Local notes

Blood center seeks donors

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks strives for area blood reserves to be at around a three-day supply for all blood types. At this time, the blood center has less than optimum reserves for all negative blood types. The public is urged to help by donating at a CBCO blood drive or donor center.

Upcoming drives include:

Fayetteville: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 20, City of Fayetteville, 15 W. Mountain St.

Information: (800) 280-5337 or cbco.org.

Opioids to be topic

A summit to discuss opioid abuse in the Fort Smith community will be held from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. June 20 at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith.

The event, hosted by the Sebastian County Opioid Task Force, will be held at the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center at UAFS, located at 800 N. 49th St. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

The event will discuss prevention and education on opioid misuse and addiction and will include breakout sessions on topics including healthcare, education, prevention and social services. Featured speakers include Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas attorney general; Kirk Lane, Arkansas drug director; and Paul Smith with the local Drug Task Force.

A question-and-answer panel will also take place with State Rep. Justin Boyd, Jimmie Wooding from Harbor House and area physicians, as well as representatives from local law enforcement agencies and emergency management services.

Information: (479) 314-5061, mercy.net/summit or email [email protected].

Naturalist talks 'glades'

At its most simple definition, "glade" means an open space in a forest. In the Ozarks, it is just a little more complicated. The mountains -- vastly older than magnificent Rocky Mountain peaks or craggy Appalachian ledges -- were worn down by erosion endless ages past.

When traveling into the Ozarks from the north, you do not drive up into the mountains, but rather slowly down into an increasingly hilly, eroded, landscape. As this erosion took place, some hillsides were washed clear of most any soil, especially on south and westward facing slopes. Ozark glades formed. These slopes absorb hot afternoon sunlight, and now only certain animals and plants can live here.

Wildflower specialist and Master Naturalist Joan Reynolds will address the unique plant and animal communities that are specific to our Ozark glades in her free presentation at 2 p.m. June 23 at Hobbs State Park visitor center near Rogers.

Reynolds will also explain what has taken place at the large glade restoration at Hobbs State Park. Many Master Naturalists and members of the Friends of Hobbs worked together with park staff to remove hundreds of eastern red cedar trees to allow plants and animals native to Ozark glades to once again flourish.

Information: 479-789-5000.

ESSA sets classes

The Eureka Springs School of the Arts has announced family weekend activities at the studios at 15751 U.S. 62 West in Eureka Springs:

Make a Box Guitar: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 30-July 1, with Doug Stowe. $150 per parent/child.

Crafting in Clay and Jewelry: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 7, with Carrie Siegfried-Haase and Donna Doss. $50 per parent/child.

Information: (479) 253-5384.

Artists sought

The Arkansas Arts Council is accepting applications from artists who would like to join the Arts in Education Artist Roster. Performing, literary or visual artists who are interested in working with teachers and students in schools or after-school/summer programs are encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply is July 6.

The Arts in Education Artist Roster is an online list of artists who are available for participation in the Arts in Education residency program. The AIE program places professional artists in Arkansas schools and nonprofit community organizations to work directly with teachers and students to demonstrate their art forms.

Information: (501) 324-9769, arkansasarts.org or email [email protected].

Send news about local events, charity fundraisers and family or class reunions to [email protected]. Deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday for Sunday publication. Please include a phone number or email address for publication.

NAN Profiles on 06/17/2018

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