Around Ascension for Jan. 3, 2011
Gonzales skate park ceremony rescheduled
The opening ceremony for the new Ascension Parish Skate Park on Irma Boulevard in Gonzales has been rescheduled because of expected inclement weather, a parish official said.
The ceremony was planned for noon Saturday, but has been tentatively rescheduled for Feb. 11, said Lester Kenyon, public information officer for Ascension Parish government.
Recycling event set
The Ascension Parish Recycling Road Show will be held Saturday at the Walmart in Prairieville.
A recycling vehicle will be stationed in the parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Residents are invited to drop off newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, paperback books, mail, colored paper, milk and juice cartons, cardboard, aluminum, tin or bimetal cans and metal lids, and No. 1 or No. 7 plastic containers.
Call Terance Irvin at (225) 621-5722.
District livestock show
The South Central District Livestock Show continues through Saturday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
Students from Ascension and six surrounding parishes will be exhibiting hogs, lambs, poultry, goats, cows and other animals during the show.
Judging starts at 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Free glaucoma screening
The Gonzales Lions Club is joining with Dr. Eva Lamendola to offer free glaucoma screenings on Thursday at the Gonzales Walmart.
Lamendola said the screenings are designed for anyone at high risk of developing glaucoma, which she called a silent disease that can have no warning signs.
Anyone over the age of 60 is considered high risk, she said. However, people 40 and up are at risk for the disease and should have their eyes checked, she said.
The free screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tobacco-free program
The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living and Face to Face Enrichment Center are hosting an awareness and educational program for women from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Geismar Community Center, 12060 La. 73.
“Smoke and Mirrors: A Revealing Event for Women” will discuss the tobacco industry’s marketing tactics “that lure women to use a product that kills 178,000 of them each year,” program spokeswoman Gabrielle Johnson said in a news release.
Free tax help offered
Free assistance with state and federal income tax returns starts Friday and continues every Friday and Wednesday through April 11 at American Legion Post 81, 421 E. City Park Ave., Gonzales.
The program, sponsored by the AARP, American Legion Post 81 and AARP volunteers, will be in operation from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Reunion planned
A joint class reunion for all the graduates of Dutchtown, Gonzales and St. Amant high schools prior to the opening of East Ascension High School, is being organized.
The reunion is scheduled for June 9.
Anyone knowing or having addresses for the graduates is asked to call Kirby Braud at (225) 766-6417 or Marie Braud, (225) 673-3862.
Contact Darlene Denstorff: phone, (225) 336-6952; fax, (225) 644-5851; email, ascension@theadvocate.com. Deadline: noon Wednesday.