Dairy Hollow
hosts lunch
The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow will host an online Fourth Friday Lunch and Learn writing workshop "Your Stories Matter," instructed by Leslie-Ann Murray, at noon April 23 via Zoom.
Murray is a writer and teacher living in New York City. She teaches English at Montclair Kimberley Academy, an independent school in New Jersey, and is the founder of Brown Girl Book Lover, an inclusive book-loving space, where writers and book livers converge. Murray received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Rutgers University.
This short workshop will focus on setting, scene, plot structure, and narrative voice. The class will begin by reading short excerpts of published letters. Participants will then learn how to apply techniques of storytelling to nonfiction letter writing and practice those techniques using guided writing prompts. The goal of this workshop is to inspire writers to use their talent to effectively and impactfully share their stories.
The cost of the workshop is $25, and the proceeds will benefit the WCDH scholarship fund.
Class size is limited to 10 participants.
Information: (479) 253-7444 or writerscolony.org.
Bill McCloud
April guest
Gotahold Brewing, 408 W. Van Buren in Eureka Springs, has chosen the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow as their #TipsforTransformation recipient during the month of April, National Poetry Month. Poetry Happy Hours will be held at 5:30 p.m. every Thursday in April in the beer garden at Gotahold. The events will benefit the WCDH scholarship fund and celebrate the beauty and art of poetry. Bill McCloud will read a selection of his poetry at 5:30 p.m. April 8.
McCloud teaches history at Rogers State University in Oklahoma.
Information: (479) 253-7444 or writerscolony.org.
OLLI sets
new classes
The Osher Lifelong Institute at the University of Arkansas announces the following classes for the upcoming week:
• March 29: "Brewing Beer" -- The owner and operator of Boston Mountain Brewery in Fayetteville has agreed to host a session where he will take the class through how beer is made. He will cover all the ingredients that are required for a specific beer, and he will go through the time line that is required in great beer brewing. Also to be covered is where and how the ingredients for beer brewing are secured. The class will include one beer of your choice following the session. In addition, for those who wish to stay, a limited menu and beer for purchase will be available. $35 members, $50 nonmembers.
• March 30: "The Long Arm of Covid-19: How the Pandemic Disrupted Generations," (online only) $19 members, $34 nonmembers.
• March 30: "OLLI for Coffee," (Zoom). Free and open to all, please contact office for Zoom details.
• April 1: "Ozark Wildflower Hike," (in person). $39 members, $54 nonmembers.
• April 2: "Early Christian Churches and Towns East of the Jordan River," (online & in person). $35 members, $50 nonmembers.
Information: (479) 575-3541 or olli.uark.edu.
Peel Mansion
assesses self
The Peel Mansion Museum has been selected to participate in the Museum Assessment Program, which is administered by the American Alliance of Museums. Through guided self-study assessment and on-site consultation with a museum professional, participation in MAP will empower The Peel Mansion Museum to better serve the citizens of Northwest Arkansas by facilitating its meeting and exceeding the highest professional standards of the museum field.
The museum's participation is made possible through funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. MAP helps museums strengthen operations, plan for the future, and meet standards through self-study assessment and a consultative site visit from an expert peer reviewer.
The Peel Mansion Museum and Heritage Gardens has chosen to do a MAP Organizational assessment as part of the strategic planning process leading up to the historic mansion's 150th anniversary in 2025.
The Peel Compton Foundation established in 1991, includes the historical Peel Mansion and Heritage Gardens, Compton Gardens and Arboretum, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve and Osage Park. The Foundation connects the community through nature, education, recreation, and preservation.
Information: peelcompton.org.
Circle of Life
receives gift
Circle of Life announced a $3 million gift from the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation in loving memory of Willard and Pat Walker. The $3 million gift will provide $1 million towards completing the capital campaign and $2 million towards the Charity Care Endowment campaign.
The capital campaign, Partners...In Expanding the Circle, raised more than $15 million towards a building maintenance endowment, patient wing expansion at the Earlene Howard Hospice Home in Springdale, and the new construction of the Bentonville hospice home. The Walker family chose to name the hospice home in honor of longtime friends Marie and John Carr. "As a nurse, Marie would be so proud to have their names affiliated with such a caring organization," said Johnny Mike Walker, chairman of the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation. Nearly 2,000 families and friends contributed to the $15 million campaign, a testament to the generosity of our Northwest Arkansas community.
The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation also lent their support to the Charity Care Endowment with their gift. "We want to ensure everyone in Northwest Arkansas has access to hospice care regardless of their financial situation," said Mandy Macke, executive director and vice-chairman of the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.
To date, the Circle of Life Foundation has raised $2.4 million, almost 50 percent of their $5 million Charity Care Endowment goal. Other lead donors include Arvest Foundation, Jerry and Cherie Moye, and David and Sue Van Bebber.
Information: nwacircleoflife.com.
