DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
ADVOCATE THE LIVINGSTON -TANGIPAHOA
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, J u ly 15, 2026
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Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
At the library Denham Springs-Walker Branch: For information on program at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch, call (225) 686-4140 or visit www.mylpl.info. Thursday, July 16, 2 p.m., Box of Chocolates Book Club (ages 18+): Are you an avid reader or are you just looking for some great new titles to try? Join the Box of Chocolates Book Club, because you never know what you’re going to get. Thursday, July 16, 6 p.m., DIY Dino Diorama (ages 4-12): See what kind of drama you can act out with your own dinosaur diorama. This DIY project gives you the chance to make a dinosaur scene. Registration is required. Friday, July 17, 10:30 a.m., Wiggle Worms: Music & Movement (ages 0-5): Get ready to groove and giggle at the library with a variety of songs and rhythms that will have your child dancing, clapping, and singing along. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join in the fun and share in the joy of music with their little ones. Saturday, July 18, 1 p.m., Afternoon Board Games (ages 18+): Board gaming is booming. Come to the library and explore its collection — there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated hobbyist. From classics like Scrabble and Yahtzee to modern hits like Space Base and Forest Shuffle, the fun is endless. Space available for tabletop role-playing. Monday, July 20, 10 a.m., TriParish Ballet, The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (all ages): Experience the artistry of dance as the Tri-Parish Ballet presents a youth performance. Dancers will bring stories to life through graceful movement, costumes, and fun choreography.
PHOTO BY RICHARD MEEK
Cecil the Orangutan knocks Tim Allured, left, on the head with a soft baseball bat, causing ventriloquist Laura Allured to break into laughter during the ‘Harvey Rabbit and Friends Show’ at the Livingston Parish Albany Library Branch on July 7.
Harvey the Rabbit makes friends Livingston Library hosts show for children as part of summer reading program
BY RICHARD MEEK
of young people. They chucked their teaching careers in 1986 and went on the Forty years ago, Tim and road bringing along their inner Laura Allured followed their circle of friends that included dream, one that led out of the Harvey Rabbit, Cecil the Orangclassrooms where they were utan and the aptly named T-Boy educators and into the hearts the Alligator, because how could
Contributing writer
any legitimate Louisiana children’s show not have the popular reptile among its cast? Four decades later, Tim and Laura Allured, who is a native of Lake Charles, continue to bring their energetic show of ventriloquism, puppetry,
music, magic, comedy and audience participation to young people, mostly at libraries and elementary schools throughout Louisiana, southeast Texas and Mississippi.
ä See HARVEY, page 2G
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Documentary featuring librarian Familiar face takes from Livingston up for Emmy over Walker volleyball BY JOY HOLDEN
For the second time in four years, the lure of Walker High was too much for Greg Castillo to ignore. This time, the move was a no-brainer decision mainly because of the relationships that were already in place. Two years ago, Castillo stepped down as head coach of the Wildcats volleyball program for personal reasons after only one season. But, instead of leaving Charles the area, he began Salzer working with local SPORTS junior high playROUNDUP ers, and it allowed him to keep his finger on the pulse of youth volleyball. Coupled with returning upper-class members who have already played under Castillo, there is a lot of familiarity between players and coaches. “When I left, I started a junior high volleyball program in Walker, and a lot of those girls are now juniors and seniors,” Castillo said last week. “I’m quite familiar with a bunch of the girls on the team. Sometimes, I would see them at club tournaments, and they would tell me they missed me.”
Staff writer
Greg Castillo One of those players was Olivia Nall, who is expected to be one of the team’s leaders this season along with fellow seniors Ally Courville and Juliana Jordan. Nall was one of the first people to ask Castillo to come back when Walker’s head coaching spot opened up this spring. Since then, Castillo has heard from many people. “It’s not just the players,” he said. “It’s been the parents, too, so its nice to feel wanted, and have their support.”
ä See SALZER, page 2G
“The Librarians,” a documentary executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, is nominated for “Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking” at the 78th Emmy Awards. The documentary features Amanda Jones, Live Oak Middle School librarian in Livingston Parish, as one of the librarians fighting against censorship in school libraries. “I didn’t even know an Emmy was on the table,” Jones said. She said the makers and stars of the film (school librarians) are still on a group text together. One of the producers, Janique Robillard, texted the news to everyone. Jones said everyone responded with shock and excitement. “The Librarians” premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24, 2025, was released in theaters around the United States on Oct. 3, 2025, and premiered on PBS Feb. 9. Since then, the film has collected 31 accolades from film festivals, The New York Times and The Guardian. The film, a joint effort between Oscar-nominated director/producer Kim A. Snyder and executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker through her Pretty Matches Productions banner, explores a four-
Parishwide school supply program ready for 26th year of Assess the Need Community news report
year period of book bans unfolding in schools across the U.S. and the librarians confronting those restrictions. “The recognition will bring more people to the film and get more conversations started,” Jones said. “We hope people will go to our resource page on the website, not only to support Freedom to Read but also the mental health of librarians.” The Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking award is re-
Thousands of Livingston Parish students will have what they need to start the school year thanks to the Assess the Need school supply drive, now in its 26th year. Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor announced that he and local volunteers will once again provide school supplies to needy families in Livingston Parish through the school supply program. Assess the Need is a not-forprofit program that provides supplies for Livingston Parish students in need of assistance. This year’s campaign anticipates meeting the needs of some 3,200 students in all the district’s 43 public schools, including Pre-K and Head Start programs. “Each year we are faced with the challenge of providing our children with the tools they
ä See EMMY, page 3G
ä See NEED, page 3G
PROVIDED PHOTO