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The City of Franklin is looking for a Louisiana artist to design and paint a mural at the Historic Downtown Franklin Pocket Park, located at 718 Main Street.
Franklin Main Street Director Ed “Tiger” Verdin said that because there aren’t many muralists in the community, the city is limiting the hunt to Louisiana artists. A grant from the state Office of Cultural Development will pay the chosen artist up to $20,000 commission for the work.
“This is something that’s exciting that we’re looking to move forward with,” Verdin said. “We want something that is going to historically speak of Franklin. We want something that is going to be appealing and represent all of Franklin, every cultural facet in Franklin.”
The work should include things, for example, like the Bayou Teche and the city’s famed lamp posts, he said.
“We want it to be a beautiful mural that just represents the city of Franklin,” Verdin said.
Artists are asked to submit their portfolios and qualifications via email to gtodd@franklin-la.com and everdin@franklin-la.com by 4 p.m. on Feb. 27. A PDF of full details for the Call for Artists may be found on the City of Franklin’s website at www.franklin-la.com under Recent News.
The work is being sponsored by the City of Franklin, in conjunction with the Louisiana Percent for Art Program, Mayor Eugene Foulcard, the main street director and the city’s special projects director. Appointed local artists will be the acting as Art Jury for the artist selection process.
“There’s an art jury that the mayor has put together,” Verdin said. “He’s not going to make the jurists known publicly. There will be a town hall meeting for the community to put in their say of what they would like to see in the mural.”
Several project parameters have been set. The work must be permanent in nature and able to withstand varying weather conditions. Exterior mural-quality paints only may be used. The work should encourage a sense of place and should be in “dialogue” with the chosen site and encourage the use of and interaction with the park in which it is installed.
The grant must cover all associated project costs, including the artist’s time, materials, fabrication, transportation, travel and so on.
The city is seeking materials from artists with demonstrated experience in creating outdoor and/or site specific works of art or large murals.
The artist must adhere to the artist’s concept as approved by the mayor and art jury. Any deviations or proposed changes should be done only after consultation with the mayor and art jury, first. The artist also must be present at the unveiling, at a date to be mutually agreed upon by the artist and mayor.
After artists submit their qualifications, the mayor and art jury will review all submissions and select three finalists. Finalists may be invited to interviews and presentations, or the art jury may reach out to the artist to request additional information in writing. Full design proposals are not required as part of that process, but general rough sketches of the idea are desirable. The art jury will select one artist to be awarded the commission grant.
The finalists will be selected by March 10 with finalists interviews March 20-24. Approval of the art jury’s selection and the mayor’s approval are scheduled for April 3 with contract development April 10-14 and public announcement of the selected artist on April 24.
The work should be created between May and July, as agreed upon by the artist and mayor, with a project mid-point check-in on June 1 and project completion by July 31.
Artists of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, but they must be a Louisiana resident. Preference will be given to Franklin and/or Acadiana-based artists or artists with connection to Franklin. Franklin residency is not required.
Full details of the requirements, dates and so on are available at www.franklin-la.com under the Recent News category.

Nearly 30 years ago, the first National Bird-Feeding Month was celebrated. Since then, we are reminded every February to take extra care of our feathered friends during the harshest part of the winter when resources are scarce. Feb. 1 began the celebration of National Bird-Feeding Month, and everyone is invited to participate.
February marks one of the most difficult months in the last stretch of wintertime for birds. Many birds flee the northern regions to overwinter somewhere warmer down south to avoid freezing temperatures and find climates with a more consistent food supply.
There are two main reasons birds take flight to warmer climates. First off, birds need to maintain an elevated body temperature of about 105 degrees Fahrenheit to stay active. To compound the issue of lower temperatures, winter also is a difficult time for birds to find food — but this is the time of year when it is most needed as fuel to keep them warm. Their task is to maximize calorie intake and minimize calories spent.
Anyone can help by supplying food, water and sources of shelter for wild birds during this time. As gardeners, we may not realize all of the many opportunities we have to help feed the birds by selecting plants that provide food and shelter. There are many plants that birds use as sources of food, including trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennials.
Many birds feed on a diet of seeds in addition to a wide variety of insects — especially caterpillars. What is important to remember is that those caterpillars and insects feed on leaves and other parts of plants. Many insects are host plant specialists, meaning they prefer a specific plant. One powerful example of host specificity is oak trees, which support nearly 500 species of caterpillars alone. Talk about a lot of bird food!
Turns out that caterpillars are some of the most nutritious of the insect foods. By providing a diverse selection of plants in your garden, you can provide more food for caterpillars and, in turn, for birds and other wildlife. Additionally, we can place bird feeders, birdbaths and birdhouses in our gardens that also benefit our feathered friends.
When selecting plants to support birds, choose a diverse selection of perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs and trees, especially native ones that support native insects and birds. One great source for selecting plants is provided by the National Audubon Society. Its mission is to help conserve habitat and protect birds.
You can use your ZIP code to help find plant species that support birds in your area. The website even tells you what specific bird species each plant supports if you are fan of a particular bird species and where you can find plants. Visit www.audubon.org/native-plants.
Louisiana has many native plant species that support birds. Starting with trees, some great selections for birds are beeches, birch, cedars, cypress, dogwoods, elms, hollies, maples, magnolias, oaks, pines, sweet gum, oaks and many others.
A brief list of native shrubs for Louisiana are American beautyberry, arrow-wood, blackberry, buttonbush, rabbit-eye blueberry, possumhaw and spicebush.
Flowering perennials not only provide food for birds, but also offer excellent color for your landscape. Incorporate beautiful flowers that can be shared with birds, brighten your landscapes and many can be cut and brought indoors. Here is a brief list of perennials: asters, beebalm, black-eyed Susan, blanket flower, blue phlox, cardinal flower, common boneset, coneflower, goldenrod, milkweed, sages, sunflowers and yarrow.
Ornamental grasses that are bird friendly are eastern mock grama grass, muhly grass, Indian wood oats, little false bluestem, side-oats grama and panic grass.
With so many plants to choose from, you can help feed the birds in many ways. If you wish to learn more about birds in general, the first place to start is with, of course, LSU at www.lsu.edu/science/birdoffice/. Another excellent online source is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at www.birds.cornell.edu.
In addition, there are activities such as Birding at Burden where you can learn more about birds in your area. Check the LSU AgCenter website for activities and opportunities to learn more about birds and plants that support them across the state.
If you wish to learn more about birds on your own, there are many smartphone apps that can help on your bird learning quest. Look for the extension publication “Get Appy! Nature Guides for Your Mobile Devices” by AgCenter wildlife specialist Ashley Long and horticulture agent Will Afton at www.lsuagcenter.com/articles/page1547741648309.

Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the agenda.

Three area Mardi Gras balls have come and gone, now the women’s Krewe of Galatea is on tap to take the stage.

Four more balls will follow leading up to Fat Tuesday which is Feb. 21.

Seven area Mardi Gras parades will be held in the Tri-City area beginning Feb. 17 and ending on Mardi Gras day.

Ball patrons are reminded that tableaus begin promptly and everyone should be seated prior to the krewe’s stated start time.

Krewe of Galatea

The women’s mystic Krewe of Galatea will hold its tableau at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. Viewing is by invitation only.

Queen and King of Galatea LIII Mrs. George Jeffrey Beattie and Lee Dragna will make a farewell appearance.

Galatea will present its annual parade at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 in Morgan City with the children’s Krewe of Nike as participants. The procession will organize on Second Street under the U.S. 90 Grizzaffi Bridge and proceed to Onstead Street, Sixth Street, Marguerite Street, Ninth Street, Clothilde Street, Victor II Boulevard and ending at the auditorium on Myrtle Street.

Krewe of Dionysus

The Krewe of Dionysus will host its coronation at 8 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the Berwick Civic Complex. Floor seating is invitation only.

Public viewing is available in the balcony.

A farewell appearance will be made by King and Queen Dionysus XLI Steve Kennedy and Laura Kennedy.

Dionysus’ parade in Berwick will begin at 2 p.m. Feb. 18.

The procession will line up on Gilmore Drive and turn on John Street, Robichaux Street, Mount Street, Gilmore Drive, right on La. 182, Tournament Boulevard, Fairview Drive then to Pattie Drive, where it will disband at Berwick Junior High School.

Krewe of Hannibal

The Krewe of Hannibal will celebrate with a ball at 8 p.m. Feb. 11 at the auditorium. This is an invitation-only event.

Bidding adieu will be royalty XL — King Hannibal Cornelius “C.C.” Stewart Jr. and Queen Cleopatra Thetis Dural.

Krewe members are still deciding which area parades in which to participate.

Krewe of Amani

The Krewe of Amani’s coronation is 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Patterson Area Civic Center. Floor seating is invitation only.

Amani patrons are reminded that doors to view the tableau will close at 7:45 p.m. and not reopen until the presentation is complete.

Making a farewell appearance will be King and Queen Amani XXIII Renwick McPherson and Eartha Lewis.

Amani will hold its Lundi Gras parade at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 in Patterson. The procession will line up at Patterson High School and proceed down La. 182 (Main Street) and end at the Place Norman Shopping Center.

Following the parade, a block party will be held on Martin Luther King Avenue.

Krewe of Hephaestus

The oldest area krewe, the Krewe of Hephaestus, will hold its carnival court at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the auditorium. Floor seating is invitation only.

Public viewing is available from the balcony.

Taking to the stage for a final appearance will be King and Queen Hephaestus LXI Gerard Bourgeois and Emma Levert Aucoin.

Krewe members will parade at 2 p.m. Fat Tuesday in Morgan City. The procession will organize on Sixth and Sycamore streets and proceed down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street, Clothilde Street, and Victor II Boulevard, ending at the auditorium on Myrtle Street.

Siracusa/Greenwood

The Siracusa/Greenwood Community has announced that it will hold its Mardi Gras Parade on Fat Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Participants will line up on Siracusa Road at 1 p.m. then proceed to James Street and Grace Street before ending at the Siracusaville Recreation Center.

Anyone wishing to participate or for information may call Leroy Trim at 985-385-4224, or 985-759-1689, or Mary Jones at 985-519-0547.

Parade Summaries
—Krewe of Adonis: Friday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Morgan City.
—Krewe of Dionysus: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m., Berwick.
—Krewe of Galatea: Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m., Morgan City.
—Krewe of Amani: Monday, Feb. 20, 2 p.m., Patterson.
—Krewe of Hera: Monday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., Morgan City.
—Siracusa/Greenwood: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Siracusaville.
—Krewe of Hephaestus: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Morgan City.