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THE SOUTHEAST
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THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2015 H
COURSEY • HARRELLS FERRY • MILLERVILLE • OLD JEFFERSON • PARKVIEW • SHENANDOAH • TIGER BEND • WHITE OAK THEADVOCATE.COM
Darlene Denstorff AROUND THE SOUTHEAST
DDENSTORFF@ THEADVOCATE.COM
YMCA promotes diabetes awareness Tuesday is American Diabetes Association Alert Day, and the YMCA of the Capital Area wants area residents to know their risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as preventive steps to reduce the chances of developing the disease, a news release said. The YMCA encourages anyone who wants to lose 7 percent of his or her body weight to take the online risk assessment at ymcabr. org/dpp on March 24 and 25. All participants who complete the online risk assessment will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win three prizes valued at $150 including a Fit Bit, a 3-month family membership to the Y and a $50 gas card. The Capital Area YMCA is joining with the YMCA of Greater New Orleans and other Y’s across the country to address the diabetes epidemic, the release said. The best way to reduce new cases of type 2 diabetes, the release states, is through awareness and prevention. For information, visit ymcabr.org.
New buddies bond at field day 6th-graders pair with pre-K students for service project
BY C. J. FUTCH
cfutch@theadvocate.com Sixth-grader Andrew Granger and his classmates at Parkview Baptist joked March 6 with a group of kindergartners from Gardere Community Christian School while they ate lunch on campus. They were fueling up for the next round in what had already been a day full of fun and games for the GCCS students, ranging from prekindergartners to seventh-graders, said Paige White, as Parkview hosted a field day for the new school on its campus. Granger, like most of the Parkview sixth-grade class, was
paired with a “little buddy� for the day, acting as a guide and playmate through several stations that included field day games on the football field, inflatable bouncy houses in the gym and a worship service in the auditorium. The field day was part of the Parkview students’ day of service project this year, Principal Joana Dieterich said. “We do a service component as part of every school year,� she said. “A good service project is hard to find for sixth-graders because not everyone can accommodate 113 sixth-graders,� she said, laughing. Jeff More, a former teacher at Parkview who started teaching at
GCCS when it opened this year, told his former colleagues at Parkview how much his students could use a day of fun, he said. It turned out to be a perfect match, Dieterich said. “Since we have the facilities, we decided to just bring the students here.â€? More agreed, adding that the missions of both schools are wellmatched — the inclusion of faith in the education process and a commitment to see every student get into college. “It makes sense that the two schools should build a partnership,â€? he said. äSee BUDDIES, page 5G
Photo provided by JESSICA PROVINCE
Parkview Baptist sixth-grader Christian Wales gives Gardere Community Christian student Mary Cotton a ride to their next activity March 6 at a joint field day.
A foot in the door of the Capitol High schoolers learn law-making firsthand BY C.J. FUTCH
cfutch@theadvocate.com
Dog days of spring
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, 10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway, drops its “no pets� policy and opens its doors and trails to pets four days a year. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, all pets are welcome, but must be on a leash and have their current vaccinations. Registration is not required. Visit brec.org/swamp or call (225) 757-8905.
Guitar classes planned
Guitar classes are set from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at North Sherwood Forest Community Park, 3140 N. Sherwood Forest Drive. Students will learn the basic skills of guitar including finger locations, tuning, chords and scales. The cost is $30 per month. Call (225) 275-0568.
Teen Game Day
Teens can take part in äSee SOUTHEAST, page 2G
Advocate staff photos by TRAVIS SPRADLING
TOP: Amanda Owens, left, and Darrell A. Blanks paint at the One Stop Drop In Center in Mid City. BELOW: Paintings by Blanks, left, and Owens, right, at the One Stop Drop In Center in mid city.
Relief from their troubles
As a McKinley Senior High School senior with two terms in the YMCA Youth Legislature under his belt, Maxwell Martin is as comfortable talking about the issues that affect his state as he is the issues that affect his college entrance applications. “It’s a great program,â€? Martin said. “It teaches you a lot about how the political system works, about how bills get passed.â€? Martin was at the state Capitol on March 13 as part of the spring conference of the Youth Legislature, along with hundreds of high school students äSee CAPITOL, page 5G
Members of studio for homeless artists chosen for Burden JuriedArt Show BY C. J. FUTCH
ever is going on in my world, good, bad and indifferent, I work out my issues, and I Darrell Blanks and Amanda put it on the canvas.â€? The two both had paintings Owens paint for different reaselected for the Brush with sons. Blanks’ art eases physical Burden Juried Art Show, pain — he is diabetic and has which opens March 21 with arthritis in his spine. “Paint- an opening reception for ing relaxes me, which helps artists from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All works will be hanging with the pain,â€? he said. Owens paints to work things out in her mind. She March 22-29, Monday through lives with post-traumatic stress disorder, she said, and paint- Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from ing allows her the chance to back away from the mental noise 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The best of show in each category will be on that sometimes overwhelms her, to organize her thoughts, display through April. This year’s theme was The Nature and Culture of Louisiand make sense of the world around her. “It’s an escape for me,â€? she said. “I work things out in my head when I’m painting, almost without realizing it. WhatäSee ART, page 4G cfutch@theadvocate.com
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Photos provided by YMCA
Students from across the state gathered at the Capitol on March 13 to participate in the Youth Legislative Conference.