DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
|
W e d n e s d ay, M ay 21, 2025
1GN
GRADUATION DAY
Rocking Block Summer Reading kickoff set The Ascension Parish Library is celebrating reading and summer with its Beanstack Summer Reading Challenge. The summer reading program is open to all ages, providing opportunities for rewards and prizes. There are also fun programs planned, like line dancing and exercise classes for adults, and an interactive drum show and science demonstrations for kids. Block parties are planned to kick off summer with bubbles, a giant hamster wheel, sidewalk chalk and lots more. At 2 p.m. Friday, May 23, visit the library in Donaldsonville to register and play games. The Kona Ice truck will be there from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. for a snowball snack. Try the Xtreme Inflatables mobile rock-climbing wall at the library in Gonzales at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, and at Galvez on Thursday, May 29,
ä See AROUND, page 3G
PROVIDEED PHOTO BY ASCENSION PUBLIC SCHOOLS
East Ascension High graduates display their diplomas during a May 15 ceremony in Spartan Stadium. ä Graduation list. PAGE 5G
Dutchtown High students walk into graduation Friday. ä Dutchtown High School graduation.
PAGE 4G
St. Amant High students walk into graduation ceremonies May 9 at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. As part of a long-standing tradition, St. Amant High students receive yellow roses during commencement at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.
ADVOCATE STAFF FILE PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Curly Leveron separates portions of chicken from the rice while cooking last year at the Jambalaya Festival in Gonzales.
Jambalaya Festival updates
First converted and rebranded Aldi store opens in Prairieville
New location, air-conditioning, variety of food, admission on tap
BY TIMOTHY BOONE
Business editor
BY DARLENE DENSTORFF Community news editor
Changes are coming to this year’s Jambalaya Festival, set for Thursday through Sunday. A new location, admission, added cooking contest, expanded food offerings and convenient parking will make this
ä See FESTIVAL, page 2G
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Aldi employee Kedra Doyle checks out the McCrory family at the new location on Thursday in Prairieville.
The first rebranded Aldi store in metro Baton Rouge opened in Prairieville Thursday as the fastgrowing supermarket chain continued to increase its presence in the area. Customers stared lining up outside of the former Winn-Dixie at 3:30 a.m. for free gift cards and bags, said Heather Moore, regional vice president. Two hundred fifty people were in line by the time the store opened at 9 a.m., Moore said. “We have a really good following and we want to continue to build on
it in this area,” Moore said. Aldi bought all of the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores from Southeastern Grocers in a deal that closed in early 2024. Plans are to convert about 220 of the locations to Aldi stores by the end of 2027. About 170 of the stores will be sold back to a group of private investors that includes the president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. The Prairieville store looks much like any of the 18 south Louisiana Aldi locations that have been built from the ground up over the past
SCAN HERE TO APPLY NOW!
SAVE THOUSANDS! LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENTS
APPLY TO WIN $1,000
**
AscensionCU.org YOUR COMMUNITY...YOUR CREDIT UNION
ä See ALDI, page 2G
3
Gonzales / Prairieville / Donaldsonville
*This program is for loans ( auto, boat, RV, motorcycle, ATV, tractors and lawnmowers) refinanced from other financial institutions. Will refinance loans 3% less than your existing interest rate. Normal credit and collateral value standards apply. Restrictions, limitations, and interest rate floors may apply. Real estate, unsecured loans, and credit cards are excluded. May require direct deposit/payroll deduction for the special rate. Limited time offer. APR=Annual Percentage Rate. **Completed application for Switch and Ditch, 2% special, HELOC required for entry. Drawing winner to be selected on April 30, 2025. Winner’s funds to be deposited into ACU checking account. Equal Housing Lender. Member NCUA.
%
APR*