Arkansas author, photographer and trail developer Ken Smith will be the featured speaker at the Celebrate the Buffalo benefit planned for Oct. 23 at the Fayetteville Town Center. Smith's books include The Buffalo River Country, Illinois River; Sawmill: The Story of Cutting the Last Great Virgin Forest East of the Rockies; and The Buffalo River Handbook.
The event is coordinated by the Buffalo River Coalition, which consists of four member groups -- the Arkansas Canoe Club, Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, the Ozark Society and the National Parks Conservation Association.
Celebrate the Buffalo
What: Speaker Ken Smith, dinner, auction, live music, local wine, beer and cider
When: 5 p.m., lobby reception; 7 p.m., dinner and program, Oct. 23
Where: Fayetteville Town Center
Tickets: $5 for lobby reception or $100 for dinner and program
Information: celebratethebuffalo…
Teresa Turks, National Parks Conservation Association fellow, said the evening is designed to promote the river and the national treasure, as one of the few remaining undammed, free-flowing streams.
She said the fundraiser also provides an opportunity to laud Smith as "one of the unsung heroes in the preservation of an undammed river that has really gone unrecognized over the years."
The celebration will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Fayetteville Town Center, featuring a book signing with Smith, local beer and live music by Jazzper. The dinner and program will start at 6 p.m. in the center's ballroom and features a three-course meal from Jerrmy Gawthrope of Greenhouse Grille and live music by Bill Dollar and Loose Change.
-- CARIN SCHOPPMEYER
NAN Our Town on 10/01/2015