29/Apr/2007
Schools, Business and Community Reflect Growth in City of Central
By Christiana Johns
"The main reason for our move to Central is that we saw a boom and it looked like an opportunity for us," said Mike Anderson of Mike Anderson's Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar. "It is as simple as that. We're planning 6,000 to 7,000 square feet and between 175 and 200 seats in a full sized, full service restaurant serving seafood and steaks."
The new restaurant on Greenwell Springs Road is but one of many new beginnings set for 2007 that will help shape and change Louisiana's newest city in the new year. Opportunities for improvement and development in Central are coming fast and furious.
"We will hire between 120 and 130 people in Central," said Anderson."We considered Zachary, but Central is much more centrally located when you consider all of the development in Denham Springs and Walker. Besides, it doesn't take long to get to Central from Zachary."
Independent Schools
Of course, one of the biggest changes for Central this year is in the city's school system. On November 7, 2006, citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish voted "yes" to Amendment 8 allowing Central to have its own independent school district.
Central Community Alliance President Jon Simmons has been an advocate for returning schools to local control for several years. Simmons said that performance in East Baton Rouge Parish schools was not what it needed to be. "You just can't make good decisions when you're making them for 50,000 kids," he said.
Simmons explained that the move toward smaller school districts is a nationwide trend. "The smaller school systems are where the success is," Simmons said. "The closer you bring management to the people, the better. It's all about bringing control to the people who it's most important to."
With all of the new things going on in the city, citizens want and need an avenue of communication to know their voices are being heard, according to Simmons. That is where the Central Community Alliance (CCA) comes in. Although formed about six years ago, the Alliance has been dormant for a while. It recently came back to life, and the organization will go public in January and begin soliciting new members.
Resource Bank
Simmons said the purpose of CCA is to facilitate communication within the community. The CCA will help citizens to communicate with other groups such as the city council, planning and zoning and the school board outside of a restricted formal meeting. It will also serve as a resource bank to help with research or write charters.
"For example we'll hold an open forum for candidates during elections without endorsing a candidate or hold town meetings on development issues," Simmons said. "It's a way to have actual dialogue between citizens and representatives from different entities that you can't have at formal meetings."
While the revived CCA is still a work in progress, Simmons said the more communication the better. "People just want to know they're being listened to so it gives them a chance to say what they want to say."
Cookin' For Our Kids
One of the largest concerns over the new school system is funding. About $300,000 is needed next year for infrastructure, teachers and faculty, equipment and many other things, and that is where the Central community comes in.
Last January, the people in Central held a fundraiser called "Cookin' for Our Neighbors" and raised nearly $200,000 for Chalmette Independent Schools. On April 28, 2007 a similar fundraiser will be held called "Cookin' for Our Kids." The purpose will be to raise money for the new Central Community School District.
Chairman of the fundraiser Louis Dejohn said well over 70 volunteers have already signed up. "I think we're going to blow the top off $200,000." The fundraiser will be held at the corner of Hooper and Sullivan Roads. Dejohn said some of the main events will include live and silent auctions; a cook off; and entertainment with Central children singing and live bands.
He said the previous event brought the community together as a family activity everyone enjoyed." It brings commitment together for a common cause and gets more people involved to help the schools. This will really benefit Central."
Magnolia Methodist Market
Although it actually began in December 2006, the new Community Market will grow and flourish in the new year. The Magnolia United Methodist Church plans to sponsor this event from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday.
The market includes a variety of vendors with everything from hot boiled peanuts and seafood to local crafts and jewelry. In the springtime the focus will be on fresh produce. The money the church earns from the market will go to benefit their outreach ministries.
Church member Randy Foster said the market is good for the church and the community because there is nothing like it in Central. Secretary of Communication for the church, Kim Fontenot, said the market is an A+ benefit to the growth of Central because it's local. "You don't have to plan your whole day to go to the Red Stick Market when you can just go around the corner on Greenwell Springs Road."
Fontenot said the church chose to sponsor the weekly event to not only fund the outreach ministry but to let people know where they are. "We're a little church and most people don't recognize us. This allows people living in the Central community to know we are here for them."
Central Better Living Fair
Last but not least in the spring of 2007 will be the return of the Central Better Living Fair that will be held this year in the Family Center at St. Alphonsus Church on Greenwell Springs Road near Sullivan.
"The expanded format of our second annual event, from 27 booths last year to 42 this year, is an indication of our conviction that Central is really on the GROW," according to Central Neighbors publisher Bob Mathews. "This year's Central Better Living Fair will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, and we felt the need to move it to a much larger venue."
This year's greatly expanded event will be co-sponsored by COX Communications, the Central Chamber of Commerce, Mike Anderson's Seafood Restaurants and Central Neighbors magazine. There will be live music, great food and fun activities for the whole family.
Central residents saw many changes in 2006 and there's much more to come in 2007. Change can sometimes be tough, but these changes are steps toward the growth of the great new City of Central. And new businesses and schools are only a part of the new Central. It's the spirit of togetherness and commitment from the people that is forming the strong fabric of this community.