Aesclepius: The Krewe of Aesclepius hosted a final party March 4 at its den on North Grimmett Drive after the end of its Fat Tuesday children’s parade and before the annual closing of the Texas Street Bridge for final toasting by all krewes and Lenten ashes being dispensed. The king and queen attended various functions throughout the day.

Boomtown: Boomtown Casino Hotel Bossier City announced its 2013 Team Members of the Year on March 11. Five winners were honored for their dedication in five recognition categories: community service, excellence, guest service, innovation and leadership. All were previously honored as team member of the quarter in their respective categories.

Winner: James S. from Haslet, Texas, played his final credit at the $5 Wheel of Fortune progressive slot machine. It wasn’t long before the Wheel of Fortune symbols lined up for a $1,026,861.46 jackpot. James said this particular machine had been friendly to him before, a previous $4,000 jackpot paid for a family vacation to Florida.

Eye dinner: Corneal transplant recipients and donors met March 28 at an Eye Donor Awareness Dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn. The Louisiana Lions Eye Bank co-sponsored the event. Those gathered heard speakers and had dinner.

Heroes: A sponsor party for “Evening for Heroes” was held April 3 on the stage of the Strand Theatre. Danny Fogger, executive director of the Strand, gave a heartwarming talk about his daughter’s care at LSU Health Shreveport. Harmon Drew performed music for the event. The event was held May 8 at the Shreveport Convention Center. Guests heard two survival stories. The event celebrated the emergency workers, physicians and staff who provide lifesaving care. Kathy and Bubba Rasberry were chairmen. Chairs from the past three years attended.

New To You: New To You Boutique, a women’s clothing store, celebrated its 30th anniversary April 5 with cake and door prizes. The store, located on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, sells clothing, jewelry, shoes and accessories. Many customers were shopping the large prom dress section. Kenda Beechy and her mother, Virginia Romero, started the store, which is now in its third location.

Swine and Wine: Wine County Bistro and Bottle Shoppe hosted their winetasting and pig roast event: Wine and Swine on April 13. This annual sell-out celebration of everything wine and pig wasn’t hampered by a little wet weather. The party, which spilled out into the parking lot as well as into the inside corridors of Pierremont Mall, featured dozens of wines and a tasty buffet of food, which of course centered around two whole roasted pigs. This is one of two tasting events hosted by Wine Country in partnership with Zocolo’s.

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