community fair Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m., according to a church news release.

The fair is free and open to the public.

The event is designed to "meet the needs of the underserved people" of the city, and specifically those from the Rose City area, according to the news release. There is to be information on health care, activities for children, live music and giveaways of food and clothing.

The fair also will observe the merging of Antioch Full Gospel Baptist Church of College Station and St. Stephens Baptist Church. The first worship service will be June 7 at 9 a.m. at Antioch St. Stephens.

Metro on 05/31/2015

Upcoming Events