Hope helpshealteen’spain, plants purposeand plan
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Contributing writer
Leila Ramos stoodout asagifted preschooler and future Mensa member as kid who could solve complex problems and set puzzle pieces straight. Adecade later,those complex problems include curbing the fentanyl crisisinthe hope that young lives will be saved. Ramos, a16-year-oldWest Feliciana High senior,recently discussed her journey frompreschoolatLSU to founding Hope Resuscitated, anonprofitfocused on educating teenagers andyoung adults about overdose prevention. Inspired by family losses to overdose, she aimsto provide Narcan and raise awareness. Ramos’ educational path includessev-
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Stitching groupmeeting Saturday
Christian Sisters in Stitches will have its normal craft meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Clinton Methodist Church. People from the community who would like to join are welcome.
Librariesare active
Be sure to visit the West Feliciana Parish Library or any branch of the Audubon Regional Library for lists of activities planned for the fall.
Candidateforum set
The West Feliciana Chamber of Commerce invites residents to the 2024 Mayoral and Alderman Candidate Forum at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the West Feliciana High School Auditorium.
Mammograms in thearea
The Woman’sHospital mammography coach is offering3D mammograms in Clinton and nearby communities. Physician’sorders are required and appointments are strongly encouraged. Call (225) 683-5292 to schedule.
Thecoach will be at RKM Primary Clinton, 11190 Jackson St., on Sept. 24. Visit womans. org to see the schedule for other communities,including Baker and Zachary
OLLI Fall Coffee registration
OLLI Fall Coffee is hosting horticulture speaker Jessie Hoover of the LSU AgCenter
The Felicianas Chapter of OLLI will hold its fall coffee at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 in Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church, 12404 La. 10, in St. Francisville. Hoover will share fall gardening tips and talkabout Louisiana Super Plants.Guestsover the ageof50are welcome. Registration for OLLI runs through Oct.2.Classes are Sept. 23 to Nov.2 Visit OLLI in the Felicianas on Facebook, ce.lsu.edu/olli or contact ollifelicianasmembership@gmail.com for information.
Angola Prison Rodeotickets
Tickets are available for the Angola Prison Rodeo in October. Reserved seating is $20 per ticket. The event includes music by inmate bands, food,and prisoner-made arts and crafts. Children’sactivities include pony rides, carnival games and
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eral schools but started at theLSU Lab school preschool program. Morethan 100 yearsago, the school was startedas an independentsystemtoprovide trainingopportunitiesfor pre-and in-service teachers andtoserve as ademonstration and research center.Ramos hasfond memoriesofworking withpotteryand developing alove for reading.
Testingand assessments found something moresubstantial than “likesto read.” Ramos, thestaff discoveredwas performing at averyadvanced levelfor her age and shewas designated “gifted” as apreschooler The Mensa Society became apart of Ramos young life soon after her designation. No little kid asks, “Can IbeaMensa when Igrow up,”but there she was join-
ing the more than 50,000 members of American Mensa, thelargest national Mensa operatingunderMensa International. Mensa is acollection of theworld’s smartest minds. They range from 2to106 and score in thetop 2%ofthe population on astandardized IQ test. Members can meet and help others through community-orientedactivitiesoperated by the Mensa Foundation.
Ramos,whose mother is anative of the Felicianas and whose father is from El Salvador,spent thenext years in FLAIM, BatonRouge Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet. FLAIM combines academic goals withforeign language
BACKYARD BALL
BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer
On Sunday,Jesse Corcoran, 7, of Slaughter, underwent surgery to assist withacongenital heartdefect he has had since birth. But on Thursday, he threw out thefirst pitch on his very own baseballdiamond, one built in his backyardonlandthat had been acow pasture only ayear ago.
Despite theheavyrain that soaked the baseball in hishand, andthe mudthat sucked at hisfeet,Jesse’s pitch flew all theway intohis father Tim’swaiting glove. As cheers shot up from spectatingneighbors and friends, Jesse too flew into Tim’sarms.
Thediamond was awish Jesse had asked of the Make-A-Wish foundation, one thatwas grantedThursdayafter months of construc-
tion by local designers and contractors donating their labor and materials. The field is not just for Little League, either,being 350 feet along the baseline from home plate to the end ofright field.
Liz Aaron,Jesse’saunt, got to watch the field go up “from start to finish” from her neighboring property.
“I’mjust proud that he’sgonna get somethingthat he loves; it will be very well used,” Aaron said, tearingup. “Hewill be the envy of all of the high school boys, because this is better than what they have.
She said one of her favoritethingsabout living in Slaughter was that you can hear the neighborhood’skids laughing and playing, that it echoes across theopen pasture.
Jesse’sfield is tucked tightly between two such pastures, down agravel road off Midway
Road, in Slaughter.While the crowdate snow cones and Cracker Jacks from under the protection of awhite plastic tent, Jesse and the other children ran the perimeter of the new field, barefoot in the mud.
Tim, whohimself briefly played Major League Ball alongside Jesse’suncle Roy,addressed the gathered crowd before the first pitch. He talked about all the days of work, of layingthe fencingundera 110-degree sun. “This is awonderful thing; Iwould’ve loved to do this on my own, but Icouldn’t,” he said, thanking Make AWish and all of the contractors involved. “This wasablessing to my son, to my whole family,toall the kids on Midway Road. It’s going to be ablessing foreverybody,soit’snot just going to be Jesse, its
BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
The Geoffroy’scat moves so fast thathesees everything aroundhim in slow motion. Thespectacled owlhas badnight visionand hastrouble seeingthingsupclose. Andthe capybara? Well,hejustlikes having hisbelly rubbed, which is what Chandler Castle does moments after entering the fuzzy creatures’ enclosure at Barn Hill Preserve.
It’s notonly thecapybaras’homebut theplace that ties these animals together,amongothers. Some arerare. Others are close to landing on the endangered animals list AndChandler, alongwithother animal caretakers and
PHOTO BY FRANCESY.SPENCER
Leila Ramos speaksabout her efforts to curb fentanyl overdoses and her future after graduating fromWest Feliciana High School in May2025.
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STAFF PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK
As he battlescongenital heartdisease, Jesse Corcoran, 7, throws out the first pitch Thursdayafternoon as his wishfor abackyard baseball fieldis granted by Make-A-Wish TexasGulf Coast and Louisiana in Slaughter
STAFFPHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER Visitors getaclose look at the flock of parrots in BarnHillPreserve’s
immersion in French, Mandarin or Spanish. Through immersion programs, students learn academic subjects in another language. FLAIM studentslearn math,science and social studies in their target language. Herparents moved thefamily backtothe Felicianasafter the2016 flood and Ramos attended both East and West Feliciana parish schools. For many gifted children,the forces that drive them canmakeschool morelike “work” than most would imagine. “I think it’skindofput alot of academic pressure on me since Iwas little,” Ramos said.“I’ve alwaysreallywanted academic validation, and Iput my self-worth into it so, itgets hard. But Iwouldn’tbeassuccessful ifIdidn’tso, I’m also grateful.”
Pain andgrief presentdifficult puzzle Intelligence can label ayoung person,but tragedy can define one’s life and send even the brightest minds into atailspin. Enterthe fentanyl crisis —apuzzle withpainful, jagged edges. Ramos said she lost“toomany family members to count”todrugs,but in 2023, her teenagecousin Benji died of afentanyl overdose.
Fentanyl was developedtohelp people.It is asynthetic opioidoriginally usedtotreat patientswithchronic severe painorsevere pain following surgery.Fentanyl is aSchedule II controlled substance, like morphine, but about 100times stronger
Benji neverentered his 20s butbecame one of hundreds of thousandskilled quickly by just small amounts of the dangerous drug. After two decades with atotal of 564,000 opioid overdosedeaths, the U.S. overdose deaths surpassed 100,000in2021 with 67 %ofthose coming from fentanyl alone.
The already shy and quiet teen withdrew even more. It was not herfault, but having a mind full of thoughts left Ramos crippled by griefand the need to do something.
Plan sparks new‘Hope’
Ramos found many avenues addressing drug addiction and overdose,but fewfinetuned to reach and save theotherBenjis of the world;focused on just teens and young adults. Hope Resuscitatedwas herbrainchild and the key to unlocking herown painful puzzle and the need to impact change The nonprofit was started to equip and educate teens to preventfentanyl overdoses and provide access to resources like Narcan, alifesaving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.Ramos saidshe never imagined leading acause like Hope Resuscitated, but after losing Benjiand other family members shefound herself asking, “Why me? Why now?”
The effort has been liberating. “Instead of being paralyzed by those questions,I decidedtotake action,” Ramos said.“It’sstaggering that two-thirds of overdose deaths happen with bystanders near— people who could save alife if they only knew how.”
Ramos launched awebsitefull of resources and detailed planswiththe help of her mother Cierra Ramos.The siteoffers insight on the crisis andeducates visitors on how to recognize an overdose. Volunteers are being recruited and the effortwantsto have the funds to distribute the lifesaving antidote to teenagers.
Younglifegoesfullcircle
Ramos is returning to LSUinthe fall to participate in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of BatonRouge. Theschool-yearlong program transforms high school students into skilled entrepreneursunder the instruction of the LSUE.J. Ourso Collegeof Business faculty and staff.
YEA BR helps students launch theirvery own companies,generate businessideas write business plans, filetheir businesses with the Secretary of State’soffice, and pitch their plans to aShark Tank-likepanel
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an antique carousel. Admission to the Louisiana Prison Museum andCulturalCenter at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is free for ticket holders each Sunday.Purchaseat angolarodeo.com/tickets
Animal sheltervolunteers
West Feliciana Animal HumaneSociety is looking for volunteers. People at least18 years of age who can work afew hoursone or twodays aweek can reply in the comments at the West Feliciana Animal Humane Society Friendspage.
Free cancer screening
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is holding breast and colorectal screeningsfrom9 a.m. to 2p.m. Oct. 24 at the East FelicianaPolice JuryOffice building, 12064 Marston St.,in Clinton. Appointments areencouraged, but walk-inswelcome. Call (225) 425-8034 foran appointment. Through donations, screeningsare freeif
plan awareness of fentanyl
for
forfunding resources. Ramos wants to gainthe knowledge and funding to turn her awareness effort into afunctioning nonprofit organization and makeNarcan accessible without shame. LSU will remaina bigpart of her 2025. She will be an incoming freshman and plans to
major in biology and become adoctor,pref-
erablya radiologist,while continuingher nonprofit work.
Ramos is sedatelyserious for a16-yearold, but hopeful and excited about leaving the positive impact on society that will save young people like her late cousin Benji.
you have not been screened within the past 12 months. Insurance will be billed for mammograms.Colorectal screenings will be a take-home kit. Save thedate
n St. Francisville Tractor Supply will hold a Community Market from 9a.m. to 3p.m. Sept.21. If you are interested in being avendor,call Christa Wilcox at (225) 635-2223.
n Christmas in the Country in St. Francisville is set for Dec. 6-8.
n Yellow Leaf Arts Festival is 10 a.m.to5 p.m. Oct. 26-27 in Parker Park, St. Francisville.
n The Southern Garden Symposium is Oct. 18atRosedown in St. Francisville. Speakers are Marianne Willburn and Scott Beuerlein. Visit www.thesoutherngardensymposium.org for details and registration.
n TheFeliciana Wildflower Festival will be June 7and the group is seeking applications for vendors and guest speakers. Visit www facebook.com/FelicianaWildflowerProject for information.
Send news and eventsfor Eastand West Feliciana parishes to extra@theadvocate. com by noon Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
Leila Ramos, left, and her family meet Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, to discuss her aspirations that include an initiativeto help victims of fentanyl overdoses. She is joined by her father Edward Ramos, her mother Cierra Ramos, and little sister Nina.
“That’swhy Ifounded Hope Resuscitated —toensure teens andyoung adults have access to Naloxone and the knowledge to use it,” she said. “Wecan’t save everyone, but if we can save even one life, it’sworth it.” For information, visit https://hope-resuscitated.org/.
EAST ANDWESTFELICIANA COUNCILONAGING
The schedules for West and East Feliciana Council on Aging facilities areasfollows:
WEST FELICIANA
n 12292 Jackson Road, St. Francisville, (225)635-6719
n Start time for all activities is 10 a.m.
FIRST AND THIRD MONDAY: Line dance
FOURTH MONDAY: Religious service
TUESDAYS: Nutrition education
WEDNESDAYS: Exercise/yoga
THURSDAYS: Bible study
FRIDAYS: Bingo/movie/excursion
n All people 60 and older in West Feliciana Parish areinvited to join.
n Fortransportation to the center or questions, call (225) 635-6719.
EAST FELICIANA
n 11102 Bank St., Clinton n 3699 La. 10, Jackson
Wednesday, Sept. 11
ARTCLASS: 9a.m.
DEVOTIONAL: 11:15 a.m.
LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 12
BINGO: 10:30 a.m.
LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 13
TAICHI: 10:45 a.m.
LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 16
EXERCISE CLASS: 10:45 a.m.
LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 17
BINGO: 10:30 a.m.
LUNCH: 11:30 a.m.
Transportation Transportation is provided to East Feliciana Parish residents of anyage for appointments in East Feliciana, West Feliciana and East Baton Rouge parishes Mondaythrough Friday. Call (225) 683-9862 to schedule atransportation appointment.
PHOTOSBYFRANCES Y. SPENCER
West Feliciana High Schoolsenior Leila Ramos returns to the LSU campus Aug. 24 as she details her
overdoses andcompete in this year’sYoung Entrepreneurs Academy in hopes to develop aviable business plan
HopeResuscitated,a budding nonprofit.
