Editor’s Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com or use our newsroom email pbcnews@adgnewsroom.com to make additions or changes.
Saturday, June 29 Russ NAACP to meet
The Carnell Russ Branch NAACP Quarterly Meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at 404 Cook Street in Star City. Refreshments will be served. Topics will be community trends and inclusivity, according to a news release.
Ceramic Handbuilding workshop set
The ARTX3 Campus will host a ceramics workshop led by Jennifer Solano from noon to 3 p.m. June 29 at The Artspace on Main, 623 S. Main St. Learn the ancient art of clay manipulation and fundamental handbuilding techniques. Students will also create a ceramic piece using a pottery wheel. No experience is necessary. This workshop is for ages 18 and older. The cost is $60 for ARTX3 members and $75 for nonmembers. Class size is limited. Register at artx3.org/all-events/ceramic-handbuilding, call (870) 536-3375 or visit in person. Details: Bethany Gere at bgere@ artx3.org.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Through Saturday, June 29
Area Agency sets fan drive
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas will host its Beat the Heat Annual Fan Drive through June 29 in Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Grant, Lincoln and Jefferson County. People who want to donate a fan or an air conditioner, should call the agency in their area. All donations will remain in their designated county. For applicants to receive a fan, they must be disabled or 60 years old or older, according to a news release. To obtain a fan, call the agency. The applicant’s name will be placed on a waiting list amd the applicant will be notified by a case manager or the coordinator on the date and time the fan may be picked up. Distributing the fans will depend on the number of fans received. Applicants will be asked to present ID and an award letter from Social Security or Department of Human Services. If the agency should receive any air conditioners, an applicant must have a doctor’s statement with diagnosis indicated, their ID, and an award letter. Details: Carolyn Ferguson, (870) 543-6309 or Pauline Jones, (870) 543-6313. Sunday, June 30
Kings Highway honors retiring pastor, wife
Kings Highway Missionary Baptist Church, 2312 W. Fluker Ave., will honor its pastor and wife, the Rev. Anthony J. Howard and Julia A. Howard, with a Retirement Worship Service at 10:45 a.m. June 30. The guest preacher will be the Rev. Lorenzo Jones IV, senior pastor of the Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. “The public is invited to join us as we say thank you and bid them farewell,” a spokesman said.
Word of Faith welcomes friends, families
Word of Faith Full Gospel Baptist Church, 1108 S. Poplar St., welcomes everyone to its Family and Friends Day on June 30. Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. and worship service starts at 10:45 a.m. The message will be by the pastor, Henry Land Jr.
Through Sunday, June 30
Women’s victory conference set
The Women on Spiritual Assignment Victory Conference 2024 will continue at Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 2121 W. 26th Ave. June 29 — The victory conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The registration is $25 per person. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Guest panelists include Lola Thrower, Margarette Williams, Britany Dodson and Connie Tindell. June 30 — The Lord’s Day Worship Experience will be held at 2 p.m. Cleo Cooper of Mt. Gayle Missionary Baptist Church will be the guest speaker. Bessie Lancelin will be the guest director for the conference choir. Details: Jackie Flowers, (870) 540-7116 or jfsfflowers@ gmail.com; Monica Griffin at (870) 643-7266; or Justin Harmon at (501) 672-3376. Beginning Monday, July 1
United Way plans peanut butter drive
The United Way of Southeast Arkansas and the UW Helping Hands volunteers are gearing up to have a Peanut Butter Drive July 1-Aug. 15. The goal is to provide nutritious snacks during summer break, especially for children who rely on school meals and may face food insecurity during summer break. United Way asks that donors drop off jars of peanut butter to the United Way office in the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W.third Ave., Suite 135. The agency can also except monetary donations so that cases of peanut butter can be purchased through the Arkansas Food Bank. The donations will be split among the food pantries in Jefferson County, according to a news release. Details: (870) 534-2153 or 534-2156. Blue & You offers mental health project grants
In an effort to improve access to quality care for Arkansans struggling with mental health challenges, the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas will award grants ranging from $5,000 to $200,000 to organizations seeking to fund behavioral health programs. The grant cycle opens July 1 and the foundation plans to fund $1 million in grants, according to a news release. To be considered for grant funding, applicants must submit a letter of intent to blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org between July 1-12. Applicants should be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization; a public school, college or university; or a city, county or state governmental agency. Applicants will be notified by email on July 26 if their letter of intent is approved and the application process is open to the organization. Award notifications will be emailed Nov. 5.
Wednesday, July 3
Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday. The deadline to submit church announcements is noon Wednesday. Pastors, ministers or others interested in writing for the Devotional Page may also submit columns for consideration. Column writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Articles should be submitted by email to Sandra Hope at shope@adgnewsroom.com. Details: (870) 5343400, ext. 5.
Thursday, July 4
City to host fireworks display
The 4th of July Celebration will take place at the softball complex in Pine Bluff
Regional Park, according to Kerry Battle, director of the Pine Bluff Festival Association. The evening will start at 8 p.m. with Laron Marbley of Deltaplex Radio’s The Beat 99.3 FM playing music. Then, southeast Arkansas’ largest fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. Admission is free. There will be limited parking near the softball complex as well as at Saracen Landing. Parking will also be available at the Jefferson County Courthouse parking lot and surrounding areas. In case of severe weather, the fireworks will only be available for viewing at the complex at 9 p.m. July 5. Details: (870) 536-0920.
VFW sets hot dog giveaway
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4455 at 1518 E. Harding Ave., will host its annual Independence Day Hot Dog Giveaway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 4. VFW is accepting donations from individuals, businesses, and other non-profit agencies that would like to contribute this and future programs. Donations can be dropped off at the post or by contacting Matthew Yarnell, Toys for Tots coordinator, at (509) 675-3420 or pine.bluff. ar@toysfortots.org.
Friday, July 5
Live@5: Platinum Hitz to appear at ASC
Patrons are invited to get into the swing with R&B and jazz band Platinum Hitz from 5-7 p.m. July 5, set to perform at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas’s Catherine M. Bellamy stage, 701 S. Main St. Entry is $5 for ARTX3 members and $10 for nonmembers. Guests must be 21 or older. Complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks and snacks are provided by the Live@5 sponsor, MK Distributors. The long-running Live@5 concert series is home to live jazz, blues, and rock & roll at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, according to a news release.
Beginning Friday, July 5
Small Works on Paper opens at ASC
The ARTX3 Campus will host the 37th annual Small Works on Paper exhibition from July 5-26 at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. The exhibition is organized and sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council. Southeast Arkansas artists