Taste Arkansas with the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame app
Mobile users can now explore the best of Arkansas foods with the Department of Arkansas Heritage’s (DAH) app, Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.
“We are so pleased to bring the best of Arkansas’ food heritage to the palm of your hand. No matter where you go in Arkansas, there’s a Food Hall of Fame great near you,” said Stacy Hurst, director of DAH. “This app showcases the unique people and places that make up our authentic Arkansas food culture and will help you taste them all.”
Based on the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame program, which launched in 2017, this app features the state’s unique foods, legendary restaurants, remarkable cooks and influential food entrepreneurs, as well as culturally significant festivals and events. Scroll through winners and finalists from all across the state and discover the best of Arkansas foods near you.
Users will also be able to earn loyalty stamps by visiting and checking in on the app at restaurants listed in the “Places” section, which includes winners and finalists in various Arkansas Food Hall of Fame categories. The app also includes photos, videos and other practical tools, such as a tip calculator.
The app is available in the Apple App store and Google Play store. Search “Arkansas Food Hall of Fame” to download to any mobile device. For more information, please contact info@arkansasheritage.gov or call (501) 324-9150.
Arkansas 529 College Investing Plan launches industry-first mobile app
The Arkansas 529 College Investing Plan, administered by the Treasurer of State’s office, allows Arkansas taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in contributions to an Arkansas 529 account from their Arkansas adjusted gross income taxes to help save for college. In July the agency launched a smartphone app, AR529, becoming the first state-run 529 plan in the country to do so.
The mobile app currently allows Arkansas 529 account owners to view their account balances and transaction history, get deposit and security alerts, and stay up-to-date on news concerning their plans.
“One of the things we want to do by creating this app is to be able to share pertinent information with account owners using a tool that almost everyone has — a cellphone,” Milligan said.
Being able to identify and reach Arkansas 529 account owners has been a challenge and a problem that most state-run 529 plans encounter, said Emma Willis, director of the Arkansas 529 College Investing Plan.
“Our thought was to reach out to people where they’re at. Most people have their phones within an arm’s reach of them 24/7,” Willis said.
Arkansas 529 teamed up with Central25 App Works of Springdale to create the mobile application.
To download the app, visit the App Store on your device and search for AR529, or visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gift-ar529/id1405894918?mt=8. The app is currently available to Apple users, and will be available to Android users very soon. More information is available at www.arkansas529.org.
Enjoy Secchi Day on Beaver Lake
The 13th annual Secchi Day on Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas is scheduled on Aug. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Prairie Creek Recreation Area on Beaver Lake (9300 N. Park Road, a few miles east of Rogers off of Arkansas 12). Secchi Day on Beaver Lake is named for the Secchi disk, a black-and-white device lowered into the water to measure clarity. In the early part of the morning, citizen science volunteers, using their own boats, take Secchi disk readings. The rest of the day is full of educational fun and family activities for the public. About 550 people are expected to attend.
“Every year, a dedicated group of citizen scientists helps us collect water samples and get clarity (depth) readings at various pre-selected sites on the lake,” said Amy Wilson, director of public affairs for the Beaver Water District, which hosts the event. “The hands-on, lakeshore activities focus on the importance of Beaver Lake to the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.”
Attendees can test-drive a kayak, enter to win door prizes (including a grand prize kayak), make water-testing devices to take home, make it rain on the watershed and see how water flows impact water quality in the lake. Northwest Arkansas’ Marshallese community also will show off native crafts and give Marshallese dance demonstrations. The event includes healthy snacks in the morning, followed by lunch (with vegetarian choices) and frozen treats.
“A new addition this year is the Beaver Lake Fire Department’s participation,” said Wilson. “We’ll also have hands-on, fun science occurring at numerous tables, and mini-concerts and CD giveaways featuring Water Fun Facts with Papa Rap.” (Visit www.paparap.net to listen to songs.) Each family will receive a CD, coloring books and other items.
Beaver Water District’s core partners who make Secchi Day a success include emcee Dan Skoff, chief meteorologist for KNWA, and science experts and volunteers associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Beaver Lake, the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Northwest Arkansas Stormwater Education, Hobbs State Park, Arkansas Master Naturalists, Beaver Watershed Alliance, Beaver Lake Fire Department, the Ozark Society, Ozarks Water Watch, One Community, the North American Lake Management Society and Girl Scouts-Diamonds of Arkansas. The Beaver Water District is served by Carroll Electric Cooperative.
Wilson said that besides being a day of family fun, Secchi Day provides valuable education about the district. “Beaver Water District is helping ensure our community cares about Beaver Lake and values this beautiful natural resource,” she said. “After all, it’s the drinking water for one in seven Arkansans.”
Look for temporary signage along the road for directions to the event. For information, review the flier posted at www.bwdh2o.org or email awilson@bwdh2o.org.