CALENDAR

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.

Thursday, Oct. 21 Election commissioners to meet

The Jefferson County Board of Election Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the election center, 123 Main St. The agenda includes proposed changes to Justice of the Peace districts, a presentation by Mathew Charton of Data Scout and data complied and changes suggested by Data Scout, according to a news release. Face masks are required and attendees are asked to observe social distancing and use best practices for everyone’s safety.

Friday, Oct. 22 NAACP to host virtual ceremony

The Pine Bluff Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will celebrate its 29th annual Dove Freedom Fund and 100 Year Anniversary Gala Friday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. Due to covid-19, the event will be held virtually. Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. will be the keynote speaker. The emcee will be Kim Jones Sneed, founder and publisher of StuffInTheBluff.com website. The cost of this virtual gala is $30 per person. A Zoom link will be emailed upon payment. To register or obtain additional information, contact the Pine Bluff Branch of the NAACP by emailing pbnaacp@yahoo.com or by calling (870) 850-0107.

A&P panel sets called meeting

A special called meeting has been scheduled for the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission at 4 p.m. Friday via Zoom. The purpose of this meeting is for 2022 Funding Application Presentations, according to a news release. To join the Zoom meeting, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87573007382 and use meeting ID: 875 7300 7382 and passcode: 904592.

Through Friday, Oct. 22 Breast Cancer Event registration open

Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church has opened registration through Oct. 22 for the seventh annual Breast Cancer Event Oct. 30. The community is invited to attend via Zoom from 9-11 a.m. to raise awareness, inspire hope, celebrate the survivors and encourage early detection. This event is presented in memory of Billie Jean “BJ” Jackson. This event is free, however; donations for the Susan G. Komen Foundation are welcomed through Oct. 30. Checks or money orders should be payable to “Mt. Nebo.” To pay by credit or debit card, visit PayPal (@mtnebobreastcancerbj). Register by Oct. 22 at www.mtnebobreastcancerbj.org. Completed forms and donations may be mailed to: Mt. Nebo, P.O. Box 2252, Pine Bluff, AR 71613. Details: (870) 536-6827 or mtnebobreastcancerbj@yahoo.com.

Small Works opens at ATU

The 2021 Small Works on Paper, an annual touring visual arts exhibition that showcases the work of Arkansas artists, opened Monday in the Norman Hall Gallery at Arkansas Tech University at Russellville. Crystal Jennings of Rison and Kimiara L. Johnson of Pine Bluff are among artists whose works are included in the exhibit, according to a news release. A reception will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and masks are required. The Arkansas Arts Council coordinates the exhibition and makes it available for loan to qualifying galleries around the state. The exhibition will be on display through Oct. 22. The gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Saturday, Oct. 23 Sheriff’s office hosts Drug Take Back event

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will participate in Arkansas Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Their drive-through collection site will be located on the parking lot of Super 1 Foods, 2800 S. Hazel St., according to a news release. The sheriff’s office, Tri-County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration invite area residents to come out and safely dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired medicines.

Beginning Saturday, Oct. 23 CrEATe Lab with Faith Anaya set at ASC

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas’ nutritious cooking series CrEATe Lab will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 13, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4. The program is open to ages 10-17, with a maximum of 10 students. The cost is $35 for all sessions with partial scholarships available. To register, visit asc701.org/create-lab or call ASC at 870-5363375. ASC continuing its partnership with Faith Anaya and her Kids Cook! team. The fall series is sponsored by Saracen Casino Resort. The series will include a session with a registered dietitian on Nov. 6, and a Saracen chef demonstration on Dec. 4.

Beginning Sunday, Oct. 24 Auditions set for Charlie Brown Christmas and Seussified Christmas Carol

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas will host auditions for A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Seussified Christmas Carol on Oct. 24-26. Auditions are open to ages 10 and older. Performers must be available for showtimes on 7 p.m. Dec. 10, 11, 17, and 18, and 2 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19, 2021. Script selections will be available at the Catherine M. Bellamy Theater at the main ASC facility, 701 S. Main St. To request a selection before auditions, email Theatre Programs Manager Lindsey Collins at lcollins@asc701.org.

Monday, Oct. 25 Extension clubs plan centerpiece craft class

Jefferson County Extension Homemakers Clubs will host craft classes to teach people to make fall centerpieces, according to a news release. Classes will be held at local library branches and registration is $1. The next session is at Redfield Library, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. Participants may register by calling the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service at (870) 534-1033.

A&P plans finance meeting

The Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission’s Finance Committee will meet at noon Oct. 25 at the offices of the A&P Commission at The ARTSpace, 623 S. Main St. Details: A&P Commission, (870) 534-2121.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 25 Salvation Army holds registration for holiday assistance

The Pine Bluff Corps of the Salvation Army will conduct family registration for its annual Christmas/Angel Tree Drive on Oct. 25-27 at the Salvation Army Corps Community Center Gymnasium, 501 E. 12th Ave. Registration will be held from 9-11:45 a.m. and 1:15-3:15 p.m. each day, according to a news release. Registration days are scheduled by last names, alphabetically: A-H – Oct. 25; I-Q – Oct. 26; R-Z – Oct. 27. Only children 12 years old and younger are eligible for this program. A birth certificate is required for each child that is registered, along with clothing and shoe sizes, according to a Salvation Army spokesman. Only the head of household or designee with written approval will be allowed to register. No children will be allowed at the registration, the spokesman said. Proof of identification, proof of income and proof of residence are required. Masks are required. Social distancing and the Arkansas Department of Health directives will be followed. Details: Salvation Army, (870) 534-0504.

Tuesday, Oct. 26 Division of Rural Services accepting education grant forms

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services has more than $769,000 to give to Arkansas schools and educators for conservation education programs in the 2021-22 school year, thanks to fines from wildlife violations. The deadline to apply is Oct. 26. Any school or conservation district in Arkansas may apply for these grants, according to the Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Newsletter. Details: visit www.agfc.com/conservationgrants.

Civic panel to meet

The Civic Auditorium Complex Commission meeting will be held by conference call at noon Oct. 26, according to a news release. Details: Pine Bluff Convention Center, (870) 536-7600.

Through Tuesday, Oct. 26 Domestic abuse topic of virtual sessions

Community organizations will sponsor a virtual series about domestic abuse, according to Melrita Johnson, a licensed social worker, ACES Inc. national grand president/organizer and founder of REFORM Inc. October is Domestic Abuse/Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month. The theme is “Sorry Not Sorry: Asking for a Myself and a Friend.” The sessions will be held by Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, through Oct. 26. Presenters will be licensed clinicians. Registration is required. Zoom meetings can be found at https://us06web. zoom.us/j/85200780406?pwd=WGh3ay8xdytyYTNEOTVtYmJ2WTVBQT09. Use Meeting ID: 852 0078 0406 and Passcode: 271955. Details: Melrita M. Johnson at info@acessocialworkinc.org or www.acessocialworkinc.org and Facebook and Instagram pages.

Wednesday, Oct. 27 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 shope@pbcommercial.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.

Through Wednesday, Oct. 27 Pine Bluff Library events set

The Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System recently announced programs for October. Events at the main library, 600 S. Main St., include: Tweens and Teens (Ages: 11-17) — Dates: Tuesdays, Oct. 12, 19 and 26; Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 19 — Candy Olympics — Who is up for the challenge? Are you agile? Fast? Steady hands? Let’s find out with some Candy Olympics. Oct. 26 – Lego Night — Are you up for the challenge? Can you handle the pressure? Find out on Lego Night for Tweens and Teens. Toddler Sensory Play (Ages: 1-3) — Dates: Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Time: 10:30-11 a.m. Interactive free play with games, blocks and crafts. Homeschooler’s Corner (Ages: 0-18) — Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays; Time: 2-3 p.m. A chance for parents or caregivers to bring their children for a quiet study time, or to socialize with other parents and caregivers. Afterschool (Ages: 5-10) — Dates: Wednesdays, Oct. 13, 20 and 27; Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 — Crafts: Monster-Themed Air-Dry Clay Planter. Create unique, goofy, funny, scary, one-of-a-kind monster faces using clay wrapped around a planter. Oct. 20 — Fall Scavenger Hunt. Search for fallthemed items. Find all the items on the page and receive a fun prize. Oct. 27 — STEAM Zombie Dolls Workshop. Love zombies? This is your chance to create the scariest, funniest, goofiest zombie you can imagine. Prizes will be given out for the best in each category. Adults — Bingo — Dates: Mondays, Oct. 18 and 25; Time: 1-2 p.m. Come down and play a few rounds of Bingo and see what kind of prizes you could win. Adult Crafts — Dates: Mondays and Fridays; Time: 2-3 p.m. Crafts with adults two times a week. Details: www. pineblufflibrary.org or (870) 534-4802.

DRA accepting workforce grant applications

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) opened the application cycle for the 2021 Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP). The program invests federal resources across the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions particularly hard hit by industrial downsizing, business closures, and job losses as a result of the public health and economic crises, according to a news release. To submit a grant application, visit the Delta Workforce Grant Program portal at https://workforce.dra.gov. All applications must be submitted in the portal by Oct. 27.

Thursday, Oct. 28 Chamber to host farmers appreciation fish fry

The 2021 Jefferson County Farm Family of the Year is the Draper Family of S&L Farms. The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will honor the family during the 69th annual Farmers Appreciation Fish Fry set for 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at Hestand Stadium at Pine Bluff. This year’s event will be drive-thru due to current covid-19 conditions, according to the Chamber newsletter. King Kat will provide catfish or chicken strips with all the fixins. Tickets are $20 each. Sponsorships are $400. For details or to volunteer to serve food, contact Jennifer Kline, jennifer@jeffersoncountyalliance.com or (870) 535-0110.

Delta Sigma Theta webinar to address census data

The social action committee of the Pine Bluff Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will host a webinar on Zoom entitled “The Nuts and Bolts of Gerrymandering and Redistricting,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28. The purpose is to inform residents of the 2020 data and the impact it has on all facets of the community’s wellbeing. The presenter will be Deborah Pitchford, data dissemination specialist with the Custom Liaison and Marketing Services Office/ Data Dissemination Training Branch of the U.S. Census Bureau, according to a news release. Pritchford will focus on 2020 Decennial population numbers. Details are available at Data.census.gov. The public is invited to attend via Zoom with webinar ID: 827 0999 3629 and passcode: 483888. Nicolette Laurent is the chapter president.

Corn and cotton virtual field day set

Corn and cotton are the topics for the next virtual field day presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, researchers and extension specialists will offer results on the latest corn and cotton studies, including weed control, fertilizer use and soil fertility, variety choices, and yield monitoring. The online field day is free, but registration is required. Register online at https://aaes.uada.edu/corncotton-field-day until Oct. 28, according to a news release.

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 28 ASC opens exhibition Beyond Labels | Más Allá De Las Etiquetas

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas will host “Beyond Labels | Más Allá De Las Etiquetas by Virmarie Depoyster,” a portrait exhibition that opens Oct. 28 with a reception from 5-7 p.m. DePoyster is a bilingual Puerto Rican artist interested in bringing communities together through art. This exhibition will run through Jan. 29.

Drew County NAACP sets domestic violence awareness, college aid prep, gala

Drew County Branch NAACP 6042 slate October events including: Oct. 28, College Financial Prep — A College Financial Prep Night will be held at the Monticello Branch Library; 7 p.m. Oct. 29, Freedom Fund Virtual Gala — The 2021 Freedom Fund Virtual Gala will be held via Zoom and Facebook Live. The guest speaker is Bessie Lancelin, co-interim president and CEO and director of clinical services of the Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare Inc. of Pine Bluff. The community is asked to make a $30 contribution online at www. dcnaacp6042.org/freedomfund or contact Peggy Orr at (870) 224-2416. Details: NAACP President Clarissa Pace, clpace@sbcglobal.net.