Play Ball! Details about Elkins Summer Ball
Summer may be a few months away, but the City of Elkins is getting ready for summer ball.
Sports Complex Coordinator
One of the biggest preparations is seeking a new sports complex coordinator. The position requires a variety of duties including organizing and leading volunteers and other personnel related to the athletic and recreational programming, implementing said programing, and maintaining all the facilities. The individual must also be able to maintain a budget, and keep reports, do presentations, and otherwise communicate the activities pertaining to the sports complex and its activities.
Minimum of graduation from high school or equivalent, bachelor’s degree in recreation or physical education preferred but not required. Applications must be submitted to the City of Elkins.
Seeking umpires
Anytime you have a ball game, you must have an umpire! The city is seeking to hire umpires to be available for baseball and softball. The applications are on the city website or at City Hall. There is no noted deadline for umpire applications.
Player Sign-ups
Kids wanting to sign up for summer ball must do so by Feb. 17. To be eligible, athletes must be between ages 4-14. For baseball, players must turn 4 by April 30 to be old enough to play. Players born before May 1, 2008 are too old. For softball, players must turn 4 by January 1 to play. Players born in 2007 or earlier are too old.
Registration fee is $50 per child. Families with three or more children registering will pay a maximum of $100. Payment is due along with the registration form. Accepted payments include Check or money order only (make payable to City of Elkins). Limited scholarship opportunities are available upon request. For more information email elkinssportscomplex@gmail.com.
Forms received after February 17, 2023, are subject to space availability and a $25 late fee will apply.
Concession Stand Bids
Any caterer wanting to lease and operate the concessions stand during ball season must submit their bid no later than Feb. 28. Bids will be opened March 1 and deposits are due March 15. Minimum bid is $2,000 and a $250 deposit is required. More information and requirements are in the bid paperwork, which is available on the city website
More information about all of the above items is available on the City of Elkins website (elkins.arkansas.gov) under the City Departments/Sports Complex, or at City Hall.
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Thank you to this month's sponsors!
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Sponsorships help make what we do possible. If you would like to sponsor a future edition, email us at info@elkinsar.org or visit elkinsar.org
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We’ve revamped our Classifed Ads to focus on helping business and nonprofits connect with people needing jobs. Our job opening spots will be due at the same time each month as the display ads. They are $10 and up to 300 words. For more information, visit our media guide for sponsorships.
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February Calendar of Events
All events listed on the ECN Calendar are open to the public.
Monday February 6 *Curbside Recycling*
Tuesday February 7
· Elkins Lions Club Meeting - 6pm at Rio Grande Restaurant
Wednesday February 8
· Homeschool Game Day at Elkins Public Library - 1-3pm. elkinspubliclibrary@gmail.com for more info
· Elkins Robotics Electronics Club - 4pm & 5pm at the Elkins Public Library. elkinspubliclibrary@gmail.com for more info
Thursday February 9
· Storytime at the Elkins Public Library - 11am
· Knitting Club - 7pm at the Elkins Public Library - All crafters welcome. For more info call Trish at the Elkins Public Library at 479.643.2904
· Elkins Water & Sewer Committee Meeting - 7pm at Elkins City Hall
Saturday February 11
· Scouting for Food canned food drive - 8am to noon at Harp’s Foods
· Goshen Farmers Market seed swap - 9am to 11am at Goshen Community Building. Details inside this issue
· Monthly Writing Class - 10am at the Elkins Public Library. Details inside this issue
· FBCE Valentine’s Dinner and Silent Auction - 5pm at First Baptist Church Elkins. Details inside this issue
Wednesday February 15
· Homeschool Game Day at Elkins Public Library - 1-3pm. elkinspubliclibrary@gmail.com for more info
· Elkins Robotics Electronics Club - 4pm & 5pm at the Elkins Public Library. elkinspubliclibrary@gmail.com for more info
Thursday February 16
· NWA Food Bank mobile food bank at Elkins Community Center, 9am
· Storytime at the Elkins Public Library - 11am
· Knitting Club - 7pm at the Elkins Public Library - All crafters welcome. For more info call Trish at the Elkins Public Library at 479.643.2904
· Elkins City Council Meeting - 7pm at Elkins City Hall
Friday February 17
· Last Day to Sign Up for Spring Baseball & Softball for the City of Elkins
Monday February 20 *Curbside Recycling*
· Deadline for ECN Newsletter Ads, News - Email info@elkinsar.org
· President’s Day-schools, library, and city offices closed
· Elkins Planning Commission - 7pm at Elkins City Hall
Tuesday February 21
· Elkins 4H Club Meeting - 6pm - Contact 4h@elkinsar.org for more info
· Elkins School Board Meeting - 6pm at the Elkins Schools Administration Building
Wednesday February 22
· Homeschool Game Day at Elkins Public Library - 1-3pm. elkinspubliclibrary@gmail.com for more info
· Elkins Robotics Electronics Club - 4pm & 5pm at the Elkins Public Library. elkinspubliclibrary@gmail.com for more info
Thursday February 23
· Storytime at the Elkins Public Library - 11am
· Knitting Club - 7pm at the Elkins Public Library - All crafters welcome. For more info call Trish at the Elkins Public Library at 479.643.2904
Saturday March 4
· Reptile Show n Tell - 12noon at Elkins Public Library
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View the complete calendar and submit your events at elkinsar.org or email us at info@elkinsar.org or call (479)274-0016.
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Ways to Serve: Volunteer on a committee
We know we’ve talked about this before, but an important way to serve the Elkins community is to apply to be on one of the City of Elkins committees. We know there are currently a couple of open positions already, but applying to be available the next time an opening arises is also a great idea. This gives the city a batch of applications to look through when they are seeking the right person. Do you have a specific area of interest? Start attending that committee’s monthly meetings so you can get ahead with learning what they do and how they operate. The schedule is on our website’s calendar and the city’s website. The committees are: Planning Commission, Water and Sewer, Parks & Recreation, and the Library Board. The application is available on the city website and at City Hall.
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Community Insights:
Significance of Service
Our Community Insights column is designed for community members of all backgrounds to share their insights on what makes a community better and how we as a community can thrive. We often offer themes that writers can use as a guide. Our most recent theme has been Service, with a focus on community and civic service. This most recent column is from Ezequiel Tovar, a long-time Elkins resident and ECN Ambassador
By Ezequiel Tovar
Serving one's community is of vital importance as it promotes a sense of unity and strengthens the bond between individuals and the community they serve. It also allows individuals to be in sync with what is happening around them. I remember that as I was getting more involved in Elkins Community Network, I realized that I had a better understanding of what exactly was happening in Elkins.
When I had the opportunity to be a volunteer at Elkfest last year, it opened my eyes to the value of serving. It provided me with a better perspective on the people of the community that I serve and gave me a glimpse of who they really are. It was a rewarding experience for me because it put me right into the right mindset that I needed to be. Elkfest proved to be a success because of the volunteers that coordinated and gave their time to this special event. It didn't revolve around one person, but rather a group of volunteers that wanted the best for their community. That is what makes serving a worthwhile thing to do!
One of the most significant benefits of serving one's community is that it promotes a sense of empathy and understanding. Interacting with individuals from your community allows you to foster a culture of sensibility and care. Moreover, serving one's community can also have a positive impact on the individual. It can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment as individuals are able to make a difference in the lives of others. It can also be a way to develop valuable soft skills such as listening skills and teamwork.
There are countless ways to serve one's community, from volunteering at a non-profit organization, or fire station, participating in community clean-up efforts, to serving on local government boards or committees. Once you do it, it gives you a well-rounded understanding of your life and brings you out of your shell of conformity.
Overall, serving one's community is of paramount importance. It promotes a sense of unity and strengthens the bond between individuals and the community. It allows individuals to give back to the community, and it helps to create a better society for everyone by addressing the community's needs and working towards the common good. As individuals, we all have a responsibility to give back to our community and work towards creating a better world where we are at.
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Elkins by the Numbers
Every month, the city department heads report their numbers for the previous month to the Elkins City Council. A summary of those reports is in our monthly newsletter. All of the below numbers are from December 2022 and reported at the January 2023 meeting.
- Elkins Fire Department total calls: 46 (593 total for 2022)
- Elkins District Court: Not available in the city council packet
- Elkins Public Library: 25, 062 visitors (year to date), 14,987 total items in collection.
- Elkins Police Department: 337 total service calls with 3,848 total in 2022 (this includes only what goes through dispatch)
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Writing Class Feb. 11
The next monthly writing class at the Elkins Public Library with Author Linda Rigsbee is 10am to noon Saturday, Feb. 11. Each class includes a lesson and then time for local writers to share their work for constructive critique. February’s lesson will be about how to conduct research for your book project.
Scout Food Drive Feb. 11
Local Scout Pack 460 is hosting their annual Scouting for Food food drive 8am to noon, Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Elkins Harps. Please place all donated food items in bags and return them to the Harps Food Store during the designated time frame. Items needed include canned soups, canned vegetables, canned chili, canned meats/fish, canned milk, canned fruit, and canned beef stew. Please do not donate anything perishable, frozen, or in glass containers. Home canned items cannot be donated.
EVFD Pancake Breakfast March 25
The Elkins Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its annual pancake breakfast 6am to 11am, Saturday, March 25, at Station 1 (197 W. First Ave.). The cost is $5 per plate with children age five and younger free. There will be dine-in and to-go options available.
School Choice applications available
The Public School Choice Act of 2015 allows students to attend a public school in Arkansas that is different from the school district in which the family resides. School Choice applications for the 2023-2024 school year are now being accepted at Elkins School District. The application window opened on January 1, 2023, and will close on May 1, 2023.
Elkins School District is a great option for students and families that provides a world class education with small-town core values. The academic achievement level and performance at ESD is very high with the district ranking second out of sixteen in district grade point average in all of Northwest Arkansas, using the most recent school letter grades that were released by the Arkansas Department of Education this past November. Students also have a bevy of clubs, organizations, and extracurricular activities in which to become involved.
Please be advised that school choice applications are time and date stamped when they are received, and applications will be accepted in chronological order based on the available space in the necessary grade level and academic program. Families interested in completing a School Choice application should do so immediately, as space is filling up quickly in numerous grade levels. Applications can be picked up and submitted at the Elkins School District administration office. If you have further questions about the district or the School Choice process, check the school out online at www.elkinsdistrict.org or contact school superintendent, Jeremy Mangrum, at jmangrum@elkinsdistrict.org
New sewer rates go into effect
The Elkins Water Department recently reminded residents that the sewer rates that the Elkins City Council approved in September 2022 will go into effect in February. The rate increase is approximately 7%.
Goshen Farmers Market seed swap, planning
The Goshen Farmers Market is hosting a seed swap 9am to 11am, Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Goshen Community Building (244 Clark St. in Goshen). The organization is also seeking vendors, volunteers, and sponsors for the upcoming market season. For more information, contact thegoshenfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
FBCE Valentines dinner/silent auction
The First Baptist Church Elkins youth will host their annual Valentine’s Dinner and Silent Auction 5pm, Saturday, Feb. 11, at their church. Meals are $10 per adult and the menu consists of spaghetti, chicken alfredo, salad, bread, and dessert. Childcare will be available. Donations for the silent auction are being accepted and to donate, please contact the church. This event is a fundraiser for church camp this summer.
Nexbill available for water bills
The City of Elkins now offers paperless billing through Nexbillpay. If you already have a Nexbill account you will see the option to sign up option or go to https://new.nexbillpay.net/elkinswdar to signup.
Yoga moved to new location
The beginner stretch class taught by Danielle Dozier is moving from the Elkins Public Library to the Fayetteville Seventh Day Adventist Church on Crossover starting in February. She will publish a schedule on her Facebook page.
City meetings livestreamed
The City of Elkins has started livestreaming its committee and city council meetings on the city’s Facebook page. As a reminder, all meetings have their agenda’s posted on the city website and all meetings are open to the public.
Harris Baptist Valentine pictures
Hope Mulanax Photography is hosting a fundraiser for the Harris Baptist Church Youth Group on Feb. 4. She is offering mini photo sessions with family or Valentine’s themes. The 10-minute sessions are by appointment only and will include at least 30 edited photos. All proceeds will support the church’s summer youth camp. To sign up for a picture slot, visit https://book.usesession.com/s/p3untX3ZS. To pay for the $125 session, Venmo the church at @HBCYouth.
Cheer parents meeting Feb. 13
A mandatory parents meeting for any student wanting to try out for cheer will be 6pm, Monday, Feb. 13, in the Elkins High School Cafeteria. Tryout information, squad expectations, and paperwork will be discussed.
Reptile Show n Tell March 4
Lexi Sanders and her organization Arkansas Snake Identification will host a herpetology session about local snakes at 12 noon, Saturday, March 4, in the Elkins Public Library Community Room. She will bring several snakes to see and one to touch or hold. There will also be someone giving advice on good practice, safety, and giving basic information as well as answering any questions about local snakes. This is a family-friendly event for all ages.
Senior Center seeks director
The Elkins Senior Activity and Wellness Center is seeking a new center director. Job duties include promoting good will to the public, supervising personnel, coordinating volunteers, monitoring food deliveries and transportation operations, planning activities for clients, organizing and promoting fundraising events, department reports, and outreach to all elderly residents in the community. The position offers a comprehensive benefits and retirement package. This position is through the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas and applications can be made at www.aaanwar.org/Employment.
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Job Listings Now Available
We are trying to build the new job listings section on our website but we need your help! We can’t list jobs from local businesses that we don’t know about. So, if you are a local business or know a local business that is hiring, this information is for you. We offer free job listings on our website and there is a $10 charge if you want it posted in our monthly newsletter (both print and digital). Please email your job listings to info@elkinsar.org and indicate if you want it on the website or website/newsletter.
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ECN Sponsorship Rates
We fund our ongoing programs through sponsorships in three forms. See details for each at elkinsar.org
Job Listings $10
Advertise your job openings directly to our community. Text only. Appears in both forms of the newsletter and on the website.
Display $25/50
Available in Business Card or Double Business card size. Will appear in both print and email newsletters and on our website.
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Check local calendars for changes to events
We try to be as accurate as possible with our calendar information, but sometimes schedules change. For the most up-to-date information, check our events calendar on our website at elkinsar.org/. City of Elkins events can be found on the city website at elkins.arkansas.gov. Elkins School Events can be found on the district calendar at elkinsdistrict.org. The Senior Center also publishes a monthly newsletter with its menu and activities that can be found at aaanwar.org/locations/detail/1426
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Do you have a business, local organization, church, or youth activity that people need to know about? We have a directory for that! Please submit your organization to one of our directories or email us at info@elkinsar.org or call (479) 274-0016 so that we can spread the word about everything going on in Elkins.
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