BREC announced last week that they are currently looking for spaces to hold summer camps for 4- and 5-year olds this summer. This year will be the first time that BREC camps for this age group will be offered in Central. Although the specific location for the camps has not yet been decided, registration begins on August 4th at Jackson Park on Sullivan Road. Camps will also be available for 6- to 12- year olds. To learn more about summer camps that BREC will be offering in Central, call 272-9200, extension 544.

March has kept the Art League of Central busy with a variety of activities. In addition to their “Scenes of Central” show at the Central Branch Public Library, members viewed an exhibit and participated in a “paint out.”

5 members of the Art League went to see the Rodin exhibit at the Shaw Center for the Arts downtown. In spite of the rain, they enjoyed the museum and lunch at the Capitol City Grill afterward. It is the first exhibit the League has attended, and more are being planned for later dates.

9 members participated in the “paint out” held at thge Hilton Prays’ house. The challenge was to create a painting or drawing “en plein aire” or outdoors. The Prays graciously gave them a tour of their amazing estate. The Art League extends a huge thank you to the Prays for their willingness to play host on such an enjoyable day.  Enjoy photos of the “Paint-Out” below.

The Art League of Central meets every second Thursday of the month at Freneaux Fine Art Studio, 8857-C Sullivan Road, at 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM. The next meeting will be held on April 16th, when they will be doing a “gallery hop” to various mid-city galleries and get lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. New members are always welcome. Contact Mia at 413-2162 for more information.

This weekend, the libraries in Central have several options to offer for your entertainment. The monthly Recycled Reads book sale is happening this Saturday, where there will be many books available for purchase for around $1. Tha is happening Saturday morning from 8 AM to noon at the old library on Hooper Road.

Also coming up on Saturday is “Imagine You’re a Fairy” at Central Branch Library. Children ages 8-11 are invited to come from 2-3 PM to read Imagine You’re a Fairy and to make their own fairy tale wands out of craft materials. Fairy- themed books will also be featured and available to ckeck out. Contact the library Youth Services at 262-2660 for more information.

The Art League of Central’s show “Scenes of Central” will be closing after this weekend. So stop by the Central Branch library to see some of the work from Central residents as they celebrate our home town. Anyone interested in joining the Art League of Central is invited to contact Mia Freneaux at centralart@cox.net. You may view some photographs from the show here.

Visual Art is alive and well in the City of Central.  The Art League of Central, which was formed in 2008, held the formal opening Sunday afternoon for the art show “Scenes of Central”.  The exhibit will be on display the entire month of March at the Central branch library.  The fifteen members of the Central Art League have offered various of their works for the exhibit, which features scenes from the Central area.

The opening, which was attended by many of the League members and others from the community, ran from 3 to 5 PM and included refreshments and a time for the community to appreciate the local talent and visit with the artists.  Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Central Art League should contact Mia Freneaux at centralart@cox.net or at 413-2162.  The League meets regularly at Freneaux Fine Art on Sullivan Road in the shopping center behind Sullivan Hardware.  A few photos from the event are included below.

Greenwell Springs Baptist 

4th Annual

Spring Festival and Craft Fair

Date: March 6–7, 2009
Time:  Friday    4pm – 9pm
       Saturday   9am – 6pm

Don’t miss out! There will be plenty of fun for your family in a Christian environment. There is something for all ages. There will be games and rides for the youngsters, craft booths for the adults, and food and fun for all.

Highlights

·        Carnival  Rides

·        Games

·        Craft Fair with 100 Booths of excitement

·        Food

 Follow this link to see or print the FLYER.

Jason Crabb will be in Concert at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church on February 15th at 6:00 pm.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the church office at 261-2246.

Looking for individuals interested in forming the “Central Flight Club”.  This is planned to be a “co-op” in which a number of individuals join together to own one or several private planes.  The plane (or planes depending on the membership of the group) would be purchased from the initial invesment of the members, which would likely be in the five to seven thousand dollar range.  The insurance, annual inspection and tie-down fees would be shared by the group in the form of monthly dues and rights to flying time would be scheduled for the year and traded as members negotiate their schedules.  Each pilot would pay per hour for actual flight time and that money will be used for maintenance and overhaul.  That rate will be significantly less than simply renting a plane from the local FBO.

There are many such clubs across the country and it seems the most practical approach to getting in the air for those of us who cannot justify the financial burden of owning your own plane.  This club is for experienced pilots as well as those who have never flown but want to learn.  In fact, a club like this could significantly reduce the cost of getting certified to fly.

Finally, if there is an instructor out there who would like to consider joining this effort and becoming the “club instructor” it would add another dimension to the group.  Possibly reduced rate lessons for members in exchange for access to club planes for your private instruction.

This is currently only a proposed venture so I encourage anyone wanting to join in the process of trying to make this a reality to e-mail flightclub@centralspeaks.com.  We will converse via e-mail until we have enough to meet and further explore the concept.

The Central Chamber of Commerce will host the 3rd Annual Krewe de Centrale Mardi Gras Ball on February 21st from 8:00pm-12:00 Midnight. The doors open at 7:00 pm

 This event will be held at the St. Alphonsus Family Center on Greenwell Springs Rd.

Tickets are $50 per person or $100 per couple.

For questions or to purchase tickets, contact the chamber at 261-5818

Cub Scout Pack 13 of Blackwater UMC is holding their annual Pinewood Derby in the Gym at Blackwater on January 17,2009 at 9am. They will have a special guest judge–Tim Martin of BPI Racing of Amite, LA. Tim is going to bring one of his cars. His wife Allison is a 1990 graduate of Central High School. She grew up at Blackwater and still has family in Central. They have sponsers in the Central and Denham Communities. The community is invited to come see the races.