DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE 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, S e p t e m b e r 24, 2025
Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Baton Rouge Home Show The Dutchtown High Homecoming court poses Friday with the school’s coming to mascot. Gonzales
PROVIDED PHOTOS
1GN
Dutchtown High Griffins celebrate homecoming
The Baton Rouge Home Show is set for Sept. 27-28 at LamarDixon Expo Center’s Trademart building, 9039 St. Landry Ave. The event features a wide selection of home improvement professionals in an interactive environment. For more information, visit www.lahomeshows-ld.com.
Music in the Park date announced Mark your calendars for an afternoon of live music and family fun Nov. 16 at Jambalaya Park for the fall Music in the Park fall session. Food truck and other vendors can email Logan@gonzalesla. com for registration information. All vendors must be licensed with the City of Gonzales.
Career fair planned Learn about area available jobs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. during a career fair Sept. 30 at the Ascension Parish Library-Gonzales Branch, 708 S. Irma Blvd., Gonzales. Meet with local employers, learn about open positions, and take part in résumé workshops. Professional attire and copies of your résumé are recommended. Local businesses interested in participating can call (225) 647-3955. For more information visit myAPL.org/career-fair.
Wine tasting set Rotary Club of Greater Ascension is hosting a Wine Tasting event at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 1 at Alexander’s Heritage Café, 415 St. Christopher Ave, Gonzales. Tickets are $50 for the twohour event featuring over 25 varieties of wine and a bourbon station. Visit eventbrite.com for tickets.
Yoga with kittens Cara’s House is planning a kitty yoga program fundraiser and animal rescue awareness program on Sept. 27. The animal shelter is teaming up with Reform Fitness for Yoga with Kittens, starting at 9:45 a.m. Early registration is encouraged at clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/mainclass?.fl=true&tabID=7.
Cancer awareness program Community Sisterhood is planning a Cancer Awareness Month event from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 13 at Progressive Baptist Church, 36093 La. 73, Geismar. Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 388-0215 or (225) 603-1998; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate. com. Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday.
Dynamic Duo Homecoming Week contest Carmi Burnett is crowned Homecoming winners, from left, are Lila Phillips and Kaia Bourgeois as a bill and a founding queen Friday during Dutchtown High’s football game. Father from ‘I’m just a Bill!.’
Homecoming King, senior football player, Caden Messina is crowned during Saturday’s Dutchtown High Homecoming dance.
Dutchtown High student Carmi Burnett reigned over the school’s Homecoming festivities last week. Burnett was nominated by the Beta Club. The weeklong celebration included theme days, a homecoming parade and dance.
VFW 3693 supports education, area children BY WENDY LOUP
Contributing writer
Helping continue to welcome the new school year in Ascension Parish, the VFW Post 3693 hosted its first Red, White & Youth School Kickoff on Saturday in Gonzales. The family-friendly event featured children’s activities along with information about various organizations and scholarship opportunities available to students. The post is looking forward to hosting more events that are focused on family and children’s activities, VFW Post 3693 Auxiliary President Antoinette Nolen said. A dozen vendors, including area children’s clubs as well as the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ascension Parish Library and the nonprofit organization Books for Boots were on hand to cheer on students. “This was an event the auxiliary decided to take on,” Nolen said. “We wanted an event that supports and promotes back-to-school. “It’s our first year hosting it, so hopefully it will continue to grow.” Many organizations used the opportunity to introduce themselves while promoting upcoming events. Books for Boots, the nonprofit organization that provides free books to military members, gave children free books. Melissa Singletary, Books for Boots founder, discussed the Junior Boots program, which provides age-appropriate books, movies and puzzles to children whose parents are in the military. Books for Boots partnered with the Louisiana National Guard’s Child and Youth Services to donate
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Seventh District volunteer firefighter Amber Pickens helps 9-year-old Alli Andermann, of Sorrento, try on bunker gear during the VFW Post 3693’s Red, White & Youth School Kickoff Saturday in Gonzales. thousands of items including educational items. Singletary said the organization, which has given away thousands of items to the military, is growing at a fast pace. “It’s really taken off, and it’s exciting how much we are expanding,” Singletary said. “Events like today’s show students any type of
reading is good. Even just reading for fun gives them more experience with reading. We are giving them the opportunity today to pick up new reading material.” Teresa Bui, a unit leader for American Heritage Girls, passed out information about the faithbased club. “We are an alternative to Girl
Scouts,” Bui said. “The Girl Scouts provide so many opportunities for girls. We are similar, but we focus on faith and service with girls from five to 18 years old.” The club works alongside various military organizations including Books for Boots and the Blue
ä See VFW, page 3G
Football Week 3: Gators, Spartans, Tigers, Griffins, Bulldogs victorious Troy LeBoeuf
ASCENSION SPORTS
Week 3 of the football season has come and gone with five of the seven parish teams getting victories. The Dutchtown High Griffins recorded the only shutout with a 62-0 homecoming win over Collegiate Baton Rouge. The Spartans defense played well in a 25-14 win over Sam Houston. Ascension Catholic routed St. Thomas Aquinas 43-7 behind a 300-yard rushing performance. Donaldsonville moves to 3-0 with a convincing win over West St John.
ä Photos from Running back Jourden The most impressive victory of the week was St St. Amant game. Hickerson was the offensive star with 116 rushing yards Amant’s 28-12 win over a PAGE 2G and two touchdowns. QB very good John F. Kennedy Cooper Babin has been putteam. On to week four, nearly the halfway ting up video game numbers early this point of the season. season, he had just under 200 yards and St. Amant (3-0) 28, John F. Kennedy 12: The added two rushing touchdowns against Gator defense clamped down on a fast a fast Kennedy defense. and explosive Kennedy team at The Pit. Next: Hosts Scotlandville Cam Clouatre and DJ Schonberg had East Ascension (2-1) 25, Sam Houston 14 interceptions for the Gator D. Gators The Spartans flexed their muscles responded after giving up 56 last week on defense with a strong performance. to Cecilia. They also had a blocked punt and an-
other pick six to score on defense. Javon Javius had the block, and Dawson Landry had another pick-six. Quarterback Zaylen Smith had a touchdown pass and Jason Blackburn had a rushing touchdown. Next: Hosts Denham Springs Dutchtown (2-1) 62, Collegiate BR 0 The Griffins cruised to an easy homecoming victory. District 5-5A play begins this week. Next: Hosts Prairieville
ä See LEBOEUF, page 2G