Acadiana briefs for Oct. 26, 2012

Open house for student-built home

LAFAYETTE — The NEXThouse, an energy-efficient house designed by University of Louisiana at Lafayette architecture students, will be open for tours from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

The house, 319 Jackson St., is in the historic Freetown neighborhood. The house is a project with multiple aims: To reclaim abandoned property; create affordable, efficient housing; and give graduate students hands-on experience.

The 1,300-square-foot house has two bedrooms, two baths and a loft. Sustainable features include energy-efficient appliances and 14-foot-high ceilings and ventilation to cool the interior. Solar panels on the roof offset some energy costs; functional shutters protect the home during storms.

Its front porch, kitchen and rear patio flow into one another, which makes the home ideal for entertaining and reflects Acadiana’s Cajun and Creole hospitality.

NEXThouse is for sale and is listed by PAR Realty. Some of the proceeds will be reinvested in the university’s architecture program to fund future projects. Another home is planned for Jackson Street.

Construction of the NEXThouse was made possible through a public-private partnership among UL Lafayette, King Contractors, The Lafayette Public Trust Authority and PAR Realty.

Pro-life conference planned in Lafayette

LAFAYETTE — Beyond the Vote 2012: Louisiana’s Pro-Life Conference will be held Friday and Saturday in Lafayette.

The event is sponsored by Louisiana Right to Life in partnership with the Louisiana Family Forum and the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

“The aim of the conference is to motivate pro-life citizens to take their convictions ‘beyond the vote’ and get more involved in the pro-life movement in Louisiana,” according to a release.

The event begins with a social reception at 6 p.m. Friday evening with a full-day of speakers beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, featuring Lila Rose of Live Action. Other speakers include Dorinda Bordlee of Bioethics Defense Fund; Mary Kellet of Prenatal Partners for Life; Fr. Shenan Boquet of Human Life International; Gene Mills of Louisiana Family Forum; Kelly Boggs of Louisiana Baptist Convention; and Benjamin Clapper and Ryan Verret of Louisiana Right to Life.

The conference also features a student track with workshops from Students for Life of America and Louisiana Right to Life for high school and college students.

The cost of Beyond the Vote is $35 for adults and $15 for students. Information and registration can be found at www.prolifelouisiana.org/beyondthevote or by calling [phone].

Waste pick-up day Saturday in Lafayette

LAFAYETTE — Construction debris, small appliances, carpeting and other bulky trash will accepted at six sites across Lafayette Parish from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The pick-up day, sponsored by Allied Waste and Lafayette city-parish government, is open to residents of the city of Lafayette and unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish.

Items to be accepted include doors, wood, fencing, toilets, bicyles, swing set, tolls and barbecue pits.

Chemicals, tires, batteries, large appliances and gasoline-powered equipment will not be accepted.

The dropoff locations are Pa Davis Park, Fabacher Field, the Robicheaux Center, Brown Park, Debaillon Park and the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

Horse Farm to host open house Saturday

LAFAYETTE — The 100-acre Horse Farm on Johnston Street will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Howdy to the Horse Farm will give residents an opportunity to see property, which Lafayette city-parish government recently purchased to transform into a central park.

The event will include family activities, tours of the property in the 2900 block of Johnston Street and equestrian demonstrations.

Parking will be available at South College Center.

Canoe launch celebration Saturday

LAFAYETTE — The Nature Station and Bayou Vermilion District Community Paddle along the Vermilion River will be held Saturday.

Paddlers will need to supply their own canoes or kayaks and meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Acadiana Park Nature Station on East Alexander Street to shuttle vehicles to the endpoint at Vermilionville.

Launch is expected at 9 a.m. to begin the paddle down the 9½ “beautiful, windy and tree-lined miles of farmlands and the fringes of northwest Lafayette,” according to a news release.

Paddlers should bring their own water, snack and lunch. Paddlers should arrive back at Vermilionville between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The canoe/kayak launch is the first of several planned as part of the Vermilion River Paddle Trail. To sign up, call [phone].

Compiled from Acadiana bureau staff reports and news releases.