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 to make additions or changes.
Beginning Tuesday, March 2
Kennel Club to host dog obedience class
The Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club is sponsoring a dog obedience class starting March 2. It will be held at Hestand Stadium each Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. for eight weeks. The cost is $65, according to a news release. Details: (870) 879-3384.
Tickets go on sale for Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., will opened its box office March 1 for people to purchase tickets for its first 2021 production, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: A Virtual Fractured Fairy Tale.” The production, featuring a full cast of Southeast Arkansas youth ages 21 and younger, will stream at 7 p.m. April 1-4. This production is directed by Kayla Lake and written by Brian D. Taylor. The event is sponsored by Relyance Bank. The play is inspired by classic fairy tales. Tickets are $7 for ASC members and $10 for nonmembers and can be purchased at asc701.org/.
Wednesday, March 3
Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday. The deadine to submit church announcements is noon Wednesday. Announcements can be for in-person services or online services as well as other ministry events. Articles may be submitted by email to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing a religion column may submit articles for consideration by email. Please include your phone number, the name and location of your ministry or city where you reside, and your photo. Photos may also accompany church news by email.
Thursday, March 4
Chamber hosts annual dinner
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce rescheduled its drive-thru annual dinner for 4-6 p.m. Thursday at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Tickets are $50 each. Ticketholders will use original tickets to pick up their meals on the new date, according to a news release. The event features two pasta dinner options (as well as a vegetarian option for those who specify in advance), Chamber swag bags and the chance to briefly meet new Chamber staff members. Details: Jennifer Kline, (870) 535-0110.
Friday, March 5
Virtual Live@5 Concert
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., invites patrons to join them at 5 p.m. March 5 for a free livestream of Jerry McCoy and The Hammers on facebook.com/asc701. Band members include Mississippi Blues Hall of Famer Jerry McCoy, Kenneth McDougald and Ben Arrington. The band has deep roots in rhythm, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll, according to a news release. A virtual donation box will be available and donations will go toward supporting ASC’s programming. This performance is part of ASC’s Live@5 concert series on the first Friday of every month. Details: asc701.org/live-at-5. This event is sponsored by M.K. Distributors.
Saturday, March 6
Arts center hosts youth cooking program
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas hosts youth cooking sessions. The CrEATe Lab with Faith Anaya will be held from 1-3 p.m. March 6. The program is open to ages 10-17. The CrEATe Lab is $35 with partial scholarships available. To register, visit asc701.org/create-lab or call ASC at 870-536-3375.
Beginning Tuesday, March 9
Workshops to address doing business with government
The Generator will host two workshops about doing business with the government. The presenter will be Liz Russell, procurement counselor with the Arkansas Procurement Technical Center. Due to covid-19, seats will be limited, according to a news release. March 9 — from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Introduction to Government Contracting will be held. March 30 – 6-7 p.m. Marketing to the Government will be held. Interested participants may register at https://goforwardpinebluff.org/the-generator/#doingbizwgovt. Details: Mildred Franco, executive director, at francomildred@goforwardpb.org.
Clearing the Air Conference, Cancer Summit set
The 18th Clearing the Air Communities of Color Conference and 22nd Arkansas Cancer Summit will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 9 and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 10. The Minority Initiative Sub-Recipient Grant Office (MISRGO) at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Arkansas Cancer Coalition (ACC) will host the events, according to a news release. The virtual conferences are open to the public. Registration is required and is available through March 4 at http://www.arcancersummit.org/register. Details: http://www.arcancersummit.org/agenda-2 or contact Marian S. Lothery, MISRGO coordinator, at evansm@uapb.edu or (870) 575-8923.
Friday, March 12
Highway officials seek public input about U.S. 65 plans
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) will conduct an online public involvement meeting to gather input on the proposed plans to add 8-foot paved shoulders along U.S. 65 between Interstate 530 and U.S. 425 at Pine Bluff. The public is invited to listen, view meeting materials, and provide written comments. The website will be available for comments until 4:30 p.m. March 12. To access the online public meeting, participants should go to this link: https://vpiph01-job-020716-i530-hwy-425-hwy-65-ardot.hub.arcgis.com/ Those who don’t have internet access can contact Karla Sims at 501-569-2000 or by email at karla.sims@ardot.gov, to ask questions about the proposed project and how to access project information.
Saturday, March 13
ASC slates FunDay: Comic Book Mania
Participants are urged to join the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas to create a comic strip and make superhero-inspired comic book magnets at Second Saturday Family Fun Day: Comic Book Mania, from 12:30-3 p.m. March 13. ASC is offering in-person and online participation. Visitors can secure a time slot by registering at asc701.org or calling 870-536-3375. Walk-ins are also welcome. Sessions are limited to seven people per time slot. For those who prefer limited contact, free “take & make” kits will be available at ASC’s main entrance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March. 12, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March. 13. An instructional video will be posted at 1 p.m. March. 13 at facebook.com/asc701/.
Through Monday, March 15
Foundation accepting scholarship applications
Pine Bluff and Jefferson County students can apply for scholarships from the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is March 15. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. In general, the community foundation scholarships are for area students pursuing higher education at two- or four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools or technical training programs, according to a news release. Students can begin their application by visiting www.arcf.org/apply/scholarships/.
Wednesday, March 17
Deadline set for SBA loan forms from spring storms
The deadline to apply for loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for assistance after the storms in the spring of 2020 is March 17. In Jefferson County, applicants may apply for SBA federal disaster loans for economic injury caused by severe storms and straight-line winds that occurred April 12, 2020. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ or call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Through Monday, March 22
AKA, First Sisters seek scholarship applicants
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta Omega Omega Chapter, and First Sisters Outreach Inc. are accepting scholarship applications from graduating female high school seniors who will be attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. March 22, according to a news release. Applications and eligibility requirements are available online at akadeltaomegaomega.com/scholarship.html or by emailing Ka’Lisa Stanfield at akadooscholar@gmail.com.
Through Thursday, March 25
AgDiscovery teen program applications set at UAPB
Applications are being accepted for AgDiscovery, a residential career and science exploration program for teens. March 25 is the application deadline, said Willie Columbus, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff educational outreach coordinator and AgDiscovery program director. UAPB will host AgDiscovery June 12-25 on campus. UAPB is among 21 institutions to host the event. A complete list of host universities, brochures, information and application forms and instructions are available online at www.aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery. Details: Willie Columbus at UAPB at (870) 575-7145 or columbusw@uapb.edu or the UAPB AgDiscovery Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/uapbagdiscovery/.
Through Friday, March 26
Homegrown By Heroes Scholarship forms available
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas are partnering to provide two $1,000 Homegrown by Heroes academic scholarships to military veterans and active military personnel, their spouses, and children who are pursuing degrees in agriculture. Funding for the scholarships is provided by Farm Credit. Applications are due March 26 and are available at agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-programs/. Details: arkansasgrown.org/homegrown-by-heroes/.
Thursday, April 1
Deadline set for Korean War vet stories in yearbook
April 1 is the deadline to submit entries for the 2021 Arkansas Korean War Veterans Yearbook. The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs is participating in the project honoring Arkansas veterans. To be included, a veteran must have served in Korea or its territorial waters between June 25, 1950, and July 27, 1953. Veterans or relatives may submit photographs and biographies, which will be accepted on a first-come, first-accepted basis. The submission form is available at https://forms.gle/DfzvkGyN3TNAFrsC9. Submissions also may be sent by email with the veteran’s first, middle, and last name in the subject line to Koreayearbook2021@gmail.com.
Through Saturday, April 10
ASC slates new exhibits
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas announces two new exhibits. “New Territory: Paintings by Michelle Fair” will be open at ASC through April 3. The display conceptualizes figures interacting with their environment autonomously, giving the subjects of the paintings a home, yet allows the subjects and spaces to disconnect, reflecting a new stage in Fair’s life, according to a news release. The exhibition, “Feeling Through: Examine Emotion in the Midst of Unrest,” by photographer Catherine Elizabeth Patton will be open through April 10. The display is a self-reflection of the artist’s emotions and her attempt to examine and understand them during covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. Details: asc701.org.
Beginning Sunday, April 18
ASC sets Auditions for ‘9 to 5 The Musical’
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast ArkansasASC is seeking people ages 16 and older to audition for its theatrical production, “9 to 5 The Musical.” Audition dates are April 18-20. To sign up, visit asc701.org/auditions. Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6-7, 13-14, and Aug. 20-21; and 2 p.m. Aug. 8, 15, and 22. Cast must be available for all performances. Details: asc701.org.
Through Friday, April 30
First Electric accepting scholarship applications
First Electric Cooperative is accepting scholarship applications. High school seniors whose parents or guardians are First Electric members may apply for one of nine $2,000 scholarships available each year, according to a news release. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and after graduation, they must attend an accredited institute of higher learning in Arkansas on a full-time basis. The deadline to apply is April 30. For an application and details, visit online at www.firstelectric.coop/scholarship or contact any First Electric office.
Monday, May 31
Century Farm applications due
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2021 Arkansas Century Farm program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. To apply, the same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31, 2021. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption. The farm must be at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. There is no cost to apply. Online applications are available at: www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-services/arkansas-century-farm-program/. Details: Beth Moore, (501) 539-4027 or beth.moore@agriculture.arkansas.gov.