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.
Wednesday, March 24 A&P panel to meet
The Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission will meet via conference call at 4 p.m. today. The agenda includes committee reports and an A&P Commission application of Rosie Pettigrew (second term), according to a news release. To connect to the call, participants should contact Betty Brown, administrative assistant, before the meeting at bbrown@explorepinebluff.com or (870) 5342121.
Housing Authority board to meet
The Pine Bluff Housing Authority will hold its Board of Commissioners meeting at 6 p.m. today at Colonial Steakhouse, 111 W. Eighth Ave., according to a news release. Details: 870-541-0706.
Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday. The deadine 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. Please include your phone number, the name and location of your ministry or city where you reside, and your photo.
Thursday, March 25 AM&N credit union sets annual meeting
Arkansas AM&N College Federal Credit Union, 1200 University Drive, will hold its annual meeting virtually Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. All members of the AM&N credit union are invited to attend by Zoom, according to a news release from spokesman Calvin Matlock. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom. us/j/81508569415?pwd=RHAvZ093NDZiVVg0MERySWpGR0pjUT. The meeting ID is 815 0856 9415 and passcode 256623. To find a local telephone number, participants may visit https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kh6Jnrjyl.
Community blood drive set
The Arkansas Blood Institute is hosting a community Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center in the banquet hall. All blood donations will support Jefferson Regional Medical Center, according to a news release. To check eligibility or to schedule an appointment, interested people may visit https://www.yourbloodinstitute.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/348517.
UAPB to host virtual horticulture conference
The 11th annual Bi-States Cooperative Extension Program Horticulture Conference will be held virtually March 25 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The conference is sponsored by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Small Farm Program and Prairie View A&M University Agriculture and Natural Resources Program, according to a news release. Topics will include lost heirloom apple cultivars, specialty crops, small acreage crop production, beneficial insect pollinators in the garden and urban forestry. Interested participants should register at https://pvpanther.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0scu-hqzMoGNS85w9lbRCzKmgjTYs4qm66. Details: Kandi Williams, UAPB Extension program aide, at 870-5719428 or williamska@uapb.edu or Brandon Hawkins, PVA&MU Extension agent, at 903-6286702 or brhawkins@pvamu.edu.
Through Thursday, March 25 Deadline set for virtual veterans’ event
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) invites all Arkansas veterans to register for the Virtual Veterans Experience Action Center (V-VEAC) on April 6-8. The deadline to register is March 25. This event will offer veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors personalized assistance to access various VA and community-based services and resources, according to a news release. The services include: VA benefits (file or check status of claims and appeals); VA healthcare (enrollment, eligibility, schedule appointments); and crisis resources (homelessness, mental health, financial). Registration is available through March 25 at https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/ ch422seq/.
AgDiscovery teen program applications set at UAPB
Applications are being accepted for AgDiscovery, a residential career and science exploration program for teens. March 25 is the application deadline, said Willie Columbus, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff educational outreach coordinator and AgDiscovery program director. UAPB will host AgDiscovery June 12-25 on campus. UAPB is among 21 institutions to host the event. A complete list of host universities, brochures, information and application forms and instructions are available online at www. aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery. Details: Willie Columbus at UAPB at (870) 575-7145 or columbusw@uapb.edu or the UAPB AgDiscovery Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/uapbagdiscovery/.
Cherry Street church opens pantry
Cherry Street AME Zion Church, 800 S. Cherry St., gives away food every Monday through Thursday, from 4:15-5:30 p.m. The church serves a grab and go sack meal consisting of an entree, vegetable, bag of chips, cheese stick, juice and milk on a first come, first served basis.
Beginning Thursday, March 26 Grand Prairie arts festival taking entries
The Grand Prairie Festival of the Arts will accept entries in the decorative arts category, according to the Grand Prairie Arts Council news release. Due to the health crisis, all arts festival exhibitions will be online. Entries from adults and youth will be received from noon to 5 p.m. March 26 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 27. The exhibit will be open April 5-30. An artists’ reception open house will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. April 6. Entry pick ups will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 30 and May 1. To enter art work and for details, visit www.grandprairiearts.com. For questions, participants may send emails to arts001@centurytel.net. The Arts Center of the Grand Prairie at Stuttgart/ Grand Prairie Arts Council is committed to safe practice following the guidelines as directed by the governor, Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.