With the end of summer approaching, it’s time to get those pups ready for their close-ups.

DENHAM SPRINGS -- There’s fresh graffiti at Eastside Elementary.

Adults knew him as June Trammel Neal, but the children of Denham Springs knew him by another name.

Around 200 women enjoyed all the chocolate they could stomach when Abundant Life Church hosted its second annual Ladies Chocolate Boutique on Friday, Aug. 10.

WALKER -- To June Baker, they’re her “magical flamingos.”

June Baker, a 4-year-old girl from Walker, reacts excitedly after discovering fake flamingos in her front yard. Baker was diagnosed with leukemia in February, and neighbors move the flamingos to a different location every night to give her a surprise each morning.

The dog days of summer bring about a decline in food sources for yellow jackets and pushes them to move in closer to human habitat in search of food. I’ve had several reports over the past few weeks of yellow jacket and bumblebee encounters.

On Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge (FHFGBR) held the Friends and Family Luau at BREC’s Liberty Lagoon.

DENHAM SPRINGS -- The Smithsonian’s Water/Ways Exhibit officially opened on Saturday, Aug. 11, kickstarting a plethora of related community events and programs over the next two months.

Southeastern Louisiana University opened the 2018-19 academic year with its fall convocation that included presentation of the President’s Awards for Excellence, the university’s highest honor for faculty and staff. 

The Southern University Land-Grant Campus held a graduation ceremony for the participants of its Denham Springs-area Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certification Program on July 30.

DENHAM SPRINGS -- After months of preparation, the Smithsonian’s traveling Water/Ways Exhibit was officially unveiled to the public during an opening ceremony at the Old City Hall Museum on Saturday, Aug. 11.

DENHAM SPRINGS -- One day before the two-year anniversary of the Great Flood of 2016, organizers of an upcoming Smithsonian exhibit at Old City Hall are giving people a chance to say “thank you.”

WALKER -- Sophia Macias called it her “Happy Gilmore check.”

Girl Scout Troop 10437, which draws membership from Denham Springs and Walker, recently designed and constructed a concrete wheelchair ramp at its meeting place, Life Church in Walker.

Southeastern Louisiana University recently named 1,093 students to its honors list for the summer 2018 semester, including 132 from Livingston Parish.

As she drove from her home the morning of Aug. 13, 2016, Rachel Boutwell didn’t think the damage from the overnight rain would be too severe.

Scarlett Blades Matherne is going for a new title this summer — Mrs. America.

Boy Scout Zachary Ponthieu of Troop 58, located at Live Oak United Methodist Church in Watson, recently met with members of the East Baton Rouge Lions Club to give them more than 300 pairs of eyeglasses he collected as part of his Boy Scout Eagle project.

August seems to always bring about a large invasion of the weed known as chamberbitter.

Patrons gathered at the Livingston Parish Library (LPL) to participate in an interactive Murder Mystery Café performance by the Livingston Parish Mystery Players.

Southeastern Louisiana University’s public radio station, KSLU 90.9 FM, recently announced Jeffery the corgi’s photo as the winner of the first annual KSLU Cutest Pet Photo Contest.

There were magical celebrations at the Livingston Parish Library last week.

Denham Springs Main Street is making its final preparations for the Smithsonian’s traveling Water/Ways Exhibit, a cultural attraction organizers hope will bring visitors from across south Louisiana and beyond.

Organizers are pleased to announce the 2019 Italian Festival Royalty that was chosen at the annual pageant on July 14.

WATSON -- While students were enjoying what’s left of summer break, a collection of teachers from across the area gathered at Live Oak Middle for a one-day professional development conference.

The Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association recently announced the newly appointed 2018-19 GOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) Council members.

The mattress fundraiser is coming back.

With the end of summer approaching, it’s time to get those pups ready for their close-ups.

The Edward Livingston Historical Association met July 19 at the Main Branch of the Livingston Parish Library, where featured speaker Mitch Pratt discussed the topic “DNA Testing: Let the Buyer Beware.”

A visit from First Lady Melania Trump highlighted a trip to Washington D.C. for more than 50 local high schoolers who attended the Students Against Destructive Decisions’ (SADD) annual conference this summer.

Pears can be grown successfully in Louisiana, and they begin to get ripe in August.

The return to school can be exciting for students and parents, but it can also be a challenge.

WATSON -- Young scientists filled Karen Parrino’s class last week, transforming the ordinary North Live Oak Elementary classroom into a laboratory of interactive scientific experiments.

David M. Williams, a former 4-H agent with 30 years of experience, was recently inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame during a reception at the Louisiana 4-H Museum in Mansura, Louisiana.

Local Girl Scouts have a plethora of new badges to target.

Inspired ATA Martial Arts of Denham Springs piled up the accolades at the American Taekwondo Association’s World Expo in Little Rock, Arkansas, this month.

The South Branch Bookies Book Club celebrated its 11th year in existence on Thursday, July 26, at the South Branch of the Livingston Parish Library.

A seven-week Bible study covering “The Armor of God” recently wrapped up at Roberts United Methodist Church in Denham Springs.

The 32nd Annual Blind River Bar Garfish Rodeo will be held at Manny’s on Hwy. 22 in Maurepas on July 28-29.

The congregation of First United Methodist Church in Denham Springs introduced Rev. Scott Bullock as the church’s new senior pastor during service on Sunday, July 1.

Crape myrtles are having an excellent blooming season, which seemed to start earlier than most years.

WATSON -- There promises to be plenty of buzz at Live Oak Middle this year.

DENHAM SPRINGS -- Sophia Macias loves to golf.