View the discussion thread. WE empathise with the business community in Spanish Town on reading comments by Mr Dennis Robotham at the recent monthly meeting of the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce and Industry the long-serving president of the chamber and who has been there before lamented the state of the town and the deleterious effect on business Spanish Town does not benefit from heavy commercial activity late evening into night Add to that consumers’ increasing migration to online shopping and you get a sense of the tough environment in which businesses are trying to survive “We’re looking at ways to reintroduce activity into the heart of Spanish Town especially in the evenings,” Mr Robotham said “We cannot allow the town to die after 5:00 pm nightlife and safety — because without those we’re just giving up the space.” The chamber hopes to reposition Spanish Town as a vibrant commercial and cultural hub with extended opening hours as the report in last Friday’s Jamaica Observer pointed out that vision continues to be stymied by poor infrastructure and what many regard as decades of political neglect We believe crime to be the biggest bugbear as rival One Order and Klansman gangsters have and even executing those who resist their demands the constabulary’s latest crime statistics for the St Catherine North Police Division show a 14.3 per cent reduction in murders and a four per cent decrease in shootings between January 1 and April 26 2025 compared to the same period last year the police are making gains in combating criminals in Spanish Town There are still too many individuals roaming freely — intent on killing The chamber is keen on having Spanish Town capitalise on its rich history and as such has called for a renewed push to establish the town as a heritage destination That has long been a goal of successive governments There is great merit in seeking to develop the historic town St Jago de la Vega — established by Spanish colonisers close to 500 years ago — as a destination of high value The architecture of its oldest buildings is just one feature that could easily attract visitors consists of the old courthouse built in 1819; the old House of Assembly constructed in 1762; Rodney’s Memorial now Jamaica Archives; and the shell of the old King’s House Tours of those buildings — coupled with narration of historic events including the trial and conviction in 1720 of pirate Calico Jack Rackham whose crew included female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read — could be developed as vibrant attractions But all that depends on ridding the town of gangsters and creating a safe environment for locals and visitors is absolutely correct in saying: “If we sit back and do nothing we’ll watch our commercial districts fade out.” operated in the Main Street Market and on Scotland Avenue Isadore also previously ran coffee shops on the Southern University campus and in Alexandria “I’ve always loved this space,” Isadore says and it needs to be preserved and hopefully done right I just hope everyone embraces it and leans into it.” “It’s in the heart of the neighborhood and we always want it to be open,” says Spanish Town Road resident Jamie Gober who had dropped by Spanish Town Market and Cofe earlier this week with her dog to check on its progress “I plan on stopping in and having coffee or lunch and just hanging out It’s a big part of the neighborhood.” A separate pizza counter will eventually offer whole pies and slices He says he’ll also have a soup of the day and rotating lunch specials Seafood fettuccini kicked things off during Tuesday’s opening A small grocery section at the back of the store, which stocks household items, dry goods and selections from St. Bruno Bread Co. riffs on its long history as a convenience store called Capitol Grocery Customers will also see an independently owned butcher counter within the reimagined space called Spanish Town Specialty Meats which sells a small inventory of items like ground beef Isadore closed Southern Cofe’s Main Street Market location when all tenants moved out in 2023 due to a major building renovation. The Main Street Market reopened last fall, although new restaurant tenants have not yet been announced Isadore says it’s cost prohibitive for him to move back in He shuttered his north Baton Rouge location last March due to rent increases and dissatisfaction with the space he says he’s been living in his hometown of Alexandria assisting his aging father with a family lawn business Isadore saw bringing back the Spanish Town institution as a good way to get back into the coffee and café business Generous seating is available inside and outside and Isadore is hoping the pet-friendly establishment will be a spot where neighbors want to once again gather “It’s a special place,” he says Spanish Town Market and Cofe is located at 701 Spanish Town Road. It will be open Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find more information on Instagram BATON ROUGE — The Spanish Town Mardi Gras Krewe is known for its flamboyant floats and lively parade—but behind the beads and boas lies a deep commitment to giving back the organization handed out $18,000 in donations to a group of local nonprofits that are quietly changing lives across Baton Rouge announced the total during a heartfelt ceremony where representatives from each charity were called on stage to receive their checks “because it’s just good to see the good that you do you see that it means a lot to the charities.” Although the amount was slightly lower this year due to a split fundraising event the spirit of generosity was alive and well “We always say we’re a krewe with a donation problem,” King joked adding that the group has raised over $1.7 million throughout the years thanks to their annual ball and parade The funds will support a wide range of causes—from children’s advocacy to veteran services Each charity embodies the Spanish Town Krewe’s mission: to uplift and highlight organizations doing life-changing work in the community Here are the charities touched by this year’s donations: King encouraged everyone in attendance to get to know these organizations and support them beyond carnival season Planning for next year’s events begins in late summer and King says the krewe is already excited to top this year’s efforts the parades and parties may bring the crowds—but it’s the giving that leaves a lasting impact Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.  Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today and website in this browser for the next time I comment Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to follow up Let's ConnectFollow along on your favorite social media platform and get the latest updates directly in your feed Download our app or join our newsletter for instant access to breaking news and in-depth stories from anywhere BATON ROUGE - A familiar market in Spanish Town is back with new owners and a fresh start.  The former Capitol Grocery reopened in its original form at the beginning of April as Spanish Town Market and Cafe. This follows the closure of health food market Belli last year due to zoning issues and conflicts with neighbors New owner Horatio Isadore said he wanted to bring back the original concept of serving hot meals and coffee as well as providing groceries and specialty meats in the building that was built in 1914 "I remember reading about it and there were just some inconsistencies and I said man if someone could get this place and be consistent they could really do some good things," Isadore said "It's just an opportunity for the community to really appreciate what we're trying to do here.” surrounded by neighboring homes and one-way streets One of the main headaches for previous ownership was complaints about parking availability.  We understand that but there is parking for this community so it's hard sometimes for someone to intentionally come here," Isadore said Belli also had a run-in with neighbors, complaining about the store's plans to sell beer and wine. "I think we can be extremely extremely successful without that," Isadore said Isadore said they're hoping to provide beer and cigarettes in their grocery eventually while abiding by the neighborhood's wishes They are very territorial in a good way about what they've created and what they want," Isadore said he wants the store to be loved by the community that keeps it sacred.  "Everybody understands that the building needs to be operational the space needs to be available for the community so once you look at it from that perspective all of the cards started lining up and we said okay we're going to go for it," Isadore said Isadore said he's committed to growing the market with the neighborhood in mind — one step at a time Downtown Baton Rouge was turned pink as thousands filled the streets for the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday float during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday People reach for beads along Main Street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Hundreds of people yell for beads and goodies as the Krewe of M.O.M rolls along Spanish Town Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A women holds up a Smiley sign along the route during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday pulls beads from a stuffed tiger while riding with the Krewe of M.O.M People walk along 7th Street with loads of beads and other goodies during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A dad and his kids sit on a high chair along the route during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Parade floats zigzag downtown near 4th Street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday People fill the balcony of a building along the route during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A women in a tree reaches for beads in flight along Convention Street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A boy holds out a stick for beads during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Greg Anderson wears beads while keeping the street blocked off during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday float can be seen in a bystanders sunglasses during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Floats navigate the crowd along Convention Street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday holds up a stuffed tiger from the Krewe of M.O.M People fill the street as the Krewe of M.O.M rolls past Fifth Street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday rolls through the crowd along Laurel Street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A young girl waits for more beads along River Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday The Mystic Krewe of Maximillian tosses beads during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Hundreds of people fill the street as they yell for beads and goodies as the Krewe of M.O.M during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A man watches the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade along N 9th Street from a hammock on Saturday navigates the crowd while rolling along Spanish Town Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Thousands fill Main Street as floats from the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade roll past on Saturday Young children reach for beads being tossed while seated above the crowd along Spanish Town Road during Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Parade floats navigate N 9th as hundreds of people fill the street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Spanish town road fills with characters of all types ready for the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A man take video of the parade from a spot in a tree above the route during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday The Krewe of the Crooked Crown cheers as their float starts rolling in the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Guest at a party along the route yell for beads and cheer during Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A women walks across the lawn at the State Library of Louisiana before the start of Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday The street fills with people reaching for beads and other goodies as the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade begins on Saturday A kid yells for beads during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A women rest in a giant chair along Convention Street during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A member of the Krewe Dat Krewe hands out beads during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A member of the Royal Mystic Krewe of Generic Yo-Yos looks to throw beads along River Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A women waits for the next float along River Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday The Krewe of Low Standards looks to throw beads along River Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday The BeignYAYS march along River Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday The Royal Mystic Krewe of Generic Yo-Yos rolls along River Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Members of the Krewe of Sleaziana throw beads during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday A Krewe member dressed as clergy throws water while giving a blessing to a women along River Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday The Outlaw King Keith Knapps rides along Convention Road during the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Email notifications are only sent once a day News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBATON ROUGE (WAFB) - If you were up at the crack of dawn you may have spotted the pink flamingos in the LSU Lakes This marked the return of a big tradition ahead of the Spanish Town Parade People flock to the lakes to snatch them up The annual Spanish Town Parade theme was announced as “In Smiley Town Smiley Says...” for the 2025 events Click here to report a typo Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox Villages-News.com Construction barriers are now in place at Spanish Springs Town Square The construction barriers signal the beginning of the first phase of a major renovation at The Villages’ first town square Earlier this year, the Village Center Community Development District Board of Supervisors approved a bid of $1.2 million from G & G Construction of Marion County Inc for the first phase of improvements at The Villages’ original town square The project is aimed at improving the attractiveness of the square The improvements consist of pedestrian concrete paving as well as electrical and lighting improvements In addition to the work funded by the VCCDD, the Developer has announced projects, including renovations at La Reina Building. That will include improvements to the vacant restaurant and patio area that was previously home to Gator’s Dockside The renovations will necessitate moving and canceling some entertainment events Nightly entertainment at the Gazebo will continue but the Cinco De Mayo festival has been canceled at Spanish Springs The monthly Cruise In set for April 19 will go on as planned but the brakes will be put on the monthly car shows during the duration of the renovation project the Spanish Springs Mercado and Market Nights will be moved to Brownwood where they will be packaged into larger events Shows will continue as planned at The Sharon L your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt The Spanish town of Hellín has been recognised as an International Tourist Interest site since 2005 for its Easter Week and Tamborada UNESCO has declared the drumming of Hellín and Intangible Cultural Heritage and more than 20,000 people of all ages take part in the event in which thousands of drummers of all ages march through the streets of the town beating their drums and thundering out ancestral rhythms This weekend, thousands will flock downtown for the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade tons of mischief and a few risque moments as the krewes roll this Saturday a collection of marching groups and around 75 floats will travel along Spanish Town Road Things wrap up at the route’s end on River Road Neighboring bars and businesses are prepped to keep the party going all day “It looks like we’re gonna have good weather,” says Robert King president of the Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana (SPLL) The parade route is approximately 2 miles long Smiley Says…,” honors the late Smiley Anders who was a Spanish Town resident and longtime columnist for The Advocate King says that Anders was a friend of the parade and he would put the winners of the float awards in the paper on Monday morning,” King says about Anders “Everybody would race to go get their newspaper to see who won what award out of curiosity that’s not a theme.’ And we’re like you’re not a Spanish Town person.’ (The theme) leaves you wide open to come up with ‘What would Smiley say?’”  the hand-decorated floats line up bright and early near the Capitol King says that’s where judges stroll by to get a good look at them before they take off krewe members offer the judges bribes like big throws the judges move to a prime spot at the middle of the route to watch them in action before determining category winners But the minion will pull a wagon and whatever (the judge) gets bribed with the minion will keep it for them to look at.”  who has served as both a judge and a king for the parade says that the judges come up with a slew of categories though five remain the same each year like “best float” and “worst float.” “The best one you can get is ‘worst float,’” King says “Because if you get ‘best float,’ it means you have the worst one King says the SPLL is working on securing a flyover for a future parade For those prepping their pink outfits and preparing to go parading on Saturday, King encourages heading to the route a little early. During that time, paradegoers can get set up and even check out the floats where they line up for the judges. King says one of the best spots is near the historic Spanish Town Market & Cofe, which has been seeking food vendors for the day via its Instagram the craziness of takeoff begins to level out just make sure to emulate the Spanish Town flamingo mascot: Stand tall stand out and don’t forget to flamingle with the crowd The Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade will roll at noon starting on Spanish Town Road and ending on River Road. Here’s the official parade map. Be sure to check for road closures in the morning. For more information, find the parade on Facebook This event is for those ages 21 and up. Tickets start at $10. Find more information here. Tickets start at $55 for those 21 and up and $18 for those ages 6-20. Children 5 and under get in for free. Find more information here Friends of the Capitol Park Museum members get general admission tickets for free and VIP entry for $20. Non-members range from $5-$35, based on age. Find more information here Find more information and the lineup here Anywhere along Spanish Town Road makes for a great spot to watch the Krewe of Spanish Town Parade The Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade rolls through downtown on Feb Come Saturday, March 1, downtown Baton Rouge will be covered in pink. The Spanish Town parade is coming Starting at noon, the parade will roll on Fourth Street and Spanish Town Road Seventh to Convention streets and River Road Here are four places to watch the flamingo-filled procession:  Join the Friends of Capitol Park Museum for its 11th annual Spanish Town parade party at 9 a.m The family-friendly Mardi Gras event will include prime front-street viewing Ticket prices vary depending on age, available for purchase at eventbrite.com All proceeds from the event support the Capitol Park Museum's educational programs Anywhere along Spanish Town Road makes for a great spot Walk around the neighborhood before the parade to see what makes the place special The houses are sure to be decked out in all things pink and flamingo The Knights of Columbus are assisting the St Joseph Cathedral in renting parking places in the church parking lot Tickets are $40.00 per parking spot for single vehicles; more for larger vehicles occupying multiple spots watch the parade at your preferred spot and then make your way to the end of the parade at the corner of River Road and North Street While the riders may not have any throws left Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@theadvocate.com The Spanish Town police are searching for a man who attacked and opened fire on a man on the compound of a basic school in Gordon Pen The suspect allegedly also pointed the gun at the mother of his child and threatened to kill her the suspect went to the school and saw the complainant in the company of his child’s mother He reportedly became angry and attacked the complainant He left and reportedly returned with a gun and fired several shots at the complainant He then reportedly pointed the gun in the face of his child's mother and made threats The matter was later reported to the Spanish Town police which have launched a probe into a case of shooting with intent assault at common law and assault occasioning bodily harm Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge’s most flamboyant and satirical Mardi Gras parade is back and this year’s Spanish Town royalty is ready to roll in true pink flamingo style With their larger-than-life personalities and deep connections to the parade Queen Christal Davis and King Keith Knapps are set to lead the historic celebration with love affectionately known as the “Spanish Town Queen,” has been deeply involved in the Spanish Town Festival for over 12 years Her connection to the parade became even more personal following the tragic loss of her daughter a rare form of cancer diagnosed in only 1,200 people annually Stephanie was crowned the first -ever Duchess of Spanish Town before her passing making Christal’s selection as Queen this year both an honor and a tribute “My daughter never missed a Spanish Town parade She loved everything about it,” Davis shared the board members brought a second-line parade to her and crowned her the first-ever Duchess of Spanish Town She passed away a week and a half later.” It’s why the organization’s president Robert King decided to go “flock” Stephanie when she was on hospice (video above) Christal’s reign as Queen is a way to honor her daughter’s memory as well as to celebrate her own milestone birthday “I just turned 60 this past December I’m doing it for me’,” she said a whimsical and vibrant nod to the spirit of Spanish Town “It has been overwhelming in the best way Just when I think I’ve had the best day ever another incredible moment happens,” she said MORE FROM UWK: 2025 Mardi Gras Guide: Parades in and around Baton Rouge King Keith Knapps has been part of the pink world for 12 years What started as a fun event for him and his wife Sarah quickly turned into an annual passion with both becoming deeply involved in the Spanish Town community my wife and I started attending the parade themed “Smiley Town,” will be an eye-catching spectacle “It’s wrapped in black with pink trim and there’s even a pink Harley,” he said His costume as King is a biker vest adorned with patches embracing the outlaw spirit of Spanish Town I’m not really used to that,” he joked Spanish Town is known for its charitable contributions President Robert King highlighted the community’s commitment to giving back “We donate between $85,000 and $100,000 each year to local charities It’s incredible to see the impact we make,” King shared The Spanish Town community also prioritizes supporting local businesses and royalty hosts parties at neighborhood bars to boost the economy the founder and chief investigative journalist of UWK Spanish Town President Robert King spoke on her selection: We felt she was a great figurehead for our parade Seeing her excitement and what she brought to the entry proved we made the right choice MORE FROM UWK: UWK’s Kiran Chawla selected as Spanish Town Grand Marshal What began in 1981 as a small neighborhood gathering has evolved into one of Baton Rouge’s most anticipated Mardi Gras parades The first “parade” featured locals walking through the streets children drumming on makeshift instruments the celebration draws over 200,000 attendees with 75 floats and nearly 10 bands filling the streets in a vibrant sea of pink As the parade rolls through Baton Rouge this Mardi Gras season Queen Crystal and Grand Marshal Kiran will reign with joy and a commitment to the beloved tradition of Spanish Town The jovial krewe of Spanish Town is set to roll Saturday Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.  Work is progressing steadily on the construction of the new Spanish Town Hospital and the St Jago Health Centre in Spanish Town with both projects moving ahead according to plan Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton expressed satisfaction with the developments “Both projects are work in progress.” Speaking on the significance of the new hospital “This facility is a long time in coming It is really a good thing happening in public health where we are now seeing the manifestation of many years of negotiations – going to Washington [and] negotiating with the Inter American Development Bank plus the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet of Jamaica Drawing a comparison to the ongoing renovations at the Cornwall Regional Hospital and what we had to do is just separate the sites,” he said Tufton noted that valuable lessons were learnt from the Cornwall Regional experience which helped improve planning and compliance It started off a little slow because we had some design issues that needed to be reconciled between the contractors and the design team the contractors have gone full fledge,” Tufton stated Praising efforts to improve Jamaica’s health infrastructure We have not seen this kind of infrastructure built in health since probably Independence.” He disclosed that $11 billion is being spent in St Catherine alone to build the new hospital and expand services including increasing bed capacity and upgrading the St Jago and Old Harbour health centres to serve more patients Project manager Orrete Clarke said the six-storey 20,000-square-metre facility remains on track for completion project manager Carl Chin reported that the foundation work for the 600-square-metre addition has been completed with the building set for completion by June next year Services will then migrate to the new block while the old facility is modernised and a conference room constructed editorial@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. BATON ROUGE — UWK founder, owner and chief investigative journalist Kiran Chawla will lead the 2025 Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade as this year’s Grand Marshal This year’s other Spanish Town royalty includes King Keith Knapps and Queen Christal Davis The Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade is the Capital City’s largest and most vibrant politically incorrect (and humorous) themes This year’s parade will roll through downtown Baton Rouge and the historic Spanish Town neighborhood on March 1, honoring the late Baton Rouge Advocate columnist Smiley Anders with the theme “In Smiley Town “I am so honored to be selected as this year’s Spanish Town Grand Marshal and be a part of this Baton Rouge tradition,” Chawla said “I’ve already learned so much about Spanish Town that I did not know such as how much money they give back to the community.” Spanish Town started in 1981 with a group of locals in the Spanish Town neighborhood “going up and down the streets with kids beating on boxes like drummers and that was basically the first parade and it grew from there,” per Spanish Town’s President Robert King The Spanish Town neighborhood is in an area between the State Capitol and downtown and houses residents from all genres and professions The first “parade” in 1981 was a handful of people it’s grown to over 200,000 people taking part in the parade as 75 floats with nearly 10 bands take to the streets in a pink sea Charles Fisher & some others who saw a pink flamingo in a yard and they just figured let’s go with the flamingo The flamingo is actually a very peaceful and docile bird and that is how it’s grown into what it is today There’s no color barrier or anything with Spanish Town they’re all pink that one day for the parade It’s just amazing to see that and experience that,” said King King has been a part of Spanish Town since 1981 I’ve been in Spanish Town right at 40 years ‘I might want to quit but I can’t But Spanish Town is so much more than a parade “It’s such an honor after you finish the ball and parade to see how much money you have Each person on the board picks a charity and then we intermingle I might take my charity and add to someone else’s charity to where we bump up and they get good money But when you hand a check to somebody in March and you see how it affects them We average yearly $85,000-$100,000 that goes to charities I think the first check was made to a food bank for $100 we have given almost $1.7 million in charity,” King told UWK Spanish Town members purposely book hotels in downtown for the ball and parade eat at local restaurants and royalty throws a party at a local bar to help those businesses financially King is who chose Kiran Chawla as their 2025 Spanish Town Grand Marshal We felt she was a good figurehead for our parade She has proven our choice to be true by taking this and running with it When I saw the smile on her face and what she did for the entry ‘she has become a part of the family’.” Chawla made a splash during her introduction at the STLA annual royalty brunch on January 18 where she showcased her Indian heritage with a traditional Punjabi dance She will host the Grand Marshal Party at Big Mike’s Sports Bar in Denham Springs on January 31st from 7 p.m to midnight and will lead the Spanish Town Parade on March 1 Help support UWK and their mission to continue providing you “The News You Deserve. Unfiltered.” Sign up to become a monthly patron via Patreon As a SPLL Board Member and past Grand Marshal (2020 & 2021) it is an honor to have you serve as our Grand Marshal for the 2025 STMG Ball and Parade I look forward to seeing you lead our beloved parade I hope you enjoy every moment and just so you know…your reign may only be for this year but you are stuck with us forever Welcome to our functionally dis-functional pink family BATON ROUGE - Flamingo-themed festivities will look a little different this year when the annual Spanish Town Ball comes to the Raising Cane's River Center in February.  Due to a scheduling conflict with the United States Bowling Congress a "split ball" will be held between two rooms President of the Society of Preservation for Lagniappe in Louisiana Robert King said the last time this happened was in 2012 The ball will have 116 ten-top tables in the hockey arena and another 121 tables in the River Center ballroom. Because space is limited this year they had to cut 87 tables from the program Security will be cracking down on "free-roamers" who do not have a designated table to put their ice chests and belongings.  "That puts us at 237 tables and usually we have 324," King said.  The amount of tables being reduced by a third has also put a dent in their pockets for donations to local charities King said the organization donates between $90,000 and $100,000 annually but this year that number will be around $60,000 since they cannot sell as many tickets to the ball.  King said planning the split ball has been a complicated matter Difficult decisions were made when having to hire two more bands schedule an extra royalty introduction ceremony and keep a head count of the amount of people in each room to comply with Fire Marshal capacity limits King is confident things will work out.  "I don't think it's gonna be that big of a problem but it's just kind of a logistical nightmare with the size of the River Center getting people where they need to be," King said.  This year's is "In Smiley town, Smiley says..." in honor of the iconic Advocate columnist Smiley Anders who passed away last year Anders was an essential part of the awards process for past parades.  "Smiley would let us do the judges meet at his house after the parade to figure out who won what award and everything else and then we'd give it to Smiley everyone would run out and get a paper," King said.  It is a ticket-only event and not open to the general public.  at the Krewe of Southdowns Mardi Gras Parade The family-friendly parade takes on a Southdowns Safari theme this year dancers and traditional torch-bearers throughout the event The Krewe of Southdowns Mardi Gras Parade rolls at 7 p.m. This event is free to attend and open to the public. The parade begins at Glasgow Middle School and ends on Perkins Road. Find more information here See social media influencer Jake Shane this Saturday at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts comedian and host of the Therapuss with Jake Shane podcast where he talks with celebrities and other social media influencers Expect a hilarious night of fun and comedy at this event Live With Jake Shane starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $34 to $64. The River Center Theatre is at 275 S. River Road. Find more information here Attend the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade this Saturday The Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade rolls at noon. This event is free to attend and open to the public. The parade begins on Spanish Town Road and ends on River Road. Find more information here Head over to Baton Rouge Community College’s Mid City campus for 225 Fest on Sunday 225 Fest will be from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. You can RSVP for free for this event. BRCC’s Mid City Campus is at 203 Community College Drive. Find more information here BATON ROUGE — The Spanish Town Parade has been a cherished annual tradition in Baton Rouge since 1981 “I’ve been in this parade for 42 years I think we had probably 250,000 or more,” said Spanish Town President Robert King “I think it’s the largest crowd we’ve ever had with smiles—it was awesome to be able to see that.” WATCH SPANISH TOWN 2025 AS IT ROLLED eagerly awaiting more than 75 floats and 2,000 participants The Spanish Town Parade kicked off at noon on March 1 drawing a record crowd of approximately 250,000 people The parade attracts not only locals from the Greater Baton Rouge area but also visitors from across the country—and even the world he has met people from neighboring Mississippi King has been part of Spanish Town since 1983 joining the ‘Pink Path Family’ just two years after its inception He and the dedicated team behind the parade work tirelessly year-round for this one special day I love to see people excited and enjoying life with everything going on in the world When people can come out and just forget everything—you get doctors and lawyers dressing up in stuff they would never wear throughout the year—but they come out and just let their freak side go And to sit back and watch it… just the amount of people everywhere—on floats This is my life,” King said emotionally with streets covered in beads and remnants of a great time Spanish Town leaders were already shifting gears—from parade festivities to philanthropy “We have a meeting March 5 to discuss our end of year, which we have to do by April 1, and so that’s when we’ll figure out how much we get to donate. It’s going to be short this year due to the Bowling Congress in town We were shorted a lot of tables for the ball but we will still have checks for charities we’ve done $1.7 million in donations,” King said proudly And the parade is far from the end for Spanish Town the Pink Path Family still has plenty of events to check off their list before planning begins for 2026 For those wondering—next year’s parade rolls on February 14 Spanish Town started in 1981 with a group of locals in the Spanish Town neighborhood “going up and down the streets with kids beating on boxes like drummers and that was basically the first parade and it grew from there,” per Spanish Town’s President Robert King The first “parade” in 1981 was a handful of people it’s grown to over 200,000 people taking part in the parade as 75 floats with nearly 10 bands take to the streets in a pink sea Charles Fisher & some others who saw a pink flamingo in a yard and they just figured let’s go with the flamingo The flamingo is actually a very peaceful and docile bird and that is how it’s grown into what it is today There’s no color barrier or anything with Spanish Town they’re all pink that one day for the parade It’s just amazing to see that and experience that,” said King I’ve been in Spanish Town right at 40 years “It’s such an honor after you finish the ball and parade to see how much money you have I might take my charity and add to someone else’s charity to where we bump up and they get good money BATON ROUGE -- The Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade filled just about every sidewalk in downtown Baton Rouge with pink as many came to take in one of the biggest This year's parade featured over 70 floats many of them paying tribute to Smiley Anders a longtime columnist for The Advocate and a Spanish Town resident It's something that we created and we have a great crew that helped us do all this," Krewe of Mischief spokesman Rudy Ramirez said It takes a bunch of different cultures and everyone getting together and we all just have a good time," Parade attendee Alexis Didier said The Spanish Town Mardi Gras celebrations are organized by the Mystic Krewe for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana "All the money that we raise stays here locally between veterans It all stays here locally to support the community," parade judge Christian Rogers said St Catherine boy has been charged for breaking into a man’s house and stealing money and several items and for setting a fire larceny and malicious destruction of property Reports from the Spanish Town police are that between Wednesday the man securely locked up his house and left he received information that his house was broken into he discovered that items were stolen to include $150,000 a microwave and a PlayStation game console The minor was caught and handed over to the police He was taken into custody where he was formerly charged He is to appear in the St Catherine Children Court on Thursday View the discussion thread. The Government will be embarking on a study of the drainage systems in sections of St to take corrective action against flooding This was announced by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with Responsibility for Works at the monthly meeting of the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Spanish Town on Wednesday Morgan pointed to the severity of the issue particularly on St John’s Road in Spanish Town “One of the biggest challenges I faced when I took over [as Minister of Works] is the issue of St John's Road there's massive flooding in that entire vicinity,” Morgan said the Government has engaged a multilateral organisation to conduct a study on the drainage system on St John’s Road and its environs The results of the study will inform a final plan to fix the drains in the area Morgan informed that a national drainage study was done that included Spanish Town He said the Government plans to pull the town from the national study and conduct a separate drainage investigation He says that due to the size of Spanish Town this process will take time and will require significant funding “But it is something that the Government is committed to doing – pulling it out of the national drainage study and giving Spanish Town its own specific space in terms of a drainage study that will give us an idea of what to do,” Minister Morgan said Morgan said that there is an area in Old Harbour that is called Big Pond “We have already made a decision as to how we're going to fix it,” the Minister said He informed that the drains in Old Harbour will be fixed; however a separate plan is needed to address a persistent sinkhole in the area Morgan said the Government is committed to developing the infrastructure in St Catherine Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. BATON ROUGE — The traditional Spanish Town flamingo “flocking” happened overnight with 140 pink flamingos put up all around the metro Baton Rouge area hot pink flamingos could be seen in the LSU Lakes and within an hour of people realizing they were there is welcome to keep it and use it to decorate their homes STOLE A FLAMINGO? Submit your pictures! “It started over 30 years ago and the original flocking was the promote the sale of the tickets for the ball,” said SPLL (Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana) Board Member Jason Broussard “The first flocking was done in the lakes at the Capitol It’s now developed its own tradition outside of Spanish Town.” Now however, the ball sells out within a few weeks so the tall birds are no longer needed to promote the ball. With the dredging at the LSU Lakes, the temporary tradition has become that board members and the royalty put up flamingos at local businesses and people’s homes after nightfall It’s why so many people are waking up on Feb it could be considered ‘stealing’ the flamingos but we call it ‘adopting’ them and so the tradition is for you to get a big bird either from the lake or the ball because we put up 14 at the ball too We paint 140 of the big flamingos and the ‘wemingos’ (the baby flamingos),” Broussard added The tradition of the ‘wemingos’ started a few years ago as well as stamping them with the year they’re released It’s why they have now become a collector’s item They’re typically sold at the brunch and ball Broussard said they hope to get back to the LSU Lakes for the traditional Spanish Town flamingo flocking Despite all the fun and hard work that goes into preparing for the flamingo flocking behind the hot pink and flamingos is a very important calling for the Spanish Town members When you hand a check to somebody in March and you see how it affects them we have given almost $1.7 million in charity,” said Spanish Town President Robert King Nearly 30 local charities receive donations from Spanish Town yearly It’s why the group started by putting up the first flamingo at Children’s Hospital “Children’s Hospital is one of the charities we give to you every year and it’s probably the biggest charity or they get one of the biggest amount because it means a lot to all the board members so we just love being a part of Children’s Hospital,” he said READ NOW: History of how Spanish Town started Spanish Town started in 1981 and adopted the flamingo as its mascot The these this year is “In Smiley Town Smile says…,” in honor of the late columnist Smiley Anders Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Outstretched arms await beads and other trinkets at 024's Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade in Baton Rouge The Golden Guys celebrate LSU's history of sports national championships during the inaugural Shenandoah Mardi Gras Parade in 2024 See if you can catch one of the Krewe of Shenandoah's new signature bead throws the sights one can see at the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade Romain throws beads and trinkets to the crowd during the inaugural Shenandoah Mardi Gras Parade in 2024 The crowd estimate for last year's Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade was 200,000 A very snazzy hot rod wows the crowd as it rolls during last year's inaugural Shenandoah Mardi Gras parade Robert King has been involved in the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade for 40-plus years Julie Crow is in just her second year shepherding the Krewe of Shenandoah parade This is the tale of two very different processions: one a longtime tradition the other still the newbie; one drawing a crowd of 200,000 in 2024 the other's inaugural run last year attracting 25,000 spectators It's crunch time this week for both King and Crow: Spanish Town rolls at noon Saturday and Shenandoah at 6:30 p.m take a break to talk about this year's ride "I went to the second year (of the parade) on Spanish Town Road and saw it and I said "Back then the parade started at the Capitol on Spanish Town Road "And it turned left at the grocery store and kind of paraded through the neighborhood As president of the Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana (SPLL) which puts on the biggest parade in Baton Rouge each year King's in charge of an event featuring the city-regulated maximum of 75 floats along with numerous marching groups — The Flamingeauxs and The BeignYAYS among them The route now weaves through 10 streets downtown Leading the procession for the last two years is the U.S "You would think that they play military stuff but now they play all kinds of other music and people seem to enjoy that." sashay and march in Spanish Town share a few characteristics — they're usually drowning in the parade's signature bright pink color raucous and irreverant spirit it's noted for The theme pays tribute to longtime Advocate columnist and Spanish Town fixture Smiley Anders enumerating Anders' contributions to the Spanish Town parade's success including reigning as king in 1984 "Everybody on Mondays would run out to get their newspaper to see who won what (awards in the parade judging) and read Smiley's column This year's royalty includes King Keith Knapps Queen Christal Davis and Grand Marshal Kiran Chawla a crowd of 25,000 watched the first Krewe of Shenandoah parade make its way through the eastern Baton Rouge subdivision Founder and chairman Crow saw that as a great start and is optimistic for another successful run on Monday The krewe is sticking to its same 2.9-mile route with the possibility of expanding next year look for a different kind of king and queen this year "It's more of a character than it is … I mean but our king (Anthony Moody) is Darth Vader and our queen (Ashley Bartel) is going to be Princess Leia," she said it's obviously a "Star Wars" theme this year Crow encourages everyone to dress in costume especially in the style of the epic space opera franchise Many Shenandoah homeowners have decked out their houses for Carnival with some going with a "Star Wars" theme as well There will be a house decorating contest this year as well including some larger floats as seen in New Orleans we actually have the Krewe of Shenandoah signature bead throws Juggling parade prep and house guests has left Crow with little time to enjoy many parades this year herself but said she and her husband did make it to the Krewe of Orion over the weekend and brought her guests from Wisconsin "They had never seen a Mardi Gras parade before," she said Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate.com Haven't made it out to a Mardi Gras parade yet No worries — there are eight more chances in the Baton Rouge area before the season wraps up The organization (Mystic Krewe for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana dba SPLL) organizes and produces the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Ball Parade and Golf Tournament and donates proceeds to local charities.Thus far SPLL has donated over 1.4 Million dollars to local charities King Keith Knapps and Grand Marshal Kiran Chawal 2025 Spanish Town Mardi Gras Royality are Queen Christal Davis King Keith Knapps and Grand Marshal Kiran Chawla Even when there isn't a parade rolling through the streets of Baton Rouge resulted in the flooding of several roadways on Monday afternoon Along sections of Brunswick Avenue several vehicles stalled in the torrential rain which overwhelmed the road and drainage system Flood waters caused a vehicle to crash at McKoy Lands along the corridor Many vehicles diverted while others tried to navigate the single lane access which resulted from flooding of one side of the road Areas such as St John's Road and Job Lane were also inundated by rain View the discussion thread. teaches Jonah Webster different chord positions as they play their acoustic guitars together at Belli in Spanish Town in April 2024 Top Right: Spanish Town Mardi Gras parades through town in February 2024 Bottom Left: Doc L'Herisson digs up a rock while breaking ground on his Spanish Town garden as his cat Bottom Right: Spanish Town resident Francis Shore smiles while telling a story on his porch with his dog Hobbyist gardener Cassandra Shore says hi to a neighbor passing by as she prunes the flowers in her Spanish Town garden on Wednesday at their Spanish Town home in Baton Rouge in August 2023 Lawrence "Doc" L'Herisson poses with a sign designating his house as part of the National Registry of Historic Places on Friday Debbie Daniel and Claudette LaCombe pose outside their house in Spanish Town on Monday Their yard is full of the neighborhood's signature flamingos realtor and former civic board association leader looks through a personal collection of photos of Spanish Town properties taken over the years on Tuesday realtor and former Spanish Town civic board association leader poses for a picture with various newspaper clipping he’s collected about Spanish Town as he holds a framed article about a Spanish Town house he restored on Tuesday former owner of Belli Grocery which closed in 2024 The building formerly known as Belli Grocery owned by Kristen Guarisco located on Spanish Town Road in downtown Baton Rouge The cafe will reopen as Spanish Town Market & Cofe in 2025 Spanish Town is a neighborhood just south of the State Capitol in downtown Baton Rouge laid out in 1805 before the city was the state’s capital it’s known for its eccentric nature and its Mardi Gras parade but the Spanish Town of today was not inevitable It’s the product of people who have invested in the community stayed and worked to improve it over the years The neighborhood was first settled by people “who didn’t want to be American,” said Lawrence "Doc" L'Herisson longtime resident and a board member for the Mardi Gras parade They were mostly people from the Canary Islands who lived under Spanish rule They were encouraged to settle in the area to defend Fort San Carlos which was owned by the Spanish and once located just west of the neighborhood on the river It was designated as an American military garrison in the 1810 It was a Civil War battle ground — one of the only urban battles of the war it was a majority Black neighborhood during the Reconstruction Era Formerly enslaved people built some of its signature cottages and houses it was the front lawn of what was then LSU the interstate came in and wiped out a lot of houses changes were made to the neighborhood: North Street was widened into three lanes and people’s yards disappeared with the broader street When L’Herisson moved to the neighborhood in 1977 “ It was a dicey situation whether the neighborhood was going to get totally tore (sic) down or it was going to become what it is now.” The house he bought on 7th Street had been vacant for five years It’s one of the oldest in the neighborhood People had been sleeping on his front porch and continued to do so for years Things began to change in 1978 when the neighborhood was put on the National Register of Historic Places a designation that makes renovations/rehabilitation projects on income-producing properties in the neighborhood eligible for tax credits now a Realtor and former head of the Spanish Town Civic Association moved to the neighborhood as a college student in 1980 He couldn’t get a three-bedroom rental for him and his LSU friends Spanish Town was a neighborhood of eclectic residents “ We probably had 14 people who were in their 90s when I came here They were basically the hub of the neighborhood,” he said Gissel said the older residents were "real characters" who had lived in the neighborhood for years many of whom were devoted Catholics and knew each other well they took everybody who was young in under their wings and you couldn't help but love them,” he said He remembers Effie Hyde particularly fondly She was a model in her younger days and walked to the cathedral in her high heels every day and eat her biscuit and bacon as she sashayed through the neighborhood Other notable residents include Pat McDonald and his wife and was affectionately referred to as the “mayor of Spanish Town” before he passed away in the 1990s “ You couldn't walk to the neighborhood grocery store at that time without Pat and Winnie inviting you in for breakfast,” said Gissel who was married to beloved Advocate columnist Smiley Anders until he passed away last year noticed that Pat would always try to chat as she was walking by so she started building thirty minutes into her errands to have time Spanish Town was known for having a large gay population in 1989 because friends told them it was an up-and-coming place The accepting spirit of the neighborhood drew a lot of couples there they’d come in for what was then the burgeoning Spanish Town parade the first parade happened some time between 1979 and the 1981 The official Spanish Town Mardi Gras website says 1981 the first one was just a few pickup trucks with “drag queens on the back of a flatbed truck holding on for dear life.” many people died of HIV/AIDS and it devastated the neighborhood the young people who moved to Spanish Town in the 1980s are the older residents who the new young people think of as having been there forever “Two hundred years of continuous residential occupation space — that's what marks Spanish Town,” said L’Herisson It’s rare to see a neighborhood hold on like that Other neighborhoods “get bulldozed or rebuilt.” Many residents attribute the neighborly vibe to the infrastructure — there’s very little off-street parking The neighborhood is the product of countless hours of community discussions and even fights to preserve it If one talks to residents who have been there for a while people talk about how trees used to line the streets before Hurricane Andrew drug deals that used to take place by the pay phones outside the grocery store on Spanish Town Road the great fire ant eradication of 1999 and various fights to keep the neighborhood residential there’s probably a story as to why it's there This history is part of the reason why it can be hard to keep a business open in the neighborhood the small grocery store turned cafe/health food market known as Belli shuttered its door after being open for about a year known for its bohemian vibe and accepting nature A lot of people have an emotional attachment to the building,” said former owner of Belli Kristen Guarisco you're providing a business at this location but it never really feels yours because you can't change things.” Guarisco shut Belli down last year to maintain the good memories she had there She still lives in Spanish Town with neighbors she describes as her family the old grocery store will reopen again as Spanish Town Market & Cofe under new ownership It remains to be seen what the new business will bring to the ever evolving neighborhood Email Serena Puang at serena.puang@theadvocate.com Spanish Town is going to have a market again The Spanish Town Market and Cofe is moving into the space which was formerly Belli, a cafe/health food market which shuttered its doors last year due to zoning issues and problems with neighbors The market’s soft opening is scheduled for April 1 “I  always had a serious admiration for that space,” said new owner Horatio Isadore This isn’t Isadore’s first cafe. He also ran Southern Cofe near Southern University and has been in the coffee business for over 20 years he said he talked to neighbors and residents about what they hoped to see in the space and worked to give it to them people said they wanted a place where they can purchase light groceries Spanish Town Market and Cofe is also going to carry specialty meats Isadore has also hired a chef who will serve lunch daily Isadore is hoping to expand after he gets the store off the ground and running he’s considering adding beer and cigarettes to the market’s offerings Email Serena Puang at serena.puang@theadvocate.com. Follow her on Instagram @dear.yall This story is only for subscribers like you${formattedName The city of New Orleans may host the biggest Mardi Gras parades in Louisiana but other cities' parades can be just as elaborate and infamous The Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade in Downtown Baton Rouge will begin at noon on Saturday During this parade a procession of marching groups and about 75 floats will travel along Spanish Town Road For the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade purple and gold are traded in for shades of pink Another unique aspect of Spanish Town Mardi Gras and the reason for wearing pink to the parade is the sea of pink flamingos that can be found throughout Spanish Town during Mardi Gras hundreds of pink flamingos appear throughout Baton Rouge's historic Spanish Town in celebration of the neighborhood's diverse and unique spirit While pink flamingos all over front lawns may be considered kitschy by some, Spanish Town residents say "poor taste is better than no taste at all." Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com This week, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, announced the relaunch of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard revealing via Instagram that it would now be known as "As Ever." The original brand faced regulatory hurdles when Meghan attempted to trademark the company's name last summer The application was rejected in August due to filing issues with officials ruling that she could not claim exclusive rights to American Riviera - a widely used term for the Californian region where she and Prince Harry reside in Santa Barbara the former Suits actress' newly rebranded "As Ever" has already been hit with controversy - this time from Spain has accused Meghan's company of copying their historic coat of arms in its logo “We don’t want our coat of arms to be perverted because it belongs exclusively to Porreres The only difference with their logo and our coat of arms is that theirs shows two hummingbirds and in ours are either swallows or pigeons - historians cannot agree," Francisca Mora Veny She added: "We will ask Meghan to remove the logo from their website.” Local reports also indicate that Porreres officials are considering legal action The "As Ever" logo is said to pay homage to Montecito, where the Sussexes live, with the palm tree representing their home and the hummingbirds reportedly holding personal connection for Prince Harry The news comes just two weeks before the launch of Markle’s new Netflix series the lifestyle series will feature high-profile guests such as Mindy Kaling and Suits alum Abigail Spencer where she lives with her husband Prince Harry and their two children This marks Markle’s latest collaboration with Netflix following the high-profile partnership, she and Prince Harry signed in 2020. Among their early projects was Pearl, an animated series announced in 2021 that was to be centered around a 12-year-old girl inspired by influential women in history. However, the project was dropped in 2022 after Netflix reported a loss of 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of the year falling well short of its forecast of adding 2.5 million Their most notable Netflix release to date is Harry & Meghan a 2022 docuseries about the Sussexes’ lives the series received mixed reviews from audiences and critics one of the most traversed roadways in the Jamaican capital is slated for a major overhaul in the next financial year which is the main corridor that links Kingston and St Andrew to other parishes has not been “substantially” repaired “maybe in over 20 or 25 years” according to Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness Holness did not disclose details about the major renovation project noting that the studies are now being conducted approximately $100 million will be spent to carry out minor upgrading work The prime minister made the announcements at a ceremony marking Jamaica Packaging Industries Limited’s (JPI) 70th anniversary and the opening of its new state-of-the-art factory JPI has been a leading manufacturer and distributor of corrugated paper-based packaging material for over 70 years The US$12.75 or J$2 billion investment by JPI consolidates the company’s operations at a single location and increases its production capacity by up to 250 per cent JPI ceased local manufacturing in 2000 and operated under a distribution model Holness said the major renovations slated for the 2026 financial year will make Spanish Town Road “far more efficient” for manufacturing operations and commuters was part of the Government’s efforts to provide a boost to local manufacturers amid what he described as a resuscitation of the once vibrant industrial belt spanning Marcus Garvey Drive and Spanish Town Road “This is not the only building that has been taken over and renovated along this corridor,” he said View the discussion thread. BATON ROUGE - After painting his roof white one Spanish Town resident says it's saved him a considerable amount of money and kept his home cooler David Bryan moved into his Baton Rouge home three years ago He painted his roof white after discovering his house wasn't cooling properly and inside with the air conditioner running constantly it would be about 90 degrees inside," said Bryan Knowing he had to do something to cool his home he thought painting his roof white would be the most effective change - and it worked "Now the house is cooler and we're consuming less energy," he said A cool roof is recognized by the U.S A cool roof reflects more sunlight than a conventional roof Bryan recently presented his findings to the East Baton Rouge Metro Council He has seen a 16.6% decrease in energy consumption over the past year Bryan initially applied for a certificate or appropriateness through the Historic Preservation Commission to paint the roof Spanish Town is an historic neighborhood and Bryan's home is about 100 years old he turned to the Metro Council for approval and moved forward with the project in 2023 and other roofs in Spanish Town qualify as cool roofs Bryan is the first to put paint on one in his neighborhood The paint also offers another layer of protection for his roof acting as a sealant against other elements he used an Australian paint that works well with asphalt shingles.  "It's supposed to keep your house warmer in the winter as well because in the winter you're trying to keep heat in Whether or not a cool roof can keep your home warm in the winter can depend on the environment in which you live and the type of cool roof you have Department of Energy says painting a roof may extend the roof's life and could qualify you for a tax refund THE Spanish Town Hospital (STH) has carried out its first laparoscopic right hemicolectomy surgery marking a significant milestone in the hospital’s surgical capabilities was followed by the hospital’s first laparoscopic hernia repairs often referred to as minimally invasive surgery which result in reduced pain; fewer wound complications such as infections; shorter hospital stays; and a faster return to normal “This is an exciting development for the medical team at STH as our goal is to expand the range of surgical options available to our patients using minimally invasive techniques and ultimately establishing STH as a centre of excellence for laparoscopic surgery,” said Dr André Vaccianna consultant general surgeon at the hospital He pointed out that on Tuesday the medical team at hospital performed a laparoscopic left hemicolectomy “The STH will continue its efforts to integrate these advanced procedures into routine care Future cases will be selected based on patient eligibility assessed during clinic visits,” said Dr Vaciciana He further explained that laparoscopic colectomies are most often done for patients with colon cancer and other patients that need hernia repairs usually for those with symptomatic hernias These advancements align with the South East Regional Health Authority’s commitment to enhancing health-care delivery by offering state-of-the-art surgical treatments to the public STH is now undergoing a $5.5-billion project which will see the transformation of the 430-bed hospital into a state-of-the-art six-storey facility spanning more than 17,000 square metres The facility will offer expanded services such as urology It will be equipped with cutting-edge technology including electronic access to patient medical records The new building will also include an accident and emergency wing on the ground floor Redevelopment of the Spanish Town Hospital falls under the Health System Strengthening Programme (HSSP) which is being funded through a US$50-million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and a grant of €10.2 million from the European Union (EU) The Government of Jamaica has committed US$87 million You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed.