ADVOCATE THE HE LIVINGSTON-TANGIPAHOA
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DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND • PONCHATOULA
THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014 H
THEADVOCATE.COM
Christine Morgan AROUND LIVINGSTON CMARCENEAUX@ THEADVOCATE.COM
Children’s Choir enrolling now The award-winning Livingston Parish Children’s Choir is now enrolling singers for the spring semester, choir officials said. Registration forms can be downloaded from www. LPCCsing.org and mailed in, or parents can register and pay online. The Livingston Parish Children’s Choir has two treble choirs: its Apprentice Choir for children in grades kindergarten through third grade, and the Chorus for youths in third through ninth grades. Both choirs meet at New Covenant Church, 215 Florida Ave. S.E., Denham Springs. The Apprentice Choir meets between 4:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. and the Chorus meets from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The last day to register is Jan. 27. LPCC choirs begin on Jan. 13. No audition is needed, officials said. The program costs $150 per semester. For information, call or text Barbara Walker at (225) 247-8555, or email info@LPCCsing.org.
Messenger family lights up Christmas display BY CHRISTINE MORGAN
in the mid-1960s and his father continued after his grandfather retired. “Dad retired after 46 years with Exxon and DENHAM SPRINGS — Now in its 51st year, the Mes- moved to Tennessee,â€? Jeremy Messenger said. “It was my duty to take it over,â€? Messenger said. senger family Christmas display, which has boasted more than 10,000 lights and 20 custom-built “It’s always played a part of my childhood.â€? From his Tennessee home, Clyde Messenger, scenes, has withstood the test of time. Last year, more than 60,000 people stood in line who ran the family Christmas display in Denham Springs for 22 years, said he was surfor hours at Clyde Messenger’s Plantaprised his son agreed to take on the tion Estates’ home to view the display Where: St. Charles after it was rumored that 2013 would Street near North Park, massive project. “I was thrilled that it was staying in the family.â€? mark the end of the popular Christmas Denham Springs Following Christmas 2013, Clyde display. When: 6 p.m. to 8 Messenger searched unsuccessfully But this year, it’s back. p.m. until Dec. 26. for an organization to take on the disOn Thursday, neighbors who live play. on St. Charles Street by North Park Now, Clyde Messenger said, “I can sit up here viewed the displays and talked about their childhood memories, many of which included a visit to and know that it’s still in the family after 50 years and all of the blood, sweat and tears that my broththe Messenger’s Christmas display. Jeremy Messenger took over the daunting job of ers and other family members put into the displays installing the Christmas display, keeping the tradition his grandfather Clyde Messenger Jr. started äSee LIGHTS, page 5G cmarceneaux@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS
The annual Christmas light and decoration extravaganza at the Messenger’s Christmas Land has been thrilling children and adults since 1964.
La. 22 lighting project to begin
100 PEEPS FOR 52WEEKLY MEALS
BY CHRISTINE MORGAN
cmarceneaux@theadvocate.com
Winter camp
The Livingston Parish Children’s Choir will host its 17th annual choir camp for students in kindergarten through fifth grades from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 5-8 at First Baptist Church, 308 N. River Road, Denham Springs. The fee is $50 and includes a T-shirt, officials said. The Winter Choir Camp concert is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Officials expect youths to attend camp each day and the final concert. Registration forms can be downloaded from www. LPCCsing.org and mailed in, or parents can register and pay online. The registration deadline is Jan. 1. For information, call or text Barbara Walker at (225) 247-8555, or email info@LPCCsing.org.
Monthly art meetings
The Denham Springs Fine Art Association meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the Denham Springs Municipal Building, 941 Government Drive. The organization of local artists is committed to promoting art education, professional aid and encouraging art, a news release from the organization said. For information, contact Sandra Middleton at (225) 664-9565.
Advocate staff photos by PATRICK DENNIS
People play games and spend time singing and playing instruments while camping in the parking lot Dec. 10 at the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Denham Springs. The store opened at 9 a.m. and the first 100 customers received free meals for a year.
The grand opening of a Chick-fil-A in Denham Springs meant more than the arrival of a fast food restaurant to the growing town. For 100 participants, it was the possibility of a free weekly meal for a year. For the first 100 participants in line at the newly opened chain who camped out overnight, the award was their golden Maranda Masichuk, 21, left, plays a game of go fish with visiting friend Victoria Aguillard, 21, while camping out in the parking lot at the Chick-fil-A in Denham Springs. meal ticket.
Construction is set to begin on the long-awaited lighting of La. 22 from Interstate 55 west to the Natalbany River Bridge, which was designed through the parish’s Road Lighting District. Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess said project specifications call for 5.03 miles of new lighting. Approximately 64 existing utility poles and 184 new utility poles will be used to install the 248 lights along La. 22. The project is the first of a three-phase project to complete lighting along state roadways inside the lighting district. Parish Councilman Bobby Cortez said the three phases of work — lighting areas along La. 22, Pumpkin Center Road and the I-55 Service Road — proved challenging. Cortez, who represents the District 10 area, said officials were well into the lighting project when state regulations changed. “To put up lights on a state highway, you have to do a study on it first,� Cortez said, noting that the study “costs a good many thousands of dollars. Cortez said the new lights will create uniform illumination throughout the roadway. “State guidelines say you must have the same amount of light all the way through, so the lights are placed where light meets light,� Cortez said. Tangipahoa Parish’s Director of Finance Jeff McNeely said that was the biggest challenge: making sure the lights are consistent. According to the Department of Transportation and
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