STUDENTS ANSWER: What do you like to do with your family during the weekend and holiday?
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ADVOCATE THE HE LIVINGSTON-TANGIPAHOA
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DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND • PONCHATOULA
THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2015 H
THEADVOCATE.COM
Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
DDENSTORFF@ THEADVOCATE.COM
YaYas celebrating Christmas at COA Senior line dance group The YaYas will perform at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Livingston Council on Aging, 949 Government Drive, Denham Springs. The group will dance in costume to Christmas favorites including “Feliz Navidad,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Papa Noel” and “Little Saint Nick.”
Book babies
Parents may bring their children up to age 5 to the Watson Branch of Livingston Parish Library for a play date full of stories, music, games and more at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Call (225) 664-3963 for details.
Music in the Village
Enjoy carolers and the sounds of the season with Music in the Village on Saturday in the Denham Springs Historic Antique Village.
DS maintainsA+ credit rating
Report says long-term planning lacking BY STEVE HARDY
as a retail center.” The city government spends little on debt service, has a flexDenham Springs held onto ible budget and maintains amits A+ rating with Standard & ple reserves, according to the Poor’s during a recent assess- Nov. 24 report released during the most recent City Council ment of the city’s finances. The review was conducted meeting. There were a few dings. S&P as the city prepared to reissue bonds with the hope of saving noted that the city used to permoney. The large financial re- form long-term planning five search firm remarked that the years ahead, which stopped Baton Rouge area has a “broad around the time of hurricanes and diverse” economy and that Katrina and Rita, and has not “Denham Springs is emerging yet resumed the process. shardy@theadvocate.com
city’s wastewater treatment facility. Last week, Mayor Gerard Landry said the city was waitAt a community level, Den- ing for the most favorable conham Springs’ projected per ditions to seek refinancing but capita effective buying income expects the city will end up savis 84 percent of national levels. ing about $300,000, allowing the Overall, S&P describes enti- city to pay off the bonds a little ties in the A-range as having faster. In other business, the City a “strong capacity to meet financial commitments but Council last week approved a somewhat susceptible to ad- noise ordinance variance for a verse economic conditions and March 19 car show at Denham Springs High being sponsored changes in circumstances.” The review was conducted as by the Reach Club. The city accepted a donation the city prepares to refinance about $7.8 million in 2008 bonds from the state of about 250 cuused to pay for upgrades to the bic yards of asphalt, which can
A jolly good time
The Denham Springs High School marching band performs Saturday in the Denham Springs Christmas Parade.
Dewey Decibels concerts
Livingston Parish Library’s band, The Dewey Decibels, will perform holiday favorites at 2 p.m. Monday at the Watson Branch and 10 a.m. Tuesday at the South Branch. There will be music, hot chocolate and pictures with Santa.
Teen and tween 3-D design
Kids and teens ages 8 to 18 interested in 3-D design can take an introductory course at the Main Branch of Livingston Parish Library at 3:30 p.m. Monday. A basic to moderate knowledge of computers is needed. Registration is required; call (225) 686-2436 or register at http://bit. ly/1J0bdow.
‘Star Wars’: A New Program
A “Star Wars” movie kickoff party for ages 18 and older featuring giant Trivial Pursuit, stencil art and snacks will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Watson Branch of Livingston Parish Library. Registration is required; call (225) 664-3963 or visit http://bit. ly/1NSmZCw.
Advocate staff photos by BRIANNA PACIORKA
Santa Claus greets the cheering children lined up along the streets of Denham Springs during the parade on Saturday.
Jedi training
Jedi training for Padawans ages 6 to 11 will be held at the Albany-Springfield Branch of Livingston Parish Library at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Registration is required; call (225) 5671441 or visit http://bit. ly/1NKGf9m.
Closed for Christmas
All branches of Livingston Parish Library will be closed Dec. 24-25 in observance of the Christmas holiday.
Photo exhibit scheduled
From Jan. 4-28, the Arts Council of Livingston Parish will host an exhibit by The Louisiana Photographic SoäSee AROUND, page 2G
ABOVE: Members of the Live Oak High School flag team perform as they march along the parade route. LEFT: Kayden Crawford, sporting a spiffy pair of reindeer antlers, catches a notebook thrown to him from one of the floats.
be used to plug potholes or retouch curbs. In their penultimate meeting of 2015, council members also approved the regular meeting schedule for next year. Barring holidays or out-of-town business, the council meets on the second Tuesday and fourth Monday of each month. The only 2016 dates that will deviate from that schedule are: Feb. 9 will be moved to Feb. 11; March 8 will be moved to March 14; Dec. 26 will be moved to Dec. 27. All meetings are held at 6 p.m. in the Denham Springs Municipal Building.
Wreath tribute honors veterans BY VIC COUVILLION
Special to The Advocate Wreaths Across America, a nationwide tribute to deceased veterans of military service, was welcomed to Tangipahoa Parish by a large number of members of veterans’ organizations and their families and friends in ceremonies held in several cities Friday and Saturday. The weekend began with a tribute to the parish’s veterans in Amite when two semi trucks delivered Tangipahoa Parish’s allotment of wreaths to a waiting group of veterans and others. This was followed by Saturday events in various local cemeteries and was concluded on Monday when the wreaths were placed on the graves of veterans. In remarks to the crowd gathered at Wal-Mart in Hammond, Vietnam veteran Tommy Muster called the event “a great day for all of our veterans, both those who have passed on and those still with us. We are blessed to live where we do because Tangipahoa Parish is a great place to be a veteran. You, the people of this parish, support our veterans 100 percent and for this we are most grateful.” Support shown for the program throughout the parish bolstered Muster’s observation. The crowd applauded Muster’s remarks and those of other speakers taking place in the ceremony. The two trucks were met at the Mississippi state line just north of Kentwood by state troopers and several dozen veterans riding motorcycles. The convoy led the trucks into Amite where the welcoming group awaited. An elite veterans team from Bogalusa, the 40 and 8 Veterans, presented the colors and later fired off a 21-gun salute in tribute to all veterans. Keynote speaker for the event was Louis Joseph, a U.S. Army veteran, member of the Tangipahoa Parish Council and a former superintendent of the parish’s school system. Joseph challenged the audience to fulfill what he called “a mission.” “That mission is to remember the sacrifices of those men and women who have defended our nation, especially those who gave their lives in combat, to honor and take care of the veterans who are still with us, and to teach our children that it is an honor and a duty to serve our nation when we are called upon to do so,” Joseph äSee WREATH, page 2G