Central Mardi Gras Ball Saturday, Feb. 4

CENTRAL — Events coming up in and around Central:

Friday, January 27 • Blood Drive • 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

United Blood Services will hold a blood drive at Lane Regional Medical Center.  The blood drive is open to the public and registration is not required.  However, donors are encouraged to sign up online at www.bloodhero.com, sponsor code LaneRegional.

Friday, January 27 • Gator Baseball Fundraiser • 11 a.m.

Gator Baseball will hold a jambalaya fundraiser at Zoar Baptist Church.  Plates are $7.  Help get the Gators to Omaha!

Saturday, January 28 • Car Seat Check • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A Car Seat Check Event will be held at the Central Fire Department, 11646 Sullivan Road.  Appointments and drive-ups are welcome!  A limited number of car seats will be reserved for those with no car seats and those that need replacement.  Nine out of 10 car seats are not used correctly, make sure your child is riding safely.  Call 261-2000 to set your appointment.  Hosted by the Central Fire Department, Lexlee’s Kids, and Wal-Mart.

Sunday, January 29 • Blood Drive • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Blackwater United Methodist Church and OLOL Blood Donor Center will hold a blood drive at Blackwater UMC.  Free PSA/cholesterol test or T-shirt for all donors.  For information, contact OLOL Blood Bank at 765-8843.

Sunday, January 29 • Open House • 1 to 4 p.m.

Families with prospective students for the 2012-2013 school year are invited to at St. Alphonsus School.  Tours begin every few minutes from the school cafeteria.  St. Alphonsus School offers Pre-K 3 through the 8th grade.  For information, call 261-5299.

Saturday, February 4 • Keep the Beat • 9 a.m.

Three letters that can save a life.  Learn CPR.  You could be someone’s hero!  Join the Cardiovascular Institute of the South and Lane Regional Medical Center for this year’s free bystander CPR training day to refresh your memory and learn the latest in CPR education.  The event will be held at Zachary United Methodist Church, 4205 Church Street, Zachary.  Open to participants 8 and older.  Please arrive 15 minutes before session begins.  For information or to register, call 654-5263.  Deadline to register is Thursday, Feb. 2.

Saturday, February 4 • Milestone Wedding Anniversaries • 4 p.m.

In conjunction with World Marriage Day, St. Alphonsus will honor couples celebrating special anniversaries 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th, and above in 2012.  This celebration will take place at the vigil Mass with a reception for the honorees, their families, and friends immediately following.  For information, call the church office at 261-4650.

Saturday, February 4 • Benefit for Tyler Luke Kyzar

A benefit will be held for Tyler Luke Kyzar at Magnolia Sports Bar, 6865 Magnolia Beach Road.  Live music by Rougon, T.K.K, Full Circle Band, and Mickey and Jack Jones.  Jambalaya and bar-b-que will be served.  Plenty of auctions and raffles for the whole family.  For information, contact Stacey at 955-3017 or 667-0205.

Saturday, February 4 • Krewe de Centrale Mardi Gras Ball

The much-anticipated gala event for the City of Central, the annual Krewe de Centrale Mardi Gras Ball, sponsored by the City of Central Chamber of Commerce will be held at St. Alphonsus Family Center.  This year’s theme, “An Evening in Paris,” promises to make this event a night to remember.  Music will be provided by the popular Chris LeBlanc Band.  Tickets are $50 each, $100 per couple.  Tickets are limited.  Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 261-5818 or Lucky Ross at 937-7775.

Tuesday, February 7 • LEAP Parent Night • 6 to 7:30 p.m.

All 8th grade parents are invited to LEAP Parent Night at Central Middle School in the library.  This will be an informational meeting to provide interested parents with information for the upcoming LEAP assessment.  For information, contact Lynette Long at 261-3056.

Saturday, February 11 • Festival of Two Rivers Auction & A Taste of Central • 6 p.m.

St. Alphonsus Festival of Two Rivers cordially invites you to its 4th Annual Auction and A Taste of Central on Saturday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m. in the Family Center at St. Alphonsus, 14040 Greenwell Springs Road.  There will be a silent and live auction and the raffle for the $10,000.  Tickets are $20 in advance, admits one adult; $25 at the door, admits one adult; and $100 admits two adults and a chance for the $10,000 drawing.  For information or to purchase tickets, contact the church office at 261-4650.

Monday, February 13 • Heart Education Program • 10 a.m. to 12 noon

Lane Regional Medical Center will hold a free education and support program for congestive heart failure patients and their caregivers.  The topic will be “Love Your Heart” and food focus will be “Sweet Treats.”  The meeting will be held in the staff development classroom.  Registration is required and seating is limited.  Free lunch will be provided.  call 654-5263 to register.

February 17 through 21 • Camp Zoar

Zoar Baptist Church is now taking registration for Camp Zoar.  The group will be going to Pineywoods Baptist Encampment in Woodlake, Texas.  This is for 7th to 12th graders.  Cost is $165.  For information, call Cindy Jarvis at 261-3434.

Tuesday, February 21 • Central Community Alliance • 7 p.m.

The Central Community Alliance will hold a Louisiana Legislative Update will be held at the DEMCO meeting room, 16262 Wax Road.  Speakers will be Louisiana senators and representatives.

Saturday, March 10 • Komen Race for the Cure

A team named “Central High School Wildcats” will participate in this year’s Race for the Cure at LSU.  Kaleigh Barnett, CHS sophomore; Cody Aucoin, CHS junior; Ashley Bourgeois, 8th grader at Central Middle; and Tiffany Welsh Villarreal, CHS Alumni 1992, invites everyone in Central to sign up and be on their team.  Come out and help support the fight against breast cancer.  For information, contact batonrouge.info-komen.org.

Saturday, March 24 • Louisiana Presidential Primary

Louisiana Republicans and Democrats will go to the polls in separate Presidential Primaries to help express Louisiana’s preferences in the Presidential nominating process.  Voters will also choose members of the Republican and Democratic State Central Committees and members of the Republican and Democratic Parish Executive Committees.