Concert sponsored by Highlands Oncology. Soloist Stewart Goodyear sponsored by The Starr Foundation.
Stewart Goodyear
Kevin Spears CEO
MARKETING
Kelly Syer Director of Marketing
Alice Dawson
Marketing Specialist
Leann Pacheco Sales Counselor
Dave Marks
Move-In Coordinator
PROGRAMS
Riki Stamps Director of Programs & Events
Michael Burks
Asst. Director of Programs & Events
RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
2025 Council Members
Marolyn Fields, President Mike Stiles, Vice-President Adella Gray, Secretary Doug Prichard, Past President Cathy Baird, Vernon Collins, Patty Goyette, Ned Irving, Jerre Jouett, Carol Spears, Patty Stiles, Jim Young
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chuck Nickle, President Will Clark, Vice-President LeRoy Duell, Treasurer Dr. Kim Chapman, Secretary Chuck Culver, Jack Mitchell, Tom Olmstead, Derrik Olsen, Tim Stults, Beth Vaughan-Wrobel, David (Dave) Williams, Martha (Marti) Woodruff
Spring is a season of renewal – a time when we witness the results of seeds planted with care and intention. At Butterfield, we are embracing this spirit of growth as we take significant steps toward expanding our Assisted Living environment – a critically important investment in the long-term future of our community and the well-being of the residents who call Butterfield home today.
This capital project that is starting to gain momentum and take shape is about more than just bricks and mortar. It reflects our unwavering commitment to provide a place where seniors can continue to thrive with the right level of support. As the needs of our community evolve, so must our services and spaces. By expanding our Assisted Living setting in a way that is dynamic and welcoming, we are ensuring Butterfield remains a place of comfort, security and exceptional care for decades to come.
Growth requires planning, patience and vision – not only to meet today’s needs but to anticipate the priorities of tomorrow’s seniors. The preliminary work that is now under way will start to visibly materialize in the months ahead, and we look forward to seeing our ideas come to life. As spring reminds us, new beginnings bring fresh opportunities. We are truly excited for what lies ahead.
As Butterfield looks toward a bright future, I thank you for your support, positive engagement and enthusiasm. These key ingredients are the foundation for our cultivation of a thriving, welcoming environment for all who call our campus home.
Warm regards,
Kevin Spears CEO Butterfield Trail Village
Opened in 1986, Butterfield Trail Village is a locally governed 501(c)(3) non-profit retirement community. As Northwest Arkansas’ only comprehensive Life Plan Retirement Community, BTV offers active older adults worry-free living that is secure, independent and fulfilling –and the freedom to enjoy plentiful activities both inside and outside the Village.
Five Sister Duos at Butterfield
For many women, their first friend is their sister, and those relationships last a lifetime. And in almost every society around the world, including the United States, women outlive men.
The five pairs of sisters featured here are examples of lifelong bonds, living longer and thriving in their later years. They agree that some of the biggest contributors to longevity are social connections, mental engagement and physical
activity. Along the way, they’ve grown wiser and more resilient.
Though some of these sisters have lived near each other much of that time, others spent decades at a distance. Now, they’ve all reconnected as residents of BTV. Some also had parents or in-laws who lived at BTV, and they saw how it relieved the stress on the children. So, they chose to make BTV their home for similar reasons.
Words by Michelle Parks
Photos by Kelly Syer
DONNA EPLEY & SHIRLEAN JEWELL
Growing up in Washington County, Donna Epley and Shirlean Jewell regularly swam in the nearby Illinois River and Lake Wedington. At five and a half years younger, Shirlean considered Donna very much a role model in their youth.
From their parents, they learned the values of hard work, honesty and integrity, as well as love for family. They recall large family gatherings for Christmas, Thanksgiving and family reunions – with aunts, uncles and cousins coming from near and far.
Shortly after Donna became a registered nurse graduate, she was employed at the V.A. hospital
in Fayetteville. As a bride, she moved to Eureka Springs and continued her nursing career at the local hospital. Shirlean returned to college after raising her two sons and earned degree in business administration. For several years she enjoyed living in Sedona, Ariz., where she earned her private pilot’s license.
Donna and her husband, Lewis, moved to BTV in 2006, while Shirlean arrived in 2019. They each stay busy with plenty of activities. Shirlean likes to hike, exercise in the pool and will soon start taking pottery classes again. She went with a group from BTV to Spain in October 2023, to hike the Camino de Santiago; she is “in training” to go again this year.
Shirlean describes Donna as kind, an achiever and resourceful. Donna said Shirlean has a positive attitude and, despite life’s ups and downs, “always, she looks on the bright side.”
SUSAN MAYES & JANET ROESSLER
With six and a half years between them, Susan Mayes, 74, and Janet Roessler, 80, didn’t become close friends until Janet was in college and Susan was in junior high. Janet went to DePauw University in Indiana, where she met her late husband, Rick. She then lived her junior year in Dijon, France, and went on to teach French at the high school and college levels, first in California and then in Fayetteville.
Susan pursued a degree in kinesiology at the University of Arkansas, and then went on to coach and teach physical education at Woodland Junior High for 10 years and teach dance at the U of A for 35 years.
When they were growing up in Fayetteville near Wilson Park, Janet was academic, reserved, thoughtful and pragmatic. In adulthood, Janet developed a skill and passion for cooking and became an avid and competitive bridge player.
Susan is six inches taller than Janet, and they’re both natural brunettes. After dyeing her hair red for many years, Susan has joined Janet as a blonde. Both enjoy reading, though Susan
prefers audiobooks so she can multitask, while Janet is more singularly focused.
In 2018, the sisters and their husbands traveled to France. Janet had been several times, but it was Susan’s first time. “I wanted to see her in her element, and was she ever,” Susan said. Janet could switch from speaking English to French on a dime.
Janet and her late husband moved to BTV in January 2020, while Susan and her husband, Allen Carney, just arrived last October. Their parents had lived here after retirement, and they saw how their parents were so well cared for as they aged, moving from a cottage to eventually Health Care.
“It was the best gift that you could give a child because everything was set,” Susan said. The sisters hope they are giving their own children similar peace of mind.
JUDY INGELS & MARY ELLEN MOORE
Judy Ingels, 86, and Mary Ellen Moore, 81, recall growing up in El Dorado in a neighborhood full of children. They played outside until they heard their dad’s high-pitched whistle at dinnertime. Frequenting the local library, they spent many afternoons reading and went swimming at a nearby pool.
Their dad was a petroleum engineer, and their mom returned to teaching sixth grade when they were in their teens. They fondly remember singing in the car as a family. Their parents modeled integrity and responsibility and raised them in the local Presbyterian church – the same church where they’d both later be married.
They got their bachelor’s degrees at the University of Arkansas, Judy in English literature and Mary Ellen in elementary education. Judy became a stay-at-home mom with their daughter and son, while her husband, Neil, pursued multiple degrees ending with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. Mary Ellen’s husband, James, attended medical school studying orthopedics, while Mary Ellen focused on their three sons.
While both Judy and Mary Ellen added enormously in a supporting role to the professional lives of their husbands, they had the leading role in the success of their children in many ways. They taught them to read, to play joyfully and fairly, to develop good health and study habits, to respect a higher being, to appreciate and develop friendships, and to love
SUSIE DAWSON & INZA FORT
Susie Dawson, 70, and Inza Fort, 74, grew up and lived in Bessemer, Ala., just outside Birmingham, until they each moved to Fayetteville. Inza came here in 1980 to get a doctorate in exercise science and never left. She taught kinesiology at the U of A for 36 years.
Susie arrived in 2010 after retiring from the State of Alabama judicial system, to have more quality time with their mother, who had health issues. They both cared for her until she died in 2018 at age 103.
The sisters share happy memories of picking blackberries and blueberries with their dad in a patch near their house, and enjoying them in homemade pancakes. These third-generation
their family, themselves, and the world in which they live.
Judy and her husband moved to BTV in 2016, and Mary Ellen and her husband moved in 2024. Their mother lived at BTV for 14 years; Judy’s in-laws also lived at BTV.
Judy and Mary Ellen’s families traveled to many family gatherings when Judy lived in California for 56 years and Mary Ellen lived in Fayetteville. Now that both live at BTV, they enjoy being able to see each other at any time with a five-minute walk.
Auburn graduates remember attending home football games and spending Friday nights at baseball games in box seats behind third base.
Their neighborhood threw block parties for every child’s birthday – inviting all the children and parents. They all swam in the nearby lake and played hide and seek and kick the can in summers. The sisters shared a room, while their older brother had his own.
Inza said she admired Susie’s diligence when she decided to go to law school in the evenings while working full-time. It took Susie more than four years, but she didn’t owe a dime when she graduated, and she passed the bar exam on the first try.
JERRE JOUETT & ANN HENRY
Jerre Jouett, 83, and Ann Henry, 85, grew up in Tulsa, Okla. They’re 18 months apart and had a younger brother, who died nearly 11 years ago. The family moved to Springdale in the early 1950s and were active in the Methodist church.
The sisters took piano lessons, sang in the school and church choirs and were in Pep Club. Ann started babysitting and then, in ninth grade, waitressed at AQ Chicken House, which she continued through graduate school. Jerre was also a waitress there, to help the family’s finances.
Their dad was the middle of nine children, and all of them became teachers — as did several of their cousins. Ann followed suit. After getting her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at the U of A, her late husband, encouraged her to get a law degree. She earned that degree over the next seven years, going to school part-time while raising their three children.
Eager to not follow in Ann’s footsteps, Jerre went to Centenary College in Shreveport, La., where she majored in business, sang and traveled with the choir, and met her future
Susie said Inza has a sharp mind and excels at trivia. She also loves her family and is sentimental. “I think Sis is one of the most dedicated and loyal people I know. She has a friend; she’s got a friend for life.”
They text each other every morning to check in, and they eat most
husband. The choir sang at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall for nine weeks, doing four shows daily.
For more than 60 years, the sisters lived in different states – Ann in Arkansas, Jerre in Texas. Ann and Morriss, who moved to BTV in 2019, were married 60 years before he passed away last year. Jerre and Jerry were married 59 years before he passed away in 2022; she returned from Texas and moved to BTV in 2023. Their parents were also BTV residents, as was Ann’s father-in-law. Their mother lived to be 100.
Ann said Jerre is very organized, has a lot of tact, and is a skilled seamstress, like their mother was. Though Jerre prefers to be in the background, she said Ann shines when she’s out front, talking to people and serving the community in various leadership positions, as she has over the years.
These sisters encourage women to understand and embrace who they are. “Know who you are, find out who you are, find out your strengths and what you’re best at,” Ann said, “because that’s what’s going to make you happy.”
meals together, exercise and take classes together, and have enjoyed many cultural offerings in BTV’s performance hall.
Inza knows from research how important social activity is as people age. Though she’s very satisfied to spend time alone, the socialization was a big motivation to move to BTV. They were in the Carriage Club for a few years, then both moved into their apartments in December 2024.
Anniversaries
March Anniversaries
Allen Carney and Susan Mayes 1st
David and Janee Crotts 7th
Mike Wavering and Kathy Malstrom 10th
Don and Linda Hayes 24th
Richard and Ardith Wharry 24th
Tommy and Paula Bemberg 28th
April Anniversaries
Nick and Jerilyn Nicholson 2nd
Don and Claudette Hunnicutt 15th
Bill and Judy Schwab 23rd
Michael Hollomon and Eric Wailes 27th
New Neighbors
Recent Village Move-Ins
Steve and Sandy Johnson
Michael Hollomon and Eric Wailes
James & Mary Ellen Moore
When did you move to Butterfield?
We were in the Carriage Club for about eight years and were shown some homes and apartments starting around two years ago. In mid-2024, we were offered a new Village Home that was due to begin construction and would be completed before Christmas. After the whole family gathered for Thanksgiving in our home of 43 years, we downsized, packed and moved to BTV on December 5, 2024.
Where are you from?
Mary Ellen was born and raised in El Dorado, Ark. James was born in North Louisiana and raised in El Dorado. We were both in the El Dorado High School Class of 1961, and have attended many EHS class reunions since. We attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and both graduated in 1965. We married following graduation and went through another 9 ½ years of medical education and training –living in Little Rock, Gainesville, Fla. and Los Angeles.
What did you do before retirement?
Mary Ellen taught fifth grade in the Little Rock Public Schools during James’ medical school and residency. Our three sons were born during that time. James joined the Ozark Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic in Fayetteville in 1974, and practiced until 2007, practicing general orthopedics with a subspecialty in hand surgery. James had the privilege of serving on the Washington Regional Medical Center board for the last 12 years of his practice. We enjoyed raising our sons in Fayetteville and treasure the many friends we have made through the years.
Do you have children and grandchildren?
We raised three sons, and they brought us three terrific daughters-in-law. We have seven wonderful grandchildren. Four live in Northwest Arkansas and three live in Texas. This year we have four graduations in May. We will also celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary in May!
Why did you choose to come to Butterfield?
Mary Ellen’s mother, Ann Elise Rothe, lived here for 14 years. Also, Mary Ellen’s sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Neil Ingels, moved to BTV eight years ago. We have long been attracted to the quality of the facilities, the thoughtful healthcare system and the many wonderful people who live and work here.
Featured Village Events
MARCH 6 | 2:30 PM
PERFORMANCE HALL
Iraq: The Adventure of a Lifetime with Dr. Jerry Rose, Biological Anthropologist
Dr. Jerry Rose will discuss his recent trip to Iraq, including a 14-day bus tour along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Hear about ancient cities such as Uruk, Babylon and Girsu – and his visit to five shrines of Shi’ite Islam, seen by more than 15 million pilgrims annually. Rose has taught courses at the University of Arkansas since 1976, ranging from physical, cultural and medical anthropology to human and forensic osteology and dental science. A published author, he has completed 41 forensic cases and headed up Egyptian burial site excavations for over 30 years.
COMING IN MARCH COMING
APRIL 10 | 7 PM
PERFORMANCE HALL
The Best of Broadway featuring Chris and Sara Jones
MARCH 17 | 12 PM
PERFORMANCE HALL
May the Luck of the Irish Be with You
Local trio Ragtaggle will help us celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, accompanied by piping hot bowls of Irish stew. This spirited ensemble includes Ben Harris on guitar, Kara Butler on flute and Seaghan Shrock on fiddle. Seaghan is also an Irish dancer and occasionally puts down her violin to dance. Harris is the director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas; Butler holds degrees in flute and music performance, as well as practices law.
MARCH 20 | 2:30 PM PERFORMANCE HALL
Resident Lecture Series: Jan Gosnell, Ghost Artist for Television Mini-Series
The Blue and the Gray
Jan Gosnell will share his experiences as a ‘ghost artist’ for Columbia Pictures’ 1981 filming of the television mini-series The Blue and the Gray. As filming took place in Northwest Arkansas, Jan drew and painted for the central character, a young artist working for Harpers Weekly as a Civil War illustrator. Jan has a graduate degree in painting, drawing and printmaking. He worked as a commercial artist in Houston, taught at the University of Mississippi and established his own college-accredited art school in Mountain Home, Ark. A local and regional exhibitor, Jan has published two books and won national awards for his editorial cartoons.
Chris and Sara Jones have graced stages in New York City, Los Angeles and across the country – recently choosing to settle in Northwest Arkansas to establish an entertainment agency, Jones Entertainment Productions. Enjoy showstopping Broadway musical numbers from two voices perfected through 20 years of experience at Walt Disney World, where Sara held the title of “The Little Mermaid!”
APRIL 24 | 7 PM
PERFORMANCE HALL
On Stage! The Lyrique Quintette, Woodwind Ensemble
The Lyrique Quintette, ensemble-in-residence at the University of Arkansas, is a highly-regarded woodwind quintet with over 30 years of concertizing, touring, presenting and mentoring. Dedicated to commissioning and performing new music and music by diverse composers, the ensemble has performed extensively in the United States and abroad. Their recent album, Arrivals and Departures: Music of the Americas, is favorably reviewed and includes two works commissioned by the quintet. The ensemble was awarded an Honorable Mention in the American Prize chamber music category. Members include Cristina Ballatori, flute; Theresa Delaplain, oboe; Nophachai Cholthitchanta, clarinet; Katelyn Jahnke, horn; and Melanie Ferrabone, bassoon.
Salon Sing-a-Long
Winter Soup Supper
Take Five Happy Hour
"Murder at the Butterfield Mansion" Dinner Theatre
Health Care Center
Photos by Kelly Syer
An important key to what makes Butterfield Trail Village unique among senior communities in Northwest Arkansas is the Health Care Center, located right in the heart of campus. A place for long-term skilled nursing care or short-term recovery, Butterfield's residents and their loved ones benefit enormously from having a full continuum of care available in the same location as the independent living residences. This seamless access to services for evolving needs is why many choose to call Butterfield home.
The Health Care Center is not just a place to receive 24/7 nursing care and medical support – it is also a gathering place with frequent activities and programming designed to ensure residents receive the regular social engagement that is so critical to senior well-being. Whether it's celebrating holidays or "just because," Health Care Center residents have regular opportunities to visit with friends and family.
A large tank of beautiful, vibrant tropical fish is a popular feature of the Health Care Center's central common area. Studies show that watching fish in an aquarium can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and improve mood.
The Health Care Center features 47 resident beds, with options to request private or shared space. A dedicated skilled nursing staff is available around the clock to support to resident health needs, ensure comfort and safety, and respond to any emergencies that may arise.
Health Care Center residents who are feeling well enough to be mobile enjoy the convenience and fellowship of a common dining room. In addition to providing meal services, this bright, roomy space offers a place to host occasional live music and other larger gatherings to be enjoyed by residents and guests alike.
For many residents who transition into permanent skilled nursing care, having the option to decorate their personal space with treasured keepsakes, photos and even furniture is very important. The Health Care Center rooms offer enough space and a bit of flexibility to make the environment feel more cozy and familiar.
A Path to Purpose: Security Supervisor Jeff Parsons’ Journey of Safety and Service
Born in West Virginia as the youngest of four children, Jeff Parsons’ early years were defined by adventure and a need to embrace adaptability. His family moved to Arizona when he was a small child, settling near the town of Page where his father was head of construction for the Glen Canyon Dam. With no housing available, construction workers and their families lived in trailers in the middle of the desert. Jeff’s elementary school was entirely populated by children from the Navajo Nation. None of the other students spoke English – and Jeff didn’t speak Navajo –but he quickly learned the universal power of connection through games and sharing his lunches. This formative experience taught Jeff and his siblings that fitting in anywhere is possible, reinforcing his belief that “home is where the heart is.”
After the Glen Canyon project concluded, the Parsons family briefly moved to Phoenix while Jeff’s father accepted a position in Caracas, Venezuela. While his dad relocated for the role, the family spent three months learning Spanish, anticipating an exciting new adventure while preparing to leave the U.S. Once in Caracas, Jeff’s mother and the kids lived within the confines of a 5-star hotel for three months, waiting for housing to become ready at the work site. The Venezuela project, however, was canceled for the construction company his father worked for, and they all packed up to return to the U.S. together.
Jeff completed high school in Hershey, Pa., and began putting himself through college at Penn State in Harrisburg. He left after two years to work as an engineering apprentice at the infamous Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station. Then, at age 21, he joined the safety department at Willow Island Power Station in West Virginia, where he immediately began working to earn EMT certification. Six months into his new role, a horrific life-altering tragedy struck. An unfinished cooling tower collapsed due to scaffolding failure, claiming 51 lives in what is still considered the nation’s deadliest construction accident. As a first responder, Jeff and his team members were immediately sent in to support victim recovery efforts. The resulting trauma was enormous. “I realized I needed a purpose,” he reflected. “If I could focus on becoming a good, solid professional, I knew I could prevent unnecessary deaths.”
Jeff’s career began to evolve as he became the first safety supervisor for an advanced coal-fired power station, hiring hundreds of employees and helping ensure a spotless safety record. Balancing an intense work, school and volunteer schedule, he taught trauma response and supported area paramedics with the full encouragement and backing of his plant manager. “I decided I couldn’t be the kind of person who expects everything to
just come to them. I wanted to join in to help be part of the solution.” Over time, his expertise and experience led to higher leadership roles, including senior director of safety and security at Sysco Corporation. However, the demands of constant travel meant his personal life suffered greatly. “God was trying to humble me,” he said. Finding new and challenging roles in safety and risk management for a handful of other companies, he eventually joined the Harris County, Texas Emergency Operations Center. There, he worked in storm command and even served as a liaison to the Office of Homeland Security Emergency Management.
“I wanted to join in to help be part of the solution.”
Village Tours: Going Places in 2025
Our next international adventure: 11-Day Cruise on the New Norwegian Prima
August 22 - September 6, 2025 Iceland, Norway & Belgium from London, United Kingdom
Finally retiring (for the first time) in 2022, Jeff and his wife, Xiumei Yao, a traditional Chinese woman he describes as his soulmate, traveled throughout Southeast Asia before settling in Northwest Arkansas to join his son. Not ready to stop making meaningful contributions, Jeff found an appealing Butterfield job listing that mentioned “serving seniors.” He was hired right away as the new campus security supervisor. “I wanted to be someplace where people have a life to share,” he said. Jeff values the connections he’s building with residents and staff – and he appreciates BTV’s welcoming, somethingfor-everyone community vibe. “I am confident my medical background can help the great people we serve here. Beyond that, though, I plan to make time to sit down and talk indepth with people, hear their stories.”
- Jeff Parsons
9 Ports of Call: UK: London (Southampton) Belgium: Brussels / Bruges (Zeebrugge) Netherlands: Amsterdam Norway: Bergen, Geiranger & Alesund Iceland: Akureyri, Isafjordur & Reykjavik
Don't miss out on exciting future opportunities to travel with Butterfield's Village Tours. Contact Riki Stamps for information about upcoming travel at rstamps@btvillage.org.
London, England
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Bruges, Belgium
Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland
Geiranger, Norway
The Upper Ramble Now Open for Public Enjoyment
Fayetteville’s newest public space, the Upper Ramble, is officially open, transforming what was once a parking lot into a vibrant downtown gathering space.
The City of Fayetteville celebrated the milestone with an opening ceremony on Dec. 30, 2024, where residents explored the newly completed plaza and enjoyed its green spaces, seating areas, and a granite water feature that pumps natural spring water from beneath the ground.
Located just west of the Walton Arts Center, the new three-acre space is a key component of the city's arts corridor, and the final piece of The Ramble, a series of outdoor public spaces along the Razorback Greenway designed to connect key cultural institutions in the city’s core.
Divided into lower and upper sections, stretching between Prairie and Dickson streets, The Ramble links together destinations such as the Walton Arts Center, TheatreSquared, Nadine Baum Studios, the Fayetteville Public Library, and the University of Arkansas Windgate Art and Design District. These spaces highlight Fayetteville’s commitment to ecology, community, art, and culture, creating a welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike.
The overall project was developed in phases, beginning with the Lower Ramble, which opened in September 2022 between Prairie and Center streets. With the completion of the Upper Ramble between Center and Dickson streets, the entire vision is now a
reality. Originally known as the Cultural Arts Corridor, but later changed after a public renaming campaign, The Ramble was made possible by a voter-approved bond issue in 2019, with design work supported by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation’s Design Excellence Program.
While the new space is already providing a scenic and inviting place for people to gather, future programming is expected to bring even more activity to the area. As a city park property, the Fayetteville Parks Department will coordinate events and performances, as well as oversee maintenance, ensuring that The Ramble remains a well-kept and accessible space for all to enjoy. The city’s residentled Arts Council will also play a role in selecting public art installations.
In addition to its public features, new private development is also taking shape around the Upper Ramble. A seven-story hotel is being developed for the southern end, a food hall is planned for the northern end, and a Hilton Motto & Tempo hotel is coming to the northwest corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue. These projects reflect the ongoing evolution of downtown Fayetteville as an increasingly walkable and dynamic destination.
With its thoughtful design, prime location, and future programming, the Upper Ramble is set to become a defining feature of downtown Fayetteville, offering a seamless blend of nature, culture, and community.
Two Must-See Broadway Musicals at Walton Arts Center
Get ready for a show-stopping spring at Walton Arts Center as two iconic Broadway hits take the stage. First up, the sensational revival of Funny Girl is known for its dazzling costumes and unforgettable music. Then, buckle up for a high-energy adventure as Back to the Future: The Musical zooms in, blending nostalgia, spectacle and sci-fi magic.
The musical comedy, Funny Girl, is coming to Walton Arts Center March 18-23 for eight performances. The show broke box office records week after week and received unanimous raves on Broadway, now this bittersweet comedy about the indomitable Fanny Brice is coming to Northwest Arkansas.
As a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage, everyone told her she’d never be a star. Then something funny happened –she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway. The “vivacious and delightfully glitzy” (Vogue) Broadway revival features iconic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star” and “People.” The Observer describes the revival as “sparkling and explosively entertaining!”
Synchronize your watches as the 2022 Olivier Award-winning best new musical, Back to the Future: The Musical lands April 8-13. Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.
By Anna Buie
“If Bob Zemeckis and I time traveled back to 1980 and told our younger selves that the script they were struggling to write would become a Broadway musical 43 years later, they'd kick us out of their office and call us crazy,” co-creator Bob Gale said. “Regardless of whether you've seen the original film, Back to the Future: The Musical, with its outstanding performances and incredible stagecraft, will delight and enthrall you, and everyone you know!”
Looking for an extra special way to shake up your night? Cocktail classes at WAC are available for $39, where you’re able to enjoy light appetizers from Fayetteville High School's Brightwater culinary students while you learn how to mix two specialty cocktails crafted by WAC’s in-house team of local mixologists. You'll leave with recipes, great memories and new friends! Already have tickets to Funny Girl or Back to the Future: The Musical on a night when cocktail classes are offered? You can add-on a cocktail class before your show and you'll be in your seat before the theater lights dim. No show tickets? No problem, you can come anyway for a fun, hands-on experience. Must be 21 or older to participate.
Tickets to WAC events can be purchased by visiting waltonartscenter.org, by calling (479) 443-5600 weekdays 10am until 5pm, or in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10am until 2pm.
Funny Girl
Tues, March 18 at 7pm
Wed, March 19 at 7pm
Thurs, March 20 at 1:30 and 7pm | Cocktail Class at 5:30pm
Fri, March 21 at 8pm Cocktail Class at 6:30pm
Sat, March 22 at 2 and 8pm Cocktail Class at 6:30pm Sun, March 23 at 2pm
Thurs, Jan. 30 at 7pm
Back to the Future: The Musical
Tues, April 8 at 7pm Wed, April 9 at 7pm
Thurs, April 10 at 1:30 and 7pm | Cocktail Class at 5:30pm Fri, April 11 at 8pm Cocktail Class at 6:30pm
Sat, April 12 at 2 and 8pm Cocktail Class at 6:30pm
Sun, April 13 at 2pm
Funny Girl
Back to the Future: The Musical
The Foundation is grateful for the gifts received between December 13, 2024 to February 7, 2025 from the following donors:
Donations/Memorials
Shirley Franklin
Beth Vaughan-Wrobel
Ben and Martha Shreve in memory of Morriss Henry
Donna Bates in memory of Morriss Henry
Gene Tweraser in memory of Morriss Henry and Judy Carey
Dorothy Reed in memory of Morriss Henry
Barbara Counce in memory of Glen Fincher
Health Care/Special Care Remodel/Sensory Garden Fund
Beth Vaughan-Wrobel in memory of Glen Fincher
Library Fund
Richard Wharry in memory of Bill Stewart
Ron and Polly Hanson in memory of Laura Holt and Margy Scott
Music and Performance Fund
Paula Furlough
Poet Rallied Community to Supply Books for Segregated School
By Sandra Cox Birchfield, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
It was called the George Ballard Library in honor of the African American poet who led a book drive to ensure that Fayetteville’s Black children had access to books.
“He intends to compile as much information as he can get on achievements of every outstanding member of his race,” the Fayetteville Daily Democrat newspaper said of Ballard in 1936.
Ballard’s book of poetry, Ozark “Ballards”, sheds light on life in segregated Fayetteville during the 1920s from the Black perspective. Now he was shedding light on Lincoln School at East Willow Avenue and South Center Street. Newly built by the Works Progress Administration, it replaced Henderson School on Olive Avenue as Fayetteville’s segregated school.
Ballard was relentless in his pursuit of books by rallying the community and even writing the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama for copies by Booker T. Washington and other Black authors. A “book shower” was held during National Library Week with a presentation featuring a reading by poet Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni, music by Frank Owens and His Ginger Band and a tap dance by local child performer, Clifford “Half-Pint” Thompson. Reserved seats for white visitors were available.
In his mission to secure Black history books for the school library, Ballard also sought works by local authors and Arkansas history.
The community, particularly the writers, rallied around him.
A special fund was created to purchase 14 books on African American subjects. Marinoni, the future poet laureate of Arkansas, donated five books of her poems. Charles J. Finger, a Newbery Prize recipient for children’s literature, donated his works. And there was one that Finger donated that moved Ballard considerably: Free Negro Heads of Families in the United States in 1830.
Conspicuously missing from the library, however, was Ozark “Ballards”. Minnie Field of Fayetteville, widow of noted art photographer J.H. Field, took care of that. She provided a copy.
The library was dedicated during the school’s commencement ceremony in May 1936. A large portrait of Ballard, taken by J.H. Field, was given to be displayed at the school, which continued to educate African American students until 1965. Ballard died in 1951, and the Lincoln School building is now gone. The Willow Heights public housing now occupies the space.
Fayetteville writers Charles J. Finger and Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni were among the local creatives who championed poet George Ballard’s efforts to acquire books for the library at Lincoln School, which educated African American children during segregation.
Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni
Charles J. Finger
Make a Splash with Your Fitness Routine
Gentle on the body yet powerful in results, aquatic exercise can help you move with confidence and strength.
Take the plunge!
Butterfield’s water aerobics class meets at 9:30 a.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Looking for a way to stay active without stressing your joints?
The answer might be just below the surface! Exercising in the pool offers a fun, low-impact way to build strength, improve balance and boost cardiovascular health. Water provides a unique combination of resistance and support that makes it an ideal environment for exercise. Here’s why:
Low-Impact Movement
Exercising in water reduces stress on joints and muscles, perfect for those with arthritis, joint pain or mobility issues.
Pool Exercises to Improve Balance
Better Balance and Stability
The natural buoyancy of water helps you stay upright while challenging and improving your balance.
Full-Body Workout
Water offers resistance in every direction, engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
Enhanced Cardiovascular Health
Pool workouts increase heart rate without the strain of land-based activities, helping to strengthen your heart and lungs.
Looking to enhance your stability? Try these water exercises:
Single-Leg Stands
Stand on one leg and hold for 10–15 seconds. Use the pool wall for support if needed.
Side Leg Lifts
Hold onto the wall and lift one leg out to the side. Repeat 10–15 times on each leg.
Tandem Walk
Walk heel-totoe across the pool to challenge your balance and stability.
Core Twists
Hold a pool noodle in front of you and twist from side to side to engage your core.
If group classes aren’t your thing, water walking is a simple, effective way to stay active on your own. Its key benefits include:
Improved Posture and Gait – Walking in water engages your core, helping strengthen muscles that support good posture.
Strengthened Lower Body Muscles – Water provides 12–14 times more resistance than air, making each movement more effective for building strength.
Increased Cardiovascular Fitness – Like any aerobic exercise, water walking helps improve heart and lung health.
If you decide to try water walking, use your whole foot – from heel to toe – to maintain proper alignment and avoid undue stress on your toes or calves. And, don’t underestimate the value of playing upbeat music to keep you motivated and moving at a steady pace.
Water Walking Routine
Forward Walk
Walk across the pool, focusing on a strong, deliberate stride.
Sideways Walk
Turn sideways and step one foot over the other. Alternate directions.
High Knees
March in place or across the pool, lifting your knees as high as possible.
Backward Walk
Slowly walk backward, engaging your core for balance.
Lance Henry M.D.
Presenting 25+ performances at Inspiration Point in Eureka Springs and venues throughout Northwest Arkansas
