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.

Today Virtual Live@5 Concert

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., invites patrons to join them at 5 p.m. March 5 for a free livestream of Jerry McCoy and The Hammers on facebook.com/asc701. Band members include Mississippi Blues Hall of Famer Jerry McCoy, Kenneth McDougald and Ben Arrington. The band has deep roots in rhythm, blues, and rock ’n’ roll, according to a news release. A virtual donation box will be available and donations will go toward supporting ASC’s programming. This performance is part of ASC’s Live@5 concert series on the first Friday of every month. Details: asc701.org/live-at-5. This event is sponsored by M.K. Distributors.

Saturday, March 6

Arts center hosts youth cooking program

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas hosts youth cooking sessions. The CrEATe Lab with Faith Anaya will be held from 1-3 p.m. March 6. The program is open to ages 10-17. The CrEATe Lab is $35 with partial scholarships available. To register, visit asc701.org/create-lab or call ASC at (870) 536-3375.

Tuesday, March 9

TOPPS to give away food March 9

TOPPS (Targeting Our People’s Priorities with Service) Inc. will give away food at 10 a.m. March 9 at TOPPS, 1000 Townsend Drive. Food boxes will be given away in a drive through method until all boxes are gone, according to a news release. Details: TOPPS, (870) 850-6011.

Kennel Club to host dog obedience class

The Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club is sponsoring a dog obedience class at Hestand Stadium each Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. for eight weeks. Sessions began March 2. The cost is $65, according to a news release. Details: (870) 879-3384.

Beginning Tuesday, March 9

Workshops to address doing business with government

The Generator will host two workshops about doing business with the government. The presenter will be Liz Russell, procurement counselor with the Arkansas Procurement Technical Center. Due to covid-19, seats will be limited, according to a news release. March 9 — from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Introduction to Government Contracting will be held. March 30 – 6-7 p.m. Marketing to the Government will be held. Interested participants may register at https://goforwardpinebluff.org/the-generator/#doingbizwgovt. Details: Mildred Franco, executive director, at francomildred@goforwardpb.org.

Clearing the Air Conference, Cancer Summit set

The 18th Clearing the Air Communities of Color Conference and 22nd Arkansas Cancer Summit will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 9 and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 10. The Minority Initiative Sub-Recipient Grant Office (MISRGO) at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Arkansas Cancer Coalition (ACC) will host the events, according to a news release. The virtual conferences are open to the public. Registration is required and is available through March 4 at http://www.arcancersummit.org/ register. Details: http:// www.arcancersummit.org/ agenda-2 or contact Marian S. Lothery, MISRGO coordinator, at evansm@uapb.edu or (870) 575-8923.

Wednesday, March 10

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. Announcements can be for in-person services or online services as well as other ministry events. Articles may be submitted by email to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing a religion column may submit articles for consideration by email. Please include your phone number, the name and location of your ministry or city where you reside, and your photo. Photos may also accompany church news by email.

Thursday, March 11

Pine Bluff NAACP sets Zoom meeting

The Pine Bluff NAACP Branch will hold its regular monthly membership meeting via Zoom at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 11, according to a news release. Members who gave the branch valid email addresses will be sent the Zoom link to join the meeting. Others wishing to attend may email pbnaacp@yahoo.com to request the link. Details: NAACP Branch President Wanda V. Neal, (870)536-3141.

Friday, March 12

Covid-19 vaccines available on March 12

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 individuals who are 65 years or older, who require the first dose. People should schedule appointments online at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule. php?Owner=21601052&appointmentType=20878882. Those without internet (or cannot access this link) may call Indiana Street Missionary Baptist Church at (870) 534-6944 for assistance with scheduling an appointment. 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.

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-job-020716i530-hwy-425-hwy-65-ardot.https://vpiph01-job-020716i530-hwy-425-hwy-65-ardot.hub.arcgis.com/ Those who don’t have internet access can contact Karla Sims at (501) 569-2000 or by email at karla.sims@ardot.gov, to ask questions about the proposed project and how to access project information.

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.