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Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day

Have a happy Memorial Day. Enjoy barbecue and the 3 p.m. concert in Whittington Park in Hot Springs by the Hot Springs Concert Band.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

National Memorial Day concert

The National Memorial Day concert sponsored by Public Broadcasting Service is live tonight at 7 p.m. The concert features actors Joe Montegna and Gary Sinise and of course the National Symphony Orchestra. The concert will take place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol.
Memorial Day was originally Decoration Day designed to honor Union soldiers in the American Civil War. The first observance was on May 1, 1865 at Waterloo, New York by mostly freed slaves.
May 30, 1869 was the first national observance of Decoration Day. Most of the south refused to participate in the celebration with the exception of Columbus, Mississippi. Columbus residents honored both Union and Confederate soldiers.
The name Memorial Day was first used in 1882. The meaning of Memorial Day expanded after World War II. Today, Memorial Day is to commemorate United States men and women who died while in the military service. Memorial Day is one of ten federal holidays. It became a federal holiday in 1967. The holiday was finally adopted by all 50 states in 1978.
The date of May 30 was picked in 1868 because it did not reflect a day of battle. On June 28, 1968 our Congress moved the holiday date to the last Monday of May as part of the Uniform Holiday Bill. Since 1987, Hawaii’s Senator Daniel Inouye, a World War II veteran, has introduced legislation to move the holiday back to May 30 with no success.
Other federal holidays include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Tonight’s concert will also air on National Public Radio stations as a live broadcast.

Friday, May 28, 2010

My Three Angels put on hold

According to Village Players president Judy Corwin, "the auditions held for the summer show, My Three Angels, did not have enough people auditioning to fill the number needed for the cast. Also, those members who agreed to "chair" the various production spots were having trouble finding people that would be necessary to back up such a show backstage. My Three Angels is a wonderful show, and since it is set during Christmas, the board has agreed with both Producer, Fran Walker, and Director, Shelly Kleinman, to reschedule this show for our fall/holiday production in 2011. Since we have so many people unavailable in the summer months, it was determined that we would not try to replace or reschedule with another production. We look forward to working with Shelly and Fran next year when they can count on the full support of all those who put in so much time both in front of the curtain and behind. If anyone inquires about the show, who are not Players members, please let them know that they can still see it, but will have to wait until next year.

Future rock star addresses Rotary Club of Scenic 7

Lisa Carey and her son Ben gave talk at Rotary Club of Scenic 7.


Fourth grader, Ben Carey, explained to the members of the Rotary Club of Scenic 7 about his previous ear drum replacement and his repeat procedure set for this November or December.
Carey suffered from a cholesteatoma, a type of skin cyst in the middle ear. Carey suffered from a perforation of his ear drum as a toddler and the result was the cholesteatoma causing a growing hole in his ear drum and hearing loss.
Carey’s family took him to see several doctors and was diagnosed with ear infections. His aunt, an audiologist, told the family to keep looking because there was something more serious going on. Carey was losing his hearing as well as suffering from ear pain and fluid discharge.
After seeing many doctors his family finally found out he had a cholesteatoma and there was only one doctor in Arkansas that could fix the problem, Dr. John Dickins, an otolaryngologist in Little Rock. Carey was in elementary school when Dr. Dickins finally entered the picture. He was told he was going to have to wait until he was 12 for ear drum replacement to fix the problem. The delay was to keep Carey from having to repeat the procedure as his body grew.
Carey decided, at age eight, he didn’t want to wait any longer. He and his mother, Lisa Carey, went in to see Dr. Dickins to ask if he could move the surgery up. Carey wanted to live like other boys his age and wanted to fix the ongoing problem. Carey had just starred in The Music Man as one of Winthrops at the Woodlands Auditorium in the Village and had returned from a trip to visit family in Kansas when he decided to see Dr. Dickins again. As it turned out, it was a good thing he had decided to see the doctor, his ear drum had separated and his life was at risk. The cholesteatoma was in danger of moving into his brain and killing him.
Dr. Dickins agreed to do Carey’s surgery as soon as possible when Carey was only eight years old. The surgery was a success. The only sign Carey had surgery was a small scar behind his ear where the doctor removed cartilage to rebuild his ear drum. He returned to Jessieville and the normal life of an active eight year old. He was scheduled for annual visits to Dr. Dickins.
This year Carey was ten and Dr. Dickins discovered the hole in his ear drum was back. He will have to repeat the surgery toward the end of this year. The delay in surgery is because it was also discovered Carey has multiple allergies causing repeated sinus infections. Carey has now been tested for allergies and has started weekly shots to build up his resistence.
Carey is prepared for his surgery and brought his own list of questions in to go over with Dr. Dickins prior to the surgery. Carey was concerned about the pain he suffered when returning home from surgery in Little Rock the last time out. Dr. Dickins agreed with Carey that his trip home was a lot further away than most of his patients and he would increase the amount of pain medication to get him home comfortably post surgery.
Carey was also concerned with his singing. He wants to be a rock star one day and didn’t want the procedure to endanger that possibility. Dr. Dickins reassured his young patient that the surgery would in the long run help to make Carey’s dream possible.
Rotarians thanked the young man for his earnest and informative talk. The Rotary Club of Scenic 7 meets Thursday’s at noon at the Boys and Girls Club on Highway 7. Attendees are invited to bring a brown bag lunch for lunch at 11:30 p.m.

July 4 fireworks a go

According to fund raiser Tom Arwood, the July 4 fireworks are a go. Arwood has collected $18,325 in the last 20 days from 150 contributors. The POA has ordered the fireworks and the grand event is back on after briefly being canceled to keep the POA budget in the black.

Brush Strokes meets today

Brush Strokes, the Village club for artists from newbies through professionals, meets today at 9:15 at the Coronado Center. Brush Strokes meets the second and fourth Friday every month at 9:15 a.m. at the Coronado Center.
In addition to the twice monthly meetings Brush Strokes sponsors workshops. Some of the upcoming artist workshops include the following.
Multi-media experimental by Marlene Gremillon. June 28 through 30, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the All Saints Anglican Church, across from Tranquillo on Ponderosa. The cost to members is $120, non-members $125.
Watercolor by Jim Oberst. July 12 through 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church,. The cost to members is $115, to non-members $130.
Photo collage by Cynthia Schanink. September 20 through 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church. The cost to members is $80, to non-members $100.
Watercolor by Sterling Edwards. October 4 through 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church. Cost to members is $275, non-members $350.
Drawing by Gary Simmons. November 3 through 5, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church. Cost to members $120, non-members $144.
Brush Stroke members exhibit their art at Century 21, the Woodlands, the Coronado Center, the Galleria and Garvan Gardens.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Rotary Club of Scenic 7 today

Today at noon the Rotary Club of Scenic 7 will hear from Jessieville resident Ben Carey regarding his total ear drum replacement. The club meets at the Boys & Girls Club. Come at 11:30 a.m. with a brown bag lunch for fellowship before the meeting.

Camera Club on summer hiatus

The Village Camera Club is on summer vacation. The club meets September through May on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Coronado Center. Mark your calendars for the return of regular club meetings in September.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

POA board retreat

The POA board under the direction of strategic planning committee member John Cooney visualized the Village in ten years.
Each board member went through several exercises to free up their thinking processes and to promote creativity when thinking about the future of the Village.
One of the exercises called for board members to draw how they saw the Village ten years from now. Oddly enough the only board member to see a dog park in her future Village was Katie Feather. Feather recently opposed a dog park proposal because of lack of POA funding.
The purpose of the POA board retreat is for board members to be able to promote a free exchange of ideas without censure. To think outside the box about the immediate future and the shaping of the Village in years to come.
The board retreat was last week, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday.

2009 beneficiaries of grants from the HSV Community Foundation

Central Arkansas Developments Council
Garland County Single Parents Scholarship Fund
Garland County CASA
Good Samaritan Society in Hot Springs Village
Glenhaven Youth Ranch
Hot Springs Jazz Society
Hot Springs Music Festival
Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild
Hot Springs Village Animal Welfare League
Hot Springs Village Arts Council
Hot Springs Village Woodworkers
Jackson House
Jessieville School District
Literacy Council of Garland County
Paul Bewie Boys and Girls Club
Project Hope
Samaritan Ministries
Teen Challenge of Arkansas

Martha Smither tells POA board how the HSV Community Foundation works

At last week’s POA board retreat Martha Smither, chairperson of the HSV Community Foundation, presented the following information to the board regarding endowments serviced by the foundation and future possible endowments duplicating board budget items for its consideration.
"Thank you very much for allowing the Hot Springs Village Community Foundation to present at your board retreat. I am the chair of the foundation and I am here with Tom Bryant, the vice-chair, and David Vink, the chair of the endowment committee.
I know some of you are very familiar with the organization, but some of you may not be. In any case, here is our membership brochure which gives a great deal of detail. If you’re not members, of course, we’d like you to join.
The purpose of the foundation is to serve the needs of the community as a whole and its residents. We do so by making grants twice a year to worthy projects and programs. Those grants are to organizations, some in the Village and some in Saline and Garland Counties. A listing of the grants made in 2009 is on the enclosure of the membership brochure. Notice that it is for a wide range of organizations. This slide also demonstrates the breadth of interest that is served. These are the actual projects to which funds were granted. In 2009/2010, we will give grants close to $17,000 and expect to grant in our next fiscal year $20,000.
The funds to make these grants come from several sources. In the past we have relied primarily on membership dues and contributions. There are over 500 members of the foundation. In recent years, we have added the dimension of endowments, six years ago we had one endowment with funds of $35,000. Today there are 16 endowments totaling $325,000. The funds in the endowments are managed by the Arkansas Community Foundation better known as ARCF.
The ARCF makes an annual distribution to the HSVCF for grant-making purposes. The ARCF is a state-wide community foundation, but it is not a state-run agency.
Of these funds, eight were initiated by the foundation itself and were initially funded by the Annual Benefit Concert given each March. Some of you may have attended the Lowe Family Benefit Concert this past March.
The remaining eight endowments were initiated by individuals either by a direct donation or by a legacy in their will. Some of these are restricted for a special purpose or organization. Some are unrestricted and their annual distributions are made at the discretion of the HSVCF board for worthy projects and programs.
We are also aware of at least eight major bequests that will add to these endowments from residents who love this community and want to do something meaningful for it long term.
At this point, I am sure you are wondering, what’s my point?
And why am I here?
Because we are dedicated to serving the community, we have many areas of common interest with you. You can see on the listing of endowments that we support areas that are your budgetary responsibility. Because the endowments are just being started, that support is relatively small. We are working to build these endowments so that they can make a significant contribution toward the quality of the amenities.
It is not beyond comprehension to consider that some of the amenities you are funding could become free-standing, self-funded organizations, such as the library and the animal shelter. It is not inconceivable to think that there would be sufficient funds to insure adequate ambulance service in the community without having a monthly assessment to the residents.
We therefore seek your support and partnership in working on areas of common interest.
The HSVCF is a 501(c)(3), a not-for-profit status granted by the Internal Revenue Service. As such, we must serve all the community not just those people within our gated area. Our endowments must serve residents of Saline and Garland Counties so some funds of these endowments may be spent outside the gates. We find this to be positive, however, because we benefit if our surrounding community is healthy and well-served. So, what is happening to grow the endowments?
The Animal Welfare League is helping to grow the Endowment for Animal Welfare by including information in their newsletters. The Friends of the Library has developed a brochure that can be given to their patrons. LifeNet is placing an insert with every billing suggesting that if you liked your ride to the hospital, a gift to the EMS Endowment would be really nice.
The foundation was instrumental in starting up the Arts Council which you’ve just heard from. They have an interest in building the two endowments dedicated to the arts, one of those specifically for projects and programs at the Woodlands. And now we are starting an endowment for disaster relief, it was inspired by and will be initially funded by a resident who served on the Employee Benefit Fund Board for many years. So those are our immediate plans to grow the endowments that serve the community. I’m sure there are many other opportunities.
There are two specific areas where the IRS is less restrictive. It is my understanding that there could be an endowment that could fund Village needs for fire and police protection. If you are interested, we could certainly explore the possibilities with you. We would probably not consider doing so without the full support of the POA board."

Bobbie Bateman talks arts at POA board retreat

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week was the POA board retreat. Bobbie Bateman, president of the Arts Council, gave this presentation to the board members regarding the future of the arts in the Village.
"I am the President of the Hot Springs Village Arts Council formed in January 2008 through the initiative of the HSV Community Foundation. Since that time we have developed this Mission Statement, ‘To promote and support Visual and Performing Arts of Hot Springs Village and its neighborhood.’ We now have a set of By-Laws, have begun a website, have become a 501(C)-3 and are in the process of having a brochure printed. We have 18 member organizations representing over 3800 HSV residents. Some of the members are in more than one organization but after some discussion we decided that they should be counted in each organization. In addition, the members provide Cultural Arts to several thousand Village residents; more than 2800 Village residents are members of the Concert Series. Painting, quilting, photography ,and woodworking clubs rotate putting on exhibits displaying their work. Plays are produced by the Village Players four times a year, and there are musical presentations by several vocal groups and bands and professional performing artists. There are over 100 events on the Woodlands stage a year. In addition to productions there are other uses of the Woodlands stage such as rehearsals, meetings and receptions.
The Arts Council has helped to support two Fund Raising events to add to Arts related Endowments managed by the HSV Community Foundation and the Arkansas Community Foundation.
There is no question that golf is still a draw but when I visited with several new residents at the Newcomer’s Coffees they talked of other things that drew them to the Village. Many of the newcomers were the beginning of the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation and they mentioned being impressed with the cultural facilities available, especially the Woodlands Auditorium, the Card Club, and the many art related clubs. They also talked of the trails, loved the water activities available, but asked if we had a park, facilities for big family reunions, a place where they could come to draw and paint because they weren’t buying a big enough home to set a room aside for a studio or to have space for wood working equipment.
Two of the pieces of land are adjacent to the Ponce de Leon Center and would be ideal to expand the Center to take care of the future growth in the Village. It just makes sense to have all of the Arts related activities on contiguous land rather than have one site at the present location and an addition somewhere else in the Village which would require duplicate facilities and duplicate equipment. The Woodlands Auditorium operates at about 80% -85% of capacity now, the Ouachita Activity Center operates at about 65% and the Card Club at almost 95%. As an example the Concert Series now has each show performing four nights and has a waiting list of about 300 people. As people renew their subscriptions each year some drop out for one reason or another, health, can’t drive at night, or they move back to family because of age. The Concert Series is able to re-fill the four nights with the waiting list but with new growth they may not be able to continue to do so. Adding another night to make them five night performances would be more expensive because we would be getting into week-end overtime work for the performers, crew, bus drivers and local technicians. It is getting more and more difficult to schedule all the groups who want to use the Woodlands because of overlapping times for rehearsals, set ups and the productions themselves.
There have been requests for a place for larger events such as family reunions, receptions, weddings but neither the Woodlands Lobby nor the Ouachita Center can accommodate such large events.
The Casa de Carta (card house) is operating 7 days a week and almost 16 hours a day. They would like to have large Bridge Tournaments there and they do have some events by utilizing the Ouachita Center and the Woodlands Lobby, but for bigger tournaments they have to go outside the Village. With Village growth they will have to begin restricting the size of their membership.
With growth of the Village will come a need for additional space for the Cultural activities that now go on at the Ponce de Leon Center and it would make sense to have it expand to the west on the 6.4 acres that now belong to us. Expansion will be necessary in the future and to have part of the Arts Campus at the current Ponce de Leon Center and then to have to have a part of it somewhere else in the Village would mean more expense for duplicate equipment at a separate location.
The Draft of the Strategic Plan has included the need for an enlarged Arts Campus and that the 6.4 acres to the west of the Ponce de Leon Center would be the logical site for the expansion.
In conclusion I know the money to do any additions and renovations is not sitting in a golden pot waiting for us to start tomorrow or even next week but I would hope when the time comes, that land will be available for the expansion of the Ponce de Leon Center. The Villagers stepped up to the plate once before to find the money to build the current facility and as the economy improves I have faith in us that it can be done again. The need is there and to make the Arts Campus on one contiguous piece of property would be the most economical plan and would become the ‘go to’ site for most of the Village’s cultural activities.
Thank you for letting me, as the representative of over 3800 Arts Council members and of over the thousands of Villagers who enjoy the arts related activities we now have, to tell you about the need for expansion for those who will be coming in the future. If you have any questions I will be happy to try to answer them for you."
This entire presentation was presented to the POA board so they will keep in mind the place of the arts in the current strategic plan looking at the Village ten years from now. Bateman and many art supporters in the Village see the need for an arts campus in one general location.

Recent ACC meeting

The architectural control committee met last Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. at the POA administrative building on DeSoto Boulevard to consider the following permit applications.
042-01 Zafiro / 50 Arjona Way / Art Sidfrid/addition to boat dock
This permit was approved.
004-03 Sabiote / 2 Sabiote Lane / Mike Cutrer / boat dock
This permit was approved.
015-04 Cielo / 14 Celestial Lane / Larry Ganz / boat dock
This permit was approved.
011-05 Maria / 16 Utrera Lane / Jerry Jones / fence
This permit was approved.
The following commercial, churches and non-residential permit applications were considered.
Vacation Valet / 101 Dentista Drive / signs
This permit was approved.
Dr. Fusilier / 101 Dentista Drive / covered deck
This permit was approved.
Century 21 / 121 Cordoba Center Drive / illuminate existing sign
This permit was approved.
Vacation Rentals / 110 Cooper Circle / sign
This permit was denied.

Permits for landscaping

Lot Bk Addition / Address / Contractor
011-05 Granada / 35 Salobrena Way / Ellison Masonry
006-10 Navarra / 11 La Coruna Way / Bennett Bros.
003-07 Reata / 11 Asturias Lane / 4 Seasons
020-06 Ronquillo / 20 Romano Lane / Bennett Bros.
015-01 Murillo / 91 Murillo Lane / Ace Martin Yard Care
026-06 Pamplona / 28 Tolosa Way / Casa Verde
004-09 Peral / 87 Castano Drive / Justi Ritter
002-03 Coronado / 4 Coronado Trace / Alan Hunter
003-03 Coronado / 6 Coronado Trace / Alan Hunter
012-06 Sanchez / 12 Sanchez Court North / Cortez Bros. Stonework

Permits for commercial additions

Lot Bk Addition / Address / Contractor/project
925 -01 Commercial / 10 Ponderosa Lane, Ste. B / Shuan Bauer/interior remodel

Permits for sprinkler systems

Lot Bk Addition / Address / Contractor/water source
005-01 Maria / 10 Linares Lane / Grass N Stuff/lake
005-13 Vereda / 12 Hernandez Lane / Harpers Landscape/Village
006-04 Maria / 12 Linares Lane / Walter Smith/lake

Permits for HVAC systems

Lot Bk Addition / Address / Contractor
025-03 Santa Cruz / 65 Malaga Way / Eagle/Heating & Air
002-06 Guadalajara / 60 South Pego Way / Johnston Heating & Air
007-04 Sabiote / 15 Sabiote Way / Tropic Air
002-07 Castano / 22 Castano Way / Johnston Heating & Air
027-02 Guindola / 8 Guindola Circle / Eagle Heating & Air
003-02 Coronado / 1 Coronado Trace / Reliable Air
020-01 Arista Cts / 1 Arista lane / Standridge, Inc.

Permits for additions

Lot Bk Addition / Address / Contractor/Project
024-02 Cordoba / 18 Cordoba Way / M & R Sarver/extend deck
012-01 Leon / 23 Ponferada Way / M & R Sarver/enclose carport
035-02 Colgadura / 24 Venado Way / Wilson Home Improvement/windows in screen porch
010-01 Murillo / 81 Murillo Lane / Smith Home Improvement/remodel deck
006-01 Ontur / 12 Ontur Lane / Ed Crise/extend deck
004-08 Madrid Cts / 8 Sonora Way / Danny Medlock/replace decks
017-03 San Pablo / 5 San Pablo Lane / M & R Sarver/enclose porch
003-02 Coronado / 2 Coronado Trace / George Adcock/interior remodel
019-03 Binefar / 4 Binefar Trace / Daniel Medlock/deck addition
005-08 Belleza / 10 Belleza Lane / Curtis Corp./deck addition
007-01 Magellan Cts / 20 Magellan Lane / Allan Clevenger/ cover over AC unit
004-01 Pacifica / 9 Pacifica Way / Steve Ellison/trellis

AWL - Puttin on the Dog and Cat

The "Puttin on the Dog.and Cat" gala is coming together. The Auction committee has gathered donated treasures with total retail value of over $8,000.00 for display and spirited bidding at the Coronado Center. There will be hundreds of Silent Auction items on display and some fabulous things for the new Live Auction.
Live Auction items include Adirondack chairs crafted by the Village Woodworkers, Disney World park hopper tickets, an oil portrait of your pet, Japanese maple tree, Diamonte golf rounds and a 3 day weekend at a rental condo in the Village.
One lucky guest will have the winning benefit drawing ticket for all the money on the money tree and there will be lots of door prizes for other ticket holders.
A tasty line up of samples from the food vendors will be served from 4:00 to 5:30. The wine fountain, chocolate fountain, cash bar and music by the Note-Ables continue until 6:30 as the auctions proceed.
Village vendors include Home Plate Cafe, Ann's Bakery, Debra's, JK's Columbus Grill @ Isabella, Wood and Iron @ Cortez and El Acapulco. There will be lots of sponsored treats as well. Carol Tubb's cheese dip, R.C.'s puppy dog tails, Memphis recipe pasta salad, Caesar salad and BLT bites, pork loin with roll and Deanna Anderson's famous theme cake will all be available for tasting and they'll be delicious!
Dizzy's will be back again. They're located in Little Rock now. The Culinary District is a new addition this year. They'll be coming from Hot Springs. Both are excited about raising funds for animals. They're "pet people"!
Tickets are available at Barkansas Pet Supply on Hwy 7, at DoGone Fun on Ponderosa Way in the Village and at the East Gate Hallmark. They'll also be on sale for one day only at the shelter, 195 Cloaca Lane, on Thurs., June 3rd from 11-1:00 p.m. Cloaca Ln. is off Ponce De Leon Dr. between the Balboa Dam and Balboa Gate. Tickets can be ordered by phone from Billie Shipley 922-0082, Lee Beach 915-9222 or Jackie Morris 915-8849.
Tickets are $20 each. Availability is limited.
The Village is invited to join the League for a wonderful evening of music, food and wine and bidding for a huge array of fun and practical things to take home. There's something for everyone at the auctions. All proceeds help us do more for homeless pets and animals in need in the Village and surrounding communities.
Again, tickets are only $20 each.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Acting/Directing Workshop a hoot

Marie Welch and Carolyn Bodensteiner conducted an acting/directing workshop on Saturday at the Ouachita room in the Ponce de Leon Center.
About 30 interested students attended the workshop. It was informative and fun for all the participants.
Both women majored in theater in college and bring a wealth of stage experience to the Village. Welch has been in the Village for only five months, Bodensteiner for almost three years.
Welch conducted the morning session on acting and started her program by reading the lyrics to Irving Berlin’s There’s No Business Like Show Business. She told the story of her awful stutter as a child and how working with a theater teacher had helped her overcome the stutter.
Welch taught the workshop attendees the four basic steps to better acting, to know yourself, to erase yourself, to create a new self, the character and finally, to project the character.
She gave instructive methods to go from step one through step four. The most important element is being prepared all along the way.
Bodensteiner conducted the afternoon directing section of the workshop. She is directing the upcoming production of Annie Get Your Gun and recently directed Moon Over Buffalo. Be organized was the ongoing theme of Bodensteiner’s message. She had several handouts she went over with her students.
She gave students some general information on directing and them got specific about picking a play, analyzing it, auditions, blocking and rehearsing.
Bodensteiner was able to use examples of the plays she had directed here in the Village and elsewhere. Both women were well prepared and brought a wealth of information to the workshop. Their styles were different and complimentary. It was a fun and painless way to learn about acting and directing.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Matson and more for HSV Players

Today the HSV Players Theater of the Air radio program makes its premiere at 8:45 a.m. on KVRE radio. The show is Candy Matson, Yukon 2-8208. The cast includes Patty Berke as Candy Matson, Don Crane as Rembrandt Wilson, Ron Petti as Lt. Ray Mallard, Roger Cannell as Dr. Jerome Moreland, Jack Larsen as Doctor, Jack Iafrate as Coroner, Phil Ellis as Hotel Clerk, Mary Lou Moran as Tommy, David Major as Hans Middlestadt, Herm Dobscha As Police Officer and KVRE's John Chapman as Announcer. Jim Rowley is the director and Jack Larsen is the producer of the show. Segments will air all week long at 8:45 a.m. on KVRE.
On June 1 the Players are holding a picnic at the Cortez pavilion instead of the monthly June meeting. The social hour starts at 5 p.m and dinner is at 6 p.m. Annual awards will be distributed at the meeting.
On June 24 the board meets at the Ouachita room in the Ponce de Leon Center at 2 p.m.
The next regular monthly meeting of the membership is set for July 6 at 6 p.m. at the Ouachita room.
My Three Angels will run at the Woodlands from July 22 through 25.
The July board meeting is on July 22 at 2 p.m. at the Ouachita room.
August 3 is the monthly membership meeting at 8 p.m. at the Ouachita room.
Auditions for the fall musical Annie Get Your Gun are coming up on August 14 through 16. Carolyn Bodensteiner is producing the show. The show will run November 3 through 7.
Summer comes to a close for the Players at the August 26 board meeting at the Ouachita room.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Happy Anniversary

Today is my sixth anniversary with husband Lee. Just two short weeks ago Sentinel-Record Village reporter Jeff Smith and his wife celebrated their sixth anniversary as well. Obviously there was something in the water six years ago that affected your Village writers.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Ron Ballard guest speaker

Ron Ballard of Ashland, Oregon, will speak about "Why you should know about Christian Science healing" this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the First Church of Christ, Scientist at 428 Orange Street in Hot Springs. The community is invited. There will be ample parking and child care will be provided.

Changes at HSV Chamber

The Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce has big changes coming. Both of the employees of the Chamber are retiring soon.
Judy Carroll is just days away from retiring. She worked in the advertising and promotions division of the Chamber.
Executive director Lee Ann Branch was set to retire on July 1, but was talked into sticking around to help transition new employees into their positions. She has agreed to stay on full-time to July 1 and sporadically part time till the end of the year.
The Chamber is on the verge of filling the newly created position of A & P executive director. The Chamber executive director position comes open on July 1. Judy's Carroll's position as part time A & P all around person will open up at the end of this month.
The Chamber Board is looking at restructuring options which may consolidate or expand some positions.

Magic Springs Summer Concert Series

The Magic Springs summer concert series kicked off with teen heartthrob Mitchell Musso on May 15. Tickets for upcoming events are either $5 or $10 at the Timberwood Amphitheater.
The rest of the season includes the following.
May 29 - Billy Currington.
June 5 - Pat Green with Randy Houser and Mark McKinney.
June 10 - Train.
June 17 - REO Speedwagon.
June 19 - Skillet.
July 3 - Ted Nugent.
July 10 - Joe Nichols.
July 17 - Choo-Choo Soul.
July 22 - Jeremy Camp.
July 31 - Randy Travis.
August 8 - Boys Like Girls.
August 15 - Kutless with special guest Thousand Foot Krutch.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

POA Board Meeting

The POA board meets today at 9 a.m. in the Ouachita room at the Ponce de Leon Center. The board retreat starts today at noon at the water treatment plant. The retreat continues through Friday.
I have an actual job interview so I won't be covering today's events.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Big Band at church

The Village Big Band provided a musical treat for a dinner at the Village United Methodist Church honoring its musicians on Sunday evening. The band played six numbers. The dinners enjoyed the special honor. The church music director, Randy Lusk, sat in with the band much to the amusement of his fellow church musicians.

ASO Youth Orchestra a big hit

Last weekend the ASO Youth Orchestra appeared at Woodlands Auditorium presented by the Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild.
The guild annual meeting preceded the concert. All proposed initiatives passed by consensus.
Outgoing board members John Clooney, Bette Graves, Martin Hanna, Karen Lauck, David Major, JoAnn Major and Kaye Stafford were recognized for there service.
New scholarship winners Jonathan Van Houten, Megan Graves and Kassie Johnson were honored. Johnson demonstrated her ease with the keyboard prior to the ASO concert. Also honored were scholarship renewals for Jakeb Coy, Dustin Nicholsen, Amy Lefler and Joel Coleman.
Two orchestra groups played, the Academy Orchestra and the Youth Orchestra. The Academy is primarily middle school aged students. They did a fine job on Teleman's Overture in C Major, Mozart's Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, Allegro and Delibes' March and Procession of Bacchus from the Sylvia Ballet. They were a pleasant surprise. Very mature and adept.
The ASO Youth Orchestra is primarily made up of high school age children. The group played two numbers en masse and two numbers in ensembles.
First up were the percussion and horn sections with one of my all time favorites Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man. A string quartet followed with more Copeland in Simple Gifts. The highlight of the afternoon was the full orchestra flawlessly playing Mozart's Overture to the Marriage of Figaro. The finale, Holst's The Planets, Mars was ambitious.
The afternoon was delightful especially with the thunder counterpoint provided by Mother Nature.

Fun weekend coming up

Coming up this weekend on Saturday is the Spring Arts and Craft Fair at the Coronado Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Village Players have a Saturday workshop on acting at directing at the Ouachita Room from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Vote today

Don’t forget to vote in today’s primary. If you did not vote early at the Chamber it is time to get to the polls and cast your vote.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Hot Springs Music Festival Schedule

Sunday, May 30
6:45 p.m. Festival Brass: Opening Fanfare - Arlington Hotel Terrace -free
Festival Brass Ensemble
Satie: Sonnerie
Bax: Fanfare for a Hosting at Dawn
Glazounov: In Modo Religioso
R. Strauss: Marche Militaire
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players - Arlington Hotel Ballroom
Mana: Saxophone Quartet
Bach: Italian Concerto
Mozart: Quartet in F
Lukas: Rondo for Four Saxophones
Penderecki: Quartet
Rosenblum: Möbius Loop
Monday, May 31
7:30 p.m. Festival Master Class - First Presbyterian Church
(trumpet mentor Scott Moore with apprentices & full orchestra)
Tuesday, June 1
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players - St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Brahms: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D
Schiffmann: Intermezzo
Stravinsky: Octet for Winds
Wednesday, June 2
6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk - Hot Springs Fieldhouse - included with concert ticket
7:30 p.m. Festival Symphony Orchestra & Chorus - Hot Springs Fieldhouse
Stravinsky: Fireworks
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Ballet (complete)
Thursday, June 3
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players - First Presbyterian Church
Dvorák: Piano Quartet in E-flat
Ravel: Introduction & Allegro
Chausson: Chanson Perpétuelle
Weill: Little Threepenny Music
Friday, June 4
5:45 p.m. Improvisatory Play-Off I - Justus Fine Arts Gallery - free
6:30 p.m. Improvisatory Play-Off II - Gallery Central - free
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players Potpourri I
(a delightful assortment of favorite chamber music)
Saturday, June 5
8-8:30 a.m. Market Music I - Hot Springs Farmers' Market - free
6 p.m. Family Concert - First Christian Church
(Tuba Todd & Friends: A special concert for the whole family)
7:30 p.m. Piano-Mania! - Hot Springs Fieldhouse
(piano mentor Michael Gurt with apprentices)
Sunday, June 6
6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk - Hot Springs Fieldhouse - included with concert ticket
7:30 p.m. Festival Symphony Orchestra & Chorus - Hot Springs Fieldhouse
(with the Mana Saxophone Quartet)
Anders Nilsson: Concerto Grosso
Brahms: Requiem
Premiere of Laura Rosenberg's English-language Edition
Monday, June 7
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players - Arlington Hotel Ballroom
(an evening of early New Orleans dance music)
Tuesday, June 8
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players - St. Lukes Episcopal Church
Moross: Concerto for Flute & Strings
Ewazen: Symphony in Brass
Schönberg: The Song of the Wood Dove, from Songs of Gurre
Wednesday, June 9
6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk - Hot Springs Fieldhouse - included with concert ticket
7:30 p.m. Festival Symphony Orchestra - Hot Springs Fieldhouse
Wagner: Tannhäuser, Overture
Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante, Hob.I:105
Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Rhenish
Thursday, June 10
2-4:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players Potpourri II: Play-Offs - free
6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk - Hot Springs Fieldhouse - included with concert ticket
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players - Hot Springs Fieldhouse
Haydn: The World on the Moon, Overture
Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence
Herrmann: The Day The Earth Stood Still
Friday, June 11
6 p.m. Free Improvisation - First Presbyterian Church - free
7:30 p.m. Festival Chamber Players Potpouri II - First Presbyterian Church
(a delightful assortment of your favorite chamber music)
Saturday, June 12
8-8:30 a.m. Market Music II - Hot Springs Farmers' Market - free
6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk - Hot Springs Fieldhouse - included with concert ticket
7:30 p.m. Festival Symphony Orchestra - Hot Springs Fieldhouse
Berlioz: Le Corsaire, Overture
Ravel: Valses Nobles et Sentimentales
Piecaitis: CATcerto
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in d, opus 47
For all events: Seating is limited to available space after Festival Pass holders have been seated. Venues for Festival events are air-conditioned and handicapped-accessible. Rehearsals are free and open to the public. A rehearsal schedule will be displayed at Festival Headquarters. Attire for all Festival events is casual. Artists and repertoire are subject to change.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Townhouse annual meeting

The townhouse association held its annual meeting. There were only four people in the audience that were not on THA committees. Seven in the audience weren’t on the agenda. The Bensons were there for the Guadalajara bridge and did have questions concerning the annual budget. There were eight people total in the audience. One of them left well before the meeting was concluded.
The guest auditor spoke first and was allowed to leave once he went over the auditors report. He read, "in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hot Springs Village Townhouse Association as of December 31, 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles."
Along with the letter the 2009 balance sheet and the 2009 statement of revenue and expenses was submitted by the auditor.
Fred Benson asked about the developer contributions included on the balance sheet. The auditor said they included the THA building with office, the swimming pool and other appurtenances given at the time the THA took over from Cooper.
Board director Bill Turner corrected the amount owed by the homeowners for the engineering plans to repair the Guadalajara bridge, as reflected in the last meeting minutes. The amount read $2,070 it should have read $2,750.
Board director Larry Siler submitted the treasurer’s report for the first quarter of 2010. He also generated a report showing the health of the THA from 2004. He went over the list of continuing goals for the association. Safety is still number one.
Director Henry Frank had his say on the THA spending any money on the pool or the bridge. He said, "before we commit additional funds from the THA I think we have to determine whether it should come out of the THA or the court funds. I don’t think it has been clearly defined in our discussions of the tiered assessments." He added, "the tiered assessments were approved in 2006 and the decision was upheld in court."
"One of the biggest expenditures of the association is coming up and I think we need clarification. Our attorney said in April that tiered assessment is legal. The funding of the bridge is the first issue and there could be others down the road. I am confused from the standpoint previous boards have worked to get tiered assessment to get each court to stand on its own. Now there are 16 courts and over 900 doors."
"I don’t think we should spend money on the bridge or the pool unless we have clarification."
"The bridge is a safety issue requiring a special assessment. I think we have to be very careful in clarifying the issue."
Director Robert Jordan said there needs to be a change in the handbook that is issued to every new THA owner. The pool will be removed from the handbook as a THA responsibility.
Other committee members suggested the legal documents be updated as well.
Director Jim Bigg suggested the definition of common property and limited common property needed to be clarified in the documents.
The board members discussed the lack of teeth in enforcing THA by-laws.
Board director Robert Jordan read a letter into the minutes reflecting the loser’s side of the vote taken at the May 4 meeting regarding the repairs to be made to the DeSoto Pool from THA funds. Funds were allocated for the repairs. Jordan and the minority are not happy.
THA general managers Glenn Zarpaylic reported Reserve Advisors will arrive tomorrow to meet with the THA board members between 2 and 2:30 p.m. to answer any questions regarding their evaluation and prioritization of the courts needs.
The only committee chair that showed up for the annual meeting was nominations committee chair Dot Ashley. She explained again the requested changes to the nominations and elections process. All but one of the committee initiatives was approved. The board will not do background checks on prospective board members.
After much wrangling the board voted to spend $6,100 on the engineering plans to replace or repair the Guadalajara bridge. The money will be loaned to Guadalajara Court with an interest rate of up to 7-percent. This decision was made without any input from members of Guadalajara Court. The board said it has to have the specs to get bids to bring a total dollar amount in front of Guadalajara Court members. This is a matter expected to go to the legal court system. The cost may never be recovered from Guadalajara Court to the THA. Robert Jordan was the only dissenting vote regarding the expenditure of the $6,100, the interest and the lack of a time frame on the repayment to the THA.
Siler said they must move forward with this safety issue immediately. He is tired of the board dragging its feet on such a huge safety issue. Siler said he would quit six months from now if this issue had not be resolved.
Jordan said he wanted the homeowners to pay up front. Benson said he was given until June 22 to reply and he will pay his share and reply as directed.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Wine and Roses Success

An Evening of Wine and Roses continues to be a success under the new leadership of the Chamber and as a final goodbye for former advertising and promotions, A&P, leader Linda Mayhood.
Mayhood worked hand in hand with the Chamber to make this event a success as it transitioned from the A & P to a Chamber event.
The transition was made easier when the event remained at the Ponce de Leon Center with entertainment provided by the familiar Wine and Roses combo. Colonial Wines and Spirts continued to provide the wines and educational part of the event, the art of selecting a wine.
Appetizers were created by Diamante Country Club, DeSoto Club/19th Hole, The Porterhouse, Belle Arti Italian Ristorante, Ann’s Baked Goods, Ramona’s Kitchen, La Petite Bistro and Balboa Sports Lounge.
The marriage of the tasty treats and the delectable wines was a success. All the seats were sold out prior to the event so the big question of the evening was the weather. The rain held off but it was muggy.
An Evening of Wine and Roses was presented by the Chamber but sponsored by Summit Bank, Hot Springs Bank and Trust, Denny’s Body Shop, Good Spirits, Hyden, Miron and Foster, PLLC and Keystone Realty.
As always the event made friends out of strangers as everyone enjoyed good food and good wine.
I understand the Grayson Cellars Merlot was a big hit. And as always, more wine was consumed that just merely tasted.
A good time was had by all and the Chamber will continue to present this event in the future.
Contributing sponsors included Stephens Jewelers, National Park Medical Center, Village Villas Vacation Rentals, The Beehive Gift and Village Flower Shoppe, Hot Springs Village Florist and Gifts, Beckwith Visions, Cranfords and Colonial Wine and Spirits.

Woooo Hooo for La Petite Bistro

My husband Lee and I had lunch at La Petite Bistro this past week and the food was once again innovative and delicious.
We really look forward to the soup selections every time we stop in at the La Petite Bistro. This time we had the green chile chicken soup. Can you see me kissing my fingertips. It was wonderful.
We both had the turkey on croissant with the soup. In the past we have had the salad with the soup. We have not been disappointed with any choice we have made.
The bistro is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Come early or be prepared to wait. There is limited seating and this place is hopping.
Proprietor Malcolm Bickford’s La Petite Bistro is located next door to his wife Melinda Bickford’s Company’s Comin’. It is not uncommon for waiting diners to take a spin through Company’s Comin’ to pass the time until an open table becomes available.
My favorite combination, shop till you drop and then a divine dine.
La Petite Bistro offers gourmet soups, salads and sandwiches at 4409 N. Highway 7. For more information call 984-5193

First Step program at Rotary Club of Scenic 7

First Step’s development director Nancy Baxter talked about the Ann and Nick Tillman Project with members of the Rotary Club of Scenic 7 on Thursday at noon.
Baxter and her husband, Lynn, moved to Hot Springs 11 years ago when Lynn became the senior pastor at Center Fork Baptist Church. She has been with First Step for five years.
The Tillmans were killed in an airplane crash in 2008. One of their surviving children, a daughter suffered from autism and was a client at First Step. To honor the Tillmans the Walk for Children, had its kick off on May 3 and continues through September 2.
Walkers get pledges and attempt to walk 100 miles between May 3 and September 2 to benefit children with sensory needs, like the Tillmans’ daughter.
Registration is available at the First Step Development Office, 1801 Central Ave., Ste. B, Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Baxter said First Step offers children and adults with developmental delays educational and therapeutic services at seven locations throughout the state, serving 27 counties, and in homes for those unable to travel. The outreach centers are in Hot Springs, Malvern, Fordyce, Glenwood, Sparkman, Mt. Ida and Hamburg.
The clients have developmental delays ranging from minor setbacks to severe problems. First Step helps each person develop the skills and behavior necessary to function in society. It prepares children to be mainstreamed in schools. It prepares adults to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Once a client moves on in society, First Step services are no longer needed.
To enroll in First Step a physician must recommend the program. Next the First Step staff evaluates the person and advises a course of action for the best results. A road map for success.
Services are offered for in home therapy for the first two years. Pre-school on campus is provides for children three and over. First Step also teaches school age children on campus that are unable to be mainstreamed.
Some of the therapies offered by First Step include physical, occupational and speech-language. Supported living services are provided for children and adults that qualify including personal care, integrated support and case management.
Specific to adults there is a day program, a group home program and supported employment enabling adults to find work with job skills learned at First Step.
Programs like First Step have come so far to help the challenged members of our society. My cousin’s daughter is now 25. She was born in suburban New Orleans. It was discovered she was deaf by the time she was nine months old. Unlike here in Arkansas there were no programs at all for children under three. We had to learn how to communicate with Sarah through a mail order program teaching all of us the basics in non-verbal communication. First Step has therapists available to teach those skills and so much more.
If you like to walk, what a wonderful dull purpose to walk for your health and to assist others at First Step. Call 501-624-6468 for more information on the Tillman Project or on First Step.
The Rotary Club of Scenic 7 meets every Thursday at noon at the Boys and Girls Club. Bring a brown bag lunch at 11:30 for lunch fellowship before the meeting.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Deleen Davidson and the Muses Tonight

Join Deleen Davidson and the Muses for the May “Art of Living” tonight at 6:30, First Presbyterian Church on Whittington in Hot Springs.
The topic is “Spring Cleaning” – Renew, Refresh, Refocus.
They’ll work on making space for those new inspired ideas, by weeding out the old ones that hold everyone back.
They’ll be looking at nature (really looking), and “drawing” connections, making choices, and changing scale.
See you there!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Coyotes in Village

Once again I was reminded of a conversation I had with Lt. Richard Clark when I was collecting police reports. There are coyotes in the Village and they are dangerous to domestic pets. There is coyote activity throughout the Village but especially in the less-populated east part of the Village.
The coyotes have bred with domestic dogs and are large and can be mistaken for a wolf.
The coyotes often send out a female to play with a domestic animal and entice it away from its owner. Then the pet is surrounded by the pack and attacked.
Dogs and cats are in danger of attack. They are a food source for the coyotes.
A long walking stick or a golf club can be used to ward off the coyotes or pepper spray if they get close to you and your pet.
Do not leave dogs staked out at night where they have no means of protection. Make sure your cat has a safe place to hide should the coyotes pursue it.
A fenced yard offers some protection against the coyotes.
Beware the Village is not immune to wild animals. It is about time for bear sightings as well.

Today's events

Today the POA lakes and water committee meets at 9 a.m. at the Coronado Center.
The 40th anniversary committee wraps up service with an evaluation of the celebration at 3 p.m. at the Coronado Center.
The woodworkers meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Oauchita room at the Ponce de Leon Center.
Tomorrow, Nancy Baxter of First Step is the guest speaker at the noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Scenic 7.
Tomorrow, don't forget Wine and Roses at the Ponce de Leon Center porte cochere at 5 p.m. The event is sponsored by the chamber. Tickets are $35 in advance.
Tomorrow is the first night of The Foreigner at the Pocket Theater in Hot Springs. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Good News for Heifer

Dave Nottrott has stepped forward to chair the Heifer Living Gift Market on Saturday, November 13. Last year Tony and Barbara Booth shared the chairmanship. The Booths left a thick step-by-step guidebook to help Nottrott and the rest of the Heifer Club have a successful LGM again this year.

Changes coming to Recreation Committee

The recreation committee's new chairman Tony Cifelli and vice-chairman Jim Harlow are encouraging committee members to explore and define the role the committee will play in the upcoming year.
Currently, the POA general manager Dave Johnston is interviewing candidates to replace the director of recreation, Larry Koonse. Koonse is scheduled to retire in the middle of next month.
Cifelli has asked for input from Koonse regarding the role of the committee in relationship with the recreation department. Koonse said he inherited the current system. The recreation committee has always reported on facilities instead of on projects.
Cifelli suggested the committee meet later this week to discuss the role the committee wants to play in the new administration. Almost everyone involved feels like now would be a good time to alter the direction of the committee. The transition would include the new department director.
In the meantime, the recreation department is getting ready for summer. On Friday the outdoor pools will be inspected by the state for water clarity. The pools will open on Memorial Day weekend.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Players Auditions

Don't forget auditions for My Three Angels are tonight and tomorrow night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Woodlands stage.

Liquor World supports HS/HSV Symphony Guild

Liquor World is giving a percentage of their sales to the HS/HSV Symphony Guild on May 13. The proceeds will be used to support the Guild’s philanthropic goals.
Don’t forget to stop and shop at Liquor World, 3305 North Highway 7 on Thursday, May 13.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day

To all of you mom's out there, may you hear from all of your children today. Happy Mother's Day. Take as much of the day off as you can.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Mother's Day tomorrow

Here are a few quotes concerning mothers since tomorrow is Mother’s Day. This is my first Mother’s Day since my mom died and she is heavy on my mind.
I spent yesterday cleaning her room at my house, just in case there is another realm and she decides to check on me tomorrow, her room is ready.
Joseph Stefano, 1922-
"A boy’s best friend is his mother." Psycho (screenplay) (1960), spoken by Anthony Perkins.
Eugene O’Neill, 1888-1953
"God is a Mother." Strange Interlude (1928), pt. 1, act V
Jane Taylor, 1783-1824
"Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My mother." Original Poems for Infant Minds (1804) My Mother, st. 6
Phillis McGinley, 1905-1977
A mother’s hardest to forgive.
Life is the fruit she longs to hand you,
Ripe on a plate. And while you live,
Relentlessly she understands you." The Adversary
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882
"Men are what their mother’s made them." The Conduct of Life (1860)

Another successful Gallery Walk

Last night was the first Friday of the month, that means Gallery Walk in downtown Hot Springs. It was an overcast day and evening but the skies did not rain on tourists and locals as they strolled downtown from gallery to gallery.
From 5 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of the month the galleries are open, welcoming everyone to stop by for noshes and a glass of wine. Local artists are featured. It is a great way to relax at the end of a busy work week or just to get out on a pleasant evening and enjoy the best of what Hot Springs has to offer in the arts.
If you missed last night, don’t forget to mark your calender for next month’s Gallery Walk on June 4 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Villager travels to Africa

Bill Johnson gave a slide show presentation to his fellow Rotarians of the Scenic 7 club on his recent trip to Africa.
Johnson traveled to Tanzania last October. He said he was concerned about finding his way around the Atlanta airport but serendipity had a hold on him and when he looked up there was his daughter-in-law, a flight attendant with knowledge of the airport. She showed him where he needed to go.
He said his luggage was lost in Amsterdam. He was given a $500 allowance to purchase some clothes to get him through. He said a fellow traveler, a South African woman, on the safari lost her luggage, too. They discovered they had bought three matching outfits. His luggage caught up with him about 20 miles into the bush in Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania is a central East African nation bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. It is also bordered by the Indian Ocean. The people of Tanzania are Swahili.
Kilimanjaro is one of 26 regions in Tanzania. Johnson and all of the members of the safari were armed with cameras to take pictures of the abundant wildlife, natives and scenery. The slide show presentation was put together by the safari director. There were gorgeous pictures of an albino zebra, giraffes, lions, chetahs, hyenas, elephants, a black rhino and much, much more.
There were dozens of pictures of exotic birds with colorful plumage. The plethora of bird pictures seemed to vex Johnson. He preferred the larger wildlife.
A few pictures showed the dining arrangements for the safari members. There were long tables decked in fine linens with goblets and china in the middle of the open bush. Johnson added the tents had wooden floors and ceramic toilets.
In addition to seeing the abundant wildlife the members of the safari visited a Swahili school. The tour company presented the school with a desk. The students were very excited about the new desk.
The safari also went to a local market to shop with natives.
A group of Swahili men demonstrated their dancing abilities. They also showed safari members how to jump and throw spears.
In the Swahili culture the women are the ones that build their homes. The women are always working. It is not unusual to see a woman with a large jug of water on her head walking 20 miles back home from the community well.
Johnson was impressed by the four drivers chauffeuring the 21 safari members. He said they were highly intelligent and absolutely unflappable in their knowledge of their country.
The safari was two weeks and cost about $15,000. Well worth it as far as Johnson was concerned.

Section VIII: For Sale Signs

Section VIII: For Sale Signs
1. ACC approval is not required for signs under this article if signs meet the following criteria:
A. Vacant Lots
1) Size: 320 square inches maximum.
2) Height: 36 inch maximum above grade if post mounted with optional pamphlet holder.
B. Homes (New and Resale)
1) Size: 432 Square inches maximum (i.e. 18 x 24)
2) Height: 60 inches maximum above grade - post mounted/swing arm with optional pamphlet holder (or) standard dual post realtor sign 18 x 24 x 30 inches high above grade with optional pamphlet holder.
2. Number/Location
A. Internal Lots
One sign per lot visible from street
B. Lake or Golf Course Lots
One sign per lot visible from street plus a second sign visible from Lake or Golf Course.

Architectural control committee meeting

The architectural control committee approved nine new home permits since the last committee meeting, the most new home permits at one meeting since the beginning of the year.
Members of the ACC have a well-documented complaint against L. B. Smith of 101 Fineza Way for building an un-permitted dock and then refusing to remove the dock. The committee has contacted Smith by certified mail on more than one occasion requesting the dock be removed.
The ACC is now moving the complaint up to the POA board of directors for further action.
Suzanne Hartnett has requested a permit for Environmental Management Consulting, an in-home business. The business does not require signage, additional parking or additional foot traffic. The permit was approved by consensus.
Committee members approved changes to the sign procedure section VIII, for sale signs. The ACC is still considering a few more changes to the procedure. Copies of the sign procedure are available in the planning and inspection office on the second floor of the POA administration building on DeSoto Boulevard.
The regular assignments were as follows.
008-04 Galeon 20 Galeon Way Tommy’s Custom Fence/fence
Buddy Dixon reviewed this permit application for a fence. There were issues with this request. It was discovered the property had a storage shed that was half on common property. The shed has to be moved as part of the fence approval. The proposed fence was approved by consensus.
009-03 Madrid 8 Inca Lane The Hairless Handyman/screened green house
Bob Kostelecky reviewed this permit application for a green house with additional input from Leland Kew. The homeowner is attempting to protect his tomatoes from the local squirrel population. The only requirement is that the mesh be vinyl coated. The permit was approved by consensus.
037-05 Baltanas 4 Golfista Trace Tommy’s Custom Fence/fence
Bill Roe reviewed this permit application for a fence to contain dogs. The lot is large with common property behind. The fence meets all Village criteria. The permit was approved by consensus.
007-20 Ladera 60 Largo Drive/4 Mujeres Lane Tim Cosby/cut trees
Bill Roe reviewed this permit application to cut pine trees on the property line with the lot next door, also owned by the applicant. The request is to remove six pine trees on a lake lot. The trees are all within ten feet of the house. The permit was approved by consensus with the proviso the area be cleaned up and the trees removed.
023-04 Maria 42 Linares Lane Carriage Homes/fence
This wrought iron fence was built without a permit. It is on the side of the house. Shrub screening must be added. The permit was approved at double the cost because it was built without a permit.
018-02 Saldana 7 Jaguar Lane Tommy’s Custom Fence/fence
Leland Kew reviewed this permit application for a four-foot, brown vinyl-coated chain-link fence. There is common property behind the lot. The lots on each side of the yard are vacant. The permit was approved by consensus.
010-03 Tiburon 1 Tiburon Lane Castle Service/fence
Leland Kew reviewed this permit application for a fence on an unusual property. Three sides of this property are facing streets. The owner wants to make the back of the property more aesthetically pleasing by adding a wrought iron gate to be screened with azaleas. The area will not be enclosed. The fence was not considered a border because of the height. The permit was approved by consensus.
Also considered was a permit application for three signs for Vacation Valet at 101 Dentista Drive. The permit was denied as written. Committee members were divided on how many of the signs met Village criteria and could not approve all three signs. Committee members said they are willing to work with Vacation Valet on the sign issues.
The ACC will meet again on May 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the POA administration building.

Landscaping permits

Lot-Bk-Addition Address Contractor
001-02 Sonora 2 Sonora Way Village Landscape
028-02 Malaga 67 Mano Way Country Gardens
004-02 Alava 7 Alava Circle Keith Lynchard
028-01 Sur de Curso 2 Rebanar Lane Village Landscape
007-01 Delgado 31 Delgado Lane Bennett Bros.
024-02 Alegria 51 Bargus Way Bennett Bros.
004-15 Merced 135 Viajero Drive Carriage Custom Homes
008-01 San Pablo 22 Zarina Way Village Landscape
909-03 Ponce 4 Miranda Lane Harpers Landscape
022-07 Banderola 1 Banderola Lane Dennes Teel
023-04 Levantino 46 Atrayente Way Village Landscape
002-06 Dedalera 6 Banderola Circle 4 Seasons Landscape
031-03 Jubileo 30 Borbollon Lane Castle Services
002-03 Tiburon 3 Tiburon Way Carriage Custom Homes
010-04 Telon 18 Telon Lane Carriage Custom Homes
005-05 Cifuentes 3 Ilescas Way Bennett Bros.
018-08 Vimioso 5 Archindona Lane Carriage Custom Homes
002-02 Sacedon 60 Sacedon Way Ace Martin Yard Care
005-11 Baltanas 26 Lavanda Lane Village Landscape
037-05 Baltanas 4 Golfista Trace Graves Landscape
003-03 Alarcon 3 Alarcon Way Gerald Offerman
009-04 Sanchez 5 Sanchez Place Bennett Bros.
004-01 Belleza 6 Lavanda Place Carriage Homes
005-02 Sergio 20 Lindo Lane Village Landscape
045-02 Adoracion 47 Sanchez Way Village Landscape
003-04 Resplandor 2 Resplandor Place Bennett Bros.
006-02 Promesa 11 Promesa Place Todd Graves
015-04 Promesa 22 Excelso Lane Bennett Bros.
034-01 Promesa 12 Promesa Lane Village Landscape
034-12 Diamante 11 Princesa Place Bennett Bros.
011-02 Bellisimo 1 Sosegado Way Bennett Bros.
001-33 Isabella 35 Lejos Lane Village Landscape
005-08 Isabella 13 Coraza Circle Carriage Custom Homes
007-13 Isabella 115 Pizarro Drive Bennett Bros.
015-06 Isabella 17 Conquista Lane Bennett Bros.
013-17 Vereda 20 Maravilla Way Carriage Custom Homes
017-17 Vereda 28 Maravilla Way Village Landscape
018-10 Vereda 110 Elcano Drive Carriage Homes
036-17 Vereda 27 Maravilla Way Village Landscape
004-01 Pacifica 9 Pacifica Way 4 Seasons Landscape
026-02 Pacifica 15 Acambaro Place Alan Hunter
014-19 Ladera 100 Largo Drive Carriage Custom Homes
009-01 Isabella Cts 5 Risco Court Village Landscape
017-01 Isabella Cts 33 Risco Way Village Landscape
001-06 Cielo 11 Juntar Lane Village Landscape
006-01 Cielo 8 Panorama Drive Carriage Custom Homes
014-09 Cielo 21 Gloria Drive Carriage Homes
004-05 Maria 5 Uterra Lane Grass-N-Stuff
023-04 Maria 42 Linares Lane Carriage Custom Homes
025-01 Maria 2 Algecirus Lane Carriage Custom Homes

HVAC permits

Lot-Bk-Addition Address Contractor
022-02 Puertollano 44 Sierra Drive Michael Roberts
008-02 Seville 6 Seville Lane Tempco
001-03 Avila 1 Penaranda Lane Johnston Heating & Air
005-03 Entrada 5 Entrada Place Tempco
011-06 Estrella 272 Mazarron Drive Carpenter Heating & Air
022-04 Gerona 47 Arias Way Godwin Sheet Metal & AC
008-01 Ontur 15 Ontur Lane Carpenter Heating & Air
002-05 Valencia Cts 18 Destino Way Tempco
008-09 Miguel 45 Miguel Way Middleton Heating & Air
003-02 Palisandro 146 Castano Drive Grisham Aire Care
003-02 Zapato 35 Zarpa Way Middleton Heating & Air
011-04 Pandilla 21 Pandilla Way Huchingson Heating & Air
017-05 Villa Alegre 25 Emanuel Drive Grisham Aire Care
017-03 Cifuentes 14 Illescas Way Johnston Heating & Air
019-01 Saldana 37 Saldana Way Standridge, Inc.
007-01 Coronado 49 Coronado Lane Standridge, Inc.
005-01 Diamante Villas 15 Realeza Court Godwin Sheet Metal & AC

Additions permits

Lot-Bk-Addition Address Contractor/Job
013-01 Puertollano 1 Tobarra Lane Michael Shepherd/deck addition
002-04 Castellon 3 Alcora Lane Richard Mullins/rebuild deck
028-03 Soria 28 Berlanga Circle Ben White Homes/enclose covered porch
001-05 Murcia 95 Murcia Way Bill McLean/replace water line
047 Montana 8 Narcisco Circle Jessieville Construction/concrete sidewalk
003-01 Salamanca 4 Astorga Circle John Brown Construction/repair deck
005-06 Sierra 17 Alacete Way Ken Richards/deck addition
016-06 Viedo 1 Cartaya Lane Gary Hoskinson
010-04 Huesca 20 Huesca Way Good Construction/patio
021-02 Huesca 3 Huesca Lane Bob Erke/roof over deck, add new deck
023-01 Costa 27 Costa del Lago Ln M & R Sarver/deck addition
016-02 Gancho 72 Delgado Way Graves Bros. Concrete/driveway turnaround
017-05 Zarcillo 2 Gozoso Lane Chris Menzie Electric/electric for swimming pool
004-02 Reata 5 Gaza Lane Darrell Kunkell/replace water service
020-02 Reata 6 Ligadura Lane Village Construction Co./remodel bath, basement stair
039-02 Ronquillo 7 Zutano Lane M & R Sarver/add closet
013-03 Palisandro 143 Castano Way M & R Sarver/replace deck
014-03 Palisandro 145 Castano Drive Dewayne Wilson/replace driveway
043-03 Pintuerero 55 Pintuerero Way Graves Bros. Concrete/driveway turnaround
023-01 Armada 5 Levantino Lane Al Lewis/remodel kitchen
008-02 Rodrigo 1 Tusa Lane J. D. Fields/tree cutting
004-06 Hartura 51 Hartura Way Gerald Ellison/deck addition
002-05 Veranillo 1 Balboa Way Jessieville Construction/concrete parking pad
012-01 Pedrera 23 Patrulla Lane Paul Wagner Custom Homes/roof over deck
003-02 Coronado 1 Coronado Trace B & M Plumbing/plumbing
007-07 Belleza 11 Belleza Place Anthony Falvo/pergola
001-19 Diamante 2 Juego Way Curtis Corp./deck addition
005-20 Ladera 8 Mujeres Lane Curtis Corp./install fireplace
909-01 Commercial DeSoto Cts Pool O’Neal Electric/electric

Sprinkler system permits

Lot-Bk-Addition Address Contractor/water source
028-02 Malaga 67 Mano Way Grass-N-Stuff/Village
004-02 Alava 7 Alava Circle Keith Lynchard/ Village
006-04 Gancho 10 Pasillo Way Harpers Landscaping/not specified
032-01 Estancia 97 Fineza Way Harpers Landscaping/Village
022-07 Banderola 1 Banderola Lane Eric Tracy/Village
004-01 Pacifica 9 Pacifica Way 4 Seasons Landscape
011-16 Cielo 196 Elcano Drive Harpers Landscaping/lake
001-05 Maria 21 Manzanares Drive Grass-N-Stuff

New home permits

Lot-Bk-Addition Address Contractor/Sq. Feet
004-01 Belleza 6 Lavanda Place Carriage Custom Homes/2,004
006-04 Brilliante 3 Brilliante Way Malt Village Homes/1,804
005-08 Isabella 13 Coraza Circle Carriage Custom Homes/2,211
013-17 Vereda 20 Maravilla Way Carriage Custom Homes/2.237
016-12 Vereda 26 Arturo Lane Malt Village Homes/2,020
018-10 Vereda 110 Elcano Drive Carriage Custom Homes/2,004
001-06 Lareda 11 Valerosa Lane Bill Reed Construction/2,112
014-09 Cielo 21 Gloria Drive Carriage Custom Homes/2,004
025-01 Maria 2 Algeciras Lane Carriage Custom Homes/2,296

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Boat safety week proclaimed

The POA board of directors proclaimed the week of May 22 through 28 Hot Springs Village Safe Boating Week.
The proclamation is in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week.
Board president Bill Linam urged Villagers to improve safety on the waterways by enrolling in a safe-boating course, wearing life jackets and enjoying their time on the water responsibly.
David Keyser, from the Coast Guard auxiliary station on Albert Pike Road, was present for the proclamation.
Keyser offers boating safety classes. A courtesy boat exam and boating safety instruction will be offered on Lake Balboa near Last Chance Café in June.
For more information, contact Keyser at (501) 760-3299.

Timber thinning requirements

Requirements for the contractor in the timber sales in phase VII submitted by planning and inspection director Steve White include the following.
1. Must take necessary precautions to protect the injury to young growth and other trees not designated for cutting.
2. All logging debris on the log deck must be scattered evenly over the cut area.
3. To lop all tops and debris so that is left on the properties that are with 150 feet of tree line on roadway and 150 feet of property line of lot with existing house. Must be lopping to within one foot to two feet of surface of the ground. This must be done within five days of completion of the subdivision before moving to new subdivision. If not done the job will be shut down until completion of clean up.
4. All existing woods will be smooth up to current conditions and seeded with grass seed.
5. All ruts in existing haul roads will be smoothed up to existing conditions.
6. No ruts will be more than ten inches deep will be allowed in the cutting areas. Tops may be used to control rutting.
7. No logging or loading activities may take place before 7 a.m.
8. Proof of liability insurance of $1,000,000.00 will be required.
9. Payments will be made weekly.

Living Gift Market set for November 13

The HSV Heifer club is celebrating the success of the speech, the presentation to the Brunsons and the Clarks and the reception for Charles Stewart, interim CEO of Heifer Project International as part of the 40th anniversary celebration.
With a huge success behind them, club members are planning an equally successful Living Gift Market at the Coronado Center on November 13. The first Living Gift Market sponsored by the HSV Heifer Club was in 1998. Last year’s gift market collected over $50,000 sponsoring animal gifts all over the world.
There is still no chair or co-chair to head the LGM but many club members have stepped up to do what they have always done to continue the success of the program. This year several members are working to get children involved with the market again. The last couple of years have been low on children’s attendance.
Members of the Heifer club will be meeting monthly to coordinate the LGM as a whole. The next meeting is scheduled for June 16 at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines.
Club members will be praying for the success of the market and quick recovery of club president Jane Parker from back surgery and club treasurer Joyce Gallagher from cataract surgery.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Arwood steps forward to save fireworks

Tom Arwood has stepped forward to chair an effort to save the fourth of July fireworks display with private donations.
The fireworks display was disbanded at the last POA board meeting to save the Village $40,000 in expenses.
Economic hard times prompted general manager Dave Johnston to propose the elimination of the popular program to help streamline the POA budget.
Arwood will probably work with the Friends of Hot Springs Village and one of the two 501(c)(3)'s in the Village to save the fireworks display. Johnston was tasked with calling the pyrotechnic team to see if they are still available to continue the fireworks show.
Arwood's tentative goal is to raise $35,000 for this year's fireworks display.
Several board members pledged donations to Arwood to get his effort to save the fireworks display started.

POA board meeting

Yesterday’s POA board meeting was quite lengthy. The presentations by Linda Grasse regarding Village SCAT transportation and Keith Keck and Wilbur Smither regarding the strategic plan took up most of the morning meeting.
Grasse described in detail the arrival of a wheelchair accessible van on March 22 from Malvern ready to provide low-cost rides to Villagers for $4 one way trips from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by SCAT, south central Arkansas transportation.
To reserve a ride call 915-0087. Rides provided are inside the Village gates and just outside the gates. No rides to Hot Springs or to Benton.
Grasse described the success of the rides so far including trips to the beauty parlor, doctors, lawyers, car repair, shopping and to visit friends and family as far as the Fountain Lake Rehabilitation Center on Highway 7, the outer limit of a SCAT ride.
The mission of SCAT is to keep Village residents independent by offering low-cost transportation to Village residents unable to drive.
Smither and Keck presented a detailed review of the gathering of information impacting future decisions in the strategic plan. They presented the board with possible mission and vision statements to be decided upon in the upcoming board retreat on May 19 through 21.
Three of the five subcommittee chairs were available to clarify information and answer any questions presented by board members.
On May 18 the strategic planning committee moves on to its next phases identifying SWOTs, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, confronting the Village over the next ten years.
Board members were also briefed by planning and inspections director Steve White on the phase VII timber sale contract changes. There are approximately 89 acres of large pine trees in this bid with an estimated 2841 tonnage that have an approximate age of 50 years or older.
The board met in special session following the working board meeting to approve the selective thinning of phase VII contract with Gill Logging, Inc. The vote to approve the contract was four to two. The contract for plantation pine was approved unanimously.
Bill Walker, a forestry consultant, will oversee phase VII.
Director of public works, David Whitlow, went over several suggestions presented by both the lakes and water committee and the public works committee.
Lakes and water is suggesting the removal of catch and release on certain Village lakes. Previously a "catch and release all black bass" was in effect on Lakes Granada, Estrella, Sophia and Maria to create the possibility of trophy size black bass. The other lakes had a "slot limit black bass only 14 to 17 inches catch and release." The committee is recommending all lakes have the "slot limit black bass only 14 to 16 inches catch and release."
The lakes and water committee is also recommending the Village adopt the same rules and regulations as the State of Arkansas regarding the time skiing, knee boarding and tubing can take place on Village lakes. Currently Village lakes allow these activities from 9 a.m. to sunset. The state enlarges the time of these activities to "water sports that involve towing are not permitted between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise."
Lakes and water recommended replacing Patrick Leuhring following his resignation on the committee with Bob Pullen. Pullen will complete Leuhring’s term through April 2012.
The last item discussed regarding lakes and water committee recommendations was the draw down of Lake DeSoto instead of Lake Balboa this fall. The action was requested by the golf department. Lake Balboa’s draw down would be postponed to 2011.
Whitlow also outlined the 2010 road paving program. The budget for the program is $1,245,000. The outlined project calls for $950,000. The remaining funds will be used for maintenance, emergencies and paving new roads per the transfer of reserved property with Cooper.

HS/HSV Symphony Guild Free Concert

The Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild is proud to sponsor a FREE concert at the Woodlands Auditorium, Sunday, May 16th at 3:00 p.m. The afternoon performance by the ASO Youth Orchestras spotlights their talented young musicians. Tickets are complimentary and are available at the following locations: In HSV: Dogwood Tree, LBG Lighting, Good Samaritan, Chamber of Commerce and at the front desk at Diamante Country Club. In Hot Springs: House to Home, Bob's Country Store and the Hot Springs Sentinel Record.

Cedar Mountain Singers review

Wahoo, what a fun ride, the Cedar Mountain Singers had more of everything this year and was a constantly surprising concert event.
The Jessieville High School Choir joined the Cedar Mountain Singers in three of the evening’s selections, It’s a Grand Night for Singing, One Voice and God Bless the U.S.A. The youthful group added new meaning to pink and blue hair. Everyone was in good voice and having lots of fun.
On One Voice, the number was started by a trio of vocalists from the Cedar Mountain Singers, Maureen Morgan, Jack Larsen and Naomi Creasey. All three did admirable jobs with the material. The piece grew to encompass the two choirs as one. Very effective.
New this year to the concert was the addition of several instrumental groups playing with the Cedar Mountain Singers. The Soggy Bottom Mountain Boys joined the chorus in Mountain Music and O Brother, Where Art Thou? This was great fun. Ed Pittman’s bluegrass group was charming and alarming. They were decked out in their overalls and ready for a front porch anywhere. The only thing missing was someone blowing into a moonshine jug. There was a lot of expert picking going on.
Not to be outdone, the Hot Springs Quintet took the stage under the direction of Dr. Hal Thompson to join the chorus in My Hope is Built on Nothing Less and Song of the Saints. The pieces were well done and added depth to the works.
The Village Dixielanders chimed in admirably on When the Saints Go Marching In and Mississippi Mud. Again, great fun and the unexpected.
Although the instrumentation added a whole new level to the presentation, it was the chorus that shown brightly on the numbers with the regular accompaniment supplied by Ray Liebau, Jay Payette, Steve Fetcko and Nikki Saltmarsh Utter. Their best work were the familiar show tunes of Oklahoma and A Cohan Salute.
As lagniappe, the dramatic reading by Jack Larsen of Red Skelton’s The Pledge of Allegiance was very moving. It was hard to find a dry eye in the house.
Cedar Mountain Singers conductor Randy Lusk, as always did an excellent job. New to this program Lusk lent his voice to two of the numbers. He began the Oklahoma medley by singing Oh What a Beautiful Morning. His sweet tenor was back for God Bless the U.S.A. He also surprised the audience with a soft shoe during A Cohan Salute. As always he wore outrageously loud costumes to add to the humor of the evening.
Also, as expected Dr. Bill Lefler (Ret. Gen. USA), just Bill, provided ridiculously light-hearted jokes to tie the musical pieces together. I hope he brings back the math instructor one, that was my favorite.
Pre-show entertainment was provided by Ray and Ruth Liebau.
Over all, a new, innovative and rewarding concert for the Cedar Mountain Singers. I look forward to their Christmas offerings scheduled for Dec. 6 and 7.

Players news

The HSV Players held their monthly meeting at the Ouachita Room at the Ponce de Leon center last night.
Club president Judy Corwin got the meeting rolling by presenting checks to the Jessieville and Fountain Lake School’s drama teachers for $1,500 each to expand the drama department at each school.
One of the goals of the HSV Players is to help with the needs of the drama departments in the local schools. In a time of economic cutbacks, the $1,500 will go a long way in both of the schools.
The comedy celebration, the two one act plays presented during the 40th anniversary celebration, were a great success. Many members of Players gave a lot of their time to help the plays success. All those involved were asked to stand and be recognized.
Candy Matson, Yukon 28208, a radio drama will air on KVRE 92.9 FM in five minute segments starting on May 24 at 8:45 a.m. The show will air each day that week at the same time. The actors and sound effects people have already recorded the show at KVRE. If it is the success expected, there may be more radio shows in the Players future. Jack Larsen said everyone involved had a lot of fun.
An acting and directing workshop is coming up on May 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ouachita room at the Ponce de Leon center. Marie Welch and Carolyn Bodensteiner will conduct the workshop. Registration for $5, including lunch, is still available on the website www.hsvplayers.org. Registration closes on May 15.
Auditions for My Three Angels is set for May 10 and 11 on the Woodlands stage from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Audition materials are available online at the Players website. The play will be directed by Shelly Kleinman and produced by Fran Walker. Walker took the opportunity to thank all the Players committed to help with the production.
Arlene Geidt is looking for volunteers to assist in hospitality for the July, August and November meetings. Contact her if you can help with the snack table.
Mary Lou Moran is helping with the newly created publicity committee and will be stepping down as the membership chair. She is looking for someone to fill her seat until the end of the year. She said the challenging part is over with the membership rush at the beginning of the year. Contact Moran if you can take over.
Kendra and Ronald Ryan joined the Players at this month’s meeting. They moved to the Village in December most recently from Switzerland. The couple lived in California prior to their international jaunt.
Next month there will be a picnic in lieu of a monthly meeting. The theme will be the 50s. If you have costumes, wear them. The Player of the Year and winners of the Woodies will be announced at the picnic. The cost is just $5.

Acting/Directing Workshop

HSV Players’ Marie Welch and Carolyn Bodensteiner are presenting an acting and directing workshop on May 22 at the Ouachita room from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration is only $5 and that includes lunch.
Welch will get fledgling actors ready to make their debut on the Woodlands’ stage. She will also instruct more advanced thespians in the art of characterization.
Bodensteiner will go over several aspects of directing for those with aspirations to direct. She will cover the basics of analyzing a script, auditions, rehearsing, blocking and more.
Applications are available at the Players website www.hsvplayers.org.
Deadline to register is May 15.

Putting on the Dog and Cat

HSV Animal Welfare League is "Puttin' on the Dog...and Cat" at the Coronado Center from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8th. Villagers are cordially invited to join the League for an evening of fun for a good cause.
Area restaurants and AWL benefactors will fill tables and tables with tasty hors d' oeuvres and dessert for sampling from 4:00 to 5:30. Wine and chocolate fountains, cash bar and entertainment continue all evening. There will be more tables of fabulous Silent Auction items and this year a "Lively" Live Auction is being added. One lucky benefit drawing ticket holder will win a Money Tree and there'll be lots of chances to take home a Door Prize.
Advance Sale Tickets are available now. They are $20 each and can be purchased from any AWL Board of Directors member or by phone from Billie Shipley (922-0082) Jackie Morris (915-8849) or Lee Beach (915-9222).
The League's annual benefit gala supports shelter pet adoptions, subsidizes low cost spay/neuter clinics for pet owners in the Hot Springs Village area, provides help for pet owners who struggle financially to care for their pets and provides humane educational materials for students in the three surrounding school districts.

Pet Adopt-a-thon at Barkansas

On May 8 the Animal Welfare League and the Humane Society of Garland County are co-sponsoring an Adopt-a-thon at Barkansas Pet Supply on Highway 7 beginning at 10 a.m. Dogs and cats of all sizes and ages in need of a forever home will be available for adoption. Visit with volunteers from the shelters who can tell the animals’ stories and enjoy a complimentary hot dog and lemonade. Barkansas Pet Supply is offering a ten-percent discount on all pet supplies, except food, for pets adopted at the Adopt-a-thon. The discount is for the day of the Adopt-a-thon only.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Heifer Reminder

The Heifer steering committee meets at 1 p.m. tomorrow followed by the Heifer Club general meeting at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines. The hot topic will be the living gift market coming up in November.

Townhouse board meeting

Glenn Zarpaylic, general manager of the townhouse association discussed problems with the irrigation pumps in Coronado and Valencia Courts.
Both courts are dealing with defective systems with wiring which not only falls below current code but could endanger maintenance crews and people in the lakes with the pumps.
The defects were discovered while GFI switches at the meter boxes were being changed out as part of court maintenance.
Several solutions were discussed but board members decided they must send letters to the court homeowners letting them know of the situation and all possible solutions and costs involved.
In Coronado Courts one of the pumps is working just fine and the other is a hazard. To bring the one system up to code it would cost $4,450 and that does not include upgrading the old pump. Coronado Court only has $5,343.95 in its capital reserve fund. Of that, $4,600 must stay in the account as a cushion. The spendable funds have been earmarked for repairing sidewalks and trash corrals.
Zarpaylic believes the hazard of the uneven sidewalks is the number one safety priority. Court members will have to prioritize expenditures.
Board members were able to view the new website today for a one day only evaluation. The board members have been asked to make suggestions and comments concerning the look of the website.
Cost of engineering plans for the Guadalajara bridge were discussed at the board meeting. The cost of the plans alone are $2,750 to be divided between the two townhouse owners effected by the bridge and $6,100 for the townhouse association’s share. The townhouse is prepared to go ahead with the payment of their share and to put the job out for bids. The townhouse owners have not committed to paying for their share of the plans.
Other housekeeping items discussed at the board meeting will be voted on at the next meeting of the board on May 14 at 10:30 a.m.

POA Board State of the Village

The POA board held its annual meeting yesterday and took the opportunity to make a state of the Village address and to recognize several people making a difference in the Village over the past year.
According to POA general manager Dave Johnston, "perhaps the most significant accomplishment was the approval last fall by the membership of a $4 per month increase in the assessment rate which took effect on January 1. This approval is anticipated to provide $1.5 million in badly needed revenue that will help keep our roads and infrastructure in good condition. It also will help increase our ability to advertise and promote the Village as a place to visit or even move to."
He also stated, "another significant achievement during the past year was the sale of $9.5 million in sewer revenue bonds. $3.5 million represented the re-financing of debt incurred in 2004 which will save $512,000 in interest costs over the remaining life of the 2004 bonds. $6 million of the bod issue represents new construction funding to support anticipated costs at the two wastewater treatment plants necessary to comply with anticipated new requirements under the provisions of National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, NPDES, permit renewals."
Johnston also touched on the geothermal issue, "two projects that many were critical of because of the capital costs seemed to continually escalate were the installation of two geo-thermal heating and air conditioning systems at the Coronado Fitness Center’s pool area and at the Balboa Club, respectively. The final economical costs actually came in within two-percent of the original project approvals. Energy savings are anticipated to be at least $40,000 per year."
The acquisition of several reserve properties in exchange for the liability of the initial paving of the remaining 30 miles of roadway in the Village was also touted.
The success of the first ever urban deer hunt was mentioned. There will be another hunt this fall.
Lot sales of the foreclosed lots from NRPI was touched on and the plans to market the lots with local Realtors.
Johnston ended his state of the Village speech by touching on the success of the 40th anniversary celebration and looking forward to the strategic plan looking ten years into the future of the Village.
Two POA employees were honored for their fast thinking and rapid response to a drowning Bill Gibbons at the natatorium on May 26, 2009. Liz Carroll and Deb Johnston were honored for saving Gibbons.
Eight POA employees were honored for the extra time they put in this year beyond their 40 hour work week to make the 40th anniversary celebration a success. They were Linda Mayhood, Stacey Hoover, Mary Cotton, Doris Truitt, Jerry Hansen, Candi Stiles, Tiffany Glover and Stephanie Stone.
Several outstanding service awards were given to members of teams working to better the Village. The groups included the team championing the assessment increase, the ad hoc advertising and promotions committee, the coordinators of the employees benefit fund, the team improving the golf program, beautification efforts of Al Edmonton and the Village Men’s Garden Club, the food vendors, the strategic planning team and the members of the 40th anniversary committee with special recognition to John and Karen Tidquist.
A special President’s Award was given to Larry Ebner. Ebner has been a Village resident since 1990. In 20 years he has been appointed to the POA board twice and was elected to the board twice. He has served on many of the POA committees. He is currently the president of the Concerts Association. His background is business and finance.
Ebner said he was humbled to accept the award. Coming to the Village was the right choice, staying in the Village was the right fit. He said he had received more than he had given. Ebner thanked everyone for their support.
Outgoing board directors Paul Day and Teri Jackson were recognized for their service to the Village.
Mike Misch turned over his well-used gavel to Bill Linam. Linam presented Misch with a brand new gavel as a memento of his service as POA board president. Linam took the helm as the new POA board president.

Newcomers

Representatives of eight new families attended the Newcomers’ Coffee last month.
Jean and Thomas Woodworth moved to the Village two months ago from Plano, Texas. They are enjoying their new home on Santa Maria. The Woodworth’s have been visiting the Village since 2001.They love it here, appreciate the lay out of the Village and look forward to having fun.
Esther and Dennis Coffin moved to the Village from East Meadow, New York on a part time basis just a year ago. The nine golf courses brought them to the Village and keep them coming back. They started their transition to becoming Village residents last May. Esther is still not ready to retire from her job and move to the Village full time. Dennis is more than ready.
Raya and Ron Zweifel moved to the Village from Napinville, Illinois two months ago. They lived in Illinois for 33 years and hardly knew a soul. After just one week in the Village they had made more friends than in 33 years. They found the Village in 100 Best Places to Retire. They came to check out the Village and never left. They are sure the other 99 places to live are just fine but they found the best first. They said they couldn’t find a better place to live and don’t want to look anymore.
Greg and Ellen Nagode moved to the Village from Dallas, Texas just a week ago. Ellen attended the coffee alone. She said she left Greg at home unpacking. Ellen said they visited the Village the first time ten or 12 years ago on one of the promotional tours for three days and two nights. They kept coming back and eventually bought a lot. This Thanksgiving they bought a house here and put their home back in Texas on the market in January. They closed a few weeks ago and are now here as full time residents.
Alice and Don Fortin moved to the Village from Jackson, Mississippi just one month ago. Her husband just retired from the Coast Guard after 28 years. They are bringing youth to the Village, Don is only 45 years old. They found the Village by watching the on-line video at the POA website. Alice said her first thought was I can do that. Alice attended the coffee solo as Don was over at the Rec Center where he spends a lot of time working out.
Pam and Art Hartman moved to the Village from Downington, Pennsylvania just one month ago. Pam’s sister lives in Hot Springs and introduced them to the Village. Pam retired two months ago and they moved here. She said she is still unpacking. "We just love it."
Ray and Francie Millet moved to the Village from Benson, Minnesota four months ago. The Millet’s were on a trip to Florida by way of Louisiana and stopped to see the Village. They got a flyer nine years ago about a time share and decided to check it out. They weren’t interested in a timeshare but bought a townhouse. They have been coming to the Village for nine years. They closed on their Lake Coronado home in early April and are scheduled to move into the new house next week. The Millet’s are happy they met many Villagers before moving here full time. They are happy to be here.
Mary and Paul Langston moved to the Village from Springfield, Missouri two months ago. They bought their home at the end of 2008 but haven’t sold their home back in Missouri. Originally, they are from the Little Rock area and are very happy to get back to Arkansas. They said they are really enjoying being home.
The next Newcomers Coffee will be the last Thursday in June at 8:30 a.m. at the Ouachita Room at the Ponce de Leon Center.