Category Archives: Ascension

GONZALES The Ascension Parish School Board took its first step this week toward creating a strategic plan that will set goals for all areas of the school system over the next five years.

Among the goals: Increasing the district's overall school performance score from 109.3 to 119.3; providing pre-kindergarten now provided based on family income to all 4-year-olds in the district, and working toward good outcomes in future elections on renewals for five property taxes set to expire between 2020 and 2025.

Board members heard from the district's department heads on Tuesday night on everything from choosing the best curricula, to providing more students with individual computer devices and recruiting and keeping good teachers.

The board met as a committee of the whole in a non-voting workshop to look at the first draft of a five-year plan.

"This is truly a huge team effort," Superintendent David Alexander said.

A more finished draft will be presented to school principals in July, Alexander said, with public town hall meetings to be held in the fall.

The board hopes to publish its five-year strategic plan in the spring of 2018.

Edith Walker, director of instructions for middle schools, said a priority is accessing and implementing top quality curriculum, as well as understanding student needs and "ensuring that all students graduate college and career ready."

"We want to have the best curriculum for every student in our district," Walker said.

Students in grades 4th through 12th currently have individual computer devices provided by the school district, but Elizabeth Stafford, director of primary schools, said the district's goal is to "bring it (individual computers) down to kindergarten in five years."

"This year our fifth-graders are taking the state assessment online for the first time," Stafford said.

"It's a very motivational field for them and they really soar with it," she said.

Another instructional goal is to have pre-kindergarten for every 4-year-old in the district, she said.

"All our at-risk seats are filled," said Stafford, referring to the current providing of pre-K based on income.

"Our five-year goal is to have universal pre-K across Ascension Parish, regardless of income," she said.

"It's a lofty goal, but it's an important one," Stafford said.

Follow Ellyn Couvillion on Twitter, @EllynCouvillion.

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Ascension Parish school district begins work on five year plan - The Advocate

Ipswichs Ascension Memorial Episcopal Church recently announced a new funding source for qualified applicants through the Helen Ayer Childrens Enrichment Grant. The mission of the Ayer Childrens Enrichment Grant is to provide funding for nonprofit organizations, individuals and programs that focus on the well-being, education and development of children in Ipswich. The Ayer Childrens Enrichment Grant is named in memory of Ascension Memorial Church parishioner Helen H. Ayer, formerly of Hamilton. Ascension is grateful to the Ayer family and thrilled to support the enrichment of Ipswich children through the Ayer Grants, the Rev. Bradford Clark said. We are especially proud to announce this new source of funding as we celebrate our 150th Anniversary this year, and continue to live out our core values of flourishing, family, community. Ascension will evaluate requests for funding of new or enhanced programs, services or other offerings from individuals and organizations who serve the Ipswich early childhood and youth communities. Disbursement of funding shall give greater consideration to requests aligned with Ascensions core values: flourishing giving abundantly with care and compassion in service to others; family being real, welcoming and supportive to all; and community sharing each others lives and building relationships with those near and far. Ascension Memorial Church is currently accepting applications through May 15. Applications are available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day but Thursday in the parish office, 31 County St., Ipswich. Applications are also available online at http://amcipswich.org.

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Ipswich's Ascension Memorial Church announces grant - Wicked Local Ipswich

Tuesday, 11 April 2017 21:30 GMT By Alex Donaldson

Ten years in the making, FF15 is finally here, and weve got all the help youll need.

Its been a very long time coming indeed, but the fifteenth entry in the Final Fantasy series is here. After a very long and rather intense development period the game is finally in your hands and for the first time in the series it features a sprawling open-world area with loads to do.

Lots to do inevitably means theres going to be a number of questions, especially in an RPG of this scope. Thankfully were here, and weve already pumped a good 60-plus hours into the game while crafting our review. There arent many so well poised to fill you in as to things you should know, and so weve started crafting this, our guide to things we think the average FF15 player is going to want to know.

Rather than a complete walkthrough of every single aspect of FF15, we figure well let you figure out much of what the game has to offer for yourself its a sprawling open world, after all. Instead of that weve built in-depth pages on specific topics that our play-through left us feeling some players will want some assistance with, plus some more general tips pages on how to tackle the games mechanics. On top of that were dropping in coverage of the games DLC as it releases.

So before you jump in to your quest to reclaim the throne of Lucis and the city of Insomnia, heres some stuff you should keep in mind.

As with any RPG worth its salt, Final Fantasy 15 has quite a lot going on. There are a ton of interlocking systems some of them plain in their utility, some not quite so kind to the player in explaining what they do.

Here are our tips for beginners on how to get to grips with the game in general, plus how to power yourself up right and do it quickly.

It doesnt really matter if youre just starting out or if youre a more experienced player who has simply hit a brick wall of indecisiveness Final Fantasy 15s character progression is full of choice and as a result can sometimes be rather paralysing. These are some must-have skills to make your early choices easier.

Final Fantasy 15 features all the EXP and level-up based shenanigans youd expect for a big-budget, large-scale RPG, though it does take something of an interesting approach to how experience works in the game. Allow us to guide you through how to make the most of these mechanics.

Experience Points and levelling up are one thing, but Final Fantasy 15s character progression is actually divided into two distinct segments. The first is levelling up, which weve already covered in detail. The second is AP and the Ascension Menu an important system to understand and correctly exploit if you want to get the most out of the game.

Hidden away deep in parts of FF15 are some features that arent exactly made obvious but are pretty damn important either way.

Final Fantasy 15s airship takes the form of a flying car, the Regalia Type-F. The Regalia is with you all game, of course, but youre able to upgrade it, changing its look to be a little more slick and then rather impressively making it into a full-on Final Fantasy airship that can fly all around the Lucis portion of FF15s game map. Heres how you get it.

Final Fantasy 15s main story introduces you to the concept of Royal Arms, powerful weapons that once beloved to the long-dead kings of Lucis. Across the course of the story youll be given a few in a compulsory manner, but theres actually far more than the game points you to out there for you to find in the world. Weve listed them all here compulsory and optional so you can make sure you gather all of the weapons.

If youve been getting stuck in to FF15, chances are youve spent a decent amount of time in its amazing dungeons. If youve done that and made your way all the end to a few of these dungeons, youve probably found a mysterious door. How do they open? Whats inside? Allow us to explain

After the rocky but ultimately successful launch of FF15, Square Enix has rightly turned their focus towards adding to and expanding the game and one major way theyre doing this is through large story DLC drops every now and then. Each major story drop focuses on one of the major members of Noctis Royal Guard one each for Gladiolus, Prompto and Ignis.

Each has its own unique gameplay and so will require a little getting used to but weve gone ahead and dug deep into this so you dont have to.

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Final Fantasy 15 guide: get EXP and AP fast, ascension tips, flying car unlock, DLC and more - VG247

Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as the next Supreme Court Justice on Monday morning an ascension to the high court bench that President Donald Trump touted as one of his first major domestic successes.

"And I got it done in the first 100 days that's even nice," he told reporters, White House aides, and guests gathered in the Rose Garden. "You think that's easy?"

Trump also acknowledged the magnitude of the moment.

"This ceremony has special meaning as Justice Gorsuch is filling the seat of one of the greatest Supreme Court judges in American history, and that's Antonin Scalia, who is a terrific was a terrific judge and a terrific person," Trump said. "Justice Scalia was a patriot who revered our Constitution. He was beloved by many, very many, who are here today, and he is deeply missed by all of us."

Trump's first months in the White House have otherwise been plagued by legislative missteps on healthcare and legal challenges to his immigration travel ban. However, the administration and Trump's supporters see Gorsuch's confirmation as a campaign promise kept and a notch in the win column as the White House eyes the end of the critical first 100 day period.

"He will decide cases based not on personal preferences, but a fair and objective reading of the law," Trump said.

Justice Anthony Kennedy administered the judicial oath in the White House Rose Garden. It was the first time a sitting justice swore in a former clerk to join him as a colleague on the high court bench.

"I cannot tell you how honored I am to have here today my mentor, Justice Kennedy, administer the judicial oath, a beautiful oath, as he did for me 11 years ago when I became a Circuit judge," Gorsuch said, adding that he was "humbled" by the role.

"I am humbled by the trust placed in me today," Gorsuch said. "I will never forget that to whom much is given, much will be expected. And I promise you that I will do all my powers permit to be a faithful servant of the Constitution and laws of this great nation."

Gorsuch will replace the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away in February of 2016.

This was the second of two oaths taken by Supreme Court's newest justice on Monday. The first was administered earlier that morning by Chief Justice John Roberts with Scalia's widow and one of his sons in attendance, as well as the other eight Supreme Court justices.

Related: New Justice Neil Gorsuch to Have Immediate Impact on Supreme Court

Gorsuch's swearing in comes after a fierce confirmation battle, waged largely along party lines, that deeply divided the Senate. Democrats tried to block Gorsuch's nomination Thursday with a procedural filibuster but were met by a historic and unprecedented counter by Republicans.

Senate Republicans invoked the "

Just three Democrats crossed party lines to confirm Gorsuch: Sens. Joe Donnelly of Indiana), Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.

While Republicans and the White House praised Gorsuch as a mainstream and qualified jurist, Democrats sounded the alarm over past rulings that they said reflected a preference for corporate interests.

Their opposition was also rooted in the Republican block of President Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick Merrick Garland, who was nominated last year to replace Scalia. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the time refused to consider Garland's nomination because of the proximity to the presidential election.

Garland never saw a vote.

Gorsuch can't vote on cases argued before he was sworn-in. However, he could play a decisive role in an important freedom of religion case to be heard April 19.

The court will hear the final 13 cases of the term in April.

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Neil Gorsuch Sworn In as Supreme Court Justice - NBCNews.com

WASHINGTON (AP) Neil Gorsuch's ascension to the Supreme Court was vindication for Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, whose risky bet more than a year ago paid off big time for President Donald Trump and the Kentucky senator himself.

When Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, McConnell decided immediately that the Senate would not fill the seat until the next president was elected. McConnell never wavered. He ignored Democratic griping, misgivings from fellow Republicans, and ultimately erroneous predictions that GOP Senate candidates would pay a political price.

Now McConnell can take credit for allowing Trump to put a young conservative on the court for life, even though it took changing Senate rules to do it.

"No. 1, it's courageous. No. 2, it's genius, in that order, because he knew how much criticism he would get," said Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.

Democrats and some Republicans predicted dire fallout from McConnell's divisive Senate rules change that removed the 60-vote filibuster barrier for Supreme Court picks, and they warned of a more polarized Senate and court over time. But most in the GOP were full of praise for their wily leader.

"Mitch did what he thought was the right thing at the time, and I think the American people agreed with it, as was evidenced by the outcome of the election," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. "And now we have a great justice on the Supreme Court."

Frustrated Democrats grudgingly acknowledged that McConnell got what he wanted and delivered for his party, even as they insisted that the damage done to the Senate in the process would not quickly be forgotten.

The next time Democrats control the White House and the Senate, they could be the ones to benefit from the rules change enacted under McConnell. That's because the change will apply to all future Supreme Court nominees, too, eliminating any need for input from the minority party in making confirmations to the high court.

"The Republicans engaged in historic obstructionism that made it possible for this confirmation process to be conducted," said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. "We now have a radical right-wing justice on the Supreme Court. And I think that was their goal all along. So it is successful."

Some Republicans say the vacancy was an important factor in Trump's victory in November because the prospect of putting a conservative on the court helped evangelicals and other voters overcome their misgivings about Trump. In exit polls 21 percent of voters called Supreme Court appointments "the most important factor" in their vote, and among those people 56 percent voted for Trump.

McConnell told reporters Friday that "the most consequential decision I've ever been involved in was the decision to let the president being elected last year pick the Supreme Court nominee."

It was a gamble. McConnell said after the election that he didn't think Trump had a chance of winning or Republicans of holding their Senate majority.

McConnell and other senators also expressed the hope that after the bitter fight over Gorsuch, the Senate can get back on a more bipartisan course. That will be necessary to pass spending bills to keep the lights on in government by an April 28 midnight deadline.

McConnell pledged to preserve the 60-vote filibuster threshold on regular legislation, as opposed to nominations, which will continue to act as a tool forcing bipartisan outcomes and ensuring participation from the minority party.

As for Gorsuch, 49, he will be sworn in Monday and jump into cases of consequence, including one involving separation of church and state that the justices will take up in less than two weeks. Gorsuch is a veteran of Denver's 10th U.S. Circuit of Appeals with a history of conservative rulings that make him an intellectual heir to Scalia.

"As a deep believer in the rule of law, Judge Gorsuch will serve the American people with distinction," Trump said in a statement.

The judge won support Friday from 51 of the chamber's Republicans as well as three moderate Democrats up for re-election in states Trump won last fall: Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana. GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, who has been recovering from back surgery, did not vote.

Gorsuch is expected to join a conservative-leaning voting bloc of justices, making five on the nine-member court.

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Gorsuch's ascension to high court vindicates McConnell plan - WBKO

DONALDSONVILLE Outdoor basketball courts a full court and two half-courts will be ready soon and two playgrounds are expected to be built in time for summer at the new Ascension Parish sheriff's family-friendly substation in Donaldsonville, deputies say.

Under an intergovernmental agreement with the Ascension Parish School Board, the Sheriff's Office has opened the substation in what was once an adult education building on the former campus of West Ascension Elementary School, which opened in 1966 and closed in 2005.

Two other elementary schools, Lowery Elementary and Donaldsonville Elementary, now serve schoolchildren in the Donaldsonville area.

Deputies have been working out of the new substation on Maginnis Street for several months now.

The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for the city, which hasn't had a police force since the 1980s.

Inside the building, in addition to office space for deputies, there's a conference room where deputies hope to offer a variety of programs for children. There, youngsters will be able to sit and read a book if they'd like, or they can step across the hall to a vending machine room and get a soda.

But the Sheriff's Office wanted the substation to be more than a satellite office. The substation, in fact, offers a new park for the city.

The deputies will continue to work out of the offices they have in Donaldsonville City Hall on Railroad Avenue, which is where people who have been arrested or who are being questioned about a crime will continue to be taken by deputies, Deputy Chief Bobby Webre said.

There won't be any of that type of activity at the new substation. There won't even be a "most wanted" poster on the wall, he said.

"Whatever we can do that will let the citizens, kids and deputies interact in a positive way" is the vision that Sheriff Jeff Wiley has for the substation, Webre said.

Across the country, "we're seeing more of a divide between law enforcement and the community," Webre said. "Instead of stepping back, let's step further out into the community."

The new substation has taken shape over two years, said Lt. Kyle Hanna, who is overseeing the project.

The 1,900-square-foot building itself was in good shape, but some plumbing work needed to be done, a parking lot poured and the new basketball courts put in, Hanna said.

The basketball goals, which will get their nets soon, can be adjusted for height, he said.

Deputy Delacey Joseph, who played basketball at Tulane University and now coaches a local girls basketball team, in addition to her work as a deputy, helped design the courts and will bring basketball workshops there, Webre said.

LSU students, all biological engineering majors involved with the university's Community Playground Project headed by professor Marybeth Lima, are helping design and will provide the volunteer labor to build two playgrounds near the basketball courts, Webre said.

Bleachers will go up near the courts, where people will be able to sit under the shade of a large live oak tree. A new pavilion nearby also offers shade.

The next projects for the park include fencing and public restrooms.

Capt. Darryl Smith, who leads the Sheriff's Office west side patrol, said, "There was nothing in this area when I grew up here.

"There was nothing equivalent, 20-something years ago. This is forever. It's a perfect family setup."

Follow Ellyn Couvillion on Twitter, @EllynCouvillion.

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Basketball courts, playgrounds, more at Ascension Parish sheriff's new, unique substation - The Advocate

An Ascension Parish sheriff's deputy and 911 dispatcher who continued to handle emergency calls in August knowing her own home was flooding has been honored by the Louisiana chapters of two national organizations, Sheriff Jeff Wiley said Thursday.

Deputy Erica Michel received the Telecommunicator of the Year Award this week from the state chapters of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Emergency Number Association, Wiley said in a news release.

Michel, who had also lost a home to Hurricane Katrina, Wiley said, was working in the Sheriff's Office 911 communications center in Gonzales when the catastrophic flood hit in August.

"Even as she realized her own home was quickly being overtaken by flood waters, she was able to maintain her professionalism and composure, while continuing to answer the non-stop radio traffic and the relentless flow of 911 calls from scared citizens," Wiley said.

Among the calls Michel took, Wiley said, was one from a man who heard a gunshot at his neighbor's house. With Michel still on the phone with him, the caller learned that his neighbor had shot himself, after apparently committing a double murder, Wiley said.

The condition of the roads because of the flooding made it difficult for deputies and other first responders to reach the house, Wiley said.

"Deputy Michel was unwavering and maintained contact with the caller, keeping him focused until help arrived at the scene," the sheriff said.

The caller's neighbor was Shawn Millet, 37, of Prairieville, who on Aug. 14, fatally shot Lacey Leblanc, 31, and her 8-year-old daughter at his home, before turning the gun on himself, according to the Sheriff's Office. Millet later died at an area hospital.

Michel has been a member of the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office 911 communications team for almost three years. Michel, who is certified in CPR, is also a certified emergency medical dispatcher and, last year, became certified as a communications training officer with the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

Michel, whose husband, Thomas Michel, is also an Ascension Parish sheriff's deputy, received the award Monday at the annual conference, held in Bossier City, of the Louisiana chapters of the two national organizations for emergency dispatchers.

Michel said Friday that her family's home, built not far from Bayou Manchac in Ascension Parish, received more than 2 feet of water in the August flood, despite already being elevated 9 feet.

She said she and her husband, Thomas, following the predictions of the bayou's rise, knew early on that they would have to boat in to their home, if nothing else, so they brought their two sons, ages 15 and 8, to her parents' home in New Orleans before their Bayou Manchac home flooded.

The crisis was something the couple had seen before. They were living in New Orleans when their previous home flooded during Hurricane Katrina. Their oldest son was just 4 when that happened, Erica Michel said.

It appears the family's present home will have to be elevated further, and the Michel family is living in a recreational vehicle on their property, she said.

Of her work as a 911 dispatcher and, particularly, on the call that came in that August weekend from the caller whose neighbor had killed two others and then himself, Michel said, "I guess, because I'm dealing with someone else's worst day, I try to take myself out of the equation."

"This is their worst moment. I can't make it my worse call," she said.

"To be singled out for that honor is extremely humbling," Michel said of the award she received this week.

"I work in a center with wonderful dispatchers, who any one of them deserve that award," she said, adding that applies to her colleagues everywhere.

"I think she's the personification of so many of our first responders who are selfless and came and served, even though they had such dire circumstances at home" during and after the flood, Sheriff Wiley said Friday

"We're very proud of her and many others like her," Wiley said.

Follow Ellyn Couvillion on Twitter, @EllynCouvillion.

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Ascension Parish dispatcher honored; maintains composure during floods, triple shooting - The Advocate

Three weeks after the Ascension Parish Council called on Parish President Kenny Matassa to resign over his indictment on attempted bribery allegations, it was mostly business as usual at the councils bi-weekly meeting in Donaldsonville.

Matassa and council members seeking his ouster showed no reluctance to engage with each other on a variety of issues, including the Community Development Block grant and fair housing programs. They even posed together for a group photo as the parish leader held up a copy of a proclamation.

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GONZALES After hearing from residents who for nearly 40 minutes Thursday night expressed d

And Matassa scored a significant legislative win when the council agreed, 9-1, with one member absent, to fund a new connector road to Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, although promised state and federal support has fallen through over the past three years. The road would provide a second access to the huge complex near Gonzales, improving safety and helping to attract major events.

But Matassa, who has refused to speak to the press since his indictment and the councils no-confidence vote March 16, didnt address the council on that issue Thursday. And he continued to avoid reporters, as he's done since his indictment.

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GONZALES Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa and Gonzales businessman Olin Berthelot

He ducked an Advocate reporter after the council meeting ended, slipping from his seat to the gated area of the council chambers where the council sits as his representatives blocked a reporter attempting to approach him.

Once behind the gate , Matassa conferred with council members, then left out a back door.

Afterward, his chief of staff, Kyle Gautreau, wouldnt say when Matassa would speak to news reporters again. But he offered a statement on his bosss behalf about the councils vote on the Lamar-Dixon connector.

There was a lot of consensus, an overwhelming consensus, that it was still important to get this road funded and completed, Gautreau, said after his boss had left the parish courthouse without speaking to reporters.

The East Baton Rouge Metro Council created a district to encourage development in North Baton Rouge last year, but now officials disagree over how the program is supposed to work.

Former metro councilman and mayoral candidate John Delgado pitched the North Baton Rouge Economic Opportunity Zone as a way to waive taxes on improvements and new construction in the city above Florida Boulevard. Then-mayor-president Kip Holden vetoed the plan, but council members over-rode him.

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The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council on Wednesday overrode Mayor-President Kip Holdens

In December, voters approved a hotel tax to fund a separate Baton Rouge North Economic Development District. Acting executive director Rinaldi Jacobs told the recently-seated board on Thursday that the council's plan will only apply to projects that refurbish existing buildings, not incentivize the construction of new ones.

"The tax abatement relates to existing structures only and not new construction," attorney Richard Liebowitz wrote in a letter Jacobs presented to the board.

The Board of Commissioners for the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District has decid

In an interview later, Delgado, also a lawyer, disagreed. The ordinance had to be worded the way it was, he said, to account for different types of projects and various government programs. It's easier to pass a renovation project through, Delgado said, but the zone also paves the way for new buildings to get a break on their taxes.

Assistant Parish Attorney Ashley Beck cut a middle path, saying the economic opportunity zone has "probably no" direct effect on new construction but could possibly help those projects. The main focus of the ordinance is to encourage the restoration of existing buildings, she said.

Those trying to push forward an agenda for the Baton Rouge North Economic Development Distri

Adding to the confusion, the debate is still purely theoretical, as no developers have yet applied to participate so officials have not yet seen a test case.

Advocate staff writers David J. Mitchell and Steve Hardy contributed to this article.

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Ascension Parish president schmoozes with council, dodges press after indictment - The Advocate

INDIANAPOLIS & AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascension, the nations largest Catholic and non-profit healthcare system, has been selected as the first organization in North America authorized to train companies on a leading robotic process automation solution Blue Prisms Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software.

Ascensions Intelligent Process Automation team was one of the continents first adopters of Blue Prisms solution, and now it is the companys first authorized training partner on the continent. This accreditation will help Ascension drive adoption and promote best practices in RPA, especially in the healthcare industry.

Ascension has a long track record of delivering RPA solutions that meet the toughest security and compliance requirements, said Neil Wright, Global Head of Professional Services at Blue Prism. Were partnering with Ascension to enable digital transformation for our healthcare clients in North America.

Blue Prisms RPA software is changing the way work gets done by automating manual, repetitive tasks. This reduction of administrative burden is improving process efficiency and effectiveness, while reducing costs and improving customer experience. The solution leverages the cognitive ability of people as opposed to building processes around technology.

Its been an exciting journey with Blue Prism, as we have gone from client to value-added resale partner and now an authorized training partner, said Lee Coulter, senior vice president of Ascension and chief executive officer of Ascensions shared service subsidiary, based in Indianapolis. We have worked closely with the Blue Prism team over the last several years to develop training for our own associates are now helping others train teams and implement automation solutions.

Within months of launching its first automation, Ascension demonstrated substantial return on investment and improved customer experience. Blue Prism practitioners in Ascensions shared service subsidiary now provide automation tools training, consulting, and digital labor management to other organizations seeking business transformation. A trusted early adopter of robotic process automation, Ascension has advanced from pioneer to thought leader. A contributing member in the development of standards for RPA in conjunction with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Ascension brings transformational as well as practical experience to its engagements.

About Blue Prism Blue Prism Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software delivers the worlds most successful digital workforce, which has executed over 1 billion transactions in our customers datacenters. Blue Prism (AIM:PRSM) is trusted by a diverse range of highly successful organizations to operate in some of the most demanding administrative environments. Blue Prisms RPA software delivers a digital workforce for the enterprise to eliminate high-risk, manual, rules-based, repetitive tasks and execute business processes at scale to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness whilst radically reducing operating costs. Blue Prism provides a scalable and robust execution platform for best of breed AI and cognitive technologies and has emerged as the trusted and proven RPA platform for the digital enterprise. Customers include BNY Mellon, Commerzbank, Nordea, ING, Westpac, Zurich, Aegon, Maersk, Siemens, IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Nokia. With offices in Manchester, London, Miami, Chicago, New York and San Francisco, Blue Prism is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market. For more information visitwww.blueprism.com and follow the company onLinkedInand Twitter.

About Ascension Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the worlds largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2016, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 150,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers. Ascensions Healthcare Division operates 2,500 sites of care including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities in 24 states and the District of Columbia, while its Solutions Division provides a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascensions own group purchasing organization. For more information, visit http://www.ascension.org/IPA.

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Ascension Becomes First North American Authorized Training Partner for Blue Prism - Business Wire (press release)

Vegetable garden contest

The Ascension Parish LSU Agricultural Center, Ascension Farm Bureau and Ascension Master Gardeners Home Vegetable Garden Contest for adults and 4-H youth will be held in May. Judging will be conducted in mid-May.

Categories are youth gardens, adult small home vegetable gardens (less than 1,000 square feet), adult medium gardens (1,000 to 3,500 square feet) and adult large gardens (more than 3,500 square feet). Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each category.

All gardens must have at least four different types of vegetables. Only Ascension Parish gardens are eligible.

Call Craig Roussel at (225) 621-5799 no later than April 28 to enter and for details.

The Ascension Council on Agings annual Spring Fling Easter Party for Ascension seniors ages 60 and older begins at 9:30 a.m. April 13 at the Gonzales Senior Center. Lunch will be served at noon.

Contests will be held for the prettiest and most creative hats in the Easter parade, with prizes going to the best hats. There also will be an Easter egg hunt and entertainment.

Reservations are due by Friday; call Missa at (225) 621-5750.

Children ages 7 and younger and their families can put on their favorite pajamas for a dinosaur story time at Ascension Parish Librarys Donaldsonville and Dutchtown branches on Tuesday and Gonzales on April 13. All story times begin at 6:30 p.m.

Story times also include songs and the making of a giant dinosaur woven mat children can take home.

Dr. Sean DeBarros, of St. Elizabeth Physicians, is the speaker at a free community health series at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Rouses Market, 14635 U.S. 61, Gonzales.

DeBarros will talk about insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and effective behavioral and lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes and risk of complications.

Registration is required. Call the Rouses concierge desk at (225) 673-4255 or St. Elizabeth Hospital at (225) 621-2906.

Our Loss Lambs, a support group for those who have lost children, will meet the third Monday of each month at First United Methodist Church of Gonzales, 224 W. Constitution St. Its first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 17.

Meetings will be held in the administrative conference room in the building next to the church sanctuary building. Call the church office at (225) 647-4678 for details.

Also, St. Elizabeth Hospitals loss and grief support group meets at 6 p.m. every Thursday at the hospitals Sister Linda conference room. The group is intended for those who have experienced a loss of any kind.

Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 336-6952 or (225) 603-1996; fax, (225) 644-5851; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate.com. Deadline: noon Monday.

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Around Ascension for April 6, 2017 - The Advocate