The Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate 03-18-2026

More than 400 people visit St. Joseph’s Altar

Immaculate Conception Church continues Sicilian tradition

BY RICHARD MEEK Contributing writer

People lined up Saturday to view the St. Joseph’s Altar in Immaculate Conception Church’s hall in Denham Springs. More than 400 visitors were treated to homemade cookies that totaled more than 1,000, cakes and staples such as pasta salad and traditional Italian dishes. The leftovers were saved and will be served Thursday on St Joseph’s Day at St. Joseph’s

Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON

Walker plans Easter in the Park

Celebrate spring from noon to 4 p.m. March 29 in Sidney Hutchinson Park in Walker

The day will include Easter egg hunts, photos with the Easter bunny, face painting, Red Barn Petting Zoo, food truck, vendor market, children’s village and music

Food Truck Festival March 28

Denham Springs Main Street Association is hosting another Food Truck Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28 on Mattie Street in the Denham Springs Historic Downtown District.

Serving up food and treats for the event are a variety of food trucks and vendors For more information, email info@ denhamspringsmainstreet.org, bontempstix.com, or check out the Facebook page at facebook com/DenhamSpringsMainStreet

Calling all DSHS band mates

The Denham Springs High School band and color guard have a rich legacy of excellence and community Past members are updating an alumni registry and need your help. Visit forms.gle/soTpymy7ZYjA9Cp58 to fill out the needed information.

Class of ‘76 reunion planned

If you’re an alum of the Denham Springs Class of 1976 my class — your help is needed to organize the upcoming reunion.

The next planning meeting is March 21 at Duke’s starting at 11:30 a.m. The reunion is set for 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 13 at Forrest Grove Plantation To volunteer or share your information with the organizers, email daleh76DS@gmail.com

Cabbages, carrots, toys, tossed during Denham Springs St. Patrick’s Day parade

Cabbage, carrots, beads and toys flew Saturday during the third Denham Springs St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Denham Springs Raising Cane’s

restaurant partner Patrick Mitchell was the grand marshal.

Green was the color of the day and several leprechauns showed up for the parade through the city

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD

Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Tickfaw hosted a

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Boil & Berries Crawfish Cook-Off coming to Springfield

Boil & Berries Crawfish Cook-Off Fundraiser is coming to Springfield from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18 at Fayard Field Bracelets for the event are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Kids 3 and under are free. You’ll get to sample from all the crawfish pots and strawberry desserts. The day includes crawfish cook-off, strawberry dessert bake-off, strawberry patch contest, Hungarian treats and cultural performances, strawberry-eating contest for kids, music, vendors and inflatables.

Fayard Field is at 32127 Church St., Springfield.

All proceeds benefit the Árpádhon Hungarian Settlement Cultural Association to help preserve our Hungarian heritage Interested in participating in crawfish cook-off or dessert bake-off, call (225) 278-3770 or (985) 974-6883. Interested in being a vendor, call (225) 955-8239. Livingston schools kindergarten registration underway

Livingston Parish Public Schools is accepting online registrations for incoming kindergarten students for the 2026-27 school year

A child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30 to register for kindergarten

Online registration is available at www.lpsb.org/parent_resources/registration_info/register_for_kindergarten_2026-2027. Currently enrolled Pre-K students are automatically rolled over and do not need to register More information about the registration process, visit www.lpsb.org/parent_resources/registration_info. Pre-K application open in Livingston Parish Livingston Parish Public Schools is accepting applications for pre-kindergarten enrollment for the 2026-27 school year

Fayard Field in Springfield.

across the district.

A child must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 30 to qualify Round 1 of the online Pre-K application period runs through May 1. The online application can be accessed at applytolppsearlychild.schoolmint.com. Documents needed to complete the application include the child’s birth certificate, the child’s social security card, immunization records, the parent’s or guardian’s ID, proof of residency (which must be verified through current utility bills), and proof of income (which must be verified with two current consecutive paycheck stubs) for every working adult 18 and older or proof of SNAP benefits for the child.

Anyone needing assistance completing the online application can visit district staff members on April 17 at the Livingston Parish Public Schools Professional Development Center, at 17457 Wes McLin Road, Suite F. Staff members will be available with laptops to assist from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. that day Parents or guardians who attend this help session should bring copies of the required documents. More information about the application process is available as www.lppsearlychildhood.com or on Facebook at Livingston Parish Early Childhood.

Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.

St. Joseph remembered with altar in Tickfaw

Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Tickfaw honored St. Joseph’s Day with an altar featuring Italian delicacies and statues.

Before that altar was opened to the public, the rosary was recited in Italian.

Volunteers also were served meatless dishes.

Manchac

Community news report

Southeastern Louisiana University’s Lake Maurepas Monitoring Project team will host a free event titled “Science in Action: Research and Education on Lake Maurepas” on Friday at Middendorf’s Manchac in Akers

Scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m., the event will publicize the latest data from the monitoring efforts to the local community, including citizenry, local political lead-

ers, nonprofit environmental organizations and business leaders. Capacity for the free event is limited to 60 people and includes a complimentary dinner buffet. Registration is required and available at www.southeastern.edu/ college-of-science-and-technology/center-for-environmental-research/lakemaurepas/events. Presentations from Southeastern’s Dean of Research and Innovation Daniel McCarthy, Center for Envi-

ronmental Research Director Kyle Piller, and Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station Manager Rob Moreau will begin at 4:30 p.m., and Lake Maurepas Monitoring Project staff will be present at their poster stations for questions from 4-4:30 p.m. and 5:306 p.m. For more information, email ariel.ebanks@southeastern.edu. Additional project information is available at southeastern.edu/lakemaurepas.

COFFEE

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Community news report

Industry connect lecture set March 19 McNulty

Southeastern Louisiana University’s Chief InformationSecurityOfficerMatthew McNulty is the guest speaker at 4 p.m. March 19 as part of the university’s spring Industry Connect Distinguished Lecture series. Scheduled in the Envoc Innovation Lab, in room 2026 in the Computer Science and Technology Building, the free lecture is titled “My Personal Changelog, Graduate Studies, and More!” McNulty’s research in-

cludes all things cybersecurity with a heavier emphasis on education for the general public, blue team activities and policy Guests are welcome to attend in person at the Computer Science and Technology building or virtually via Google Meet. To be added to the RSVP list and receive all event details, email industryconnect@southeastern.edu. For more information, contact the Department of Computer Science at (985) 549-5740.

Charles Salzer

DePaul Community Health Centers hosts ribbon-cutting for new DCHC location

SPORTS ROUNDUP Community news report

Denham Yellow Jackets fight hard, but lose out to Zachary in semifinals

BY CHARLES SALZER

Contributing writer

The Denham Springs boys basketball team fell to Zachary last week in the semifinals of the Division I nonselect playoffs, but it was quite a run this season for the Yellow Jackets. They won the District 5-5A championship with a 6-0 record, and earned a first-round playoff bye after being seeded fourth.

The Jackets, who finished the season 27-7, won two playoff games to earn a spot in the championship tournament at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. It was a feat that meant Denham Spring was one of the division’s last four teams fighting for the title.

“There were only four teams on the non select side that made it, and we were fortunate enough to be one of them,” Denham Springs coach Kevin Caballero said.

The Yellow Jackets fortunes were helped by players like the Golmond twins, Da’Sean and Da’Jean, Hayden Ray, Jeremy Williams and Devin Houston Against top-seeded Zachary, the division’s defending state champion, Denham Springs led late in the second quarter before the Broncos took control for good. Zachary closed the first half with a 13-3 run, led 3321 at the break, and went on to post a 74-59 win.

Caballero, who led the Yellow Jackets to the quarterfinals two years ago before consecutive semifinal appearances, gave Zachary credit

“In the playoffs, our margin for error decreases a lot as the teams you’re playing get better, and, goodness, Zachary has a good one,” Caballero said The second consecutive berth at the state championship tournament was part of a renaissance for the Yellow Jackets, who haven’t seen this type of success since coach Paul Smith was on the sidelines and Tasmin Mitchell was working his magic on the court. The success is what every program works for Sometimes, however, that success can make things even harder.

“Last year was the first time we’d made (the semifinals) in a long time,” Caballero said. “I had a friend tell me, ‘Well, you’ll be back next year It’s easier the second time around.’

“I can tell you, it wasn’t In the second year there’s pressure whereas in the first year, you’ve done it and you’re excited. In the second year, the expectations are high and it seems like there’s more pressure on you to get there.”

The Yellow Jackets roster, always changing, will have many new faces next season. Most of this season’s regular rotation of players will graduate so, regardless of the talent level, the new players will need to gain experience.

Until the experience is gained, the new crop of players will have plenty of recent history they can use as motivation.

Email Charles Salzer at livingston@theadvocate.com.

DePaul Community Health Centers, in partnership with Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, will host a ribboncutting ceremony for its new health center at 835 Pride Drive, Suite B, Hammond, at 10 a.m., March 20.

The new health center will offer primary and preventive medical care for adults, senior care, pharmacy services, Medicaid enrollment, and assistance in accessing food, housing, employment and other social determinants of health to the community

DCHC’s provider Elizabeth

“Clancey” Powell, nurse practitioner, will care for patients

alongside FPHSA and its longstanding recovery-based and person-centered, behavioral health and developmental disabilities services. FPHSA serves residents of the five Florida Parishes north of Lake Pontchartrain: Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington.

“This new health center represents access to comprehensive, high-quality health care for Hammond and surrounding Florida Parishes residents,” said Michael G Griffin, chief executive officer of DePaul Community Health Centers. “By bringing multiple services to one location, we are strengthening our commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of income

or circumstance, has access to the care they deserve.”

“Our partnership with DePaul Community Health Centers allows us to further integrate behavioral health, developmental disabilities services, and primary care in a way that serves the whole person,” said Richard Kramer, Executive Director of Florida Parishes Human Services Authority “Together we are building a system of care that supports recovery, promotes wellness, and improves health outcomes for individuals and families across the five Florida Parishes.”

Visit DePaulCommunityHealthCenters.org or call (985) 510-2021 to schedule an appointment at the Hammond location.

Moms celebrate 15 years of feeding local children with Birthday Telethon

Community news report

Mighty Moms, a Livingston Parish nonprofit dedicated to fighting childhood hunger, is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a special Birthday Telethon on Friday, March 20, inviting the community to join in supporting local children in need.

The telethon will be held at the Mighty Moms office and streamed live on social media as volunteers, board members and community supporters answer phones. The telethon is from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mighty Mom office in the EDU Complex Building behind Abundant Life Church at 206 Edgewood Drive, Denham Springs.