Issuu

SEPTEMBER MARCH + OCTOBER + APRIL 2026

COMPLIMENTARY

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF BUTTERFIELD TRAIL VILLAGE

FEATURE PROFILE

Rick Meyer FITNESS & WELLNESS

CAMPUS UPDATE

Bringing Pilates to Butterfield

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A State of Possibilit y Tomorrow’s teachers, healthcare professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders are studying at the University of Arkansas today. Through the Land of Opportunity Scholarship, students are preparing to make an impact. A gift to the U of A through your will, trust, or appreciated assets will strengthen Arkansas’s workforce for generations. To learn more, contact the Office of Estate & Strategic Giving 479-575-7271 • legacy@uark.edu

Contents 4

From the CEO

Feature Profile Rick Meyer

Newcomer Q&A Donna Dover & Ann Teague

Anniversaries & New Neighbors

Employee Spotlight Christa Ivy

Featured Village Events

Village Snapshots

Living Spaces Virginia Hargrove

Staff Milestone Roger Coker Readies for Retirement

Campus Update New Place Names for the Assisted Living Expansion

Out & About SoNA Season Preview

20 Entertainment Live Music at Walton Arts Center 21

Ozark History A Palace of a Theater Opened a Century Ago on the Fayetteville Square

Fitness & Wellness Bringing Pilates to Butterfield

Foundation Donations

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SEPT + OCT 2026

From the CEO VOL. 15 ISSUE 5 Kevin Spears CEO MARKETING Kelly Syer Director of Marketing Alice Dawson Marketing Specialist Leann Pacheco Sales Counselor Dave Marks Move-In Coordinator PROGRAMS Riki Stamps Director of Programs & Events Michael Burks Asst. Director of Programs & Events RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 2026 Council Members Mike Stiles, President Buddy Babcock, Vice President Adella Gray, Secretary Marolyn Fields, Past President Cathy Baird, Ned Irving, Steve Johnson, Rick Kirkpatrick, Ed Piper, Jerry Rose, Susan Rountree, Jane Shipley, Carol Spears, Sherry Young BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chuck Nickle, President Will Clark, Vice President LeRoy Duell, Treasurer Jack Mitchell, Secretary Chuck Culver, Tom Olmstead, Derrik Olsen, David Renfroe, Tim Stults, Beth Vaughan-Wrobel, Dave Williams, Jason Wilson, Marti Woodruff 1923 East Joyce Boulevard Fayetteville, AR 72703 Main: (479) 442-7220 Marketing: (479) 695-8056 butterfieldtrailvillage.org Butterfield LIFE may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission from the publisher. Butterfield LIFE is published by Butterfield Trail Village. Contents © 2026. All rights reserved. Produced by DOXA / VANTAGE doxavantage.com

As this hot summer fades into a welcome autumn, it feels like the season fits this moment in Butterfield’s history. Fall is when the results of a growing season are visible – when roots that have spread quietly for years reveal what has been built through the hard work of planning, investing and nurturing. We’re still anticipating the emergence of new color, and we know it’s going to be spectacular. That feels like the right lens for this issue. Rick Meyer embodies this with his 95 years that have carried him across the globe. His sharp, curious mind stays remarkably active through the academic relationships he still nurtures with former students – and with his many friends at Butterfield. Rick reminds us that a life well-rooted and tended continues to bear fruit for others to appreciate. You'll enjoy our cover story about him. We're investing in that same kind of longevity across campus, stretching ourselves to not only be relevant, but to thrive. Our new Pilates studio gives residents another way to build strength and vitality, and Butterfield Crossing — our newly named assisted living expansion — reflects that same commitment on a larger scale: a place created to help residents thrive for seasons to come. Fall reminds us to look back before we look forward. We're excited to host a special gala and screening of a new documentary chronicling the seeds originally planted to build Butterfield and the first 40 years that followed, a chance to celebrate the deep roots that have supported this community since it was no more than an idea. And as one season turns to the next, we will take the time to salute Roger Coker as he begins his retirement after years of valued service. We're grateful for the friendships he has planted with residents and coworkers, and we wish him a rich new chapter. Here's to growth, gratitude and a community that is enjoying the shade of trees planted by other generations – as we continue to plant our own.

Warmly, Kevin Spears President & CEO Butterfield Trail Village

Opened in 1986, Butterfield Trail Village is a locally governed 501(c)(3) non-profit retirement community. As Northwest Arkansas’ only comprehensive Life Plan Retirement Community, BTV offers active older adults worry-free living that is secure, independent and fulfilling – and the freedom to enjoy plentiful activities both inside and outside the Village. 4 BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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Because sometimes you just

NEED A NURSE!

SERVICES INCLUDE: Footcare (specializing in diabetics) Medication Management Post Surgical Care Wound Care Private Nursing Services (up to 24hrs a day) End of life/hospice care Medical Cannabis Education/care plans Life Enrichment Nursing Medical Travel (domestic and abroad) Owners Candi & Shawn / Trained Foot Care Nurses 25+ years of experience

479-225-5299 BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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Words by Michelle Parks Photos by Stephen Ironside

Rick Meyer An Adventure-Packed Life of Learning and Teaching

As Rick Meyer and his crew navigated their research vessel during a 1962 expedition to India, they struggled through a hurricane near Greenland and Iceland. Waves rose 60 feet high, and they had to chip ice off the boat to keep it from rolling over. He wore his life jacket for 13 days straight. Through his life and professional career, he’s tackled countless puzzles and research problems. That’s the scientist in him – practical, hands-on, always searching for the best solution. Now 95, Rick and his late wife, Mary Louise Meyer, moved to BTV 19 years ago. They had been married 62 years when she died in May 2022 at age 89. Since then, he’s leaned on his family, longtime friendships and a continued drive to learn. Rick’s many teaching and research appointments included a 29-year career at the University of Arkansas, where he taught courses in biological science, agronomy, civil engineering and environmental science. He directed the environmental science program, which, in 1972, was the first such undergraduate program in the country. Before the Buffalo River became a national river, he and his students floated a 75-mile stretch every other week for two years. They studied organisms growing on rocks and the water’s laminar flow – the smooth flow of fluid in layers. From that, they 6 BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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wrote the report on water quality and algae for the Department of the Interior, which assumed responsibility once it was designated the first national river in 1972. His research on Beaver Lake led him to contribute to the model for water management now used for reservoirs across the United States. He’s also researched the algae in the springs at Hot Springs National Park. “You find an interesting problem and work on a solution. Some things you can solve, some things you can’t. So, that’s why life’s an adventure,” he said. ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OPPORTUNITIES Rick grew up in the Depression between Independence and Kansas City, Missouri, on land where his parents saw opportunity. The family raised asparagus and raspberries for regional markets, and Rick and his sister did much of the farm chores. His dad was an electrical engineer, and his mom was a private executive assistant, who traveled the world. They later retired to Fayetteville and eventually to BTV. The family had more skills than money, and odd jobs found Rick throwing the local newspaper from his bicycle and rebuilding neighbors’ car engines with his dad in their basement. Through a union

FEATURE PROFILE apprentice program, Rick repaired steam and diesel engines in factories and even helped develop the machine that filled Bismarck donuts. Rick joined ROTC, became the rifle team captain and expected to serve in Japan during World War II. By the time he graduated high school early, the war had ended, and Rick trained on typewriters and adding machines in business college. Finding the business office confining, he went to Missouri Valley College to study biology, chemistry, math and education. Though his church pastor had hoped Rick would go into ministry, prayer and meditation led him to teaching. On the way, he became a statistical quality control engineer for Westinghouse. The job required Navy clearance, and they worked on jet engines in a steel room three stories underground. After that, Rick taught high school in Raytown, Missouri. In summers, he found a teaching program at the University of Minnesota. The research station was located at Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and a faculty member invited him to be his research assistant. He soon got a faculty position, responsible for the general biology program for freshmen. Rick researched single-cell organisms and developed a photographic developer that increased the speed and expanded the grayscale so he could photograph living cells. He was invited to write a paper on his research and present it at the International Botanical Congress in Montreal. He and his then-fiancée, Mary, moved up their wedding date so the trip could double as their honeymoon. “We’ve had just so much fun and so many blessings,” Rick said. “But opportunity shows up here and there, and you just take it. It’s always multiple choice.” TRAVELING THE WORLD FOR SCIENCE While at the University of Minnesota, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Rick was invited by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to go to India in 1962. He first spent that winter in Bermuda, about 650 miles off the North Carolina coast in the North Atlantic. He was chief scientist of an expedition on the Atlantis, a 120-foot wooden ketch that was converted to a research vessel. Their wooden vessel was key to them detecting whale sounds, which have the same frequency as metal ships. The whale sounds were published in

National Geographic, but they also captured the sounds of Russian ships going to Cuba. “I was there as a biologist to put a team together,” he said. “I had no control over what Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Khrushchev were doing, but we had an opportunity to contribute.” The team also took the converted presidential yacht Williamsburg through the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal to work in the Red Sea. With the newest technology, they were the first people to profile the bottom of the Red Sea and see the rift that separates Africa and Asia. He also studied the process that causes the blue-green algae in the Red Sea to die and turn the water red. On to India, the researchers worked with coastal populations along the Bay of Bengal and used their technologies to help them develop fisheries and techniques so they could add a marine food supply to their diet. “We were going into the great unknown. Everything we did was new, really exciting, every day,” he said. “So, you’re cautious, but adventuresome.” There, Rick isolated a single-cell organism, silicoflagellates, a type of algae, and was the first person to get it into culture so it could be examined under a microscope. He also developed a delicate procedure to do cellular surgery using the sharp edge of a crystal. A FOCUS ON HIS NEW HOME STATE After finishing his graduate degree at the University of Minnesota, Rick taught briefly at California State University. But he’d caught the research bug, and environmental interests were brewing in the late 1960s. He and Mary moved to Fayetteville in 1967, where he began teaching at the U of A. Mary taught elementary school, taking time away to raise their daughter, Jane. As Rick continued doing BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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FEATURE PROFILE research in Minnesota, the family lived in the woods at Lake Itasca. They enjoyed canoeing and hiking, and even climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska on July 4, 1976, for an American bicentennial climb. With family members, Rick had spent six weeks climbing and living on the side of the mountain. While living near Goshen, Rick joined the fire department, served as deputy fire chief and converted Army surplus trucks into brush trucks. He became an emergency medical technician, working in the emergency room off and on for 12 years, and served on the Central EMS board as chairman when they created a benefits system that retained trained paramedics, resulting in an increased save rate of patients. He also worked with CEMS and others to assign addresses for all rural routes and create the first enhanced 911 system in the state. Rick’s research ranged from electron microscopy and surgery on single cells to major projects, such as helping move the creek — and the trout — in Bella Vista from the bluff line to the middle of the golf course so the highway could be relocated and widened in that old creek bed. Working with the then-Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, Rick got a grant for researchers to study the streams and their connections to the state’s ecological diversity. He proposed the term “bio region” to more specifically describe this state – from the Boston and Ouachita mountains to the Delta area, from the Arkansas River Valley to the southern Gulf Coastal Plain. Arkansas became the first state to have water quality regions. He’s proud that many former environmental science students went on to work in state agencies, and says, “My greatest teachers were my students.” Rick also chaired a new pollution control committee for the City of Fayetteville. Focused on reducing the load on the waste incinerator, his environmental science students developed a pilot program for city residents to sort their trash. They managed a statistical sampling program across socioeconomic areas, and walked those neighborhoods, logging trash in the pre-dawn hours. The students’ report helped city officials project the full-scale needs and provided the seed for what became the current recycling program. 8 BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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By 1997, Rick wasn’t teaching classes but rather only supervising graduate students. After feeling unwell as he walked across campus, he had a heart attack in his office. This time, he was the patient riding in the ambulance. The UA president visited him at the hospital, and Rick decided to retire on the spot. Mary and Rick then moved to Portland, Oregon, for about 10 years, so they could watch their granddaughters grow up. While there, he served on a parochial school’s board, and Mary played the organ and harpsichord. One granddaughter is now a conservator at the British Museum in London, and the other is in the U.S. intelligence service. CONTINUING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Returning to Fayetteville in 2007, Mary and Rick knew they wanted to live at BTV. They selected a cottage so Rick could have a dedicated phone line for his work as the finance committee chairman for an organization in North Carolina. As treasurer, he managed an endowment fund for Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society. The society awarded $20 million a year in scholarships, grants and aid, and published American Scientist magazine, with Rick as publisher. After Mary became ill, the couple moved to their apartment to be near more BTV services, and he retired from the organization. Then they got more involved in church work, becoming charter members of three churches in Fayetteville, Prairie Grove and Lowell. Often, Mary played the organ, and he taught Bible classes. “Mary and I tended to be hands-on in our community service,” he said. “That’s part of the adventure.” In various leadership roles at BTV, he has enjoyed serving on the Resident Council, Finance Committee, Village Board and Foundation Board during a period of expansion and improvement at the Village. These days, Rick values the morning group that meets by the fireplace and discusses everything but politics and religion. In recent conversations around artificial intelligence (AI), he’s still learning from the unique perspectives of fellow residents with science and business backgrounds.

NEWCOMER VILLAGE NEWCOMER Q+A Q&A

Donna Dover & Ann Teague When did you move to BTV? Cinco de Mayo 2026 Where are you from? We are native Arkansans. Ann was born in Naylor and Donna in Fort Smith. Ann lived all over the state as a Methodist preacher’s daughter. Donna moved to Fayetteville in 1969 and considers it home. Her children attended Fayetteville public schools before college. What did you do before retirement? We met in 1976 while singing in the University of Arkansas Women’s Chorus. After Donna completed her BA at Hendrix College and her MA at the U of A, we moved to Washington, D.C. in 1980 for work. Donna spent her career in Administration and Training Development with the Department of Agriculture. Ann worked for the U.S. Navy and then taught English in the Fairfax school system for 17 years until retirement.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Anniversaries September Anniversaries Bob and Linda McMath 1st Bill and Jackie Curington 3rd Mort Gitelman and Nancy Garner 5th Dave and Susie Schroeder 5th Mike and Patty Stiles 6th Rick and LaVonne Kirkpatrick 17th Bob and Karen Hendrix 19th Bill and Lola Mae Shackelford 21st Bryce and Beth Hopkins 22nd John and Sally King 24th October Anniversaries Scott and Pam Covington Don and Linda Rutledge Marvin and Judy Higginbottom Tom and Linda Townsend John and Tamara Gilmour

Do you have children and grandchildren? Donna had two children: Miah and Mark. Unfortunately, Miah died in 2022. Mark lives in Ijamsville, Maryland, with his wife, Anne, and two sons. Ann has a son and three daughters. She also has three grandsons, two granddaughters and four great-grandsons.

New Neighbors

Why did you choose to come to Butterfield? After living on the East Coast for 30 years and returning to Fayetteville in retirement, we learned from friends about the many opportunities and activities offered at Butterfield. We were pleased with all we heard and took steps to become part of the BTV community. We also wanted to make our own decisions about this move which would relieve our children of the worry of caring for us as we age.

Arleen Olson Jim & Emily Bost Roger & Jessie Koeppe Dave & Susie Schroeder Brad Brandes David & Carolyn Newbern Roy & Carol Stanley Peg Konert

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Christa Ivy

Housekeeping Lead Details and Dreams – Butterfield is a Place to Belong Much of the most meaningful work in a senior community happens quietly, behind the scenes. Well-cared-for and clean residences, fresh household linens, confidence that trusted staff will treat personal belongings with respect – these day-to-day aspects may be easy to overlook or take for granted, but are essential to the comfort, dignity and peace of mind of every resident.

knew mattered to all of them,” she says. “I not only got a paycheck, I felt good.” Her work ethic caught the attention of Assistant Director of Facilities John Washington, who urged her to recognize she was “worth more than what she saw in the mirror.” He pushed her to grow. Partnering closely with her supervisor, Larry Coyle, has also inspired her and helped set her sights on doing more.

Butterfield’s Housekeeping Lead Christa Ivy understands this and takes it to heart – evidenced by the irrepressible warmth and kindness that shines through her smile and into her work. Leading by example and with the benefit of years of earned experience, Christa helps guide the team of staff who daily support approximately 430 residents in their own personal spaces. The job of a housekeeper calls for consistency, careful attention, consideration and trust. It also creates opportunities for genuine connection, the thing that means the most to Christa. She has found that dependable service becomes something more: a real relationship that residents and their families rely on. She cherishes those connections.

Thanks especially to John’s encouragement, Christa recently enrolled in courses to complete her high school diploma, with a dream of one day attending business school to take her career beyond its current scope. Such hopes once felt distant. Now, Christa says, “They’re closer. They’re more seeable today than they ever have been before.” Ask Christa what she loves most about Butterfield, and she doesn’t hesitate: “My favorite thing is the belonging. I have found a place to belong.” That warmth is something she works hard to pass along, even on hard days. Her husband’s health struggles – Christa Ivy have taught her to lean on her faith. “There’s a silver lining to everything,” she says. “Sometimes it’s very, very small, and you can’t see it yet. You just have to look for it.” She carries that outlook into work, choosing to demonstrate positivity rather than let any personal hardship show.

“My favorite thing is the belonging. I have found a place to belong.”

That trust first took root in Butterfield’s laundry room. Christa visited the campus one day, stopping by to see her husband’s aunt, Sandy Gullidge, who worked there. She was immediately struck by the residents she met in passing. Impressed and ready for a change after twenty years of doing the tough work of dry cleaning, she applied for a housekeeping job in hopes it could be an opportunity to get her in the door. Butterfield invited her to take a position in the laundry area. Christa brought order to an environment that had been running erratically and found an unexpected reward in hearing residents’ reactions to their freshly folded linens. “I see the older generation of women as the ones who paved my path for me. It wasn’t so easy for them. I was finally able to do something I 10 BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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Christa’s personal dreams are also feeling more within reach. She would love to travel and finally see a beach – perhaps in Florida, Georgia or California. Colorado, where she briefly lived when she was young, is calling her back. Her ideal trip might involve an RV, open road and time with her treasured granddaughter. Christa brings her generous spirit to everything she does, remembering that loving care is not only shown through grand gestures. It’s in the daily details, and in finding people willing to help you grow.

SAVE THE DATES

Featured Village Events COMING IN SEPTEMBER

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 | 5:30 PM PERFORMANCE HALL

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 | 7 PM PERFORMANCE HALL

40th Anniversary Luminary Series: Lighting the Way Gala

Resident Lecture Series – Perilous Times: Immigration and America’s Future

Celebrate Butterfield Trail Village’s 40th anniversary and legacy at the Lighting the Way Gala as we honor our past with eyes gazing forward toward a bright future. This elegant evening features a gourmet dinner and the exclusive premiere of a new historical documentary. The film honors the vision of Butterfield’s founders, as well as our heritage and role as the first retirement village of its kind in Northwest Arkansas. Dress in your finest attire to enjoy an evening of history, community and commemoration as we strengthen the bonds that unite us today. Reservations will be required and limited to current Butterfield residents.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, millions of voters fueled by fears over immigration rallied behind a candidate who vowed to end illegal immigration and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Now, well into the second year of the Trump presidency, immigration has become one of the defining and most divisive issues in American politics. Dr. William Schwab, Ph.D., author of Dreams Derailed, examines immigration policy, enforcement and national identity during Donald Trump’s second term. The discussion will move beyond the headlines to consider immigration law, mass deportation, economic effects, community impact and America’s future as a nation of immigrants.

COMING IN OCTOBER TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 11:30 AM PERFORMANCE HALL

Positively Pink Luncheon

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BTV will host a Positively Pink Luncheon featuring keynote speaker Gaye Cypert, breast cancer survivor and the inaugural president of the Susan G. Komen affiliate in Northwest Arkansas. All who have been touched by breast cancer as survivors, caregivers, friends or supporters are welcome and invited to share stories of strength and resilience.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13 10:30 AM BTV CAMPUS PARADE ROUTE & LODGE

40 and More: A Golden Celebration Parade

Continue celebrating Butterfield’s 40th year with a spectacular campus parade and chili lunch, created by Village residents and staff! This grand parade promises a vibrant display of BTV spirit, featuring classic cars, creative patriotic floats celebrating our nation’s 250th year and the fall season – enhanced by the energy and passion of our residents and employees. Feel pride as the ROTC Color Guard and local veterans lead a festive lineup of classic cars, floats, first responders and more. Invite friends and family to help cheer on our paraders, as we connect with neighbors and enjoy a beautiful Ozarks autumn day. After the parade, keep the fun going over a hearty lunch of chili and all your favorite toppings at the Lodge. (Rain date is October 15.) BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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VILLAGE SNAPSHOTS

Tribute to Friendship at Resident Forum:

Dedicating the Butterfield 40th Birthday Time Capsule for BTV residents of the future:

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Installation of a park bench in the Resident Row Garden, donated by Sherry Young to honor the memory of her husband, Jim Young:

Butterfield Village Tours visits Portugal and Spain:

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LIVING SPACES

Virginia Hargrove's Apartment

Famous interior designer William Baldwin Jr. once said, "Your home is a self portrait, whether you mean it to be or not." That sentiment rings true for Virginia Hargrove's apartment, with its welcoming vibe, thoughtful cozy spaces and the occasional touch of whimsy — like a motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing Betty Boop — objects that make you want to stop to learn more about the person who lives there.

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A lovely mid-century specimen helps to anchor the apartment's back wall, a dresser repurposed to serve as an eye-level display surface and to provide valuable storage for the living room – proof that Virginia lets her furniture earn its keep wherever her space benefits most. Happy houseplants flank the dresser, soaking up the generous natural light that streams through the adjacent window and sliding glass patio doors.

Virginia's design gift is restraint with personality: a flattering palette, art and objects she loves and furniture chosen for its character, not just how it matches. Another mid-century dresser original to a different era looks fresh and contemporary, thanks to her keen eye.

The popular One-Bedroom Deluxe floor plan allows every square foot to pull its weight. Virginia's bedroom is an example of how a relatively modest-sized room can feel both spacious and settled when curated with simple patterns and calm, neutral colors that prevent the overall look from ever feeling crowded. Carrying through from other areas of her apartment, Virginia's appreciation for Art Deco shows up in her choices of wonderful framed pieces throughout, enhanced by the simplicity of the surrounding light, bright choice of wall color.

Bright and unfussy, Virginia's kitchen proves that fullsize appliances and meaningful counter space can fit comfortably and seamlessly into apartment living. Ample storage allows room for all the tools needed to cook whatever she likes, and her nearby drop-leaf table offers space to host friends for coffee, cocktails or a few tasty bites.

Just outside, a private patio functions as another room entirely. Cushions, pops of color, and a few well-tended blooms turn this ground floor spot into a favorite vantage point to view the nearby courtyard – and a way to easily come and go to other campus locations.

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STAFF MILESTONE

“It Was Never Just About the Driving”

Roger Coker Readies for Retirement When Roger Coker pulled his car over on Joyce Boulevard in early 2020 to take a call about a job he had applied for, he wasn’t dressed to interview. New to the Fayetteville area, he wasn’t even sure where he was headed – just out on an errand, when Butterfield called. He was asked if he would consider coming by for an interview on the spot, since he was so nearby. He agreed, and that led to a second interview. As he walked to his car afterward, Michael Burks, the transportation team’s leader, came jogging out behind him, yelling, “Come back in! We want to hire you!” Six-and-a-half years later, Roger — Butterfield’s “Driver Extraordinaire” — is retiring. He’ll tell you the same thing he tells anyone who asks what makes BTV special. “It was never really just about the driving.” “This is a lot more personal,” Roger says, comparing it to all the years he spent delivering flowers and freight before landing at Butterfield. He drove trucks and buses, hauled wholesale floral orders all over the region. Nothing prepared him for what it would mean to spend his days transporting much more precious cargo: senior citizens who chose Butterfield as their retirement home. It started during his first week on the job. Standing in The Bistro, Roger heard a voice call his name – he recognized resident Janice Umberger instantly. They went to church together years earlier in his hometown of Searcy, Ark. It wouldn’t be the last small-world moment. Roger’s childhood friend and paper route buddy years later ended up as the neighbor of a Butterfield couple. His own parents, still in Searcy, were known by people who lived just down the hall from Roger’s desk. “People make this place,” Roger says. “You can go to church and see people for years, meet new people all the time, but you won’t ever get to hear the in-depth history like you do with the residents here.”

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That depth comes with a price he has never tried to hide. Roger speaks openly about getting attached – about the residents he loves, and those whose passing he has mourned. He’s learned to read a room, to consider each face that appears in the door of the vehicle he’s driving. Who is having a good day, who could benefit from someone slowing down to meet them halfway. Over 400 residents, he says, means 400-plus people who might need him at any moment – and he would never trade the unpredictability of it for anything simpler. What Roger will miss most is exactly what drew him in: the people. And, what he’s looking forward to in retirement is just as clear. He and his wife, Robin, live down a gravel road on their property in the unincorporated community of Hogeye. He cherishes seven grandchildren who call him “Podger,” some of whom are lucky to live on that same stretch of family land. He keeps a mental list of what he wants to build for those grandkids: hiking trails, a pond, native trees he’s begun to plant. There’s a six-yearold little boy, he says, who won’t put down a fishing rod, and Roger intends to be there for each cast. He plans to attend every child’s ball game he can possibly pack onto a calendar. He’s told Michael he’ll help part-time after the newness of retirement wears off — but only if he can be the ever-present grandpa he intends to be — and supportive son to aging parents a few hours away who may need him at a moment’s notice. Roger is reveling in the idea of a future when he chooses where his time goes. Asked what he’d want someone to understand about Butterfield, Roger shakes his head, grins his signature broad, lopsided smile and answers without hesitation, “These people.” After safely logging untold thousands of miles with his passengers, listening to countless life stories, that’s his whole answer. Because he means it deeply from his very big heart, it’s precisely the reason Roger Coker will be so deeply missed.

CAMPUS UPDATE

Names to Honor the Past and Future Introducing Butterfield Crossing, The Carriage House and The Landing A name does more than mark a place – it shapes how we feel once we’re there. Thoughtful placemaking begins as much with the words we choose as with the walls we build. As construction progress continues for Butterfield’s assisted living expansion, we’re proud to share the names we have chosen for three meaningful new spaces.

Each name draws inspiration from the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail that ran directly through our area until the outbreak of the Civil War forced the route to shut down in the Spring of 1861. These names are not a literal reproduction of frontierera terminology but are a way of paying homage to the spirit of the Trail: journey, arrival, gathering and connection. Here’s what each one means to us.

BUTTERFIELD CROSSING Our new assisted living building takes its name from the idea of a crossing – a place along life’s journey where people find activity, associations and community. Along the historic Trail, places like Emigrant Crossing and Horsehead Crossing marked points where travelers paused, gathered and moved forward together. Butterfield Crossing will exemplify that same kind of spirit as a new chapter of life on our campus unfolds.

THE CARRIAGE HOUSE The full renovation of our current assisted living cottage will create a collection of several new independent living apartments called The Carriage House. Historically, a carriage house was a distinctive, cozy retreat set beside a larger home – its own space, with its own charm, yet always connected to the life around it. These residences will build a unique identity of their own yet remain intrinsically woven into everyday life across the Butterfield campus.

THE LANDING Inside Butterfield Crossing, our new restaurant will be a hub of activity and a comfortable place to rest or revitalize: The Landing. A landing represents a place of safe arrival, warmth and familiar faces. It’s a nod to journeys both historic and personal, and to the simple comfort found in finally reaching a place you wanted to go.

Visual concepts shown are meant to serve only as representations. The final look of the expansion project is certain to evolve prior to its completion.

These names aren’t intended to serve as a history lesson; they’re meant to be an invitation. And creating a sense of place is not simply about design or construction, but about nurturing the life that will happen there – neighbors we’ll meet, laughs and tears we’ll share, welcoming spaces that will become part of every resident’s own Butterfield story.

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OUT & ABOUT

Symphony of Northwest Arkansas

Launches New Era with 2026-27 Season

Akiko Fujimoto Takes the Stage as SoNA’s New Music Director

A new era is set to begin for the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) with its 2026-27 MainStage season – the first under newly appointed Music Director Akiko Fujimoto. Tickets and subscriptions are now on sale for six concert programs at Walton Arts Center. “We could not be more excited to begin a new era of SoNA with Akiko Fujimoto as our Music Director,” says SoNA Executive Director Ben Harris. “After a long season of searching, we are thrilled to have found a conductor who displays outstanding musicianship on the podium, a deeply thoughtful approach to programming, and a remarkable ability to connect with the audience.” Fujimoto was selected following SoNA’s muchcelebrated 2025-26 “Season of Discovery,” which featured six guest conductors, including four finalists for the Music Director position. She first conducted SoNA in January 2026, leading the orchestra in Across the Silk Road: Scheherazade, before being announced as its new artistic leader in May. “My first season with SoNA is one giant love letter to Northwest Arkansas,” says Fujimoto. “I’ve curated a season of masterpieces that celebrate the artistry of our musicians while reflecting the beauty, imagination and energy of Northwest Arkansas.”

Akiko Fujimoto

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Chelsea Tipton

Creston Herron

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The season begins Saturday, Oct. 3 with Rites of Renewal: The Firebird, Fujimoto’s first concert as SoNA’s Music Director. Inspired by ritual, celebration and transformation, the program includes Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, Copland’s spirited Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo and the exhilarating Bacchanale from Saint-Saëns’ Samson and Delilah. Stravinsky’s legendary The Firebird Suite will bring the evening to a powerful conclusion. On Sunday, Nov. 8, guest conductor Chelsea Tipton will take audiences on a cinematic journey with Modern Mythology: The Music of John Williams. The Sunday matinee will feature a selection of iconic film and television music by the great living American composer, from the heartpounding sounds of Jaws, E.T. and Star Wars to the moving melodies of Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. The magic of the holidays returns on Saturday, Dec. 12 with two performances of A Very SoNA Christmas. Guest conductor Creston Herron will lead SoNA musicians, the SoNA Singers and special guest soloists in a joyful program filled with holiday favorites. Then on Sunday, Dec. 13, SoNA Assistant Conductor Sarah Pearson leads The Snowman: A Family Concert, featuring the beloved animated film The Snowman with its enchanting orchestral soundtrack performed live.

Sarah Pearson

Sean Chen

Winona Fifield

The season continues into the new year on Sunday, Feb. 21 with Fate & Triumph: Beethoven’s Fifth. Opening the program is Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, inspired by Beethoven’s enduring spirit of resilience. Van Cliburn International Piano Competition medalist Sean Chen then joins SoNA for Prokofiev’s dazzling Piano Concerto No. 3, before Fujimoto and the orchestra culminate the concert with Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5.

Step into the Magic Apply today at theatre.uark.edu

SoNA closes the season Saturday, April 10 with Eternal City: Pines of Rome, a program inspired by the beauty and grandeur of the natural world. Wagner’s Forest Murmurs evokes the mystery of the woodland, while William Grant Still’s The American Scene: A Mountain, a Memorial, and a Song paints a vivid musical portrait of the American landscape. SoNA Concertmaster Winona Fifield then takes the spotlight in Vaughan Williams’ beloved The Lark Ascending, followed by Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet. And Respighi’s spectacular Pines of Rome brings the season to a thrilling close. All performances take place in Walton Arts Center’s Baum Walker Hall. Single tickets start at $42. Full-season subscriber packages start at $195 and include all five MainStage concerts (excluding The Snowman), offering prime seating options and a savings of approximately 10 percent per ticket. Sampler subscriptions start at $114 and allow patrons to choose three or four MainStage performances at a reduced cost. Tickets for The Snowman are $10.

To learn more, visit sonamusic.org or call the Walton Arts Center box office at (479) 443-5600. BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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ENTERTAINMENT

Davina & the Vagabonds

Isabella Isherwood

Huntertones

Enjoy an Intimate Night of Live Music at Walton Arts Center By Isaiah Bliss Some music is best enjoyed live in an intimate setting, and Walton Arts Center’s Starr Theater is the perfect backdrop for this kind of listening experience. For jazz, singer-songwriter and American songbook fans, three unique series — West Street Live, Songbook Salon and Starrlight Jazz Club — offer an unparalleled opportunity to hear favorite artists or experience new sounds, all kicking off this month. Choose from tiered or cabaret seating for each show – either way, each of the three series offers a smaller, private setting to evoke the atmosphere of neighborhood listening rooms and nightclubs. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

WEST STREET LIVE Presented by Neal Pendergraft This fan-favorite series shines the spotlight on singer-songwriters performing a variety of genres from traditional roots music to immigrant folk songs and bluegrass standards. Here is what to expect: Henhouse Prowlers | Friday, Sept. 11 Inspiring storytelling and bluegrass takes on international tunes Carlene Carter | Thursday, Oct. 1 Cash family member merges Nashville with rock ‘n’ roll Adam Hood | Friday, Nov. 6 A fusion of country grit and Southern soul The Wooten Brothers Thursday, Nov. 19 All the Wooten musicians in one place for one night only Davina & the Vagabonds Saturday, April 3 Edgy nostalgia for older generations and fresh, new music for younger ears Nashville Songwriters Saturday, April 24 Hear from the talent behind some of today’s top country hits

SONGBOOK SALON

STARRLIGHT JAZZ CLUB

This new concert series curated by Champian Fulton pays homage to the Great American Songbook performed exclusively by worldclass vocalists. Each of the three intimate evenings will unfold in an atmosphere of elegance, where notes of Porter, Gershwin, Berlin and Ellington will come alive. Here is the vibe of each show:

The accomplished artists in the 2026-27 Starrlight Jazz Club series are known for lending their skills to award-winning projects and for pioneering their unique takes on the jazz genre. Experience the exhilaration of live jazz performed in the intimate ambiance it deserves with cabaret-style seating.

From Cole Porter to Bob Dylan featuring Isabella Isherwood Thursday, Sept. 10 Jazz standards and favorite tunes brought to life Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared featuring the Champian Fulton Trio Saturday, March 13 A celebration of Big Band singing women and legends Let’s Be Frank featuring Sachal Vasandani & The Christian Tamburr Trio Thursday, May 6 The stylings and sounds of Frank Sinatra

Matthew Whitaker Trio Saturday, Sept. 12 2026 Grammy® winner for best instrumental arrangement Simon Moullier Trio with Alex Claffy and Steve Pruitt | Friday, Oct. 2 An entirely new approach and sound on the vibraphone Huntertones | Friday, Jan. 15 Bold arrangements and the spirit of improv keep this returning fanfavorite fresh Noah Preminger Quartet Saturday, Feb. 20 A thoughtful, expressive approach to original works and the timeless American Songbook Edward Simon Trio | Friday, April 23 Jazz innovator explores the rich connection between jazz and Latin American traditions

Subscriptions for each series get you the best seat at the best price for all the shows in the series. Or pick and choose shows you are in the mood to see. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now at waltonartscenter.org or by calling (479) 443-5600. 20 BUTTERFIELD LIFE

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OZARK HISTORY

A Palace of a Theater Opened a Century Ago on the Fayetteville Square By Sandra Cox Birchfield, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History The building boasted a 21-foot-tall flashing sign powered by 500 electric lights. Inside, a majestic pipe organ with 15-foot-high chambers provided a striking visual. The venue’s new owner, W.F. Sonneman, hired an experienced organist from Texas to play the giant curiosity while silent movies rolled. When Sonneman held a contest to name his new theater on the Fayetteville square’s east side, judges selected Elizabeth Lawrence’s entry: “From time immemorial, buildings have been called palaces because of their beauty and grandeur. Why, then, should not Fayetteville’s ‘Palace,’ constructed of carved stone, polished marble, tile floors, furnishing music from the most musical instrument and producing pictures conforming with these surroundings, be called ‘Palace’? Let’s call it Palace!”

free tickets in exchange for automobile tires with “holes or no holes.” In 1957, it presented the dark road show documentary, Killers All. The theater’s lobby and front entrance featured the car in which Bonnie and Clyde were killed, a replica of an electric chair that executed the kidnapper of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s baby and life-size wax figures of people “whose story will be told.” In the years that followed, the Palace phased out movies and became a live country music venue before shuttering in 1974. It and adjacent buildings were torn down and replaced by the First National Bank of Fayetteville. That bank is gone, but the structure at 1 East Ave. remains, housing a variety of offices, businesses and operations.

She won $10. The Palace Theatre opened on Oct. 21, 1926. People lined up to see the recently released motion picture, The Son of the Sheik, starring Rudolph Valentino, whom fans still mourned as he had died only two months earlier. A local tenor by the name of Charles McGill, accompanied by the new organist, introduced the movie by singing the “Kashmiri Love Song,” a number popularized by Valentino. The evening’s two showings sold out with 1,600 viewers, roughly a quarter of Fayetteville’s then-population. The Palace Theatre thrived. It screened popular movies of the day, such as My Little Chickadee, starring W.C. Fields, The Fountainhead and Cheaper by the Dozen. Gimmicks and hyped-up promotions were also a part of the cinema experience. In 1936, 46 sets of twins received free tickets to see The Country Doctor, featuring the Dionne Quintuplets. In 1942, as part of the ration effort connected to World War II, the Palace offered

By the early 1970s, when this photo was taken, the Palace Theatre’s vertical sign was gone, and the awning was replaced with a marquee. In its final years, the Palace Theatre stopped showing movies and became home to the Arkansas Country Opry music venue.

A large sign and awning were part of the Palace Theatre’s exterior in its early days, as shown in this 1930s photograph. 21

FITNESS & WELLNESS

Bringing Pilates to Butterfield A New Studio, A Century-Old Method

This fall, BTV welcomes a fully equipped Pilates studio to campus — five reformers, five springboards, a Cadillac, chair and barrels — providing a professional-grade wellness resource that meets people right where they are on the fitness and mobility spectrum. Developed a century ago by Joseph Pilates, the method he called "Contrology" was created to build strength, balance and control through precise, mindful movement. Unlike traditional weight machines that isolate single muscles, the reformer trains the body as an integrated system using springs to provide assistance when movement is difficult – and resistance when more challenge is needed. That adaptability is a key to how Pilates is so beneficial for older adults. WHY IT MATTERS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE As we age, strength is measured less by how much we can lift and more by how well we move through daily life: rising from a chair without our hands, climbing stairs with confidence, recovering balance after a stumble, carrying groceries or keeping pace with others. Pilates supports these exact skills, and research shows it can improve balance, posture, flexibility and core strength while reducing fall risk. And Pilates is easily modified for those managing arthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson's, joint replacements or back pain.

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WHAT THE STUDIO WILL OFFER The new space will support small-group reformer classes, individual instruction, fall-prevention programming, balance and posture training, core and pelvic floor strengthening, Parkinson's-specific exercise, and functional movement training – focusing on quality of movement over quantity. GROWING FROM EARLIER ROOTS Wellness Director Jennifer Neill has taught Pilates for over 30 years, helping to bring the method to Northwest Arkansas early in her career. In fact, the Butterfield studio equipment has actually come full circle – as it is the same machinery Jennifer originally installed at Fayetteville Athletic Club. The BTV wellness team has completed Balanced Body Reformer training together, ensuring their instruction on the use of the studio is grounded in experience and current best practices. As Joseph Pilates himself put it, "Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness." This new studio brings Butterfield a new space to build strength, resilience and confidence – and to discover it's never too late to move better.

FOUNDATION DONATIONS

The Butterfield Trail Village Foundation is grateful for the gifts received between June 11, 2026 and August 13, 2026, from the following donors: Assisted Living Fund

Special Care Fund

Vicki Knight in memory of Don Hunnicutt

Kay Brewer in memory of Bernie Daniels Ned & Cathy Irving in memory of Ray Culver

Beautification Fund Nick & Jerilyn Nicholson in memory of Bernie Daniels

Tree Fund

Birds & Wildlife Fund

Patty Goyette in honor of the Butterfield Grounds Department

Barbara Brannan in memory of Dorothy Mitchelson

Ellis & Kay Melton in memory of Gene & Louise Melton and Herman & Lois Miller

Randall & Rhoda Woods in honor of Tom Olmstead

Employee Care Fund Philip Zweig in honor of the Butterfield Staff

Gardens Fund

Unrestricted Fund Cottage Residents Group in honor of Patty & Mike Stiles

Lyle & Sue Gohn in memory of Bernie Daniels

LeAnn Underwood in honor of Lacy Baughman and the BTV Maintenance Department

Health Care Center Fund

Bimmy Currie in memory of Joan Armstrong, Bernie Daniels, Sid Davis and George Knight

Sandi Villinski in memory of George Knight Jerre Jouett in memory of Cecy Rice, George Knight, Linda Denson, Bernie Daniels and Donna Epley Ned & Cathy Irving in memory of Bernie Daniels and George Knight

Ned & Cathy Irving in memory of Don Hayes and Bill Currie Pat Jahoda in memory of Dorothy Mitchelson and Bernie Daniels AJ & Florence Anglin in memory of George Knight

Deb Santeford in memory of Bernie Daniels

Judy & Jim Cole in memory of Cecy Rice

Vernon Collins in memory of Bernie Daniels

Collier Drug Stores Inc. in memory of Bernie Daniels

Sandi Villinski in memory of Bernie Daniels

Barbara Brannan in memory of Bernie Daniels

Gaye Cypert

Barbara Counce in memory of Bernie Daniels

Music & Performance Fund

Christine Klinger in memory of Bernie Daniels LeAnn Underwood in memory of Bernie Daniels

Nancy Shelor in memory of Bernie Daniels

Jim & June Hays in memory of Bernie Daniels

Ellis & Kay Melton

Roy Clinton in memory of Bernie Daniels

Scholarship Fund

Ann Marie Ziegler in memory of Bernie Daniels Pat Cornish in memory of Bernie Daniels

Nancy Shelor in memory of Bernie Daniels

Jane Shipley in memory of Bernie Daniels

Linda Pinkerton in memory of Bernie Daniels

Scott & Pam Covington in memory of Bernie Daniels

Gaye Cypert

Wulfran & Ingrid Polonius

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2026/27 Walton Arts Center Single Tickets On Sale Now!

2026 SEPTEMBER The Outsiders Sept. 1-6 From Cole Porter to Bob Dylan featuring Isabella Isherwood Sept. 10 Henhouse Prowlers Sept. 11 Matthew Whitaker Trio Sept. 12 Jake Shimabukuro Sept. 16 Trout Fishing in America 50th Anniversary Tour Kickoff Sept. 24 OCTOBER Carlene Carter Oct. 1 Simon Moullier Trio with Alex Claffy and Steve Pruitt Oct. 2 The War And Treaty Oct. 7 Bored Teachers: Is It Friday Yet?! Comedy Tour! Oct. 10 Dirty Dancing: The Musical Oct. 21-25 Good Co Oct. 28 NOVEMBER Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE Nov. 1 Neko Case: Neon Grey Midnight Green Tour Nov. 2 Nurse Blake: But Did You Die? Comedy Tour Nov. 4 The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration Nov. 5 Adam Hood Nov. 6 Time for Three Nov. 10 Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band Nov. 15

Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band

Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat - Live on Stage!

Choir! Choir! Choir! presents Landslide: An EPIC Fleetwood Mac Singalong! Nov. 18 Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers Nov. 19 Jersey Boys Nov. 27-29 DECEMBER Leslie Odom, Jr. The Christmas Tour 2026 Dec. 1 Mariachi Herencia de México: A Mariachi Christmas Dec. 3 Cirque Dreams Holidaze Dec. 4-6 Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol Dec. 8 SoNA & WAC present The Snowman: A Family Concert Dec. 13 Buena Vista Social Club™ Dec. 15-20 The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical Dec. 22

2027 JANUARY Dover Quartet Jan. 7 Huntertones Jan. 15 Twilight in Concert Jan. 16 STOMP Jan. 30-31 FEBRUARY Hadestown Feb. 5-7 Aquila Theatre’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Feb. 17

Noah Preminger Quartet Feb. 20 The Notebook Feb. 24-28 MARCH An Evening with Samara Joy March 5 Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat - Live on Stage! March 10 Tall Stories’ The Gruffalo March 11 Piano Battle March 12 Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared featuring Champian Fulton Trio March 13 Cirque Kalabanté: WOW (World of Words) March 14 Chanticleer: A Cappella Classics March 31

Buena Vista Social Club™

Davina & the Vagabonds April 3 Parsons Dance April 6 The Sound of Music April 13-18 Edward Simon Trio April 23 Nashville Songwriters April 24 Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents World on a String: Swinging Songs of Broadway April 25 An Evening with David Sedaris April 27 Kinky Boots April 30-May 2 MAY Let’s Be Frank: Celebrating the Frank Sinatra Small Group Songbook featuring Sachal Vasandani & The Christian Tamburr Trio May 6 Diamond Awards May 23 Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical May 25-30 JUNE Beetlejuice June 4-6 JULY Just In Time July 6-11 Parsons Dance

APRIL Tutti Frutti’s The Boy Who Cried Wolf April 1 John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell: Salute to Ella SCAN FOR Fitzgerald, Joe Pass & Oscar OUR CURRENT Peterson April 2 CALENDAR LISTING

Series Sponsors

West Street Live Presented by Neal Pendergraft | Songbook Salon supported in honor of Mary Ann Greenwood from her family