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@pbcommercial.com to make additions or changes.
Wednesday, March 6
Election commission to meet
The Jefferson County Election Commission will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the election center. The agenda includes public comments on new business (2 minutes per speaker). New business includes to adjudicate any provisional and absentee ballots and approve manual audit of unofficial election results.
Civic Auditorium meeting set
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Civic Auditorium Complex Commission meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. today. This is the meeting that was rescheduled from Feb. 27, according to a news release. Details: Pine Bluff Convention Center, (870) 536-7600.
UAPB spring career summit set
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Spring Career Summit is scheduled 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 6 in the Kenneth L. Johnson Sr. Complex, H.O. Clemmons Arena (HPER). The spring career summit is open to students enrolled at UAPB and alumni. Job seekers should bring copies of a well-prepared resume. Professional dress is preferred, but not required, however participants shouldn’t wear jeans, sweats, or mini-skirts, according to the UAPB Office of Career Services. Details: Shirley Hampton, UAPB Office of Career Services, (870) 575-8461.
Church slates credit workshop
Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church’s Outreach Center, 2507 Hill St., will host a free credit building workshop March 6 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Working Credit, a national nonprofit organization,will present the workshop about credit. “Learn how to build/rebuild and maintain a strong credit score that can serve as a pathway to more,” according to a news release. Attendees will receive a $25 gift card and access to a year of free credit building counseling. The community is to attend. The Rev. Kevin Crumpton Sr. is pastor of Pilgrim church.
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 or shope@pbcommercial.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.
Underway
GVI Peace Week set
Pine Bluff Group Violence Intervention will host Peace Week at local schools March 4-8. The goal is 95 days of no gun violence of homicides from March 4 to June 7 (National Gun Violence Awareness Day), according to a news release. Also, GVI will hold an open house at the GVI office at the Kevin Collins Center at the civic center in the former library at 6 p.m. March 7. The public is invited to attend. The group will visit the following schools: Focus Academy — March 4; Pine Bluff Junior High — March 5; 34th Avenue School — March 6; Watson Chapel High School — March 6; Broadmoor School — March 7; Watson Chapel Junior High — March 7; Pine Bluff High School — March 8. The GVI director is Kevin L. Crumpton, according to the news release.
Thursday, March 7
Astronomer to discuss eclipse at UAPB
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Chemistry & Physics will host a presentation by a solar astronomer who will discuss the upcoming eclipse. Samaiyah I. Farid, Ph.D, project scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research High Altitude Observatory at Boulder, Colo., will speak at 2 p.m. March 7 in the S.A. Haley Auditorium at the S.J. Parker 1890 Extension Complex at UAPB. Farid will discuss “Chasing Darkness: Observing the Rare Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024.” The community is invited to attend, according to Miah M. Adel, Ph.D. UAPB professor of Physics, Astronomy, Water Resources, & Environmental Sciences.
Audubon Board to meet
Three Rivers Audubon Board will hold its monthly meeting at 11:45 a.m. March 7 at the Delta Rivers Nature Center classroom. Participants should bring a sack lunch. Visitors are welcome. The Audubon group also invites people to join them for birdwatching on Tuesdays. “Come join us in our Tuesday morning fun time. We meet at 9 a.m. at Lake Saracen’s parking lot near the start of the walking trail. We bird by car, occasionally getting out of the cars to see birds. Walkie talkies are used to communicate between cars. We are finished around noon, ” according to a news release.
Beginning Thursday, March 7
Adult art classes set at Grand Prairie
The Arts Center of the Grand Prairie at Stuttgart announces classes for adults. Ceramics class will be held Thursday and March 14 from 6:30-9 p.m. Participants will learn a variety of ceramics techniques. The pieces will all be fired and glazed. Couples are encouraged and the center welcomes youths with a parent. Tuition for this class is $30. Senior art 65 class will be held from 3-5 p.m. Thursday and March 28. Participants complete a painting covering a wide variety of mediums with artist Monica Petter. The tuition is $5.00. To attend any of our adult classes, contact the arts center at (870) 673-1781 and or artscenter001@gmail.com.
Friday, March 8
ART WORKS Presents: A Cabaret Night
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, part of the ARTx3 Campus, invites the community to ART WORKS Presents: A Cabaret Night hosted by Bethany Gere from 6-8 p.m. March 8. Entry is $5 for members and students and $10 for nonmembers. Patrons are invited to enjoy show-stopping numbers by volunteer performers at the Adam B. Robinson Jr. Black Box Theater at ART WORKS on Main, 627 S. Main St. Attendees may show off their vocal and instrumental talents and win prizes. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Gere at bgere@artx3.org or call (870) 536-3375.
Women’s center sets event
In celebration of the International Women’s Day, Healthwide Wellness, 4014 Old Warren Road, invites the community to its open house at 10 a.m. Friday. “It is a day filled with women’s health, community, and discovery,” according to a flier. Details: (870) 454-4354.
Beginning Friday, March 8
Pleasant Grove offers movie, food
Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1801 Indiana St., will host a movie night and food giveaway. Friday, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., the church will show “Overcomer,” a 2019 film. The event is free and the community is invited to attend. On March 30, Pleasant Grove will give away food to those in need from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The effort will be provided by the church’s soup kitchen and pantry, according to a news release.
Lenten Fish Fry dinners set
The Knights of Columbus Annual Lenten Fish Fry is being held from 5-7 p.m. every Friday through March (except Good Friday, March 29) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, West Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street. People can eat in for the all-you-can-eat dinner or get carry out plates, according to a news release. Dinners for adults are $15 and children $8.
Through Friday, March 8
Nominations open for Women’s Hall of Fame
The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for the 2024 Induction Class. The AWHOF was created to honor women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their community or the state. Nominations must be submitted by March 8. Criteria and nomination forms can be found on the website at www.ARWomensHallofFame.com.
Thurgood Marshall scholarship open
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund has opened the first wave of its 2024-2025 scholarship cycle, according to a news release from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Webinars and virtual office hours started Jan. 23 and the application process closes on March 8. The TMCF Scholarships Team will also host a webinar series Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. The webinars are designed to assist students in putting their best brand forward when completing the TMCF Scholarship Application. Registration is required. For details, visit tmcg.org. Current undergraduate and graduate students may visit the scholarship portal to apply at https://tmcf.awardspring.com/
Saturday, March 9
UAPB sets community festival at Saracen Landing
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will cap its year-long celebration of its sesquicentennial at its Spring Fling community festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 9 at Saracen Landing, 200 Lake Saracen Drive. (The original location of this event has been changed.) The public is invited to attend this free, family-oriented event. Mayor Shirley Washington, County Judge Gerald Robinson, and Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander will give opening remarks, according to a news release. The event will highlight the “Mission, Milestones, and Memories” that were cultivated at UAPB during the more than 150 years of its existence. Attendees will experience interactive activities, such as robotics, art, and in anticipation of the upcoming solar eclipse, glasses will be available to take home. Performances by UAPB’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South and the Vesper Choir will help kick off the event. Light refreshments will be served and there will also be a prize drawing every half-hour.
Beginning Saturday, March 9
Blues concert series set
The Port City Blues Society will host the third “Blues By Budweiser” concert series at RJ’s Grill & Bar, 128 S. Main Street. The doors open at 7 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m. Port City members are admitted free. There is a $5 cover charge for non-members. MK Distributors is the sponsor, according to a news release. Concerts for 2024-2025 include: March 9, Chad Marshall Band; April 6, Duwayne Burnside; May 4, Tina Cossey Band; June 1, Kent Burnside Band; July 6, Ghost Town Blues Band; Aug. 3, Amanda Fish; Sept. 7, Garry Burnside Band; Oct. 5, Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers; Nov. 2, Jerry McCoy and the Groove Diggers; Dec. 7, Fonky Donkey; Jan. 4, 2025, Trey Johnson and Jason Willmon; and Feb. 1, 2025, Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain.
Sunday, March 10
First Presbyterian to host concert with Ragtaggle
First Presbyterian Church of Pine Bluff, 717 W. 32nd Ave., will present the forth of their free concerts at 3 p.m. Sunday featuring Ragtaggle, a trio playing Irish music in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The group consists of Pine Bluff native, Ben Harris on guitar, Kara Butler on flute, and her daughter, Seaghan Shrock on fiddle. They have a combined 75 years of musical performance, according to a news release. Harris is also the director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas in Fayetteville. Details: www.ragtaggle.com.
Through Sunday, March 10
New Community observes anniversary
New Community Church, 321 N. Birch St., will celebrate its 65th anniversary at 11 a.m. March 10. The guest speaker will be Esau Watson Jr., bishop of Judah Restoration Worship Center. New Community invites the community to attend. The church also has prayer weekdays at noon and children’s church at 11 a.m. Sundays and guests are welcome to attend. The pastor/apostle at New Community is Patrick Lockett.
Corps extends comment period on drafts
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District is extending the public comment period for the draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment and draft Finding of No Significant Impact for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) 12-foot Channel Deepening Project. Comments will now be accepted until March 10, according to a news release. Details are available at https://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Planning/MKARNS-12-foot-Channel/12-foot-channel-documents/.
Tuesday, March 12
TOPPS to give away food
TOPPS (Targeting Our People’s Priorities with Service), 1000 Townsend Drive, will host its monthly food distribution at 10 a.m. March 12. The food giveaway is open to the public. Each family will receive one box of food on a first come, first served basis. Participants must bring their ID, according to a news release. Annette Howard Dove is the founder/director of TOPPS. Details: (870) 850-6011.
WH chamber sets banquet
The White Hall Chamber of Commerce will present its 39th annual Community Service Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. March 12 at the White Hall Community Center. The guest speaker will be Craig O’Neill, who recently retired from THV 11 television station. “We look forward to a wonderful evening. Dorey’s will also be catering our event as well,” according to the Chamber’s Facebook page. The public is invited to attend. “Mark your calendar. Join us for a night in recognizing core individuals that have impacted our community in their commitment to serve and volunteer,” according to the post.
Beginning Tuesday, March 12
Kennel Club sets class
The Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club is sponsoring a seven-week dog obedience class starting March 5. The class meets at Hestand Stadium and the cost is $65 for the seven weeks. The time is 7-8 p.m. each Tuesday and registration is at the door, according to a news release. Details: (870) 879-3384.
Wednesday, March 13
City announces healthcare career fair
A healthcare career fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 13 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. This career fair is for those interested in pursuing a career within the healthcare industry. The event is free and open to the public, according to a news release. The Economic and Community Development Department of the city of Pine Bluff is hosting the event. There’s no registration fee to attend. Healthcare employers and training providers may register by contacting Cynthia Anderson at canderson@cityofpinebluffar.gov by Feb. 16.
Thursday, March 14
Art league plans events
The Pine Bluff Art League will host the art league will open a solo exhibit featuring Julia Barrett during a reception from 5-6:30 p.m. March 14 at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave. The exhibition features work by Barrett, a league member, artist, and retired educator. The community is invited to attend.
Friday, March 15
UAPB plans Rural Life Conference
The 65th annual Rural Life Conference will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 15 at the HPER complex at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. (The location was changed.) The UAPB School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences is sponsoring the conference. The event will feature more than 20 workshops and more than 70 exhibits, posters, and vendor booths. A poster session highlights research projects and exhibits by governmental and community agencies. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, according to a news release. Some workshops will also be available via Zoom. Registration is free to producers, students, veterans, homemakers and retirees and for details, contact Cassandra Byrd, (870) 575-8123, or byrdc@uapb.edu. For professionals and agency personnel, registration rates are available by contacting Karen Lee at (870) 575-7225 or leek@uapb.edu. Also, a pre-conference film screening will be held at 4:45 p.m. March 14 at the S.J. Parker 1890 Extension Complex at UAPB. The film, Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land documents the causes, effects and solutions to the dwindling ownership of farmland by black, according to the release.
Dallas County Musem sets gallery talk
The Dallas County Museum at Fordyce will host a gallery talk, “Ancient Caddo Artists and Their Descendants,” led by Mary Beth Trubitt at 11 a.m. March 15. The event is free and open to the public, according to a news release. Trubitt will discuss pottery and other artifacts in the Native American exhibits at the museum while discussing the people who made and used them. She will also examine contemporary Caddo artists currently working, creating, and continuing cultural traditions. Trubitt is the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s research station archeologist at Henderson State University. For details, call the museum at (870) 352-5262.
Beginning Friday, March 15
Grand Prairie sets arts contest
The Arts Center of the Grand Prairie of Stuttgart is accepting entries in the Decorative Arts Category of the Grand Prairie Festival of the Arts 2023-2024. This juried exhibit will be held March 15-17 at the Grand Prairie Center/Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas in Stuttgart. Registration information, rules and categories are available at www.grandprairearts.com.
Through Friday, March 15
Community foundation offers scholarships
Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation will accept scholarship applications from Pine Bluff and Jefferson County students Feb. 1 through March 15. These scholarships are for area students pursuing higher education at two- or four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools or technical training programs. For the full list of scholarships, to begin the application process or for details, visit www.arcf.org/scholarships or contact Lawrence Fikes at 9pinebluffarea@arcf.org, or (870) 850-7934.
Saturday, March 16
Black Family Wellness Expo set
The Pine Bluff Chapter of The Links Inc. will hold the second annual Black Family Wellness Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 16 at Pine Bluff High School Gymnasium. The event is free and open to everyone. Pine Bluff School District has partnered with the The Links. This effort seeks to enhance access to preventive screenings, promote adolescent mental health awareness, address challenges affecting seniors and caregivers, and confront other health disparities impacting the Black community’s well-being and quality of life, according to a news release.
Sunday, March 17
Carnival, giveaway honors SEARK’s Dunn
Southeast Arkansas College Executive Director for Institutional Advancement and Community Relations Barbara Hawkins Dunn will be honored at the First Ward Living Grace Pantry Carnival. The event is a spring break and Easter giveaway that will begin at 2 p.m. at the pantry, 1201 Commerce Road. Groceries and barbecue will be given away.
Through Friday, March 22
LIHEAP applications available
The Winter 2024 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding is available to help households with their home energy costs. The Central Delta Community Action Agency began accepting applications Jan. 8. The Jefferson County office is located at 511 Commerce Road, Suite 3, in Pine Bluff. No short forms were mailed out this season, and all applicants will be required to complete a long form and submit all required documents, according to a news release. These documents include copies of driver’s licenses and Social Security cards for all household members over the age of 18, proof of income for all household members over the age of 18, and copies of all utility bills. The program will be open for regular applications through March 22. Crisis applications will continue to be accepted beyond that until the program closes for the season. To apply, people may visit a Central Delta Community Action Agency office in Arkansas, Cleveland, Grant, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties or apply by email to liheap@cdcaa.org. Details: (870) 536-0046.
Thursday, March 28
VA sets date for virtual claims clinic
The Little Rock VA Regional Office will hold a virtual claims clinic for Arkansas veterans from 4-6 p.m. March 28. To reserve a timeslot, veterans should call (501) 370-3829 before 4 p.m. March 27, according to a news release. Veterans may speak one-on-one to staff of the Little Rock VA Regional Office regarding their current claims or to file new claims for VA benefits. VA disability compensation offers a monthly tax-free payment to veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military and to veterans whose service made an existing condition worse, according to the release. For more details, visit http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/ or call 800-827-1000.
GOP to meet
The Jefferson County Republican Committee will host its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. March 28 at Larry’s Pizza in White Hall, according to a news release.
Through Friday, March 29
Lybrand scholarship available
The Jerry and Glenda Lybrand Memorial Scholarship will be awarded by the White Hall Sports Hall of Fame Committee. Completed applications must be submitted to the high school counselor’s office by March 29, according to a post on the Chamber’s Facebook page.
Sunday, March 31
Grant applications open for educators
Arkansas public-school personnel are encouraged to apply for the 2024 Arkansas Retired Teachers Association (ARTA) Grants Program. Applications must be submitted online and the deadline is March 31, according to a news release. The program funds grants in two categories. The Parsons-Burnett Grant is awarded to certified personnel to help further their education. The Mitchell-Fair Grant is awarded to classified personnel for the purpose of obtaining an Arkansas teaching license. Details: www.artanow.com.
Through Sunday, March 31
Arsenal announces controlled burns
The Arkansas Forestry Division will be conducting controlled burns at the Pine Bluff Arsenal today until the end of March, depending on the weather. The community should not be alarmed if they see large plumes of smoke coming from the Arsenal during this time, according to a news release. These burns serve as an environmental benefit, not only to reduce wildfire risk by removing fuel levels and loading from the forest floor, but also act as timber stand and wildlife habitat improvements.
Through Thursday, April 4
Synergy Forum offers grants
Synergy Forum Inc. is accepting grant applications for its 2024 grant cycle. Registered non-profit organizations — IRS 501(c)(3) public charities, public schools, government agencies, and the hospital in Jefferson County — are eligible to apply. Synergy grants fund projects for the benefit of residents in Jefferson County in the areas of the arts, education, and social services, according to a news release. Applications should be requested by March 12, completed and then submitted by April 4. For an applications and details, email synergyforumgrants@gmail.com. Applications will only be accepted by email.
Through Friday, April 5
Applications available for AgDiscovery
Applications are being accepted for AgDiscovery, a residential career and science exploration program for teens, said Christopher C. Mathis Jr., AgDiscovery program director. The program is scheduled for June 8-21 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. April 5 is the application deadline, according to a news release. “There are 20 universities participating in AgDiscovery 2024,” Mathis said. “During the application process, students can select their host university.” A complete list of host universities, application forms and details are available at www.aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery. Mathis said the program allows participants ages 14-17 to live on the UAPB campus and learn about agricultural science, environmental biology, industrial health and safety, plant and soil science, animal science, aquaculture and fisheries, and human sciences from university professors, practicing veterinarians and U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service professionals.
4-H Poster Art contest set
The Jefferson County 4-H Poster Art Contest is open to all 4-H members ages 9-19. Posters should be submitted to the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service by April 5. Posters can be horizontal or vertical and can be created using any of the following mediums: ink, crayon, acrylic, charcoal, colored pencil, collage or digital. Posters should only contain original creations. “Please refrain from using any copyrighted material,” county agent Timothy Wallace said in a news release. Details: Timothy Wallace at (870) 534-1033 or twallace@uada.edu.
Beginning Friday, April 5
Heart and SoulAr Eclipse Festival set
The Heart and SoulAr Eclipse Festival will be held from April 5-8 and coincides with the solar eclipse April 8. The Heart and SoulAr Eclipse Festival will feature events including the Eclipse Golf Tournament, Oil Painting with artist Brenda Lawrence, the Riverfront Jazz Festival — Sooth Your Soul, SoulAR Time with Jesus, and the Shells & Shadows Solar Crawfish Boil, and will culminate with Eclipse Viewing Parties at Saracen Landing and Pine Bluff’s Main Library.
Through Saturday, April 6
Unified scholarships available
Unified Christian Alliance Inc. is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Academic Scholarship Program for high school seniors planning to attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The deadline for submission is April 6. Scholarships will be granted based on submitted short essays, and applicants should meet UAPB grade point requirements, according to a news release. Interested students may obtain application forms and guidelines from their counselors’ offices or visit the link at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyMCN8ddqsTSx0f2IyVfCYL__98C_HtOJLBSdm6jlU0sB4lA/viewform. Applications and essays may also be mailed to Unified Christian Alliance Inc., 1709 E. Eighth Ave., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71601. Inquiries or email submissions can be directed to Jennifer Lee, Unified Christian Alliance president, at jenniferlee1321@sbcglobal or call (870) 692-0257 or Deborah Thomas, committee member, at akadooscholar@gmail.com.
Sunday, April 7
Chamber sets eclipse crawfish boil
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold a “Shells & Shadows” Solar Crawfish Boil before the historic solar eclipse that will leave many parts of Arkansas in complete darkness. The crawfish boil will be held from 3-6 p.m. April 7 at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas/ARTx3, 701 S. Main St., in the alleyway and parking lot. Tickets are $50 per person. “While Pine Bluff will not be in complete darkness, we will be close at 98% totality, and we anticipate and influx of visitors to lodge and dine in our city,” according to the Chamber newsletter. There will be crawfish, music and beverages. For tickets or details, call the Chamber at (870) 535-0110 or email Jennifer Kline at jennifer@jeffersoncountyalliance.com.
Saturday, April 13
Redix Project sets gala at WH
The Benjamen Redix Project will hold its first gala at 7 p.m. April 13 at the White Hall Community Center, 9801 Dollarway Road. The doors will open at 6 p.m. The speaker will be Officer Tommy Norman, according to a flier on the center’s Facebook page. “Benjamen Redix was a 2023 senior of White Hall High School. He tragically died the night before graduation. He was a star athlete and was loved and respected by many. After his death, his mother started a foundation called the Benjamen Redix Project,” according to the flier. Tickets to the gala are $100 and available at Carpe Diem, 7105 Dollarway Road, #120, or on Eventbrite. Sponsorships are available. Details: benjamenredixproject@gmail.com or (870) 718-8775.
Through Friday, April 19
Small museum grants available
Arkansas Heritage, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, is accepting grant applications for the Small Museum Grants Program. Applications are accepted at ArkansasHeritage.com. The program funds projects of up to $2,500 for Arkansas history museums, historical societies, military museums and historic houses and sites. The spring deadline for applications is April 19, according to a news release. Eligible organizations must have an annual operating budget of $250,000 or less; must have a staff of at least one person, either paid or volunteer; and must be open to the public at least 90 days per year. Details: Debra Fithen, grants manager for Arkansas Heritage, at debra.fithen@arkansas.gov.
Saturday, April 20
Home & Garden Show set at WH
The Jefferson County Master Gardeners will present Delta Bloooms & Bees, the 2024 Home & Garden Show, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 20 at the White Hall Community Center, 9801 Dollarway Road. Admission is free, according to a flier. Speakers and topics will include Janet Carson, Gardening in the Natural State; Obadiah Njue, Comparison Planting; and Yong Park, Native Pollinators & Beekeeping. The event will feature family oriented activities, a plant sale, Kids Zone, Ask the Plant Doctor (with a free diagnosis of plant problems), raffles, and vendors. Details: Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, (870) 534-1033 or Master Gardeners.
Through Tuesday, April 30
UAPB LIONS open to freshman
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is inviting incoming freshmen to apply for its Learning Institute and Opportunities for New Students (LIONS) Program. The LIONS Program prepares incoming freshmen for collegiate life through classes, workshops, and on-campus living. The residential program will be held July 8 through Aug. 9. The deadline to apply is April 30. For details, contact Carolyn Mills at (870) 575-8362 or millsc@uapb.edu or visit www.uapb.edu/lionsprogram or www.uapb.edu and click on the LIONS Program tab. For information about financial assistance, call (870) 575-8302 or email finaid@uapb.edu.
Thursday, May 2
Chamber sets Business Expo
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business Expo 2024 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on May 2. The Business Expo Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. and the program starts at 8 a.m. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Austin Booth will be the Business Expo Breakfast keynote speaker. Booth will discuss outdoor recreation and its impact on Arkansas’ economy. Breakfast tickets are $25 each and a table for eight is $300 each, according to a news release. Simmons Bank is the breakfast sponsor. The Business Expo trade show at the convention center will open with a VIP Hour from 9-10 a.m. and opens to public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The booth fee is $250 for members and $360 non-members. “This year’s theme, ‘We’re Wild About Pine Bluff,’ celebrates the beautiful landscape of the delta region from the piney timbers to the winding water of Bayou Bartholomew, the world’s longest bayou,” according to the release. Details: Chamber Director Jennifer Kline at jennifer@jeffersoncountyalliance.com or (870) 535-0110.
Through Friday, May 10
Registration open for college Ag Leaders
Registration for the 2024 Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour is now open for college juniors and seniors. This year’s tour, from May 13-17, will give participants an overview of the agriculture industry in Arkansas, plus an opportunity to make key connections with future employers or collaborators, according to a news release. Juniors and seniors enrolled in colleges of agriculture or pursuing agriculture-related majors in Arkansas can register for one of 50 spots. There is no cost to participate. The registration deadline is May 10. Participants can register at https://uada.formstack.com/forms/aragleaders.
Through Friday, May 31
Century Farm applications available
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2024 Arkansas Century Farm Program until May 31. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. The program is voluntary and there is no cost to apply, according to a news release. Online and printable applications are available at agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-services/arkansas-century-farm-program/. Applications must be received via email at beth.moore@agriculture.arkansas.gov or postmarked by May 31 to be eligible for designation as a 2024 inductee. Details: Beth Moore, (501) 539-4027.
Underway
Covid-19 vaccines, testing available
The Arkansas Department of Health, various pharmacies and healthcare providers offer the covid-19 vaccine, tests and other information about coronavirus. Details: Call the Arkansas Department of Health at (800) 985-6030, visit the website at healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-vaccination-plan or contact area medical professionals, according to spokesmen.
Tuesdays
Unity Christian offers free financial classes
Unity Christian Fellowship Church (UCFC), 2712 S. Bay St., invites the community to its free Small Business and Personal Financial Education classes at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Recent subjects included “The Importance of Having a Financial Plan” and “Financial Literacy,” according to Stuff in the Bluff website. “You cannot afford to miss out on these life-changing classes. We are practicing social distancing and will have hand sanitizer wipes available,” according to the site. Anthony Armstrong is the senior pastor. Details: unitychristianfellowship@live.com or (870) 329-1182.