Tidbits 3/27/2017

Investing class
Paul Anthony Thomas, asset manager with Custom Private Equity, will present a class for individual investors from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday at the South Branch of the Abilene Public Library, located in the Mall of Abilene. Admission is free.

Christian ethics lectures
Jeph Holloway will present the 2017 T.B. Maston Lectures in Christian Ethics at 7 p.m. Monday and 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Hardin-Simmons University. The Monday lecture, in Logsdon Chapel, will be "The Rise of the Man-chine: The What and Why of Posthumanism." Tuesday's lecture, in Behrens Auditorium, will be "Participating in God’s Purpose: A Christian Response to the Posthuman Vision." Admission is free.

Lenten organ recitals
A Lenten organ recital series will be presented at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday and April 4 at First Baptist Church, 1333 N. Third St. The concerts will be performed on the Shelton Organ, and will feature performers from five churches.

Spell Abilene!
The Adult Literacy Council will present its annual Spell Abilene! adult spelling bee at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the South Branch of the Abilene Public Library, located in the Mall of Abilene. Refreshments will be served and prizes will be awarded to members of the audience. Admission is free.

Business workshop
Texas Tech Small Business Development Center at Abilene will conduct a workshop, “Meet the Bankers,” from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. Local bankers will give information on lending requirements and the bank loan process, and will be available to answer questions. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300.

CarFit
TxDOT and the Mature Driver Program will conduct CarFit, a program to improve the safety of older drivers, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Rose Park Senior Center, 2625 S. Seventh St. Technicians will teach participants how to make their vehicle fit them by adjusting steering wheel placement, mirrors, restraints and more. For an appointment, call 325-676-6808.

Free tax assistance​
Through April 13, the AARP will provide free tax assistance from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St., and Fridays and Saturdays at the Mockingbird branch, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. Library doors will open at 9 a.m., with registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants should bring photo ID, Social Security cards, wage and earnings statements, and other financial information. For more information, call 325-676-6025.

Good Neighbor Breakfast
Connecting Caring Communities will conduct its annual Good Neighbor Breakfast from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Thursday at First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange St. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. RSVP to office@wecareabilene.org.

Conservation workshop
The Texas A&M Forest Service will conduct the Big Country Conservation Workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Topics will include trees and windbreaks, rangeland and grazing, wildfire preparedness, water management, land stewardship and wildlife management. Registration is $10 and includes a lunch. Registration must be made by Monday. To register, contact 806-892-3572 or wtn@tfs.tamu.edu.

Book-It
Book-It, a panel discussion on nonprofit organizations, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the Richardson Library at Hardin-Simmons University. Admission is free.

Screenwriter speaks
Screenwriter Lauren Modery, McMurry University’s 2017 Knox-Bennett Guest Writer, will discuss blogging at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Jay-Rollins Library on campus. A screening of her film, "Loves Her Gun," will begin at 7 p.m. in the Ryan Little Theatre. Admission is free.

Maker Fest
Maker Fest, an open house demonstrating Abilene Christian University's Maker Lab, will be open from 3-8 p.m. Thursday in the Brown Library on campus. Activities and tool demonstrations will be available. Participants are invited to bring a quadcopter for a flying activity. Admission is free.

Art reception
An opening reception for the Young Masters Juried Art Competition will be conducted from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St.

Library banquet
The Friends of the Abilene Christian University Library will conduct its annual spring banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Hunter Welcome Center on campus. Tickets are $40. For more information, contact 325-674-2340 or mas16a@acu.edu.

'Life in Bloom' banquet
The "Life in Bloom" fundraising banquet, benefiting Pregnancy Resources of Abilene, will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. A sponsor reception will begin at 6 p.m. Singer/songwriters Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin will be featured. Tickets are $35. For tickets, call 325-672-6415 or go to www.prabilene.com/partner/events.

Artist speaks
Sarah Williams will speak about her art from 7-8 p.m. Thursday at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St.

'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)'
A production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and April 6-8 at Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military.

'Godspell'
A production of "Godspell" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and April 6-8, and at 2 p.m. Sunday and April 9 in Van Ellis Theatre at Hardin-Simmons University. Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for students, seniors and military; and free for HSU faculty, staff and students.

Swap meet
The Big Country Swap Meet, featuring a variety of cars, motorcycles, auto parts and memorabilia, will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, and from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, at Big Country Raceway, 5601 W. Stamford St. For more information, go to www.bigcountryswapmeet.com.

Outlaws & Legends
The seventh annual Outlaws & Legends Music Festival will take place from 2-11 p.m. Friday, and from 11:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, at the Back Porch of Texas, 3350 N. Clack St. For more information, or for tickets, go to www.outlawsandlegends.com.

Art reception
A reception for three art exhibits, "Human Essence," "Textile" and "Images of the West," will be conducted from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St.

Pageant
The Sunburst Beauty Pageant will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Mall of Abilene. The competition includes boys up to 3 years old and girls and women up to 27 years old. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.sunburstbeauty.com.

Top Gun Classic
The 15th annual Top Gun Sporting Clays Classic, benefiting the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, will be conducted Friday and Saturday at Abilene Clay Sports, 1102 E. Spur 707. An awards dinner will be served Saturday at the Taylor County Expo Center. To register, or for more information, go to rehabclayshoot.org.

Pop-up workshop
A pop-up workshop with artist Robert Sabuda will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St. Registration is $10, including supplies. Reservations must be made by Wednesday. To register, go to www.nccil.org or contact 325-673-4586 or info@nccil.org.

Book signing
Abilene native Dick Elam will sign copies of his new book, "Anne Bonny's Wake," from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Books-A-Million at the Mall of Abilene.

Easter egg hunt
The city of Abilene will conduct an evening Easter egg hunt for children 12 and younger at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lee Sports Complex, 1318 N. Pioneer Drive. Admission is free.

Texas Author Series
The 2017 Texas Author Series will continue with a talk featuring Rachel Caine, author of "Ink and Bone" and "Paper and Fire," at 2 p.m. Sunday at the South Branch of the Abilene Public Library, located in the Mall of Abilene. Admission is free.

Eggstreme Easter Hunt
The Eggstreme Easter Hunt, for participants 13 and older, will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 8 at Abilene State Park. Traditional egg hunts for younger children will begin with ages 0-4 at 9 a.m., ages 5-8 at 10:30 a.m. and ages 9-12 at 11:30 a.m. Admission is $5 per car.

Bowl for Kids' Sake
The annual Bowl for Kids' Sake, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters, will begin at 9 a.m. April 8 at PrimeTime Family Entertainment Center, 4541 Loop 322. A second session will begin at 11 a.m. Registration is $25. To register, go to www.bbbstx.org/abilenebfks.

Pool egg hunt
A swimming pool Easter egg hunt will begin at 10 a.m. April 8 at the Redbud YMCA, 3125 S. 32nd St. Children 5 and older will hunt at 10 a.m., followed by children 18 months through 4 years at 10:30 a.m. Admission is $5 for members, $7 for nonmembers and $3 for parents. For tickets, call 325-695-3400. Swim testing will be available at 9 a.m., and the Easter bunny will be present for photos from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

I-CAN luncheon
Interested Citizens of Abilene North will conduct its annual Hero's Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. April 13 at the Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. A meet and greet will begin at 11 a.m. Kirt Dewayne Robinson will be the guest speaker. Daniel Jackson and the Rev. Iziar Lankford will be the honorees. Tickets are $30. For tickets, call 325-428-9035.