Editor’s Note: At press time, the following events, workshops and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@adgnewsroom.com to make additions or changes.
Underway
Covid-19 testing sites available
Details for getting the covid-19 test are available by contacting: Jefferson County Health Department — 870-535-2142; Jefferson Regional Medical Center — 870-541-4911; Jefferson Comprehensive Care System at Pine Bluff — 855-543-2380 or 1-833-508-0774 for other community health centers; Arkansas Department of Health — Testing sites in Arkansas are listed on the department’s website at https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-guidance-for-getting-tested . Scroll down until you see the map and enlarge the map. Click on each star to see where each testing site is located.
Absentee ballot applications available at Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office has absentee ballot applications available to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for people who would like to vote by mail. Voters may also download an application on the website at www.jeffersoncountyar.gov/county-clerk, according to a news release. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27. The completed absentee ballot application can be mailed, faxed or scanned and emailed to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office. The mailing address is: Shawndra Taggart, Jefferson County Clerk, 101 W. Barraque St., Suite 101, Pine Bluff, AR 71601. The fax number is 870-541-5324. The email address is jeffersonclerk@arkansasclerks.com. Residents have until Monday, Oct. 5, to register to vote in the November election. Details: Jefferson County Clerk Shawndra Taggart, 870-541-5322.
Arts center hosts Small Works on Paper
The annual juried exhibition “Small Works on Paper” opened Sept. 24 and will be on display through Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Arts & Science Center. The traveling exhibition will showcase 39 works no larger than 18 by 24 inches by Arkansas artists, according to a news release. Among the selected pieces is “Nola Reception Couture Gown” by Pine Bluff artist Kimiara Johnson. This exhibition is sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council.
UAPB alumni raising scholarship funds
The community is invited to participate in the End of the Year Challenge to help the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff/AM&N National Alumni Association raise scholarship funds. The association’s goal is to raise $500,000 for scholarships by Dec. 21, according to a news release. These scholarships will directly benefit students at UAPB. To donate online visit www.uapbalumni.org/end-of-the-year-challenge.
Brothers by One exhibition opens at ASC
Rex DeLoney’s exhibition, “Brothers by One: The Black Athlete and Social Justice,” is on display at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. It opened Oct. 1. This exhibition highlights the many ways that Black athletes used their celebrity status and media coverage to give attention to social justice issues; from boxer Muhammad Ali and his stance against the Vietnam War to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem as a statement against police brutality, according to a news release.
Friday, Oct. 2
Pine Bluff School District sets virtual parent/teacher conferences
Pine Bluff School District will continue Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences Friday, Oct. 2. K-12 students won’t report to campus but have virtual classes. Details will be posted on the district website as well as other district social media platforms. Parents may contact their children’s teachers or schools for additional information.
U.S. 79-63 Junk Hunt set
The fifth annual Highway 79-63 Junk Hunt, a flea market style event, will continue Friday and Saturday and stretch through several Southeast Arkansas communities, according to a news release. Junk Hunt organizer Jennifer King doesn’t expect any pandemic-related disruptions because the Junk Hunt lends itself to social distancing, the release said. The event allows bargain hunters to explore vendors’ wares set up along the route starting at the U.S. 79 exit at Interstate 530 in Pine Bluff and proceeding south along U.S. 79 through the Watson Chapel community, Rison, Kingsland and eventually to Fordyce. For details follow the Hwy. 79 – Hwy. 63 Junk Hunt Loop page on Facebook.
ACCESS sets drive-thru fish fry fundraiser
ACCESS, Inc. is hosting its annual Fish Fry Fundraiser as a drive-thru event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave. The event will be held on the Third Avenue parking lot at the center, according to a news release. Tickets are $15 each. Participants may drive up, present their tickets or money to the volunteer, receive their dinner and drive off. The plates consist of catfish fillets, cole slaw, baked beans, bread and a soda. Details: Annie Jasper, ACCESS executive director, accessincjc@gmail.com or 870-535-1302.
Virtual Live@5 Concert set with Port City Blues Society Players
The Port City Blues Society Players will perform 5-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, in a concert livestreamed on the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas’ Facebook page, facebook.com/asc701. The performance is part of ASC’s monthly Live@5 concert series. A virtual donation box will be available for those wishing to contribute. Donations will go toward supporting ASC’s programming, according to the news release. The group’s members include Dave Sadler (guitar, vocals), Roscoe Willis (bass), George Scaife (guitar, vocals), Gene Cooper (keyboards) and Dave Miller (drums). They are part of the Port City Blues Society, an organization dedicated to preserving the blues art form in Pine Bluff and Southeast Arkansas.
UAPB Detroit Alumni hold virtual fundraiser
The Detroit Alumni Chapter of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will host a virtual Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund Fundraiser from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. The community is invited to participate, according to a news release. To join the Zoom meeting visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83155369285?pwd=T05mbEY4cmR0Ky8wWHJIbktBRk15UT09 and use Meeting ID: 831 5536 9285 and Passcode: 094418. To make donations, participants may write a check, use PayPal or donate online. Details: www.uapbdetroitalumni.org.
Saturday, Oct. 3
New Jerusalem gives away school supplies
New Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1317 S. Texas St., will host a drive by school supply giveaway from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.
McFarland set free eye care day
McFarland Eye Care will offer free eye care at their Pine Bluff and Little Rock locations Saturday, Oct. 3. The free eye care day will be open to anyone — current or new patients. The purpose of this event is to provide Arkansans with the care they need but have been delaying because of financial or other stress as a result of the coronavirus, according to a news release. Anyone wishing to schedule an appointment for Saturday can call 501-830-2020.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
New Legacy Project to hold free concert
Nashville-based New Legacy Project will be live in a free concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Cherry Street Memorial AME Zion Church, 800 S. Cherry St. All required social distancing practices will be observed. Formerly known as the Blackwood Legacy, the group is currently charting on radio with their latest single “Born For This.” New Legacy Project is also one of the few touring groups still working throughout the pandemic., according to a news release.
Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 6
Watson Chapel slates meetings
Watson Chapel School District will give the annual reports: Edgewood Elementary School will have a virtual report Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 4:30 p.m. Details: 870-879-1252. L.L. Owen Elementary School will host its report virtually, Thursday, Oct. 8, at 5:30 p.m. A Zoom invitation link will be made available. Details: 870-879-3741. Coleman Intermediate School will have a virtual report Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 5:30 p.m. Details: 870-879-3697. Watson Chapel Junior High School will have a virtual report Thursday, Oct. 22, at 4:30 p.m. Details: 870-879-4420. Watson Chapel High School will host its report to the public on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 5:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria, 4000 Camden Road. Details: 870-879-3230.
Ivy Center hosts Zoom workshops
The Ivy Center for Education announces its upcoming workshops by Zoom primarily for students in 7-12th grades. Sessions include Tuesday, Oct. 6 — 6-7 p.m. — Club Scrub – Future Medical Professionals will meet with Renisha Ward, HBCU education coordinator at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Tuesday, Oct. 13 — 6-7 p.m — Future Engineers will meet with Sederick Rice, Ph.D, at UAPB. Tuesday, Oct. 20 — 6-7:30 p.m. — A panel discussion, “Teenagers Growing Up Black in America,” will be led by Carolyn Pridgeon and Melvin D. Clayton. Tuesday, Oct. 27 — 6 p.m. — Go Forward Pine Bluff (Youth Involvement) will be presented by Ryan Watley, Ph.D, and chief executive officer of Go Forward Pine Bluff. From 6:45-7 p.m. — A College Readiness Workshop will be presented by Derrick Newby of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock recruitment office. To participate in the Ivy Center Zoom workshops, enter meeting ID: 856 8296 4187 and Passcode: 351061. For details, contact Mattie Collins at mattie1908@gmail.com or Patricia Berry at Pberry867@gmail.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday and the deadline to submit church announcements is noon Wednesday. Articles may be submitted by email to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing a religion column may submit articles by email as well. 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.
Beginning Friday, Oct. 9
Women of Influence Rock set Zoom conference
Women of Influence Rock – Reset and Still Rocking – will present a 2020 Zoom Conference beginning Oct. 9. The theme will be “Rise Up and Walk” from the scripture John 5:8, according to a news release. The free event will be held: Friday, Oct. 9, from 8-10 p.m. — For boys and girls ages 13 to 18; Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9-11 a.m. — For women ages 36 and up; Saturday, Oct. 10, from noon to 2 p.m. — For women ages 26 to 35; Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. — For women ages 19 to 25. Speakers will include Mayor Shirley Washington, Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr., pastors Jan Otuechere and Pat Hart, Clarissa Pace, Melrita Johnson, Oscar Bullard, John Proctor, Jasmine Coleman-Ford, Virginia Desmuke, executive director of the GMOR Theological Institute; and Jessica Yarbrough, a lawyer. The first 50 people to register will be placed in a drawing to receive a $100 gift. Interested participants may register on Eventbrite or send an email to womenofinfluencerock@gmail.com to request a registration form, according to the release. Organizers are Corine T. Jones and Yulonda James, a pastor. Details: 870-489-4664.
Saturday, Oct. 10
Progressive Women set Octoberfest scholarship fundraiser
The Progressive Women’s Association is planning an Octoberfest (silent auction and rummage sale) to benefit four scholarship recipients, according to a news release. The fundraiser will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, on the grounds of the White Hall Museum, 9009 Dollarway Road at White Hall. A quilt and afghan will be given away Tuesday, Nov. 17. Tickets for a chance to win the afghan or quilt are $2 each or $5 for 3. Tickets are available in advance from any Progressive Women’s Association member or at the event. Masks are mandatory at the event. Details: 870 550-5788 or 870-489-3600.