Chamber News 12-02-09

Keep Your Lights Safe for the Holidays!

Entergy Customer Service Manager, Mary Broussard, reminds everyone to "respect the power of electricity" when decorating inside and outside.

Here are a few important tips recommended so you can keep your holiday safe and bright:

Inside lighting tips:
*  If using a live tree, make sure it is fresh and green with needles that are hard to pull from the branches
*  Examine all lights before putting them on the tree or using them in other home decorations
*  For greater efficiency and safety, use smaller, cool-burning LED lights
*  Make sure all light sockets have bulbs in them
*  Keep bulbs from touching tree branches and never burn candles on or near the tree or flammable decorations
*  Never use lights on a metallic tree.  If the lights become faulty, the entire tree could be electrified
*  Be careful not to overload extension cords, outlets or even whole circuits in your house
*  Turn off decorative lighting when you leave the room or home
*  Place wires where they can not trip anyone.  Do Not run them under rugs

Outside lighting tips:
*  Make sure the lights you put up are designated for outdoor use
*  Use a nonconducting fiberglass or wooden ladder when working with strings of lights and stay clear of all overhead wires
*  Do Not replace bulbs when the electricity is on
*  Never let light bulbs touch flammable materials such as plastic or dry grass and leaves
*  For outside use, work only with three-wire grounded extension cords
*  Use rubber gaskets in light sockets or hang sockets downward to keep water out
*  Keep connections and lights off the ground by hanging them over wooden stakes
*  Turn outside holiday lights off when away from home or asleep

Enjoy decorating for the holidays but keep your home and family safe!

Come One-Come All to Christmas In The Country!!!

This is the weekend everyone loves.  It's for all ages, young to young at heart!  St. Francisville guarantees that there is something for everyone and you can finish that Christmas shopping without all the hassle!

The festivities begin this Friday, December 4th and continues through Sunday, December 6th.  For the entire agenda, please visit www.stfrancisvillefestivals.com. 

Bring the entire family and friends to enjoy the weekend!

Christmas Tour of Homes

The Women's Service League will sponsor this year Christmas Tour of Homes on Sunday, December 6, 2009 from noon until 5pm.  Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased the day of the event or ahead at the Historical Society Museum on Ferdinand St. and the Women's Service League Wreath Sale Booth on Ferdinand Street.  For more information call Laurie Walsh at 225-635-3873.

Christmas Concert and Dessert Reception

The St. Francisville Symphony Association is sponsoring a Christmas Concert and Dessert Reception with the members of the brass and percussion section of the Baton Rouge Symphony at Hemstead Hall of Hemingbough on December 4, 2009 at 7pm.  This is a change of location in case you may have already purchased your tickets.

This is an added attraction during "Christmas in the Country" that you will want to attend.  Tickets may be purchased at Bank of St. Francisville or at the door.

What better way to get you into the "Christmas Spirit"!

"Christmas Open House" at the Museum

The Museum at Angola will be hosting at "Christmas Open House" on Friday, December 11, 2009 from 10am until 2pm.  Refreshments will be served.

All T-Shirts sold in the Museum will be 'buy and get one 1/2 off'! Great Christmas gifts!

For more information, please call Marsha Lindsey at 225-655-2592.

Mark Your Calendars!

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events at the West Feliciana Parish Library!  On December 8th at 7pm- Catherine Savage Brosman, a well-known Louisiana author and poet, will read from her lastest work, Breakwaters, and will have copies for sale that she will personally sign.  She is an Emerita Professor of French at Tulane University, Honorary Research Professor at the University of Sheffield, England and poetry editor for Chronicles: a Magazine of American Culture.

On December 12th at 3pm- there will be a reading by Stella Nesanovich and Lewis Garvin.  Ms. Nesanovich is a retired Professor of English from McNeese State University, and Mr. Garvin has taught at the University of New Orleans and the College of William and Mary.  They are both published poets.

Make plans to attend these events at the Library.  West Feliciana Library is bringing a wonderful culture to the parish you won't want to miss!

Send a "Touch of Home"

The holidays are a special time of year when people around the world gather with family and loved ones.  But it is also a great time of year to remember the many men and women, their families and veterans who may be  separated or far from home.

Until December 7th, you are invited to send holiday cards with messages of thanks and support.  The Red Cross volunteers and Pitney Bowes will screen, sort and deliver your card to military bases, veteran and military hospitals across the US and around the world.

Your cards must be received at the Red Cross by December 7th in order for them to be received by a US Service Member. Visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail for details on how you can send a card.

Spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors, and let's send a bit of holiday cheer to our service men and women, veterans and their families around the world in gratitude for their service.

Sheriff's Annual Kid's Christmas

The 9th Annual Kid's Christmas has been scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the West Feliciana Middle School Gym at 10AM.  Sheriff Austin Daniel makes sure every year each child attending will receive a toy and be eligible for the bicycle give away.  He wants the public to know that everyone is invited!

The Kid's Christmas Toy Fund is in need of toys as well as donations.  Anyone wishing to contribute can go by the Sheriff's office or call Barbara Bonaventure at 225-784-3109.  Let's help make it a wonderful experience for the children!