Arts & Community Calendar

April 4
RSVP deadline for Building a Future, an Southwest Missouri State University Habitat for Humanity Charity Dinner. Tickets are $25 for the April 14 event. Call (417) 837-3957.
Kids on the Block performance and 20th anniversary celebration begins at 9 a.m. in Developmental Center of the Ozarks’ Family Room Activity Center, 1545 E. Pythian. Sponsored by Junior League of Springfield, Kids on the Block is a puppet show that educates first- and second-graders about disabilities and diversity.

April 5
BransonFest begins at the Welk Resort on Missouri Highway 165. The festival features free samples of Branson fare at the Real American Entertainment Tent, the Taste of Branson Food Tent, the Arts Culture and Heritage Tent and the Business and Hospitality Expo. Ticketed concerts are also held in the Welk Resort Theatre. For ticket information, call (800) 734-5515. The festival continues through April 9.
A vegetarian and raw living food demonstration and tasting is held 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Whole Health Natural Foods, 3242 S. National.
An opening reception for installation works by Tori Arpad begins at 6 p.m. at the SMSU Art & Design Gallery, 333 E. Walnut St. The exhibition continues through April 29.
How to Write a Business Plan – The Path to Success is presented 6-9 p.m. today and April 7 by the SMSU Small Business Development Center. Cost is $129. To register, call (417) 836-5685.
Wonders of Wildlife Volunteer Information Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s upper lobby. Reservations are recommended. Call (417) 890-9453.
Tales to Celebrate Our Multicultural Heritage presents traditional Japanese storyteller Fran Stallings at 7 p.m. in Plaster Student Union, Room 313, on the SMSU campus. Free parking is available in the lot at National Avenue and Monroe Street.
“WHO Cares About Taiwan and Why it Matters to You,” a lecture by SMSU political science professor Dennis V. Hickey, is presented at 7 p.m. at the Great Southern Bank Community Center near St. Louis Street and Glenstone Avenue.
Ninth annual Steak & Steak Dinner, benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, begins at 7 p.m. at the University Plaza Convention Center. Bob Gibson, World Series pitcher for the 1967 St. Louis Cardinals, is the guest speaker. Tickets are $100 per person. Call (417) 862-9249.
Windfire: Flute & Percussion Spectacu-lar, presented by the Evangel University Artist Series, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Barnett Fine Arts Recital Hall.
An SMSU faculty recital featuring music lecturer Hye-Jung Hong on the piano begins at 8 p.m. in Ellis Recital Hall on the SMSU campus.

April 7
Good Morning, Springfield!, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast networking event, begins at 7:30 a.m. at Springfield/Branson Regional Airport, 5000 W. Kearney. Cost is $12 for chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.springfield
chamber.com.
Drive Clean and Green Across Missouri, a display of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, is at SMSU’s Plaster Student Union patio 9-10:30 a.m. The exhibit is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and is designed to educate the public about renewable and alternative fuels.
“China and the U.S.: Partners or Adversaries?” a presentation by visiting lecturer Dr. Xuecheng Liu, is held 6-7:30 p.m. in Temple Hall, Room 2, on the SMSU campus.
Junior League of Springfield informational meeting for prospective members begins at 7 p.m. at Junior League Headquarters, 2574 E. Bennett. For information, call (417) 887-9422.
Barbara Ehrenreich, author of “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America,” will discuss the struggle of today’s work force at 7:30 p.m. at Clara Thompson Hall on the Drury University campus. A signing of her book, which is required reading at 600 campuses nationwide including Drury, will follow.
“Il Tabarro” by Puccini, an Opera Workshop Production, is presented at 8 p.m. today and April 8 and 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 9 in Carrington Hall on the SMSU campus.

Make-A-Wish Annual Gala Dinner & Auction begins at 6 p.m. at University Plaza Convention Center. The cost is $40 per person or $350 per table of 10. The event includes silent and live auctions. Call (800) 937-9474 for reservations.
College Graduate Job Search Workshop, presented by the Missouri Career Center, is held 1-4 p.m. Preregistration is required at (417) 887-4343.
Kansas City Wizards vs. SMS Bears men’s soccer exhibition game begins at 7 p.m. at Cooper Sports Complex’s Soccer Plex, 2331 E. Pythian. Tickets are $15 for groups of 15 or more, $10 for adults, $8 for children under 12 and $5 for SMSU students with valid ID.
The BFA Exhibition at SMSU’s Student Exhibition Center begins with an opening reception, 7-9 p.m. at 838 E. Walnut Street. Center hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Flute Day is presented in Ellis Recital Hall on the SMSU campus. For more information, call (417) 836-5648.
Delmina Woods’ Spring Fling Fashion Show is presented 1-3 p.m. at VFW Post 7628, 104 S. First St. in Ozark. Donations benefiting residents of the Delmina Woods girls’ shelter will be accepted at the door; $5 is the suggested donation.
“Peter and the Wolf,” presented by Springfield Ballet’s Children’s Series, begins at 2 p.m. at The Landers Theatre. For tickets, call Springfield Little Theatre at (417) 869-1334.
The 11th annual Beaux Arts Ball and Charity Auction begins at 6 p.m. at The Tower Club in Hammons Tower, 901 St. Louis St. This year’s theme is Crimes of Fashion. Tickets are $17 for adults and $14 for students. Proceeds benefit the Commercial Street Farmer’s Market pavilion project. Call (417) 343-1361 for tickets.
“Coppelia” is presented by Springfield Ballet at 7 p.m. at The Landers Theatre. Performance repeats at 2 p.m. April 10. For tickets, call Springfield Little Theatre at (417) 869-1334.
Ozarks Woman of Distinction Award Reception, presented by the SMSU Women’s History Month Committee, is at 8 p.m. at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell.

April 10
The third annual Cashew Chicken Craze, benefiting Developmental Center of the Ozarks, is held 2-6 p.m. at The Clarion Hotel, 3333 S. Glenstone. Tickets are $5 in advance at Price Cutter Stores or $8 at the door.