Country Roads Honored

Covers Featured in Art Gallery
Member of our Chamber, Country Roads, has been featured in a prominent art gallery in Covington. Recognized and award winning, Country Roads Magazine is a local creation that has been recognized broadly for it's style and art. This is just another example of recognition.

Publisher Dorcas Brown was pleased to let her friends and clients know that this honor has once again been given to the magazine. Jamie Fox-Smith continues to write interesting and witty script that sets the tone for each edition. We are proud to count them a member of our community and this Chamber! Congratulations to all at Country Roads!

Newsletter Items

The Whats And The Whys This newsletter goes out as a service to our members and is free to many others. It is our mission to support businesses in St. Francisville and West Feliciana Parish through this newsletter while keeping you informed as to many happenings across the parish. With this in mind, please send us news releases of achievements and recognitions that have come to you, our members.

In the coming New Year, we plan to include a featured member each week with a link to their website. Additionally, we plan to add a section referencing connections to your information on our Chamber's website.

The Communications Committee strives to balance the news you need with the promotion our members deserve. Thank you for your continued feedback as we make this an even better tool for our parish.

Search Executive Secretary

Send Your Resume' In Today!

The Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce has begun a search for a new Executive Secretary. If you have the desire to serve our members and help to grow this terrific organization, please submit your resume' to sfchamber@bellsouth.net or drop it off at our office located in Town Hall. If no one is in the office, just slide it under the door.

Please remember as you respond that we are without anybody at this time and may not respond immediately.

Update Your Member Profile

Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce put a new website in place this year that has features to help it's members with a web presence. Designer and maintenance provider Blue Goose Media, did a great job creating the "Market Place" - one of the tools that can help spotlight our business members. Business members can place a Market Place ad in its appropriate category and include links to their own webpages. Click here to find out how this works and how to place an ad.

Another tool available to Chamber members is the online Chamber Directory. Need to contact other members? Need to know who provides the goods and services you need in West Feliciana? The online Chamber Directory is just what you need. It makes for a great bookmark this Holiday season!

It is important that members update their information on the Chamber Directory because its from these profiles that we select featured business of the week for placement in the newsletter. It's also important that our members know how to reach you at the speed of business. Learn more about updating your profile by clicking here.

Read on further, to see how the newsletter is used. Thanks to our Board members and Chamber members who participated in this upgrade that will help our many Chamber businesses!

Court House Solutions

Jury Aggressively Pursues Solutions The Court House continues to have air quality problems, but thanks to aggressive handling by the Police Jury, solutions are being brought to handle the problems by the responsible parties.

Thanks to the Police Jury and to Parish Manager Ambrose Sims for diligently handling this important issue that is getting much press.

Vibes in the Ville

Parker Park Popping...Almost! This past Saturday Grandmother's Buttons sponsored Christmas Carolling as a part of the Vibes in the Ville series. The weather changed on Saturday from mild and gentle to somewhat more seasonably correct which prompted postponement of the event.

More details as they develop!

BR Loop Progressing

Audubon Bridge, Loop Not To Be Connected
by Mike Smith, Chamber Governmental Relations Committee Chairman With last week's presentation of updated maps noting possible corridors for the Baton Rouge Loop project, it appears the loop will be built south of West Feliciana Parish. The updated maps were presented at a joint meeting of the loop's Stakeholder, Executive and Advisory Committees which I attended. As this article is written, the updated maps have not been uploaded here. However, I am told this will happen this week.

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden reported the project is currently 6 months ahead of schedule. A land use planner will be hired next month to begin planning how the new loop will interface with its surroundings. A final route is expected to announced by March, after a series of public meetings are held in late February. Click here for a complete calendar of the loop's Implementation Plan.

The $2 million cost of the Implementation Plan is paid for by East Baton Rouge Parish government. However, the entire process is managed by the parish presidents of the 5 surrounding parishes - EBR, Livingston, Ascension, West Baton Rouge and Iberville.

After a route is selected, the Implementation Phase of the project will end and the NEPA Process Phase will begin. This phase, which includes all of the government approvals necessary to begin construction, is expected to last at least 3 years. The current target date to being construction of the BR Loop is 2011.

So how is it that this project is on the "fast track?" One of the most important elements is the addition of new financing opportunities made available by the Legislature in its 2006 session. The Transportation Mobility Trust Fund legislation, coupled with Public-Private Partnership legislation, have allowed for toll revenues to be the driving force in assembling the monies necessary for mega-projects such as the 100+ mile BR Loop.

This kind of innovative thinking avoids having expensive (but much-needed) projects like this one gobble-up sizable chunks of traditional road dollars - leaving nothing for other road improvements across the state.

Your Chamber will continue to keep you updated on this, and other significant projects in our area.

Greetings! 12/17/07

Greetings!

To our everyone across The Felicianas, the Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

2007 was a year of growth and service for your Chamber. Looking ahead to 2008, the bar is set very high - and we're ready to meet the challenge. We are fortunate to live, work, worship and play in one of this Nation's greatest places. Your Chamber's goal is to continue exploring ways to help our area grow while preserving that which makes this area so very special.

2008 will be a very active year for West Feliciana Parish. Road construction on Highway 61 will begin, the Audubon Bridge will continue to take its final shape, and our new Police Jury will tackle issues important to us all. Meanwhile, our signature fairs, festivals, and other events will add to a quality of life second-to-none.

Along the way, your Chamber of Commerce will serve as your advocate - your voice - of West Feliciana Business.

With warmest Holiday Greetings,
The Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce

Newsletter Items

The Whats And The Whys
This newsletter goes out as a service to our members and is free to many others. It is our mission to support businesses in St. Francisville and West Feliciana Parish through this newsletter while keeping you informed as to many happenings across the parish. With this in mind, please send us news releases of achievements and recognitions that have come to you, our members.

In the coming New Year, we plan to include a featured member each week with a link to their website. Additionally, we plan to add a section referencing connections to your information on our Chamber's website.

The Communications Committee strives to balance the news you need with the promotion our members deserve. Thank you for your continued feedback as we make this an even better tool for our parish.

Search Underway For Next Chamber Executive Secretary

Send Your Resume' In Today!

The Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce has begun a search for a new Executive Secretary. If you have the desire to serve our members and help to grow this terrific organization, please submit your resume' to sfchamber@bellsouth.net or drop it off at our office located in Town Hall. If no one is in the office, just slide it under the door.

We thank Molly Porter for her service and wish her well.

Chamber President Appointed by Governor-elect Jindal

Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce President Miles Higgins has been selected by Governor-elect Bobby Jindal to serve on his transition team's Business Retention and Recruitment Committee. Miles reports that "the future of business and commerce in Louisiana looks to be very promising under this administation."

Congratulations to Miles!

Solitude Low Water Bridge Re-Opens

Good News For Residents & Tourists
The bridge is open! After a long wait it looks like the bridge that will serve as a connector of the east and west has opened for traffic. This is a great success for the Jury as it is professionally engineered and appears to be well built.

Besides serving the residents of Solitude, Jacko and surrounding areas, it is an important gateway to Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge. Tourists and other visitors can access the park through the town, rather than by-passing it! One vision being looked at is connecting the riverfront, Cat Island and St. Francisville in a way that could even include the soon-to-be-built Tunica State Preserve and Interpretive Center!

Thanks to the Police Jury for rebuilding this important link that can make this possible!

Christmas in the Country

Hot Time In The Old Town!
Christmas In The Country 2007 was a great success! Many comments about the warm weather aside, the beautiful day brought out the traffic. First, it seemed well organized, like an event that doesn't have to be reinvented can. Second, it seemed to be well managed. Finally, everyone participated - our wonderful residents, merchants and, of course, visitors from all over.

The singing by the many choirs and groups, the music of the Symphony and Angola, the lights, vendors as well as the food and the fun made for a memborable weekend.

Congratulations and thank you to all that made it possible. This is truly a signature event for our great parish.

Greetings!

Greetings!

In keeping with other elections throughout our state, the Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce will have a runoff! Elected to the Board are Mike Smith of Connect CallUSA and John Patrick of Patrick's Jewelers. There was a three way tie for the last two board of directors spots between Cathy Howard (Red Stick Armature), Kitty Martin (WFP Director of Tourism), and Janis Crutchfield (Bank of St. Francisville). You will be receiving a runoff ballot in the mail along with a brief bio on the three remaining candidates. Please return your ballot the the Chamber office prior to the end of the year.

As you may have read in last weeks newsletter, Molly Porter has resigned as the Executive Director of the Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of our members, the board would like to Molly for her time and effort. Molly will continue her law practice in St. Francisville and we wish her only the best. Interested candidates my submit a resume to the Chamber office or fax to 635-6717.

As we wrap-up 2007 we look forward to great things coming from your chamber in 2008!

Miles Higgins

Christmas Caroling

"Vibes in the Ville" Music Series Saturday, December 15th
The First Annual "Vibes in the Ville" Christmas Caroling will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 6:30 pm in the Gazebo at Parker Memorial Park on Commerce St. We will have sheet music and candles available, carolers need to bring their chairs and singing voices! We will be led by two great musicians, Nancy Ropollo and Robbie Gilmore. This event is being sponsored by the graciousness of GRANDMOTHER'S BUTTONS and is part of the "Vibes in the Ville" music series brought to you by Arts for All and the St. Francisville Main Street organizations. For more information call Lynn 635-3665 or Laurie 635-3873.

Christmas Wreaths

Women's Service League of St. Francisville Annual Christmas Wreaths Sale
Wreaths will be available in front of the WFP Library on Ferdinand St., and at Sage Hill Antiques opposite the post office, on Friday,December 7th through Sunday, December 9th. Proceeds benefit several philanthropies, including Jane C. Butterworth Park, Relay for Life, Young Life of West Feliciana Parish, West Feliciana Parish Food Bank, and West Feliciana Parish Public Schools.

Charitable Giving

ANNUAL TOY DRIVE
The Sixth Annual West Feliciana Food Pantry Toy Drive is now underway. Please drop off new unwrapped toys to the West Feliciana Parish Library or The Bluffs Clubhouse before the December 19th deadline. For more information, please call Kristi George at (225) 634-7590. Donate a toy and spread some holiday cheer!

FOOD BANK CONDUCTING HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE

West Feliciana Parish Food Pantry is conducting a holiday food drive during December to meet the increased need for food items during holiday time. Non-perishable food items can be brought to the Edwards Jones office at 12232 Jackson Road, 1st United Methodist Fellowship Hall, or Grace Episcopal Church's Jackson Hall. Items such as canned vegetables, canned meats, rice, cereal, canned fruit and powdered milk are suggested.

Transitory Theater

A Merry Medieval Christmas
In it's fifth year now, the St. Francisville Transitory Theatre bring you its annual Christmas in the Country production, and this year you won't get cold watching the show! A Merry Medieval Christmas is a fun, up to date version of the medieval mystery plays. Traditionally these plays would be presented in sequence, on roaming carts. Over the course of a few days players would tell the entire story of the Bible. We won't make you sit through the whole thing, we'll just hit the highlights. We go from Creation to the Annunciation in about an hour, and you can sip warm cider while you watch! A Merry Medieval Christmas will run December 7th and 8th at 7:00 pm and December 9th at 2:00 pm at the Market Hall on Royal Street in St. Francisville. Tickets are $5 per person, available only at the door. Box office opens 6:30 pm, night of the show. Arrive early, seating is limited to 50 per show. For any questions or directions, check our website or e-mail us at sftheatre@gmail.com, or just call (225) 721-2124.

Read more

Donations Needed

Community-Wide Production of a Play by Arts for All, St. Francisville Transitory Theatre and the WFP School System
What "loved" furniture, lamps, jewelry, prints, paintings, collectibles, etc. do you wish to donate to a sale benefiting the community-wide production of a play?
The play and its production is a joint venture of the St. Francisville Transitory Theatre, Arts for All, and the West Feliciana Parish School System. The play's opening night is anticipated for summer 2008. Production commences in June 2008 when two-week workshops will be offered to the public on various aspects of theatre production, including acting and set design. These workshops will be free and open to all ages! But, in the meantime, we are raising money and looking for sponsors to make sure that this exciting event can happen! So ... tell all of your friends to think about what they would like to donate, and be sure to come and shop! The sale will be held during Christmas in the Country in the old Mosaic Garden building. All proceeds will go toward the summer 2008 play!

Tour of Homes

Friends of the West Feliciana Parish Library
Sunday, December 9th
From noon to 5 pm the Friends of the West Feliciana Parish Library presents: The Library Tour Of Homes. The owners of this year's contemporary homes are Shannon and Kevin Couhig, Shideh and Mike Hammack, Janice McDermott and Mark Chustz, and Carolyn and Cole Thornton. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased in advance or on Sunday at the West Feliciana Parish Library. For more information call 635-3364.

About the homes on tour

The Baton Rouge Symphony

St. Francisville Symphony AssociationSaturday, December 8th
It's Christmas in the Country and time for the St. Francisville Symphony Associations Spectacular Annual Christmas Concert featuring the musicians of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. The Brass and Percussion group will delight you with Christmas favorites. This wonderful event will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Francisville on Friday December 7, 2007 at 7 pm. Following the performance, there will be a Dessert Reception in Jackson Hall, including the Famous Coffee Punch. Tickets are available at the Bank of St. Francisville, by calling BRSO at 225-383-0500, or at the door. This concert typically sells out so be sure to get your tickets early.

Two Hundred Years of Tinsel and Lights

St. Francisville Christmas in the Country
December 7th-9th
Come celebrate St. Francisville's Christmas Festival where the historic district is illuminated in tiny white lights. Activities include a live nativity scene, vintage dancers, strolling & gospel choirs, and of course, the Children's Christmas Parade sponsored by the St. Francisville Women's Service League. Santa will be riding in a sleigh pulled by Louisiana State Penitentiary's Percheron draft horses. The Parade's Grand Marshall will be David St. Romain, a finalist in the 2007 Nashville Star Competition, who will also be performing at Parker Memorial Park at 4 pm.

Chamber's Calendar

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Greetings 12/03/07

The turnout for the Parishwide Planning Workshop held at Hemingbough last week was just spectacular. The importance of community involvement in this process can not be overstated. I'm looking foward to Fregonese Associates' return visit where I hope to see the 3D "Fly-Through" videos of how our plans might look once implemented. You can view some of their "Fly-Through" videos for other cities, towns and communities by clicking the following link:

Fregonese 3D modeling

I'm not sure how smoothly I can segue from hi-tech savvy to old fashioned fun, but for my family, this weekend is all about Christmas in the Country. It's one of our "new" family traditions -- strolling over to Town Hall on Friday evening to hear the First Baptist Church Children's Choir, watching Mayor L'Aquila light the Town Tree, and we all just love the fireworks that come next. The annual Christmas Parade sponsored by the Women's Service League is the undisputed highlight of Saturday's festivities. Even so, the whole day is booked solid, starting with breakfast with Santa, followed by one activity, event or performance after another.

I must also report that this will be my last newsletter. I have loved being the Chamber's Director, and above all, writing this newsletter. The Chamber has strong leadership in Miles Higgins, a wonderful and truly active Board, and this decision could only have been made with reluctance. Nevertheless, I have had to accept that the conflicting demands of other employment make it simply impossible for me to devote the time to the position that the Chamber deserves. But, I have truly enjoyed the time I had.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone,

Molly McGraw Porter,
Executive Director, Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce