TAKE NOTE!
Toys For Tots
The Bella Vista POA will be providing collection barrels to help support Toys For Tots. Take new toys to any of the POA pro shops from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Collection dates are now through Dec. 15.
The POA will also have collection barrels for a non-perishable food drive. Oasis Food Pantry will have two drop-off locations: Branchwood Recreation Center and Riordan Hall. Sheppard’s Food Pantry will also have two drop-off locations: Member Services and Metfield Clubhouse Recreation. Collections dates are now through Jan. 8, 2017.
Learn how to buy a telescope
Friday, Dec. 2, Hobbs State Park and the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society extend an invitation to the public to learn more about the night skies. December nights are great for observing the sky due to atmospheric clarity.
The public lecture, starting at 4:30 p.m., will be given by Scott Roberts, former Meade Instruments vice president and founder of Explore Scientific. He will present a special program on how to purchase a telescope, just in time for Christmas! Roberts will explain how to determine the type of scope you need for your viewing style, what questions to ask when you go into the store, and what things such as “focal length” mean.
Following Scott’s lecture, there will be a public night sky viewing at about 5:30 p.m. Members of Sugar Creek Astronomical Society will bring their telescopes to share their love of the night sky with the public. A waxing crescent moon will make for a wonderful object to view this night. It will also be dark enough to allow for wonderful viewing of planets and deep sky objects.
Participants should bring a flashlight (covered with a red cloth or red balloon), binoculars and/or telescope (if you have), a folding chair, and a star chart (if you have one).
This free event is for all ages. Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Arkansas Highway 12, just east of the Highway 12/ War Eagle Road intersection. For more information, call 479-7895000.
Courtesy Van needs drivers
The Bella Vista Courtesy Van provides courtesy transportation for those in the community who can no longer drive due to age and/or health. It is an all-volunteer service operating five days a week with two to three vans transporting Bella Vistans for medical appointments, shopping and personal services.
The Courtesy Van is in urgent need of men or women drivers who are under the age of 77 and can give a couple of days of their time a month. The area of service is Bella Vista, Jane Walmart, Bentonville and Rogers. If interested in volunteering, contact Bill Puskas at 402-981-1571.
Eagle watch cruises slated
Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area offers eagle watch tours on Beaver Lake November 2016 through February 2017.
“We have always been lucky seeing eagles on our tours,” says Park Interpreter Rebekah Penny. “Some mature, some immature, and we always see other beautiful wildlife as well. It could be migrating osprey, great blue herons, kingfishers, deer or red-tailed hawks. No one will ever be disappointed on our eagle tours.”
Penny added, “We can only take 20 guests at a time, so it’s important that folks call the park in a timely manner to ensure that their names get on the boarding lists.” Tours will take place on: • Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
• Jan. 1,2, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29
• Feb. 4, 5, 11, 13, 18, 19, 25, 26
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Adults are $10 plus tax and children 6-12 are $5 plus tax. Tours depart Rocky Branch Marina promptly at 3 p.m. For more information and to make reservations, call 479-7895000.
Deer season closes Hobbs trails
Most of the trails at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area will be closed during the Hobbs two-day youth modern gun season and the Hobbs five-day muzzleloader and modern gun deer seasons. These trails include: • Shaddox Hollow Trail • Pigeon Roost Trail • Sinking Stream Trail • Bashore Loop • Dutton Hollow Loop • Little Clifty Loop • War Eagle Loop In addition to closing these trails, the Park’s shooting range and primitive backpack campsites will also be closed. Note that the primitive backpack campsites will be closed not only during the season but also the day before muzzleloader and modern gun deer seasons.
Trails that will be open during these three gun deer seasons are:
• Historic Van Winkle Trail on Arkansas Highway 12
• Ozark Plateau Trail at the Visitor Center.
Note that Hobbs State Park is hunting zone 320 and not zone 1, and the dates of the Zone 1 muzzleloader and modern gun deer seasons do not coincide with the dates of the muzzleloader and modern gun seasons on Hobbs State Park, zone 320.
Modern gun season on Hobbs State Park: Dec. 3-7, 2016
Muzzleloader season on Hobbs State Park: Jan. 7-11, 2017.
For more information, call 479-789-5000.
Mother Nature at Hobbs State Park
Mother Nature visits the park every second Saturday of the month to read nature stories to her little followers. The next reading, “Our Critters in Winter,” begins at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10.
Storytime will be followed by hands-on nature-craft activities. Children of all ages are welcome; however, most stories target children 3-6 years of age.
Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area visitor center is located on Arkansas Highway 12 just east of the War Eagle Road intersection. These events are free. For more information, call 479-789-5000.