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GARDEN DISTRICT • SOUTHDOWNS • GOODWOOD • TARA • SPANISH TOWN • CAPITAL HEIGHTS LSU LAKES • MELROSE PLACE • BEAUREGARD TOWN
THURSDAY DECEMBER 31, 2015 H
THEADVOCATE.COM
Teen girl shines in horse events
Darlene Denstorff AROUND MID CITY
DDENSTORFF@ THEADVOCATE.COM
Libraries set to close for holiday
BY C.J. FUTCH
cfutch@theadvocate.com
The Carver, Eden Park, Main and River Center branches of East Baton Rouge Parish Library will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the New Year’s holiday. Regular hours will resume Saturday.
Cinema Saturday
The Main Library will show family-friendly films in the library’s activity rooms from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. All children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult. Call (225) 231-3760 for details.
Anime matinee
The Main Library will show anime films for teens at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Teen Room. Ramen noodles will be served.
New year, new journal
Teens can make their own personalized, pocket-sized notebook from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Carver Branch Library in meeting room 1.
Introduction to genealogy
An Introduction to Genealogy class will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Main Library’s Technology Lab. Learn how to conduct genealogical research, which types of records are used to track a family’s history, which databases the library offers to assist your research and what types of resources are available.
Eden Park Anime Club
The Eden Park Anime Club for teens will meet from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Eden Park Branch Library. Come watch your favorite shows and eat some ramen noodles.
Noon tunes
Members of the Baton Rouge Symphony will perform in the plaza of the Main Library at noon Wednesday.
Advocate staff photos by TRAVIS SPRADLING
Baton Rouge Bishop Robert Muench, center, greets a room full of guests and volunteers, just before the start of Christmas dinner in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall.
A FESTIVE FEAST
Christmas meals help fill stomachs and hearts for those in need Advocate staff report
Volunteers served 901 meals Christmas Day in the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall. More than 150 volunteers joined Bishop Robert Muench, of the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, to serve meals to the needy. “The one thing out of the ordinary today was the heat,” said Michael J. Acaldo, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Society of St. Vincent de Paul. But Friday’s hot temperatures didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the volunteers, who helped serve the luncheon. “There was a lot of opportunity to give,” Acaldo said. “It was a really wonderful, wonderful community outpouring of support.” Children attending the luncheon were also given toys donated to St. Vincent de Paul. The society runs the dining hall year-round, preparing about 240,000 meals.
ABOVE: Tinesha Hillard, 3, was captivated after picking out a book as part of her gifts from the ‘Christmas Store,’ after eating Christmas Day dinner. Her mother, Tonya Hillard, said the gifts were much appreciated this Christmas. LEFT: Jonathan Jones, 8, takes a bite of rice dressing during Christmas dinner in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul dining hall.
Teen trivia challenge
Teen and tween fans of “The 5th Wave,” a novel recently made into a major film, will enjoy trivia from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 7 at River Center Branch Library’s Children’s Room on the second floor. Food will be available and prizes will be awarded.
BREC New Year’s hours
BREC’s administrative offices, 6201 Florida Blvd., will be closed Friday for the New Year’s Day holiday. Normal operating hours will resume at all BREC facilities on Monday. All BREC golf courses will remain open for the New Year’s holiday. All recreation and tennis centers will close at noon on New Year’s Eve. Both will remain closed on New Year’s Day. Baton Rouge Zoo, Blue-
SANTA’S WET RIDE
Fifteen-year-old Ellen Fargason has been horseback riding since she was a young child, and working with horses has always been a part of her family life, in more ways than one. Ellen’s mother, Donna, is a psychiatrist and uses horses in therapeutic sessions called equine facilitated learning, helping clients deal with issues ranging from anxiety and impulse control to relationshipbuilding and confidence. But that, Donna said, is another story. As a general rule, Ellen Fargason said, she’s been learning the same lessons by working with horses since she was “I love 5 years old. working “I love working with with them. them. Each Each horse horse has his has his own own personpersonality, ality, and you have to take and you have that into acto take that count to fig- into account ure out how to figure out they think, how they and how to think, and get the message (of what how to get is needed) the message across (with(of what out words),” is needed) she said. across It’s not a far stretch to (without see how this words).” improves ELLEN ones’ people FARGASON, skills, she rider said. In fact, people may be easier, because they involve less detective work — sometimes. Fargason has been riding an English style of competition called walk/trot/cantor for about the past two years, with Slim Shady, her American Saddle horse. “Most of the English-style competitions around here are jumping,” Donna said, which is more technically difficult, and also more dangerous. Walk/trot is a good fit for Ellen right now, she said, and both Ellen and another student at the Marjorie Judd Stables, Elizabeth Sessums, have been competing under Judd’s coaching for the past year. The pair earned enough points to win the overall performance championship in their age categories at last year’s Texas American Saddle Horse Association, according to the association’s website. Ellen was named champion in the Academy Walk/Trot Performance 14 and younger, and Sessums won the same honor for the 10-and-younger category. The competitions are known for the elegance of the horse’s äSee HORSE, page 4G
TOP LEFT: Kids get an old-school ride during the parade. TOP RIGHT: ‘Krewe de Lew’ members enjoy a wet ride during the Jefferson Place-Bocage parade. LEFT: Santa salutes paradegoers just before the start of the Jefferson Place-Bocage Christmas Eve Day parade.
äSee AROUND, page 3G
Advocate staff photos by TRAVIS SPRADLING
Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS
Ellen Fargason grooms her saddlebred horse while practicing walking, trotting and cantering at Marjorie Judd Stables.