Local notes

HOSPITAL HOSTS BLOOD DRIVE

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital will host a blood drive from 2-6 p.m. July 20 at the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks Bloodmobile in the SSRH parking lot, 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs.

Information: (800) 2805337 or cbco.org.

DRIVER SAFETY CLASS PLANNED

An AARP Driver Safety Class will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 27 inside Siloam Springs Regional Hospital’s Classroom 1 at 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs.

Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonAARP members. Payments by cash or check are due the day of the class. Classes are designed for drivers 55 and older.

Information: (479) 2153125 or email Aimee_ Morrell@ssrh.net.

GRAVEYARD GROUP MEETS

Woods Cemetery Association will meet at 5 p.m. July 10 at the Benton County Historical Society, 306 N.W. Second St. in Bentonville. There will be discussion on another work day and confirming plans for the upcoming WCA reunion, to be held Oct. 5-6.

Information: Email garymlblack@gmail.com.

CLASS OF 1978 PLANS REUNION

The 40-year class reunion for Springdale High School Class of 1978 will be held July 13 and 14. The group will tour Springdale High School from 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 13 and then meet downtown at Shiloh Square. Dinner will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. July 14 at Tontitown Winery, 3235 N. Barrington Road in Tontitown. Entertainment is provided, and there is no fee for class members.

Information: (479) 7515416.

BLOOD CENTER SEEKS DONORS

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks strives for area blood reserves to be at around a three-day supply for all blood types. At the time of this release, the blood center has less than optimum reserves for B Negative and A Positive blood types. The public is urged to help by donating at a CBCO blood drive or donor center near them. When you give through July 31, you will get a heather gray t-shirt with a patriotic summer message.

Upcoming blood drives include:

•Fayetteville: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 11, Pat Walker Health Center, 525 N. Garland Ave.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 13, Washington Regional Medical Center, 3215 N. North Hills

Information: (800) 2805337 or cbco.org.

GABBARDS TO GATHER

The Gabbard family reunion will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 14 at the Carroll Electric Building, 5056 U.S. 412B in Huntsville. Please bring a covered dish and your family history.

Information: (479) 5216459.

NATURE ART AT WORKSHOP

Hobbs State Park is offering a nature painting workshop from 2-4 p.m. July 15 at the visitor center. Lyshell Reann Hiatt-Blech will lead the class. Lyshell will inspire participants and provide step-by-step guidance. Included in the $30 per person price is everything needed for the workshop including canvas, brushes, paint and an easel. Preregistration is required. Information: (479) 7895000.

DINGER TO SPEAK

The Early Childhood Education program at Northwest Arkansas Community College will host a one-day conference for early childhood professionals from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 21 in Walmart Auditorium of the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies. The event, titled “The Power of Play,” is co-sponsored by the Scott Family Amazeum and Arkansas Early Childhood Association.

Sign-in begins at 8 a.m. Denita Dinger will be the featured speaker. Dinger is a popular keynote speaker, trainer and consultant on the topic of transitioning from a teacher-led philosophy to a play-based, child-led one.

Registration is available through Eventbrite (search for The Power of Play). Cost is $15, which includes lunch.

Information: (479) 4666268 or email cmcauliffe@ nwacc.edu.

DIVERSITY CELEBRATED

Northwest Arkansas farmers market patrons are encouraged to visit area markets in July with a passport program that can make them eligible for prizes. The Northwest Arkansas Farmers Market Trail is a five-week celebration of the diversity of farmers markets in the area, presented by NWAFMA and the Division of Agriculture department of horticulture.

Participants visit as many participating farmers markets in the region and get the passport stamped at each one. If five or more markets are visited, the entry form from the back page of the passport should be submitted to their local farmers market manager to enter a drawing for prizes donated by the market.

Passports must be turned in by Aug. 1 to be eligible for the drawing during National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 5-11.

Cities with participating markets include Bella Vista, Bentonville, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Gravette, Rogers, Siloam Springs and Springdale.

Information: nwafarmersmarkets.org.