To Do: Week of April 27, 2015

Shreveport-Bossier City Navy Week 2015 steals the spotlight this week, with a full slate of activities in the community and in local schools through the weekend.

Public events kick off Tuesday. A morning event will be Navy Day at Bossier Parish Community College, 6220 East Texas S., at 9:15 a.m. Rear Admiral Keith Jones, a Louisiana native, will meet with local military veterans in the Chancellor's conference room. Event is open to all area military veterans – no formal invitation required. Jones, the veterans and students then will watch the Leapfrogs, a precision parachute team made up of Navy SEALs, jump into the field in front of the college at 10:15 a.m. Following the jump, students and veterans will have an opportunity to interact with the Leapfrogs. At 7 p.m. in Airline High School Stadium, on Viking Drive just west of Airline Drive and south of I-220. The free event will inlcude a drop by the Navy’s elite Leap Frogs parachute demonstration team, remarks by Rear Admiral Keith Jones, Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler and Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker, a mass new-recruit swearing-in ceremony and a full concert by the Navy Band Southwest. Guest of honor will be 91-year-old Mary Burns Nelson, a local World War II Navy WAVES veteran.

Other public events include:

• The Navy Leap Frogs parachute demonstration team will make a number of jumps at high schools in Caddo and Bossier parishes through the week after Tuesday’s events. Here’s the rest of the week’s schedule:

• Wednesday: 9:30 a.m., Lee Hedges Stadium at Captain Shreve High, 6115 E. Kings Highway; and 1:30 p.m. at Plain Dealing High, 300 E. Vance St., Plain Dealing.

• Thursday: 9:30 a.m., Haughton High School, 210 E. McKinley Ave., Haughton, and 1 p.m., Benton High School, 6136 state Highway 3, Benton.

• U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Maura Thompson, a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and currently supply officer aboard the submarine USS Louisiana, will speak to several groups as part of Navy Week. One will be Thursday at noon before the Bossier City Rotary Club at Boomtown Casino, 300 Riverside Drive, Bossier City, and Friday at noon before the Optimist Club of Shreveport at East Ridge Country Club, 1000 Stewart Drive, Shreveport. Public events are Dutch-treat buffet.

The 2015 Barksdale Air Force Base Defenders of Liberty Open House and Air Show will be May 2-3. Headliner is the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. For times, full schedule, directions, parking information and do’s and don’ts, visit the website http://www.barksdale.af.mil/library/airshow.asp and also make sure to check out Thursday’s ACE section in The Times.

The Navy Band Southwest and a number of its sub-units will present several local performances this week:

• Friday, 4:30 p.m., the 32nd Street Brass Band will perform at “Free Fridays Under the Bridge” at 450 Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway, Shreveport; 5:30 p.m. the Destroyers Rock Band will perform at the Louisiana Boardwalk, 540 Boardwalk Blvd., Bossier City.

• Saturday, 1:30 p.m., the 32nd Street Brass Band will perform at the Louisiana Boardwalk, 540 Boardwalk Blvd., Bossier City.

• Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m., the Destroyers Rock Band will perform at the Defenders of Liberty Air Show at Barksdale Air Force Base.

• A number of school appearances by visiting sailors from the USS Constitution, submarine USS Louisiana, the Leap Frogs, units of the Navy Band Southwest and the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team will take place as well.

Close on the heels of Navy Week is Law Week, which will be marked by several Shreveport Bar Asociation events today through Friday.

• U.S. District Court Judge Maury Hicks will speak at noon Wednesday at the Petroleum Club, 15th Floor, 416 Travis St., Shreveport. His topic will be “Magna Carta: Icon of Liberty.” The event is open to the public but reservations are required. For reservations or more information, call Dana Southern at (318) 222-3643. The event also will include presentation of this year’s 2015 Liberty Bell Award, recognition of winners of the regional Mock Trial team from Caddo Magnet High School and presentation of a $25,000 check from the Krewe of Justinian to the Shreveport Bar Foundation.

• “Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom Under Law” will be the topic today at 8:30 a.m. in Room 108, Bronson Hall, LSU Shreveport, for local attorneys Brian Flanagan, Tom Arceneaux and Thomas Pressly, and William Flanagan of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Shreveport. Free and open to the public. For more information, call (318) 797-5138.

• Jury selection and group think will be topics discussed following a dinner screening of the movie “Twelve Angry Men” at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St., Shreveport. Cost, $25 per person, includes the dinner, film and discussion by Caddo District Judge Brady O’Callaghan, Dr. Mark Vigen and a director of the RFC. For tickets or more information contact Dana Southern at (318) 222-3643 or email dsouthern@shreveportbar.com.

• The Red Mass Society of Shreveport will hold the 23rd Annual Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit Friday 0501 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 315 Marshall St., Shreveport. Music will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the Mass to be at 9 a.m. For more information contact Dana Southern at (318) 222-3643 or email dsouthern@shreveportbar.com.

The Tuesday Morning Breakfast Group continues its 2015 series of public informational breakfast sessions this Tuesday with Martin Luther King Health Center Development and Communications Director Krista Buckhalter, who will speak and answer questions from the audience. The Dutch-treat gathering will meet at 8 a.m. at the Pamoja Cultural Center, 3806 Linwood Ave., Shreveport. All programs subject to change without notice. For more information, call meeting coordinator Lloyd Thompson at (318) 936-1700 or Craig Lee at (318) 779-3087.

The Broadmoor Neighborhood Association meeting at 7 p.m., April 28 at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, 1915 Grover Place, will feature representatives from the Biomedical Research Foundation, who will explain a millage renewal that is on the May 2 ballot. A Q&A session will follow. For more information, visit the BNA website at https://www.facebook.com/BroadmoorneighborhoodAssociation, e-mail BroadmoorNeighborhood@gmail.com or call BNA President Rob Broussard at (318) 655-3545.

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, candidate for Louisiana Lt. Governor, will be guest speaker at Tuesday’s meeting of the Red River Tea Party, 5:30 p.m., 1258 Dalzell St., Shreveport. Future speakers include retired Brig. Gen, Leon Johnson, May 12; Pat Booras, May 26; and Elliott Stonecipher, June 9. For more information, email wethepeople_nwla@att.net.

Former A Train and Insatiables keyboards player Chris McCaa, aka Professor Porkchop, will perform Tuesday 0428 at the smoke-free Engine Room at Central ARTSTATION at the corner of Crockett and Common Streets in downtown Shreveport. He will be the featured artist for the new Fresh Aire Live Music Series, which will continue on the last Tuesday of every month for the next year. Admission is $10 at the door. There will be a cash bar and a food truck. Airheart will open at 6 p.m. with a 30 minute set. To learn more, contact SRAC Executive Director Pam Atchison (318) 673-6500 or email pam@shrevearts.org, or Amelia Blake Garner of Airheart at airheartstudios@gmail.com.

Ebola physician Dr. Jay B. Varkey, one of five Emory University infectious disease physicians who treated the first two patients with Ebola virus disease to be treated in the United States, will deliver the 2015 commencement address at Centenary College of Louisiana Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the Gold Dome, on East Kings Highway opposite the Centenary main campus. Seating is first come, first served.

“Companions on a Journey, Our Journey as the Caregiver” is the 2015 theme of the Church Women United Shreveport-Bossier Friendship Luncheon, 11 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church of Bossier City, 201 John Wesley Blvd. Deadline for meal reservations, $15 donation, was April 20, but for availability through cancellations or to attend and just listen contact Jean Princehouse, (318) 797-4979 or Beatrice Griffen, (318) 631-6966.

Caddo Parish Commission District 2 member Lyndon B. Johnson will hold a District 2 Townhall Meeting Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Northwest Louisiana Technical College, 2010 North Market St., Shreveport. For more information, contact Caddo Parish Commission Clerk Office Coordinator Michelle Pate, (318) 226-6596 ext. 2222 or email mpate@caddo.org.

Maj. Gen. Michael E. Fortney, vice commander of Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, will be guest speaker at the 2015 AFCEA Scholarship Ceremony, 7 p.m. Thursday at DiamondJacks Casino, 711 DiamondJacks Blvd., Bossier City. Cost is $25 members, $35 non-members. Suit/tie or cocktail dress for civilians, service dress for military. For reservations or information, contact Barbara Schleben at (318) 456-6106 or email Barbara.schleben@us.af.mil.

The Red River Valley Railroad Historical Society’s “First Friday Railroad Photography Meeting” will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Shreveport Water Works Museum, formerly the McNeill Street Pumping Station Museum, 142 N. Common St., Shreveport. Ahead for this group: The Shreveport Model Train Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 9 at RiverView Hall, Shreveport. For more information, call (318) 797-8008.

The Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College, 2911 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport, will close for the summer Saturday and will reopen Sept. 1. A closing recention for the two shows there now, “As Told by Stitches” by Jordan Fell and “Visual Vibrations” by Nolan Harris Simmons, will be Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Free admission. Paid members of the Friends of the Algur Meadows Museum can attend its annual membership meeting May 27, 6:15 p.m. at the Petroleum Club of Shreveport, 16th Floor, 416 Travis St., Shreveport, to vote in new board members, hear a report about museum activities from co-directors Lisa Nicoletti and Bruce Allen and enjoy a meal. To join or renew a membership visit the website http://meadowsfriends.org/join/. Meeting seating is limited to 100, with paid reservations, $50, required no later than May 22. For more information, call (318) 869-5040.

Shreveport’s spray parks will open Friday. Pools will open for the summer on May 27 for Bossier City and June 2 for Shreveport. For information on taking lifeguard classes and working as a lifeguard, call Bossier Parks and Recreation at (318) 741-8450 or Rock Solid at (318) 402-7242.

In Bossier District Court this week, District Judge Charles Jacobs’ courtroom will be busy Tuesday, with two high-profile cases scheduled:

Alejandro Hernandez De Los Santos will be formally arraigned on a charge of aggravated rape.

Joshua Carter, charged with aggravated rape, is set for a status conference.

The Poets’ Corner is held Wednesdays from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at the Crystal Stair, 601 Texas St., downtown Shreveport. Continuing event features poets, spoken word artists, writers, musicians, artists and raconteurs. For more information, call (318) 424-8783.

Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation has a number of events scheduled for the coming weeks:

• Summer Adult Basketball League. SPAR offers a summer adult basketball league for adults 18 years and older. The season begins July 3. There is a $150 fee per team. The organizational meeting will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at SPAR Wildwood, 7401 Jewella Ave. For more information, contact SPAR Athletics at (318) 673-7749.

• Summer Adult Coed Softball. SPAR offers a summer adult coed softball league for adults 18 years and older. The season begins July 20. There is a $205 fee per team. The organizational meeting will be Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at SPAR Wildwood, 7401 Jewella Ave. For more information, contact SPAR Athletics at (318) 673-7749.

• 2015 Summer Youth Track and Field. SPAR’s Summer Youth Track and Field program is open to youth ages 9 to 18. Summer practice begins May 19. The program focuses on creating a fun environment where youth gain passion and knowledge of all track and field events. Registration forms are available at myspar.org/athletics/youth programs/youth track & field. The program is led by Coach LaMark Carter. For more information, contact Carter at (318) 572-3292.

• Summer Midnight Basketball League. SPAR offers a summer basketball league for youth and adults. The divisions are 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under, 17 and under and 18 to 24. Registration ends May 15. The leagues starts June 1. There is a $10 fee for each player. Registration forms are posted on myspar.org. For more information, contact SPAR Athletics at (318) 673-7749.

• YOUth Fit. SPAR offers a distance running program for youth ages 7 to 17. YOUth Fit is a skills and fitness program for cross country running. All levels of runners are welcome. The program will be Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July. Registration is now open and space is limited. There is a $20 fee to participate in this program. Contact Dr. Shelley Armstrong at (318) 820-2221 for more information.

For more information, contact Becky Berry at (318) 673-6418 or becky.berry@shreveportla.gov, or visit the website www.myspar.org.

Mark your calendars:

The 2015 Cooper Road USA Peacenik “Memorial Day Community Festival” will be from 1 to 8 p.m. May 23 at the David Raines Community Center, . Event will open with a Veterans Peace March and will include performances by community organizations, informational and vendor booths, a barbecue cook-off contest, health screenings, spades and dominoes tournaments, field day activities, a business exposition, music and games. Sponsors include Cooper Road USA an American Legion Post 450. For more information contact Carl Moore, (214) 334-1132; Rosalind Glover Bryant, (318) 218-8895; Shunda Stokes-Sams, (318) 820-9634; Yvette McCray, (318) 795-7005; Barbara Jackson, (318) 572-4628; or Danny Gilliam, (318) 550-8965.

The Community Foundation’s Give for Good Campaign, a 24-hour online giving challenge led by The Community Foundation of North Louisiana to raise unrestricted dollars for the nonprofits in the community, will be May 5. To take part, visit https://giveforgoodnla.org/

The 38th annual Memorial Day service will be conducted at Hillcrest Memorial Park’s Sunrise Amphitheatre at 9 a.m. May 25. Guest speaker is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. George C. Finck. It will inclide wreath-layings by numerous community and veterans groups, including the sponsoring VFW Post 4588. The cemetery in on U.S. Highway 80/East Texas Street just east and north of Harrah’s Louisiana Downs.

The Disabled American Veterans Louisiana Department will hold its state convention May 14-17 at the Holiday Inn Shreveport Airport West, 5555 Financial Plaza, Shreveport. For more information or to download the convention agenda and other paperwork, visit the website http://www.davdol.org/conventionsmeetings/stateconvention.html.

The Mansfield State Historic Site: At 10 a.m. May 16, the program “150th Anniversary: The Fall of the Rebellion” will look at calamitous events of April through June 1865, when order and discipline of Confederate troops in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi collapsed after news of the surrenders of generals Robert E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston reached the area. Troops massed, marched toward Shreveport and finally rioted near Mansfield. Living history programs throughout the day will depict the lives of civilians and soldiers. Mansfield State Historic Site is located 3 miles south of Mansfield, Louisiana, on state Highway 175. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is $4 per person; children 12 and under and seniors 62 and over are admitted free. For more information call (318) 872-1474, or toll-free (888) 677-6267 or visit the website http://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/historic-sites/mansfield-state-historic-site/index. The site also is on Facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSHS.

Future events include:

May 23: Special living history events with the firing of the park’s big Civil War cannons will be staged at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

June 6: The American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day will be observed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

June 20: “Behind the Stockade: Civil War Prisons” will take place at 2 p.m. Visitors will learn about the fate of troops captured in battle. Soldiers unlucky enough to become prisoners of war faced an often daunting future. The program will examine notable Civil War prisons, soldiers’ experiences there and how the system of exchange operated.