Take Note

Men's 9-Hole Golf seeking members

The Bella Vista Men's Nine-Hole Golf Association is accepting applications for new and past members for the upcoming 2016 season.

Members play on Wednesday mornings, April through October, with reserved tee times and four handicapped flights on Berksdale and Kingswood courses. Banquets are held in the spring and fall.

Applications for membership are available in the pro shops and online at the BVPOA website.

For more information, contact Joe D'Anna (479-876-5460) or Harris McKee (479-855-2374).

Women's 9-Hole Golf seeking members

The Bella Vista Women's Nine-Hole Golf Association is currently accepting applications for the 2016 golf season.

Golf rounds are played on Monday mornings from April 4 through Oct. 17 on the Kingswood and Berksdale golf courses. Members sign up on Wednesday to play the following Monday, with four flights set by members' handicaps. Membership dues are $25 plus $5 handicap fee (if not paid elsewhere) and an optional $2 for hole-in-one.

Applications are available in the Kingsdale pro shop and at www.BVV9WGA.com.

Carts on Path schedule set

Golf carts are required to stay on paths at various times on each of Bella Vista Village's 18-hole golf courses.

There will be no overseeding on the Bella Vista golf courses, according to a news release from the Property Owners Association. Keeping traffic off the non-overseeded fairways will greatly increase the chances of quicker recovery each spring.

The schedule for carts on path is now through April 26 for Highlands and Bella Vista Country Club golf courses.

Mother Nature posts reading dates

It's not every day that people observe Mother Nature because she is particular regarding when she can be seen by humans. One of her favorite stops, however, is Hobbs State Park. Every second Saturday of the month, she drops in at the park's visitor center to tell timely stories to her little human friends. Readings begin at 10:30 a.m. Story time will be followed by hands-on nature-craft activities. Humans of all ages are welcome; however, most stories target those 3-6 years of age.

Upcoming Mother Nature visits:

• May 14: "Butterflies"

• June 11: "Pond Friends"

Meet Mother Nature in the lobby of the Hobbs State Park - Conservation Area Visitor Center, located on Arkansas Highway 12, just east of the War Eagle Road intersection. Mother Nature's visits last one hour and are free to attend. For more information, call 479-789-5000.

Lions Classic needs golfers, sponsors

Golfers and sponsors are being sought after for the 12th annual Gravette High School Lions Classic. The event is set for Saturday, May 7, at the Scotsdale Golf Course in Bella Vista.

Hosted by Gravette High School Boosters, the event is a major fundraiser for drama, music, cheerleading, athletic and academic programs at the school.

The golf classic is open to men and women. The field is limited to the first 144 entries.

There will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Lunch will be served after play. Prizes will be awarded for closest-to-the-pin, hole-in-one and longest drive.

The cost for the four-person scramble is $65 for those with a seat lease or private cart and $82 for those without a lease or private cart. Golf fees are included.

Corporate and hole sponsorships are needed as well. Individuals or businesses may sponsor a hole with a donation of $100 or more. Corporate sponsorships may be obtained for donations ranging from $250 to $1,000. Corporate sponsors will receive player entries for two to eight people, depending on the level of donation.

The registration deadline is May 2. Call John Edwards at 479-876-1192 or Jack Skillett at 479-876-6841.

Day Camps for children

Hobbs State Park is holding day camps for children, ages 6-8 and ages 9-12, interested in nature, learning and outdoor exploration. The Hobbs outdoor experience is up-close and personal because interpreter Rebekah has proven to be the model cheerleader for a child's senses.

What's included? Hiking, live animals, games, nature-related programs, crafts, snacks, stream studies, a T-shirt and more. The day camps are grouped in three-day sessions and run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

• Wednesday, June 8 - Friday, June 10 (ages 9-12)

• Tuesday, June 14 - Thursday, June 17 (ages 6-8)

Cost: $50 per child, plus tax, for all three days.

Call 479-789-5000 for more information and to register.

• Wednesday, July 13 - Friday, July 15 (ages 6-8)

• Wednesday, July 20 - Friday, July 22 (ages 9-12)

Edible Trees and Plants Workshop at Hobbs State Park

Many of our grandparents and parents used wild plants for food and medicine. We all know about sassafras tea and the glorious taste of wild blackberries, but we have perhaps forgotten how extensively wild plants can be used as food sources.

In the early 1970s, information on native wild foods and medicinal uses of wild plants became very popular. The well-known naturalist, Euell Gibbons, told us, "My love affair with nature is so deep that I am not satisfied with being a mere onlooker or nature tourist. I crave a more real and meaningful relationship. The spicy teas and tasty delicacies I prepare from wild ingredients are the bread and wine in which I have communion and fellowship with nature, and with the Author of that nature."

Tamara Walkingstick, who will conduct the Wild Edibles Workshop at Hobbs State Park, has worked for the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, as an associate professor of extension forestry since 1996. Tamara serves on several boards, including the Arkansas American Indian Center, Arkansas Women In Agriculture, the National Network of Forest Practitioners and is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Walkingstick noted, "In this comprehensive 4-hour workshop, you will not only learn to identify some edible species of Arkansas native and non-native vegetation, you will also have the opportunity to sample tasty dishes, including acorn scones. The presentation covers concepts of conservation, history, culture and plant identification. Thirty pages of wild edible recipes are included as well."

The workshop is Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Hobbs State Park Visitor Center, located on Arkansas Hwy. 12, just east of the Hwy. 12 and War Eagle Road intersection. The cost is $15 per person plus tax. The class size is limited to 25. Reservations and prepayment required. For more information, 479-789-5000.

Community on 04/20/2016