HERU

What if you could carry a specially crafted gris gris bag that holds the power to attract love, protection, good fortune, and anything you want in life?

Kalila Smith, an psychic and medium who lives in New Orleans, will discuss how to make a gris gris bag at two sessions:

• 7 p.m. March 2, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
• 7 p.m. March 7, at the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey.

According to Smith, gris gris bags are nothing new. They’ve been part of numerous cultures — from ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic beliefs to early Native American and African spiritual practices to modern voodoo in New Orleans.

Cultures worldwide have long incorporated small bags containing herbs, stones, and other sacred items as part of their belief systems, whether to ward off evil, protect them while traveling, or to attract positive elements into their lives, she said.

Smith’s psychic work on paranormal investigations has been showcased on the Travel Channel, A&E, History Channel, Syfy, BBC, Discovery, and ID.

She researched and wrote the material featured on Haunted History Tours of New Orleans’ Ghost, Vampire and Spellbound tours. She is the author of “New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo, & Vampires,” and “Tales from the French Quarter.” Her newest book is “Afterlife Mysteries Revealed.”

RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN RELATIONS: The ongoing war is not the first time Ukraine and Russia have collided. Cyril Lagvanec, Ph.D., the newly appointed curator of the American-Italian Research Library inside the East Bank Regional Library, will give a lecture titled “100 years of Russian-Ukrainian Relations” at 7 p.m. March 9.

Lagvanec will discuss the ties, treaties, and other tensions between the two countries in the last 10 decades.

Lagvanec earned his undergraduate degree in history from Baylor University, his master’s degree in British and European History from Tulane University, and his doctoral degree in American History from Texas A&M University.

He will lecture on other history topics in upcoming months.

COOKIE DEMO: Nancy Wilson, author of “Mémère’s Country Creole Cookbook: Recipes and Memories from Louisiana’s German Coast,” will conduct two sessions for those who want to make cuccidati (fig) cookies.

The first demonstration will occur at 7 p.m. March 1, at the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey.

The second food will be at 7 p.m. March 8, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.

Cuccidati, also known variously as buccellati, Italian fig cookies or Sicilian fig cookies, are fig-stuffed cookies traditionally served at Christmastime, except locally, where they are more often prepared for St. Joseph’s Day.

PIANO CONCERT: Pianist Salvadore Liberto will perform at 7 p.m. March 1, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.

Liberto, a New Orleans native, has been writing, recording, and performing original music for 30 years.

His repertoire consists of “bluesy pieces, rich ballads and everything in between,” he says.

GENEALOGY: Librarian Gwen Kelley leads a series of 15 genealogical seminars for beginners and intermediates through April 2023.

All will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. March 1: “Facebook for Genealogy.” “Google for Genealogy” at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 8.

RAULT DOCUMENTARY: “The Rault Center Fire,” a 45-minute film that documents the 1972 disaster in downtown New Orleans, will be screened at 9:30 a.m. March 4, at the West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey.

This documentary examines the tragedy through interviews with eyewitnesses, including a fire lieutenant called to the scene, relatives of the victims, and a scientist whose entrepreneurial family business changed fire safety worldwide.

PARENTING CHALLENGES: The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans provides a class titled “Challenging Behaviors — Six to Eight Years Old,” from 6 to 7 p.m. March 7, at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge.

This class helps parents and grandparents with the ordinary challenges of raising children. The staff of patient educators come from a variety of backgrounds to help families grow from birth through adolescence.

BOOK CLUBS: These are some of the meetings coming up this month.

• “Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience” by Shaun Usher — 1 p.m. March 1, Live Oak Library, 125 Acadiana, Waggaman.
• “Phaedra” by Laura Shepperson — 5:30 p.m. March 6, Live Oak Library, 125 Acadiana, Waggaman.
• Any Book Club — 6 p.m. March 8, West Bank Regional Library 2751 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey. This month’s genre is humor. Read any humor book, fiction or nonfiction, and come ready to discuss the genre.

COMPUTER CLASSES: Receive free computer training at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie, and at the West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey.

 Seating is limited, and online registration is required. Visit the Computer Classes page at www.jplibrary.net/training and click “East Bank Regional Schedule” or “West Bank Regional Schedule.”

Upcoming Metairie classes include:

• Internet Basics — 10 a.m. to noon March 1.
• One-on-One Slots in Basic Computer Skills — 2 to 2:30 p.m. March 2.
• Exploring JPL Digital Content — 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 3.
• Microsoft Excel 1 — 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, March 6.
• 3D Printing — 3 to 5 p.m. March 6.
• One-on-One Slots in Basic Computer Skills — 2 to 2:30 p.m. March 8.
• One-on-One Slots in Basic Computer Skills — 2 to 2:30 p.m. March 14.
• Internet Basics — 2 to 4 p.m. March 15.
• Microsoft Word 1 — 10 a.m. to noon March 16.
• Microsoft Excel 2 — 2 to 4 p.m. March 27.
• 3D Printing — 3 to 5 p.m. March 27.
• One-on-One Slots in Basic Computer Skills — 10 to 10:30 a.m. March 28.
• Using Email — 2 to 4 p.m. March 28.
• Basic Computer Skills — 10 a.m. to noon March 29.
• Microsoft Word 2 — 10 a.m. to noon March 30.
• Basic Computer 1 — 2 to 4 p.m. March 31.

Upcoming Harvey classes include:

• Internet Basics — 10 a.m. noon March 7.
• Microsoft PowerPoint 1 — 10 a.m. to noon March 10.
• JPL Digital Content — 10 a.m. to noon March 14.
• Microsoft Excel 1 — 10 a.m. to noon March 17.
• One-on-One Slots in Basic Computer Skills — 2 to 2:30 a.m. March 17.
• Basic Computer Skills — 10 a.m. to noon March 21.
• One-on-One Slots in Basic Computer Skills — 2 to 2:30 p.m. March 22.
• Microsoft Word 1 — 10 a.m. to noon March 24.
• Using Email — 2 to 4 p.m. March 31.

Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library.