By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

EDGARD — Last weekend’s inaugural Festival for West Bank Residents and Businesses was a huge success, West St. John Community Action Panel member Nora Pierre said.

Pierre said the festival’s theme, “Education, Employment and Empowerment,” was designed for families, specifically high school students.

“We want them to realize how education and employment can lead to a sense of empowerment,” she said.

More than 400 people attended the festival, although Pierre said she hopes next year more students will be in attendance.

Pierre said the festival honored Edgard’s native son, musician and bandleader Dave Bartholomew.

“He always owns Edgard,” Pierre said. “He always owns his native city.”

With over 65 years in the music industry, Bartholomew is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Pierre said the festival offered a lot of family fun, with the goal of “having kids become more involved in their education.”

The West St. John Community Action Panel sponsored the event, which Pierre said would definitely become an annual affair.