UAM plans piano recital
The University of Arkansas at Monticello Division of Music will host the recital “You’ve Got a Friend in Me/Piano” on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building in the Harris Recital Hall, Room 101, on UAM’s Monticello campus. The event is free and open to the public, according to a news release.
The recital will feature Hee-Kyung Juhn, assistant professor of piano at UAM, who will be joined by guest musicians David Gerstein, the principal cellist of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Lei Cai, professor of piano at Ouachita Baptist University.
The program will include music by Ginastera, Mozart, Saint-Saens, Gershwin and Lester Pack, professor of music theory and guitar at UAM. Details: (870) 460-1060.
Dialoguing with Delta set
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Dialoguing with Delta, an annual educational activity for students from elementary to college, is happening at 10 a.m. April 25 at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St.
The event is presented by the Pine Bluff Alumnae and Delta Eta chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in collaboration with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Education, according to a news release.
Registration is open for individuals and groups.
Home repair loans available
Communities Unlimited (CU) has home repair loans available for homeowners in Phillips and Jefferson counties. Through CU’s Home Repair Loan Program, eligible homeowners can access up to $6,000 in funding — including a forgivable portion of up to $2,500 and a loan for the remaining $3,500, according to a news release.
The loan features a two-year term, 10% APR. Applicants must provide proof of homeownership and meet a maximum debt-to-income ratio of approximately 40%.
To apply, visit here.
Details: CU Consumer Loan Officer Jesse Saldana at (956) 431-8848 or jesse.saldana@communitiesu.org.
Honor society elects 2 locals
Two Southeast Arkansas residents were elected to membership into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. They are:
Heather Bridges of Sheridan, elected at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Kelsey Brule of Sheridan, elected at Arkansas State University.
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. The recipients are among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated each year.
Nominations open for historic places
Preserve Arkansas is seeking community input to identify endangered historic places for the 2026 Most Endangered Places List. The list highlights historically and architecturally significant properties throughout the state that are endangered and worthy of preservation. Anyone may nominate buildings, structures, sites, and other places in Arkansas to be considered for inclusion in the list. The nomination deadline is April 30.
Preserve Arkansas will announce the list in October. Nomination information, program guidelines and an online nomination form may be found at PreserveArkansas.org. Details: (501) 372-4757 or email info@preservearkansas.org.
Test smoke alarms as time changes Sunday
Daylight saving time starts on Sunday and the American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms as they turn their clocks forward to make sure alarms are working.
“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to safely get out,” said Riva Brown, executive director of the American Red Cross Greater Arkansas Chapter.
“Every second counts when there’s a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When daylight saving time starts this weekend, test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home,” Brown said in a news release.
SMOKE ALARMS — When turning your clocks forward this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
Practice your 2-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes.
Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home.
IF YOU NEED HELP — If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit www.redcross.org/SmokeAlarmAR to request a free Red Cross home fire safety visit.
HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVES LIVES — Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,577 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS PARTNER — State Farm® is the National Sound the Alarm Sponsor.