City, charity seek Puerto Rico help
The city of Little Rock is partnering with the group Puerto Ricans en Arkansas today to collect supplies for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.
The collection drive will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at Little Rock Fire Station No. 23 at 4500 Rahling Road.
Items needed include mosquito repellent, citronella candles, mosquito netting, baby food and formula, baby and adult diapers, pet food, disposable gloves, first aid items, flashlights, batteries, nonperishable food items and hygiene products.
The Central Arkansas Library System is also helping with relief. Any fine or fee collected for overdue books this week will be donated to the One America Appeal charity.
The library system collected money for Hurricane Harvey relief in September. More than $4,900 was sent to the American Red Cross.
School will host 5 events in week
The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will host five events this week.
The first is today from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Terry Mansion in Little Rock. It is a drop-in reception honoring the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools. The committee met for the first time in September 1958 -- the year Little Rock high schools were closed after the 1957 desegregation of Central High School.
The committee's efforts are partly credited for the schools' reopening. The group disbanded in 1963. The names of 1,291 members, which were kept secret until 1998, are inscribed on glass panels in the Terry Mansion's conservatory.
On Monday, the documentary Syria's Disappeared: The Case Against Assad will be shown at 6 p.m. at Sturgis Hall, 1200 President Clinton Ave., and a discussion will follow.
On Wednesday, Marjorie Spruill will discuss her book Divided We Stand: The Battle Over Women's Rights and Family Values That Polarized American Politics at 6 p.m. at Sturgis Hall.
At noon Thursday, there will be a panel discussion about the Arkansas Repertory Theatre's play The School for Lies. At 6 p.m., Tererai Trent will discuss her book The Awakened Woman. Both Thursday events will be at Sturgis Hall.
Genealogy class offered for free
A beginner's genealogy class will be given at the Butler Center at 401 President Clinton Ave. on Monday at 3:30 p.m.
The free class is offered every second Monday of each month. It will be located in room 204 of the Arkansas Studies Institute.
Rhonda Stewart, a local history and genealogy expert, will teach participants how to use online databases and city directories to archive family documents, according to a news release.
Art night featuresexhibition, music
This month's Second Friday Art Night in Little Rock will feature a new exhibition and live music.
"Bret Aaker: Conatus" will open Friday at the Butler Center Galleries, 401 President Clinton Ave. The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. Matt Treadway will provide live music.
The exhibition of Aaker's assemblages -- which explore the idea of conatus, defined by early philosophers as the innate drive of an animate object to continue to exist and enhance itself -- will run through Jan. 27.
Three other exhibits also are on display at the galleries.
Fire safety event showcases trucks
Fire Safety Day will feature an antique fire truck, rides, food and Molly the Fire Safety Dog at the Clinton Presidential Center on Saturday.
The free event is meant to educate attendees about fire safety and prevention.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock will provide free health screenings for adults at the event.
Libraries will get revamped website
The Central Arkansas Library System will roll out a new website in February.
Few -- a Little Rock design and development firm -- will redesign the site and the library system's visual brand.
Library patrons will be able to reserve meeting space online. Library card holders will have access to free eBooks, movies and digital music.
"People increasingly seek information online," library system Executive Director Nate Coulter said. "This means that for many, the website is the 'front door' for [the library system]. We want a friendlier welcome mat there, one with more helpful prompts to get visitors to what they need as quickly as possible."
Metro on 10/08/2017