• ARMED FORCES
Armed Forces

• Bookmobile needs help to buy computer
The New Orleans Public Library has a bookmobile. It came to us after Hurricane Katrina and is painted in bright colors. It's a great tool in the promotion of literacy awareness, and the library is seeking ways to further use this service.

• Bookmobile needs help to buy computer
The New Orleans Public Library has a bookmobile. It came to us after Hurricane Katrina and is painted in bright colors. It's a great tool in the promotion of literacy awareness, and the library is seeking ways to further use this service.

• Colleges
Colleges

• CONCERT SERIES GETS PATRONS ON THEIR FEET
It's time to dust-off those dancing shoes for a springtime concert series that the whole family can enjoy.

• Drum camp puts focus on the fundamentals
It's easy to understand how drum beats can hold the attention of a room full of 162 kids for hours at a time, particularly when the likes of brass band drummer Terence Higgins still get excited to see the old masters play with such precision and dexterity.

• Fair Grounds will host Family Day
A rock-climbing wall, a bounce house, video games and a Spiderman obstacle course will be among the attractions when Family Day unfolds Saturday at the Fair Grounds on Gentilly Boulevard.

• Famed chef will speak at school event
Alice Waters, executive chef, founder and owner of the famed restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., will be the keynote speaker today from 6 to 9 p.m. at "An Edible Evening" under the stars in the garden of Samuel J. Green Charter School, 2319 Valence St. Tickets begin at $35, with all proceeds benefitting the school's Edible Schoolyard program. For more information, call 304.3595.

• Farmers cooperative helps backyard garden
The recent wet weather we've had has discouraged me from working in my vegetable garden. And that's not to mention that I have been overwhelmed with trimming all the dead stuff from my mostly tropical garden. Luckily, I happened upon the Latino Farmers Cooperative.

• Health, spirituality to be discussed
Two special events this weekend showcase New Orleans' diverse and vibrant community of faith. The crowd-pleaser, all-music-genre Bach Around the Clock returns tomorrow for its 13th year, and a first-time event Saturday brings Muslims and Christians together on a hot-topic issue.

• Knowing a dog's body language is helpful
I recently read "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," a novel by David Wroblewski. The book includes insightful and heart-wrenching chapters from the perspective of the fictional family's dog, Almondine.

• Knowing body language is helpful
I recently read "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," a novel by David Wroblewski. The book includes insightful and heart-wrenching chapters from the perspective of the fictional family's dog, Almondine.

• Local woman joins honor society
Acrealle Anderson, a New Orleans resident, has accepted a membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society and was recently honored during a induction ceremony at Kaplan University in Atlanta. Membership into the Society is by invitation only, to students in all fields of study.

• Organization helps man, 95, come back home
For the first time in almost five years, Edward Adams was home.

• Perry, Clark will lead Landrieu's transitional education task force
New Orleans Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu recently announced that Andre Perry, chief executive officer of the Capital One-University of New Orleans Charter School Network, has been named co-chairman of the Transition New Orleans Education Task Force along with Sophie B. Wright Charter School Principal Sharon Clark. Together they will lead the task force.

• Reeve Foundation offers help with mobility
Representatives from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation met last week in Metairie with representatives from several local and state agencies that work with individuals who have mobility impairment issues and those who use wheelchairs.

• Reeve Foundation offers help with mobility
Representatives from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation met last week in Metairie with representatives from several local and state agencies that work with individuals who have mobility impairment issues and those who use wheelchairs.

• Residents concerned about plant emissions
Last week I attended the Economic Development Committee of the Eastern New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission meeting where participants discussed Sun Energy's plans for a gasification plant and its impact not only in eastern New Orleans, but on the entire metro area.

• Spring Fiesta opens homes to visitors
When azaleas bloom and mockingbirds croon, the French Quarter opens its heart and homes for the Spring Fiesta.

• ARMED FORCES
Armed Forces

• Bill salutes Hispanic residents of Louisiana
State Rep. Juan LaFonta passed a new law that aims to help Louisiana's Latino population by establishing a Latin-American advisory council. The council is charged with identifying obstacles to the effective delivery of government services to Latin-Americans and recommending ways to remove such barriers.

• Bill salutes Hispanic residents of state
State Rep. Juan LaFonta passed a new law that aims to help Louisiana's Latino population by establishing a Latin-American advisory council. The council is charged with identifying obstacles to the effective delivery of government services to Latin-Americans and recommending ways to remove such barriers.

• Colleges
Colleges

• Columnist Pitts to speak at Loyola event
Pulitzer Prize winner Leonard Pitts Jr. will be the featured speaker at Loyola University's Poverty Law Center Award Ceremony on Monday at 6:30 p.m. The free event will be in the Frederick J. Gisevius Jr. Lecture Theater, Room 405, 526 Pine St.

• Community Report
Community Report

• Dominican senior wins volunteer service award
Nicole Simoneaux, a senior at St. Mary's Dominican High School, has received a President's Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country. The award was presented by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Obama.

• DWI ARRESTS
DWI ARRESTS

• Event to feature national advocate
The Jefferson Parish Family Empowerment Forum is a major informational event held annually for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This year's theme, "Breaking Down Barriers," will feature national advocate Keith Jones.

• Event will feature national advocate
The Jefferson Parish Family Empowerment Forum is a major informational event held annually for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This year's theme, "Breaking Down Barriers," will feature national advocate Keith Jones.

• Filmore Gardens elects new officers
It's so nice when people step up to the plate and take on a leadership role in their community. That's what happened in Filmore Gardens recently when the neighborhood association elected a new slate of officers for the year.

• FRERET STREET MARKET DRAWS SHOPPERS
One of the best ways to appreciate the diversity of New Orleans is by experiencing the many neighborhood celebrations throughout the area. On any given weekend, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities for exploration.

• Gentilly couple picked up the pace after retirement
Those who know Glen and Susie Butler, ages 80 and 82 respectively, say they lead a double life -- one of benevolence and service, the other of just plain fun. The husband and wife of 59 years say they've enjoyed every minute.

• Local teens appear in NOCCA drama
Two eastern New Orleans teenagers who attend the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts will perform in a drama production at NOCCA's Nims Blackbox Theatre.

• Middle-aged pets enjoy their lives
A colleague who is approaching 40 suddenly found herself reflecting on her mortality. Is this the beginning of the end, she wondered? Or is it the start of the best time of her life, when one is finally comfortable in their skin and with the person they've become? That led me to wonder about our pets. For that matter, is there really a proverbial middle age for them?

• Middle-aged pets still enjoy their lives
A colleague who is approaching 40 suddenly found herself reflecting on her mortality. Is this the beginning of the end, she wondered? Or is it the start of the best time of her life, when one is finally comfortable in their skin and with the person they've become? That led me to wonder about our pets. For that matter, is there really a proverbial middle age for them?

• New software will enhance computers
The New Orleans Public Library's branches have hundreds of public computers for our visitors to use. You can e-mail, surf the Web, watch videos on YouTube, update your Facebook profile and download files to a flash drive or even a floppy disk. For many library users, computer access -- free with a library card -- is their favorite library service.

• New software will enhance library computers
The New Orleans Public Library's branches have hundreds of public computers for our visitors to use. You can e-mail, surf the Web, watch videos on YouTube, update your Facebook profile and download files to a flash drive or even a floppy disk. For many library users, computer access -- free with a library card -- is their favorite library service.

• One-woman band wows Le Petit audience
She plays music with bare feet. No kidding.

• Speaker's story will provide inspiration
If the name Jennifer Rothschild is not yet familiar to you, hers is an inspirational story you won't want to miss. I spoke with Rothschild recently about her journey through difficulty and her upcoming speaking engagement in New Orleans.

• Students look beyond their needs to help others
Last month, students at McDonogh City Park Academy, a charter elementary school where 95 percent of students qualify for the National School Lunch Program, had a mission to complete: raise money to help patients with blood disease.

• Students 'unlock the rhythm' at drum workshop
If you happened to stroll past the corner of Esplanade Avenue and North White Street last Friday morning, you might have heard a faint rumbling from behind the closed doors of City Park Academy. The source was the school auditorium, where staccato-style pops mixed with the occasional heart-pounding thud of 200 djembe drums.

• Wheelchair ministry seeking Haiti donations
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and The Red Thread Promise have teamed up with Mountain Top Ministries to continue their "Haiti: New Orleans Will Stand By You" campaign with new efforts.

• Advocacy Center workshop deals with support services
The Advocacy Center is Louisiana's protection and advocacy system, advocating for the developmentally disabled since its inception in 1977. The Center has grown and expanded its efforts to include advocacy for vocational rehabilitation clients, the elderly, individuals with mental illness and other disabilities, and people in nursing home and in group homes.