NEWS--Traffic Advisory for Central Avenue For the next few days, getting and out of the Valley may be a bit more difficult than usual. The City has announced that all next week (September 26th-30th, 2011), significant road work will slow traffic traveling through downtown. One lane of Central Avenue, in the 100 block, will be closed between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm each day as crews work to repair the sewers lines under the roadway.Signs will be posted and barricades will be in place during the workday. Each evening the lanes will be re-opened until the project is completed. Drivers are cautioned to use care when traveling through the construction zone.
Valley residents may want to use alternative routes if possible. The road over West Mountain will remain open and those heading out on Park Avenue may want to use the Cedar/Amber Street shortcut to avoid the construction zone.
- Posted 9/25/11 by MT
NEWS--Hot Spring Concert Band Ends Summer With Spirited Labor Day ConcertThe Hot Springs Concert performed a lively Labor Day concert in the middle of Whittington Federal Park on Monday, September 5th, 2011. A crowd estimated at more than 800 spectators enjoyed the Band’s performance under sunny and clear skies.
 The Hot Springs Concert Band performs under the magnolia trees in Whittington Federal Park on Labor Day 2011.
The unseasonably mild seventy degree weather, punctuated by frequent gentle breezes, enticed many area residents to take time out from their Labor Day celebrations to come hear the Band perform. Playing for more than ninety minutes, the Band offered attendees a diverse musical mix, at times somber--the Band performed a moving symphonic piece to commemorate the upcoming 9/11 anniversary--but also included some more playful and whimsical pieces.
Craig V. Hamilton, Ph.D., led the Band’s forty plus members. The concert began with the “Star Spangled Banner” followed by “Exhilaration” by Larry Clark, a six-minute musical piece that started gently with just woodwinds, soon incorporated trumpets, then percussions, and finally called upon the entire Band to play. Next was “What’s Up at the Symphony,” a delightful medley of cartoon music, including themes from such animated classics as Bugs Bunny (“This is It”), Woody Woodpecker (“The Barber of Seville”) and Tom & Jerry (“Hungarian Rhapsody #5”).
 The Hot Springs Concert Band performs their 2011 Labor Day concert in Whittington Federal Park before an attentive audience.
The Band next played a medley from the Broadway show, “Porgy and Bess.” The Band would go on to play pieces ranging from “Fandango,” “Cole Porter on Broadway” and Johann Strauss’s “Der Zigeunerbaron.” A medley of Herb Albert songs, including “Whipped Cream” and “The Lonely Bull,” were among the spectators’ favorites, judging by the crowds’ rousing applause. The concert ended with medley of songs from the early 20th century including “Swanee,” “For Me and My Gal,” and “Pretty Baby.”
 An estimated 800 spectators gathered in Whittington Federal Park to enjoy the Hot Springs Concert Band's 2011 Labor Day concert.
This was the last performance in the Band’s 2011 "Summer Concerts In the Park" Series. Over the past few years, the Band's Summer concerts have become something of a tradition here in the Whittington Valley, filling many a warm night with delightful marches, rousing melodies and popular songs. This year the Band performed eight free public concerts over the course of four months, playing over 120 different pieces of music and entertaining several thousand spectators. Originally the Band intended to perform all eight of their concerts in Whittington Federal Park. However starting in mid-July, due to unseasonably hot weather and the threat of storms, three of the Band's concerts were relocated to the gymnasium at National Park Community College. Fortunately, the Band was able to return to Whittington Federal Park for their final two concerts of the Summer season.
The Hot Springs Concert Band is a non-profit organization made up of amateur and professional musicians of all ages. The Band provides live musical entertainment to the Hot Springs community with some twenty public performances a year. The Band also offers music education through concerts, clinics and individual instruction; and this year the Band awarded scholarships to three deserving young musicians. To learn more the Band, visit their website at hotspringsband.org.
- Posted 9/9/11 by MT
NEWS--Artchurch Announces September Events The Valley’s own Artchurch Studio, 301 Whittington Avenue, will host several public events in September, including three concerts. The three concerts will feature performances with up-and-coming new artists. The concerts will be held upstairs in the Church Gallery and patrons are asked not to smoke and to turn off their cell phones during the performances. Children are welcome.The upcoming Artchurch’s public events for September include: Saturday, September 10, 2011: House Concert with “The Smittle Band” from Little Rock (featuring blue-grass music). Concert starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is $5.00.
Friday, September 16, 2011: The Artchurch’s “Friday Night Film” which will screen Guy Ritchie’s action flick "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." The movie starts at 7:00 pm. Donations accepted.
Saturday, September 17, 2011: House Concert with Indigo 27 Band from Fayetteville (featuring acoustic folk/reggae music). Concert starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is $5.00.
Sunday, September 18, 2011: Preschool Art & Music Workshop. Call Dana at 501-318-6779 to register or for more information.
Friday, September, 30, 2011: House Concert with Nick Charles from Australia. Nick is an international classical guitar virtuoso. Concert starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is $7.00.
For more information about any of the above listed events, please call the Artchurch Studios at (501) 463-9890 or visit their website at www.artchurch.org. - Posted 9/3/11 by MT
FYI--Valley Trash Pick-Up Delayed Due to Holiday The Hot Springs' Sanitation Department reminds all area residents that trash collection in the city will be delayed by one day due to the upcoming holiday. Typically trash is collected curbside in the Valley on Mondays; however because of the Labor Day holiday, trash will be collected curbside on Tuesday, September 6th, 2011. Recycling will also be collected one day later due to the holiday. Residents are reminded to have their trash cans curbside by 7:00 am on collection day to ensure pick-up. Normal Monday trash collection will resume on September 12th, 2011. - Posted 9/2/11 by MT
NEWS--Valley Resident to Perform in Hot Springs JazzFest 2011Phyllis Emert-Rogers, a Valley resident and a talented jazz pianist, will perform twice during the upcoming 20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest. The musical festival, which runs from September 13th to the 18th, 2011, will offer the public the opportunity to enjoy live musical performances at a variety of venues throughout downtown Hot Springs.
 Valley resident Phyllis Emert-Rogers will be one of the musicans performing in Piano-Rama on September 14th, 2011 at the Arlington Hotel. Musicians featured in Piano-Rama include (left to right) Chuck Dodson, Toni Mardi, Phyllis Emert-Rogers, Ron Hall, John Puckett and Clyde Pound. Submitted photo.
On Wednesday, September 14th, 2011 starting at 7:00 p.m., Phyllis will be one of the featured artists in “Piano-Rama”--a showcase of Hot Springs' top pianists. Co-hosted by the Garland County Red Cross, the concert be held in the Arlington Hotel’s elegant Crystal Ballroom and will feature a variety of musical styles including swing, blues, boogie-woogie and bebop. Each pianists will perform a 20 minute set and will be accompanied by Bill Huntington on bass and Jay Payette on drums . Featured pianists will include the Valley’ own Phyllis Emert-Rogers, John Puckett, Tony Nardi, Chuck Dodson, Dr. Ron Hall and Clyde Pound. Tickets are $25.00 if purchased in advance or $30 at the door.
On Sunday, September 18th, 2011 Phyllis will perform in another JazzFest event, a JazzMass at St. Luke Episcopal Church. This will be a very special Sunday Service with live jazz music. The mass starts at 10:45 a.m. and is free to the public. For a complete schedule of all the events at festival, or to purchase tickets, visit the JazzFest's website at www.hotspringsjazzfest.org for more information. - Posted 9/1/11 by MT
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