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The Van Buren County Fairgrounds will host the annual Christmas Pageant and Craft Fair on Saturday, December 4, 2010. The hours for the Craft Fair will be 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission to the Fair is $1 for those 13 and older, free for those 12 and under.

The deadline for entry into the pageant is December 3 and the contest is open for all ages to participate from ‘Baby Snowflake’  and ‘Toy Soldier’- ages 0-18 mos. , numerous categories for toddlers, preteens, teens, young adults and even those over 50. Contestants can choose to wear Christmas wear or Holiday wear.

The pageant will begin at 4 p.m.  Preschool and elementary aged participants fee is $15, For teens and older, the fee is $20.

To get more information or to enter the pageant, contact Corrine Weatherly at 501-745-8100. She will provide an entry form for anyone wishing to participate.

There will be a Community Thanksgiving Service held at the Presbyterian Kirk of the Hills Fellowship Hall on Sunday, November 21 starting at 6 p.m.  This service is sponsored by several local churches, and their ministers will participate in the program.  There will be refreshments served after worship.

Be sure to put this date on your calendars.  It will be time well spent being thankful for our many blessings.

The November chapter meeting was held at the home of Charlene Burge, with co-hostess Betty Cruise.

The Speaker, Kelly Farrell, fitness coordinator at the FFB Hart Center presented ideas for promoting health and weight loss, inspiring all in attendance.

Business included voting for Jill Looney as Valentine Queen for the upcoming February Valentine Ball.

Plans for the November social were finalized to include a lunch at the Capitol Hotel followed by a tour of the Capitol Building which will be decorated for Christmas.

December’s social will include brunch at Capitol Hotel, then on to Robinson Hall for the Little Rock Symphony performance.

Happy holiday wishes to all our sisters in Beta Sigma Phi and all  Fairfield Bay residents.

The Board article published in the September 8, 2010 edition of the FFB News cautioned that FFB is not recession proof.  That reality has been minimized through careful money and services management in recent years, but 2011 will require sacrifices from Club ownership in both dollars and expectations to preserve the lifestyle we enjoy at FFB.

Membership dues billed will decline approximately $375K in 2010 versus 2009.  Further decline is expected in 2011 as defaults continue on property ownership, eliminating revenue from those lots.  Revenue also continued to shrink at our amenities during 2010 and there is no realistic expectation that will improve in 2011.

The Board is addressing this significant downshift in revenue by these primary steps:

1. Identify any potential savings in our current administration system.  Last week’s article regarding the change to ACH as a means of billing and processing dues provided the Club ownership approximately $80K in savings to the business without costing property owners any additional funds.

2. Insure the non revenue producing Club divisions operate in the leanest possible fashion and do not require revenues from amenity dues to supplement their operations.  This will require an increase of $6 monthly for Wastewater Fees and $3 monthly for Road Fees in 2011.  These fee increases are necessary to cover existing shortfalls in these operations.  Road fees were last adjusted in 2004 and Wastewater Fees were last adjusted in 2006.

3. Managers at our amenities will be required to resize their operations based on the available dues generated by the Club.  Managers will be tasked with using the limited funds allocated to their operation to perform at break even levels regarding use of staff, hours of operation, offering/pricing of products/services, etc.  Funds are not available to maintain operations in their historic patterns without a significant dues increase to property owners, which the Board hopes to avoid.

4. A Marketing Manager must be added to formally address the need to bring increased revenues through our amenities by guests.  Visitors must increase, and with that, property ownership must begin to grow again, expanding the revenue stream supporting our Club amenities.

The Board continues to work on finalizing the budget for 2011.  Details are yet to be finalized in many areas, but the requirement has been made clear that we must do everything possible to operate the Community Club without placing further financial burden on the property owners.

For the Community Club Board of Directors,

Dwayne Miller

Laureate Alpha Lambda members and guests celebrated Halloween with some weird and interesting outfits on Saturday evening, October 30. Hostess Karen Kleman served up delicious hors d’oeurves before a late meal of Sloppy Joes and side dishes, topped off  by desserts and coffee.

Everyone enjoyed this  evening of fun and fellowship.

Mrs. Betsy Slaughter of Fairfield Bay showed the  6th Grade students at West Side School a sampler Freedom Quilt which she personally handmade.

As they observed the artwork, she told the stories of how the quilts were used by slaves to help guide them to freedom during the days of African American slavery before the Civil War.

The students are studying slavery and the American Civil War in Mrs. Jewel James’ Social Studies class.

Sara Michael, Fairfield Bay Library director, is shown next to the Literacy Council’s Display and collection box at the library.

The Van Buren County Literacy Council is partnering with The Angel Tree Project and Fairfield Bay Library to promote children’s literacy.  The library is a collection site for new or “lightly used” children’s books that are given away to preschoolers at Shirley Head Start and as Christmas gifts with the Angel Tree Project.  Persons who may not have used books to donate may purchase a new book or give a “Buck for a Book.” Donations of books need to be at the library before Thanksgiving. Checks for larger donations are accepted year-round and can be mailed to Van Buren County Literacy Council, P.O. Box 897, Clinton, AR, 72031.  All monetary donations are tax deductible and donors will receive a letter acknowledging receipt.  Please call 501-253-1873 for more information about this project, the Literacy Council, or the possibility of becoming a volunteer.

Ed and Charlotte Cumings are owners of this lovely 2800 sq.foot home at 131 Rock Hill Road.  They have recently remodeled the  home and wish to share it with visitors.   You will experience unforgettable family memories and treasures stored and appreciated.

As you enter the living room you see that Charlotte has chosen a stylish collection of furnishings,each piece with a sentimental story. Notice the hand carved legs of the bench and ask the hostess for information on the large Russian coffee urn, dating in 1880‘s.

The kitchen has been totally remodeled with plenty of cuboards and pantry space and a large counter covered with a beautiful, unusual pattern in granite. Charlotte has chosen black appliances creating an exquisite look.

Behind the kitchen we see Ed’s room that he calls his “man cave”,  a very comfortable room for watching football games and entertaining.  A large collection of special golf balls hang on the wall. Ed’s  is a western motif.

Outside the kitchen door you see a deck outfitted with wicker furniture, lots of shrubs and flowers. Also there is a deck which is the full length of the house. This opens up the view on the 5th fairway of the Indian Hills Golf course.

The guest bedroom has a collection of German hand crafted Steiff Teddy Bears,  a display of antique Gorman doll collection and shelves full of hand made quilts and pieces of beautiful hand work.

Believe me,  this home will be a joy to tour.

The public is invited to enjoy the 30-plus paintings, hanging on the second floor adjacent to the cafeteria. Subject matter, as always, is quite varied, with many landscapes and florals, Arkansas scenes and whimsy, depicted in various media of watercolor, oil, acrylic, and more. All are for sale with a portion of each sale benefiting Hospital Auxiliary causes.

On Saturday, Nov. 20 outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy four activities at the South Fork Nature Center. For each activity, meet at the Log Cabin.

*At 10 a.m., a fall nature walk will be led by retired wildlife biologist Bob Hartmann,

*At 11 a.m. after the hike, Nature Arts and Crafts will be held at the picnic tables by the cabin, using techniques from pioneer days. Kay Verboon will demonstrate crafts such as making necklaces from sassafras limbs, and wreaths from grapevines.  Vines and materials will be furnished.

*Also at 11 a.m., in her fourth “Art in Nature” series, Choctaw artist Joyce Hartmann will demonstrate the use of walnut dyes and twigs to sketch natural objects. All materials will be furnished.

*The Owl Prowl night hike is scheduled for  5:30 p.m.,  led by Bob Hartmann and other docents. Some resident owls that could be called up are depicted here in the art work of Joyce Hartmann Her  imaginary scene of all four sitting on a branch, from left: Barred, Barn, Screech, and  Great Horned Owl. Winter months are the times when owls mate, build nests, and have their young. Bring a flashlight and walking stick.

To register for the event call Gates-Rogers Foundation Executive Director Kathy Sherwood at 745-6444.

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