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.

Tuesday, May 24 Election day, sample ballots online

Election day, May 24, voting occurs at the polls from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Jefferson County Clerk Shawndra Taggart recently announced that sample ballots are now online for the election. Voters can go to www.voterview.ar-nova.org/voterview and enter their registration information to see their absentee or provisional ballot associated with the selected election. Details: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office, (870) 541-5322.

Caregivers, supporters to meet

Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas will host the Caregivers Alzheimer’s Support Group meeting at 11 a.m. May 24 via Zoom. The topic will be Alzheimer’s/ Dementia Disease and the speaker will be Cheryl D. Jackson-Golden, PhD, of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, according to a news release. She has more than 20 years of health care experience, including specialized training in dementia and Alzheimer’s. Interested people may join the meeting via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81945068345?pwd=eTNNcS9wVDVsNENpajJWRndNc05Mdz09. The meeting ID is 819 4506 8345 and passcode is 877288. Participants may also call +13126266799 (Chicago) or +19292056099 (New York) and use the same ID and passcode numbers. Details: Carolyn Ferguson, Area Agency on Aging, (870) 543-6309.

Civic panel to meet

The conference call meeting of the Civic Auditorium Complex Commission will be held at noon May 24. To join the conference call, participants should call the Pine Bluff Convention Center at (870) 536-7600 or email bdavis@pinebluff.com or tlrash@pinebluff.com. They will email the information needed to join the call, according to a news release.

Beginning Tuesday, May 24 Election board to meet

Michael Adam, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Election Commissioners, called two board meetings, according to a news release. The board will hold an election day meeting on May 24 beginning at 7 a.m. The commission will remain in session until unofficial election results are announced at the election center, 123 Main St., at approximately 9 p.m. In the event commissioners are required to make a decision requiring a vote while the polls are open, it will be at the election center, according to the release. The commissioners will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. May 25 at the election center. Agenda items include: public comments on new business agenda items (two minutes per speaker.) New business includes adjudicate any provisional and absentee ballots, and approve manual audit of unofficial election results.

Wednesday, May 25 A&P commission to meet

The Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission will meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the A&P Office, 623 S. Main St., on the second floor. Participants are asked to confirm their attendance. Details: Betty Brown, A&P administrative assistant, (870) 534-2121 or bbrown@explorepinebluff.com.

UAMS opens McGehee site

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is opening its second Gap Services office at McGehee to provide free health services, as well as access to a food pantry, for residents of southeast Arkansas. The public is invited to attend the open house from 11 to 3 p.m. May 25 at the new office at 1609 E. Ash St. The event will include tours of the facility and HIV testing will be offered with $10 incentives, according to a news release. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, with walk-ins and appointments accepted. Details: Peggy Woodson at pdwoodson@uams.edu or (870) 200-2737.

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.

Thursday, May 26 GOP panel to meet

The Jefferson County Republican Committee will meet at 6 p.m. May 26 at Larry’s Pizza, 7401 Dollarway Road, at White Hall. The committee will review its last event and discuss plans moving forward in support of their candidates, according to a news release from David L. Singer, chairman.

County to host active shooter drill

The Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management, in conjunction with the County Sheriff’s Office, will conduct an active shooter drill for the county courthouse on May 26 at about 10 a.m. The drill will last no longer than two hours and the courthouse will be closed during the event, according to a news release.

Free legal clinic set for senior citizens

WILLS on WHEELS, a free legal clinic for low-income seniors will be held from 10 a.m. to noon May 27 at the Strachota Senior Citizens Center, 801 E. Eighth Ave. The legal clinic is sponsored by the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, according to a news release. Legal assistance will be offered for issues such as preparing Beneficiary deeds, affidavit of small estate, power of attorney, advanced directives, and guardianships of minors. Details: Center for Arkansas Legal Services, (501) 3763423.

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. May 26. To reserve a timeslot, veterans should call (501) 370-3829 before 5 p.m. May 25, according to a news release. During the claims clinic, veterans may speak one-on-one to staff of the Little Rock VA Regional Office regarding existing VA benefits claims and how to file a new one. These clinics are held monthly. The office is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. VA Regional Offices provide financial and other forms of assistance to veterans and their dependents.

Beginning Friday, May 27 Black Pilots bring contests, free rides for kids

The Black Pilots of America will bring their Memorial Day weekend event, “Operation Skyhook,” to Pine Bluff. Members will fly in from across the United States to Grider Field at Pine Bluff Regional Airport. Events are free to attend. The activities begin on Friday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. with the official Welcome to Pine Bluff, followed by the Flour Bomb Drop Competition at 11:15 a.m. On Saturday, May 28, the Pilot Proficiency begins at 10 a.m. and Formation is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. On Sunday, May 29, at 10 a.m. the pilots will compete in the Balloon Burst and Spot Landing. Each day immediately following the daily competitions, pilots will give free airplane rides – “Young Eagle” flights – to hundreds of kids until 5 p.m. Grider Field Restaurant will be open Friday, May 27, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Through Friday, May 27 Agencies may request food, shelter funds

Jefferson County will receive $105,814 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs, according to a news release from the United Way of Southeast Arkansas. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply for Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds. Further information is available by contacting the United Way at (870) 534-2153 by May 27. A local board will determine how the Jefferson County funds are distributed to the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations.

Beginning Saturday, May 28 White Hall water park opens

The Crenshaw Springs Water Park, 9801 Dollarway Road, at White Hall, opens Saturday at 11 a.m. for the 2022 summer season. The water park is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Sunday from 1-7 p.m. Kids three years and under get in free. A one-day pass for kids, four years through 12 is $12; and for people 13 years and up, it’s $12; and for active military and seniors 65-plus it’s $10. A 10-visit pass, with no age or residency restrictions, is $100; and a season pass, White Hall School District residents only, is $55. Details: For more information, call the Crenshaw Springs Water Park at (870) 247-6964.

Through Tuesday, May 31 Arkansas Century Farm applications available

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2022 Arkansas Century Farm program. The deadline is May 31, according to a news release. To qualify, the same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption. The farm must be at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition and make financial contribution to the over all farm income, according to the release. Applications are available at agriculture.arkansas.gov/ arkansas-department-of-agriculture-services/arkansas-century-farm-program/. Applications must be received via email or postmarked on or before May 31. There is no cost to apply for the program. Details: Beth Moore, (501) 539-4027 or beth.moore@agriculture.arkansas.gov.

Through Wednesday, June 1 Agriculture scholarships available

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting scholarship applications from students majoring in agriculture or an agriculture-related field at Arkansas State University, Southern Arkansas University, the University of Arkansas System, and Arkansas Tech University. Applications can be found at bit.ly/DeptofAgScholarship and will be accepted through June 1, according to a news release. Details: Amy Lyman at amy. lyman@agriculture.arkansas.gov.

Thursday, June 2 Author to address Camden mystery

Beth Brickell, author and film director from Los Angeles, will discuss the solved Maud Crawford mystery in Camden from 1957. Brickell will make a presentation at 6 p.m. June 2 at the Pine Bluff main library, 600 S. Main St. She has written four books about the case and will offer her newest book, “Solving the Maud Crawford Puzzle,” at the event.

Beginning Friday, June 3 ASC hosts summer bash

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (ASC) is kicking off summer with Art Rocks: Summer Bash from 5-10 p.m. June 3 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 4. The fundraising event will feature music, food trucks, games, art demos, art auctions, karaoke, kid-friendly activities and other projects. The Summer Bash will be held at ASC’s ARTSpace on Main and ART WORKS on Main, 623 and 627 S. Main St. The event is to celebrate the new facilities and to raise money for a renovation project at ASC’s main building, 701 S. Main St., according to a news release.

Saturday, June 4 Master Gardeners’ tour, plant sale set

The Jefferson County Master Gardeners will present the Luau Spring Demonstration Garden Tour along with a plant sale and fellowship fun day. The event is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. June 4 at their site near the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, 500 Idaho St., according to a news release.

Beginning Saturday, June 4 Blues concerts on tap for downtown

The Port City Blues Society will host “Blues By Budweiser,” live blues concerts on the first Saturday of each month through February 2023 at RJ’s Sports Grill & Bar, 128 S. Main St. The doors open at 7 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m. Port City Blues Society members are admitted for free. There’s a $5 cover charge for nonmembers, according to a news release. Performers include June 4 — Detroit Johnny and Company; July 2 — D.K. Harrell; Aug. 6 — La La Craig & Element 88; Sept. 3 — Chad Marshall Band; Oct. 1 — Deak Harp Duo; Nov. 5 — Kent Burnside; Dec. 3 — Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain; Jan. 7, 2023 — Sean Bad Apple; and Feb. 4, 2023 — Arkaholics. Details: portcitybluessociety.com or facebook.com/PCBluesSociety.

Through Sunday, June 5 School Garden contest seeks entries

Entries are being accepted for the ninth annual Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest through June 5. Winners will be announced in the fall of 2022 and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas are sponsors. Applicants may be any school with a school garden in the 2021-2022 school year or is planning to start one in the 2022-2023 school year, according to a news release. The application is available at cognitoforms.com/ArkansasAgriculture1/ArkansasGrownSchoolGardenOfTheYearContest2022.

Beginning Monday, June 6 ASC hosts Art Jr. Camp

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas is offering summer camps for ages 7-20. For details, registration and scholarship applications, visit asc701.org/summer-camps. Sessions include: ASC’s Art Jr. Camp — This camp combines beginner lessons in various mediums with an exploration of “Space and Time.” This camp is from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 6-10. It is open to ages 7-11 and is limited to 10 participants. The cost is $100 for members and $120 for nonmembers.

Beginning Wednesday, June 8 Lakeside, St. Luke set summer camp

Lakeside United Methodist Church, 1500 S. Olive St., and St. Luke United Methodist Church, 32 School St., will host a summer day camp June 8 through July 27 for children in first through fifth grade. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Project Transformation Arkansas will sponsor the camp. Activities will include games, arts, recreation, and reading. Meals will be provided by TOPPS Inc. Registration is $20 per child or $50 per family. Parents may sign up their children at https://ptark.force.com/registration/s/ or by calling either church, according to a flier on the mayor’s Facebook page. Details: Lakeside UMC, (870) 534-6241, or St. Luke UMC, (870) 535-2291.

Thursday, June 9 Veterans Legal Clinic set

The Veterans Legal Clinic will be open from 9-11 a.m. June 9 at the Sgt. Elga Lee Roberts Veterans Center, 114 S. State St. The free legal session for veterans is open each second Thursday of the month, according to a news release. The Veterans Legal Assistance Program is offered by the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. The agency offers help with issues such as VA benefits, family law, collections, bankruptcy filing, SNAP and TEA benefits, Medicaid, housing and expungement (sealing Arkansas criminal records.) Details: (501) 376-3423 or www.arkansaslegal.org or Pine Bluff Mayor’s office, (870) 730-2000, ext. 7.

Saturday, June 11 Festival to host All Tomato Luncheon

The 63rd annual All Tomato Luncheon will be a feature of the 2022 Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival at Warren. The luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. June 11 at the First Baptist Church Activities Center, according to a news release. Luncheon tickets are $12 and can be purchased from the Bradley County Extension Office. Tickets are limited, according to the release. The Pink Tomato Festival main events will be held June 10-11. Details: http://www.pinktomatofestival.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/bcptf .