Festival de la Prairie provides weekend fun
BY WENDY LOUP
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Prairieville hosted its annual Festival de la Prairie over the weekend.
The three-day event included carnival rides and games, a 1-mile and 5K race, as well as raffles and a silent auction.
Church parishioners served Louisiana food favorites pork spaghetti, turkey legs and crawfish stew Musical entertainment included Payton Falgoust Band, That 70s Band and David St. Romain.
CHARGERS
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really looking at.”
Focused on clean transportation access
Donaldsonville is one of the poorest communities in the state, with 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau estimating a poverty rate of around 43%. Hermann said many residents travel by bike and don’t own cars, making reliable access to jobs in Gonzales nearly impossible.
“One of the potential projects that we’d really love to get working but has a lot of challenges associated with it is to get some form of transit between the two communities,” he said, adding that such a project could be a van pool or typical bus system.
Those ideas emerged through surveys and listening sessions held in the community, which resulted in a Transportation Action Plan.
Charles Campbell, visiting from Virginia, walks through the
pictures during the Earth Day event held at the
Donaldsonville on April 22
“The way that we approached our work with Donaldsonville was to really make sure that as much as possible we don’t come in
with ideas about what should be done in the community,” Hermann said.
Earth Day celebration
At Tuesday’s Earth Day event, Louisiana Clean Fuels displayed several electric vehicles and answered questions about them Representatives from the United Houma Nation and Atakapa-Ishak Nation also spoke, while food, massages and yoga sessions were offered to attendees.
It was the second Earth Day event hosted by the River Road African American Museum, one of the city’s main cultural centers. Executive Director L’Oreal Evans said the celebration was intended to remind residents to be good stewards of the planet and each other
“That’s what this is about: working cohesively, communing, in order to remind ourselves that this is what we do,” she said. “… We have everything from physical healing to mental and spiritual healing.”
Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher.cartwright@theadvocate. com.
40444 Cannon Road Gonzales, LA 70737 (225) 388-0215
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY Online at theadvocate.com/ baton_rouge/news/communities/ ascension/
Darlene T. Denstorff ddenstorff@theadvocate.com
OFFICE: (225) 388-0215 CELL: (225) 603-1998
RIVER PARISHES WRITER Christopher Cartwright christopher.cartwright@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0125
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Freedom Garden to take
River Road African American Museum in
Contributing writer
Children enjoy the rides at the Festival de la Prairie.
This signed Houmas House giclée oil painting by Brad Thompson is one of the items offered during the Festival de la Prairie silent auction.
PHOTOS BY WENDY LOUP
The St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church’s Festival de la Prairie offered carnival rides for all ages this weekend. The church also hosted a 1-mile and 5K race and included a half dozen musical entertainment acts.
Kenley McLean, 16, left, Rylee Roberts, 10, and McKennon McLean, 16, all of Prairieville, ride a wind glider during Saturday’s Festival de la Prairie. The festival featured more than a dozen carnival rides and games.
coach Jai Daigle pushing me to my potential.
“Looking back on it, I improved so much more than I ever expected to. My teammates consistently kept me motivated to improve my times. We are looking forward to regionals, and my goal is to go sub five minutes in the mile to help my team.” Ascension Catholic head coach Ben Lajaunie was happy with his team’s performance and looked forward to regionals. “The good Lord has blessed us; the kids have put in a lot of hard work and the Lord has given them the opportunity to showcase this We still have time to improve for regionals and state, this is an opportunity to succeed,” said Lajaunie
The Bulldogs are coached by Lajaunie, Daigle, Stephen Folse, Edward Green and Ryan Schexnayder
Regionals are slated for Thursday, May 1, at St. Martin High School in Metairie
The top three finishers will advance to the LHSAA state meet Thursday, May 8, at Bernie Moore Track Stadium at LSU. 8-1A Results
BOYS
110M HURDLES: 3rd Karson Folse, 22:54, Ascension Catholic
100M: 1st Chad Elzy, 11:51 Ascension Catholic, 2nd Austin Jones, 11:65 Ascension Christian
4X200M RELAY: 2nd Ascension Catholic (Johnny Viallon, Michael Blanchard, Jayden Verner and Chad Elzy) 1:36.96
1600M: 1st Aiden Crochet, 5:11, Ascension Catholic, 2nd Ansel Cantin, Ascension Catholic, 5:12
4X100 RELAY: 1st Ascension Catholic (Trevin Simon, Michael Blanchard, Johnny Viallon and Chad Elzy) 44:25
800M: 2nd Ansel Cantin, 2:15, Ascension Catholic, 3rd Aiden Crochet, Ascension Catholic, 2:20
200M: 1st Austin Jones, 22.84, Ascension Christian, 3rd Chad Elzy 23:34, Ascension Catholic
3200M: 1st Aiden Crochet, 12:38, Ascension Catholic, 2nd Ansel Cantin, 13:04, Ascension Catholic
4X400 RELAY: 2nd Ascension Catholic (Ansel Cantin, Aiden Crochet, Johnny Viallon and Kohen Folse) 4:26
POLE VAULT: 1st Karson Folse, 10-0, Ascension Catholic , 2nd Kole Folse, 9-6, Ascension Catholic
LONG JUMP: 3rd Trevin Simon, 20-6, Ascension Catholic
TRIPLE JUMP: 2nd Trevin Simon, 40-6, Ascen-
sion Catholic SHOT PUT: 1st Josh Barber, 43-9, Ascension Catholic, Karston Broden, 41-5, Ascension Catholic DISCUS: 2nd Karston Broden, 124-6, Ascension Catholic
GIRLS
110M HURDLES: 3rd Evelyn Landry, 20.92, Ascension Catholic
100M: 3rd Lila LeBlanc, 14.50, Ascension Christian
4X200M RELAY: 3rd Ascension Catholic (Sydney Viallon, Zuri Simien, Sadie Kessler and Evelyn Landry), 2:07 , Ascension Catholic 1600M: 1st Gracie Brant, 6:53, Ascension Catholic, 2nd Elle Templet, 7:02, Ascension
Catholic
4X100M RELAY: 2nd Ascension Catholic(Sydney Viallon, Sadie Kessler, Ja’layah Brown and Evelyn Landry) 55:81
300M HURDLES: 1st Evelyn Landry, 54.49, Ascension Catholic, 3rd Sadie Kessler, 57.92
800M: 1st Gracie Brant, 2:57, Ascension Catholic, 3rd Elle Templet, 3:01, Ascension Catholic
3200M: 1st Gracie Brant, 14:36, Ascension Catholic, 2nd Elle Templet, 15:00, Ascension Catholic
4X400M RELAY: 2nd Ascension Catholic(Gracie Brant, Elle Templet, Morgan St Amant and Gracie Vial), 5:39
LONG JUMP: 3rd La’layah Brown, 14-2, Ascen-
sion Catholic
SHOT PUT: Jalaycia Breaux, 23-0, Ascension
Catholic
DISCUS: 2nd Jalaycia Breaux, 60-5, Ascension Catholic Baseball and Softball Playoffs BASEBALL
Division 1 nonselect
n No. 10 Dutchtown at No. 2 Barbe, May 2-3, quarterfinals
Division 4 select
n No. 4 Ascension Christian hosts No. 20
Catholic High-Pointe Coupee, April 29, 4 p.m.
n No. 6 Ascension Catholic hosts No. 11 Riverside, April 29, 4 p.m. at Donaldsonville High SOFTBALL
LHSAA state tourney in Sulphur on Friday May 2
Division 1 nonselect
n No. 3 Dutchtown vs. No. 7 Walker at 5 p.m.
n No. 4 St. Amant vs. No. 1 Sam Houston at 5 p.m.
Troy LeBoeuf covers sports for the Ascension Advocate. He can be reached at troyleboeuf@hotmail.com or ascension@theadvocate.com or on Twitter @Troyleboeuf.
2025 Ascension Chamber Women in Business Luncheon & Lagniappe set for May 14
Community news report
The Ascension Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Women in Business Luncheon & Lagniappe, presented by Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth, is set for May 14 at the Price LeBlanc PACE Center Registration closes Thursday, May 1.
The event is expected to welcome over 400 women from Ascension Parish and the surrounding areas for a day of speakers, meaningful connections and lagniappe. Attendees will enjoy a social hour featuring a bubbly bar, hat contest, photobooth and shopping with local vendors. The luncheon and program will include Women’s EmPOWER Hour — TEDtalk style presentations from influential local women — and Heart to Heart, a panel discussion sponsored by Cardiovascular Institute of the South.
The day wraps up with Wine(d) Down, an hour of relaxed networking and refreshments. Additional highlights include swag bags with giveaways from event sponsors, raffle baskets, and a dona-
EL EC TI ON 20 25
Community news report
On the May 3 ballot in Ascension Parish are two property tax propositions for residents of Belle Maison Subdivision.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Belle Maison Subdivision property tax (15
To levy a property tax of 15 mills, estimated to generate $26,325 a year, to
ExxonMobil
Environmentalstewardship is an importantpart of themission at ExxonMobil BatonRouge,and its team memberscollaborate with localuniversities, environmentalorganizationsandgovernmentagencies to developsolutions that benefit both industry and theenvironment Oneplace wherethisenvironmental stewardship happensisthe Wildlife EducationBuilding(WEB) andArboretum around ExxonMobil’s BatonRouge facilities.This200-acrespace,hometoover1,600 treesand diversewildlife, serves as aresourcefor school groups,clubs andcampers to learnmoreabout habitatcreation,healthy ecosystems andtheir role in theenvironment.Since last summer,hundredsof students have participated in STEM projects in the space, as well as nature walksand hands-on activities likebuildingbirdhousesandlearningaboutpollinators. TheWEB andsurrounding spacehas made such a positive impact that last year,the national Wildlife HabitatCouncildesignateditasasilver-levelCertified Wildlife Habitat.
“Thisrecognition reflectsthe dedication of our team to creatingecosystemsthatnot only protect localwildlifebut also engage andeducate thenext generation,” said Tara Bazille, ExxonMobil Baton RougeEnvironmental Advisor. “Webelieve that by balancingeconomicgrowthwithenvironmental responsibility, we canbuild abrighterfuturefor our communityand theplanet.”
Anotherproject for ExxonMobil hasbeenits work alongthe MonteSanoBayou,which is located adjacent to thecompany’s facilities in NorthBaton Rouge. Thebayou is part of theBRECparksystemand is recognized as acriticalstormwaterdemonstration site by theLouisiana Stormwater Coalition(LSC) for itsvital role in absorbingstormwaterand reducing floodinginBaton Rouge.
In July 2024, alitterboomwas installedacross MonteSanoBayou thanks to an investment by ExxonMobilincollaborationwiththeLSCandOsprey Initiative LLC. This floatingbarrier is designed to prevent litter from continuing to move downstream andthe collectedlitterisassessedtodetermine its source,withthe ultimate goal of reducing it
“Aslong-standing membersofthe NorthBaton Rougecommunity,weare dedicatedtoenhancing thequality of life forour neighborsand employees,” said Regina Davis, ExxonMobil ComplexRefinery Manager. “Our collaborationonthis initiative reflects ourcommitmenttomaintainingthehigheststandards ofrespectandcarefortheneighborhoodssurrounding ourfacilities.” So far, theboomhas collectedclose to 1,000poundsof
litter.The majorityof thelitter (33percent) wasplastic, while 17 percent waspaper Smaller amounts of styrofoam,glass, metaland othermaterialshave also been collected.
“Wehopethatthislitterboomwillhelpkeepthe bayouclean andfreeoftrash anddebris,”saidJeff Kuehny,Directorofthe BotanicGardens at Burden andLSC co-founder.“Over thepasttwo-plusyears, we have proudlyworkedwithExxonMobilonhands-on cleanupsofthebayou,andweweregratefultoenhance this work with theinstallationofapermanent litter removalboom. By reducing andpreventinglitterin thebayou,wewillstrengthenour efforts to improve stormwater management,beautifyour community andsupport acleaner MississippiRiver andGulf. ThreeExxonMobilprojectswerealsorecently celebrated at theLouisiana Department of Environmental Quality’sEnvironmental Leadership Program Awards foroutstanding leadership in theareas of PollutionPrevention andEnvironmental Outreach Theprojectsrecognized included wastereductionsat theBaton RougeComplex andPlasticsPlant as well as communityand environmentaloutreachprograms in NorthBaton Rouge. In addition to this work,ExxonMobilisaproud sponsorofLovethe Boot Week,anannualinitiative acrossLouisianatocleanuplitterandbeautifyspaces Keep LouisianaBeautiful,the organizationthathosts Love theBootWeek, awardedExxonMobilthe Clean BizLeadershipAward in 2023 for itsdedicationto themission andits operationalpractices to support acleaner andgreener community. ExxonMobil’s commitment to creating apositive impact in BatonRouge goes beyond asingular corporateinitiative. It encompassesacomprehensive series of efforts aimedatfostering acleaner,more resilientfuturebycollaborating with localleaders, organizations, students,and educators.
PROVIDED PHOTO BY PHOTO BY BAYOU ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY
The Ascension Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Women in Business Luncheon & Lagniappe is set for May 14 at the Price LeBlanc PACE Center
