SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
W atchman
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 2, 2025
$1.00N
New rules set for tearing down blighted buildings in downtown area BY JAMES MINTON
Contributing writer
The St. Francisville Board of Aldermen unanimously approved an ordinance March 25 to strengthen the town’s hand in tearing down blighted buildings, but members also turned down a bid to demolish a home in the town’s Historic District. The unusual circumstances evolved after Mayor Andy D’Aquilla
ST. FRANCISVILLE last month proposed an ordinance to set procedures for dealing with condemned buildings, while Claire and Kevin Couhig appealed the Historic District Commission’s denial of their request to tear down a house on Prosperity Street. D’Aquilla said the blighted property ordinance was needed to set
procedures for the town to require repair or demolition of abandoned, blighted or dangerous buildings and give affected property owners proper notice and an avenue to address the town’s concerns. The mayor said he has several buildings in mind, alluding to them having no utilities, roofs in disrepair and other structural deficiencies, but he caught himself several times during the discussion to avoid nam-
ing specific buildings. Public comment on the ordinance mainly concerned fears that the ordinance would apply to the town’s Historic District, which has strict rules about the appearance of existing structures. In voting to approve the ordinance, the aldermen added language to exclude the Historic District. In connection with the new procedures, the board also accepted the
mayor’s recommendation to hire Scott Masterson, a state-certified building inspector, to inspect and issue now-required reports on blighted properties that come to the attention of town officials. After a lengthy hearing with comments from numerous Historic District residents, the board voted 3-2 to deny the Couhig’s appeal of
ä See RULES, page 3G
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Polo event returns The Azalea Polo Classic is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 6 at West Feliciana Parish Park, 10226 W. Feliciana Parkway, in St. Francisville. The event benefits the West Feliciana Historical Society. Event tickets are $125 per person and include admission to the event, hors d’oeuvres, house wine and beer and prepared cocktails. Must be 21 and older to purchase event tickets (18 and older to attend the event). General admission tickets went on sale Feb. 1. Visit www. azaleapoloclassic.com for information.
Top retrievers, dock dogs The Super Retriever Series will feature more than 100 dogs competing in outdoor sports in the field and on the dock April 10-13 in St. Francisville. All events are free to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. The public is encouraged to jump their own dog the Friday through Sunday in the Fun Jump hours. The schedule of events includes: April 10 Retriever Trials 8 a.m. Series 1, 7485 U.S. 61, St Francisville, behind the gas station April 11 Retriever Trials 8 a.m., location to be announced SRS Super Dock West Feliciana Sports Park, 10226 W. Feliciana Parkway, St Francisville 1 p.m.: check-in/fun jumps and warm-up 2 p.m.: fun jumps 3 p.m.-5 p.m.: fun jumps and practice April 12 Retriever Trials 8 a.m., location to be announced SRS Super Dock 8 a.m.: competitor check-in and warm-up 9 a.m.: Super Fly — Splash 1 10 a.m.: fun jumps 11 a.m.: Super Fly — Splash 2 Noon: fun jumps 1 p.m.: Raider Run (all-in-one finals) 3 p.m.: Super V (all-in-one finals) April 13 Retriever Trials 8 a.m., location to be announced SRS Super Dock 8 a.m.: competitor check-in and warm-up 9 a.m.: Super Fly — Splash 3 10 a.m.: fun jumps 11 a.m.: Super Fly — Splash 4 Noon: fun jumps 1 p.m.: Super Fly finals.
Tom O’Neill joins the outside cooking volunteers Friday at the Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Fundraiser.
PHOTOS BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Fish-fry fundraiser reflects Lenten sacrifice, tradition
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
The Lenten season is tied to traditions seeded in the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church. Rick Prescott and Gregory Martinez helped lead the way to a local embodiment of those traditions — the Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Fundraiser held annually every Friday during Lent at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. Follow their sign’s directions and you will get a lot more than fish and fries. The auxiliary and church leaders feed the body and soul with side dishes of joy and fellowship tied to centuries of Catholics not eating fish on Fridays as a tradition of abstaining from meat, which is seen as a sacrifice in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Volunteers turned legends like Gus “Batterer Master” Gosselin help solidify the fellowship of gentlemen working the outside kitchens preparing fish. Gosselin has
“The tradition goes back to when meat was a luxury and wasn’t as readily available. It was more expensive — a real treat. And so, to give that up, was a sacrifice back then.” THE REV. BRAD DOYLE, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
gained respect and fame after years of service as a fish battering expert. He batters more than 120 pounds of fish strips and an almost equal amount of filets. Relative newcomer Tom O’Neil moved back to Louisiana after retirement and found a home and a place to serve at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. “I came back to the state, and then my wife and I built a house up here, and I joined the council,” he said. “My dad was a KC, and my brothers are also. One of my
brothers is a member here.” The Rev. Brad Doyle explains that the fish fry fundraiser helps parishioners connect and reflect. “The tradition goes back to when meat was a luxury and wasn’t as readily available,” he said. “It was more expensive — a real treat. And so, to give that up, was a sacrifice back then.” Doyle said that symbolism is technically every Friday of the year, but outside Lent, you can substitute a sacrifice or offer a different penance. “We do it on Friday because we want to remember Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross,” he explained. Doyle said the Lenten tradition of eating fish has extended to other parts of modern life and society. American fast food culture has even taken note. The Filet-OFish sandwich was invented in 1962 by businessman Lou Groen, a McDonald’s franchise owner in Cincinnati. His store
ä See FISH-FRY, page 2G
Lots of activities planned for Saturday in and around Jackson BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
As the flowers and trees are bursting with buds, blooms and new growth in abundance, the April 5 events in Jackson and beyond are also blooming — with promises of an abundance of springtime fun.
Jackson Car Show
ä See AROUND, page 3G
PROVIDED IMAGE
The 2025 T-shirt image for the fourth annual Jackson Car Show.
The car show theme this year is “Cars, History & Heart — Cruising for a Cause, Feed the Hungry,” said spokesperson Kimberly Broome-Cleveland. She said “it’s an event you don’t want to miss.” You’ll find classic and custom cars on display along with music, food, crafts and more in the historic
town of Jackson at the fourth annual Jackson Car Show. The entry fee/admission for the show is either a nonperishable food item or $5 donation with all proceeds to go to the Jackson food bank. The car show begins with registration at 8 a.m. and goes on until 2 p.m., when the presentation of the one-of-a-kind awards will conclude the day’s activities. Crowd pleaser Corban Barnes, of Ethel, and his band will return to provide musical entertainment. The car show T-shirt will also be back this year for car show participants with a limited number remaining for sale. The location again this year is 3312 College St. down the hill and
just behind the Old Hickory Models Model Train Museum on the grassy former football field. For more information, call (225) 2845187.
Multiple model trains The Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders will have its various model trains running inside and outside at the museum from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The extensive displays are a family favorite. Meticulous miniature landscapes and scenes add to the details of the trains’ routes inside and out. Also, outside at the museum site on a nearby hill is a small castle turret/tower replica for
ä See JACKSON, page 2G