Foster Care Ministry event taking place June 16, beginning at 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. This marks the 20th year for the Foster Care Ministry at the McAlmont Church of Christ in North Little Rock, Arkansas, in partnership with Children’s Home Inc. of Paragould. On this day, an introduction of CHI and a presentation given by the organization. Then break into workshops where women can learn about foster care and adoption. The objective is to give two hours of credit for those interested in Foster Care. The goal is to possibly recruit Foster Parents and encourage adoption, and Introduce the community to CHI.
For more information, contact:
Orena Harris-Allen
Human Resources Representative
ABC Financial Services, Inc.
501-515-5000 ext 1080
Orena.Allen@abcfinancial.com
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Hot Springs Music Festival underway
By Zoie Clift
The Hot Springs Music Festival brings together hundreds of
musicians each year to the city. From June 3-16 around 200 international
musicians present 20 concerts and over 250 free open rehearsals of symphony
orchestra, chamber orchestra, chamber music, oratorio and opera.
“We have at least one concert every day,” said festival
director Todd Cranson. “There is a concert every evening for two weeks.”
A goal of the event is to make sure classical music is and
remains relevant to people today by making the music easily accessible to a wide
audience range. Central to the festival is a mentorship program, which pairs
world-class musicians with pre-professional apprentices. The two groups play
side by side throughout the festival.
The event brings in over 100 young musicians on the cusp of
entering their professional careers. “They are very creative and are very
influenced by what audiences are influenced by and the music they make is not
necessarily what people think of when they think classical music,” said
Cranson.
“We are going to be doing plenty of Bach and Mozart and
Beethoven but we are also going to be doing some new things that today’s
classical musicians are doing,” he added.
This includes bringing in musicians such as Rick Robinson,
who goes by the alter ego name Mr Cuttime “When you hear the term classical
music right off the bat some people think they might not be interested,” said
Cranson. “Well, Rick Robinson sees that,
acknowledges that, understands that and is on a mission to change that. So he is
going to bring his own brand of music and will be reaching out to new audiences,
younger audiences, to more diverse audiences. To try to show people who don’t
already know about classical music that there is something there they might
like.” 
High
caliber musicians are signed on to perform including the Cassatt String Quartet.
“What is special about that is these folks are considered one of the top chamber
ensembles in the country,” said Cranson. “And they’ve been playing together for
almost 30 years. They are coming to use from New York...Hot Springs has a lot of great music including chamber music going on but some
of the pieces we present at the festival would not be able to be played here
except by the best musicians in the world and that is the kind of things we are
able to offer by bringing these people in,” he added.
The festival takes place in a variety of venues around town
including art galleries, hotel ballrooms and historic buildings.
The schedule highlights a variety of musical options. A few
of these include opening day festivities( June 3) that showcase a brass ensemble
outside on the steps of the Arlington Hotel. The Cassatt String Quartet will be
playing in the evening in the ballroom.
A new event on Saturday June 9 features a free concert down
Bathhouse Row. The concert is led by Rick Robinson, a longtime bassist with the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and will progress from Buckstaff Bathhouse, down
Bathhouse Row to the Superior Bathhouse.
There is also a concert on June 14 that stars young musicians
and “some of the new things being done and not what you think of when you think
of classical music,” said Cranson. “It’s going to be things that musicians like
and that we thing the audience will like.”
“One of things that the festival does that is very important
for the community is producing large scale symphonic works and extremely high
level chamber music,” he added. “For two weeks Hot Springs gets to be home to an
entire orchestra of world-class musicians."
Detailed concert and program information is available at the
festival’s website. For more information on the Hot Springs Music Festival call
501-623-4763 or visit www.hotmusic.org.
Opera in the Ozarks later this month
Opera in the Ozarks is not only a premier
operatic training program, it’s also an opportunity for the public to catch
performances by up-and-coming opera stars. The 62nd season runs for four weeks
and features 25 performances beginning June 22 and running through July 20. It
takes place primarily at Inspiration Point in Eureka Springs with three performances at Arend Arts Center in Bentonville.
This year’s repertoire includes “La Boheme” by Giacomo Puccini, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” and “A Little Night Music” by Stephen Sondheim. The outdoor venue of Inspiration Point lends itself to an intimate look at each of these acclaimed operas. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for all Eureka Springs shows and 4 p.m. for all Bentonville performances. Tickets are $20 and $25 and may be purchased online at Opera.org/or by phone at 479-253-8595.
A non-profit organization, Opera in the Ozarks has been the training ground for serious artists for 62 years. Each year singers are selected from national auditions. This year more than 250 singers from 33 states tried out for the coveted roles. Opera in the Ozarks has launched the careers of many talented singers, such as Chris Merritt who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Santa Fe Opera. Another accomplished alumnus, William Johns, has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Musica Bayreuth, La Scala and Covent Garden.
The staff members come from professional opera companies and outstanding college music faculties. Opera in the Ozarks also attracts independent specialists in areas such as stage combat, and wigs and make-up. The music staff numbers 22 with an orchestra of 26 representing professional symphony players combined with advanced college players.
Longtime General Director Jim Swiggart said of the upcoming season, "I am very excited about the 62nd season, which will bring incredible talent and exciting performances to The Natural State. So many people are amazed at the level of our performances and have become patrons who travel each summer to experience opera in an intimate, exciting venue. Last year they traveled from 26 states. There is magic on the mountain at Inspiration Point!"
2012 REPERTOIRE
A Little Night Music
BOOK: Hugh Wheeler
MUSIC & LYRICS: Stephen Sondheim
The romantic and achingly beautiful A Little Night Music deals with the universal subject of love, in all its wondrous, humorous and ironic permutations.
In turn-of-the-century Sweden, middle-aged Fredrik Egerman brings his 18-year-old bride Anne to a play starring his former mistress, Desiree Armfeldt. Soon, Fredrik and Desiree resume their romance, incurring the wrath of her current lover, a pompous Count. The situation culminates in a weekend at a country estate, with Fredrik, Anne, Desiree and the Count in attendance, as well as Fredrik's son (who is hopelessly in love with Anne), Desiree's illegitimate daughter, the Count's manic-depressive wife and the Egermans’ lusty maid. And there, under the summer night, things are set to right.
Sophisticated, literate and stylish, A Little Night Music is also disarmingly warm, funny, charming and very human. Its well-constructed book is one of the best ever written, featuring a strong ensemble cast of vivid, memorable characters that span all age groups. The lilting Ravel-inspired score in three-quarter time accommodates both strong and less accomplished singers and contains Sondheim's popular song, the haunting "Send in the Clowns."
The Magic Flute
COMPOSER: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The story is based on circumstances connected with the mysterious worship of Isis, a deity of the ancient Egyptians. Its action is consequent upon Sarastro, the high priest of the Temple of Isis, having borne away Pamina, the daughter of Astrifiammante, the wicked Queen of Night, from her mother in order that she may be trained in the ways of virtue and wisdom. Tamino, a handsome Egyptian prince, is saved from a monstrous serpent by the Queen’s servants. They show him a portrait of Pamina, and he falls in love with the unknown original. He is told the story of her having been stolen by Sarastro, and he vows to rescue her.
Before starting he is presented with a magic flute, by which he is enabled to give alarm and invoke assistance in cases of peril; while Papageno, the silly bird-catcher who accompanies him, is furnished with certain musical instruments which, when played, transform anger into mirth and provoke a desire for dancing. Developments need not to be detailed. It is only necessary to say that Tamino, instead of bringing back Pamina, becomes a noviate in the Temple; meets Pamina there; goes through, like her, a severe testing probation; is ultimately proved worthy, and marries Pamina, while his companion, Papageno, also finds a mate.
La Bohème
COMPOSER: Giacomo Puccini
La Bohème, the passionate and timeless story of love among young artists in Paris, can stake its claim as the world’s most popular opera. It has a marvelous ability to make a powerful first impression (even to those new to opera) and to reveal unsuspected treasures after dozens of hearings. At first glance, La Bohème is the definitive depiction of the joys and sorrows of love and loss; on closer inspection, it reveals the deep emotional significance hidden in the trivial things (a bonnet, an old overcoat, a chance meeting with a neighbor) that make up our everyday lives.
In La Bohème, you will meet some of the most famous characters in world literature – Puccini’s “bohemian” crew. There’s Rodolfo, the writer, and Marcello, the painter. There’s delicate, sensitive Mimì and brassy, seductive Musetta. Puccini so clearly paints an arty Parisian underworld — a world of garrets, cafés and nights of ribaldry — that these depictions persist to this day.
This year’s repertoire includes “La Boheme” by Giacomo Puccini, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” and “A Little Night Music” by Stephen Sondheim. The outdoor venue of Inspiration Point lends itself to an intimate look at each of these acclaimed operas. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for all Eureka Springs shows and 4 p.m. for all Bentonville performances. Tickets are $20 and $25 and may be purchased online at Opera.org/or by phone at 479-253-8595.
A non-profit organization, Opera in the Ozarks has been the training ground for serious artists for 62 years. Each year singers are selected from national auditions. This year more than 250 singers from 33 states tried out for the coveted roles. Opera in the Ozarks has launched the careers of many talented singers, such as Chris Merritt who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Santa Fe Opera. Another accomplished alumnus, William Johns, has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Musica Bayreuth, La Scala and Covent Garden.
The staff members come from professional opera companies and outstanding college music faculties. Opera in the Ozarks also attracts independent specialists in areas such as stage combat, and wigs and make-up. The music staff numbers 22 with an orchestra of 26 representing professional symphony players combined with advanced college players.
Longtime General Director Jim Swiggart said of the upcoming season, "I am very excited about the 62nd season, which will bring incredible talent and exciting performances to The Natural State. So many people are amazed at the level of our performances and have become patrons who travel each summer to experience opera in an intimate, exciting venue. Last year they traveled from 26 states. There is magic on the mountain at Inspiration Point!"
2012 REPERTOIRE
A Little Night Music
BOOK: Hugh Wheeler
MUSIC & LYRICS: Stephen Sondheim
The romantic and achingly beautiful A Little Night Music deals with the universal subject of love, in all its wondrous, humorous and ironic permutations.
In turn-of-the-century Sweden, middle-aged Fredrik Egerman brings his 18-year-old bride Anne to a play starring his former mistress, Desiree Armfeldt. Soon, Fredrik and Desiree resume their romance, incurring the wrath of her current lover, a pompous Count. The situation culminates in a weekend at a country estate, with Fredrik, Anne, Desiree and the Count in attendance, as well as Fredrik's son (who is hopelessly in love with Anne), Desiree's illegitimate daughter, the Count's manic-depressive wife and the Egermans’ lusty maid. And there, under the summer night, things are set to right.
Sophisticated, literate and stylish, A Little Night Music is also disarmingly warm, funny, charming and very human. Its well-constructed book is one of the best ever written, featuring a strong ensemble cast of vivid, memorable characters that span all age groups. The lilting Ravel-inspired score in three-quarter time accommodates both strong and less accomplished singers and contains Sondheim's popular song, the haunting "Send in the Clowns."
The Magic Flute
COMPOSER: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The story is based on circumstances connected with the mysterious worship of Isis, a deity of the ancient Egyptians. Its action is consequent upon Sarastro, the high priest of the Temple of Isis, having borne away Pamina, the daughter of Astrifiammante, the wicked Queen of Night, from her mother in order that she may be trained in the ways of virtue and wisdom. Tamino, a handsome Egyptian prince, is saved from a monstrous serpent by the Queen’s servants. They show him a portrait of Pamina, and he falls in love with the unknown original. He is told the story of her having been stolen by Sarastro, and he vows to rescue her.
Before starting he is presented with a magic flute, by which he is enabled to give alarm and invoke assistance in cases of peril; while Papageno, the silly bird-catcher who accompanies him, is furnished with certain musical instruments which, when played, transform anger into mirth and provoke a desire for dancing. Developments need not to be detailed. It is only necessary to say that Tamino, instead of bringing back Pamina, becomes a noviate in the Temple; meets Pamina there; goes through, like her, a severe testing probation; is ultimately proved worthy, and marries Pamina, while his companion, Papageno, also finds a mate.
La Bohème
COMPOSER: Giacomo Puccini
La Bohème, the passionate and timeless story of love among young artists in Paris, can stake its claim as the world’s most popular opera. It has a marvelous ability to make a powerful first impression (even to those new to opera) and to reveal unsuspected treasures after dozens of hearings. At first glance, La Bohème is the definitive depiction of the joys and sorrows of love and loss; on closer inspection, it reveals the deep emotional significance hidden in the trivial things (a bonnet, an old overcoat, a chance meeting with a neighbor) that make up our everyday lives.
In La Bohème, you will meet some of the most famous characters in world literature – Puccini’s “bohemian” crew. There’s Rodolfo, the writer, and Marcello, the painter. There’s delicate, sensitive Mimì and brassy, seductive Musetta. Puccini so clearly paints an arty Parisian underworld — a world of garrets, cafés and nights of ribaldry — that these depictions persist to this day.
Money for Arkansas airports
U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman recently joined Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Steve Womack (AR-3), and Mike Ross (AR-4) to announce that eight Arkansas airports will receive a combined $1,484,845 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants for new construction and improvement at their facilities.
“Safe and reliable transportation infrastructure is a critical component of economic development in Arkansas,” Pryor said. “Reinvesting these federal dollars into our airports will benefit local businesses and residents alike.”
"These grants are important investments into these eight communities across the state. Infrastructure is key to expanding economic development in Arkansas and these grants should help bring more jobs and businesses to our state,” said Boozman.
“As we continue efforts to grow Arkansas’ economy and put people back to work, local airports can provide a link to developing economic opportunities. The construction and improvements funded with these federal dollars will be a boost for job creators in our state, said Crawford.
“Transportation infrastructure is crucial to the economic growth of our local economies,” said Womack. “These grants will provide our local airports, like the Ozark-Franklin County Airport and the Russellville Regional Airport, the much-needed funds to maintain current facilities and help further expand economic development across the state.”
“Investing in our state’s infrastructure not only creates jobs now, but also fosters economic growth and development in the future,” said Ross. “I’m proud to help announce this support for our local airports because they provide an essential means of transportation and help recruit prospective businesses to our communities and to our area.”
Airports receiving funding are as follows:
“Safe and reliable transportation infrastructure is a critical component of economic development in Arkansas,” Pryor said. “Reinvesting these federal dollars into our airports will benefit local businesses and residents alike.”
"These grants are important investments into these eight communities across the state. Infrastructure is key to expanding economic development in Arkansas and these grants should help bring more jobs and businesses to our state,” said Boozman.
“As we continue efforts to grow Arkansas’ economy and put people back to work, local airports can provide a link to developing economic opportunities. The construction and improvements funded with these federal dollars will be a boost for job creators in our state, said Crawford.
“Transportation infrastructure is crucial to the economic growth of our local economies,” said Womack. “These grants will provide our local airports, like the Ozark-Franklin County Airport and the Russellville Regional Airport, the much-needed funds to maintain current facilities and help further expand economic development across the state.”
“Investing in our state’s infrastructure not only creates jobs now, but also fosters economic growth and development in the future,” said Ross. “I’m proud to help announce this support for our local airports because they provide an essential means of transportation and help recruit prospective businesses to our communities and to our area.”
Airports receiving funding are as follows:
- Brinkley- Frank Federer Memorial Airport: The city of Brinkley will receive $77,355 to fund the design for the rehabilitation of the apron at Frank Federer Memorial Airport in Brinkley. The existing apron pavement has reached the end of its useful life.
- DeQueen- J Lynn Helms Sevier County Airport: Sevier County will receive $250,000 to construct an apron at J Lynn Helms Sevier County Airport in DeQueen. The apron will provide aircraft parking for users of the airport.
- Dumas- Billy Free Municipal Airport: The city of Dumas will receive $179,640 to rehabilitate the runway at Billy Free Municipal Airport in Dumas. The existing runway pavement has reached the end of its useful life.
- Manila- Manila Municipal Airport: The city of Manila will receive $58,363 to rehabilitate the runway at Manila Municipal Airport that has reached the end of its useful life.
- McGehee- McGehee Municipal Airport: The city of McGehee will receive $150,320 to expand
the apron at McGehee Municipal Airport. This project will bring the apron up to
Federal Aviation Administration design standards.
- Ozark- Ozark-Franklin County Airport: Franklin County will receive $139,950 to rehabilitate the runway at Ozark-Franklin County Airport. This project will help maintain the structural integrity of the runway and minimize foreign object debris.
- Russellville- Russellville Regional Airport: The city of Russellville will receive $99,900 to rehabilitate the runway at Russellville Regional Airport. The rehabilitation of the runway is needed to maintain structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
- Walnut Ridge- Walnut Ridge Regional Airport: The city of Walnut Ridge will receive $529,317 to rehabilitate the existing taxiway at Walnut Ridge Regional Airport. The existing taxiway pavement has reached the end of its useful life.
Hot Springs road closure
Cones Road in Hot Springs at the intersection of David and Hudgins streets will be closed to
through traffic all day on Thursday and Friday, June 7 and 8 to repair a gas
leak. Signs will be posted, and motorists will need to seek an alternate route
during closure.
Arkansas theater news
Summer Theater CampsWildwood Park for the Arts in Little Rock will offer WILDKids Sing! for ages 7-10 from 9:00 a.m. to noon on July 9-13. Instructor is Leslie Harper. Students will experience song and movement as they embody loveable animal characters and their friends from popular musicals like The Lion King, An American Tale, The Jungle Book, Honk!, Suessical and many more. Family and friends are invited to a camper-inspired culminating showcase. Total Camp Fee: $150. Wildwood Park will also offer WILDKids Play! for ages 8 -10 from 9:00 a.m. to noon on June 25-29. Instructor is Brittany Kincaid. Students will transform children’s stories into theatrical characters and playable dialogue. Family and friends are invited to enjoy the fun on the final day of camp as students enact their play throughout the Park. Total Camp Fee: $150. For more information about these two summer camps, visit www.wildwoodpark.org.For SaleCabot Community Theatre has a set of Audrey 2 plants for Little Shop of Horrors. The sale price is $1,000 (not for rental). Buyer must pick them up, trailer suggested. Contact Doug Morris at mrdmorris@cebridge.net for more information.AuditionsThe Weekend Theater in Little Rock, 7th & Chester in Little Rock has set auditions for three fall shows. The auditions will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 23 and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 24. The plays are Southern Cross directed by Frank O. Butler, Good People directed by Andy Hall, and Enemy of the People directed by Miguel Salazar. Auditions consist of reading from the script; no preparation prior to audition is required. For more information, visit www.weekendtheater.org.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Health Department investigating measles cases in Arkansas
The Arkansas Department of Health
(ADH) has learned of a confirmed case of measles in an Arkansan who returned
from a visit overseas. The patient has
visited four Arkansas cities--West
Memphis , Sheridan, Proctor and White Hall-- and the Tennessee cities of Whitehouse and Nashville
According to Dirk Haselow, MD,
PhD, medical director and section chief of Communicable Disease and
Immunization at ADH, there is very little chance that anyone other than
foreign-born visitors or those who had never been vaccinated would be at risk.
“Measles is very rare in countries and regions of the
world that are able to vaccinate large numbers of people. Because the U.S.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is spread by direct
contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. Measles symptoms generally appear in two
stages. In the first stage, the
individual may have a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. The eyes may become reddened and sensitive to
light while the fever consistently rises each day. The second stage begins on the third to
seventh day and consists of a higher temperature and a red, blotchy rash
lasting four to seven days. The rash
usually begins on the face and then spreads over the entire body.
Pregnant
women, young children and persons that have compromised immune systems are at
particular risk for serious complications from the disease.
All those born before 1957 or who
have had two doses of mumps, measles, rubella vaccine (MMR) should be protected
or immune from the disease. The MMR vaccination series is part of the
childhood immunization series that children receive prior to attending school.
Any person
in school or in college who hasn’t had two doses of MMR vaccine should get
vaccinated at their doctor’s office or at any local health unit statewide.
Road closure in Hot Springs
For one week beginning today, June 6, including overnight hours, the 100 block of Bayou Point in Hot Springs from the curve and back 200 feet will be closed to through traffic for the sewer force main pipe installation. Signs will be posted and motorists are advised to seek an alternate route during construction.
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