I'll tell you what's up for March 6

Mt. Zion Baptist Church to feature film ‘Fireproof’

Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 17683 Hwy. 933, Prairieville, invites the public to attend the showing of  “Fireproof” by Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea on the home and marriage. The film will be shown Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Benefit for Jeffrey VanSickel Sunday

 A benefit has been planned March 8 for Jeff VanSickel, 45,  of French Settlement who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

VanSickel is an instrument technician and has worked in the area for over 20 years. He is unable to work and has lost his insurance. He is receiving radiation and chemotherapy at Pennington Cancer Center in Baton Rouge.

Jeff and and his wife, Lori, have been married for 19 years and have four children, Brooke, 21, Brandon, 18, Bradley, 16, and Brennen, 2.

The benefit is being held at Ascension Civic Center Airline Hwy. Sorrento to help with transportation and living expenses.

The event will include live music, a space walk, garage sale, jambalaya, country store, sweet sale, auction, door prizes, raffle, poker run, antique photos, and snowballs.

Benefit accounts have been set up for the family at Hancock Bank and Capital One. For more information, call Lori at 573-4033.

Gardening for the Ascension Landscape offered

The Plantation Region Master Gardeners Association presents a three-part series of educational gardening workshops with gardening and landscaping tips geared to both novice and advanced gardeners. These workshops are hosted by the Ascension Parish Library in Gonzales on Thursdays, March 12, 19, and 26, at 6:30 p.m.

Topics and dates in this three-part series are: Gardening Basics/Landscape Choices, March 12. Horticulturist, Ed Norred, discusses soil (including soil testing), mulch (pros and cons on different types of mulch), garden tools and how to maintain them, and correct choices of landscape plant material. Small Plot Vegetable Gardens/Herb Gardening, March 19. Horticulturist, Butch Drewes gives techniques and tips of gardening in small areas. Janis Poche, president of the Plantation Region Master Gardeners Association teaches herb gardening. Adding Color to Your Landscape, March 26. Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter horticulturist and author of Month-by-Month Gardening in Louisiana and co-author of Louisiana Gardener’s Guide, shows how to add color with spring bedding plants. A book signing and reception follows Gill’s presentation. The workshops are designed for adults, and they are free and open to the public. However, space is limited. For more information or to register, contact the library at 647-3955.     

Painting classes offered

Acrylic painting class with Terry Ferrell begins Monday, March 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Six weeks, early payment discount. For more information, call 257-4065.

Ascension Council on Aging events

• March 9 – Fast Exercise, Donaldsonville, 9:30 a.m., Gonzales, 10:45 a.m.’ LSYAg Center, D. Dorest to speak on “Planting for Spring,” Donaldsonville, 11 a.m.

• March 10 – Pilates, 9:15 a.m.; blood pressure checks, Metro, Gonzales, 10 a.m.; and bridge

• March 11 – Donaldsonville, 9:30 a.m., Gonzales, 10.45 a.m.

• March 12 – Pilates, Gonzales, 9:30 a.m.; Fast Exercise, Gonzales, 10:45 a.m.; and Bridge Lessons, Gonzales 1 p.m.

• March 16 – Fast Exercise, Donaldsonville, 9:30 a.m., Gonzales 10:45 a.m.; Nutrition Updates, Lisa Weber – Southern Ag Center, Gonzales, 11 a.m.

Upcoming health talk

Smith Chiropractic Clinic, 525 E. New River Ste. B, Gonzales, will host a free health talk  on  “Drugless Guide to Balancing Female Hormones” March 19 at noon.

For more information, call 644-8671. The public is invited to attend and a $25 Wal-Mart Gift card will be given out.

Colonizing Space coming to the library

Space: The final frontier. Our mission: To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, and to boldly go where no one has gone before. Do you think you have the right stuff to compete inthis “Mission to Mars” challenge or design your very own space station? What do you think it would be like to live among the stars? If you want to find out, permission to beam aboard is granted on Friday, March 20 at 4 p.m. at the Ascension Parish Library in Donaldsonville. This program is open to children in grades 3-5, and registration is required.  For more information on this program or to register, contact the Ascension Parish Library in Donaldsonville at 473-8052.   

Pilates classes offered

This non-impact workout class is being offered at no charge on Monday nights at 5:30 p.m. at the Celebration Center of the First United Methodist Church located at 224 W. Constitution St. Participants will need a Pilates or Yoga mat. Appropriate attire would be Yoga pants, Yoga capri pants, fitted shorts, or sweat pants. The nursery will be available for children 10 years old and under. All older children will be the responsibility of their parents. Call 225-647-4678 if child care is required or for any questions.

Church offers ‘Leap Summit Explosion’

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2129 Hwy. 1 South, Donaldsonville, pastored by Christopher D. Smith Sr. is offering the first “Leap Summer Explosion” Sunday, March 29 from 4-9 p.m.

Youth art classes at River Region Art Gallery

Youth art classes are being offered at the River Region Art Gallery in Gonzales.

Participants will draw and paint as well as learn fine art skills. All supplies included. Children ages 5-12 are welcomed. The opportunity is presented by River Region Art Association with Professional artist/artist for education.

For more information call Terry at 225-257-4065 or tborn4art@aol.com.

Relay For Life set for May 1

Persons interested in volunteering, forming teams, or donating for Relay For Life Ascension Parish May 1, can contact Chantelle Matherne at 225-413-0102 or e-mail csmatherne@hotmail.com. The 25th annual celebration of Relay for Life will be at the Tanger Outlet Center in Gonzales.

Spanish cultures offered to school age children

School age children can experience Spanish cultures while developing foreign language skills. Students ages 4-14 are invited to participate in Casa de Amigos Schools Spanish Immersion Summer Camps June 1-5, June 8-12, July 13-17 from 9 a.m.-12.30 p.m. The event will feature Spanish songs, movies and popcorn, face painting, dancing and games, bubbles, arts and crafts, water sprinkler day, cooking and much more.

Camp cost is $75 per child and includes snacks, and Spanish CD.  Non-refundable deposit. Proof of Immunizations by May 1, 2009 is required.

For more information, call Jackie Lass at 936-6567. The school is located at 40180 Patty Jo Lane, Prairieville.

Gonzales High School class of 1959 to celebrate 50th reunion

The Gonzales High School class of 1959 will be celebrating its 50th anniversary April 25. The reunion committe is unable to locate the following classmates: Frank Britton, Carolyn Keglar Drossel, Martha Jone and Bonnie Miers. If anyone knows how they can be reached, call Fay Babin at 647-4448.

St. Amant High class of 1994 class to hold 15th reunion

Attention St. Amant High Class of 1994, it’s time for the 15 year reunion. The reunion is Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Grande Pavilion, Gonzales. It is scheduled from 7-11 pm.

The reunion is $40 a person which includes the food, the drinks (beer, wine, soft drinks, and coffee), and the DJ. The money is due by June 1. The money is non-refundable. Send money to Tara Babin at 4025 Lafayette Lane, Jonesboro, AR 72404.

If classmates have any questions, call Tara at 870-910-0119.

Dutchtown High class of 2004 to hold 5th reunion

Dutchtown High School class of 2004, it’s been 5 years already. The 5th class reunion is scheduled for Saturday, June 20 from 7-11 p.m. at the Grande Pavilion, Gonzales. If interested in more information, contact Brittney Diez at bdiez2@tigers.lsu.edu

Send your upcoming events to Cheryl LeBlanc Babin, lifestyles editor, at lifestyles@weeklycitizen.com, call 225-644-6397, fax 644-2069 or drop by or mail to The Gonzales Weekly Citizen, 231 W. Cornerview, Gonzales, LA 70737.