RECYCLING ROAD SHOW CANCELED DUE TO LACK OF PARTICIPATION ä Page 2G
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE
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DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT • SORRENTO
THURSDAY JANUARY 7, 2016 H
THEADVOCATE.COM
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
DDENSTORFF@ THEADVOCATE.COM
A healthy start to the new year Ascension Parish Library in Gonzales is partnering with St. Elizabeth Hospital for an eight-week course called Operation Change 4 Life. Seminars and physical activities are slated for Mondays beginning Jan. 11 through March 7 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., excluding Jan. 18. Participants will receive support and motivation from the pros as well as education on healthy living strategies to cultivate positive health choices through lifestyle and behavior change. Call (225) 621-2906 to register or for information.
Panel recommends rezoning request BY ELLYN COUVILLION
ecouvillion@theadvocate.com GONZALES — The Gonzales Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending the city give the thumbs-up to a rezoning request for a downtown business expansion, as well as approve the site plan for a subdivision in Edenborne — contingent, however, on necessary water and traffic infrastructure being completed first. Brian Marchand, owner of Marchand’s Interior and Hardware, spoke to the commission at its meeting Monday about plans to expand the familyowned store by more than 8,000
square feet. The store opened in 1949 on North Alexander Avenue in the oldest part of Gonzales. “I’m hoping the finished project looks like one entity” that retains the residential look of the original store, Marchand said. “I think the project would improve not only our property, but the city block,” he said. Marchand said the project would tie in well with the city’s new master plan that calls for a renewed downtown area. “We’re interested in downtown and I feel this would be a small step, a positive step to revitalize downtown,” he said.
The existing Marchand’s store is zoned commercial retail, and Marchand is asking that adjacent property owned by the company be rezoned from business to retail commercial, as well, for the expansion. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the rezoning to the City Council, which meets next on Jan. 14. The commission also heard from Deric Murphy, president of Quality Engineering and Surveying, who spoke on behalf of Level Homes of Baton Rouge. The company hopes to build a 350-home subdivision in the
Edenborne development off La. 44 south of Interstate 10. The city has been waiting on a number of infrastructure items from the developers of Edenborne, including construction of a four-lane boulevard through the community as well as water line work. On Monday, City Engineer Jackie Baumann told the Planning Commission that the attorney for the city and the attorney for the development have agreed that, if site plans for the subdivision are approved by the City Council, the developers will complete the necessary infrastructure before any construction permits are issued.
I solemnly swear ...
4-H kicks off 2016
Ascension Parish 4-H is diving into 2016 with a number of events this month. JAN. 14: Annual pet show open to all Ascension Parish 4-H members, Lamar Dixon 4-H Building; registration at 5:30 p.m., show begins at 6 p.m. Main categories are cats, dogs and other pets; all categories have subcategories such as longest tail and brightest color; each category has a best-dressed competition. Entry fee is $1. Concession stand benefits Ascension Parish 4-H Livestock Club. JAN. 15: Annual Stick Horse Rodeo, Lamar Dixon 4-H Building; registration at 6 p.m., show begins at 6:30 p.m. Open to all youth 11 years old and younger; classes are Buckin’ Horse, Buckin’ Bull, Flag Race and Barrel Racing. Stick horse rodeo entry fee is $5. JAN. 16: Annual Livestock Show, Lamar Dixon 4-H Building and Arena; show begins at 8 a.m. Cattle, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits and poultry exhibited. Open to the public for spectating. Call the Ascension 4-H office at (225) 621-5799
Crocheting at the library
“Knot Again: Let’s Make a Bag!” will be held for three consecutive Thursdays beginning Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Donaldsonville Branch of Ascension Parish Library. Whether experienced or a newcomer, participants will learn single- and doublecrochet techniques and how to work with granny squares and borders to design and create your own granny square bag. Registration is required; call (225) 473-8052.
‘Hairspray’ hits the stage
East Ascension High School’s theater department is staging “Hairspray Jr.” at 7 p.m. through Friday at the Ascension Community Theatre, 823 N. Felicity Ave., Gonzales. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by emailing Cherie.Levert@apsb.org or calling (225) 621-2400. Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 336-6952 or (225) 603-1996; fax, (225) 644-5851; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate. com. Deadline: noon Monday.
Edenborne is home to River Parishes Community College. On Monday, Chancellor Dale Doty urged the commissioners to approve the subdivision. “I am completely in favor of what they’re proposing to do here,” Doty said, particularly in light of the agreement over needed infrastructure in the development. “If those things are going to be done, this is going to be a very beneficial project,” he said of the subdivision. The Planning Commission voted to recommend the council approve the site plan, contingent on the infrastructure requirements being completed.
School Board elects Russo as president Panel introduces director of secondary education BY ELLYN COUVILLION
ecouvillion@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff photos by BILL FEIG
New Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa, seated left, and his wife, Selma Matassa, second from left, watch as Ascension Parish Court Judge Marilyn Lambert, far left, swears in the 11-member Ascension Parish Council, right, with three new members, at the courthouse in Donaldsonville.
Matassa takes helm as parish’s 4th president Advocate staff report Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa promised Monday to bring transparency, unified government and “servant leadership” as chief executive of the fast-growing parish. With wife, Selma, and their family, along with former Gov. Edwin Edwards, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, and a host of Ascension’s political elite watching in a packed Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville, Matassa took the oath of office from state District Judge Tess Percy Stromberg. The 11 members of the Parish Council, including three new members — Bill Dawson, Aaron Lawler and John Cagnolatti — also were sworn in Monday, by Ascension Parish Court Judge Marilyn Lambert. Matassa, a five-term Gonzales City Council member who stepped down from that post Monday, defeated Gonzales surveyor Clint Cointment by 117 votes in the Nov. 21 runoff to replace four-term parish President Tommy Martinez. Matassa also was the top vote-getter of a five-man field in the Oct. 24 primary race. Matassa is only the fourth person to be elected parish president in Ascension. Martinez served as parish president from 1992-96, 1996-2000, 2008-12 and 2012-16, the first three terms as a Democrat and the fourth as “other party.” Ronnie Hughes served as a Republican parish president from 200408, and Harold Marchand was elected parish president as a Democrat, serving from 2000-04.
Newly sworn in Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa gets a hug from his sister, Anne Matassa Reeves, as his father, Joseph Matassa Jr., right, watches after the ceremony.
ABOVE: Matassa addresses the crowd prior to being sworn in at the Parish Courthouse. LEFT: Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy J. Sullivan Sr. welcomes everyone prior to the swearing-in ceremonies.
DONALDSONVILLE — At its first meeting of the new year, there were changes of the guard on both the Ascension Parish school district’s board and administration. Patricia “Pat” Russo was elected president of the board, after she got a nomination and a second from board members Troy Gautreau and Shawn Sevario, respectively. No other nominations were made. “We will continue to work as a team, along with Ms. Pujol and her staff,” said Russo, referring to schools Superintendent Patrice Pujol. Russo, in her 18th year as a School Board member, represents District 7B, which includes parts of Gonzales and the Dutchtown community. Following protocol, outgoing board President Lorraine Wimberly and Russo traded places at Tuesday’s meeting, and Russo presided over the remainder of the meeting. Taft Kleinpeter, who represents District 5B, which includes the Galvez and Prairieville areas, will serve as vice president of the board for the second consecutive year, being the only nominee for the office. He was nominated by Shawn Sevario, and the nomination got a second from Louis Lambert. It was announced Tuesday that David Alexander, the school system’s director of secondary education, is retiring to take the position of director of education and training at Pelican Chapter Associated Builders and Contractors in Baton Rouge. Pujol commended him for his 20 years in education in Ascension Parish and noted that Alexander had been instrumental in creating a partnership between the school district and the Pelican Chapter ABC to train high school students in industrial crafts. The new director of secondary education is Lisa Bacala, who has served as supervisor of secondary education for 10 years. “It’s an amazing opportunity to do what I love,” Bacala said of the new appointment.