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The Ponchatoula Chamber "America's Antique City, offers antiques and collectibles, Child 'en's activities will in- slide, rock climbing wall, chil- which features many famous
of Commerce proudly presentsPonchatoula, Louisiana" is fine art and crafts booths, food clude a petting zoo provided by dren's train rides and bungee Louisiana artists. While stroll-
the Ponchatoula Antique Trade showcasing our city, our cul- vendors, music and children's the Ponchatoula High School's jumping, ing through our city you will
Days & Craft Fair on March 1st ture, and foremost, our busi- activities, all located in our FFA which features baby farmFor art connoisseurs, we areview art displays in various
& 2nd, 2008, a free admission ness establishments, nationally-recognized historic animals. Activities will also home to Louisiana Furnishings PLEASE SEE PAGE I-B
event in downtown Ponchatou-This two day outdoor festival downtown, include, pony rides, inflatable Industry Association (LFIA)
la.
isiana visiting
to join
By ALEXIS DOMINGUEZ the queens and let them see a strawberry farm, then have lunch Church and enjoy lunch before heading back to their hometowns.
2008 Strawberry Queen and visit in our mayor's home. We will also enjoy a tour of our You are invited to the ball!
I have been taught that traditions are important in our lives, downtown which will be buzzing with people and activities--An- It will be held Saturday night at St. Joseph Gym, beginning with
They are important in our families and our churches and our orga- tique Trade Days. the royalty presentations at 8 p.m. followed by dancing 9 p.m. to 1
nizations. The weekend of March 1-2 the Ponchatoula Strawberry A dinner banquet for all the queens and their parents has been a.m. This is a must-see presentation with all the queens presented
Festival will continue one of the festival's oldest traditions, open- planned as a prelude to the annual Strawberry Ball the evening of in their full train and mantles, each depicting their festivals.
ing our arms up to ' isiting Queens of Louisiana." Saturday March 1. This year's theme is "Strawberry Goes To Hol- The strawberry royalty which consists of the queen and king,
I will be able share my wonderful community and the grand lywood!" The ball will follow dinner and after the ball on Sunday the grand marshal and the chairman of the festival will be intro-
hospitality with 30 of my rhinestone sisters. A great weekend has morning the queens will be served breakfast at the "Packing Shed" duced along with this year's recipients of the Row of Fame. Come
been planned with many activities. During the day we will take by the strawberry board and then attend service at Bedico Baptist PLEASE SEE PAGE 4-A
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By MONICA GEORGE Little Miss Straw- through age 5 and there are 1i sion is limited to 20 contestants, in the Strawberry Festival Pa- Saturday, March 15 at Memo-
Past President, berry Festival Pageant and the age divisions for girls ranging so get your applications in early ra le on April 12, and receive a rial Park. Individuals or teams
Ponchatoula Jaycees 8th annual Jambalaya Cook- from 0 to 17 years old. since most age divisions fill up. crown, banner, and trophy, can enter the competition for
It's that time of year in Pon- off. Applications can be picked For early registration, applica- For more information about $100.
chatoula and many events The Little Miss and Mas- up at Lisa's in Ponchatoula or tions must be postmarked by the pageant, please contact Les- Each year, all money raised
leading up to the Strawberryters pageant will be held at the downloaded from www.lastraw-February 22. Children who win lie Fontenot at 985-351-5355. from entry fees goes to March
Festival are underway. The Ponchatoula Community Cen- berryfestival.com. Eachage divi- each age division ride on a float The jambalaya cook-off will of Dimes. For the first time last
Ponchatoula Jaycees are gear- ter on Sunday, March 9. There be the following weekend on PLEASE SEE PAGE 6-A
ing up for two big events - The are three age divisions for boys
SJS Cheerleaders
St. Joseph Crusader cheerleaders were in the Spirit Pro-
fessionals "Kickin' It for Kids" competition. The team won
first placer SJS Crusader Cheerleaders pictured (from
left), Erin Pereira, Kirsten Jackson, Erica George, Katie
Boug re, Josephine Pembo, Callie Fulmer, Bennett Oal-
mann, Hannah VanVrancken, Colleen Atkins, Lexie Smith,
Jennie Gaines, Megan Allen, Peggy West. Not pictured is
Jean Girdwood. (SJS Photo)
Bill Hemmerling 2008
Strawberry Festival poster artist
The 2008 Strawberry Festival Poster promises to be the most
unique and collectable Strawberry Festival Poster to-date. Bill
Hemmerling, whose gallery is in the Louisiana Furniture & Art
Gallery, created the poster from his acclaimed "Sweet Olive" col-
lection. The poster also commemorates the 60th anniversary of the
official sponsor of the poster, the Ponchatoula Kiwanis Club.
Hemmerling, who is internationally acclaimed, is featured an-
nually at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival and was
recently honored by the New Orleans Museum of Art.
The 2008 Strawberry Festival Poster will have a limited print
quantity and once sold out, no more will be printed.
In addition to the regular posters, 10 limited-edition, signed,
numbered full size canvas Remarque's will be offered. The canvas
Remarque price will be $1,200. The regular size posters will be $40
and the smaller souvenir poster will be $25.
To prevent long lines and waiting in line at the festival grounds,
as in the past, the poster pre-sale will begin March 1, 2008 with
pickup when the poster arrives.
Only 200 regular size posters will be kept in reserve for sale
at the festival. The proceeds go to the Ponchatoula Kiwanis Club
for their local community support projects. To order your poster
or request more information regarding the Ponchatoula Kiwanis,
please send your request to: ponchatoulakiwanis@vahoo.com.
Cast of Rock the Schoolhouse
The Ponchatoula High School cast of Rock the School-
house, the musical extravaganza written and directed
by Barbie Vallot and produced by Kay Butler and the
PHS Drama Department, includes (top) Philip Danley,
(middle)Christine Davis, Kayla Turner, Alex Sharp, Katy
Jenkins, Freja Correll (bottom) Taylor Anderson, Kay-
In Vallot, Lindsey Davis, and (seated) Josh Bender. The
play continues Thursday night through a Sunday matinee.
By OLE HARDHIDE
The Alligator
You do not want to miss the bungee jumpers this Sat-
urday near my cage: Mayor Bob Zabbia, Mrs. Cathy Allen,
Michelle Aycock, Police Chief Bry Layrisson, Asst. Chief
Pat Ferris, the Ponchatoula Football Team among the no-
tables coming out to raise funds for the Bryce McKinney
family. Bryce suffered a serious neck injury playing football
for PHS.
I had amnesia once -- or twice.
Hey, come on out to the fundraiser, the gumbo cookoff,
to hear the bands, and to visit with your favorite alligator.
This is going to be one fun weekend, especially Saturday.
I went to San Francisco. I found someone's heart.
You are planning on attending the PHS play this week-
end, aren't you? Saturday night will be especially special.
All I ask is a chance to prove that money can't make me
happy.
FFA will have seedlings in pots and a petting zoo down-
town on Saturday. You are joining us, right? Get the cage
key and I'll even let you pet me, hee hee.
Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and,
when he grows up, he'll never be able to edge his car onto a
freeway.
I never was one for sport stats. As far as I'm concerned
the Lady Wave will always be state champions. Great ef-
fort!
One nice thing about egotists: They don't talk about other
people.
Ask Joey and Mary Haley if they plan to start a key
club.
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem
begins to look like a nail.
North Oaks Diagnostic Center has a green, green St. Pat-
rick's tree, the start of a new tradition.
A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.
Clint and Kaley are ready to be married March 15.They
had their shower on Sunday afternoon, and they're clean.
