LIVE OAK TAKES ON DENHAM SPRINGS IN SOFTBALL AT LIVE OAK SPORTS PARK ä Page 4G
ADVOCATE THE HE LIVINGSTON-TANGIPAHOA
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THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2015 H
DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND • PONCHATOULA THEADVOCATE.COM
Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
DDENSTORFF@ THEADVOCATE.COM
7th Spike Spangler 5K run, walk slated The seventh annual Spike Spangler River Road 5K run and walk is Saturday in Denham Springs. Southeastern Louisiana Fellowship of Christian Athletes is hosting the event, which starts at 8 a.m. at the Denham Springs Train Station Park, 198 E. Railroad Ave. Adult runners and walkers pay $20, and the student fee is $10. To register, visit www.active.com.
Sock Hops
The YaYas, a popular senior citizens line-dancing group from Denham Springs, will present sock hop dances during the next two months at nursing homes, retirement communities and activity centers. The group has more than 50 members ranging from 49 to 84 years old. The first performance is set for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Livingston Activity Center on Florida Boulevard in Walker. The schedule includes: n 2 p.m. April 23, Golden Age Nursing Home, 2673 La. 1032, Denham Springs n 10 a.m. April 30, Ollie Steel Burden Manor, 4250 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge n 10 a.m. May 7, Flannery Oaks Guest House, 1642 N. Flannery Road, Baton Rouge n 10:30 a.m. May 14, Colonial Care Retirement Center, 14686 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge n 9:45 a.m. May 21, Denham Springs Council on Aging, 949 Government Drive, Denham Springs n 2 p.m. May 28, La Plantation Retirement Community, 26635 La. 16, Denham Springs n 2 p.m. June 6, Harvest Manor Nursing Home, 9171 Cockerham Road, Denham Springs
Riveting USO-style show honors vets BY C.J. FUTCH
cfutch@theadvocate.com The Old South Jamboree in Walker looked every bit the part of a World War II-era USO show April 8, complete with bandstand, a 10-piece band dressed in period costumes and a cast of 10 wearing victory rolls in their hair.
“We’re rehearsing for the show Friday (April 10),� said Charlotte Reynolds, wearing matte red lipstick and a wool pencil skirt. She and her husband, Rob, the band leader, drummer and founder of the Denham Springs-based band, Rosie and the Swingin’ Riveters, are part of a cast of 20 who put on a radio play and swing
BERRY GOOD TIME
äSee AROUND, page 3G
Christina Richardson, from Baton Rouge, has a colorful and coordinated umbrella during the festival.
Special to The Advocate
Fans have fun despite the rain as they enjoy the New Orleans band Bag of Donuts during the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival on Sunday. The annual event featured live music, carnival rides, carnival and local food as well as strawberries prepared in various ways.
Advocate staff photos by PATRICK DENNIS
Marley Johnson, 11, working the Fellowship Baptist Church booth, holds a customer’s ‘Dessert on a Stick.’ The dessert consists of chocolatecovered strawberries, coconut marshmallows and pineapple on a skewer.
Missionaries given Red Carpet treatment BY CLAIRE SALINAS
Rain doesn’t dampen the fun at the Strawberry Festival
Education nominees sought The Baton Rouge Area Chamber is accepting applications from area educators for its BRAC Excellent STEM Educator Award program. The organization will recognize five teachers who demonstrate science, technology, engineering and math excellence through
music program every year in honor of the World War II veterans they’ve come to know and love. The USO show takes a massive effort, Charlotte Reynolds said, but has been a labor Advocate staff photo by APRIL BUFFINGTON of love for the past two years. This was the third year for the Michelle Morgan as Rosie sings in the band Rosie and the Swingin’ Riveters during rehearsal at the Old South Jamboree äSee SHOW, page 2G on April 8 in Walker.
Being a missionary often requires living in less than ideal conditions for extended periods of time and going unrecognized for the many sacrifices necessary to serve people in need. The Rev. Val Taylor, lead pastor of Life Church in Walker, decided to create an event to honor missionaries for all their hard work. “Several years ago, I felt like celebrities always got the red carpet rolled out to them and I felt that if anybody needs to get the red carpet rolled out to them, it should be to people who give their lives to the cause of the gospel,â€? Taylor said. “A lot of times they’re not seen, but they help the homeless, they feed the hungry, they go into Third-World countries and they do things that nobody ever sees. No news media is carrying it, nobody knows about it, but God does.â€? Taylor birthed the idea of Red Carpet Weekend, a weekend filled with food, tours and meetings with state representatives to show appreciation to missionaries not used to red-carpet treatment. Some of this year’s events included a tour of Tiger Stadium, a meal at Drusilla’s Seafood Restaurant, a meet-and-greet with Sen. Dale Erdey at the Capitol and a fish fry. All meals and activities were paid for; the missionaries simply had to show up and enjoy. Nations throughout the world were represented by the missionaries present at Red Carpet Weekend, held Friday through Sunday. Pat Franks, one such missionary, has been working with churches in Cuba for 20 years, doing everything from preaching to buying mules to sending computers loaded with Bible teaching materials to pastors in the area. Franks explained getting into Cuba isn’t always a simple process. “I have to have a religious visa that is sponsored by a Cuban reliäSee MISSIONARIES, page 4G
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