Local Events
Thu., Apr. 25th at 6 p.m. - Climate Change Solutions and Resilience at the Fayetteville Public Library The Willard and Pat Walker Community Room. This event aims to inspire hope and connection by bringing the community together to learn how to move past partisanship, implement effective climate solutions, and connect with others who are passionate about addressing climate change.
Sat., Apr. 27th starting at 11 a.m. - Paws Off 2024: Family Dog Walk hosted by NWA Center for Sexual Assault - You’re invited to a day of wagging tails, outdoor fun, and heartwarming support at PAWS OFF! Learn more about the event at Walker Park in Fayetteville HERE.
Sat., Apr. 27th from 4 - 7 p.m. - 3rd Annual Bentonville Together: A Multicultural Community Festival at Orchards Park (1100 NE John Deshields Blvd). With 45 vendor booths and 11 stage performances, the event is designed to celebrate the many cultures who call Bentonville home.
Wed., May 8 from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Groundwork NWA presents Creating Home: A Summit Exploring Policies, Practices, and Promising Solutions - event will gather policymakers, community leaders and advocates to review existing housing policies and explore innovative solutions to increase sustainable housing options in Northwest Arkansas. Event will be held at the Heroncrest Event Center (1579 E. Lake Road, Elm Springs. Register HERE.
Tue., May 14 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Moms First Summit: First-ever summit on Motherhood; Join online alongside the community of over one million moms and supporters as moms transform corporate America, the policy arena, and the culture to enable moms to thrive. Register HERE.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Apr. 22 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Items of Note:
The city is accepting applications for their first ever Youth Council. The program will provide knowledge, skills, and community service opportunities for those who are interested in becoming the next generation of leaders. Open to Bella Vista residents going into 11th or 12th grade in August 2024. Deadline to apply is Friday, May 17. More info and app HERE.
Plan to spend April 26 and 27 in Bella Vista shopping for some stuff you cannot live without. More than 350 locations participating in the City-Wide garage sale. Find more info HERE.
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
Attend the Bentonville City Expo on Thu. Apr. 25th from 10 - 1:30 p.m. at the Bentonville Community Center; featuring department booths and opportunities to talk one-on-one with department representatives. Stay for department presentations highlighting 2024 updates and learn about our street improvements, Plan Bentonville, the library expansion, and more!
City Expo Booths: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Presentation Times: 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Join the city on Wednesday, May 1, 5:00pm, at Town Branch Park for an official ribbon-cutting event. This marks the first completed phase of the Quilt of Parks project.
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Items of Note:
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Items of Note:
The Ward Nail Splash pad will open for the 2024 season on Saturday, May 25th at 9:00a.m. in the morning. The splash pad will be open each day from 9:00a.m. - 8:00p.m.
Lowell Public Works has planted a community garden. The garden is located at Kathleen Johnson Memorial Park, located at 307 Bellview Rd. Enter the south entrance/exit onto the gravel drive. Drive east past the two barns and continue under the large power lines. Once you pass under the power lines, you’ll see the garden on the left. More information is on their Facebook page HERE.
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole
Items of Note:
The Pea Ridge Tree giveaway is on 4/26, from 9am-4pm, or until trees are all gone. 1 tree per household, please bring a form of id.
Listen to Mayor Nathan See’s podcasts about the city on YouTube HERE. This month’s guest was Chief Lynn Hahn from the Pea Ridge police department.
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
The city is asking residents to complete a Rogers Safety Survey.
Rogers city council will have a public hearing regarding the annexation and detachment of Rogers lands tied to the Cave Springs/Rogers land swap on May 14th at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
Join the city for the Roundtable Meeting set for Tuesday, April 23, from 5:30 - 7 PM at City Hall, 400 N. Broadway, Siloam Springs. This meeting aims to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders regarding annexation in Siloam Springs.
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Development Review Committee - Apr. 24th at 10 a.m.
Quorum Court - Apr. 25th at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - May 1st at 6 p.m
State Government Awareness
As you may have heard, former U.S. Senator David Pryor died on Saturday (89). Senator Pryor served as Arkansas’s 39th governor from 1975-1979 and represented Arkansas in the Senate as a Democrat from 1979 - 1997. Senator Pryor was beloved and well known for his kindness and his sense of civic duty.
Read more:
94th General Legislative Assembly:
The legislative fiscal session is ongoing. There has been some tension in regards to trying to address the issues with cryptocurrency mining (an issue of the legislatures own making from rushed legislation passed in 2023). Items of note:
Tess Vrbin from Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas Senate committee approves two bills to regulate cryptocurrency mining”
Vrbin again, “Arkansas lawmakers advance proposal to double state-funded pregnancy resource center grant - About half of state’s centers took advantage of program in last two years; some Democrats voice concerns about prenatal care”
Learn more from For AR People’s 2024 Fiscal Session Week 1 Recap video
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Catch up on the latest from the Lectern audit:
Read Tess Vrbin at Arkansas Advocate: Audit report finds several potential breaches of Arkansas law in governor’s $19K lectern purchase - Report sent to attorney general and prosecuting attorney; Sanders defends her office’s actions, calls report “deeply flawed”
Read Matt Campbell, Benjamin Hardy, and Austin Gelder a the Arkansas Times: UPDATE: State auditors refer lecterngate findings to prosecutor’s office
Read Roby Brock with Talk Business & Politics: “Legislative hearing dives into questions about $19,000 lectern purchase”
Election Information
It’s starting to be that time of year again for filing to run for elected offices. This time it’s the nonpartisan municipal, Bentonville school board, NWACC board of trustees, and Beaver Lake Water District positions. I’m happy to chat/meet with any person who’s interested in learning more about the positions up for election and details about running for office.
Dates to be aware of:
May 9, 2024: First day candidates may start circulating signature petitions to get on the ballot
July 31, 2024 at noon - August 7, 2024 at noon: Filing period at the County Clerk’s offices in Benton County
Links to official details from the Benton County Clerk’s office:
Bentonville School Board (zone 2)
NWACC Board of Trustees (zones 6, 7, and 9)
Political Training Opportunities
National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC) & Democrats.org Free Online Courses:
So You Want to Run for Office - Tue., Apr. 23 at noon
Civics for Change- Know the system to change the system - Thu., Apr. 25 at 7 p.m.
Conversations That Break Through- Talk politics with people who do not care or do not agree - Thu., May 2 at 7 p.m.
Developing Your Campaign’s Core Message - Mon., May 6 at noon
Odds & Ends
Axios Northwest Arkansas released a special edition newsletter for people new to town to learn more about Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale.
Read Darreonna Davis’ reporting in the 19th, “How a $500 monthly stipend for families impacted children’s grades and parents’ sense of self”
Read Heartland Forward’s just published, “Most Dynamic Metros 2023” report
Watch Circles NWA “Home is Where the Hardship Is” event HERE