Justin Wedgeworth:

Today I had an assignment to photograph the Tax Day Tea Party in Bella Vista. This was a group of people coming together to protest high government spending. Some of the people at the event had reasons for being there, like Archie Birkner, of Bella Vista.

“I don’t like the direction the president and Congress are taking the country,” Birkner said.

He added that he didn’t like the probable taxes that would come from impending programs.

J.T. Wampler:
Several hundred protesters showed up at the Fayetteville square to protest taxes.

Josh Dooley:

I was responsible for photographing the economic protest in downtown Rogers today. The event drew several hundred people to Frisco Park. I can not recall having seen a crowd that large in Rogers for a political event during my almost ten years as a photographer here. It was good to see people exercising their rights. Being  citizens of the United States means we have great freedoms, such as those exercised today. I believe that with those rights come great responsibilities not only to exercise those freedoms wisely but to defend them from those who would take them or twist them for their own political or monetary gain.

While Bella Vista’s Mardi Gras celebration is modest, the costumes look great and make for colorful photographs. Children and adults alike were clearly having a great time. If participants have a good time the size of the event becomes somewhat irrelevant.

Today, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, I ventured to Riordan Hall in Bella Vista to photograph a painting class. I am always amazed at the talent of painters and how talented many of the residents are in Bella Vista. Over the past eight years working for the Morning News in Northwest Arkansas I have met many of these artists but I know there are still many out there with their stories. If you know some of these people with interesting stories or hobbies, send me an email at jwedgeworth@nwaonline.net

This painting class has been meeting since 1982 and one instructor, Melissa Bokker, drives from Cherokee Village every other week to teach the students. For more information on the class call Beverly Wescott at (479) 855-0095.

From woodcarvers to yoga, all types of activities and clubs meet at Riordan Hall in Bella Vista. Check out http://www.bellavistapoa.com/recreation/riordanhall.asp for more information.