Submitted by Vickie Davis

Mary Davis Earle and Margie Davis Forbes turned 80 years old last Saturday, August 28, 2010! They celebrated with family and friends at the Oak Lodge Reception Hall in Baton Rouge. They are the daughters of Leona Webb Davis and James Edmund Davis of Baton Rouge. They have 6 siblings: Virginia Vacarro (95), Carroll Davis (deceased), James Davis (90 ), Jewell Davis (87), Saranell Babin (85), and Dora Prather (deceased). We rejoice with them in a very blessed life and give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Submitted by Janice Walter

Below is a picture of the medical clinic in Balad, Iraq where SPEC. MICHAEL COTE was taken after his helicopter crashed September 19, 2009 in a sand storm. There were 13 passengers on board and he was the only one who died as a result of the crash.  Michael is the grandson of Central resident Janice Walter.  He graduated from Denham springs High School in the spring of 2007 and entered the Army in July.  He had a full military funeral 9/29/2009.  He was an amazing young man and to have a medical clinic renamed in his honor is outstanding.  Please take a moment to consider this incredible young man and so many others like him who gave their lives for us in Iraq.

Submitted by Cathy Pottschmidt and Nancy Hicks

A Girl Scout recruitment and registration event will be held in Central to give families the opportunity to learn more about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, meet other adult volunteers, and/or register girls for placement in an available troop. Girls entering kindergarten through 12th grade from the Central school district and other area schools and churches, their parents/guardians, and other adults interested in volunteering are invited to attend the event on Saturday, September 11 at 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Central Branch Library, 11260 Joor Road, to learn more about the Girl Scout program and adult Girl Scout volunteer opportunities.
The mission of Girl Scouts is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. In partnership with caring adult volunteers, girls develop leadership skills as they discover new interests, connect with others, and take action on issues that are important to them.  Membership is $12 per year for girls and adults, making it a positive and affordable option for today’s busy families.  Some favorite areas of interest for girls and adults include camping, health and fitness, the arts, science and technology, travel, cookie-selling, and much more.
The Girl Scout program levels are Girl Scout Daisies, kindergarten – 1st grade; Girl Scout Brownies, grades 2-3; Girl Scout Juniors, grades 4-5; Girl Scout Cadettes, grades 6-8; Girl Scout Seniors, grades 9-10; and Girl Scout Ambassadors, grades 11-12.  For more information about registering your daughter in Girl Scouts or adult volunteer opportunities in Girl Scouting, contact Membership Executive Linda Hannah at 225-279-1075 or LHannah@gsle.org. You may also contact Nancy Hicks at 261-1599.

Ashlie Blaire Gremillion and Jacob Kyle Bourgeois, both of Central, will marry in a ceremony October 23 at The Oakleigh House of Receptions in Denham Springs. The bride-elect is the daughter of Randy and Beverly Gremillion, of Central. She is a graduate of Central High School and attends Southeastern Louisiana University. She is employed with the Department of Public Works-Traffic Engineering Division. Her fiancé is the son of Chris Bourgeois, of Baton Rouge and Debbie and Phil Pike, of Central. He is a graduate of Central High School. He is employed with Starkey Builders. A engagement party was held on November 14, 2009 at Café’ Roux in Central.

Submitted by Sandy Brown

The City of Central Kiwanis Club will be hosting its first annual GET FIT CENTRAL Fun Run / Expo on Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 7 am to noon.  All proceeds from the event will be used to purchase much needed playground equipment for Bellingrath Hills and Tanglewood Elementary schools.

          GET FIT CENTRAL activities will include a 1-mile Fun Run, Run-a-thon races for elementary and middle school students, and competition relays for high school students and adults.  Other activities, focused on our children’s health, safety and well-being, will include a Kids ID Program, First Aid Response, Fire Safety Training.  And just for fun, there will be inflatables, a balloon artist, a face painter, and refreshments.

          Our students will soon be receiving pledge forms to collect donations on behalf of their classrooms.

          You can participate in many ways:

• Register for the Fun Run, with an entry fee of $30, including a t-shirt. Registration deadline for the Fun Run is October 1, 2010.
• Register your organization’s team for the relay competition.  Registration deadline is October 1, 2010.
• Sponsor the event, with donations of $100 and up, and receive recognition that ties you to this worthwhile project.
• Make a donation to our students through their classroom’s participation.
• Support your young students in their participation in our Run-a-thon.

Join us October 16, 2010, for a fun morning of fitness activities, all for the benefit of Central’s elementary school playgrounds. 

For more information, contact:  Karla Feigley at 342-5055, ext 2224; June Dupuy at 261-6280;  Chris Choate at 261-9662; or any member of the City of Central Kiwanis Club. 

See you there!!

Submitted by Tim Falke

The Central Lions’ Club held it’s annual installation party Saturday Aug. 28th at Drusilla’s Seafood Restaurant. 8-N District Governor, Lion Barbara Blanchard, attended and spoke briefly with the membership before swearing in new officers. Congratulations to Lion Karen Falke, being presented the Lions’ Club 2010 Lion Of The Year Award, by last years President Lion Barton Jeansonne.

Submitted by Mark Terrio

Pack 13 will be holding its annual Cubscout Roundup on Thursday, September 9th  at Blackwater United Methodist Church ( 10000 Blackwater Rd.)  If you have a son that is in 1st grade thru 5th grade, come join our cubscouts for a year full of fun and adventure. We will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall, attached to the north side of the church at 7pm.
 

Submitted by Mike Rarick

Benefit For

RICKY   RARICK

August 28, 2010@ Blackie’s Place starting 11am.

Ricky was seriously injured in a four wheeler accident on July 4^th and suffered major trauma to his face and the loss of his left eye. He has already had three reconstructive surgeries and is going to need several more. Please come help us support Ricky during this difficult time.

Jambalaya Plates:   $5.00

Raffle for:  1^st Place: Vizio 32” LCD HD TV

2^nd Place: $50 gift card

Door Prizes, 50/50 Drawing,

Auction Items

(Auction, Drawing, and Raffle @ 7pm)

LIVE MUSIC BY:   EVERCREST (3-7pm) and The Jason Pittman Band(8 till)  

                                                  For Info Contact: Mike Rarick (225) 603-8631     

By Mia Freneaux

Standing under the shade trees in the Port Hudson National Cemetery on a beautiful, sun-drenched day, it is easy to relegate the row upon row of headstones to mere background.  Maybe it is the uniformity of the headstones that takes away individualism, maybe it is the mind refusing to acknowledge images of death.  Whatever it is, the reaction underscores the importance of last Saturday’s ceremony where the Blue Star Mothers’ monument to “Heroes of the War on Terrorism” was unveiled.  6 fallen soldiers buried at Port Hudson were recognized that day; 6 out of the 144 Louisiana has lost since the war began.  Before an audience composed of VFW Post 502, Women Vets of Louisiana, The Patriot Guard, the Purple Heart Association, and many others, family members shared memories and moments out of too-brief lives, the dreams never realized, the families never raised.  They shared stories of those who begged to go back into combat after being wounded, those who were killed 4 month’s short of retirement, those who wrote of their hopes of being a parent.  They shared words of wisdom: “Don’t wait to tell someone you love and appreciate them;” “Cherish the moment.”  While grief was evident, however, every family member there showed no sign of bitterness, just gratitude for the life of one they love, and pride in the dedication their son, brother, uncle, sister demonstrated to an IDEAL.  That day, it was easy to remember that regardless of religion, ethic background, or political views, we are all AMERICANS. 

 After Blue Star Mother Lorie Speer sand the National Anthem and Chaplain Cherry Blackwell opened with prayer, with Mayor Watts from Central, Mayor Martinez from Zachary, Pt Hudson Director Rex Kern, Deputy Secretary of Veteran Affairs David LaCerte, local DAR branch officer Laurel Olssen, Ft. Polk representative Allison Davis, U.S.S. Kidd Executive Director Maury Drummond, and WAFB’s Jacques Doucet looking on, Kathy Rushing shared her vision with the audience: how she wished to place something at the cemetery to recognize the sacrifice of her son and so many others, how she went to Mac Watts with her vision, and how he embraced it and gave her the wherewithal to realize it.  She later shared about her son, Corporal Jared Crouch, killed in action in Iraq on June 2, 2007 and one of Central’s own. 

Kathy reminds all of us living in the City of Central of what we have to be grateful for.  We owe her a debt of gratitude for her hard work and dedication, because each of these soldiers is not just a name on a headstone, they are our neighbors, our friends, our families, and in their loss a piece of the fabric of our lives is gone.   They deserve to be remembered and venerated as the heroes they are.  Someone once said that there is hope for a nation as long as brave men and women can be found willing to lay down their lives for it.  As the members of the Blue Star Mothers closed the ceremony by reading the names of the 144 soldiers Louisiana has lost, it was good to remember that.

Written by Jeanie Barnett for the Summer 2010 edition of Neighborhood Connections.  Used by permission.

Who did you vote for?  What local newspaper do you read?  What does your tee shirt say?  What are you for?  Who are you against?  What is your agenda?  Whose side are you on?

Louisiana in general and Central in particular are filled with avid sports fans.  Don’t you know someone whose wardrobe consists of nothing but purple and gold clothing and accessories?  Have you ever been in the bleachers at a BREC park during a cut-throat tee ball game?  Don’t you know someone who has actually scheduled a wedding or funeral service around an LSU game?

Spectator and participatory sports can be great fun and wholesome entertainment.  What’s more American Pie than “rootin’ for the home team?”

Establishing the foundation for a new city is not a game, however, no matter how much people love to pick sides and compete.  This is not a sporting event; this is real life.  Facts can be manipulated to create a deception and people can be manipulated to score a point.

When information is brought to you, first ask yourself, “What is the source?”  Then ask yourself, “Is this fact or is it opinion?”  One often masquerades as the other.  If the information doesn’t ring true with you, check it out.  Go to the source and get the facts.  So many people are embarrassed to find out they have passed along untruths and partial truths simply because they didn’t verify the information.  And finally, ask yourself, “Does someone stand to gain by misleading me?”

Of course there are folks who are completely self serving, looking after their own interests.  And to be sure there are folks who just love a good fight.  The fact is that the vast majority of Central citizens are good people who truly want what is best for the whole community to maintain our quality of life and grow in directions that are truly positive and beneficial.  That includes people who espouse both “sides” and neither side.  We are all on the side of Central and our combined well being and the best interests of our children and their future.

No matter your age or political party affiliation, whether you are a new resident or have lived in Central all of your life, regardless of religious beliefs or the color of your collar, whether your toilet paper rolls under or over, you probably truly want Central to be the best city possible, today and into the future.

This is not a contest; it’s a joint effort.  Refuse to fight and we all win.