Wayne Bell closes out his personal entertainment picks of 2012 by discussing his favorite books and plays of the year.
Ozarks At Large
Arvest Bank announces its acquisition of several Bank of America branch banks, a famous Fort smith restaurant announces its plans for reopening, and the city of Fayetteville looks to trade paper for pixels.
On its surface, today's week in review may look like a retread of last week's, but these education stories offer a twist of innovation.

A new book collects scores of photographs of the history of Siloam Springs, including a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt.
For more on the Siloam Springs Museum, click here.
Professional baseball was in northwest Arkansas in the 1930s. The nearly-forgotten league is the subject of an upcoming book.

Here are the eleven elements of today's Christmas tree montage:
- Miles Davis' version of "O Christmas Tree"
- Mr. Wilson volunteers to cut down a tree in a 1961 episode of "Dennis the Menace"
- The Griswald Family goes a long way for the perfect tree in "Christmas Vacation"
- Brenda Lee's classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
- Charlie Brown selects a tiny, sad tree in the "CHarlie Brown Christmas Special"
- Tchaikovsky's "Christmas Tree" from "The Nutcracker Suite"
- Cindy Lou Who questions the Grinch
- Zuzu explains that bell ornament on the tree at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life"
- Elvis and "Blue Christmas"
- Festivus revealed on a classic episode of "Seinfeld"
- Wynton Marsalis gives "O Christmas Tree" a bit of New Orleans bounce
In a growing area such as Northwest Arkansas, schools are bound to make the news. The past week was full of education stories involving money in one way or another. Ozarks at Large’s Timothy Dennis takes a look back at a few of those stories.
Ground will be broken early this new year on a much-anticipated Northwest Arkansas highway project, known as the “Fayetteville Flyover” which will create easy access from North College Avenue to both the mall district and Interstate 540.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks: it's primary election day in Arkansas, and Roby Brock talks to three Republicans who are vying for their party's nomination for attorney general. Plus, the City of Fayetteville is looking toward the future as Baby Boomers continue to age. A new project wants the city to become an age-friendly place. And, in our monthly series on technology, we visit the VA hospital in Fayetteville, where new solar arrays aim to make the facility more sustainable.
The references used in the montage are as follows:
The Andrews Sisters singing the classic "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree.
Matt Damon taunts a rival in Good Will Hunting.
"Pink Cadillac" by Bruce Springsteen.
Snow white gets bad advice in the classic Disney telling of the tale.
Roger Miller's version of "Little Green Apples."
Sean Penn in Into the Wild.
Peter Brady prepares his Humphrey Bogart impression in an episode of The Brady Bunch.
Charlie Parker Performs the jazz standard "Scrapple From the Apple."
Those mean trees scare Dorothy and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. (free apples, though)
Eureka Springs illusionist Sean Paul will attempt multiple escapes from confinement this month in honor of Harry Houdini's birthday. Becca Martin Brown gives us all the details.
"Houdini" by Kaki King
Bentonville receives insight into why a proposed millage increase failed, Ozark tries to get a railroad crossing near its riverfront, and the Northwest Arkansas economy is trending in an upward direction.
"Eighteen Wheels" by Norton Buffalo
Housing numbers and other economic news analyzed by Michael Tilley from TheCityWire.com
Seedling Film Association prepares for the third year of its Offshoot Film Fest next week.
Web Exclusive: Offshoot Film Festival - Three More Questions
"Six Marimbas" by Steve Reich