Community Calendar

Robotics teams from area schools will demonstrate their skills at the Union Museum of History and Art.

The event is in association with the museum's NASA exhibit on loan from the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama. Teams confirmed so far are from Union Parish High School, Downsville Community Charter School, and D'Arbonne Woods Charter School.

Robotics are a key element in space exploration, most notably the current Mars robot rovers: Curiosity and Perseverance. NASA is planning a permanent lunar outpost, known as Moon Base, which will rely heavily on robotic systems before astronauts arrive.

As humans prepare for deep-space missions, a major obstacle must be addressed: What will they eat?
Louisiana Tech University biology professor Dr. Joshua Vandenbrink and his colleagues are currently researching that issue for NASA, focusing on mushroom cultivation. He will discuss his research on Tuesday, September 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Union Museum of History and Art, 211 N. Main Street, Farmerville, LA. His presentation, "Growing Food in Space: Current Research and Future Perspectives," is a feature of the museum’s NASA exhibit on display from August 13 to Sept. 26.
Dr. Vandenbrink, associate professor in Louisiana Tech University’s School of Biological Sciences, received the NASA Research Initiation Award to study how edible mushrooms can be cultivated in space as part of sustainable life support systems for long-duration space missions.

The Northeast Louisiana Arts Council is launching a new casual gathering for our creative community - and you're invited. Join them for a relaxed monthly meetup designed for artists, designers, performers, educators, and creative thinkers from across our region to connect, share ideas, and learn what others are working on. No agenda. No presentations. Just conversation and community.

We welcome you as a participant in the Friends of Black Bayou Photo Contest 2026! Celebrate our natural wonders with your unique perspectives! This year’s contest objectives are the same as always: to encourage protection of wildlife and conservation of natural resources through photographic skills and an appreciation of natural settings on the Refuge.

As always, there are no submission fees for your photos, so get your phones and cameras out and capture nature at its best. We encourage you to select your best photos and submit them by Oct. 1, 2026.

Carrollton’s Pilgrimage and Pioneer Day Festival features live music, family fun, and historic interest.
Those attending can: tour historic churches, enjoy live music, shop arts and crafts, visit Merrill Museum, see exhibitions, games for all ages, food, history, music, and Southern tradition.

This year’s Pilgrimage will feature guided tours of three historic churches

Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, 2 PM
Pilgrimage sites also include the Masonic Lodge, Merrill Museum, J.J. Gee & Sons Mercantile, and Carrollton Town Hall (Pilgrimage Headquarters).

Hasley: Voices of the Past is a twilight tour featuring the final resting place of notable community
figures. Intriguing tales and family legacies are brought to life through storytelling by local actors and
musicians. The tour is written and directed by Kay LaFrance-Knight, and costuming and set design is
led by Gayle Frick.

Several tours will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Hasley Cemetery. Tour times are: 5:30 p.m., 6
p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Limited tickets are available for each tour. Ticket holders will
meet at West Monroe City Hall 15 minutes before their scheduled tour to be shuttled to Hasley
Cemetery. Some walking is involved.

Tour tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.com. Tour information can
also be found on the City of West Monroe’s website and Facebook page. Proceeds benefit the Kiroli
Foundation.

For more information about the tour, please contact the Kiroli Foundation at (318) 396-2600 or
kirolifoundation@westmonroe.la.gov