Around Ascension for November 6, 2009

• By DARLENE DENSTORFF
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Nov 6, 2009 - Page: 3B

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The Donaldsonville Downtown Development District Main Street program is celebrating the history of the city Saturday during “The Avenue Evening Stroll.”

The event is part of the statewide “Main to Main Event, A Louisiana Cultural Road Show” promotion for Main Street cities.

Event organizers are asking visitors to stroll along Railroad Avenue for an up-close look at the buildings that make up the state’s second-largest historic district.

The evening will feature food, carriage rides, music, art and a visit from a group portraying historic characters from the city’s past. The city’s two museums — the Historic Donaldsonville Museum and River Road African American Museum — will be open late.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring their Christmas-gift lists. The event is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Riders raise money

More than 130 motorcyclists from law enforcement agencies around the nation are expected to compete Saturday in the annual Gulf Coast Police Motorcycle Skills Competition at the Cabela’s parking lot in Gonzales.

The event is a fundraiser for the Dream Day Foundation, said Capt. Lee Anderson of the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. Ascension Sheriff Jeff Wiley kicks things off at 8 a.m., followed by the competition, which is hosted by the Ascension, Livingston and West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s offices and the Baton Rouge, Gonzales and LSU Police departments.

The competition, which is expected to continue until around 2 p.m., is free to spectators. Organizers will be selling T-shirts, food and raffle tickets for several items.

Veterans Day programs

Veterans will be honored during a program at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Veterans Memorial Park on South Irma Boulevard in Gonzales.

Retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Herman Deculas, a Vietnam War veteran, is scheduled to speak. A choir of students from East Ascension, Dutchtown and St. Amant High schools will perform. Food will be served.

In Donaldsonville, Ascension Catholic Elementary School is saluting veterans with an 8:20 a.m. Wednesday Mass in Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church, followed by a program at the school. Veterans and families are invited to the program, which will honor veterans and servicemen and -women who are on active duty.