Category Archives: Ascension

VFW plans chili cook-off

Veterans of Foreign Wars 3693 is looking for cooking team and sponsors for its Feb. 5 chili cook-off.

The cooking begins at 8 a.m. with cooks vying for trophies in three categories: Judges Division, People's Choice and Best Decorated. The chili will be served starting at 11 a.m., with a $10 fee.

For information on entering a team or becoming a sponsor, email the chili committee at 3693vfw@gmail.com.

The Ascension Parish Health Unit and Albertson's have partnered to give ages five and older free vaccines in Ascension Parish. The pop-up vaccination clinic will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Gonzales Health Unit. Organizers ask those planning to attend to bring their insurance or Medicaid card if available. Insurance is not mandatory. Parents of children should have their I.D. and driver's license.

On Saturday, Feb. 12, 21 days after the first dose, a second dose will be scheduled.

On-site consent forms will be provided and online at ascensionparish.net. Residents may call the health center at (225) 450-1006 for any questions or concerns.

The heath unit is at 1024 SE Ascension Complex Blvd. in Gonzales.

As a service to the residents of Louisiana, the LSU AgCenters Sweet Potato Research Station produces foundation sweet potato seed annually. These seed potatoes are to be bedded in the row to produce slips or cuttings, which are then transplanted to the field to produce the crop. All varieties are certified to be free of viruses.

Variety information can be found on the Sweet Potato Research Station website, http://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_offices/research_stations/sweetpotato/.

The cost of a 40-pound box of seed potatoes is $18.50 for Beauregard (B-63 and B-14) and Evangeline; all other varieties are $25. For information or to order, email LSU AgCenter Agent Mariah Simoneaux at mjsimoneaux@agcenter.lsu.edu or call (225) 621-5799. Orders can be placed through Jan. 19. Potatoes will be ready for pick up in mid-February.

Looking for things to do in this new year? Check out the Ascension Parish Library calendar for a long list of programs for all ages. Here are a few upcoming programs at library locations throughout the parish. Remember, the Donaldsonville library branch is in a new location due to renovations at the permanent branch. Visit myapl.org for details and to register for events.

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If you are a teen between the ages of 12-18 who likes to free draw, are a coloring fanatic, or just in need of a break, then this is for you. Relax, snack and color at Ascension Parish Librarys Art Break at 4 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 25, in Dutchtown and in Galvez. The library will provide art supplies, coloring sheets and refreshments all you have to do is show up. For more information, call the library or visit myapl.org.

Are cooler temperatures and darker days making you miss summer fun? Then bring your little ones to Ascension Parish Library for a fun-filled day at the beach at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, in Galvez and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in Dutchtown. Your toddler will love exploring the beach indoors with sensory activities like playing with sand and water beads and treasure hunting for shells and sea creatures. Kids will also develop gross motor skills by pretending to swim in the ocean and learn lots of fun facts about ocean life.

Experience story time in two languages. Kids ages 8 and younger and their families are invited to visit Ascension Parish Library on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m. in Gonzales and Thursday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. in Galvez for interactive bilingual story time presented in both English and Spanish. Enjoy 30 minutes of stories, songs and active play, followed by a fun and easy craft. For more information, call (225) 647-3955 or visit myAPL.org.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets starting with weigh-in at 9:15 a.m. and meeting at 10 a.m. every Thursday at the fellowship hall at Carpenter's Chapel Church, 41181 La. 933, in Prairieville. Dues are $5 a month. For information, call Miriam Sanchez at (225) 202-8521.

Tap into your creativity with writing exercises designed to help you explore ways of expressing yourself in a creative and imaginative workshop series. Explore your creative process by turning the stories in your head into stories on paper. Whether its a short sentence or a long narrative, learn to employ certain techniques to maximize your message and turn the mundane into the marvelous. Larry Schexnaydre, owner and studio director of Center Stage Performing Arts Academy, will guide you through the writing process in a fun and thoughtful way during this series of two workshops at Ascension Parish Library in Dutchtown on Saturday, Jan. 15, and Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. Your goal will be to complete a short story or monologue, then perform it for the group. Dont miss this opportunity to explore your creativity in a supportive environment with other creative writers.

Designed for adults ages 18+. Writers of all levels are welcome. Participation in both sessions is recommended, but not required. Registration required. To register, call (225) 673-8699. This event was initiated through the Friends of the Ascension Public Library.

If you are between the ages of 12 and 18, come chill out at Ascension Parish Library and create your own winter wonderland inside an upcycled mason jar on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m. in Dutchtown and Saturday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. in Galvez.

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Around Ascension for Jan. 12, 2022 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

James Lee, executive director of Louisiana Swamp Watch, will be the keynote speaker for the January Ascension GOP Roundtable sponsored by Ascension Republican Women.

The roundtable starts at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at the Clarion Inn on La. 30 in Gonzales.

As the former State Director for Americans for Prosperity Louisiana, he led fights against higher taxes and some regulations, and for smarter sending limits and educational freedom, according to a news release.

Lee will address the proposed changes in Louisianas six Congressional Districts.

The event is open to the public and guests are welcome. Cost for the lunch is $22, payable in advance.

Payment can be made at paypal.Hme/ARW225. Reservations are requested, RSVP at (225) 921-5187 or email ARWrUS@aol.com

Members and guests are asked to bring nonperishable items for the St. Theresa Food Bank.

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James Lee to address Louisiana redistricting at the January Ascension GOP Roundtable - The Advocate

Ascension Parish public works crews hauled in around 30% more bags of litter from roadsides, ditches and other corners of the parish in 2021 than they did in each of the previous three years.

Parish government also saw a roughly 70% increase in the number of cars and trucks visiting the parish's two recycling centers on the east and west banks of Ascension, new parish data shows.

With no parish government trash service, a collection of private operators with a mix of offerings, consistent new construction, and a community crisscrossed by major state and federal highways, litter has remained a continuing problem in Ascension.

Jade Robin, Department of Public Works assistant director and a project manager, provided Parish Council members with a data-laden update recently on the parish government's efforts to keep trash at bay through its Keep Ascension Beautiful program and other work.

Robin told the council that crews had picked up around 8,556 bags of trash in 2021, more than 2,000 bags greater than in each of the previous three years.

"So, we're definitely trending forward. Looking forward to moving even further with some of the things we have coming," Robin said in a virtual meeting Jan. 6.

The recycling centers also saw a combined 18,813 cars and trucks visit and dump trash in 2021, up markedly from the previous year, the data show.

The new data also detailed many of the odds and ends crews ran across and collected from the parish over the previous year, including 41 mattresses, five box springs, six sofa sets, four dressers, six toilets, a doghouse and a round hay bale.

Crews and the recycling centers also collected 1,720 tires in 2021.

Though cleanup crews and hazardous materials recycling cost parish dollars an April cleanup day cost $68,677 the cleanup efforts have also generated a little new revenue.

A scrap metal recycling program, which began in 2020, generated more than $15,100 through November 2021.

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Robin detailed efforts to drop roll-off trash boxes in selected locations in western Ascension and setting up "do not litter" signs at selected problem dump sites.

Parish Council members were generally congratulatory for the clean-up work but also had suggestions.

Council members Alvin "Coach" Thomas Jr. and Aaron Lawler asked Robin to consider installing remote cameras at problem dump sites to catch violators.

Thomas also told Robin to continue putting roll-off trash containers at selected locations in western Ascension. Residents in west bank areas like Smoke Bend, Aben, Modeste and Lemanville appreciated the roll-off trash containers, he said.

"I think it helps out tremendously, and it helps out the people putting the trash out. There's nowhere for them to go and put it. They don't have trash pickup in the parish in itself," Thomas said.

Moments beforehand, Robin had told the council that he considered the installation of roll-off containers in western Ascension as not "well-thought-out" because the containers became over-filled. Trash was stacked up next to the large bins.

Robin had suggested deploying the roll-off containers to one central location.

Council member Joel Robert said trash trucks headed to the commercial landfills in his Sorrento-area council district routinely have trash fly out along La. 22.

He urged the parish administration to try to address the problem with trash haulers.

"Just like everything else, though, if they're not being addressed by it and if they're not being spoken to about it, they're not going to do anything, you know," Robert said.

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In 2021, trash haul for Ascension was a bumper year - The Advocate

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Yun Jin is a new four-star character in Genshin Impact. Shes an all-around team player that can slot into most team comps, not to mention that she can be absolutely free in 2.4. Sold yet? Our Yun Jin Ascension and Talents guide has everything you need to get her Ascended, complete with material locations and strategies to make your farming runs as painless as possible.

Yun Jin is a Polearm user with a Geo Vision. To Ascend her to Lv 80/90, youll need the following:

In total, youll need 1 Prithiva Topaz Sliver, 9 Prithiva Topaz Fragments, 9 Prithiva Topaz Chunks, 6 Prithiva Topaz Gemstones, 18 Damaged Mask, 30 Stained Mask, 36 Ominous Mask, 46 Riftborn Regalia and 168 Glaze Lily to get Jun Jin Ascended to Lv. 80/90.

Since Yun Jin is Defense based, it will be worth it to level her to 90/90 for some extra scaling.

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Genshin Impact: Yun Jin Ascension and Talents Guide - App Trigger

2022 is finally here. Most are hoping for a year filled with health and more chances to get together.

COVID-19 has meant two years of face coverings, social distancing and lots of canceled events.

But through it all, our photographers were able to capture the year in photos. Let's take a look at our favorite photos taken September through December by Advocate staff photographers, part-time photographers and our readers.

Hurricane Ida ripped through the area Aug. 29 and Advocate photographers captured the damage and aftermath that included long lines at gas stations and power crews working to restore electricity.

Editor Darlene Denstorff ventured out after the storm to talk with volunteers helping muck houses, repair damage and feed those in need after Ida. She stopped by several churches and nonprofit food and supply distribution stops. She photographed volunteers, many from out of state, lending a helping hand to hurricane victims.

In Donaldsonville, the city teamed up with local volunteers to provide supplies to residents, many without electricity for more than a week. Reader and frequent contributor Michael Tortorich supplied photos of the damage and supply and food distributions.

Only weeks after Ida hit and in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, things started to return to normal. Schools crowned homecoming queens and schools, readers and local photographer Tim Babin provided photos from the ceremonies.

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The Dutchtown Sound sponsored its 15th annual Dutchtown High Invitational Marching Festival at Griffin Stadium and photographer Morgan Werther captured the action.

Werther traveled to Donaldsonville at the end of October for a Nov. 3 story on a tour of Ascension of Our Lord Catholic cemetery, which was a fundraiser for the Joseph Landry Foundation.

A Nov. 9 story included photographer's Patrick Dennis images taken at the annual East Ascension, St. Amant Shout Out, a community pep rally in advance of the cross-parish rivalry football game between the two schools. East Ascension won the shouting competition, but St. Amant won the football game.

Ami Clouatre Johnson, a spokeswoman for the City of Gonzales, provided photos from a Nov. 6 baseball clinic at the new Team of Dreams field.

Werther photographed the Jambalaya Festival Association's Christmas Parade on Jan. 12.

Ascension Parish Government provided photos from the parish's cooking crew that went to Mayfield, Kentucky, after a tornado devastated the town.

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Looking back at 2021 through photos, Part III - The Advocate

The Philadelphia Eagles will enter Week 18 as the top rushing offense in the NFL. However, they havent had a single running back surpass 800 rushing yards on the season.

Theyve gotten contributions from Miles Sanders, Jordan Howard, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell using a running back by committee approach that differs from the traditional sense of the phrase.

The dominant play of the offensive line has been the true catalyst for the development of the dangerous rushing attack. Jalen Hurts has shown tremendous athleticism from the quarterback position and added a statistical boost as the teams leading rusher with 784 yards on the ground in 15 games. Head coach Nick Sirianni has also committed heavily to the run with his play selection during the second half of the season.

These three key factors in the resurgence of the Eagles top-ranked running game have enabled the work of four running backs who have each added over 400 all-purpose yards this season.

The Eagles penciled in Sanders as their primary running back entering the 2021 season. The 2019 second-round draft pick is the most talented back on the roster. Four runs for 82, 74, 74, and 65 yards in his first two NFL seasons demonstrated the threat he poses as a home-run hitter that opposing defenses must account for. He leads all Eagles running backs with 754 rushing yards this season, thanks in large part to consecutive games with over 100 yards against the New York Jets and the Washington Football Team in December.

Jordan Howard made his way onto the active roster ahead of the Detroit Lions game in Week 8. He has revitalized his career by offering a change of pace from Sanders. He poses less of a threat to break longer runs, but he hits open holes hard. His straight-ahead style has meshed well with the strong run blocking along the offensive line. He has 406 rushing yards in seven games this season.

Boston Scott has proven he is capable of handling considerable workloads with 10 or more carries in six of 16 games this season. During Sundays win in Washington, he gave Hurts a good receiving option out of the backfield with four catches and added two touchdowns with impressive runs on a pair of 4th and Goal tries.

Rookie fifth-rounder Kenneth Gainwell began the season as the primary backup to Sanders. He showed good potential in the opening weeks of the season, especially as a receiver out of the backfield with 13 catches for 114 yards in Weeks 1-4.

The contexts of the contributions of each running back are critical in analyzing the committee approach. The deployment has been severely affected by injuries, inconsistent balance in play-calling, and the emergence of a new team identity.

The Eagles averaged just 23.4 rushing attempts per game through Week 7, and Sirianni showed a tendency to abandon the run. Sanders saw 60% or more of the offensive snap counts in each of the Eagles first six games, but he only carried the ball 7.3 times on average in the final four games of that stretch. He suffered a leg injury in the first quarter in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

His three-game absence began the committees bizarre shuffle. The injury pushed the Eagles to promote Howard from the practice squad and forced them to give Scott a bigger role. It came at the same time as Siriannis shift in offensive game planning.

The two backs helped the Eagles run 46 times for 236 yards against the Lions. The 44-6 win began a seven-game stretch in which the Eagles averaged 41.2 carries per game. Scott played four offensive snaps in Weeks 1-6 but suddenly found himself as a key factor in a revitalized Philadelphia offense.

Sanders joined the party and rushed for 94 yards against the New Orleans Saints in his return in Week 11. His heavy usage reduced Scotts role and established a good complement with Howard. He reached a more effective level while playing under 60% of the offensive snaps in each of his last six games.

The rotation didnt last long. Howard suffered a knee injury and missed the following two games.Sanders handled duties as the primary ball carrier and averaged 5.58 yards per carry (YPC) in Howards absence.

The Sanders/Howard complement proved lethal again in Week 14, but both backs suffered injuries against the New York Giants on Dec. 26.Sanders remains sidelined with a broken hand.

Sirianni has drifted away from using Gainwell in a major role. His biggest contributions on the ground during the second half of the season came during the respective fourth quarters of blowout wins against the Jets and Lions.

The success of the plug-and-play style didnt translate statistically on Sunday in Washington.

Scott carried 14 times for 47 yards in the game when the Eagles finished with their lowest rushing total since Week 7 and their lowest YPC on the season. Howard carried 11 times for 26 yards. The 2.36 YPC was his lowest of the season by a wide margin.

The Eagles cant interchangeably rotate running backs with no effect on the offense. They proved that Sunday with a rushing attack that paled in comparison to the spectacular efforts in the preceding weeks.

However, the trajectory of the Eagles rushing attack in 2021 indicates the importance of factors beyond the running back position that affect the running game in more significant ways than the backs themselves.

Bo Wulf of The Athletic accurately assessed the minimized running game after Sunday afternoons matchup as a product of an underwhelming effort from the offensive line.

I thought the offensive line as a whole played its worst ganme in a while Sunday. Mailata struggled at times, Johnson committed two penalties and was a little less than perfect otherwise and Hurts faced more pressure than he has in a while. Its hard to imagine the Eagles winning in two weeks if they cant rely on their bread-and-butter rushing attack.

He acknowledged the absence of Sanders and the potential nagging injury to Howard as additional factors but focused on the line, the foundational cause of Philadelphias ascension to the top-ranked rushing attack in the NFL.

Most NFL franchises value the run-blocking ability along the offensive line as a more important factor in the running game than the ball carrier himself, and very few teams allocate significant resources into one running back as a foundational building block for long-term success. The Eagles should serve as an example for NFL teams who evaluate the position in the future.

The shift in offensive game planning by Sirianni has also led to the breakout of the backs. The difference between the performance of Sanders at the beginning of the season with minimal opportunities and his performance since returning in Week 11 provides an example of how backs can benefit from a commitment to the running game and a favorable workload based on the contributions of an effective rotation.

The four running backs have performed impressively in 2021, and the health of Sanders and Howard is certainly noteworthy to the team moving forward. However, the ability of the team to plug and play with a four-man committee only reinforces the notion that running backs are actually a secondary factor in an effective rushing attack.

Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire

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Taking a deeper dive into the ascension of an explosive Eagles rushing attack - Philly Sports Network

The Ascent, which is presently available on Xbox and PC, was rumored to be coming to PlayStation as well, albeit a little late, around the end of last year. A Taiwanese rating surfaced, essentially confirming a PS5 and PS4 port. This rating wasnt quite enough on its own, but its now been backed up by another, this time from the American organisation ESRB.

Spotted by Gematsu, the ESRB has indeed rated The Ascent for both PS5 and PS4, suggesting an official announcement is on the horizon. Well keep our eyes peeled for it; the game garnered a pretty strong critical reception, so were interested to see what the fuss is all about. Are you interested in playing The Ascent on PS5 and PS4? Descend into the comments section below.

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The ESRB assigns a rating to the Action RPG The Ascension is a PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 game - BollyInside

For more than 50 years, the Meals on Wheels program has provided nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled in their homes throughout McKean County.

When the program, which has been operated by Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) for the past several years, didnt receive a much-needed grant to cover the cost of operation, coordinators were not sure what to do next.

Fortunately, help came from the Church of Ascension in Bradford which has been known for feeding the community both spiritually and physically for a number of years.

When we heard that Meals on Wheels had a budget deficit due to a grant falling through, it was a no-brainer that Ascension would want to help out said Rev. Stacey Fussell, Rector.

Making sure folks are fed physically as well as spiritually is a big part of what we do. The fact that we learned of the need shortly after the death of our beloved parishioner, Bill Walb, made it especially meaningful to be able to honor his memory by helping the program he was part of for over 40 years.

Fussell said Walb not only drove and delivered meals, but also recruited drivers, served on the board and followed the program from its operations at the American Red Cross to the YWCA Bradford and finally to BRMC.

She said the gift is also given in honor of Walbs Meals on Wheels partner and wife, Marlene, and Ascensions Senior Warden and longtime BRMC Volunteer Coordinator, Stacy Shotts Williams.

Fussell noted that Ascension, which was financially able to cover the funds needed for Meals on Wheels, is thankful to the generosity of church leaders.

The churchs investments did very well this past year and we chose to pass that blessing along. I was so thrilled and proud that the churchs leadership (vestry) decided to cover the entire $30,000 shortfall for the Meals on Wheels 2021 program, Fussell explained.

Williams said Meals on Wheels promotes the dignity and independence of older adults, persons with disabilities and other homebound persons throughout McKean County through the delivery of nutritious hot and cold meals as well as coordinating needed services.

The program relies on grants to cover the cost of serving individuals who qualify for free and discounted meals, Williams added. The program experienced a shortfall as one of the granting organizations made the decision to hold funding and restructure their grant program.

She added, The Vestry of the Church voted to pass on their blessings to the Meals on Wheels program in order to feed those in need throughout the county.

For his part, Frank Kemick, program coordinator for Meals on Wheels, is also grateful for the help from the church.

We are so appreciative of Ascensions generosity and support of our program and the community members in need, Kemick remarked.

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Longtime Meals on Wheels program helped by Ascension - Bradford Era

After sudden floods last year, Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Iberville parish officials promised to work together to clear long-ignored trees and other vegetative debris and sediment in Bayou Manchac.

Last month, a handful of residents along Manchac began to notice contractors removing debris but only on the Ascension side. Some said they even saw workers cutting portions of branches and trees in Ascension and leaving the rest on the East Baton Rouge side.

Manchac plays a central role in the region's flooding because many creeks, swamps and bayous drain into it. When Manchac floods, thousands of homes are at risk which is why residents were paying close attention to the work.

To find out what was going on, John Rosso, a retired industrial executive, and a handful of other Manchac-area residents convened a meeting with local leaders including state lawmakers, parish officials and U.S. Rep. Garret Graves.

It turns out East Baton Rouge Parish hadn't yet approved its share of an agreement with debris removal firm DRC Emergency Services. But Ascension Parish already had a parishwide contract approved by its council.

So DRC and its barges began work on the Ascension side of Manchac in mid-December as part of post-Hurricane Ida debris work.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council is set to consider an agreement allowing that parish to "piggyback" on Ascension's deal on Jan. 12. Baton Rouge officials didn't get the final copy of the deal until Tuesday and will seek an emergency vote instead of the typical two-meeting approval.

"I'm going to do what we have to do to expedite that process and follow through with the commitment that Mayor Broome made originally, and we intend to honor that commitment," Fred Raiford, city parish director of transportation and drainage, told Rosso and other residents at Frank's Restaurant in Prairieville on Tuesday afternoon.

"I just want to make sure that y'all know, it never was the intent not to do our part, but I can't go authorize a contract to go out and do work without getting prior council approval."

"Fair enough," Rosso responded.

East Baton Rouge has set aside $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for that and other drainage work on Manchac. It and Iberville Parish governments have separately reached an agreement.

Once the Metro Council approves the new agreement, Raiford said, Broome and Cointment would have to sign the deal.Cointment said the Ascension Parish Council is also expected to vote on the "piggyback" agreement Jan. 20.

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East Baton Rouge could be part of the DRC's work plan in a couple of weeks, Raiford said.

Mark Armstrong, city-parish spokesman, said the company's barges will go back down the East Baton Rouge side and remove debris after DRC finishes the Ascension side. Ascension officials say their parish's work isn't expected to be finished until early to mid-February.

That plan means DRC barges will cover the same lengths of the bayou twice, but Armstrong said working each bank of the waterway separately was most efficient way the handle the job.

When asked, a spokeswoman for DRC didn't say whether traveling Manchac twice would be the most efficient way to clear out the bayou, but she did say Baton Rouge officials recognized the efficiency of having one firm handle both sides of Manchac.

"To that end, we have begun work on the Ascension side and are working closely with East Baton Rouge to assess the work on their side and begin work shortly after the completion of the Ascension side," said Kristy Fuentes, a DRC spokeswoman. She referred contractual questions to the city-parish.

The episode highlights, in a small way, the complicated politics and geography of the Spanish Lake basin and Manchac, a dividing line among the three metro parishes.

Constant development has significantly changed how water flows in and around the bayou, which ismanaged by three parishes with sometimes diverging interests and often different timelines for action.

After fights and lawsuits in recent years over flooding in the region, local officials have since pledged to work together to clean out Manchac and create a longer-term plan to better manage the water flowing through it. This time, though, the gears of government didn't exactly match up.

This is the second round of debris removal along Manchac. It reaches from the Alligator Bayou floodgates next to the Iberville line to the Amite River.

Ascension and East Baton Rouge had already agreed last fall to share the cost of pre-Ida debris removal and de-snagging work by another contractor, Chem Spray South Inc. Armstrong said the first round culled 50 trees from the East Baton Rouge side of the bayou.

The second phase of work on the Ascension side is about half done. Contractors have pulled out 7,000 cubic yards of material, said Rae'ven Jackson, parish government spokeswoman.

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Residents saw Bayou Manchac getting cleared but just the Ascension side. Here's why. - The Advocate

COVID-19 vaccinations available at Gonzales Health Unit

The Ascension Parish Health Unit in Gonzales is partnering with Albertsons to administer the pediatric Pfizer vaccine from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. Jan. 22 at the health unit.

The pediatric vaccine is for children 5 to 11 years old.

For information, call (225)644-4582.

The health unit is also administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The heath unit is at 1024 SE Ascension Complex Blvd. in Gonzales.

As a service to the residents of Louisiana, the LSU AgCenters Sweet Potato Research Station produces foundation sweet potato seed annually. These seed potatoes are to be bedded in the row to produce slips or cuttings, which are then transplanted to the field to produce the crop. All varieties are certified to be free of viruses.

The varieties available are Beauregard B-63, Beauregard B-14, Evangeline, Orleans, Bayou Belle, Bellevue, Muraski, Porto Rico, Texas Porto Rico, Jewel and Burgundy. The top two varieties recommended for our area are Beauregard B-63 and Evangeline. Additional variety information can be found on the Sweet Potato Research Station website, http://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_offices/research_stations/sweetpotato/.

The cost of a 40 pound box of seed potatoes is $18.50 for Beauregard (B-63 and B-14) and Evangeline; and $25 for all other varieties. For information or to order, email LSU AgCenter Agent Mariah Simoneaux at mjsimoneaux@agcenter.lsu.edu or call (225) 621-5799. Orders can be placed Jan. 5-19. Potatoes will be ready for pick up in mid-February.

Looking for things to do in this new year? Check out the Ascension Parish Library calendar for a long list of programs for all ages. Here are a few upcoming programs at library locations throughout the parish. Remember, the Donaldsonville library branch is in a new location due to renovations at the permanent branch. Visit myapl.org for details and to register for events.

During her recent visit at the library, Robin Preiss Glasser donated a signed and numbered fine art giclee print from her new book, "Grand Jet and Me," to Ascension Parish Library which will be permanently displayed at our Gonzales location. Additionally, she donated a signed and numbered test print giclee of the same image which the library will be giving away in a random drawing.

Entrants must be an Ascension Parish resident through 18 years old and submit a written or drawn response to Robin Preiss Glasser about a time in their life when an adult shared something that inspired them or any other autobiographical defining moment. Submissions will be accepted at all library locations through Jan. 10 and the winner will be announced in mid-January.

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New year, new hobby. Explore the ancient art of paper folding at Ascension Parish Library in Dutchtown at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. Origami helps develop hand-eye coordination, sequencing and spatial awareness skills, patience and memory. Plus, its also a great stress reliever and its fun! Practice your origami skills with four designs that ring in the new year. Whether you are just a beginner or a skilled expert, theres something for everyone. All experience levels are welcome and materials will be provided. For information, call (225) 673-8699 or visit myAPL.org.

Are you looking for a simple DIY decor project? Doilies make the cutest crafts. Beginning Monday, Jan. 10, adult patrons 18 and older are invited to pick up a craft packet from any Ascension Parish Library location that will contain all the supplies you will need to make your own doily snowflake bowl. These bowls are perfect for holding your jewelry items. Snap a photo of your completed project and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram by tagging @myAPLibrary.

If you are a teen between the ages of 12-18 who likes to free draw, are a coloring fanatic, or just in need of a break, then this is for you. Relax, snack and color at Ascension Parish Librarys Art Break at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5 in Gonzales; Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. in Dutchtown; and Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. in Galvez. The library will provide art supplies, coloring sheets and refreshments all you have to do is show up. For more information, call the library or visit myapl.org.

The library is chillin with its snowmies for a fun and easy craft. Visit Ascension Parish Library on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. in Dutchtown; Saturday, Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m. in Gonzales; and Saturday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. in Galvez and make your own no sew snowman pal to welcome 2022. All you need are some socks and maybe a little magic to bring these snowmies to life. Packet pickup will be available for our Donaldsonville location beginning Monday, Jan. 17, and while supplies last. For information, call your local library location or visit myapl.org.

Whether you are a first-time builder or a master at Lego construction, you are sure to have a fun time putting the pieces together at Ascension Parish Librarys Lego Club. Visit Ascension Parish Library in Gonzales at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, to build whatever you can imagine. The library will provide the Lego bricks, so leave your own blocks at home because we wouldnt want you to lose your favorite pieces. However, materials and creations must stay at the library. You may want to bring a camera to capture the moment. Lego Club is open to kids of all ages. Duplo Blocks and Mega Bloks will be available for younger children. For information about this event, call (225) 647-3955 or visit myapl.org.

Are cooler temperatures and darker days making you miss summer fun? Then bring your little ones to Ascension Parish Library for a fun-filled day at the beach at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 in Gonzales; at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 in Galvez; and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in Dutchtown. Your toddler will love exploring the beach indoors with sensory activities like playing with sand and water beads and treasure hunting for shells and sea creatures. Kids will also develop gross motor skills by pretending to swim in the ocean and learn lots of fun facts about ocean life. For more information about this event, call your local library location or visit us online atmyapl.org.

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Around Ascension for Jan. 5 2022 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate