The Livingston Advocate (12/25/14)

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ADVOCATE THE HE LIVINGSTON-TANGIPAHOA

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DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND • PONCHATOULA

THURSDAY DECEMBER 25, 2014 H

THEADVOCATE.COM

Christine Morgan AROUND LIVINGSTON

CMARCENEAUX@ THEADVOCATE.COM

Education, safety top winter events Livingston Parish Public School’s Special Education Department will host Winter Wonderland from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Literacy and Technology Center 9261 Florida Blvd., Walker. Parents can learn more about special education services in Livingston Parish schools. The free outreach event is for families who have children ages 3-21 that receive special education services and/or in the Gifted and Talented program in Livingston Parish Public schools. Free pizza and children’s activities will be available. No registration is required. For information contact Kimberly Manuel at (225) 667-1098.

Teen pursues passion for acting on big screen Youngster tallies roles in local short films

BY CHRISTINE MORGAN

cmarceneaux@theadvocate.com DENHAM SPRINGS — Maddie Nichols is making a name for herself on the small screen. The 14-year-old, who is homeschooled, recently appeared in “Madeline’s Oil,” a moving short film that follows the turning point in the lives of an 1800s Louisiana family. Nichols began her acting career at age 11 with Playmakers of Baton Rouge when her mother, Rhonda Nichols, thought it would be a good idea if her daughter found “something to keep me

busy,” Maddie said. Maddie fell in love with acting — it “just stuck,” she said. From Playmakers, Maddie turned to the Livingston Parish Arts Council, where she attended an arts camp with a theater component. Before long, she appeared in a short film, created by students from the University of New Orleans. “It was such a great experience and a learning experience,” Maddie said. “It was more realistic (than theater). I felt like I could be anything I wanted to be.” With her passion for acting ignited, Maddie created an audition tape, and she and her mom began perusing the Internet for more auditions. äSee FILM, page 3G

Jade’s Flowers raising money, encouraging pet adoptions

For the past 11 years, Mockler Beverage has offered The Budweiser Safe Ride Home. Through December and on Jan. 1, 2015, Mockler Beverage will provide a ride home to individuals who have had too much to drink and should not drive. Call Yellow Cab at (225) 926-6400 or Guy’s Towing at (225) 275-6411. Youths ages 8 to 18 can decorate a mug with chalkboard paint and create a writable surface at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the AlbanySpringfield Branch of the Livingston Parish Library. Participants can take their completed mugs home to dry overnight and then bake them in an oven. All supplies will be provided. Registration is required by calling (225) 567-1441 or by visiting the online event calendar at www.mylpl.info.

Art exhibit

BY CHRISTINE MORGAN

cmarceneaux@theadvocate.com

Advocate staff photos by APRIL BUFFINGTON

Livingston Parish sheriff’s Deputy Lydon Hendley walks out a bike and bags of toys before making a delivery to a family Friday during Sheriff Jason Ard’s Christmas Crusade.

deputies made more than 500 deliveries Friday during Sheriff Jason Ard’s

deliveries

27th annual Christmas Crusade, so more than 1,200 underprivileged children in Livingston Parish can have a Merry Christmas.

DENHAM SPRINGS — Jade Mitchell is ringing in the new year with a continued commitment to helping animals. The 11-year-old and her mother, Julie Robertson, are the minds behind Jade’s Flowers, an organization that raises money for animals in shelters and for rescue organizations. The duo, both of Denham Springs, are selling their 2015 “Saved By Love” calendars — a project Robertson said they had hoped to launch in 2014 but had to delay after a fire destroyed their home on Aug. 20, 2013. Now back in their home, Jade and her mother are working hard to sell more than 800 calendars to help several rescue organizations, including the Denham Springs Animal Shelter, the Walker Animal Shelter and the Livingston Parish Animal Shelter. The calendars aim to raise money and promote pet adoptions, something Jade became increasingly passionate about after visiting several animal shelters and pet adoption events. “As she got older, she started realizing that some of them are put down,” Robertson said. “She had expressed wanting to branch out to

“Thanks to all of the deputies and volunteers who gave of

Winter choir camp

collected toys and monetary

äSee AROUND, page 2G

CHRISTMAS

Livingston Parish sheriff’s

The Livingston Parish Arts Council’s exhibit for December will feature Artist Jill Rabalais’ various works and artwork from the students of Holden School art teacher Marita Gentry. The exhibit will be on display through Tuesday at the Arts Council Gallery inside the Arts Council of Livingston Parish, 133 N. Hummell St., Denham Springs. For information, go to www.ArtsLivingston.org. The Livingston Parish Children’s Choirs are holding its 17th annual Choir

Photo provided by RHONDA NICHOLS

FOUR-LEGGED FUNDRAISING

Safe ride home

Chalkboard painting

Shooting a scene from ‘Madeline’s Oil’ are, from left, actors Reggie Varice, Maddie Nichols and Jency Griffin Hogan. The 15-minute short film was shot on location in St. Francisville.

äSee JADE, page 2G

their time to help,” Ard said in a Facebook post. “And thank you to everyone who donated to this wonderful program. Without you, none of this would be possible.” The gifts were delivered for children 12 and younger. Livingston Parish deputies donations for the crusade

Livingston Parish sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Fowler, left, and Detective Paul Brignac sorts out bags of toys that were delivered to families Friday during Sheriff Jason Ard’s Christmas Crusade, a drive that donates new toys to underprivileged children.

starting at the end of November.

Photo provided by JULIE ROBERTSON

Jade Mitchell, 11, eyes a dog at the Denham Springs Animal Shelter. Jade started the organization Jades Flowers when she was 8 to help provide food and supplies to animals in area shelters. She is now selling calendars to help raise money for nine-area animal shelters and rescue organizations, and to promote pet adoptions.

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