Author to sign books
Walter Pryor, a Pine Bluff native and author will host a book signing, reading and conversation at 3 p.m. Saturday at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St.
The book is titled “This Leaves Me Okay: Race, Legacy and Letters From My Grandmother,” according to a news release.
The community is invited to attend and discover the life of Lucille “Mama Ceal” Hatch Eldridge, the richness of Black rural Arkansas, and stories that shaped civil rights history from the heart of Pine Bluff, according to the release.
“Let’s uplift and celebrate one of our own. Come out and support this son of Pine Bluff who is gaining praise for this wonderful new book,” according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
JRMC to hold blood drive
The Jefferson Regional Medical Center Blood Drive will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Henslee Conference Center, sections J & R.
Walk-ins are welcome. Donors will get a limited edition Hometown Showdown T-shirt and trucker hat. Participants may also win a grand prize tailgate package, according to a flier.
Details: Our Blood Institute, 877-340-8777 or obi.org.
Junior Leadership event set
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber will present Junior Leadership Conference 2025 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff STEM Conference Center, 1500 L.A. Prexy Davis Drive.
The opening keynote speaker will be Ryan Houston, a Pine Bluff native and morning news anchor at KATV Channel 7, according to the Chamber newsletter.
There will be Level Up sessions, empowering students with personal, financial, and professional skills; professional development fashion showcase; and college, career and an entrepreneurship panel.
Lunch will be provided. For details or to register, contact Jamal Gordon at (870) 535-0110 or jamal@jeffersoncountyalliance.com.
Chamber plans Taste of SEA
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will present the Taste of Southeast Arkansas on Sept. 18 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
The cocktail hour starts at 5:30 p.m. and tasting begins at 6:30 p.m., according to the Chamber newsletter.
The event will include an open bar, dishes to taste, and live entertainment by Rodney Block Collective. The attire is Western cocktail.
Tickets are $55 for Chamber members, $65 for non-members, and $500 for reserved tables. Details: The Chamber, (870) 535-0110.
Denim, Diamonds event set
Denim, Diamonds, Boots & Bling, an evening under the stars, will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Saracen Landing. This event will benefit the D’Andre Seals Suicide Prevention Outreach Project, according to Stuff in The Bluff.com.
Admission is $40 per person. Tickets go on sale on Friday. Details: https://www.thedsop.org/ or follow the D’Andre Seals Prevention Outreach Project on social media.
Muscadine field day set
The Sept. 9 Muscadine Field Day at the Fruit Research Station will feature tastings, tours and a tale of growth by Rusty Tractor Vineyards. The event begins with on-site registration at 1 p.m. and ends with dinner at 5 p.m.
The field day is being presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in conjunction with the Arkansas Association of Grape Growers.
It will be hosted at the Fruit Research Station near Clarksville, part of the Division of Agriculture’s Agricultural Experiment Station research arm, according to a news release.
Attendees will see and taste varieties developed by the Division of Agriculture including Altus and Mighty Fine, the organization’s first muscadine cultivars, and hear industry insights from Rusty Tractor Vineyards of Little Rock.
“This field day is an important opportunity that allows our Arkansas grape and wine industry attendees to gain first-hand knowledge about how our UA System research and extension efforts have impact in Arkansas and beyond,” said Renee Threlfall, associate professor and enologist and viticulturist for the Division of Agriculture.
Amanda McWhirt, extension specialist-horticulture crops, said “this workshop will offer something for both new and established growers.
“Beginning growers will learn how to plant and establish muscadine vines, what to watch out for regarding pests and have the opportunity to hear from established growers on how to develop a winery business,” she said. “Established growers will appreciate getting to see and taste the latest muscadine grape variety releases from the Division of Agriculture fruit breeding program and see the newly established muscadine variety trial.”
Registration is required, and the deadline to register is Aug. 21. The Muscadine Field Day includes dinner and is $30 per person for non-members and $20 per person for AAGG members and UA System employees and students. Registration and payment are two separate tasks. Register online, then complete payment through the Arkansas Association of Grape Growers.
To register online visit here. Fees are paid online at https://www.argrapegrowers.org/online-payments. Details: www.uaex.uada.edu.