Ground breaking for new center

Ground breaking ceremonies were held Friday for a new vocational center building at Arc of St. Mary Center of Hope in Centerville. Employees, board members, families and friends of the organization have been working to fund the construction of the $571,000 building since 2001. Parish and state funding also have contributed to the cost. SMARC Board President Betty Verret and past Executive Director Bonita Peltier are credited with being the two most significant moving forces in the collaboration. “Their hard work and dedication have been monumental in our ability to finally build the new facility,” said current Executive Director Kristal Hebert. SMARC is a non-profit program that provides vocational services to St. Mary individuals with developmental disabilities. Holding shovels above from left are SMARC Board Member Darin Hebert, employee Robert Terry, Verret and Peltier. Below, about 50 homing pigeons belonging to James and Karla Byron of Patterson were released to commemorate the occasion.