CALENDAR

may be accessed at https:// www.deltadentalar.com/giving-back/delta-dental-of-arkansas-foundation/funding-opportunities/2023-community-grants#grantoverview.

DRA seeks leaders for academy

Delta Regional Authority (DRA) opened the application period for the 2023 Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) Executive Academy. The deadline is Aug. 12. DLI is a ninemonth executive leadership program that brings together public, private, and nonprofit sector leaders from the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. Chosen through a competitive application process, the class will include approximately 30 participants from the eightstate DRA region, including Arkansas, according to a news release. For details or to apply, visit dra.gov/leadership.

Saturday, Aug. 13 MLK panel gives away school supplies

The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will host a Back to School Statewide Supply Tour. Free school supplies will be distributed simultaneously at each location on a first come, first served basis while supplies last, according to a news release. School supplies will be given away from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 13 at the following area sites: Pine Bluff — New Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 3800 S. Fir St.; Stuttgart — Stuttgart Police Department, 514 S. Main St.; Dumas — St. Peter’s Rock Missionary Baptist Church, 100 N. Cherry St.

Pilgrim church to open pantry

Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Hill St., will open its Raven’s Nest Food Pantry on Aug. 13 from 8-9:30 a.m. or until all the food has been given away. Food will be handed out on a first come, firstserved basis. Participants must bring a picture identification. This program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture distribution site and equal opportunity provider, according to a news release.

St. John to give away food

St John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., will give away food boxes in a drive-thru setting Aug. 13 from 9-11 a.m. or until all food has been given out. State ID’s are required to receive one box per family. Pickup will be in front of the church on Cherry Street. For safety reasons, recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles and open their trunks, according to a news release.

ASC Family FunDay set

Patrons can create beautiful and functional works of art with alcohol ink coasters during the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas’ monthly Second Saturday Family FunDay. This session will be held from 1-3 p.m. Aug. 13 at ASC’s home facility, 701 Main St. No registration is required.

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly performs

The R&B group Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, according to a news release. The group has earned 24 R&B Top 40 singles, including “While I’m Alone,” “Golden Time Of Day,” “Southern Girl,” “Runnin’ Away,” “Before I Let Go,” “Back In Stride,” “Too Many Games,” “Can’t Get Over You” and “Silky Soul,” according to the release. Tickets start at $50, plus applicable taxes. Secured parking will be available for $20. Tickets can be purchased at www.iTickets.com. The convention center box office will be open starting Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for those wanting to purchase tickets in person. Details: Pine Bluff Convention Center, pinebluffconventioncenter.com or (870) 536-7600.

Sunday, Aug. 14 Union Hopewell honors ushers

Union Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church,1121 Persimmon St., invites the community to its annual Usher Program at 11 a.m. Aug. 14. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Alfred Carroll of Kings Highway Missionary Baptist Church. The theme is “We are Door Keepers for the Lord” Psalms 84:10. Union Hopewell’s pastor is the Rev. Antonio Gayden Sr.

St. John observes Men’s Day

St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., continues its Men’s Day observance Aug. 14. Virtual Church School at 10 a.m. will feature Judge Earnest Brown Jr. as the lesson overviewer. At 3 p.m. Aug. 14, the featured speaker will be the Rev. Michael Leon Mitchell, the bishop of the 12th Episcopal District of the AME Church. A Men’s Day Choir will be directed by Danny Withers. The public is invited to attend this event in person or virtually. All events can be seen virtually at https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnPineBluff/ or via Zoom with Meeting ID: 380 457 5496 and Passcode: 1117 or call-in: 13126266799 and when prompted dial 3804575496#, 1117#.

Through Monday, Aug. 15 Program seeks 10 new entrepreneurs

Applications are now open for a second group of Pine Bluff residents to turn ideas into reality through the Idea Accelerator program. Sponsored by Heartland Forward with partner Builders + Backers, the program will continue at Pine Bluff and the project has openings for 10 new participants, according to a news release. Anyone who has a creative and unexpected idea for solving a problem facing the Pine Bluff community can complete an application at https://www.buildersandbackers.com/idea-accelerator-learn-more. Residents must apply Aug. 15. People with the most promising and innovative ideas will be selected to participate in a twomonth long virtual program starting on Sept. 22.

Pine Bluff area grants available

The Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation (PBACF) will accept grant applications through Aug. 15. Nonprofits in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County may apply online for Giving Tree grants through PBACF. The Giving Tree Grant program is the foundation’s signature grant cycle supporting a broad range of projects to meet immediate local needs, according to a news release. Organizations can apply at https://www.arcf.org/apply-for-giving-treegrants/ For organizations providing services aimed at educating, assessing and screening members of their organization or the larger community regarding health issues, Jefferson Regional Medical Center has created the JRMC Community Health Endowment. Projects with a special emphasis on early literacy are eligible for Early Literacy grants. Details: https://www.arcf.org/apply/nonprofits/ or call the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation, at (870) 850-7934.

Tuesday, Aug. 16 Pine Bluff Quilters meet

The Pine Bluff Quilters Guild will meet at Trinity Lutheran Church, 4200 Old Warren Road, at 9:30 a.m. Aug 16. Guests are always welcome, according to a news release. Plans will be finalized for the guild’s 37th anniversary in September. The program will be an introduction to making a bear rag quilt. Sue Womack will explain the first steps and will also be available to assist any interested members on the guild’s sew day, Aug. 23.

Wednesday, Aug. 17 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.

Beginning Friday, Aug. 19 New Hope to open pantry

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 9605 U.S. 65 South at Moscow, will open its food pantry on two days. From 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 19, food will be given to households with children under 18 years old. From 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 20, food will be available to anyone and there are no restrictions, according to a news release. New Hope will hand out food on a first come, first served basis until it’s all gone. The ministry is partnered with the Arkansas Food Bank TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program, according to the release.

Saturday, Aug. 20 BRAVE sets school supply drive thru event

The Pine Bluff Black Firefighters Association will present its Project Fresh Start School Supply Drive Thru event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Building, 211 W. Third Ave. Students will receive bags filled with school supplies. Free breakfast and lunch will be sponsored by Gould Youth Ministries (G.Y.M.) Better known as BRAVE (Banishing Racial Animosity Vigorously Everywhere), this organization continues its tradition of helping to prepare students for the upcoming school year, according to a news release.

Sounds of Blue to host Horton Band

“Sounds of Blue,” Blues from the Highway, will feature the John Horton Band with Jerry McCoy as well as an art exhibit on Aug. 20 at RJ’s Grill & Bar, 128 S. Main St. The event is hosted by the Port City Blues Society and RJ’s. Patrons can begin the evening at 6 p.m. by meeting the artists and viewing the Delta Art Exhibit. In addition, special presentations will be made followed at 8 p.m. with music from the Horton Band with McCoy. This special program was funded by a grant from Synergy Forum, Inc., according to the newsletter from Pine Bluff Downtown Development.

Yoga in The Loft with Florence Love set

Ages 13 and older are invited to exercise and relax with certified yoga instructor Florence “FloEssence” Love every third Saturday from 1:30-3 p.m. during Yoga in the Loft. The next session is on Aug. 20. The cost is “paywhat-you-can” with $15 being recommended. This program takes place in the Loft Gallery at the ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St. Details: Kourtlynn Pinkins at kpinkins@asc701.org or (870) 536-3375.

Tuesday, Aug. 23 Manufacturing council sets job fair

The Jefferson County Manufacturing Council (JCMC) will host Manufacturing Made Easy Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 23 at the White Hall Community Center, 9301 Dollarway Road. The event will target industrial job seekers throughout the county and surrounding areas. The event is free to people seeking jobs. A $500 fee is for manufacturers that want to have a spot/table at the fair, but are not members of the JCMC. Registration is free to JCMC members. The registration deadline is Aug. 12. To register and/or join the manufacturing council, email Felicia@jeffersoncountyalliance.com or call (870) 535-0110, according to the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce.

ARTSpace hosts Game on Main

Youth in grades 5-12 are invited to Game on Main, a biweekly program at The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St. Events continue Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 3:306 p.m. “This event will feature strategy and role-playing games as well as classic games like Guess Who, Uno, and chess,” according to the release. This is a free community program and no registration is required. Details: Matthew Howard at mhoward@asc701.org or (870) 536-3375.

Through Wednesday, Aug. 24 ASC hosts Small Works

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas will host the 35th annual “Small Works on Paper” exhibition through Aug. 24. The 2022 exhibition features artwork from 28 artists from across the state with 39 pieces on display. ASC volunteer Crystal Jennings of Rison and Pine Bluff native and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduate Rashawn Penister are among featured artists, according to a news release.

Thursday, Aug. 25 Jones-Dunklin center plans open house

The Jefferson Regional Jones-Dunklin Cancer Center, 1609 W. 40th Ave., will hold a ribbon cutting and open house. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 25, according to the newsletter of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce.

GOP panel to meet

The Jefferson County Republican Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 25. The event will be held at Larry’s Pizza at White Hall, according to a news release.

Saturday, Aug. 27 Ivy Center sets free ACT Boot Camp

The Ivy Center for Education Inc. will host a free “ACT Boot Camp” beginning at 8:45 a.m. Aug. 27 in the Rust Technology Building at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The session will help prepare students for the Sept. 10 exam, according to a news release. The 4-hour group session will feature live training by Charity Smith-Allen, founder of the Arkansas College Prep, and staff. Students may register for the boot camp by sending an email to mattie1908@gmail.com by Aug. 25. The ACT Boot Camp is for 7-12 graders. (High school seniors are top priority.) Covid 19 Protocol – Masks are required to enter the building. Students who plan to take the Sept. 10 exam must register with ACT by Aug. 5 at www.act.org or www. actstudent.org. Students must show their school ID to be admitted to the boot camp. Students from all school districts may attend. Those who cannot attend in person may join on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85682964187?pwd=QlJ4REF5NFp5WGFLblJHWXFTdC8rQT09.

Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 30 UAPB slates virtual land conference

The second annual Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Joint Regional Conference will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 30 and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 31. The free event is co-sponsored by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Small Farm Program and Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) Cooperative Extension Program, according to a news release. Attendees will learn about timely forestry and conservation topics and receive educational resources that can help resolve heirs’ property issues and build generational wealth through forestland management, said Kandi Williams, UAPB Keeping it in the Family outreach coordinator. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3byg8XZ. To have the link to the registration form sent to an email address, email williamska@uapb.edu.

Beginning Friday, Sept. 2 PBHS 1972 class reunion set

The Pine Bluff High School Class of 1972 is planning its 50th reunion for Sept. 2-3 at Pine Bluff, according to a news release. “If you were a member of this class and graduated in 1972, or if you were a member of this class but did not graduate with the class in 1972, we would love to celebrate our Golden Reunion with you. You are also welcome to join us for any future reunions that we may have,” according to the release. Participants are also urged to tell other class members about the event. Details: Gail Jenkins Sales, (870) 489-8527 or Mickey Shell, (870) 718-3930.

Beginning Saturday, Sept. 3 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 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.

Friday, Sept. 9 Governor’s Arts Awards deadline set

The Arkansas Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2023 Governor’s Arts Awards. Recipients are nominated by the public, then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state, according to a news release. Nominations are open in the following categories: Arts Community Development, Arts in Education, Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts, Folklife, Individual Artist, Patron and Lifetime Achievement. The nomination deadline is Sept. 9. Details: https://www. arkansasheritage.com/arkansas-art-council/aac-programs/ governor’s-arts-awards.