Community & Church Events

Guidelines for Submitting your Church/Community Announcements
These are free as long as there are no personal messages and the event is not being charged for (love offerings do not count). Please keep the announcement to one paragraph with who is presenting the event, what the event is, date, time, where it will be held and contact information. Email them to [email protected]. The front office is closed due to COVID-19. We can not take anything over the phone due to company policy.

2024 Upcoming Holiday deadlines: SCRJ will be closed Good Friday, March 29. SCRJ will be closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 and has a late deadline for Tues., May 28. SCRJ will be closed for the 4th of July Thursday, July 4 & Friday, July 5th. SCRJ will be closed for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2 and has a late deadline for Tues., Sept. 3 before noon. SCRJ will be closed for Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11 and has a late deadline for Tues., Nov. 12 before noon. Deadline for Thanksgiving is Friday, Nov. 22. SCRJ will be closed for Thanksgiving week and will reopen Monday, Dec. 2. Santa Letters deadline is Friday, Dec. 6. Deadline for the Christmas ads for the Christmas/Santa Letter Edition 12-18-24 is Friday, Dec. 13. These are special editions that must be sent in early to the printers. New Year’s Edition 12-26-24 & 1-2-25 is Friday, Dec. 19. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays.

Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training
The Kristen Amerson Youth Foundation, Inc. is partnering with the Alabama Suicide Prevention And Resource Coalition to host a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Training for the Tuscaloosa community on Sat., March 23, at the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, 2222 9th St, Tuscaloosa, at 11 a.m. QPR is a two-hour training that equips people with the tools to intervene on a suicide-crisis. This is a free event and child friendly! Space is limited! Participants may register at the following Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/suicide-prevention-training-qpr-tickets-849541971907?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=IwAR34M9G8mupcTY8TR8B3WaLakBnJ22aDpGQP5sXOiEtTgKGdguBQlizR2gM Please share this information with employees, members, and community partners. We are excited to offer this opportunity to the community. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or via phone (205) 861-5719. Gatekeepers certificates will be given to all participants! Light refreshments will be served.

On April 2 every year, please join the global autism community by celebrating World Autism Awareness Day, which was declared in perpetuity by the United Nations in 2007. Please join us at autismspeaks.org/liub

Harvest Ministries
Harvest Ministries, Cromwell, will be open on Wed., April 3, 8 a.m. -1 p.m. Free clothes, children clothes, shoes, household items, and much more.


BBCF Arts & Community Grant Opportunities
The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is offering arts and community grant opportunities open to community-based organizations operating within its 12-county service area comprising Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox Counties of Alabama.
The 2024 BBCF Arts and Community Grants Cycle will open on March 28th with the online grant application going live followed by a series of in-person and online ‘#LearnGrants – BBCF Style’ Workshops. There will be an in-person workshop in each of the 12 counties which will serve as an opportunity for the community to meet the new BBCF Arts Director, Aaron Head, and to answer any questions you may have about the grant process.
For a more in-depth learning experience, covering all aspects of the BBCF grant process and including tips for writing a successful application, please plan to attend one of the two Online Grant Summit workshops. April 19th is the deadline for all applications, with final decisions being tendered by the end of May 2024.
BBCF President Felecia Lucky states, ”We are excited and confident in the work and leadership that the BBCF Community Associates and Local Grant Review Committees are providing in training for the grant application process and in ensuring that we connect to and support those organizations truly transforming their communities. This year, we celebrate 19 years of the Community Grant Cycle and 18 years of Arts granting, all while we are celebrating BBCF’s 20th anniversary!”
Dates and locations for in-person workshops in Sumter and Lowndes Counties are to be determined. All dates and locations are subject to change – be sure to follow BBCF on social media and check out our website, blackbeltfound.org/2024grants, for up-to-date information about these sessions. Please note: Any organization that has never submitted a grant application to BBCF MUST attend one in-person workshop session prior to applying.
Online & In-Person ‘#LearnGrants – BBCF Style’ Workshop Schedule: Hale County Thurs., March 28, 12-1 p.m., 905d Centerville St, Greensboro; Greene County Thurs., March 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. 720 Greensboro St., Eutaw.
Online Grant Summit, Session 1: Tues., April 2, 5:30-7 p.m. Register: bit.ly/24CGSW-1
Marengo County Mon., April 8, 12-1 p.m., 306 1st Ave, Demopolis; Pickens County Mon., April 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Location TBD
Online Grant Summit, Session 2: Wed., April 10, 12-1:30 p.m. Register: bit.ly/24CGSW-2


ALBBAA’s Big Gobbler Photo Contest returns for 2024
The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) wants to see your best turkey hunting photos again this year as part of its 12th annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest. The ALBBAA promotes and encourages ethical hunting and fishing practices, and the annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest is designed to further educate the public on the abundance of natural resources found in Alabama’s 23-county Black Belt region. The winner of this year’s contest will receive Black Belt Strutter turkey call package, including a custom Alabama Black Belt Adventures edition glass pot call made from locally sourced Demopolis mock orange wood, and an Otis Elite universal gun cleaning kit, courtesy of Black Belt Strutter. The prize package carries a total value of about $300. Alabama’s 2024 spring wild turkey season officially kicks off this weekend with events for youth and hunters with disabilities. Turkey season runs through Wed., May 8. This year’s Big Gobbler Photo Contest, conducted online on the ALBBAA website, also begins March 25, and voting runs through May 15 to allow additional voting time for any photos submitted near the end of the hunting season. Here are the rules and guidelines for this year’s contest: To enter the contest, hunters must upload, through the ALBBAA website, a photo of a turkey harvested during the 2024 spring wild turkey season within the 23-county Black Belt region. The winner of the contest is selected exclusively through online voting. Entries can be submitted and votes cast online on the ALBBAA website – https://alabamablackbeltadventures.org/news-more/shoot-the-black-belt/big-gobbler-photo-contest/ Participants are allowed one entry and must fully complete the online form with the necessary information, including person (or persons) in the photo and the county where the gobbler was harvested. Visitors to the contest webpage are restricted to voting once per day, per e-mail, per IP address. In the case of any dispute, the decision of ALBBAA officials is final. Photo contest winners from the last two years are not eligible for entry. The ALBBAA reserves the right to approve or disapprove of a submitted photo. Cause for disqualification of a photo can include, but is not limited to, the following: The photo content presents the subject in an unethical or disrespectful manner. The photo content is perceived to cast a negative perception of hunters and their contribution to the management of wildlife. A voting violation which imposes an unfair advantage to others. Hunters are also reminded to comply with all game laws, including purchasing a valid hunting license. Licenses can be purchased online through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). In addition, any photo depicting any violation of ADCNR regulations will be disqualified. Only photos of turkeys harvested in the Black Belt during the 2024 season are eligible for this year’s Big Gobbler Photo Contest. Alabama has one of the longest wild turkey seasons in the country. Hunters are allowed to harvest a maximum of four turkeys, gobblers only, during the combined fall and spring seasons. Hunters are limited to one gobbler per day. Decoys are allowed in the spring season only, but decoys are prohibited during the first 10 days of the season. In addition, mechanical decoys are illegal in Alabama. Each bird harvested must be immediately recorded within 48 hours to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR).


Shady Grove Baptist Church, Livingston, Sunrise Service
Shady Grove Baptist Church, Livingston, Sunrise Service to be held on the fifth Sunday in this month, March 31, at 6 o’clock a.m. along with the Easter Program. Everyone is invited. Rev. John Powell, pastor. Sis. Eleanor Randolph, se

2nd Annual Women in Ag / Women in Business Conference
The Alabama State Association of Cooperatives will sponsor the 2nd Annual Women in Ag / Women in Business Conference on Friday, April 5, 10 a.m. -2 p.m. at the Rural Training and Research Center, 575 Federation Rd., Gainesville. Registration at 9 a.m. Theme: “Remembering the Past to Mentor the Future.” Please come out and help us celebrate Women in Ag and Women in Business.


St. Paul District’s Matron’s Auxiliary
The St. Paul District’s Matron’s Auxiliary will host its regularly scheduled 5th Saturday meeting on March 30, at the District Building at 10 a.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend and share ideas for Kingdom building and unity. Looking forward to seeing you all there.


FAMACHA Card Certification Workshop
March 27, at 1-4 p.m. at Hale County Ag Extension Center, 701 Hall St., Greensboro, join us to gain skills in parasite identification, body condition scoring, proper smart drenching techniques, and management strategies for the reduction of parasite load in small ruminant populations. Producers who complete the training will be able to demonstrate necessary skills that will qualify them for a certificate in FAMACHA card usage for small ruminant parasite management. This program is free and open to the public; however, registration is required. Register at aces.edu/go/4030 Participation is limited to 25 attendees per workshop. Got Questions or need help registering contact Lauren Shortnacy, [email protected], (205) 809-2297.

Down to Beesness
Join ACES for “Down to Beesness” at Druid City Brewing Company on Tues., March 26, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Discover the fascinating world of pollinators in Alabama with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Explore topics like pollinator diversity, conservation, honeybees, and native gardening. For additional information, reach out to Dylan Taylor, Regional Extension Agent, at [email protected] or 251-362-2467.

Harvest Ministries
Harvest Ministries, Cromwell, will be open on Wednesday, March 20, 8 a.m. -1 p.m. Free clothes, children clothes, shoes, household items, and much more.


Healthcare Justice Film Screening and Discussion
UWA students, UWA faculty, and community stakeholders save the date Tues., March 19, 12-1:30 p.m. at University of West Alabama Student Union Building, room 205. Healthcare Justice film screenings, panel discussion, Q & A discussion, and free lunch. Register at https://bit.ly/UWAHealthJustice


Tombigbee RC&D Council’s 2025 Grant Cycle
Tombigbee RC&D Council’s 2025 grant cycle will being on April 1-June 30! To submit applications, please access the Grant Application and Information tab at www.tombigbeercd.org/grant-guidelines/. This year, we are excited to introduce our new grant funding software, Foundant! Organizations eligible for consideration must be registered as 501C2 not-for-profit entities, units, or sub-units of government. Projects must take place in one or more of the eight counties served by the Tombigbee RC&D Council: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, or Tuscaloosa. Detailed grant guidelines from the Tombigbee RC&D Council can also be found on our website. It is important to note that all grants awarded operate on a reimbursement-only basis; funds are disbursed upon project completion.


Free Prostate Cancer Screening
Free prostate cancer screening in Livingston on April 13 at Sumter County Health Dept., 1121 N. Washington St., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Prostate cancer is the 2nd leading cause of male cancer related death in the U. S. African American men are at special risk for the disease, with the highest death rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the U. S. It’s now more important than ever for those at highest risk of developing prostate cancer to be screened if they have delayed being screened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Best Turkey Season Ever 2024 Webinar
Are you looking to have an awesome turkey season? Join Alabama Extension on March 12th at 6:30 p.m. for The Best Turkey Season Ever 2024 webinar. This free online educational webinar will provide helpful information for all turkey hunters – beginner to veteran – to ensure that this season is the one you will talk about for years to come. Just simply click the following link to register: www.aces.edu/go/turkeyseason24


Let’s Move, Alabama!
March is here, and so is the second annual Move Alabama Challenge! Join us and our friends at Live Well Alabama in encouraging residents of all ages to embrace a more active lifestyle throughout the month. The goal of Move Alabama is simple: connect through physical activity and promote a healthier, more vibrant community. The Move Alabama Challenge provides you with a fun and engaging way to boost your physical health! Text MoveAl to (833) 545-0693 to connect with us! Join the Move Alabama Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/movealabama/


Sucarnochee Folklife Festival
Sucarnochee Folklife Festival will be Sat., April 20 in Livingston at the Courthouse Square, 9 a.m. – 3p.m. Step into the art and culture of the Black Belt. 5K run, pottery, live music, food, metal work, woodcarcing, games, quilting, poetry reading, basket weaving, homesteading, homemade soaps, plants and more. For more information call the UWA’s Center for the Studey of the Black belt at 205-652-3828 or email [email protected].


Women, Livestock, and the Land
Apply now for “Women, Livestock, and the Land,” a hands-on educational opportunity for women farmers. For women livestock farmers in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia who want to improve the sustainability and profitability of their farms. Training topics include goal setting, soil health, regenerative grazing, animal handling and health, equipment and tools, and direct marketing. Apply at: https://bit.ly/womenlivestockland


CCA Earth Day Extravaganza
It’s an Earth Day Extravaganza! Hello, my name is Gloria, I go by Trippie G. I’m a textile artist and sustainable designer here in York Alabama. I’d like to invite you to come out and celebrate Earth Day with me. This event will start on Fri., April 19. and we will bring it to a close, with the Main Event on Mon., April 22, which is Earth Day! Each day will be filled with fun and engaging eco friendly and eco conscious activities. Here take a look: April 19 – Community Garden Spotlight. Did you know there’s a community garden in York? Have you been? Come out and get some hands on learning with the Mama Yawah. Located at the Coleman Center for the Arts Headquarters. April 20 – Community Spotlight Tour. Learn a little history as we stroll around our city and get more acquainted with the local businesses downtown. April 21 – Textile Art Workshop. Meet me in the Hightower Library’s Classroom to learn about textile art and how to make your own using recycled materials. All supplies are provided and only $5 to participate. April 22 – The Main Event. A fashion show that will showcase fashion, the arts as well as local and small businesses. Located at Pop Start Community Space. For more information see Coleman Arts Center Facebook page @CcaYork


Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church Spring Revival
The Spring Revival for the Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, 3216 Mt. Nebo Rd., Lisman, will be Mon., April 1-Wed., April 3, 7 p.m. nightly. The evangelists for the week is Rev. Cornelius McDonald Pastor of John the Baptist Missionary Baptist Church Barnett, Miss., and Pearlie Grove Missionary Baptist Church Quitman, Miss. Rev. Marvin L. Dixon, Sr., church pastor.

Free Prostate Cancer Screening
Free prostate cancer screening in Livingston on April 13 at Sumter County Health Dept., 1121 N. Washington St., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Prostate cancer is the 2nd leading cause of male cancer related death in the U. S. African American men are at special risk for the disease, with the highest death rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the U. S. It’s now more important than ever for those at highest risk of developing prostate cancer to be screened if they have delayed being screened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are You Smarter Than a Farmer?
Led by Ken Kelley, Regional Extension Agent, your Hale County Extension Office will host, “Are You Smarter Than a Farmer?”, an agricultural appreciation program on Monday, March 25, at 11 a.m. Held at the Hale County Extension Office, 701 Hall Street, Greensboro. this agricultural appreciation program promises to be interactive, educational and fun! This free offering is open to the public and includes lunch. Registration is required. Register by calling 334-624-8710 and speaking with Polly Moore.


Union Chapel C. M. E. Annual Choir Day
You are invited to share in our annual choir day at Union Chapel C. M. E. Church, Sun., March 24, at 2 p.m. Our very own pastor, Rev. Joyce McCoy, will bring words of encouragement.


CCA Earth Day Extravaganza
It’s an Earth Day Extravaganza! Hello, my name is Gloria, I go by Trippie G. I’m a textile artist and sustainable designer here in York Alabama. I’d like to invite you to come out and celebrate Earth Day with me. This event will start on Fri., April 19. and we will bring it to a close, with the Main Event on Mon., April 22, which is Earth Day! Each day will be filled with fun and engaging eco friendly and eco conscious activities. Here take a look: April 19 – Community Garden Spotlight. Did you know there’s a community garden in York? Have you been? Come out and get some hands on learning with the Mama Yawah. Located at the Coleman Center for the Arts Headquarters. April 20 – Community Spotlight Tour. Learn a little history as we stroll around our city and get more acquainted with the local businesses downtown. April 21 – Textile Art Workshop. Meet me in the Hightower Library’s Classroom to learn about textile art and how to make your own using recycled materials. All supplies are provided and only $5 to participate. April 22 – The Main Event. A fashion show that will showcase fashion, the arts as well as local and small businesses. Located at Pop Start Community Space. For more information see Coleman Arts Center Facebook page @CcaYork


Livingston Police Dept. Easter Egg Hunt
Livingston Police Dept. Easter Egg Hunt will be Sat., March 23 at noon at Jaycee Park, Livingston. Donations are welcome. We encourage children to bring an easter basket/ bag for the egg hunt. For more information call 205-652-9525.

CCA Community Garden Volunteers Needed
Volunteers take home free garden delights! Contact Yawah at [email protected] to sign up. We welcome school, church, and community groups to volunteer in the garden!



Community Prayer
Community Prayer for the Sumter County area will be held every 1st Thursday of each month at noon for one hour at the Bored Well, the Courthouse Square, Livingston. We’re asking all residents, businesses, local leaders, pastors, governmental and city officials to join us as we come together as a community to pray. Submitted by Min. Leola Washington, Volunteer Coordinator for NDPTF, Sumter County.



School Events

4-H Raising Flowers for Fun and Profit & Watermelon Challenge
Register for 4-H Flowers for Fun and Profit by March 30, using 4-H Online. Enjoy this project as you grow a variety of flowers and then cut and sell them. Contact your county extension office for more information and help Register by April 1 using 4-H Online. Contact your county extention office for more information and help with enrolling. There are small project fees to supply seeds.

2024 Congressional Art Competition for Alabama’s 7th Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that her office is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. The competition is open to high school students from both public and private schools throughout Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, as well as home-schooled high school students. The winner will receive free round-trip airfare for two to Washington D.C. to attend an official reception honoring the winners from congressional districts across the nation. The winner’s artwork will be showcased in the U.S. Capitol for one year. This year’s theme is “Alabama Story Makers: The Historic People and Places of the Cotton State.” To enter the contest, students must fill out and submit a Student Information and Release Form with their artwork by Fri., April 26. Students should deliver their submission to one of Rep. Sewell’s district offices located in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa. Students can also bring their submissions to school and call (334) 262-1919 for pick up. Artwork may be up to 26” high X 26” wide X 4” deep. For more information, contact Rep. Sewell’s Montgomery Office at (334) 262-1919 or visit her official website at sewell.house.gov/art-competition.


UWA’s new Global Scholars Community Scholarship
When Dr. Mark Davis took the helm of International Programs at the University of West Alabama in 2014, he wanted to bring the world to UWA and offer the world to the students. That’s why he is excited about UWA’s new Global Scholars Community Scholarship, an exclusive program designed to elevate students’ academic experience and shape a more interconnected future. These new scholarship opportunities are aimed at incoming high school seniors and for current UWA freshmen. To be considered for this prestigious scholarship, applications must be submitted by April 15, 2024. Learn more at https://www.uwa.edu/news/uwa-global-scholars-program-offers-students-opportunity-to-explore-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR3UMGa0YKXdS-xzibwfreO5TGTJjjJd-4VwRaTQWHpinwZzVSb2vexyafY

King-Ferris Athletic Fund Golf Tournament
The King-Ferris Athletic Fund Golf Tournament will be April 27 at 1 p.m. at the Livingston Country Club. Continuing to honor the legacy and impact of Coach Jim King. Mr. Sandy King, and Patric Ferris. Proceeds from this year’s tournament will go towards naming the updated UWA Football team room in their honor as part of the UWA Football Locker room expansion. Ways to support: donate to the event/athletic fund, be a hole sponsor and have your name or organization poster at the event, or play as a three man golf team in the tournament. For more information contact Dee Outlaw at [email protected] for  golf, Sam McCorcle for sponsorship at 205-657-3788, and Brett Gilliland at [email protected] to fund the project. Register, sponsor or donate online at uwa.ejoinme.org/kingferrisfund.




Capital Campaign
The University of Alabama’s Rising Tide capital campaign is setting a new standard for higher education within the state of Alabama, now aiming for an unprecedented $1.8 billion.
Why This Matters: Having achieved its initial target of $1.5 billion in late February, the University is now embarking on The Rising Tide 2.0 — a 20% increase in the campaign’s goal, to be reached by the original end date of Sept. 30, 2026.
 
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Championships 
UA will host the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Championships March 7-9 at Stran-Hardin Arena on the UA campus. 
Why This Matters: The tournament will include the host Crimson Tide, the University of Texas at Arlington, University of Illinois, University of Arizona, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and City University of New York. 
 
Spring Commencement
UA will hold spring commencement with eight ceremonies May 3-5 at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus. 
Why This Matters: About 6,000 are expected to graduate, with about 5,400 of those participating in these ceremonies. 
 
SEC Faculty Achievement 
Dr. Claire Major, professor of higher education and the faculty director of the UA Teaching Academy, is UA’s recipient of the 2024 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award. 
Why This Matters: The SEC Faculty Achievement Awards highlight the vital role educators play in advancing the mission of the SEC and its institutions, as well as their dedication to fostering academic excellence through teaching, innovation and service. 
 
💬 CURRENT COMMENT 


Longer Days Can Brighten Mood 
Dr. John Burkhardt II is available to discuss the psychological effects of longer days thanks to daylight saving time. 


📅 EVENTS 
UA Choral Showcase
March 6; Moody Music Building Concert Hall
 
Astronomy Public Nights 
March 7; Moundville Archaeological Park