This week’s EVENTS

TODAY

Arkansas Constitutional Tea Party Meeting CABOT — The Arkansas Constitutional Tea Party will meet at 7 p.m. at Papa’s Place, 2798 S. Second St. in the South Fork Shopping Center. Everyone is welcome to attend. The group meets the second Thursday of each month. For more information, call (501) 813-6980.

Master Gardeners Meeting BATESVILLE — The Independence County Master Gardeners will meet at 10 a.m. at the Independence County Extension Office, 1770 Myers St.

SATURDAY

Grief and Loss Support Group Meeting JACKSONVILLE — The Caring Hearts Grief and Loss Support Group will return to meeting at the Christian Church of Jacksonville, 200 E. Martin, on the third Saturday of every month, unless otherwise announced. The next meeting will be from 10-11 a.m. this Saturday. For those who cannot make the group meetings, individual sessions can be scheduled. For more information, call Steve Summers at (870) 710-150.

Pulaski County Spelling Bee JACKSONVILLE — The Pulaski County Spelling Bee will be held at 9 a.m. in Sandy Reed Auditorium at North Pulaski High School, 718 Harris Road. The public is invited to attend as 40 students compete for a spot in the Arkansas State Spelling Bee, to be held March 12. First Electric Cooperative is sponsoring the county bee with the support of the Pulaski County Special School District.

Bird, Butterfly Workshop NEWPORT — Jacksonport State Park will hold a workshop on feeding birds in the winter and gardening for spring butterflies. The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the park’s visitor center. Advance registration is required by 3 p.m. today. The workshop fee is $15 per person. All supplies will be provided, and attendees should be prepared to get their hands dirty. Participants will have lunch on their own. For more information, call (870) 523-2143 or email jacksonport@

arkansas.com.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Overnight Bicycle Ride GREERS FERRY — The Arkansas Bicycle Club will hold the Mountain View Bed and Breakfast Bicycle Ride, beginning at Narrows Park in Greers Ferry. The riders will take a 40-mile ride to Mountain View on Saturday and return on Sunday. Both rides will include lunch at a diner in Prim and vehicles to haul bikers’ gear. For more information, visit arkansasbicycleclub.org, call (501) 912-1449, or email jobritt@

sbcglobal.net.

MONDAY

Community Music Gathering BATESVILLE — Singers and musicians are invited to bring their favorite tunes and perform at a community music gathering from 6-8 p.m. at First Community Bank. Listeners are also welcome.

WEDNESDAY

Kick-Start Heber Springs Meeting HEBER SPRINGS — Kick-Start Heber Springs will meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Quality Inn Conference Center, 3450 Arkansas 25. The public is invited to attend and join an action team to help develop Heber Springs and design a five-year strategic growth plan for the city.

ONGOING

The Fantasticks SEARCY — Center on the Square Community Theater, 219 W. Arch Ave., will present The Fantasticks, directed by Mario Hofheinz, with Susan Bucher as musical director. The play is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl and their fathers, who try to get the couple together by keeping them apart. Showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5-6, 1213 and 19-20; and at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and 21. Tickets are $18, plus tax. For more information or tickets, call (501) 368-0111 or visit centeronthesquare.org. The Biggest Loser Community Challenge HIGHLAND — The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce will bring the eight-week Biggest Loser Community Challenge, an online health and wellness challenge, to the area beginning Feb. 15. The challenge seeks teams of four, for a $100 enrollment fee, to represent businesses, organizations and individuals in the national event, which will give away more than 10,000 prizes, including trips to the finale of The Biggest Loser television show in Los Angeles. The challenge is for people of all fitness levels. Register a team at www.biggestlosercommunity. com. For more information, contact Todd Conforth with Clary Fitness at (870) 994-4444, the chamber at (870) 856-3210, or Kari or Pat at Curves at (870) 856-6010. GED/Adult Education Classes FLORAL — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Adult Education Department offers reading, math, writing and computer-literacy classes from 3-5 p.m. Mondays in the computer lab at Midland Elementary School in Floral. Enrollment is ongoing. Students must be at least 18 years old and not enrolled in school. For more information, contact Nancy Whitmire at (870) 612-2085 or

nancy.whitmire@uaccb.edu, or Judy Pearson at (501) 345-2413. Second Time Around Bookstore SEARCY — The Literacy Council of White County operates the Second Time Around Bookstore at 811 S. Main St., Suite D. Proceeds from the sale of donated books support the mission of helping adults in the community improve their literacy and English-language skills. The store and literacy office are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. To train as a tutor, to become a bookstore volunteer or for more information, call (501) 278-5500.

Pancake Breakfast McRAE — A pancake breakfast is held from 7-9 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at McRae Masonic Lodge F. & A.M. No. 687. Donations are accepted.

WISE Coalition Meeting SEARCY — The WISE (White County Invested in Substance Abuse Eradication) Coalition meets from noon to 1 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month in the Community Room of the First Community Bank University Branch, 800 E. Beebe Capps Expressway. All are invited to attend and get involved in activities to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in White County youth. For more information, visit wisecoalition @gmail.com or call (501)

388-6555.

Cabot Civitan Meetings CABOT — Cabot Civitan Meetings are held at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. For more information, call Tom Nolting at (501) 606-3731. Friends of the Library Book Shop HEBER SPRINGS — The Friends of the Library Book Shop, 2255 Arkansas 25B N., is open from 3:30-7 p.m. Mondays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shop offers a large selection of books at bargain prices. All proceeds from the shop benefit the libraries in Cleburne County.

UPCOMING

GED Classes NEWARK — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Adult Education Department will offer a series of GED classes at the Newark City Hall from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, beginning Jan. 21. Students may enroll in the first block of classes, which will cover reasoning through language arts, at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 21. The class is open to adults 18 and older not currently enrolled in high school. For more information, contact Nancy Whitmire, UACCB director of Adult Education, at (870) 612-2085 or

nancy.whitmire@uaccb.edu,

or Newark City Hall at (870) 7992663. Crime Watch Dinner, Dessert Auction 16TH SECTION — The 16th Section Crime Watch will have a dessert auction and dinner Jan. 23 at the 16th Section Community Center. There will be a free chili/hot dog dinner from 5-7 p.m., and the dessert auction will start at 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted, and everyone is invited. Spring River Chamber Awards and Recognition Banquet ASH FLAT — The Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its Inaugural Awards and Recognition Banquet from 5:308 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Church of Christ in Ash Flat. The program will include a time for networking, installation of new board members, music and a silent auction. Tickets, at $20 each, are available at the chamber office, 2852 U.S. 62 in Highland, or from chamber board members. Businesses and organizations can reserve tables of eight for $150. For more information, email sracc@centurytel.net or call (870) 856-3210. Republican Candidate Debate BATESVILLE — A debate between candidates in contested Republican primary races in Independence County will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Citizens Bank Annex, 285 E. College St. U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers and his opponent, Curtis Colemen, as well as state Rep. James Sturch of Batesville and his opponent, Phillip Finch, have been invited. Judge Shawn Womack, a candidate for the Arkansas Supreme Court, will present his judicial philosophy and answer questions. For more information, call (870) 612-3570 or email CharlesRFuqua@ gmail.com. Heber Springs Chamber Banquet HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 60th annual banquet at 6 p.m. Feb. 25, at the Heber Springs Community Center, 201 Bobbie Jean Lane. The guest speaker will be Jeff Moore, director of marketing and communication for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The event will include a live auction, and business attire is requested. Tickets are $35 each or $250 for a table of eight. Tickets will be available from Jan. 25 through Feb. 15 at the chamber office, 1001 W. Main St., or by calling (501) 362-2444.