By JEANNI RITCHIE

Armani Patterson, 3, was eating an apple when I met her at the City of Alexandria’s Youth and Teen Center Kickoff at the old Boys and Girls Club building on Sylvester Drive yesterday.

 

The Division of Community Services hosted a free fun event for Cenla’s on this beautiful sunny day during the Easter break.

 

While the rest of her family engaged in perfecting a football spiral, Armani showed me her bookmark.

 

The Rapides Parish Library had a table set up with books, markers, and bookmarks to decorate and it was this table that the preschooler deemed her favorite.

 

Other organizations with fun activities and information on resources for the parents included Eckerd Connects, Food Bank of Central Louisiana, and LSUA Ag Center, who handed out frisbees promoting Be Active, Be Healthy.

 

Promoting that active lifestyle mentality was the City of Alexandria’s Mobile Recreation Trailer, its outdoor fun unloaded. In addition to football and basketball, there were two giant Connect Four games on the lawn.

 

After working up an appetite playing, participants were welcomed to the food table as the City of Alexandria provided free sausage dogs, chips, and Kool-Aid. Nearby former Police Chief Howard was acting DJ, spinning tunes including a little Taylor Swift.

 

It was a great way to spend the day!