Local notes

Chorus performs

The Bella Vista Men’s Chorus will hold its annual Christmas Concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Bella Vista Community Church.

Information: (479) 8766275.

Book sale slated

Encore! Books in the Bella Vista Library will be having a winter Bookstravaganza Dec. 3-8.

Everything in the store will be marked half price. Encore! is run by volunteers of the Bella Vista Friends of the Library and is open during regular library hours. Proceeds continue to go toward the expansion of the library, located at 11 Dickens Place in Bella Vista.

Information: (479) 8551753.

Red Cross needs blood

The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donors to give now to ensure blood is available for medical treatments and emergencies during the holiday season.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities include: ■ Bentonville: 10 a.m.2 p.m. Dec. 9, Hindu Association of Northwest Arkansas, 2500 S.W. Regional Airport Blvd.

■ Rogers: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 11, Benchmark Group, 1805 N. Second St.; 11 a.m.3 p.m. Dec. 18, Center for Nonprofits, 1200 W. Walnut St.

■ Springdale: 10 a.m.4 p.m. Dec. 4, Don Tyson School of Innovation, 2667 Hylton Road; 1:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 5, The Jones Center, 922 E. Emma Ave.

Information: (800) 7332767 or redcross.org.

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 reserves show a less than one-day supply of type O negative, B negative and AB blood. Donors with these types are strongly urged to give this week at a CBCO blood drive or donor center near them.

Upcoming blood drives include:

Holiday Island: ■ 11 a.m.4 p.m. Dec. 3, Holiday Island Elks Lodge, 4 Parkcliff Drive

■ Eureka Springs: 1-4 p.m. Dec. 4, Inn of the Ozarks, Highway 62 West

■ Springdale: 8:30 a.m.2 p.m. Dec. 7, Springdale High School, 101 S. Pleasant

Information: (800) 2805337 or cbco.org.

Program explores warning signs

A one-hour program exploring the common warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Schmieding Center, 2422 N. Thompson St. in Springdale.

Alzheimer’s and other dementias cause memory, thinking and behavior problems that interfere with daily living. The Alzheimer’s Association developed the new “10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s” education program to help people recognize common signs of the disease and know what to watch for in themselves and others.

The free one-hour program:

Explores ■ typical agerelated changes.

■ Describes common signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

■ Offers tips for how to approach someone about memory concerns.

■ Explains the importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis.

■ Details possible tests and assessments for the diagnostic process. ■ Identifies helpful Alzheimer’s Association resources.

Information: (501) 2650027 or alz.org/arkansas.

Concert remembers

The Veterans Council of Northwest Arkansas and the Bella Vista Property Owners Association is hosting a “God Bless America Concert,” remembering Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on America from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 8 at Riordan Hall in Bella Vista. The concert is free and will feature local musicians and performers.

Information: (470) 4268723.

McGill to speak

George McGill, mayor-elect of Fort Smith, will speak at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith’s fall commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Stubblefield Center, located at 532 N. Waldron Road.

This fall, McGill became the first African-American to be elected mayor in Fort Smith following six years of service to the area as a state representative. During his time as a legislator, he served on numerous committees and chaired the Aging, Children, Youth Legislative & Military Affairs Committee. In 2017, he became the deputy pro tempore of the House of Representatives.

McGill holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas.

The fall commencement ceremony will honor the nearly 500 students completing graduation requirements during the second summer and fall semesters.

Don Bobbitt, president of the University of Arkansas System, will also be in attendance.

Information: (479) 7887025.