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If you have any information for the Community Calendar, please email it to justin.schuver@bogalusadailynews.com.

Cupcakes and Conversation
Bogalusa City Council member Danielle Keys will be hosting “Cupcakes and Conversation,” featuring Mayor Wendy Perrette, on Thursday, Aug. 19, from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, located at 432 Sullivan Drive in Bogalusa. Masks and social distancing will be strictly enforced.

Blood drive
The town of Franklinton will have a blood drive on Friday, Aug. 20, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the town hall. The Franklinton Social Planning Committee will host this event.

Substitute in-service
There will be a substitute in-service for Franklinton Primary Elementary, Franklinton Jr. High and Franklinton High School at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the FPES SPED auditorium. If you are interested in being a substitute teacher at any of these schools, please come to the meeting.

Chicken dinner fundraiser
A chicken dinner fundraiser sponsored by Centenary United Methodist Church in Franklinton to benefit Vidalia United Methodist Church (whose building burned) and the Kenya Uniform Drive will be held Sunday, Aug. 29. Dinner can be picked up at Centenary from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the church office or at Leader Printing (985-839-2261).

Parish Fair Queen informational meeting
Washington Parish Fair Queen Abby Stogner and the Fair Queen Committee cordially invite young ladies between the ages of 17 and 22 interested in becoming Washington Parish Fair Queen to attend an official informational meeting on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 2 p.m. at the annex of the Varnado Store Museum in Franklinton, located at 936 Pearl St.

Cupcakes and Canines
The Washington Parish Animal Shelter and Tractor Supply Company are hosting “Cupcakes and Canines,” an event that includes free pupcakes (cupcakes for your pets), low cost vaccinations, microchipping, paw print painting, and local vendors. Most of all, dogs and cats will be available for adoption. The event will be on Friday, Sept. 3, at the animal shelter, located at 23046 YACC Road, from noon until 6 p.m.

Bogalusa Open Market
The Bogalusa Parks Recreation and Culture Commission will be holding the Bogalusa Open Market on Saturday, Oct. 2. This event will be similar to the city-wide garage sale in Abita Springs. The market will take place from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Bogalusa Sports Complex on Avenue B. Opportunities include garage sale booths, vendor booths, food booths and interactive map advertising. For more information or an application, visit “Bogalusa Open Market” on Facebook or email bprcc.bogopenmarket@gmail.com. The deadline to sign up to participate is Wednesday, Sept. 1.

Fair poster contest
The Washington Parish Fair Association invites Washington Parish artists to participate in the 2021 Fair Poster Contest. Entry deadline is Monday, Sept. 6. Rules for poster entry are as follows: Entrants must be Washington Parish residents (or native college students) and at least 18 years old. The design should be 16 by 20 inches and not exceed 18 by 24 inches (portrait/vertical) on mat board, illustration board, canvas or heavy paper. Format is up to the artist. The poster design may contain “Washington Parish Fair 2021,” or the printer can add appropriate lettering digitally. Include a small sketch to indicate letter design and placement. The design may pertain to the fair in general or to a specific part of the fair. It must be non-commercial. If an identifiable person is used, a letter of release to all publication rights and royalties must accompany the design. The theme for this year’s fair is “Country Nights Carnival Lights”. The poster can follow the theme and include the theme name but is not required. Individuals may enter more than one design. Previous entries may be considered. Each entrant must sign a release of rights and royalties of publication. Entries will be released back to the artist after the 2021 Fair concludes. The poster will not be included in the 2021 fair catalog. Poster designs can be entered from now until Monday, Sept. 6, at Hancock Whitney in Franklinton or Bogalusa during regular business hours. Contact Poster Chairman Jaimee Jenkins or Amber Cooper at 985-839-9821 for more information.

Emergency housing vouchers
The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Through EHV, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is providing 70,000 housing choice vouchers to local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to assist individuals and families who are: homeless; at risk of homelessness; fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; or were recently homeless or have a high risk of housing instability. If you meet one or more of the following criteria, contact the Northlake Homeless Coalition by calling 985-326-8312 or emailing nlc@northlakehomeless.org.

American Legion bingo
Bingo is back at the American Legion building every Thursday. Masks are not required. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Washington Parish alert system
Stay alert by enrolling in the Washington Parish Emergency Notification System. This alert system provides rapid notification of emergencies, critical events and urgent situations. The alert system can send notifications through the following methods: phone call, text, email or TTY/TTD service for the hearing impaired. Landline phones are automatically entered for the alert system. To receive alerts through a mobile phone or email, a citizen must register through one of the following options: call 985-282-2620, text “Alert” to 985-282-2620, or sign up online at www.hyper-reach.com/lawashingtonsignup.html. Citizens can also download the Hyper Reach Anywhere app to any smartphone. This alert system is completely free.

Bogalusa Help Center
It’s easy to smile when someone cares, and Bogalusa Help Center, our local food bank, cares. It is now a drive-through operation, located at 350 Martin Luther King Drive in Bogalusa. It is open from 8 a.m. until noon every Wednesday (except the fifth Wednesday of the month) providing food to those in need in our community. Since partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank/USDA, and along with generous donations from our community, BHC now distributes 35-40 pounds of food each month to over 400 families. These distributions include canned goods, meat, dry beans, peanut butter, fresh fruit and vegetables, etc. New clients can apply each week. They must provide: Name of head of the household; driver’s license or ID; address; number of persons in the household and ages; and SNAP or SSI printout, or proof of income of all in the household. Donations are always very much needed and appreciated. For more information, BHC may be reached at 985-735-6404 every Wednesday.