DAISY BATES, AUTHORS, CHANCELLOR’S BENEFITS HIGHLIGHT PB WEEK

BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Daisy Bates will be honored in a new exhibit, three authors will sign books at the library at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and the Chancellor’s Benefit for the Arts will be held this week.

UAPB will celebrate Daisy Bates Day and honor an Arkansas Civil Rights heroine today with the opening of a photographic exhibit entitled ‘Daisy Bates: In Her Own Words.’

The exhibit tells the story of the integration efforts at Little Rock Central High School through the eyes and in the words of Daisy Bates, a key figure in the integration crisis. The exhibit will be housed in the Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center and will run through March 16. It will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The exhibit consists of photographs and quotes taken from the book, “Daisy Bates: In Her Own Words,” written by Arkansas native Deborah Robinson. The University Museum & Cultural Center has planned two activities to commemorate the life and accomplishments of Daisy Bates.

The exhibit opens today at noon and students from all over the state are invited to attend the opening presentation. The public is invited to view the exhibit and attend a presentation and reception at 6 p.m.

Also this week, UAPB’s John Brown Watson Memorial Library will continue a commemoration of Black History Month.

A signing for three noted authors to be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday that will feature Dr. Yolanda Williams Page, associate professor of English and chair of the Department of English, Theatre and Mass Communication at UAPB; Janis F. Kearney, publisher, author, educator, literacy advocate, and personal diarist to former President William Jefferson Clinton; and Laura Parker Castoro, writer, lecturer, speaker and teacher.

The 22nd annual Chancellor’s Benefit for the Arts “Footprints in the Sands of Time: An Evening of Memorable Impressions” is set Saturday at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Six people will be honored for contributions to UAPB.

The reception and silent auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner and entertainment at 7:15 p.m. Recognition of honorees is set at 8 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person and are available at the UAPB administration building cashier’s office or the Office of University Relations and Development at Childress Hall. To use a credit card, call 575-8701 or 575-8703.

Also this week:

  • Presidents Day is observed today. Closings include the U.S. Postal Service, financial institutions, Pine Bluff and White Hall city halls and Jefferson County Courthouse and related offices.

  • Pine Bluff City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers in the Pine Bluff Civic Center.

  • Pine Bluff School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district office.

  • Pine Bluff Rotary Club will meet at the Pine Bluff Country Club at noon Tuesday. The speaker will be cardiologist Dr. Abdul Ezielden.

  • West Pine Bluff Rotary Club will meet at noon Thursday at the Pine Bluff Country Club. The speaker will be Walter Kimbrough, president of Philander Smith College.

  • Southeast Arkansas Workforce Investment Board will meet Wednesday at the Star City Community Center. Committees will meet at 9:30 a.m. and the full board at 10:45 a.m. Details: 536-1971.

  • St. Peter’s Catholic School will host the 16th Mardi Gras celebration at 9 p.m. Saturday.

    		•