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.

Friday, March 12 Covid-19 vaccine to be given at Convention Center

Covid-19 vaccinations will be offered at the Pine Bluff Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 12. This vaccine clinic is for anyone in category 1B: essential government workers, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, employees of the Department of Corrections, grocery stores and meal delivery services, houses of worship, manufacturing, postal/ package delivery services, and public transportation. People 65 years old and older, educators, and workers in the food and agriculture industry already are eligible. People should schedule appointments online at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?Owner=21601052&appointmentType=20878882. Those without internet access and need help with scheduling an appointment may call Indiana Street Missionary Baptist Church at 870534-6944; Pine Bluff City Hall at (870) 730-2145 (from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.); Pine Bluff First Assembly of God at (870) 535-0371 (from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.); and First United Methodist Church at (870) 5350935 (from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Volunteers are needed to help at the clinic. All volunteers may receive a vaccine at the end of their shifts. For more information on how to sign up to volunteer people may contact Mary Liddell at (870) 643-2383.

Fordyce vaccination clinic set

Mass covid-19 vaccination clinics will be held weekly at one location in each of the Arkansas Department of Health’s five public health regions across the state. In the Southwest region, a clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Fordyce Civic Center at Fordyce. For other locations or for details, visit healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-vaccination-plan.

Highway officials seek public input about U.S. 65 plans

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) will conduct an online public involvement meeting to gather input on the proposed plans to add 8-foot paved shoulders along U.S. 65 between Interstate 530 and U.S. 425 at Pine Bluff. The public is invited to listen, view meeting materials, and provide written comments. The website will be available for comments until 4:30 p.m. March 12. To access the online public meeting, participants should go to this link: https://vpiph01-job020716-i530-hwy-425-hwy-65-ardot.hub.arcgis.com/ Those who don’t have internet access can contact Karla Sims at (501) 5692000 or by email at karla.sims@ardot.gov, to ask questions about the proposed project and how to access project information.

Agriculture department plans conversations

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will host a Local Conversations event March 12 to help connect Arkansas farmers, producers and farmers market managers. The free, virtual event will be held from 9-11 a.m., according to a news release. Sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas, the event will feature a panel of four farmers and market managers for discussion of alternative selling methods, innovations and adaptations made to address issues created by the covid-19 pandemic. Registration is available at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckcuqpqTooH9YsOokokAlexRe-kYTN7iRI. Details: Karen Reynolds at karen.reynolds@agriculture.arkansas.gov.

Rural business event set

The Arkansas Human Development Corp. will host the 2021 Southeast Arkansas Rural Business Development Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 12 in virtual and live settings, according to a news release. The virtual registration is available at BIT.LY3/3U83PAI. A remote location will be held at The Vision Center Inc. at Lake Village. Registration is available at BIT.LY/2ZNQLZI. Spots are limited. Details: Arkansas Human Development Corp., 800-482-7641 or (501) 374-1103, ext. 10 or email dharrison@arhdc.org .

Saturday, March 13 Financial literacy focus of web event

A free webinar, Financial Literacy 101, will be presented via Zoom from 10-11:15 a.m. Saturday by Cedean Kematick, according to a news release. Gamma Psi Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ®, graduate chapter Delta Omega Omega and First Sisters Outreach Inc. will host the event. Interested participants should register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E3OxK2wCSDmJPaoEi3skVA. Registered attendees will be eligible to win door prizes. Details: Xavier Broughton at xbroughton1914@gmail.com.

ASC slates FunDay: Comic Book Mania

Participants are urged to join the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas to create a comic strip and make superhero-inspired comic book magnets at Second Saturday Family Fun Day: Comic Book Mania, from 12:30-3 p.m. March 13. ASC is offering in-person and online participation. Visitors can secure a time slot by registering at asc701.org or calling (870) 5363375. Walk-ins are also welcome. Sessions are limited to seven people per time slot. For those who prefer limited contact, free “take & make” kits will be available at ASC’s main entrance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March. 12, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March. 13. An instructional video will be posted at 1 p.m. March. 13 at facebook.com/asc701/.

Monday, March 15 House of Bread to give away food

House of Bread Deliverance Church, 500 S. Main St., will give away food in a drive-through setting Monday, March 15. Food will be handed out from 1-4:30 p.m. or until the 250 food boxes run out, according to a news release. Only one box per household will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Everyone must bring proof of address (utility bills and driver’s license.) Details: House of Bread apostle, Saint Mary Harris, (870) 872-2196.

Caregivers Alzheimer’s Supporters to meet online

The Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas will host the Caregivers Alzheimer’s Support Group Meeting from 10 a.m. to noon March 15 by Zoom. The topics will be Healthy Living for the Brain, Covid 19 Scams and Understanding Loneliness and Social Isolation. Speakers will be Charlotte Clausen and Nicole Bates of the Univerisity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/96748541774?pwd=Ym5IY3BtS0lKVzJETnRaMHJ5MnZhQT09. The meeting ID is 967 4854 1774 with passcode: 6309.

Participants may also call +1 346 248 7799. Those who plan to attend should call Carolyn Ferguson at Area Agency, (870) 543-6300.

Through Monday, March 15 UAPB students rally support to win grant

Students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are using social media to win in the annual Home Depot Retool Your School grant program contest. UAPB is one of 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country that could win thousands of dollars from the grant program. The community can help UAPB win by voting through Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #UAPB_RYS21. People can also vote for the school directly by visiting the Home Depot Retool Your School Website. Voting ends at 11:59 a.m. March 15, according to the news release.

Foundation accepting scholarship applications

Pine Bluff and Jefferson County students can apply for scholarships from the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is March 15. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. In general, the community foundation scholarships are for area students pursuing higher education at two- or four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools or technical training programs, according to a news release. Students can begin their application by visiting www.arcf.org/apply/scholarships/.