Arkansas Weekly November 19, 2008

Nutcracker performances slated for this weekend at UACCB

In the top photo, Kathleen Trotter, left to right, Kodi Giovannini, Maggie Hance, Amy Bramlett, Belinda Bube, Marcus Nicholson and Shea Wilkerson dance in the grand finale of a past Nutcracker performance. In the bottom photo, high-flying Russians perform in the Nutcracker. Pictured, left to right, are Danielle Kramer, Erica Moore, Maggie Hance and Morgan Huff. Photos by Dr. Dave Thomas

North Arkansas Dance Theatre (NADT) enjoyed a tremendously successful performance of the Nutcracker last year, according to a news release, and credits that to the incredible support of the talented and generous community.

As promised, NADT is adding to its first three-year performances. This year, NADT's fourth annual Nutcracker begins with Clara celebrating Christmas Eve with family and friends including Herr Drosselemeyer, her godfather, who brings mystery and much fun to their party. After their guests depart, Clara cries herself to sleep, unable to find her prized gift from Herr Drosselemeyer, a nutcracker. In a deep slumber, wondrous things take place, beginning with the Christmas tree.

An exciting fight scene between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, along with some nervous little mice, has been added to the performance this year. The second act of Nutcracker includes visiting guest artists Jonathan Bostick and Grace Tilley as the Duke and Duchess of Gum Drop and Amy Bramlett as the Arabian and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The tickets for the performance will cost $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the Batesville Chamber of Commerce, the Batesville Area Arts Council, Carlee's Crown Shop, Heritage House, Schwegman's Office Supply, Teacher 2 Teacher, Batesville Ballet Etc., Mountain View Ballet Etc., and the Izard County Dance Academy.

Performances will be Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov 22, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. For more information, call toll-free 1-866-GOT-NADT (1-866-468-6238). Tickets will also be available at the door for the performances.

From Press Release

Account set up for local family

An account has been set up for the family of Bobbie Jo Cotherine Hernandez who passed away Nov. 10, leaving behind a husband and two small children. Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a check directly to the Citizens Bank of Batesville, 200 S. 3rd St., Batesville, AR 72501. Note on your memo line that it is for the family of Bobbie Jo Cotherine Hernandez.

Habitat for Humanity seeking family for second project

Habitat for Humanity of Independence County is pleased to announce that work is progressing on the first Habitat home being built in Independence County.

An application process has now started for the next Habitat project, and a new Independence County family needs to be selected.

Several Habitat for Humanity of Independence County volunteers will be available to accept and review applications on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon at the fellowship hall of The First Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of College and Eighth streets in Batesville. Applicants will need to bring a copy of their most recent pay stub and copies of their previous month's bills. Applicants do not have to attend Saturday's event to submit an application, but, on that day, volunteers will be able to answer any questions about the necessary qualifications and will be able to review applications for completeness.

Habitat for Humanity does not "give" the houses to the family. Each family is required to donate hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" into their home, as well as being required to work on other Habitat homes through the Willingness to Partner program.

The completed house is then sold to the family through a nonprofit loan, and the family is then required to make monthly mortgage payments. Before being selected, families are required to show the ability to meet a monthly mortgage payment. Because the house has been built with a great deal of volunteer labor and donated materials, the mortgage payments are kept very reasonable. Each family must also show they are currently living in inadequate conditions, which may involve substandard housing, overcrowding, or the family is experiencing housing costs that have become a burden.

Prior to this event, applications may also be picked up at 351 W. Ross St. (Sun Valley Apartments) in Batesville. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 1. Those having any questions, or for instructions on how to submit an application, please contact Peter Gavin at (870) 793-5588.

From Press Release

Jayden Jones receives donation from local construction company



In the top photo, Richie Sharp, an employee of MSC Pipeline Construction Co., shows Jayden Jones the controls of a Trackhoe. In the bottom photo, Mike Simpson, left, and Allan Alvey, owners and operators of the construction company, display a toy dump truck that they gave to Jones. Photos submitted

Mike Simpson and Allan Alvey, owners and operators of MSC Pipeline Construction Co., recently gave Jayden Jones a toy dump truck. Jones, a Pleasant Plains youth, fell off a tractor that was bush-hogging during the summer. The bush-hog severed his legs.

The toy dump truck was presented to Jones during a recent fundraiser at Pleasant Plains. Along with the dump truck, MSC Pipeline Construction presented a large monetary donation from the company and its employees. Jones, along with his family, also visited the company's work site near Pleasant Plains. Jones got his wish to climb into a Trackhoe used in laying the pipeline. He spent about three hours with the pipeline crew. At the end of his visit, Jones took home his very own hard hat and his dump truck full of memories.

From Press Release

BAAC salutes fallen
soldiers and veterans

In the top photo, artist Barbara Cade displays her work, "Arkansas’ Fallen," which honors Arkansas’ fallen soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The art is on display at the Batesville Area Arts Council Art Gallery. In the bottom photo, boxes of Patriotic Cards sit ready to be mailed to veterans in Arkansas veteran hospitals and a veteran hospital in Washington, D.C., beneath the artwork. Photos submitted

The Batesville Area Arts Council (BAAC) Art Gallery on Main Street in Batesville is currently displaying "Arkansas’ Fallen" by Barbara Cade. The work of art is handmade wool felt, handspun linen wrapping, and handmade paper leaves with the names of Arkansas’ fallen soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"(This is my attempt) to make this war more personal, to make it more public, and to honor the soldiers who have died," said Cade. "To date there are 67 names — 22 more than when I started this piece last fall."

Cade is a Hot Springs artist specializing in creating sculptural fiber tapestries and artwork for architectural and home interiors. Since 1985, she has worked as an artist-in-residence in Arkansas schools. Using weaving, felting or printing processes, her specialty is helping students create group projects for school. Her work has been shown in many juried shows around the nation, notably the American Craft Show at the armory in New York City and the Bellevue Sculpture Exhibition in Bellevue, Wash. In 2004, Cade was the winner of the annual scholarship for the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, which she used to study felt-making in Finland. There she provided a workshop at the Arts and Crafts school in Petajavesi.

In 2005, she exhibited with a one-person show at the Arts and Science Center in Pine Bluff. In 2007, she showed her landscapes at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock. Pieces of her work are part of a permanent collection in the Tacoma Art Museum in Tacoma, Wash.

Also, the BAAC wishes to thank the participating students and staff from Lyon College, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Batesville Elementary West Magnet School, Southside Middle School and High School, and Midland Elementary School for their assistance in writing encouraging and positive sentiments on Patriotic Cards, which were contributed by the BAAC. The cards were packaged and mailed to veterans in Arkansas’ veterans hospitals and the Walter Reed veterans hospital in Washington, D.C.

From Press Release

APPLE,T Tauri students making Humane Society documentary

Jessica Norman and Hannah McGough, top photo, film a scene as part of a documentary on the Independence County Humane Society as does Cody Jackson in the bottom photo. The students are participating in the second T Tauri Film Festival academic-year Community Documentary Filmmaking Workshop. Photos submitted

Seven area high school students have begun work on a documentary film about the Independence County Humane Society. The students are participating in the second T Tauri Film Festival academic-year Community Documentary Filmmaking Workshop. The workshop is a joint venture of T Tauri, the youth division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest Inc., and the Lyon College APPLE Upward Bound project. Six of the students are currently enrolled in the APPLE academic enrichment program: Rachel Braim and Sherina Smith of Locust Grove, Hannah McGough of Floral, Cody Jackson of Tuckerman, Casey Chambliss of Rosie, and Jessica Norman of Batesville. Kelby Jones of Floral, a former APPLE student, is also participating in the workshop.

Students will meet on 10 Saturdays spread over the academic year with the goal of completing a documentary film by the end of the 10 sessions. Instructors are Bob Pest and Michael Merritt. Copies of the film will be given to the Humane Society to be used for public relations or fundraising purposes.

Pest, the Ozark Foothills FilmFest president, said the primary goal of the workshop is "to connect students to the community, help them see the value of its institutions, and enable them to use their filmmaking skills to contribute."

Students in the first Community Documentary Workshop during the 2007-08 school year created Southern Fried Saturdays, a lyrical look at interesting things for teens to do on Saturdays in and around Batesville. That film was recently shown in the Southern Teen Showcase at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. It can also be viewed online at www.ttauri.org/galaxy.

The Community Documentary Workshop is supported in part by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Lyon College. Local restaurants, including Sonic, McDonald's and Pizza Hut, are providing lunch for the group. Restaurants wishing to donate lunch for one session should contact Judy Pest at ozarkfilm@wildblue.net or 870-251-1189. Lunch donors will be listed in the film's closing credits.

Ozark Foothills FilmFest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational corporation dedicated to excellence and accessibility in the media arts. The organization hosts the annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest, the T Tauri Film Festival and Movie Camp, and other programs throughout the year.

From Press Release