Darlene Denstorff
Celebrate America: Wreath Edition
Celebrate America’s
200th anniversary from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 19 at the Southeastern Life Long Learning Center in Walker
Get ready to celebrate our nation’a birthday in style with an 18-inch patriotic wreath. In this hands-on class, you’ll design and craft your own festive wreath using red, white and blue burlap ribbon. Perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, this class will guide you step-by-step to create a piece that’s perfect for your front door Patriotic burlap wreath can be used for 4th of July, Memorial Day and Veterans Day
The cost is $45 and for more information, visit southeastern.nbsstore.net/ life-long-learning-livingston-center
Blue Ducky 5K Waddle coming to Springfield
The second annual Blue Ducky 5K Waddle, an event honoring an organ donor who saved eight lives, is May 16 at Tickfaw State Park. The event honors the memory of Stephany Nicolosi, a woman who donated her organs. She loved rubber duckies and her favorite color was blue. The event donates the proceeds to the Chris Klug Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of organ donation.
To register, visit ultrasignup.com/register aspx?did=117645.
Blessing of the Fleet at Kat’s on May 16
The Kat’s Warsaw Bar and Grill is having a Blessing of the Fleet at 11 a.m. May 16 at the Springfield bar
The event is a fundraiser for Livingston District 2 Fire Department. There will be food for sale, an in-house poker run, raffles and other activities. A Blessing certificate and champagne is $30. Music will be provided by Wesley Creppel. Interested vendors can call (225) 2098079 or (985) 351-3100. Class of ’76 plans 50th reunion
It’s almost time to celebrate for the Denham Springs Class of 1976 — my class. The event is planned for June 13 at Forrest Grove in Denham Springs.
Reunion organizers are asking classmates to send photos from 1976 and now for a booklet To volunteer or share your information with the organizers email daleh76DS@gmail.com.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 6031998.
BIG IDEAS
Tiny
BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer
gallery displays miniature art in downtown Hammond
Perched on Hammond’s busiest corner, steps away from where the roar of rumblings of trains are heard daily, sits perhaps the smallest art galleries in the area. Using a repurposed newspaper box, the Hammond Regionals Art Center has created a miniature community art gallery one where budding and established artists can display their tiniest of works and art
lovers can pick up those pieces at no cost.
The box has been placed near the entrance to Railroad Park, at the intersection of West Thomas Street and SW Railroad Avenue.
Borrowed from an idea that HRAC executive director Melissa Griffin first saw in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the mini art gallery has become a fixture in downtown Hammond since October 2024.
“It has been very successful,” Griffin said. “We have several
people in the community who bring their work to display there.
“It is just this cycle of artwork in and out.”
Perhaps even more unique than its diminutive size, the mini art gallery, where the majority of pieces are three to four inches in size, also allows people to keep whatever art they might find appealing, creating a constant ebb and flow of miniature pieces. And if the gallery is low in art, local artists will put their own pieces in the
“gallery.”
“This is just like the free little libraries (that are gaining popularity) except this is for art,” Griffin said. “You keep the art; if you take something it’s yours, however you feel moved.” She has been impressed with the creativity of the artists, saying their work is not limited to just paintings or small sculptures. She said people are having their children paint on small canvasses or even rock.
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
art
PHOTO BY RICHARD MEEK
in
community, miniature art gallery in downtown Hammond
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
SLU shares research with public
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University’s Research Council recently presented “PechaKucha, A Research and Innovation Showcase,” at Blackened Brew in Hammond. PechaKucha means ‘chit-chat’ in Japanese and is a fast-paced presentation format. Each presentation contained 20 slides, with each slide displayed for exactly 20 seconds Presenters were selected through a competitive process. The event aimed to bring Southeastern research to the attention of the local community
“Our faculty are our most valuable resource. The PechaKucha showcase offered a glimpse into the critical, region-focused research our faculty are doing,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Eric Skipper “The university is an amazingly diverse hub of intellectual capital, which can be leveraged for problem solving and improving quality of life for our region. At Southeastern, we put that ideal into action.” Research presented at the event
included:
“Living with Lions” by Professor of Anthropology Kellen Gilbert, who has conducted field research on human wildlife conflict in Tanzania, Namibia and the U.S. Her research illustrated how living with wildlife, especially large carnivores, impacts communities both far and close to home.
“Project ROOMIE: Turning Students into Professionals with Undergraduate Research” by Physics Professor Gerard Blanchard. Blanchard leads students in co-curricular NASA-funded experiments. Students design and build their own instruments that are launched into the upper atmosphere and ionosphere using high-altitude balloons and sounding rockets.
“Nano Solutions Against Superbugs” by Assistant Professor of Biochemistry James Cho, who specializes in the synthesis and application of bio-inspired nanomaterials and hydrogels to address multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.
“Crawfish Reproduction is Im-
paired Following White Spot Syndrome Virus Infection” by College of Science and Technology Department Head and Biology Professor Justin Anderson. Anderson studies how the virus interacts with herbicides used on rice crops in crawfish ponds. Through his research he discovered that male crawfish exposed to the virus produce significantly fewer offspring than those not exposed.
“Small Device, Big Impact: Managing Needle Anxiety in Young Adults” by Professor of Human Development and Family Science Holly Kihm Kihm discussed how a non-pharmacological pain management tool, the Buzzy, was introduced during university COVID-19 vaccine clinics to address this overlooked issue.
“Does Urbanization Promote Trophic Overlap in Watersnakes” by Instructor of Biological Sciences Oliver Ljustina. His research is mainly focused on understanding how reptiles and amphibians interact with urban systems with a particular interest in trophic dynamics.
“Letter from a Bellwether” by Associate Professor of Photography Lily Brooks. Her presentation focused on an ongoing lens-based research project that stems from a two-pronged investigation into a place where profit and vulnerability collide, a place that is disappearing. With the project, Brooks wishes to visualize disintegration in reference to both the feminist literary history and the pressing ecological plight of Grand Isle.
“What Salamanders Have Taught Me About How the World Works” by Biology Professor Christopher Beachy His research focuses on salamander biology with an emphasis on amphibian metamorphosis and how it affects life history biology
“Protein Responses to Plant Extracts and Environmental Chemicals in a Model Cell System” by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Sita Aggarwal. Her presentation focused on how plant-derived extracts and toxic chemical compounds found in the environment interact with key protein targets in living cells.
“Social Work Students Use Photovoice to Create Social Change” by Associate Professor of Social Work Corie Hebert. Her presentation described a social work macro practice class project using Photovoice to raise awareness about homelessness in Hammond.
“The Story of Turtle Cove: Sustainable Evolution of a University Research and Education Program Built on Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies” by Turtle Cove Research Station Manager Robert Moreau, who said the program is a new era that includes United States Coast Guard oversight, marketing a renewed commitment to safety, innovation and growth.
“Construction Industry Hazards, Innovations and Benefits of the Innovation” by Associate Professor of Industrial and Engineering Technology Priyadarsshini Dasgupta. Her presentation illustrated how construction worker exposure to hazards was mitigated to the greatest extent by the introduction of ergonomic interventions.
SLU celebrates nation’s 250th anniversary with tree planting
the
Southeastern President William S Wainwright, Louisiana Department of Education Assistant Superintendent and
American Revolution member Bradley Hayes, Tangipahoa Parish Councilman Louis Joseph, and Ponchatoula Mayor Wesley Daniels
adorning Southeastern’s
campus. The state is celebrating the anniversary by planting one tree in each of its 64 parishes.
SLU plans two commencement ceremonies
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University will celebrate its graduates at two commencement ceremonies May 16 at the University Center
The first ceremony at 10 a.m. will honor the undergraduate and
graduate students from the Colleges of Business and Nursing. Scheduled at 3 p.m., the second ceremony will honor students from the Colleges of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Education and Science and Technology Perspective graduates will re-
ceive several notifications with additional details to their Southeast-
obits@theadvocate.com
& ENGAGEMENTS
(225) 388-0738
nuptials@theadvocate.com
CALL: (225) 383-0111
EMAIL: classifieds@theadvocate.com
ADVERTISING CALL: (225) 388-0128
EMAIL: weeklylegals@theadvocate.com
PROVIDED PHOTO
Gathering May 1 to plant
Southeastern Louisiana University’s ‘Liberty Tree’ from left, are Tangipahoa Parish Assessor Kevin Raiford, Tangipahoa Parish Councilwoman Strader Cieutat, Tangipahoa Parish Councilman David Vial, Sen Bill Wheat Rep Kim Coates, Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller, Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto, Rep. Nicky Muscarello,
Louisiana America 250 Commission member W.L. Trey Folse, Sons of the
SLU College Of Honors and Excellence recognizes top students
Community news report
Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Honors and Excellence celebrated its top students recently at an award ceremony held on campus. Honors Freshman of the Year finalists are students who began their studies in the fall of 2025. They were nominated by a member of the honors faculty and selected by an essay evaluation and interview panel process.
In order to earn Senior Honors Distinction students must complete a self-directed prospectus course in the junior year, earn nine hours of upper-level honors credits, including at least one special topics honors seminar, and have an outstanding grade point average.
Southeastern Louisiana University students Ethan Buras, left, and Annabelle Rodrigue, both of Ponchatoula, were honored recently at the College of Honors and Excellence’s recognition ceremony. Buras was recognized as a mathematics graduating tutor and Rodrigue was honored as a biological sciences graduating tutor
Honors Medal recipients are students who have earned 15 hours of core credit, nine hours of upperlevel honors credit, and successfully authored and
SLU dedicates Centenial Monument
Community news report
With one century in the books and another just beginning to unfold, Southeastern Louisiana University officially dedicated the newly added Centennial Monument with a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony Named “Aion,” which is a Hellenistic deity associated with time, the orb or circle encompassing the universe, and the zodiac, the monument is a celebratory landmark of Southeastern’s Centennial year
The project and surrounding space was funded in part by the Southeastern Student Government Association and Percent for Art Louisiana. The monument is a reflection on the past and a physical beacon indicating a strong and enduring future as Southeastern enters its second century, an achievement made possible by the support of Southeastern alumni, students and the surrounding community.
defended an honors thesis. Also recognized at the awards ceremony were Communications and Media Studies Instructor Fay Boudreaux as Honors Professor of the Year and First Year Success Academic Advisor DeJuan James as Advisor of the Year Students from the region who were recognized include: Ascension Parish Gonzales: Brenna Stamper, Senior Honors Distinction and Honors Diploma recipient; and Abby Pennington, Sophomore Honors Distinction Prairieville: Cole Debiaso, Sophomore Honors Distinction; Jordan Lobell, Sophomore Honors Distinction; and Baylie O’Bannon, Sophomore Honors Distinction
St. Amant: Ashlynn Picou, Sophomore Honors Distinc-
tion; and Brenna Stamper Honors Diploma recipient Zachary area
Greenwell Springs: Wynter Snow Sophomore Honors Distinction
Zachary: Anyah Matthews, Transfer Student of the Year
Livingston Parish
Denham Springs: Jackson Root, Sophomore Honors Distinction; and Francis Bordelon, biological sciences graduating tutor
French Settlement: Brooklyn Jones, Sophomore Honors
Distinction
Springfield: Courtney Stevens, Sophomore Honors Distinction; and Summer Stevens, Sophomore Honors Distinction
Walker: Noelle Chutz, Sophomore Honors Distinction
Tangipahoa Parish
Hammond: Ethan Cochran,
Sophomore Honors Distinction; Michael Delgado, Senior Honors Distinction and Honors Diploma recipient; Trinity Tallman Springer, Sophomore Honors Distinction; Goodness Egware, Sophomore Honors Distinction; Nicole Yang, Sophomore Honors Distinction; Maryann Okpara, Sophomore Honors Distinction; Katelyn Hemel, Sophomore Honors Distinction; and Sarina Khadka, Sophomore Honors Distinction
Ponchatoula: Micah Delgado, Honors Diploma recipient; Faith Richard, Honors Program Freshman of the Year; Charles Ragan, Sophomore Honors Distinction; Gracie Anderson, Sophomore Honors Distinction; Annabelle Rodrigue, biological sciences graduating tutor; and Ethan Buras mathematics graduating tutor
Designed by X-TOPIA and CRG Architecture, the Centennial Monument is a blend of art, history and purpose, a news release said. Its design features a threedimensional timeline constructed from powder-coated aluminum fins, engraved with each year of Southeastern’s first 100 years. The monument’s spine, which links these elements, serves as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of the Southeastern community — students, alumni, staff, and faculty — across generations.
On hand for the ribbon-cutting of the Southeastern Louisiana University Centennial Monument, from left, are President’s Office Administrative Assistant, Tracey Wascom, Monument Committee member Pierre Theriot of Holly and Smith Architects, Levi Spiers from SGA 2024, Southeastern President William Wainwright, 2024 SGA President Kyle Hidalgo, 2025 SGA President Maria Nechaeva, Aion artist Cordula Roser Gray of CRG Architecture; Director of Percent for Art Louisiana Scott Finch, Assistant Director of Percent for Art April Baham, Monument Committee member Jeffrey Smith of Holly and Smith Architects, and University Marketing and Communication Administrative Assistant Whitney Clement.
“What a great marker to celebrate our past and stand as a testament to who we will become in our future.
We are thrilled to have had the support of our SGA and the Percent for Art program to create this incredible work of art and the space around it,” said Southeastern President William S. Wainwright.
Community news report
Members of the Sunshine Ladies gathered April 7 at Murphy’s Seafood & Steakhouse, where new members were introduced. President Ann Bourliea welcomed its newest members Juanette Gant, Mary Mann, Cheryl Bowes-Brenden, Rayne Beal, Cora Deselle and Glenda Lightfoot.
In addition, new and gently used baby clothing, new maternity clothing, socks, bibs, and burp pads, pacifiers, diapers, wipes and teethers were donated.
Some of the Sunshine Ladies crocheted blankets and baby toys. Member Rayne Beal suggested the club support Crime Stoppers of Tangipaha Parish as part of an upcoming project
The club’s next
The group discussed its April project, a baby shower for Women’s Life Ministries Pregnancy Center in Amite The center’s director and CEO Teresa Raguso spoke to club about the work the pregnancy center does, and the benefits the center provides to women in the community The center provides pregnancy testing, ultrasounds baby clothing, high chairs and car seats to women in need. Club members donated bottles and sippy cups, baby books and toys, baby formulas, toiletries, hooded bath towels, and receiving blankets.
PROVIDED PHOTO
PROVIDED PHOTO
Division I nonselect
SALZER
Continued from page 1G
were close to adding a second state title to their trophy case before falling to No. 8 Hahnville 6-5.
Hahnville scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off with the victory, but Live Oak showed what a season’s worth of hard work can bring. No moment in the playoffs was too big for the Eagles, and that didn’t happen by accident.
Eagles coach Katie Prescott said her team’s playoff run was the payoff not only for playing in one of the state’s toughest districts, but also for scheduling the best teams they could find for their nondistrict
games. Of the five teams Live Oak faced in the playoffs, four of them were squads that the Eagles had faced in the regular season.
Live Oak’s final three playoff opponents — No. 2 Sam Houston, No 3 West Monroe and Hahnville — were all road games during the regular season. The Eagles lost against all three the first time, but turned the tables on Sam Houston and West Monroe, and nearly did the same against Hahnville.
“Our district is challenging because it is just continuous. You’re going to play a quality opponent twice a week, but our nondistrict schedule wasn’t any easier,” Prescott said last week “We go out and find teams that are competing for championships so when we do face them in the playoffs, we’re
ready for it. From February all the way to May, we want to face challenges so that when we get to the playoffs, we’re ready for them.”
Live Oak was ready against Hahnville. After falling behind 3-2 through one inning, Live Oak rallied twice in the late innings to tie the score. Hahnville had an answer each time, and most importantly, the game’s last at-bat.
“It wasn’t a perfect game by either team, but it showed they were both willing to fight, which makes for a really good game,” Prescott said. “We needed to make one or two more plays or have another softball fall our way Overall, our kids fought hard the entire year and put themselves in a position to win. It just didn’t go our way at the end.”
The Hammond Regional Arts Center repurposed an old newspaper rack into a community, miniature art gallery in Hammond. Community members can place art in the box or even take a piece if art that they fancy and keep it to enjoy.
ART
Continued from page 1G
“You can find rocks anywhere,” she said. “It is a perfect fit; something you can do with your kids when they are on summer break.”
Griffin said the mini art gallery has rapidly gained popularity through social media, noting people will often make videos of themselves creating the pieces and then placing them in the gallery Often, she said, along with contributing to their pieces, people will find new art to “take home and enjoy it.”
Griffin said she first saw a mini art gallery when visiting a pocket park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a city that even boasts of a pocket park museum. She said the park is located in an alleyway between a parking lot and buildings that the city has turned into a space for art.
“The whole area is full of art, just a free little art gallery with paintings all over the grounds,” Griffin said.
ROAD
Continued from page 1G
April 30 during school dismissal when she was fatally struck by an allegedly impaired driver
Darren Goudeau, 64, of Walker, was arrested in connection with the fatality on counts of vehicular homicide and DWI-second offense, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Two Denham Springs
women created an online petition days after the fatality, asking to lower the speed limit for the road outside of Gray’s Creek Elementary School.
The road where the incident occurred is state highway LA-16, which has a speed limit of 55 mph, with 45 mph during the school’s arrival and dismissal times. Because it’s a state highway, Louisiana’s transportation department can set or change the limit.
Ciera Plunkett, of Denham Springs, published the petition, which has over 500 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon, after talking with her friend Courtney Hatcher, who lives near Gray’s Creek school.
Hatcher had told Plunkett in passing over a week ago that she thought something needed to change about the road after repeatedly seeing people speed and fail to pay attention while driving down it.
“This already was something on my mind,” Hatcher said about the petition
“People just don’t pay attention. There is a lot of speeding out here. I’ve seen Mrs. Katy fussing at them.” Three days after that initial conversation had
“They had a dance space and all kinds of art and even painted the electrical boxes and the doors.”
“I saw that and I knew we have to have this in Hammond,” she added.
Griffin is working with city officials and a grants committee as the final touches are being nailed down about turning Morrison Alley, which is located behind the arts center in downtown Hammond, into a pocket park. She said Hammond’s artistic community is growing and active, with many artists selling their art locally and others who enjoy adding to their own collections.
Griffin was encouraged by a recent art opening at the center, testimony to what she believes is a renaissance of the local art community She said artists and patrons were excited to attend and to be part of the show and the arts center
“It’s really exciting to see people come together and be a part of this movement,” she said. “We love people to know about it.”
passed, Wells was fatally hit on that same road.
“Then, it was like, ‘Okay, this has got to happen,’ ” Plunkett said.
The pair says they hope the petition brings awareness and attention to the area and possibly prods elected officials to get involved.
Livingston Parish Councilwoman Erin Sandefur whose district encompasses that part of the city, has had in-depth conversations with state Rep Roger Wilder, R-Denham Springs, about the recent fatality and said DOTD has been contacted since.
Sandefur said a formal process was submitted on Monday, and efforts are actively underway to discuss the state of the road with DOTD.
“Nobody passes the Louisiana Highway 16 corridor down here without encountering Mrs Katy,” Sandefur said. “Our thoughts remain with our grieving community.”
Daniel Gitlin, a public information officer for DOTD, said that speed limits for state highways, including LA-16, are established based on engineering and traffic studies that evaluate a variety of data.
Gitlin said DOTD reviews fatal crashes and looks at factors such as driver impairment and weather conditions, which he said are important in determining whether any roadway-related improvements would be appropriate.
“We understand the level of concern in the community and will continue coordinating internally as more information becomes available,” Gitlin wrote in an email.
PHOTO BY RICHARD MEEK
Hahnville’s Rylee Villasenor slides under the tag by Live Oak catcher Jeanne Janise to score the winning run in the seventh inning
Live Oak pitcher Ava Kate Phillips delivers a pitch against Hahnville in the bottom of the fourth inning of the LHSAA Division I nonselect state championship on May 3 at North Frasch Park in Sulphur
STAFF PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Live Oak’s Ava Kate Phillips and her teammates sit stunned after Hahnville scored in the seventh inning to win the LHSAA
state championship.