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.

Saturday, Aug. 14

St. John AME to give away food

St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., will hand out food boxes to those in need from 9-11 a.m. Saturday. State ID’s are required to receive one box per family. The drive-thru event will be held in front of the church on Cherry Street. For safety reasons, recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles and open their trunks to receive the food, according to a news release. The church’s Soul Food for the Mind, Body, and Spirit Feeding Ministry is sponsoring the food program.

Shekinah Glory church to give school supplies

Shekinah Glory Global Ministries Church, 1800 W. 73rd Ave., will give away food and school supplies in a drive-thru event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The public is invited to participate, according to a news release. Organizers will give away food and 100 backpacks with supplies. For safety precautions, participants are asked to remain in their vehicles while driving through to pick up the items. Children must be present to receive backpacks. Sponsors are the Shekinah Glory ministries and HELPS (Helping Empower Lives with Purposeful Service).

Underway

‘9 to 5’The Musical open at ASC

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., is holding in-person performances of “9 to 5 the Musical.” Performances will continue at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, Saturdays, Aug. 14 and 21, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 15, and 22. This production is sponsored by Simmons Bank. Tickets are available and cost $20 for ASC members and seniors, and $25 for nonmembers, according to a news release. This musical production is based on the 1980 movie. The book is by Patricia Resnick, who also wrote the film. Compositions are by Dolly Parton. To purchase tickets or for details, visit asc701.org or call (870) 536-3375.

Through Saturday, Aug. 14

Arkansas Women to Watch 2021: Paper Routes on display

Paper Routes, an exhibition curated by Allison Glenn of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, will be on view through Aug. 14 at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. This show features work by Arkansas women and is themed around inventive uses of paper. Joli Livaudais of Little Rock will represent Arkansas in the exhibition Women to Watch. Other artists include Kim Brewer, Linda Nguyen Lopez and Suzannah Schreckhise.

Sunday, Aug. 15

Lakeside slates vaccine clinic, back-to-school bash

Lakeside United Methodist Church, 1500 S. Olive St., will host a free covid-19 vaccination and wellness clinic as well as a back-toschool bash and free pantry from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15. The community is invited to attend. The Arkansas Minority Health Commission will present the clinic. The Pfizer shot will be available for those 12 and older and the second dose will be given Sept. 5. The clinic will also include free blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings and colorectal testing kits. Appointments for the vaccine are encouraged but not required. To make an appointment, people may call (501) 912-7402 or visit https://form.jotform.com/bluecares/Micasaclinic. Lakeside church will also host a back-to-school bash and free pantry, according to its Facebook page. The public is invited to come out for free school supplies, food, games and informational booths.

Beginning Sunday, Aug. 15

ASC holds ‘Macbeth’ auditions

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (ASC), 701 S. Main St., will hold auditions for “Macbeth” at the center’s ART WORKS facility, 627 S. Main St., Aug. 15-17. Auditions are open to community members 18 years old and older. Interested participants should register for the auditions at asc701. org/auditions. Callbacks are scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 19, according to a news release. The play will be directed by Martin Carty. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, Saturday, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. This production is sponsored by Simmons Bank.

One Pine Bluff Praying events set

One Pine Bluff Praying Together services in August will be held with citizens and leaders of Pine Bluff praying for the growth and prosperity of the city. In-person services will be held from 6-7 p.m. Sundays at the following churches: Aug. 15 - New Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1317 S. Texas St.; Aug. 22 - City of Love Outreach & Restoration, 1801 W. 17th Ave.; Aug. 29 - St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St. Guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be observed for these in-person meetings, a spokesman said.

Through Sunday, Aug. 15

Agency offers scholarship to single parents

Living Vessels Organization (LVO) of Pine Bluff is offering a $500 scholarship for single parents. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15, according to a news release. An applicant must be a single parent with the primary responsibility of the children; live in the Pine Bluff, White Hall or Watson Chapel communities; be enrolled at Southeast Arkansas College or the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; and have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average (GPA.) The application and details are available at www.livingvessels. com. The application may emailed to Livingvesselsorganization@gmail.com. LVO is a non-profit, charitable, tax-exempt organization, according to its website.

Grant applications being accepted for charitable programs

Nonprofits in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County may begin Saturday applying online for Giving Tree grants through the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation (PBACF). Applications must be submitted by Aug. 15 at https://www.arcf.org/apply-for-giving-tree-grants/ Any IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, public school, government agency or hospital in Jefferson County is eligible to apply. Grants are not made to individuals. Applications will be reviewed by a grant-making committee from PBACF. Any nonprofit that received a grant in 2020 must complete a grant report to be considered for this current grant cycle, according to a news release.

Monday, Aug. 16

Caregivers Alzheimer’s supporters to meet

Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas will host its Caregivers Alzheimer’s Support Group meeting at 11 a.m. Monday on Zoom, according to a news release. The topic will be Arts and Crafts. People are invited to join Carolyn Ferguson of Area Agency and Nicole Bates, director of education at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) South Central Center on Aging at Pine Bluff. The Zoom link is https://us06web. zoom.us/j/92467500571?pwd=UnA1bnNsUm1hTG5NbUhhVkVua0ZXZz09 with Meeting ID: 924 6750 0571 and Passcode: 6300. Dial by Phone to 1 346 248 7799. Details: Carolyn Ferguson, (870) 543-6309.

House of Bread to give away food

House of Bread Deliverance Church, 500 S. Main St., will open its food pantry Monday from 1-4:30 p.m. or until the 250 food boxes run out, according to a news release. The church isn’t using the drive-thru system to hand out food. People will have to stand six feet apart in line on the side of the building. The church will let seven people inside at a time. Masks are required to enter the church for a food box. Only one box per household will be given away on a first come, first served basis. Everyone must bring proof of address (utility bills and driver’s license.) All clients must fill out new intake forms for 2021. Details: Saint Mary Harris, House of Bread apostle, (870) 872-2196.

Through Monday, Aug. 16

Small business virtual training set

The Small Business Strategies for Success online training series designed for entrepreneurs of color will be held from 6-8 p.m. Mondays, Aug. 9 and 16. Sessions are free but pre-registration is required, according to the newsletter from the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce. For details or to register, visit https://asbtdc.e center direct. com/events/70371121 or the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) Lead Center at (800) 862-2040.

Wednesday, Aug. 18

Professional development workshop set

The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will present a professional development workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Current job seekers are invited to participate, according to a news release. The Pine Bluff Commercial is the sponsor. Details: Chamber Director Ulanda Arnett at ulanda@ jeffersoncountyalliance.com.

Wednesday, Aug. 18

UAPB offers weekly vaccination clinic

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is offering a vaccination clinic on Wednesdays through Sept. 1 in partnership with Doctor’s Orders Pharmacy. The clinic is free and open to all unvaccinated enrolled students, faculty and staff, according to a news release. Doctor’s Orders will administer the Pfizer vaccine from 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays at the STEM building (on the corner of L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive and Watson Boulevard) at UAPB.

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. Articles should be submitted by email to shope@pbcommercial.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.

Thursday, Aug. 19

Christian Women’s Connection meets

The Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 19 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. The feature will be Dr. Jennifer Jacks, MD, a dermatologist at Pine Bluff. The speaker will be announced. The cost of the meal is $16, which includes tax and tip. Reservations must be made by noon Aug. 16 by calling Jennifer Keahey at (870) 540-9302.

Through Thursday, Aug. 19

Art league hosts Jennings’ exhibit

The Pine Bluff Art League will host an exhibition featuring work by member Crystal Jennings through Aug. 19 at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave. The community is invited to view work by the artist in the main gallery hall. Jennings’ work has been exhibited throughout Arkansas including in multiple “Annual Pine Bluff Art League Juried Exhibitions” at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Jonesboro’s Bradbury Art Museum and in the “2021 Small Works on Paper” hosted by the Arkansas Arts Council.

Sunday, Aug. 22

Kings Highway Church observes 100th anniversary

Kings Highway Missionary Baptist Church, 2312 Fluker St., will observe its 100th anniversary at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 22. The observance will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Monday, Aug. 23 Federal retirees to meet

The Pine Bluff Chapter 287 of NARFE (National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees) will be meet at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 23 at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Building. Participants will dicusss the upcoming state meeting at Conway and local programs for the future. The local president is Waymond Meins, according to a news release.

Tuesday, Aug. 24

Tax-delinquent land auction set

The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands (COSL) office will auction tax-delinquent land in Jefferson County at 10 a.m. Aug. 24 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center in banquet halls 2 and 4. Participants must register and registration is free. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Prospective bidders can find an online Public Auction Catalog, including a buyer’s guide; statutes governing sales; auction date, time and location; and a complete listing of parcels offered for sale on the commissioner’s website, www.cosl.org. Owners of delinquent parcels may pay those taxes online at www. cosl.org using a credit or debit card or print a Petition to Redeem from the website or call the office at 501-3249422 to request the petition, which must accompany their payment.

Thursday, Aug. 26

Art league to open exhibition at ASC

The 2021 Pine Bluff Art League Exhibition will open at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St., Aug. 26. A reception will be held from 5-7 p.m., according to a news release. Juror Bryan Massey, chair of the University of Central Arkansas Department of Art and Design, will announce winners at 5:30 p.m.

Beginning Thursday, Aug. 26

UAPB alumni set popcorn fundraiser

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff/AM&N National Alumni Association will hold its Double Good Popcorn Fundraising Campaign Aug. 26-28. This fundraiser will help support scholarships, grants, emergency gifting, books, career transition and mentoring of students who attend UAPB, according to Helen Fleming Johnson, campaign coordinator and member of the board of directors. Donations may be given at uapbalumni.org and via CashApp at $uapbamnalumni. Details: National Alumni Association, (870) 536-2309 or admin@ uapbalumni.org.

Friday, Aug. 27

Neighbor to Neighbor hosts vaccine clinic

Neighbor to Neighbor, 1419 S. Pine St., will have its follow-up covid-19 vaccine clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 27. The Pfizer shot will be given by Jefferson Regional Medical Center staff. Those coming for their second shot should bring their vaccination cards. Everyone is welcome even if it is for the first shot. The JRMC staff will tell people how and where to get their second shots, according to a news release. Details: Pat Tate, Neighbor to Neighbor executive director, (870) 5342883.