SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 THE LIVINGSTON PARISH NEWS A3I

V Watts Trade Days keeps growingBy McHugh David

The Livingston Parish News

LIVINGSTON — The third VWatts Trade Day is coming to Livingston on September 14, and the Watts family is do-ing everything it can to prepare for an event that just keeps grow-ing.

“It won’t get smaller, it will get bigger,” said Tammy Hardy, a spokesperson for VWatts. “We had thou-sands of visitors last time, and hundreds of vendors have already signed up for this event.”

The show is held between the Watts’ rela-tively new Trade Mart and VWatts Furniture Store on U.S. 190, west of the town of Livings-ton. The area, which houses the Trade Mart, the furniture store, and an auction house, has been dubbed “Watts Town” by many locals.

The first Trade Day

was held Memorial Day weekend in conjunc-tion with the grand opening of the Trade Mart. The event also features a storewide sale at VWatts furni-ture, and, according to Hardy, the new Trade Day almost can’t be contained.

“People are chomp-ing at the bit for the show,” Hardy said. “We can barely fit everyone in; the halls inside the store get packed.”

The second Trade Day occurred on July 4th weekend and managed to be a success despite weather concerns, Hardy said. The Au-gust show was skipped due to heat and school restarting.

According to Hardy, the show offers some-thing for everyone, from basic picnic food, live chickens, and floral items to fine antiques and furniture.

“That’s what makes

it so exciting,” Hardy exclaimed. “People find treasures for fifty cents or $500, you just never know.”

The event rents space both inside and out-side. Each space is 10’ X 10’, and vendors are charged a rate of $25,

while “garage sale” type setups are charged $10.

The show has caused the Watts’ to push their

time-table forward on the renovation and expansion of the Trade Mart. What was a one year plan to expand the Mart into three build-ings has now become a two-and-a-half month project, said Hardy.

Hardy said the extra sections probably will not be open for this month’s trade day, but will be ready in the fu-ture. There is a waiting list for booth space in the new sections of the Trade Mart, which is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Trade Day starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. According to Hardy, vendors will be required to stay until at least 3 p.m. to keep up with customer demand.

“It’s a clean, family atmosphere,” said Har-dy. “People will come and go throughout the day, but there’s always something to do.”

SUBMITTED

Valery Watts (right) enjoys a demonstration from blacksmith Jim Jenkins of Tickfaw at the last Trade Days in July. The monthly event continues growing since it began on Memorial Day weekend, says Watts’ daughter Tammy Hardy.

CASA cottages raise funds for child servicesHAMMOND — Corporate sup-porters of Child Advoca-cy Services are provid-ing two custom-designed and built playhouses as well as a one-week stay in Destin to raise funds for the volunteer organi-zation that helps abused and neglected children.

CASA in partnership with AT&T will hold its fifth annual Cottages for CASA Playhouse Raffle to raise public awareness and funding to support services to children and families through the Court Appointed Special Advocates and Chil-dren’s Advocacy Center Programs. Two custom playhouses are being built by local designers, builders, and suppliers to be raffled in November. The raffle kickoff event, Sundresses & Shrimp Boots, is set for October 5 at Frenier Landing in LaPlace from 4-8 p.m. This event is presented by ReBath and will feature live music, food, libations and silent auc-tion. Eatel’s Jenny Hero-man will be the Master of Ceremony.

“We are hoping to unveil our amazing playhouses at the raffle kick-off event,” said Rob Carlisle, Child Advocacy Services CEO.

Community Outreach Director Donna Bliss said the first of the three drawings will be for “Chateau Cottage” designed by Acadiana Designs, built by Fa-Kouri Construction, and supplied by Stine Lum-

ber. The second drawing is for “Coastal Cottage” designed by Holy and Smith Architects, built by Alack Construction and supplied by Gabriel Lumber. Drawing three will be a beach cottage stay in Destin Florida for a week.

“We welcome every-one’s support for our services to children,” Bliss said. “You can sup-port us by purchasing a raffle ticket, or becoming a sponsor.”

Sponsorship levels include a $1,000 “Raising the Roof Sponsor,” $500 “Four Walls Sponsor” and “$250 Floor Up Spon-sor.” All sponsorships are recognized through-out the entire campaign. Call 1-800-798-1575 or see www.childadv.net for in-formation or to purchase tickets. The $10 raffle tickets will be limited to 4,000 tickets sold by indi-viduals and businesses through Nov. 15.

CASA trains com-munity volunteers to represent children as they navigate through the courts to reach a safe and permanent home. The Children’s Advocacy Center provides a safe environment for chil-dren to disclose sexual abuse to preserve their statements to assist the investigations for sexual assaults.

Bliss said the fundrais-er helps the organization provide services as well as raise awareness and recruit volunteers in the community.

DAVID NORMAND | THE NEWS

Seth Gaubert cuts 1x4s which will be used in framing the windows as David Fawcett holds the wood. The men are employed by Fa-Kouri Construction, which is building the cottage to raise funds for CASA at Stine’s in Walker. At right is a drawing of the finished project that someone with a $10 raffle ticket will win.