Around the Westside for June 13, 2012

Public invited to Mitch Ourso ‘roast’

The public is invited to attend a celebrity roast “honoring” Iberville Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso on June 21 at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m., hosted by We Are the Difference. Proceeds from the gathering benefit the Iberville Community Theatre.

Tickets are $25. A dinner of chicken fettuccine, corn, salad, bread and dessert will be served. A cash bar will be available.

Tickets may obtained through http://www.wearethe
difference.org.

For more information, contact Faith Williams at [phone] or Rhonda Harrell at [phone].

Juneteenth extravaganzas

On Saturday, the public is invited to attend Juneteenth celebrations in the cities of Port Allen and St. Gabriel.

Port Allen will hold its celebration at William and Lee Park beginning at 10 a.m.

There will be free food and drinks and free rides for kids. Music will be provided and the swimming pool will be available all day.

Other activities include a baseball tournament starting at 10 a.m. Children are being asked to bring their roller skates, too.

For more information about the Port Allen event, contact City Councilwoman Ray Helen Lawrence at [phone].

St. Gabriel will host its inaugural Juneteenth festival at its Town Hall, 5054 Iberville St. The festival will kick off at 9 a.m. with a health walk.

The free event will feature a ceremony with a guest speaker, performances, food vendors and more.

Last chance

The West Baton Rouge Museum reminds everyone that this week is the last chance to view its exhibit of the works of Louisiana artist George Rodrigue.

The collection is part of the state’s bicentennial celebration.

The exhibit will be taken down on June 24.

Mellow grooves

New Roads will host the second concert of its live downtown music series from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Scheduled to perform Saturday is Da Mellow Band.

For more information, call [phone], ext. 212.

Summer jobs

Mayor Robert Myer is once again offering New Roads youths the opportunity to work for the city during their summer vacations.

The mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program provides participants with eight weeks of work, 20 hours per week, beginning Monday.

To qualify, applicants must be residents of the city and must have been between the ages of 14 and 17 June 1.

The students must have maintained a 2.5 grade-point average, or better, during the 2011-12 school year. Also, this year’s applicants must not have previously been employed by the program.

For more information, call [phone].

Calling all triathletes

New Roads is looking for athletes to attend or participate in the Tri New Roads Triathlon on Saturday. The event begins at 7:30 a.m.

The event includes a 400-meter swim, 12-mile bike race and 2-mile run. Officials say it’s a “perfect race” for new triathlon participants as well as seasoned veterans.

Sponsors are welcomed.

For more information, call [phone] or email [e-mail].

Contact Westside Bureau Chief Terry Jones by phone, [phone]; fax, [phone]; or email, [e-mail].