Arkansas
Local notes: Benefit concert for ALS Northwest Arkansas planned for Sept. 6 at Rendezvous Junction Brewery Co. | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks will play host to the second annual Scarecrow Showdown, a community art installation during the month of October at the garden located at 4703 N. Crossover Road in Fayetteville. Community members and businesses are invited to register by Aug. 31 to create a scarecrow to be displayed in the garden. The showdown will be a feature at the garden’s Autumn Harvest fundraiser set for Oct. 6. Scarecrows will be on display in the Garden until Nov. 1.
Scarecrow creators may register in the amateur category for $30, professional for $50, or business for $150. Participants may tend to their scarecrows with four provided daily passes
Information: (479) 750-2620 or bgozarks.org.
Mount Sequoyah
Mount Sequoyah has two events planned for International Peace Month. On Sept. 6 there is an opening reception for Helen Kwiatkowski’s paintings and 1,000 handmade cranes installation in Sequoyah Hall Gallery at 150 Skyline Drive in Fayetteville. Then there is a Peace Day Concert for the International Day of Peace starting at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 with food and fellowship followed by concert with Emily Kaitz & Dennis Collins, Dana Louise and a reading by Ginny Masullo at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and benefit The Children’s Safety Center. Ticket links at EventBrite or https://mountsequoyah.org/event-directory.
ALS Association
The Rendezvous Junction Brewery Co. will play host to a benefit concert for ALS Northwest Arkansas at 6:30 p.m Sept. 6 at the brewery located at 2225 S. Bellview Road, Suite 101 in Rogers. Recent tornadoes forced the cancellation of the June Walk to Defeat ALS Northwest Arkansas but organizers of the benefit concert aim to support the organization in the walk’s stead.
The fundraiser will feature dinner, a performance by Once Were Young band, silent auction and local mayors will participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge in honor of its 10th anniversary. The event is open to the public and proceeds will support patient care and comfort, research for treatments and a cure.
Limited VIP seating is available for $150 and mezzanine VIP tickets for $60, which include dinner and an alcoholic beverage.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit als.org/NWAConcert.
ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive motor neuron disease, which gradually robs people of their ability to walk, talk, swallow and eventually breathe. ALS has no known cause or cure. With only two to five years to live, people living with ALS have an urgent need.
The ALS Association is the largest ALS organization in the world. The ALS Association funds global research collaborations, assists people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of care and certified clinical care centers and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association is working to make ALS a livable disease while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about the ALS Association, visit als.org.
Christian Women’s Connection
The Christian Women’s Connection play host to a brunch from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Bella Vista Community Church located at 75 E. Lancashire Blvd. in Bella Vista.
Charlene Dennis of Florissant, Mo., will be the featured speaker. Her message will be “My Princess Story, and This Is No Fairy Tale.”
The program will also include a fashion show presented by Beautiful Lives Thrift Boutique in Bentonville.
Registration is $10 and includes brunch. Reservations are required by 2:30 p.m. Sept. 6.
For reservations call Glenda at (479) 366-7562, text Dorothy at (479) 381-6516 or email BellaVistaCWCStonecroft@gmail.com
The Bella Vista Christian Women’s Connection September Prayer Connection for will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 4 at 77 McKenzie Drive in Bella Vista. Reservations are not necessary for the Prayer Connection.
Funk Festival
The inaugural Funk Festival to benefit the Arkansas Support Network will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Sept. 22 at George’s Majestic Lounge located at 519 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville. The musical lineup will feature Rodney Block Collective, Funk Factory, Funkanites and Tim Anthony & Friends.
The Funk Festival supports Arkansas Support Network, an organization founded in 1988 by dedicated mothers striving for better opportunities for their children with disabilities. ASN has since evolved into a statewide leader in empowering individuals with developmental disabilities, serving over 600 people across Arkansas.
“Funk music blends diverse genres, instruments and sounds to create unique, soulful music that inspires movement and connection. In many ways, this mirrors the impactful services and support we offer to individuals with disabilities at Arkansas Support Network when we do them well. We’re thrilled to have top talent from across Arkansas joining us for a day of exceptional music in support of a worthy cause. We look forward to seeing you there,” Syard Evans, CEO, Arkansas Support Network said.
Tickets are available for $75 at stubs.net/event/6257/funk-festival-benefiting-arkansas-support-network.
For more information contact Terri Pegue at (479) 644-0802 or tpegue@supports.org.
Compton Gardens & Arboretum
The Dr. Compton Native Tree & Plant Sale is set to be held Sept. 27-30. The sale is open to the public will feature more than 56 varieties of native trees, shrubs, vines, ornamental grasses, perennials and hardy ferns.
“Our Fall Native Tree & Plant Sale is a great opportunity for the community to purchase Ozark native plants, many of which are grown in-house at Compton Gardens using seeds sourced from the gardens,” says Meagan Love, site manager at Compton Gardens & Arboretum.
The annual event will be held at the Compton Gardens maintenance office located at 407 NE B St. in Bentonville.
For more details and to learn about the specific varieties available, visit peelcompton.org. Compton Gardens & Arboretum is a community space provided by Peel Compton Foundation, whose mission is to connect the community through nature, education, recreation, and preservation. For more information visit peelcompton.org.
GermanFest
Mountain Home Moose Lodge No. 1953 will play host to its 16th annual GermanFest on Oct. 19 at the lodge located at 4754 Arkansas 5 in Salesville.
The menu will include sauerbraten, bratwurst, hot German potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut, hot pretzels and apple strudel. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the door or in advance. The family friendly event is open to members and non-member guests. Advance tickets may be purchased by calling the lodge after 2 p.m. at (870) 491-5696.
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus recently announced the appointment of Mario Varela as coordinator of student recruitment. He leads the effort to attract and recruit future students by enhancing the student experience and fostering a sense of belonging and connection. In a previous tenure at ATU-Ozark in 2022-23, Varela served as a student support specialist.
“Higher education has always had my heart,” said Varela. “I am thrilled to be back at ATU-Ozark and to bring what I’ve learned in my time away to help our campus flourish even more. I look forward to working alongside an amazing team to continue serving our communities and supporting our students.”
“Mario’s return to campus is a testament to his dedication to the field of higher education and his commitment to the success of students,” said Jessica Spicer, ATU-Ozark associate director of admissions. “Mario is well positioned to help ATU-Ozark continue its mission of providing high-quality education and growth to all students.”
Varela holds degrees in music and health science from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville.
Information: atu.edu/ozark.
Arkansas Arts Council
The Arkansas Arts Council is seeking nominations for the 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards. Sept. 6 is the deadline to submit nominations for those whose work continues to strengthen the arts in Arkansas.
The annual awards program recognizes outstanding individuals, organizations and businesses for their influence on the arts in Arkansas. The public is encouraged to submit nominations for the following categories: arts community development; arts in education; corporate sponsorship of the arts; folk life; individual artist; patron; and lifetime achievement awards. Finalists are chosen by an independent panel of arts professionals and will be honored at a ceremony in the spring.
To make a nomination or for more information, visit the Arkansas Arts Council’s website or contact Cheri Leffew at cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov.
Bismarck, Ark. (KATV) — If your idea of a perfect summer getaway includes a clear lake, plenty of elbow room and enough activities to keep the whole family busy for days, DeGray Lake might be calling your name.
In the run-up to America’s 250th birthday, DeGray Lake is being highlighted as Arkansas’ only resort state park — a place designed to be a one-stop vacation spot where guests can settle in and stay put.
“We are Arkansas’s only resort state park, and with that, we have enough to keep a guest and their family busy for really a whole week,” a park representative said.
The park’s setup is meant to keep everything in one place, from the lodge and pool to the restaurant and swim beach. Visitors can also find trails, four stables, golf, disc golf, fling golf and interpretive programs held every day during the summertime.
“So really, the whole package is designed so that people, they would never leave, never need to leave the park while they’re here on vacation, they can be here all week,” the representative said. “We’ve got your food, we’ve got your lodging, we’ve got plenty to keep you busy and having a good time. That’s what makes us Arkansas’s only resort state park.”
Water sports are a big summertime draw, and the park also offers a range of ways to stay overnight — whether you want comfort, something in-between, or a more traditional camping experience.
“If you like getting in the outdoors, but you don’t like staying in the outdoors, you can come stay in our comfy lot,” the representative said, noting the lodge has 96 rooms. For a “step up from camping,” the park also has three yurts available, described as a more glamorous option with bunk beds, a sky dome and a door that locks. Campsites are also available, ranging from RV hookups to simple tent sites.
For anglers and lake lovers, the park representative said the fishing is great and the water is clear, with options that include line fishing, spear fishing and scuba diving.
“It’s a beautiful lake,” the representative said. “We’re nestled right here in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.”
The park is described as a little off the beaten path — but that’s part of the charm.
“I tell people all the time it’s kind of like the best kept secret, because you look out there at that lake, not too busy,” the representative said.
For more information on planning a visit, click here.
LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.
RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.
“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”
The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.
RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.
“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.
“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”
Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.
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