Editor’s Note: To submit items to our calendar of events, email pbcnews@pbcommercial.com, fax 870-534-0113 or bring announcements to 300 S. Beech St., Pine Bluff. To view more calendar items, visit http://pbcommercial.com/news/local/calendar-events
Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends open
The Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends is open at Regional Park. For the 22nd season, the Pine Bluff Festival Association is presenting the state’s largest drive-through holiday lights display which will be open from 6-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. Details: Contact Kerry Battle, director of the Pine Bluff Festival Association, 870-209-0186.
Tuesday, Dec. 25
Free Community Christmas Potluck set
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Ryan Watley recently announced that the 10th annual Community Christmas Potluck will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 25. The free meal will be served at the Pine Bluff High School cafeteria. The event is open to the public and participants may also prepare items to share, according to a news release.
Beginning Thursday, Dec. 27
King Cotton Holiday Classic
The King Cotton Holiday Classic will be held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center Dec. 27-29. Nine boys basketball teams from seven states will compete including Arkansas teams Jacksonville High School and Pine Bluff High School, which won the 2015 6A state championship.
Through Monday, Dec. 31
Chamber extends deadline for Junior Leadership applications
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce has extended the deadline for high school sophomores to apply for the 2019 Junior Leadership Pine Bluff Class. The application deadline is Monday, Dec. 31, for the program sponsored by the Chamber. Applications are available at the Chamber, 510 Main St. The program gives students an overview of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, focusing on local government, education, economic development, quality of life and social skills, a spokesman said. The first session will be held Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at the Alliance/Chamber. Details: Mandy Owens, mowens@pinebluffchamber.com or the Chamber, 870-535-0110.
Curated women artists’ registry seeks applications
The Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (ACNMWA) is taking applications for its curated online registry of Arkansas women artists, according to a news release. The deadline to apply is Monday, Dec. 31. Female artists who are native Arkansans, residents of Arkansas at the time of application, or included in the most recent Arkansas Women to Watch Exhibition hosted by the ACNMWA, are invited to submit their application at http://acnmwa.org/artist-registry/.
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019
Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting set
The Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the Grand Prairie Center at Stuttgart, Arkansas. The event is a joint meeting of the Arkansas Rice Council and Arkansas Rice Farmers, according to a news release. The session will be the largest gathering of rice farmers and industry representatives from the Arkansas River Valley to the Mississippi Delta, from Louisiana to Missouri, according to the release. Participants are urged to join farmers and industry experts to discuss the Farm Bill, upcoming legislative session, estate planning and other issues. There will also be an industry trade show as well as a free catfish lunch. The deadline to register is Dec. 14. Details: http://arkansasrice.org/annualmeeting/ or https://form.jotform.com/83155062122143 .
AG mobile office to visit Grant County
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s mobile office locations will include Grant County. Staff will visit the Grant County Cooperative Extension Service at Sheridan from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8. Law enforcement officials will also be on hand to collect unused and expired prescription medications to ensure they are secured and properly disposed. The mobile offices assist constituents with consumer related issues by filing consumer complaints against scam artists as well as answering questions about the office and the other services it offers, according to a news release. Details: ArkansasAG.gov, 501-682-2007, facebook.com/AGLeslieRutledge and at twitter.com/AGRutledge.
Saturday, Jan. 12
Gillett Coon Supper, Berry scholarship reception set
Plans are underway for a reception benefiting the Marion and Carolyn Berry Scholarship and the 76th annual Gillett Coon Supper, according to a news release. On Saturday, Jan. 12, the eighth annual “Berry Pre-Coon Supper Reception” will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Berry Farm Shop in Gillett followed at 6:30 p.m. by the Gillett Coon Supper at the Gillett School Gymnasium. Tickets are $30 each for the pre-supper reception at the Berry farm shop. Reception ticket details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2542720322412626/ Tickets to the coon supper may be purchased by contacting Larry Bauer at 870-830-4002.Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
Thursday, Jan. 24
Chamber’s annual dinner meeting to feature Chris Masingill
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 annual dinner meeting will feature keynote speaker Chris Masingill, former co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority. The formal dinner event will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Tickets are $60 each or $600 for a table seating eight, according to a news release. Planning is underway and limited sponsorships are available for the Chamber’s annual dinner meeting. Seating will be limited, so participants are urged to make plans to attend. Details: Nancy McNew, 870-535-0110.
Tuesday, Feb. 5
IP/Evergreen retirees to meet
The International Paper/Evergreen Packaging Retirees will meet from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the auditorium of the Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative, 912 W. Sixth Ave. All mill retirees are invited to attend. There will be a guest speaker. The January meeting has been canceled, according to a news release. Details: 870-534-7094.
Friday, Feb. 15
Jewel Foundation, Alpha Phi Alpha to present All Black Affair
The Southeast Arkansas Jewel Foundation, in conjunction with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Lamda Chapter, will present An All Black Affair with a Touch of Gold. The gala will be held at 7:06 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The ceremony will honor outstanding community jewels: Dr. Stephen Broughton, Marguerite Flannigan, Lula Gray, Bessie Lancelin, George Makris, Chuck Morgan and Tom Reilley. Rice First Class will cater the event. Tickets are $25 each or $250 for a table of 10 people. Sponsorship levels are Jewel $500; Old Gold $499-$250; and Black $249-$100. Tickets are $25 or $250 for a table of 10 people. Sponsorship levels are Jewel $500; Old Gold $499-$250; and Black $249-$100. Details: Gregory Murray, 870-550-4281.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Parent center’s community computer lab available
The Pine Bluff School District’s Title I Parent & Family Resource Center’s community computer lab is available for use by parents, teachers, students and the community, according to a news release. Located in the Jordan-Chanay Administrative Center at 1215 W. Pullen St., the lab will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon (excluding holidays.) Details: Parent Center Coordinator Freddie Jolivette, 850-2008/2009.
Bloom Tennis Center to host free tennis lessons
The Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor free tennis lessons for youth and adults at the Bloom Tennis Center in Central Park, 2101 S. Hickory St. Lessons will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program began Aug. 14. Classes will be instructed by a tennis coach. Participants may register on site. For details on the Bloom Tennis Center and programs contact the Parks and Recreation at 870-536-0920 or email saracenlanding@att.net.
Tuesdays and Saturdays
Saracen Landing Farmers Market open
The Saracen Landing Farmers Market at Pine Bluff is open Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Department has received a grant for the SNAP (food stamps) Double Buck Program at the Saracen Landing Farmers Market. Under the Double Buck program, for every dollar participants spend with their SNAP EBT Card, they will double their bucks, according to a news release. Details: 870-536-0920 or email saracenlanding@att.net.
On-going events
SBA disaster loans available; deadline May 6, 2019
Small nonfarm businesses in 11 Arkansas counties are eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to a Sept. 10 news release. The deadline to apply for economic injury is May 6, 2019. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by hail and high winds that occurred July 20-21, 2018, in these primary counties: Arkansas and Monroe; and neighboring counties: Desha, Jefferson, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Phillips, Prairie, St. Francis and Woodruff. By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The secretary declared this disaster on Sept. 5, 2018. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Mondays
Star Steppers plan square dance lessons
Star Steppers Square Dance Club of Pine Bluff is offering three free square dance lessons. After completing the free lessons, the cost is $3 per week per person. The club meets every Monday from 7-9 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 6300 Trinity Drive. Men, women, teens, singles and couples are invited and participants don’t need special clothing or shoes. Details: 540-6773.
Monday night line dance class
The Monday night line dance class will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Monday at First United Methodist Church, 200 W. Sixth Ave. Interested participants are urged to come out and have fun, spokeswoman Juanita Tompkins said.
Wednesdays and Fridays
Unity slates girls program
Unity Christian Fellowship Church, 2712 S. Bay St., will host a program for girls ages 12 to 17 at 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. The program is called SAFETY (Saving Adolescent Females Empowering Today’s Youth.) Topics will include self-respect, dating, dressing properly, self-esteem, avoiding dangerous situations, future planning, preventing adolescent pregnancy, physical fitness, health and character. After each meeting, the program will feature sessions on hair, make-up and nail painting. Details: 870-592-9136 or 870-209-2644.
Free financial seminars
Free small business financial planning and management classes are held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Unity Christian Fellowship Church, 2712 S. Bay St., at Pine Bluff. Anthony Armstrong, the pastor and regular instructor of the class, is a business analyst for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Small and Minority Business Division. Details: www.unitychristianfellowshipchurch.com
Toastmaster Club
Simmons First Pine Bluff Toastmaster Club meets at 12:15 p.m. each Tuesday on the ground floor of the city hall next to the chambers. All those who are interested in better communication and leadership skills are invited. Details: Barbara Rhinehart, 534-3625.