calendar
TODAY
White County Iris Society Meeting SEARCY — The White County Iris Society will meet at 2 p.m. at the home of Paul Love, 605 E Race Ave. Allan Isom will talk about responsible gardening practices that benefit pollinators. All are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.
MONDAY
Community Music Gathering BATESVILLE — There will be a community music gathering from 6-8 p.m. at First Community Bank. Instrumentalists, singers and listeners are invited to attend.
TUESDAY
Legion Riders Meeting CABOT — The Legion Riders, a group for motorcycle riders who are veterans, will meet at 7 p.m. at Criswell Robinson American Legion Post 71, 114 N. First St. For more information, call (501) 203-5715. Independence County Republicans Meeting BATESVILLE — The Independence County Republicans will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Citizens Bank Annex, 285 E. College St. Tommy Land, a candidate for state land commissioner, will talk about his candidacy. Sweetheart Banquet SEARCY — The CALL in White County will host its annual Sweetheart Banquet at 6 p.m. at Robbins-Sanford Hall. The event’s theme will be “Stole My Heart.”The CALL invites everyone to attend, partake of a dessert bar and hors d’oeuvres, and participate in a silent auction and drawings for door prizes. The banquet is free, and no tickets are required. Proceeds will support foster families and foster children in White County. For more information about the banquet, call Jennifer Humberson at (501) 278-6654. For more information about The CALL, call Erica Sirratt at (501) 288-3197. French 2 With Penny FAIRFIELD BAY — French 2 With Penny will meet from 4-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27, at the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center, 130 Village Lane, Suite 5E. The cost is $40 for the four classes. Participants will learn common conversational French phrases. No prior class is needed. The class will review French 1 at the first meeting. RSVP for a place in the class. For more information, contact the Education Center at (501) 884-4440 or ffbcec@artelco.com.
WEDNESDAY
Sterling Scholar Speaker FAIRFIELD BAY — Catherine Barrier of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will be the Sterling Scholar speaker from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Indian Hills Club/Little Red Restaurant. Barrier will talk about the role of the state office in establishing the
Fairfield Bay Heritage Center Historic District. The event is free, and purchase of lunch is optional. For more information, contact the Education Center at (501) 884-4440 or ffbcec@artelco.com.
THURSDAY SATURDAY AND FEB. 1517
James and the Giant Peach SEARCY — Harding University’s theater department will present James and the Giant Peach
at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Feb. 15-17 in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center at Harding. The show is directed by Professor Robin Miller. Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book of the same name, the performance includes music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and book by Timothy Allen McDonald. Tickets can be purchased for $10 at
www.hardingtickets.com or at the door. For more information, call the box office at (501) 279-4255.
FRIDAY
AARP Drive Smart Course SEARCY — The PrimesTimes of Unity Health will host an AARP Drive Smart Course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Hubach Conference Center at Unity Health, 3214 E. Race Ave. The instructors are Jerry and Bertie Yates. Participants are asked to park behind the hospital off Moore Street, use the elevator to go to the first floor and bring a sweater or jacket because the room is usually cold. The cost of the course is $15 for AARP members with an AARP ID card and $20 for nonmembers. To register for the class, call Elizabeth Leaver at at (501) 278-3230. Ballroom Dance — New! BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville will offer Ballroom Dance — New!; a five-session Community Education class for
couples, from 6-7:30 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 9, 16 and 23; and March 9 and 16. The class fee is $70 per couple. Samy Rash, instructor, will teach the basic steps for salsa, bachata, country swing and fox trot. Dancers of any skill level are welcome. The class will meet on the Auditorium Stage in Independence Hall at UACCB. For more information or to register, call (870) 612-2082 or email communityed@uaccb.edu.
ONGOING
Painting With Jim FAIRFIELD BAY — Painting With Jim will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday at the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center, 130 Village Lane, Suite 5E. The cost is $40 per session, and all materials will be provided. Students will learn the value of color and composition with a new subject each week, starting and completing an acrylic painting in the two-hour class. For more information, contact the Education Center at (501) 884-4440 or ffbcec@artelco.com. Free Tax-Preparation Services JACKSONVILLE — Residents in the Three Rivers Edition coverage area can receive free taxpreparation assistance from the Central Arkansas Development Council. Help is available at the city of Jacksonville, 109 S. Second St., by appointment. Call (501) 982-0026. Assistance is also provided at the Esther D. Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St. in Jacksonville. Walk-ins are welcome from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 10 and 24; March 3, 10, 17 and 24; and April 7. For more information, call the CADC at (501) 315-1121. People who make under $54,000 may also self-prepare their taxes at myfreetaxes.com. Silver&Fit Program BATESVILLE — The Batesville Community Center and Aquatics Park is participating in the Silver&Fit program’s network of fitness facilities, which allows the center and
aquatics park to provide nocost membership access to Silver&Fit members. Silver&Fit eligibility is required, and a small annual fee may apply. The Silver&Fit program is an exercise and healthyaging program for Medicare members, providing unique, evidence-based fitness and health education activities. For more information, visit www.
ashcompanies.com or call (800) 848-3555. Cabot Lions Club Meetings CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club now meets at noon the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at Colton’s Steak House & Grill, 195 Northport Drive. Lions are “the knights for the blind and visually impaired,” providing service for those with sight ailments and hearing issues. Lions are also actively involved in service for hunger relief, youth outreach, the environment, pediatric cancer, diabetes awareness and disaster relief. All are invited to the meetings. Abstract ARt Exhibit BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council presents Abstract ARt, a group exhibition, through Feb. 24 at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. The exhibit features the work of six abstract artists in Arkansas working in contemporary modes of drawing, printing and painting: Dustyn Bork, Donnie Copeland, Sam King, Marc Mitchell, Jessica Mongeon and Steven Wise. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call the Arts Council at (870) 793-3382. Free GED Classes MELBOURNE — Free GED classes are available at several locations through Ozarka College. Classes meet at Ozarka College in Melbourne from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 3-6 p.m. Mondays; at Ozarka College in Mammoth Spring from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; at Ozarka College in Mountain View from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 4-7 p.m. Mondays; and at Salem High School from 4-7 p.m. Mondays. Registration is ongoing. For more information, call Ozarka College Adult Education at (870) 368-2051. Civitan Meetings CABOT — Civitan meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. Civitan is an organization that provides training and support for people with developmental disabilities.
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.
The deadline for calendar-item submissions is noon Tuesday.