Lifestyle

What a beautiful day to spend with our community, with food, entertainment, and some helpful information for our DeSoto Seniors!

The DeSoto Council on Aging hosted a Senior Day out at DeSoto Multi-Cultural Center in Mansfield, with entertainment and a message provided by Rev. Richard Fuller. Sheriff Jayson Richardson and the DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office provided, cooked, and served fish, fries, pork roast, egg rolls, coleslaw, and much more. Several tables were setup around the room from different local agencies to share some helpful information with our Seniors. To say the least, hugs and smiling faces were plentiful as everyone enjoyed the event! We can’t name all of the agencies involved, and we certainly don’t want to leave anyone out, so take a look at these pictures and checkout the fun! DeSoto Parish is blessed with some great people that love coming together....especially when good food is involved!

McNeese State University conferred degrees on 703 graduates during two ceremonies for the university’s 160th commencement Friday, May 12, in McNeese’s Legacy Center.

The ceremony for the colleges of agricultural sciences, liberal arts and science, engineering and mathematics were held at 9 a.m. and for the Burton College of Education and colleges of business and nursing and health professions at 1:30 p.m.

Area graduates is Amanda C. Hasty, Bachelor of Arts in History of Mansfield. Congratulations!

Northwestern State University’s School of Education recently welcomed 67 students into teacher candidacy during a Teacher Candidate Celebration.

“Teacher candidacy signifies the move from education major to teacher candidate within the School of Education,” explained Dr. Katrina Jordan, director of the School of Education. “During this ceremony the students receive a red apple pin to signify their status as a teacher candidate.”

When these students graduate, they will receive a gold apple pin, which was presented during an apple pinning ceremony.

Most School of Education students are accepted into teacher candidacy in their sophomore year. To be accepted into candidacy, the students must successfully complete their freshman courses (30 hours), maintain a 2.5 GPA, have no grades lower than a C and receive a favorable dispositions (professionalism) review by an education professor.

It would be an understatement to say that it has been an interesting few years for the Class of 2023. Due to the pandemic, many soon-to-be grads spent a significant portion of their school years adapting to a changing landscape, both at school and at home. While it is an accomplishment to reach graduation in a “normal” situation, students who have succeeded and thrived in the face of pandemic-related adversity are worthy of extra celebration.

Graduation gifts are a great way to show grads how proud you are that they stayed the course in the face of significant challenges. Here are seven gift ideas for graduates.

1. Journal: Graduates are about to start new chapters in their lives. Either a blank journal or one with writing prompts can help grads get their thoughts on paper to document both the many moments that will shape the next few years.

The 40th Annual River City Fest dates are slated for May 11-13, 2023, with the carnival beginning on Thursday night May 11th from 510 pm, provided by “Sunshine Rides”.. The Fest ,along with carnival and vendors will open on Friday May 12th from 5-10 p.m. with the RCF Annual Parade beginning at 7:00 p.m..

Saturday, May 13th, Festival hours will be from 8:00 a.m. until Midnight,. This includes a day full of events and activities for the whole family.. There will be a car show, treasure hunt, arm wrestling tournament, Cornhole Tournament, mechanical bull, petting zoo, food, arts & craft vendors, balloon release, live entertainment, fireworks, and so much more..

NLTCC Holds Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony for Spring 2023 On April 27th, North Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC) held its Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Spring 2023 induction ceremony, where 40 new members were initiated into PTK. Students from all three NLTCC campuses, located in Mansfield, Shreveport, and Minden, participated in the ceremony.

The ceremony was opened by Chancellor Spillers, followed by PTK advisor Debbie Washington, who introduced the honor society. The history of PTK was also shared, followed by a student speaker who talked about their experiences as a member of PTK. The conclusion of the ceremony involved the lighting of a candle for each student and the pledge, in which all new members committed to upholding the principles of PTK.

Since January 1st 2023, Mansfield Native, award winning author, culinary expert, and Chef Hunter Lee has hosted a cooking segment along with local personality Caroline Marston each Monday morning at 9:30 on KSLA TV.

According to Chef Lee, “Hosting ‘Livin’ Large’ was a dream come true. It made me realize how much I love cooking, traveling, and meeting new people, but also how much I have missed it due to my schedule of the show and public appearances.”

Lee, who splits his time between his farm in Mansfield and his new home in Jefferson Texas has decided to take a break, step back from the show and focus on research and writing his third cookbook.

Rich with musical hits you know and love, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love, and laughter. Join us at BackAlley Community Theatre in Grand Cane as we present the award-winning Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Featuring a talented cast and lavish music with movement and dance, this musical will introduce a new generation to the uplifting celebration that raises its cup To joy! To love! To life!

BackAlley show dates are Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13 @ 7:00, Sunday, May 14 @ 2:00, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 18, 19, and 20 at 7:00. To purchase your ticket and reserve your seat, go to our website www.backalleygrandcane.com. Season ticket holders may reserve your seat by calling 318-461-0202 or on our website.

The Central Middle School Choir performed at Artbreak on April 21 in the Shreveport Convention Center. Artbreak is the largest student arts festival in the South. It showcases visual, literary, cultural, and the performing arts of students from Northwest Louisiana.

The Central School Middle Choir wowed the crowd with hit songs from the 50’s. They attracted festival goers to watch their performance with such hits as Rock Around the Clock and La Bamba.

Another performance will be given at Central School Corporation in Grand Cane, La on Tuesday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m. in the school auditorium.

The guest speakers at the Lions Club this week were Suzanne Brossette, Member of Historic Grand Cane Association, and Kathleen Davis, Inn Keeper. The ladies told a little about the history of the venerable old Grand Cane home and how it was acquired and moved to its present location on the corner of 816 Fifth St. and La. Hwy. 3015.

The original house was built by the Hill family just a few miles west on 3015 circa 1850. By Marriage, the old house was home to the Hills, Cooks and Ricks. It is now a premier member of the Village of Grand Cane and has been extensively decorated with new plumbing and electrical as well as central heat and air. Ms. Davis says its style is “Victorian with a Southern Charm”. You can book the Cook-Hill House as a weekend Bed and Breakfast, a wedding or baby shower, meeting or any other type of small event for up to 50 people. For more information call the House at 318858-0800 and talk with Kathleen about available dates and price ranges.