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JAZZ, TRAINS, KIDS DOMINATE WEEK’S FUN

BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Monday, April 9, 2007 10:35 AM CDT

A musical celebration honoring a renowned jazz musician will continue, an exhibit about trains is coming up and the Pine Bluff Arsenal will host KidFest this week.

In recognition of Jazz Appreciation Month, the city of Pine Bluff will host Jazz in the City culminating with the Clark Terry Jazz Festival honoring Terry, a well-known jazz artist. Events include:

Today — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jazz in the City, Pine Bluff Civic Center, north lawn. The Watson Chapel High School Jazz Band will perform.

Tuesday — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jazz in the City, Third Avenue and Main Street Park.

Wednesday — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jazz in the City, Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Thursday — 3 to 6 p.m., Jazz in the City, Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Friday — 6 p.m. opening reception for a multimedia exhibition in conjunction with the first Clark Terry Jazz Festival in the Leedell Moorehead-Graham Fine Arts Gallery at the Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center at the UAPB campus. There is no admission fee.

Friday and Saturday — First Clark Terry Jazz Festival; UAPB and Pine Bluff Convention Center; admission fee for Saturday.

Meanwhile, the 12th annual Railroadiana Show and Sale, sponsored by the Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society Inc. will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Arkansas Railroad Museum, 1700 Port Road.

On display will be railroad memorabilia, model trains, tracks and accessories. An added feature will be Scott Harrison’s model circus and several model train clubs will display their layouts. Vendors from several states will have everything from train models, books and T-shirts to railroad china for sale. Hot dogs and drinks will be available.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children 6 to 12. Children under 6 will be admitted free.

Details: Call the museum at 535-8819.

More information on the festival is available by visiting the Web Site at www.uapb.edu/musicdept/jazzfest.htm.

At the Pine Bluff Arsenal, officials will recognize April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month, as well as Month of the Military Child, by sponsoring KidFest. Activities will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the arsenal’s Creasy Complex parking lot/soccer field (next to Plainview Gate).

Opening ceremonies beginning at 11 a.m. will feature Jill Cady, the current Mrs. Arkansas, who will sing the National Anthem. A talent show will also be held during the afternoon.

Free activities will include a rock climbing wall, bungee run, bounce house, a 50-foot inflatable obstacle course, face painting, static displays of the arsenal fire trucks, free fingerprinting and ID kits, and games. There will be food concessions and several demonstrations throughout the day, including the drug dog team from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office. Details: Call Jerry Pye at 540-3588.

Also this week:

Neighbor to Neighbor of Jefferson County will host its annual Fish Fry and Silent Auction at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and between 5 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and takeouts are available. The event is catered by the Knights of Columbus. Details: Call Neighbor to Neighbor at 534-2883.

U.S. Rep. Mike Ross will be the guest speaker at Dollarway High School on Tuesday at 9 a.m.

A group of patrons concerned about the passage of the Dollarway School District millage hike will meet at 7 p.m. today at Martin Elementary School at Altheimer. A legal challenge to the millage increase is a possibility, a Dollarway School Board member said recently.

The Dollarway School Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the district administration building at Pine Bluff.

The Watson Chapel School Board will meet at 7 p.m. today at the district administration building.

The Pine Bluff Rotary Club will meet at noon Tuesday at Southeast Arkansas College where members will tour the campus and hear a presentation by SEARK President Dr. Phil Shirley.

The Pine Bluff City Council’s Public Safety Committee will meet at 4 p.m. Monday to discuss recommendations to improve the Pine Bluff Civil Service Commission. A city council vote on the proposed ordinance to abolish the commission has been postponed.

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