Around Ascension for Feb. 10, 2012

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER Stretching after practiceJohn Brumfield stretchesMonday after track practice at Capitol High School. The track team took advantage of the nice weather and trained outside.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at LSU is expanding its offerings into Ascension Parish beginning in March.

Courses are designed for those who are 50 and above and love to learn, according to a news release from the OLLI at LSU.

March courses include “Basic Watercolor,” “Beginning Spanish” and “Great Decisions,” and will be held at the Ascension Council on Aging Gonzales Senior Center on Irma Boulevard.

OLLI at LSU is a membership-based organization that promotes lifelong learning.

“If there seems to be enough interest in these first courses, an Ascension chapter of OLLI at LSU could be organized,” said Doreen Maxcy, director of the program in LSU Continuing Education. Individuals who register for one or more of the courses will be designated as charter members in OLLI at LSU and their membership fee will be waived.

“Many seniors in the Gonzales area have expressed an interest in taking OLLI at LSU courses at our Gonzales Senior Center,” Darlene Schexnayder, director of the Ascension Council on Aging, said, “We hope these three courses are just the beginning of many years of OLLI courses being offered in Ascension Parish.”

For information or to register, call the OLLI at LSU office at [phone] or [phone]. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Beekeepers to meet

Learn how to raise and care for bees at the Ascension Parish Beekeepers Association’s meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Ascension Parish Library in Gonzales.

The meeting is open to the public. For information, call [phone].

The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month, but changed its February meeting due to the Valentine’s Day holiday.

Baseball registration

The Gonzales Dixie Boys baseball organization’s registration for boys and girls ages 13 and 14 will be held at the Gonzales City Hall on Feb. 18, Feb. 25 and March 3.

Registration will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.

Parents or guardians are asked to bring the child’s birth certificate and a $40 registration fee.

For more information, call Kenny Fife at [phone].

Colonel’s wife to speak

Kristie Thomas, wife of retired U.S. Army Col. Ron Thomas, will speak at the Ascension GOP Roundtable on Feb. 16.

The Roundtable, sponsored by Ascension Republican Women, will also feature an appearance by newly elected Ascension Parish Councilwoman Teri Casso.

The program starts at 11:30 a.m. with registration at Kamal’s Kafe, 13091 Airline Highway, Gonzales.

The cost for the buffet-style lunch is $13.

The Roundtable is open to the public and guests are welcome. Reservations are requested. Call [phone] or email: [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Spring arts fest set

The River Region Art Association is accepting booth registration for its Spring Fever Arts and Community Festival to be held April 14-15 at the American Legion Post 81 Hall in Gonzales.

Booths for the festival, set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will cost $75.

Call [phone].

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