St. Cletus Oyster Festival Fun For All

Transcription

Special Halloween Section: Page 14
Volume 2, Issue 5
Proudly Highlighting the News of West Jefferson and Algiers
October 2010
West Bank Advertising,
Marketing Firm Sets
a Fast Pace, Looking
for Greater Expansion
Opportunities
ouchpoints
BY
Marketing and
ALLAN KATZ
Advertising is a
Contributing
Writer
West Bank business
that has opened since
Hurricane Katrina, flourished, and is
now looking for expansion.
Headed by Katie Gravolet,
Touchpoints specializes in creating
marketing and advertising campaigns for
casinos located both in Louisiana and
other states. Touchpoints has been so
successful in helping casinos achieve
profitability that they’re now looking to
expand into other areas that they have
expertise including hotels, restaurants,
T
Touchpoints is an award winning Marketing and
Advertising Agency located in Gretna.
WJMC to
Host “Rhythm
and Boos Festival”
on October 30
St. Cletus
Oyster
Festival Fun
For All
he West Jefferson Hospital Foundation invites the entire community and beyond to come out for its second annual Family Festival, which will be held
on October 30, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 920 Ave. B in Marrero, behind WJ Hospital. With free admission, lots of fun and games, and the day before Halloween, this charitable event benefits pediatric services at West Jefferson
Medical Center while providing a family-friendly setting for all ages to enjoy.
Experience a classic car show and live music with popular bands August Rush,
Burgundy, the Top Cats and Rockin’ Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters.
This year the WJ Kid’s Zone will feature a mechanical bull, Euro bungee, a
rock climbing wall and much more. For the little artists in the family, there will
be painting of tiny pumpkins and a chance to “go fish” in the pond.
Be creative, wild or fancy and take part in the costume contest, members of
the festival committee invite. Whether you’re an Elvis look-a-like, a fairy princess,
scary monster, famous person, sports hero or something or someone from outer
space or the movies, there’s a spot in this contest for you. You just might see a celeb
or two on the festival grounds.
Food and drinks from popular vendors will be available for purchase. ✴
ctober, one of
BY
the most pleasFRANK J.
urable months
BORNE, JR.
in Louisiana to do
Editor
things outdoors, brings
plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoor cooking and concerts that fairs and
festivals provide. St. Cletus Catholic
Church is gearing up for its annual
Oyster Festival on October 15 to 17.
Organizers guarantee that they will
have outstanding fresh oysters on hand to
satisfy attendees’ cravings despite the
British Petroleum oil spill. The festival
promises great food featuring oysters
prepared several ways and in po-boys.
See OYSTER FEST on page 11
T
O
automotive, financial and any business that requires sound strategy, strong
creative and the need to put “heads in
beds,” “butts in seats,” or money to the
bottom line. Recently, Touchpoints
stepped away from its core business by
handling the advertising for the Gretna
Heritage Festival and creating an internationally award winning video for the
City of Gretna’s Brownsfield project.
Katie grew up on the West Bank
and graduated from the former
Archbishop Blenk High School. Before
See TOUCHPOINTS on page 46
October is
Breast
Cancer
Awareness
Month
See our feature
on page 36
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Contents
D E PARTM E NTS
7 FROM THE EDITOR
Whew! We Made It — Again!
27
HISTORY
Profile of Anthony A. Caramonta, Gretna High School
29
RECREATION
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5
—————
BMX Racing, West Bank Walking Trails
8
COMMUNITY
Grand Isle Fishing Rodeo, Harvey Author Publishes,
Germanfest, ARC Golf Tournament, Harvey Girl
Publishes Cookbook, Holiday Greeting for Military, Red
Cross Honors Katrina Heroes, Eaglette Fundraiser, Grela
Announces Theme
13
21
JEFFERSON PARISH
33
LAFITTE
Halloween in Lafitte, Save the Bayou Festival
39
HEALTH
Renowned Surgeon Joins WJMC, Flu Season Tips,
WJMC Saints Fever, Mediterranean Cuisine
Citizen’s Academy Convenes, Terrytown Library Reopens,
Assessor Election, Crimestoppers Carnivale Fundraiser
41
CRIMINAL JUSTICE FORUM
45
FOOD
TODAY’S DENTAL
How your oral health affects your total health.
Test
your Local
Knowledge!
F E ATU R E S
11 Congressional Election Ballot Set
Beacon Brain
Games
page 37
26
“And I Say to Myself. . .”
Jefferson Parish School Based Health Center.
Tuesday General Election to Decide Future of Congress
28
JPRD October Programs
Recreational opportunities on the West Bank.
14
30
Gretna Costume Shop Dresses West Bankers for
Halloween and Other Celebrations
A great place to get your “spook” on.
Fall Outdoor Madness Begins
This season’s fishing tips.
34
“With a Bushel of Farming Trivia”
Fall/Winter gardening.
From East to West, Who Screams the Best?
Haunted houses in our (general) area.
15
36
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Turns 25
American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen for the
Cure lead the fight.
Where the Pumpkins Are
Find your jack-o-lantern and Halloween fun.
16
17
Breast Cancer Recovery Programs Offered at WJMC
Gretna Police Department Offers Tips
to Stay Safe this Halloween
Help for women healing.
A checklist for parents.
Screening Mammography Just $100 Cash, Check or
Credit Card this Month at WJMC
Following a Few Simple Safety Steps Can
Keep Halloween A Sweet Treat
Dr. David Heitmeier gives safety advice.
19
Joe Darby recalls a spooky encounter.
22
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Update
38
The Facts About Whiplash
42
New Look Hornets Hoping for Playoff Renewal
46
Crescent City Skies for Fall
Venus and Jupiter put on a show.
Darrel R. Beerbohm Extensive Career in Cost Guard
Veteran Salute.
MANAGING EDITOR
Troy Broussard
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Stephanie Barback
Toni Bergeron
Krysral Cooper Christen
Dimitry Cossich
Joe Darby
Mary C. Ehret
Joseph Elfer
Victor Flynn
Marie Giardina
Dennis Gruwell
David Heitmeier
Olga Krivitsky
Jim Lestelle
Cita Marchese
Joseph A. Marino, III
Liz Mavromatis
Guy Ralph McDonald
Margaret H. Roberts
Shelly Roberts
Michael Sandras
Dean Shapiro
Ken Trahan
Richard Tucker
George VanWormer
A S S O C I ATE E D ITO R
Blair C. Constant
STA F F P H OTO G R A P H E R
King Joe
—————
© 2010 The West Bank Beacon, LLC
All rights reserved.
✴B A N K
THE WEST
Changes for the team renew hopes for victory.
Good news on West Bank flood protection.
23
No better time to get checked.
The causes, symptoms and treatment of whiplash.
A Few Ghost Stories for the Season
EDITOR
Frank J. Borne, Jr.
STA F F W R ITE R S
Frank J. Borne, Jr.
Troy Broussard
Lido Italian Restaurant
Removing a Felony Conviction
PUBLISHER
The West Bank Beacon
BEACON
P.O. Box 2246
Gretna, LA 70054
5
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
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FROM THE EDITOR
Whew! We Made It – Again!
Hurricane Season 2010 Was Important Hurdle
all has arrived and the peak of yet another hurricane season
has passed. Forecasters warned that this season could be more
active than those in the past few years, and we diligently renewed and reviewed our hurricane evacuation plans and observed
the weather forecasts. While we can never allow ourselves to become complacent, as hurricane season officially doesn’t end unBY
FRANK J.
til November 30, two months from now, history indicates that very
BORNE, JR.
few storms have threatened Louisiana in October and November.
Editor
Usually by the time October arrives a few “cold” fronts have made
their way through Southeast Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico. The
Northern Hemisphere begins receiving less direct sunlight after the autumnal equinox, and the waters in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea begin to cool. Caribbean
island nations and those in Central America are still very vulnerable to tropical activity and have indeed experienced devastating late-season hurricanes.
This was an important hurricane season for Jefferson Parish. Hurricane Katrina
in 2005 demonstrated an urgent need for a new emergency operations center. The
present center, located on Ames Boulevard in Marrero, was determined to be woefully inadequate during a catastrophic storm. A new facility has been built at Fourth
and Derbigny streets in Gretna and is in final stages of construction. Within months,
it will be fully staffed with emergency planning personnel and the Jefferson Parish
Sheriff’s Office’s 9-1-1 telecommunications division. Located only a block from the
Mississippi River levee, the facility should be safe from any conceivable threat of
catastrophic flooding. The 60,000 square foot four-story building includes dormstyle rooms that will house almost two dozen employees in times of emergency, a
media room, the capacity to hold a week’s worth of fresh water, and a significant
sewerage capacity should parish utilities be limited. The facility cost $30 million and
was largely financed with revenues from Boomtown Casino in Harvey and a telephone service surcharge.
As well, there are numerous projects underway since Hurricane Katrina that
will improve West Jefferson’s hurricane protection and readiness. A massive $1 billion project known as the West Closure Complex that includes raising levees east
of the Harvey Canal, construction of a floodgate on the Harvey Canal, and a massive pump station, should protect West Jefferson and Algiers in the future from storm
surge vulnerability due to exposure to the Gulf of Mexico via Barataria Bay and the
Intracoastal Canal. The Corps of Engineers expects to have 100-year protection in
place by June 2011, the start of the next hurricane season. Every day, week, and year
that passes without interruption of these projects gets our community that much
closer to complete hurricane protection. Hurricane Season 2010 helped us get closer to this goal since we experienced only a few minor threats early in the season.
For more information on all of the projects underway to protect the New Orleans
area from hurricanes, log on to the web site of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection
Authority—West: www.slfpaw.org.
—————————————————————————————————————
he best sports fans in America live right here in Louisiana. The Saints’ NFL
season opener on September 9 against the Minnesota Vikings proved that the
fever that gripped Louisiana last winter when our home team was making its
way through the playoffs to the Super Bowl was neither a fad nor a temporary mood
or mindset. All of the joy and tears we collectively experienced in February returned
as did pride in our team and our community. The NFL was so impressed by the
outpouring of affection during the post-Super Bowl parties and parade that it provided live entertainment in Jackson Square and a first-of-its-kind Mardi Gras-style
parade that delighted almost 200,000 fans in attendance.
Analysis of television ratings proved that an astonishing number of households
watched this season’s first game—more than any other in NFL history—more than
the NFC Championship in January between the Vikings and Saints. We were watching—nearly all of us were watching from somewhere. No other city in America would
provide its team with the appreciation that New Orleans has shown the Saints. No
other team likely ever will. The players, coaches, and the owners genuinely appreciate
the fans and recognize the unique emotional bond that exists between the area’s
residents and the team. After more than 40 years of ups and downs in this area’s
societal, economic, and political state
and the ups and downs in the team’s own
Send Letters to the Editor about this
history, the Saints came through when
commentary or other articles in
the city needed the team most.
The West Bank Beacon to
We thank you, Saints, for a [email protected].
derful ride. Please, take us along again—
We want to hear from you!
we’re with you all the way! ✴
F
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COMMUNITY
Grand Isle Ladies Fish for Charity
F
Harvey Author Dianne
De Las Casas Published
arvey author Dianne De Las Casas has written another children’s book, The Gigantic Sweet Potato, an adaptation of “The
Giant Turnip,” a Russian folktale. In the book, Ma Farmer has
planted a sweet potato in her garden so that she can make sweet potato pie. The potato grows so large that it is stuck in the ground when it is time to harvest. Several
characters including Pa Farmer, Ralphie Dog, and Bessie Cow join in the struggle to extract the
stubborn vegetable. However, it’s not until Lily Mouse, the smallest of the characters, works to extract the sweet potato, that the efforts yield positive results.
Kirkus Reviews, a publication established in 1933 that reviews 4-5,000 books per year, said
the book is a “tasty selection…solid…appealing.” Author Robert D. San Souci called the book
“another winner from a talented writer and storyteller.”
The book is being published by Pelican Publishing Company, of Gretna, and the story comes
to life in beautiful watercolor illustrations by artist Marita
Gentry. De Las Casas is an author, storyteller, and recording
artist. She also has authored The Cajun Cornbread Boy,
Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, and Mama’s Bayou.
Cornbread Boy and Madam Poulet also were illustrated by
Gentry. She will hold a book signing at Sam’s Club, 1527
Manhattan Blvd., in Harvey on Saturday, November 6,
10:00 a.m. In 2011, De Las Casas next book, There’s a
Dragon in the Library, will be released.
Pelican Publishing Company is a family-owned
book publishing company located in Gretna. It has
been owned since 1970, by Dr. Milburn Calhoun and
his wife, Nancy. The company has a backlist of
over 1,500 titles and specializes in Louisiana topics. To order a copy of the book, or for more information
about the story or author, log on to www.pelicanpub.com or
www.thestoryconnection.net. ✴
H
Westbank ARC hosts 3rd
Annual Golf Tournament
GRAND ISLE
ishing rodeos are getting back in the swing of things on beautiful
LADIES
FISHING RODEO
Grand Isle! The Grand Isle Community Development Team is getting
October 8-9
ready to host its 4th Annual Grand Isle Ladies Fishing Rodeo on
Bridgeside
Marina
October 8-9. Weigh-ins begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8, at
Bridgeside Marina, located at the foot of the Grand Isle bridge at Cheniere
Caminada Pass, with a reception held immediately after at the marina’s tiki bar, where contestants
can mingle and begin telling those inevitable fish stories. On Saturday night, the final weigh-in is at
5:00 p.m. and the events include a raffle, door prizes, dinner, and live entertainment. A “fishing fashion” award will be presented to the fishing team with the best outfits.
Sue Galliano, chairwoman of the GICDT, says despite the island’s difficulties resulting from the
British Petroleum oil spill that devastated the local economy this summer, Grand Isle is open for
business and looks great. “The water looks great,” she said. “This is a great cause and it’s a great
time of year to come” to the island. Men are invited to participate. However, their fish will not be eligible for weighing in the competition which includes many types of fish, although no deep-sea fish.
This year, the group hopes to build on past successes with expansion of its sales of jewelry,
made from fishing lures, and its signature sunglasses, lucky fishing shirts, and its fishing towels that
feature the event’s logo. “Shop early,” says an enthusiastic Galliano. “Last year we completely sold
out of these items.”
Tickets to the rodeo cost $20 per contestant, $5 of which is dedicated to the American Cancer
Society. Included in the entry fee are a souvenir rodeo cap, fishing the event, entry for door prizes,
and the dinner and dance on Saturday night. Tickets are available at Bridgeside Marina and at the
tourist center, located at the Grand Isle Port Commission office next to the Butterfly Dome.
The group’s goal is to raise another $2,500, which would supplement the $10,000 raised in previous years. Proceeds in the past have benefited the Wig Room at Our Lady of the Sea General Hospital in
Galliano, which assists breast cancer patients with wigs and related supplies and raises cancer awareness, but organizers are pleased with past success and envision helping numerous area hospitals with
similar efforts.
Annually, the GICDT sponsors an art exhibition of works with themes focusing on the wetlands and
Grand Isle, Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island. Next year is the 9th Annual Grand Isle Juried
Exhibition, whose theme is “Land, Currents, and Undercurrents." That event is scheduled for April 9-17,
2011, at the time of the annual migratory bird celebration. GICDT recently was proud to accept a $10,000
grant from a major national corporation for an effort to spay and neuter feral cats on Grand Isle.
For more information about the rodeo or the GICDT’s other events, call (985) 787-2229 or log
on to www.gicdt.org. ✴
he Westbank ARC invites you to join
with them and their Honorary Golf
Tournament Committee in supporting
the intellectually and physically disabled citizens of our community by becoming a
Sponsor or Participant in their 3rd Annual
Golf Tournament to be held on Saturday,
October 16, 2010 at Bayou Barriere Golf Club
in Belle Chasse (bayoubarriere.com).
The Westbank ARC, Inc., a non-profit
501(c)(3) corporation, provides supported
employment, job placement, and volunteer
and day habilitation servWESTBANK ARC ices to more than 90 conGOLF
sumers. While
TOURNAMENT
governmental agencies
October 16
provide funding for their
Bayou Barrier
programs conducted durn November 6, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30
Golf Club
ing normal business
p.m., the Germania Lodge No. 46, Free
Belle Chasse
hours, funding for extraand Accepted Masons, will celebrate
curricular educational and cultural activities
German heritage in the New Orleans area with
is dependent upon donations.
its annual Germanfest. The event will be held at
The costs for entry into the tournament
the Germania Lodge, 4415 Bienville Street, New
are: Foursome, $300; Twosome, $150, and;
Orleans, and features great German food such
Singles $75. The price includes one entry
as sauerkraut, bratwurst, knockwurst, German
into the putting contest. The event begins at
potato salad and, of course, German beers and
11:30 a.m. with registration and lunch, and
wines. Ursula Jackson, of Deutsches Haus, is
tee-time is 12:30 p.m. Free food, beer,
the featured cook, and musical entertainment is
drinks, and door prizes will be available to
provided by Prost.
tournament players.
Advance tickets cost only $30, and the
Sponsorship packages are also available
event will feature outstanding door prizes. A
at the following levels: Diamond, $550, Gold,
silent auction will be held with other great
$400, Silver, $225, and Sapphire $100.
items. Tickets at the door cost $35. The organiFor more information, contact Westbank
zation’s 118 members have worked to raise
ARC, (504) 361-1131 or
money to benefit the organization’s building
www.westbankarc.org; D. George Wedge at
fund, which was severely depleted after Katrina
656-2632 or [email protected], or;
flooded the lodge.
Danny Wedge at 433-2622 or
For more details or to purchase tickets or
[email protected]. ✴
make donations, contact Joe Kueck, the group’s
secretary of 16 years, at 737-6767. ✴
T
German Group
Prepares for
Germanfest
O
Harvey Girl Publishes Cookbook
Harvey fifth grader, Kid Chef Eliana, recently published her first
cookbook, Eliana Cooks. The 10-year-old is descendant from
many cultures including the Philippines, Cuba, and Honduras,
and includes many flavors from those countries and Cajun Louisiana in
the food she prepares. Her goal is to make kids like her more enthusiastic about cooking. “Food is more than chicken nuggets and French fries
on the kids menu! I want kids to know that there are so many flavors
for us to explore,” she said. Eliana enjoys her time in the kitchen cooking with her mom, baking with her grandma, and making ice cream
with her dad.
An extremely ambitious young lady, Eliana has exciting plans. “I
am going to write many cookbooks, start a line of spices called
Eliana’s Sabor (’sabor’ means ’flavor’ in Spanish), design cookware
especially made for kids, have my own TV cooking show, attend
the Culinary Institute of America in New York City, and own a restaurant,” she
said. “Plus, I want to travel around the world tasting cuisine from different countries.”
Her first cookbook debuts October 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in
New Orleans, where she will demonstrate how to prepare “Cajun Cuban Sandwiches” as part of the
“New Orleans Con Sabor Latino” exhibit.
When asked what is her favorite food, Eliana said: “It’s hard to pick a favorite because I love so
many kinds of food but I definitely prefer savory flavors. One of my favorite things to do is shop for
spices and herbs! I love how spices smell…”
For more information and to watch Eliana’s video cooking tutorials, log on to www.elianacooks.com.
Check out her fan page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elianacooksfanpage. ✴
A
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9
Help Needed to
Brighten Holidays
for Heroes
Krewe of Grela
Announces 2011
Parade Theme
itney Bowes, Inc., and the American Red
Cross want your help to brighten the holidays for America’s military. They recently
launched the 2010 Holiday Mail for Heroes program,
an effort to send one million holiday greeting cards
to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and U.S. veterans. This is the fourth year that the Red Cross
and Pitney Bowes have spearheaded the effort.
More than three million cards were distributed during the first three years of the program.
“Even in this day of e-mail and e-cards,
handwritten messages are the most personal way
for Americans to express their gratitude to those
who sacrifice for our nation,” said Sherri Brown,
senior vice president, Red Cross Services to the
Armed Forces. “Each year, those who receive the
cards tell us they are touched by the heartfelt
messages from people they’ve never met.”
The public is encouraged to send messages
of thanks and holiday cheer from now until
December 10 to Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box
5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. Pitney
Bowes will receive the messages and cards and
screen all items for hazardous materials. Red Cross
volunteers will sort and deliver the cards. Pitney
Bowes screens, packages, and ships the items at
no charge and contributes to the effort thousands
of volunteer hours at sites across America.
“Holiday Mail for Heroes enables Americans
from all walks of life to send holiday greetings to
the dedicated, hard working members of our
armed forces, including active military members,
hospitalized veterans, and their families,” said Vicki
O’Meara, executive vice president and president of
Pitney Bowes Management Services. “When it
comes to sending holiday thanks and appreciation
to those defending our freedom, every card counts
and we are encouraging the public and our customers to help be an important part of this
worthy effort.”
Participants are asked to refrain from
sending care packages, monetary gifts, using
glitter, or including any inserts with the cards.
For more information and card requirements,
please visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail or
www.arcno.org.✴
he Krewe of Grela, the oldest continuously parading Carnival club on the West
Bank, founded in 1947, announced its
2011 Mardi Gras theme at its September meeting. The theme will be “It’s All Greek to Me,”
and will feature floats with a mythology motif.
The krewe will roll through the streets of
Gretna on Fat Tuesday, March 8, 2011. No announcement has been made yet on next year’s
Grand Marshal or the King and Queen, but those
honorary positions are expected to be named
soon. The number of floats for next year’s parade will be firmed up as soon as a membership
count is tallied, and it appears likely that two
or three truck floats may be added to the
2011 procession.
The krewe is still looking for young members of the Royal Court. Four pages and four
princesses, aged five to eightyears-old, are being
sought, along with six
ladies-in-waiting between the ages of
10 and 13.
The Krewe of
Grela Ball will be
held at the Airport
Hilton in Kenner on
Saturday, January 29, 2011.
Tickets are $85 per person, payable in advance,
and dress is strictly formal. Entertainment is by
the traditional New Orleans Jazz combo Some
Like It Hot. The krewe is taking orders for ball
tickets and a layaway plan is available to those
who want to put down a deposit and pay the
balance in increments before the ball.
For those krewe members who wish to
stay at the Hilton for the night of the ball, a
special room rate of $89 is available. If paying
by credit card use KOG – Grela Code.
Krewe of Grela members will be selling hot
dogs and hamburgers during the Gretna
Heritage Festival from Friday, October 1 through
Sunday, October 3. Volunteers are needed to
help staff the booth, which will be set up along
Huey P. Long Avenue at 1st Street, opposite
Gretna City Hall. Volunteers are also needed to
help sell tickets at the gate on 4th Street.
The Krewe of Grela meets once a month
on the first Wednesday of each month.
Upcoming general meeting dates are October 6,
November 3 and December 1, 2010 and
January 5, February 2 and March 2, 2011.
Anyone interested in joining the krewe is welcome to attend. Meetings start at 7 p.m. in the
Westbank Lions Club, 475 Franklin Avenue (at
McDonough Street), Gretna.
Membership dues are $175 for the year
(not including throws) are they are among the
lowest dues of any krewe in the Greater New
Orleans Area.
The krewe is actively seeking more members to ride in the 2011 parade. For more information about the Krewe of Grela, including
membership, the Carnival Ball, volunteering for
GretnaFest or to suggest members of the Royal
Court, call 756-9223 or Vice President Carmen
Kass at 905-2859. ✴
T
P
American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter
volunteers that were honored at the event: Cecile
Keller, Dan Bode, Stanley Keller, Frances Barker and
Dee Binder.
American Red Cross Honors
Katrina Heroes
n the eve of the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the American Red Cross
Southeast Louisiana Chapter honored 77 “Heroes of the Storm” for their tireless efforts during and after the storm that killed more than 1,800 people.
Those recognized included many of the area’s first responders, American Red Cross volunteers
from across the country, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. National Guard, and emergency management officials. The list included Major Mark Dupuis and Captain Dennis Thornton of the Jefferson
Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sandra M. Ancar-Encalade and Williesteen A. Burroughs of Jefferson
Parish’s Emergency Management
Department, as well as employees of
Entergy. Lieutenant General Russel L.
Honoré, U.S. Army, retired, was honored
for his leadership in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita and provided the
keynote address.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch
Landrieu said Honoré transformed perception of hurricane victims “from
refugees to American citizens in the eyes
of the rest of the country.” He added that
Cheryl Landrieu, Mitch Landrieu, and Kay Wilkins, CEO of
“this city has been the tip of the spear in
the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter
fighting for national security, economic
security, and environmental security.”
More than 275 attended the event, which
included remarks by Landrieu, Honoré, and
American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter
CEO Kay Wilkins, and Gail McGovern, CEO and
President of the American National Red Cross. ✴
O
Gail McGovern (President & CEO, American Red
Cross), Russ Paulsen (Executive Director, Hurricane
Recovery Program, American Red Cross), and
Russel Honoré, LTG USA (Retired)
Archbishop Shaw Eaglettes to Hold Fundraiser
he Archbishop Shaw High School Eaglettes Dance Team will hold a fundraiser on Sunday,
October 10, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Old Firemen’s Hall, 307 4th Street, in
Westwego. Aaron Foret and the Swamp Pop Band will perform, and the event features dancing, food, a cash bar, a 50/50 raffle, and an Eaglette performance. As well, the football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals will be shown on televisions in the hall.
The dance team’s members attend Shaw’s sister school, Academy of Our Lady,
EAGLETTES
and proceeds from this event will help send the Eaglettes to competition in March 2011
FUNDRAISER
at the National Dance Alliance event at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. They have
October 10
appeared at the national competition yearly and earned the title National Jazz Champs
Old
Firemen’s
in 2008. In January, they will perform at regional competitions at Southeastern
Hall
Louisiana University in Hammond and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Westwego
“This is a family-style function,” said Tammy Percle, a parent coordinator for the
Eaglettes. “We want everyone to come out and have a good time supporting the team.
These competitions mean a lot to these girls.”
Tickets cost $10 per adult (17 and older) or $5 for those ages four-16. Kids age three and under
are free. Admission price includes jambalaya, bread, and salad. Other food such as hamburgers, hot
dogs, and desserts will be available for purchase. To get your tickets, call Tammy Percle at 453-2821
or Kim Savoie at 496-6839. ✴
T
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
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website at
wbbeacon.com
or follow us on
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Twitter.
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
11
Congressional Election Ballot Set
Tuesday General Election to Decide Future of Congress
oters will head
BY
to the polls
FRANK J.
Tu e s d a y,
BORNE, JR.
Editor
November 2, to decide
contests
for
Congressional seats and the U.S. Senate.
Three of Louisiana’s seven Congressional
districts affect Jefferson Parish. In West
Jefferson, District 1 encompasses part of
the city of Gretna, Harvey near the
Mississippi River, and part of Terrytown,
while District 3 includes areas of lower
Marrero and Jean Lafitte south to Grand
Isle. Every other West Jefferson community is in District 2.
This is the final year that closed party primaries will be held in Congressional
races. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
recently signed legislation returning the
open primary system for federal offices
in 2012. Returning to closed primaries
will save Louisiana an estimated $6 million per federal election year.
V
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Senator David Vitter, of
Metairie, easily defeated two Republican
challengers in the party primary held
August 28 and Democrats overwhelmingly selected District 3 Congressman
Charlie Melancon, of Napoleonville, as
their nominee. Randall T. Hayes, of
Atlanta (Louisiana), won the Libertarian
nomination.
Not appearing on the August 28 ballot were the following independent candidates who also will participate in the
general election: Michael K. Brown, of
Shreveport; former Jefferson Parish Clerk
of Court Raoul A. “Skip” Galan, of
Ponchatoula; Milton Gordon, of
Alexandria; and Sam H. Melton, Jr., of
Winnfield. William R. McShan was unopposed for the Reform Party nomination,
and several candidates of “other” parties
also are running: Thomas G. “Tommy”
LaFargue, of Baton Rouge; William R.
“Bob” Lang, Jr., of Natchitoches; Michael
L. “Mike” Spears, of Lafayette; and
OYSTER FEST from cover
They’ll have customary Louisiana favorites that include jambalaya, red beans
and rice, and crawfish pasta, and allAmerican staples such as hamburgers
and pizza, and so much more! For
dessert, try out the snowballs, ice cream,
or fried Snickers bars. A beer booth will
be among many ways to quench your
thirst.
Entertainment includes outstanding
musical acts that are sure to delight. On
Friday, Southern Cross will perform
from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday,
the line-up is Skeeter’s Swamp Pop
Cajun Band from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.,
Christian Serpas from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30
p.m., and Confederate Railroad from 9:00
Louisiana State Representative Ernest D.
Wooten, of Belle Chasse.
Congressional District 1
Incumbent Republican Congressman
Steve Scalise, of Metairie, and Democrat
Myron Katz, of New Orleans, were unopposed for their parties’ nominations.
They will face Arden Wells, independent,
of Ponchatoula, in November.
Incumbent Congressman Anh “Joseph”
Cao wasn’t challenged by any
Republicans for his seat, while Louisiana
State Representative Cedric Richmond
easily defeated his four Democratic opponents in August. They will face Ron
Austin, of Harvey, “other” party, and independent candidates Anthony Marquize,
of Violet, and “Jack” Radosta, of New
Orleans, in November.
In the open seat to replace Melancon,
Republicans “Hunt” Downer, of Houma,
and businessmen “Jeff” Landry, of New
Iberia, will compete in a run-off on
October 2 to determine who will meet
Democrat Ravi Sangisetty, an attorney, of
Houma, in the general election, who was
unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Landry was just over 200 votes short
of winning the Republican nomination in
the primary election.
timber, and would increase the maximum
amount remitted to the parish governing
authority where a severance occurs from
$850,000 to $1.85 million for FY 20112012 and to $2.85 million thereafter.
Proposed Amendment No. 3
Authorizes parishes to hold elections to
determine whether they want to allow the
first $150,000 value of homes occupied
by disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent to
remain tax-free.
Would limit the power of taxing authorities whose governing boards are
not elected to increase millage rates
without voter approval. Special fire protection or fire department districts, ports,
and certain levee districts are excluded
from the limitation.
Would grant a two-year extension of the
homestead exemption from five to seven
years for homeowners who are unable to
re-occupy their homes following a disaster.
A local assessor may grant a displaced
homeowner up to three more years on a
case-by-case basis.
Provides that property expropriated for the
public purpose of removing a threat to
public health or safety caused by the existing use or disuse of the property shall
not be subject to the requirement of offering the property back to the original
owner who allowed the property to become a threat to public health or safety
or to the requirement of public sale.
To provide that, in civil matters only, when
a court of appeal is to modify or reverse
an administrative agency determination
in a workers’ compensation claim and one
judge dissents, the case shall be reargued
before a panel of at least five judges prior to rendition of judgment, and a majority
shall concur to render judgment.
To permit criminal defendants, except in
capital cases, to waive their right to a trial by jury no later than 45 days prior to
the trial date.
Decreases the amount of taxes retained
by the state on the severance of natural
resources, other than sulphur, lignite, and
To provide relative to the bidding process
for ad valorem property tax sales by
authorizing a bidder at a tax sale to bid
down the existing five percent penalty in
increments of one-tenth of one percent;
to require the payment of penalties by a
bidder at ad valorem property tax sales; to
require the payment of interest, penalties,
and costs by a taxpayer who is delinquent
on the payment of taxes on movables.
Jefferson Parish Proposition
A vote for would renew 25 mils of property tax for 10 years for Fire Protection
District No. 8. The tax raises approximately $7 million per year for the district,
which covers much of Marrero and part
of Harvey including Woodmere.
The November ballot also will feature
the run-off election for Louisiana
Lieutenant Governor.
The polls will be open from 6:00 a.m.
to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2.
Voters may cast their ballots early at the
Office of the Registrar of Voters located
in the Charles B. Odom Service Center,
5001, West Bank Expressway, Ste. C-2,
Marrero, from Tuesday, October 19 to
Tuesday, October 26. Early voting hours
are 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To view the full
text of the proposed constitutional amendments, log on to www.legis.state.la.us
/election2010/amendments.htm. ✴
p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Black Magnolia plays
from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday,
and Bag of Donuts closes out the festival from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Kiddie
Land, featuring space walks, face-painting, and a train, will provide fun for the
tykes as well as paintball, speedball, and
the football toss among other games. For
the older kids and adults, the festival will
have game booths where the winners can
collect tickets for prizes and craft and
plant booths and a bayou store are sure
to please as well. Raffle tickets for $1 will
be sold for a drawing for two big money
prizes: $1000 and $2000; every hour of
the festival, a $50 cash prize will be
awarded.
“We love St. Cletus Parish,” said
Cheryl Swanson, who helps to coordinate
the festival along with her husband,
Frank. “This is not just about the school
or the church. We’re a family. Everyone
participates,” she said of the community’s involvement in activities, which, she
indicates, unite the church community.
“The festival unifies the school, church,
and parishioners. Many of our volunteers
continue to work the festival long after
their kids have left the school.” She’s enthusiastic about the event. “We want to
invite everyone to come on out and
have a good time and enjoy an oyster poboy,” Swanson said. It’s a massive undertaking with volunteers from all of the
parish’s organizations, the Christian
Youth Organization, Home and School
Association (HASA), the Ladies’ Club,
teachers, and boy scouts, and the St.
Cletus Knights of Columbus will handle
the oyster and fish booth.
St. Cletus was established in 1965
and recently welcomed a new pastor,
Father Tuan Pham, who comes to the
parish from Reserve, Louisiana.
The festival is held on the church
grounds at 3600 Claire Avenue, Gretna,
and admission is free. Times are Friday,
6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday,
Noon to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday,
Noon to 9:00 p.m. Sponsorships are
available. Contact the church at
(504) 367-7951 or the fair coordinators
at: [email protected] for more
information. ✴
Provides that any salary increase enacted by law for certain state elected officials,
including statewide elected officials,
members of the Public Service
Commission, and members of the legislature, not be implemented until a subsequent term of office.
To require a 2/3 vote of the elected members of each house of the legislature to enact any benefit provision for members of
a Louisiana public retirement system if
the provision has an actuarial cost.
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 10
J E FFE R S O N PAR I S H
Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy
Fall Session Convenes
Program Promotes Good Public Relations with Law
Enforcement
efferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand’s Citizen’s Academy convenes
for its fall session on October 5. This unique no-cost program spans
eight weeks and is open to all Jefferson Parish residents who are interested in learning how the JPSO operates. Classes are held at the trainJefferson Parish Sheriff
ing academy in Harvey from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday nights in
October and November, and students must attend six of the eight classes to Newell Normand
graduate. Graduates become a member of the JPSO Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association.
The curriculum spans quite a wide variety of law enforcement topics and includes lectures, site visits,
and demonstrations. Attendees will learn about the offices’ departmental structure, hurricane preparedness, vehicles and equipment, community relations, crime mapping, the training academy, SWAT operations, legal issues, judicial perspectives, office policies and challenges, and the K-9 unit, among others.
Visits to the correctional center and 9-1-1 telecommunications center also are featured as is an optional
ride-along.
Sheriff Newell Normand indicates that the program is about good community relations between the
agency and Jefferson Parish residents. “A primary purpose of the Citizen’s Academy is to enhance community relations and to open the Sheriffs Office to the public, explaining our responsibilities and how we
accomplish our objectives,” he says in a letter on the department’s web site. “The academy is a program
that can and will spark the enthusiasm needed to achieve community involvement in developing solutions
for the future betterment of our community. I am confident that after completing the program you will
have learned a great deal about your sheriff’s office and will better understand the value of a solid policepublic partnership in addressing crime in our community.”
Jefferson Parish residents aged 21 and over who are interested in attending the classes may obtain
more information on the sheriff’s office’s web site, www.jpso.com, or contact Deputy Chief Steven E.
LaChute, Commander, Technical Services Bureau, at 363-5547 or 363-5705. Prospective students will
complete an application and positions are limited and filled on a first-come basis. ✴
J
Terrytown Library Reopens
Another Jewel in the Library System’s Crown Shines
he Terrytown Library reopened in September following nine months of
extensive renovations. Officials hope the improvements, which update
the technology and ambience of the library, will encourage patrons to
extend their visits to the facility.
Poet Armando Ibanez delighted a crowd that enjoyed refreshments and
story time for children. The 5,600 square foot facility now features new,
brighter colors and a rearranged user-friendly floor plan and its new main
entrance faces the parking lot. There are 21 new computers, including
eight in a special area designed for teens that includes café-style tables
and five in the children’s area. The library’s restrooms are now handicapped-accessible, the Spanish-language collection has been expanded,
and the popular DVD/CD section has been relocated near the entrance. A
special reading area has been established for adults near the magazine and newspaper section.
Patrons may bring their laptop computers to access the free wireless Internet service now available as
well.
Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts is excited about the renovations and its part in a
larger plan to improve facilities in the Terrytown community. “The entirely renovated library along with
the gym, school, and golden age center currently under construction will modernize all of the public
facilities serving the Terrytown community,” he said. “We invite residents to come and experience
their new neighborhood library.” Terrytown Library, located at 680 Heritage Avenue in Terrytown, was
constructed in 1974.
Terrytown’s Katrina damage, although initially thought to be extensive, was relatively minor compared to other facilities’ needs, indicates Lon Dickerson, Jefferson Parish Library Director. However,
the cleanup and repair costs did top $116,000, of which the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) has reimbursed only $44,000. “We have consistently said that our intent is not to build back
post-Katrina, but to build back better,” said Dickerson. Hence, the system went forward with a plan
substantially to improve the library’s design and offering of amenities. Dickerson credits Roberts’ leadership in providing the additional funding needed to make the facility state of the art. “Thanks to his
interest in libraries and financial support, we’ve been able to totally renovate the library in Terrytown,”
he said. “It’s a gem of a facility now, and one which residents will want to go to on a frequent basis.”
The entire project cost just over $600,000.
Jefferson Parish’s Library Department has seen much progress in 2010. Libraries in Lafitte and
Gretna that were totally destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were dedicated this year and extensive renovations were made to the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library in Harvey. ✴
T
Election for Assessor Set
ouisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has set the date for a special election to replace
Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence E. Chehardy, who is retiring January 1, 2011, midway through his term. The primary election will be held Saturday, April 2, with a run-off,
if needed, on Saturday, April 30. Chehardy does not have a chief deputy. If he does not appoint one before the end of the year, the Jefferson Parish Council will have to appoint an interim assessor to hold office from Chehardy’s resignation until the outcome of the election.
Candidate qualifying for the assessor position and for officials in the Town of Jean Lafitte,
which is having its regular municipal election in the spring, will take place from Wednesday,
February 9 to Friday, February 11.
The winner of the special election for assessor will complete Chehardy’s term, which
does not expire until January 1, 2013, but will have to run for re-election in October 2011 because the time between the assessor’s election and inauguration is the longest of any elected
official in Louisiana at more than a year.
Chehardy, the longest-serving assessor in Parish history, has served since 1977. ✴
L
Crimestoppers Carnivale Crime Fighting Fun
t’s time again to have fun while fighting crime. The New Orleans’
CRIMESTOPPERS
Metropolitan Area’s highly successful crime-fighting organization,
PATRON PARTY
Crimestoppers, will host thousands at a fundraising event at
October 7
Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World and an uptown reception in October.
Gallier Hall
The Carnivale Patron Party will be held at Gallier Hall, 545 St.
New Orleans
Charles Avenue, in New Orleans, and is being sponsored by
Galatoire’s, one of New Orleans premiere restaurants. It’s being coCARNIVALE
October 9
chaired by honorary members Jefferson Parish Council Chairman
Mardi
Gras World
John Young and Councilman At-Large Tom Capella and New
Algiers
Orleans Council President Arnie Fielkow and Councilwoman AtLarge Jackie Clarkson. The patron party is on Thursday, October 7,
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and features music by Shamarr Allen and the Underdogs. An outstanding array of items will be auctioned including a signed artist proof framed George Rodrigue
Blue Dog “Bourbon Street Lights”, a football signed by legendary Saints quarterback Archie
Manning, a crystal chandelier, and a New Orleans sports packaged that includes tickets to
the Saints and Hornets games.
The Carnivale will be held Saturday, October 9, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Blaine
Kern’s Mardi Gras World, 233 Newton Street, in Algiers. More than 30 restaurants and caterers
will provide the food offerings and Limited Edition will perform. Rounding out the entertainment will be a large silent auction and a live auction, at which the featured items up for bid include a five-couple
one-week stay in a five
bedroom Casa Piazza Villa
located at La Punta in
Manzanillo, Mexico, a football autographed by New
Orleans Saints quarterback
and 2010 Super Bowl MVP
Drew Brees and Coach
Sean Payton, a chartered
fishing trip with Jefferson
Parish Sheriff Newell
Normand, and dinner for two with New Orleans Superintendent of Police Ronal Serpas and Darlene
Cusanza, President and CEO of Crimestoppers. The New Orleans Saintsations will be a special
guest, and Normand, Serpas, and New Orleans Police Captain Edwin Hosli, Jr., serve as the
Carnivale’s honorary co-chairmen. This year’s Carnivale also features a costume contest. Attendees
are encouraged to dress up as either a hero or a hooligan.
Darlene Cusanza, Executive Director of Crimestoppers, explained how important this organization is to the community. “Crimestoppers, Inc., is community policing at its best,” she said.
“Through the anonymous tip process, we engage the community to take a proactive role in fighting
crime by partnering with law enforcement and the media. The successful Crimestoppers program
also serves our youth through the Crimestoppers Safe School Hotline and provides our youth, as
well as our adult community with crime prevention tools and knowledge.”
To attend the Patron Party and Carnivale, the cost is $150 for a single ticket or $275 for tickets; to attend only the Carnivale, tickets cost $75 each; $100 each for the patron party.
Sponsorships and tables of 10 also are available. For more information, consult the Crimestoppers
web site, www.crimestoppersgno.org. ✴
I
13
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Gretna Costume Shop Dresses West Bankers
for Halloween and Other Celebrations
ith HalloBY
ween right
SHELLY ROBERTS
around the
Contributing
corner, the hunt for
Writer
the perfect costume
has begun. Thanks to Gretna Costume,
West Bank residents have the convenience of a costume shop, opened yearround, right in their own backyard.
Owner Heather Flood opened the
shop six years ago and has been providing her costumers with her unique
and hands-on service approach ever
since. The shop offers customers a wide
range of looks from traditional
Halloween costumes to themes such as
Christmas, Mardi Gras, group costumes and decade-themed attire.
Flood got the idea to open her own
costume shop after working with her father TJ, owner of TJ’s Carnival Supplies.
TJ’s carried costumes for the Halloween
season, but noticed there was a demand
for costumes year-round. Because of
that demand, Flood and her father got
the idea that she should branch out and
open her own costume store. “We
might not have 20 of the same costume
in the same size,” says Flood, but in-
W
stead they offer 20 different takes on a
similar theme to offer a variety to their
customers.
Flood adds that buying a costume
off the internet seems convenient, but
the customer does not get the opportunity to see the actual fit until it arrives.
If the customer doesn’t like what they
see, they now have the added hassle of
sending it back and starting their search
all over again. Flood’s goal is for customers to get everything they need for
their special look at one place instead
of spending the day looking at different
places piecing things together. Gretna
Costume caters to their customers, and
if there is something you need that they
don’t have, Flood will talk with her distributors and get it for you as quickly as
she can.
Gretna Costume prides itself on the
high quality of service they offer their
customers. When you go in looking for
something they won’t just point you off
in a direction, says Flood, “we’ll walk
with the customers throughout the
store to make sure they are finding exactly what they need.” Also, they offer
dressing rooms for customers to try on
their costumes and to see the full look
before they buy it. “We’re from the West
Bank and we want to make sure we can
provide the residents here with the best
service possible,” says Flood.
This year Halloween is even more
special because the Saints play at home
on Halloween night. Flood said people
are already looking to find
that perfect costume
that will help them
stand out in the
Dome. But if you’re
looking for the more
traditional Saints
route, they also carry black and gold
wigs and face paint.
The best advice
Flood has for consumers is “do not wait
until the last minute to get
your costume.” Currently
Gretna Costume is opened
Monday – Friday from 10
a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturdays
from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and
Sundays from noon- 5 p.m.
The weeks before Halloween
From East to West, Who Screams the Best?
Haunted Houses in Our (General) Area
any of us
BY
love the
STEPHANIE
BARBACK
thrill of
Contributing
fear that this time of
Writer
year brings. Please
check out the website of any house of
horror before going to be sure you will
enjoy the experience. Some do not allow those with heart conditions or who
may be pregnant to enter. Some do not
allow children. Advance purchase tickets may be available. Most do not offer rain checks. All sites offer links to
directions and maps. Happy haunting!
The House of Shock brings fear
to Jefferson Parish. Located at 319
Butterworth Street, in the shadow of
the Huey P. Long Bridge, HOS now offers advance ticket sales. Tickets will
be sold from 7:00 ’til 11:00 p.m. Friday
and Saturday nights, and until 10:00
p.m. all other nights. The doors open
at 8:00 p.m., October 1-2, 8-9, 14-17,
M
21-24, 27-31. www.houseoshock.com
The Warehouse of Terror is located at the foot of the twin spans coming into Slidell from New Orleans, at
54367 E. Howze Beach Rd., Slidell. Look
for the sign across the building, and listen for the screams. www.thelaughingcorpseproductions.com
Friday and Saturday 7 p.m.Midnight, Sunday 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
General Admission: $15.00. Note the
handy Zombie Emergency Procedures
poster on the website.
The Mortuary, 4800 Canal Street,
just off of Metairie Road/City Park
Avenue in New Orleans. Open Friday and
Saturday nights in September, then
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights in
October. Additionally, this attraction is
open every day, except Monday, the
week of Halloween. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.,
or until the last paid guest has gone
through. General Admission: $25. VIP
passes: $35 and $55. Frequent Fear
Passes: $88. Ghost Tours and Ghost
Hunting Investigations also available.
www.themortuary.net/main.htm
The Chamber of Horrors in La
Place can be found at 702 Airline
Highway. Open every Friday and Saturday
in October, plus Halloween night at
7:30 p.m. Admission: $12. www.chamberofhorrors.org/default.html
The 13th Gate is located in Baton
Rouge and is open Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights, 6:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.,
September 23rd - October 16th. Then
October 21 through Halloween, this attraction will be open every night, from
6:30 p.m. until the last victim gets in!
Additionally, November 5th and 6th are
“Flashlight Fright Nights,” and will be
open from 7 p.m. as visitors travel
through a completely dark 13th Gate
armed only with a couple small finger
lights per group!
however, the store will stay open until
8 p.m. on weekdays. For more information visit Gretna Costume at 2040
Belle Chasse Hwy, Suite #1 or contact
them at 324-8500. ✴
This site is next to Belle Casino and
the Pastime Restaurant at 832 St Phillip
Street in downtown Baton Rouge, under
the I-10 River Bridge.225-389-1313.
Admission $20.00. http://www.midnightproduction.com/index.htm
Midnight Productions also runs The
MAiZE, a complicated cornfield maze.
w w w. m i d n i g h t p r o d u c t i o n . c o m /
the_maize.htm ✴
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Where the
Pumpkins Are
oon, pumpkins of all kinds will be rolling into our area.
BY
STEPHANIE
Kids of all ages know the importance of the perfect porch
BARBACK
pumpkin. Whether you paint or carve, the shape of your
Contributing
particular goblin lantern will be determined by the shape of
Writer
your particular gourd-like squash. (I looked it up. Technically,
it’s a fruit.) Many fun activities are available in our area, as well, as Halloween
approaches.
I can remember sunny fall afternoons spent at the Pumpkin Church, St.
Mark’s Episcopal, in Harvey. The girls in my scout troop loved choosing then
painting their pumpkins. Begun many years ago, the Pumpkin Patch was suspended after Hurricane Katrina. The fun is back this year, though. Group bookings are available in the mornings; students will be able to choose their own
“spooky,” a small pumpkin. Face painting, story time, and refreshments are included, as well.
On October 16, 6000 pumpkins will arrive, and the Patch will open at noon
the next day. This site sells homemade pumpkin bread, decorative gourds, and
decorated pumpkins, in addition to the pumpkins scattered about the grounds.
On Saturday, October 30, they will have special afternoon events and entertainment. Truck or Treat begins at 5:00 p.m. on Halloween. Pumpkin Patch
hours are 9:00 a.m. to dusk, Monday through Saturday, and noon to dusk on
Sunday. Located at 3245 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey. (504)366-0123. [email protected]
The Rhythm & Boos Festival, hosted by West Jefferson Hospital, benefits their pediatric services. All proceeds from the food and beverages support
the only pediatric presence on the West Bank. Admission is free. Open from
11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday, October 30, 2010. Located at West Jefferson
Medical Center, 920 Avenue B, Marrero—behind West Jefferson Hospital. Bands
include: August Rush, (11:30 AM to 1:30 PM), Burgundy (2:00 to 4:00 PM),
The Top Cats (4:30 to 6:30 PM), Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters (7:00
to 10:00 PM).
Your special pumpkin is out there, waiting for you—or soon will be. Have
a fun and safe Halloween.
S
Farmer’s
Markets
Other places to purchase your
special pumpkin include the following:
George Brooks Farmers
Market-Roadside Stand
755 Behrman Hwy.
7 days/week 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
May-January
Oranges, satsumas, tangerines,
lemons, strawberries, cabbage,
cauliflower, collards, cucumbers,
eggplant, mustard greens, okra,
snapbeans, tomatoes, turnips,
yellow squash, zucchini
Karen Ramsey (504) 656-2677
Golden Harvest Produce #1
Roadside Stand
1628 Barataria Blvd.
7 days/week 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Year-round
Variety of fruits & vegetables in
season, plus honey
Edward Woods (504) 328-1998
Gretna Farmers’ Market
Huey P. Long Ave.
(Between 3rd and 4th Streets)
Sat. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Year-round
Variety of fruits & vegetables
in season
Marcia Madere-Market Coordinator
(504) 362-8661
Westwego Farmers & Fisheries
Market
484 Sala Ave.
(Corner of 4th St. and Sala Ave.)
Tues. 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Sat.
8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Year-round
Variety of fruits & vegetables
in season ✴
15
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Gretna Police Department Offers
Tips to Stay Safe this Halloween
s fall approachBY
es and stores
JOSEPH ELFER
begin to stock
Detective,
Gretna Police
their shelves with candy, trinkets and the
familiar black and orange Jack-o-lanterns,
we need to take time to ensure that the
most important element of this
Halloween season is taken care of, our
children. Halloween is one of the most
exciting times of the year for children, but
sometimes the most hectic for parents.
Nearly 94 percent of children between
the ages of four and twelve participate in
Halloween activities each year. The
Gretna Police Department would like to
remind parents to take a moment to consider basic safety precautions that will
make Halloween a safer night of fun.
Parents of trick-or-treating children
can get caught up in the fun and magic
that Halloween presents as well.
Sometimes this excitement can make parents forget some simple safety guidelines
that could help keep our children safe and
out of harm’s way. Having a fun and safe
Halloween with your kids will make the
experience memorable and worthwhile.
Here are 12 common-sense tips
that can help adults keep their kids safe
during their Halloween activities:
■ Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren’t going with them. Let
them know that they are to check in with
you every hour, by phone or by stopping
back at home. Make sure that they
know not to deviate from the planned
route so that you always know where they
will be.
■ Trick or treating isn’t what it used to
be. In most cities it’s not safe to let kids
walk the streets by themselves. Your best
bet is to make sure that an adult is going
with them. If you can’t take them yourself, see if another parent or two can.
■ Help your young child pick out or
make a costume that will be safe. Make
sure that it’s fire proof or treated with fire
retardant. If they are wearing a mask of
any kind, make sure that the eye holes are
large enough for good peripheral vision.
■ Know what other activities a child
may be attending, such as parties, school
or mall functions. If they are going to be
at a friend’s home, get the phone
number and make sure that you’ve met
the parents.
■ Make sure you set a time that your
kids should be home by. Make sure they
A
know how important it is for them to be
home on time or to call immediately if
something happens and they are going to
be delayed.
■ Kids will be kids. Explain to kids of
all ages the difference between tricks and
vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may
seem funny but they need to know the
other side of the coin as well, that clean
up and damages can ruin Halloween
for everyone. If they are caught vandalizing, make them clean up the mess
they’ve made.
■ Some sick people find Halloween to
be an opportunity to hurt cats. Explain to
your kids that animal cruelty of any kind
is not acceptable. Kids may already know
this, but stress the point that it’s not acceptable behavior. Make sure that they
know that harming animals is not only
morally wrong but punishable by law and
will not be tolerated.
■ Serve your kids a filling meal before
trick or treating and they won’t be as
tempted to eat any candy before they bring
it home for you to check. Check your local grocery store or craft store for
Halloween cookbooks full of tasty treats
on a horror theme for both kids and adults.
■ Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher
knife or a pitchfork, that the tips
are smooth and flexible enough to not
cause injury if fallen on. Make sure
that costumes won’t get in the way when
they are walking, which could cause them
to trip.
■ Teach your kids about not getting into
stranger’s cars or talking to strangers, no
matter what the person says to them.
Explain to them as simply as you can that
some adults are bad and want to hurt children, that they should never go into a
house that they don’t know, get into a car
or go anywhere with a stranger. Also, tell
them what to do should this happen, to
scream as loud as they can to draw attention and to run away as fast as they can
to someplace safe.
■ Be sure to show your children how
to cross a street properly. They should always look both ways before crossing the
street and should only cross at corners or
crosswalks. Make sure that if you have
more than one child, they know to take
the hand of the younger child when they
cross a street.
■ As bad as it sounds, this is just a fact
of life now. Get on the internet and check
your local state website for sex offenders.
Almost every state has one; just do a
search for your state sex offender site.
Look up your zip code and it should have
a list of registered offenders in your area
that includes street addresses. Make
sure that your kids stay away from
these houses!
Here are just a few tips for the children that will make their Halloween experience a safe and memorable one:
■ Never, ever go into a stranger’s house
or even ring their door for treats unless
your parents are with you and say that it’s
okay. There are some people in life that
aren’t very nice to kids and you have to
be careful. Always make sure that your
mom or dad is within sight when you go
out trick-or-treating.
■ Be careful when you cross a street.
Make sure to look in both directions and
make sure that there are no cars coming.
If you have a little brother or sister with
you, take their hand and help them get
across the street, too. If the street has a
stop light, wait until the cross walk light
tells you that it’s okay to cross now, but
still check before you cross, look
both ways.
■ If you are an older kid or young teen,
and going out with friends, make sure that
your parents know where you are going
and who you are going with. This may
seem like a pain but they are your parents
and they love you. They just want you to
be safe.
■ If you can drive and are taking a
bunch of friends to a party, make sure that
Continued to next page
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Following a Few Simple
Safety Steps Can Keep
Halloween a Sweet Treat
alloween is quickly approaching and many shoppers are already
looking for the newest costumes and decorations. In fact, last year, there were 36 million
potential “trick-or-treaters” between the ages of five
and 13. Despite the downturn in the economy, the
National Retail federation estimated last year that
Americans spent an average of more than $66 on
BY DR. DAVID
Halloween supplies.
HEITMEIER
“By taking a few simple steps, this Halloween can
Contributing
be a holiday filled with treats,” said Hugh R. Parry, presWriter
ident and CEO of Prevent Blindness America.
“Nothing is scarier than spending Halloween in the emergency room.”
The following tips will help you to enjoy a safe and happy holiday
this month:
■ Always wear hypoallergenic make-up. Adults should apply the
make-up and remove it with cold cream or eye make-up remover instead
of soap. Follow product guidelines about applying product directly around
the eyes.
■ False eyelashes should only be applied and removed according to the
manufacturer’s instructions on the products package.
■ Avoid costumes with masks, wigs, floppy hats or eye patches that block
vision. Tie hats and scarves securely so they won’t slip over children’s eyes.
■ Avoid costumes that drag on the ground to prevent tripping or falling.
Do not use roller blades or ride a bike, scooter or skateboard while wearing a costume.
■ Avoid pointed props such as spears, swords or wands.
■ Wear bright, reflective clothing or decorate costumes and bags with
reflective tape/patches. Carry a bright flashlight to improve visibility.
■ Always accompany children while trick-or-treating. Only go to houses you are familiar with.
■ Carefully examine all trick-or-treat items for signs of tampering before allowing children to eat them. Inspect any toys or novelty items received by kids age three and younger as they may pose a choking hazard.
■ Jack-o-lanterns should be placed in areas where trick-or-treaters or
Halloween party guests won’t be able to trip over them or have costumes
brush up against them. All tripping hazards should be removed from sidewalks and porches.
Please remember that it is illegal to purchase cosmetic contact lenses without a prescription. Because any contact lens is considered a medical device, only an eye care professional can ensure that the lenses are
used and cared for properly. Misuse of lenses can result in bacterial infections, swelling, eye pain, sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis (pink eye),
corneal scratches, corneal ulceration, and loss of clarity. If left untreated, these conditions can result in permanent eye
damage and loss of sight.
For more information visit www.preventblindness.org. ✴
————————————————————————————————
The preceding article, brought to you by Dr. David Heitmeier, was a news
release from Prevent Blindness America. For further questions please contact Heitmeier, Armani, Langhetee and Cangelosi Medical and Surgical
Eyecare at (504) 368-7081.
H
Continued from previous page
you have enough gas to get there. You
don’t want to run out on a dark street, all
alone, like a bad horror movie!
■ Vandalism is never cool! Throwing
eggs at cars and houses is not cool.
Someone has to clean it up and it could
be you, if you get caught. You can also be
arrested and punished as a juvenile. So,
don’t think that it’s fun only if you can get
away with it. It’s never the right thing to
do! Think about how bad you would feel
if someone did that to your house.
Please have fun on Halloween but re-
member to be safe. Remember to act
responsibly and enjoy yourself.
Halloween is a fun time of year for
kids, but it’s no fun to get hurt. Give
your kids some precious Halloween
memories that they’ll have for life.
Make Halloween a fun, safe and
happy time for your kids and they’ll carry on the tradition that you taught them
to their own families some day! ✴
——————————————————
Detective Joseph Elfer is Director of
Training for the Gretna Police
Department
17
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
19
A Few Ghost Stories for the Season
t’s not quite
BY
Halloween yet, but
JOE DARBY
because Halloween
Contributing
candy and scary house
Writer
decorations have been
on sale in all the drugstores for weeks, I’m
going to tell you some ghost stories.
One of these stories comes from my
own experience, something that I saw in
a very old French Quarter apartment
many years ago. Now I wouldn’t swear on
my life that it wasn’t a hallucination, but
it certainly scared the bejeebers out of me
at the time. The other stories were told
to be by people that I completely trust,
relatives and other very level-headed sorts
of folks.
Let me say first that I’m generally
skeptical about ghost stories, particularly
the kind you see on television shows like
“Haunted New Orleans” or “Haunted
Charleston.” But what I saw was a profound experience for me. Here’s
what happened.
In 1966, just one year after I’d begun
working for the daily newspaper, I was living at 521 St. Louis Street. That’s between Decatur and Chartres streets, for
you people who don’t get down to the
quarter too often. A half block from the
Napoleon House is another way of locating it.
Anyway, it’s a typically great old
Vieux Carre building. It was built about
1808, I believe and was reputed to be the
home of the first American mayor of New
Orleans. An elderly landlady lived in the
part of the structure that faced the
street. To the side of that, a carriageway
led to a huge courtyard, surrounded on
two sides by apartments that were servants’ quarters years ago.
I lived in a second-floor apartment,
to the right of the courtyard as you entered from the street, Apartment 11 if I
remember correctly.
One night in the spring, I went
straight home after getting off work at 11
p.m., rather than accompanying my fellow reporters to have a few beers at the
New Orleans Press Club, as was my usual habit. (A quick aside here — the Press
Club was in a building at the corner of
Chartres and Bienville streets. You could
get a 16-ounce draft beer for 25 cents.
We complained when the prices were
raised to 30 cents.)
But, to return to the ghost story, I settled into my single bed in the narrow bedroom, read for a while and then put the
light out to go to sleep. I was lying on my
stomach, with my head facing out toward
the room. I was getting sleepy and my
I
eyes were closed but for some reason I
of time that I saw the figure, plus its slow,
opened them.
deliberate movements, leads me to
My head was right on the edge of the
believe that it may, in fact, have
bed and was kind of angled down so that
been supernatural.
when I opened my eyes I was looking
I later learned that in the 1910s, the
more toward the floor than out toward
house was used as a brothel. Storyville
the middle of the room. What I saw froze
had been shut down in 1917 and a lot of
my heart and everything else.
houses in the upper quarter served as
I saw the lower part of what seemed
new residences for the dispersed ladies
to be a slightly glowing, transparent
of the evening. The skirt or petticoat that
woman, standing right next to the bed.
the woman wore seemed to be of that peI saw her dress, or
riod. Could she have
perhaps a petticoat,
been a girl killed in
I saw the lower part
her legs and shoes. As
that room by a cusI stared in disbelief,
of what seemed to be tomer? I don’t know.
not daring to look up
I never saw
a slightly glowing,
to see what the rest of
her again and it was
transparent woman,
her looked like, the
only a couple of
figure silently turned
months later that I
standing right next
and took a couple of
moved to an apartto the bed. I saw her
steps away from the
ment in Gretna bedress, or perhaps a
bed, then turned
cause
I’d
again to face me.
accumulated
so
petticoat, her legs
Because she was
many parking tickets
and shoes. As I
a little farther back, I
on St. Louis Street.
stared in disbelief,
could see more of
If I’d seen my visitor
her, but I was still
again, however, my
not daring to look
too scared to look up
exit would have
up to see what the
and see the rest of
been even sooner.
rest of her looked
her. That would have
I visited New
made everything too
Orleans
not long ago
like, the figure
real. And suppose, I
and walked by 521
silently turned and
believe I thought, she
St. Louis. On antook a couple of
doesn’t have a head,
other visit about a
or there’s a knife or
year ago, the apartsteps away from the
something sticking
ments were being
bed, then turned
in it?
renovated but now
again to face me.
Being a typical
all work seems to
old French Quarter
have stopped and
apartment, the floorthe building appears
boards always squeaked when someone
to be completely vacant.
walked over them, but my midnight visThe second story comes from my
itor did not make a sound as she moved
dear late mother, as level-headed a lady
across my bedroom. My heart was
as you’d ever want to meet. Mother lived
pounding and I was too afraid to move
for a time when she was a little girl on
so the only thing I could think of doing
Race Street in New Orleans, near the
was to close my eyes as tightly as I could
lovely Coliseum Square.
and just lie there.
She, her parents and siblings slept
When I reopened them, perhaps 30
upstairs and would often hear the crashseconds later, she was gone. I turned on
ing of dishes in the downstairs kitchen.
my bedside lamp, looked around and saw
But when they investigated, the dishes
nothing but my familiar surroundings. I
were invariably neatly stacked and put
got out of bed, turned on every light in
away. Then one day, Mother’s father
the apartment — there were only three
asked her to get him some socks from his
rooms, bedroom, living room and kitchen,
bedroom. As she went down the hall she
plus a bath — as my pulse rate slowly repassed the room that she slept in, hapturned to normal. Having nothing
pened to look into it and saw a strange
stronger in the kitchen, I drank a Cocaman bending over her bed. As she
cola for some reason and sat up in the livstopped in horror, he slowly straightened
ing room for a while.. After some hours
up and turned toward her.
I was able to get to sleep.
She naturally ran downstairs screamNow as I said before, I can’t swear
ing and when Grampa accompanied
it wasn’t all a hallucination. But the length
her back upstairs, she said, there was
nothing to be seen. But the noises of
crashing dishes continued. They were
renting the house and later moved out.
I think one of the most convincing
kind of ghost stories is when more than
one person has the same experience simultaneously. More than 20 years ago,
my daughters’ grandfather, my fatherin-law, passed away. In his last days he
was confined to bed and rang a little bell
when he needed something. Not long after his passing, my daughters were in the
house when they both clearly heard the
ringing of the bell.
It wasn’t like one said to the other,
"Did you hear that?" They both heard the
bell and looked at each other in astonishment at the same instant.
Another level-headed, stable lady
that I know lives in Natchitoches. She
was visiting a historic house that is
home to a women’s club. Just before the
group was getting ready to depart the
house, they all saw a shadow glide
across an upstairs wall. "We almost
knocked each other down trying to get
down the stairs," she said.
I’m quite skeptical that a ghost can
make something move. But another
calm, collected lady, who is curator at a
historic building in Mansfield, Louisiana,
told The Wife and me this story. She
works at the Mansfield Female College
State Historic Site, a building that was
a prominent college for women from before the Civil War to the early 1900s. The
building was used as a hospital for many
of the wounded after the bloody Battle
of Mansfield in 1864.
She said the buildings’ doors are often flung open, even though they are
locked. But the most amazing thing, at
least to me, was that one day she heard
a terrible crash from the library. She
looked in and one whole shelf had been
completely cleared of books, which
were scattered all across the floor. No one
had been in the room.
Now one might say that perhaps one
or two books could have slipped off the
shelf. But all of them, to be violently flung
about the room? So there are my little
ghost stories for the upcoming
Halloween. I love true ghost stories. Do
you have any? ✴
——————————————————
Joe Darby, a former longtime West Bank resident and a newspaper reporter for more
than 40 years, retired to Natchitoches, La.,
in 2006. He writes for the West Bank
Beacon on experiences common to all of us,
no matter where we live. He can be reached
at [email protected].
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
CRIMINAL JUSTICE FORUM
Article 893
Removing a Felony Conviction
n Louisiana certain first offenders are allowed the opportunity to remove certain felony convictions from their record. Louisiana Code of
Criminal Procedure Article 893 provides that a defendant who successfully completes the terms of his probation may remove the conviction from his/her record. Not all felony offenses can be removed. You
may not plead guilty under Article 893 for: 1) crimes of violence (such
BY
as murder, rape, armed robbery, aggravated battery, kidnapping, or
JOSEPH A.
MARINO, III
aggravated burglary); 2) sexual offenses involving a minor, or; 3) drug
Contributing
violations (punishable by more than five years in prison) which include
Writer
distribution offenses and possession with intent to distribute offenses.
The last item includes all “Controlled Dangerous Substances”
including marijuana.
Here is the process: a first offender enters a plea of guilty (under Article 893) and the
Court defers the sentence and places the defendant on a period of probation with certain
terms and conditions. This means that the Court gives the defendant a jail sentence, but withholds it and gives the offender the opportunity to be placed on probation. If the offender does
not abide by the conditions of probation, his probation will be revoked and he will serve the
jail term thereby losing his chance to have the conviction removed. As a practical matter, the
term of probation is between one and five years. A judge can include as part of the probation
certain conditions like community service, fines and court costs, and counseling or substance
abuse treatment. This agreement to allow a defendant to remove his conviction must be included in the plea agreement and waiver of rights form at the time of the plea of guilty. In
Jefferson Parish all defendants who are accepted into the drug court diversion program are
eligible to get the benefit of Article 893 upon their satisfactory completion of the program.
At the conclusion of the probation the defendant has to file a motion to be heard in
court. This motion is titled “Motion to Set Aside Conviction.” Many first offenders are not
aware that even if they entered their plea under Article 893 and completed the probation that
the conviction is not automatically removed from their record. There must be a hearing before
the sentencing judge to accomplish this. Another important note regarding Article 893 is that
even if the first offender enters the plea under this section and completes all of the specified
terms and conditions of his probation, the removal of his conviction is not mandatory. It is
at the discretion of the sentencing judge after a contradictory hearing involving the district
attorney. The article reads “the court may set aside the conviction.” Grounds for denying the
removal of the conviction can include being arrested for another crime even if that charge
is dropped.
At a hearing to set aside the conviction the court can grant the defendant’s motion to set
aside the conviction and dismiss the prosecution. It has the same effect as an acquittal, which
is a “not guilty” verdict. The felony conviction is thereby removed. Article 893 allows first offenders the chance to put their lives back on the right track. However, if the same defendant
is arrested in the future the conviction can be used against him under the habitual offender
law and he can be prosecuted as second offender. ✴
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Joseph A. Marino, III is an AV rated criminal defense attorney and his firm, Marino Criminal Law, LLC, is located in Gretna. You can visit his website @ www.MarinoCriminalLaw.com
I
21
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Update
onstruction of
BY
the massive
JIM LESTELLE
Gulf IntraContributing
coastal Waterway
Writer
(GIWW) Western
Closure Complex is
now almost 40 percent complete overall, and conditions look good for the
project to provide interim 100-year
protection from storm surge by the
height of next year’s hurricane season.
That’s according to the Southeast
Louisiana Flood Protection Authority,
which provides flood protection for
nearly all land on the West Bank of the
Mississippi River in Jefferson and
Orleans parishes as well as portions of
eastern St. Charles Parish and
Plaquemines Parish.
The complexity and scope of the
project are impressive: one of the
largest pumping stations in the world,
and the largest in the U.S.; sector gates
that allow maritime traffic on the
GIWW, Harvey Canal and Algiers
Canal to move unimpeded when storm
surges do not threaten; floodwalls
along the Bayou aux Carpes marshland,
along with berms and other protective
structures; a new earthen levee to tie
the complex to existing levees to the
east and the realignment of Bayou
C
Road; and five sluice gates that allow
clude the following:
■ Pump station: Concrete piles and
water to flow from the protected side
base structures are complete. A total of
of the structure to the unprotected side
seven of the
during normal op11 massive
erations.
pumps have
In all, the
. . .conditions look good for
been delivcost
of
the
the project to provide
ered, and
GIWW complex
interim
100-year
protection
several are in
is approximately
the process
$1
billion.
from storm surge by the
of being inEmployment,
height of next year’s
stalled. The
which stands at
hurricane season.
11 engines to
roughly 800, will
power those
reach 900 at its
pumps have
peak. When inbeen tested and await installation. A toterim protection is finally provided in
tal of 11 “flower pots,” which allow wa2011, with full completion by summer
ter to be discharged from pumps
2012, large portions of Orleans,
efficiently, are on site, with five curJefferson and Plaquemines that for
rently installed. In addition, all formed
decades have wanted and deserved to
suction intakes, which gather water
live free from concern about storm
so it is available to the pumps, have
surges will be protected.
been installed.
South of the point where the
■ Navigable floodgate: A 225-foot
Harvey and Algiers canals meet, the
sector gate that will be closed to preGIWW complex removes 26 miles of
vent surges from ever reaching the
existing levees along both canals from
Harvey and Algiers canals is approxithe risk of surge. It also positions exmately 40 percent complete.
isting and recently fortified surge con■ Floodwalls: Along the Bayou aux
trol projects as back-up protection,
Carpes marshland, floodwalls with
further safeguarding communities to
berms and other protective structures
the north, west and east.
are roughly 35 percent complete, inHighlights of recent progress in-
cluding dredging, pile driving, base
slabs and more.
■ Sluice gates: All 92 piles have
been completed. The five gates will allow water to flow from the protected
side of the structure to the unprotected side during normal operations.
■ Earthen levee, Bayou Road: A
new earthen levee that ties the
complex to existing levees is near
completion, and the realignment of
Bayou Road around the levee has
been designed, with construction to begin soon.
Most of the authority’s employees,
commissioners and executive staff live
on the West Bank and say they are
honored to be members of the team
that’s helping to make this happen.
The authority’s partners, which include the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the Coastal Protection
and Restoration Authority as well as
other agencies both state and federal,
take great pride in the work that’s being done. This project and countless
others under way from the westernmost
portions of the area to Oakville will tie
in to form one of the most critical parts
of the larger West Bank and Vicinity
Hurricane Protection Project authorized by Congress. ✴
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
VETERAN SALUTE
Darrel R. Beerbohm
Extensive Career in Coast Guard
arrel Raymond Beerbohm, the son of Edna and Harry
BY
Beerbohm, was born in 1938 in America’s heartland in
FRANK J.
Beemer, Nebraska, a tiny town of only 600 residents. He
BORNE, JR.
graduated from Beemer High School in 1956.
Editor
After high school and three months working on Nebraska farmland, Beerbohm enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. He
went to boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey, and was schooled in New London,
Connecticut. Thereafter, he was stationed in San Francisco, where in 1959 he met
Lorna Mebine. They married in 1960 and will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
on October 9th.
Throughout the 1960s and until his retirement in 1976, Beerbohm was stationed
on America’s west, east, and southern coasts. In 1960, while stationed in San Francisco,
Beerbohm’s unit was the first on the scene when three men broke out of Alcatraz
prison. He was sent to Alcatraz to pick up several prison guards to conduct an extensive search of the area surrounding the island. They searched for weeks for the
three missing convicts. The men were never found, and Beerbohm believes they did
successfully escape because their bodies were never found in San Francisco Bay.
More than a decade later, in 1971, Beerbohm
returned to adventure at Alcatraz when a group of
native American Indians had taken control of the island for nearly two years. He was serving as commander of the U.S.C.G. Cutter Point Heyer, used
for law enforcement and search and rescue operations, when President Richard Nixon tired of the
standoff and ordered U.S. marshals to reclaim the
island. Beerbohm was with the marshals who traveled to the island to end the conflict. They proceeded
to sail past the island as though headed to the Golden
Gate Bridge, then made a hard turn toward Alcatraz.
The marshals jumped from the ship when it docked and began making arrests.
Thankfully, no one was injured as the Indians surrendered peacefully.
Also while in San Francisco, Beerbohm served as a side boy (manning the rails)
for Russian President Nikita Khrushchev and for President (formerly General) Charles
De Gaulle of France. This was a traditional way of welcoming visiting heads of state
to the United States. He also recalls a dramatic rescue of an Air Force jet pilot who
had to ditch his plane in waters off the coast of San Francisco. Beerbohm’s crew arrived just as the plane was becoming submerged. Another highlight of Beerbohm’s
service in California was when his crew assisted with creating a dam to prevent a
town from being flooded due to a broken levee near Isleton, California, a city in the
delta area near Sacramento.
Later, Beerbohm was transferred to Boston, Massachusetts, for one and a half years
after his promotion to Chief Warrant Officer, where he served on the U.S.C.G.C.
Sherman, patrolling and performing naval exercises in the North Atlantic Ocean. He
traveled to Greenland and to Europe, where he visited Germany, England, and Denmark.
In 1974, Beerbohm was transferred to New Orleans, where he served as a marine inspector primarily on small ships and barges. He and Lorna settled in Terrytown,
where they have lived ever since. Beerbohm retired from the Coast Guard in 1976
and entered the private sector, where he worked for nearly two decades.
Following his military service, Darrel worked for McDermott, International, Inc.,
for a few years then taught navigation, plotting, and rules of the road for boaters for
four years to those seeking captain’s licenses. Thereafter, he worked for many years
for Seahorse Marine as an agent and later as a general manager. Later, he worked
for National Marine, a barge company, as a maintenance manager.
The Beerbohms have two children, David Beerbohm and Susan Beerbohm
Crawford. Beerbohm enjoys politics and has worked in numerous political campaigns.
He has been a member of the Krewe of Alla, the West Bank Quarterback Club, the
Mark Twain Club, the Marine Club of New Orleans, the American Legion, the
Military Officers Association, and the Port of New Orleans Port Safety Council.
Beerbohm recently was appointed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to
the Crescent City Connection Oversight Authority and served on the West
Jefferson Levee District until that body was reorganized following Hurricane
Katrina. He has been appointed to parish government committees by Jefferson
Parish Councilmen Chris Roberts and John Young and Parish President Aaron
Broussard. The committees have included the Public Service Committee, the
Coastal Erosion Committee, the Marine Fisheries Advisory Board, and the
Jefferson Parish Levee Committee.
Thank you, Darrel, for your service to our country and our community, and
congratulations on your golden wedding anniversary! ✴
D
23
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
25
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
“And I say to myself…”
T
here’s an adage
BY
that says, “If you MARIE GIARDINA
can read this,
Contributing
thank a teacher.” But
Writer
if you are my age,
then we can modify this just a bit for this
article and say, “If you are old enough
to remember the Jefferson Parish Health
Unit, thank a nurse or doctor.” I also remember the school nurse, though only
schools that had very large populations had their very own school nurse.
The rest of us shared a school nurse with
other schools in the area. For a farm girl
like myself, those two places, the Health
Unit and the school nurse, were the
sources of vaccinations, vision and
hearing screenings, and a few other services that helped us to be protected from
poor eyesight or hearing and such major evils as small pox, polio, diphtheria,
and a host of other life threatening ills.
By the time I became a teacher, the
Health Units had almost vanished, and
the school nurse served in a more limited way than mass vaccinations or
screenings.
In the past twenty years across the
nation and in the past eleven years here
in Jefferson Parish, a new and better
health guardian has risen—the School
Based Health Center (SBHC). SBHC’s
are meant to complement a school
nurse where one exists. The SBHC exceeds the limited scope of care that a
nurse can give. The SBHC is staffed
with a part-time physician, a medical assistant, a nurse practitioner, a registered
nurse, a social worker, and a data coordinator. Armed with these professionals, the SBHC is prepared to
provide comprehensive, affordable
health services to students at the home
based school and to students in nearby
schools who can be transported to the
center. These centers provide treatment for minor illnesses and injury, routine vaccinations and health screenings,
comprehensive physicals for extracurricular activities, behavioral health
counseling for troubled students, treatments and monitoring for students
with chronic or acute diseases such as
diabetes, asthma, and obesity, required
vaccines for college, and other beneficial services all intended to enhance
school attendance and the learning environment of the school. These many
services are available to all students at
the school provided that the written consent of the parent or legal guardian is given. There is no out of pocket cost to the
parent or child for these services; however, the center does request that the
SBHC be given permission to bill
Medicaid or other insurance if the
child has either.
Needless to say, this kind of service
requires a lot of people, resources,
JP School Based Health Center Advisory Committee Community Representative Margie Camardelle and Assistant Director Angie Ruiz, LCSW with members of the staff of
the West Jefferson High SBHC. Pictured from left to right are Sandy Boudreaux, Data Coordinator; Margie Camardelle, Community Representative; Monica Perry, Medical
Assistant; Elizabeth Jackel, Nurse Practitioner; Amy Ruiz, LCSW, Assistant Director JP SBHC; Amy Hebert, Registered Nurse.
Photo: Maureen Theriot
agencies, funding sources, coordination,
teamwork, and community support.
The infrastructure of this service is huge
and the scope of it exceeds the limited
space of this article, but funding and approval derive from a variety of sources
– public, private and community. Here’s
a profile of the support:
Louisiana Public Health Institute,
School Health Connection, W. K.
Kellogg Foundation, Adolescent School
Health Program (LA Office of Public
Health), Baptist Community Ministries,
LSU Family Practice , Jefferson Parish
Human Services Authority, West
Jefferson Medical Center, LA Assembly
on School-Based Health Care, Jefferson
Parish Public School System, Ochsner
Health Systems, Tulane University
Department of Family Medicine.
According to Angie Ruiz, who coordinates the Jefferson Parish School
Based Health Centers, “The Centers see
students with everything from minor
aches and pains to major health issues
that could lead to a very long and difficult life.” Ruiz added, “For some we are
their only source for medical and mental health care. There isn’t a day that you
don’t realize how much of an impact you
are having on our youngest and most
vulnerable citizens.” The Jefferson
Parish SBHC’s welcome donations to
help match grants. Businesses or organizations who wish to help should
contact Angie Ruiz at 504.737.5523.
Presently on the West Bank, there
are School Based Health Centers at
West Jefferson High School, John Ehret
High, and Joshua Butler Elementary,
with van service provided for Worley,
Pitre and Myrtle C. Thibodeaux
Elementary School. A very new and welcoming facility, funded by the Kellogg
Foundation, was opened in March of
2010 on the West Jefferson High School
Campus. The facility houses four exam
rooms, a fully functional laboratory for
tests, a doctor’s office, nurse’s office,
business office, large social worker office, kitchen area, and a lobby/ foyer
waiting area.
Margie Camardelle, who serves on
the Advisory Council as the Community
Representative of the West Jeff SBHC,
rates this committee as one of the
most important among the many committees she has ever served. “Health is
so important,” she said, “and when
you hear that because of the SBHC, the
student who was falling asleep almost
daily after lunch is now in treatment for
diabetes instead of being in the discipline office as a behavior problem, you
begin to see just how vital these services
are. There is no telling how long the condition would have gone untreated.”
Sandy Boudreaux, Data Coordinator for
the WJSBHC reports that the Center
remains very busy daily, often seeing 25
to 30 students per day. The staff and atmosphere of the West Jefferson SBHC
are testimony to JP SBHC’s slogan:
“Healthy Children Make Better
Students and Better Students Make
Better Communities.”
Research studies have shown that
SBHC’s are a powerful way to address
child and teen health problems. In addition to health benefits to the individual, they reduce school absenteeism and
expensive emergency room care. They
enhance the school’s educational mission as well as the overall health and
safety of all the students and people of
a school. SBHC’s benefit working parents by reducing the amount of work
time they have to miss for the routine
health care of their children.
I am sure that the West Jefferson
SBHC and each and every one of the JP
SBHC’s count many small, daily success
stories. I will recount one of my favorites
taken from the SBHC /LPHI website:
A student was close to failing out of
school because of excessive absences.
After counseling the student, the school
determined that he was missing school
because he was caring for his mother
who was dying of cancer. The student
was set up with home schooling by our
psychiatrist and social worker, but came
to the health center weekly for counseling and medication checks. He ended up graduating, but he didn’t want to
go to the big graduation. The health center did a special ceremony in the health
center with the family, and the principal came to the health center and gave
his diploma out to him. He would have
surely dropped out in 11th grade due to
absences. His mother who was dying
was very proud of her son and grateful
to the health center for individualizing
treatment and school for her son.
And I say to myself, what a wonderful,
healthier world! ✴
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
HISTORY
JEFFERSON PROFILE
Anthony A. Caramonta
nthony Adam “Tony” Caramonta, Sr., was born on July 25, 1918, to Mary
BY
Michelli and Chris Samuel Caramonta. He married Lucy Guarino and had
FRANK J.
one son, Anthony A., Jr. He was a native of Harvey and a longtime resiBORNE, JR.
dent of Marrero.
Editor
Caramonta graduated from Gretna High School and earned his Bachelor of
Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He began teaching in the Jefferson
Parish Public School System in 1939.
A Democrat, Caramonta’s political career began in 1952 with a failed bid at election to Jefferson
Parish Clerk of Court. He placed third of four candidates vying to replace longtime Clerk of Court
Victorin A. Pitre, receiving only 17 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary election.
In 1959, Caramonta placed first in a field of eight candidates vying for the District 2 seat on the
Jefferson Parish Council, which had
been established the year before after 133 years of governance by police jury. He received 26 percent of
the vote to Sidney P. Pertuit’s 18
percent in the Democratic primary.
In the Democratic run-off,
Caramonta received more than 54
percent to Pertuit’s 45 percent, then
he easily defeated Republican
Loretta Byrnes in the general election with almost 96 percent.
Caramonta was trounced
in his bid for re-election in the
Democratic primary in 1963 when
James J. LaForest, Jr., who had
challenged him four years earlier,
received more than 61 percent of
the vote.
In 1967, Caramonta attempted to return to the District 2
seat when LaForest chose not to
seek re-election. However, Charles
M. “Chuck” Miller, Sr., placed first in
Photo courtesy 1961 Jefferson Yearly Review.
the Democratic primary with 43 percent of the vote to Caramonta’s 35 percent and defeated him in the Democratic run-off with almost
54 percent. In 1979, Caramonta opposed incumbent Jefferson Parish West Bank Councilman At-Large
(Districts 1 and 2) Lloyd F. Giardina. Giardina easily defeated his four challengers in the primary election with almost 62 percent of the vote. Caramonta received only 13 percent in that election.
Caramonta later worked for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office as a bailiff in Louisiana’s
Twenty-Fourth Judicial District Court. His civic and professional interests included the Louisiana
Teachers’ Retirement Association, the Knights of Columbus Immaculata Council No. 4222, and the
Fraternal Order of Police.
Caramonta died on April 15, 2009, and was interred in Westlawn Memorial Park
in Terrytown. ✴
A
Gretna High School Remembered
plaque recently was dedicated to the memory of Gretna High School, once located on
stately Huey P. Long Avenue in Gretna at 10th Street, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the spectacular blaze that destroyed the historic three-story brick structure completed in 1928. The plaque is located in the median of Huey P. Long Avenue at 10th street amidst
an arrangement of brick pavers, tiles, and landscaping adjacent to a marble monument dedicated
to the school’s memory years ago. That marble monument was provided by the Gretna High
School Class of 1955. Accent lighting will illuminate the area at night. More than 50 Gretnaites,
many who attended Gretna High
School, attended the ceremony
on September 8.
“This was a fitting way to
mark the area’s historic significance to Gretna,” said
Councilwoman Belinda Cambre
Constant. “Most of Gretna’s students graduated at Gretna High
School until 1955.” Constant indicated that the group of alumni
that attended the ceremony remain a very close-knit group of
people. “They shared stories that
involved all aspects of their lives.
Everything revolved around the
school,” she said. “The community did everything together. It wasn’t just about education.” The
GHS Class of 1955 spearheaded this effort to dress up the median that includes their earlier
monument to the school. They approached Gretna officials for the Huey P. Long Avenue master
plan to include some recognition of Gretna High School’s importance to the community.
At 9:43 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, 1975, Gretna police officers discovered fire at Gretna
Middle School, which previously had served as Gretna High School and Gretna Junior High
School. Gretna High School was closed in the 1950s when West Jefferson High School was
opened in Harvey.
Apparently arson was the cause as it was discovered that seven different fires had been set
in the building. More than 135 firefighters from various West Jefferson volunteer fire companies
bravely, yet unsuccessfully, battled the blaze that
completely destroyed the
school.
Thereafter, the
Jefferson Parish
School Board demolished the ruins and never
built anything on
the site. ✴
A
Brentwood
Subdivision
in Marrero, the Colony
subdivision in Harvey.
Models Open Daily.
328-2580
phone
366-3018
fax
27
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
J E F F E R S O N PA R I S H D E PA RTM E NT O F PA R K S & R E C R E ATI O N N E W S
JPRD Athletics Gives WB Residents a Reason to Cheer
nnual JPRD
BY
Cheerleader
CITA MARCHESE
Spirit Bowl Set
Contributing
Writer
for October 17th
Gerry Constant
announced that the Annual Spirit Bowl
Competition for all JPRD Westbank
Cheerleaders will fill the Alario Center in
Westwego on Sunday, October 17. Mark
your calendar now and show your spirit
by dressing to support your favorite playground. In addition to the cheerleader
awards, spirit awards are given throughout the event to the audience. If you’ve
never experienced this event before,
make this year a must!
For more information, contact your
neighborhood playground or call the
JPRD office at 349-5000.
■ JPRD Athletics is currently in the
middle of Football, Volleyball and
Cheerleading. The Football Westbank
Championship Games for ages nine-14
will be on Saturday, November 13 at West
Jefferson High School Hoss Memtsas
Stadium.
■ A Fall Softball League for Girls
ages nine-12 is forming at Terrytown
Playground right now.
Register directly at Terrytown weekdays between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. For
more information call Lillian Hennessey
A
at 364-3683.
Fall Boys Baseball Leagues are
forming at Oakdale Playground for ages
nine-10 and King’s Grant Playground and
PARD Playground for ages 11-12. A
parent or guardian must complete the registration form. For more information, stop
by the playground of choice and register
directly with the Staff. Details of the
leagues and schedules will be given out
upon registration.
Please note that Fall Baseball and
Softball Leagues may require travel.
■ Basketball Registration for boys
and girls ages six-17 begins at all JPRD
Playgrounds November 1. Just visit the
playground office to register. Remember
to bring proof of residence and $4 for insurance when registering.
■ Bernice Bordelon of the Greater
New Orleans Senior Olympics
(GNOSO) welcomes Janey Witt-Perez to
the position of Program Director. WittPerez is a retired Jefferson Parish
Employee in the Department of Parks and
Recreation and has been volunteering
with the Senior Olympics for many
years. She is replacing Dawn Caple.
Caple did an outstanding job for several
years as the Director and Witt-Perez stated that she has some mighty big shoes to
fill but will give it her all! Jane Marchese,
Volunteer Athletic Director for the JPRD
Westbank Golden Age Clubs is also
Volunteer Secretary on the Executive
Board for GNOSO and announced the
update to JPRD, as several hundred
Golden Age Club Members are active in
GNOSO.
The Senior Olympic Regional Games
will begin in January for ages 50 and up.
■ The JPRD Golden Age Clubs have
an Autumn Social, Volunteer Awards
Banquet and a Halloween Dance slated
for October in addition to their regular activities. If you are age 50 or over and want
to join, contact Gayle Dufour at 349-5000
Ext. 138.
■ Rose Scott is offering Holiday
Camps at PARD Playground in Marrero
for children ages six-12 over the
Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. It’s
not too early to register since space is limited. Call 349-5000 Ext. 132 or go to
www.jeffparish.net and then go to the
Recreation Westbank page.
■ If you want to get in better physical
condition before the holiday season approaches, call Dawn Lauland at 3495000 Ext. 130. Let her guide you to an
exercise program that will suit your needs
and work with your schedule. She has
over 30 years experience and will be more
than happy to meet with you by phone or
in person.
■ Rebelee Luke announced that her division for the mentally and physically challenged and the LC Club has been very
busy in preparation for their first ever
Holiday Crafting Bazaar on Saturday,
October 9, at the Terrytown Golden Age
Center. All items are handmade by the
participants. She said they are very excited
and hope that it will be successful
enough to become an annual event.
In addition to their regular classes, activities and the LC Club, they are also excited about the Ornament Class to make
decorations for their Christmas Tree in
the Oaks and the Annual Halloween
Dance. They love to wear costumes,
dance and have fun!
Mrs. Luke can be reached at 3495000 Ext 105.
■ Tameka Smith is happy to begin her
first session of programs since joining the
JPRD Leisure Service Staff this summer.
So far she has offered after school tutoring
classes, Family Movie Night and a children’s acting course called Fun with
Monologues. Smith hopes to boost community interest in the arts and get children to become more active and
committed in arts and academics while
incorporating fun and creativity. To contact Smith, call 349-5000 Ext. 134. ✴
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
R E C R E ATI O N
Girls Race Free in October
at Gretna BMX
ctober is “Girls Month” at Gretna BMX Raceway. Girls, trade in
BY
those skirts for some long pants, BMX is not just for boys anymore
LIZ MAVROMATIS
and in the month of October all girls race for FREE! As long as you
Contributing
come with long pants, a long sleeved shirt, and tennis shoes, the track can
Writer
supply anything and everything else you need. The racing bikes and helmets
are kept on the premises and volunteers are there to help get you set up. Of course these services
are for anyone wanting to give it a try, female or male, young or old.
Gretna BMX is a non-profit organization that is run by the PRA (Parent Riders Association), overseen by elected Board Members. Everyone is a volunteer. All money made is put into the track and
spent solely on the required items to maintain and effectively facilitate and operate the racetrack.
When driving by our track here in Gretna, which the ABA (American Bicycle Association) has rated
one of the top three tracks in the Central Region for the second year in a row, many may notice the flags
waving around the turns. And on any given Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, the track is filled with racers
of all ages from four- years-old to 66-years-old. While there have always been many male riders, we are
now noticing an increase in the number of female riders who are what we call “regulars”.
We have Sophia Mavromatis, age nine, who is
regularly seen racing against boys and collecting
quite an ensemble of trophies. She takes classical
ballet on Monday and Wednesday evenings and
trades her ballet slippers and hair bun for
her BMX shoes and helmet on Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday
for BMX riding. She has
quite a following at the
track these days, with
many of the cheers for her
coming from unfamiliar
voices in the stands.
We also have the fourteen-year-old identical twins,
who, because they are the
Sophie Mavromatis
same age and status, have to
compete against one another in all of the races. They
have the same haircuts, eyeglasses and jerseys. Besides their individual names on the back of their
kelly green jerseys that read Bria “The Barracuda” Rowley and Alexis “Slim Jim” Rowley, their number plates are the only thing that differentiates the
twins.
Then we have our most popular “Mom” who
rides, Hope Wilty. She, along with her son, Jake
Wilty, age six, who is an expert rider, are seen
cheering for each other. We can’t forget Matt Wilty,
or “Dad” as Jake calls him, on the track encouraging
them both. He is also the track director and one of
many volunteers who work together to keep the
races safe and running smoothly.
Besides all of our many “regulars” that race at
Gretna BMX, Labor Day’s three day weekend brought
competitors from all over the southeast area! People
came from as close as Denham Springs, Lafayette,
Lacomb, Houma, and Morgan City. They came from
as far as Fort Worth, Arlington, Magnolia, Crosby,
Tomball, and Pearland, Texas and one rider even
Bria and Alexis Rowley
came in from North Carolina. Other racers also came
from Madison, Brandon, and Ridgeland, Mississippi. In August we had a racer who was from New
Zealand! He complained a bit about the heat in the New Orleans area, but thanked us for our hospitality and for the great racing at Gretna BMX Raceway.
A very exciting event that was scheduled for September, but was postponed, is a clinic taking
place at our Gretna BMX track given by Dominique Daniels. The date will be available soon on the
website www.gretnabmx.com. She is the nationally ranked #1 Elite Women Series BMX racer!
Recently in Louisville, Kentucky she had a nearly perfect week of racing at the Grand National event,
which is one of the key events for Daniels to earn points to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. BMX is the
newest Olympic Sport, and we are proud to be able to offer this sport here at the Gretna BMX
Raceway and provide this clinic by an Olympic hopeful, such as Daniels. This is an incredible opportunity for the BMX racers in our community!
Thanks to all of the board members, volunteers, sponsors, racers and their families who have
continued to make our Gretna BMX Raceway the great success it is today! ✴
O
West Bank Offers Walking Trail Getaways
he first cool breath of evening is found in the air along the river, carrying the hymn that
chimes in the St. Joseph Church carillon tower. As the notes drift on the soft breeze, walkers, bikers, and lingerers enjoy the view of the crescent city skyline and of the buildings in
Old Gretna. This paved biking/walking trail winds between the ferry landings in Algiers and Gretna
under leafy river birches and is dotted with historical markers along the way.
The biking and walking paths of Jefferson Parish’s West Bank vary in nature. Some are
wheelchair accessible.
While getting up to the
levee trail will require assistance (due to the steep incline), the trail is paved.
Marrero’s Barataria
Preserve (a unit of the
Jean Lafitte National
Historical Park) features
the Palmetto Trail and the
Bayou Coquille Trail. The
first third of the Marsh
Overlook Trail is wheelchair
accessible, as well. These
boardwalk trails are accessible from the parking area
at the north trailhead (from
the Visitor’s Center), with
the Marsh Overlook Trail being an extension of the
Bayou Coquille Trail.
Other trails (not wheelchair accessible) include
The Plantation Trail that
runs north of the Barataria
Preserve’s picnic area
(south of the Visitor’s
Center); from the Old
Barataria Trail, hikers can
see the vestiges of the former plantation. Additionally,
the shorter Ring Levee Trail
and the Wood Duck Trail
radiate from this point.
The Grand Isle Birding
Trail, the first Louisiana bird
trail, is dotted with historical markers and has various parking sites. This
preserve contains a rare
ecosystem dominated by
live oak trees. The unusual
hardwoods of the woods at
the various sites, in combination with the wetland
marshes, provide premium
birding. For those who
merely enjoy a pleasant
walk, this trail also yields
great enjoyment. The
America’s Wetland Birding Trail crosses 22 parishes and includes the Grand Isle Loop. ✴
T
For more information, visit the following websites:
http://louisianatravel.com/louisiana-birding-trails
www.birdlouisiana.com
www.losbird.org
www.experiencejefferson.com/visitors/outdoors/nature-trails/
www.nps.gov/jela/upload/Barataria%20Preserve%20Trail%20Map.pdf
29
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Fall Outdoor Madness Begins
ctober, 2010
and I’m still the
eternal optimist,
in spite of the ecological blows our marshes
and its creatures susBY
GUY RALPH
tained in the last few
MCDONALD
years. It began with
Contributing
saltwater intrusion into
Writer
our estuaries - destroying habitat and eating up land at the rate
of about two football fields, maybe more,
each year. So far, effects from the British
Petroleum Oil Spill have contributed to fish
kills (algae blooms) an expanded dead zone
along our coast, contributing to the general public’s perception of tainted Louisiana
seafood, particularly oyster, blue crab and
finfish. School is still out on the unknowns
like oil dispersant effects, fiddler and
blue crab populations . . . the list goes on
and on. So, what do we do? Twiddle our
thumbs and boycott the marsh? No way!
It’s October, the beginning of marsh
saltwater madness that descends on bayou land around this time of year. Fish are
hungry. Upland bird populations are good,
teal ducks have arrived and the fall migration of “big ducks” and geese will follow. Tackle busting redfish taken in marsh
ponds are already sizzling on the grill and
I was able to purchase ½ bushel of number one blue crabs from Denny Higgins
Seafood in Lafitte. Wow! What a treat for
this old salt.
While he was out working for BP’s oil
cleanup operation, Denny Higgins’ wife
and son in law chipped in and worked their
seafood shop. Meanwhile, my shrimp
supplier, friend and fraternal member, Jules
Nunez Seafood Company, temporarily
leased his shrimp buying dock as a base
of operations for BP’s oil cleanup program.
That premise seems to be the general consensus and money-earning methodology
for most commercial seafood operators I
spoke with. The doom and gloom was evident in their faces when I tried to interview them, as were ordinary folk from
“Down the Bayou to up Front.” But this
writer says: let’s try to keep a happy face
and get on with the outdoor seasons and
do what we have to do to clean up our en-
O
vironment and maintain the way of life we
all love so dearly.
Let’s begin with inside recreational
saltwater fishing. Indeed, October is that
time of year we all look forward to. Since
the reopening of recreational fishing in the
Barataria Basin, fishers that I’ve talked with
said that brackish marsh pond fishing has
literally exploded. One of my saltwater angler friends said that he and his fishing
partner caught and released about 50 1315-inch redfish, which indicates that the
last two-year spawn was exceptional.
They did manage to keep about eight, 16inch and over redfish for the table.
Hunting Information
Hunting and recreational fishing licenses may be purchased by phone, toll-free
at 1-888-765-2602 or online at
www.wildlife license.com/la, using Visa or
MasterCard. An authorization number for
immediate use will be provided and licenses will be mailed to each licensee. A
convenience fee will be assessed. I recommend you pick up a copy of hunting
regulations at your sports outlets.
Saltwater Fishing Regulations
Remember: Black Drum, Redfish: 16inches minimum, five daily each per bag,
per person and possession; no more than
one over 27-inches for both species.
Flounder, Southern: 10 daily per person
for each consecutive day on water. Spotted
sea trout (speckled trout): 12-inch minimum, 25 daily per person with no more
than two 25-inches (we wish) in specified
areas. I recommend picking up a copy of
the 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations
at your favorite tackle store.
Let’s Set the Stage for the Season
It is early fall in Bayou Land. The first
Pacific front of humidity-reducing Pacific
air has just energized dormant outdoor
genes of Louisiana sportspersons. Duck
hunters busy themselves checking decoys,
making sure the pirogue and push pole are
in good repair. Duck blinds spruced up
with the traditional Roseau cane are not
recommended. Let’s get real here! Use
only natural habitat concealment when-
ever possible. Rabbit hunters prepare
their beagles for the chase. In all of nature,
a sense of urgency exists. Winter is coming to nature’s cradle of life we call south
Louisiana’s marsh ponds.
Not very far removed from their
hunting brethren in the "get ready"
process, fishers await the fall run of
Sciaenops ocellatus, better known as red
drum, the redfish.
General Overview
Structurally, a brackish marsh pond is very
different from its landlocked freshwater
counterpart. The pond’s depth is constantly
changing because of the rise and fall of the
tide, which happens two to four times in
any given 24 hour period.
Wind driven water on top of the astronomical tides can also cause even
more fluctuation. For instance: winds from
the east, southeast, south and south-west
will add water. A brisk north or west wind
will lower the water table. One should not
be concerned with wind driven water if the
forecast calls for slight winds, five to 10knots. Only winds in excess of twelve knots
should be considered.
There is a practical side to considering which marsh pond to fish in. First and
foremost is getting in and getting out. If
you can’t get to the fish, you can’t catch
em.’ A shallow draft aluminum flatboat
equipped with a trolling motor and/or power trim outboard is recommended.
Pirogues, motorized or not, Jon boats, or
any type of mud boat can be substituted
if you’re fortunate enough to own one.
Heavy, deep-draught fiberglass boat
owners shouldn’t dismay. Generally, you
can expect to approach a marsh pond from
some deep water reference point. For example: a bay, pipeline canal, cut or slough.
A depth finder will tell you when it’s time
to kick up the outboard and switch to your
trolling motor. If you don’t have a depth
finder (they are virtually useless in most
marsh ponds because of the extremely shallow depths), simply be observant.
Mud flats can be avoided if you
watch for saw grass sticking out of the water, or, wind driven water breaking over the
flats and/or unusual bait fish activity
ahead. If you have a deep-draught boat and
can’t get into the ponds, pick out a slough
leading into one and, ideally, fish a falling
tide. Even if you have a small boat and can
get into one of these ponds, you should always carry a duckbill push pole to get you
in and out of shallow water. The writer recommends fishing marsh ponds near dawn
or dusk if there is little tidal fluctuation.
If, however, the tide has a range of one
foot or better, and you fish the mid-point
between high and low water, the time of
day should not be a significant factor.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
That bit of wisdom applies to catching your
limit of reds in a marsh pond. Since the
redfish’s diet consists mainly of blue and
fiddler crabs, shrimp, and bait fish,
the fisher should offer these morsels,
preferably, in the order given. Artificial
purists will find white grubs, chartreuse
beetles; avocado, cocahoe tails and gold
Johnson Sprite spoons will normally work
well; add a gold blade spinner to the beetle of choice. Fishing tackle is a matter
of choice.
Consider a medium tip, seven-foot
rod and reel equipped with 12 20 pound
test monofilament line tied onto a weighted popping cork. Use a 30 pound test
shock leader, consistent with the depth of
the water one fishes and tied to a number four long shank or #4 Kale hook or to
the lure itself, but no snap swivels. Secure
the hook or lure with a barrel loop (fisherman’s knot) adding a bit of saliva before
cinching it up. You should never lose a fish
using these methods.
The drag should be preset before leaving home. Place the hook on a rigid object and play out about 20 yards of line.
Set the drag by tugging violently upwards
on the rod until you hear the drag kick in.
That will simulate a vicious strike and test
whether your line can withstand a heavy
strike. Now you’re set to enjoy the most
rewarding experience ever, catching the
huge fall marsh pond redfish. Please remember, you’re allowed a total possession
limit of five redfish, 16-inches and over.
Have a great outdoor month and I’ll
see you in the marsh, a cleaner marsh, one
without oil contamination. ✴
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
31
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
LAFITTE
Halloween in Lafitte
his year the Town of Jean Lafitte will not just be full of ghosts and ghouls
BY KRYSTRAL
COOPER
on the scariest night of the year, but it will start its Halloween thrills on
CHRISTEN
October 10, 2010 with the Fisher High Cheerleaders First Annual
Contributing
Halloween and Craft Show held in the Fisher High School Gym. The event will
Writer
take place from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There will be craft vendors and
games, children will enjoy bobbing for apples and the costume contest, and there will even be a special performance by the Fisher High School Cheerleaders.
If family fun is what you are looking for then it will be found in many locations on All-Hallows-Eve.
Fisher High School’s Student Council will be hosting its seventh annual Trunk-or-Treat at 5:00 p.m.
Parents, students, teachers and volunteers park their vehicles in the parking lot of the high school while
children trick-or-treat out of the trunks of the vehicles. The candy for the event is supplied by the students of Fisher High School. The Student Council holds a contest to see which homeroom donates the
most candy and the winning homeroom will receive a doughnut party or pizza party for their efforts.
After you finish trunk-or-treating you can drive or walk over to Town Hall and take part in their
Halloween Extravaganza which starts at dusk. This event has become a favorite for locals on
Halloween night. The town started the event in 2005 after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Mayor felt
that because of the damage done to the homes and the debris on the property that the children
needed a safe environment to trick-or-treat in. The extravaganza started with some decorations around
the walking trail and with some tables for the children to trick or treat at. Even though most of the
homes are repaired and most properties are free of debris, the extravaganza has become a highlight
for the residents of Lafitte on Halloween night. Every year the event grows in size and in activities.
There is something for the entire family to enjoy.
This year the Town will again be greeting its Trick-or-Treaters while facing another huge obstacle,
the Deep Water Horizon incident. As in the trail’s inaugural year it will be a way to bring the community together and give the children a fun and carefree environment, while the parents enjoy themselves
and take a much needed break from all of the uncertainty and hardships they have been facing.
This Halloween will bring back the very successful Haunted Nature Trail sponsored by the Town of
Jean Lafitte. It debuted last year as an addition to the Town’s Halloween Festivities. The Trail, which is
located at the very end of City Park Drive, was a huge success and is probably the most anticipated
event this year. For those not faint of heart, the Haunted Nature trail will be sure to please. Set in the
outdoor nature trail that ventures into the swamp you will be greeted by a haunted hostess who will
take you on a terrifying mile long journey into some of the scariest places you can imagine.
Children and parents will enjoy walking the Town’s quarter-mile haunted trail, which will be decorated with ghosts, zombies, witches and all other haunts. While experiencing the trail children will be
able to stop at different tables along the way to pick up treats and treasures.
After the kids are tired of trick-or-treating and having their fun, the Rosethorne Carnival Club will
be hosting a Halloween Fundraiser Dance for the older monsters and maidens.
No matter what your age, you are bound to find something of interest in the Town of Jean Lafitte
in the month of October. ✴
T
Save the Bayou Festival 2010
ave the Bayou Festival, sponsored by the Jean Lafitte Seafood Festival, will take place on
October 24, 2010 at Boomtown Casino and is sure to be a great time for those who love
good food and great live entertainment. The Festival is a one day event that will kick off
at 11:00 a.m. and keep going strong until 9:00 p.m. Admission is $10.
“We hope that this event shows the world that our seafood is safe to eat and that tourism
will come back stronger and better than ever,” said Jean Lafitte Mayor Timothy Kerner.
The proceeds of the benefit will be entered into the Town of Jean Lafitte’s general fund
and used in its recovery efforts from the Deep Water Horizon Incident. The 2010 Seafood
Festival was cancelled earlier this year due to the effects on the community resulting from the
oil spill. However, The Town of Jean Lafitte, with the assistance of Councilman Chris Roberts’ office, decided to hold the Festival to boost morale and again show the world yet again that the
citizens of Lafitte, Barataria and Crown Point will not be defeated by winds, water or oil.
“The next phase of this disaster involves restoring confidence in our seafood industry,” said
Councilman Roberts. “No one wants their livelihoods returned to normal more than our fishermen.”
Festival goers can expect great food and beverages that will be prepared by Boomtown
Casino. There will also be dozen local vendors selling everything from candles to wooden crafts.
The entertainment line-up will be second to none and is sure to get the crowd rockin’,
starting with Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys at 11:00 a.m. Steel Magnolia will follow 1:00 p.m.
with their sultry and soulful music that has fans begging for more. At 3:00 Pat Green will entertain the crowd, followed by Uncle Cracker’s laid back style and music that will have the audience dancing along “when the sun goes down” at 5:00 p.m. The “bad boy of country music”,
Travis Tritt, will take the stage at 7:00 p.m. and close the show in Travis Tritt fashion – which
means it will probably be loud, wild and a whole lot of fun.
All of those who love the Seafood Festival and those who just love a good party will not be
disappointed by the 2010 Save the Bayou Festival. Bring your dancing shoes and come out and
have a great time while supporting an important cause. ✴
S
33
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
FALL/ WI NTER GARD EN I N G
“With a Bushel of Farming Trivia”
istorically, south
BY
GUY RALPH
Louisiana in the
MCDONALD
early-to-mid
Contributing
20th century was deWriter
scended upon by
“Yankee” mega farmers (Chicago and
New York) to grow and harvest “winter”
vegetables. “Yankees”, as they were called
by natives, were mega-farming operators
who leased and purchased huge acreages
of coastal swampland including Lafitte and
Barataria. From the marshes and ridges
along Lakes Catouatche, Salvador and
what is now the entire Barataria Basin,
they set up shop and began reaping huge
profits from growing bumper crops of winter vegetables and shipping them up
north to their clients. The Yankees farmers planted and harvested huge crops of
corn, beans, sorghum, watermelon, tomatoes and other crops that could not survive and produce in the north’s colder
climate during their winter season.
For a time this alluvial-rich farmland
produced huge crops and profits for the
Yankee farmers. That era began to end after a Category 4 hurricane in 1915 decimated parts of the West Bank and
flooded much of the low-lying farming areas; later, other major hurricanes and high
Mississippi River stages doomed the
rich, alluvial farmland. By 1929, Gulf of
Mexico storm surges ended all those op-
H
erations. The Gulf of Mexico had reclaimed her land.
The “Pen” in Lafitte, also a mega farming operation, became a victim in 1927.
That year, the Mississippi River levee also
breached and flooded the mega Pen farming operation. Old timers I interviewed in
Barataria alleged that the “Myrtle Grove
Crevasse” in Plaquemines Parish that
flooded the Pen was done to relieve pressure on the levees to stop New Orleans
from flooding. In that same year, it was alleged that the Corps of Engineers also blew
the levee in St. Bernard Parish to protect
the city of New Orleans from going underwater. I trust you might enjoy that previous bit of historical garden trivia.
Regular or Organic Gardening
March and October in Bayou Land has
always been considered a pivotal month
for gardening in south Louisiana. So
what should we do? Go conventional or
Organic. Obviously you have to choose.
Personally, I pick October as the time
frame to set the stage. It’s not too hot or
too cold but just right to select your choice
of gardening: Organic or no!
Organic Gardening Overview
Let’s review the concept of Organic
Gardening once more. Organic gardening,
or animal and plant husbandry, was tak-
en seriously by a British Agricultural
Scientist, Sir Albert Howard. His concept
then as it is now, was using no pesticides,
composting and mulching with organic
matter. In other words: the exclusive use
of nature to farm.
We’ve talked about organic gardening
in previous columns, but with salmonella showing up in packaged small leaf
spinach and eggs purchased in supermarkets, we need to be more vigilant in
purchasing any produce or farm products
that are pre-packaged, pre-bagged. That
means washing and cooking thoroughly
rather than eating raw.
During that siege of contaminated produce, organic farms that prepackaged
this same food were found by governmental agencies to be mostly free from human-spread bacteria. Obviously, home
vegetable gardeners are not regulated by
Big Brother and have virtually no chance
of bacterial contamination if normal, sensible precautions are taken after harvesting our crops. One has to understand this,
however: only our hands touch the products we grow in our home gardens, versus
untold, ungloved hands that process the
food we buy in supermarkets. Nuff said!
October in south Louisiana is a time
when we plant most leafy vegetables; so this
is a good month to determine methods to
keep our salad-type food as pristine as we
know how. Organic farming is one method
which I thoroughly endorse because of the
growing and harvesting process.
Basically, Organic Farming consists of
using virtually no chemical fertilizers or
pesticides on vegetable and fruit crops.
There are very few backyard gardeners and
larger operations that use this method exclusively, because of the extra time and
costs of doing business. They must then
pass the extra costs to the customer.
For example, Organic Gardening
purists use lots of biological methods such
as releasing hundreds of thousands of lady
bugs, praying mantises and certain types
of wasps into their fields and orchards instead of using chemical pesticides.
Compost is used almost exclusively as fertilizer, which is indeed very beneficial to
any crop. But making compost takes
time, so many gardeners opt to use granulated or liquid, complete fertilizers because it is convenient and quick.
I don’t have a problem with that.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash are the
three main elements of fertilizers. Nitrogen
is responsible for top growth, phosphorous
for stem health, thickness, and Potash for
root growth.
My advice to anyone who desires to
go totally or even partially organic — purchase an organic farming book. I recommend the complete book, written and
illustrated by Robert Rodale.
Vegetables to plant the first part of this
month: Beets, cabbage, broccoli, carrots,
celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, endive,
garlic, kale, leaf lettuce, mustard greens,
onions, parsley, radishes, shallots, spinach,
Swiss chard and turnips; plant onion bulbs
and shallot bulbs this month. ✴
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Expires 10/30/10
Expires 10/30/10
Expires 10/30/10
35
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month Turns 25
ational Breast
BY
Cancer AwareFRANK J.
ness Month
BORNE, JR.
(NBCAM) was estabEditor
lished in 1985 by the
pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, which
manufactures Arimidex and Tamoxifen,
drugs commonly prescribed to prevent
beast cancer occurrence. In the quarter
century since, organizations and corporations have collaborated to establish
events to promote awareness and conduct fundraising for research. Central to
the mission of NBCAM is the promotion
of mammography for early detection of
breast cancer.
In 1993, Evelyn Lauder, Senior
Vice President of Estee Lauder
Companies founded the Breast Cancer
Research Foundation and designated the
pink ribbon its symbol, although the
Susan G. Komen Foundation had previously handed out pink ribbons two years
earlier to breast cancer survivor participants in a New York City relay. In
October, hundreds of national corporations will offer their products in pink or
N
with pink ribbons and donate certain proceeds to breast cancer research, and national organizations will hold events to
raise money and awareness. For more information about NBCAM, log on to
www.nbcam.org.
American Cancer Society Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer
American Cancer Society New Orleans
Chapter is planning its annual Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer event, to
be held on Sunday, October 10, in New
Orleans City Park on Roosevelt Mall
Boulevard directly behind the New
Orleans Museum of Art. Registration the
day of the event begins at 7:30 a.m. and
the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. There is no
registration fee to participate. Funds are
raised through sponsorships and donations collected by participants. For more
information, log on to www.main.acsevents.org.
The first such event was held in
Boston in 1984, established by cancer survivor Margery “Margie” Gould Rath, who
wanted to raise funds for the American
Cancer Society. In 1993, the event was renamed the American Cancer Society
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
walk. Since then, more than $400 million
has been raised by the events for programs
Breast Cancer Recovery
Programs Offered at WJMC
wo programs at West Jefferson Medical Center help patients
following a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Offered by West Jefferson Medical Center Rehab Connection, the
Recovery in Motion (RIM) program focuses on restoring one’s flexibility, strength,
and endurance. Individuals enrolled in the RIM program also receive education
regarding breast cancer-related Lymphedema and work towards maximizing
their functional performance with their activities of daily living.
The second program, the Lymphedema Management and Education
program, is available to those survivors who are experiencing swelling
associated with the removal of lymph nodes or damage to nodes following
surgery or radiation. Breast cancer-related Lymphedema is a chronic
non-curable condition. The main goal of the program, occupational
therapist and certified Lymphedema therapist Shanna Ferguson of Rehab
Connection says, is to teach the survivor how to independently manage the
associated symptoms.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation supports the West
Jefferson Rehab Connection program via grant funding. In the current grant,
patients may be eligible to receive up to $500 in financial assistance for the
purchase of necessary Lymphedema compression materials. Rehab Connection
also utilizes the LTU-904 laser, which is FDA approved for the treatment of
breast cancer-related Lymphedema, as part of complete decongestive therapy program when appropriate. WJMC is the only hospital in the New Orleans
and surrounding areas to offer this technology, Ferguson understands.
Rehab Connection hosts quarterly Lymphedema support groups. The staff
welcomes interested candidates to call 349-6259 to learn more about the programs and support group activities. ✴
T
to fight breast cancer, and almost six million have participated in 145 communities across America. Rath died from
cancer in 2001.
Komen New Orleans
Race for the Cure©
The New Orleans chapter of the Susan
G. Komen for the Cure© will hold its
14th Annual Komen New Orleans Race
for the Cure© on Saturday, October 23,
also in New Orleans City Park. It is a 5K
(3.1 mile) run fitness walk and one
mile fun run fitness walk. Proceeds will
fund breast cancer education, screening,
and treatment projects in the New
Orleans Metro Area (about 75 percent
of proceeds) and will help fund the organization’s national award and research
grant program (about 25 percent of the
proceeds). Registration the day of the
event begins at 7:00 a.m. and is followed
at 8:00 a.m. by a program for survivors.
The one-mile walk begins at 8:30 a.m.
and the 5K walk at 9:00 a.m. Entry fees
are $25.00 (before October 11); $15.00
(age 17 and under by October 11);
$30.00 (October 11 to day of race); and
$20.00 (age 17 and under from October
11 to day of race). To register in person,
visit the West Jefferson Medical Center’s
Fitness Centers in Marrero or Terrytown,
or log on to www.komenneworleans.org.
Corporate sponsorships are available, and
many participants organize teams.
The organization expects to attract
more than 9,500 participants this year
and over 300 volunteers. In 2009, the
event raised more than $350,000. Since
1992, the N.O. Komen chapter has
granted more than $2.4 million for local
breast cancer education, screening,
and treatment programs for the underserved in the New Orleans area,
including West Jefferson Medical
Center Women’s Imaging Breast
Care Center, West Jefferson Medical
Center Outpatient Rehabilitation
Department, and the LSUHSC School
of Public Health.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure© has
raised nearly $1.5 billion since it was established in 1982. The organization,
with more than 125 affiliates in the U.S.
and around the world, and more than
100,000 volunteers, is the largest breast
cancer charity in the world. It was
named for Susan Goodman Komen, an
Illinois woman who died at age 36 in
1980 from breast cancer. Her younger sister founded the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation to fulfill a promise
she made to find a way to speed up breast
cancer research. ✴
Screening Mammography Just
$100 Cash, Check or Credit Card
this Month at WJMC
reast care and assistance with screening mammography is offered at The West
Jefferson Medical Center’s Breast Care Center, located in the West
Jefferson Medical Plaza at the corner of the Westbank Expressway and Medical
Center Boulevard. During October, a screening mammography special is available
at the Center for just $100 by cash, check or credit card. The digital screening
mammogram includes reading by a radiologist and CAD (computer assisted
device). Readers are invited to call 349-6300 for details and to schedule a
screening mammogram.
Recently it was announced that the Susan
G. Komen for the Cure
New Orleans Affiliate
awarded the West
Jefferson Medical Center
Breast Care Center a
grant for free screening
mammography and related services for individuals
meeting screening and
grant criteria. While funds
remain available, individuals who qualify will also be eligible for diagnostic mammography and breast ultrasound testing. The criteria include age 40, or if under 40 years, a strong family
history of breast cancer, at/or below 165 percent of the 2010 income eligibility standards for poverty guidelines; and must reside in qualifying geographic areas including
Jefferson, St. Charles, St. John and Orleans. To complete the qualifying application, individuals should call (504) 349-6085. Interested individuals are encouraged
to call early, as funds are limited. ✴
B
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Beacon Brain Games
(Answer key on page 40)
Across
2. Boulevard in Harvey
5. Musician/singer Rockin’ ____
8. L.W. Higgins H.S. mascot
12. Common surname
14. Political contest
15. Earthen embankment that holds back
water
17. "Mr. Mardi Gras" Blaine ____
18. WWL-TV news anchor ___ Hill
21. Neighboring parish
22. Louisiana’s French from Canada
23. ____ remoulade
Down
1. Mardi Gras vehicle
2. Summertime pest
3. ____ Callender Field
4. Summer flowering tree
6. Way to eat oysters
7. Louisiana crop
9. St. Bernard Parish city
10. October holiday
11. Creme ____ dessert
12. Louisiana state bird
13. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway mileage
16. Vessel that transports pedestrians
19. 1969 hurricane
20. ____ Crockett Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1
Louisiana Food Word Search
ALLIGATOR
BANANAS
FOSTER
BEIGNET
BISQUE
BODIN
CATFISH
CORN
CRABS
CRACKLINS
CRAWFISH
ETOUFFEE
GUMBO
JAMBALAYA
KING CAKE
MIRLITON
MUFFALETTA
OKRA
OYSTERS
PECAN PIE
PISTOLETTE
POBOY
POTATOES
PRALINE
RED BEANS
REDFISH
RICE
SAUSAGE
SHRIMP
STUFFED
ARTICHOKE
TURDUCKEN
37
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
The Facts
About
Whiplash
hat
is
whiplash?
Whiplash is
a relatively common
injury that occurs to a
person’s neck following
BY
a sudden accelerationRICHARD
deceleration force,
TUCKER, DC,
BS, D.A.A.P.M.
most commonly from
motor vehicle accidents. The term
"whiplash" was first used in 1928. The
term "railway spine" was used to describe
a similar condition that was common in
persons involved in train accidents prior
to 1928. The term "whiplash injury" describes damage to both the bone structures
and soft tissues, while "whiplash associated disorders" describes a more severe
and chronic condition.
While most people involved in minor
motor vehicle accidents recover quickly
without any chronic symptoms, some continue to experience symptoms for years after the injury.
W
What causes whiplash?
Whiplash is most commonly caused by
a motor vehicle accident in which the car
the person is riding in is not moving, and
is struck from a vehicle from behind without notice. It is commonly thought the
rear impact causes the head and neck to
be forced into hyperextension as the seat
pushes the person’s torso forward — and
the unrestrained head and neck fall
backwards. After a short delay the head
and neck then recover and are thrown
into a hyperflexed position.
More recent studies investigating
high-speed cameras and sophisticated
crash dummies have determined that after the rear impact the lower cervical vertebrae (lower bones in the neck) are
forced into a position of hyperextension
while the upper cervical vertebrae (upper bones in the neck) are in a hyperflexed position. This leads to an abnormal
S-shape in the cervical spine after the rear
impact that is different from the normal
motion. It is thought that this abnormal
motion causes damage to the soft tissues
that hold the cervical vertebrae togeth-
potential treatments, and
likely outcomes. Patients
should understand that this
is a real injury.
Patients involved in early range of motion exercises have been shown to have
BY
BY
BY
OLGA KRIVITSKY,
DENNIS GRUWELL a more reliable and rapid
VICTOR FLYNN,
MD, CIME
MD, MPH
DC, CCST
improvement in their symptoms. This treatment typically involves rotational
er (ligaments, facet capsules, muscles).
exercises performed 10 times per hour as
soon as symptoms allow within the first
What are the symptoms of whiplash?
four days of the accident.
The most common symptoms related to
It seems that excessive rest and imwhiplash include: neck pain and stiffness,
mobilization have been shown to have
headache, shoulder pain and stiffness,
greater chances of chronic symptoms. This
dizziness, fatigue, jaw pain (temporois explained by loss of range of motion
mandibular joint symptoms), arm pain,
leading to increased pain and stiffness.
arm weakness, visual disturbances, ringImmobilization also causes muscle atroing in the ears (tinnitus), and back pain.
phy (muscle wasting) and decreased
In the more severe and chronic case
blood flow and healing of damaged musof “whiplash associated disorder” sympcles.
toms can include: depression, anger,
If the patient begins to develop psyfrustration, anxiety, stress, drug dependchological symptoms including anger,
ency, post-traumatic stress syndrome,
anxiety or depression following an injury,
sleep disturbance (insomnia), litigation,
prompt treatment of the emotional conand social isolation.
dition is recommended. This can help the
patient better understand the good
How is whiplash diagnosed?
chances for successful recovery and reAfter an accident the patient may be takduce the chances of chronic symptoms.
en to the hospital or a doctor’s office to be
What can be done to prevent whiplash?
examined. The doctor will examine the paWhile it is not always possible to pretient to determine if they have any injuries
vent accidents, advances in automobile
that require treatment. Based on the
safety have attempted to reduce the assymptoms and examination findings the
sociated risks. Many advances in seat belts
doctor may place a collar on the neck for
and head restraints have been able to readditional support. The doctor may also
duce the risk of whiplash injury. The propobtain x-rays of the neck to check for more
er use of these devices is crucial to their
serious injury. The most important first
success in preventing injury. Head restep is to make sure there is no major instraints are designed to prevent the head
jury to the neck, head or the rest of the
from moving into hyperextension when
body requiring immediate treatment.
struck from behind. In order for this to
What is the treatment for whiplash?
work properly, the head restraint should
Treatment of whiplash depends on
be optimally positioned directly behind the
the wide variety of symptoms present.
head. If the head restraint is lowered beUnfortunately, most treatments of
low the level of the head it could actualwhiplash have not been well tested to dely force the head into further
termine their effectiveness.
hyperextension after an impact. Many auThe most important issue in the
tomobiles have additional safety equipmanagement of whiplash is optimal edment including air bags and air curtains
ucation of the patient about their injury.
to further protect drivers and passengers
This includes information on the cause,
from injury.
Whiplash At A Glance
• Whiplash is a relatively common injury that is often ignored or mistreated due
to lack of understanding of the condition.
• Whiplash is usually the result of a rear
impact while in a stationary position.
• Early range of motion and exercises
lead to a more rapid recovery than prolonged immobilization or use of a cervical collar.
• Failure to properly educate and treat
patients with whiplash can lead to chronic psychosocial symptoms including depression and anxiety.
Did you know that Advanced Medical
has the only doctors in the Greater
New Orleans area to have post graduate
certifications in the diagnosis and clinical
management of the cervical acceleration
and deceleration trauma, Low Speed
Rear Impact Automobile Crash
ReconstructionPrinciples
of
Mathematics, Physics Biomechanics and
Occupant Kinematics? This hands-on research has included participation in over
60 full scale crashes and their analysis.
Research also included validation studies
using the new rear impact dummy (RID)
developed jointly by TNO of Holland
and First Technology Safety Systems, the
leading manufacturer of crash test
dummies in the U.S. (sponsored/Spine
Research Institute of San Diego in
cooperation with Texas A & M and the
U.S. Navy). Continued participation in
this unique research has enabled the
AMR doctors to learn the latest methods
of low speed automobile crash reconstruction and to better understand the
forces and loads imposed upon patients’
spines and brains in low speed crashes. By
understanding the unusual biomechanics
of this form of trauma, diagnostic
methods and treatment can be much
more effectively administered in the clinical setting. ✴
—————————————————
Olga Krivitsky, MD, CIME; Dennis
Gruwell, MD, MPH; Richard Tucker,
DC, DAAPM and Victor K. Flynn, DC,
CCST are doctors with Advanced Medical
Center of Gretna. Call (504) 394-0001 for
more information.
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
38
H E A LT H
Renowned Surgeon Joins
West Jeff Medical Center
Brings Decades of Experience as Heart Surgeon
est Jefferson Medical Center
(WJMC) recently welcomed an accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon to
its staff, Dr. Charles T. Everson. Although an independent practitioner with WJMC for 20 years,
Everson now will join the hospital’s physician
services.
Everson has more than 30 years experience
as a cardiothoracic surgeon, including performing
heart valve replacements and artery bypass
grafts. He also has also been instrumental in
helping the hospital achieve recognition in
“America’s Best Hospitals” issue of US News &
World Report for receiving the Get With the
Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement
Award.
Everson attended medical school at the
Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in
Illinois and did part of his residency at Duke
University and completed his fellowship at Tulane
University. He also trained under the tutelage of
Dr. Noel Mills, a pioneer surgeon in the field of
cardiothoracic surgery.
“We are very fortunate to have such a high
quality cardiothoracic surgeon become a
permanent member of the West Jefferson team,”
W
said Dr. Mark Workman, the Chief Medical Officer
for West Jefferson Medical Center. “Dr. Everson
is extremely skilled. He’s a driving force behind a
lot of our quality improvement initiatives and has
done a great deal to help standardize cardiac
care at West Jeff.”
“Bottom line, Dr. Everson has been and will
continue to be an asset to our hospital and to improving the quality of care we provide to our patients,” said Nancy R. Cassagne, Chief Executive
Officer for West Jefferson Medical Center. ✴
It’s Flu Time. Do You Know How it Spreads?
T
he Center for Disease Control (CDC) explains on its website how the flu
spreads, reminding us why flu season is a time to learn and to prevent.
BY TONI
BERGERON, R.N.
West Jefferson
Medical Center
Infection Control
Person to Person
The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to
person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet
spread," the Centers for Disease Control explains in its fact sheets about flu and flu prevention. This
can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the
air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. It is important to note that Influenza
viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing
their hands. CDC and other experts can’t stress hand washing enough. Handwashing saves lives.
According to the CDC, individuals should wash their hands with soap and water immediately after handling dirty laundry or anything soiled. If soap and water are not available, they should use an
alcohol-based hand rub to clean their hands. Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap, the CDC stresses.
Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned
separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
Linens (such as bed sheets and towels) should be washed by using household laundry soap and
tumbled dry on a hot setting. Individuals should avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves.
The Flu Is Contagious
Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and
up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven
days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may
be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are
sick. Some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time,
those persons may still spread the virus to others. This is why the CDC and other health professionals emphasize good handwashing practices.
To learn more on good handwashing, information about flu in children and other health information, please call 1-800-CDC-INFO 24 hours a day, seven days a week; email [email protected];
or visit www.cdc.gov or talk to your doctor. ✴
Saints Fever at WJMC
Saints fever is at an all time high throughout the Crescent City! The novelty isn’t lost on anyone, even those who hold the lives of the sick and frail in their hands.
Healthcare workers at West Jefferson Medical Center (WJMC) use Saints mania as a
way to motivate their patients, put a smile on their face and keep their spirits high. So on any
given game day, you’ll find WJMC employees decked out in their black and gold, hosting pep rallies with wheelchair-bound patients in tow and work stations decorated with Saintly colors.
Even newborns are made Saints fans early on as the delivery department gives the little ones
Saints makeovers. With the team’s attire and a little football, newborns take their first pictures in
Saints regalia from head to toe. “Ahhh, there’s nothing sweeter than welcoming a new Saints fan
into the world,” said Christine Bromley, WJMC’s clinical manager of the delivery department. “It’s
how we help the WhoDAT Nation thrive and grow.”
From the black and gold hand-made arts and crafts items created by hospital volunteers, to
the fleur de lis earrings, headbands and scarves sold in the hospital’s various gift shops— Saints
fever is alive in well in the 451-bed hospital, but it’s a fever doctors and nurses aren’t trying to
snuff out. Instead they keep feeding the fever frenzy in the hopes that even if one patient catches
it and it makes them feel better… they’ve gone a long way in helping their recovery. ✴
S
Better Health Through
Mediterranean Cuisine
hat is the secret behind the
remarkable
health of those who enjoy
Mediterranean cuisine?
BY DR. GEORGE
Notably, there is a large
VAN WORMER,
body of medical research
BS, DC
demonstrating the beneContributing
fits of this type of eating
Writer
strategy. Recent medical
research demonstrates that Mediterranean cuisine is better than a low-fat diet for reducing
the "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein)
and also a useful method of protection against
risk factors for coronary heart disease. Previous
studies also found that the Mediterranean cuisine is associated with a reduction in cancer
and overall mortality.
Mediterranean cuisine is a contemporary
nutritional model influenced by the popular dietary patterns of some Mediterranean-based
countries, particularly Greece and southern
Italy. In a ten-year period, not a single heart attack was registered within the half-million population of the Greek island of Crete. There is a
general consensus among health professionals
that Mediterranean cuisine is healthier than
northern European and American cuisine because of a high consumption of fruit and vegetables, bread, wheat and other cereals, olive
oil, fish, and red wine.
Unlike the American Heart Association’s
recommendation of a low fat diet, the traditional
Mediterranean cuisine provides as much as
40 percent of total daily calories from fat. Yet,
the associated rate of cardiovascular diseases in
Mediterranean countries is lower than in the
United States. The beneficial effect of
Mediterranean cuisine is thought to be
associated with its richness in antioxidants from
fruits, vegetables and red wine, the use of olive
oil (which does not have the same cholesterolraising effect as saturated fats such as butter),
the eating of fish a few times per week
W
(Omega-3 fatty acids) and little red or
processed meat.
Typical Mediterranean
cuisine includes:
(1) The use of olive oil for cooking and dressings (extra-virgin or virgin oil are best, because
they have the highest levels of the protective
compounds that provide antioxidant effects and
can be used as a healthy replacement for butter
or margarine).
(2) Generous amounts of fruits and vegetables
(10 servings a day).
(3) Nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, Brazil and
hazel nuts; generally no more than a handful a
day. Avoid honey-roasted or heavily salted nuts.)
(4) Fish products a couple times a week (water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel and
herring).
(5) Consumption of white meat (e.g., poultry) instead of red or processed meat (sausage, bacon).
(6) Preparation of homemade sauces by simmering tomato, garlic, onion, and aromatic
herbs with olive oil to dress vegetables, pasta,
rice, and other dishes.
(7) For alcohol drinkers, a low to moderate pattern of red wine consumption. No more than
one five-ounce glass of wine daily for women or
men over age 65, and no more than two fiveounce glasses of wine daily for men under age
65. If you don’t drink alcohol, you don’t need to
start.
Bon Appetit! ✴
——————————————————————————————————————
Dr. George Van Wormer is a chiropractor in Harvey specializing in the non-surgical treatment of spinal conditions. Call (504) 362-3000 for more information.
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Ivory Lounge
Gretna’s Finest
• Food Menu
• Happy Hour 4-8pm
Daily Drink Specials
• We also cater to Birthday Parties
Company Parties, and Anniversaries
• D.J. Every Saturday Night
• Enjoy College Football and NFL Ticket Games
• We sponsor Pool and Dart Teams
Sign up your team today!!!
MON - FRI 11AM till - SAT 2PM till
1611 Franklin St. Gretna, LA, 70053 • 504-304-7842
Beacon Brain Games Answer Key (from page 37)
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
FOOD
Lido Italian Restaurant
n 1970, Pete and Josie Callagaro opened Lido Italian Restaurant in
Marrero. In 1987 Tom and Emily Lingoni bought it from them. For 21
years, the Lingonis operated Lido’s and built up a loyal clientele. In April
2008, the Lingonis sold Lido’s and their recipes to Jeff and Dennette Young.
Jeff made a smart move by keeping the Lido’s staff, including 15-year waitBY
ress Gail Lingoni and longtime cooks Lydia Martinez and Mindy Guitterez.
MARY C. EHRET
Originally from Florida, Young went to Nicholls State University on a socContributing
cer scholarship where he met his wife and has been here ever since. Young
Writer
has an extensive restaurant background in the New Orleans area, including
serving as maitre d’ at Palace Café and front house manager at Redfish Grille.
After working for others his entire career, Young decided to take the leap into owning a place of
his own. That dream came true for him when he bought the established, family-owned Lido’s in
April 2008.
Lido’s menus offer a variety of traditional Italian fare at both lunch and dinner. I recently enjoyed lunch there with my sister. We shared the Combination Appetizer of fried eggplant and artichoke hearts ($6.75) served with a warm marinara sauce for dipping. The batter was light and the
vegetables were fried to perfection. For my entrée, I had the Veal Parmesan ($8.50) served with a
generous side of pasta (wheat pasta is available). The veal was tender and delicious. My sister enjoyed the Chicken Impanante ($7.95), a boneless chicken breast, breaded, fried and sprinkled with
lemon and parsley. The delicate flavors of the lemon and parsley nicely compliment the dish.
The lunch menu includes an assortment of appetizers including Antipasto ($9.50), Stuffed
Artichoke ($9.00), and fried vegetables served with warm marinara sauce ($6.00). There are eight
salads offered at lunch including the Lido Salad of salami, cheese, asparagus, artichoke hearts, olives
and tomatoes ($8.00). Sandwiches include meatball, Italian sausage, chicken breast, veal cutlet, catfish, shrimp and oysters. ($7.50 - $8.00).
The dinner menu offers a variety of traditional dishes and includes several specialties not on the
lunch menu. Shrimptini is a new appetizer for two: shrimp in butter, worstershire and Crystal hot
sauce served in a 50-ounce Martini glass with four toast points. Eggplant Lydia with spaghetti is fried
eggplant medallions topped with rich, slightly spicy crawfish and cheese sauce ($15.75). Shrimp and
Oyster Bordelaise is shrimp and oysters served in olive oil, butter and garlic sauce served over fettuccini noodles ($17.50). Chicken Modenese is boneless chicken breast, breaded, fried and topped with
mozzarella cheese, prosciutto ham and tomato sauce ($15.75). Veal Scallopini Marsala with new potatoes is medallions of white veal, sautéed with mushrooms in butter and Marsala wine ($16.50). And
Tom’s Special is shrimp, onions and bell peppers sautéed with butter, white wine and lemon juice
served over wheat angel hair pasta ($16.50). So many terrific dishes to choose from!!
Young prides himself on using only the finest and
freshest local vendors from whom he procures top cut
veal, seafood and produce. That commitment to quality
is evident in the final product at Lido’s.
Lido’s main dining room is quaint and comfortable. The tables, adorned with red & white checkered table cloths, seat up to 75 comfortably. The
restaurant offers a full bar and wine list. There’s a
back dining room that seats up to 20 people for
private parties or meetings. Young also has a
catering menu that can be provided upon request. Lido’s participates in restaurant.com gift certificates. Lido’s is
located at 1019 Avenue C, Marrero
(next to West Jefferson Medical
Center). Their hours are Tuesday Friday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and
Tuesday - Saturday 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.
The phone number is 347-8203.
Jeff Young and his staff welcome everyone to Lido’s. It’s a wonderful place to bring your family,
friends and colleagues. On your second visit everyone will know your
name and how you like your drink.
Lido’s is a welcome respite from our
busy and impersonal schedules.
Make sure to stop by soon to savor
all it has to offer. ✴
—————————————————————————————
Follow Native Palate’s food & travel adventures at nativepalate.blog.spot.com.
I
41
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
New Look Hornets
Hoping for Playoff Renewal
n 2008, the New
Orleans Hornets
looked to be flying
high, approaching the
league’s elite. Tyson
Chandler was swatBY
ting away shots at an
KEN TRAHAN
alarming rate while
Contributing
Writer
rebounding with the
league’s best. David
West was an All-Star forward with a nice
mid-level jump shot and post-up game.
Chris Paul looked like the league’s best
point guard. Peja Stojakovic was making shots. The future was bright.
The team fell one game short of
reaching the Western Conference final.
The following season, the Hornets returned to the playoffs though they
were beaten badly in the opening round
by Denver.
Two years after nearly reaching a
showdown with the Lakers, the Hornets
were a losing team, changed coaches
twice in less than a year, changed their
general manager, were in a state of flux
with ownership and were now light years
away from the level of the Lakers.
Clearly, the Hornets were a descending organization. The 2009-2010
season saw Emeka Okafor step in for the
oft-injured Chandler, who had become
a shell of the player he was in the 20072008 season. Byron Scott was fired early on. Chris Paul got hurt. Peja
Stojakovic got old and then got hurt.
Morris Peterson and James Posey
got old.
The only saving grace to the season
was the play of rookies Darren Collison
and Marcus Thornton. They proved to
be the most productive rookie tandem
in the NBA.
Since last season ended, positive
spins have emerged for the Hornets.
Talented Trevor Ariza has arrived
though it necessitated the departure of
Collison. That was just one of several
moves made by the new Hornets braintrust. Monty Williams is the head
coach while Dell Demps is the new
General Manager. George Shinn is still
the owner with Gary Chouest still in reserve. Whether a sale takes place or not
remains to be seen.
Williams is an energetic disciplinarian who is still well-connected to the
players of today. Williams played in the
league for several years and is still able
to get on the floor with today’s players
and challenge them. He is a strong family man and a strong man of faith. On
a personal level, Williams is very easy to
like.
On a professional level, you have to
like what you have seen of Williams. He
has a solid approach. He will let play-
I
ers know what
he thinks and
what he expects of them.
Jeff Bower
did a solid job
after Scott’s departure last year
and did a nice
job of drafting
Collison and
Thornton. Still,
perhaps it was
time for a
change in New
Orleans.
Demps comes from the highly successful San Antonio organization. He
and Williams have worked together
previously. They seem to be on the
same page.
The Hornets drafted forwards
Quincy Pondexter and Craig Brackins.
Pondexter appears ready to contribute
at small forward. He is mature, strong
and will defend. Brackins may be more
of a project but he adds nice length
(6’10) and a pretty good face-up jump
shot.
Ariza arrives to compliment an offense in need of a boost. The 6’8, 210
pound guard/forward will start for New
Orleans, coming off of his most productive season in the league. He is truly coming into his own.
Okafor returns at center. A disappointment a year ago, perhaps the addition of Ariza will take some pressure
off of Okafor to contribute offensively
and allow him to focus on defense and
rebounding. Aaron Gray returns to
back up Okafor while Darryl Watkins
will get a look in camp. This would still
appear to be the biggest area of concern
heading into the 2010-2011 season.
West is coming off of a season in
which he failed to make the All-Star
team after doing so twice in a row. Still
a good offensive player, West must
work on defending harder. He is still a
prime asset.
D a r i u s
Songaila did a
solid job off the
bench. He fits
well with Chris
Paul in the
pick-and-pop
game. Songaila
plays hard and
was willing to
defend "bigs"
when needed a
year ago.
Stojakovic
can now focus
on being a designated sniper, a veteran
who can come off the bench to provide
a scoring boost without being exposed
on the defensive end. The reduced
minutes may prolong Peja’s career a
year or two, whether in New Orleans
or elsewhere.
Thornton provides instant offense.
Williams wants him to work on his defense, where he was over-matched at
times last year. Still, Thornton’s ability
to score is a huge asset.
Marco Belinelli gives New Orleans
another very good shooter to compliment Thornton. He averaged over
seven points per game for Toronto a
year ago.
D.J. Strawberry and Mustafa
Shakur will compete for a reserve role
behind Paul.
Of course, the key is CP3. Paul
missed 37 games a year ago. Needless
to say, the Hornets cannot succeed without him, especially with the departure
of Collison.
It was an off season full of banter,
rumors, statements about possibly playing somewhere else, dealing with a
new coach and dealing with a new general manager for Paul. When the smoke
cleared, he was still a Hornet, at least
for now.
The feeling is that Paul will see how
things go with the new leadership and
the new additions before making a
decision about where he wants to
The NBA is a players’
league. If the players,
most notably Paul
and West, buy into
Williams, the Hornets
could return to
winning in the
2010-2011 season.
spend the rest of his career when his
contract expires.
Williams and Demps have met
with him and have assured Paul that he
is the player they want to build around.
Paul is a tremendous competitor. As long
as he wears a Hornets’ uniform, I expect
him to play hard.
While it was tough to see Collison
go, having a healthy Paul will more than
compensate for Collison’s loss. Naturally,
keeping Paul long-term is the key to the
Collison move.
I like the Hornets’ roster better now
than I liked it at the end of last season.
Ariza was a nice get. Pondexter looks like
he will contribute. Brackins adds length.
Belinelli provides another shooting
threat. Disposing of the bad contracts
of aging players James Posey and
Peterson helps.
The NBA is a players’ league. If the
players, most notably Paul and West, buy
into Williams, the Hornets could return
to winning in the 2010-2011 season.
Of course, the deep, talented
Western Conference makes it tough for
anyone to break through and return to
the playoffs.
The Lakers are still the chalk.
Oklahoma City is a very good young
team. Dallas is very talented. Houston
gets Yao Ming back. Denver is still good,
despite the rumors of Carmelo Anthony
wanting to leave. Portland is an athletic young team. San Antonio is still San
Antonio. Utah is a bad match-up for the
Hornets. Phoenix still has Steve Nash.
Golden State can score and has improved. Even the Clippers are better.
What you really have to like about
the Hornets is how they have become
a much younger team very quickly.
Young legs bring energy and the ability
to play an up-tempo game, creating
cheap baskets. This was obvious with
Collison and Thornton on the floor
last year. It is an entertaining brand
of basketball.
While the early part of the season
will be largely overshadowed by the presence of the Saints and LSU, the
Hornets can recapture some of the magic and fans of the 2007-2008 season
with a good start. Of course, they will
have to finish strong, borrowing a
phrase from the Saints, if they hope to
return to the playoffs. ✴
—————————————————
Ken Trahan serves as sports director of
WGSO 990 AM/WGSO.com and is
president and general manager of neworleans.com Sports. Trahan is the also the
general manager and chairman of the
board of the Saints Hall of Fame Museum
in the Louisiana Superdome, and runs the
Life Resources Sports Ministry.
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
43
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
45
TO D AY’S D E NTA L
Who ’Dat Wants to Feel Good?
he Secret(s)
to Health and
Happiness
Welcome to our
second Superbowl
BY
run. That’s right, it’s
DR. DIMETRY
already started! It’s
COSSICH, DDS
awesome how the
Contributing
Writer
Saints can bring us
Joy and Happiness.
But sometimes it can be difficult to
enjoy even the little things if our
Health is not where we want it to be.
You don’t have to wait for January to
start getting your body healthy. There
are little things you can do right now
that can have an enormous impact on
your life.
Read on to find out about some
new, emerging research and recent
findings that may help you on your way
to Health and Happiness, and make
our next ride to the SuperBowl even
more enjoyable.
We need to start somewhere, and
being a Dentist that focuses on overall body health, we’re going to have to
start at the beginning. In this case, the
beginning is your mouth, our primary
connection to the Earth.
T
The Secret(s)
1) Happiness is difficult without
Health.
2) Your mouth, teeth, gums and supporting structures are a reflection of
your entire overall body health and have
a direct effect on your overall Health
and Well Being.
3) Any disease (gum disease, cavities,
infection) in your mouth affects every
part of your body and failure to resolve
oral disease will make it almost impossible to attain optimum health.
4) Smiling and Laughing are associated with long life and Health.
5) Taking care of these oral problems
are easy in Today’s World.
The Biology
Your mouth has many important functions. We form words and communicate, we smile (Hopefully a pretty
one), we kiss, and, last but not least,
we breathe and eat. Your mouth, or oral
cavity, is a lot more important to our
survival than ever thought before. And
it is our initial connection to the world
in bringing nutrition into our bodies.
When we eat something, we first
chew our food and then swallow.
That’s it, right? Well, there is a little
more going on than you might think.
Our teeth are shaped and aligned so as
to slowly decrease the size of the food
particles as we chew, so the process of
digestion can begin. Our bodies also se-
crete saliva, and enzymes, to begin the
initial breakdown of the food into the
small particle sizes our bodies can use
for building blocks. This is how it works
in a healthy functioning mouth.
In a not so healthy mouth, with
missing or broken teeth, or disease, we
see a different process and outcome
taking place.
The Problem
First, with missing or broken teeth, the
food is not broken down into small
enough pieces, and the process of digestion is hindered. We swallow large
pieces of food, and the food is not ready
for the next step in the digestion
process in the stomach and intestines. This alone can lead to many medical problems including heartburn,
acid reflux, esophageal problems,
weight problems, leaky gut syndrome
and intestinal problems.
Second, with periodontal disease
present in the mouth, the bacteria associated with it are also inhaled and
swallowed, and enters the digestive and
respiratory system to wreak havoc in
other parts of the body.
Mary Sparrowdancer writes:
Perhaps the term "oral bacteria" is
misleading, in that it suggests that oral
bacteria remain in their starchy paradise
within the mouth, teeth, and deep within the gums. Unfortunately, this is not
the case. According to the American
Academy of Periodontology (AAP), periodontal pathogens have been found in
plaque removed from coronary arteries.
The AAP also noted “that periodontal disease may increase a person’s risk for the
respiratory disorder Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the sixth
leading cause of mortality in the United
States.” In addition, one study found that
50% of the placentas of pregnant women
suffering from preeclampsia contained
periodontal pathogens. A recent study by
the Harvard School of Public Health and
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discovered
a link between periodontal disease and
pancreatic cancer. According to
Medscape Medical News, other researchers have “noted significant associations between a history of periodontal
disease and lung, kidney, pancreas, and
hematological (blood) cancers.”
Imagine that, the germs that form
plaque in our teeth also do the same
thing in our hearts, except with a lot
worse consequences. These are disease
and plaque forming bacteria and
they do this wherever they go. You
can take the boy out of the country, but
you can’t take the country out of
the boy.
The Simple Solution
Here’s the good news. This Problem
can be remedied very easily. You need
to see a good, knowledgeable dentist
who will perform a thorough evaluation
of your mouth for the presence of Gum
Disease and missing, or misaligned
teeth. You need a Comprehensive Oral
Evaluation. In my office, we take X-rays
to determine the health of the bone and
roots of the teeth. We then take a reading around each tooth in your mouth
and determine the level of Disease
present. Once we gather this information, we will sit down with you and
discuss the results, and recommend an
action plan to treat this insidious disease based on our findings.
The Next Step
Listen close. If you have bleeding in
your mouth when you brush your
teeth, or bad breath, you have diseasecausing bacteria in your mouth and you
need to see the Dentist ASAP. If you
haven’t seen the Dentist for a while,
or have missing and broken teeth,
you need to see the Dentist. It’s
that simple.
The Bottom Line
Disease in your mouth can lead to more
serious diseases in other parts of your
body. Decades ago, people would let
their teeth just fall out and think all
they lost was the tooth. We know better now. You lose much more! We
now recognize the importance of Oral
Health to overall health. Trying to get
your body healthy with a diseased
mouth is almost impossible. With new
technologies (Cosmetic Dentistry) and
procedures (Sedation Dentistry), it is
easier than ever to get the Healthy,
Beautiful Smile you always wanted.
Lagniappe
I would also like to take this opportunity to announce our new location in
Covington. In August, we opened up
our second Today’s Dental to serve the
North shore area. If you have any
questions pertaining to this article
and any other questions and concerns
in the fields of Dentistry, Health,
Sports, Nutrition and Strength and
Conditioning send them to me. My
Email is [email protected]. We
have experience and expertise in
Cosmetic Dentistry, Sedation Dentistry,
Orthodontics,
and
Implant
Rehabilitation and Family Dentistry.
For more information, please visit one
of our websites, www.4cosmeticdentists.com or www.4sedastiondentists.com, or www.bracesofneworleans.
com. We will gladly give you a free consultation to discuss this information
and how it may help you and your
life. We look forward to helping you.
WHO DAT! ✴
—————————————————
Dr Cossich is owner and senior Dentist at
Today’s Dental, Cosmetic and Family
Dentistry, located at 1708 Manhattan Blvd
in Harvey, La. 70058, across from IHOP,
and in Covington at 842 N. Collins
Blvd., Covington. La., 70433. Dr Cossich
is a Fellow in the Academy of General
Dentistry and a member of the American
Dental Association, Louisiana Dental
Association, the New Orleans Dental
Association, the American Academy of
Cosmetic Dentists, the Dental
Organization for Conscious Sedation, the
Christian Dental Society, the Academy for
Sports Dentistry, and the National Strength
and Conditioning Association. You can
reach Dr Cossich at 504-3615333(Harvey), 985-809-1889(Covington)
or 1-800 FIX MY TEETH.
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Crescent City Skies for Fall
ike most of you
living here in the
Deep South, I
am anxiously awaiting
cooler weather. While
BY
most of us think of
MICHAEL
the seasons as a meSANDRAS
teorological event,
Contributing
their origins are actuWriter
ally astronomical. The
seasons are due to the Earth’s tilt,
which is approximately 23.45 degrees
from the plane of its orbit and its yearly voyage around the sun.
It may be hard to believe but the
Earth is closer to the sun in winter (in
the northern hemisphere) than it is in
the summer. While in winter, the Earth
is approximately 92 million miles from
the sun; its distance during summer expands to nearly 94 million miles. The
difference is during summer, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun,
and during winter, it is tilted away
from the sun. Because of this, the
northern hemisphere, or our part of the
world, receives more direct heating in
summer than in winter.
Keep in mind the seasons in the
southern hemisphere are reversed from
those in the northern hemisphere.
Summer and winter begin respectively
at the summer solstice and the winter
solstice. During the summer solstice, the
sun appears to be at its most northern
point above the Earth’s equator. This is
called the Tropic of Cancer. On the winter solstice, it is at its farthest point south
when it appears above the Tropic of
Capricorn. These two points are imaginary lines on the Earth’s globe that correspond to this northern and southern
limit. When the sun is at the point of
summer solstice, we have our longest
days and shortest nights. At the Winter
solstice, we have our shortest days and
longest nights. Between these points,
the sun reaches the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, which signal the begin-
ning of spring and fall. At these points,
the equinox represents equal duration
of both night and day.
The dates for the beginning of the
seasons for 2010 started on March 20,
the vernal equinox (spring), followed by
June 21, the summer solstice (summer),
next will be September 22, the autumnal equinox (fall), and finally December
21, the Winter solstice (Winter). These
days are consistent within a day year after year for the advent of the seasons.
An interesting fact is that because
of this seasonal movement, the only time
the sun rises and sets truly east and west
is at the beginning of both spring and
fall. During summer, you will notice the
sun rising and setting north of the
east-west points and during winter, it
will be south of this east-west line. This
is why at certain times of the year, the
sun may get in your eyes while driving
and other times it will not. I would like
to dispel a myth at this point, in that
many people believe the only day you
can stand an egg on its end is on the vernal equinox; however this is not true.
The only reason this myth persists to endure is because this is the only day people continue to try it. You can stand an
egg on its end any day if you try long
enough. Thus you can see that the wonderful movement and tilt of the Earth
around the sun cause the seasons.
Over the last couple of months,
many of you have seen a very bright object in the early evening western sky.
This is the planet Venus that is the
brightest natural object in the sky next
to the sun and the moon. At the beginning of October, you can still see it
in this location but will only have a couple of weeks to do so. By November,
Venus will be visible in the eastern dawn
sky. Replacing Venus will be the planet Jupiter. At the beginning of October,
Jupiter rises into the eastern sky just after 9:00 p.m. As each night goes on, the
planet will rise earlier and earlier and,
by the end of November, it will be visible in the east just after sunset. For
those of you who have telescopes,
make sure you look at Jupiter because
you should be able to see several markings on the planet and its four largest
moons. It is interesting to watch the
movement of these moons through a telescope night after night, and in doing so
you will begin to understand how
Galileo came to the conclusion that the
TOUCHPOINTS from cover
Katrina, Katie worked in human resources and finance but always had the
dream to do something on her own. Due
to a traumatic Hurricane Katrina experience, Katie’s husband Ben, who worked
in the casino business, was looking to
leave. Working with Katie and
Touchpoints presented that opportunity.
Today, Touchpoints represents nine
casinos, including two in Louisiana,
three in Mississippi, one in Nevada and
three in Arizona. The Touchpoints
team, housed in an office building on
Belle Chasse Highway near Gretna
Boulevard, has grown from 12 to 45. In
order to better serve their casino clients,
Touchpoints expanded to include digital printing onsite, along with booking
entertainment for nationally known
acts like Willie Nelson, Tom Jones, Tony
Bennett, Jake Owen, Blue October,
Third Eye Blind and others.
But, as successful as Touchpoints
has been, despite the current national
recession, Katie feels that they have to
keep growing their business. “Although
we’ve been very successful in helping
our casino clients,” says Katie, “it’s still
a high risk business for us because there
are so many ownership changes in the
casino business. Invariably, when new
ownership comes in, they bring in a big
broom sweeping out the old team be-
cause they have their own advertising
and marketing people.”
So, Touchpoints is now looking for
hotel and restaurant clients and others
who want the same kind of advertising
and marketing success Touchpoints
has become known for. They’re experts in creating brands and also provide
all of the services of a traditional advertising agency.
Katie, says, “We’ve really put together a great team. Everyone here
has lots of energy and enthusiasm with
a record of coming up with great ideas.”
Like many Louisiana law firms
that have become experts at handling
out-of-state clients, Touchpoints has be-
L
Venus
Jupiter
Earth is not the center of the Solar
System.
Remember, if you are a beginning
sky watcher, the moon is always a good
staring point, whether you are just using your eyes, binoculars, or a telescope.
The moon phases for this period
are as follows:
October 7
New Moon
October 14
First Quarter
October 22
Full Moon
October 30
Last Quarter
November 6
New Moon
November 13
First Quarter
November 21
Full Moon
November 28
Last Quarter
Please visit the Gretna Observatory
located at 1 Copernicus Lane. The observatory houses a 16” computer controlled telescope to give you amazing
views of the night sky. It is open on
Monday and Wednesday nights from approximately 7:45 – 10:00 as long as the
sky is clear. Admission is free. ✴
——————————————————
Michael Sandras is the manager of the
City of Gretna Observatory and President
of the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society.
come proficient at communicating
with out-of-state clients via e-mails
and telephone.
“We’re very proud of the record
we’ve developed of helping our clients
become successful,” says Ben. “I think
that perhaps part of our success stems
from the fact that both Katie and I are
so comfortable here on the West Bank.
Our roots are deep in this community.
We’re very much at home here and can’t
imagine being anywhere else. We’re
fortunate that in today’s business world,
if you’re good enough at it, you can
serve out-of-state clients as though
they were next door. We’ve yet to fully
tap our potential.” ✴
O C T O B E R 2 0 10
Westbank owned since 1929
Hotels • Restaurants • Bars • Hospitals • Casinos • Physician’s Ofﬁce
Linen • Towels • Aprons • Logo Mats • Paper Hand Towels/Tissue
www.looplinen.com
Call us at 504-341-3401 or 800-337-3401
47
T H E W E S T✴B A N K B E A C O N O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0
P.O. Box 2246 • Gretna, Louisiana 70054
Pre-Sort
Standard U.S.
Postage
PAID
Permit #88
B.R., LA

St. Cletus Oyster Festival Fun For All

Transcription

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