Feb. 14
Just Desserts Fundraiser
MORRILTON — The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Foundation will hold its 11th annual Just Desserts fundraiser from 5:30-8 p.m. at the UACCM Plaza. The event will feature a variety of desserts, savory snacks and musical entertainment, as well as silent and chance auctions. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www.uaccm.edu, from a foundation board member or at the door. For more information or to make a contribution to the event, call Morgan Zimmerman at (501) 977-2085.
Lenten Luncheons
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Unit of Church Women United will host a series of Lenten luncheons for the community at noon Thursdays, beginning today, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2310 Oak St., with Ebenezer United Methodist and St. James Christian Methodist Episcopal co-hosting. Pastors and others will lead a devotional with Scripture, prayer and music. Soup, cornbread, a drink and dessert will be served for a suggested donation of $4. Broken-china jewelry will be sold to benefit the Women’s Shelter of Conway. For more information, contact Church Women United President Linda Fullerton at (501) 514-5022 or jlfullerton@conwaycorp.net.
Feb. 15
Giving Tree Grants Deadline
CONWAY — Friday is the deadline for nonprofit organizations in Faulkner County to submit applications for Giving Tree Grants through ARCF/Faulkner County, a local affiliate office of the Arkansas Community Foundation. Visit arcf.org to download an application. Any IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, public school, government agency or hospital in Faulkner County is eligible to apply. Other applicants may be considered if the project has a clear charitable purpose for public benefit. Grants are not made to individuals. Applications will be reviewed by a grant-making committee from ARCF/Faulkner County. Grants generally range from $750 to $3,000.
Feb. 16
UCA PinkZone Fundraiser
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas will hold its PinkZone games Saturday to benefit cancer programs at Conway Regional Health System. The event will offer a double header with the UCA Sugar Bears and the UCA Bears taking on Sam Houston State. The women’s game will tip off at 2 p.m., followed by the men’s game. PinkZone will include a cancer health fair from 1:30-4:30 p.m. sponsored by Conway Regional. Both games and the cancer health fair will take place in the Farris Center at UCA.
Latin Music Program
CONWAY — The Conway Symphony Orchestra will present A Taste of Latin America at 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. Featuring music of Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico, the concert will feature guest artists Mariachi America, the Reflejos Mexicanos Folkloric Dancers and Rick Dimond on accordion. Tickets are $6 for children and students, and $20 to $38 for adults, with a discount rate of $15 for groups of 10 or more. Purchase tickets at the Reynolds box office, call (501) 450-5506 or toll-free 866-810-0012, or visit ConwaySymphony.org. For more information on concerts and other programs, visit ConwaySymphony.org or call (501) 269-1066.
The McKameys in Concert
SATILLO — The McKameys will be in concert at Oak Bowery Baptist Church at 7 p.m. The church is six miles east of Conway on Otto Road. There will be no admission charge, but a love offering will be taken. For more information, call Loyd Kelley at (501) 514-5670 or (501) 796-2662; or Matt Corkran at (501) 336-9133.
Feb. 17
Rigoletto Live From the Met
CONWAY — A new production by Verdi’s Rigoletto will be broadcast to conclude the 2012-13 season of Captured Live From the Met @ UCA at 2 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. About 200 seats are available. General-admission tickets are $15 for the public and $5 for students with a valid ID. To order, call UCA Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.uca.edu/reynolds. For more information, call the Office of the Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication, at (501) 450-3293, email jdmiller@uca.edu, or visit www.uca.edu/cfac or www.metopera.org.
Feb. 18
AARP Meeting
CONWAY — Conway AARP 796 will meet from 11 a.m. to noon at the Conway Senior Center, 1620 Donaghey Ave. The speaker will be Debbie Wheeler with the Hospice Home Care in Conway. This will be a meeting only (no lunch) because of Presidents Day. Annual dues will be collected at the meeting. All are welcome.
Feb. 19
Business Seminar
RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present a First Steps to Government Contracting seminar from 1-5 p.m. Arkansas Tech University. Participants will learn about government-contract types, as well as state and federal procurement processes to find out how businesses can register to sell to the government. A variety of websites and sources of information will be provided. The course will benefit companies that have no experience in government contracting or are relatively new to the process. The cost is $40, and seating is limited. To register, call (479) 356-2067.
Retired Teachers Meeting
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Retired Teachers Association will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the Activity Center of First Baptist Church. The program will be presented by Joan Hanna, director of the Faulkner Academy of Arts and the Conway Women’s Chorus. Anyone who has retired from any position in education is invited to attend.
Feb. 20
David Coleman Presentation
CONWAY — Hendrix College will present David Coleman, known as the dating doctor and America’s real-life Hitch, at 7 p.m. in Reeves Recital Hall in the Trieschmann Building. Coleman travels the nation and tackles the issues of dating, romance and relationships in a humorous and candid manner. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (501) 450-1263 or email clark@hendrix.edu.
Ongoing
First Baptist Church Maumelle
MAUMELLE — Pastor Tony Auxier invites the community to Bible classes for all ages at 9 a.m. Sundays at First Baptist Church Maumelle, at the corner of Millwood Circle and Maumelle Boulevard. Worship services follow at 10:15 a.m. in the main sanctuary. AWANA clubs will not meet this Sunday, but will resume at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Evening worship services are held at 5 Sunday in the main sanctuary. Women are invited to Bible studies that meet Tuesday mornings and evenings. Wednesday fellowship, contemporary worship and youth activities are held in the Activities building beginning at 5 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (501) 851-3547 or visit www.fbcmaumelle.org.
Art Exhibit
LITTLE ROCK — Beauty in the Natural State, a collection of oil paintings by Jeannie Stone of Russellville, will be featured through March 2 at the Community Bakery in Little Rock, a few blocks from the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion and part of the historic downtown district. Stone plans to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Arkansas Tech University. For more information, visit www.communitybakery.com or email dj@djstoneart.com.
Spring Art Exhibitions
CONWAY — The Baum Gallery of Fine Art at the University of Central Arkansas will present four exhibitions to be on display through Feb. 24: Swishbone: New Paintings by Julie Evans; Under the Influence: New Ceramic Work by Curt LaCross; Alternating Currents: A Mixed Media Art Installation by Mario Marzan; and Before and After: An Exploration of the Art Conservation Process. The gallery’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Entry to the exhibitions is free.
Upcoming
Seminar on Starting a Business
CLARKSVILLE — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present Starting a Business in Arkansas from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce. This seminar prepares participants for the intensive business planning process by offering major steps crucial to starting a business; identifying key issues that affect a business’s success and discussing start-up requirements. The workshop includes a how-to New Business Guide and handouts relevant to county licensing requirements. The cost is $30. Clarksville Chamber members will receive a $10 discount, and veterans may attend free. To register, call (479) 356-2067.
Genealogical Society Meeting
MORRILTON — The River Valley Genealogical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Conway County Library. The group meets the third Thursday of every other month.
History Lecture
CONWAY — The Hendrix College Department of History will host “Past Obsessions: World War II in History and Memory,” a lecture and discussion by Dr. Carol Gluck, at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Worsham Student Performance Hall-South in the Student Life and Technology Center.
Book Signing
CONWAY — Regional author Nancy Powell will sign copies of her new book, Dark Secrets, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Faulkner County Library; and on March 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Damascus Library and from 2-4 p.m. at the Greenbrier Library. The book is the first in a series of historical novels based on the life of Ollie McNew. The free event is open to the public. She will give a $3 discount on books purchased by students or members of a writing group. For more information, call (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Public Art Lecture
CONWAY — Julie Evans will present a public lecture about her exhibit, Swishbone: New Paintings, at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in McCastlain Hall, Room 143, at the University of Central Arkansas. Her paintings, which are on display in the Baum Gallery, are characterized by organic forms that swish and swirl with color and texture. For more information, call (501) 450-5793.
Volunteer Management and Funding Workshops
HEBER SPRINGS — The Division of Community Service and Heber Springs Parks and Recreation will present two workshops Feb. 28. From 9 a.m. to noon, the session will offer an overview of searching for funding opportunities and how to fund a grant for nonprofits. The second workshop, from 1-4 p.m., will be an interactive session on the keys to a successful volunteer program, including volunteer management, techniques, tips and tools. The free workshops will be at the Heber Spring Community Center, 201 Bobbie Jean Lane in Heber Springs. For more information or to register, contact Beth Jacks at (501) 320-3981 or bethjacks@arkansas.gov. Preregistration is required because of limited seating.
Charity Ball
RUSSELLVILLE — The 48th annual Junior Auxiliary of Russellville Charity Ball will be held March 2 at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club of the Arkansas River Valley, 600 E. 16th St. The black-tie-optional event will start at 6 p.m., and activities will include hors d’oeuvres, Southern cuisine by Opal Mae’s Café, a live auction and dancing. Mr. Lucky will provide musical entertainment. Tickets, at $70 per person or $130 per couple, may be purchased by calling (601) 467-1735 or (479) 890-1381.
Chase Race and Paws
CONWAY — The eighth annual Chase Race and Paws will begin at 8 a.m. March 9, starting and finishing at Simon Park, 805 Front St. The two-mile state championship race awards a $100 cash prize to any male or female who breaks the present course record. A complimentary 2014 entry form will be awarded to anyone who breaks an age-group record. Each registrant will receive a T-shirt. The event will include a one-mile fun or competitive event for runners/walkers with leashed pets, a best costume contest for all pets and pet adoptions. The event promotes and raises funds for nonadopted pets and research for adolescents with traumatic brain injury. All proceeds will benefit Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter and Arkansas Children’s Hospital for brain-trauma research. Online race registration is open at www.chaserace.info/. Entry forms are also available at The Sporty Runner, 1016 Van Ronkle St. in Conway, and at Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center, 700 Salem Road.
Festival of Winds
CONWAY — Hendrix College will host the Festival of Winds Honor Band for high school students on May 4. Approximately 90 students from Arkansas and surrounding states will gather for a day of rehearsals and present a concert at 7:30 that evening in Staples Auditorium on the Hendrix campus. Sharing the concert with the honor band will be the Little Rock Wind Symphony, conducted by Karen Fannin, associate professor of music at Hendrix. The concert is free and open to the public. The Festival of Winds Honor Band is open to students in grades 9-12. To participate, students need to be nominated by their band director or private teacher by Feb. 22. Nomination forms can be found at www.hendrix.edu/festivalofwinds.
To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.