The St. Tammany Advocate 12-24-2015 by The Advocate

A tradition of tea for tots and teddy bears; Tammany Tracker ä 3G

THE ST.TAMMANY

ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23, 2015 H

COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE • MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • SLIDELL THENEWORLEANSADVOCATE.COM

Nature Center recruiting volunteer planters

Sharon Edwards TAMMANY TIMES

It’s beginning to look a lot like ... Carnival I’ve been thinking about serving king cake at our family’s annual Christmas party. That’s how closely Mardi Gras follows on the heels of the holidays. Mardi Gras 2016 is Feb. 9. But you can look for the Carnival fun to begin in St. Tammany in January. During that month, there will be parades with floats and parades with boats, dogs and even lawn mowers. Women in St. Tammany form two superkrewes: the highly anticipated Krewe of Eve parade, which rolls Jan. 29 in Mandeville, and the Krewe of Selene parade, Feb. 5 in Slidell. On Mardi Gras, families can enjoy parades in several cities and towns throughout the parish. Here’s the rundown: JAN. 9: It all begins at 6 p.m. when the St. John Fools of Misrule make merry, marching from the Columbia Street Tap Room through the historic St. John District in Covington. JAN. 10: The first street parade to roll is the Krewe of Claude. The parade begins at 1 p.m. in Slidell. It takes the traditional route, beginning near Pontchartrain Drive and ending at Lindberg Drive. The Krewe of Poseidon, a new krewe with more than 300 riders, will follow. JAN. 17: The Krewe of Slidellians parades at 1 p.m. Presented by the Slidell Women’s Civic Club, it’s open to adults from the community, who can ride on the Melting Pot float. This year’s theme is “An Evening of World Celebration.” To join, call (985) 640-6664. JAN. 23: The Krewe of Bilge floats the season’s first boat parade through the Eden Isles canals. It starts at noon at the Marina Cafe and ends at The Dock in Slidell. The theme is “Toys and Games.” JAN. 23: Slidell’s original walking parade, the Krewe of Mona Lisa & MoonPie, parades at 7 p.m. in Olde Towne Slidell. The theme is “Mona’s Battle of the Bands.” The parade begins on Carey Street and ends there with a street party. JAN. 24: The Mystick Krewe of Perseus parades at 1 p.m. with the theme “Precious Gems.” The krewe brings more than a dozen floats and special throws to the parade. JAN. 29: The Krewe of Eve celebrates a landmark anniversary when its parade rolls at 7 p.m. in Mandeville with the theme “30 Years of Fun and Games.” The krewe rides Blain Kern floats and hosts a marching band competition. It starts at the junction of La. 22 and U.S. 190 and ends on the East Causeway Approach. JAN. 30: Four-legged critters and their two-legged friends parade in the annual Krewe de Paws at 10 a.m. in Olde Towne Slidell. Proceeds and after-parade events benefit local nonprofit animal assistance äSee EDWARDS, page 2G

Sweetness & Lights Advocate staff photos by SCOTT THRELKELD

Christmas decorations at a home in Clipper Estates in Slidell are reflected in the water.

Rudolph’s nose might have created the original holiday glow — predating, of course, even the Christmas trees that came into vogue in the New Orleans area around the 1870s. Those were lit, for brief moments of viewing, with candles positioned in holders among the branches. They weren’t the safest of yule lights, but they were the simplest. My, how times have changed. Today’s glorious lights can blink and pulse to music and change color. Through time, however, all these forms of

Ronnie Dunaway’s home won first place in Olde Towne Slidell Main Street District’s recent contest. Judging criteria was based on unique design, placement of decorations and overall presentation. Photo provided by Olde Towne Slidell

illumination have shared the same mission: lighting the way for the spirit of Christmas to find us. Here’s a look at how

neighborhoods around the area are ushering in the season of peace and goodwill toward men.

Large-scale decorations make the most of the space at a Toy soldiers guard the walkway at a home in Slidell. home in Slidell.

I love St. Tammany Parish, and one of my favorite places on the entire north shore is the Northlake Nature Center. It’s a 400-acre preserve of natural habitat smack dab in the south central heart of the parish, and it is a place to reconnect with the Earth and the wonderful intricacies of the outdoors. The NNC’s board of direcREC & tors and staff LEISURE are dedicated ANDREW to quality proCANULETTE gramming as well, which helps call attention to the property and its mission of conservation. Two of the NNC’s biggest outings of the year are scheduled to take place Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 in connection with Arbor Day. But before you say, “Well, that’s a long time from now,” consider that volunteers already have begun to sign up to assist with plantings on those two days in early 2016. Since the north shore was hit with a devastating pine beetle infestation in the early 1990s, the nonprofit NNC has coordinated the planting of cypress and pine seedlings on the property, located just east of Mandeville. Executive Director Rue McNeill estimated that 40,000 seedlings have been planted onsite during the past two decades, and those were primarily by the hands of dedicated and environmentally aware volunteers. It’s not a difficult job, really. With the use of a simple tool called a dibble, a small hole is made in the ground, and the seedling is placed in that space. The roots are covered with dirt, and extra soil is placed at the base of the small tree to ensure it stays in place. Most grow into mature cypress and pine, and they provide a scenic backdrop for the NNC. This year, however, McNeill said their source of seedlings (the U.S. Department of Agriculture) is not offering them for purchase. So, if NNC officials cannot locate another source, they may plant wildflowers instead. “We did some wildflower planting last year in addition to the seedlings,” she said. “It might be time to beautify the area even more with some wildflower patches. They take years of reseeding to really take off. It takes a while, but when it does happen, those wildflower patches are just beautiful.” Each year, as many as 100 volunteers show up at the NNC for the Arbor Day plantings. Everyone meets in the parking lot (off U.S. 190) just west of the entrances to Pelican Park and Fontainebleau State Park. There, they receive instruction on which areas of the preserve to head to, and a guide normally goes with each group to answer any questions that may arise during planting. There is no age restriction äSee CANULETTE, page 2G

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Holiday feast

COLLEGE BRIEFS

Gold

Advocate staff report

SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Maxwell Gold, a 2015 graduate of St. Paul’s School, has been awarded the Johnson Scholarship at Washington and Lee University. This prestigious, competitive scholarship is awarded for exceptional academic and personal promise. In 2015, more than 2,900 students applied, and 30 scholarships were awarded. Max, the son of David and Tracy Gold, of Covington, is attending Washington and Lee majoring in mathematics.

About 600 people turned out for the fifth annual community Christmas luncheon at the Paul Spitzfaden Community Center in Mandeville. McMath Construction founder Don McMath sponsored the event in partnership with Champagne Beverage, which provided drinks, and La Provence restaurant, which contributed jambalaya and a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. There was also music and door prizes, includAdvocate staff photos by SCOTT THRELKELD ing wide-screen televisions and Jerry Combs, of La Provence, right, serves Mary Lou Lacoste at the luncheon. gift baskets.

Larry and Debby Chaudoir are among those who turned out for the annual luncheon.

The Rev. Donald Burris, of Goodwill Baptist Church, from left, and Mandeville Mayor Donald Villere shake hands with Malcolm Fugler, who won one of five wide-screen televisions.

Pet of the week Buckshot is a 1-year-old hound mix the Humane Society rescued from a highkill shelter. He is very playful and loves toys, for Christmas and all year round. Visit him at the St. Tammany Humane Society, 20384 Harrison Ave., Covington, or call (985) 892-7387. Photo provided by St. Tammany Humane Society

Virtual library open 24/7, even on holidays All St. Tammany Parish Library branches will be closed tomorrow, Friday and Saturday for the Christmas holiday, but our virtual library will be open 24/7. A simple trip to the library’s virtual home, www.sttammany CHECK IT library.org, will OUT allow you to SHELLIE download movSAVOY LISTER ies, television shows, music CDs, e-books, audiobooks, comic books and magazines. The library’s Hoopla Digital service offers thousands of movies, TV shows, music CDs, comic books, e-books and audiobooks to choose from that can be downloaded or streamed directly to your digital device with the Hoopla app. OverDrive delivers nearly 15,000 downloadable e-books and more than 5,000 download-

able audiobooks that can be checked out from a computer, smartphone, digital reader or tablet. The library’s 3M Cloud Library offers an additional 5,300 e-books and audiobooks to download. Zinio delivers downloadable digital copies of print magazines directly to your digital device through the Zinio app. To get started enjoying all of these options, visit www. sttammanylibrary.org, and click on the service you would like to try in the left-hand column. ‘HARRY POTTER’ MOVIE MARATHON: Children age 7 and up are invited to watch the first three “Harry Potter” movies from noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Slidell Branch, 555 Robert Blvd. Children are welcome to bring their favorite snacks, a pillow and blanket to enjoy the fun. For information, call (985) 646-6470.

Advocate file photo by VERONICA DOMINACH

In 2014, Larry Burch explained the idea behind planting cypress and pine seedlings after the Northlake Nature Center in Mandeville was hit by a hurricane and a pine beetle infestation. Volunteers will be planting seedlings again this year on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6.

CANULETTE Continued from page 1G

to participate in a planting, and it’s an ideal chance to earn service hours or create a bonding experience for school clubs, Scouts, businesses, church groups, and families. “Whether we’re planting seedlings or wildflowers those days, the point is we need volunteer help for Arbor Day festivities,” McNeill said. “There’s no limit to how many volunteers we can take. If you come out, we’ll find work for you.” McNeill asks that persons or groups interested in volunteering either (or both) days contact her in advance

so she coordinate the number of tools needed. Still, she recommends bringing your own shovel and gloves, as well as wearing boots and clothing appropriate for whatever weather conditions are prevalent at that time. In addition to being a nature preserve, the NNC also boasts eight miles of biking and hiking trails, a covered pavilion, a boat launch and cultural interests on site. Entry is free. For information on the Northlake Nature Center, its programming, or to volunteer for the Arbor Day plantings, call (985) 626-1238 or send email to rue@northlake nature.org. You also can learn more about the NNC online at www.northlakenature.org.

CONTACT US THE ST. TAMMANY ADVOCATE Published every Wednesday Submissions: Send news by Monday at 5 p.m. to be published 10 days later, as space is available. Original photos will run as space is available and must be highresolution JPEG attachments, 1MB or larger. First and last names must be included, from left to right. Email news and photos to: sttammany@theadvocate.com Read online at: theneworleans advocate.com/community/ sttammany

Advocate file photo by JOHN MCCUSKER

It soon will be looking a lot like Mardi Gras around the metro area.

EDWARDS

in Covington. It begins at the St. Tammany Justice Center Continued from page 1G with floats, trucks, horses and marching bands. JAN. 30: The Mystic Krewe of groups. JAN. 30: The quirky Krewe of Titans parades at 6:30 p.m. in Slidell. Push Mow rolls through Abita JAN. 31: The Krewe of DionySprings at 11 a.m., beginning and ending at Abita Town Hall sus rolls at 1 p.m. in Slidell. FEB. 5: The Krewe of Selene on Level Street. Look for huparades at 6:30 p.m. in Slidell. morous handmade floats with Named for the Greek goddess the theme “Unsuitable School Mascots.” It’s a town party, and of the moon, the signature throw is the lighted wand. The the roads close at 10 a.m. theme is “Selene’s Dynamic JAN. 30: The oldest St. TamDuos.” many krewe, the Krewe of FEB. 6: The floating Krewe of Olympia, parades at 6 p.m.

Tchefuncte begins at 1 p.m. at Salty’s Marina and parades to the Louisiana 22 bridge in Madisonville. The King Neptune’s Marching Society reviews the parade on Water Street. This year’s theme is “The Krewe of Tchefuncte Gets Shaken, Not Stirred.” FEB. 9: The Krewe of Bush parades at 9 a.m. in Bush. MARDI GRAS: The Krewe of Covington Lions Club parade begins at 10 a.m. st the St. Tammany Justice Center in Covington. The Mystic Krewe of Covington follows.

In Pearl River, the Krewe of Pearl River Lions Club parades at 1 p.m. from Pearl River High in Pearl River. Lacombe’s annual Krewe of Chahta parades at 1 p.m. It starts at the site of the former Morocco Room and ends at Lacombe Nursing Home. Krewe of Folsom begins at 2 p.m. in Folsom. But that’s not all: The Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws hosts a post-Mardi Gras dog parade on the Mandeville lakefront at 2 p.m. on Feb. 14. The theme is “Love is in the Hair.”

Contact: Karen Taylor Gist The New Orleans Advocate 1160 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville, LA, 70471 (504) 636-7434 For Advertising: (504) 636-7421 (classified) (504) 636-7425 (display) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Questions about subscriptions? Call customer service at (504) 529-0522 or visit theadvocate.com/ subscriptions. Questions about Red Bag Delivery? Call (504) 2625998 or email nstmc@ theadvocate.com

CHRISTMAS EVE AT CHRIST CHURCH “O holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth!” --O Holy Night Join us at Christ Episcopal at one of ﬁ ve Christmas Eve ﬁve services, heralding the birth of our Savior. 2:00 pm Traditional Festival Service with carols 4:00 pm Festival Service with choir and trumpet 6:00 pm A Jazz Christmas Eve Festival Eucharist 8:00 pm A Quiet Christmas Eve in the historic Chapel 9:00 pm Festival High Mass with choir and brass quartet “Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright” —Silent Night Fr. Bill Miller will be preaching at All Services on Christmas Eve. (Note that there is no Christmas Day service so our clergy and staff may have time with their loved ones.) Christ Episcopal Church is located at 120 South New Hampshire Street in Covington, Louisiana

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Teddy BearTea is steeped in holiday tradition When I think of a kids’ tea party, I’m taken back to memories of drinking an imaginary brew out of a plastic tea cup around TAMMANY a table of teddy TRACKER bears, or sitting cross-legged at ABBY DONALDSON the bottom of a swimming pool with a mouth full of air, an imaginary cup and a friend across from me to toast with.

But this Christmas, boys and girls on the north shore will be getting all dolled up for an English-style afternoon tea. The Teddy Bear Tea is a Christmas tradition that gives parents and children a chance to learn about different tea traditions and celebrate the holidays together. It will be held 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Vianne’s Tea House, 544 Girod St., Mandeville. “These memories will last

a lifetime, for parents and children,” said Kerri Blache, who co-owns Vianne’s with her chef husband, Michael Blache. For the afternoon, the youngsters will be treated like kings and queens. Dressed in their Sunday best and clutching their well-worn teddy bears, they will sit around a beautifully set table while they sip warm tea from porcelain teacups and eat handcrafted tea sandwiches. But don’t be fooled by this mature

scene: These are still kids we’re talking about. “We’re not trying to coax the children into that adulthood state or anything,” Michael Blache said with a laugh. “We try to pick items we know the kids are going to enjoy.” While the adults will be served a traditional threecourse high tea with an assortment of holiday teas, the younger guests will enjoy options such as ham and cheese tea sandwiches, pigs-in-ablanket, chocolate-covered

strawberries and more. The caffeinated holiday teas also will be traded in for herbal kids’ blends, such as Chloe’s Tea Party, which tastes like gingerbread cookies, and Bubble Gum Tea, made with real bubble gum pieces. The afternoon also will be filled with children’s Christmas activities, including games, an ornament craft, a letter to Santa, holiday stories, Christmas singalongs and, of course, a visit from the big jolly elf himself.

HOLIDAY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TAMMANY TO DO

CHRISTMAS SHOW: 10 p.m. Dec. 23. Live music by Four Unplugged and Low Dough. There is a cover. Columbia Street Tap Room, 434 N. Columbia St., Covington. NOEL PAINTING CLASS: 11 a.m. Dec. 24. Paint an angelic Christmas scene at this BYOB painting class. $35; reservations are required. Painting with a Twist, 2132 Gause Blvd., Slidell. RUDOLPH PAINTING CLASS: 1 p.m. Dec. 23. A local artist gives step-by-step instructions to paint a Rudolph cameo. The class is BYOB for adults 21 and older. $25; reservations are required. Painting with a Twist, 2121 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville. HOLIDAY ART CAMP: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 28 and 29. Handson instruction for children ages 6-12 from professional artists and teachers. Painting, drawing, art history and techniques. Bring a morning snack and a bag lunch. Admission is $80 for STAA members, $95 for nonmembers. St. Tammany Art Association, 320 N. Columbia St., Covington.

NEON PELICAN PAINTING CLASS: 7 p.m. Wednesday. Local artist Ryan Perea will teach participants how to paint a neon pelican with stepby-step directions. This BYOB class is $35; reservations required. Painting with a Twist, 2121 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville. MOONLIGHT HIKE AND MARSHMELLOW MELT: 5 p.m. Saturday. A night hike through the woods, followed by a marshmallow roasting. Space is limited; reservations required. Call (985) 626-1238 to register. Free for members, $5 for non-members. Northlake Nature Center, 23135 U.S. 190, Mandeville. PAISLEY CROSS PAINTING CLASS: 7 p.m. Saturday. Learn how to paint a colorful paisley cross in this BYOB class led by local artist Dominoe Bruyndonckx. Must be 18 or older to paint, 21 or older to drink. $45; reservations required. Painting with a Twist, 2132 Gause Blvd., Slidell. VOODOO GUMBO: 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The local band performs a variety of genres. There is a cover. Ruby’s Roadhouse, 840 Lamarque St., Mandeville. BOOGIE FALAYA: 10 p.m. Saturday. The New Orleans funk band performs. There is a cover. Columbia Street Tap Room, 434 N. Columbia St., Covington. NEW YEAR’S THEATER CAMP: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. Students ages 6-14 can learn theater techniques. Call (985) 276-9727 to register. The Swan, 70326 La. 59, Abita Springs. NEW YEAR’S STORY TIME: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Kids’ story time featuring the book “Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution” by Pat Miller. Barnes and Noble, 3414 U.S. 190, Mandeville. NATURE WALK AND TITIVATION: 1

FREE EVENTS

SLIDELL’S BAYOU CHRISTMAS: 6-10 p.m. Dec. 23 and 26. Holiday light displays, holiday music, food from local restaurants, hand-crafted gifts for sale and live entertainment. Free. Presented by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana. Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Lane, Slidell. CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: 5 p.m. Dec. 24. The community

Photo provided by Bayou Christmas

Grab some lawn chairs and a blanket and head to Heritage Park this weekend for an outdoor holiday movie. is invited to a Christmas Eve service featuring the reading of the Christmas story as well as carols. Mandeville Bible Church, 217 Carroll St., Mandeville. CHRISTMAS EVE MASS: 11 p.m. Dec. 24. Mass is open to the public. St. Joseph Abbey

Church, 75376 River Road, St. Benedict. SLIDELL MOVIE NIGHT: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26. Head out to the park for the screening of a holiday movie. Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Lane, Slidell. WINTER WONDERLAND TRAIN DISPLAY: 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

daily. Lifelike Christmas display with model trains, a snow village and more. The train display also will be shown 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through December. Presented by the Northlake-Mandeville Rotary Club. Aquarius Pools, 2050 Gen. Pershing St., Mandeville.

The Teddy Bear Tea is for children ages 3-9. Tickets are $29 per person. For more information about the tea or to make reservations, call (985) 624-5683. Vianne’s is an international tea house located in a quaint house just off of the St. Tammany Trace in Mandeville. It offers more than 100 teas, including seasonal Christmas teas. The tea house is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

p.m. Wednesday. Participants of the evening stroll receive a lopper and head out with other volunteers to spruce up the trails at the Northlake Nature Center. Free. Northlake Nature Center, 23135 U.S. 190, Mandeville. CRAFT CLASS: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Make a home decoration using ceramic tile in this twohour class for ages 14 and older. There will be a class for kids ages 6-14 at 1 p.m. Dec. 29. Free; registration and supplies are required. Call (985) 626-7997 to register and get a supplies list. Pelican Park Castine Center, 63350 Pelican Drive, Mandeville.

WEEKLY EVENTS

CAMELLIA CITY FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Live music, seasonal fruits and vegetables, arts and crafts and more. East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, 1808 Front St., Slidell. COVINGTON FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, plants and more. Covington City Hall, 609 N. Columbia St. The market is also held on Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St. MANDEVILLE TRAILHEAD COMMUNITY MARKET: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Local food, fresh produce, live music, arts and crafts and more. Mandeville Trailhead, 675 Lafitte St. ABITA SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET: Noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Fresh produce, local food, crafts and more. Abita Springs Trailhead, 22056 La. 59.

Submit events by emailing tammanytracker@gmail.com.

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Sandra Di Prieto, Sharon Toups and Kerry Milton

Jennifer, Gwen and Ron Gitz

Angels light the night in Covington

John Desrosiers and Arlette Delcham

The 2015 “Angels of Light” program featured live music, including harpist Jessica Meltz, and refreshments — all centered on a 15-foot, beautifully decorated tree featuring flowing red ribbons and adorned with individually crafted “tribute” angels. Each angel honored or memorialized a loved one. The benefit for the St. Tammany Hospital Hospice was held in early December in the St. Tammany Parish Hospital main lobby in Covington. The 2015 Hospice Tree for Life was dedicated in loving memory of Ronald Albert TAMMANY Gitz Sr. by the Gitz family. Mr. SCENE Gitz’s son, Ron Gitz Jr., provided a MISSIE wonderful reflection on the work NOEL his father did for the community. The Tribute Angels were sponsored by the Dunavant family and dedicated to the memory of Darren Johnson and Delores Acy Tackett. Additional special sponsors included David and Carolyn Biggs, Gilbert J. Hattier III and PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans. The welcome and invocation were delivered by Rock Kendrick, vice chairman of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, and the Rev. Daniel C. Vanek, hospital chaplain. Following musical entertainment by St. Scholastica Academy choir members Emily Ruli, Madeleine Bechac and Hannah Cole, Cheryl Bates and Ada Marion read each name included in the honor and memorial ceremony. The evening was a wonderful tribute to special memories and family members. Proceeds from Angels of Light help the St. Tammany Hospital Hospice provide palliative and supportive care to terminally ill patients and their families. The dedicated angels and Advocate photos by MISSIE NOEL Hospice Tree for Life will remain on display throughout December.

St. Tammany Parish Hospital President and CEO Patti Ellish with Paula Toups, director of the St. Tammany Hospital Hospice

Blanche McCloskey and Rock Kendrick

Junior Auxiliary of Slidell hosts Holiday Home Tour

Vicki Gulino and Cindy Walden

Stephanie Miller and JoBeth Kavanaugh

Chad Palen and April Lagasse

The Junior Auxiliary of Slidell showed off holiday finery at its 11th annual Holiday Tour of Homes. Four homes were featured, including the beautifully appointed houses of Linda Murrah, Sylvia and Ronny Reine and a home available for purchase in the Rigolets Estates. Each site served handmade cookies and finger foods while providing entertainment from local musicians. The host home for the event was the stunning abode of Jan and Quentin Stumpf in the Rigolets. Guests arrived at sunset and enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres while admiring the multilevel balconies and terraces overlooking the water. The Junior Auxiliary’s president is Barbara Gravois. Funds generated from the Holiday Tour of Homes contribute to nine community service projects the group coordinates in Slidell. The projects focus on women and children, including “A Day for Girls Health,” “Backpacks4kids,” “Child Welfare Project — Hearts United,” “Groovin’ Snacks, Movin’ Kids,” “Happy Feet,” “Juniors in Service,” “Know Your Child,” “Literary Liaisons” and the annual spelling bee. Last year, Junior Auxiliary of Slidell volunteers worked 1,800 hours and spent more

Scarlett and Ashley Gary with Jessica Stumpf than $25,000 to serve more than 11,000 people in the Slidell area. For more information on the Junior Auxiliary of

Ashley Bickham and Angie Jean

Slidell, contact (985) 265-7111, or visit www.JASlidell.org. Missie Arata Noel is the soci-

Erik Kostelak and Donna Bush

ety and features writer for The St. Tammany Advocate. She can be contacted by email at jrnoel@bellsouth.net.

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Hand-knit stockings are a family holiday tradition that has legs BY LYNNE JENSEN

jensencolumn@gmail.com Patricia Finney Daniels welcomed two great-great-nieces into the family earlier this year, but little Stella and Olivia will receive their official welcome this Christmas, when Daniels presents them with personalized red, green and white holiday stockings. “When you get your stocking, you know you’ve arrived,” said Daniels’ daughter, Maggie Simon. “It is a rite of passage.” Daniels, 86, has made more than 120 Christmas stockings for family members, including her three siblings, their children and hers, spouses, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. But don’t imagine Daniels knitting in a rocking chair. Until she retired in 2000, after 50 years as a forensic serologist with the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office, she made Christmas stockings during down time in the crime lab and from a hallway bench at the criminal court building at Tulane and Broad, while she waited to testify. Working was important to Daniels. She was 36 when her husband, James, a riverboat pilot, suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving her to raise four young children, including a 6-week-old. Times were hard, and knitting Christmas stockings was a way to show she cared. “I don’t knit for money; I knit for love,” Daniels said. Spanning more than 60 years, her Christmas stockings are treasured, especially now that Daniels’ eyesight has grown too dim to knit. Stella and Olivia will be the last family members to receive her personalized stockings. Born and raised in the French Quarter, Daniels was 5 when Mother Navias at St. Louis Cathedral School taught her to knit. Her 14-montholder brother, Peter Finney, started kindergarten “and I threw a fit,” Daniels said. “So the nuns told my mother to bring me to school and I could sit in the back of the class” and learn to knit. Some time later, Daniels knitted her first wearable

Photos provided by Florida Avenue Elementary School

Citizens of the month at Florida Avenue Elementary School in Slidell in November Giancarlo Motino, Rene Perez, Martiza Sanchez-Cortez, Haley Minix, Emmiline Mentel, Sophie Yates. Marthan Flanagan, Connor Johnson, Brandon Martin, Davielle BibbinsEmanuel Ducre, Gianna Neal, Carleigh Wright, Jaztin Charles, Catherine Marquez, Cayden Nix and Clyde McCoy. Also honored was A. Wiggins.

Florida Avenue Elementary honors citizens of the month for citizens of the month. These students are honored The Positive Behavior Sup- for listening and assisting port program at Florida Av- classmates and teachers in enue Elementary School in need; serving as a positive Slidell includes recognition influence in the classroom Advocate staff report

and community; demonstrating a positive/helpful attitude; participating in class celebrations; demonstrating a strong effort in academic endeavors; and leadership.

Photo by LYNNE JENSEN

Patricia Finney Daniels has been making Christmas stockings for her family for more than 60 years. ‘When you get your stocking, you know you’ve arrived,’ says Patricia Finney Daniels’ daughter, Maggie Simon. ‘It is a rite of passage.’ creation. “It was the ugliest sweater you ever wanted to see,” she said. “It was pink with a green collar and cuffs, and I actually wore it.” After graduating from Ursuline Academy, Daniels attended Loyola University and continued knitting. “I made argyle socks for my boyfriends,” she said. Daniels raised her five children in Lakeview and moved back to the Quarter after Hurricane Katrina ravaged their Gen. Diaz Street home. Her weakening eyesight worsened, “and they took my car keys away,” Daniels said of her caring children. “But I could still knit.” That was before a stroke in July took its toll. In recent years, Daniels has taught her daughters to knit, and they are teaching theirs. “And I’ve got the pattern,” said daughter

Tricia France, who will make sure the Christmas stocking tradition lives on. It takes “a week or two” to make an 18-inch stocking, Daniels said. Her early ones, sporting Santas, are made of wool that tends to yellow, while her newer ones are acrylic and bright with candy canes. Including names such as Mom, Daddy, Kathleen, John, Peter and Tom, the stockings hang from fireplace mantels, staircases and makeshift places across the country, including New Orleans, Boston and Washington, D.C. “If you don’t have a fireplace, you find a place to hang your stocking, even a bar,” Simon said.

Citizens of the month at Florida Avenue Elementary School in Slidell in November include Moira Thibodeau, Talen Page, Jaylen Gerg, Elia Miller, Emily Gueho, Adam Page, Jan Bautista, Ben Zickler, Michael Motino, Stephanie Crawford, Noelle Ford, Kayla Snow, Miracle Pearson, Marcus Briggs, Taylar Young, ChristianTorres, Nyla Gant and Rylan Mirza.

Lynne Jensen writes about New Orleans community events and people. Contact her at jensencolumn@gmail.com.

Leave room in the budget for pet care BY TRACI D. HOWERTON Special to The Advocate

This is the time of year when many people decide to add a new pet to the family. While it is never a good idea to give a pet as a gift, if a family has made the decision together to welcome a new dog or cat into the home, it is wise to know going in how much having a pet is going to affect the pocketbook. Pet care is something that has a permanent place in the household monthly budget. The costs associated with pet ownership vary greatly, depending on the type and number of pets. Planning ahead is essential to ensure all routine expenses are accounted for, as well as the unexpected costs that may pop up from time to time. VETERINARY CARE: Vet visits will be one of the biggest expenditures in the pet-care budget. Plan for regular checkups and vaccinations, as well as monthly heartworm and flea preventatives. And just like humans, pets also may need unexpected trips to the vet for an ailment or injury. Leave some room in the budget for them, as well. If a pet has a chronic health issue, he may need to take regular medication. Pet insurance may help with budgeting for vet expenses. There are many different plans, and factors for costs include age, breed and the overall health of a pet. Do the research to see if pet insurance is a good option. FOOD: Food is an ongoing expense, but it’s not the place to try to cut costs. Avoid buying the cheapest food, as a poor diet may lead to paying more in the long run for vet care. In addition, if the food contains a lot of fillers, a pet may consume more of it to get the nutrition it needs, which equals to spending more after all. Remember to include costs for treats in the food budget.

GROOMING: Long-haired dogs require a trip to the groomer at least once every six weeks. If you have a longhaired breed, such as a Yorkie or Shih Tzu, and want to keep their hair long, these groomer visits can occur as often as once a week. Grooming costs an average of $20-$60 per pet, per visit. When budgeting this category, be sure to include the cost of brushes, combs, pet shampoo, pet toothpaste and other items that are needed for home maintenance between grooming appointments. BOARDING, SITTING OR DAY CARE: Pets need care when the family is out of town. Vacation budgets should also include the costs of having someone

tend to the pets. TRAINING: Puppies and adult dogs alike can benefit from some basic training. This is an expense that should be included in the budget early on, but would not be an ongoing cost. ACCESSORIES: Plan to purchase items such as travel crates, kennels, pet toys, leashes, collars and food and water bowls. For cats, figure in the costs of litter, litter box, scoopers, etc. Traci D. Howerton is social media editor of Animal Rescue New Orleans, a nonprofit, volunteer-based, no-kill shelter. Contact ARNO at animal rescuecolumn@gmail.com, animalrescueneworleans.org or call our recorded information line at (504) 571-1900.

FACS; Daniel Hake, DPM

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6G F Wednesday, December 23, 2015 F theneworleansadvocate.com F The Advocate

FAITH NOTES OUR LADY OF LOURDES: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church continues its 125 Jubilee Year with the theme for December, “Come Home for Christmas.” It welcomes back people who have left the church. Masses for the Christmas season are 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and at midnight Christmas Eve, and at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Christmas Day. MOMS’ STUDY GROUP: St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington is taking registrations for mothers and mothers-to-be for a group book study of “Graced and Gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker’s Heart” by

Kimberly Hahn. Based on Proverbs 31, Hahn applies Scripture, church teaching and pastoral wisdom to time management, homemaking and more. The group will meet at The Upper Room, 318 Jefferson Ave., from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on the following Fridays: Jan. 15 and 29; Feb. 19 and 26; March 4, 11 and 18; and April 8 and 15. Childcare is available. A $25 fee includes the book. For more information, contact Beth Montelepre at (504) 220-4626 or beth@ montelepre.com or the Office of Marriage and Family Life at (985) 892-9353 or mfl@stpeter-

parish.com. PRAYER SESSIONS: “Lord, Teach Me To Pray,” a three-part prayer series for women seeking a deeper relationship with Christ, is open for registrations. Part one, “Praying Christian Virtues,” begins in early January. Participants learn to meditate using the prayer method of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Small groups meet weekly with trained facilitators for about two hours and pray privately every day, with assigned passages from Scripture. For more information on locations and to register, call Jewell at (985) 634-2856.

St. Tammany senior center menus

Photo provided

Recently, the Pearl River Line Dancers entertained the clients at Starc, celebrating Christmas. Pictured from left to right, standing is Starc’s Lead Instructor Carol White, Rose Fontenot, Evelyn Caronia, Paul Niehaus, Joyce Gibbs, Ellyn Campbell, Kathy Grisoli, Lou Landry, and Cathy Springer. Seated from left are Stacey Munna, Nicole Webre, and George Bennett.

NEIGHBORHOOD BRIEFS BOOK AUCTION: The Friends of the Slidell Library will hold a silent auction of pre-owned books about World War II and the Civil War at the Slidell Branch Library, 555 Robert Blvd. It includes books about military and political leaders, particular battles and campaigns, weapons, military collectibles and more. Bids are placed in person, and high bidders do not have to be present to win. The auction items will be on view at the branch until 6 p.m. Jan. 4. The bid book is available from the branch circulation desk. There is a minimum bid on each item, and all subsequent bids require a minimum $1 bid increment. High bidders have seven days to pick up items. All sales benefit the Slidell, Pearl River and Lacombe Branch Libraries. For more information and a list of the auction titles, contact fsl70458@yahoo.com. KREWE OF SLIDELLIANS BALL: Tickets are available for the Krewe of Slidellians Mardi Gras Ball. The Carnival celebration honoring Slidell civic leaders will be held Jan. 30 at the Northshore Harbor Center near Slidell. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the tableau will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets

are $70. There will be a tableau procession, food, drink and music by Flipside. The krewe selects a King and Queen Samaritan, who are honored for a lifetime of community service. Maids and dukes are recognized for dedication to their respective community service organizations on the north shore. The identities of the honorees are secret until the night of the ball. Among the past royals honored during the gala will be King and Queen Samaritan LXV Troy and Dawn Brackett. Call (985) 640-0305 by Jan. 10 to buy tickets. INAUGURAL RECEPTION: The public is invited to attend the 2016 St. Tammany Inaugural Reception for parish President Patricia Brister, and the inauguration of the 2016-2020 Parish Council. Information about sponsorships for the Inaugural Reception and general admission are available at www.stpevents.com. General admission seating is available for purchase online. The event is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, at the Northshore Harbor Center in Slidell, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the band Witness. General admis-

sion seating is limited and may be purchased online through Dec. 31. To pay by check, make it payable to St. Tammany Inaugural Committee and mail it to P.O. Box 6981, Slidell, LA 70469-6981. It must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31. COGNITIVE CARE CENTER: Christwood Retirement Community in Covington recently broke ground for the Cognitive Care Center, which will serve adults age 60 and older who are experiencing a declining cognitive status, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It also will offer an Adult Day Care that will serve seniors in the local area. Construction of the 36,000-square-foot building is underway, and the center is expected to open in the third quarter of 2016, accommodating 14-28 private suites and the Adult Day Care Center. The building is designed by Fauntleroy Latham Weldon Barre Architects. The General Contractor is McMath Construction. Christwood is working closely with Dr. Jeff Keller, director of the Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention, which he established at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge in 2008.

Council on Aging St. Tammany senior center meal menus. For information, call (985) 892-0377 or visit www.coast seniors.org.

MONDAY

bread, tropical fruit, milk.

Meals are served at the following COAST senior centers:

DECEMBER 30

Bush Senior Center: 81605 La. 41. Call (985) 886-8971.

Turkey pot roast, whipped potatoes, green beans, orange juice, dinner roll, lemon pudding cake, milk.

Red kidney beans, smoked sausage, parslied rice, California vegetable blend, wheat bread, seasonal fruit, milk.

DECEMBER 31

TUESDAY

JANUARY 1

Creole steak, oven-roasted potato medley, spinach, wheat

Sliced ham, black-eyed peas, cabbage, cornbread, strawberry-glazed wite cake, milk. Closed for New Year’s holiday.

Covington Senior Center: Greater Starlight Baptist Church, 513 W. 28th Ave. Call (985) 892-8530. Folsom Senior Center: 13111 Cleveland St. Call (985) 796-9950. Lacombe Senior Center: Village Lutheran Church, 29180 La. 190. Call (985) 218-9340. Pearl River Senior Center: 39443 La. 41 Spur. Call (985) 863-2540. Mandeville Senior Center: Paul Spitzfaden Community Center, 3090 E. Causeway Approach. Call (985) 624-4629. Slidell Senior Center: 610 Cousin St. Call (985) 641-1852.

DAR participates in Wreaths Across America Advocate staff report Members of five chapters in the Southeast District of the Louisiana Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in the Wreaths Across America program Dec. 12 at Slidell Veterans Cemetery and Chalmette National Historic Military Cemetery. Vietnam veteran volunteer Henry J. Fell, U.S. Army, presented a commemorative wreath and was surprised with the NSDAR Vietnam Veteran Certificate of Appreciation and a 50th Vietnam War Commemoration lapel pin. Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit group that got its start in 2007, begun by the family of Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Co., of Harrington, Maine. In 2014, Wreaths Across America and its network of volunteers laid more than 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations.

Photo provided by DAR

Participants in the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Slidell Veterans Cemetery include, from left, Karay Klein, Mickie Francioni and Vicki Kirby of the St. Tammany Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

YOUR NEXT AUTO SEARCH

STARTS HERE Photo provided by Audubon Zoo

Zoogoers will be able to skate on the plastic ‘ice’ rink at Audubon Zoo from Dec. 26-31.

No cold feet at this ice rink

beneath the majestic oaks at Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine Ice skating at Audubon Zoo is St. The “ice” is made from an twice as nice: For one thing, the eco-friendly, recyclable acrylic synthetic plastic “ice” is warm, material that enables a skate which is a far more familiar blade to glide as smoothly as if feeling for locals than real ice. it were on real ice. A 40-foot-by-30-foot rink, And some reports say falling doesn’t hurt as bad as on the with a capacity of about 35 people, is nicely sized for little real deal. Holiday ice skating is return- ones. Special skates in all sizes ing as part of a Snofari Adven- will be available. Snofari Adventure holiday ture celebration from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 26-31 in activities are included with zoo front of the Capital One Stage admission, but skating will reAdvocate staff report

quire an additional ticket that can be purchased at the zoo front gate or at the Endangered Species Carousel ticket booth inside the zoo. Skating tickets, $5 for Audubon members and $7 for nonmembers, include skate rental and are good for one-time rink access. Ticket sales will close daily at 2:30 p.m. Admission is first-come, first-served. A DJ will be on hand spinning holiday tunes, and a sleigh will be available for photos.

Bayou Liberty Garden Club highlights holiday decor Advocate staff report

Photo provided by Bayou Liberty Garden Club

The Bayou Liberty Garden Club declared Gaynel Joachim’s home the winner of its December Garden of the Month Award.

The Bayou Liberty Garden Club celebrated Christmas with a luncheon at Pinewood Country Club. The atmosphere was festive, with the room decorated for Christmas. Following a delicious meal, brightly wrapped gifts were exchanged. President Davey Ann Larmann announced the Garden of the Month recipient. The month being December, the criteria for judging were changed to focus on Christmas wreaths and adornments of the door and entryways. Gaynel Joachim’s entryway was selected for its comprehensive appeal. The door wreath was highlighted

by garland and multicolored lighting. The alcove also had a chair, a reindeer and an angel in a basket. Among those at the Christmas luncheon were Margie Anderson, Missy Burton, Jeanne Cassamento, Emily Cornelison, Wilma Dickey, Gretchen Herring, Gaynel Joachim, Karay Klein, Davey Larmann, Maria Larmann, Lee Mangano, Robin Mangano, Barbara Medge, Mary Menges, Judy Miltenberger, Shirley Pichon, Peggy Pettit, Cindy Pichon, Wanda Ricau, Marie Russo, Jeannette Sandford, Donna Spiers, Brenda Veitch, Marcia Williams, Joanne Zimmerle and Susan Zitzmann.

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The Advocate F theneworleansadvocate.com F Wednesday, December 23, 2015 F 7G

Advocate photos by VERONICA DOMINACH

The winter part of Winter on the Water was been in short supply â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Santa seemed to be about the only one wearing a coat â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but the holiday spirit was out in full force for the event, sponsored by the city of Mandeville on Dec. 12. It included ballet and musical performances, the lighting of the oaks by Mayor Don Villere, above, and a visit from Santa Claus, who arrived on an antique car. The annual boat parade provided the finale for the celebration.

Winter-ish on the Water

Cadence King, 7, left, and Kylie King, 9, tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Mandevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Winter on the Water concludes with the annual boat parade.

Scenes from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Nutcrackerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ballet are performed.

Lilyana Valenzuela, 9, waves her hands in the air for candy and beads while on the shoulders of her grandfather, Kevin Jones.

8G F Wednesday, December 23, 2015 F theneworleansadvocate.com F The Advocate

schools

Archbishop Hannan’s got talent The senior class at Archbishop Hannan High School held the ‘Hannan’s Got Talent’ talent show recently, with students performing acts from singing to magic before an audience of parents, faculty, students, alumni and friends. Pictured are Isabella Roig, left, and Gaven Brooks, who won the crowd favorite award by singing Adele’s ‘Hello.’ Julia Ernst was the overall winner of the night for singing ‘In His Eyes.’

From left are Eleanor Callaway, D’Karri Ramsey and Lucie Aguilar.

Abita Springs Elementary rings in season with ‘The Polar Express’

Photo provided by Archbishop Hannan High School

Photos provided by Abita Springs Elementary School

Advocate staff report

Abita Springs Elementary School. Kindergartners wore From left are Hannah George, “The Polar Express” by their pajamas, had their train From left are Madeline StrickElise Henton and Jakiryee Chris Van Allsburg was the tickets punched and drank hot land, Patri Gast, Holland Hughes and Payton Dunne. Price. theme of a holiday event at cocoa.

Archbishop Hannan High School volleyball players earn all-district honors

Photo provided by Slidell High School

Pictured with Slidell High School swim coach Jimmie Jones, third from left, Slidell High swimmers Tanner Harvey, from left, Carson Canulette, Caitlyn Gonzalez, Landon Lavigne and Zachary Warren placed in the top three in their events at state.

Slidell High swimmers set school records Advocate staff report Five members of the Slidell High School swim team won medals, and the squad set eight school records at the Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Louisiana Division I State Swim Championships Nov. 20-21 in Sulphur. Senior Caitlyn Gonzalez finished third in the girls 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.81 seconds. The boys 200-yard freestyle relay of freshman Carson Canulette, senior Zachary Warren, sophomore Tanner Harvey and senior Landon Lavigne also finished third with a time of 1:31.23. Both times

were Slidell High records. Other school records set at the state meet included the girls 200-medley relay (sophomore Madelyn Frederick, junior Claire Canulette, Gonzalez and junior Brianna Robertson, 2:01.210); and the girls 200-yard freestyle relay (same swimmers, 1:46.94.) Also, posting new school marks were the boys 200-medley relay (senior Brandon Smith, Lavigne, Warren and Canulette, 1:44.84); Lavigne in the 100-yard butterfly (54.65) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.21); and Gonzalez in the 100-yard freestyle (54.31.)

Archbishop Hannan High School volleyball players Photos provided by Archbishop Hannan High School Mikayla Boyer, left, and Archbishop Hannan High School volleyball players Danielle Hannah Summersgill have Loup, from left, Tatum Ballard, Allee Morris and Haley Cabe- earned second-team alldistrict honors. ceiras have earned first-team all-district honors.

Cedarwood robotics team receives Core Values Award Cedarwood School’s Robotics Team, under the direction of Jennifer McCloy and Summer Belloni, recently competed at Fontainebleau High School along with 10 other teams. The Mechani-Cool Crawfish team was awarded one of the highest awards, the Core Values Award. Pictured, bottom from left, are Parker Gernon, Zac Oulton, Holly Hillburn, Rafi Ihsan and Ivan Yan; and top from left are moderator McCloy, Mariah Marin, Ethan Stenger, Jackson Hadskey, Austin Dunavant, Julius Felsberg, moderator Belloni and Principal Photo provided by Cedarwood School Kathy LeBlanc.

Covington High School honors student of the year Advocate staff reports The 2015 student of the year at Covington High school is senior Justin Sutton. He has earned a 4.4 GPA while taking advanced courses in every subject area and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is a member of the Tri M Music Honor Society and plays saxophone in the Covington High School and Parish Honor bands, being named to the first-chair position in both. He plays in the Covington High School Jazz Band and is one of the Marching Lions’ drum majors. Sutton has excelled as a Soccer Lion, being named to the varsity soccer team all four years and receiving the Heart

St. Paul’s School wrestlers win Metairie tournament Advocate staff report

Photo provided

Justin Sutton and Principal Roslyn Hanson of the Lion Award in 10th grade. He is an active member of St. Anselm Catholic Church in Madisonville and has been a volunteer for the Covington

Bonne Ecole Elementary students explore building blocks of life body: specialized parts with a specific function. The students As part of their studies of engaged in research using techcells, the basic unit of life, fifth- nology, created a cell model, and graders in Vittoria Merry’s prepared for assessments using class at Bonne Ecole Elemen- flashcards and partner work. tary School in Slidell have been learning about the organelles within the cells. Organelles are to cells as organs are to the Advocate staff report

Angelina Williams studies the components of a cell in Vittoria Merry’s science class with Ariana Villneurve, left.

Archbishop Hannan High School volleyball players Danielle Ledet, left, and Sydney Williams have earned honorable mention all-district honors.

Photos provided by Bonne Ecole Elementary School

Ariana Villneurve shows off her cell model.

St. Paul’s Wrestling Wolves, coached by athletic director Craig Ketelsen, won the George Trygg Tournament at Grace King High School in Metairie. The Wolves earned 311.5 points, outscoring the 20 opposing teams by more than 100 points. The Wolves had a wrestler in the finals of each weight class they entered. Wrestlers at the tournament were Brandon Stein, first, 106; Cole Houser, first, 113; Connor Oviedo, second, 120; Shane Ulfers, first, 126; Grant Hughes, second, 132; Stevie Van Zandt, third, 132; Billy Harrison, first, 138; Hunter Bourgeois, first, 145; Seth Dragon, first, 152; Sam Dufour, first, 160; Blake Huff, second, 170; Josh Mascaro, second, 182; Colin Francis, first, 220; and Christian Fortner, second, 285.

Photo provided by St. Paul’s School

Winners from the George Trygg Tournament include, front row from left, Josh Mascaro, Shane Ulfers, Billy Harrison, Cole Houser, Stevie Van Zandt, Brandon Stein and Connor Oviedo. In the second row are Blake Huff, Sam Dufour, Seth Dragon, Hunter Bourgeois, Grant Hughes, Christian Fortner and Colin Francis.

Lee Road School FFA members demonstrate soil-judging skills From left are David Taylor, vice president of Louisiana FFA Area I; Rashonda Garner, vice president of Louisiana FFA Area II; Melody Durr, Emma Andrews, Caleigh Rodriguez and Sadie Jenkins of the Lee Road FFA soils team; and state soils scientist Michael Lindsey. Photo provided by Lee Road School

The Advocate F theneworleansadvocate.com F Wednesday, December 23, 2015 F 9G

schools

Lake Castle Madisonville takes JV volleyball championship

Landon Bush, Ava Lamance, Brianna Kieper and Corey Skillman, from left, were firstplace winners in the Bayou Lacombe Middle School science fair. Photo provided by Bayou Lacombe Middle School

Bayou Lacombe Middle School science fair explores how things work Lamance, “Male vs. Female Minds,” using data from Facebook games; Brianna Kieper, “How At Bayou Lacombe Middle School, fifth- and Safe Are Your Packages?” testing strategies sixth-graders participated in a science fair for protecting eggs from breaking; and CoDec. 4. The first-place winners were Landon rey Skillman, “How Loud Can Paper Speakers Bush, “Hydroponics Compared to Soil”; Ava Get?” Advocate staff report

Photo provided by Lake Castle Madisonville Private School

The junior varsity volleyball team at Lake Castle Madisonville Private School competed in the Northshore Independent Athletic League, completing its season in the championships against St. Peter School. The three games were very competitive, with the Jets barely outscoring their opponent 25-22. In the front row, from left, are Jordan Dalton, Baylor Cooper, Abigail Looney and Natalia Elvir. In the second row are Kaitlyn Weaver, Autumn Cosentino, Rylee Morris, Tristan Baugh and Brielle Farmer.

Pine View Middle School Breakfast with Mom fuels minds, bodies

Sophia Dickens, Jacob Tatum and Zaria An- Austin Waguespack, Shauna Campbell and John ders, from left, were second-place winners. Ochoa, from left, were third-place winners.

Abita Springs Elementary rewards good behavior

Photo provided by Pine View Middle School

Advocate staff report Kindergarten students of Patri Gast and Windy Patterson at Abita Springs Elementary School earned “I did it!” bracelets recently through their success in the school’s Positive Behavior Intervention and Support program. Students receive the bracelets when their class earns 100 compliments for behaviors such as attendance, homework completion and good citizenship.

Photo provided by Abita Springs Elementary School

Among those earning ‘I did it!’ bracelets at Abita Springs Elementary School are Eleanor Callaway, in front, and Madeline Strickland, Kate Ponce, Payton Dunne, John Fitzpatrick, Jamarkus Warren and Vivian Sloan, in the first full row from left. In the back row are Presley Higdon, Joshua St. Philip, Holland Hughes, D’Karri Ramsey, Lucie Aguilar and Mylah Boston.

Native plantings

Photo provided by St. Paul’s School

The environmental science class at St. Paul’s School has created a wetlands- and nature-friendly space on campus using stormwater from the new Gene Bennett Sports Complex. Native plants, including Louisiana iris, and native trees, including pond cypress, bald cypress and rough leaf dogwood, have been planted in the area. Two varieties of milkweed will attract monarch butterflies because their larva feed on the plants. Ann Pfalzgraf teaches the hands-on class with the help and advice of Linda Trahan, a horticulturist and the head of the St. Paul’s Botanical Wolves. Pictured while planting trees recently are Thomas Schmidt, from left, Alex Nunex, David Dominguez, Patrick Napier, instructor Pfalzgraf, Kevin Baker, Chase Domingue, Stephen Rowell, Joffe Crouere, Austin Behlar, Steele Fleming and Linda Trahan.

Mandeville students areArt Festival winners Eighth-grader Bailey Saucier, left, and seventhgrader Charlotte Bradley were winners in the Three Rivers Art Festival in Covington. Bailey took second place, and Charlotte received an honorable mention. Both are students of Adair Watkins at Fontainebleau Junior High School in Mandeville. Photo provided by Fontainebleau Junior High School

Jeanne Spell and Amie Guillie, from left, were among the mothers who participated in the Breakfast with Mom event Dec. 13 at Pine View Middle School in Covington. The event included English language arts activities. Spell and Guillie are seen with their daughters Mackenzie and Mallory.

10G F Wednesday, December 23, 2015 F theneworleansadvocate.com F The Advocate

schools

Young local artists selected for prestigious arts scholarship From left are Caitlyn Harris, Marigny DeBlanc and Taylor Mauldin

Advocate staff report Caitlyn Harris, of Slidell, a student of popular vocals in the Academic Studio of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, has been chosen as a finalist in the YoungArts Scholarship Competition. Two other St. Tammany Parish residents have been chosen as merit winners in the competition: Marigny DeBlanc, of Mandeville, NOCCA Academic Studio; and Taylor Mauldin, of Abita Springs, Fontainebleau High School. Both DeBlanc and Mauldin are visual arts students. Winners receive cash awards of up to $10,000, validation by renowned mentors, opportunities to participate in YoungArts programs, a strong professional network and guidance in taking important steps toward achieving their goals. As one of 165 finalists, Harris will attend National YoungArts Week in Miami from Jan. 3-10. The program aims to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and community while offering the guidance young artists need to prepare for the next stage of their careers. The 165 finalists include two others with NOCCA ties: Nick Ramey, of Madisonville, a 2015 NOCCA media arts alumnus now attending Loyola University; and jazz percussionist Ramey Brian Richburg, of New Orleans, who attends New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School. An honorable mention went to mezzo soprano Emily Sheets, of Metairie, NOCCA Academic Studio

SCHOOL BRIEFS LEE ROAD SCHOOL: Two FFA members from Lee Road School in Covington will compete in public speaking in the Louisiana FFA Luscher Area IV Leadership Contest on Jan. 20. Grace Luscher and Maddie Shannon advanced through strong performances in FFA district leadership career developShannon ment events held Dec. 9 at Fifth Ward Junior High School in Bush. Luscher was the top middle school competitor in prepared public speaking, and Shannon was the top middle school competitor, and third overall, in Gulf of Mexico, speaking. ST. PAULâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SCHOOL: Alumni of St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School in Covington are planning two holiday reunion activities. There will be a social, including St. Scholastica Academy alumnae, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia Street Tap Room/Seiler Bar, 434 N. Columbia St., Covington. Also, an alumni basketball game will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, in the new portion of the Gene Bennett Sports Complex at St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. For information, contact alumni director Al Nastasi at (985) 892-3200, ext. 1271, or aln@ stpauls.com. OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Madison Lin is the fifth-grade student of the year at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Slidell, in recognition of her academic achievement, leadership abilLin ity and citizenship. She will be a celebrity rider in the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Carnival parade Feb. 5 and participate in the Louisiana Department of Educationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s student of the year program. MARION MILITARY INSTITUTE: Alexander Thompson, a senior at Mandeville High School, has earned a top scholarship from Marion Military Institute, a military junior college in Marion, Alabama. Thompson is the son of Cynthia Thompson. The Academic Dean Scholarship, awarded on the basis of his academic achievements in high school, will cover half of his tuition at Marion Military Institute. Thompson participated in Marine Corps JROTC all four years of high school. He also is a member of the band.

Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic School shares Christmas joy

Photo provided by NOCCA

Nationwide, 819 young artists were chosen for recognition from more than 12,000 applicants in the literary, visual, design and performing arts. Every year, YoungArts nominates 60

YoungArts Winners to the White House-appointed Commission on Presidential Scholars, 20 of whom are selected to become U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

Photo provided by Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic School

The Parent Teacher Cooperative Club at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic School in Mandeville coordinated donations of Christmas gifts for several local families this year. Bikes, gift cards and toys were among the items donated. Seated in front are Sarah Henry and Hale Cartier. In back, from left, are Brooke Stanton, Julia Iennusa, Max Hanemann, Matthew Russo, Emily Whitehurst and Emily Vanderbrook.

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