Local Notes

Last updated Friday, October 31, 2008 9:27 PM CDT in Our Town

McLeish retired from elected public service in 2003, after 30 years in elected office. During the last few years, he has been visiting professor and lecturer at a number of universities in the U.S., teaching European Union studies and U.K. government and politics.

Saturday Testing Now Offered

ROGERS -- Adult students wanting to take the General Educational Development tests will have additional scheduling options in November.

The Adult Education program at NorthWest Arkansas Community College will offer Saturday testing Nov. 8 and 15. Testing will begin at 8:30 a.m.

In order to take the official GED test students must first pass the GED practice tests. Seating is limited. Students must register in advance for the test administration.

The Adult Education Center will also be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on those two Saturdays to enroll new students.

Staff will also be administering the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) for students enrolling in GED classes.

Ben Aldama, dean of Adult Education, and Lynn Stanberry, chief GED examiner, said the Saturday hours are being offered to provide additional access for adults who work during the week, or who have to drive from western Benton County.

The Adult Education Program offers free instruction in GED Preparation and English As A Second Language throughout the week. Morning, afternoon, and evening classes are available. The Adult Education Center is located at 2800 N. Second St., Rogers.

Off-site classes are offered in Rogers, Bentonville, Gentry, and Siloam Springs.

Information: 986-6934.

Experts Series Begins Monday

"Meet the Experts" is a new series of educational programs sponsored by the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education that begins Monday.

Dr. David Hutchins, a gynecologist from UAMS who specializes in the gynecological issues of post menopausal women, will lead the discussion about "Older Women's Gynecological Issues" such as incontinence, dryness, hormonal dysfunction and decrease in sexual desire.

The first session will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in Becker Hall at the First United Methodist Church, 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista.

The second session will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Schmieding Center auditorium, 2422 N. Thompson, Springdale.

Information: 751-3043 or (888) 866-8991.

Group Provides Adoption Information

BENTONVILLE -- Great Wall China Adoption will host a free event for those considering adopting from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Panera Bread Co., 201 S.W. 14th St.

Participants will learn more about China's orphaned children, about China's eligibility requirements and overcoming fears of the home study process. They also will meet some of the families with their children who have already completed their Chinese adoption.

Registration: ww.gwca.org/events/workshops/view?2160.

Information: www.gwca.org or call (888) GW-FAMILY, holly.ar@gwca.org or 273-7727.

Additional workshop locations, dates, and times are also listed at: www.gwca.org/events/workshops.

Driving Course Offered Nov. 13

BELLA VISTA -- The Community Church of Bella Vista, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd., is sponsoring an AARP Driver Safety Class from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 13.

Designed for drivers aged 50 and over, the class will explain the changes that occur in vision, hearing and reaction time as people age and provide useful driving safety tips for handling these changes. Participants will qualify for a discount on automobile insurance upon completion of the class. A materials fee of $10 is payable at the class.

Class size is restricted.

Information: 855-1126 or 855-7954.

Parenting Class Slated Thursday

SPRINGDALE -- The Northwest Arkansas Child Care Resource and Referral Center will present a free parenting class from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Jones Center for Families, room 112.

Children communicate their emotional hurts and needs through their behavior. By recognizing a child's acting-out behavior as an unmet need, parents can connect instead of react.

Information: 751-3463 or www.nwachildcare.org

Schmieding Presents Caregiver Workshop

BELLA VISTA -- The Schmieding Center for Senior Education will host "Dementia Caregiver Workshop for Families" at the Schmieding Center -- Bella Vista.

The program is designed for those caring for an older adult with dementia. The free classes are slated from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Attendance is recommended for both days. Space is limited.

Information: 876-2335 or (888) 866-8991.

Hospice Will Be Topic

BELLA VISTA -- The Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education Elder LifePhases -- Bella Vista will sponsor a seminar, "Reflections on End of Life Care." led by Dr. Steven L. Thomason.

Topics of discussion will include comfort care, as well as hospice care for individuals at end of life. The free program is slated for 1 to 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at Highlands Crossing Community Center (downstairs classroom) 1801 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista. Information: 876-2335, 751-3043 or (888) 866-8991.

Blood Center Slates Drives

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks sponsors the following blood drives:

• Bentonville -- 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sugar Creek-Thomas Jefferson Gym, 1102 Bella Vista Road

• Berryville -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Berryville High School, 215 Ferguson St.

• Fayetteville -- 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, Lowes, 3231 W. Sixth St.

• Fayetteville -- 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Harps- Fiesta Square, 3055 N. College Ave.

• Fayetteville -- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, U of A Student Union, Garland Avenue

• Gravette -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, R&R Solutions, 601 First Avenue N.W.

• Lincoln -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Lincoln High School, 502 EP Rothrock Drive

• Springdale -- 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Tyson 412, 1300 Johnson Road

• Springdale -- 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Petra Allied Health, 3889 Willowood Lane

Donations also are accepted from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of the month, at the Springdale Donor Center, 3503 S. Thompson St.; or from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Bentonville Donor Center, 1400 S.E. Walton Blvd.

Horses For Healing Seeks Volunteers

BENTONVILLE -- Horses for Healing needs volunteers to help with its therapeutic riding program for special needs children for this fall.

Horses for Healing serves as many as 400 special needs children a year with an instructional staff of four. Volunteers play a crucial role by leading horses in the arena, walking alongside riders to help them maintain their balance, and leading classroom instruction in barn management and equine-related arts and crafts.

The next six-week session is scheduled to run through Dec. 4. Volunteers are needed for both sessions from 8 a.m. to noon and/or 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

Information: 795-0570 or Theresahfh@cox.net.

Founded in 1991, Horses for Healing provides therapeutic riding programs for children challenged by physical, mental and/or emotional disabilities.

Marriage Seminar Slated Nov. 14, 15

NWA Healthy Marriages, a community service of the Center for Relationship Enrichment, will offer the "I Choose Us: Growing a Passionate Marriage" seminar from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 14 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 15.

The event will be held at John Q. Hammons Convention Center at the Embassy Suites, 3303 Pinnacle Hills Parkway, in Rogers. The cost of workshop is $35 per couple and reservations are required.

The two-day seminar will help equip married couples with eight hours of marriage enrichment education. Couples will leave this event with a personal couples' assessment report and a discussion guide for ongoing couple interaction.

CRE recently finished the second year of a five-year, $2.7 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, to support research and development of healthy marriages in Northwest Arkansas. The grant covers most of the cost of the seminar, which would otherwise cost more than $200 per couple.

Couples can register for the event online at www.nwamarriages.com, or by calling 524-7444.

The Center for Relationship Enrichment at John Brown University was founded in 1998. The center's mission is to educate, equip and enrich people for developing healthy relationships through consulting, education, enrichment, resources, research and assessment.

-- THE MORNING NEWS

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