All-Star Panel Discusses Emerging Real Estate Trends in the Borough

On July 25, the Yeshiva University Real Estate Executive Circle, a membership-based organization that brings together real estate professionals who share a common interest in supporting YU and its values, held a panel discussion on emerging real estate trends in the borough of Brooklyn.

The event was hosted by Yaakov Sheinfeld 03SB at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, and moderated by Michael Stoler of Madison Realty Capital and president of New York Real Estate TV. The panel featured Ofer Cohen (TerraCRG), Jason Muss 93YC (Muss Development LLC), Michael Ridloff (Vanke Holdings USA LLC) and Paul Travis (Washington Square Partners).

(l-r): Paul Travis (Washington Square Partners), Michael Ridloff (Vanke Holdings USA LLC), Jason Muss 93YC (Muss Development LLC), moderator Michael Stoler (The Stoler Report), and Ofer Cohen (TerraCRG)

In his opening remarks, Ari Hirt 84YUHS, 88YC of Mission Capital Advisors and chair of the Executive Circle, noted how the Circle connects successful, liked-minded real estate professionals through high-quality programming and networking events.

Under Stolers astute questioning, the four panelists shared their observations about the achievable profits for residential and commercial real estate in Brooklyn. On the residential side, as Ridloff noted, were not 57th Street, a reference to the mega-residential structures on that thoroughfare, but we look to build more in line with the kind of lives Brooklyners lead. To Muss, that life is not only defined by the younger generations living in Park Slope and Fort Greene but also by the groups that have made places like Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay their homes.

Panelists noted the shift away from Manhattan elitism and more enthusiasm for the outer borough, with new companies now establishing themselves in Brooklyn, rather than starting in Manhattan and migrating over the bridge, and even Manhattan-based companies moving to Brooklyn to be closer to their employees.

Still, presenters observed, there are challenges unique to Brooklyn, especially with the redevelopment of large sites such as the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which might not be quite right for commercial or residential development. Other topics covered during the discussion included new commercial development, like the Dekalb Market Hall, in the revitalized downtown area, and transportation concerns specific to Brooklyn.

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, was in attendance for the discussion and called out the importance of organizations like the Executive Circle to YUs long-term future. One of the great reasons to go to Yeshiva University, Dr. Berman said, is that you will know throughout your life that theres a network of people who are willing to help you and be there for you, to connect and network with you, and that you will be okay, you will be taken care of, and that theres a family that surrounds you. This activity is of crucial importance, and we should use it as a model for all of our groups at the University.

Executive Circle Chair Hirt added that networking is not only important for the Circles individual members but is also an opportunity to support Yeshiva University, the premiere Modern Orthodox educational and communal service institution. The four successful industry events held during the Circles first year have brought together many big players in the industry while raising much-needed funds for YU, he said.

For more information about the Yeshiva University Real Estate Executive Circle, see http://www.yu.edu/yureec. Interested YU students, faculty or alumni can also call 646.592.4485 or email yureec@yu.edu.

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YU Real Estate Executive Circle Marks Ascension of Brooklyn - Yu News (blog)

Donald Trump is not much of a man. He feels sorry for himself, he whines, he gropes women; he bullies the weak. He brags and he lies. As a young man, this self-proclaimed athlete collected five draft deferments rather than wear his countrys uniform. He doesnt even work out. The motto emblazoned on Trumps bogus coat of arms should probably be faithless, which makes it odd that he has picked as his chief of staff a general steeled in a service whose motto is ever faithful. (The Trump coat of arms was reportedly lifted from another family, with the motto integrity replacedinevitablyby Trump.)

John Kelly, retired Marine four-star and new White House chief of staff, has been throughout his career everything Trump is not: He has endured more than Trump could imagine, and has displayed virtues that Trump may not understand and certainly has not exhibited, among them candor, courage, and discipline. Which is why some observers have welcomed Kellys hiring as evidence that perhaps the president is learning, that maybe now we will have a disciplined White House that will focus on the business of public policy. Maybe the early morning tweets will diminish or even stop.

Trumps pick of Kelly is probably better understood in a broader and darker context. That includes a speech that he gave the same day to New Yorks Suffolk County Police Department calling on cops to bang suspects heads into squad cars; the brusque, uncoordinated dismissal of transgender service personnel by presidential tweet; a speech a week earlier at the commissioning of USS Gerald R. Ford urging sailors to lobby their representatives; a harangue to 30,000 Boy Scouts that included a rant about loyalty, and that earned him an astonishing rebuke from the head of the Boy Scouts of America; and a longer history of toying around the edge of inciting violence, to include the assassination of his opponent in the last election.

As the coils of the Russia investigation grow tighter, as his failures in Congress mount, Trump reaches for what he knowsdemagoguery of the rawest sort. He reaches as well for what he thinks of as his base, which includes (he believes) the military, many of whose leaders are actually quietly appalled by what he represents. He has picked Kelly not because of his political or administrative skills but because he thinks of him as a killera term of praise in his lexicon, which is why he likes referring to his secretary of defense as Mad Dog Mattis, a nickname the former general rejects. Kelly will not organize Goon Squads for Trump, but the president would probably not mind if he did. More to the point, Kellys selection, and that of a foul-mouthed financier from New York as Trumps communications director, tells us not that Trump is planning on moderating his behavior, but rather on going to the mattresses. He just may have picked the wrong guy for that mission, thats all.

Kellys decision to take the job lends itself to multiple explanations. It may be an irresistible call to duty by someone who thinks of the president mainly as commander-in-chief; it may be an act of deep, quiet patriotism by someone who intends to shield the country from Trumps lawless worst; it may reflect personal ambition, or mere hankering for as difficult a management challenge as one could imagine; or it may reflect a sneaking admiration for the boorish businessman who has successfully slapped around the politicians of left and right that many officers, and Marines in particular, despise as cowardly and corrupt. Kelly once handed a ceremonial saber to the President while unfunnily suggesting that he use it on the press. In April, he said the following: If lawmakers do not like the laws theyve passed and we are charged to enforce, then they should have the courage and skill to change the laws. Otherwise they should shut up and support the men and women on the front lines. A less supine Congress might have noticed the discourtesy and reacted sharply to being told to shut up.

His occasionally contemptuous attitude towards the press and Congress, though, is only one reason why it is highly unlikely that Kelly will succeed. Trump will remain Trump, and the various denizens of the White House are unlikely to treat Kelly with much more deference than they treat one another. He will discover that he is no longer a general, or even a cabinet secretary, but a political functionaryneither more nor less.

There was a reason why he spent 42 years on active duty rather than run for mayor of Boston. He probably already knows, but if not he will soon learn, that he will be as dispensable as his predecessor, that Trump hates any of his subordinates being too powerful or too visible. And worst of all, he will soon find himself wrestling with the moral corruption that being close to this man entails. You cannot work directly for Trump while adhering to a code of honesty, integrity, and lawfulness. Sooner or later Kelly will have to defend the White Houses jabber about fake news, alternative facts, and witch hunts. He will have to ascribe to Trump virtues that he does not possess, and deny the moral lapses and quite possibly the crimes that he has committed.

There is one further reason to find this appointment depressing. It contributes to the continuing decay of American civil-military relations. Those of us who were relieved to see James Mattis as secretary of defense, H. R. McMaster as national-security adviser, and Kelly himself as secretary of Homeland Security, felt that way partly out of appreciation for the virtues of all three men, but also, very largely, out of relief that their sanity might contain their bosss craziness. But it is inappropriate to have so many generals in policy-making positions; it is profoundly wrong to have a president regard the military as a constituency, and it is corrupting to have the Republican Party, such as it is, act as though generals have if not a monopoly then at least dominant market share in the qualities of executive ability and patriotism. It is unwise to have higher-level positions in the hands of officials who have openly expressed disdain for Congressnow a dangerously weak branch of government.

Trump, who has no idea how many articles there are in the Constitution, neither knows nor cares about any of the niceties of civil-military relations. To their credit, Kelly, Mattis, and McMaster have thought long and hard about these issues. But like any of us they have their individual limitations, and like any of us, their characters can be eroded by the whirlpool of moral and political corruption that is Donald Trump. The Marines live by a hard code, and John Kelly has endured tests of character more difficult than most of us can conceive. But his hardest tests lie ahead, and neither he nor anyone else can be sure that he will pass them.

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The Downsides of John Kelly's Ascension - The Atlantic

Guilty Pleas

During the week of July 24-28, the following defendants pled guilty to various charges and were sentenced in the 23rd Judicial District Court, Parishes of Ascension, Assumption, and St. James.

Ascension Parish

Aaron Adams Jr., 42490 Lori Road, Gonzales, 29, pled guilty to Simple Robbery and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on five years supervised probation.

Misty Morgan, 14405 Harry Savoy Road, St. Amant, 40, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to two years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on two years supervised probation.

Rauol Dunn, 1315 Bob Petit St., Baton Rouge, 25, pled guilty to Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on five years supervised probation.

Andrew Singleton, 6109 La 308 Napoleonville, 23, pled guilty to Simple Robbery and was sentenced to seven years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on five years supervised probation.

Vernell Hogan, 173 Frank Lane, Belle Rose, 59, pled guilty to Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that two years of the said sentence are to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, and upon release from incarceration, the defendant must register and notify as a sex offender or child predator.

Killyle Jones, 13489 Chase St., Gonzales, 23, pled guilty to Simple Robbery and was sentenced to seven years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Kendrick Nicholas, 401 W 10th St., Donaldsonville, 23, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and was sentenced to three years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Nicholas Welton, 40449 Cross Ridge Ave. Gonzales, 36, pled guilty to DWI 3rd Offense. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

Jason Williams, 902 E Verna St. Gonzales, 26, pled guilty to Negligent Homicide and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Steven Tureau and Joni Buquoi. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc.

Gregory Baker, 45039 Butch Gore Road, St. Amant, 49, pled guilty to Illegal Possession of Stolen Things and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on three years supervised probation.

The above case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert.

Belle Rose man pleads guilty to Indecent Behavior with Ascension juvenile

On July 25, Vernell Hogan of 173 Frank Lane, Belle Rose, 59, pled guilty to Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. Hogan was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joni Buquoi, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors after Hogan inappropriately touched a 13 year old girl.

On Sept. 3, 2014, detectives with the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office initiated an investigation after receiving information that a 13 year old girl had been inappropriately touched by a relative on multiple occasions since the girl was approximately 10 years of age. During the investigation, the juvenile victim was interviewed and told officials that Hogan had inappropriately touched her several times. Hogan was subsequently arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. Prior to this plea, Hogan maintained his innocence.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above mentioned charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge LeBlanc ordered that Hogan be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 10 years with credit for time served. It was further ordered that two years of the imposed sentence are to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, and upon release, Hogan is to register and notify as a sex offender or child predator.

Gonzales man pleads Guilty to Simple Robbery

On July 25, Killyle Jones of 13489 Chase St. Gonzales, 23, pled guilty to the charge of Simple Robbery. Jones was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joni Buquoi, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2016 incident.

On July 29, 2016, detectives with the Gonzales Police Department were contacted in reference to reports of a robbery that had occurred. Upon making contact with the victims of the robbery, detectives learned that the victims were walking down Hwy 74 in Gonzales, when a vehicle occupied by 2 male subjects stopped and offered them a ride. The victims got into the vehicle and were driven to a nearby apartment complex.

Upon their arrival, the driver and passenger of the vehicle ordered the victims to give up their belongings. The suspects got away with several miscellaneous items including 2 backpacks and a cell phone. A short while later, patrol officers were dispatched to a local business in reference to 2 suspicious male subjects. Upon arrival, officers observed a black 1998 Ford Expedition occupied by the suspicions subjects in question.

Patrol officers then initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle for investigatory purposes. The occupants were identified as Killyle Jones and Michael Jones. Both Killyle and Michael matched the descriptions of the suspects who committed the robbery and were detained. Both robbery victims identified Killyle and Michael through photo line-ups as the individuals who robbed them. Detectives applied for a search warrant for the Expedition, and towed it to the Gonzales Police Department where it was searched. During the search of the vehicle, detectives located the items taken from the victims during the robbery. Both Killyle and Michael Jones were arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.

On May 16, 2017, Michael Jones entered a guilty plea to the charge of Simple Robbery and was sentenced to seven years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that Michael Jones serve one year of the imposed sentence, and the remaining six years be suspended. Upon release, it was ordered that Jones be placed on supervised probation for five years.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge LeBlanc ordered that Killyle Jones be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of seven years with credit for time served.

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Ascension crime briefs - Donaldsonville Chief

THURSDAY

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB: Noon to 1 p.m.,Ascension Parish Library, Donaldsonville branch. Registration is required. (225) 473-8052.

ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT GROUP: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ascension Counseling Center, 1112A S.E. Ascension Complex, Gonzales. Meets every Monday and Thursday. (225) 450-1016.

TOPS (TAKING OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY): 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Carpenters Chapel, 41181 La. 933, Prairieville. Weight support group meets every Thursday night. Weigh-in from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by meeting. For information, call Sylvia Triche at (225) 313-3180.

LOSS AND GRIEF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT MEETING: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.,St. Elizabeth Hospital, Sister Linda conference room,1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales. For anyone who has experienced loss of any kind. Facilitated by the Grief Recovery Center to help with the grieving process. Meets every Thursday. For information, emaildiane.hodges@steh.comor call (225) 621-2906. Meets every Thursday.

ADULT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT GROUP: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.,Ascension Counseling Center, 1112A S.E. Ascension Complex, Gonzales. Meets every Tuesday and Thursday. (225) 450-1016.

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,Ascension Parish Library, Dutchtown, Gonzales and Galvez branches. Registration is required. For more information, call Dutchtown at (225) 673-8699, Gonzales at (225) 647-3955 and Galvez at (225) 622-3339.

MARKET ON THE SQUARE: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Louisiana Square/Railroad Ave., Donaldsonville.A day of arts, crafts and farmers market. Vendors are welcome. For vendor information or questions, emaildfdassociation@outlook.com, text (225) 772-1191 or call (225) 445-1383.

CRAM THE VAN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Walmart, 308 N. Airline Highway, Gonzales. The Arc of East Ascension is asking that for help to Cram the Van with personal items benefiting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ascension Parish and surrounding areas.Needed items include: Depends adult underwear (male or female XL/XXL), large and small towels, bedding (comforters, sheets, pillows and full/queen pillow cases), detergent soap, body wash, oral hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.), paper towels, dish washing liquid, baby wipes, tissue paper, bandages and first aid supplies, cleaning supplies, deodorant, flushable wipes, bottled water and paper tissues.

GEARING UP FOR TEAL SEASON: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cabela's, 2200 W. Cabela's Parkway, Gonzales. For information, visitcabelas.comor call (225) 743-3400.

CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DECOY SPREAD: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Cabela's, 2200 W. Cabela's Parkway, Gonzales. For information, visitcabelas.comor call (225) 743-3400.

DOWNTOWN LIVE: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Crescent Park, Donaldsonville. A free concert series. Rewind provides the tunes. Don't forget a lawn chair. No glass containers or ice chests. For more information, call (225) 445-1383 or emaillee@visitdonaldsonville.org.

G-TOWN GOES MOTOWN: 7 p.m. to midnight, Cashio's 360 Catering & Venue, 13521 La. 44, Gonzales. A fundraiser for the Gonzales Area Foundation. Music by BRW Show Band. Tickets are $100 per person. For tickets, contact Penny Saucier at easaucier@cox.net. gonzalesareafoundation.org.

ANOINTED HANDS 9TH ANNUAL BACK 2 SCHOOL IN STYLE: Noon to 5 p.m., Lamar Dixon Expo Center, YMCA Gym, Gonzales. Local stylists and barbers are providing free services for kids ages 5-15. There will also be giveaways, door prizes, face painting and activities. Complimentary services offered to all children will consist of shampoo and style or blow dry for girls, and hair cuts for boys. Services will have a cut off time of 3 p.m. All children must be accompanied by parent or guardian. For more information, call (225) 622-4357

SHOTGUNS, CHOKES AND SHELLS: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Cabela's, 2200 W. Cabela's Parkway, Gonzales. For more information, visit cabelas.com or call (225) 743-3400.

CLEANING YOUR SHOTGUN FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Cabela's, 2200 W. Cabela's Parkway, Gonzales. For more information, visit cabalas.comor call (225) 743-3400.

ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKET: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., La. 621 Market Place, Gonzales. Over 38 vendors and growing. Accepting donations for school supplies for the area. Donations can be dropped off in wooden crate setup next to the 621 entrance. For more information or to rent space, contact Jaise Templet (225) 715-9106.

ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT GROUP: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ascension Counseling Center, 1112A S.E. Ascension Complex, Gonzales. Meets every Monday and Thursday. (225) 450-1016.

ADULT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT GROUP: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.,Ascension Counseling Center, 1112A S.E. Ascension Complex, Gonzales. Meets every Tuesday and Thursday. (225) 450-1016.

AL-ANON MEETING: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales. Sister Linda conference room. Free. Call (225) 924-0029 for information. Meets every Tuesday.

ALZHEIMER'S LUNCH & LEARN: Noon to 1 p.m., St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales. Sister Linda conference room. Topic will be "Laughter & Yoga." Laughter Yoga is a practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter. This practice is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Class is free. To register, or for more information, call (225) 621-2906 or email diane.hodges@steh.com.

ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT GROUP: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ascension Counseling Center, 1112A S.E. Ascension Complex, Gonzales. Meets every Monday and Thursday. (225) 450-1016.

TOPS (TAKING OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY): 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Carpenters Chapel, 41181 La. 933, Prairieville. Weight support group meets every Thursday night. Weigh-in from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by meeting. For information, call Sylvia Triche at (225) 313-3180.

LOSS AND GRIEF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT MEETING: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.,St. Elizabeth Hospital, Sister Linda conference room,1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales. For anyone who has experienced loss of any kind. Facilitated by the Grief Recovery Center to help with the grieving process. Meets every Thursday. For information, emaildiane.hodges@steh.comor call (225) 621-2906. Meets every Thursday.

ADULT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT GROUP: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.,Ascension Counseling Center, 1112A S.E. Ascension Complex, Gonzales. Meets every Tuesday and Thursday. (225) 450-1016.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SERIES: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Rouses Market, 2nd Floor mezzanine, 209 S. Airline Highway, Gonzales. Learn how to manage and live with Arthritis from Dr. Moukarzel, Orthopaedic Surgeon with the Orthopaedic and Sports Clinic. A Dietitian and Certified Orthopaedic Nurse from St. Elizabeth Hospital will discuss foods and ingredients that reduce inflammation and promote joint health. Class is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register, call Rouses Concierge desk at (225) 647-4255 or St. Elizabeth Hospital at (225) 621-2906.

PAJAMA STORY TIME: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,Ascension Parish Library, Galvez and Gonzales branch. Program is designed for children ages 7 and younger and their families. For more information, call Gonzales at (225) 647-3955 and Galvez at (225) 622-3339.

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Ascension Parish calendar for Aug 3-10, 2017 - The Advocate

Nashville Business Journal

Women of Influence: Karen Springer; Saint Thomas Health, Ascension Health Nashville Business Journal Karen Springer serves as the Tennessee ministry market executive and president/CEO of Saint Thomas Health and senior vice president of Ascension Health. Saint Thomas Health is comprised of nine hospitals in Middle Tennessee and is part of St.

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Women of Influence: Karen Springer; Saint Thomas Health, Ascension Health - Nashville Business Journal

Things just got more memorable recently when the Louisiana Sports Writers Association released its All-State track and field team. There were four of Ascension Parish's top track stars on the list.

The 2017 season saw some marvelous performances by the parishs top track and field stars and their teams.

From multiple individual standouts taking home state titles, to the Ascension Catholic girls team claiming their third straight state championship, it was surely a year to remember.

Things just got more memorable recently when the Louisiana Sports Writers Association released its All-State track and field team. There were four of Ascension Parishs top track stars on the list.

Headlining the boys All-State team was Dutchtowns Parker McBride. McBride made the All-State team for the 800 event.

He had the fastest time in the state this season for the 800 with a time of one minute and 52.68 seconds.

McBride won district, regional and state titles in the 800 this season. He was also a member of the Baton Rouge areas All-Metro team.

McBride is a Southeastern Louisiana signee.

Just last month, he made the trip to Greensboro, N.C., to compete in the New Balance Nationals Outdoor event.

The Griffins finished as runners-up in District 5-5A this season, and they finished fifth at the regional meet.

The only other Ascension Parish boys track star to make the All-State team was Donaldsonvilles Davon Wright. Wright made the team in the shot put event.

Wright helped lead theTigers to a seventh-place finish at the District 6-3A meet and a 14th-place finish at the state meet.

He had the fifth-best performance in the shot put this season with a measurement of 53 feet and 6.5 inches.

After winning the state title in the event last year, Wright won a district championship in the shot put this season and finished as runner-up at both the regional and state meets.

He also made the All-Metro team. Wright is a recent Tulane football commit.

The Lady Griffins finished third at the District 5-5A meet, and they landed in seventh at the state meet.

Spearheading their efforts were Leah Scott and Tara Stuntz.

Scott made the All-State team for the second straight season in the long jump event and the triple jump.

She had the best long jump in the state this year with a measurement of 19 feet and six inches. Her triple jump was tied for fourth-best at 37 feet and 11 inches.

Scott won district and regional titles in both events. At the state meet, she won the triple jump championship for the second straight season and finished as runner-up in the long jump.

Stuntz made the All-State team for the 3,200 event. She had the third-fastest time in the 3,200 this year at 11 minutes and 23.81 seconds.

Stuntz was runner-up in the event at the district, regional and state meets.

Both Scott and Stuntz made the All-Metro team as well.

Stuntz is a 2017 Southeastern signee, along with two other parish runners in Ascension Catholics 1A 800, 1,600 and 3,200 state champion Sophie Daigle and the Bulldogs Logan Thibodeaux.

Excerpt from:

Four Ascension track stars make All-State team - Donaldsonville Chief

Summer reading

Summer reading programs at Ascension Parish Library continue to wind down as the new school year approaches.

A construction zone party to celebrate the programs' end begins at 2 p.m. Friday in Gonzales for children of all ages.

Gonzales also is holding a space exploration program for children of all ages at 2 p.m. Monday. Learn how and why planets orbit the sun, and create a solar system model.

Teens will end their summer program with a Harry Potter-themed Yule Ball at 4 p.m. Monday in Galvez. Enjoy being sorted into Hogwarts houses, wand making, snitch decorating and dancing. Chocolate frogs and nonalcoholic butterbeer will be served. Wizardly and formal attire is welcome.

2ROW2 Autospa Kutz & More presents the Cars for Kids Back 2 School Car Show on Sunday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

Registration is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with judging at 4 p.m. and trophy presentation at 6 p.m. Categories are best of show, new and old school, street bike, chopper, SUV, truck, original and modified. Vehicle registration is $20 outside and $30 inside.

A book sack and school supply giveaway for students will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Door prize giveaways are on the hour every hour during the show.

The Ascension Chamber of Commerce is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of Highway 61 Express Wash at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The business is located at 1126 N. Airline Highway, Gonzales.

The Arc of East Ascension is in need of donations for its Cram the Van drive. Donations can be dropped off at the Gonzales Walmart, 308 N. Airline Highway, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 5.

Needed items include Depends adult underwear (male or female XL/XXL), large and small towels, bedding (comforters, sheets, pillows and full/queen pillow cases), detergent soap, body wash, oral hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.), paper towels, dishwashing liquid, baby wipes, tissue paper, bandages and first aid supplies, cleaning supplies, deodorant, flushable wipes, bottled water and paper tissues.

Items go to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ascension Parish and surrounding areas.

Anointed Hands Trichology Centers ninth annual Back to School N Style is slated for noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Centers YMCA Building. Service cutoff time is 3 p.m.

The event for children ages 5 to 15 includes complimentary shampoos and styles or blow-drys for girls and haircuts for boys, as well as activities, breakout sessions, door prizes and more.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and donations are welcome. Call Ynohtna Tona Tureau or Marcia Pierre at (225) 622-4357 for details.

An open house public meeting regarding the proposed La. 44 corridor from Interstate 10 to La. 22 in Gonzales is scheduled Aug. 7 at the Ascension Parish Governmental Complex, 615 E. Worthey Road, Gonzales.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is conducting the meeting, which will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the large conference room.

Written comments also can be mailed with a postmark no later than Aug. 21 to Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Compliance Programs, Section 37, Program Director, P.O. Box 94245, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245.

Contact Darlene Denstorff by phone, (225) 388-0215 or (225) 603-1996; or email, ascension@theadvocate.com or ddenstorff@theadvocate.com. Deadline: noon Monday.

The rest is here:

Around Ascension for July 27. 2017 - The Advocate

He said he was amazed at the support and love from around the world.

Daniel Schempp, commander of the US Air Force unit on Ascension, set up an appeal fund for Mr Matsu, who he said was like the water god he seems invincible in the sea.It was close to reaching its $5,000 (3,800) target within 24 hours.

Major Schempp said: "He sustained critical bite wounds to his torso and is lucky to be alive, only kept so by the heroics of the small US and UK medical teams on island, and because of the donated blood supplies of volunteers."

The island government warned swimmers to be careful after the April attack, but now says: "Entering the sea on Ascension must be avoided until further notice."

The attack is a further blow to Ascensions 800-strong community following the partial closure of its military runway in April. Tourists may be put off visiting when UK flights resume.

Frankie Gonsalves suffered injuries to her foot but has largely recovered. She is shortly to return to her child safeguarding job on St Helena.

See more here:

Second shark attack in three months on Ascension Island - Telegraph.co.uk

NEW DELHI: As Congress licks its wounds after the collapse of the grand alliance with the JD (U) and RJD in Bihar, yet another tale of mismanagement by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has come to light.

Gandhi and his advisors were clueless about the extent to which chief minister Nitish Kumar could go to sever ties with the RJD, people familiar with the matter said. Gandhi handled the situation as he has been doing over the past few months maintaining a studied silence over the issue and staying aloof from the complicated political situation.

Despite the public wrangling between Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Gandhi waited till the weekend to intervene. Even then, he remained a passive bystander rather than an active and anxious leader willing to go the extra mile to save an alliance he helped forge.

Gandhi met former education minister and his state unit chief Ashok Chaudhary after making him wait for three days at the peak of Bihar crisis, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified. This is not the first time Gandhi has employed a hands-off approach. Last week, a similar story had unfolded in Gujarat. Senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela quit the party after several warnings. Vaghela, too, had not been given an audience by Gandhi.

He had camped in the capital for about five days but Gandhi refused to meet him. A similar charge had been levelled by former Congressman Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam. When he joined the BJP in 2015 and helped deliver the state to the saffron party he had singularly blamed Gandhis attitude for his step.

The crisis has once again cast a shadow on Gandhis ascension plan. Technically, the new party president has to take over in October after organisational elections. However, the party seems to be looking for an opportune moment for Gandhi to take over.

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Bihar fiasco may hit Rahul Gandhi's ascension plans - Economic Times

DONALDSONVILLE Ascension Parish sheriff's deputies have arrested a Donaldsonville woman on allegations she shot another woman in the face during an argument earlier this week.

Andrea Jackson, 49,302 Claiborne St., Donaldsonville, was arrested Tuesday on counts of attempted second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons, Sheriff's Chief Deputy Bobby Webre said in a statement.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a home on Claiborne Street Tuesday night and found a woman who had been shot in the face, Webre said.

Deputies later learned that the victim and Jackson had been in an argument when Jackson reached for a handgun and shot the woman, Webre said. Deputies could not say on Thursday what the source of the argument was.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Webre said.

After Jackson's arrest Tuesday, she was booked into the Ascension Parish Prison near Donaldsonville but no bail had been set as of Thursday morning, Webre said.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Donaldsonville woman arrested after argument leads to shooting, Ascension deputies say - The Advocate

The Rev. Nancy Kraft says it takes five years for a church to change its mission and the way in which it approaches the community, but after just one year at the helm, the new pastor said change is happening much faster than she expected at Ascension Lutheran Church, in Towson.

Under Kraft's guidance, parishioners say, Ascension has grown to be more inclusive and accepting of all people and that members of the congregation have expanded their roles in the community and as volunteers within the congregation.

Kraft's "bold leadership" is somewhat progressive, but more aligned with what the church must become to increase its membership, draw a younger crowd and remain relevant, said 18-year-member Jill Jahries, of Lutherville.

Kraft, who became Ascension's pastor in May 2016, is "really good about reminding us about Jesus' time on earth and the fact that he was the ultimate includer," Jahries said. "There was not a selective group he sought out that was already walking the walk, so to speak. He really recognized and reached all people where they were and created a sacred relationship that allowed those people to be themselves and feel whole so long as they were being mindful of one another."

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, of which Ascension Lutheran is a member, has seen the number of its members decrease in recent years, according to the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, the denomination's presiding bishop.

"We're set up to do church the way our parents did church and it doesn't work," Eaton said, adding that it was up to the church to adapt to changing communities and an "increasingly secular society."

A 2015 Pew Research survey on religious habits found that the percentage of adults who described themselves as religiously affiliated shrank between 2007 and 2014. Additionally, the percentage of adults who were religiously unaffiliated increased 7 percentage points, resulting in an overall U.S. population that is slightly less religious than it was a decade ago.

Mainline congregations must welcome a more diverse group of potential members if they are to continue to flourish, Eaton said.

The trend away from the church is one Kraft said she does not want to see continued in Towson, though she says she is not focused on increasing membership but on drawing members "closer to Christ."

However, bucking national trends is part of the reason the 750-member congregation chose Kraft to lead it. Involvement at Ascension Lutheran is up since Kraft was hired by a majority vote of the congregation.

"We've had lots of good pastors, each one with their own gifts and skills, but she's ready to lead us in outgoing service to our community and building on things we've done in the past," said parish administrator Sue Hartman, a 29-year member of the church.

Other members say Kraft is leading the church into the 21st century.

"Like any mainline denomination right now, our numbers are dwindling, but some congregations are growing, and I would love for Ascension to be one of them," Kraft said.

A new role in Towson

Ascension Lutheran Church traces its beginnings to 1941, when a small group of people met in a home on York Road, gathering regularly for worship. The Towson church opened on its namesake day, a Christian holiday celebrating the ascension of Jesus into heaven, on May 14, 1942.

Construction started on the present sanctuary in July 1949 with a formal dedication on June 4, 1950. In June 1959, the church added an education wing and a nursery school to better serve the community. This year, the church celebrated its 75th anniversary.

A native of Hamilton, Ohio, Kraft served the Lutheran church in her home state as well as in North Dakota and North Carolina before coming to Towson, she said.

Most recently, Kraft led Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Charlotte, N.C. Over a span of 11 years at what she describes as a congregation of mostly LGBTQ churchgoers, Kraft said she tackled social justice issues and helped champion same-sex marriage rights in the southern city.

In 2014, Kraft joined other clergy and the United Church of Christ in filing a lawsuit against the state's same-sex marriage ban on the basis of religious liberty, a full year before the 2015 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

The role is one that earned Kraft recognition from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which came out in support of same-sex marriage in 2009.

"A lot of the work she is doing is the work we hope other pastors are doing," Eaton said. "She did a great job in Charlotte, and I'm sure she's bringing life in to where she's serving now."

Kraft said she is still working out her vision for the congregation's future, but in the meantime is focused on increasing church involvement in the community and challenging the congregation with thought-provoking sermons.

In a recent post to Inside Nancy's Noodle, Kraft's blog about her faith, the church and her experiences as a minister, Kraft questions the relationship between Christianity and evangelism.

Though evangelical is in Ascension's denominational name, Kraft said she prefers that the church focus on action directed at improving the lives of others rather than evangelism.

Instead of preaching strictly from the pulpit of a "pastor-strong" church, Kraft has moved to push the congregation to one that emphasizes "good deeds in action, rather than in thought," she said. It's a mission she says is influenced by hours of deliberation and research Kraft undergoes to fine tune each Sunday's message.

It's not rare for "Pastor Nancy," as she prefers to be called, to rewrite a sermon multiple times until the message is perfected for a congregation she said enjoys being pushed to think harder. Sermons often begin with an exclamation and end with a question or call to action, she said.

"People here are really well educated and have a history of having excellent preachers, so I think I'm working harder here than I ever have in my life," she added.

In the past year, Kraft has moved to make sermons more interactive by increasing the congregation's involvement in Sunday sermons and challenging members to think about scripture outside of the church by making those teachings a greater part of their daily lives.

She has also attempted to make the church experience more child-friendly, adding a children's song as part of worship in the summer.

"A lot of my friends who don't go to church have this old idea of what church is," Jahries said. "You just passively sit and are lectured and don't get stirred [to action]. When I talk about who Pastor Nancy is and what my church is, I have a lot of pride in that."

The church is changing for the better thanks to the congregation's help as well, Kraft said. Earlier this year, church staff revamped Ascension's website to include audio recordings of each week's sermons.

Recently, Kraft invited members interested in leading sermons to do so on some Sundays. The group meets with Kraft to discuss how sermons are written and to rehearse their presentation a practice the congregation has embraced, Jahries said.

Kraft's next focus is on welcoming a Syrian refugee family to an unused parsonage on church property. Ascension has hosted families on the property in the past, Kraft said. Church staff are now working with a Baltimore-based nonprofit to place a family in the home in the next few weeks.

"Once you help people to imagine that we can be more, I see them embracing that," Kraft said. "I can foresee in five years we are just going to transform [the church]."

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New pastor brings fresh ideas to Ascension Lutheran Church - Baltimore Sun

Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa was on hand at the GOHSEP offices in Baton Rouge when Governor John Bel Edwards announced the distribution of a total $220 million in flood hazard mitigation funds from FEMA. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) dollars can be used to improve drainage, elevate homes, and buy out homes that have flooded repeatedly.

I wish it was more, but any assistance we get to alleviate flooding is welcomed, Matassa said. This will go a long way in preventing future floods.

Before receiving any funds, the parish must submit its project ideas to FEMA for approval.

We're looking at projects that will give us the most bang for our buck, where the most residents live, said Matassa, adding that he wants to focus on improving drainage.

Governor Edwards stated that if all went well, the money could start arriving within three to four months.

Contributed Report

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Ascension Parish to receive $33 million for flood hazard mitigation - Donaldsonville Chief

This morning, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A were called to investigate multiple fatal crashes in Ascension and Livingston Parish. These crashes occurred less than two hours apart and resulted in the death of two people.

Burnside The first crash occurred shortly before 5:00 a.m. on July 26, 2017 in the intersection of LA 44 and LA 22 in Ascension Parish. The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as 36 year old Andrew Jones Jr. of Donaldsonville was traveling eastbound on LA 22 in a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. At the same time, 27 year old Christofer Zarazua-Flores of Baton Rouge was traveling southbound on LA 44 in a 2008 Nissan Altima. For reasons still under investigation, Zarazua-Flores failed to stop for a red signal and struck Jones vehicle in the intersection.

Jones was unrestrained at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. He sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ascension Parish Coroners Office. Zarazua-Flores was properly restrained and sustained moderate injuries in the crash. Impairment is not suspected, but a toxicology sample will be taken from both Zarazua-Flores and Jones for analysis.

This crash is still under investigation and charges are pending.

Watson Troopers were notified of the second crash shortly after 6:00 a.m. on July 26, 2017 when someone noticed a crashed vehicle in the wooded area along LA 1024 east of LA 16 in Livingston Parish. The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as 35 year old James Ganey II of Denham Springs was traveling westbound on LA 1024 in a 2001 Ford F-150. Ganey was traveling at a high rate of speed when his vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a culvert. The vehicle became airborne and began to rotate. The roof of the pickup struck a large tree causing severe damage to the vehicle.

Ganey was properly restrained but sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Livingston Parish Coroners Office. Impairment is unknown at this time, but a toxicology sample was taken from Ganey for analysis.

Contributed Report

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Two dead following early morning crashes in Ascension and Livingston Parish - Donaldsonville Chief

At the July 20 Council meeting, the week of August 12 through 19, 2017 was proclaimed SmallBusiness Power Week.

The purpose of Small Business Power Week is to create a collaborative program whereentrepreneurs in Ascension Parish can learn about programs, services, associations andnetworks available as resources to their small business. It will give small business owners theopportunity to learn from expert service providers and to network with local business andindustry leaders.

The Small Business Power Week will serve as a launching pad to strengthen existingsmall businesses and to grow new small businesses to support the growth of a strong smallbusiness ecosystem in Ascension Parish. The partners in the collaborative include theAscension Economic Development Corporation, Microbusiness Enterprise Corporation ofAscension, SCORE, SBA, Ascension Chamber of Commerce, TruFund, SELA WomensBusiness Center, the Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Parish of Ascension, City ofDonaldsonville, City of Gonzales, Town of Sorrento and the Louisiana Department of EconomicDevelopment.

The week kicks off with the grand opening of the MBECA LEAP Center on Saturday, August 12at 9 am at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center gym. More information can be obtained by calling225-445-1383.

Contributed Report

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Ascension Parish proclaims small business power week - Weekly Citizen

RACINE COUNTY Since July 2011, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare now Ascension have teamed up to train nearly 1,500 people in the health care and customer service industries.

Of that number, which includes people from Racine County, 426 have been permanently placed within Wheaton/Ascension.

The program that facilitates this opportunity for placement is dubbed Project Prism.

Applicants work through Goodwills TalentBridge program to get paid training by Ascension in either medical group operations or patient access/business office in order to create great patient advocates, according to Suzanne Maldonado, managing director of professional services for TalentBridge.

Prism was born of a desire for better customer service for Ascension customers. Trainees need not have an extensive work history, but soft skills and a strong sense of empathy, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and organization are preferred, if not required, Maldonado said.

The biggest change from a hiring perspective is: In health care there was a big focus on people who worked in health care before, Maldonado said.

By shifting the narrow focus of prior experience to a larger swath of workers who have good soft skills, it has fostered a more fluid workforce, she said.

One such example is Mirabel Berinyuy Kongnyuy, a woman originally from Cameroon who now lives in Greenfield. Growing up, she said, she knew the job market in her home country was sparse at best.

Kongnyuy said she observed people who went through years and years of school but did not get hired for any work, so she took a gamble and came to the United States last February. She started in Project Prism in August and was hired by Ascension as a customer service representative.

There was somewhat of a language barrier at first though she and most people she knew in Cameroon are bilingual but Kongnyuy said she quickly picked everything up.

I thought people might not accept my culture, Kongnyuy said. (My classmates) made me feel at home.

Customer service representatives are started at $13 to $14 an hour, Maldonado said. This allowed Kongnyuy to help out her family back home.

When you can train people and make them comfortable in jobs, thats when they succeed, said Cheryl Lightholder, manager of communications for Goodwill.

The program itself lasts about 11 weeks, starting with three full days of training with Goodwill, then 10 to 11 weeks with Ascension.

Though Ascenions takeover of Wheaton could have easily thrown a wrench into Project Prism, the transition was smooth, and Prism will continue as it has been for the past six years until further notice, Maldonado said.

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Ascension, Goodwill program leads to job placements - Journal Times

I cant hand them shiny trophies or whisk them away to Hollywood for the glamorous red-carpet treatment, but Ive written this column to honor these parish athletes for their terrific play throughout the season.

All of the biggest stars in entertainment and in sports showed up for the ESPY Awards last week.

There, professional and collegiate athletes were honored for their great achievements during the sports year.

Well, I thought Ascension high-school athletes deserved the same recognition.

I cant hand them shiny trophies or whisk them away to Hollywood for the glamorous red-carpet treatment, but Ive written this column to honor these parish athletes for their terrific play throughout the season.

The first award is for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. There are many players that could have earned this distinction.

Off of the top of my head, I can think of two freshmen softball players in St. Amants Alyssa Romano and Dutchtowns Paige Patterson.

Ultimately, I decided to go with East Ascension football player Cameron Wire.

Prior to last season, Wire was strictly known for his exploits on the basketball court. As a football player, he was still a work in progress.

However, Wire seemed to flip the switch in 2016. He came out of nowhere to earn a starting job on the Spartans offensive line.

In addition to making the all-district and All-Parish teams, Wire became one of the hottest prospects in the area and received scholarship offers from powerhouses like Alabama and Florida State. He ultimately chose to make his verbal commitment to LSU over the summer.

He now heads into his senior season as one of the top offensive linemen in the state.

For Best Game, look no further than the classic the Ascension Catholic baseball team had against Central Catholic in the state semifinals.

The Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead against the defending Class 1A state champions, just to see Central Catholic storm back to tie the game.

The contest remained deadlocked after seven innings, creating bonus baseball.

After 11 tension-filled innings, the game finally came to a close when Central Catholics Mitchell Lemoine came up with a walkoff RBI single to punch their ticket to the title game.

The nod for Best Coach goes to St. Amant footballs David Oliver.

Oliver was one of the many residents of St. Amant that had their house flooded last August. Many players on his team suffered the same fate.

Despite dealing with the personal hardships, he was able to get his squad ready for the 2016 season, and they had the best year of any team in the parish.

The Gators went 9-1 during the regular season, finished as runner-up in District 5-5A and reached the state quarterfinals.

Best Comeback Athlete goes to Dutchtown football player Kyle Sarrazin.

Sarrazin came into 2016 hungry after being forced to miss almost all of 2015 with a serious knee injury.

He recovered beautifully, becoming a great anchor for the Griffins defensive line, on his way to being named all-district and All-Parish. He signed with Louisiana College.

Best Female Athlete goes to St. Amants Taylor Tidwell. Tidwell was the driving force behind both the Lady Gators volleyball and softball teamsboth of which reached the state quarterfinals.

In volleyball, she was named All-State and the districts MVP. In softball (where shes committed to LSU) she made first-team All-District, All-Parish and All-State.

Best Male Athlete goes to St. Amants Briggs Bourgeois. Bourgeois was a standout in three sports for the Gators.

In football, he was All-State and district MVP. He also signed with Southern Miss.

In soccer, he was district MVP for the fourth straight season and the states Offensive MVP, and in baseball, he was a starter on a Gator squad that reached the second round of the playoffs.

The Best Moment would have to be when the St. Amant football team played their first home game at The Pit on Sept. 9. Just a few weeks earlier, the stadium was under water.

It was a great moment for the St. Amant community as they were able to come together and experience a little bit of normalcy in the face of so much strife and heartache.

The Best Upset was during the boys basketball regular season when Donaldsonville made a road trip to face two-time defending 3A champion University.

The Tigers were huge underdogs, but they werent intimidated. Ladarius Jackson hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave them a scintillating 81-78 victory.

University went on to finish the season as Division II runner-up.

The distinction of Best Team goes to the Ascension Catholic baseball squad.

The Bulldogs had a terrific regular season, and in the first two rounds of the playoffs, they dominatedwinning by a combined score of 17-3.

This pushed them through to the state semifinals for the first time since 2005.

There, they played defending champion Central Catholic in the 11-inning marathon, falling just short of the championship game.

Nine of their players made the All-District 6-1A team.

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Ascension ESPY's - Gonzales Weekly Citizen - Weekly Citizen

Jesus ascension is a key event in the history of redemption. The ascension of Jesus is when he returned to heaven, and is recorded for us in Acts 1:1-11. In fact, his ascension into heaven is on par in importance with his death and resurrection. Without the ascension, redemption would be incomplete.

Why? Without the ascension we would not have a high priest in heaven who is praying for us. If youre not sure whether thats even necessary, Id encourage you to read through the Old Testament. It makes clear that we cannot approach God without a mediator. In the Old Testament the mediator was the high priest, and the New Testament declares that we have an even better High Priest in Jesus!

But the ascension raises some questions. What was supposed to happen after Jesus ascended into heaven? If Jesus was just going to be gone for a generation, or two, then it might not have been much of a problem. However, he left with no indication of when he would return. Moreover, here we are almost two-thousand years later and still no return.

Some in church history have tried to make up a kind of return. Some will say that he returned in 70 AD at the destruction of the Temple. Others pinpoint a specific date much later, like 1914. What is clear, though, is that none of these dates really line up with what Jesus said his return would be like (new creation, end of sin and sorrow, etc). Others have tried to argue that Jesus left the kingdom-building up to his disciples. This is where we get ideas like Christendom or attempts to make America into a Christian country.

It should be comforting to know that Jesus own disciples at that time didnt fully understand it all. In Acts 1:6 they come to Jesus and ask, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?

John Calvin famously says of this verse that there are more errors here than words. Throughout Jesus ministry, the disciples misunderstood what he had come to do. When he was rejected in a town, two of his disciples asked if they should call down fire from heaven to consume the people, reminiscent of Gods judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus rebuked them.

When Jesus tells his disciples that he must suffer death, Peter tells him no. Jesus rebukes him with the stinging words, Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.

Just as in those instances, so here they do not fully comprehend what Jesus has told them. They display three errors: they think that the time is now; they think that it is geo-political kingdom that Jesus came to establish; and they think that the center of the Kingdom is in a particular land.

They still miss the point. They do not understand that Jesus is not just the fulfillment of the Messianic King but the fulfillment of all of Gods promises. He is the true Israel; he brings the kingdom. All of it centers on him.

What, then, should they do? Jesus tells them, It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:7-8)

The first helpful part of this answer from Jesus is that his disciples are not supposed to worry about dates. Whenever you see someone predicting the return of Jesus, then, theyre doing something that theyre not supposed to do. Its not for them to know. God is working things according to his timetable, not ours.

What are we supposed to do then? If were not just to wait around for the kingdom to come, but were also not supposed to force the kingdom to come, what do we do? Jesus is just as clear here. They were to wait for the Holy Spirit (who comes in Acts 2) and then they are to be witnesses to Christ. That is, they were to begin the ordinary work of the church. This is the very thing that he commanded in the Great Commission. The church is to be active in spreading the Gospel of Christ. This is precisely what the book of Acts is all about.

Pastor Everett Henes, the pastor of the Hillsdale Orthodox Presbyterian Church, can be reached at pastorhenes@gmail.com.

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The task of the church - The Hillsdale Daily News

Over 1,300 4-Hers from across Louisiana traveled to the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, June 20-23, for an Out of This World experience at 4-H University. During 4-H University, 4-Hers can choose to compete in one of over 40 different competitions or attend the non-competitive clover college, run for a 4-H State Office position or 4-H State Board, serve as a voting delegate, and attend educational programs.

In addition to learning and competing, youth get an inside view of the college experience. 4-Hers get to stay on the LSU campus in the dorms, learn the campus by traveling to different locations for contests and educational programs, and attend assemblies in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

This years 4-H University theme was 4-H is Out of this World and Ascension Parish 4-H was well represented with 18 4-Hers participating in a wide range of contests and educational programs.

In addition to contest winners, several 4-Hers were selected to serve on a 4-H State Board after submitting a written application and going through a rigorous interview process. James Daigle was selected to serve on that State 4-H Shooting Sports Board for a two year term, Stacey Kloosterman was selected to serve on the State 4-H Fashion Board for a second one year term, Caitlin Marquis and Kinslei Scroggs were both selected to serve on the State 4-H Citizenship board for a one year term. Each of these 4-Hers will assist their fellow board members in planning and conducting state 4-H Activities in their respective board areas.

Two 4-Hers from each parish served as voting delegates to participate in the business activities of 4-H University. Ascension 4-Hs delegates, Charles Sanchez and Makenna Babin, assisted in the democratic process of electing the State 4-H Officers, Regional Representatives and conducting the yearly business of the 4-H organization.

2017 Ascension Parish 4-H Results:

ATV Safety: Blue Ribbon Winner - Paige Zeringue

Fashion Review- Creative Choice: Fourth Place- Stacey Kloosterman

Fishing Sports Team: Fourth Place- James Daigle, Alex Milazzo, and Noah Stafford

Fishing Sports Individual Awards: Blue Ribbon - James Daigle; Blue Ribbon - Alex Milazzo

Horticulture Demonstration (team): Fourth Place Allie Daigle and Maci Schexnayder

Insect Identification: Blue Ribbon Winner Zoe Schwaller

Louisiana Chef (team): Blue Ribbon Winners Charles Sanchez and Zack Zeringue

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Ascension 4-H'ers "Out of This World" at 4-H U - Donaldsonville Chief - Donaldsonville Chief

GONZALES State highway officials will unveil plans next month to improve traffic flow through the La. 44 corridor south of Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish where major housing projects have sproutedover the past two decades and more are on the way.

Many residents say the traffic is already oppressive and fear new projects under development will only make the problem worse.

The state Department of Transportation and Development has been working on studies of La. 73 in the Dutchtown area and La. 44 in Gonzales and the Burnside area as these two highway corridors have continued to feel the brunt of the population growth in Ascension, highway officials said.

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While the La. 73 "corridor study" is still under review, DOTD's corridor analysis for La. 44 between I-10 and La. 22 has led to plans to combine funds from the state, the city of Gonzales, subdivision developers and possibly parish government to see through the first phase of the concept, officials said. But there won't be enough money to extend the work all the way down to La. 22.

DOTD and other officials briefly described the first phase of improvements in advance of the public open house in Gonzales on Aug. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.Two roundabouts would be added to La. 44 roughly between I-10 and just south of Loosemore Road. In addition, La. 44 would be widened from two to four lanes between I-10 and the first of the roundabouts planned north of Loosemore.

Even as DOTD pulls together its plans for the meeting next month, earth work is underway for the massive mixed-use Conway project in Gonzales and the 163-home Oak Lake subdivision in unincorporated Ascension across La. 44 from Conway.

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GONZALES State highway officials are conducting or planning corridor studies to see how

The area south of I-10, which is partially in Gonzales and partially in unincorporated Ascension, is already home to large subdivisions like Pelican Point, Pelican Crossing and River Ridge. More are on the drawing board, including the 951-home Conway, Oak Lake and the 780-home Riverton subdivision along nearby La. 22. Conway will also have apartments and retail and be next to a proposed public high school.

The bumper-to-bumper traffic on two-lane La. 44 became a major theme in recent years when Conway, Riverton, Oak Lake and other projects moved through local planning review.

Residents critical of those residential developments frequently spoke at the time about being unable to get onto La. 44 from Loosemore during peak travel times because of the continuous stream of traffic.

The highway is the only nearby route to I-10 from the burgeoning area that was once cane fields and cow pasture. La. 44 also serves traffic to plants along the Mississippi River.

GONZALES As Ascension political leaders consider a temporary halt on new development, the

State highway officials said they will have plans and want comments for the entire La. 44 corridor, but Rodney Mallet, DOTD spokesman, said there aren't funds to do more improvements farther south on La. 44 toward La. 22. Details on additional phases were not immediately available.

Mallett said the total cost for the first round of improvements isn't yet available. DOTD is counting on state safety funds and general obligation bond revenue to help pay for that first phase. But additional money is also expected from a variety of other sources, local officials and developers said, as developers and local governments are expected to chip in to tackle pieces and parts of the first phase of upgrades along La. 44.

For instance, the developers of Conway are expected to build a roundabout in front of their project on La. 44 and pay for part of a second northbound lane on the state highway, said Jackie Baumann, Gonzales' city engineer. The highway section would extend from the future Conway roundabout to the development's property line. The cost for the lane and roundabout are expected to be about $4.5 million.

Gonzales is contributing another $1.3 million to finish the remainder of the second northbound lane on La. 44 from Conway's north property line to I-10, Baumann said.

That cash is coming from DOTD as part of a road exchange between the city and the highway department. Gonzales is taking over long-term responsibility for another section of La. 44 for the $1.3 million and for improvements to that other section of La. 44, which runs through the heart of the city, City Clerk Clay Stafford said.

Also known as Burnside Avenue, the highway section in the center of town recently received DOTD-fundedroad, sidewalk, curb and other improvements between the Kansas City Southern railroad tracks and Cornerview Road, Stafford said.

Also, the developers of Oak Lake, which is across La. 44 from Conway and in the parish, are planning to contribute to the cost of building the second southbound lane on La. 44.

Deric Murphy, the engineering representative for that developer, said Friday that the contribution remains a subject of negotiation since Oak Lake must pay more than $300,000 in road impact fees to the parish government.

Parish government officials also said they are considering contributing to the cost of the second roundabout south of Loosemore Road if the state needs additional money.

DOTD officials said oral and written comments about plans for the La. 44 corridor can be submitted at the meeting Aug. 7 or mailed by Aug. 21 to DOTD.

The open house will be in the large conference room inside the Ascension Parish Governmental Complex, 615 E. Worthey Road, Gonzales.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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With more growth headed to southern Ascension, DOTD considers plans to widen La. 44, add roundabout - The Advocate

I can't hand them shiny trophies or whisk them away to Hollywood for the glamorous red-carpet treatment, but I've written this column to honor these parish athletes for their terrific play throughout the season.

All of the biggest stars in entertainment and in sports showed up for the ESPY Awards last week.

There, professional and collegiate athletes were honored for their great achievements during the sports year.

Well, I thought Ascension high-school athletes deserved the same recognition.

I cant hand them shiny trophies or whisk them away to Hollywood for the glamorous red-carpet treatment, but Ive written this column to honor these parish athletes for their terrific play throughout the season.

The first award is for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. There are many players that could have earned this distinction.

Off of the top of my head, I can think of two freshmen softball players in St. Amants Alyssa Romano and Dutchtowns Paige Patterson.

Ultimately, I decided to go with East Ascension football player Cameron Wire.

Prior to last season, Wire was strictly known for his exploits on the basketball court. As a football player, he was still a work in progress.

However, Wire seemed to flip the switch in 2016. He came out of nowhere to earn a starting job on the Spartans offensive line.

In addition to making the all-district and All-Parish teams, Wire became one of the hottest prospects in the area and received scholarship offers from powerhouses like Alabama and Florida State. He ultimately chose to make his verbal commitment to LSU over the summer.

He now heads into his senior season as one of the top offensive linemen in the state.

For Best Game, look no further than the classic the Ascension Catholic baseball team had against Central Catholic in the state semifinals.

The Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead against the defending Class 1A state champions, just to see Central Catholic storm back to tie the game.

The contest remained deadlocked after seven innings, creating bonus baseball.

After 11 tension-filled innings, the game finally came to a close when Central Catholics Mitchell Lemoine came up with a walkoff RBI single to punch their ticket to the title game.

The nod for Best Coach goes to St. Amant footballs David Oliver.

Oliver was one of the many residents of St. Amant that had their house flooded last August. Many players on his team suffered the same fate.

Despite dealing with the personal hardships, he was able to get his squad ready for the 2016 season, and they had the best year of any team in the parish.

The Gators went 9-1 during the regular season, finished as runner-up in District 5-5A and reached the state quarterfinals.

Best Comeback Athlete goes to Dutchtown football player Kyle Sarrazin.

Sarrazin came into 2016 hungry after being forced to miss almost all of 2015 with a serious knee injury.

He recovered beautifully, becoming a great anchor for the Griffins defensive line, on his way to being named all-district and All-Parish. He signed with Louisiana College.

Best Female Athlete goes to St. Amants Taylor Tidwell. Tidwell was the driving force behind both the Lady Gators volleyball and softball teamsboth of which reached the state quarterfinals.

In volleyball, she was named All-State and the districts MVP. In softball (where shes committed to LSU) she made first-team All-District, All-Parish and All-State.

Best Male Athlete goes to St. Amants Briggs Bourgeois. Bourgeois was a standout in three sports for the Gators.

In football, he was All-State and district MVP. He also signed with Southern Miss.

In soccer, he was district MVP for the fourth straight season and the states Offensive MVP, and in baseball, he was a starter on a Gator squad that reached the second round of the playoffs.

The Best Moment would have to be when the St. Amant football team played their first home game at The Pit on Sept. 9. Just a few weeks earlier, the stadium was under water.

It was a great moment for the St. Amant community as they were able to come together and experience a little bit of normalcy in the face of so much strife and heartache.

The Best Upset was during the boys basketball regular season when Donaldsonville made a road trip to face two-time defending 3A champion University.

The Tigers were huge underdogs, but they werent intimidated. Ladarius Jackson hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave them a scintillating 81-78 victory.

University went on to finish the season as Division II runner-up.

The distinction of Best Team goes to the Ascension Catholic baseball squad.

The Bulldogs had a terrific regular season, and in the first two rounds of the playoffs, they dominatedwinning by a combined score of 17-3.

This pushed them through to the state semifinals for the first time since 2005.

There, they played defending champion Central Catholic in the 11-inning marathon, falling just short of the championship game.

Nine of their players made the All-District 6-1A team.

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