Around the Westside for May 2

New Roads will present a three-day shopping extravaganza, “Market at the Mill,” from Friday through Sunday at the historic cotton mill three blocks north of Main Street, off Oak Street.

Local vendors, craftsmen and artists will be selling antiques, gifts and handcrafted wares. Architectural pieces, collectibles and country furniture will be on display.

The event will kick off Friday with a “Sunrise Pancake Breakfast,” at Morrison Parkway, located between City Hall and False River.

For more information, contact City Hall at [phone], ext. 212.

Health fair

A community health fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the St. Augustine Catholic Church Campus, 807 New Roads St., New Roads.

The fair will offer health screenings and information on cancer, HIV, high blood pressure, diabetes, childhood obesity, healthy lifestyles, bullying prevention and access to health services.

Call [phone] or [phone] for details.

Boats needed

Plaquemine is asking all local boaters to get involved in the Bayou Plaquemine cleanup May 12.

City officials are looking for people who own boats, equipped with nets, to help pick up litter along Bayou Plaquemine. The cleanup will begin at the Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park Pavilion at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 12.

Call the Mayor’s Office at [phone] for more information.

Museum opening

The West Baton Rouge Museum invites the public to the opening reception for two exhibitions on Sunday: “Becoming Louisiana: Path to Statehood” and “Louisiana’s Top 100!: A Bicentennial Celebration.”

The reception begins at 2 p.m. and will feature a performance by the Pointe Coupee Historical Society of “Poydras Overtures 1812.”

For more information, call [phone], ext. 15.

Bench press

The Pointe Coupee Parish Office of Tourism will host “Biggest Bench Press on False River 2012” at 11 a.m. Saturday in Satterfield’s parking lot.

The event will feature an appearance by Texas weight lifter Tiny Meeker, who will attempt to press 1,000 pounds, organizers said.

For more information, contact Reed Bueche at [phone].

Puppet show

The West Baton Rouge Parish Library invites the public to “Never Say UGH to a Bug,” a musical puppet show, presented by the West Baton Rouge Puppet Theatre Company, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 10.

The show is free, but reservations are required.

Call [phone], ext. 227, to reserve your place.

Greetings, Westside

My name is Terry Jones, and I’m you’re new reporter in the Westside bureau. I’m a Baton Rouge native and Southern University alum.

I’m looking forward to covering the Westside, so please drop in and say hi if you are in the area.

To submit news about Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes, call Terry Jones at [phone]; fax [phone]; email [e-mail]. Deadline: noon Tuesday.