this week’s EVENTS

Editor’s note: Many events have been canceled or postponed due to concern about the coronavirus.

THURSDAY Thanksgiving Prep From Your Garden

BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education, as part of its Gardening for Life Series, will present Thanksgiving Prep From Your Garden from 6-8:30 p.m. The fee is $15. The class will be offered both in-person, in Room 902 of the Nursing Allied Health Building, and virtually. Social distancing will be enforced. To attend virtually, the class will be available via UACCB’s online platform. The virtual link will be emailed to participants the day before the class. Register at uaccb.coursestorm.com.

ONGOING Poetry Out Loud Registration

The Arkansas Arts Council is accepting registrations from public, charter and private schools, as well as home-school groups, to participate in the 2021 Arkansas Poetry Out Loud competition. The registration deadline is Dec. 18. Students compete at the school level for a chance to become the Arkansas champion. The state winner will compete for $20,000 at the national level next spring. The Arkansas Arts Council provides all materials needed, including coaches. Virtual workshops are also being planned. For more information or to register, contact Drekkia Morning, Arts in Education programs manager, at drekkia.morning@arkansas.gov.

Harding University Holiday Lighting

SEARCY — Guests are invited to view the holiday light display at Harding University, beginning Nov. 22 and continuing through New Year’s. Preparations have been underway since September, when the university’s physical resources department began hanging lights and Christmas wreaths across campus. All Arkansans are encouraged to add the campus to their lists of light displays to visit this year. The display is also featured in the city of Searcy’s Holiday of Lights, a guide to seasonal events that take place all over town during December.

Grant Opportunity

The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration will offer a grant program utilizing $50 million in CARES Act funds for Arkansas businesses significantly impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Arkansas Legislative Council approved a business-interruption grant for certain Arkansas businesses in the personal care, tourism, travel, recreation and hospitality industries. The application period opens Monday and closes Nov. 25. Information will be regularly posted to www.arkansasready.com about the grant, the application period, training and a help line.

Arkansas Governor’s School Applications

Applications are being taken for the 42nd Arkansas Governor’s School, set for July 5-31 and hosted by Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. Eligible students need to inquire about the nomination process with their school counselor. AGS serves approximately 400 selected students from around the state during the summer before their senior year in high school. Information and instructions for applying are available at www.atu.edu/ags, and the deadline to apply is Jan. 20. For more information, email ags@atu.edu or call (479) 968-0391.

Western Love Glow Exhibit

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council presents Western Love Glow, an exhibition by Eric Freeman, at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St., through Saturday. The exhibition includes a series of colorful striped oil paintings, along with black-andwhite woodblock prints featuring

phrases from Freeman’s poetry. Freeman is an American-born painter, poet, musician and photographer who lives in Little Rock. The gallery’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call (870) 793-3382.

Painting Classes

BATESVILLE — Two continuing painting classes take place at Gallery 246, 246 E. Main St. A watercolor class, taught by Aline McCracken, meets from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays. The fee is $10, with all supplies provided. Acrylic: Paint With Panaché, taught by Jim Tindall, meets from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays. The fee is $45, with all supplies provided. To register, call (870) 262-8066, visit the gallery, or see its Facebook page. COVID-19 precautions are observed in the gallery.

Bald Knob VFW Free Coffee

BALD KNOB — The community is invited to get a free cup of coffee from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Bald Knob Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10007, 3012 Highway Ave. The VFW recognizes the sacrifices and efforts of all veterans and understands the importance of rallying community support for them. Volunteering to serve coffee are Will “Ace” Marler, a Purple Heart recipient and post quartermaster; Bill “Rhino” Morton, a veteran service officer; and Savannah Breaux, commander of VFW Post 10007.

UPCOMING Batesville Christmas Parade

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Kiwanis Christmas Parade, with the theme An Old-Fashioned Christmas, is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 5 on Main and College streets. Line-up will begin at 4 p.m. at the Town Plaza for all floats. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, everyone who normally walks in the parade must be either in a vehicle, be pulled by a vehicle or be in the back of a vehicle. There will be no candy thrown from vehicles. Floats to be judged must be entered in the parade in advance. All entries are asked to not incorporate a Santa on any float or vehicle, as Santa will be on the last float in the parade. To register for the parade, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfD5uq3mn4Sb4NWcFqdhZ6h6UqqF9iZscY4slK_t8tz_0bcPg/formResponse.