The Watchman 09-03-2025

Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS

Family dance planned in West Feliciana

The third annual Fall Family Dance Denim & Diamonds is from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 7 at the West Feliciana High gym. Cost is $15 a person. The event is for families of pre-kindergarten through fifth graders. A DJ, concession, games and photo booth will be on hand. Register at tinyurl. com/5n7vmmfd. For questions, contact estepj@wfpsb. org.

Learn about saving seeds in Clinton

Audubon Regional Library in Clinton is opening a seed library Jessie Hoover of the East Feliciana LSU AgCenter will speak at 1 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Clinton Branch, 11023 Bank St., about how to save seeds from flowers, fruits, vegetables and other plants. Patrons are encouraged to bring labeled seeds for the new library Community market coming

The Clinton Community Market is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 6 on St. Helena St. Vendors, local shops and local restaurants will be available.

Cat Island hosting bird event

Friends of Cat Island announced its third annual Fall Migration Birding and Nature Walks will be Sept.

6. The bird walk is from 6 to 10 a.m. The nature walk is from 8 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) 7210090 or epewhd@icloud.com or Jesse Means at (225) 9366529 or jesselmeans3@amail. com. Specify what walk you want to do: the birding walk or the nature walk.

Meet the veterans

Clinton is Home is hosting a Meet the Veterans event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov 8 at the Green Door at H Mercantile., 12408 St. Helena St., Clinton.

SU Ag Center to host canning and preserving workshop

The Southern University Ag Center will host a fruits and vegetables canning and preserving workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 11 in Room 157 of Pinkie Thrift Hall on Southern University’s campus. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. The workshop will provide a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of food preservation and canning. Participants will learn how to safely preserve seasonal produce, trends in food preservation, and the essential equipment. During the workshop, participants will prepare fruit, pack a jar, and receive a jar of preserves to take home. The workshop is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. To register visit form.jotform com/252096036998066.

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 Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@theadvocate.com.

BRUSHES AND BEATS

Frys’ venture a diverse art buffet

BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

Contributing writer

Home is where the heart is.

Following suit, the newest gathering for the arts isn’t a center or a studio, it’s a house. The Art House, a blending of visual and performing art, is a new place in an old space connecting creative, but diverse souls.

Singer-songwriter/wood artist Chris Fry and visual and instrumental artist Cheri Fry are the faces of the Art House, which Chris Fry operates with business partner Davis Havard, chef and owner of the Oyster Bar on the local river landing.

All three are known figures in St. Francisville, but the Art House was born more of providence than planning. Cheri Fry

was finishing an art show at the previous Backwoods Gallery owned by artist Joe Savell when something “spontaneous”

happened. “Really, it was one of those things,” Cheri Fry recalled. “When I had a show here in Oc-

tober and Joe featured me as the guest artist, he told me he was tired and ready to retire.”

Cheri Fry was finishing a 30year career with Livingston Parish schools as a speech pathologist and had retirement dreams of her own, but Chris Fry, the businessman at heart, was excited about the potential.

“Was it a rash decision?” she said with a chuckle.

Havard, a St. Francisville native, knew plenty about breathing new life into old space. He helped restore the flood-battered Oyster Bar into a popular dining spot that often features live music.

The Art House multitasks. It is an art gallery, live music venue and event space that also offers custom framing, art classes and more. Cheri Fry is an accomplished

BY RICHARD MEEK

Slaughter Charter wins jamboree 7-0

Slaughter running back Brannigan Givens carries for a huge gain against the St. John Eagles.

FOOTBALL

Continued from page 1G

Leila Pitchford

AROUND THE FELICIANAS

Family dance planned in West Feliciana

The third annual Fall Family Dance Denim & Diamonds

is from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 7 at the West Feliciana High gym. Cost is $15 a person. The event is for families of pre-kindergarten through fifth graders. A DJ, concession, games and photo booth will be on hand. Register at tinyurl. com/5n7vmmfd. For questions, contact estepj@wfpsb. org.

Learn about saving seeds in Clinton

Audubon Regional Library in Clinton is opening a seed library Jessie Hoover of the East Feliciana LSU AgCenter will speak at 1 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Clinton Branch, 11023 Bank St., about how to save seeds from flowers, fruits, vegetables and other plants. Patrons are encouraged to bring labeled seeds for the new library Community market coming

The Clinton Community Market is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 6 on St. Helena St. Vendors, local shops and local restaurants will be available.

Cat Island hosting bird event

Friends of Cat Island announced its third annual Fall Migration Birding and Nature Walks will be Sept.

6. The bird walk is from 6 to 10 a.m. The nature walk is from 8 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) 7210090 or epewhd@icloud.com or Jesse Means at (225) 9366529 or jesselmeans3@amail. com. Specify what walk you want to do: the birding walk or the nature walk. Meet the veterans

Clinton is Home is hosting a Meet the Veterans event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov 8 at the Green Door at H Mercantile., 12408 St. Helena St., Clinton.

SU Ag Center to host canning and preserving workshop

The Southern University Ag Center will host a fruits and vegetables canning and preserving workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 11 in Room 157 of Pinkie Thrift Hall on Southern University’s campus. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. The workshop will provide a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of food preservation and canning. Participants will learn how to safely preserve seasonal produce, trends in food preservation, and the essential equipment. During the workshop, participants will prepare fruit, pack a jar, and receive a jar of preserves to take home. The workshop is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. To register visit form.jotform com/252096036998066.

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 Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@theadvocate.com.

DEMOCRAT

BRUSHES AND BEATS

BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER

Contributing writer

Home is where the heart is.

Following suit, the newest gathering for the arts isn’t a center or a studio, it’s a house. The Art House, a blending of visual and performing art, is a new place in an old space connecting creative, but diverse souls.

Singer-songwriter/wood artist Chris Fry and visual and instrumental artist Cheri Fry are the faces of the Art House, which Chris Fry operates with business partner Davis Havard, chef and owner of the Oyster Bar on the local river landing. All three are known figures in St. Francisville, but the Art House was born more of providence than planning. Cheri Fry

was finishing an art show at the previous Backwoods Gallery owned by artist Joe Savell when something “spontaneous”

happened. “Really, it was one of those things,” Cheri Fry recalled. “When I had a show here in Oc-

tober and Joe featured me as the guest artist, he told me he was tired and ready to retire.”

Cheri Fry was finishing a 30year career with Livingston Parish schools as a speech pathologist and had retirement dreams of her own, but Chris Fry, the businessman at heart, was excited about the potential.

“Was it a rash decision?” she said with a chuckle.

Havard, a St. Francisville native, knew plenty about breathing new life into old space. He helped restore the flood-battered Oyster Bar into a popular dining spot that often features live music.

The Art House multitasks. It is an art gallery, live music venue and event space that also offers custom framing, art classes and more. Cheri Fry is an accomplished

BY RICHARD MEEK

Slaughter Charter wins jamboree 7-0

Slaughter Community Charter School Knights defeated the St. John Eagles 7-0

Slaughter running back Brannigan Givens carries for a huge gain against the St. John Eagles.

FOOTBALL

Continued from page 1G

Silliman football returns 13 starters, welcomes transfers

BY RICHARD MEEK

Contributing writer

Coming off of a season that included a run to the quarterfinals, Silliman Institute welcomes back 13 starters and several new transfers.

But third-year coach Chet DeLee understands his biggest challenge might be replacing star quarterback Parker Nettles, who moved with his family to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Tapped to replace Nettles, who DeLee called “really, really good,” is Eliot Fudge. Fudge will be stepping under center after spending 2024 as a wide receiver.

Recognizing the difference in skill sets, DeLee has changed the Wildcats’ offense from the spread formation to more triple option. The Wildcats will also employ the I-formation.

“The development in that position will be our biggest key,” said DeLee, who has compiled a 15-7 record at Silliman, also his first two years as a head coach.

He said Fudge, a senior, is a good athlete and performed well in the jamboree. According to DeLee, Fudge is also the Wildcats best de-

FIELD HOUSE

Continued from page 1G

nutrition bar,

back Five starters return on offense, including tackle and Nicholls State commit Cooper Taylor Also return-

“This new athletic field house gives our student-athletes the tools they need to prepare both mentally and physically,” Superintendent Hollis Milton said. “It represents our commitment to investing in the whole child — supporting excellence in athletics, health and education.” Milton said the facility stands as a “symbol of community collaboration and pride, made possible through the support of the School Board, community stakeholders and local partners.”

The board allocated $2 million to the field house from the remainder of a construction bond issue that voters approved for construction of a new Bains Elementary School and other improvements. It also allocated $3.81 million from its general fund reserves to finish the job.

“He

help anchor Silliman’s defense. A year ago Crawford totaled 103 tackles. Garba, according to his coach, is also the Wildcats best defensive lineman.

DeLee had praise for newcomer Cade Russell, a Zachary High School transfer, who will play wide receiver and cornerback.

“We are excited about Cade,” DeLee said. “He was a big-time special teams guy and I had always heard he was a good athlete. Standing 5-7 and checking in at 160 pounds, he is undersized but fast.

“He is a thick little dude and also quick,” De Lee said.

Also returning is defensive end Deacon White, who will play defensive end and along the offensive line The senior stands 6-3 and tips the scale at 265 pounds.

“I think they are a very tough group, the toughest one I’ve had,” DeLee said of his troops. “We had good teams the past couple of years but this is the smallest group we had and least selfish group we have had.”

Email Richard Meek at livingston@theadvocate.com.

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artist, member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society and national juried River Road Show winner The walls are filled with her art, but during music sessions, she plays cello and accompanies on guitar

Chris Fry is a singersongwriter who plays local and regional venues like the Muddy Water Songwriter Festival. His guitar is a natural fixture, but he is also a creative visual artist and

wood carver He created one-of-a-kind collectable utensils through a business called the Spoon Mill

Chris Fry passed down the passion and skill of wood carving to his nephew Tommy Fry, and a section of the Art House is dedicated to the unique spoons and collectibles.

The Art House caters to the creatives who walk the fine line dividing music and visual arts. Cheri Fry explained that brain centers stimulated by the arts will lead to multiple manifestations. The Frys don’t have visual art sides and musi-

cal sides; they each have one creative soul capable of diverse artistic expression. The Art House’s soft opening showcased featured artist Gabrielle Dinger, a wood and metal artist and painter Next on tap will be the Listening Room Series on Sunday, Aug. 31, featuring a slice of Americana with singer-songwriter Ryan Harris and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra percussionist Melissa Wilson. For more on the Art House and a line-up of its events, visit www.facebook.com/arthouse.stfrancisville.