March 2016 Calendar

136

Arts     

 

Ongoing-March: Arts & Healthcare, Inc. Exhibits. During February, Arts & Healthcare, Inc. will exhibit the art of Ethel Dixon in the Cabrini Gallery for Reflection and Healing (located in the Outpatient Center, 1st floor).  The photographs of Gary Collins will be featured in the Rapides Gallery (located in the South Tower between the lobby and the ER).  Cost: Free. Call: 318-769-7602. www.artsandhealthcare.org

 

March 4- May 21: Out of the Ordinary: Les Christensen & John Salvest, Alexandria Museum of Art, 10:00am-5:00pm Tue.-Fri., 10:00am-4:00pm Sat. This exhibit invites you to rethink your junk drawer and maybe even your trash. Artists John Salvest and Les Christensen transform the ordinary into extraordinary, turning what most think of as trash or junk into thought provoking and beautiful sculptures and installations. Cost: Visit www.themuseum.org for prices. Call AMoA: 318-443-3458.

 

March 4- May 21: Treasured Gifts: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection, Alexandria Museum of Art, 10:00am-5:00pm, Tue.-Fri., 10:00am-4:00pm Sat. This exhibition features a sampling of acquisitions to the permanent collection in the past few years. Opening Reception and member preview, Friday, March 4th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Cost: Visit www.themuseum.org for prices. Call AMoA: 318-443-3458.

 

 

Music         

 

March 3: Abendmusik Alexandria: A Musical Journey, The Hearn Stage at the Kress Theatre, 6:00pm. Sponsored by Arts Council of Central Louisiana. Join guitarist John DeChiaro for a worldwide tour of classical masterpieces. Our travels will take us to Great Britain through the music of John Dowland, France via Maurice Ravel’s famous Pavane, Spain by way of Isaac Albeniz, and back to America for rags by Scott Joplin. Visit ticket-central.org for tickets. Cost: General Admission $10, to add appetizer plate $5. Call Jackson Harmeyer: 318-484-4467.

 

March 5: “A Time to Reflect and a Time of Renewal,” Emmanuel Baptist Church, 7:30pm. Sponsored by Red River Chorale. A concert related to the season of Lent, with works that inspire reflection and hope for renewal. Cost: Adults $15, Students $5. Call Tina Smith: 484-4463.

 

March 12: Variations on a Theme, Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm. Sponsored by Rapides Symphony Orchestra. Cost: Adult $25, Senior Adult $15, Student $10. Call James Owens: 318-484-4469.

 

March 19: Morris Day and the Time, Paragon Casino Resort Mari Showroom, 8:00pm. Tickets are available at any Ticketmaster outlet or at Paragon’s LA 1 Market Cost: $30.00 and $40.00.  Call: 800-946-1946.

 

March 26: Zydeco and Soul Review, Paragon Casino Resort Mari Showroom, 8:00pm. Featuring Cupid, Tucka and J Paul Jr. and the Zydeco Nubreeds. Tickets are available at any Ticketmaster outlet or at Paragon’s LA 1 Market Cost: $15.00.  Call: 800-946-1946.

 

Theatre

 

March 18-21: The Wizard of Oz, Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center.  This live musical, performed by ages 5 to 21, features all the same colorful characters and heart-warming songs from the original motion picture. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm and Sunday at 2:00pm. Over The Rainbow, a special opportunity to have lunch and activities with the characters, will be held at 1:00pm on Sunday before the show! There will be special School Performances on Monday at 9:30am and 12:30pm.  Call: 318-451-3915.

 

Events

 

Ongoing-March 31: Teen Tech Month, Rapides Parish Libraries, During hours of operation. Sponsored by Rapides Parish Library. To insure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries such as DVDs. Databases, audiobooks, and videogames. To encourage teens to use libraries’ non-print resources for education and recreation, and recognize that librarians are qualified professionals in the field of information technology. Cost: Free. Call Suzanne DeKeyzer: 318-445-2411 x 1060.

 

March 5:  RRMC Breastfeeding Class, RRMC Medical Terrace Gallery Room, 9:00am-3:00pm. Intended for women wanting to breastfeed their infants, this one-day class is taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and focuses on advantages, preparation and troubleshooting techniques. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for your baby. Research shows that learning about breastfeeding prenatally enhances your breastfeeding experience. The support partner/father is welcome to attend. Lunch is included. Please pre-register. Call: 318-769-4440.

 

March 7: Teen Tech Month Scavenger Hunt, Boyce Branch Library, 9:00am-6:00pm.  Stop by the circulation desk, pick up your Tech Scavenger list.  Complete the list from home or use the computers in the library to hunt down the tech resources available from the library!  Complete your list and be entered into a drawing for a prize! Cost: Free. Call: 318-793-2182. www.rpl.org

 

March 7: Bereaved Parents Support Group, Cabrini Mediplex Serenity Room, 6:30pm-7:30pm.  This is an on-going support group for parents and grandparents whose child has died.  Bereaved Parents Support Group has trained outreach volunteers who are available to the newly grieving parent or grandparent. This group is meets on the first Monday of every month. Pre-registration is required. .  Check out our Face Book page: Bereaved Parents of Cenla.  Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 7: Suicide Support Group, Cabrini Mediplex, 6:30pm-7:30pm.  TThis is an on-going group for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide.  Pre-registration is required.  Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 8, 15, 29: Career Application Sessions, Rapides Main Library, 9:00am-12:00pm.  Are you having trouble filling out job applications online? Call the Reference Department to schedule an appointment for personal assistance.  Sessions are limited to one hour. If resumes are required for positions, they must be completed prior to scheduling an appointment. Cost: Free. Call: 318-445-2411 Ext. 1030 or 1032. www.rpl.org

 

March 8: Staying On Top of Things, Gunter Branch Library, 4:00pm-5:00pm.  Teens take ordinary household items and turn them into cool tech tools! What can you make from an empty cassette case, duct tape and a binder clip?  Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-7259. www.rpl.org

 

March 9: Diabetes Group Class, RRMC Medical Terrace Auditorium, 9:00am – Noon. This program designed for adults with newly diagnosed diabetes and for people needing a refresher course in diabetes management. This is a basic diabetes program; therefore no physician referral is required. The program content follows the American Diabetes Association guidelines and uses a variety of teaching methods to enhance learning. Topics include meal planning, monitoring blood sugar, medications, complications, and learning to deal with a chronic disease.  The course is taught by Sandy Couvillon, Registered Dietitian, and Amie Starks, Registered Nurse. Space is limited; reservations are required.  Call: 318-769-3445. www.rapidesregional.com

 

March 9: Child Safety Seat Check, RRMC Medical Terrace driveway, 2:00pm-5:00pm. In this event, a trained child passenger safety educator will take a look at your car seats, make sure they are not under recall, make sure the seat is installed properly and show you how to correctly install the car seat. The car seat check process takes between 15-25 minutes, depending on how many car seats are in the vehicle. The seat checks normally are held the second Wednesday of each month. Cost: Free.

 

March 10: ALS Support Group, RRMC Medical Terrace Gallery Room, 6:00pm. These support group meetings are open to persons with ALS, their families, caregivers and friends to provide information about ALS and the various resources available. Call: 800-891-3746 ext. 3. E-mail: [email protected].

 

March 10: Suicide Survivor Support Group, Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital Cascade, 6:30pm. This group is open to anyone who needs support and has lost a loved one to suicide. It could include parents, siblings, children, spouse, friends or coworkers. The group meets the second Thursday of each month. Call: 318-312-7970.

 

March 11-12: Annual Friends Book and Plant Sale, Johnson Branch Library.  The Friends of the Johnson Branch are back for another year of fundraising activities! There will be two days to find the perfect books for your private library collection and pick up a few plants to perk up your planters or window boxes. Friday from 1:00pm-5:00pm and Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm. Call: 318-776-5153. www.rpl.org

 

March 12: Youth Art Month Festival, Alexandria Museum of Art, 10:00am-3:00pm. Vendors, live music, and free art projects are just a few of the special events we have in store. The Muse “Louisiana’s Got Talent” contest will be from 1-3 p.m. Cost: Free. Call AMoA: 318-443-3458.

 

March 12: Wreath Making Class, Rapides Main Library, 10:00am-12:00pm. Come and create a spring wreath for your door or make it for someone to brighten their day! This class is for adults only. All supplies provided. Space is limited and you must pre-register. Cost: Free. Call: 318-445-2411 Ext 1030. www.rpl.org

 

March 12 and 26: Simplemente Español, Alexandria Museum of Art, 10:00am – Noon. Interested in practicing your Spanish? Join the “Simplemente Español Club.” Tour AMoA, and talk about the art with others in Spanish! Cost: Free. Call AMoA: 318-443-3458.

 

March 12: Second Saturday at the Museum, Alexandria Museum of Art, 10:00am-4:00pm. Cost: Free. Call AMoA: 318-443-3458.

 

March 14: The Good Mourning Widowed Support Group, Cabrini Mediplex Serenity Room, 11:00am.  This is an on-going support group for men and women whose spouse has died. There will be group sharing time and this group has trained outreach volunteers who are available to the newly grieving.  The Morning Widowed Support Group meets on the second Monday of each month and is sponsored by Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.  Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 14: Look Good…Feel Better, Rapides Cancer Center, 11:30am-1:30pm. Cancer can rob a woman of her energy, appetite and strength. But it doesn’t have to take away her self-confidence. Look Good…Feel Better is led by a trained volunteer cosmetologist who teaches beauty techniques to female cancer patients in active therapy. In order to provide complimentary cosmetics, advance registration is required. Please identify what color makeup kit you will need: light, medium, dark or extra dark. Cost: Free. Call: 337-433-5131.

 

March 15: Tech BINGO, Gunter Branch Library, 6:30pm-8:00pm. Relax and enjoy an old favorite with your peers–but this isn’t grandma’s BINGO…It’s BINGO with a techie-twist! Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-7259. www.rpl.org

 

March 16-18: Louisiana Nursery Festival, 4300 Hwy 112 Forest Hill, LA, Friday & Saturday 8:00am-6:00pm, Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm. Sponsored by Forest Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Visit the Village of Forest Hill to enjoy food, crafts, rides, and shop for all your gardening and landscaping needs in the Nursey Capital of Louisiana. Cost: Free. Call Michael Lyles or Ann Jetter: 318-787-1403 or 318-452-2362.

 

March 16:  Cenla Women’s Connection Luncheon, Conference Center at the Greens, 12:00pm.  Singing and songwriting duo Kellie & Kristen will provide special music, and speaker Angelena Cortello will present “How I Was Rescued from Myself.” Please pre-register by Friday, March 15th.  Cost: $16.00.  Call: 318-481-7880.

 

March 16: Plastic Surgery–A New You, Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital Cascade Room, 6:00pm.  Plastic surgeon H. Stephen Maguire, M.D., hosts this monthly after-hours discussion on various plastic surgery topics. The topic for March is “Breast Reduction”. Please pre-register.  Cost: Free. Call: 318-442-5800.

 

March 17: As Young As You Feel Day, Rapides Main Library, 10:00am-12:30pm. Participants age 50 and up will have a wonderful time playing games of the past and present.  Do not miss out on the fun!  A light lunch will be provided. Call Faith Johnson: 318-445-2411 x1036 or 1030. www.rpl.org

 

March 17: Parkinson’s Support Group, Cabrini Mediplex Serenity Room, 11:00am-12:30pm.  This group meets on the third Thursday of each month and is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their family/caregiver.  We offer educational handouts and programs plus a chance to share with others.  Lunch is provided by Christus St. Frances Cabrini. Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 17: Spring Music Acoustic Concert Series featuring Jeff Tucker, Alexandria Museum of Art. Join us on third Thursday’s for AMoA’s most popular recurring social event. Enjoy lively conversation with friends, connect with art, listen to music, and snack on tasty food and drink every third Thursday at AMoA. Cost: Free for AMoA members, $5 for non-members. Call AMoA: 318-443-3458.

 

March 17: Muscular Dystrophy Support Group, RRMC Medical Terrace Gallery Room, 6:00pm. Meetings include guest speakers and access to staff from the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Call: 337-234-0088.

 

March 18: Minecraft Night, TREE House Children’s Museum, 6:00pm-9:00pm. This parent’s night out event is the perfect chance for parents to go out to dinner or just enjoy a quiet kid-free evening.  Drop your kids off at the museum for the evening and know that they will be entertained by activities based on their favorite video game. Register by March 16th at 2:00pm.  Early registration is crucial; no tickets will be available at the door. Cost: $20.00.   Call: 318-619-9394. www.ticket-central.org

 

March 19: CPR Class, 1831 Turner Street, 8:00am. Sponsored by YWCA of Alexandria-Pineville. Cost: See website, www.ywcaalex.org. Call YWCA: 318-445-8880.

 

March 19: The Inglewood Cookout, Inglewood Harvest Barn, 9:00am-1:00pm. Sponsored by Inglewood Farm. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Weekend and Daylight Savings on the Farm. Crawfish boil, vendor cookout, farm tours, live music, horse rides, and face painting. Cost: Free, cost of food varies. Call Stephen Reed: 318-442-6398.

 

March 19: Prepared Childbirth Class, RRMC Medical Terrace Gallery Room, 9:00am-2:00pm. This one-day class, taught by a certified childbirth instructor, prepares couples for the actual delivery. Topics include stages of labor and delivery, when to go to the hospital, pain management, assisted delivery, Cesarean birth as well as a tour of Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital. A light lunch will be provided. Please pre-register. Call: 318-769-4440.

 

March 19: Women’s History Month Brunch, True Vine Family & Wellness Center, 10:00am. Sponsored by Alexandria the Links, Inc. The Honorable Staphanie Finley will be the speaker. Cost: $25 per ticket. Call Dr. Betty Washington or Pat Larvadain: 318-346-8004 or 318-445-6717.

 

March 19: City Wide Easter Egg Hunt, City Park, 10:00am. Sponsored by the City of Alexandria Division of Community Services. Children ages 4-12 are able to search for hidden Easter eggs in the park. Cost: Free. Call Courtney Paige: 318-449-5108.

 

March 19: Robotic Engineering, Rapides Main Library, 10:00am-12:00pm.  Learn how to build, program and control robots with a Windows tablet! Ages 12 to 18. Cost: Free. Call Faith Johnson: 318-445-2411 Ext. 1030 or 1036. www.rpl.org

 

March 19: Easter Parade & Easter Egg Hunt, Boyce Branch Library, 11:00am-12:00pm. The Easter Egg hunt is for children under 12 and the whole family is invited to participate in the Easter parade! Wear your best, craziest most extravagant Easter bonnet! Call: 318-793-2182. www.rpl.org

 

March 19: American Red Cross BASH 2016, Million Air Hangar No. 2, 6:30pm-11:30pm. Sponsored by Central Louisiana Red Cross. Event includes live auction, silent auction, 2 bands, dinner, wine and beer. Cash bar available. Cost: $50 in advance, $60 at door. Call Mary McMinn: 318-419-6621.

 

March 21: Breathing and Relaxation, Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital Cascade Room, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Taught by a certified childbirth instructor, this class will be an in-depth opportunity to practice breathing and relaxation techniques and other comfort measures for labor and delivery. The support partner/father is encouraged to attend. Bring pillows to class.  Call: 318-769-4440.

 

March 22: Diabetes Alert Day, Alexandria Mall, 9:00am-1:00pm. Held in conjunction with the American Diabetes Association’s annual Alert Day, participants will fill out a short survey, have their blood pressure and glucose measured, as well as height and weight assessments to calculate their BMI. Educational and nutritional information also will be available. No appointment is needed. Cost: Free. Call: 318-769-3445.

 

March 23: EGGstravaganza!, Rapides Main Library, 10:00am-11:00am. The event begins with music and a visit with the Easter Bunny! Then the parade begins outside and on to the Huie-Dellmon House Garden for an “eggs”-traordinary  Easter Egg hunt! Bring your Easter basket or bucket and get ready to hunt down those Easter Eggs! Call: 318-442-2483 x 1904. www.rpl.org

 

March 26: Spark Your Imagination!, Rapides Main Library, 9:00am-12:00pm.  Learn the basics of electronic circuits! Work your way through exercises using the Sparkfun Inventor’s Kit! For Ages 12 to Adult .Space is limited. Pre-registration is required!  Cost: Free. Call: 318-445-2411 Ext. 1030 or 1032. www.rpl.org

 

March 26: Johnson Branch 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Johnson Branch Library, 10:00am-2:00pm. Three separate hunts planned! Easter egg hunt begin with toddlers, followed by lower and upper elementary aged children. And the best yet: An appearance from the Easter Bunny! Call: 318-776-5153. www.rpl.org

 

March 28: The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group, Cabrini Mediplex Serenity Room, 11:00am – 12:30pm.  This group is designed for Caregivers and/or family members of those diagnosed with Alzheimer/Dementia. We offer educational handouts, sharing time, and lunch is provided by Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.  The Alzheimer Support Group meets on the fourth Monday of each month.  Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 28: The Alzheimer’s Activity Group, Cabrini Mediplex Serenity Room, 11:00am – 12:30pm.  The activity group will be offered for those with Alzheimer’s disease.  The staff from Brookdale Senior Living will offer appropriate activities with a fun, hands-on approach.  This group meets on the fourth Monday of the month in conjunction with the Caregivers Support Group.  The caregiver must attend the Caregivers Group and stay on campus during this group time.  Lunch is provided by Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.  Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 30: Safe Sitter Class, RRMC Education Department, 7:45am-4:30pm. Boys and girls, ages 11 to 13, can learn the basic skills needed to be a safe and successful babysitter. This medically-accurate, hands-on class teaches sitters how to entertain children and keep them safe, how to perform basic child-care skills, how to call for emergency help, what to do when a child chokes, how to keep themselves safe and how to start a successful babysitting business. Class size is limited; please pre-register. Cost: $45 per child (includes lunch and supplies). Call: 318-769-3445.

 

March 31: March of Dimes Carnival, Rapides Women’s & Children’s Hospital Atrium, 1:00pm-3:00pm. This event will include cake, punch and a variety of vendors, raffle items and more. We will also announce the winners of the RRMC “Cutest Kid” and “Cutest Baby” contests. All proceeds benefit the March of Dimes. The public is welcome to attend.

 

April 1: First Cultural District Art Crawl, Downtown Alexandria Cultural Arts District.  This event features art in both established and pop-up galleries that span the Downtown Cultural District. Each gallery will feature an artist displaying and selling his or her one-of-a-kind art. Chat with the artists and learn more about their work and inspirations. Live music and live art demonstrations round out this night out on the town! Cost: Free. Call Julie: 318-484-4474.

 

April 2: 4th Annual Natchez Community-Wide Market, Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, 7:00am-4:00pm.  Inside and outside booths will offer a variety of items, new and old, for your shopping pleasure.  There are still booths available to rent. Call: 601-807-8705.

 

Sports

 

Ongoing-March: Yoga Classes, Cabrini Mediplex Yoga RX Room, 4:00pm-5:15pm.  Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.  These classes meet every Monday and Thursday.  Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 5: 2016 CENLA Heart Walk, Downtown Amphitheatre, 8:00am. Sponsored by American Heart Association. Join us for the 2016 Cenla Heart Walk to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living in an environment that is fun for the whole family. For more information go to www.cenlaheartwalk.org. Cost: Free. Call Adrianna King: 800-257-6941 x 6172.

 

March 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, and 28-31: Water Aerobics, 1831 Turner Street, 8:00am. Sponsored by YWCA of Alexandria-Pineville. Cost: See website, www.ywcaalex.org. Call YWCA: 318-445-8880.

 

March 7-8, 10, 14-15, 17, 21-22, 24, 28-29, and 31: Water Aerobics, 1831 Turner Street, 5:15pm. Sponsored by YWCA of Alexandria-Pineville. Cost: See website, www.ywcaalex.org. Call YWCA: 318-445-8880.

 

March 8, 15, 22, and 29: Yoga in the Gallery, Alexandria Museum of Art, 5:30pm. Yoga is offered free of charge every Tuesday at AMoA thanks to a grant from the Rapides Foundation. Yoga instructor, b. Hedrick is an ascetic Taoist yogi with fourteen years of yoga practice. Yoga Tao is for all experience levels, incorporating spirit-mind-body techniques. Cost: Free. Call AMoA: 318-443-3458.

 

March 8: Hixson Ford ProAm Golf Tournament, OakWing Golf Club, Assigned tee times. Sponsored by Hixson Ford and Children’s Miracle Network. This golf tournament is a fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network. Each team will play a professional golfer from the Adams Golf Pro Tour. There will be assigned tee times. Golfers will receive invitations to the Pro-AM Golf Party on Monday, March 7 and the Pro-AM awards party on Thursday, March 10. Cost: $1,000 per team of three (3) amateurs and one (1) professional golfer. Call Craig Campo: 318-561-0260.

 

March 9, 16, 23, 30 & April 6: Wake Up Yoga Class, Cabrini Mediplex Yoga RX Room, 9:30am-10:30am. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a Yoga mat.  This is an on-going class and meets every Wednesday.  Call Becky Watkins: 318-448-6938.

 

March 9-12: 2016 Coca-Cola/Wal-Mart Open, OakWing Golf Club. Sponsored by Adams Golf Pro Tour and Children’s Miracle Network. Alexandria will host the Adams Golf Coca-Cola/Wal-Mart Professional Golf Tournament. Approximately 150 professional golfers will participate in the tournament. Spectators are welcome. Cost: Free. Call Craig Campo: 318-561-0260.

 

March 11: Free Kids Golf Clinic-Adams Golf Pro Tour, OakWing Golf Club, 5:00pm. Sponsored by Adams Golf Pro Tour and Children’s Miracle Network. The Junior Golf Clinic is an opportunity for area youth to swing with the pros. This event is FREE and available to kids between the ages of 7 and 17. Participants must bring their own golf clubs. Cost: Free. Call Craig Campo: 318-561-0260.