Siracusa speaker at BVGC meeting

Catherine Siracusa, St. Mary Parish Black Bear conflict officer, was guest speaker for the Bayou Vista Garden Club October meeting. Siracusa presented a Power Point program titled, “Black Bear Safety in St. Mary Parish,” which included information on black bear habitats, population and how to avoid troublesome encounters with Louisiana black bears.
Black bears (Ursus americanus luteolus) are listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. She also distributed a variety of educational handouts and brochures.
Kim Alcina, club environmental awareness chairman, displayed several “upcycling” craft projects she designed utilizing items found in sewing rooms and baskets. Those items included spools and bobbins repurposed as drawer knobs, framed vintage pattern envelopes, and button collections stored in decorative containers.
Horticulture Chairman Jean Chauvin conducted a member plant exchange in which members brought propagated starter plants with plant information including botanical and common names as well as cultivation instructions.
Hostesses for the meeting were Nancy Marcel and Crystal Marcel. The floral design created by Marcel titled, “Good Witch of the South,” was formed using yellow and bronze mums. Door prize winner was Ann Breaux.
The next club meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Bayou Vista Community Center. New members are welcomed to attend.