this week’s EVENTS
ONGOING Book Sale
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, is having its annual book sale, which will continue indefinitely. Books, puzzles, tapes and more are available for purchase. All are invited to stop by the museum and shop for gifts or for a new addition to one’s bookshelf. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call the museum at (501) 241-1943, or visit jaxmilitarymuseum.org.
Reading at the Ridge
NEWARK — The Cedar Ridge School District is conducting a “child find” to locate children who have turned 5 but are not yet in school so that the district can give free books to children in the district from their 5th birthday until their first day of kindergarten. The district’s aim is to help build each child’s at-home library and love for books. For more information, call Cedar Ridge Elementary School at (870) 201-2577.
Stuffed-Toy Drive
BATESVILLE — Block Insurance is accepting new and gently used stuffed toys through Dec. 15 for its Fill the Chimney for Santa stuffedtoy drive. All are invited to drop off stuffed toys at the insurance office, 2121 Harrison St., and Santa will deliver them to local nursing homes and hospitals during the Christmas season.
White River Wonderland
BATESVILLE — White River Wonderland will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight daily from Wednesday through Jan. 2 at Riverside Park. The event will include a light display that features millions of lights, a Ferris wheel, selfies with Santa, ice skating, White River Express train rides and carriage rides. Admission is free. The light show can be viewed from a car or by walking on illuminated trails throughout the park. For more information and a complete schedule of activities, visit whiteriverwonderland.com.
Arkansas Master Naturalists Applications
The Foothills chapter of the Arkansas Master Naturalists is accepting applications. FAMN is an independent, all-volunteer organization that promotes the preservation, restoration and appreciation of the natural environment. The Foothills chapter draws volunteers from White and Cleburne counties. Classes will begin in January. To learn more, visit arkansasmasternaturalists.org.
Colors & Coffee
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 267 E. Main St., will offer Colors & Coffee, an adult meetup, from 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays. All adults are invited for a relaxing hour of coloring and coffee. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.
Mindfulness Mondays
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 267 E. Main St., will offer Mindfulness Mondays for teens ages 13 to 19 from 4-5 p.m. each Monday. The event will include a guided meditation and mindful snacks. Beginners are encouraged to attend. Yoga mats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, or participants can bring their own. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines
Sherwood Urgent Care centers in Batesville, Lonoke and Searcy offer Moderna COVID-19 vaccines each Wednesday. The free vaccine is for people ages 18 and older. For more information or to sign up for the vaccine, visit sherwoodurgentcare.com.
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. For more information, visit www.walkwithadoc.org/why-walk.
UPCOMING Adobe Acrobat Pro
BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville will offer Adobe Acrobat Pro from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Participants will learn to fill, sign, create and edit PDF files. The course fee is $99. Register at uaccb. coursestorm.com.
Holiday Festival of Trees NEWPORT — The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce will host the first a Holiday Festival of Trees on Dec. 1-23. This friendly Christmas-tree-decorating competition is open to any youth group, business, church or nonprofit organization. Trees will be judged in three categories with awards given for the Most Comical, Most Traditional and Most Unique trees, plus an overall Best Tree award. Trees will be voted on by the public to determine the winners. Each $1 donation equals one vote. All donations will support the chamber’s scholarship and Arkansas Scholars programs. Voting will begin during business hours Dec. 1 at the chamber office, and final judging will be at noon Dec. 23.
ASU-Beebe Community Tree Lighting Ceremony
BEEBE — Arkansas State University-Beebe invites the public to its annual Community Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Grove behind State Hall on the Beebe campus. Jubilation Jazz will perform Christmas favorites, along with special guest performers. Other highlights of the event will include holiday greetings from ASU-Beebe Chancellor Jennifer Methvin, crafts, storytelling, hayrides and visits with Santa Claus. Handcrafted dishes and pottery will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Student Emergency Hope Fund. For more information, call (501) 882-3600 or visit www.asub.edu.
Kitchen Table Silversmithing: The Basics
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Arkansas Craft School, 101 N. Peabody Ave., will present Kitchen Table Silversmithing: The Basics, with Brandy Boyd, on Dec. 3 and 4. For more information, call (870) 269-8397, or visit info@arkansascraftschool.org.
Christmas Crafts at Powhatan
POWHATAN — Powhatan Historic State Park, 4414 Arkansas 25, will be decked out in its Victorian Christmas finery on Dec. 4 for a free familyoriented day of Christmas crafts. Participants will make paper ornaments and other decorations to take home. For more information on this event, contact the park at (870) 878-6765 or powhatan@arkansas.com. To request an accommodation to be able to attend or more fully experience this event, call (870) 878-0032.
Carve a Small Santa Ornament
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Arkansas Craft School, 101 N. Peabody Ave., will present Carve a Small Santa Ornament, with Mike Pounders, on Dec. 4. For more information, call (870) 269-8397, or visit info@arkansascraftschool.org.
Batesville Christmas Parade
BATESVILLE — The 2021 Batesville Christmas parade, titled A Bicentennial Christmas, will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 along historic Main Street.
Newport Christmas Parade
NEWPORT — The Newport Christmas parade, set for 6 p.m. Dec. 9, needs entries of floats, walking groups, antique vehicles, beauty queens, horseback riders, school clubs and organizations and will travel down Malcolm Avenue from Arkansas 69 to the Village Mall parking lot. The parade’s grand marshal will be Dr. Jabez Jackson Jr., who retired in September after being in private practice for 47 years. Awards will be given for first-, second- and third-place commercial and noncommercial winners. Entry is free, and participants may choose their own holiday theme. Get entry forms at the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce office, 201 Hazel St., or at www.newportarchamber.org.
Fax completed forms to (870) 523-1055, drop them off at the chamber, or email to director@newportarchamber.org.
Old-Fashioned Christmas Family Day
BATESVILLE — The Old Independence Regional Museum, 380 S. Ninth St., will present its Old-Fashioned Christmas Family Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 11. The event will feature free crafts, activities and museum exhibits. For more information, call (870) 793-2121 or visit www.oirm.org.
Australian Locker Hooking in 3-D
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Arkansas Craft School, 101 N. Peabody Ave., will present Australian Locker Hooking in 3-D, with Jeanette Larson, on Dec. 11 and 12. For more information, call (870) 269-8397, or visit info@arkansascraftschool.org.
Christmas Open House
NEWPORT — All are invited to join the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Economic Development Commission for their Christmas Open House from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 20. This event will provide an additional opportunity for participants to vote for their favorite tree in the Holiday Festival of Trees. For more information, contact Courtney Baker at (870) 523-3618.
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.