Happy NewYear to all
It’sanew year and many of our readers are setting resolutions to eat healthy,exercise and help others. I’m hoping2025 is theyear Iget my new kidney
After years of dealing with the impacts of chronic kidney disease, it looks like things are at the point where atransplant is warranted. I’ve been on the list for 2years, and fingers crossed everything will work out this year
My readers have been so supportive throughout my journey Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. I’ll keep you updated on my progress.
One thing that isn’tchanging for me is my desire to share your stories. Pleaseresolveto share those family and businessmilestones with us at The Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate and livingston@theadvocate.com.
Here’swishing you ahealthy, safe and happy new year
Farmersmarket
The Four Seasons Farmers Market is open from 8a.m.to noon everySaturday at thecity parking lot at Hummel Street and Railroad Avenue. Fresh vegetables, fruits and handmade items are on sale from vendors.
Pets lookingfor homes
The Denham Springs Animal Shelter is looking for people to foster cats and dogs. The no-kill shelter,at600 Bowman St., Denham Springs, also encouragesresidents to consider adopting apet; the fee is $60. More than 200 cats and dogs need homesorfoster parents. For information on fosteringor adopting, call (225) 664-4472. Learning center classesset
The Southeastern Life-Long Learning Center in Walker is accepting students for upcoming classes. To register forthe classes,visit southeastern nbsstore.net/life-long-learninglivingston-center
Learn to speak Italian during an online class withthe Southeastern Life-Long Learning programstarting Jan. 21. The class, held on Tuesdays is $60. Register for ACT prep classes on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23. The class costs $195. Learn how to fly adroneat an introduction to drones class Tuesdays in January.The online class is $125.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishestolivingston@ theadvocate.com by 4p.m Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
BY VICCOUVILLION
Tyler Silewicz, left,and Hudson Cormier,members of the basketball team at Trafton Academy, fill abox with food itemsatthe annual Kiwanis Holiday Food Drivesponsored by the Hammond Kiwanis Club.Club members and volunteers of all ages pitched in to makethe driveabig success once again.
Kiwanisfooddrive successfulagain
BY VIC COUVILLION
Contributing writer
Continuing along-standing tradition, the HammondKiwanis Club once again successfully held aHoliday Food Drive providing 115 boxes of food items forneedy families in the community
This year’sdrive was held Dec. 14. The day was marked by mild temperatures and clear skies, achange from some fooddrives in the past. The club utilizes aplan that results in a huge collection of nonperishable food items that starts with passing out requests for
participation in the food drive at selected subdivisions in thearea. The notices invite potential donors to leave abag or box of food itemsontheir front steps foreventual pickup by Kiwaniansand thevolunteers whojoin in the event. The notices remind homeownersthat they will notbedisturbed andthattheir donations will be pickedupafter9 a.m. The Hammond community responds with an exemplary display of generosity.The crewsassigned to pick up the food begin their roundups and within the hour food itemsare brought to a
Jacket basketball off to hotstart
Afast start doesn’talwaysturn into astrong finishing kick so it’snosurprise that theDenham Springs boys basketball team is taking ameasured approach to the first month of the new season. Heading into last weekend’s tournament at St. Louis Catholic, the Yellow Jackets were13-0, a start that is slightly better yet similar to its beginnings theprevious two years. The Jacketsmade the state quarterfinals last season, but were upset in the firstround the year before Preseason successes won’t guarantee postseason wins, afact
that Denham Springs coach Kevin Caballero is well aware of. “A real good coach, (former Scotlandville High coach) Carlos Sample, told me afew years ago at atournamentinDecember, ‘Coach,they’renot giving anythingaway rightnow,’”Caballero
said last week after a61-24 win over Glen Oaks. “And if anybody should know about that, it’shim.”
Sample’sScotlandville teams almostalways found away to finish while advancing to their respectivestate championship games 15 consecutive years. Caballero’s team is only concentrating on what it needs to do this season, as it should. “The two things we’ve been preaching are stayinghealthy and focusing on ourselves,” Caballero said. “Hopefully,with the closeness of this group, if we can avoid
STAFF FILE PHOTOBYMICHAEL JOHNSON Denham Springs coachKevin Caballero cheers on histeam during a 2023 game.
Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
PHOTO
Four-year-old Grace LeBlanc feedsvanilla wafers to acamel near the live Nativity scene.
PHOTOSBYDAVID NORMAND Members of the Walker Baptist Youth group celebrate the true essence of Christmas with aliveNativity scene outside the Walker Parks & Recreation’sCommunity Center on Dec.21.
DRIVE
Continued from page1G
central location where it is sorted and then loadedinto boxes.
This year’screw included 26 members of the KiwanisClub and about 20 more volunteers. The group sorting and boxes the food included workers aged 3to83. Trafton Academy,anelementary school, sent its young basketball team to help with the sorting and boxing. Also assisting in the process were Key Club members from Hammond High Magnet School and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School. The loaded boxes were stored untilMondaymorning when distribution started with crews provided by the city of Hammond. The majority of the boxes were sent to two local community service agencies and others were reserved for families in need who are known by the Kiwanis members Community Services chair Judy Couvillion said thecommunity service project “is one of thebest things that our club does every year.The remarkable thing about our food drive is that we are finished before noon. With all the help that we had we were able to collect, sortand fill 115boxes ina little more than an hour.Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the food drive is the realization that we live in avery,very generous community.The amount
donated is always inspiring. In additiontothe food, we also receive
Speakerdiscusses impact of CivilWar on Livingston Parish area
BY VIC COUVILLION
Contributing writer
The American Civil War, whichended almost 160 years ago, continuestodraw interest, especially when tales of the epic contest are brought home to local descendants of those whoenduredand suffered from the effects of the conflict.
Thetrials andsuffering of residents on the northshore, particularlythose living in the Springfield-Ponchatoula area, were discussed by Ricky J. Lips Jr.tomembers of the Edward Livingston Historical Association on Dec.11atthe SpringfieldAlbany Branch of the Livingston Parish Library system.
Lips, agraduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University,titled his address, “Contraband and Combat: Daily Struggles in the Florida ParishesDuring theCivil War.”Atthe outset, Lips saidabout his programs, “most who have any interest in the Civil Warknow aboutthe campaigns and battles but Ihave focused my study on how the war affectedthe peoplewho lived in this area, particularly Livingston Parish.”
While the lecture focused on theplight of civilians in the towns and villages north of LakesPontchartrain andMaurepas,troop movements andbattlesdid play arolein the degradation of life among the people who had to endure the misery wrought by marauding Federal armies, some local miscreants and laterorganizedbands known as Jayhawkers. In 1861, LouisianafollowedSouthern sisterstatestosucceedfromthe Union. Barely ayear later,New Orleans wascaptured by Federalnavy and army units,the first major Southern city to fall during the war.This would have consequences on what ultimately happenedtocivilians living north of New Orleans
the suffering of residents of Livingston Parish during the American Civil war at the group’srecent December meeting
Warcomes to Ponchatoula
Federal troops used their base in New Orleans as aspringboard for incursions into the Ponchatoula and Springfield areas and the residents who tried to go on with their lives were ultimately victims. Ponchatoula was part of Livingston Parish at thetime becauseTangipahoa Parish was not formed until 1869
Lipsexplained that he derived much of his knowledge about the war’seffectsfrom the extensive writings andjournals left by
Dr.George Colmer,a native of England who was acentral figure in the area during these times. He earned his medical degree from Tulane where he also finished law school. Colmer had afront seat to watch the quality of life in the area slowly go from simple deprivation to starvation. With connections to New Orleans cut off, northshore residents lost awaterborne opportunity for obtaining needed supplies that had existed sincethe early days of settlement. Lips pointed out that as the conflict grew the local residents hadnowhere to go.“Travel by land hadalways been difficult anyway and with the waterways controlled by the Federals the local civilians were forced to pretty much stay where they hadbeenliving. They just had no place to go.”
Serious trouble started in 1862 when Union forcescame up the railroad tracks andinvaded Ponchatoula. The6th Michigan division led the assault that is chronicled in abook, “Among theCotton Thieves,” written by Edward S. Bacon, aUnion officer The invading soldiers, outofcontrol,burned down much of Ponchatoula. The soldiers, high on whisky,quinine and arsenic turned into amob. Lips said “they were corrupt, greedy savages with no respect for the local populace. They looted and stole everything they couldget their hands on even breaking into aMasonic Lodge and stealing their sword and jewels.”
Livingston Parish raided Bacon, despite being aUnion officer,admitted that the raid into Livingston Parish had no strategic value whatsoever.The Union forces were charged with stealing or burning all the cotton they could find. The unruly soldiers roamed aboutthe countryside stealing horses, mules, wagons and anything else of value. Lips said that the soldiers who carry their loot back to the lakes where it would be transported by boat to
New Orleans. As time went by,other communities were treated with violence. At one time Wadesboro, which at one time was aportonthe Natalbany River,was burned to the ground. Mary Jane Spiller,aresident of Port Vincent,wrote that hertownwas, “burned to the ground, leaving the peoplewith nothing.”
Asecond Union raid in the area in 1863 brought even more privation.Food stuffs were eitherconfiscated or destroyed and Dr Colmer,who kept ameticulousaccounting of his weight, notedthatbyMarch of 1863 he had lost 10 pounds because of alack of food. “Dr.Colmer was awealthy man by the standards of the day and had nothing to eat, you can only imagine how desperate theresidents with lesser means were,” Lips said. Jayhawkers arrive
By 1865, the residents of the northshore were starving. Lips,recountinga message of the day that he found, relatedthe story of aman who decided to eat abobcat.“He wrote that he roasted the hindquarter of the cat and that it tasted surprisingly good.” By the time thewar came to aclose, residents faced anew threat from Jayhawkers, extreme abolitionists whotook the law into their own hands. They brought even violence on the civilian population.
Colmer was moved to write aboutthese terrible times, “even the ducks quit laying eggs because they had nothing to eat.”
“Just think about what life must have been like. All around you there was destruction and loss.The Yankees had torn up therailroad to New Orleansand boat serviceonthe lakes had stopped. Not only did you have no place to go, no way to leavethis miserable place, but refugees from New Orleans came into the area putting even more of astrain on resources. Life was adaily struggle just finding something to eat,” Lips said.
PHOTO BY VICCOUVILLION RickyJ.Lips Jr.talks to members of the Edward Livingston Historical Association about
Membersofthe HammondKiwanis Club fill boxes with nonperishable food items destined for families in need.All food is donated by Hammond residents wholeave their donations on their doorsteps forpick
PHOTOSBYVIC COUVILLION Hammond Kiwanis Club membersand volunteersstand poised to begin filling 115 boxes with nonperishable food items destined for needyfamilies in the community.The annual food driveisone of thesignatureprojectsofthe HammondKiwanis Club
Livingston ParishChildren’sChorus performs with symphony
SALZER
Continued from page1G
injuries we’ll be stronger at theend of the yearthan we’ve been the last twoorthree. With two sets of brothers playing main rolesfor the team, closeness runs deepfor theYellow Jackets.
Senior JK O’Conner and his younger brother,Jermaine, ajunior,are part of a smallish lineup that is short on height, but long on quickness and athleticism. Senior twins Da’Sean and Da’Jean Golmondare also partofthe rotation. Against Glen Oaks, Jermaine O’Conner led four players in double figures with 16 points. Denham Springs forced thePanthers into 21 turnovers through threequarters before arunning clock wasusedinthe
fourth quarter By nature, Caballeroismore of an offensive-minded coach, but he knows where his team’sstrength is.
“If Iwas afootball coach I’d probably be an offensive coordinator,but this year we have some quickness and we’re trying to stretch the floor alittle bit,”Caballero said. “The kids are feeding off of it.They’re getting some easy buckets and it gets them going.”
Topped by Da’Sean Golmond at 67%, easy buckets have translated into high shooting percentages and lots of momentumfor the Yellow Jackets.The goal now is to maintain that energy as they work into thesecondhalf of the season.
Charles Salzer covers Livingston sports for the Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer, email livingston@ theadvocate.com.
Leila Pitchford livingston@theadvocate.com (225) 388-0731 DEATH NOTICES CALL: 225-388-0289
EMAIL: obits@theadvocate.com
WEDDINGS &ENGAGEMENTS CALL: (225) 388-0738
EMAIL: nuptials@theadvocate.com
CLASSIFIEDS
CALL: (225) 383-0111
EMAIL: classifieds@theadvocate.com
LEGAL ADVERTISING
CALL: (225) 388-0128
EMAIL: weeklylegals@theadvocate.com
PHOTOSBYDAVID NORMAND
Maryjane Holley, left, Madison Campbell,LilyLouque and AddieCifreo, members of the Walker High School musical theater,sing Christmas carolsatthe Walker outdoor pavilion Dec. 21.
STAFFPHOTO BY LEILA PITCHFORD
TheLivingston Parish Children’sChorus, dressed in black, shares the front of the River CenterTheatre stage with theGreater Baton RougeChildren’sChoir, at the Baton RougeSymphony’s Home for the Holidays concertthe afternoon of Dec.21. Thechildren sang several pieces with theorchestra and thesymphonychoir,including an audience singalong at the end
SLUcollectingdiscarded Christmastrees
Community news report
Christmas tree recycling is available starting Jan. 6inHammond and Ponchatoula.
Southeastern Louisiana University is again asking area residents to give the environmenta gift after Christmas. Turtle Cove and its partners will provide Christmas tree recycling.
Discarded Christmas trees can be dropped off andusedfor wetlandrestoration rather than throwing them out with the trash, according to anews release.
“RecycledChristmas trees can be put back to work in our area marshes, while also reducing the waste going into landfills,” said Rob Moreau, manager of Southeastern’sTurtle Cove Environmental ResearchStation,located on Pass Manchac between Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas.
Although grant fundingfrom the state programs for Christmas tree recycling in many areasended years ago, local partners stepped
up to keep the project going, accordingtothe release. This marks the 30th year SLU hasconducted its recycled tree program. Each year,students fromMoreau’s environmental awareness class, as well as volunteersfrom the local community,havehelped to deploy the trees into areas needed most in the Manchac Swamp Wetlands. This year,Turtle Cove Education/Outreach Coordinator Ariel Ebanks is teaching theclass and will lead students in the deployment of the treesinmid-March.
Approximately 45,000 trees have beendeployed through the Southeastern program in the past 29 years.
Southeastern scientists and volunteersatTurtle Cove usethe discarded trees to help build up marshlandinareas that have been impacted by erosionand other factors, Moreau said Moreauexplainedthat the trees will be used in avariety of ways, creating new habitats for wildlife and, of course,helping to control
erosion along various shorelines, most recentlyoccurring on Galva Canal and in areas around the research station itself on Pass Manchac and the boatshed/parking lot area at Galva Canal.
Collaboratinginthe project for the 10th consecutive year is the Southeastern Sustainability Center,which will serve as adrop-off point for area residents to leave theirused Christmas trees. Other primary partners include the city of Hammond, city of Ponchatoula, Middendorf’s Restaurant in Manchac, and new partner this year the Hammond Downtown Development District. Several local tree farms and other businesses usually jump in on the actionaswellin terms of providing left over trees. Trees can be dropped off beginning Jan. 6through theday after Mardi Gras from 7a.m. to 3p.m. at the Hammond maintenance facility,located at 18104 U.S. 190. Trees should be droppedoff usingthe gate on Falcon Drive next to Piggly Wiggly Supermarket. During those
same dates, city of Ponchatoula residents can drop off trees anytime at 385 North4th St. by the fence.
The Southeastern Sustainability Center,located at 2101 North Oak St., will collect trees beginning Jan.6through the end of the month from 8a.m. to 4p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday.Moreau said a Turtle Cove trailer is maintained at Middendorf’s Restaurant, so diners going there can also drop off trees starting Jan. 6.
Starting this year,two new partners are joining in on the effort: The Hammond Farmers and Artisans Market will serve as a drop-off location with moreinformation forthcoming, and St.John The Baptist Parish will also be collecting trees and bringing them to Manchac. Curbside pickup can be scheduled in St. John the Baptist Parish by calling Public Works at (985) 652-4815, and will take place on Thursdays from Jan. 9through Feb. 13.
“The city of Hammond will again
provide transport of collected trees from Hammond and Ponchatoula to the Turtle Cove Galva Canal parking lot area in Manchac, where they will be stored until they are deployed in the marshes in the spring,” Moreau said. For all of these sites, no flocked trees will be accepted, and all trees should be stripped of any ornaments, lights, tinsel, stands, nails and screws, etc.
“This greatly helps our efforts to get the trees quickly deployed,” Moreau said.
For more information,contact Moreau at rmoreau@southeastern.edu, Ebanks at Ariel.Ebanks@ southeastern.edu, or visit the website at www.southeastern.edu/ turtlecove.
Donations to help support the activity can be sent by check payable to Southeastern Foundation —c/o Turtle Cove and mailed to Southeastern Box 10585, Hammond, LA 70402 or can be made by credit card through the Turtle Cove website under the donations link.
WednesdayVolunteersfor Family andCommunity installs
Community news report
On Nov.6,19membersof Wednesday Volunteers for Family and Community and one guest gathered at the home of club secretary Gloria Messenger for their finalmonthlymeeting for2024
After monthly business was completed, nominating committee co-chairs, Gwen Domiano and Susan Melancon, installedthe new WVFC officers for 2025 in ashort ceremony
The new officers and chairs were nominated and voted on for their new positions at theclub’s October meeting, and they will be serving atwo-yearterm from 2025to2027.Manyofthe outgoing officers and chairs were nominated by the committeefor the samepositions they held during the 2023to2025 term.
Donna Bouterie and Pam Villagranwill both be staying on in their positions of president and vice presidentrespectively for thenew term. Gloria Messenger
andBetty Bankston will also be staying on as secretaryand treasurer respectively for another term. Jean Hebert will be taking over the position of parliamentarian from Sue Nelson, and Jamie McDonald will be the new reporter.New educational chairs include Gwen Domiano forEnvironment, Susan Melancon for International, Jean Johnson for Literacy and Julie Desselles for Family Life.
Sue Nelson will remain in charge of membership and scrapbook while KarenMoranwillbe taking over the responsivities from Cathy Vilardo forhospitality
After the meeting, Messenger along with her co-hostsGwen Domianoand Jamie McDonald served aluncheon meal.
Wednesday Volunteers for Family and Community is oneoftwo organizations that make up the Tangipahoa Volunteers for Familyand Community organization TVFC isanall-volunteer armof LSU AgCenter Extension Service.
PROVIDED PHOTO
WednesdayVolunteers for Family and Community officers, from left,include JamieMcDonald,Donna Bouterie, Jean Hebert, Gloria Messenger,Pam Villagran and Betty Bankston.