1st Thursday, guest speaker among events

The theme for July’s First Thursday on July 7 is “Stars, Stripes and Steals.”
“Although kids and parents don’t want to think about it, the start of school is just around the corner,” Mayor Raymond Harris said. “Students’ first day of school is Aug. 8. It’s time to start buying uniforms and shoes, and shopping locally for those items will benefit us all through the taxes generated and the jobs that are retained.”
Participating Main Street Merchants are: The Lamp Lighter, The Lamp Station, Chic and Shabby Collections, Texada’s Jewelry, Meyer’s Shoe Store, Fad’s News Stand, St. Mary Center of Hope Bargain Shop, Argus Spa, Girly Things Galore, Four Seasons, Nelvin’s Creations and Joe’s on the Bayou. The merchants will be open until at least 6 p.m., and there will be specials and refreshments.
Chez Hope will host tours of its facility, and business owners who are not located in the downtown district and would like to participate in First Thursdays should contact Chez Hope at 337-828-4200 for a space inside or outside of Chez Hope. The spaces are offered on a first-come-first-served basis.
For more information about First Thursdays and how to become a participating business, contact the Office of Community Development at 337-828-6345 or ashields@franklin-la.com.
Lyle and Victoria Simoneaux of Edward Jones are the next presenters in the Guest Speaker Series. The duo will provide information to help you plan your retirement from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts Wednesday, Sept. 7. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the event is free to the public.
“Women live longer, and they take more time out of the workforce to raise families or to take care of ailing family members,” Community Development Director Arlana Shields said. “This means women sacrifice time and money that they need to build a retirement nest egg. Time is an important factor in saving for retirement. The more time you have until retirement means that you have more time for your money to grow. I hope entire families will come to hear about saving for retirement. It’s never too late and you’re never too young to learn about saving for retirement.”
For more information, please contact the Community Development Department at 337-828-6345 or ashields@franklin-la.com.