Editor’s Note: At press time, the following events, workshops and meetings were known to be still scheduled and/or continuing. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@ adgnewsroom.com to make additions or changes.
Underway
COVID-19 testing sites available
Details for getting the COVID-19 test are available by contacting: Jefferson County Health Department — 870-535-2142; Jefferson Regional Medical Center — 870-541-4911; Jefferson Comprehensive Care System at Pine Bluff — 855-543-2380 or 1-833-508-0774 for other community health centers; Arkansas Department of Health — Testing sites in Arkansas are listed on the department’s website at https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-guidancefor-getting-tested . Scroll down until you see the map and enlarge the map. Click on each star to see where each testing site is located.
Absentee ballot applications available at Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office has absentee ballot applications available to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for people who would like to vote by mail. Voters may also download an application on the website at www.jeffersoncountyar.gov/county-clerk,according to a news release. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27. The completed absentee ballot application can be mailed, faxed or scanned and emailed to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office. The mailing address is: Shawndra Taggart, Jefferson County Clerk, 101 W. Barraque St., Suite 101, Pine Bluff, AR 71601. The fax number is 870-541-5324. The email address is jeffersonclerk@arkansasclerks.com. Residents have until Monday, Oct. 5, to register to vote in the November election. Details: Jefferson County Clerk Shawndra Taggart, 870-541-5322
Beginning Friday, Sept. 11
Tour de Bluff set
The Tour de Bluff 2020 bike race and other activities will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11-12, according to a news release. Friday: Participants can pick up registration packets from 3-7 p.m. at 601 Main St. Plaza in Downtown Pine Bluff. Saturday: 7 a.m. Registration and packet pick up continues at 601 Main St. Plaza. Rest stops and rider support will be available. There will be no large group start. Riders can begin their ride as soon as they pick up their event packet. Route starts will be at the plaza. Also Saturday events will include: 10 a.m., Mayor’s Mile; 11 a.m., Kids Activities; noon, “BEST LOOKING BIKE” Contest.Details: www.TourDeBluff.com.
Saturday, Sept. 12
Tinkerfest set at arts center
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., will host its annual free Tinkerfest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. This year’s activities will explore safety and care during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Learn to make hand sanitizer, no-sew face masks, and experiment with social distancing measures,” a spokesman said. Activities will be broken into 30-minute time slots, with a maximum of 10 visitors per time slot. Call ASC Visitor Relations Coordinator Matthew Howard at 870-536-3375 or visit asc701.org to register.
Through Saturday, Sept. 12
2020 Annual Pine Bluff Art League Exhibition open
The Arts & Science Center is hosting the 2020 Annual Pine Bluff Art League Exhibition. The exhibition will remain on display through Sept. 12. Details: asc701.org.
Sunday, Sept. 13
I-530 exit ramp to close for inspection
A routine inspection of the Interstate 530 overpass to Stuttgart (Exit 46) will require a temporary ramp closure from 6 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 13. Weather permitting, crews will close the off-ramp that takes traffic from I-530 eastbound to Stuttgart (Exit 46), according to an Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) news release. Traffic will be controlled by traffic cones and signage. Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through all highway work zones. Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov. Motorists can also follow the agency on Twitter @myARDOT.
Through Sunday, Sept. 13
School Garden of the Year Contest open
School entries are being accepted for the seventh annual Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest. The contest runs through Sunday, Sept. 13, according to a news release. The project is sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Applicants may be any Arkansas school, grades pre-K through 12, that had a school garden open during the 2019-2020 school year, or any school planning to start a garden in the 2020-2021 school year. Winners will be announced at the Farm to School Celebration in October. Online entry forms and program requirements are available at http://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/aad-programs.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15
Ivy Center plans Zoom workshops
The Ivy Center for Education announces its September Zoom workshops. To participate in the Zoom workshops, enter meeting ID: 85682964187 and Passcode: 351061 or go to the Ivy Center for Education Facebook page and click on the link. Sessions include: Tuesday, Sept. 15 — 6-7 p.m., UAPB Recruitment/Scholarship session will be presented by Constance Castle for students in 10-12th grades and math tutorials will be offered by Karl Walker, PhD, at UAPB, for students in 7-12th grades. Tuesday, Sept. 22 — 6-7 p.m., Resume Building/Essay Writing/Career Development Workshops will be presented by Janelle Cofey, Rebecca Newby and Cephoni Jackson. Tuesday, Sept. 29 — 6-7 p.m., Suicide Prevention/Mental Health Workshop will include Kymara Seals along with mental health professionals sharing information to help scholars and parents understand that there is help and suicide is preventable.
Saracen Landing Farmers Market open
The Saracen Landing Farmers Market at Pine Bluff is open for the season. The market opens from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays. The community is invited to participate and face masks will be required for safety, according to a news release. The market will be closed the end of September. Details: Trudy Redus, assistant director, Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Department, saracenlanding@att.net or 870-536-0920.
Wednesday, Sept. 16
Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday and the deadline to submit church announcements is noon Wednesday. Articles may be submitted by email to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Photos may also accompany church news by email.
Thursday, Sept. 17
The Links plan Voting Call to Action webinar
The National Trends and Services (NTS) facet of the Pine Bluff Chapter of The Links Inc. will host a Voting Call to Action webinar at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. The webinar will include information on registering to vote, voter rights, obtaining absentee ballots, and strategies for mobilizing voters, according to a news release. Speakers are Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington, Jefferson County Clerk Shawndra Taggart, District 25 State Sen. Stephanie Flowers, Wanda V. Neal, president of the Pine Bluff NAACP Branch; and Sederick C. Rice, Ph.D, associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. All are invited to attend the free Zoom webinar using the following information: https://uapb-edu.zoom.us/j/92786478978?pwd=MXRsdjEzYkZLSWlWWkZYelZvNW8rZz09. Webinar ID: 927 8647 8978 and Passcode: 880897 or Dial-In: US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799.
Friday, Sept. 18
Voices for Children Golf Tournament set
The 16th annual Voices for Children Golf Tournament will be held Friday, Sept. 18, at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. The tournament starts at 12:30 p.m., according to a newsletter from the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds will help Voices for Children continue providing a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for every foster child in Jefferson and Lincoln counties. The tournament includes green tees and golf cart, prizes for top teams, closest to the Hole Contest and refreshments. A Hole in One Contest is sponsored by Sissy’s Log Cabin with a chance to win a Rolex watch, according to the newsletter. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Details: Voices for Children, vfc@vfcadvocates.org or 870-536-5922.
Saturday, Sept. 19
Pine Bluff hosts community cleanup
The city of Pine Bluff will host a city-wide cleanup from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19. Volunteers should meet at Saracen Landing at 8 a.m. to select cleanup sites and collect supplies, according to a news release. Volunteers will be removing litter from roadsides and public spaces throughout the city. To travel to community cleanup sites, volunteers will need to provide their own transportation. Precautions against COVID-19 will be implemented, such as social distancing. Masks requirements will adhere to state directives. Details: mayor’s office, 870-730-2004.
Thursday, Sept. 24
Arts center opens Small Works on Paper exhibition
The 2020 Small Works on Paper exhibition will open at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., at Pine Bluff. Small Works on Paper will be on display through Oct. 24 in the International Paper Gallery at ASC, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free but is limited to 10 guests at a time. Reservations are encouraged but not required. The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of Arkansas Heritage, coordinates the annual touring visual arts exhibition that showcases the work of Arkansas artists, according to an Aug. 19 news release.
Beginning Thursday, Sept. 24
ASC hosts ‘Brothers by One: The Black Athlete and Social Justice’ display
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., will display “Brothers by One: The Black Athlete and Social Justice” Thursday, Sept. 24, through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. An exhibit by Rex DeLoney, it is sponsored by Simmons Bank. This exhibition highlights the many ways that Black athletes used their celebrity status and media coverage to give attention to social justice issues; from boxer Muhammad Ali and his stance against the Vietnam War to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem as a statement against police brutality.
Fair Housing panel plans virtual trainings
The Arkansas Fair Housing Commission will host virtual Management & Best Practices Training from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, and Thursday, Oct. 29, according to a news release. Participants will be introduced to the Do’s and Don’ts of fair housing marketing and management; fair housing sensitivity; an overview of federal and state fair housing laws; reasonable accommodations land modifications; and compliance. Leon Jones Jr.is the executive director of the fair housing commission. Details: 501-682-3247, toll free 1-844-952-8248 or www.fairhousing.arkansas.gov.
Through Saturday, Sept. 26
Altheimer hosts Census Drive
There will be a U.S. Census Drive each Saturday through Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dollar General Store, 1675 Front Street, Altheimer. If anyone needs assistance with completing their Census form, they should contact Altheimer City Hall at 870-766-8229.
Tuesday, Sept. 29
NAACP, Go Forward to release consolidation study
The Pine Bluff Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Go Forward Pine Bluff (GFPB) will release results from the school consolidation study. A community meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center Auditorium. Social distancing will be enforced and wearing a face mask will be required. The meeting will also be available on Facebook Live and Zoom.
Through Wednesday, Sept. 30
Pine Bluff computer labs available to complete Census
Pine Bluff residents will be able to complete the Census online at Upper Room Christian Church, 1100 S. Cypress St., where two computer labs will be open to the public, according to a news release from Pine Bluff mayor’s office. Computer labs will be available until Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Details: www.my2020census.gov or Mary Liddell, Pine Bluff Complete Count Census chairwoman, at marylddll@yahoo.com or 870-643-2383.
Through Tuesday, Oct. 27
Absentee ballot applications available at Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office has absentee ballot applications available to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for people who would like to vote by mail. Voters may also download an application on the website at www.jeffersoncountyar.gov/county-clerk,according to a news release. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27. The completed absentee ballot application can be mailed, faxed, or scanned and emailed to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office. The mailing address is: Shawndra Taggart, Jefferson County Clerk, 101 W. Barraque St., Suite 101, Pine Bluff, AR 71601. The fax number is 870-541-5324. The email address is jeffersonclerk@arkansasclerks.com. Residents have until Monday, Oct. 5, to register to vote in the November election. For questions or concerns, contact the county clerk’s office. Details: Jefferson County Clerk Shawndra Taggart, 870-541-5322.
Events underway
2nd and 4th Thursdays and Fridays
Explore Pine Bluff sets Virtual Blues, Summer Sessions
Explore Pine Bluff announces the Pine Bluff Virtual Blues and Summer Sessions. This series airs every second and fourth Thursday and Friday from 7-8 p.m. with one night of deejaying and the other night of musical artists with Pine Bluff-roots. Hosted by the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Alliance and Explore Pine Bluff, the events will feature musical guests including Rod Clemmons, Rachel “Brick” Fields, James “Taildragger” Jones, Joe Pitts, Karen Wolfe and Jimmy Logan. Bobby Rush performed June 11. Details: visit https:// www.explorepinebluff.com/summersets.
Weekdays
Neighbor to Neighbor open 5 days a week
Neighbor to Neighbor, 1419 S. Pine St., has reopened five days a week. The agency will be open Monday through Friday from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. For the sake of safety, Neighbor to Neighbor will continue serving to-go lunches at the door from noon to 1 p.m. and are available to anyone who is hungry. Masks are required to enter the building and hand sanitizer will be available at the door, according to a news release. New clients or those seeking assistance with bills or medications should call 870-534-2883 for an appointment.
Tuesdays
Unity Christian Fellowship offers free financial classes
Unity Christian Fellowship Church (UCFC), 2712 S. Bay St., invites the community to its free Small Business and Personal Financial Education classes at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Recent subjects included “The Importance of Having a Financial Plan” and “Financial Literacy,” according to Stuff in the Bluff website. “You cannot afford to miss out on these life-changing classes. We are practicing social distancing and will have hand sanitizer wipes available,” according to the site. Anthony Armstrong is the senior pastor. Details: unitychristianfellowship@live.com or 870-329-1182.