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COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE THREE RIVERS AREA

TODAY

Holiday Closing BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library will continue to be closed today for the Thanksgiving holiday. The library will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday.

MONDAY

Jacksonville Citizens Police Alumni meeting JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association will meet at 5:45 p.m. at the Jacksonville Police Department, 1400 Marshall Road. For more information, contact Eleanor Loyd at (501) 412-4115 or mselliel@centurytel.net.

Music and Magic of Christmas Parade BATESVILLE — The Kiwanis Club of Batesville will present the Music and Magic of Christmas Parade at 7 p.m. downtown. Parade entries will line up at 5 p.m. at Town Plaza Shopping Center on Main Street across from Centennial Bank.

WEDNESDAY

American Pen Women Christmas Party, Meeting CHEROKEE VILLAGE — The National League of American Pen Women Spring River Branch will have its Christmas party and a short meeting at 10 a.m. at Cherokee Village Lutheran Church, at the corner of Cherokee Road and Okmulgee Drive. The women in the group who can sing, dance or play a musical instrument will provide entertainment for the party. New members are welcome. The Pen Women meet the first Wednesday of each month. For more information, call Pat Dunlap at (870) 966-4714 or Pat Oplinger at (870) 257-5558.

FRIDAY

A Christmas Story Opening-Night Reception SEARCY — Center on the Square will hold an opening-night reception at 6:30 pm. with the cast and crew of A Christmas Story, by Phillip Grecian. The cost is just $5 above the ticket price. Appetizers and drinks will be served. Purchase tickets online at www.centeronthesquare.org. To reserve a place at the reception, call Connie at (501) 368-0111 by Monday. Show dates are Friday through Dec. 6, Dec. 11-13 and Dec. 18-20.

SATURDAY

Christmas Activities HORSESHOE BEND — The Horseshoe Bend Chamber of Commerce will hold a parade, with the theme “Christmas Through the Ages,” at 10 a.m., starting at the United Methodist Church. The parade route will circle the downtown area. To enter the parade, contact Pat Arnold at (870) 670-5433 or horseshoebendarcc@yahoo.com. Faith Presbyterian Church, 1001 Third St., invites the public to the church’s annual Christmas Cantata at 2 p.m. The Festival of Trees at Cedar Glade Lodge will open Saturday and continue through December.

Madrigal Feaste BEEBE—The Arkansas State University-Beebe Music Department will celebrate the holiday season with a Yuletide Madrigal Feaste at 7 p.m. at the University Cafe in the Student Center on the Beebe campus. Tickets are $20 per person and must be purchased in advance. To reserve tickets, call the music department at (501) 882-4435. For more information, visit www. asub.edu.

Grief & Loss Support Group JACKSONVILLE — Because of the seasonal holidays, the Caring Hearts Grief & Loss Support Group will meet from 10-11 a.m. at the Christian Church of Jacksonville, 200 E. Martin. The group will resume its normal meeting time — the third Saturday of each month — in January. Those who cannot attend group meetings can schedule individual sessions. For more information, call Steve Summers at (870) 710-1508.

Christmas Portraits With Pets Fundraiser BATESVILLE — The Humane Society of Independence County’s 20th annual Christmas Portraits With Pets fundraiser will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the old Revenue Office in the Town Plaza Shopping Center. Matthew’s Photography will take the holiday portraits. Participants are asked to make an appointment by calling (870) 613-3045 or (870) 698-1265. There is no sitting fee, just a charge for photo packages, starting at around $35. Photos may contain pets, kids, families or any combination, and Christmas cards are available.

ONGOING

Searcy Angel Tree Adoptions SEARCY — The Junior Auxiliary of Searcy Angel Tree project will have Angels available for adoption through Dec. 11 at Hay’s and Harps. During this time, Junior Auxiliary members will be at Hay’s from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays, and at Harps from noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Names for the Angel Tree project will also be available to pick up at area banks.

White River Wonderland BATESVILLE — Batesville’s White River Wonderland will begin Saturday. The ice-skating rink at Riverside Park will be open Saturday through Jan. 3. The Kiwanis Music and Magic of Christmas Parade and the annual lighting ceremony will be held Monday. For more information about White River Wonderland, call the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce at (870) 793-2378 or the city of Batesville Parks and Recreation office at (870) 698-2427.

Toys for Tots Registration CONWAY — The Marines of the Conway Dale W. Langford Detachment are taking applications for the 2015 Toys for Tots program for residents of Faulkner, Conway and White counties. To register, go to www.toysfortots.org, click on “Request Toys,” select the correct county, fill out the toy form, and submit it online. Instructions on picking up the toys will be provided by the local Marines after they receive the request. Toys will be given out from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 14 at 740 Salem Road in the Saddletop Center. For more information, contact Frank A. Lambert at (501) 428-1606.

Adopt a Senior Christmas Program SEARCY — The White County Aging Program’s annual Adopt a Senior Christmas Program will be held through Dec. 9. To adopt a senior citizen in White County for Christmas, call (501) 268-2587 or come by the Lightle Senior Center, 2200 E. Moore Ave.

Ozarka College Spring Registration MELBOURNE — Ozarka College has opened spring registration for new and current students. Spring-semester classes will start Jan. 11. Tuition rates start at $88 per credit hour, and many scholarship and financial-aid options are available. For more information regarding admission, financial aid or registration, visit Ozarka College in Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mammoth Spring or Mountain View, or contact Ozarka College at (800) 8214335 or www.ozarka.edu.

Food for Fines Month WHITE COUNTY — November is Food for Fines month for the White County Regional Library System, which includes the Goff, Bradford, Baldwin Memorial, Lyda Miller, Pangburn, Rose Bud and Searcy libraries. Library patrons are required to return all overdue items to the circulation desk, along with one or more nonperishable food items, for all accrued fines on the account to be forgiven. Lost or damaged items must be paid for and are not included in this fine amnesty. Charitable organizations will receive the food. For more information, visit a White County library branch or call (501) 268-2449.

GED/Adult Education Classes FLORAL — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Adult Education Department offers reading, math, writing and computer-literacy classes from 3-5 p.m. Mondays in the computer lab at Midland Elementary School in Floral. Enrollment is ongoing. Students must be at least 18 years old and not enrolled in school. For more information, contact Nancy Whitmire at (870) 612-2085 or nancy.whitmire@uaccb.edu, or Judy Pearson at (501) 345-2413.

Second Time Around Bookstore SEARCY — The Literacy Council of White County operates the Second Time Around Bookstore at 811 S. Main St., Suite D.

Proceeds from the sale of donated books support the mission of helping adults in the community improve their literacy and English-language skills. The store and literacy office are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. To train as a tutor, to become a bookstore volunteer or for more information, call (501) 278-5500.

Yoga in the Gallery BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council offers Yoga in the Gallery classes at 8:45 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. The hour-long sessions are taught by RYT200-certified yoga instructor Marnie Davis. Beginners are welcome, and no preregistration is required. The cost is $10 per session or 10 sessions for $70. For more information, call (870) 793-3382.

Pancake Breakfast McRAE — A pancake breakfast is held from 7-9 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at McRae Masonic Lodge F. & A.M. No. 687. Donations are accepted.

WISE Coalition Meeting SEARCY — The WISE (White County Invested in Substance Abuse Eradication) Coalition meets from noon to 1 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month in the Community Room of the First Community Bank University Branch, 800 E. Beebe Capps Expressway. All are invited to attend and get involved in activities to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in White County youth. For more information, visit wisecoalition@gmail.com or call (501) 388-6555.

Cabot Civitan Meetings CABOT — Cabot Civitan Meetings are held at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. For more information, call Tom Nolting at (501) 606-3731.

Friends of the Library Book Shop HEBER SPRINGS — The Friends of the Library Book Shop, 2255 Arkansas 25B N., is open from 3:30-7 p.m. Mondays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shop offers a large selection of books at bargain prices. All proceeds from the shop benefit the libraries in Cleburne County.

UPCOMING

Musical Gathering BATESVILLE — Singers, instrumentalists and listeners are invited to a musical gathering to perform Christmas songs at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at First Community Bank in Batesville. For more information, call Ed at (870) 307-0258.

AARP Driver Safety Class CHEROKEE VILLAGE — An AARP Driver Safety Class will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at Cherokee Village United Methodist Church, at the corner of Keno and Otter drives. The class is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. To register, call (870) 257-5803.

Retired Teachers Meeting CABOT — The Lonoke County Retired Teachers Association will hold its winter meeting Dec. 7. A luncheon will begin at noon at Papa’s Place; then the group will move to Spring Creek Nursing Home at 2 p.m. for caroling. Attendees are asked to bring Christmas cards and canned goods.

To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Three Rivers Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; send faxes to (501) 378-3500; or email trnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.