Kentwood's Main Street activities draw crowds on Saturday

Kid Vegetable Growers
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Kentwood Main Street was live with activities on a pleasant morning in March.  A large number of people out and about taking advantage of the pleasant weather and local activities. People attended Kentwood  Main Street Market to shop and listen to live music. At the close of the market , the  Kentwood Rotary Club's 1st Annual Pet Parade started at 2:00 p.m.  The events was well attended with a large number of participants. 

Angus Cattle Community Farmers Association, Inc., hosted their first annual "Remembering the Dairy Days" in Kentwood. During the event they provided a number of activities for the youth. LeBlanc Dairy Farm  provided two calves for the children see and feed.  There was a lot of excitement among the children when they fed the calves. The kids were taught how to plant a bean by Tri-Parish Vegetable Growers after they fed the calves.  Inside the library a photography exhibition digitally displayed featuring Eric Gordon, Jr., a third grader at O.W. Dillon Elementary School in Kentwood.  The ACCFA, Inc., invited Nicholas Muse, Assistant Area Agent for St. Helena and Tangipahoa Parish to talk about the services they offer after the exhibition. 

Dog Parade Participant
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Local vendors provided shoppers with a variety of good like plants, vegetables and fruit,  fried green tomatoes, and other items. Nutrition 51 store,   located across the street from the library, had  shoppers in search of healthy drinks and treats. It was a beautiful Saturday, and the streets and sidewalks were full of people enjoying themselves on a lovely day.  Pets and  their owners lined the streets.  Dogs dressed in costumes made friends with one another. Some of the pet won award for the best costume and for being a cutie.  

Both events were attended by Mayor Irma T. Gordon and Councilwoman Wilkerson. Everyone was pleased to see local activities taking place in the town. When I was a member of Moving Kentwood Forward, we discussed many activities that could be started right here in Kentwood.  A possible example would be dressing up bicycles with lights and riding them around town.  Food vendors could be invited out, and live music could be performed at the conclusion of the ride. Small town can be revitalized in an infinite number of ways. To revitalize their communities, many small towns in America organized art shows, open art galleries, coffee shops, wine tastings, and White Linen nights.

Kids feeding the calves
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Kentwood Youth Photographer's First Photography Exhibition

Eric Gordon, Jr.
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Antoinette Harrell mentored Eric Gordon, Jr., as they share a love for nature and photography.  Around the world, Harrell's work has caught the attention of major photographers. Kris Davidson is one of those photographers. Her photographs have been featured in National Geographic, Lonely Planet Travels, and many others.

Justin Fornal a SATWF Lowell Thomas Award-winning writer. He has written extensively for National Geographic, VICE, and the Explorers Journal, Part Unknown, and Roads & Kingdom. He traveled to Kentwood, Louisiana and documented images here.Eric has been taking photographs since the moment he received a camera from Harrell. Harrell invited Eric to accompany her on a photo trip to document the local syrup makers in St. Helena Parish on Womack Place.  He took photos of the syrup making process and the people making it. His grandmother Irma T. Gordon, mayor of Kentwood looked on and was amazed at how he was moving around and taking photographs. 

A second trip was made to  LeBlanc Dairy Farm in Tangiphaoa, Louisiana. Eric was asked by Harrell to take photographs of the cattle from the side of the road in preparation for his upcoming exhibition. For his first exhibition, he was eager and excited to take photographs. The event was well attended, and 30 of his images were digitally displayed at the Kentwood Branch Library as part of the Remembering Dairy Day celebration.

Eric could be come the next Gordon Parks who became a photographer in 1937 after seeing examples of Farm Security Administration photographs reproduced in a magazine. Although he was twenty-eight years old. Gordon purchased his first camera, a Voigtländer Brillant, for $15.50 at a Seattle, Washington pawnshop and taught himself how to take photos. Eric can do anything he can dream of. One of the many things Harrell stress to Eric is how the camera in his hand can take him all over the world if he isn't afraid to explore, create, and work toward the dream.  This will not be last of Eric's photographs being on this display. 

The Town of Kentwood embracing technology

Mayor Irma T. Gordon announced at the March monthly council meeting that the town would use technology, virtual clouds, and computers for presentations. My experience with council meetings in various cities and townships has allowed me to observe how they embrace technology.

Each month, invited speakers speak at Kentwood Town Council meetings without presenting anything for the public to see.  Computer technology makes it very easy for presenters to engage their audiences. Presentations, agendas, minutes, and videos can be displayed on the smart monitors. 

It has been my request in the past that the CPA present in a way everyone can see and follow. I urge the mayor and town council to request that Harrell's CPA Firm present documents that anyone can see since we now have the smart monitor. As we move forward, I hope the town council and mayor inform the speakers that we do have the technology to show presentations.  In most cases, the general public has no idea what they are talking about. It is more important for us to avoid having our council vote on things they do not fully comprehend. 

Years ago, I donated a projector to the Town Council, but I was the only one using it.  Our technological advances are twenty-three years behind those of the 21st Century. I am delighted to see that this administration is making the necessary changes. The mayor and council purchased a smart monitor for the upcoming meetings. 

At the 80th Annual State Livestock & Poultry Show, Adison Washington broke barriers for the hearing impaired

Adison Washington
Photo Courtesy: Glenna Gauthier

The best way to describe Adison Washington is as a 9-year-old 3rd grader with a lot of confidence and courage. She attended the Louisiana School for the Deaf in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  It is obvious that Adison is a very smart and quick learner. A dream came true for her when she exhibit two cows at Southern University 80th Annual State Livestock & Poultry Show for this year at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Arena, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Baton Rouge, 

Since 1943, Southern University has provided an opportunity for youth throughout the State of Louisiana to gain valuable knowledge and skills at the Annual State Livestock and Poultry Show. As part of the youth livestock program, students develop responsibility, dedication, decision-making skills, leadership skills, trustworthiness, sportsmanship, and citizenship through the care and handling of live animals.

Adison walked Blade and June with pride and confidence It was the first time a hearing impaired child exhibit an animal at the Livestock and Poultry Show, according to Ricky Brumfield, Blade's owner. When Brumfield learned Adison was deaf over the phone, that didn't bother him. He offered to sponsor her if she wanted to participate in the event. Brumfield made Adison's dream come true.

Glenna Gauthier, Adison's mother was the sign language interpreter,  she was more nervous and afraid
than Adison was.  Adison was interviewed by the local news that morning.  She wanted and was determine  to break down barriers for others with disablities. "I want to show others young people like myself with a disability that they can do anything they choose," Adison said doing her news interview.  She was supported by many of her teachers and classmates with signs.

Adison broke down those barriers for youth with disabilities during the 80th Annual State Livestock & Poultry Show. Her goal was to be the change, and she championed that change with pride and confidence. Adison told her mother that the other children made her feel welcome. In addition she taught Ricky Brumfield, Jr., who assists her, how to communicate with her using sign language.  We will see Adison take on bigger and greater causes to break down barriers for the disabled in the future.

Adison Washington and Blade
with Ricky Brumfield
Photo Courtesy of Ricky Brumfield
Dressed in their costumes