Louisiana

<font color="000000"><font size="+2">Lt. Gov. Landrieu Announces Hodges Gardens to Become Louisiana's Newest State Park</font></font>

Plans Are Underway to Return the Site to Being a Top Tourist Destination for the State

BATON ROUGE - Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu announced today that the transfer of property agreement between the Hodges Foundation and the State of Louisiana has been signed, making Hodges Gardens the newest member of the Louisiana State Parks family.
"Hodges Gardens is an important asset for this region, " Lt. Governor Landrieu said. "The late A.J. Hodges, Sr. took a barren 700-acre stone quarry and turned it into a thriving tourist area. The state's takeover of the park will restore the garden's original beauty, upgrade accommodations, and ultimately add value to this economic asset."
The Office of State Parks will open the park for day use by April 30. However, Hodges Gardens will not host its Easter Sunrise Service this weekend.
Landrieu added, "Our park staff is working overtime to complete maintenance work and repairs, so that folks can enjoy the gardens this spring." Angèle Davis, Secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said accommodations at Hodges Gardens State Park will be a major draw. "In the past, Hodges Gardens has hosted weddings, family reunions and tour groups from across the south. Preliminary studies have indicated that a restored Hodges Gardens will have a $2.7 million economic impact on the local and state economy," she said. State Parks Assistant Secretary Stuart Johnson is pleased with the addition of the park. "Hodges Gardens is widely known for its rich, extensive gardens, and we intend for the site live up to that reputation," he says. Approximately 900 acres of wild and cultivated beauty, the Sabine Parish wilderness area will be a unique member to the State Parks family. Originally designed and opened to the public in 1956 by oil and gas businessman A.J. Hodges Sr., the site's naturalistic gardens consist of a variety of native and imported foliage. Hodges Gardens State Park is located on Hwy. 171, approximately 15 miles south of Many. More information on the site can be found on Louisiana State Park's website, www.lastateparks.com. ###

March 22, 2007

<font color="ff0000"><font size="+2">Dear Citizens of Louisiana,
Tired of the blame game that gets us nowhere?
"The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the flooding," says an LSU levee report released this week.

The Army Corps says, "No we're not."</font></font>


Sign the petition and get the truth!


We deserve an independent Commission with subpoena power to find out who made what decisions and when with the levees.


We need people on the Commission with no stake in the results and who aren't up for re-election.


The Commission is cheap and quick and no levee work needs to stop during the study.


Don't we all deserve levees that work?


Click here and sign the secure petition!
http://www.votervoice.net:80/groups/levees/petition


Already signed the petition? Please forward to your friends!


Thank you,
Sandy Rosenthal
Founder, Levees.Org
www.levees.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Ann Durel
March 1, 2007 985-792-4652

FOLK CRAFTS FESTIVAL SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 30 &amp; 31 AT FAIRVIEW-RIVERSIDE STATE
PARK

MADISONVILLE - Fairview-Riverside State Park visitors are invited to observe
Louisiana craftsmen at work on March 30 &amp; 31. March 30 is a school-day,
local schools are invited to register students for the program which will
run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. March 31 is open to general public from 10 a.m.
until 4 p.m. Woodcarvers, metal workers, basket weavers, needleworkers and
many other skilled artists will present techniques used to create hand-made
items. Vendors will offer many unique items for sale. Regional folklorist
Dr. Laura Westbrook will present a quilt slide show/lecture at 10:30 a.m. &amp;
1 p.m. on March 31. Call the information number below to register for the
slide show presentation.
A puppet show by Porta-Puppet Players at the kids tent each day along with
musical entertainment to include Bluegrass Tunes at 10 a.m., Cajun Dancers
at 11 a.m. and on Saturday only at 1:30 p.m. Marvin Weir &amp; The Good Timers
(Classic country music). Food and soft drinks will be available on site. Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of
Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in
cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the St.
Tammany Parish Tourist Commission. Fairview-Riverside State Park is located
one mile east of Madisonville on Hwy. 22 and Fairview Drive. Admission fee
is waived for this special event. The site also offers camping, a day-use
picnic area on the banks of the Tchefuncte River and Otis House Museum. To
register for the school-day or for more information call 1-888-677-3247 toll
free or 985-792-4652 locally.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Ann Durel
March 1, 2007 985-792-4652

Fairview-Riverside State Park to host Easter Traditions Program April 7 MADISONVILLE - Visitors at Fairview-Riverside State Park are invited to participate in an Easter Traditions program on April 7th at 2 p.m. The staff
of Otis House
Museum will host traditional Easter egg hunts and rolling contests. Children
will
be divided into age groups: 4 and under; 5 through 7; and 8 thru 12. After
the children's activities, Egg Pocking for all ages will cover Louisiana's
original Easter Tradition.
The program is free with park admission of $1 per person ages 4 - 61.
Seniors 62+ and children under 3 are admitted free. Fairview-Riverside State
Park is located one mile east of Madisonville on Hwy. 22 in St. Tammany
Parish. The site includes camping, a day-use picnic area on the Tchefuncte
River, and Otis House Museum. For more information call 985-792-4652 locally
or toll free 1-888-677-3247.
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LOUISIANA
OUTDOOR
WRITERS’
ASSOCIATION
Sponsored by the Louisiana Outdoor Writers’ Association and The Advocate
Educational Services, this essay and photography contest is designed to stimulate an
interest in outdoor journalism and photography in Louisiana youth.

Besides cash prizes, and other awards, the winning entries will be published in
this newspaper and other publications and websites across the state.
CONTEST RULES:
1. The contest shall be open to all students.
2. The contest is not open to the immediate family members of any Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association
member. “Immediate family member” is defined as a son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, grandchild, or
step-grandchild.
AGE DIVISIONS:
CATEGORIES:
PRIZES:
SUBMISSIONS:
JUDGING:
1. For the essay category, prizes will be awarded for two separate age groups: Senior (14-18 years of age)
and Junior (13 years of age and under).
2. For the photography category, any age 18 years of age and under is eligible.
ESSAY
An original, unpublished essay about personal experience pertaining to hunting, fishing, boating, camping, hiking,
or other related outdoor experience. The essay must be at least 300 words in length, but not more than 1,000
words in length. The submitted essay must be typed, double-spaced, and only on one side of each sheet of paper.
The essays will be judged on the following criteria: interest, subject matter, readability, spelling, and grammar.
Winning essays should be available in an e-mail format to facilitate publication.
PHOTOGRAPHY
An original, unpublished photo, in either color or black-and-white print form.
The photo may be either a 4x6 inch, 5x7 inch, or 8x10 inch print, center mounted on 8x10 inch
poster or mounting board. Slides will not be accepted.
THE FOLLOWING MUST BE INCLUDED WITH EACH SUBMISSION:
At the top of the first page of each essay or attached to the back of the mounting board of the photos:
NAME: AGE: SCHOOL: HOME ADDRESS: TELEPHONE NUMBER:
All entries should be postmarked no later than March 26, 2007.
• All entries will be judged by professional educators and outdoor
communicators.
• Winners will be notified by mail by May 5, 2007.
• All winners and their chaperones will be honored at the annual LOWA
Fall conference held in August this year.
Youth Outdoor Journalism Contest
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES TO:
THE ADVOCATE
ED. SERVICES/LOWA
P.O. BOX 588
BATON ROUGE, LA 70821
FIRST PLACE in each of the categories will receive a $150 cash prize and will be presented a certificate
from the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association.
SECOND PLACE in each category will receive a $100 cash prize and an award certificate from the
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association.
THIRD PLACE in each category will receive a $50 cash prize and an award certificate from the Louisiana
Outdoor Writers Association.
Find this at:
www.2theadvocate.com/outdoors
CASH PRIZES IN ALL CATEGORIES DONATED BY THE LOUISIANA CHAPTER
OF SAFARI CLUBS INTERNATIONAL.
Submissions cannot be returned unless accompanied by a SASE.
www.laoutdoorwriters.com

<font color="ff0000"><font size="+2">28th Annual Louisiana's Sportsmen's Show March 8-11, '07
</font></font>

<font color="000000">Louisiana's Original Sportfishing, Boat &amp; Hunting Festival at the Lamar-Dixon Expo in Gonzales, La.</font>

READ FULL DETAILS FROM the offical website here: http://www.lasportsmenshow.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Lori Barnes
January 26, 2007 ph. 985-792-4652

Victorian Valentine Workshop at Otis House Museum on Feb. 10
MADISONVILLE - Otis House Museum is offering a Victorian Valentine workshop on Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. Children, ages 7+ are invited to learn about different types of valentines and their origins. Examples of vintage mechanical valentines from the early 1900's will be on display as well as a replica sailor's valentine. After learning about the various valentines, participants can create a Victorian Valentine. Please call to register groups of 10+.
The workshop is free with park admission of $1 per person; seniors 62+ and children under 3 are admitted free of charge. Otis House Museum is located inside Fairview-Riverside State Park, one mile east of Madisonville in St. Tammany Parish. The site includes camping, a day-use picnic area on the banks of the Tchefuncte River, and Otis House Museum. For more information or to register call 985-792-4652 or toll free 1-888-677-3247.
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