TOPPS gives away food
TOPPS, 1000 Townsend Drive, will hold its monthly food distribution at 10 a.m. today. One box per household will be given away on a first come, first served basis. Participants must bring proof of residence, according to a news release.
Program partners include Canaan Christian Center, Pine Bluff Community Foundation, Tyson Foods, Arkansas Food Bank, Pine Bluff Police Department, Calvary Baptist Church Little Rock, Zion Church Northwest Arkansas and Summit Utilities. Details: Annette Howard Dove, founder/director of TOPPS (Targeting Our People’s Priorities with Service), (870) 850-6011.
DAR to meet Oct. 15
The Pine Bluff-John McAlmont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Lakeside United Methodist Church Center, 1500 S. Laurel St.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Thomas A. DeBlack will present a program on “Arkansas History: the Civil War and Pine Bluff.” DeBlack is a retired history professor at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and Hendrix College in Conway as well as an award-winning author and orator, according to a news release.
VA sets virtual claims clinic
The Little Rock VA Regional Office will hold a virtual claims clinic for Arkansas veterans from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 24. To reserve a timeslot, veterans should call (501) 370-3829 before 4 p.m. Oct. 23, according to a news release.
Veterans may speak one-on-one to staff of the Little Rock VA Regional Office regarding their claims for VA benefits. Staff will also answer questions about PACT Act benefits, existing VA benefits claims and assist with filing new claims.
The main office of the Little Rock VA Regional Office is located at 2200 Fort Roots Drive in North Little Rock and open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Veteran Assist Phone Line, (501) 370-3829, is staffed Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Area Agency plans menu
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas is serving lunches from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays at the senior centers. Next week’s menu includes:
Oct. 14 — Baked mushroom burger, stewed tomatoes, Au Gratin potatoes, pineapples and milk.
Oct. 15 — Homemade chicken soup, broccoli and cauliflower salad, crackers, Jell-O cake and milk.
Oct. 16 — Spaghetti with meat sauce, Italian vegetables, garlic biscuit, orange wedges and milk.
Oct. 17 — Open face roast beef sandwich with gravy, mashed potatoes, California blend vegetables, fruit and milk.
Oct. 18 — BBQ meat on bun, coleslaw, roasted potatoes, hot applesauce and milk.
Details: Strachota Senior Center, (870) 543-6323.
Webinar to discuss risks in agritourism
With the fall season comes visits to pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes and petting zoos — but for owners of these attractions, risk and liability come along with visitors.
Equine Activity & Agritourism Statutes: Strategies for Risk Management webinar 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 16 will focus on states’ statutes and the strategies business owners can take to mitigate risk. The webinar is available free. Registration is available at https://nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/equine-agritourism/
The webinar will be presented by Rusty Rumley, senior staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, and Tim Potter, equine and animal scientist with a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, and owner of Potter Consulting LLC.
“Agritourism is a huge industry, and continues to grow,” said Rumley. “It can diversify a farm’s income, but there is risk and liability associated with it for business owners.”
The 2022 Census of Agriculture showed a rise in the income generated from agritourism and recreational services, jumping from $949 million in 2017 to almost $1.26 billion in 2022.
With a growing industry comes the potential for liability, whether due to injuries or illnesses experienced by patrons.
“States around the country have implemented specific statutes that outline the responsibilities and liabilities for business owners who are involved in agritourism and equine-related activities,” Rumley said. “It’s important that owners are aware of these statutes and the limitations inherent in them as well. However, further risk mitigation tools such as liability insurance and proper planning are also needed to limit potential risk.”
Rumley and Potter will also provide real-life examples of risks associated with the equine and agritourism operations as well as practical solutions to address these concerns.
The University of Vermont, in partnership with the NALC, is hosting an online survey to understand how many U.S. agricultural operations welcome visitors for education, research, direct sales, hospitality and entertainment. Those who have a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business open to visitors are encouraged to participate in the brief survey. Details: nationalaglawcenter.org