Entertainment Fort Smith - August 2014

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EDITOR’S NOTES

Editorial Staff LINDA SEUBOLD Editor in Chief lindaseubold@efortsmith.com LYNN WASSON Managing Editor lynnwasson@efortsmith.com DONNA PAYNE Senior Editor donnapayne@efortsmith.com MARY JANE HENNIG Art Director Contributing Writers KARRIE KELLY REBA MIZE TAYLOR PREWITT BRITTANY RANSOM BETH REVELLE KRISTAN ROLAND Contributing Photographers ROGER CARTER GLENN GILLEY KARRIE KELLY REBA MIZE KRISTAN ROLAND P.J. WILLIAMS David Webb photographs courtesy of Webb and Taylor Prewitt Scuba photography courtesy of Mike Young

Advertising Sales DAVID CARTER davidcarter@efortsmith.com 479-650-9885 Advertising Coordinator KARRIE KELLY karrie@efortsmith.com 479-494-1888 Bookkeeping JULIE BERCH HAMILTON accounts@efortsmith.com 479-494-1888 © 2014 eFortSmith.com Media, Inc. 316 North 7th Street P.O. Box 1341 Fort Smith, AR 72902-1341 Office: 479-494-1888

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Entertainment Fort Smith

August 2014

Brought to you by tomatoes and basil When you receive the bounty of enough perfectly vine-ripened, fresh heirloom tomatoes to have a lunch like this – and – besides those, you also have a windowsill full of some more, just-about-ripe ones, it is a fine summer.

But it gets better. When you have some justpicked basil, garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to go with those tomatoes, you are having an extra-fine day, friends.

If this issue were handprinted on an old-fashioned press, its pages would be spotted with fragrant fingerprints olive oil and vinegar.

Instead, my keyboard and I both smell like an Italian kitchen.

I enjoyed many days’ worth of fabulous tomatoes and fresh herbs courtesy of the sister and brother pair of Farmer Ranger Roger Carter and Donna Carter Payne this last month.

The tomatoes are courtesy of long-time cultivation by the Carters’ Aunt Ruth Maynard.

Roger is on a mission to keep this delicious tomato variety growing forever. He saves seeds and grows new plants each year just as Aunt Ruth instructed. Whoever receives a gift of a tomato plant must also save seeds and return some to him. I obey this rule so I can eat more “Aunt Ruths!”

This is an issue that besides being fortified with vitamin C (tomatoes have 32.8 percent of your daily C requirements) is also packed with stories about remarkable people, places and institutions.

Contributing writer Brittany Ransom answers what must be a lot of local curiosity about a “barn” home in Lavaca. The Harrison family

lives there in what is actually a house but was certainly built to resemble a classic American red barn. They not only have great design skills, they happen to be lovely people who felt led to share their abundant living space with family members and exchange students.

Writer Candise Montemayor sought out an adventurous diver, Mike Young, whose experiences in ocean and freshwater cave diving are thrilling and also a little bit scary. Cool guy. He is also an equipment inventor!

Dr. Taylor Prewitt (I can’t bring myself to call him Taylor) has profiled an amazing Fort Smith man, David Webb, who has accomplished a lifetime of philanthropic giving and building.

Webb is no Walton heir – he worked to earn the money he gives. But with ingenuity and an unstoppable drive, he has marshaled resources and joined with other organizations to do charitable medical and educational projects all over the world, especially in Belize.

I enjoyed visiting with Dr. Rosilee Russell and her staff at the Academy of the Arts at UAFS, learning about the amazingly broad opportunities for children who want to take classes in music, theater and the visual arts.

I also got a kick out of writing about the upcoming triathlon for kids to be held at Marvin Altman Fitness Center. The tiniest athletes will swim, cycle and run – see page 33 for the “aww” factor.

Still thinking about tomatoes, aren’t you? I hope you can acquire some outstanding ones to enjoy while you read this issue.

– Lynn Wasson

CIRCULATION Entertainment Fort Smith is a monthly city/regional magazine published from February to December by eFortSmith.com Media, Inc. Entertainment Fort Smith distributes 30,000 complimentary issues per month.

SUBSCRIPTION Entertainment Fort Smith can be mailed to you for $30 a publication year (11 issues).

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CONTENTS

August 2014

features

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14 Mike Young down under

As a matter of fact, they do live in a barn The Harrison family of Lavaca lives in a big red barn, but they don’t act as if they were raised in one. Brittany Ransom wrote about this lovely home; photos by Glenn Gilley.

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Modest means, mighty results: The good works of David Webb

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You could call him a cave man and he wouldn’t mind

Dr. Taylor Prewitt profiles David Webb, a surprising Fort Smith philanthropist who has relied on his faith, common sense and loving attitude to help people worldwide.

Adventurous diver Mike Young explores the depths of underwater and underground caves and invented a device that helps divers go even deeper. By Candise Montemayor

columns

8 HOT STUFF with LINDA SEUBOLD 28

GARDENING with Reba Mize Willing to weed? Adopt a spot in a Fort Smith park or get even more creative.

departments

33 Triple-threat toddlers in Kids Tri

18

DESIGNER NOTES

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WHAT’S COOKING with Kristan Roland

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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DINING

The Goods is home headquarters for creativity, making old things pretty again.

Late summer is time for the refreshing flavor of key lime.

BabyFlix offers parents a preview of their babies-to-be with elective ultrasound.

Larry’s Pizza offers more than expected in classic pizza and sincere service.

eve n t s

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28 Volunteers spiff up our parks Entertainment Fort Smith

August 2014

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE Hot tickets! The fall season’s slate of entertainment is announced.

FOR KIDS The Academy of the Arts at UAFS is the source of learning for youth in the arts.

CALENDAR of EVENTS As the calendar swings to the start of school, celebrate the last of summer.

Cover: Louise Turner, beloved children’s librarian emeritus, library board member Ben Carroll and library patron Jon David Roland say Y-E-S to voting for a millage increase to support the Fort Smith Public Library. The election is Aug. 12. Photo by Glenn Gilley

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BY LINDA SEUBOLD

The many things a library can be Call me a wimp or scaredy-cat all you want, but I just can't abide horror movies.

Alfred Hitchcock, however, had a way of drawing even a scary-movie-phobic person like me into some of the plots of his Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV series that aired in the late 1950s.

Still, I would only watch the program if my dad would join me, and if it looked right away like the episode would be one of the suspense masters' more wry than macabre offerings. I wish I could remember the name of the episode that scared me the most, but I've not yet been able to find its title or story line on the internet.

The segment most horrifying to me was about a mild-mannered little guy who loves books and spends most of his time perusing the New York City public library.

That's where he is when a sudden catastrophe wipes out everyone, except him, in the city (and maybe the entire United States or world, my memory's hazy on that).

Anyway, there he is – the only person alive – at one of the world's greatest libraries, where he can spend the rest of his days reading any thing he chooses with no interruptions or people to bother him. It's a dream come true and he's ecstatic until, to his horror, he drops and shatters his eyeglasses, without which he can't read a thing.

Unable to read? A horrifying thought for me, a born bookworm.

My mom used to tell me about the first Christmas we got to spend with my dad in 1945, after his World War II service in the Philippines and discharge from the Navy. I was 3 years old and Dad made sure Santa left me lots of toys, a rocking horse and two or three little books. Mom said on Christmas morning, I was at first excited by all the shiny new toys, but then spotted the books and wouldn't touch anything else until I had “read” them all several times.

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When I was older, I often used a flashlight under my bed covers to read books when I was supposed to be sleeping.

In my teens, like many of my Fort Smith High School classmates, I spent lots of time in Fort Smith's landmark Carnegie Library, a building which now houses Channel 5 TV's Fort Smith studios, reading and studying.

And I still shudder to even think of not being able to read a book, newspaper, magazine, album cover or anything else with words on or in it.

I also can't imagine a city or a world without libraries.

After my husband and I married and moved to Iowa in 1961, I worked as the periodicals librarian at the Davenport Public Library.

Honestly, it was probably like having an alcoholic work in a liquor store. With an almost unlimited supply of books available to me, and my husband working nights and going to college during the day, I devoured about a book a day – until our first baby was born three years later.

Years later, after being a stay-at-home mom with our five children, I became a stringer news reporter for the Davenport newspaper, the Quad City Times. Covering nearby Muscatine School Board meetings was one of my assignments. The meetings were held in the city's library, which had the good fortune of being a favorite recipient of funding from Roy Carver, chairman and founder of Bandag Inc. and the manufacturer of Carver Pumps.

For a city of its size (about 20,000 residents when we lived there in the 1970s) Muscatine had an amazing library. Couldn't find a book you needed? Inter-library loan from the University of Iowa. Wanted to host a dinner party? You could do it with a library card. You could make a new dress from a checked-out dress pattern. Type invitations on typewriters provided for library patrons. Find menus from the cookbooks and music from the library’s extensive tape and record collection.

From this library, you could even borrow some framed, choice, ready-to-hang artworks to decorate your home!

When our family moved back to Fort Smith in 1983, I didn't find our city library located downtown quite as versatile.

But by the year 2000, after Lynn Wasson and I had started this magazine, we were thrilled soon after to publish articles about the opening of Fort Smith's handsome new main library and three new branch libraries.

Our library system today hosts so many special events, including poetry readings, author talks and book signings.

One of my favorite author events was when hometown hero C.C. Lockwood – and I call him a hero because his words, pictures and movies helped to save the Atchafalaya Basin – brought a real, live alligator to the library when he came to sign his non-fiction gator book.

The main library also has its own café, holds book sales and chocolate fests and I could go on and on. But I guess by now, you get the idea that this magazine loves our library and everything about it.

Now, the library has the opportunity to offer this community even more, when the rest of you who love our library, now and for what it will become, go to the polls and vote “Yes” for its future funding.

You'll find out much more about the library millage election on pages 16-17.

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HOME

“Barn” living fits this welcoming Lavaca family

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umbly referred to as “the barn,” the home of Alan and Gaye Harrison and their four daughters is easy to miss at first glance.

The red, three-story structure sits back from the road on a 12acre stretch, just a short distance from Main Street in Lavaca. Upon closer examination, it is evident that the tall, red building is a picturesque estate marked by personal touches and unique design elements.

The Harrisons purchased the barn in 2009 after learning about the empty property from their banker. “Alan was building some apartments and our banker came by asking if Alan knew of anyone who needed a project,” said Gaye. The project was a 6,000-squarefoot, unfinished home in the shape of a barn, with a shop, acreage and a pond. Built in 2005, the structure had been vacant for several years and was in desperate need of some TLC. “Alan instantly fell in love with it,” said Gaye. “He came home that night and said he wanted to show me something in Lavaca. When I walked in for the first time, I said, 'You're joking, right?’ There were walls and, well, that was about it!”

The property was in complete disarray, with no living room ceiling, plywood stairs and a mess of trash, bugs and dead birds on the floor.

Having flipped numerous houses, Alan was thrilled by the challenge, but Gaye was a bit more reluctant.

“It took me several weeks and a lot of prayer to get on board with the project. I finally agreed, on one condition ... I told Alan I would like to really customize this home to be ours. So many of the homes we have built for our family or the ones we have flipped have been in colors and basic things that would appeal to the general public. If we were going to live here, I wanted to make it mine.”

Construction was a true family effort. The whole crew spent weekends and any extra time cleaning up the building materials and trash.

“Our four girls worked so hard along beside us because now, we were all

in love with this place,” recalled Gaye. After nine months, construction on the interior and exterior had begun and the Harrisons’ home in Fort Smith sold. The six of them packed up and moved into a 200-square-foot travel trailer on the property, which they occupied for four months while overseeing the work.

In tackling the project, Gaye and Alan sought to make all the rooms useful for different things and people. The couple’s experience in flipping homes served them well. The two knew what special features they wanted to include, down to custom-sized cabinets and extra-large closets. Gaye opted to add a children’s laundry room on the second floor and converted some unused closet space into an extra bathroom. They also reconstructed the existing fireplace and opened up walls to allow for a more open view on the ground level.

In 2010, the house was ready for the entire family to move in. Gaye began putting her real mark on the home with her self-described “eclectic” style. “I'm not a ‘matchy’ person,” explained Gaye. “If I see something I like, I will make it work in our home. A lot of our decorations are handmade by one of us or our friends. My lighting fixtures don't match, but I picked each one for the particular spot it would go in. I don't worry about what would be next to it or in the next room.”

Decor ranges from trendy artwork and bold pillows to antique crossstitch and old family photos. Gaye has made several of the pieces herself, including many of the curtains and wreaths.

The home’s beauty is enhanced not just by its furnishings and unique style, but also by the welcoming spirit of the Harrison family. In making the decision to buy the property, Alan and Gaye agreed to use the house as a way to love and serve others.

“After seeking what God would have us do, we knew that the barn would become our home,” said Gaye. “We didn't need this much space, so we gave it back to God and asked Him how He would like us to use it.”

August 2014

Entertainment Fort Smith

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Kitchen The kitchen and built-in dining area are the real heart of the home, serving not only as a place for meals, but also as a gathering spot for tea, homework and family time.

Master Suite A relaxing corner of the master suite is perfect for unwinding.

Schoolroom Not many homes include their own customized classroom, but it made perfect sense for the Harrison family, who home school their younger daughters. The room gives both Gaye and the children a room dedicated to learning, including tables, desks and all of their school materials. The two older girls, who now attend public school, also use the space for homework and computer time.

PHOTOS BY GLENN GILLEY

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HOME

Seen here on a rainy day, the red-painted home can be mistaken for a classic American barn.

The welcoming hearth at the heart of the great room, decorated with handcrafted banners and artwork Gayle loves to display.

One of the first individuals to benefit was Gaye's late mother, who before her passing, occupied what they all the “apartment” on the first floor. The semi-private quarters include a bedroom, kitchen, living area, laundry and bathroom.

“My mother was the first to actually move into the house,” said Gaye. “She was in poor health at the time, so we finished up her area so she could move in sooner. We continued to live in the trailer for several more weeks while construction on the other parts of the house was completed.”

The Harrisons have also welcomed eight exchange students. Students from countries around the world have called the barn their home. The family plans to open their home again this fall to two more international students.

While the Harrisons may have even more plans for their homestead, it is clear they have made the once-abandoned property truly their own. With its delicate balance of functionality and style, the barn is an obvious reflection of what the family holds most dear; faith, loved ones and hospitality. It is evident in every nook and cranny and echoed in the way the Harrisons open their home to family, friends and students from abroad.

– By Brittany Ransom

The home has gathering places outdoors (above) and upstairs in the media room.

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When David Webb comes to help, he is unstoppable Children worldwide benefit from his creative, determined aid

A

certain Rotary International district governor recalls sitting on an airplane bound for the Ukraine and suddenly finding that his somewhat older companion has placed a curious piece of machinery on his lap. “What’s this?” he asked.

“Take good care of that. It’s worth about $12,000.”

Calculating that he was not allowed to enter the Ukraine with more than $10,000 worth of goods, Ken Colley became a bit uneasy. Then, as they arrived and began to exit the airplane, the older companion reclaimed his piece of equipment and called for a wheelchair. As the man, David Webb, approached customs, the inspector asked for his passport. David appeared not to hear.

“David, he wants your passport,” Ken told him.

“What did you say?” David replied, cupping his ear.

“He wants your passport,” Ken replied in a louder voice.

“What did you say?” David shouted.

They were through customs in 30 seconds, the machinery unexamined.

David, now 90, still takes a few things to where they are needed – nowadays mostly to the school in Valley of Peace, Belize, where he is building facilities to allow children to complete a high school education.

David was a fifth-grader in Center School near Greenwood when he began looking at some small booklets with pictures of the Rocky Mountains, the pyramids of Egypt and the ruins of Lebanon. These images stuck in his mind.

His working life began at the Nicodemus Tin Shop in Fort Smith and when he was allowed a vacation after a year’s work, he headed out of town.

In a one-week trip, he and his wife, Leta Mae, with their 1-year-old son David, made it as far as the Rio Grande Valley and old Mexico.

Subsequent trips took them farther afield; north Arkansas, the Rocky Mountains, Miami and all the states of the union – pulling a small camping trailer. Then the Caribbean and South America. England, Europe and the Middle East. Then Russia and, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, to Siberia to take Bibles.

Vacation travel gave way to missionary trips – first to Leon, Mexico, to build a church and later to Belize under the auspices of the Assembly of God Missions and Placement Services (MAPS) for some short-term construction jobs.

Other MAPS projects took him to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Alaska, Peru and Malaysia. By now, the Fort Smith machine shop operator was a citizen of the world.

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August 2014

David Webb in Belize.

It was in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, distributing Bibles that David learned medical supplies could open the door for giving Bibles to children.

As a member of the Fort Smith Rotary Club, he knew his Rotary district (parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma) had a medical supplies network. Connecting the dots, he first collected 500 pounds of medications in a gift from Sparks Hospital and persuaded the airline to allow him to check nine pieces of luggage free.

It wasn’t so easy in the Ukraine, where suspicious customs officers from Kiev discovered that some of the medications were out of date and had them returned to the United States.

Next move: a 40-foot container of medical supplies, collected and packed within a few months. Students, teachers and doctors formed a party of 11 Fort Smithians, joined by six interpreters from Kiev, to accompany David to Dnepropetrovsk to oversee the distribution.

“I had learned to always carry extra money” on these missions, David recalled, and when they learned the hospital had no funds to provide immunizations for newborn babies, he and a colleague reached into their pockets. A thousand dollars went a long way.

A friend told him about the needs his stepson was observing while in Belize studying the Mayan ruins. A word to Bill Kirk, Fort Smith Rotary president at the time, and David was in motion. He had been to Belize a few years earlier on a building project and he knew of the needs there.

He had utilized another bit of dollar diplomacy to rescue a mission

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school that had experienced the theft of all its bed linens and silverware.

One hundred dollars wiped away all tears. So, on this occasion, a quick inspection visit led him to start by raising $5,000 through the Rotary Medical Supply Network and the local Rotary Club. This floated a 40foot ship container with school and hospital supplies.

It wasn’t simple, of course. The container got lost and a local Rotarian studied David’s copy of the shipping papers and determined it had landed farther down the coast. A timely trip to Banana Port, $400 to load the shipment onto a truck sent by another local Rotarian and the container finally reached its destination.

Where to go from there? The director of Latin America Child Care (it helps to know how to identify and find the right people) told David the school’s greatest need was for books. Fort Smith Rotary collected $2,500 from its members for David to take to Belize, accompanied by fellow Rotarians Conaly Bedell, former district governor, and Judge Jim Spears.

After delivering the money, they saw Valley of Peace, a sprawling, primitive community recently settled by refugees from Guatemala and the civil war in El Salvador.

Each arrival was given 5 acres. There was a school, but it was lacking in basic amenities. Eating lunch there under a palm tree, David asked about building a kitchen and lunch area for the students. A sketch on a napkin and the project was under way.

David built the components in his shop in Fort Smith, shipped them to Valley of Peace and went there to supervise the assembly.

Another school, at Orange Walk about 50 miles north of Belize City, recently had been started from scratch by Latin America Child Care. Its director, Stephen Dickerson, told David their most immediate need was for desks. The Fort Smith School District had surplus desks. After disassembly, they fit into a 40-foot container. The students at Orange Walk were sitting on the floor when the desks arrived. Soon, the Fort Smith desks were supplemented by classroom furniture made by students in the school’s shop. The native furniture could be identified because it is made of Belize mahogany.

David feared that the students in Orange Walk, though no longer sitting on the floor, would have a hard time succeeding without computer training. The director agreed, but had no building for that purpose, let alone the computers. David took care of that. Used computers were collected in Fort Smith and money was provided to build the foundation, floor and walls. Volunteers from Fort Smith finished the building, named The Webb Center in honor of David.

On a visit to Valley of Peace in 2007, David mentioned to the school principal that there were several scraps of paper on the grass.

“Well, it’s pretty good for us,” was the reply. Wrong answer. A sudden afternoon deluge occurred and the unfortunate principal was pinned down with David for the duration of the rain, obliged to listen as David explained why “pretty good for us” was not good enough.

Further projects at Valley of Peace included a vocational technology building with the necessary equipment, an open-air pavilion for assemblies, a woodworking shop, a sawmill and, later, a sewing room, computer lab and school nurse’s office.

Orange Walk is a high school, but Valley of Peace only provided schooling through the eighth grade. More dreams, more plans.

Now, there is a David Webb High School at the David Webb Christian Academy in Valley of Peace with a Leta Mae Webb home economics building. At 90, David’s trips continue. He doesn’t always have to play deaf. – Taylor Prewitt

Used computers collected in Fort Smith were transported to New Hope High School for The Webb Center.

Valley of Peace principal Abel Raymundo with David Webb.

Students used the woodworking shop in the school to make more desks.

August 2014

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Adventure As A Way of Life

By Candise Montemayor

B

reath slowly, in – out, relax, be in the moment, and whatever you do, don’t panic. Easier said than done when trapped beneath a gravel bed in a dark underwater cave. But for Mike Young of Fort Smith, it’s just part of the experience that comes with being called a “Top Cave Explorer in the World.”

It wasn’t until 1996 while living in Africa that Young received his first opportunity to scuba dive, with some friends who invited him along. It was new and exciting and something he definitely wanted to do again. He would go on to log more than 1,000 underwater hours before he quit keeping track about 10 years ago.

“There was no huge ‘wow’ moment,” Young said. “It was a lot of fun to do and I just keep doing it and getting better at it.”

Young wound up traveling the world doing “what was just fun” and, before he knew it, he was experiencing underwater exploration in ways he never could have imagined.

“Pretty soon, I was exploring in caves that nobody had ever been in before,” he said beaming. “And that is the excitement for me. Once you get to a certain level, then people start inviting you on exhibitions and they need your expertise; it’s been a continual progression.”

He describes his dives as a floating moment of serenity, a moment of awe and of reverence. It sounds dreamy, but what about the danger? Remember the landslide of gravel? How did he manage to get himself out of that situation?

“I had one arm that could move and I started digging the rocks out from under me until I could move some more, and I kept digging until I was free,” he said. “It ended that dive but I went back the next weekend.”

Young shakes off these close calls with disaster as having been “stuck a few times” and though many of us might find even the idea of being stuck in an underwater cave terrifying, he said the danger is relative.

“If you take precautions, if you plan for equipment failures and you have redundant systems – it’s all about training,” he confirmed. “For an untrained person to do it, that would be extremely dangerous but with massive amounts of training and gradually progressing … never diving outside of your comfort level, really it’s not that dangerous.”

He said he is not fearless, and his dislike of snakes is proof enough of that. But when it comes to scuba diving, Young believes driving on the 14

Entertainment Fort Smith

August 2014

Mike Young in his workshop with his KISS rebreather and in an underwater cave (bottom photo) with his camera gear.

interstate is more dangerous by far.

After that first dive in Africa, as he developed his skills and traveled to exotic locations such as Egypt, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, he took things a step further by inventing and patenting a new form of scuba rebreather technology called KISS GEM, which is manufactured in Fort Smith.

“More technical diving meant a need for rebreathers,” he said.

“They were on the market – previously used by the military but not entirely safe. So, I invented a couple.”

Did he ever! A first of its kind scientific discovery was made this year by divers who were using Young’s equipment. His technology allowed a dive team to stay underwater for up to 10 hours in a cave on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The discovery, between 12,000 and 13,000 years old, is of a young girl’s skull and part of the most complete skeleton of its kind ever found. Scientists have announced that the human artifacts are helping solve a mystery about the differences in body types between the first humans to arrive in the Americas and later Native Americans.

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Young naps in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave.

Pre-Columbian skull.

Young checks out a stalactite in a Florida cave.

“I was excited when they called to tell me about it,” he said, “because there is a lot of sense of pride that I helped make it possible.

They had never been able to go that far before and we made the equipment that allowed it to be possible. We take pride in the fact that we were able to develop equipment that allowed for better maneuvers on deeper and longer dives without lots of reloads.”

For those who are not dive savvy, rebreathers use the same gas over again, read oxygen content and scrub out carbon dioxide that is exhaled. Then, just oxygen is added back. A diver can use a smaller tank that lasts longer and the process is much quieter, keeps a diver warmer and is bubble-free compared to regular equipment.

Fewer bubbles is one thing Young enjoys, he said, because the fish are less afraid and he can get better photographs.

“I don’t really call it a sport, for me this is a hobby … one that I devote a lot of time to,” Young explained.

When he isn’t scuba diving just for the pleasure of it, he has been part of expeditions that produce maps and share information with the various scientific societies, including a project with a conservation group mapping the Mammoth cave (the longest cave in the world) in Kentucky. More than 400 miles have been recorded so far.

“Some passages end in water so the only way to continue mapping is for divers to come into it and do that,” he said. “We also collect biological data and help any way we can.”

Once, while working for the government of Mexico mapping cenotes (sinkholes), Young was looking for artifacts along the way. He was diving close to a pyramid in a little village in the middle of the jungle and found an intact vase later dated to 1,300 years old.

1,300-year-old intact vase.

“It took three years for a group to organize and go in and recover it,” he said, “and now it is in a museum.”

The thing about scuba diving that he thinks most people get wrong is that it would be really difficult or you have to be in good shape or a good swimmer.

“Those things are not true. You get in the water and get neutrally buoyant and it takes almost no power to move yourself though the water,” he said.

The way to start, he said, is to join a diving community.

“Arkansas has a good-sized diving community because we have excellent lakes to learn how to dive in,” he said. “Someone helped us in the beginning and we try to help a lot of people advance their diving, as well. When people get better at scuba, then they start to travel and dive more in other places.”

Beaver Lake is one of his favorite local spots. Most people enjoy boating and fishing, but have no idea what is below the surface he said.

“You get to go down and look at things and there is this huge forest you can swim through,” he said. “You are completely weightless and go along, like visiting a chapel; it’s like one of those places on earth that are peaceful. It has a cave feel – no reason to rush, take your time, you are in the moment.”

When a diver becomes known through a consensus of peers as an expert, a certain responsibility comes along with it, he reflected. He is listed on cave rescue and dive rescue lists.

“We have gotten a few people out of close situations, but sometimes you also get a call for a recovery,” he said. “It’s a difficult situation to be in, but I do it for the family that needs closure. I feel I have an obligation to do it.”

The day Young was stuck in the gravel pit, he said, if it had happened to him on his first dive, he most likely wouldn’t have made it. But through regular certification and building up of his skill level, he has become able to perform more difficult dives.

“It’s like most of life,” he said. “If you panic, you are going to make bad choices and so that is the primary thing … you have to remain calm and not allow your environment to influence you.”

When not doing interviews for magazines, Young can be found at the bottom of deep dark caves not panicking, but smiling with joy.

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EDITORIAL

Entertainment Fort Smith endorses the plan for our public library Vote Yes – for the power of knowledge and the progress of our city

F

rom the founding of this magazine in 2000, co-publishers Linda Seubold and Lynn Wasson were convinced Fort Smith would support a quality city/regional publication because we already knew its public library was strong and appreciated. Library users and our audience are the same – inquisitive, intelligent citizens who value information and enjoy reading.

Only 14 years after we began publishing, reading is enjoyed on many new kinds of digital devices, as well as on paper. Entertainment and information take the form of literature, news, film, music and art now delivered in diverse ways. Our Fort Smith Public Library has kept pace with those changes, even though it has been operating on the same millage of property tax support since 1957 and now serves a population of 87,650 city residents rather than the 52,991 who lived here then.

With the single mill now in effect, the average Fort Smith homeowner pays about $20 a year ($1.66 a month) in real property tax to support the Fort Smith Public Library. With the additional 2 mills this election can establish, the average homeowner would pay about $60 a year ($5 a month) to support the Fort Smith Public Library system.

The Fort Smith Public Library and its three neighborhood branches and services are open to every one of those citizens, almost every day. We think library users receive many times more than $5 a month in value.

Because of decades of careful stewardship of the Fort Smith Public Library by citizens and librarians, today it is serving 83,450 registered borrowers.

Each day, they and any new users who obtain a free library card have access not only to books, but computers, digital materials and also to the programs

Vote

YES

created by the excellent library staff. At the main library’s outstanding Genealogy Department, both librarians and experienced genealogists who do research there are able to assist those who are new to the study of ancestry.

At the younger end of the spectrum, on many mornings toddlers can be seen – and heard – enthusiastically enjoying Story Time and other children’s programs. The study rooms, computer stations and WiFi signal are heavily used by young people who depend on the library’s resources.

For the life of this magazine, hundreds of daily events and stories originating at our libraries have filled our calendar and feature pages. With column inches as her measuring stick, senior editor Donna Payne can attest that the library is the busiest center of activity in Fort Smith.

We’re anticipating even more exciting things at the library such as a new “Maker Space” with 3-D printing capabilities. The plans on the opposite page brim with potential new benefits. And it is all available for the price of – how about free? A free library card is available to every Fort Smith resident or property owner.

“Great Libraries Make A Great Community” is the campaign slogan for this important Aug. 12 election. At this magazine, we believe in our great community and excellent library system. We urge every voter to join us in voting “Yes” to supporting and sustaining the library now and in the future.

– The Editors

Aug. 4 Town Hall information meeting 6:30 p.m. Main Library Community Room, 3201 Rogers Avenue Aug. 5-11 Early voting Sebastian County Courthouse, 35 South 6th Street Aug. 7 Town Hall information meeting 6:30 p.m. Windsor Branch Library, 4701 Windsor Drive

Aug. 12

Aug. 8 Town Hall information meeting Noon. Main Library Community Room, 3201 Rogers Avenue Aug. 12 Election Day

Ward 1 Creekmore Park Community Center Rogers Avenue and South 31st Street Ward 2 Windsor Branch Library 4701 Windsor Drive Ward 3 Southside Senior Activity Center 2700 Cavanaugh Road Ward 4 East Side Baptist Church 2710 Massard Road

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EDITORIAL

What voting “YES” can gain This initiative is the culmination of a strategic planning process involving library leadership, Library Board of Trustees, Friends of the Library Board, Library Endowment Advisory Council and other library stakeholders. It is an ambitious and progressive plan intended to change our community and chart a new future for our citizens through an expanded and enhanced public library.

Who benefits from this plan? There is something of value for every member of our community, from young to old, north side to south side and economically challenged to affluent.

The plan for increased funding touches every aspect of library resources and services. It is a combination of expanding and enhancing existing library resources and services and new and often innovative resources and services that citizens might not even realize public libraries can offer.

Enhancement, addition and innovation will take place in six areas: Maintenance of Infrastructure and Facilities Funding for repair, replacement, addition and/or reconfiguration of physical elements of the library buildings and grounds – Replace the chiller at the Main Library – Replace the A/C units at all three branches – Resurface parking lots at all locations – Furniture and shelving – Convert to energy-efficient lighting – Upgrade security systems at all locations – Replace library cargo van (2000), passenger van (1996) and truck (1997) – Convert traditional systems to energy-efficient/”green” systems – Add study rooms to the Main Library – Add soundproofing to existing study rooms Enhance Physical Resources These are defined as traditional books, magazines, audiobooks, DVDs and other materials used inside the library or checked out with a library card.

– Offer more books, audiobooks and DVDs – Lease copies of best sellers to better meet demand – Expand special collections such genealogy, large print, Spanish and Vietnamese language books and materials.

More Digital Resources These are electronic resources accessible via computer, tablet or smartphone. They generally are accessible inside the library or from outside 24/7 by logging in with a library card.

– More digital magazine titles through Zinio – More eBooks and downloadable audiobooks through Library2Go – Expand resources from TumbleBook Library – Add new eBook offerings such as Disney Digital, Sesame Street books online, BookFlix and Safari computer/technology books online.

– Offer Netflix-style streaming video – Add new digital resources including: • Live online tutoring and homework help • Resume/cover letter/job hunting help • Business plan development • Consumer law (forms, contracts, etc.)

• Corporate intelligence, competition analysis and marketing research • Hundreds of full-text, searchable newspapers – Online video software tutorials – Additional genealogy research databases • Fold3 • HistoryGeo.com • Americanancestors.org

New Technology Resources Defined as the computer-based foundation for effective use of physical and digital resources and facilities – Update, upgrade, expand current technology – Add computers for children, teens and adults – Upgrade Internet speed, improve WiFi – Update and add software for library users – Upgrade and redesign the library website – Add online payments services – A mobile app to direct users to digital resources – Upgrade the Community Room A/V system – Microfilm-to-digital conversion of newspapers and other historical materials – Print-to-digital archives conversion of one-of-a-kind print materials such as photographs and funeral home records – Replace digital signage systems – Kindle/iPad/laptop checkout for in-library or outside library use More Customer Service and Community Outreach – Expand the home delivery service for home-bound customers – Convert the bookmobile to a “storybook bus” that visits preschools, day cares, and Head Start facilities – Add Redbox-style kiosks for books and DVDs – Add “maker space” resources – technology such as 3-D printers, video camera and editing software, VHS to digital conversion equipment and more – Add customer self-checkout stations – Bring more and bigger name authors to the library for public programs and workshops – Upgrade the library’s property to RFID for improved tracking – Increase the open hours of the Barbara Jones Walker Genealogy and Arkansas History Collection to match the Main Library hours – Expand classes for the public on computers and digital technology An Investment in Library Staff Voting “YES” can improve all aspects of hiring, training, developing, and retaining quality staff to manage and offer existing, expanded and new initiatives.

– Expand staff opportunities for staff development and training – Salary survey to assess current salaries and responsibilities – Add new positions in every department and location to support the expanded resources and programs

Source: LibrariesChangeLives.us, where complete details of this ballot issue can be read.

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DESIGNER NOTES

The Goods gives old furniture a fresh look and a new home

S

herry Goodrum rarely meets a piece of furniture that she doesn’t like. Owner of The Goods in Fort Smith, Goodrum is in the business of giving outdated furniture new life. Her store features many items that have been overhauled with a fresh coat of paint, a unique upholstery job, or spruced up with decorative hardware, giving it a modern new look and several more good years of use in a home.

Since opening in September 2012, Goodrum’s business has grown significantly, as refurbishing hand-me-down pieces has become the “it” thing to do. The Goods sells a number of “recycled” desks, chairs and ottomans picked up at thrift stores or given to Goodrum by friends and family.

“When I first started my business, people would call and say, ‘I have this or that you can have,’ and I would go pick it up,” said Goodrum. Now, many items are brought to her, with customers requesting a particular style or color for their used furniture. “I do a lot of custom orders,” said Goodrum. “It is so rewarding to, in a sense, bring these pieces back.”

As her reputation for beautiful recreations grew, so did the need for more space.

The Goods relocated from its original location to a larger shop just around the corner on Dodson Avenue in May 2013. “We celebrated one year in our new store just a few months ago,” explained Goodrum. “It has been a blessing to have this larger area to work and display our items. Plus, we have more traffic here, which is great for business.”

Goodrum now shares her tricks of the trade, offering painting classes for customers

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wanting to revamp their own furniture.

Participants bring items from home in need of a makeover and, under Goodrum’s guidance, learn techniques for using the chalk-based paint to restore their items.

“I provide all of the paints and supplies they need, and serve them pizza and soda,” said Goodrum. “They actually do the painting

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DESIGNER NOTES themselves and go home with a completely transformed piece. It is a lot of fun.”

Participants can bring most anything they want to overhaul, as long as they can carry it in and out themselves. Customers have refurbished everything from nightstands and end tables, to dining chairs and stools. One-onone courses, as well as classes for up to six people, are available.

This summer, Goodrum utilized her talents outside of the store, designing an entire wedding ceremony and reception for a family friend.

“The theme was a play on the show ‘Gilmore Girls,’ with a vintage twist,” said Goodrum.

Working alongside her daughter Amy, she incorporated pieces from her shop in hues of yellow and gray throughout the venue. The two designed a photo booth using a covered bench, pennant banner and coordinating props. The wedding also featured an array of summer florals, including tulips, sunflowers, baby’s breath and wild flowers. It was a unique undertaking for Goodrum and good practice for her daughter, who is branching out into the field of interior and event design professionally. The two have plans to work in conjunction with one another on future projects.

In addition to customized furniture, The Goods offers a wide range of home decor and gifts, including clocks, mirrors, serving dishes and hand towels. The widely popular “worded” throw pillows are also available, featuring sweet and humorous sayings. The store also carries a wide selection of chalk-based paint for those wanting to try their hand at refurbishing.

The Goods, 1809 Dodson Avenue, Fort Smith.

Tues-Fri 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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home & garden goodies Four-string, hourglass mountain dulcimer from Abilities Unlimited.

Decorative figurine fan, galvanized cold beverage dispenser and indoor/outdoor lady bug rug found at Jennifer's at Sparks.

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Greenleaf reed diffusers, sprays and sachets for baby's room available at Coleman's Pharmacy.

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home & garden goodies

Beau Jardin porcelain slim jar with cover found at Main Street Interiors.

TailGator portable, gas-powered blender, Lolita margarita glass and Jose Cuervo margarita mix and salt from In Good Spirits.

Chocolate brown storage ottoman available at Furniture Emporium.

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home & garden goodies

Stephen Joseph Sidekicks backpacks and lunch pals available at Inscriptions.

Elope party hats in crazy styles from Marcia Cooksey Interiors.

Scented wax melts and candles by Goose Creek and Crossroads found at Yard Sale Find Design.

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home & garden goodies

Handmade ceramic vase by el Poyeton found at Jo Waite Interiors.

Lighting for inside and out available at Sutherlands.

Letters cut from books from Creative Furnishings by Jean.

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home & garden goodies Baby back ribs, chorizo and polish sausages, pork tenderloin, center cut pork chops and St. Louis ribs available at Paul's Meat Market.

Decorative and functional hanging birdfeeders found at Neumeier Nursery & Florist.

Nest definition pillow, child’s shabby chic chair and Patty's Mission Monkeys to support Southern Baptist missions from The Goods.

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WHAT’S COOKING with KRISTAN ROLAND

Key Limes, Oh My! KEY LIME ICE BOX CAKE 8 oz. block cream cheese, softened to room temperature 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk 4 tbsp. key lime juice 12-15 graham cracker sheets 8 oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 stick salted butter, slightly softened 11⁄4 cup granulated sugar, divided 2 large eggs 3 tbsp. lime zest 11⁄2 cup all purpose flour 1 ⁄4 tsp. baking soda 1 ⁄4 tsp. baking powder 1 ⁄4 cup plus 2 tbsp. key lime juice, divided 1 ⁄4 cup plus 2 tbsp. buttermilk Glaze: 1 ⁄2 cup powdered sugar 2 tsp. key lime juice Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour one 8 .5-x-4.5-inch loaf pan and set aside.

Cream butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar in the bowl of your mixer on medium speed for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then mix in the lime zest.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. In another bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of

the lime juice and the buttermilk. W ith the mixer on medium, add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, starting and ending with flour mixture. Pour into the loaf pan, smooth and bake for about 45 minutes or until browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs but no batter.

W hile the cake bakes, cook the remaining 1/ 4 cup granulated sugar with the remaining 1/ 4 cup lime juice in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. W hen the cake is done, let it cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and place on a cooling rack set over a pan. Spoon syrup mixture over the cake and let it cool completely.

In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and lime juice to make glaze. Spread over the top of cake.

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Family Style.

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Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap. Set aside.

In the bowl of your mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.

Add sweetened condensed milk and beat on medium, until smooth and combined, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

Add key lime juice and beat until combined.

Cover bottom of pan with graham crackers, breaking up or slightly overlapping as needed. Top with a layer of key lime filling – use about a q uarter of the filling and spread evenly. Repeat layers, ending with graham crackers.

Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove top layer of plastic wrap and carefully turn ice box cake onto a plate.

Remove remaining plastic wrap. Frost with whipped topping and serve.

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KEY LIME ECLAIRS

Pastry: 1 ⁄2 cup salted butter 1 tbsp. granulated sugar 1 cup water 1 cup plus 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour 4 large eggs, whisked Key Lime Cream: 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 2 large egg yolks 1 ⁄4 cup key lime juice 1 cup heavy cream (cold) Glaze: 2 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped 1 ⁄4 cup heavy cream 1 cup powdered sugar Heat oven to 400. Butter a baking sheet or spray with nonstick spray and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks and key lime juice. Cook until it's very hot but not boiling, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and strain through a sieve into a bowl. Refrigerate about an hour.

In a medium saucepan, heat butter, sugar, salt and water over medium heat until the butter is melted. Do not boil. Add all the flour and stir until it forms a stiff batter. Stir until the mixture starts to look more like a dough. Continue stirring for several minutes until it becomes matte and leaves a film on the bottom of the pan.

Transfer dough to the bowl of a mixer. Mix on medium low for one minute. Add whisked eggs gradually then increase speed to medium high and beat just until dough is glossy.

Using a pastry bag with a 1-inch round tip, pipe strips that are about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the pastries start to turn golden brown, then turn oven down to 325 and continue baking until entirely brown.

Remove and poke a small hole in each pastry to let steam escape. Let cool completely on the pans set on wire racks.

Place a metal mixing bowl and your mixer's whisk attachment in your freezer for about 5 minutes. Pour the cold cream in the bowl and whisk on high until a thick whipped cream is formed. Fold into the chilled key lime custard until no streaks remain. Split eclair shells and fill with key lime custard.

Microwave chocolate and cream for about a minute, stirring every 20 seconds until completely melted. Add powdered sugar and whisk until smooth. Let cool and thicken slightly, then spoon over eclairs. Store in refrigerator.

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GARDENING with REBA

Volunteers make our parks and greenspaces better You can help, too

By Reba Mize

W

here can you ride a 1935 Ferris Wheel and a vintage carousel or take your dog off leash to run free in a safe environment? Fort Smith parks offer that treat plus the outdoor green arena where we watch Blues greats and Fourth of July fireworks. All over town, there are parks facilities tempting us to take a walk, jump in for a swim or watch a movie under the stars.

These green spaces belong to us, the citizens. Access to wellmaintained parks enhances our health and well-being and even increases property values. Maintaining these assets is a huge job. That’s where citizens can come become active partners. The Fort Smith Parks Department’s “Adopt a Median, Flower Bed or Park” program is looking for a few good men, women, young people, businesses or organizations to adopt a spot and care for it. At the parks offices, appropriately located in Creekmore Park, Aaron Lee, department executive secretary, explained.

“Our goal is to have every park, green space and flower bed adopted by some caring individuals. Is there a place on your way to work or in your neighborhood that you could take a few hours a month or do even a one-time project to tend?” she asked.

Most of us are familiar with Creekmore and Carol Ann Cross parks, the city’s two largest. But when I visited the Park Departments website, I was surprised at the diversity of our parks, green spaces, trails and bikeways. I didn’t know about Powers’ Point Canoe Access on Riverfront Drive.

Steve Yaney, former president of the River Valley branch of the Arkansas Canoe Club and club members took it upon themselves to develop this unique site on the Arkansas River.

“We partnered with businesses and individuals to create a place where you can put your canoe or kayak in the Arkansas River and be a part of the Arkansas Water Trail System,” he explained.

The park department will soon see the extension of its riverfront Rice Carden Levee Trail, which will include covered rest shelters with bench seating – good potential locations for adoption.

Some volunteer efforts of note include work at the Ruth Armstrong Nature Area at Rogers Avenue and Old Greenwood Road. Many volunteers have worked hundreds of hours to clear invasive vegetation and lay new walking trails. The Fishback neighborhood association helped to create and now tends the rail bed trail that leads to Creekmore Park.

As I was looking at the list of parks, I became intrigued and decided to do a little exploring. I realized I had never seen many of these parks even though I have lived here all my life. What in the world is Compass Park?

Turns out it is a great big compass built into the ground at 100 North A Street. Harley A. Wilson Park is a beautiful, tree-shaded area with covered picnic tables and basketball courts. It is a great place for a get-together.

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The canoe put-in is accessible from Riverfront Drive between North P Street and Williams Lane.

I was in the area so I drove out to see Powers’ Point Canoe Access just to see the sign, which is cleverly a canoe mounted on a pole. My next trip is going to be Massard Prairie Battlefield. A Civil War battle was fought here in 1864, interesting for many reasons but for me because of the participation of Native American troops. Fascinating.

If you hate litter and love making things tidy, there are green spaces where simple, volunteer trash pick-up makes all the difference. Many good folks already help anonymously. An adopter might take over the weeding chores to keep a flowerbed pretty. All the spaces are planted and watered by the parks department – not a volunteer responsibility.

In several parks, larger gifts such as seating or sculpture have been placed in memory of people, such as the bench dedicated by friends to preschool teacher Mrs. Ruth Howe at Carol Ann Cross Park.

Last month, a memorial was placed for Dr. Harry P. McDonald at Martin Luther King Park through the efforts of the Fort Smith

Harley A. Wilson Memorial Park at 801 North 8th Street.

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Historical Society, Lincoln Alumni Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the parks department.

You can even donate a living contribution through the city’s tree planting program and have a tree planted in a city park or at Oak Cemetery, named on a permanent “leaf ” tag.

Involving children is ideal. Kids have an inherent fascination with the outdoors and especially parks. A little work with a little playtime in the park as a reward can be quite inspiring.

Volunteering to adopt a spot is a way to disconnect from technology and stress and a reason to get outside regularly.

Fort Smith Parks and Recreation and the National Parks & Recreation Association wants everyone to go OUTside, get INspired, change your OUTlook and get INvolved. Out is in!

Our park system grew and our unique little Creekmore Express train runs with the help of many past volunteers, but new hands are needed always.

Dog lovers love the Dog Park. The Master Gardeners tend an herb garden. Rose lovers created an Anniversary Rose Garden.

Have a special spot you would like to adopt or some volunteer time to give? Contact Aaron Lee at the parks department, 479-784-2368.

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AUGUST 30

Swim, cycle, run!

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SPARKS KIDS TRIATHLON

exington Avenue will become a racetrack Aug. 30 as kids from the age of 3 to 14 compete in the Tri for Kids Triathlon at Marvin Altman Fitness Center.

The first 130 kids who sign up by Aug. 18 will receive a T-shirt and medal and take on the challenge of timed swimming, cycling and running against the times of their same-aged competitors. First-, second- and third-place prizes for boys and girls are awarded. The top athletes receive the coveted “bobble head” trophies, but everyone will have a good time, according to Bobby Harper, the Tri’s director and a trainer at Marvin Altman Fitness Center at Sparks Regional Medical Center.

“It’s fun to watch these little guys,” Harper said. “All four of our kids have done it.” Even toddlers may enter the 4-and-under division. Racers under age 6 may use kickboards or assistive devices in the pool. Many parents run alongside the youngest athletes on the street course, he said, and that’s OK. Competition is more independent in the 7- and 8-year-old and 9- and 10-year-old divisions and up. With a clear idea of how the race goes, these competitors jump into the indoor pool and swim 50 yards (7-8) or 100 yards (9-10), then run to their own bicycles outside. Donning socks, shoes and an approved bike helmet, they then cycle their proscribed distances one direction on (closed) Lexington Avenue, then run the final leg in other direction to be timed as they cross the finish line at the Fitness Center. Race wardens are students from Northside High School who keep it all safe.

To enter, pick up a registration form at MAFC and return by Aug. 18. Registration is $25 per child; $35 late entry by noon Aug. 22. Mail, deliver or fax forms to TRI for Kids Triathlon, MAFC, 810 Lexington Avenue, P.O. Box 2406, Fort Smith, Ark. 72902-2406. Pay by credit card at 479-785-4677. Fax 479-441-5045.

Packets may be picked up Aug. 29 from 5-8 p.m at MAFC. All bikes must be racked by 7:10 a.m. on race day. Mandatory pre-race meeting for racers and a parent must be attended at 7:15 a.m. Competition begins at 7:30 a.m.

Proceeds benefit the Gregory Kistler Treatment Center.

Details can be found on Facebook under “Fort Smith Arkansas Triathlons.”

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

BabyFlix is the brainchild of sonographer Brandy Jones, RDMS, RVT.

Anticipation is easier with BabyFlix

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he excitement that accompanies the anticipation of a new life coming into the world is electrifying. Everyone close to the parents-to-be is reveling in each milestone before and after the birth. Expectant parents are likely reading books, following their baby’s progress and savoring each nudge from the little being growing inside. A new way parents can get a little closer to their baby during pregnancy is offered at BabyFlix, an elective ultrasound service.

BabyFlix is the brainchild of sonographer Brandy Jones, RDMS, RVT. “BabyFlix is a happy place. Parent-to-be have an opportunity to find out the gender of their baby as early as 16 weeks and the ultrasound only lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.

We give expecting parents much more than the gender of their baby because we can take pictures of their baby’s hands, feet, face and profile, as well as the cute things we catch the baby doing such as smiling and sucking their thumb or toes,” Jones said.

BabyFlix offers elective 3D/4D ultrasound images from their portable ultrasound machine.

The portable scanner gives the expectant couple, family and friends a chance to bond with the baby in the privacy of their own home or in the boutique.

A BabyFlix ultrasound can be held at baby showers, family gatherings and gender reveal parties. Instead of the usual games played at parties, the expecting mom stays the center of attention while introducing the guest of honor – the baby!

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Two styles of ultrasound photo and a plush Heartbeat toy with audio of the baby’s heart.

“I got the idea from elective ultrasounds being done in larger cities. But more than that, I have two daughters and I enjoyed my pregnancy and sharing it with my family. I wanted women and their families to have the opportunity to experience the joy of life together,” said Jones.

BabyFlix also is a trendy boutique that offers a variety of items for moms and babies.

The boutique side is operated by Jeannie Brakefield, a seamstress with 20 years of experience. The boutique has baby items custom-made by Brakefield, as well as products and clothing from popular brands such as the designer maternity clothing lines Lilac Clothing and Olian, which are made to wear during and after pregnancy and include garments designed for nursing mothers.

“I can make anything baby!” Brakefield said.

“I can custom make matching nursery items, car seat covers and canopies, as well as baby announcements, hospital door hangers and bring-home outfits. All you have to do is let me know your color scheme, a little about yourself and fabric pattern likes and dislikes.”

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

A custom-made door hanger.

Jeannie Brakefield custom makes items for the boutique, which also offers stylish maternity clothing.

Customers will find baby gifts galore. The forever keepsake Heartbeat bears and animals are unique. Jones will record the baby’s heartbeat into a player inside the bear so parents can listen to their baby’s heartbeat anytime.

Belly casts made out of plaster are popular gifts and can be custom-painted at the boutique by Brakefield. Or paint right onto skin with belly painting kits by Proud Body.

Other lines include nursing mom supplies by Motherlove and Earth Mama Angel Baby products for pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding. There are herbal teas for morning sickness and third-trimester calming.

BabyFlix offers packages that include a DVD, color printed pictures and a CD of 15 to 30 images for the parents to own and use as they wish. Ultrasounds are by appointment only. BabyFlix can schedule convenient weekend and evening appointments. Gift certificates also are available.

Baby Flix 8434 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith 479-289-5815, babyflixultrasound.com 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed-Fri or by appointment.

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health & beauty goodies

Hair products from the Aveda color conserve collection at Metropolis Salon.

Purses by Vera Bradley and Kavu from Designer Again.

Oakley Chamfer eyeglass frames found at Ennen Eye Center.

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health & beauty goodies

Pewter necklace and bracelets from Turkey found at Now and Then Shoppe.

Topsies, a stretchy flip flop sandal, in several styles at Luther Stem Pools and Spas.

The latest fashions from the 14 women’s and eight children’s boutiques at BrickCity Emporium.

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health & beauty goodies

Face a Face sunglasses new from Paris and La Loop eyewear holders from Dr. Steven Stiles Optometry.

Crochet dress with peek-a-boo waistline, matching teardrop necklace and open-weave wedges found at Unique Boutique.

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Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts skin products available at Vanity Calls.

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health & beauty goodies One-of-a-kind pendant made by Spark Creations available at Newton's Jewelers.

Chunky cross necklace by Liza Kim and Old Gringo boots from Red Leopard.

Motherlove herbal care products for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies found at Baby Flix.

Dr. Udouj can help you achieve that picture perfect smile you’ve always wanted.

Dr. John Udouj is a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), specializing in the latest cosmetic techniques. www.perfectingyoursmile.com

Graduate of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.

Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

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health & beauty goodies

Delicate inspirational jewelry with charms from the boutique at Salon Elements.

Brighton's customizable jewelry with 16 color options available at The Purple Plume

Leather Tano hobo with side pockets in lemon found at Fashion Boutique.

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OUTDOORS

Blanchard Springs Caverns displays every type of calcite formation found in limestone caves, including delicate, hollow soda straws to massive flowstones and stalagmites. One tour, the Dripstone Trail, is accessible to wheelchairs. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Parks & Tourism Department.

Cool off in a cavern – visit an Arkansas show cave

W

hen the weather turns hot, some travelers look for escapes from the heat and humidity. One way to survive sweltering temperatures is to seek shade underground, in an Arkansas show cave.

Eight properties around the state offer a chance to see the underside of the surface and are open for tours for individuals or groups.

A recent health threat for native bats has caused the precaution of cave closures until 2019, to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome to the cave-dwelling, flying mammals. However, the closures do not affect eight Arkansas show caves, which remain open to visitors.

“While the Forest Service has found sources in the state, they haven’t been found here. We have 100,000 bats in our cave and they’re all doing well. All show caves are open, across the state and across the country, and we are good stewards of our caves and our bats,” says Dennis Boyer of War Eagle Caverns.

Mystic Caverns was first discovered as a sinkhole in 1830 and in its early days was used by moonshiners as a discreet place to distill liquor. In the 1960s, it was a popular concert venue, and for many years it was operated in conjunction with Dogpatch USA. Crystal Dome was discovered by mistake in 1967 when the property was being cleared of rocks. Its interior includes many white outgrowths and formations.

Caves are especially amazing in the summer because of their natural air conditioning. They have a constant temperature year-round and the warmer it is outside, the cooler it feels.

Blanchard Springs Caverns near Mountain View offers a spectacular experience for visitors. Operated by the U.S. Forest 42

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Service, this living limestone cave has three levels of explored trails.

Two highly developed and lighted trails are open to visitors. A "Wild Cave" tour at Blanchard Spring Caverns allows access to undeveloped parts of the cave to more adventurous visitors. These explorations must be arranged in advance and require special gear.

Guides explain and teach about the different cave formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and rimstone dams, among other wonders. One of the tour routes allows access to wheelchairs and strollers, with strong assistance to navigate only a few sets of steps.

Contact the park at 870-757-2211 for arrangements. Reservations are recommended for all visitors.

If you go, consider taking a light jacket; the temperature difference between summer’s heat and cave cool can be considerable, with temperatures under 60 degrees.

Courtesy of the Arkansas Parks & Tourism Department See Arkansas.com/places-to-go/caves-caverns for a guide.

Blanchard Springs Caverns, Mountain View blanchardsprings.org Bull Shoals Caverns, Bull Shoals bullshoalscaverns.com Cosmic Cavern, Berryville cosmiccavern.com Hurricane River Cave, Pindall hurricanerivercaverns.com Mystic Caverns/Crystal Dome, Marble Falls mysticcaverns.com Old Spanish Treasure Cave, Sulphur Springs spanish-treasure-cave.com Onyx Cave, Eureka Springs onyxcaveeurekasprings.com War Eagle Cavern, Rogers wareaglecavern.com

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At 2,753 feet, Mount Magazine is the height of vacationing in Arkansas – literally. $#"! "! ! ! "! !" ! "" ! " ! ! #"! " ! " ! " ! " ! ! ! ! ! #" ! " ! ! ! ! ! ! ! " ! " " ! ! ! #!# ! ! " #! ! #"! "! !

1-877-665-6343 MountMagazineStatePark.com

One of Arkansas’s five state park lodges.

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MUSIC & performance

Aug. 1 Homecoming Gospel Celebration Gospel music favorites by Oklahoma Glory Bound and friends. Free. 7 p.m. King Opera House, 427 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-2426 vanburen.org Aug. 1-2 Australian Bee Gees Show The Australian Bee Gees Show is a tribute band to the legendary Bee Gees group – the most successful brother group in music. The tribute performers impersonate the Bee Gees with their authentic take on the brothers’ fashion, style and moves. The 75-minute concert covers famous hits like “Staying Alive,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Jive Talkin’.” $20. 8 p.m. Center Stage, Choctaw Casino, 3400 Choctaw Road off of I-54, Pocola, Ok. ticketmaster.com Aug. 2 Summer Concert Series - Beer & Chicken Band The Beer & Chicken Band entertain at this outdoor community concert. Take lawn chairs. $5. 8 p.m.

Donald W. Reynolds Community Center Amphitheater, 105 Reynolds Avenue, Poteau, Okla. 918-647-9178 poteauchamber.com

FSLT talented actors, singers and dancers are workin’ 9 to 5’s catchy tunes and comedy Oppressed and mistreated by a boss who is a lecher, a liar and egotistical male chauvinist, three women stumble into a crazy plan to put him in his place. The story was first a success as a 1980 movie. “9 to 5” was transformed into a Broadway hit in 2009, with music and lyrics written by Dolly Parton, who wrote the original title tune and took the film role of Doralee, who laments in the musical that because of her beauty her boss see her as a “Backwoods Barbie.”

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The sexist boss, Mr. Hart, also disregards and takes advantage of Violet’s business competence, although Violet looks down on Doralee, believing her to be the boss’ girlfriend.

The play opens on the first day in the office for shy Judy, who has become a working woman for the first time after spending her life as the stay-at-home spouse of a businessman who has a lot of the worst qualities of her new boss.

When Violet mistakenly believes she has accidentally poisoned their boss (after daydreaming of doing just that), the three women discover they all have a reason for revenge. After imprisoning him in his own home, their scheme is to run the company in a far more enlightened way without him. But he can’t be kept out of sight forever. What will the three plucky women do?

The musical is directed by George Mann and Dwight Curry and stars Nancy Blochberger (Violet), Molly Armour (Doralee), Alisha Smedley (Judy) and Steve Dwiggins (Mr. Hart) with a singing, dancing cast.

Tickets $15. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1-2, 6-9; 2 p.m. Aug. 3 and 10. Fort Smith Little Theatre, 401 North 6th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-2966 fslt.org

Aug. 2 Lady D's Musical Birthday for Children's Emergency Shelter Lady D (Denise Messamore) and other musicians perform to benefit the Fort Smith Children’s Emergency Shelter. All musical donations, tips and sales of CES "Shelter from the Storm" CDs will go to help the children’s shelter. Beef O’Brady’s is also donating 20 percent of all patio and event-related sales to the shelter. Free admission. 7-10 p.m. Beef O’Brady's, 12200 U.S. 71 South, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-9464 childrensemergencyshelter.org Aug. 3 Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers Featuring Edie Brickell Now with multiple Grammys for his banjo music, comedian, actor and filmmaker Steve Martin tours as a talented musician. Joined by the Steep Canyon Rangers and folk singer Edie Brickell, Martin received a Grammy for their song “Love Will Come for You.” $69-$89. Walmart AMP, 5079 West Northgate Road, Rogers, Ark. 479-443-5600 arkansasmusicpavilion.com Aug. 7 Gospel Artists The Isaacs in Concert The Isaacs are mother Lily Isaacs and siblings Ben, Sonya and Rebecca. Theirs is a unique style that blends tight family harmony with contemporary acoustic instrumentation. Their musical style has been influenced by bluegrass, rhythm and blues, folk, country, contemporary, acoustic and Southern gospel.

Tickets are available online or Larry's Pizza. $15. 7 p.m. Larry's Living Room, Larry's Pizza, 6400 U.S. 71 South, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-242-2400 at iTickets.com Aug. 9 Summer Concert Series - Dead Snake Road Poteau's Summer Concert Series presents the Dead Snake Road band. Take lawn chairs. $5. 8 p.m. Donald W. Reynolds Community Center, 105 Reynolds Avenue, Poteau, Okla. 918-647-9178 poteauchamber.com

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MUSIC & PERFORMANCE Aug. 9 Vernie Heydenreich and Family Gospel Music Gospel music performed by the Bilderbacks, the Heydenreich Family, the Parnells and One Step Away.

Free admission but a love offering will be taken. 5 p.m.

Greenwood Performing Arts Center, 515 East Gary Street, Greenwood, Ark. 479-420-7326 Aug. 14-16 Eureka Springs Bluegrass Festival Mr. Big’s Bluegrass Family reunion starts with a watermelon social and continues with free music at Basin Street Park and shows featuring Melvin Goins and Karl Shiflett & Big Country. Downtown Eureka Springs, Ark. 479-253-7333 eurekasprings.org Aug. 15 Boston at the AMP The ’70s supergroup Boston’s “Heaven on Earth” tour.

Boston emerged in 1976 with “More Than A Feeling” and “Peace of Mind.” $24-$79. Walmart AMP, 5079 West Northgate Road, Rogers, Ark. 479-443-5600 arkansasmusicpavilion.com Aug. 16 Summer Concert Series – Jay Falkner Band Poteau's final Summer Concert Series show features the Jay Falkner Band. Take lawn chairs. $5. 8 p.m.

Donald W. Reynolds Community Center Amphitheater, 105 Reynolds Avenue, Poteau, Okla. 918-647-9178 poteauchamber.com Aug. 16 J.R.'s County Gospel Variety Show Fun-filled uplifting gospel music variety show that will warm your heart. $5. 7 p.m. King Opera House, 427 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-2426 vanburen.org Aug. 23 Rock the River for Hannah House At Arkansas’ largest annual Christian Music festival, almost 20 artists from across the nation will take the stage as they “rock for life” in order to raise awareness and financial support for Hannah House. Building 429 headlines with the groups Disciple, Manafest and Manic Drive with many more national and local artists. $20 advance; $25 at the door; $10 4-12 years old; $35 VIP, $40 at door. 11 a.m. Fort Smith Convention Center, Rogers Avenue and South 9th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-782-5683 rocktheriver.com Aug. 23 Lost In The ’50s: Nashville in Van Buren This “Lost in the ’50s” music show features Jennifer Ford, a top Nashville Patsy Cline tribute artist. The program is a fundraiser for the Wounded Warriors.

Lost in the ’50s singers open the show, which includes 26 songs from Patsy Cline's career. $10. 6 p.m. King Opera House, 427 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-649-8803 vanburen.org Sept. 11-13 2nd Annual Medicine Stone Event creators Jason Boland & The Stragglers and Turnpike Troubadours plays with Cody Canada & The Departed, Shinyribs, American Aquarium, Reckless Kelly, Micky & The Motorcars, The Great Divide, Jason Eady, Corb Lund, Dirty River Boys, Brandon Jenkins, Randy Crouch, Red Dirt Rangers and more. Tickets online. Diamondhead Resort, 12081 Oklahoma 10, Tahlequah, Okla. www.medicinestoneok.com August 2014

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MUSIC & PERFORMANCE

Rib Room rocks live on summer nights Aug. 1-2 The 17th Floor Well-known to Fort Smith fans, The 17th Floor stages a blend of hip-hop and R&B. $10. 8 p.m.

Aug. 7 Jonathan Tyler with The Soft White Sixties Tyler is a Dallas band pairing rock with roll – with papa and mama blues along for the ride. The Soft White Sixties play working-class soul and made the Top 25 list at SXSW. $5. 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 14 Whiskey Myers with Tennessee Jet The Whiskey Myers band is “grand Southern eclectic” pulling in an array of influences and seamlessly mingling them. Pick up traces of everything from grunge to rockabilly in one set. Nashville’s Tennessee Jet opens. $15, $20. 7 p.m.

Aug. 15-16 Fly By Radio Birmingham’s female-fronted rock band. $10. 8 p.m.

Aug. 21 Cody Johnson with Sam Riggs & The Night People Straight from Texas dance halls, Cody Johnson blends country and rock. He comes from a place where you must know the tradition but add your own originality.

The great Ray Wylie Hubbard calls Sam Riggs & The Night People “honest country” and says he writes “lyrics that matter.” $10. 7 p.m.

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The 17th Floor Aug. 22-23 The Klocks A Fort Smith favorite party band plays to benefit the Fallen Officer Memorial Fund of the Fort Smith Municipal Police Association. $10. 8:15 p.m.

Aug. 29 Backroad Anthem Rising new country band Backroad Anthem roared out of Fayetteville a couple of years ago, performing their brand of country. $10. 7:30 p.m.

The Rib Room is wired up. Check the webpage, Facebook or tweets to learn the latest. Tickets and reservations can be obtained online for many shows Get bulletins about barbecue availability and ages admitted for each show. Neumeier’s Rib Room and Beer Garden, 817 Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith. 479-494-7427 ribroom.com

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MUSIC & PERFORMANCE

The best seats in town All season tickets are available now The area’s finest bills of entertainment have been announced by the Fort Smith Symphony, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith’s Season of Entertainment, the Van Buren Fine Arts Center and the UAFS Blue Lion, along with the Alma Performing Arts Center and Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. The variety and value of this year’s performance season is impressive. Season ticket buyers or those who select individual shows will have a wealth of choices for nights out at the theater.

Fort Smith Symphony The Fort Smith Symphony is in its 91st year, the venerable elder of all Fort Smith cultural events. Musical director John Jeter and the more than 100-piece orchestra will be joined by special guests in their presentation of six concerts, beginning Oct. 4 with “Musical Kaleidescope,” showcasing the many “colors” of the orchestra with John Adams’ thrilling Short Ride on a Fast Machine and Ravel’s Bolero. The program also includes Rachmaninoff ’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, op. 43 John Jeter with guest artist Gleb Ianov on piano.

The cimbalom, or concert hammered dulcimer, will be played by guest artist Lawrence Kaptain for Suite from “Hary Janos” by Kodaly.

Season tickets are on sale now. Adults tickets are $170 and $125; students $100 and $80. Single tickets are available Sept. 2. Tickets may be purchased at 479-452-7575, by mail or at the Fort Smith Symphony office, Suite 617 at Central Mall.

Dancing Pros Live

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Season of Entertainment Catch all the Broadway that comes to Fort Smith with a Season of Entertainment subscription ticket.

Touring Broadway shows “Anything Goes,” “Stomp” and “Jekyll and Hyde” are on the bill. The season is highlighted by a new show called “Dancing Pros Live,” a live dancing competition in which the audience picks the winner.

UAFS musical groups will present six performances throughout the year, and Theatre at UAFS will also perform an original production and a Shakespeare play as part of the season schedule.

Season tickets are $180 and go on sale Aug. 1. Individual tickets go on sale Sept. 1 at the UAFS Box Office in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, 479-788-7300 or uafs.universitytickets.com.

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Van Buren Fine Arts Center With seven shows from October to April, the Van Buren Arts Center has selected entertainment for every age and taste. Opening with the jazz trio Cutthroat Trout performing with Fort Smith’s Blue Fiddle, the audience will hear the strings to things that swing. Cutthroat Trout presents jazz, swing and gypsy stylings and Blue Fiddle, traditional Irish music.

There are two great country acts, Diamond Rio and Travis Tritt, plus the Travis Tritt popular musical Beatles tribute Liverpool Legends.

Two performances by the Van Buren High School drama department include the musical “The Little Mermaid.” Van Buren Fine Arts Centers’ season ticket package provides the best value for three or more shows. Season ticket holders may pick the same or different seats all season. Buyers gain a 15 percent discount off face-value ticket costs. Prices vary by seating choice. Tickets are available online at vbsd.us/fac.

UAFS Blue Lion Downtown By taking over operation of the former Second Street Live theater, UAFS gained a new venue and created a new performance series in its intimate club setting. Barrett Baber, winner of the CBS Grammy Gig of a Lifetime, performs Nov. 7. The Chester Thompson Trio’s leader toured with Genesis and Phil Collins. That show is Jan. 23. On Feb. 4 is S. Sean Six, a classical guitarist who studied under Paul Mendy.

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Alma Performing Arts Center Australia’s Little River Band leads the 2014-15 Alma Performing Arts Center season with a concert Oct. 9. Their ’70s and ’80s hits included “Reminiscing” and “Lonesome Loser.” The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Golden Dragon Acrobats and The Lettermen are highlights of the season, which also includes “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” onstage. The complete season and ticket information can be found at almapac.org.

Walton Art Center A Broadway package of four shows – “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” “Slava’s Snowshow,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Camelot” and the musical “Once” can be purchased at a discount from the Walton Art Center’s lengthy roster of 2014-2015 choices. Upcoming shows include jazz great Wynton Marsalis, television’s Mythbusters and humorist David Sedaris.

Walton Art Center’s Box Office also offers tickets for the AMP, which has outdoor August concerts with Tim McGraw, Boston, Cheech & Chong and Foreigner on sale now.

WAC offers a “Create Your Own Subscription” option that allows buyers to save while also choosing their own entertainment.

Purchase online at tickets.waltonartscenter.org

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KIDS

Singing, playing, performing students star at the UAFS Academy of the Arts Youth music, art and performance has an address in Fort Smith – the Echols Building at UAFS fairly brims with acting, singing, dancing and playing kids and Academy of the Arts’ alumni are spreading far and wide into colleges and beyond.

Established in 2006, the Academy of the Arts is the single largest arts connection of the region, according to Rosilee Russell, its executive director. “The academy can connect a child to anything in the visual and performing arts they may want to learn,” she explained, taught by top-level instructors in their field who, most importantly, enjoy teaching young students.

Children may sing in choir and ensembles or take private voice lessons. Individual lessons are available for every band and orchestra instrument, including piano, along with instrument ensembles.

Preschoolers can begin to learn rhythm in Musikgarten, which prepares the ear for learning music. Music theory classes are available for young composers.

This level and wide span of arts instruction is exactly what Russell had as her vision when the Academy of the Arts was created with the university.

Dr. Rosilee Russell with some Academy students.

Russell holds a bachelor of music degree from Baylor University, a master of music degree and a doctorate of musical arts in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. While at Baylor, she was the recipient of the Van Cliburn Piano Scholarship and the Alpha Chi National Music Scholarship for graduate study. She became a professional performer and a music educator. At the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, she has been a music professor and artist in residence and performs as a solo concert pianist across the nation.

Valuing her own childhood musical instruction, she had a drive to offer learning opportunities to all children. As a music educator, she is also pleased that the academy is probably the single largest employer of UAFS students and employs many arts graduates, requiring them to meet a standard of excellence. Some UAFS music majors serve as interns.

The faculty is dedicated to develop the abilities of all interested students, from the amateur to the gifted.

Russell is a firm believer in the positive results a child gains from the study of music, drama and the visual arts.

She can instantly recite a list of the benefits of music and arts education on self-confidence and academic skills.

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KIDS Academy students receive a non-credit transcript from UAFS recording all the classes they have taken.

“If your child started here at age 5 and she stayed until she was 18, every semester she participated she gets a non-credit transcript to attach to her scholarship applications when she goes to college,” Russell explained. “We purposely set that up,” she said, to have similar standards as other preparatory programs, with the knowledge that such transcripts can be a positive factor in scholarship applications.

Russell is also particularly proud of the Youth Honor Symphony Orchestra. While regional schools offer band and some offer orchestra, none provide the full symphony orchestra experience. The by-audition Youth Honor Symphony Orchestra is one of only three in Arkansas and augments the experience these music students gain in local schools’ fine music programs.

Early registration is advised – approximately 300 children or more will participate in the academy’s fall term.

The busy summer program has just wrapped up its summer camps and musical theater stage performances. Fall term classes include private music lessons, Youth Honor Symphony Orchestra (admission by audition), choral programs, Musikgarten and the three age groups (grades 1-2, 3-6 and 7-12) of musical theater programs. Each program has recitals or on-stage performances at term’s end, including productions of Aristocat Kids, Peter Pan Jr. and The Sound of Music.

Academy classes for fall term begin in August and September.

Some scholarship tuition is available to students, made possible by the “modest” academy tuition, Russell said, and local donors, whose gifts go directly to scholarships for children.

“We want the academy to be available to all students,” she said.

Satellite Outreach Program Spreading the Arts Regionally About 300-400 other students are going to be served off-campus by the academy’s new satellite outreach program, which will be providing classes at almost 20 public schools in the surrounding region, on-site in afterschool classes. The outreach program began last year, Russell said.

“We have partnered with Fort Smith, Oklahoma and other Arkansas elementary schools to offer dance, choir and drama programs for thirdthrough sixth-graders, weekly, for a semester,” she explained. “It is funded by our private donors. It is free to these children and we’re reaching a whole host of under-served kids.”

Choir students will get to travel to the state Capitol to perform, as well as singing onstage at UAFS. The dance and drama students will perform at their schools for their families and classmates.

Parents will register their children at the participating schools.

Three schools were partners in the first year. Russell said as many as nine schools will be involved this year.

Both the academy programs and its satellite outreach classes have the same goal for students, Russell noted.

“We’re trying to help their focus – our ultimate goal is to get every child to college in something – not necessarily in the arts,” she said.

Registration is now open The extensive list of Academy of the Arts opportunities for the 2014-15 school year are detailed in its print catalog or website. Enrollment can be completed online or by mail. The enrollment office and classes are located at the UAFS Echols Building, 504 North Waldron Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-788-7251 uafs.edu/academy Students (right) in symphonic, theatrical and choral performances.

Photos by Glenn Gilley and courtesy of the UAFS Academy of the Arts.

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KIDS CALENDAR tory, 320 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-7841 fortsmithmuseum.com Aug. 4 Primetime Story Time: A Day at the Beach It’s August and time to head to the beach. This primetime story program will feature stories, crafts, refreshments and other fun about the ocean and the beach.

Free. 6 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 Aug. 4 Monday Movie Matinee This feature is about a teenager who is looking for the fabled Golden Fleece. Refreshments will be served.

Free. 1:30 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045

Annual Alice in Wonderland Tea Party Children and their caregivers are invited to the Miller Branch Library’s third annual Alice in Wonderland Tea Party. Pink lemonade and cookies will be served at this “fancy” party and the cartoon “Alice in Wonderland” will be shown afterward. Seating is limited; please call to reserve a spot. Free. 10 a.m. Miller Branch Library, 8701 South 28th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-3945 fortsmithlibrary.org

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Aug. 1 End of Summer Programs Party Summer Reading Program prizes will be given away during the party. The library will provide games, music, food and snow cones for everyone. Free. 10 a.m.-noon. Mountainburg Public Library, 1300 U.S. 71 North, Mountainburg, Ark. 479-369-1600 Aug. 1-Sept. 15 UAFS Academy of the Arts Fall Registration Children or teens my register now for fall classes. Activities are available for students ages 1-25 in music, theater, dance and art. Classes in the arts are offered for the beginner all the way to advanced-level training.

Classes begin in late August and early September. This year's line-up includes art classes, musical theater companies for all ages, preschool MusikGarten, Youth Orchestra Program for grades 4-age 25 and children's choir program. Private lessons are available in music (piano, voice, instrumental), music theory, history, composition and conducting, and in dance or drama.

In most cases, no previous experience is required. Call or go online for registration information and forms.

Tuition varies. UAFS Echols Building, 504 North Waldron Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-788-7253 uafs.edu/academy Aug. 2 Harvest Time Backpack Giveaway Children from kindergarten age to sixth grade may pick up a free backpack full of school supplies. Harvest Time has prepared and will give away the backpacks.

The child must be present to receive a backpack. Harvest Time in past years has given away as many as 3,000 backpacks and will accept donations of money or supplies to help provide the free backpack, which include crayons, washable markers, child-safe scissors, pencils, pens, wide-ruled notebook paper and 56 Entertainment Fort Smith August 2014

spiral notebooks, folders and three-ring binders. 10 a.m. Walmart Supercenters, 2424 Zero Street and 2100 North 62nd Street (Kelley Highway), Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-6001 harvesttime.net Aug. 2 Reptile Mania!

Have you ever wanted to see a rattlesnake up close?

Here is your chance. Join snake enthusiasts Brad Birchfield and Jeremy Sloan as they present reptiles from their extensive collection of native venomous and non-venomous snakes and a rescued juvenile alligator. The program addresses facts and myths about snakes and details conservation efforts in Arkansas.

Free. 1-3 p.m. Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Shepherd Springs Road, Mountainburg, Ark. 479-369-2469 Aug. 6-27 Preschool Story Time Ms. Yuvonka will have a story, songs and a craft for children. This is fun for preschool ages 3 and up. 9:30 and 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 2 History Lessons for Children Join volunteer Diane White for entertaining and educational history lessons. Children will learn about the founding and growth of the city that grew up around the military fort. Lessons include founding father John Rogers, famous soldier and explorer Gen. Benjamin Bonneville, legendary U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, early settlers and those who built businesses and made history in the city of Fort Smith. Activities accompany the lessons. Recommended for children 12 and younger accompanied by an adult. $5 adults, $2 children, under age 6 free. 1-2 p.m. Fort Smith Museum of His-

Aug. 5-26 Baby and Me Babies from birth to 3 years will enjoy finger plays, reading as a group, playing with bubbles, singing and making new friends. Free. 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 5 Game Day! Forbidden Island & Desert Games Join a team of fearless adventurers on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of this perilous paradise. Each team will work together and make some pulse-pounding maneuvers, as the island will sink beneath every step. Race to collect the treasures and make a triumphant escape before you are swallowed into the watery abyss. In the game Forbidden Desert, a thematic sequel to Forbidden Island, players take on the roles of brave adventurers who must throw caution to the wind and survive both blistering heat and blustering sand in order to recover a legendary flying machine buried under an ancient desert city. Refreshments will be served. Free. 1:30 p.m. Mulberry Public Library, 220 North Main Street, Mulberry, Ark. 479-997-1226 Aug. 6 Kiddy Kamps: “D” is for Deer Take your little ones (ages 4-7) for a two-hour miniday camp. Several fun activities will be planned just for their ages, ability and energy. A responsible parent or adult is required to stay on the premises. Registration is required. Free. 9-11 a.m. River Valley Nature Center, 8300 Wells Lake Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-452-3993 rivervalleynaturecenter.com Aug. 6 Back-to-School Nail Makeover In Memory of Leslie Creekmore Paint, pamper and polish your nails at the Back-toSchool Nail Makeover in the Youth Services Department at the main library. Materials will be provided, or feel free to bring your own. Enjoy chatting about your favorite books while getting creative with nail colors and designs. This event is held in memory of Leslie Creekmore. Free. 1-5 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org Aug. 7, 14 Movie Thursdays Enjoy a popular film. Free. 1:30 p.m. Mulberry Public Library, 220 North Main Street, Mulberry, Ark. 479-997-1226

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KIDS CALENDAR Aug. 7 Back to School Teen Craft Tweens and teens can design their own notebook for school. Free. 4 p.m. Cedarville Public Library, 737 Pirates Way, Cedarville, Ark. 479-410-1853

mated aircraft. This story is about flying fast and having the courage to overcome obstacles and fears. Refreshments will be served. Free. 1:30 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479474-6045

Aug. 8 Nature Nights: Back to School Bash Are you ready to go back to school? Youth of all ages are invited to join the education staff to get ready for a new school year. Students will create wildlife journals to set goals for watching wildlife throughout the year and create several back-to-school art projects, including nature-related backpack tags, wildlife notebook dividers and more. Free. 7:30 p.m. River Valley Nature Center, 8300 Wells Lake Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-452-3993 rivervalleynaturecenter.com

Aug. 11 Cuentos para Niños en Español A Story Time in Spanish Niños de todas las edades y sus familias están invitados a la Biblioteca principal a la hora de los cuentos gratis, incluiremos cuentos, historias, canciones, refranes y otras actividades divertidas en español. Ven y aprende acerca de la Biblioteca y lo que tiene para ofrecer a tu familia. Free. 6 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org

Aug. 9 Story Time at the Farmers Market The Fort Smith Public Library is bringing story time to the Farmers Market this summer. Programs will feature stories, songs and more free fun focusing on farms, food and growing things for kids of all ages. In between programs, there will be puppets, puzzles, books and more for kids to enjoy. Be sure to come say hello while you’re picking up your tomatoes, eggs, and peaches. Free. Story times at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Fort Smith Farmer's Market, Second Street and Garrison Avenue Municipal Parking Lot, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org

Aug. 11, 25 Laptime Story Time (0-24 months) A love of reading starts early. Babies and their caregivers are invited to this special story time geared toward children birth to 24 months old. There will be rhymes, songs, simple stories and lots of interactive fun. The story time will last about 20 minutes, with time for casual interaction following the program.

Free. 10:30 a.m. Miller Branch Library, 8701 South 28th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-3945 fortsmithlibrary.org

Aug. 11 Monday Movie Matinee Everyone is welcome to enjoy a comedy about ani-

Aug. 12 Science Talk Ms. Chris of UAMS will talk about the human body and what fuels it. Free. 1 p.m. Mulberry Public Library, 220 North Main Street, Mulberry, Ark. 479-997-1226

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KIDS CALENDAR Aug. 13 SYS (Swap Your Stuff!)

Children and teens are invited to bring stuff they no longer need (books, DVDs, CDs, or games) and trade it for a 1:1 exchange for something that someone else brings. Items for trade will be in the Youth Services Department. Free. 1-5 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229

6 p.m. Windsor Branch Library, 4701 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-0405

Aug. 14 An Apple a Day Children can make an apple suncatcher to get ready for back to school. Free. 4 p.m. Cedarville Public Library, 737 Pirates Way, Cedarville, Ark. 479-410-1853

Aug. 18 LEGO Club Kids, tweens and teens are invited to the main library to design, create, and build unique creations with the LEGO Club. Supplies are provided. Free. 5-6 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org

Aug. 14 CAE Family Art Night Out This is a perfect way for the whole family to spend an evening together. Don't be nervous about not having experience. It isn't necessary for this family-oriented, fun-filled evening. A talented instructor will guide the artists through each step of the creative process and you will be amazed at your very own work of art. Pizza, drinks and all paint supplies included; choose between watercolors or acrylic. $25 per person; $90 for a family of four. 6 p.m. Center for Art & Education, 104 North 13th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-474-7767 Aug. 14 Family Fun Movie Night: The Lego Movie Enjoy “The LEGO Movie,” the animated adventure comedy featuring Emmet, who is on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the universe together, a journey for which he is hopelessly and hilariously under-prepared. There also will be a special treat. Free.

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Aug. 14 Movie Thursday!

Enjoy a matinee. Free. 1:30 p.m. Mulberry Public Library, 220 North Main Street, Mulberry, Ark. 479-997-1226

Aug. 18 Fort Smith Public Schools Open All Fort Smith Public Schools open for the school year.

Visit the school district website for bell schedules for each school. Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-2501 fortsmithschools.org Aug. 19 Nature Nights: How to Make a Floating Wetland A floating wetland island is a man-made ecosystem that mimics natural wetlands. They are made of native, perennial, aquatic plants suspended on rafts. Free. 6 p.m. River Valley Nature Center, 8300 Wells Lake Road, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-452-3993 Aug. 21 Teen & Tween Book Lovers Club Tweens and teens ages 9-17 are invited to the monthly

Book Lovers Book Club at Dewey’s Café. Take a book or books you’ve already read to share with the group, hang out and have fun discussing what you’ve been reading. Snacks provided. Free. 4 p.m. Dewey's Cafe at the Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org Aug. 23 I Can't Wait to be a Girl Scout!

Girls entering kindergarten through high school seniors are invited to become Girl Scouts at this introductory fun day. When you just can't wait for what you will do next, you can do anything. At Girl Scouts, girls are always counting down to the next adventure. All girls and their families are invited for two hours of Girl Scout fun and fellowship, where girls can enroll and join a troop of their age group. Free. 9-11 a.m. Burnham Woods, 5705 Gordon Lane, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-452-1290 girlscoutsdiamonds.org Aug. 23 Elks Annual Youth and Special Needs Fishing Derby The Elks Annual Youth Fishing Derby is for all children ages 12 and younger. The Special Needs derby is for those 18 and under with special needs. Registrations begin at 8:30 a.m. in the big pavilion. The fishing competition will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and will end with the sounding of the air horn at 11:30 a.m. Only fish caught by properly registered youth will be measured and entered into the competitions. Prizes will be awarded during the free picnic lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Youth will compete in the age categories of 4 and younger, 5-8 and 9-12. Special Needs will compete according to age and/or disability. A limited number of fishing poles will be loaned on a first-come-first-

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KIDS CALENDAR serve basis to those who do not have one. A limited amount of worms will be given to those who do not have bait. However, if possible, it is best to take your own fishing equipment. Bicycles will be given away in random Grand Prize drawings, plus additional great prizes will be awarded for the most fish caught, largest fish, smallest fish, etc. All participants and their attending families will be treated to a free picnic lunch by the Elks Lodge Master Grillers in the large pavilion at noon. Elroy the Elk will be on hand to give out goody bags to the youth and for photo opportunities, so take your camera. The Elks Drug Awareness trailer will hand out free materials to the youth and adults about the importance of not using drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

Take chairs, sunscreen and plenty of water. Pre-registration is not required. Free. 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Carol Ann Cross Park, 1601 South 74th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 918-839-7581, 918-839-7586, 479-478-1060 Aug. 25 N'Quad Book Club Calling all book lovers. N’Quad Book Club is for those who are Not Quite Adults. Tween and teen booklovers are invited to share a current read or to learn of a potential one from their peers. Free. 4-5 p.m. Windsor Branch Library, 4701 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-0405 fortsmithlibrary.org Aug. 25 Teen Time Tweens and teens will have the opportunity to show their skills playing video games. 3:30 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 26 Teen Time Tweens and teens will create, display, tiny art and poems. 3:30 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 27 Teen Time Tweens and teens will enjoy board games with friends at the library. 3:30 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 28 Lego Mania/Children and Tweens Children and tweens can get creative at the library using Legos. Free. 3:30 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 30 8th Annual Tri for Kids Triathlon Children up to 14 years of age who like to swim, bike or run are encouraged to participate. The event will begin at the Marvin Altman Fitness Center pool. The biking and running portions of the event will take place on Lexington Avenue, which will be closed to traffic to ensure safety for participants. Each participant will receive a T-shirt and medal, plus be eligible for door prizes. Awards will be presented for first through third place boys and first through third place girls in each age group. Registration forms can be picked up at Marvin Altman Fitness Center or any Sparks Family Medicine or Pediatric Clinic. Registration deadline is Aug. 18. The TRI for Kids benefits the Gregory Kistler Treatment Center. $25. 7 a.m. Marvin Altman Fitness Center, 810 Lexington Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-441-5469 sparkshealth.com August 2014

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CALENDAR of events

Aug. 1 St. Boniface Football Fundraiser Game Not a drop of football knowledge is required to simultaneously enjoy this year’s NFL football games and help students at St. Boniface Catholic School. All fundraiser participants have to do is add three numbers. Whether teams win or lose, the ticketholder may win a cash prize. Enter by making a $20 donation to get a uniquely numbered ticket. On each ticket is a combination of three professional football teams for each of the 17 weeks of the season. After each week’s games are played, ticketholders add the scores attained by all three of their designated teams. Prizes of $500, $250, $100 and $50 are awarded to the ticketholders with the highest total points. There are even three prizes of $100, $75 and $25 for the tickets having the lowest total. Two prizes of $500 are awarded at the end of the season the highest – and lowest – totals for the 17 weeks. Only 4,060 tickets will be sold.

Frank Klein, the program’s manager, started the football fundraiser after overhearing a mother at school confide that she could afford to send only one of her three children on a special field trip. With the help of others in the parish, Klein began to raise a fund that could be used to make sure all children could attend special activities. As the fund grew, it also can be used for school supplies and repairs. Obtain a $20 ticket by visiting the St. Boniface school office at 201 North 19th Street, Fort Smith, or call Frank Klein at 479-7832380. Winners receive their checks by mail. Rules and winners are posted at st.bonifaceschool.com.

Aug. 1 August First Friday Breakfast Arkansas gubernatorial candidates Mike Ross and Asa Hutchinson will each have time to address members of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce and share their plans for the state. Go online for reservations and prepayment, which are required. $17.50. 7:30 a.m.

UAFS Smith-Pendergraft Building, Reynolds Room, 5210 Grand Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-3111 fortsmithchamber.com Aug. 1 First Friday Night Fun Dance With Local DJ This fun dance features an array of music oriented toward ballroom, Latin, swing and polka dancers. A local DJ will provide the music for your dance enjoyment.

The dress attire is a relaxed dressy casual. This is not a coat and tie event. Great social environment without the loud distractions of a disco. Smoke-free environment. No club affiliation or membership is required. $10 per dancer. 8-10 p.m. Eagles Ballroom, 3321 South 66th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-629-4736

Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined An exhibit of 44 hand-colored lithographs and engravings created by 18th and 19th c. artists, such as John James Audubon, Karl Bodmer and George Catlin, who portrayed the scenery and people in the American West during the period of westward European expansion and subsequent loss of Native American lands. The exhibition is a program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance with the Arkansas Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. $5 adults, $2 children, under age 6 are free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fort Smith Museum of History, 320 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-7841 fortsmithmuseum.com

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Aug. 1 First Friday Concert Featuring Foley’s Van Extend your First Friday experience from the Bentonville Square down the Art Trail to Crystal Bridges.

Meet up at the Twin Bridges to hitch a musical ride with the band Foley’s Van. Their fast-driving, footstomping, and whiskey-sippin’ tunes capture aspects of an assortment of genres, incorporating bluegrass and old-time favorites. A cash wine and beer bar will be available. Free, no registration required. 8-10 p.m.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Ark. 479-418-5700 crystalbridges.org Aug. 1 Pawpurrazi, a Purrfect Pawty To benefit the Sebastian County Humane Society, a

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS party with a happy hour, dinner, pet fashion show, charity auction and dancing. $50. 6:30-11 p.m. Immaculate Conception Monsignor Galvin Center, 22 North 13th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-4395 sebastiancountyhumanesociety.org Aug. 1, 15 Crochet & Knitting Class Learn to crochet and/or knit at the library. All experience levels welcome. Take yarn and size G or H hook.

Free. 10 a.m.-noon. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 1-28 CAE 37th Annual Adult Artist Competition Open to all artists 18 and older, the Center for Art & Education’s adult artist contest accepts works by artists making sales less than $5,000 annually. Each artist may enter three original works executed within the last two years and have not been entered before.

Works must be ready to hang and not to exceed 80 inches in height plus width. Works in transparent watercolor, oil, acrylic, graphics (including pen & ink, pastel, charcoal, colored pencil and print making), mixed media and found object art will be accepted.

Artists are encouraged to enter work that can be sold.

Artwork will be accepted Aug. 26-28. The exhibition will be on display Sept. 7-26. Entry $10 for members; $20 per entry non-members; $25 for three entries for members; $50 nonmembers. Center for Art & Education, 104 North 13th Street, Van Buren , Ark. 479-4747767 art-ed.org Aug. 1-31 Genius of the Week Test your scientific knowledge with the library’s “Genius of the Week” contest. Pick up a scientific trivia sheet to complete. Once a week, there will be a drawing to see who the genius of the week is. You could have bragging rights for all your friends and family to see. For readers over the age of 18. Free. Windsor Branch Library, 4701 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-0405 fortsmithlibrary.org Aug. 1-Sept. 14 66th Annual River Valley Invitational This annual invitational is a national competitive exhibition that has been hosted by the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum since its inception in 1948. The purpose of the exhibition is to encourage and recognize professional artists. All works are for sale and proceeds will benefit RAM’s educational programs and the participating artists. A panel of jurors from the 21C Museum and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville and the University of Arkansas selected artwork for several awards. Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, 1601 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-784-2787 fsram.org Aug. 1-Dec. 20 Free Group Square Dance Lessons Offered to churches, businesses and social clubs. Indoor area and at least four couples (male and female) must be provided. Instruction, music and equipment will be made available free of charge. Square dancing is choreographic drill set to music. It is great exercise and provides a clean social activity. Children 10 and up can be included with dancing parent(s). Good clean music of several genres is used – from country to hiphop. Must commit 16-week program.

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David Gillson Main Library

An exhibit of original photographs by Fort Smith native David Gillson, who has turned his lifelong passion for the Arkansas outdoors into breathtaking works of photographic art. His award-winning portfolio includes serene images of waterfalls and native wildflowers, as well as action shots of horse racing and kayaking.

Gillson enjoys traveling the state to capture the beauty of the Arkansas wilderness. He is an active member of the Arkansas Outdoor Photographers club and has given numerous photography presentations in several states. Free. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org

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Dennis Russell and Janet Black Miller Branch Library

Retired schoolteacher Janet Black has lived in the Fort Smith area for several years. She and her husband enjoy traveling, which allows her the perfect opportunity to make use of her photography talent. Dennis Russell, a Huntington photographer, began looking for ways to enhance his life after becoming affected by a life-changing disability. Photography seemed to fit his love of the outdoors, and the ability to share it with others. Free. Miller Branch Library, 8701 South 28th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-3945

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Michael Leonard Dewey’s Cafe

Since moving to Arkansas, photographer Michael Leonard’s life has centered around the art of photography and it is reflected in his inspiring work. The photographer has learned to see the world around him in a completely different way; light becomes paint on a canvas and commonly found objects are transformed into graphic sculpture. Photography has deepened his fascination with the beauty and diversity of the great outdoors. He finds the spiritual and aesthetic value of nature priceless, but also loves learning about earth science and biology that explains the natural world.

Studying and observing animal behavior results in better wildlife pictures; weather watching provides dramatic skies while watching the sun tells him when to be there.

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Aug. 2 Girls Shelter Pancake Breakfast Start the day with a good breakfast for a great cause.The Girls Shelter Board of Directors will be the servers for the morning. Stop by before starting tax free weekend shopping. The Girls Shelter is a United Way Community Partner. $5.

8-10 a.m. Applebee’s Restaurant, 6818 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-0444 Aug. 2 3rd Annual Fort Smith Volunteer Fair Learn about volunteering at Fort Smith’s National Historic Site, art and history museums, Miss Laura's Visitor Center, U.S. Marshals Museum, River Valley Nature Center, Trolley Museum, Clayton House, Chaffee Crossing, DrennonScott House, city parks, VIP, RSVP, Arkansas and Oklahoma state parks and more. Light food and refreshments will be served. Free. 10 a.m.2 p.m. Riverfront Pavilion, 101 North B Street, Fort Smith. 479-226-3721 nps.gov/fosm Aug. 2 Pickling And Canning Join the River Valley Master Gardeners Herbal Adventure committee in learning a technique that has been used by families for many generations. Canning and pickling are fun and price friendly ways to capture that fresh taste all year round and to make sure food doesn’t go to waste. $20. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Reynolds Cancer Support House, 3324 South M Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-782-2104 Aug. 2 First Saturday at the Learning Fields Open house with garden tours, featuring the vegetable gardens, the heirloom tomato trial garden and the herbal spiral garden. Refreshments will be served and the event will be held rain or shine. Free. 9 a.m.-noon. Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing, 7300 Gardener Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-459-8756 thelearningfields.net Aug. 2 Western Re-enactments on Main Street Encounter a pack of rowdy Western outlaws on historic Main Street. If they draw, a shoot-out could be the result of these characters coming together. The Lawbreakers & Peacemakers western re-enactors will also offer music, entertainment and historical re-enactment of some local tales. The shoot-out is exciting and loud but completely safe and fun for the whole family.

Free. Noon. Historic Main Street, Main and Seventh Streets, Van Buren, Ark. 479-806-1545 Aug. 3 Baby Sunday at Evangel Temple The congregation will honor all babies from birth to 2 years old in both morning services. Parents will take their baby to the platform in the sanctuary and Pastor Don Hutchings will have special prayer for them. Each baby will be photographed

by Carol Hutchings Photography and will receive a free 4x6 matt-framed photograph. Free. 9:01 and 10:45 a.m. Evangel Temple Assembly of God, Towson and Dodson Avenues, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-782-9121 ExcitingET.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 3 Crawford County Chronicles Dusty Helbling will be speaking about the Trail of Tears in Crawford County. He is a former board member of the Arkansas Trail of Tears Association and he has been a special researcher for the Cherokee and Seminole Nations. Call for reservations, which are required. Free. 1:30 and 3 p.m. UAFS Drennen Scott Historic Site, 221 North 3rd Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-262-2750 vanburen.org Aug. 4 Library Election Town Hall Meeting Do you have questions about the Fort Smith Public Library’s upcoming millage election? How will the money be used? What is a millage?

Where will I vote? These questions and more will be answered at these town hall meetings hosted by the library’s Board of Trustees. All sessions are identical, so attend the one that’s most convenient for you. If you can’t make any of these sessions or you want to read up before the meetings, visit the millage information website at LibrariesChangeLives.us. Free. 6:30 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 LibrariesChangeLives.us

Clayton House to Feature Bourbon Tasting, Gun Auction The Fort Smith Heritage Foundation is hosting a fundraising event that will highlight the masculine side of the Victorian-era Clayton House with a bourbon tasting and gun raffle. Sippin’ on 6th Street: Judge Clayton’s Southern Soiree will feature a sampling of award-winning spirits from Yellow Rose Distillery of Houston. Burford Distributing is sponsor of the tasting activity. Guests also will bid in a live auction of guns sponsored by Fort Chaffee Outfitters. “Men on our board decided a nice change of pace would be to stash Mrs. Clayton’s silver tea set and let Mr. Clayton host a party,” executive director Julie Moncrief said. William H.H. Clayton built the large home in 1882 in Fort Smith’s oldest neighborhood by doubling in size an existing home that was built in 1852. Clayton served under four presidents, beginning in 1874, as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. As chief prosecutor of Judge Isaac C. Parker’s court, he prosecuted more than 10,000 cases, the majority involving outlaws committing crimes in Indian Territory. Clayton went on to serve during three additional presidential terms, from 1897 to 1907, as a federal judge in Indian Territory. “We do know that Judge Clayton hunted, and, although he was a leading Fort Smith citizen of strict moral behavior, it is easy to imagine him sipping a brandy, or bourbon, in his study by the coal-burning fireplace after a long day in court,” Moncrief said. “The main objective of our event is to share the beauty and history of this authentically restored home and to raise funds for its continued preservation.” Historic characters will attend the party, including Judge and Mrs. Clayton, Judge Isaac and Mrs. Mary Parker, Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves and an Austrian Duke who will head out after the party on a buffalo-hunting expedition in Indian Territory led by Buffalo Bill Cody. Guests will enjoy music, heavy hors d’oeuvres and other beverages, and the historic ambiance of the high-ceilinged parlors of the Clayton House. Call or go online for reservations. $50. 7-10 p.m. The Clayton House, 514 North 6th Street, Fort Smith 479-783-3000 claytonhouse.org

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Aug. 4-25 Monday Night Dance Lessons If you would like to “Dance Like The Stars” this is where you need to be. Dance lessons change every month to a different dance. Mike and Lisa Lawrence teach beginners and advanced dance lessons in foxtrot, waltz, cha-cha, rhumba, tango, bolero, salsa, merengue, samba, West Coast swing, East Coast swing, paso doble and polka. Dance on the largest dance floor in the River Valley. Beginner’s lessons are from 7:309 p.m. and advanced lessons are from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The dress attire is casual. $5. 6:30-9 p.m. Eagles Ballroom, 3321 South 66th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-629-4736 Aug. 4-Sept. 15 Digital Photography 1: Learn the Basics of SLR Photography Understand the principles of digital photography and all those buttons on your new SLR , or unlock the power in all those icons. Learn to recognize and build the elements that make a good scene into a great photograph. This course introduces the basics of landscape and casual portrait photography. Students must provide their own SLR digital camera. $85. 6-8 p.m. UAFS Center for Lifelong Learning, 5004 Kinkead Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-788-7220 uafs.edu/lifelonglearning Aug. 4-Sept. 30 UAFS Academy of the Arts ON STAGE Series Season Tickets on Sale This unique series brings a variety of performances to you and includes professional artists, as well as young performers. The series is a mix of choral, orchestral and theatrical productions. This season’s line-up offers five musical theater productions: “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Sound of Music,” “Peter Pan,” “Aristocats” and “Schoolhouse Rock Live.” The season also offers two children’s choir concerts by the 150-voice Academy Children’s Choir, two performances by the Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra and two professional concerts, including the favorite Old Time Gospel Concert, and a special evening with professional performers from the area presenting a variety show including music, theater and dance. The Academy of the Arts is a pre-college division at UAFS offering classes and activities in music, theater, dance and art to children and youth of all ages and levels. Call or go online or tickets.

Prices vary. UAFS Campus Center Box Office, 5210 Grand Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-788-7300 uafs.edu/on-stage Aug. 5 Taste of Crawford County Taste of Crawford County, benefitting CASA and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Van Buren and Alma, will offer two sessions of its spectacular smorgasbord of samples from local restaurants. Lunch is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or dinner is from 5-7 p.m. Taste of Crawford County also features a silent auction, as well as games with prizes. Tickets $10 until Aug. 5 or $15 at the door. 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Van Buren High School Commons Area, 2001 Pointer Trail, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-8502, 479-474-4300

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 6 Library BINGO! The library is the place to enjoy a couple of rousing rounds of bingo. There will be fun and excitement in the air, plus prizes. This program is intended for players over the age of 18. Free. 4 p.m. Windsor Branch Library, 4701 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-0405 fortsmithlibrary.org Aug. 7 The Petropolitan V Enjoy margaritas, beer, wine and live and silent auctions to benefit the River Valley Animal Welfare Coalition’s Kitties & Kanines Spay and Neuter Clinic.

Auction items include private box seating at the Arkansas vs. Texas A&M game, seats at the Academy of Country Music Awards, a Vahan bracelet and ring donated by Newton’s Jewelers, two vacations, private dinners and more. Music by Heavens 2 Betsy. $50. 6-10 p.m. The UAFS Blue Lion, 101 North 2nd Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-648-8000 rvawc.org

NFL Great Billy Sims to Speak at Banquet Gordon’s Youth Foundation Scholarship Banquet is an annual fundraiser that provides college scholarships to youth in our area. Billy Sims, former NFL running back and University of Oklahoma alumnus, will provide an exceptional keynote address. Sims was a decorated player during his collegiate years at the University of Oklahoma, where he was recognized as a two-time consensus All-American. He was awarded the coveted Heisman Trophy in 1978. Sims was picked first overall in the 1980 NFL Draft and played professionally for the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

Today, Sims has moved from the field to the kitchen and is a wellknown franchise owner of more than 40 popular barbecue restaurants in five states, including locations in Bentonville and Muskogee. Gordon Youth Foundation Inc. is a 501 C 3 nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Roy Gordon Sr. and his sons, Tracy and Roy, Jr. The foundation’s mission is to assist economically disadvantaged youth, ages pre-school through college, who are from western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Roy Gordon Sr. is a retired employee of Whirlpool Corp. of 37 years and a sergeant first class veteran of the Army, active and reserve, for 20 years. Based on the belief that every young person deserves a chance to be successful regardless of their circumstances, he founded Gordon’s Youth Foundation in June 2007 to assist local, economically disadvantaged youth. Tickets are available by phone or at the door. $30. 7 p.m. Fianna Hills Country Club, 1 Essex Place, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-285-2328

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Aug. 7 Library Blood Drive The Arkansas Blood Institute, in partnership with the Fort Smith Public Library, will hold a community blood drive to help save lives of those in area hospitals. The event will be held in the parking lot. All healthy adults, 16 and older, are encouraged to donate blood to help out the community. Children 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Giving blood only takes about an hour and one single donation can save as many as three lives. To reserve your donation time, visit arkbi.org or call 479-652-2362. 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 arkbi.org Aug. 7 Library Election Town Hall Meeting Do you have questions about the Fort Smith Public Library’s upcoming millage election? How will the money be used? What is a millage? Where will I vote? These questions and more will be answered at these town hall meetings hosted by the library’s Board of Trustees. All sessions are identical, so attend the one that’s most convenient for you. If you can’t make any of these sessions or you want to read up before the meetings, visit the millage information website at LibrariesChangeLives.us. Free. 6:30 p.m. Windsor Branch Library, 4701 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-0405 LibrariesChangeLives.us Aug. 7-9 38th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival Festival celebrating Hope’s giant watermelons. Festival features arts & crafts, music, a major country music concert, watermelon eating, seed spitting and ice-cold Hope watermelon by the slice. $3 parking fee. Fair Park, 800 Mockingbird, Hope, Ark. 870-777-3640 hopemelonfest.com Aug. 7-9 Bargains Galore on 64 The 15th annual three-day yard sale event is held all along U.S. 64 from Fort Smith into Conway and on to Beebe, Ark. Cruise and shop 160 miles of antiques and collectibles and other great buys along with friendly people, beautiful scenery and many fine restaurants, motels and other stops of interest.

Free. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. U.S. 64 from Fort Smith to Beebe, Ark. 888-568-3552 bargainsgaloreon64.org Aug. 7-9 Gravette Days Parade, classic car show, 5K run, archery shoot, softball tournament, street dance, food, dutch oven competition and family fun. Free. Old Town Park, 110 Park Drive, Gravette, Ark. 479-787-8998 Aug. 7-9 61st Annual Polk County Rodeo New this year is Girls Breakaway Roping. The Handicapable Rodeo will be 10 a.m. Aug. 8 and later that night will be TUFF Enough to Wear Pink. Dance Aug. 9 after rodeo with local band Polk 74. $5 adults; $3 children; age 5 and under free. 8:30 p.m. Andy Risenhoover Arena, Mena, Ark. 479-394-5592

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 8 The Dallas Branch Book Club The Dallas Branch Book Club offers a fun, relaxed discussion group about your favorite reads. Take a book and a friend and share your opinion about what you have read. Free. 2 p.m. Dallas Branch Library, 8100 Dallas Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-484-5650 fortsmithlibrary.org Aug. 8 Outdoor Film Festival: Ozarkumentaries Crystal Bridges, in association with Seedling Film Association, presents Ozarkumentaries – short films made by Arkansas filmmakers about the Ozark region.

After the film screening, there will be discussion with the local filmmakers. See a full list of the film lineup online. Sponsored by Demara Titzer. Free with online registration. 8:30-9:30 p.m. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Ark. 479-418-5700 crystalbridges.org

Walks Through History Tour: Ozark Square Ozark, which took its name from the French words “Aux Arc” in reference to a large bend in the Arkansas River near the town site, prospered because of its proximity to river and rail transportation and boasts several historic buildings constructed with native limestone. The “Walks through History” tour series features historic sites or districts around Arkansas each month. Tours last between one and two hours. An AHPP historian delivers a lecture about the properties while leading guests on a walking tour. 11 a.m. Free. Franklin County Courthouse, 211 West Commercial Street, Ozark, Ark. 501-324-9880

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Aug. 7-28 RAM Drop In and Draw Every Thursday, the art museum will provide a live model and studio space free, allowing artists to hone their skills. Free. Noon-4 p.m. Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, 1601 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-784-2787 fsram.org Aug. 7-Sept. 18 ASL I Be introduced to the language of the deaf world by learning the manual alphabet, numbers, basic vocabulary and phrases. By the end of the course, students should be able to have a basic conversation in the language of the deaf person. $109 includes textbook; $89 without textbook. 6-8 p.m. UAFS Center for Lifelong Learning, 5004 Kinkead Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-788-7220 uafs.edu/lifelonglearning Aug. 8-26 CAE Exhibit and Opening: Van Buren on Camera Challenge Artists were invited to photograph Van Buren during a 24-hour time period. Three sections of Van Buren – Historic Van Buren District, Drennen Scott House and Fairview Cemetery – were divided among phone photographers. Van Buren traditions and cherished nostalgia will share the lens with candid shots of our skeletons and dirty laundry. The exhibit will include traditional, contemporary and experimental photography. Opening reception will be 5-7 p.m. Aug. 8. Center For Art & Education, 104 N. 13th Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-7767 art-ed.org Aug. 8 Library Election Town Hall Meeting Do you have questions about the Fort Smith Public Library’s upcoming millage election? How will the money be used? What is a millage? Where will I vote? These questions and more will be answered at these town hall meetings hosted by the library’s Board of Trustees. All sessions are identical, so attend the one that’s most convenient for you. If you can’t make any of these sessions or you want to read up before the meetings, visit the millage information website. Free. Noon. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 LibrariesChangeLives.us 68 Entertainment Fort Smith August 2014

Aug. 8, 22 Redwork & Embroidery Club Teens, adults and seniors are welcome whether they are experienced embroiders or beginners Take supplies. Meet in the Conference Room. 1-3 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 9 Summer Concert Series: Dead Snake Road Poteau’s Summer Concert Series presents the Dead Snake Road. Take lawn chairs. $5. 8 p.m. Donald W. Reynolds Community Center, 105 Reynolds Avenue, Poteau, Okla. 918-647-9178 poteauchamber.com Aug. 15-17 Mountains, Music and Motorcycles The event offers a bug run, poker run, bike show, biker games and two free concerts, one on the town square, one at a local business, vendors and a biker church service. Town Square, Mountain View, Ark. 870-269-8068 mountainsmusicandmotorcycles.com Aug. 12 All-Ages Knit, Stitch, and Crochet Today!

If you knit, stitch, or crochet – or want to learn – take your needles, hooks and projects and join an all-ages group for an afternoon of crafting. Yarn, extra supplies and plenty of help will be available for anyone who wants to learn. Free. 4-6 p.m.

Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 Aug. 14 Heaven’s Babies, A Share Support Group Heaven’s Babies support group meets the second Thursday of every month. The program is open to parents and family members in the River Valley who have lost a child. It is hosted by Sparks Health System. Free. 6-8 p.m. Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, 3324 South M Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-441-5452 Aug. 15 Fall into Fashion: A Benefit for The Montessori School of Fort Smith This year marks the 45th year of Fort Smith Montessori School. In 1969, Sister Kevin Bopp and the nuns from St. Scholastica founded St. Scholastica Montessori School. When they closed the school in 1989, a group of citizens formed Fort Smith Montessori Inc. to ensure this successful style of educating children remained available to their community. To commemorate this year’s important anniversary, Fort Smith Montessori is planning a number of events for the 2014-2015 school year, with Fall into Fashion as the kick-off. Enjoy an evening of good food, drinks, live music, and fun featuring merchandise from local vendors, including Hazel’s Haven, Chain Crochet, Sweet Bay Coffee, Premier Designs and others. $50.

6-10 p.m. Blue Lion at UAFS Downtown, North 2nd & A Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-646-7225 fsmontessori.com Aug. 15 Third Friday Night Fun Dance With Live Band The Diamond Dance Club of Fort Smith hosts a monthly dance for members, guests and all area dancers desiring to participate. Club membership is not required. A live band will perform with their music oriented toward ballroom, Latin and swing dancing with occasional polka and line dances included. The attire is after-dinner, fun-filled dance with character and flair, in a low level light environment on the largest dance floor in the River Valley. $10. 8-10:30 p.m. Eagles Ballroom, 3321 South 66th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-629-4736

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 15 Crochet & Knitting Class Teens, adults and seniors can learn to crochet or knit at the library. All experience levels welcome. Take yarn and size G or H hook. 10 a.m.-noon. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 15 Once Upon a Sci-Fi Viewing Celebrate adult summer reading by watching sci-fi movies. In this film, follow Neo as he takes the red pill allowing him to stay in wonderland and is shown how deep the rabbit hole goes. This film is for an audience 18 and older. Refreshments provided. 7 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045

Aug. 15-17 Slamily Reunion Car, Truck, Bike and Tattoo Show Arkansas’ largest car, truck and bike show adds a new, huge indoor tattoo expo featuring the nation’s top artists. This show, winner of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Grit Award, is one of the fastest-growing, family-friendly shows in the nation.

Vehicle exhibitors may register from 2-8 p.m. Aug. 15.

Gates open for spectators at 9 a.m. Aug. 16-17. Entertainment for kids includes a water slide, inflatables, a coloring contest and a kids “root beer chug.” Adults with a vehicle in the show or weekend pass can attend an after party from 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Vehicle awards are presented for trucks, cars, bikes and rat rods with categories such as Best Lifted, Best Graphics and Best Engine. Many automotive specialty vendors show their wares. $15 day, $20 weekend pass, ages 12 and under free. Kay Rodgers Park, 4400 Midland Boulevard, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-452-2626 slamilyreunion.com Aug. 16 19th Annual Bill Ed Mabray Golf Tournament to Benefit the Muldrow Public Library Hosted by the Friends of the Muldrow Public Library, this is a two-man scramble tournament. Team entry fee includes greens, cart and lunch. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third in two flights. Prize amounts will be determined by registration success.

Funds raised from this event help pay for programs, computers and books for the children of Sequoyah County. $100. 8 a.m. Sallisaw Shadow Creek Golf Course, 27 Club View Circle, Sallisaw, Okla.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 16 “Sunnyvale Nursing Home” Auditions Seniors have a chance to act on stage in the cast of the play “Sunnyvale Nursing Home.” Actors ages 60-80 are encouraged to audition. No experience is necessary.

The cast must have transportation and be dependable. The stage play is presented

by God Given Talents. Call Cosaundra Chapple for more information. Free. 1-5 p.m.

Windsor Branch Library, 4701 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-769-5164 ggtproduction.org Aug. 16 Art Talk-Florine Stettheimer, A Woman’s Touch: The Mythmaker of Modern Art Learn about Florine Stettheimer’s life of art, poetry and adventure during the 1930s modern art era. Stettheimer socialized with and painted portraits of the leading men of the early American Modernism scene in New York, such as Albert Stieglitz, Marcel Duchamp and Carl Van Vechten. Free. 1-1:45 p.m. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Ark. 479-418-5700 crystalbridges.org Aug. 16 TEAL Night in Tahiti A night of dinner, dancing, silent auctions and drawings helps fund the fight against ovarian cancer. The Arkansas Ovarian Cancer Coalition River Valley chapter presents this entertaining evening with a life-saving purpose. Music will be performed by Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes and Darren Bobb acts as emcee. With the support of ticket sales and other donations, the ARVOCC can educate women about early detection, support patients fighting ovarian cancer and help to seek a cure for this serious and often fatal disease. $50 tickets available online. 6-9 p.m. Fort Smith Convention Center, Rogers Avenue and South 9th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-883-3379 arvocc.com

Food for Thought: Author Visit with Quinn Loftis Join USA Today bestselling young adult and new adult author Quinn Loftis and hear her recipe for indie writing success. Loftis writes paranormal romance books and has been the No. 1 bestseller on Amazon.com. She is the author of 12 novels including The Grey Wolves, Gypsy Healers, the Elfin series and a stand-alone book Call Me Crazy about a young woman with bipolar disease. She is winner of the utopYA 2013 Author of the Year and utopYA 2013 - Most Innovative Marketing award. Free Quinn Loftis books tote bags will be given away to all attendees and there will be prize drawings for other author books and merchandise. Copies of the books will also be available for sale and signing. Take a lunch or pick it up at Dewey’ Café. The library will provide drinks and dessert. Free. Noon. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org

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Aug. 16 Once Upon a Sci-Fi Reading Attend the final meeting of the VBPL Summer Sci-Fi Book Club. The last book to be discussed is “Feed” by M.T. Anderson. Check out a copy of the book. Meet in the conference room. 3-4 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 16-17 Tulsa Steampunk Fair Held in downtown Tulsa, the Steampunk Fair offers live music, belly dancing and burlesque show along with an open fashion show. Put on your steampunk gear and enter. Vendor and craft booths will be set up. The Cog is Dead performs at 5 p.m. Aug. 16. $15, 18 and older. IDL Ballroom, 230 East First Street, Tulsa, Okla.

580-799-1913 stubwire.com Aug. 16-23 Sebastian County Fair The Sebastian County Fair includes an Aug. 16 pageant. Carnival rides are open nightly starting Aug. 19. Mutton Bustin’ Thursday is Aug. 21. Bull Fighting Friday is Aug. 22. The fair parade is at 11 a.m. Aug. 23 in downtown Greenwood. A Junior Livestock Auction is held at 5 p.m. Aug. 23. Extreme Stunt Dog show entertains daily. At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23, Heavens 2 Betsy performs. $3-$5. 6 p.m. Sebastian County Fairgrounds, 530 East Knoxville, Greenwood, Ark. 479-996-0885 Aug. 17 Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In More than 100 small aircraft fly in and land on the 2,000-foot grass airstrip on the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, located just east of Oologah, Okla., and bordering Oologah Lake. This event celebrates Will Rogers and Wiley Post’s many contributions to aviation. Talk to the pilots and see their planes up close. Other festivities include petting zoo and giant inflatables, a Cherokee storyteller, a classic car show, food vendors and free tours of the Will Rogers Birthplace home and Amish barn.

Free. 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 9501 East 380 Road, Oologah, Okla. 918-341-0719 Aug. 17 President Clinton's 68th Birthday Celebration The former home of the Clintons will offer free admission all day in honor of the celebration. Free barbecue lunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Refreshments will include

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS President Clinton’s favorite snacks: Moon Pies, peanuts, RC Cola and, of course, birthday cake. The public is encouraged to stop by and sign a birthday card and share favorite stories. Clinton House Museum, 930 West Clinton Drive, Fayetteville, Ark. 479444-0066 clintonhousemuseum.org Aug. 18 Murder on the Mountain: The Hanging of Edward Solsum What transpired one hot August night in 1881 when two men, drinking and playing cards at a roadhouse on the lawless western border of neighboring Scott County began to argue? Renowned historian Wanda Gray will share this brutal, but enthralling, tale of life on the Western frontier. Gray is the former commissioner of the Arkansas History Commission and Archives and was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to state and local history by the Arkansas Historical Association.

Readers can learn more about Gray at wanda-grayhistorian-scott-county-arkansas-history.com. Free. 7 p.m. Farmer’s Bank Community Room, 71 West Center Street, Greenwood, Ark. 479-996-6357 Facebook.com/oldjailmuseum Aug. 18 Fort Smith Public Schools Open All Fort Smith Public Schools open for the school year.

Check the school district website home page for the bell schedule for your school. Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-2501 fortsmithschools.org Aug. 19 Dangerous & Deadly Understand your prescribed medications, recognize addictions and learn about important warnings for mixing over-the-counter medications with prescriptions. Presented by Michael Thames, Pharm.D. Lunch sponsored by Peachtree Hospice. Call for reservations. Noon. Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, 3324 South M Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-782-6302 reynoldscancersupporthouse.org Aug. 19 Computer Classes at Adult Education Center Seven courses for adults including digital literacy, Windows 8.1, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Microsoft IT Academy are available at the Fort Smith Adult Education Center in August. Schedules vary; daytime and night classes are available, some with free tuition. Class meet two days per week on Tuesday-Thursday or Monday-Wednesday schedules.

Child care is sometimes available. Enroll at the center.

A full schedule is available online. Fort Smith Adult Education Center, 501 South 20th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-785-1232 fortsmithschools.org Aug. 19-23 115th Annual Johnson County Fair Carnival, pageants, Johnson County Idol, live entertainment, home crafts and displays, contests, animal and agricultural products competitions, food, games and more. $2 gate fee. Fairgrounds, 1586 West Oakland Street, Clarksville, Ark. 479-754-5050 Aug. 20 Fiddle Tunes Grandpa Played A noontime program by award-winning fiddler Will Bush. Free. Noon. Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Ark. 479-750-8165 shilohmuseum.org August 2014

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 20-Sept. 10 Photoshop I Learn to retouch photos, enhance color, correct redeye and become familiar with layers in Photoshop Level I. $55. 6-8 p.m. UAFS Center for Lifelong Learning, 5004 Kinkead Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-7887220 uafs.edu/lifelonglearning Aug. 21 An Evening with a Mad Scientist Readers 18 and older are invited to hang out with the maddest of the mad scientists. Dress up as a scientist and learn about “potions” and more at the Literary Elements adult summer reading program. 7 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 21 QuickBooks Online Hands-on Workshop The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present QuickBooks Online, a seminar designed for business owners and their employees with little or no experience using the online QuickBooks platform. Topics include: navigation, setting up a company, working with lists, customers, vendors, inventory, reports and more. A computer will be provided for use during this interactive session.

Registration is required by phone or online. $65. 14:30 p.m. Beall Barclay & Co., 3101 South 70th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-356-2067 asbtdc.org Aug. 22 Crystal Bridges Short Film Festival: Uniting the Power of Art and Nature Student Selects young filmmaker program joins the festival, featuring an introductory segment in the screening night. A cash wine and beer bar will be available. Sponsored by Demara Titzer. Free with online registration. 8:30-10 p.m. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Ark. 479-418-5700 crystalbridges.org Aug. 22 Redwork & Embroidery Club Teens, adults and seniors are welcome whether they are experienced embroiders or beginners. Take supplies. Free. 1-3 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 22-Nov. 2 Selections from the Permanent Collection This exhibition will highlight new acquisitions of the RAM Permanent Collection including works by Sandra Bermudez, William Mayes Flanagan, Louise Halsey, Jimmy Leach, Jane Osti and Peggi Kroll-Roberts.

Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m.

Sunday. Free. Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, 1601 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-784-2787 fsram.org Aug. 23 Denim & Diamonds Endless Summer Party Christ the King Catholic School will host its annual Endless Summer Party. This year’s event theme adds fun with sophistication by combining Denim & Diamonds. The always-fabulous Ultra Suede performs during the event. The event will include catering provided by Calico County, a full bar and an additional wine/beer bar, photo booth provided by Funky Memories, several games, a silent auction featuring planned parties, an exciting live auction with guest emcees Heather Lewis and husband Curt Buechter, 72 Entertainment Fort Smith August 2014

and servers providing dedicated attention to V.I.P. tables. Tickets are $50 per person and will allow the purchaser dinner, cocktails, dancing and fun for the event.

V.I.P. tables available to personal or business sponsorship and will include seating for eight, as well as many other marketing and special extras. 7 p.m.

Christ the King Catholic School Parish Center, 1918 South Greenwood Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-782-0614 Aug. 23 Rockin’ Pool Party Rock out with an evening of fun and food. The pool is open after hours. The park provide free hot dogs and ice cream and you provide the fun. Day swim-pass is not valid for this event. This is a weather dependent event and subject to cancellation. $5. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Shepherd Springs Road, Mountainburg, Ark. 479-369-2469 arkansasstateparks.com/lakefortsmith Aug. 23 Brave the Mud 5K Get muddy for a great cause. This 5K adventure mud run benefits the LeFlore County Women’s Crisis Services. Racers will encounter 12 obstacles and tons of muddy fun. All finishers will receive a custom medal and a technical wicking shirt. Awards include top three individual male and female, top three teams and best costume, individual and team. Brave the Mud Run 5K begins at the LeFlore County Fairgrounds and runs through the Frisco Trails. The event is chip timed and participants are encouraged to wear a costume for even more fun. $40 per four-member team. 9 a.m.

LeFlore County Fairgrounds, U.S. 271 South, Poteau, Okla. 918-839-4785 eventbrite.com Aug. 23 Parents and Teachers: Learn About Community Service Opportunities for Students Parents and teachers who want to direct students and teens to a unique and fulfilling community service opportunity are invited to a workshop hosted by the Sack Lunch Program. Led by Jean T. Kolljeski, Sack Lunch Program co-director, the workshop will provide an overview of the program, a tour of the facility and describe community service opportunities that are available for students. Registration is required; call St. John’s Episcopal Church by 4 p.m. on Aug. 22. Free.

11 a.m. noon. Skinner Building (St. John’s Episcopal Church Office Building), 214 North 6th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-782-9912 Aug. 23 Friends of the Library Annual Used Book Sale: Mostly Non-Fiction!

Non-Fiction! The August edition of the Friends of the Library Used Book Sale features thousands of nonfiction selections for adults. Hardbacks and paperbacks from your favorite authors and on your favorite subjects will be available. Most paperbacks are 25 cents and most hardback books are $1. Proceeds from the sale are used to buy library materials and fund library special events and projects. Members of the Friends of the Fort Smith Public Library may come to the exclusive Friends-only Preview Sale on Friday, Aug.t 22, from 4-7 p.m. There will be a 25-book limit at the preview sale. Friends of the Library memberships start at $10 and will be for sale at the Preview Sale. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fort Smith Public Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-783-0229 fortsmithlibrary.org

Aug. 23 Western Re-enactments and Entertainment on Main Street Encounter a pack of rowdy Western outlaws on historic Main Street. If they draw, a shoot-out could be the result of these characters coming together. The Lawbreakers & Peacemakers Western re-enactors will also offer music, entertainment and historical re-enactment of some local tales. The shoot-out is exciting and loud but completely safe and fun for the whole family. Free. Noon. Historic Main Street, Main and 7th Streets, Van Buren, Ark. 479-806-1545 Aug. 23.

Van Buren Public Library End of Summer/Josh Whedon Party Readers 18 and older can celebrate the end of the Literary Elements adult summer reading program. There will be a drawing for the winners who entered their names for reading books in the theme of the program.

Dress as a Joss Whedon character for the costume contest. Enjoy snacks and watch a Joss Whedon film.

7 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 25 Basic Computer Class The “Creative Team” will provide this class for people with little or no knowledge of computers. At the end of the class, they will be available to answer any questions and/or give demonstrations by request. Call to reserve a seat. Free. 7-8 p.m. Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 26 River Valley Equality Center Family & Friends Support Group Anyone who may have a loved one who identifies as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer/questioning and who has questions, fears, worries or needs a safe place to talk about any part of this process is welcome.

The group will meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Chambers Hall, 215 North 6th Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-274-0825 rvecark.org Aug. 28 Welcome Neighbor Women’s Book Club The book “The Husband’s Secret” by Liane Moriarty will be reviewed. Any woman is welcome to attend and enjoy the discussion. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Dewey’s Cafe, Main Library, 3201 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-459-1603 welcomeneighborftsmith.com Aug. 28-Sept. 1 Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival & Powwow The Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival invites all visitors to enjoy tribal heritage activities, an intertribal powwow, Choctaw cultural exhibitions, stickball games, arts and crafts, free concerts and carnival rides. This annual Tuskahoma event offers activities for all ages including sports tournaments, quilting demonstrations, live performances, buffalo tours and more. The Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival will present a series of free concerts featuring national stars and well-known performers. Take your lawn chairs to enjoy live musical performances from some of the top names in entertainment such as Merle Haggard and Jeff Foxworthy. Free admission. Opens 9 a.m. daily. Choctaw Nation Capital Grounds, Tuskahoma, Okla. 580-924-8280 choctawnation.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS ects combine creativity and resourcefulness to create products that are useful and appealing. The day includes demonstrations from makers and fun, interactive shows that put their passions to the test. Expect to see such diverse creations as robots, electronics, wool art, 3D printers, traditional woodcraft, knitting, sewing and hand-made paper. Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tulsa Expo Square, 4145 East 21st Street, Tulsa, Okla. 918-779-6025 makerfairetulsa.com Sept. 4-6 South Franklin County Fair Home economic and livestock exhibits, gospel singing, children's games, Bingo, horseshoe tournament, talent show, Prince and Princess contest, live music and those famous burgers and door prizes. South Franklin County Fairgrounds, Charleston, Ark. Sept. 5-6 26th Annual Mountainfest Arts and Crafts Show.

An annual indoor arts and craft show specializing in various hand-made items.

Craft demonstrations to include spinning fiber into yarn. Quilt raffle and hourly give-a-ways by area merchants. Live radio broadcast on Saturday with a chance to win $100. 60+ vendors. Free. CMA event building, 112 Iron Mountain, Mena, Ark. mountainfestmena.com Sept. 5-6 Olde Miners Fall Festival 2014 Arts & crafts, food vendors, live entertainment. Raffle prizes, 50/50 drawing, pie walk/auction. Family fun-filled weekend. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Broadway Street, Huntington, Ark. 479-928-0245

Future Razorback quarterback Ty Storey and defending state champion Charleston open the season against traditionally rich Shiloh Christian in the Hootens.com Kickoff Classic doubleheader Sept. 4 at Mayo-Thompson Stadium in Fort Smith.

Hootens.com Kickoff Classic coming to town A doubleheader featuring some of the area's top teams and players to officially kick off the high school football season in the River Valley. The Charleston Tigers vs. Shiloh Christian Saints play at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Poteau Pirates vs. the Alma Airedales at 7:30 p.m. Other teams in the area will play the following night. $7, available at the gate or in advance from participating players as a fundraiser. Mayo-Thompson Stadium, Northside High School, 2301 North B Street, Fort Smith, Ark. 501-944-3029

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Aug. 29 Skin Care and Sunshine!

Dr. Craig Stites teaches how to prevent skin cancer and discusses new treatments.

He will also touch on how to keep healthy the largest organ we have ... our skin. $5. 1-2 p.m. UAFS Center for Lifelong Learning, 5004 Kinkead Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-788-7220 uafs.edu/lifelonglearning Aug. 29 Scrapbooking Adults are invited to an afternoon of scrapbooking. The group will be working on a summer theme layout. Registration required by Aug. 21. Free. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Van Buren Public Library, 1409 Main Street, Van Buren, Ark. 479-474-6045 Aug. 30 Tulsa Mini Maker Faire More than 150 “makers” and inventors demonstrate amazing projects and ideas.

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Sept. 6 Poteau Walk, Run or Dye 5K Fun Run This is a fun walk/run and will not be a timed event. There will be no medals or trophies given, just a really good time with your friends and family. All ages are invited.

This is a Color Run where participants will be exposed to powdered cornstarch at various times during the run and this may affect allergies, breathing and/or cause other health problems. Please make sure that you are fit and healthy enough to participate in this run before signing up. While waiting to register, expect some good quality pumping music by MS Event Group to help get the party started. At the end of the run, stay for the after party ending at the City Hall as the DJ plays the latest dance hits. Participants will be sent in waves of 100-150. Pre-registration for all entrants must be postmarked by Aug. 18 in order to be guaranteed a T-shirt.

Registration fees will remain the same after the early registration deadline. However, late registrants will not be guaranteed a T-shirt. Registration packet includes a white T-shirt, a tattoo and a Color Bomb powder packet for the after party. $20 individual, $15 each for groups of four or more; students and children 12 and under $10.

Race day registration 8:45- 9:45 a.m.; race begins at 10 a.m. Poteau City Hall, 211 Peters Street, Poteau, Okla. 918-647-9178 poteauchamber.com Sept. 6, 13 The Beehive at The Learning Fields’ September Saturdays The honeybees of the Learning Fields’ hive will be celebrated when the City of Fort Smith proclaims this Honeybee Month. The Master Gardeners will present a support campaign for honeybees and pollinators and hold a festival on Sept. 6 and 13 with fun, games, free gifts and information, snacks and treats, classes, seminars and demonstrations. This event is designed to increase awareness of the importance of pollinators and the urgency of pollinator protection. The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing is a horticultural educational center to present knowledge and ideas concerning every facet of the plant world. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing, 7300 Gardener Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-484-7737 Sept. 6 India Fest Taste food from different regions of India, watch traditional dancing, listen to Indian music and see cultural art. There also will be a children’s activity area as well as an opportunity to get a henna tattoo and shop vendor booths selling beautiful jewelry and other goods. Free. 11 a.m. Tulsa Expo Square, 4145 East 21st Street, Tulsa, Okla. 918-212-6090 Sept. 7 Grandparents’ Sunday Every grandparent will receive a special gift at the 9:01 and 10:45 a.m. services at Evangel Temple. Free. 10:45 a.m-noon. Evangel Temple Assembly of God sanctuary, Towson and Dodson Avenues, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-782-9121

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DINING GUIDE

Larry’s Pizza – Much More Than Just a Pizza Place

Daniel Baker, owner, serves up a cheesy, handmade pie at Larry’s Pizza.

L

arry’s Pizza started in 1992 in Little Rock, in a little mobile home where Larry White rented movies and made pizza in the back room. He then expanded to a restaurant large enough to seat a hundred people.

That’s when Daniel Baker became a Larry’s Pizza customer. Upon deciding it was time for a career switch, Daniel told Larry, “Two things I am good at – I love to talk to people and I could eat. This is the perfect change.” So, Larry gave him a chance.

Baker’s first Larry’s Pizza location was in Booneville, where his family roots are. He then moved to Towson Avenue in Fort Smith. Recently, Larry’s Pizza moved to a larger location on U.S. 71 South. The new Larry’s Pizza can seat about 300 diners and has a large game room. It’s very service-driven and family friendly. No alcohol is served.

Baker will be the first to say he is a recovering alcoholic. Because of that, he hires recovering addicts and alcoholics to The game room is expansive. give them a second chance. Also an ordained minister, Daniel said he feels called to work with people in recovery. As long as they are meeting their requirements, he gives them a chance, but he has a very tough policy: Show up to work stoned or drunk and “you’re gone.”

He said he doesn’t push his faith when at the restaurant, but if someone wants to talk to him about it, he is happy to do so. He knows some people 76

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who work for him may not agree with him. His reply is, “If you can’t see my faith and my witness in my life, it doesn’t matter what I tell you.”

He’s very proud of his pizza. Baker calls it “the Parade of Pizzas.”

Customers don’t have to fight their way to the buffet, stand in line waiting for something to come out of the oven and compete with other people waiting for the same thing. The staff brings the pizzas to the table so that the focus can be on family and a good dining experience.

Baker makes all the dough in-house; nothing is frozen. Pizza toppings include all the traditional ingredients. Specialty pizzas range from Kickin’ Pepperoni, Chicken Honey Mustard, Loaded Baked Potato, Buffalo Chicken and many more. Baker also makes a gluten-free crust. There’s even an Elvis special for dessert with peanut butter, cookie dough and banana pudding. Baker said customers say, “Thank ya, thank ya very much.”

Baker doesn’t want to be just another restaurant. He likes to be able to reach out to the community and to his customers. As an Army veteran, Baker loves when servicemen and women come in. The standing policy is “drinks are on him.” He sid he knows it’s not a lot to offer, but it’s a way of saying “Here’s my toast to you.”

He also appreciates the men and women in law enforcement, fire and emergency rescue. Baker wants them to know, “If you are dining at Larry’s and get called out while you’re eating, keep your receipt, go do the job and when you’re done come back and I’ll feed you”.

The new location has a full stage. Baker is providing a place for Christian and Gospel performances where the artist can present a message in a neutral environment and still draw people that are “unchurched” to share a little hope. Local artists will be performing, as well. While not all will be Christian music acts, Baker wants the live music to be encouraging in some way and family friendly. Baker loves his job, meeting the customers and doing his form of ministry to the people he meets every day.

Larry’s Pizza 6400 U.S. 71 South, Fort Smith, Ark. 479-242-2400 Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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