Casa Azul Gifts, 232 Martin Luther King Drive in Grand Coteau, will host an oral history session with Etha Simien Amling and a poetry performance by Latasha Weatherspoon at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10. An open mic will follow.
Amling is the vice president of the Imperial St. Landry Genealogical & Historical Society. She is from the Prairie Basse area, and frequently visited Grand Coteau as a child. Amling has done extensive research on her family roots. She will share her personal stories of growing up in the Grand Coteau area.
Weatherspoon, a native of Ville Platte, is a mentor, educator, and poet. She has also served as a mentor writer for WordPlay as well as a Community Mentor for Project Rise. She was on the Baton Rouge slam teams for 2005 through 2009. Currently, she is acting Slam Master for Baton Rouge. She graduated from Southern University in 2011 with a masters degree in speech, language and hearing science.
Feel free to bring your own poems, songs or stories for the open mic. This free, community event is appropriate for teens and adults. More details are available at http://festivalofwords.org/weeklyevents.html. This event is sponsored by the Festival of Words Cultural Arts Collective and the Imperial St. Landry Genealogical & Historical Society. For more information, call Patrice at (337) 662-1032 or email festivalwords@gmail.com.
Teens are invited to the Zachary branch, 1900 Church St., at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, to chat about Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist and how it relates to today’s world. Tea and “biscuits” will be served. For more information or to register, call (225) 658-1870.
Book clubs:
n Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at noon Tuesday, May 8, at the Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Members will discuss Canadian authors.
Shoot From the Hip Writers Slam will be held 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at South branch, 23477 La. 444 in Livingston.
Participants will write a short piece from a randomly selected genre for 30 minutes. Genres include science fiction, fantasy and memoir writing. Then they will read their work aloud for constructive criticism and praise. For ages 12-19. Contact the library at (225) 698-3015 for details.
Book clubs:
n Livingston Book Club meets 10:30 a.m.-noon at the Livingston branch, 20390 Iowa St. in Livingston.
Adult Book Club meets 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Monday, May 7, at Albany-Springfield branch, 26941 La. 43, Hammond. Members will discuss The Paris Wife by Paula McClain.
Sunny Side Up Inspirational Book Club will meet 10-11 a.m. Thursday, May 10, at Watson branch, 36581 Outback Road in Denham Springs.
Earlier this year, the library received a Dow Chemical Community Grant for a project called Never Say UGH to a Bug! The free puppet show supported by this grant will be presented Monday-Friday, May 7-11, 9-9:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the library, 830 N. Alexander Ave. in Port Allen. The show introduces students to insects indigenous to Louisiana, their life cycles, and their importance to our environment and lives. The play illustrates how insects benefit us as pollinators, food sources, pest and weed controllers, creators of useful products, and recyclers of natural materials, as well as how they enrich our lives with their beauty and drama, and inspire our artistic creativity. Thirteen puppeteers perform the 30-minute show which features more than 40 lifelike puppets, great show tunes, and insect drama. To register, call (225) 342-7920. If you are registering a large group (i.e. a class), please call the library.
The Acadiana Writing Project, UL-Lafayette’s Creative Writing Department and the Lafayette Public Library celebrated the winners of the 2012 Writes of Spring Writing Contest at two award ceremonies at the South Regional branch. Winners were awarded a certificate and an anthology of the winning works at the awards ceremony. Anthologies were provided by Sir Speedy Lafayette. Winners are:
Fiction
(K-2nd Grades) — 1. Madelyn Graves (St. Pius Elementary School) for “The Berry Princess”; 2. Drew Snyder (St. Genevieve Catholic School) for “One Windy Day”; and 3. Madison Lightfoot (Prairie Elementary School) for “My Little Ladybug”
(3rd-4th Grades) — 1. Lucien Schoolmaster (Woodvale Elementary School) for “The Ghost of Zahoola”; 2. Lainey Quinn (St. Pius Elementary School) for “The Ballet Mystery”; and 3. Julia Thompson (homeschooled) for “Jellybean” tied with Sam Stonecipher (St. Pius Elementary School) for “The Mood Ring”
(5th-6th Grades) — 1. Brynne Tynes (Paul Breaux Middle School) for “Souls of the Sari”; 2. Hannah Grace Briscoe (Richard Elementary School) for “Calliope Gets Her Wings”; and 3. Elizabeth Miller (Paul Breaux Middle School) for “The Not-So-Fun Field Trip”
(7th-8th Grades) — 1. Reagan Thompson (Ascension Episcopal School) for “Childhood Dreams Turned Nightmares”; 2. Collin Miller (Paul Breaux Middle School) for “A City in Flames”; and 3. Natalie LeJeune (Opelousas Catholic School) for “The Ghost on 1818 Illuminist Lane”
(9th-10th Grades) — 1. Dylan Pritts (Lafayette High School) for “Falling”; 2. Myklin Smith (Lafayette High School) for “Communism Sounded Like a Good Idea, Too”; and 3. Collin LeBlanc (Lafayette High School) for “Scrabble”
(11th-12th Grades) — 1. Michelle Noël (Comeaux High School) for “Tulips”; 2. Olivia Johnson (Lafayette High School) for “The Sun Also Sets”; and 3. Lucas LeDoux (Iota High School) for “Dalen’s Duckling”
Nonfiction
(K-2nd Grades) — 1. Juliana Perrin (Myrtle Place Elementary School) for “Classroom Pet”; 2. Alexander Parkhurst (Myrtle Place Elementary School) for “My Favorite Place”; and 3. Heidi Rogers (Myrtle Place Elementary School) for “My Favorite Place”
(3rd-4th Grades) — 1. Duke Stanford (Woodvale Elementary School) for “Mission to Mars”; 2. Loren Bellow (Gethsemane Christian Academy) for “God, Why Do People Hate?”; and 3. Chloé Keeter (St. Pius Elementary School) for “Gymnastics is My Sport!”
(5th-6th Grades) – 1. Joel Thompson (homeschool) for “Immaculate Reception”; 2. Megan Hamilton (homeschool) for “Courageous Heroes of the Titanic”
(7th-8th Grades) — 1. Kate Roy (Paul Breaux Middle School) for “Windy Days”; 2. Caroline Munsell (Paul Breaux Middle School) for “False Pride”; and 3. Bryce Tynes (Paul Breaux Middle School) for “Kip: Alone on the Streets”
(9th-10th Grades) — 1. Alex Dugas (Carencro High School) for “Turning the Mud”; 2. Kyle Castille (Lafayette High School) for “Here, We are Home”; and 3. Devin Olivier (Lafayette High School) for “The Journey that Changed a Life”
(11th-12th Grades) — 1. Patrick Pierotte (Carencro High School) for “Cheating”; 2. Amélie Desormeaux (St. Thomas More High School) for “ Dear Reader”; and 3. Tiffany Mertell (Carencro High School) for “Shocking Stairs”
Poetry
(K-2nd Grades) — 1. Mason Osborn (Woodvale Elementary School) for “Sweet Mother”; 2. India Walker (Woodvale Elementary School) for “After the Rain”; and 3. Drew Mouton (Woodvale Elementary School) for “Bowl of Tears”
(3rd-4th Grades) — 1. Emma Long (Woodvale Elementary School) for “Once Upon a Starry Night”; 2. Patrick Chu (Woodvale Elementary School) for “The Joy of Tops” and 3. Heather Buswell (J. Wallace James Elementary School) for “What is Green?”
(5th-6th Grades) — 1. Essence Savoy (Northeast Elementary School) for “In My Dance Shoes”; 2. Kate Manuel (L.J. Alleman Middle School) for “Apple”; and 3. Jacquelin LaBerteaux (Westminster Christian Academy) for “The Sky”
(7th-8th Grades) — 1. Alex Zappi (St. Pius Elementary School) for “Through the Pale Blue Sky”; 2. Preston Redrick (St. Pius Elementary School) for “A Morning Wave”; and 3. Jacob G. Broussard (Ascension Episcopal School) for “Migraine”
(9th-10th Grades) — 1. Randa Ahmad (Lafayette High School) for “The Album” ; 2. Katlyn Hanks (Iota High School) for “Perfect State of Mind”; 3. Michael Broussard (Lafayette High School) for “Joyful Agony”; and Honorable Mention, Nicole Stinyard (Lafayette High School) for “Never Cease”
(11th-12th Grades) — 1. Amy Dupuis – (Comeaux High School) for “Dance with the Wind”; 2. Audrey Almeida (Acadiana High School) for “The Greyhound”; and 3. Kallie Credeur (Comeaux High School) for “Where I Come From”
French Language Winners
Fiction
(K-2nd Grades) — 1. Allison Leach (North Lewis Elementary) for “Rob Dans Le Bayou”
(5th-6th Grades) — 1. Kelly Wood (Prairie Elementary) for “La Rio Parade Band”
(9th-10th Grades) — 1. Tolu Adoun (Lafayette High School) for “Le Mystère de Monsieur Gustaveau”
(11th-12th Grades) — 1. Bailee Choate (St. Thomas More) for “Le Petit Ours”
Nonfiction
(5th-6th Grades) — 1. Morgan Munzing (Prairie Elementary) for “Jesse James Duhon”
Poetry
(9th-10th Grades) — 1. Arden LaGrone (Lafayette High School) for “La Vie Symphonie”; 2. Mary Guidry (Lafayette High School) for “Chante Pour Moi”; and 3. Kenneth Sims IV (Lafayette High School) for “Prenez l’initiative”
(11th -12th Grades) — 1. Sommer Osman (Lafayette High School) for “A Contre-Coeur”; 2. Kelly Guilbeau (St. Thomas More) for “Quand Je Danse”; and 3. Emily Bourgeois (Lafayette High School) for “Sentiment”
Book club:
Ben Sandmel, author of Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans, will sign copies of his book 1-1:45 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Fair Grounds Race Course, 1751 Gentilly Blvd. in New Orleans, at the Allison Miner Heritage Stage. Jazz Fest tickets are required. Sandmel will also sign at noon Monday, May 7, at Louisiana Music Factory, 210 Decatur St. in New Orleans; and 6:30-8 p.m. at Maple Street Book Shop Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. in New Orleans.
Charlaine Harris, author of Deadlocked, will sign copies of her book at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at Barnes & Noble, 2590 CitiPlace Court. Harris will sign two books per person.
Patty Friedmann, author of No Takebacks, will sign copies of her book 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans.
Deborah Trosclair, author of Gracie’s Gift, will sign copies of her book at 7 p.m. Friday, May 11, at Barnes & Nobles, Perkins Rowe, 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd #100.
Johnette Downing, author of Today is Monday In Kentucky, Down in Louisiana and My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane, will be in concert at 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, New Orleans Jazz Park Visitor’s Center, French Market, New Orleans. She will sign copies of her books at noon Friday, May 11, at A Tisket A Tasket Book Shop, 910 Decatur St. in New Orleans.
Lesley Crawford Costner, author of Goodnight Acadiana, will sign copies of her book 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans.
Peter J. Murray, author of Mokee Joe is Coming, will sign copies of his book 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 12 at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans.
Anne Butler, author of Main Streets Of Louisiana, will sign copies of her book 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St. in New Orleans.
Dale Archer, author of Better Than Normal, will sign copies of his book 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at Maple Street Book Shop Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. in New Orleans.
Smiley Anders, author of Smiley! A Laughing Matter, will sign copies of his book 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 12, at Main Street Market.
Jennifer Barnes Maggio, author of Overwhelmed: The Life of a Single Mom, will sign copies of her book 9 a.m.-noon Monday, May 7, at HeartEase Family Church, 12112 Florida Blvd.
Items for Book Events were provided by Casa Azul Gifts, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Livingston Parish Library, West Baton Rouge Parish Library and Lafayette Parish Library.
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