Altrusa members learn about Literacy Council

The Literacy Council of Garland County with the special project for the 56th annual Altrusa International Inc. District Eight Conference held in Hot Springs.

Literacy Director Patsy A. Brown spoke to the group on illiteracy and how it is destroying communities. One of the ways is through crime in the cities. Ninety percent of all inmates are illiterate and Juvenile Hall individuals suffer from il- literacy.

The Altrusa Chapter, located in Hot Springs Village, welcomes newcomers to the club.

To become a volunteer tutor, get in touch with the Literacy Council, 624- 7323, or stop by the facility at 119 Hobson Ave. There will be a free Tutor Training Workshop held in June and volunteer tutors receive all training materials at no charge for themselves and their student. D a t e b o o k men in Room 311. Child Care available. Call 624- 3345 for information.

• Lake Valley Community Church, 910 Shady Grove Road, at 5: 30 p. m. Mondays with a brown bag meal; 6: 30 p. m. meeting. Call 623- 8892 for information.

• Hot Springs Baptist Church, 144 Weston Road, free fellowship dinner at 5: 30 p. m. Tuesdays followed by large group at 6: 30 p. m. and open share groups at 7: 30 p. m. with Solid Rock Café from 8: 30- 9: 30 p. m. Step study groups are available for men and women Sunday afternoons; call for specific times. Contact Shane Robertson, 760- 4744 or info@ hotspringsbaptist. org, for information. Free child care is available.

• First Church of the Nazarene, 3804 Central Ave., will meet from 6 to 8 p. m. today. A fellowship dinner is held at 5: 30 p. m. Child care is provided. Call 525- 1343 for information.

Anchor of Hope Cancer Ministry, for anyone who currently is or has been affected by cancer or knows someone who has, meets at 7 p. m. every third Monday in Room 131 of Hot Springs Baptist Church, 144 Weston Road. Call 7604744 for information.

Autism Awareness Family Support Group gathers at 5: 30 p. m. the first Monday of every month in the Mercy Room ( off the cafeteria) at St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center followed at 6 p. m. with a meeting. The group is for parents and caregivers of children with autism. It strives to raise awareness of autism, educate, advocate and support these families. Light refreshments will be served. Input on upcoming speakers is encouraged and newcomers are welcome. Call Teresa Dodson, 337- 6012, or Michelle Walker, 276- 4530, for information.

A bereavement group meets at Hospice Home Care Inc., 3955 Central Ave., Suite 6, Buena Vista Plaza. All are welcome. Call 321- 4014 for date, time and information.

Insulin Pump Support Group meets from 1- 2 p. m. the second Monday of the month in the second floor meeting room at Mercy Clinic at Hot Springs Internal Medicine, 1662 Higdon Ferry Road. Call Sue, 623- 5445, for information.

An Alzheimer’s support group for those caring for

people with Alzheimer’s or other dementia- related disorders, meets from 2- 3: 30 p. m. on the second Monday of each month at The Caring Place, 101 Quapaw Ave. Care is provided for your loved one during the meeting at no cost. Call Dian Masingill, 623- 2881, for information. 9296 or 922- 3346 for information.

Special low- cost spay/ neuter prices ( for residents of Garland and Hot Spring counties only) are offered by Paws and Claws Rescue. Pick up a voucher at Petco from 11 a. m.- 3 p. m. Saturdays or call Paws and Claws, 525- 6594. Email spaymydog@ yahoo. com for information.

Hot Springs Moose Lodge 1252 early bird bingo is conducted at 4 p. m. today followed by pack games at 7 p. m. The kitchen will be open. The public is welcome. Call 623- 3173 for information.

Mountain Valley Sportsman’s Association holds International Defensive Pistol Association matches at 9 a. m. on the first Saturday and 1 p. m. on the third Sunday each month. Trap and Skeet matches are held at 9 a. m. Saturdays; and 1 p. m. Sundays and Tuesdays. All are held at Valley Range. From the intersection of Highway 70 east and Millcreek Road, take Millcreek and drive 6.5 miles to the gravel pit, turn right on the dirt road, go 1.9 mile to the range.

VFW Post 2278, 2231 E. Grand Ave., has its grill open from 5- 7 p. m. Sundays. A burger and fries cost $ 4. Karaoke with DeWayne and Tammy Beavers is held from 6- 10 p. m. Sundays. Post hours are 9 a. m. to 10 p. m. daily. The canteen is open for a quick lunch or snack. Call 6235190 for information.

Cans for Kids is sponsored Hot Springs Board of Realtors. Donate canned and boxed food items and help provide meals to children in all nine Garland County schools. Call Beverly, 321- 2517, for information or drop donations off at the HSBOR office, 437 Orange, 9 a. m.- 5 p. m. Monday- Friday.

Meditation gatherings, based on “The Infinite Way” by Joel Goldsmith, are held at 7 p. m. Mondays. Interested in living a spiritual life at home or at work, without neglecting daily responsibilities? Through mediation and prayer, members can learn to live in the world, separate and apart from its negative aspects. All are welcome. Meditation and silent prayer begins and ends each one hour or so gathering. Call 623- 9730 for information and location.

Light A Candle Ministries & Maternity Home, 244 Anatole Loop, a nonprofit maternity home servicing homeless pregnant women in Hot Springs, is in need of baby items, maternity clothes, food, office and scrap booking supplies and hygiene products. It is also looking for a female houseparent, room and board are free. Call 262- 4051 for information.

Garland County Historical Society, 328 Quapaw, two blocks south of Levi Towers, is open from 8 a. m. to noon Monday- Friday. Researchers can explore their family history or learn more about Hot Springs and Garland County. Call 321- 2159 for information. Volunteers are welcome.

Needle Crafters Group meets from 4- 7 p. m. Mondays at Shady Corner Cafe, 545 Carpenter Dam Road, and 9 a. m. to noon Tuesdays in the Hobby Lobby classroom, 4411 Central Ave. Call Janet, 501- 454- 5685, or Marge, 321- 1644, for information.

The Family History Center at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, 2765 Malvern Ave., is open from 11 a. m. to 6 p. m. Tuesdays; 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. Thursdays; and 9 a. m. to 3 p. m. Fridays. The public is welcome to work and/ or get help on their family genealogy. Call 262- 2782 for information.

Brown bag luncheons are held at noon Mondays at the Democratic office, 608 W. Grand Ave. Come discuss political issues of the day.

Hot Springs Buddhist Society will meet from 7- 8 p. m. Monday at Hot Springs Yoga Center, 1107 W. Grand Ave. Come for group meditation, discussion and book sharing. All are welcome regardless of age, experience or religious background. Call Lacey Riciano, 501- 339- 3750, for information.

Fountain Lake Fire Department will hold a board of directors meeting at 7 p. m. Tuesday at Tuma Fire Station at the junction of Highways 128 and 5.

Jonestown Neighborhood Watch will meet at 7 p. m. Monday at the original Gospel Light Baptist Church, South Street. All area residents located in surrounding blocks that are concerned with increased crime in the area are urged to begin regular attendance of these monthly meetings held on the second Monday of the month. Local law enforcement agencies and city personnel have been requested to address residents’ concerns. Refreshments will be served.

Senior Ambassadors meet at 11: 30 a. m. on the second Monday of the month for lunch at different places and occasionally has a speaker from different organizations. All 55- plus seniors are welcome. Members volunteer for activities around town when needed, such as the Music Festival, Documentary Film Festival, ArtBlast and such. Dues are $ 1 a month and are collected mostly to build up the kitty. Anyone interested can call Jeani Yelton, 520- 4015, for information.

Code Pink Women for Peace will meet from 6: 30- 7: 30 p. m. Tuesday in Room B at Garland County Library. Men are welcome. Call Jan Gerber, 282- 6464, for information.

Garland County Republican Women will meet at 1 p. m. Monday in Garland County Library. Visitors are welcome. Call Carol Hunter, 520- 5252, for information.

Vote the Dream of SelfEmpowerment meets from 6- 7 p. m. on the second Thursday of each month at Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave. The topic of discussion, self empowerment, will include how to apply self- discipline and self- motivation in order to reach self- empowerment of your objective to a successful conclusion. Call 781- 6317 for information.

Haven United Methodist Outreach Ministry Food Pantry, 645 Park Ave., is open from 8: 30 a. m. to noon on the second and fourth Monday to anyone who needs assistance with nonperishable food items.