Beginning Friday, March 23rd Mount Pleasant Winery will have live music from 5 – 7 pm every Friday night. John Raczka, music director and arranger for the Les Brown Band of Renown, will kick off the Wine and Music series at Mount Pleasant Winery this Friday from 5 to 7 pm. John will be performing French, Italian and American popular music on the accordion. This is a rare opportunity to hear authentic European style cafe music in such an intimate setting.

The Branson Arts Council presents “Spring Fashion Show–celebrating 100 years of fashion”. On Sunday, March 25th,
2-4 pm at the Stone Bridge Village Clubhouse, you will be treated to a fashion show, Purse auction, light finger food and more. The style show will begin with “vintage” fashons and then move on to today’s new styles.
Tickets are $25, available from Touch of Class (334-0303) or the Branson Arts Council Office (336-4255). Tickets will be available at the door, starting at 1:30 pm on Sunday.

March 19, 2012
Branson, MO

The 4th Annual “Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients” will take place April 26 – 28, 2012. This 3 day event is sponsored by Branson.com, Hand in Hand for Veterans and the Branson Community. I would like to say a special thank you to the following businesses and individuals….The “Hamner Barber Theatre” for their continued support of the event by allowing us to use their theatre as the “home” of the Purple Heart Recipients. The “Entertainers” who sing and entertain for those combat wounded, Central Pro – Am Association who create the “fishing contest,” along with Scotties Trout Dock. Branson Landing Shops for opening their doors for a “culinary experience,” Shepherd of the Hills” for sponsoring the “fish fry,” The Titanic for inviting the Purple Heart Recipients to be guests on their ship and Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell for coordinating the motorcycle run, Chip & Sandy Milner for coordinating registration, Jim Jewsbury from MODot and to all the volunteers that help throughout the three days. A special “shout out” to the businesses in town who allow our guests to be PROUD they are Veterans.
Our combat wounded comment each year about how wonderful all of the people in the different business are to them and their families. It gives me great pleasure to pass this information on to all of you in our community.
Without the Veteran we cannot be “FREE” and all of you openly share your love and patriotism for these men and women and I wanted to start our year by saying………THANK YOU, Branson.

Marlyce Stockinger, Event Coordinator
“Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients”

Connell Joins Business Partnership

Connell Insurance, Inc. has joined the Taney County Business Development Partnership as a board member. One of the goals of the partnership is to create and sustain jobs throughout the year as well as supporting and nurturing existing businesses within the community.

As a Taney County business owner, Tim Connell stressed the importance of this partnership opting to become a board member. “I’ve lived in Taney County all my life. I understand that while tourism is what drives the community, it’s the sustainability of jobs and local employees which will help to strengthen the community.”

The Partnership is one of several Missouri agencies coordinating relief and assistance to the businesses that were directly impacted by the February 29th EF2 tornado.

For more information, visit www.ConnellInsurance.com or call (417) 334-2000.

Connell Insurance, based in Hollister, MO, is one of the largest insurance agencies serving southwestern Missouri. An independent insurance agency, Connell specializes in both commercial and personal lines of insurance, representing numerous insurance companies.

Public Invited To Attend Student Music Recital March 28
By: Austin Plummer

The College of the Ozarks Music Department will host a student music recital on March 28, at 4 p.m., in the Newman Recital Hall. The recital will include performances from student soloists and ensembles, instrumental and vocal.

“These recitals are a great way for the students to show their talents,” says C of O music department student worker Amber McDowell. “There will be a variety of pieces performed for everyone to enjoy.”

Students will be allowed priority seating for the event, but any seats left open will be available to the public free of charge. For more information, please call the Music Department at (417) 690-2244.

Boger Gallery Presents Michael Ashley’s “Home,” Ceramics Inspired By The Ozark Mountains

By: Kearstin Mattox

The Boger Gallery at College of the Ozarks will feature the exhibit “Home,” a collection of works by ceramic artist Michael Ashley. The exhibit runs from March 27 through April 24 in the Boger Gallery, located on the ground floor of the Jones Learning Center.

Ashley’s work is inspired by childhood memories and playing by the riverside in the Ozark Mountains. His functional and utilitarian vessels are meant to appear as if they just have been pulled from the river, with surfaces aged by current, silt and time.

“To me this show is about coming back to the landscapes and rivers I grew up in,” said Ashley. “I want people to see that I take the colors and textures of the Ozarks with me everywhere I go.”

A workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 3, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in the Art Annex. Ashley also will present a lecture on April 3, in the Gittinger Recital Hall at 7 p.m.; a reception will follow in the gallery. All events are free and open to the public.

This Boger Gallery event is sponsored by the College of the Ozarks Art Department, and financial assistance is provided by the Missouri Arts Council. Boger Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m weekdays and 1-5p.m. weekends, while school is in session. For more information, contact Richard Cummings, Boger Gallery director, at 417-690-2268 or e-mail [email protected].

All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast fundraiser for Gift of Hope!

When: Saturday, April 7th – from 7:30am to 9:30am

Where: Applebee’s, 1856 W. Hwy 76, Branson

Why: To benefit the Gift of Hope programs; helping Taney County children and families in need!

How much: Adults: $5.00. Children 4 & Under Free!

Oxford Healthcare, HomeCare and Hospice will be offering NO-COST bone density screenings and vital signs screenings at their presentation booth at the Health and Ministry EXPO being held at the Tri-Lakes Center, 2527 State Hwy 248 in Branson, MO on Friday, March 23, Noon to 8 pm; and, Saturday, March 24, from 10 am to 8 pm.
Scheduled to appear will be 75 area health, wellness and spiritual exhibitors with entertainment provided by SIX, Hughes Brothers, Jarrett Doughtery, Clay Cooper, Buckets N Boards, American Idols’s Jason Yeager, Voices of Glory, Allen Asbury and more!
Admission is $5.00 at the door for a one-day admission, $8.00 for both days, and children 12 and under are FREE! Please bring one non perishable food item for Christian Action Ministries’ Food Bank. FREE and low-cost health screenings, FREE raffles and door prizes, seminars and Zumba classes will also be offered. Mini Golf and Veggie Tale screenings of Robin Good will be on-going during the event. For more information log on to www.HealthandMinistryEXPO.com or call (417) 336-3636

By: Jacob McCauley

Dr. Temple Grandin, renowned speaker, author, animal scientist, and Autism advocate, will speak on livestock handling at College of the Ozarks on March 28, 2012, at 7 p.m., in Jones Auditorium.

Grandin, born August 29, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with autism in 1950. She was later placed in a nursery school that would teach her how to speak and other basic skills. “I can remember the frustration of not being able to talk. I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not get the words out, so I would just scream,” said Grandin. At the age of four, Grandin began making significant progress and attributes that to her mentors.

After graduating from a boarding school designed for gifted children, Dr. Grandin studied at Franklin Pierce College to earn her degree in psychology in 1970. In 1975, she received a master’s degree in animal science from Arizona State University, and in 1989, she received a doctoral degree in animal science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Today, she teaches at Colorado State University and consults with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling and animal welfare. She has appeared on television shows such as “20/20,” “48 Hours,” CNN’s “Larry King Live,” “PrimeTime Live,” the “Today Show” and has been featured on National Public Radio.

The convocation is free and open to the public. Students are allowed priority seating. For more information on the convocation with Dr. Grandin and other special guests at College of the Ozarks, contact the Public Relations Office at (417) 690-2212.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) named College of the Ozarks to its 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This is the seventh consecutive year for C of O to be included on the Honor Roll.

The Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. CNCS, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, named only 642 colleges and universities to the 2012 Honor Roll.

College of the Ozarks and its students take part in numerous community service projects, including Camp Lookout, a free summer camp for deserving area youth, and Bonner Community Service, a campus workstation where students work off their 15-hour work education requirement by going out into the community to serve as teachers’ aides, deliver meals on wheels and volunteer in local food pantries.

“Through service, these institutions are creating the next generation of leaders by challenging students to tackle tough issues and create positive impacts in the community,” said Robert Velasco, acting CEO of CNCS. “We applaud the Honor Roll schools, their faculty and students for their commitment to make service a priority in and out of the classroom. Together, service and learning increase civic engagement while fostering social innovation among students, empowering them to solve challenges within their communities.”

One outstanding example is College of the Ozarks Students in Free Enterprise’s (COSIFE) innovative approach to tackle the tough, community issue of poverty. Last year, COSIFE and First PLACE’s IMPACT (area high school students participating in the First PLACE! character initiative) began selling eco-friendly VAPUR® water bottles to raise money for area homeless individuals interested in breaking the poverty cycle.

Since then, the groups collectively sold hundreds of bottles and the proceeds have been accruing in a fund for individuals who successfully complete the “Getting Ahead” course as money for a deposit or rent on housing. Five individuals from the tri-lakes area have now completed the curriculum and received their certificates for finishing the “Getting Ahead” program, as well as a housing deposit. This class of five that graduated in February is the first of many to come as COSIFE and IMPACT continue to raise money for this cause by selling VAPUR® bottles.

Meanwhile, C of O students are preparing for another successful Camp Lookout season, which begins June 4. Camp Lookout is seeking children ages 8-12 from Stone and Taney Co., whose families cannot fit the cost of summer camp into their budgets. Those interested in finding out more or applying for camp may call the Christian Ministries (417) 690-3446 or go to www.cofo.edu.

The College of the Ozarks Vision is to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are well-educated, hard-working, and patriotic.

For more information on the President’s Community Service Honor Roll, please visit NationalService.gov/HonorRoll or call Public Relations (417) 690-2212.