First Concert In The Park Benefits Library

Shown Left to Right: Kay Otis, Sara Michael, our Library Director, and Linda Reynolds.

On a beautiful fall evening in October 2011, residents of Fairfield Bay carrying blankets and lawn chairs gathered at the Lion’s Amphitheatre to enjoy an evening filled with music. R & R Crossing, Steven Robb & Friends and Jerry Betnar & Friends performed under the stars to the delight of all listening. Jack’s and Little Red Restaurant set up a food court where residents could purchase a delicious picnic dinner before the concert began. The first “Dinner and Concert in the Park” was a huge success because of everyone who participated. Fairfield Bay Library Friends, Inc. “thank you” for your generous donations. Kay Otis, Co-Chair and Linda Reynolds, Publicity, present a check for $1,600 to Fairfield Bay Library accepted by Sara Michael.

You’re Never Too Old To Rock

The photo above is the cover on a new documentary DVD that is now available at the Fairfield Bay Library. Sara Michael, Director, forwarded the folllowing review, written by one of our local residents who was the first to check out the new arrival. “This is a true story/documentary about older people who are part of a choral group who meet regularly. There is a younger team leader who works with the group primarily teaching and leading them. The singing results and the story of these lives are powerful, despite many of their limitations with breathing, hearing, seeing and so forth. My wife and I highly recommend this film to anyone, but most certainly seniors.” Available at the Fairfield Bay Library DVD #1231. Additional feedback: “”Wonderful. A Gem. Exhilarating.” Newsweek. And 5 Star – Winner of Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award. Recenlty, I had the chance to check out another Documentary Sara reccommended called “Buck”. My husband and I started watching it and wound up delaying dinner until it was over. It was a very moving story and testament to what goodness we humans are capable of, regardless of whatever shabby treatment we may have have received ourselves in our formative years. When Sara or her staff of volunteers reccomend a book or movie, I pay close attention. So far, I have not been disappointed.

Plan Your Valentine Surprise Now

Love is in the Air! Stas’ Productions brings to life the story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, two immortal literary figures of the 19th century, told by Jackie Berbusse (last seen as Sister Amnesia in “Nuncrackers”) and Stas’ (Father Virgil). They will also perform the play “Love Letters”. Admission is free, but donations to support the Fairfield Bay Story Fest will be accepted with gratitude. Valentines Day – Tuesday, February 14 at 6 p.m. – Kirk of the Hills Fellowship Hall, Fairfield Bay.

Winter Classes Start At FFB Education Center

Sherry Guess, Staff Writer. Well,I did it! After sitting on the sidelines for the Fall Courses offered at the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center in Association with ASU, I filled out an easy form, paid my small fees and am now a student in Digital photography for beginners, Winter II. What I currently know about photography amounts to turning on the camera and pointing and shooting. This could explain some strange photo phenomena such as some relatives looking rather sinister in shadows, others with trees growing out of the top of their heads and photos of the back half of my adorable cats as they meander away while I try to focus. I admired all those who took the initial plunge and have since completed their studies successfully in courses ranging from the artistic to the practical application of Business planning to mastering the basic computer skills or useful computer programs. Hearing from friends and neighbors about what they learned and what fun they had doing it steeled my resolve to give it a whirl and learn something new and useful myself. Afterall, I am called on to take photos for my job at the newspaper at times, so my boss, Dan could see the benefit of allowing me to attend the course. For 5 weeks, beginning on January 12 and ending on February 8, I will learn a lot about photography. According to the brochure, all I need to do is bring my basic point and shoot camera, then be prepared to learn and improve my enjoyment of picture taking. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. If you see me out wandering around with my camera this week, the homework assignment is shooting people, so just smile!

Margaret Schrad Returns to Iowa

When Margaret and “Boots” Schrad decided to buy a home in Fairfield Bay, their youngest daughter was in 6th grade, way back in 1977. Once the youngest was accepted at Lyons College in Batesville, that cleared the way for the Schrads to move south from Iowa in 1983 and begin to live their retirement dreams. They had fulfilled their parental obligations in raising all seven of their children to become happy and productive members of society. In all the years since then, Margaret Schrad has been enriching the lives of everyone she has come into contact with. Her bright smile and quiet unassuming presence among us will be greatly missed. When Margaret lost Boots, her friends were here to help her grieve that devastating loss. She has always lived her strong Catholic faith and never stopped sharing, giving and learning herself. Pictured here are just some of her many friends who wished her well at a pizza party at Jack’s, just before her 7 kids converged, packed her up and headed back to Iowa where she will live in a retirement community nearby to family and Iowa friends. Margaret plans to remain active and keep in touch with all of us here in the Bay. She hated to leave us, but her decision felt right to her to go back to Iowa at 91 years of age.

A Book Review By A Local Writer

By Ingeborg Hollwoeger.  My reading often runs in themes; and lately I hit an “ocean high” with sailing adventures. Our brilliant library director noticed my choices, and placed the studious looking Atlantic, the biography of an ocean, by Simon Winchester into my hands. Of course, I checked it out – mostly because I didn’t dare to say no. Once I had started to read it, however, I was hooked. The book is so elegantly (and eloquently) written, that one never stumbles over the enormous amount of factual passages skillfully interspersed with seaman’s lore and tragic sinkings, environmental issues and historic crossings. It is difficult to imagine the research and care it took the author to divide his book into such a comprehensible and captivating work. Anyone remotely interested in our oceans, our earth, with us as caretakers, should read Atlantic. Thank you, Sara Michael, for your intuitive guidance.

Local Author Publishes On Amazon/Kindle & IPad

Most of us in the Bay became familiar with Ingeborg Hollwoeger’s writing from her past Paws Reports about the cats and dogs awaiting adoption at the FFB Animal Shelter, as well as some of her short stories we previously published. Ingeborg’s epic Khamsin, The Devil Wind of The Nile (by Inge H. Borg – because who can spell her last name) has nothing to do with animals. The historical novel is an engrossing saga of forbidden love, intrigue and warfare playing out in colorful settings along the Nile, from Ineb-hedj (Memphis) to the Kharga Oasis, during the reign of Aha, Second King of the First Dynasty of Egypt, ca. 3000 B.C. The briskly-paced action evokes a violent, tumultuous epoch with attention to detail and cinematic presentation. The eloquent narrative is divided into five major parts, with forty-three chapters, a poignant prologue, and a thought-provoking epilogue. The book can be downloaded onto your Kindle or IPad. View the Author Page at www.amazon.com/author/inge-h.borg and take a free “look inside” by clicking on the cover image. Amazon.com also offers Free Kindle Reading Apps for your PC, Mac, and other devices where you can download e-Books without owning a Kindle.

2012 Small Works On Paper Exhibition

Cheri Leffew,Special Projects/Events Manager Arkansas Arts Council and Artist, Charlotte Rierson with award winning watercolor painting, “Mysteries of Winter” juried into the Arkansas Arts Council’s Small Works on Paper. The 2012 Small Works on Paper art exhibition will kick off its statewide tour at the William F. Laman Library at 2801 Orange Street in North Little Rock. Presented by the Arkansas Arts Council, the exhibition will be on display at the library from Jan. 5-29. An opening reception is slated for 6-8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6, at the library. The public reception is free and will include talks by the artists. Hours for the exhibition are 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. To view the complete 2012 touring schedule and the list of the artists whose work was selected, visit www.arkansasarts.com/programs/swop.aspx Now in its 25th year, the annual Small Works on Paper exhibition showcases artwork no larger than 24 x 24 inches by Arkansas artists who are members of the Arkansas Artist Registry, an online art gallery coordinated by the Arts Council. The selected work is chosen by an out-of-state juror. The art will be on display in 10 galleries throughout the state in a year-long touring show. The 2012 show features 40 works, which were selected from 246 submissions by juror Marcia Goldenstein. Goldenstein is a professor of drawing and painting at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Throughout her life, Charlotte Rierson has been on what she calls the “Art Spirit Journey.” This journey of personal creativity has led her from the dance arts to expressing her deepest thoughts and emotions through painting. Charlotte’s evocative brushwork technique beckons viewers to learn more about the images depicted in her art. Her inspiration for the painting “Mysteries of Winter”, was the beautiful view from her home overlooking Greers Ferry Lake and its mysteries. Charlotte belongs to several art-related organizations and has been Past President of the Mid-Southern Watercolorists as well as their Director of Regional Advisors. Her works have won numerous awards and hang in public and private collections. This is her fourth time to be juried into the Arkansas Art Council’s Small Works on Paper including one painting that received the purchase award and is in their permanent collections. Charlotte is also a strong advocate for the Arts. In recognition, she received the Arkansas Arts Council’s Governor’s Art Award in the area of Arts Community Development. For more information on Charlotte’s work, visit http://www.artspiritunlimited.com/. Her artwork can also be viewed at the “Art Gallery & Studio” in Fairfield Bay Village Mall.

Welcome To The Neighborhood

We are pleased to welcome more newcomers to Fairfield Bay. The Chamber of Commerce advises that our newest neighbors are: Robert and Debra Lutz from Rose Creek MN., Doug and Tammy Landry from Maumelle, AR., Amber Fetterhoff and Joshua Bird from Searcy, AR and Wisconsin, and James and Yolanda Mueller from Texarkana, AR.

Fairfield Bay Storyfest III

Fairfield Bay Story Fest III is on its way! Saturday, April 21, 2012 the tents will be up and the professional storytellers will be telling. There will be vendors selling food and others offering many different kinds of interesting items. Take a look at the Story Fest website, www.fairfieldbaystoryfest.com to learn about the professional storytellers who will be performing this year. Also, for those friends and relatives you may want to invite to visit during Story Fest there is a convenient way to purchase Admission Badges on the website. Story Fest director, Stas′ Ziolkowski, was recently notified by the National Storytelling Network that the Fairfield Bay Story Fest has received a $1,000 grant and will be one of seven 2012 National Storytelling Network Regional Spotlight Events. The grant is in recognition of the excellent job that our volunteers have done for the past two years that has made Story Fest come to be recognized as one of the outstanding young storytelling events in the United States. There is still a lot of work to be done. Volunteers are needed for many different tasks. If you are interested in helping with the Fairfield Bay Story Fest please contact Stas’ at 501-253-4656 or stastellsastory@yahoo.com. There is a need also for two host families or individuals who are willing to have one of the storytellers stay with them from Thursday, April 18th to Sunday, April 22nd. The Fairfield Bay Story Fest is a wonderful celebration in our community and as it grows many people will be drawn to our beautiful location. Put the date on your calendar and spread the word. Everyone loves a good story and all the activities of humans are the stories which make up our lives.

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