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, O c t o b e r 29, 2025
$1.00N
Witch army sweeps in to combat domestic violence
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
“Have Broom, Will Travel” is no longer the adage. Hundreds of “witches” descended onto the bluffs of St. Francisville October 23 riding bikes, hobby horses, golf carts and capped by a league of foot soldiers. The annual Witches Ride drew a record crowd and about 700 participants to the event that raised more than $45,000 for the Purple House Foundation, organizers said. The ride was the brainchild of local consultant and dietician Stacey Verdicanno. The fundraiser supports area causes and serves as another draw to the St. Francisville tourism scene. Last year’s ride was the milestone that marked the launch of the Purple House A stunning Wicked Witch Veronica Foundation, a haven Noonan offers instruction to her for women and chil- flying monkey-cat Gomer. Noonan dren escaping domes- said a two-week-old Gomer was tic violence. Each ride a stowaway in a van her husband has built both resources and momentum for bought at a government auction, and he loves the interaction and the house. The ride started attention. at Parker Park and moved along Ferdinand and Royal streets. As the number of participants has grown, the ride is morphing into a parade with onlookers lining the streets to PHOTOS BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER catch a glimpse of the creative and colorful covens. Awards for the best-dressed witch, best-decorated An unconventional coven plays homage to the 50th anniversary of ‘Jaws’ on Thursday during the Witches Ride in St. bike, best hat, and more were given at the conclusion. ä Francisville. Each crew member portrayed character from the movie. More photos. PAGE 2G
Yellow Leaf artists embrace, engage, demonstrate BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
Artists Clare Keefer and Leon Hollins III are different, but alike. They both balanced the worlds of displaying art and living art seamlessly during the 22nd annual Yellow Leaf Art Festival by stepping out of their craft to talk to festivalgoers or explain the significance of a piece of artwork. The festival, held Oct. 24-25, faced weather challenges that moved the schedule up by one day to avoid a predicted volatile Sunday storm. What remained was a soggy, but realistic canvas of art in action and artists who became the featured attractions. Keefer is a nurse who creates custom wood etchings. She seemed
enveloped by the precision of hot etching pencil, but became animated with the stories and inspirations of her art. “Oh, you are taking Carl!” she exclaimed, noting that the newly purchased cutting board was named Carl, the beautiful great heron etched into the surface. She and her husband, Mel Keefer, also a nurse, operate Woodside Carpentry, a local business that produces custom furniture, cabinetry and woodcrafts. Leon Hollins III, a photojournalist and graphic designer, also spent his quiet moments with an instrument in hand while breaking quickly to engage visitors to the Art Natchez Gallery tent. Art Natchez is a collaboration of artists familiar with Arts for
All and the St. Francisville art community. “We met Lynn Wood, Kelly Ward, and that crew,” he said. “We joined Arts for All, and we came down a couple of times and conducted some art classes.” “So we’re quite familiar with this area.” Hollins is a former computer software designer who took a life veer embracing a career in photojournalism and later graphic design. The flow between the two is a natural progression. “To me, it’s all the same thing,” he said. “Yes, art is art. I love what I do with the camera or with the pencil or with a pen.” The festival is organized by Arts for All, whose organizer, Lynn
Don’t forget to set your clocks Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. Be sure to adjust your clocks back an hour. Daylight saving time will begin March 8.
Felicianas ready for Halloween DATE CHANGE: The Jackson Spooktacular and Trick-or-Treat has been moved to 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, because of expected bad weather. The Spooktacular will be on College Street and features a trunk-or-treat. n Trick-or-Treat in Downtown St. Francisville is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. n The Trick-or-Treat hours for the town of Clinton will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday,
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Clare Keefer finishes a wood etching Saturday surrounded by custom pieces produced by Woodside Carpentry, a local business she and her husband Mel Keefer operates that produces custom furniture, cabinetry ä See YELLOW LEAF, page 3G and woodcrafts.
Oct. 30. n A Trunk-or-Treat for students will be Thursday, Oct. 30, at Lawyers Row in Clinton. Decorating starts at 8 a.m. Schools, beginning with Silliman Institute, start arriving at 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Jackson Quad Area, 10 a.m. Clinton Quad Area, 10:30 a.m. Clinton Elementary, 10:45 a.m. Jackson Elementary and 11 a.m. Slaughter Elementary.
Formerly a Ford dealership, new St. Francisville brewery aims to be community hub BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer
The Feliciana Artist Group will be filling the Clinton United Methodist Church, 1321 Old South Drive, with Art and Music from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 1.
Folks can throw back pretzel bites and beers while looking at a 10-barrel brew system in a former Ford dealership in St. Francisville. After two years of planning and 14 months of construction, Bayou Sara Brewing Co., 11943 Ferdinand St., held its grand opening Oct. 24. The idea to open a brewery
ä See AROUND, page 2G
ä See BREWERY, page 4G
Art and Music planned
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Co-owner Steve Mckinney pours a sample glass of house-made beer at Bayou Sara Brewing Company in St. Francisville on Oct. 10.