A Conversation With Arkansas Supreme Court Justices tonight at CALS

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Image result for arkansas supreme courtThe Arkansas Supreme Court, in partnership with the Central Arkansas Library System, invites the public to an event that focuses on connecting Arkansans with their state Supreme Court.

The free lecture and Q-and-A is on Thursday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Library in the River Market District in downtown Little Rock. The Main Library is located at 100 Rock Street, Little Rock, 72201.

The event is part of National Judicial Outreach Week, an initiative that aims to increase interaction between the judiciary and the public it serves. Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice John Dan Kemp and Justices Rhonda Wood and Robin Wynne will speak and then take questions from the public.

There will also be a presentation by the Executive Director of the Arkansas Access To Justice Commission, Amy Johnson. The Commission aims to provide equal access to justice for all Arkansans.

Please contact Karen Steward at karen.steward@arcourts.gov or 501-410-1935 with any questions. While an RSVP is not required, it is much appreciated for planning purposes.

Presentations include:

Chief Justice John Dan Kemp: Goals For the Arkansas Judiciary
Justice Robin Wynne: The Tiers of the Arkansas Court System
Justice Rhonda Wood: Ensuring Fair and Impartial Courts
Amy Johnson, Executive Director of Arkansas Access To Justice: Addressing the Unmet Legal Needs of Arkansans

Best-selling author Greg Iles will sign copies of newest book CEMETERY ROAD today at CALS Ron Robinson Theater at noon

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The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) will host a book signing featuring bestselling author Greg Iles on Thursday, March 7, noon at Ron Robinson Theater, Library Square, 100 Rock Street. Iles will sign copies of his new novel, Cemetery Road, and a limited number of backlist books with purchase of Cemetery Road.

WordsWorth Books will have books available for purchase on site. The event is free and open to the public.

Cemetery Road follows protagonist Marshall McEwan who left his hometown at age eighteen and vowed never to return. The trauma that drove him away ultimately spurred him to become one of the most successful journalists in Washington D.C. But just as the political chaos in the nation’s capital lifts him to new heights, Marshall is forced to return home in spite of his boyhood vow.

Greg Iles spent his youth in Natchez, Mississippi. His first novel, Spandau Phoenix, was the first of fifteen New York Times bestsellers, and his Natchez Burning trilogy continues the story of Penn Cage, protagonist of The Quiet Game, Turning Angel, and #1 New York Times bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl. Iles’s novels have been made into films and published in more than thirty-five countries. He is a member of the lit-rock group “The Rock Bottom Remainders,” lives in Natchez, Mississippi, with his wife, and has three children.

Cemetery Road will be available for purchase starting March 5. For more information, call the 918-3098 or email bmooy@cals.org.

#5WomenArtists – Elsie Bates Freund

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Through their social media campaign #5WomenArtists, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) asks, “Can you name five women artists?

In response to that, this month five artists with Little Rock connections will be highlighted throughout March.  Up first is Elsie Bates Freund.

Born in Missouri in 1912, she was active as an artist in both Eureka Springs and later Little Rock. She died there in 2001.

Freund drew inspiration from her home in the Ozarks and applied it to painting and ceramics. As a painter and ceramicist and she signed all of her jewelry as “Elsa” and her paintings as “Elsie.”  Her work can be found at many museums including the Smithsonian, Arkansas Arts Center and Historic Arkansas Museum.

Freund is one of the 5 Women Artists being highlighted by Historic Arkansas Museum this month as part of its #5WomenArtists effort.

Women Making History: Sharon Priest

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Sharon Priest served as Little Rock’s 70th Mayor from January 1991 until December 1992.  She was a member of the Little Rock City Board of Directors from January 1987 until December 1994.  She had previously been involved with the City Beautiful Commission prior to her service on the City Board.  She continued that involvement and was also a leader of the Arts and Humanities Promotion Commission, serving several terms as chair.

From January 1995 until January 2003, she was the 31st Secretary of State for Arkansas.  She was the first woman elected to the position. (Nancy Hall held it from 1961 to 1963 following the death of her husband, longtime Secretary of State C. G. “Crip” Hall.)

Following her service as Secretary of State, she directed the Downtown Little Rock Partnership from January 2003 until March 2015.

Tonight at South on Main Sessions: John Burnette

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Image may contain: 1 person, guitarMarch Sessions at South on Main, curated by Read Admire, kicks off tonight (March 6) with an intimate concert with singer-songwriter and contract guitarist John Burnette.

Concert begins at 8 pm. Purchase advance tickets for $8 or pay a $12 cover day of show. Tickets do not guarantee you a seat. Please call (501) 244-9660 to reserve a table.

Singer-Songwriter and contract guitarist John Burnette at work on follow up EP slated for early 2019 release.

John Burnette has been a contracting guitarist in various groups and organizations since his teenage years, helping forge his unique style that combines the lyric-driven descriptiveness of Classic Folk and Country, the technical challenges of Jazz and Classical, and the grit of his home between the Delta and the Ozarks viewed through the tragedy-tinged glasses of a millennial in the South.

His eponymous debut album was warmly received by the international music blogging community. John resides in Nashville, TN and has commenced production on a follow-up EP with an expected Spring 2019 release date.

“Religion and Community Engagement” is focus of tonight’s UA Little Rock Downtown lecture

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The UA Little Rock Downtown Campus continues its Wednesday evening lectures tonight. This evening’s topic is “Religion and Community Engagement”

This talk is given by Rebecca Glazier, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs. In the talk, she addresses religion, politics, and community engagement.

Using data from more than 2,000 congregants and 200 clergy in Little Rock, Dr. Glazer will share information about the benefits of faith-based community engagement and take suggestions for questions and topics for the 2020 Little Rock Congregations Study survey of congregants.

The program will begin at 6pm at the UA Little Rock Downtown Campus.

Happy Birthday to Count Casimir Pulaski

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On March 6, 1745, Casimir Pulaski was born in Poland. A Polish nobleman and military commander he has been called a “father of the American cavalry.”

Born in Warsaw, he followed in his father’s footsteps he became involved in the military and the revolutionary affairs in Poland. Pulaski was one of the leading military commanders for the Bar Confederation and fought against Russian domination of Poland. When this uprising failed, he was driven into exile.

Following a recommendation by Benjamin Franklin, Pulaski emigrated to North America to help in the cause of the American Revolutionary War. He distinguished himself throughout the revolution, most notably when he saved the life of George Washington.

Pulaski became a general in the Continental Army, created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion and reformed the American cavalry as a whole. At the Battle of Savannah, while leading a daring charge against British forces, he was gravely wounded, and died shortly thereafter.

Pulaski is one of only eight people to be awarded honorary United States citizenship. He never married and had no descendants.

Arkansas is one of several states to have a county named in honor of Count Pulaski.  Pulaski County was Arkansas’s fifth county, formed on December 15, 1818.