Feeling overwhelmed by the holidays? Get organized. ä 5G
ADVOCATE THE WEST BANK
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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30, 2015 H ALGIERS • GRETNA • TERRYTOWN • HARVEY • WESTWEGO • WAGGAMAN • MARRERO • BRIDGE CITY • AVONDALE THENEWORLEANSADVOCATE.COM
Eva Jacob Barkoff AROUND JEFFERSON
Christmas tree recycling begins on Jan. 7 Christmas trees will be collected curbside throughout unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish as well as in Gretna, Harahan, Kenner, Lafitte and Westwego on Jan. 7-9 and will be recycled for marsh restoration or composting. Kriss Fortunato, public information officer for Jefferson Parish, said residents should place trees curbside on the evening of Jan. 6. Garbage trucks will make one pass through each neighborhood to collect trees on Jan. 7, 8 and 9. “Residents must remove all lights, tinsel, garland, ornaments, tree stands and plastic bags from their Christmas trees,” Fortunato said in an email. “Artificial, flocked or painted trees are not eligible for the program. “This year’s project involves two phases. Some of the trees will be placed in the marsh, refurbishing äSee BARKOFF, page 2G
Advocate staff photo by SHERRI MILLER
Addy Meisenheimer’s yoga/Pilates class performs the Warrior Pose inside the Great Hall of the New Orleans Museum of Art on Dec. 19.
STRETCHING THE CONCEPT Resolve to make exercise more fun this new year Advocate staff report
If your New Year’s resolution is to get up, get going and get fit (and whose isn’t?), we can help. One way to make
Lynne Jensen
THROW ME SOMETHIN’
A resolution that’s as easy as ABC Need a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one that can help children learn to read. Volunteer with STAIR, Start The Adventure In Reading, a 30-year-old local children’s literacy program with a waiting list of youngsters who would like to participate. More volunteer tutors are needed to make this happen, and training begins in January. No experience is necessary, and only one two-hour training session is required. Tutors meet with children after school or on Saturday mornings at STAIR-operated sites in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes. Training classes in New Orleans will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7; 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9; and 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church Land Building, 1535 State St.; and at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at Woodland Presbyterian Church, 5824 Berkley Drive in Algiers. To register, contact volunteer director Elizabeth Artigues at (504) 899-0820 or elizabeth@stairnola.org. For information about STAIR, visit www.stairnola.org. äSee JENSEN, page 2G
maintaining an exercise regimen easier is to combine a physical activity with something else you enjoy. Make it
FOR THE ART LOVER
Janis Van Meerveld does a Sun Salutation during the yoga/Pilates class inside NOMA.
When the Tai Chi and Pilates classes are held indoors, the architecture and art collection of the New Orleans Museum of Art serve as backdrops. When the classes are outside, the setting is the lush 5 acres of the Sculpture Garden, which is designed around 60 artworks. NOMA offers wellness classes in collaboration with East Jefferson Wellness Center. Tai Chi is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays; Pilates from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturdays; both are at NOMA, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, in City Park. Classes are $5; free for NOMA and East Jefferson Wellness Center members. To register, call (504) 456-5000.
Advocate staff photo by SHERRI MILLER
fun. With that in mind, here are three suggestions.
FOR THE JAZZ LOVER Music critics have placed Stephanie Jordan in the company of stars such as Dianna Krall and Dianne Reeves, but she’s renowned for her poise and elegance as well as her jazz vocals. Likely contributing to that stage presence is the fact that she’s also a Pilates instructor. Her free weekly classes set core work to jazz classics. 4 p.m. Wednesdays, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitors Center, Dutch Alley, 916 N. Peters St., between Dumaine and St. Phillip.
FOR THE WINE LOVER
Longue Vue House & Gardens puts a twist on its yoga hour with Vino & Vinyasa, following up the class with a wine tasting. The next event will be Feb. 23. Longue Vue also offers traditional yoga and Family Flow classes. $5 donation suggested, 7 Bamboo Road, New Orleans. Call (504) 488-5488 for more information. More photos from all of the events ä 4G.
Advocate staff photo by MATTHEW HINTON
Stephanie Jordan’s jazz Pilates classes are held every Wednesday.
ABOVE: Vino & Vinyasa participants work on their poses at Longue Vue House and Gardens on Dec. 8. LEFT: Beth Reinhard, Jackson Family Wines’ district manager, pours a sample of Kendall-Jackson Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for Christopher White. Advocate staff photos by SHERRI MILLER