For the past couple months, Leverett Lounge has been under new ownership after a seamless transition from previous management.

• New management: Reese Roberts and Corey Mccain, longtime Bordinos vets, took the reigns from Hannah Withers and Ben Gitchel, the entrepreneurs that started Leverett Lounge and that run the staple, Maxine's Tap Room.
• The restaurant: Leverett Lounge is the perfect mixture of a funky and casual atmosphere with upscale and delicious menu options. The menu rotates every few months with some constant staples like the KFC and the Mel's Diner (not going anywhere under new ownership), and the menu features some great cocktails.

As big Leverett Lounge fans, we can confirm the food and vibes are just as good as ever after the transition. Read more about it here.

With funding by the Walton Family Foundation, Winrock International and Cartwheel, an Arkansas based startup studio, are coming together in a joint effort to form an accelerator focused on software-as-a-service (SaaS) businesses.

• The resources: With $1.2 million in funding, this initiative will aim to identify and validate high potential SaaS startup business concepts here in Northwest Arkansas and take the them from idea to a profitable organization.
• The process: The accelerator will choose 20 proposals for promising business opportunities for review by experts. It will then select two of those opportunities, find CEOs and co-founders to work on them and assist in helping them raise capital along with a bevy of other resources.

To learn more about the new accelerator or any of these organization's roles in it, check it out here.

A group of volunteers left town yesterday headed for Kentucky to assist with the damage from Friday's tornado, and it's not your average bunch.

• In motion: With the recent tornados that left tracks through the heartland, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) of Rogers left town yesterday morning to help with recovery efforts. This included a crew of about 15 Sheep Dog with truckloads of supplies.
• The context: Founded in 2010, SDIA is a national non-profit organization founded and headquartered in Rogers. SDIA exists to engage, assist and empower our nation’s “Sheep Dogs” (military veterans, law enforcement, fire & rescue personnel) to reengage in living a meaningful and productive life.

Read more about their deployment HERE.

Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area is the largest state park in Arkansas and offers unique events throughout the year; however, the cold winter months offer some really unique experiences.

• Winter is coming: Winter is considered eagle watch season as bald eagles are forced to migrate south in search of food. The colder months of Dec-Feb is the best time to see these iconic birds.
• Crossing paths: Hobbs State Park offers a unique encounter with these animals through eagle watch tours. Reservations are required and we recommend booking in advance. The colder, the better!

You can plan your trip HERE.

The Arkansas Public Theatre and StudioChunky will host and present the Rogers Short Film Festival, March 4-6, 2022 at the Victory Theater in downtown Rogers.

• The Rogers Short Film Festival peers compete against each other in categories based on your experience and budget. Everyone include K-12, undergraduate/graduate, amateurs and professionals are encouraged to submit their film to be considered.
• On the rise: The film industry in Northwest Arkansas seems to be on the rise over the past few years. With festivals, movies, and TV series all being shot here, NWA continues to provide a spotlight on filming.

Read more about the Rogers Short Film Festival HERE.