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.
They play on Wednesday mornings April-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 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.
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 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.
Edible Trees and Plants Workshop
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.
Dr. Tamara Walkingstick, who will conduct the Wild Edibles Workshop at Hobbs State Park, has worked for the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Co-operative Extension Service as an Associate Professor of Extension Forestry since 1996. Walkingstick noted, "In this comprehensive four-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 12 just east of the Arkansas 12/War Eagle Road intersection. The cost is $15 per person plus tax. Class size is limited to 25. Check or cash will be accepted on the day of the workshop, but participants must pre-register.
For more information and to register, call 479-789-5000.
Guided bird walk scheduled at Hobbs
It's no secret that one of the best places in Northwest Arkansas to spot myriad species of birds is the historical Van Winkle Trail at Hobbs State Park. The Park has teamed up with Rick Jones, a native Arkansan well acquainted with local birds, to lead hikes featuring birds passing through Hobbs during the annual spring migration.
Jones is an avid birder with over 50 years of field experience. He is a certified Cornell Lab of Ornithology nest box monitor with bluebird nest box trails at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks. He is an active volunteer interpreter with the Arkansas State Parks with a special interest and expertise with birds. He has led several bird walks on Hobbs trails in the past year.
A morning bird walk Saturday, May 14, will begin at the Van Winkle trailhead promptly at 9 a.m. and continue until 10:30 a.m. The bird walk is well-suited to adults at all levels of birding experience, from novice to expert.
The bird walk is free, but pre-registration is necessary. The number of participants is limited.
For more information and to register, call 479-789-5000.
Community on 05/04/2016