Around Ascension for June 8, 2012

The 16th annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday in Donaldsonville’s Louisiana Square.

This year’s theme is “It’s a Family Affair,” organizer Tamiko Francis Garrison said.

“The festival committee is committed to continue the tradition started in Donaldsonville by former Mayor B.J. Francis Sr. and his wife, the late Janet G. Francis, in 1996 and continued throughout the years by Kathe Hambrick Jackson,” Garrison said.

Juneteenth commemorates the day when slaves in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, she said.

Donaldsonville’s Juneteenth’s observance includes comedian Bigg Sexxy, “DJ” Red Stylezz, River Road African American Museum Sign Language Ensemble, the Silhouette Dance Ensemble, Mos Scocious Blues Band and the Michael Foster Project.

For information, call Allison Hudson at (504)-610-3292 or Garrison at [phone]

Garden Club sale

The Gonzales Garden Club’s annual plant sale is Friday in front of Gonzales City Hall, 120 S. Irma Blvd. The sale was rescheduled from its May date due to inclement weather.

Plants, previously owned garden tools, pots, gardening items and baked goods will be sold from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Alzheimer’s benefit

Tickets are on sale for the annual “A Time to Remember,” a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 24, at the Clarion Inn and Conference Center, 1500 W. La. 30, Gonzales.

The Bourgeois family and friends and the Center Stage Performing Arts Academy are putting on the event.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling Iva Tullier at [phone] or emailing [e-mail].

Van Broussard to close

Van Broussard Road closes to through traffic from 8 a.m. Monday to 4:30 p.m. Thursday because of culvert installation work, East Ascension drainage officials said.

Van Broussard Road extends north off McCrory 1 Road in Prairieville.

Allen Allred, drainage supervisor, said residents needing access to locations north of the construction area may use Manchac Acres Road off La. 42 and continue to David Drive.

Dance mini camp

The Dutchtown High School Griffin Girls annual Dance Mini Camp starts Monday in the school gym.

The week-long camp lasts from 9 a.m. to noon daily and costs $50.

A show-off event will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 15. To register, email [e-mail]

Adult reading program

The Ascension Parish Library’s adult summer program continues through July 31 with the theme “A Booklover’s Summer.”

Readers can enter weekly drawings for $25 Barnes and Noble gift certificates and also be eligible to win a gift basket donated by Don’s Seafood Hut Restaurant and Oyster Bar.

For details, visit the library’s website at: http://www.myAPL.org or call the Gonzales branch at [phone], Galvez at [phone], Donaldsonville at [phone] or Dutchtown at [phone].

Contact Darlene Denstorff: phone, [phone]; fax, [phone]; email, [e-mail]. Deadline: noon Wednesday.