This week’s EVENTS

Editor’s note: Many events have been canceled or postponed due to concern about the coronavirus.

THURSDAY Retirement Reception

SEARCY — All are invited to a dropin retirement reception for Diane Barrett, superintendent of the Searcy School District, from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Southwest Middle School Cafeteria, 1000 W. BeebeCapps Expressway. Barrett will be honored for her 45 years of service to the district’s students.

National Day of Prayer Service

BATESVILLE — The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, and the local observance this year will be at noon at Maxfield Park downtown. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Landers Theater. Everyone is welcome to attend.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY Harding University Spring Commencement

SEARCY — Harding University’s spring commencement ceremonies will take place Friday and Saturday to celebrate the accomplishments of more than 800 students. Ceremonies will be at 4 p.m. Friday; and at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, in Harding’s George S. Benson Auditorium. University President David Burks will confer the earned degrees at the ceremony. Doors will open approximately one hour prior to each ceremony for guest seating. All COVID-19 guidelines for social distancing and safety will be followed. For more information, visit harding.edu/graduation.

ONGOING Community Outreach Online Classes

Baptist Health Community Outreach will offer free online health and wellness classes in May. Access the following courses through Google Meet: Addressing Complications in Breastfeeding at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday; Mother’s Day Brunch Demonstration at 10:30 a.m. Friday; Women’s Health Month Nutrition Presentation at 10 a.m. May 17; Cooking With Community Outreach at 5:30 p.m. May 20; Safety Baby Shower at 5:30 p.m. May 27; and a Diabetes Support Group at 5:30 p.m. May 27. For a complete schedule, visit baptist-health.com/community-outreach.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

BATESVILLE — Shop for unique Mother’s Day gifts at the Batesville Area Arts Council, which is offering a large variety of locally handmade items, as well as two spring-themed craft kits perfect for gifting. The craft kits include step-by-step instructions and all materials needed to create projects such as a fabric wreath or potted felt succulents. The kits are available, while supplies last, for $20 each. For more information, call (870) 793-3382, or stop by the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St.

Main Street Batesville Farmers Market

BATESVILLE — The Main Street Batesville Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month through October in the Citizens Bank Pocket Park. Upcoming dates are May 15 and 29. Each market will offer musical entertainment, and vendors include Brood Farm, Ozark Kitchen, Macra-made in Arkansas, Stewart Produce, PJ’s, Independence Ark Farm, Secret Gardens Flower Farm, Hudson and Franks, Found Elsewhere, Hudson Hollow Woodworking and the Humane Society of Independence County.

BAAC National Juried Exhibition

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery on Main,

226 E Main St., is hosting the 2021 BAAC National Juried Exhibition through June 5. The show includes 26 pieces from 21 artists across the United States. The juror for the exhibition is Landon Perkins, an interdisciplinary artist from Tallahassee, Florida, and a preparator at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.

View the artwork online at batesvilleareaartscouncil.org, or stop in during regular gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (870) 793-3382.

Tribute Giving

BATESVILLE — The White River Health System Foundation’s annual Mother’s Day Tribute Giving program provides a way to honor or remember a special person in one’s life on Mother’s Day. Tribute gifts will support the health system’s 3-D-mammography campaign. The foundation acknowledges each tribute gift with a card sent to the honoree or their family. The names of those being honored or remembered are also acknowledged through special advertising, social media and the WRHS website. To make a tribute gift, visit secure.qgiv. com/for/p8o2et or call Abby at (870) 262-1834.

Yoga at the Park

BATESVILLE — Yoga-7 will host a yoga class for kids ages 2 and older at 9:30 a.m. on June 19, July 17 and Aug. 14 at Maxfield Park. This community event is free, but donations will be accepted. Each class lasts 30 to 40 minutes. Parents must stay during the class and are welcome to participate.

Community Award Nominations

BATESVILLE — Rotary Club 2507 of Batesville is taking nominations for the following five Community Awards: the Making a Difference Service Award; the Doctor/Nurse/ Care Worker of the Year Award; the Outstanding Community Service Award; Educator of the Year; and Role Model of the Year. Email nominations to BatesvilleArRotaryClub@ gmail.com by June 1.

Walk With a Doc

BATESVILLE — Everyone is invited to take a step toward better health by participating in a free 60-minute Walk With a Doc at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of every month. Meet in the Batesville Rec Center parking lot, across from the lake. Just 30 minutes of walking per day can help a person sleep better, increase productivity and feel happier within just 10 minutes. For more information, visit www. walkwithadoc.org/why-walk.

Veterans Food Pantry

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — The Veterans Villages Helping Hand

Program Food Pantry,

8325 MacArthur Drive, serves all veterans, as well as activeduty, Guard and Reserve service members and their families, in Pulaski and White counties. The food pantry will be open from 8 a.m. to noon every other Wednesday, including May 5. The program also helps with unemployment, health care and housing for veterans and service members. For more information, contact Mark Diggs at (501) 442-1237 or mark@ diggsandassociates.com, or visit wwwveteransvillagesofamerica.org.

UPCOMING

Adobe Acrobat DC Class BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education will offer an in-person Adobe Acrobat DC class, taught by Rhonda Williams, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 14. Participants will learn to fill, sign, create and edit PDF files. The class fee is $99. Register at uaccb.coursestorm.com. For more information, call (870) 612-2082.

Intro to Digital Photography

BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education will offer Intro to Digital Photography from 6-8 p.m. May 27. Participants will learn the basics of operating a DSLR camera. The class fee is $29. Register at uaccb. coursestorm.com.

Red Bell Memorial Golf Tournament

BATESVILLE — The annual Red Bell Memorial Golf Tournament, sponsored by Merchants and Planters Bank, will take place June 5 and 6 at The Course at Eagle Mountain. The entry fee for the three-person scramble is $375 per team. For more information, visit www.tcaem. com or call (870) 612-8000.

First Responder Course

BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education will offer a First Responder Course from

5-9 p.m. Mondays, June 8 to July 15. The 48-hour hybrid course will also include six ondemand sessions for students’ convenience. Participates will learn emergency care for trauma patients, splinting techniques, bleeding control, rescue procedures, patient stabilization and transport, and medical and trauma assessments. The class fee is $499.

2021 Business Expo

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will offer its annual Business Expo, One Hit Wonders, presented by FNBC, on June 9 in the gymnasium of the Batesville Community Center, 1420 20th St. The event is free and open to the public. The business-to-business trade show for participating vendors will be from 10-11 a.m.; A Taste of the Chamber, featuring local cuisine served by chamber members, will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Business Expo will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors are encouraged to decorate their booths with their favorite One Hit Wonder musical performer or song, with an award given for the most festive booth. For more information, call the chamber at (870) 793-2378.

Class B CDL Training

BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education will offer a Class B Commercial Driver’s License Training class from 4-8 p.m. June 15, 17 and 24; and from 8 a.m. to

5 p.m. June 26. The class fee is $169. To register, visit uaccb. coursestorm.com or call (870) 612-2082.

Boater Education

BATESVILLE — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will present a free Boater Education class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 18 through the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education. Register at uaccb. coursestorm.com.

‘Sweet & Salty’

SEARCY — Center on the Square will present “Sweet & Salty,” a fun outdoor MainStage production, the afternoons of June 19 and 26. The play is a story of two best friends who grow up together in the 1970s, the totally tubular 1980s and into adulthood in the present. They want to be famous chefs but have to overcome various hurdles to do so. The show is written and directed by Wendy Neill. Its three acts will take place at three outdoor Searcy Parks and Rec venues, beginning with Citizen Park on Arch Street, and audiences will be limited to 30. Attendees need to bring lawn chairs and will drive from one act to the next. Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for students, seniors and military personnel. For tickets, visit app.arts-people.com/ index.php?ticketing=cot01. For more information, call (501) 368-0111.

STEM In-Person, Half-Day Summer Kids’ Camps

BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education will offer STEM In-Person, Half-Day Summer Kids’ Camps. First- through third-graders will attend camp July 12-16, with the topics The Magic of Science; Cubelets and Coding; and Story Book STEM. Fourththrough sixth-graders will attend camp July 19-23, with the topics The Magic of Science; 3-D Printing; Imagination STEM; Moving on Up … From Blockly to Processing Coding; and Robotics. Register at uaccb. coursestorm.com by May 14.

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 calendaritem submissions is noon Tuesday.