Labor Day closings set
Several offices announced their closing schedules for Labor Day on Monday.
Pine Bluff City Hall and related offices will be closed Friday and Monday. Pine Bluff City Council will be held Sept. 2.
Jefferson County Courthouse and related offices will be closed Friday and Monday.
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas offices and senior centers will be closed Monday. However Southeast Arkansas Transportation will still be running for dialysis and cancer patients.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Waste Management will be closed Monday. Garbage collection may one day behind schedule, according to WM’s website.
Liberty Utilities will be closed Monday.
Chamber plans luncheon
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 3 at The Magnolia Food Market & Bar and The Bank: Pine Bluff Mercantile in Simmons Bank Park, 601 S. Main St., #A&B. The speaker will be Ryan Watley of Go Forward Pine Bluff, according to the Chamber newsletter.
Lunch costs $15 per person and will be catered by The Oasis. Lunch must be paid in advance. To RSVP, call the Chamber at (870) 535-0110.
United Way sets Day of Caring
United Way Southeast Arkansas announced the Day of Caring Third Ward Cleanup will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 25 beginning at Kingdom Builders Outreach Church, 3105 S. Apple St.
Volunteers will check in at the United Way Table and receive supplies.
Projects start after a welcome session and continue throughout the day, ending with a group celebration, according to a news release.
This collaborative effort brings together partners including Clean & Beautiful, the city of Pine Bluff, Simmons Bank, Pine Bluff Waste Management, Third Ward Council Members William Fells and Lanette Frazier, Edgewood Elementary School, Group Violence Intervention juvenile program, Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services and Southeast Arkansas College sports.
Volunteers will work in teams led by captains, focusing on these key areas: Edgewood Inner Garden (limited to 20 volunteers); front flower beds (limited to 20 volunteers); South Apple Street (trash pick-up); Orlando Street (trash pick-up, debris removal, weed-eating, mowing; dumpster on-site); and Animal Shelter Rainbow Bridge (painting project, limited to 10 volunteers).
“We’re thrilled to see so many partners and volunteers coming together to care for our community,” said Jason Duren, executive director of United Way.
“The Day of Caring is a chance for everyone to lend a hand, show kindness and make a real impact in Pine Bluff.”
For more information or to sign up, contact United Way Southeast Arkansas at (870) 534-2153 or info@pbreynoldscenter.org.
Feeding Brighter Futures event set
The second annual “Feeding Brighter Futures Workshop” is set for 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at in McGeorge Hall at Southeast Arkansas College.
The event is free and open to the public, according to a news release from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Community members are invited to join and help develop solutions for promoting healthy eating in local youth programs.
“Feeding Brighter Futures is designed to inspire future leaders in nutrition, food science and wellness,” said Kimberly Haynie, UAPB associate professor of nutrition and food science.
“Anyone who wants to make a positive impact on our community’s health and wellbeing is encouraged to attend. It is also a chance to participate in hands-on professional development activities that will enhance your resume.”
The project is funded by a grant from the 1890 Center for Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness and Quality of Life.
Details: Kimberly Haynie at hayniek@uapb.edu.
Session explains AI for test prep
A workshop teaching how to use Generative AI for SAT and college prep will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Pine Bluff Library, 600 S. Main St.
Presented by the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce, this event is free.
Featuring Audrey P. Willis, co-founder of Code Crew, this workshop is designed for families who want to see how generative AI can make the road to college less overwhelming, according to StuffinTheBluff.com.
Participants will see live examples, learn what works (and what doesn’t) and discover clear ways to integrate AI into test prep and when attending college.
Parents are urged to register themselves and their children for the workshop.
For details or to register for the Generative AI Workshop, visit here.