this week’s EVENTS
TODAY Maumelle AARP Christmas Party and Potluck
MAUMELLE — Maumelle AARP Chapter 5359 will meet at 6 p.m. for its Christmas party and potluck at the Maumelle Senior Wellness Center. Anyone 50 or older is invited to attend. Ham will be provided by the chapter, and members are asked to bring side dishes. Christmas entertainment will be provided. For more information, call chapter president Doug Ladner at (501) 413-8184 or membership chairman Fred Fleming at (501) 350-6102.
SATURDAY The Gingerbread Man
HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Springs Elementary School’s Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters [HIPPY] Program will present The
Gingerbread Man at 11 a.m. at the Heber Springs High School Performing Arts Center. There is no admission charge, and the community is invited. The play is a production of the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre on Tour program in Little Rock. For more information, call Julan Wood, director of the local HIPPY program, at (501) 362-7580.
Spaghetti and Sausage Dinner
NEW DIXIE — St. Boniface Catholic Church will have a spaghetti and sausage dinner from 4-7:30 p.m. in St. Boniface Hall. The dinner will feature homemade rolls and peach cobbler. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children younger than 6 may eat free with a parent. The public is invited. For carryout meals, call (501) 759-2896 after 3:30 p.m.
Second Saturday Bingo
HEBER SPRINGS — Second Saturday Bingo will take place at 21 Park Road. Play will begin with Quickfire games at 5:30 p.m. There will be a concession stand with homemade desserts.
Readings and Book Signing
CONWAY — Local authors Caryn Southerland and Maria Hoskins will bring a little Christmas to the Faulkner County Library with readings and a book signing at 2 p.m. Hoskins has captured the essence of family traditions in her books Down Home in Arkansas, Christmas Night on the Farm and Grandma’s Thanksgiving Dinner. Southerland has reset “The Night Before Christmas” in the Ozarks with Ozark Christmas, and in the West with Cowboy
Christmas. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org.
SUNDAY Conway Women’s Chorus Christmas Concert
CONWAY — The Conway Women’s Chorus, directed by Joan Hanna, will present a holiday concert titled Hark, How the Bells! at 2 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2310 E. Oak St. Admission is free. Selections will include “Sleigh Ride,” “Silver Bells” and “Carol of the Bells.” Hanna, who is also the director of the Faulkner Academy of Arts, which sponsors the Conway Women’s Chorus, said the title of the show is a phrase from “Carol of the Bells.”
TUESDAY Parks Department 50th Anniversary
RUSSELLVILLE — The city of Russellville invites the public to a 50th-anniversary celebration for
the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department. The event will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Hughes Community Center.
ONGOING Antique Toy Display
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Museum and the Faulkner County Library will offer a display of antique toys for viewing at the library throughout the holidays. Because of museum closings for repairs and mold abatement, the museum has partnered with the library to mount a series of rotating displays of museum artifacts. The toy exhibit is the second in the series. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org.
AARP Tax-Aide Program Volunteers
RUSSELLVILLE — The AARP Tax-Aide program needs volunteers in the Russellville area to help prepare income tax returns for seniors and people with low to moderate incomes. Training will be provided. Prior experience in tax preparation is helpful but not required. Basic computer skills (data entry) are needed. Selfstudy material is available. Formal training will be held Jan. 17-29 at the Hughes Center. Preparation of tax returns will take place Feb. 1 through April 13. For more information, contact O.D. Smith at (479) 968-3287.
Arkansas Master Naturalists Applications
CONWAY — The newly formed Foothills chapter of the Arkansas Master Naturalists, which will serve the area of Conway, Russellville and Greers Ferry, is accepting applications. The mission of the Master Naturalists is to keep Arkansas in its natural state through volunteer efforts in environmental education, trail building and maintenance, and other activities. Applicants must complete 40 hours of training and give back 40 hours of volunteer service per year to maintain certification. Applications are due Jan. 1. For more information and application forms, visit wordpress. arkansasmasternaturalists. org, and click on “Foothills Arkansas Master Naturalists.”
Friday Night Bingo
HEBER SPRINGS — Friday Night Bingo takes place each week at the American Legion Hall, 49 Park Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available.
Faulkner County Coin Club Meetings
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Coin Club meets the first Thursday of each month at the Ola and John Hawks Senior Wellness and Activity Center, 705 E. Siebenmorgen Road. The 5 p.m. dinner is optional, and a $6 donation is suggested for those 60 and younger. A fellowship time takes place from 5:30-7 p.m. and includes educational speakers, show-and-tell, news and door prizes. For more information, call (501) 327-2895 or (501) 908-9678.
Faulkner County Tea Party Luncheon
CONWAY — The Faulkner County Tea Party has a luncheon at noon every Thursday at Larry’s Pizza, 1068 Markham St. Guest speakers and the members’“soap box” are featured each week. Anyone interested in governmental and business affairs on the county, state or national level is invited to arrive early, eat pizza and meet the group’s members.
To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events,
River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline. com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.