DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
ADVOCATE THE LIVINGSTON -TANGIPAHOA
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, F e b r u a ry 26, 2025
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Volunteers prepare for St. Joseph’s Altar BY VIC COUVILLION Contributing writer
The Friends of St. Joseph at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denham Springs will once again honor St. Joseph, the father of Jesus, with a special Mass, dedication and blessing of the elaborate St. Joseph’s Altar, and a communal meal at noon March 15 in the main church hall. Preparations for the altar, a multitiered creation featuring a wide variety of food items including FILE PHOTO BY VIC COUVILLION cakes, cookies, vegetable dishes, seafood and other treats, statues, The St. Joseph’s Altar erected at the Immaculate Conception Catholic candles, and special breads creatChurch in Denham Springs in 2024 honors a tradition brought to the ed to represent significant aspects United States by immigrants from Sicily more than a century ago. of the life of St. Joseph the carpen-
ter and his son Jesus, are already underway. Cooking for the altar started on Feb. 6, and other sessions were held on the subsequent Thursdays. Final cooking dates are scheduled for Feb. 27, March 4 and March 6. The altar will be set up during work days scheduled for March 9-13. The volunteer cooks prepare, among other items, thousands and thousands of cookies of various types all with connections to the Sicilian experience in the United States. The St. Joseph Mass will be held at 6 p.m. March 14 at the church and the blessing of the altar will follow at 7 p.m. The annual dinner will be preceded by the ritual of
the feeding of the saints. Following this tableau, the doors to the hall will be opened and the public will be invited to come in for the dinner. All are invited regardless of their faith affiliation, according to Rosie Moak, who has spearheaded the altar for many years. She is assisted in preparing for the observance by dozens of volunteers who dedicate their time and cooking talents to building the altar and preparing food for the traditional meal. Among those assisting in preparations for the altar are members of the Knights of Columbus, who
ä See ALTAR, page 2G
IN THE KNOW Denham Springs High Stem Center Design Sharks members Khadija Henni, left, and Adalyn Farrell work on editing app code.
Denham Springs students develop carbon-capture monitoring app BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
As the carbon capture and sequestration industry grows in south Louisiana, a group of Denham Springs students is developing an innovative way to keep the community informed about it. Called the Denham Springs High School Sharks, the student STEM group has spent the past few months monitoring Lake Mau-
repas using sensors and relaying the information to a mobile app. The idea is to keep area residents in the know about what is going on with the body of water. Air Products and Chemicals has proposed building a $4.5 billion “blue” hydrogen production plant in Ascension Parish. Hydrogen is widely used for industrial processes, but is seen as a potential
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
Denham Springs High Stem Center teacher Mark Zweig talks to students Mohamed Henni, center, and Juan ä See APP, page 2G Rendon-Garces. They were discussing details of the phrase of the carbon capture project.
LIVINGSTON PARISH LIBRARY
Comic Con back on schedule after board OKs funding Community news report Get ready for Livingston Parish’s biggest celebration of comic books, movies, television, video games and all things pop culture. The Livingston Parish Library will host the annual Comic Con from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025. Comic Con is at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch, at 8101 U.S. 190, Denham Springs. The announcement came after
the library’s governing board restored money for the event and other library activities to the budget. People of all ages are invited to celebrate their favorite fandom at this free event, which is open to the public. Inspired by the mega-event that takes place annually in San Diego, Livingston’s Comic Con invites
ä See COMIC CON, page 2G
After turmoil, budget restored BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
After months of turmoil, the Livingston Parish Library Board of Control restored the libraries’ 2025 budget at its Feb. 18 meeting, bringSTAFF PHOTO BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD ing back from the chopping block multiple programs, events and access to online services The Young Adult section at the Denham Springs-Walker hosted by the library system. library branch in Livingston Parish after the board of The majority of the board, along with Parish
control unanimously approved to temporarily relocate YA materials to the Adult section while they are under review.
ä See BUDGET, page 2G
St. Francis Episcopal Church plans lenten gumbo Fridays Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Dine on seafood gumbo or chicken and sausage gumbo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 14, March 21, March 28, April 4 and April 11 at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 726 Maple St., Denham Springs. The gumbo is $10 per plate. For information, call (225) 665-2707 or email stfrancisgumbo.square.site.
Masquerade Gala planned The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce is planning a Masquerade Gala on March 28 at Carter Plantation in Springfield. The gala includes live music, casino games, prizes and silent and live auctions. For tickets, visit tinyurl.
com/88f6trkf.
Volunteers provide income tax help The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is providing free tax preparation assistance at the Southeastern Livingston Center, in Walker through April 15. For eligibility guidelines, other information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.cauw.org/VITA or call (225) 923-2114.
DSHS Athletic Hall of Fame The Denham Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame and title sponsor Hood Dental Care are accepting nominations for its next class of inductees
through March 31. Hall of Fame nomination guidelines are available on the high school’s website at www.denhamspringshs.org or by picking up a copy at the school office. For information, contact Julie Jacobsen at julie.jacobsen@lpsb.org or (225) 405-6838.
Baseball, softball registration Livingston Parks and Recreation’s Baseball and Softball League registration is underway. The league is in the last stages of construction on renovations to its facility. In the spring, players in the league will be able to compete on five new turf fields with
new LED lights. Anyone interested in coaching can email jkinchen@townoflivingston.com. To register, visit form. jotform.com/250363776892166. March 13 is the registration deadline.
Farmers market The Four Seasons Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the city parking lot at Hummel Street and Railroad Avenue. Fresh vegetables, fruits and handmade items are on sale from vendors. Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.