DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
AD DVOCA VOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, n ov e m b e r 20, 2024
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Refurbished park hosts Veterans Day ceremony Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
November Ascension GOP Roundtable set Ron C. Henderson, deputy commissioner for the Louisiana Department of Insurance, will be the featured speaker at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the November Ascension GOP Roundtable, sponsored by Ascension Republican Women. The Roundtable is at the Clarion Inn, 1500 W. La. 30, in Gonzales. A graduate of Southern University Law Center as well as Southern University at New Orleans where he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice, Henderson serves as deputy commissioner with the Office of Consumer Advocacy & Diversity for the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Cost for the lunch is $30. Make advanced payment by visiting paypal.me/ARW225. Reservations are requested. A $5 room fee will be collected for those not dining. RSVP: (225) 921-5187 or email arwrus@aol.com.
BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
Nearly 200 people joined the Nov. 11 Ascension Parish Veterans Day Ceremony to honor those who served in the military. The annual event, held at the Ascension Veterans Memorial Park in Gonzales, featured anthems, guest speakers, presentation of the colors and a passing of the flag ceremony.
Members of VFW 3693 participated in the Passing of the Flag ceremony, along with Retired Naval Chief Petty Officer Michele Unitas.
Ascension Veterans Memorial Park Association Chair Shelby Ballard gave welcoming remarks and said the flag currently flying at the park has flown at the nation’s Capitol building. U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves, R-Baton Rouge, donated the flag. The event’s audience included various city and state officials, including Ascension Parish Government Chief of Staff
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
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Shane and Pamela Martinez’s jambalaya cooks in a pot Nov. 9 during the VFW 3693 Jambalaya Cook-off contest. Layne Gautreau, of the Jambalaya Festival Association, judged the cook-off.
Cooks vie for VFW Jambalaya Cook-off crown
PHOTOS BY WENDY LOUP
Isabella Herrin, 8, and Lawrence Herrin, 6, of Ponchatoula, pose Nov. 11 for pictures during This, That & More Indoor Flea Market’s KangaROOS for St. Jude. This, That & More raises money for St. Jude’s by sponsoring events, as well as a booth with proceeds going to the foundation.
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Troy LeBoeuf ASCENSION SPORTS
ACHS loses in Division 5 volleyball semis, Dutchtown falls The ACHS volleyball team advanced to the D5 semifinals with a straight set sweep over Riverside, before losing to No. 2 Westminster Christian in the semifinals at the Cajundome in Lafayette. Middle hitters Ava Landry and Kaylee Brown led the offense against Riverside along with libero Ava Bright. Ascension Catholic (25-14) and Westminster battled in Set 1 with a 25-20 victory and a 1-0 lead. Westminster would then take control in sets 2 and 3 en route to a sweep back into the Division 5 finals against Country Day for the third year in a row. The Bulldogs, under coach Janelle Leonard, lose a senior class of nine, but return some key pieces and should make another run in 2025.
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St. Amant resident Beau Carman, 1, takes photos Nov. 10 with Arson, a baby kangaroo.
PHOTOS BY WENDY LOUP
Greg and Brandy Stone stand near their simmering pot of jambalaya Nov. 9 during the VFW 3693 Jambalaya Cook-off. Greg Stone said the key to good jambalaya is frying the meat to the right consistency and taste. BY WENDY LOUP
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to cooks’ jambalaya with the best taste, texture and tenderness. Bart and Selena Himel won first place; Adam Gautreau was second; third place went to Robert “Hoss” and Brett “Hoss Fly” Reine. What makes a great jambalaya? Cooks shared their ideas of what is needed in a competition jambalaya.
Contributing writer
ambalaya cooks gathered their recipes, pots and enthusiasm Nov. 9 at the VFW Post 3693 cook-off in Gonzales. A dozen cooks stirred pots full of seasoned pork and sausage. Jambalaya Festival Association Judge Layne Gautreau awarded first, second and third place
Bart Himel, who has won several awards for his jambalaya, said the overall appearance and flavor are the key to a good pot. Shane Martinez, owner of St. Amant’s Krazy Kajun Cookware, said a perfect amount of flavor makes a good batch of jambalaya. For Greg Stone, the key to good jambalaya is frying the meat to the right consistency and taste.
Kangaroos raise money for St. Jude’s foundation
BY WENDY LOUP
Contributing writer
Baby kangaroos Gloria and Ar- ä More son received lots of pets and hugs photos. from children Nov. 10 during This, PAGE 4G That & More Indoor Flea Market’s popular Christmas fundraiser KangaROOS for Dream Day Foundation. The event gave participants the opportunity to take photos with the baby kangaroos for a donation to the Dream Day Foundation. Valerie Toney, owner of Toney Whitetail & Rouxs, is a board member for the foundation and has brought along her kangaroos for This, That & More’s fundraiser for several years.