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
Ham radio operators on air for nationwide event Ham radio operators from the Ascension Amateur Radio Club are participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 10 a.m. Saturday, June 28, until 1 p.m. Sunday, June 29. ARRL Field Day (www.arrl. org/field-day) is an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, the national association for amateur radio in the United States. Hams from across North America ordinarily participate in Field Day by establishing temporary ham radio stations in public locations to demonstrate their skill and service. Field Day highlights ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network. Ascension Amateur Radio will be set up at the Prairieville Fire Department Training Center, 14517 La. 73, in its communications trailer and inside the training center. All are welcome to observe the event and a station will be set up for visitors to get on the air. During Field Day 2024, more than 31,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America.
Donaldsonville Independence Day celebration set Celebrate Independence Day in Donaldsonville with the annual July 3 event presented by the city’s Downtown Development District in Crescent Park. The event, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., includes music by Big Frank Lil Frank, fireworks and vendor booths. Vendors can call (225) 4734814 to register a booth.
Basketball camp open for ages 4-16 Camp Andrews Basketball Fundamentals Training Camp will be held weekly through the end of July at the Gonzales Middle School open gym, 1502 W. Orice Roth St. Spots are limited for boys and girls ages 4-16. Registration is $40 for a single session/per day and $100 for three days/per week. Ages 4-9 meet at 4 p.m. and ages 1016 meet at 5:10 p.m. An Open Gym is every Monday for $15 an athlete. Ages 8-12 are at 4 p.m. and ages 1316 are at 5:30 p.m. RSVP to Dwayne Andrews at (225) 518-7940. Make payments by cash, check or CashApp (CAMPANDREWS1).
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W e d n e s d ay, J u n e 25, 2025
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BERRY GOOD STAFF PHOTOS BY HILARY SCHEINUK
Guests roam the rows of fresh blackberry bushes as they pick to fill their pails at Waughsome Farm in Prairieville on June 5.
At Waughsome Farm in Prairieville, two librarians turned a COVID hobby into a pick-your-own fruit farm
BY JOY HOLDEN
generations, and they turned it into a fruit orchard. After five years of planting and farming, On a warm June afternoon the Waughs now have 10 acres ideal for berry picking, cars of planted fruits. At 6 p.m., Mike Waugh, who and trucks turned into a grassy is the Board of lot off Abby James Regents library Road in Praiservices platform rieville. Young manager by day, volunteers directcommanded the ed cars where to attention of the park. eager crowd and It was 5:45 p.m., gave directions and a variety to the blackberry of people apand blueberry proached the rows as well as gates to Waughhow the pricing some Farm. goes. Then, he Chairity and opened the gates M i k e Wa u g h , to the eager pickboth librarians by trade, started Eloise Fussell, 4, shows ers with their planting during off her pail of fresh white plastic the COVID-19 buckets in tow. picked blackberries. pandemic in Chairity Waugh, 2020. They live the special colon Chairity’s family land that lections cataloger at LSU’s has been in her family for four Hill Memorial Library, ran Staff writer
PRIDE in Ascension
Temarya Briggs, left, coos at Olive, held by Jessie Britt, during Ascension Parish Pride’s inaugural event at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center on Saturday. STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
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Owner Chairity Waugh chats with a guest while readying their freshly picked blueberries and blackberries to go home. the checkout operations as her husband walked through the orchard, ready to answer questions and help any pickers. Waughsome Farm opened to the public in 2023, and the
Waughs are learning as they go when it comes to the orchard business. They tried opening for a day at a time the first
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Donaldsonville celebrates freedom at 30th Juneteenth celebration BY WENDY LOUP
eant and the music festival. Despite isolated storms, Donaldsonville families enjoyed a day of The city of Donaldsonville host- live music and dance in Louisiana ed its 30th annual Donaldsonville Square. The highlight of the music fesJuneteenth celebration last week, concluding festivities Saturday tival was the recognition of seven with a music festival. long-standing Donaldsonville AfriActivities in the city commemo- can American-owned businesses. rating Juneteenth included an auä See JUNETEENTH, page 2G thor talk, food distribution, a pag-
Contributing writer