MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Oct. 12

The Bella Vista Historical Museum will be hosting its annual Open House on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m., with door prizes and refreshments available. The museum features exhibits covering the past 100-plus years of Bella Vista history, including a new exhibit on the work in Bella Vista of architect Fay Jones, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. There will also be a special temporary exhibit on World War I in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entering that war. In addition, Jill Werner’s popular homemade jams and fruit butters will be available in exchange for a donation to the museum. The museum is located on Highway 71 at the corner of Kingsland, next door to the American Legion. Normal operating hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m., with free admission. More information is available at www. bellavistamuseum.org.

Oct. 15

Do you still have the heebie-jeebies from watching horror films? You may be a coimetrophobe. Coimetrophobia is the fear of cemeteries. On the other hand, you may be a taphophile like the upcoming speaker at Hobbs State Park, Abby Burnett. A taphophile visits cemeteries for fun, and like Abby they take an interest in cemeteries, tombstones, or the memory of past lives. In Abby’s presentation she will show us gravestones that give us clues, and we will have to figure out how that person died. The event is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at Hobbs State Park located on Arkansas Highway 12 just east of the War Eagle Road intersection. There is no cost. For more information, call 479-789-5000.

Oct. 27

The AARP SmartDriver Course teaches current traffic laws, defensive-driving techniques and how to operate a vehicle more safely. The course also teaches how to manage and accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Course length is four hours and reservations are required. Cost to AARP members is $15 and for nonmembers $20. Class location on Oct. 27 is at Village Insurance, 2860 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista. The class is from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Be sure to call 479-855-3076 for reservations.