SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
DEMOCRAT THE ST. FRANCISVILLE
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, Au g u s t 6, 2025
$1.00N
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Cat Island group makes two announcements Friends of Cat Island announced on Facebook that the river has dropped enough to allow a partial opening of Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, allowing access to the Black Fork area. The refuge beyond this point remains closed. Incremental opening will occur as conditions improve. The group also announced its third annual Fall Migration Birding and Nature Walks will be Sept. 6. The bird walk is 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The nature walk is 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Both walks will be about 3 miles. The exact location on the refuge will be based on refuge conditions at the time. Experts will be there to assist with species identification. This event is free but register by contacting either William Daniel at (225) 721-0090 or epewhd@icloud.com or Jesse Means at (225) 936-6529 or jesselmeans3@amail.com. Specify what walk you want to do: the birding walk or the nature walk.
Blood drive coming A community blood drive will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 12 in the Main Conference Room at West Feliciana Hospital. Visit www.tbcdonors.org/ donor/auth/signin to sign up for an appointment.
Shopping event coming The annual Pop and Shop event in St. Francisville is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 23.
Honoring veterans n Plans are underway for the 2025 Veterans Day Program set for 10 a.m., Nov. 8 at the Feliciana Veterans Park in Jackson. Anyone interested in participating or helping should contact U.S. Air Force veteran Jim Parker at (225) 245-2831. n Clinton is Home Foundation hosts Meet the Veterans on Nov. 8 at The Green Door at H Mercantile, Clinton. n Plans for a memorial park for Clinton are developing and interest and support have been shown, according to spokesperson Marsha Kemp. She said Clinton Mayor Mark Kemp and Jim Parker discussed various things with her at a recent meeting. Plans are to form a committee of veterans, their family members, and people from the community to further pursue the project. If interested, call or text (225) 439-9705.
PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Each day the featured Bible story was acted out by the youth helpers, usually with one or more volunteers from the classes. These student tell the story of the happy reunion of Mary and Elizabeth from Luke 1:39-56.
Jackson vacation Bible school brings children on a ‘Road Trip with God’
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
Bible stories and verses were learned, money and food for others was collected and fellowship brought children together during the Vacation Bible School July 14-18 at Jackson United Methodist Church. The theme this year was Road Trip — On the Road with God. The green light verse for the entire week was “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. Classes were held for students ages 4-12. The busy schedule included an opening ceremony, with multiple activities, and a closing in the church sanctuary. A friendly dog puppet named Scout helped to get the theme and gospel message across. He talked to his navigator, the VBS director Susan Vidrine, and to the students in the audience
The Discovery Lab was a popular part of the morning activities at Jackson United Methodist Church’s vacation Bible school. Vanessa Mendel, center, works with the children during a ä See TRIP, page 5G morning activity.
Meet me at the library
Community gathers for more than books
Bicycles sought Bicycles — new, used, any condition — can be dropped off between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday at the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office CRT building, 9946 West Feliciana Parkway, St. Francisville. All donated bicycles will be refurbished by Angola inmates to be distributed in the community.
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Magazine Bowl Workshop. Two tables quickly turned into four as the event drew two dozen Mary Borchardt calmly chat- participants instead of a small ted about life, raising children handful. Library Director Stacie Dain New Orleans while her fingers were working with vis, the tour guide precision cutting ä See more photos of for the evening, and folding. helped particicrafting event. PAGE 6G Longtime friends pants transform Kelli Daniel and old, but colorful Chae Mabile giggled and worked magazines into bowl-shaped masin a moment likened to socializ- terpieces. The two-hour working on an assembly line. All three shop covered rolling pages and spent a busy Friday night at the carefully using the rolls to form library. one-of-a-kind decorative bowls. Books are the common deAt a later time, a Mod Podge nominator for a wide range of sealant will be applied to harden activities drawing crowds to the and finish the bowls. The library filled the summer West Feliciana Parish Library. Seniors learn at an LSU leisure with activities for younger palearning extension, young chil- trons. A week later, it hosted the dren listen as books come alive Dinosaur Experience featuring during storytime, and adults tot- Rexi and Fluffy. The mischieing stringed instruments spend vous dinos entertained a packed the evening “jamming” at the room of young dino enthusiasts. The events and activities for library and no one says “shush” while a good time was had by all. all ages will continue as summer Friends and those who had comes to an end. To learn more never met before met July 25 or to participate, visit www.wfto participate in the Upcycled plibrary.org/events. Contributing writer
Support food pantry and more The Good Stuff Store in St. Francisville benefits the West Feliciana Food Pantry as well as other agencies. A post from the food pantry said that about half its annual funding comes from the store. The resale shop sells gently used clothing and housewares is at 12292 Jackson Road, St. Francisville.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Kelli Daniel focuses on her crafting project during the Upcycled Magazine Bowl Workshop on July 25 at the West Feliciana Parish Library.