Area briefs for June 21, 2010

Poker Crawl Saturday

Participants are asked to join in (the Monaghan and Koehlar families) on Saturday, June 26, to pay tribute to Jim Monaghan Sr., by participating in the Second Annual French Quarter Poker Crawl Fundraiser.

This year’s proceeds will be donated to The Roots of Music (www.therootsofmusic.com) …this program serves almost 100 students, making up a full marching band that is successfully parading the city since Mardi Gras 2009. The program provides music education in history, theory, instrumental instruction and ensemble performance. Furthermore, academic tutoring is offered to ensure the students maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in school. Participation in the Roots of Music is free for students but attendance is mandatory. The students are also provided a hot meal before being sent home on buses.

Registration will be in Jackson Square in front of the Cabildo from 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m., where participants will enjoy a performance by the students and get their first card. The rest of the hand of 5 card stud will be dealt at Erin Rose, Molly’s at the Market, Johnny White’s and Tropical Isle. Hands will be judged at 13 Monaghan, where there will also be an auction.

Each hand played will require a $30donation and will include a commemorative t-shirt.

Register and pay on website to reserve your space today at www.nolacharitycrawl.org. If you can’t make it out that day, please send your donation.

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church to host VBS

The St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Vicknair Road, Maurepas, will host a Vacation Bible School June 28 until July 2 starting at 9 a.m. The public is invited.

Galvez Primary to hold summer registrations

Galvez Primary, 16093 Henderson Bayou Rd., will hold summer registrations from July 19 through 23 and Aug. 2 and 3, from 9 a.m.-noon. To register, bring the child’s Birth Certificate, shot record, Social Security card, withdrawal slip from their previous school for all grades except new Kindergartners and a current copy of your electric bill.

If the electric bill is in the landlord’s name bring a copy of your lease.  If you are living with someone an affidavit will need to be completed. A school board representative will be here July 7 and 20 from 9 a.m.-noon to process affidavits. The school phone number is 621-2444.

First United Methodist Church to host VBS

First United Methodist Church, 224 W. Constitution St. Gonzales, invites children and adults to its Vacation Bible School titled “High Seas Expedition: Exploring the Mighty Love of God” July 12-16 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Kids sail the deep blue sea where they participate in memorable Bible learning activities: Sing and Play Splash to sing catchy songs, experience electrifying Bible adventures in Bible Voyage, create Bible Point crafts they’ll take home from Clipper Ship Crafts, Mission Projects, Sail Away Cinema to collect Bible Memory Buddies and remind them of God’s word, Goodies from the Galley to dig into yummy meals and closing with the Floating Finale to get everyone involved in reliving what they’ve learned. For more information call 647-4678.

ACT’s summer musical ‘Gypsy’ to stage

Ascension Community Theatre 10th Anniversary Season's summer musical, “Gypsy,” runs July 8-10 and 15-17 at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees July 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Written by Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, “Gypsy” chronicles the fall of vaudeville and the rise of burlesque as seen through the showbiz lives of stage mother Rose and her daughters - talented, dainty June, and Louise, who transforms from nebbish no-talent to the queen of the striptease, Gypsy Rose Lee. Ms. Lee's memoirs served as the basis for the musical, which features such songs as "Let Me Entertain You," "All I Need is the Girl," and "Everything's Coming Up Roses."

ACT will host Gala Nights of "Gypsy" July 23 and 24 as a fundraising event. Gala performances of “Gypsy” include dinner and drinks as well as a performance of the show. For tickets call the box office 225-647-1230

Share your home with a French student

A group of French students ages 15-18, boys and girls will be visiting the Ascension and Baton Rouge area in July for three weeks. Maybe you cannot accommodate a student for the year but would still like the experience of hosting. Research has shown that participating in an immersion program is equivalent to three months of classroom work and by exposing you children to a foreign language, you are making it easier for them to learn a language.

Visit France by sharing your home and family with one of these French teenagers.  Students are anxious to learn about Louisiana and its way of life. The students love our food, music and “different way of life.”

Can you help? If so, contact Carole Whitesell, 225-287-2190 cvjw103 @ yahoo.com

Free HIV testing

Face to Face Enrichment Center offers free HIV testing. No blood and no needles. Results are ready in 20 minutes. To schedule your appointment, call 225-644-9992.

Face to Face Enrichment Center introduces Project Connections. The project allows clients and the general community to research Internet-based health information through the National Library of Medicine. Whether you need information about Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Cancer, etc., Project Connections is for you. Call 225-644-9992 to schedule your research time.

Face to Face Enrichment Center is now a Louisiana Medicaid Program Certified Application Center. Applications are taken from women, children, and senior citizens Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Contact the office at 225-644-9992 and the staff will be happy to schedule an appointment for you.

Rainforest Art Camp set for July

Rainforests of the world will be the theme of this year’s art camp at Prairieville Middle School. The camp will be taught by veteran art teachers Cindy Dodson and Dana Mosby. Young people will have the opportunity to experiment with different media and create artwork with animals and plant life of the rainforest as the subject.

The camp will be July 19-23 and is for students seven through 12. There will be a morning session from 8:30 –11 a.m. and an afternoon session from noon-2:30 p.m. The cost for each session is $80 which includes all supplies and a light snack each day.

A registration form is available by emailing dana_mosby @ yahoo.com

Anger Management Classes offered

The Ascension Counseling Center now offers Anger Management Classes. This six-week program will be held at the Ascension Counseling Center, located at 1112 S.E. Ascension Complex Avenue on Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. The cost is $5 per session.

To enroll in the program or to request more information, contact Ted Pinkard at 225-621-8559.

Learn to quilt

Summer Quilting Camps for Kids and Quilting Classes for adults. For more information, call 622-2147.

Scrapbooking Weekend Retreat

Camp Crop-A lot, annual Scrapbooking event, held by Prairieville-based scrapbooking retail store Memory Mania is set for July 16 and 17 at the Crowne  Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge. Since 2001, scrapbooking enthusiasts have come to this area, and from across the county, to participate in this event, attracting 175 attendees each year. Memory Mania’s two-day retreat, Camp Crop-A lot, will be held at Crowne Plaza located at 4728 Constitution Ave., Baton Rouge. The event is designed to pamper each camper with 37 quiet hours of cropping, and meals. The occasion will feature: Kickback with friends and make new friends; relax and be pampered; chair massages; table reserved with your friends - or make new friends; welcome gifts; door prizes; and leave all the mess, planning and arranging up to Memory Mania. Memory Mania locally-owned, full-service scrapbooking retailer located at 17424 Airline Highway in Prairieville.

Alzheimer’s Services caregiver network meeting

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area holds caregiver network meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, from 11 a.m.-noon, at Healing Place Church/St. Amant Annex, 43503 Quality Lane, Suite H.

All caregiver network meetings are held monthly and are free to the public. They provided caregiver mutual support and practical caregiving techniques, as well as update community resources available to caregivers. For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Services office at 225-334-7494 or 1-800-548-1211.

Free blood pressure and glucose screening

The Parish of Ascension offers free blood pressure and glucose screening every Friday from 8-10 a.m. at the Ascension Parish Health Unit, 1024 S.E. Ascension Complex Blvd., Gonzales, across from Courthouse East off Worthey Road. For more information, call 225-644-4582.

VFW Post 3693 bingo every weekend

VFW Post 3693 offers bingo every Friday and Saturday. Everyone is welcome.

Children six years and older are welcome, but must buy at least a $5 book.

Doors open at 6 p.m., bingo starts at 7:30 p.m.

Ascension Council on Aging events

• June 23 – Gonzales Center Birthday Party, 10 a.m.; Fast Exercise, Donaldsonville 9:30 a.m. and Gonzales 10:45 a.m.; and “Singing With Bill,” Gonzales, 9 a.m.

• June 24 – CLOSED (Both Centers) for training.

• June 25 – Nutrition Updates with Lisa Weber/Southern Ag Center, Donaldsonville, 11 a.m.; Wii Games, Gonzales, from 10-11- a.m.

• June 28 – Nutrition Updates with Lisa Weber/Southern Ag Center, Gonzales, 10:30 a.m.: Karaoke, Gonzales, from 11 a.m. –noon; Fast Exercise, Donaldsonville, 9:30 a.m. and Gonzales, 10:45 a.m.; and Beading Class, Gonzales, 9 a.m.

• June 29 – Pilates, Gonzales 9:15 a.m.; Bridge Lessons, Gonzales, 1 p.m.; and Gonzales Recipe and Coupon Exchange Club Day.

• June 30 – Donaldsonville Birthday Party and Retired Teachers Volunteer Day, from 10 a.m.-noon; and Fast Exercise, Donaldsonville, 9:30 a.m. and Gonzales, 10:45 a.m.

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