December 7, 1926 – April 25, 2012

    A resident of the Central area since 1947, she passed away at The Caring Place on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 11:38pm. She was 85, and a native of Rosetta in Wilkinson County, Mississippi and a graduate of Crosby High School.  She retired from Group Benefits, part of the Louisiana State government.  Religious services were conducted at Blackwater United Methodist Church by Rev. Linda Hagan and interment was in the church cemetery. 

    Survived by son and daughter in law, Jeff and JoAnn Sibley of Central; four grandchildren, Andrew and Gabriel Sibley, and Chelsea and Dylan Comeaux; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph V. Sibley; parents, Willie and Lela Bryant Hazlip; two brothers, Joe and Bryant Hazlip; and a sister, Christine Hazlip Crumholt. 

    Frances was a member of Blackwater UMC since 1948, and was a longtime member of United Methodist Women, and Church Women United. Special thanks to her nephew, Dr. Jim Hargroder for his loving medical care; to Oakwood Village, The Caring Place for taking such good care of Frances, St Joseph Hospice and Brandy for their care and to her nieces for being faithful to the end.

 

    The Central Community Alliance will hold their next community forum this Tuesday, May 15th at 7 PM in the DEMCO Meeting Room, 16262 Wax Road.

    Central Civic and Service Organization Representatives will be given time to speak about their Organization and update the community on current projects, services, and membership.  Kiwanis, Rotary, Knights of Columbus, Veterans helping Veterans, CAPA, CLT, and Central Community Assistance Foundation Representatives have been invited.  Updates on the Farmers Market at Magnolia Square will also be discussed.  

    CCA is eager to promote these opportunities in our community. Contact Harry Rauls, 937-7654 or email HRauls@cox.net for any questions.  Website:  www.CentralCommunityAlliance.org

Join us to celebrate Mother’s Day 

and show her how much you love her!

Saturday May 12th

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

 

We will have food sampling, a complimentary 

chair massage, beauty product demos and giveaways!

 

Winn Dixie

10974 Joor Rd in Baton Rouge

ATTENTION CENTRAL CLEAN UP DAY VOLUNTEERS:

 

A young boy left his iPod in a vehicle at the recent Central Clean Up.  They were in group J with Johnny as their group leader.  We ask that volunteers check their vehicles.  If the iPod is found, please call Central Speaks at 262-3730 so it can be returned.  Thank you!

    A HUGE THANKS to a few brave citizens that helped my wife when she was robbed last week.  Last Thursday evening she was held-up and hit on the head with a loaded pistol by a man in the woman’s front restroom at the Central Wal-Mart.  The attacker stole her purse and walked out of the store.  Four concerned citizens who witnessed the incident gave chase and were able to obtain a description of him and the “get-a-way” vehicle.   Within minutes the Sheriff’s department apprehended him and his accomplice.  This was all made possible by the actions of a few of Central’s finest citizens. 

     This is what Central is all about:  Helping each other in our hour of need.  Thanks again to everyone associated with putting this thug behind bars.  Although my family may never visit a public restroom again, I can truly say that it is great to live in “A Community That Cares”.

 

Thanks Again Central

    It all started with a wish.  Alyx Gafford, a 23 year old trainer at Snap Fitness here in Central, graduated from Central High School and played several sports throughout her career. “I’ve always been health conscious,” Alyx shared, “more so since I took several nutrition classes at LSU.  As a trainer, I so often see the results of bad health choices.”  Alyx loved going to the downtown farmers market, and wondered why Central couldn’t have one too.  “Most fresh produce travels an average of 1500 miles before it gets to its final destination.  Produce starts to lose its nutritional value the minute it’s picked.  So much of it is picked green, then artificially ripened.  A farmer’s market would offer locally grown, nutrition filled produce to Central, and support our local farmers as well.”  

    Alyx approached Jimmy Nunnally and Steele Pollard of the Village at Magnolia Square.  They were very enthusiastic and supportive and agreed to allow the Farmer’s Market to meet under the Eisworth Oak.  “It’s such a pretty location, I could really visualize the market happening there,” said Alyx.  The location found, she then set about finding vendors.  She ended up with an impressive and diverse line up.  Sweet Impressions will be there with their usual delectable baked goods and their espresso machine.  Iverstine Farms, owned by Central High graduate Galen Iverstine, will be offering fresh pork, chicken, and (coming soon) beef.  Feliciana’s Best Creamery is bringing their delicious dairy products.  Bill Story will be supplying locally grown fruits and vegetables.  Fresh laid eggs, homemade salsa, and Cajun spices will be sold.  In addition, many local craftspeople will be selling jewelry, apparel, bird houses, wood crafts, photography, art, goats milk soap, and candles.  A great way to find a unique gift and support our city!  Brandon Routh will also be on hand this weekend to serenade the crowd with acoustic guitar.

    Alyx has big plans for the Central Farmers Market.  She would like to see cooking demonstrations held at the market, and is working on having animals there for children to pet.  Local musicians will also be spotlighted.  Do you have a talent you’d like to share?  Contact Alyx at magnoliasquaremarket@gmail.com.   

    All of the vendors at the Farmers Market will be paying sales tax to the City of Central, taxes that go to support our public works and school system.  Supporting this event not only allows Alyx and her vendors to offer yet another great opportunity to the life of our town, but helps our great city as well.  Come out and support this innovative idea!  Magnolia Square Farmers Market is held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month from 8:00-noon.

 

    Another year, another Bike-a-thon!  This year, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Chuck Langlois has a dream.  After raising $6000 at last year’s event, Chuck wants to surpass that amount this year, but he needs your help!  

    St. Jude began with a promise.  Actor Danny Thomas prayed for career guidance to St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes, and promised he would build a shrine to the saint.  In 1962, that promise became reality when St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened its doors for the first time.  50 years later, it is still fulfilling Thomas’ dream that “no child should die in the dawn of life.”  Treating everything from Pediatric AIDS to Sickle Cell Anemia to an incredible number of various types of cancer, the massive complex, one of the premier facilities in the world, exists solely due to grant money and DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU AND ME.  7800 children are seen each year; none are turned away because they cannot afford to pay for treatment.

    Chuck became involved 29 years ago, and never dreamed his involvement would eventually end up helping one of his own family.  But several years ago, his niece, Kenlie, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma.  Thanks to the research and care of St. Jude, Kenlie has been in remission for 2 years now.  This gives Chuck’s passion a definite edge.  There is nothing this man won’t do to help the Bikeathon succeed, including finding donors, prizes, baked goods, and even taking a turn on a bike himself.  This is a feat that is amazing in itself because Chuck suffered a brain aneurysm 20 years ago that left him physically challenged.  Though he has to strap his foot to the bike pedal, he still every year takes a lap himself, a truly inspirational sight.

    This year, the Bikeathon is dedicated to a very special gentleman.  A.C. “Tommy” Thomas participated in the Bikeathon for about 25 years, until he was 90 years old!!  His wife Wilma also supported the effort by fundraising and punching lap cards. The only reason he quit pedaling then was that he was knocked over by an overly enthusiastic biker and Wilma put her foot down.  He then punched lap cards til he was 93!  Tommy passed away this year, and his family honored his commitment to this great cause by asking for donations in his memory to St. Jude.  “Tommy must have raised about $10,000 over the years for St. Jude.  His motivation?  He had a good heart,” Chuck shared.

    Once again, prizes will be awarded to the oldest participant, the youngest participant, and the one who bikes the most laps.  Chris Ferrara of Ferrara Fire Apparatus is again donating brand new bikes for the two biggest fund raisers.  Stephanie Sanders of All About U Massage will be offering complementary chair massages and eyebrow waxing, any tips she receives will be donated to St. Jude.  Many other local businesses have stepped forward with door prizes.  Chuck has truly poured his heart into this one day event.  Come on, Central!  Let’s bring our town’s great heart to this great event and honor his faithfulness!  You can pick up sponsor forms at Sullivan’s Hardware, CrossRoads Animal Hospital, or call Chuck at 603-6100.  St. Jude Bikeathon, Saturday May 12, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Bellingrath Hills Elementary School.

 

    Girl Scouts from across Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s 23-parish jurisdiction demonstrated once again their savvy entrepreneurial skills, selling nearly 1.25 million boxes of cookies during this year’s Cookie program, with 200 girls inducted into the Girl Scout Cookie Hall of Fame for selling 500 boxes of cookies or more, including 15 girls who sold over 1,000 boxes.

   “This year’s sale was a tremendous success, and we congratulate all our Girl Scouts for their hard work and determination in meeting and exceeding the goals they set for themselves,” said Alisha Moore, director of sales at Girl Scouts Louisiana East. “I think the excitement of the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts and the many activities and trips planned around our Centennial played a key factor in the success of this year’s sale.”  This year’s top seller with 1,700 boxes sold was Girl Scout Senior Hope Alfano of Metairie, who last year came in second in the council with 1,424 boxes. 

   In addition to providing the troops their funding for troop activities, trips, and service projects, the Girl Scout Cookie program teaches girls essential skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Girl Scout troops also support local community organizations and non-profits, such as the Ronald McDonald House in New Orleans, the Bishop Ott Women and Children's Shelter in Baton Rouge, local firefighters and hospitals, with donations of cookies through the Gift of Caring service project. Girl Scouts also reached out to our military men and women serving overseas, sending them through organizations like Operation We Care and Blue Star Mothers of LA, as well as to units where Girl Scouts had family members and friends.

    Girls also received individual recognitions such as patches, T-shirts, and water bottles with some top awards including electronics, cookie dough, a free week at resident camp, and a “Diva Destination,” for girls who sold 500 + boxes, where they select which destination, i.e. museum, restaurant, or other entertainment opportunity being offered.

    Girl Scout’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. The local council, Girl Scouts Louisiana East, serves girls 5 to 17 in the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.  For more information about Girl Scouts, call the council office in New Orleans at 504-733-8220, in Baton Rouge at 225-927-8946, or visit its website at www.gsle.org.

 

    The Greenwell Springs Baptist Church chapter of Threads of Love hosted the bi-annual conference of the international organization in Central last Wednesday through Saturday (April 25 – 28, 2012).   A total of 87 women and men volunteers representing eight states attended the conference and received education, entertainment and encouragement to continue their special Christ-centered ministry of sewing and creating clothing, blankets and other handmade articles for tiny premature and sick infants.  

    Those who attended were offered a variety of educational classes ranging from smocking, embroidery, serging, scrapbooking, jewelry making, heirloom sewing techniques as well as loss counseling and web building.   

    One of the guest speakers at the conference was Rachel Hausmann, M. D., the pediatrician from Earl K. Long Charity Hospital in Baton Rouge who made the call to a local pastor in 1993 for a request with someone with sewing skills to make tiny gowns for patients who were born prematurely and were too sick or too tiny to survive.  Sissy Davis and Anna Miller responded to their pastor’s request.  Little did Dr. Hausmann know that her call and Sissy Davis’ response would grow in to an international organization with 136 chapters and thousands of volunteers who have provided over 1.3 million items for babies and their families throughout the world in the last 19 years.

    Other speakers included a Labor and Delivery nurse, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NIC-U) nurse, and a father who lost his infant son because of premature birth.  Each one spoke of how the items supplied by Threads of Love have positively impacted their lives.

    Entertainment included a hilarious performance by the Menopausal Ladies; ventriloquist Christie McMorris; chalk art by GSBC minister, Wilton McMorris; and a concert by the southern gospel group Spoken4.

    The conference concluded Saturday morning with Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, encouraging the group to continue their work and pass their sewing skills on to young people so that the art of sewing will continue.  A final prayer and balloon release was held in the GSBC cemetery in memory of prematurely born babies and abandoned children who have passed away alone.  

    Threads of Love is a nondenominational organization.  Their mission is healing and binding hearts of parents in time of uncertainty about their baby’s health or when they lose an infant.  Threads of Love welcomes volunteers.  Additional information on Threads of Love can be found at www.threadsofloveorg or by calling their office weekdays at 225 667-7714.

 

 

 

THE MAGNOLIA SQUARE FARMERS MARKET 

is coming this Saturday, May 12.  The event will be held at Magnolia Square on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.  The community is invited to take part in this unique opportunity for Central.  If you are looking to become a vendor, email centralfarmersmarket@gmail.com or call Alyx at 405-4110.  They are looking for vendors of produce, dairy, meat, preserves, hot sauce, nuts, arts and crafts.  Come join the fun and see what Central has to offer!