The Arts Council of Central Louisiana presents “A-Town Jazz”, Friday, August 27th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $20 per person, and includes entertainment and light hors d’oeuvres. There will be a cash bar. To reserve your tickets or for more information, call 443-4718.

Pave the way for Fun, Music & Education at the Festival Plaza at the Alexandria Zoo. Commemorative bricks with your name or personal message can be purchased for only $100. Proceeds will help fund the statue of Les Whitt, who served as director of the Alexandria Zoo from 1974 until 2008. For more information, you may call 441-6810 or visit thealexandriazoo.com and become a part of Zoo history!

The Travis Duffy 2nd Annual Benefit Softball Tournament is Saturday & Sunday, August 28th & 29th, at the Ward 9 Sports Complex in Pineville. Co-ed teams, All-Men and All-Women teams are welcome. Proceeds benefit Travis Duffy who is slowly recovering from a four-wheeler accident, 8-year old Monty Jones who suffers from both Petit Mal and Grand Mal seizures, and Cindy St. Amant, who now resides in a nursing home after never recovering from a horseback riding accident. For more information, please call Shelly at 487-4341 or Magan at 481-9369.

The Humane Society of Central Louisiana needs your help in finding forever homes for homeless animals as a way to give back to the animals for all the joy and love they bring to our lives. The Humane Society already has around 200 rescued animals in foster care and currently needs help finding homes for another 30-plus dogs that have come to there attention. For more information, e-mail HSCENLA1411@yahoo.com or visit HumaneSocietyofCenla.com.

It’s back to school and Labor Day weekend is just around the corner, too! Blood levels continue to be at a critical low and Lifeshare Blood Centers needs your help to keep supplies filled. All blood types are needed, but O-positive, B-positive and B-negative are in critically short supply. Donors may give blood at Lifeshare’s main location on North Mall Drive in Alexandria, or where ever you see the teal-blue and white busses. For more information, visit lifeshare.org.

The Louisiana Purchase Council, Boy Scouts of America will hold Join Scouting events on the evening of Thursday, September 2nd at several schools throughout Central Louisiana. For more information, visit www.louisianapurchasecouncil.org or call 443-0482. Celebrating 100 Years of Scouting… Celebrating the Adventure… Continuing the Journey.

Be a fan! NFL Experience of a Lifetime! Support Special Olympics Louisiana and the Louisiana NFL Players Association with your $10 donation to the 2011 NFL Experience Raffle. Win a trip for two to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, or the Super Bowl in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Louisiana and the Louisiana NFL Players Association. For more information, visit our website…(mention station website here)

Christian Challenge Worship Center presents a weekly music event for young adults, ages 18 to 30, called “Redemption”. “Redemption” includes live music from a variety of bands & genres and a full-service coffee shop serving hot & cold coffees, smoothies & milkshakes, plus assorted bakery items. “Redemption” meets every Thursday night from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Christian Challenge Worship Center at 300 Pearce Road in Pineville, just off Military Highway. For more information, visit www.redemptioncenla.com, or call 443-3260.

Hurricane season is here! Before a hurricane hits, have what you need to weather the storm. The American Red Cross urges you to put together a disaster supplies kit today with items like water, food, and first aid kit. For a list of essential items, visit cenlaredcross.org or call 442-6621.