With a white lab coat over his school-mandated burgundy shirt and shorts, 11-year-old Henry Worrell admonished his classmates to watch a video presentation closely. “Please pay attention to the video because the answers will come from that,” he said. Sternly, he said again, “Pay attention.” This was Henry’s turn to be … Continue reading →

Each week The Advocate asks a different “quiz taker” for his or her current favorites in pop culture. QUIZ TAKER: Wally Taillon, 67, president of the Gonzales Jambalaya Association. WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: “I normally listen to 104.9, the country legends. It’s a lot of different variety. … Continue reading →

Why so many people in the United States flock to hear the Dalai Lama has sometimes puzzled me. He’s not our typical hero. He isn’t macho enough to be a movie star. He isn’t tall enough to be elected president. He isn’t brawny or young enough to be an athlete. Continue reading →

Tiffany Roberson lost her mother to lung cancer in 1994, when Roberson was 16 and a junior in high school. Her mother, Mary Roberson, had been a smoker for many years, although she stopped smoking a few years before she died at age 48. Roberson said that she and her older brother hadn’t liked … Continue reading →

NAME: Dorey Matusicky AGE: 32 OCCUPATION: Owner of Southern Comfort pet sitting, dog walking and pet taxi. Tell us about what you’re wearing. “A blue high-low dress with a yellow scarf tied around my … Continue reading →

The Iota Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held a panel discussion April 22 with local women who discussed their lives and career challenges. Panelists were Doris Brown, director of emergency preparedness; Deadra Hughes, engineer; Kimberly Robinson, attorney; Yolunda Taylor, obstetrician/gynecologist; Judge Continue reading →

Two years ago, when her husband’s job change meant a move to Saudi Arabia, Port Allen native Wendi Monson imagined a lot of things. Playing soccer wasn’t one of them. First of all, she had never played the game. More significant, she would be in Saudi Arabia, where women are not even allowed to drive vehicles, … Continue reading →

‘Bold Beautiful You!’ Are you a young breast cancer survivor looking for help? WHAT: SurviveDAT’s “Bold Beautiful You!” event. WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday. WHERE: U-WINK Eyelash Studio in the Mall of Louisiana. Continue reading →

There are dozens of little tricks that Geoff Allen created to live his new life, one that began seven months ago when a bullet took the majority of his eyesight. A notch cut into the number “5” on the microwave helps him find the other numbers and the start key. A bare lightbulb kept on his … Continue reading →

One of the small intrigues of being a newspaperman is that I never know what’s going to show up in my mailbox. The other day, for example, I slit open an envelope and found three energy bars waiting inside, sent along by a publicist hoping to promote the latest in American nutrition. The snacks, I’m told, were … Continue reading →

The Baton Rouge Assembly will present 13 debutantes at its annual ball Nov. 29 at the Baton Rouge River Center. The debutantes will be introduced to wives of Assembly members and their guests at a tea Wednesday at the Baton Rouge Country Club. The 2013 debutantes are Anna-Marie Barone, daughter of Jeanne and Guy Santo Barone … Continue reading →

Tickets are on sale for the “American Idol Live!” 2013 summer tour with season 12’s top 11 finalists. The 40-city tour will include Burnell Taylor, of New Orleans, and Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller, Candice Glover, Curtis Finch Jr., Devin Velez, Janelle Arthur, Kree Harrison, Lazaro Arbos, Paul Jolley and Aubrey Cleland. Finalists will sing favorite … Continue reading →

Volunteer opportunities, provided by Volunteer! United (formerly Volunteer! Baton Rouge), are outlined in this column every Sunday. To learn more about these opportunities, contact the listed agency directly. CLINIC VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, Ochsner Medical Center — La Marylis Newman, (225) 755-4986: Ochsner has multiple opportunities for people to volunteer at various locations … Continue reading →

As summer approaches, we transition from the warm days and cool nights of spring and early summer to the hot days and warm nights that will be with us until September. With the increasing heat, you should be noticing the inevitable decline of your cool-season bedding plants. Now is an excellent time to plant warm-season bedding … Continue reading →

HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two Inc. (HAART) along with other local AIDS service organizations will hold the 30th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at North Boulevard Town Square, downtown. The memorial seeks to honor those affected by the AIDS pandemic, educate the public about HIV/AIDS, influence policy … Continue reading →

EVENT: The 14th annual Baton Rouge Area Tour of Ponds and Gardens. DATE: Sunday. TIME: Noon to 5 p.m. PLACE: Ponds in the Baton Rouge area. FOR MORE INFO: http://www.deepsouthkoi.org, http://www.harbsoasis.com or (225) 756-2720. DETAILS: Deep South Koi and Pond Society and Harb’s Oasis Landscaping and Garden Center will present … Continue reading →

Items for “Pam’s Party Line” and “Scenes from Around Town” must be received by 9 a.m. the Monday preceding the run date. Digital photos should be emailed to pbordelon@theadvocate.com; hard copy photos should be dropped off at or mailed to The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Events will run no later than … Continue reading →

No matter how hard everyone tries, seems there’s just no escaping having multiple events fall on the same night every now and then. Such was the case May 9 when Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, the Boy Scouts and Louisiana Public Broadcasting all held their major fundraisers. I … Continue reading →

A dozen Tibetan monks visiting Baton Rouge will spend parts of five days next week creating an intricate artwork made of colored sand, only to destroy it. Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery who are traveling with the Dalai Lama during his trip to New Orleans will separate from the Tibetan Buddhist leader to spend five … Continue reading →

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. … When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.” — Acts 2: 4, 6 For this Pentecost Sunday, Together … Continue reading →

The Transformed by Grace program seeks to help those who have fallen victim to drug addiction and other destructive behaviors. “We don’t win them all by any means ... but we keep trying,” leader Billy King said of the faith-based support group which meets at 6:30 p.m. each Monday at Grace Works Church, 16131 La. 44, Prairieville. Continue reading →

NEW ORLEANS — They saw each other for only two or three months in 1975. But Hoan and Len Nguyen and their extended family never stopped thinking about Jack and Annette Briggs. “Every Thanksgiving, Daddy would not forget to remember those people who helped us at that time,” said Kim Pham, of Baton Rouge. Continue reading →

A friend was excited about planting her first sunflower seeds and looking forward to their spectacular, happy-looking flowers (the large flower head is made up of countless little individual flowers). If you’d like to try growing your own, horticulturists at the LSU AgCenter say the seeds can be planted now through early September. Sunflowers come in … Continue reading →

En route to my stepson’s graduation rehearsal Tuesday morning, he was quiet and serious, a different side from his sometimes comical and cheery demeanor. “How do you feel about the big day?” I asked him “I feel like I’m about to be a big boy now,” he told me. His answer … Continue reading →

Zachary Morgan, 8, of Watson, has been named a Hasbro Community Action Hero for his work to provide baseball caps to children receiving chemo treatments. He was recognized Wedneday in New York City along with five other children from around the country. GenerationOn, the youth enterprise of Points of Light, partnered with Hasbro Inc. to … Continue reading →

Joe Brine spoke about the oldest known American battle flag when the Alexander Stirling Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met on April 17 at Mary Anne Stevens’ home in St. Francisville. The flag was flown first during the French and Indian … Continue reading →

A group of aspiring elementary- and middle-school-age actors may not have elicited the same hype that actor Tom Cruise made in the screening room for “Jack Reacher” at Celtic Media Centre last year, but their voices could be the screams and yells audiences remember in this summer’s SyFy movie release, “Ghost Shark.” … Continue reading →

While the next “American Idol” won’t be from Louisiana, several of this season’s contestants from the area will be glued to their TVs Thursday night for the show’s finale. Back in Los Angeles for the big night is Burnell Taylor, of New Orleans, who finished seventh this season and will be on the “American Idol” … Continue reading →

“A leader is someone who provides purpose, motivation and direction. He is not afraid to make a decision and does what he believes is the right thing. He faces the consequences if his decision is wrong. He influences others through motivation to accomplish tasks in a timely manner. Most importantly, he understands and knows his subordinates, and … Continue reading →

Items for “Pam’s Party Line” and “Scenes from Around Town” must be received by 9 a.m. the Monday preceding the run date. Digital photos should be emailed to pbordelon@theadvocate.com; hard copy photos should be dropped off at or mailed to The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Events will run no later than … Continue reading →

When Leslie Doyle and her husband, Ronnie, first moved to their new home in December, she missed the sounds of birds. The Doyles were downsizing, with their children away in college, and the backyard of the new home was something of a blank slate, not enough there yet to draw bird life. “But, … Continue reading →

Each week The Advocate asks a different “quiz taker” for his or her current favorites in pop culture. QUIZ TAKER: Sharon Tohline, 32, English instructor at Southern University and player for the Red Stick Roller Derby’s Capital Defenders. WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: “I’m in the middle … Continue reading →

Kids, here is important advice: If you can’t make a yo-yo do magnificent tricks, don’t worry. What? You don’t know what a yo-yo is. Well, sit down for five minutes and listen to someone who used to be a kid. When I was in grade school — that’s what … Continue reading →

The Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation Cubsight vision screening program for children received the 2013 Louisiana Public Health Association Meritorious Award at the LPHA Awards Luncheon on April 12 in Lafayette. The award is presented “for longtime diligent and esteemed service in public health in Louisiana.” The program … Continue reading →

Her face covered in avocado green facial cream, Daisy Washington raved about her best friend, a college student almost half her age. “She’s cool. I like her. She is a good friend and she spends time with me,” Washington said. Washington met her friend, Marci Gaines, through Best Buddies, a program that pairs men and … Continue reading →

With the second phase of renovations completed, the Burn Center of the Baton Rouge General Medical Center’s Mid City campus now has enhanced outpatient treatment rooms and services for patients’ families. Treatment rooms feature new, enhanced lighting and specialized equipment for wound care. The renovation … Continue reading →

NAME: Anne Machen, at Junior League’s Triple Crown Derby event. AGE: 37. OCCUPATION: Attorney. Tell us about what you’re wearing. “A dress I got on sale at Forever 21 for $18 with Sergio Rossi … Continue reading →

The John James Audubon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met April 15 at the East Baton Rouge Parish Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library. Set up for viewing were displays of the certificates awarded to the chapter at the recent Louisiana State Conference. The chapter … Continue reading →

MOXLEY COMPLETES BASIC: Marine Corps Pvt. Jeffrey L. Moxley Jr., a 2009 graduate of Brusly High School, earned the title of U.S. Marine after graduating from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL: The Class of 1993 will hold a 20-year reunion … Continue reading →

Most recognize Emeril Lagasse as the celebrity chef, restaurateur and colorful TV personality whose expressions of “kick it up a notch” and “Bam!” flavor his talk and reflect his dishes. But Lagasse has done something else with his love of cooking, finding a way to mentor young people through the culinary arts in New Orleans, the Gulf … Continue reading →

‘Masquerading’ Put on that tux or gown and a mask and help save a life. WHAT: Be The Match’s “Masquerading for a Match.” WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday. WHERE: Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Drive, New Orleans. Continue reading →

In honor of Mother’s Day, The Advocate People section asked readers to share some stories about their mothers, and share they did. Several readers related hilarious anecdotes, and all
of the submissions were filled with admiration and love for mothers and motherhood. Doug Johnson, of Denham Springs, will never forget when … Continue reading →

As another Mother’s Day arrives today, many of us will be focused on the gifts we’re giving to the special women who’ve nurtured us through the years. But in a new book I’ve been reading, “What My Mother Gave Me,” three dozen women reflect on the best gifts that their mothers gave to them. Author … Continue reading →

The Charity Ball Association of Baton Rouge will present 16 young women at its annual Le Bal de Noel on Dec. 28. The 2013 debutantes will be honored Tuesday at a French picnic at the home of Cheryl and Robert Kirchoff Sr. Debutantes are Katherine Scarlett Bowler, daughter of Samuel James and Angela Herpin and the … Continue reading →

Volunteer opportunities, provided by Volunteer! United (formerly Volunteer! Baton Rouge), are outlined in this column every Sunday. To learn more about these opportunities, contact the listed agency directly. TUTOR RECRUITMENT HAPPENING NOW, Adult Literacy Advocates — Michelle Vining, (225) 383-1090 or michelle@adultliteracyadvocates.org: Be a part of the literacy solution by volunteering … Continue reading →