EDGE of the Lake Magazine April | May 2019

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| MAY 2019

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T R A V E L

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PUBLISHER Sarah Cottrell

My Afternoon with Mr. Dunbar One of my favorite parts of publishing EDGE is the people I get to meet. Being an art lover, I have always enjoyed visiting artists in their studios. For this issue I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting and spending an afternoon with the worldrenowned artist George Dunbar. His compound in Slidell sits on the banks of Bayou Bonfuca. Designed by architect Lee H. Leidbetter, the home features floor to ceiling windows with expansive views of the bayou. George developed the property, one of the most exceptional on the Northshore.

Walking in his studio took my breath away. To see his finished work hanging on the wall among the unfinished work in various stages was a little intimidating. What to look at first? Two pieces caught my eye, one of which was a large piece from his rag series that appeared whimsical. I loved all the rolled canvas pieces; I imagined love notes placed inside and sealed forever within. I told this to George and he just smiled and said that ‘art is many things to different people.’ The idea that one can look at something and interpret it is why abstract art is so engaging.

Do we ever know what the artist is saying? Does it really matter, as long as the art speaks to us? The other piece I loved was hanging right as we walked in: a piece called Bridge Line. The blue took my breath away, and I was just as moved by being in the presence of a master painter, a national treasure himself.

George was a gracious and welcoming host. He spent time explaining his techniques and shared stories of his life, showing me pictures of his parents, children and grandchildren that fill a table in his home. All too soon it was time to leave, and with promises of future visits we said goodbye.

PUBLISHER

ON THE COVER Southern Wood Photo Jerry Cottrell

EDITOR Alex Delarge ART DIRECTOR Erich Belk STYLE DIRECTOR Patty Beal BEAUTY EDITOR Caitlin Picou COPY EDITOR Mary-Brent Brown CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kim Bergeron Charles Dowdy Elaine Millers Liz Genest Smith STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jerry Cottrell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Chauvin Matthew Schlenker SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVES Eloise Cottrell Rick Clasen ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca Blossman-Ferran Erin Bolton Debi Menasco Michelle Wallis-Croas

The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted

by EDGE Publishing. @ 2019 with all rights reserved.

Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Please email comments or story ideas to edgepublisher@yahoo.com.

EDGE PUBLISHING • 69170 HWY 190 SERVICE RD. SUITE 1 COVINGTON, LA 70433 • 985.875.9691

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EDGE April | May 2019

Do you have your Summer plans ready?

Music, Art, Drama and Dance Camp for 1st - 7th graders.

2 week camps begin June 17th.

SUMMER CAMPS

Fun for kids ages 2-7.

One week camps starting June 3rd.

To register go online at www.CedarwoodSchool.com or call 985-845-7111 EDGE April | May 2019

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SUM MER

camp guide

A bita Springs Northshore Sportsplex Sports, Basketball, Cheer, & Art Camp 70239 Hwy 59, 985.264.6552 / northshoresportsplex.com

B ogalusa Believe Summer Camp

Bogalusa High School, 100 M.J. Israel Drive, 985.516.1758 / believecamp.com

B ush Splendor Farms

Horse Camp for Girls 27329 Mill Creek Road 985.886.3747 / splendorfarms.com

Covington Archbishop Hannan High school Little Hawk Day Camp Sports Camps Archbishop Hannan High School 71324 Highway 1077 985.249.6363 / Hannanhigh.org Camp Abbey Catholic Sleep Away Camp Abbey Retreat Center 77002 K C Camp Rd. 985.327.7240 / campabbey.org Camp Old Hickory Summer Day Camp 73234 Louisiana Ave. 985.892.4788 / campoldhickory.com

Weeks May 28 – August 2, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

(Before & Aftercare), Ages: K–13 Coquille Park, 13505 LA-1085 877-4KIDCAM / kidcamcamp.com Northlake Christian School Camp Northlake May 27th-July26th, Boys and Girls, K- 6th 70104 Wolverine Dr. 985.635.0400 / campnorthlake.org Northshore Humane Society Fun interactive games and activities centered around animals Boys and Girls ages 8-15 20384 Harrison Ave, 985.892.7387 / northshorehumane.org Playmaker’s Sports Sports Camp for Kids 800 Winward Dr. 985.898.2809 / playmakersindoor.com Playmakers Theatre Theater Camps 19106 Playmakers Rd. 985.893.1617 / playmakersinc.com St. Paul’s Camps Sports Camps Baseball, June 3rd -7th, Wrestling, June 3rd -7th, Football, June 10th -14th, Basketball July 8th -12th and July 15th -19th, Lacrosse July 15th -19th, Soccer June 17th -21st, Speed and Strength July 24th -28th., Boys 8 - 13, 9 p.m.–3 pm. sportscamps@stpauls.com Media Camp June 17-21, pm- 4pm, Grade 7 -12 Biomedical Science Camp July 17th – 19th, 9am – 12pm Boys and Girls Grades 4-7

Christ Episcopal School Creation Sensation Summer Camp 80 Christwood Blvd. kpousson@christepiscopalschool.org 985.871.9902 / christepiscopalschool.org

Theater Camp Session 1: June 4-8, Session 2: June 18-23 Two sessions June 3-7 and June 24-28 9am-noon, Boys and Girls 9-13 Saint Paul’s Alumni Theatre

Creating U Academy Acting & Modeling Camp 69154 Hwy. 190, E. Service Rd. creatingu@att.net 985.893.2218 / creatingu.com

St Paul’s School 917 South Jahncke Ave, Covington 985.892.3200 / stpauls.com

Kehoe-France Northshore Camp 25 Patricia Dr. 985.892.4415 / kehoe-francens.com Kidcam Summer Camps Kid’s choice curriculum plus swimming, art, movement, sports. STEM with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity.

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St. Scholastica Academy Camps Basketball, June 17 – 21, Girls 4th-8th. Cheer and Dance Combo, June 10-14, Girls K- 5th. Movie Making Camp, June 3rd – 7th , June 10th- 14thand June 17th-21,Boys and Girls Grade 4th -8th , Sculpting Camp , June 10-14th, Boys and Girls 4th – 8th, Cartooning, June 17th – 21,Boys and Girls 4th-8th, S.T.E.M. Design Challenge, June 3-7 and June 17th21st, Boys and Girls 4th-8th, Volleyball Camp, June 3rd7th, Girls 4th- 8th.

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May 27th - July 26th • 9 weeks • www.campnorthlake.org Camp Northlake is a 9-week private, nondenominational Christian day-camp for students entering Kindergarten and is a ministry|of Northlake Christian School.

767 ROBERT BLVD. SLIDELL- 6th| grade, 985.649.3727 CUTTINGEDGETHEATER.COM

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St. Tammany Art Association Summer Camps Art House, 320 N. Columbia St., 985.892.8659 / sttammanyartassociation.org YMCA Summer Camps 71256 Francis Rd., krissyc@ymcaneworleans.org 985.893.9622 / www.ymcaneworleans.org

Folsom Big Sky Ranch Farm Camp 15442 Jack Fork Rd. 985.276.0270 / bigskyranch.org Zoo 2 U & Ponies 2 82089 Hwy. 25 985.769.8444 / zoo2uparties.com

Hammond and Ponchatoula Camp Rec Center Michael J. Kenney Center, 602 West Coleman Ave, 985.277.5903 Imagine Art camps Big Red Barn Creative Arts Center 18769 Weinberger Rd, Ponchatoula 985.373.0468 / bigredbarn4kids.com Kidcam Summer Camps Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity.

May 28th – August 2nd, Boys and Girls 5-13 Chappapeela Sports Park 19325 Hipark Blvd, Hammond 887-4KIDCAM / kidcamcamp.com Southeastern University Roomies REC Camp Student Activity Center, 1850 N. General Pershing St., Southeastern University 985.549 .5591 / southeastern.edu

Madisonville Madisonville Equestrian Center

Riding Camp 135 Vista St., Mandeville, 985.778.6981 / madisonvilleequestriancenter.com Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum Aquatic Robotics Camp 133 Mabel Drive, Madisonville 985.845.9200 / lpbmm.org

Mandeville Art Time

Art Camp Weekly sessions, June 3rd- 7th, June 10th-14th, June 17th – 21st, June 24th- 28th, July 8th-12th, July15th-19th, July 22nd- August 2nd. 3-Day Mini Camps, July 1st-3rd and August 5-7 705 Asbury Drive 985.674.2023 / arttime.biz Blossom Girl Arts, Crafts, Make-up, Hair, Fun and Games June 10th-14th, June 17th-21st, July 22nd-26th, Girls, 9am-2pm. 1281 N. Causeway Blvd, Suite 3 985.626.6280 Camp Girl Biz 5200 Hwy. 22, Suite 6 and 7 campgirlbiz@aol.com 985.705.9288 / campgirlbiz.com Cedarwood School Summer Camps Camp Kaleidoscope One-week camps starting June 3rd 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Ages: 2–7 MADD Camp | Music, Art, Dance, Drama 2 Weeks Camps begins June 17 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Ages: 1st–7th grade, 607 Heavens Dr., Mandeville 985.845.7111 / cedarwoodschool.com Culinary Kids Cooking, science experiments, indoor and outdoor games Weekly Themed Camps: May 27th, June 3rd, June 10th, June 17th, June 24th, July 8th, July 15th, July 22nd and July 29th Day Camps: Aug 5th-9th All Ability Camp-July 1st 915 Marigny Ave., info@culinarykids.com 985.727.5553 / culinarykidsns.com Franco’s Summer Camp Athletics, Swimming, Arts, Weekly Fieldtrips, Water Slide, Games and Activities 10 sessions, Weeks May 27th – August 5th 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Ages: 4–13 (Before & Aftercare) 100 Bon Temps Roulé, Mandeville, 985.792.0200 francosmandeville.com/summer-camp Kidcam Summer Camps Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity Weeks May 28 – August 2, Pelican Park, 63350 Pelican Drive, 9 a.m.–3p.m. (Before & Aftercare), Ages: 5–13 985. 237.1616 / kidcamcamp.com

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Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts Music Camp Mandeville School of Music 105 Campbell Ave., #3 985-674-2992 / laapa.com Mandeville High School Robotics Camp June 17th - 21st and July 15th -19th Boys and Girls, 3rd – 7th Grade Mandeville High School, 1Skipper Drive, mandeville. robotics@gmail.com, mandevillerobotics.com Mandeville Public Works Water Wonders Camp 1100 Mandeville High Blvd.

985.624.3169 / cityofmandeville.com Mandeville Sports Complex Summer Camp 23052 Hwy. 1088 985.727.7277 / mandevillesportscomplex.com Northlake Academy of Music Music Camp 375 Asbury Dr. 985.630.8112 / northlakeacademyofmusic.net Northshore Gymnastics Tiny Tumblers Summer Jamboree 1973 6th Street 985.624.8310 / northshoregymnastics.net Pelican Athletic Club Summer Camps 1170 Meadowbrook Blvd.

985.626.3706 / thepac.com PRIDE, Youth and Community Resources Overnight Camps Positive Action Camp/Positive Attitude Camp Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville 985.727.7710 / pacamp.org 30 by Ninety Theatre Theater Camps 880 Lafayette 844.843.3090 / 30byninety.com Pontchartrain Yacht Club Learn to sail, Two-week sessions, June 3th- 14th, June 17th -28th, July 8th-19th, July 22nd- August 2nd.

Boys and Girls Ages 8-16.

140 Jackson Ave, Mandeville 985.626.3192 / pontyc.com

PEARL RIVER Gymnastic Plus Fun & Fitness 58445 Pearl Acres Rd, Slidell 985.643.0914 / gymplus.net

SLIDELL Crossgate Family Fitness Cub Camp Weekly Sessions: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8.30am – 1 pm, Ages 3-4 200 Military Rd, Slidell Pre-K Camp Weekly Sessions: Monday – Friday, 9am- 4pm Ages 4-5 200 Military Rd and 1311 Gause Blvd, Slidell Traditional Camp Weekly Sessions: Monday – Friday, 9am- 4pm Ages 5 -13 200 Military Rd and 1311 Gause Blvd, Slidell 985.643.3500 / crossgatesclub.com Slidell Memorial Hospital and St. Tammany Fire Protection District No.1 Fit as a Firefighter Summer Camp Fun activities teach children and their families to embrace a healthy, active lifestyle.

June 3rd- 7th, 8am – 4.30pm Boys and Girls, Ages 8-13 STFPD No.1 Training Academy, Camp Villere 34780 South Range Rd, Slidell.

985.280.8529 / slidellmemorial.org Kidcam Summer Camps Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity Weeks May 28 – August 2, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Ages: 5–13 First Christian Church, 102 Christian Lane, Slidell 985.237.1616 / kidcamcamp.com Old Town Slidell Soda Shop Soda Jerk Summer Camp 301 Cousin Street, Slidell 985.649.4806 / slidellsodashop.com Rembrandt Studio 1118 Brownswitch Road Slidell 985.645.9565 / rembrandtstudio.com Slidell Little Theatre Theatre Camp 2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell 985. 643.0556 / slidelllittletheatre.org Tammany Yacht Club 1196 Harbor Drive, Slidell 985.649.5222 / tammanyyachtclub.org

CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY FOR THEIR SUMMER READING PROGRAMS *ALL CAMPS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.*

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Wood Eternal A Salute to Louisiana’s Treasured Cypress

STORY LIZ GENEST SMITH PHOTOS JERRY COTTRELL

W

ith such a rich history and culture, it’s no wonder Louisiana is known for its many iconic symbols, rituals and characteristics.

Mere mention of the state to people who don’t live here usually conjures up mental pictures of Mardi Gras and fleur de lis, or crawfish and Cajun accents. And what haunting swamp image is complete without cypress trees submerged in coffee-black water?

While it doesn’t get the fanfare of, say, alligators or a zydeco band, our state tree, the bald cypress, is incredibly important to Louisiana’s history and identity.

Back in the Day For centuries upon centuries, rugged cypress trees crowded the Louisiana swamps, struggling mightily to get sunlight and relying on their hardy roots to anchor them against hurricane-force winds, but otherwise enjoying unimpeded growth. As a result, some reached unimaginable size and age. One ancient behemoth near St. Francisville reportedly measures 17’ in diameter and is estimated to be 1,500 years old!

Said to have rivaled California’s giant redwoods, swampy forests full of these enormous trees once stretched from Ponchatoula to the Mississippi River and west to Lafayette.

Then, along came man.

In the early 18th century, French settlers began to use this seemingly endless supply of rot- and insect-resistant wood for such purposes as modifying the Native American canoe design into pirogues, and building the fledgling city of New Orleans. By the late 19th century, the cypress timber trade became a frenzied, lucrative industry, and by 1920, nearly every cypress in the state had been logged. Compound that with the massive Mississippi River flood of 1927, which prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to build levees that prevented the natural flooding of the cypress swamps and required the cutting down of even more trees, and the once densely forested swamps became farmland.

The State of Cypress Today While established bald cypress trees can withstand serious storms and flooding, their specific growth needs make them tough to regrow. As such, they’ve become a protected natural resource, with Louisiana law providing that, “any person who cuts standing cypress trees on water bottoms owned by the state of Louisiana, except in the exercise of rights under a state lease, right-of-way, or permit, is subject to a fine (up to $5000) and/or imprisonment (up to six months).”

Short of scouring antique shops or breaking the law, what’s a nostalgic Louisianian, longing for a tangible link to our ancestral roots, to do? Lucky for us, there’s a company right here on the Northshore that can fill that order.

Enter Southern Wood Visit Southern Wood’s website, and you’ll see that they describe their business as a “curator and artisan of wood products, focusing on cypress, antique, and reclaimed wood.”

This artful language, paired with the gorgeous examples of their work posted on the site – including a gleaming bartop in a vibrant microbrewery and a geometrically pleasing rustic barnwood ceiling, juxtaposed with a cool industrial staircase – may lead you to expect a super slick, pristine showroom.

Perhaps a museum, of sorts, that displays finished furniture, countertops, and flooring samples, with nary an active work space in sight. But you’d be wrong, as I was.

What I discovered was far from a fussy showplace: I discovered a fully functional operation, complete with a muddy parking lot full of work trucks and industrial machinery and stacks and stacks of huge, uncut logs.

Southern Wood’s team of craftsmen is headed up by owner Steve Rorex. He and chief operating officer, Lauren Young, were kind enough to take me on a tour of the Madisonville facility. First up, the origins of the inventory in the parking lot.

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SOUTHERN WOOD LLC 985.888.9087 southern-wood.com

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“We use all salvage logs,” he explained. “We’re not cutting new trees down. It’s illegal in Louisiana, plus there’s no point. There are enough trees on the ground already.”

Some of their cypress supply comes from Mississippi and Florida, but on this occasion they were happy to accept a gigantic load of local cypress that was cut down and discarded by the government to make way for a new sports facility on the West Bank. That being said, new cypress is not Steve’s preferred material.

“I fell in love with sinker cypress years ago, and never looked back,” Steve admitted.

If you research the early days of cypress logging, it’s amazing that it became such a booming industry at all. Incredible old footage still exists of swampers precariously balancing on boats as they chopped or sawed down

As a result, that lost inventory has become quite a precious commodity these days. Even with today’s machinery and technology, finding and recovering these long-submerged logs is tricky business, requiring a special breed of person with knowledge of the swamp, salvaging expertise and just the right amount of crazy to tackle such treacherous work. Steve found just the modern-day pirate to fit the bill in Shelby Stanga.

Does that name ring a bell? If you’ve ever watched the History Channel’s Ax Men or Return of Shelby the Swamp Man, you’re familiar with his antics and unorthodox style, which Steve (who also appears on the show) is quick to point out is no act.

Knowing that this colorful character is connected to the finished product you take home from Southern Woods will, no doubt, add some interesting, intrinsic value.

trees, with little regard for errant blades or hostile swamp creatures certain to be lurking about. Transporting those logs, which were prone to sinking, proved equally difficult. Between 1880 - 1930, countless timbers were lost during transit from the swamps to the mills, creating the phenomenon of sinker cypress.

Remember those ancient trees in the crowded cypress swamps of yore?

They were starved for sunlight and had to work hard to survive, producing a tighter, darker, more appealing grain than today’s younger whippersnappers, which are handed an easy pathway to photosynthesis. Because of cypress’ resistance to decay, which helped to earn it the nickname “eternal wood,” those old, sunken logs have remained preserved beneath the murky water for a century, just waiting to be rediscovered.

Inside the Workshop Once we covered the origins of the outdoor stock, we moved indoors for the next leg of the tour. Continuing with the theme of function over form, I was met with a bustling workshop, packed full of wood slabs, sawdust, squealing table saws, oh, and a couple of energetic Boxer puppies, who sadly were whisked away so we could concentrate on the topic at-hand. (Probably for the best, I still had a lot to learn.)

The operation runs thusly: After trucking logs to their location, they get to work milling it into slabs, treating it in kilns in giant shipping containers out back, stacking the inventory, then creating custom designs. With the doors of the facility thrown open, you can stand inside, turn 360 degrees, and witness every step of the process.

Like big kids playing show-and-tell, Steve and his team of artisans and craftsmen displayed equal parts enthusiasm and reverence as they walked me through all the steps and explained the history and properties of various examples of cypress strewn about the workshop. We covered the wood’s distinctive color, texture and characteristics, which are all dependent on the conditions in which it grew or was preserved. The presence of barnacle holes is from being in salty, brackish water, for example, while the beautiful tiger striping effect of pecky cypress is thanks to a naturally occurring fungus.

LETTER FROM THE PARISH PRESIDENT

“Every log has different character and colors,” I was told. “Depending on whether it’s sandy or muddy water, the minerals give it a different look.”

They also proudly display special pieces they won’t part with, like a rare, multi-colored double barrel slab, and a huge, seemingly out of place slab suspended high above the work area. Its provenance is about as legit as it gets.

“I was hunting up in Arkansas when I spotted this enormous cherry tree through the scope on my gun,” Steve explained. “It was the biggest I’d ever seen, and I just couldn’t leave it. I got a guy to cut it up and drag it out of the woods with donkeys for two cases of Moosehead beer.”

Now, that’s a successful hunt.

I was so impressed by their passion for their work, not to mention the thorough education I received, that I suggested they should do regular tours and field trips.

They politely pivoted to another topic, and in hindsight I realize inviting children to run amok amongst whirring saws and other sharp instruments probably is not the brightest idea. But nonetheless, prospective customers can get similar VIP treatment. You’re invited to walk in to inspect their inventory, discuss what you’re looking for, and even bring pictures of what you have in mind.

While the customer is technically never wrong, they prefer to keep the beautiful wood as natural as possible, and they encourage customers to think outside the box.

Better yet, let them create a special, one-of-a-kind piece.

Whether you choose new cypress or sinker, you’ll wind up with a treasured heirloom.

“It’s part of Louisiana’s culture and heritage, like owning an antique,” Steve told me. “It has history and heart, and you can pass it on to your kids.”.

Life in St. Tammany Parish offers relaxation, recreation and a variety of lush, natural amenities – like our trees.

Our tree canopy does much more than provide a green backdrop and extra shade. Trees are part of an intricate, necessary system that sustains our natural resources, enhances our water quality, increases flood mitigation, and creates eco-corridors and wildlife habitat for indigenous animal species.

Replant St. Tammany is an initiative we have worked on for many years, and it continues in 2019. Since the start of the year, we have planted over 2,500 trees in our community. Seventyfive Live Oak trees were planted to replace trees removed during a recent elevation project. These plantings were funded through our Tree Bank, established specifically to maintain our tree canopy balance. Our recent AdoptA-Pond Program contributed 2,300 new trees to our canopy. This collaborative program enlisted St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, the NOAA SeaGrant Program, the LSU AgCenter Youth Wetlands Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sunbelt Innovative Plastics, and the St. Tammany Parish President’s Office.

Trees aid in flood mitigation when their roots absorb water, in water purification when they act as natural filters for runoff, in marsh creation as they provide erosion control, and as contributors to a healthy ecosystem as they offer habitats for indigenous wildlife. Look for at least 30,000 additional trees to enhance our tree canopy in the coming year.

We are committed to preservation.

It’s why we love where we live.

Pat Brister St. Tammany Parish President

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J O IN U S AT T H E O L D M A N D E V IL L E BU S IN E S S AS S OCIAT IO N ’ S

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Don’t forget cameras for pictures with the Easter Bunny EDGE April | May 2019

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EDGE April | May 2019

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MOTHER’S DAY

gift guide

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LOUIS VUITTON BAG Eljay’s Luxury Closet facebook.com/eljaysbags 985.264.2494

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WRAP Francos 100 Bon Temps Roule Mandeville 985.792.0200

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ASSORTED HATS Finnan’s Family Pharmacy 3044 Gause Blvd. E. Slidell 985.288.5899

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BLESSING BEADS Southern Avenue 70488 HWY 21 Suite 400 Covington, La 70433 985.871.1466

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EDGE April | May 2019

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IT ALL S T A RTS WITH TH E ART STORY PATTY BEAL PHOTOS JERRY COTTRELL

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hat do you get when you mix a brass barracuda, three cousins, and some paint? You get 3R Ink, a storefront and studio in historic downtown Covington carrying their own screened art apparel and developing custom designs for tee shirts to upholstery.

I met with one of the three cousins, Chris Binnings, to find out more about this creative trio.

3R INK 985.302.4747 3rink.com

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PATTY BEAL: First question, Chris, is where does the name, 3R Ink come from?

CHRIS BINNINGS: We are three cousins that have reconverged here in the area; just like the three local rivers. That’s the 3 and the R. Ink is for what we do. We screen print shirts and other items.

PB: And who are your cousins?

CB: Nick Binnings and Scott Ewen. I do the sales and marketing, Nick does the business administration and planning and Scott is the artist. The three of us have always wanted to be in businesses together. When Scott and his wife returned to Covington, we knew it was time.

PB: And screen printing was the unanimous decision?

CB: Well we started with a label, a brand: “Kuda Offshore.” My dad was an artist and he made a brass barracuda. We were throwing names around and Kuda was kind of slang or short for barracuda. We had Scott’s amazing offshore fish art printed on some sports apparel, and then soon realized we could develop a business doing the screen printing ourselves.

PB: And 3R Ink was born?!

CB: Yes. And we have our second label, Rabbit Island Outfitters, which features Scott’s inland, coastal fish. Rabbit Island, in Mississippi, is where our grandfather took us all fishing together as kids. We went all the time. These are great memories. We carry both labels in the store – in tee shirts and fishing shirts – as well as offer custom design work. We can use the clients’ art, or we can design anything they can imagine.

PB: Did you have to learn how to screen print? I’ve seeing some impressive looking machinery at your store.

CB: Scott’s wife, Andrea, has been screen printing for 25 years, and we wouldn’t be in the business without her. She handles the operations side of things. Andrea’s very creative and designs custom textile fabrics as well. We’ll eventually go into home goods, her design or the clients’.

Nick Binnings, Andrea Fiore, Brigid Murphy, Scott Ewen, Chris Binnings. 3R storefront Fall 2018 EDGE April | May 2019

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

PB: Wow. We’ll be looking forward to that. So, if I wanted 500 shirts screen printed with a logo or an idea I had, how does it get from my head to the back of a shirt?

CB: First there’s a free-hand drawing that’s agreed on, then it’s digitized through the magic of graphic design. It then goes through a kind of extensive black-room process where ultimately individual screens are made for every color layer in the design.

Later the screens sit on a rotating table and color is hand squeegeed though each screen onto the back (or front or pocket, whatever is desired) of your shirt.

PB: Okay, well that’s quite a process, and I know we just got the edited version. I always find it intriguing when art and science come together. And I love that you have your brass barracuda proudly hanging in your store.

CB: We are artsy. We are free thinking. That’s how our family is.

Greetings! The arrival of spring brings with it the completion of many exciting city projects. The Ernest J. Cooper Memorial Fire Station Expansion, The Old Firehouse Renovation, The Bogue Falaya Park Paddlers’ Launch and Shoreline Protection Project, The Reverend Peter Atkins Park Bathroom Facility, and the Covington Puppy Park have all progressed from ideas to fruition for our citizens to utilize and enjoy.

I am pleased to announce that The Reverend Peter Atkins Park Bathroom Facility has been completed and will be available for public use at the upcoming West 30’s Block Party on April 13th. Also on April 13th, the City will host a Ribbon Cutting at the new Covington Puppy Park, a pocket park for petite pooches located on the grounds of the Greater Covington Center/ City Hall. On April 24th, the newly renovated “Old Fire House” will hold its first event, Coffee with Mayor Cooper @ 9:00 a.m. Additionally, The Bogue Falaya Paddlers’ Launch will be officially dedicated in early May, before the scheduled May 11th LPO Swinging in the Pines Concert.

I invite all to attend the dedication ceremonies for these completed projects in Covington, and I also remind you that this is the perfect time of year to explore all that our quaint city has to offer.

As always, it is my honor to serve as your mayor.

MIKE COOPER City of Covington Mayor

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EDGE April | May 2019

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The Art of

G E O R G E D U N B A R

NEVER-ENDING EXPLORATIONS STORY KIM BERGERON PHOTOS JERRY COTTRELL

It was when he was a young lad of about eight years old that George Dunbar first visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art with his mother, Ethelyn. That was one of several museums he perused during visits to New York, and those endless explorations of the institutions’ collections sparked the young enthusiast’s interest in art.

His father, Charles, was one of the founding partners of Phelps Dunbar, a New Orleans based law firm that remains in business today. His mother also hailed from the Crescent City, from the Legendre family of sugar planters. While his only sibling, Charles, followed in his father’s career footsteps, George opted for more creative endeavors. What has resulted is a career in the arts spanning more than 75 of his 91 years.

The road to becoming an artist was paved in part by George’s military service. For two years, he served as a U.S. Navy salvage diver in the Philippines during World War II. While overseas, he became enamored by the art of southeast Asia. Of particular interest were the ornate golden accents which, he didn’t realize at the time, ultimately would come to influence his future works.

Following the war, the New Orleans native fully embraced his passion for the arts, attending the prestigious Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia with the benefit of a G.I. bill.

That the university was located near New York, the city in which the aspiring artist’s interest was first sparked, was no coincidence.

It was an era of artistic evolution in New York, with a small group of artists bringing together emotional expression and creative spontaneity in a movement that would come to be known as Abstract Expressionism. Leading the AbEx movement were Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock. Also included in the efforts was the artist George cites as among his biggest influencers, Franz Kline.

In 1951, after earning his painting degree, George moved to Paris to continue his studies at Académie de la Grande Chaumière, where he continued his artistic explorations. Two years later, he was honored to share an exhibit with Kline, and in 1955, he was named one of 36 emerging artists representing the “state of American art today” by Art in America magazine.

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While he enjoyed his time in Europe, his family roots beckoned him home.

When Dunbar learned that his mother was terminally ill, he returned to Louisiana, settling on the north shore of New Orleans in Slidell.

He began serving as a guest lecturer at Louisiana State University’s School of Architecture and Tulane University. With his trusted friend, artist and educator Robert Helmer, George established Orleans Gallery, the American South’s first artistowned and operated collective. The venue celebrated the local contemporary movement, including artists Lin Emery, Marilyn Conrad, Shirley Grode, Jean Seidenberg and John Clemmer, plus traveling exhibitions.

“Orleans Gallery would not have been possible without the support of the Historic New Orleans Collection founders and arts patrons General Kemper Williams and his wife, Leila,” says Dunbar. “The family leased the space to us for an exceptional rate in support of our mission.”

In conjunction with the co-op, the artist-partners established Dunbar/Helmer Art School.

Dunbar also began developing parcels of land in St. Tammany Parish to supplement his co-op income. In doing so, he found influences in the undulations of the bayous and in the organic forms of the land, both of which carried over into his artwork.

He then built the studio and home in which he now resides, nestled in the woods on the banks of Bayou Bonfouca. It is his sanctity, the place in which he embraces both inspiration and exploration.

The inspiration, he says, comes from always knowing that he can do better than he has done in the past, always striving toward that next great work.

The exploration is part innovation, part fearlessness, as his creative process brings together both conventional and unconventional tools and media. He says that some such efforts have produced more successful results than others.

“I really enjoy the whole process of creating art,” says George. “I enjoy discovering the accidental triumphs in my work, the things that happen in the process that can’t be predicted that make the work a success. It’s about giving up control to allow those things to happen.”

The artist feels fortunate in that he has invented many processes for which he was quite pleased with the results.

“An example would be the way I merge color fields,” he says. “While it can be done successfully with a brush and paint, I choose to do it with thin layers of clay and using an electric sander. It’s a process all my own that leaves my definitive ‘thumbprint’ on the work.”

He believes that the factor of identifiability is one of the most important aspects of any artist’s work.

“The best compliment an artist can receive is when a viewer immediately attributes the work to the artist, even if seen from across the room,” says Dunbar. “What’s more impressive is when work can be recognized even if the artist’s approach to creating has changed.”

It’s certainly a trait that can be seen in all of George’s works — though his techniques have changed and his styles have evolved through the years, each remains, unmistakably, a “Dunbar.” This is true of the many series which he says represent different periods in his life: Mallarmé, Rouville, Coin du Lestin, Bonfouca, Marshgrass and Minimal. Among the many artistic styles and methods he has created are rag painting collages, string drawings and multi-strata works created with thin layers of clay and metallic leaf which he textures with sandblasting, steel brushes, engraving and incising.

“I feel that my use of different materials to make art has been very important to my evolution as an artist,” says Dunbar. “Hopefully it’s still continuing to change, and I can discover some new processes I haven’t tried yet.”

To that end, the artist still sets aside one studio day a week for experimentation.

The results of his unique techniques have been exhibited at The Ogden, New Orleans Museum of Art, the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Museum in Lafayette and British Museum in London. In 2008, George received the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the state’s arts and culture.

For aspiring artists, George offers this bit of advice: “The thing I feel is the most important in artists’ careers is that they try processes that take them out of their comfort zone so as not to be one trick ponies. For example, if you are a painter who uses an easel to create, you’d be better off taking your stool and putting it against the wall where you don’t use it. This will force you to step away from your work and see it from different perspectives on a continuing basis.”

George Dunbar 985.649.4275 studio studio@georgedunbar.com

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

It’s that change of perspective that seems to be the underlying theme in all of Dunbar’s works, via the varied paths through which his innovative practices have meandered for three-quarters of a century. It’s his desire to bring that vision to the next generation of creatives.

“I am working towards a time when I can share some of the methods and different media I have discovered throughout my career,” says the artist. “I hope to share these techniques, such as gold leafing, with aspiring artists so they can be as inspired by them as I have.”

When asked which, of all of his works is his favorites, he is quick to respond that it’s the one he hasn’t created yet.

“Reinventing yourself is most probably one of the most exciting aspects of making art,” he says.

And so begins the next transformation in this chameleon’s career, as he continues to make the world a more beautiful place, one work of art at a time.

DEAR CITIZENS, Spring has finally arrived, which means that there will be plenty of festivals and events happening in Slidell!

The City of Slidell’s Arts Evening, one of the biggest cultural events in Slidell, will take place on Saturday, April 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. in Olde Towne. Over 100 artists and 12 different bands and entertainers will be showcasing their talents at over 40 locations in Slidell’s Olde Towne district. There will also be delicious food and plenty of time to shop and discover what Olde Towne Slidell has to offer. Admission is free.

The City of Slidell’s Bayou Jam Spring Concert Series concludes on Sunday, April 14, with a performance

by Sgt. Peppers, a Beatles tribute band, starting at 5 p.m. in Heritage Park.

Admission is free.

And don’t forget about the City of Slidell’s Some Enchanted Evening! The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will perform on Sunday, May 5 at 6 p.m. in Heritage Park. Be sure to pack a picnic and enjoy great music on Bayou Bonfouca!

For more information about these events, please visit our website at MySlidell.com.

Greg Cromer City of Slidell Mayor

“Let the compliments begin”

LAKE • 69170 HWY 190. SUITE 1 • COVINGTON, LA 70433 • PHONE 985 733 4670

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TAMMANY’S TRACES OF SCANDAL The Northshore’s Connection to the Louisiana Hayride STORY LIZ GENEST SMITH PHOTOS JERRY COTTRELL

C

onducting research on the internet can be either a blessing or a curse to someone like me, who’s both curious and easily distracted.

Digging for information on one seemingly straightforward topic can quickly splinter into a million different directions. One can either wind up wandering hopelessly off-track, or striking informational gold.

I lucked out in this particular endeavor.

What started out as research on the ruins of a never-completed 1930s golf course on the site of Mandeville’s Northlake Nature Center, soon led to the discovery of many St. Tammany Parish connections to the biggest political scandals in Louisiana history. It’s an intriguing story, but first, let’s get some perspective.

The Louisiana Hayride Way back in 1939, there was a series of political scandals in the state of Louisiana that were so explosive and impressive that they earned the catchy, collective title, The Louisiana Hayride.

While Huey Long is easily Louisiana’s most famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) politician, the controversial senator and governor was not actually involved in the Hayride.

Instead, it was his assassination in 1935 that created the perfect conditions for greed and graft to take hold. After his death, Long’s powerful political machine was still in place, but without his heavyhanded guidance, it all quickly devolved into a money-grabbing free-for-all.

To be fair, his successor, Richard Leche, made his intentions perfectly clear when he famously said, “When I took the oath of office, I didn’t take any vow of poverty.”

True to his word, Governor Leche was said to carry around wads of $1,000 bills, and he and his cronies openly misappropriated funds, personnel, property, and materials, eventually leading to nearly 200 indictments, several suicides, and dozens of convictions. Some of those who went to prison included the governor himself, renowned architect Leon Weiss, Orleans Levee Board president Abe Shushan, and state commissioner of conservation William Rankin.

Remember these names, as you read on.

The Hayride pulls into St. Tammany Parish As most residents of this region know, St. Tammany and the adjacent parishes were known as the “Ozone Belt” during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Along with being sparsely populated and bucolic in appearance, the piney woods, clean water sources, artesian springs, and breezes from Lake Pontchartrain were not only delightful, but also thought to be miraculous cures for many of the nasty ailments of city dwellers during that time period. Perhaps all that – along with its comfortable distance from any nosy, prying press and political watchdog groups – is what drew Governor Leche and his buddies from New Orleans and Baton Rouge to this area in the 1930s.

Information on this notorious group’s dalliances on the Northshore was not only scattered far and wide, but some of it proved a bit difficult to confirm. (It’s almost as if folks in this area aren’t proud to be linked to such a scandalous affair!) Extensive Google searches only got the ball rolling. Assistance from librarians, historians and other knowledgeable professionals with the St. Tammany Public Library, UNO’s Earl K. Long Library, and the St. Tammany Clerk of Court became necessary.

It was the fine folks at the Clerk of Court’s records department who found an old surveyor’s map, finally creating a crystal clear picture of how Mandeville and Covington’s Beau Chene, Country Club Estates, River Oaks, and Riverwood neighborhoods – a huge wedge of land now bordered by Highway 190 to the east, Highway 22 to the south, and the Tchefuncte River to the West -- were once the personal playgrounds of the disgraced governor and two of his associates. This, of course, made me wonder… Could their mansions still be there? What else is hidden in plain sight? Let’s find out as we trace the path of the Hayride through St. Tammany Parish!

Stop #1: The Shushan House, Riverwood The northernmost property in this cluster was owned by Abraham “Abe” Shushan.

Named president of the Orleans Levee Board in the early 1930s, he was responsible for the construction of the lakefront seawall, as well as the New Orleans Lakefront Airport, which was named after him – for a while, anyway. He managed to dodge a few corruption charges when the authorities began closing in, but wound up being convicted of tax evasion and fraud, resulting in prison time and the removal of his name from the airport. (Interesting to note that Governor Leche’s name was removed from LSU’s law school building following his conviction, and soon after the Hayride scandals, laws went into effect to bar the naming of state buildings for living people.

Lesson learned!)

Before the scandals, however, Abe bought a ton of acreage and built himself a large colonial mansion just north of Governor Leche’s property, on what is now part of Covington’s Riverwood subdivision. With help from multiple historians and a realtor, we zeroed in on a location near the end of Belle Terre Boulevard. There’s currently a house there that closely resembles old newspaper images – just with a different portico and massive new additions. It sports an old gate and rustic-looking driveway, and has frontage on both the Ponchitolawa Creek and Tchefuncte River, just as the Shushan property was described in old legal documents. But, records on file don’t conclusively confirm they’re one and the same. So, while I feel pretty confident this is it, I can’t claim total victory on this one.

Stop #2: The Leche House, Country Club Estates When you turn onto Country Club Lane from the Highway 190 Service Road, it’s an arrow-straight path that dead-ends at the Tchefuncte River and the Covington Country Club’s parking lot. Records describe the location of Richard Leche’s house as being directly adjacent to the club, and sure enough, directly to your left is a house matching the description of the governor’s brown-shingled former home, designed by his friend and neighbor to the southwest, Leon Weiss. According to Harnett Kane in his book, Huey Long’s Louisiana Hayride, Leche wasn’t content to live in Huey’s “post office and museum” mansion in Baton Rouge, so he created his then-secluded “glorified hunting lodge,” complete with a pool, boat landing, and lavish kennels, pens, and exercise yards for his menagerie of dogs, exotic cattle, sheep and horses. After his stint in prison for misusing state funds and property, Leche sold his Covington estate and moved to Lacombe, taking a huge chunk of his gardens with him. The Lacombe estate eventually became Bayou Gardens, which we’ll visit a little later.

Stop #3: Kiskatom House, Beau Chene Architect Leon Weiss appears to have had a booming, legitimate business before he got caught up in 1939’s scandals. He did a significant amount of work for Huey Long, including designing the Louisiana State Capitol, Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and several buildings on the LSU campus, but wound up getting charged for mail fraud regarding a cost override

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on a building contract for Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.

There are conflicting reports on whether he was a crook like the others, or simply got caught in the dragnet, but he ended up in prison, nonetheless. Before everything went sideways, however, he owned a large tract of land that is part of today’s Beau Chene neighborhood (their website contains a little historical information on this very topic). In 1937, he built the family’s summer home and named it Kiskatom, a native American term for “hickory tree,” which marked the shell road that led to the property. The house still stands today, tucked away on a crowded street that bears the same name. At press time, it’s on the market for a cool $2.5 million, and is described as “exceptionally built and mindfully renovated,” with accompanying pictures that reveal an incredible showplace of an interior.

As luck would have it, Weiss’ daughter, Leta Weiss Marks, published an autobiographical book called Time’s Tapestries in 1997, and part of it describes those idyllic summers spent at Kiskatom, before her father’s conviction. Driving through today’s densely populated golfing community, it’s hard to picture the rural world she describes, where among other things, her father taught her “how to paddle a pirogue and fish with bamboo poles in the shadows of cypress trees on Bayou Tete l’Ours.” Unless, of course, you happen upon Iris Lane, about a block away. One glance at a map reveals it as pretty much the only public access to this obscure bayou she mentions. It’s a short, narrow, barely detectable lane that dead-ends on some private property, but not before a bridge quite abruptly transports you directly into Lita’s pristine, shadowy cypress swamp. What an absolutely wonderful, unexpected treat.

Stop #4: The Rankin House, Lacombe This was one of the easiest private homes to locate, as the architecture was deemed to be rare and significant enough to get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. William G. Rankin, who served as state commissioner of conservation from August 1936 - July 1939, chose a picturesque and very secluded site for his Modernist castle on the banks of Lacombe’s Bayou Cane, which was reportedly being deepened and improved at the time by none other than his very own conservation commission. Before he could complete construction, however, he was indicted on a slew of charges, including reportedly gifting his buddy the governor with a 40-foot yacht, purchased with department funds. The house remained an unfinished shell for decades until famed Louisiana chef Justin Wilson – who shot his cooking show on the property – bought it and allegedly completed construction. I say allegedly because while there’s a published street address and the house is located mere steps from the Tammany Trace, it is not visible through the heavily wooded lot on Lemieux Boulevard, and sadly, I didn’t have access to a canoe for a bayou view. Though no architect is listed, it’s thought to have been designed by the aforementioned Leon Weiss.

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Stops #5-7: Bayou Gardens, Fontainebleau State Park, Northlake Nature Center All the previously highlighted locations are privately owned homes, but traces of Governor Leche’s years on the Northshore remain in a few public places, as well. After his release from prison in 1945, Leche traded his Tchefuncte estate for a more modest one near the intersection of Highways 190 and 434 on Bayou Lacombe. He transplanted many camellias and azaleas from his former home, expanded the gardens and walkways, and named it Bayou Gardens. Today, it is part of the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges’ headquarters, which boasts two miles of walkways and trails, and hundreds of varieties of camellias along with other flowering trees and shrubs.

While Governor Leche was in office, the state purchased Mandeville founding father, Bernard de Marigny’s former property between Bayous Castine and Cane, and Leche named it Tchefuncte State Park and Conservation Reservation (two years after his conviction, it was renamed Fontainebleau State Park). It was to include areas to be reforested, a stocked game preserve, a refuge for migratory birds and other wildlife, and oh yeah – a 50-acre golf course.

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

Finally, we get to the topic that started it all! Though it was technically going to be a public golf course, the sparse local population meant it would really be a publicly funded retreat for the fun-loving gov and his buddies. (The location would have been super convenient for Mr. Rankin, by the way, whose house was being built just a stone’s throw away.)

The land was cleared and landscaped, nine holes were completed, and a clubhouse was constructed, but lucky for nature lovers, the governor went to prison, the project was halted, and the site was reforested. Today, it’s the Northlake Nature Center, where remnants of the doomed golf course remain scattered throughout the property, the most visible of which is the club house.

As you stroll along the boardwalks enjoying the natural surroundings, you can’t miss the fenced-in, fairly unattractive brown brick building that abruptly rises from the forest floor only a short distance from the entrance. At one time, plans were in place to turn it into a multi-purpose building, housing a welcome center, offices, bathrooms, and a nature store, but a fire gutted it in 2010. And there it remains: an empty, charred structure that seems like an apt memorial to a shady administration that went down in flames.

The Legacy When you think about the history of Lake Pontchartrain’s Northshore, you typically think of the native American tribes, or old Mandeville’s gracious lakefront, or Covington’s bustling oxdriven commerce. What a fun surprise to uncover a scurrilous history behind some of the area’s biggest subdivisions! While you certainly don’t want to glorify the audacious political corruption of the Hayride, at least the participants’ conspicuous consumption lends a bit of color and character to our unassuming little region.

Rediscovering these old structures and locales can also help us to hearken back and imagine how life and the landscape differed back then. And maybe it’s also a good reminder not to judge a book by its suburban cover. There just might be a juicy secret tucked away in its proper little pages.

Spring is here and a new season is beginning. Flowers are in bloom, our canopy is once again lush in greenery and our City is thriving with updated infrastructure and a steady growth of new businesses. In the City of Mandeville, we are truly grateful and exceedingly blessed.

Our program to install new water meters is nearing completion, saving tax dollars and providing a more accurate reading for our citizens. Monroe Street has been paved and several drainage projects have been completed around the city. Our Mandeville Historical Walking Tour has been launched, informing tourists and residents alike of our cultural past.

Mandeville Live! Free Friday Concerts will begin in March, followed by the Easter Eggstravaganza at the Trailhead. The Mandeville Family Reunion is in May and our July 4th “Light Up The Lake” event will once again be held on the lakefront.

Finally, Mandeville has been designated

by Expedia as the “best place to escape in Louisiana.” This well-known American travel company that operates roughly 200 travel booking websites in about 75 countries selected one city in each state where people can go to relax. They announced, “From quaint small towns to quiet nature preserves, this country is full of places to escape to, and we’ve chosen our favorite in each state, highlighting the perfectly restful things to do there.” We were honored to be chosen and thrilled that our natural resources are widely appreciated and enjoyed by so many.

DONALD VILLERE City of Mandeville Mayor

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Northshore Heart Walk

Register Now!

Saturday, June 1, 2019 Fontainebleau State Park NorthshoreHeartWalk.org Locally Sponsored By:

MACGYVER C O N S U LTA NT PHOTOS JERRY COTTRELL

S

outh Louisiana is known for its Hollywood connections, but you might be surprised at the ways the North Shore is involved in popular TV shows. In this case, it’s the CBS series MacGyver – a reboot of the original series that was popular in the ‘80s. The connection is Dr. Rhett Allain, an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University. He is also the Technical Consultant for this hit show.

What is the role of a technical consultant?

My primary responsibility is to review the “Mac Hacks” in the show. The Mac Hacks are all the moments where MacGyver finds a solution to a problem using just science and the stuff he can find around him. I go over these hacks to check the scientific plausibility of each one. Sometimes the hacks are completely real and other times they aren’t quite real, but are at least based on a real scientific idea.

I also work with the writers to come up with new ways for MacGyver to build stuff. Sometimes they will just give me a description of the setting and what he needs to do (i.e. he needs to break into a safe in a casino) and then I will suggest different ways he could do it. Often this involves science along with some internet searching. I also create DIY videos to go along with some of the shows. I will find a MacGyver hack and then describe how you could do it at home with simple items.

I write all the calculations that you see MacGyver make in some of the episodes. When he calculated the number of sheets of paper to stop a bullet, that was my stuff. As a bonus, every once in a while I get a good physics joke into the show too.

How did you become involved with the MacGyver show?

As with anything, it involved a bit of luck. When the show was in the development stage, the producer, Peter Lenkov, reached out to me to help with the science in the show. He found me from my work as a science advisor for the show MythBusters on the Science Channel.

Honestly, I was very impressed that the writers and producers were concerned enough about the science to attempt to create realistic hacks.

What is the most/least plausible hack?

Let’s start with one that’s not quite so plausible. In this scene, MacGyver needs to prevent a bomb from blowing up in a building. He grabs a trash bag and a uses a nearby hydrogen gas tank from a green energy generator on the roof of a building.

From this he makes an impromptu hydrogen balloon to lift the bomb away. Yes, you can indeed make such a balloon, however it would have to be much larger than a trash bag to lift the bomb. But still, this is based on some real physics.

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Now for something real. In this case, MacGyver needs to get through part of a building that is on fire. He takes vinegar, baking soda and soap.

Mixing the baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide and the soap holds it together in a nice fire-fighting foam. Yes, this is real.

What is the best hack that people could try themselves?

This is one that you should do because it’s so awesome. In one episode, MacGyver needs to listen to a conversation inside a house. With a laser and a solar panel, he builds a laser listening device (this is real). You can do something very similar — and it’s easy. You just need a small solar panel and an amplified speaker. I got my solar panel from an old solar powered sidewalk lamp.

The speaker was from an old computer.

First, take the audio plug from the speakers.

There should be three different metal sections (needed for stereo sound). The solar panel will only have two wires, one for positive and one for negative. These two solar panel wires have to connect to two of the connections on the audio jack — just randomly try two and if that doesn’t work, try two others.

That’s it. You have just built a device that converts light into sound. The changing light that hits the solar panel will make different sounds on the speaker. Try this: take your TV remote and point it at the solar panel. You should hear some chirping noises when you push a remote button. This is because it makes an infrared light flash on the controller to send a signal to the TV. These flashing signals are also detected by the solar panel to turn it into sound. Boom. You just MacGyvered that.

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April 27 & 28, 2019

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Covington Trailhead • 419 N. New Hampshire Street Covington, Louisiana • 985.892.1873 For more information, email antiques@covla.com EDGE April | May 2019

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T R A V E L STORY ELAINE MILLERS PHOTOS PAUL CHAUVIN

It

was June of 2018, and the hot days of summer were upon us. Looking for a quick getaway, our thoughts headed to the beach. But with our mouths watering for something sweet, my husband and I decided to head another direction: north to Ruston to check out their annual Peach Festival. I love a good festival, so with thoughts of kettle corn and peaches, we loaded up the car. It was an easy four-hour drive, and we stayed at one of the many hotels situated near the freeway, offering a good base for our visit.

Of course, the first order of business was tasting the local peaches to see what all the fuss is about. We visited Mitcham Farms, a local farm founded in 1946 by J.E. Mitcham and known throughout the south as the place to get Louisiana’s sweetest peaches. At the orchard, we learned about the peach growing process: a combination of soil and weather are the reasons that peaches grow so well in this part of Louisiana. In addition to selling perfectly ripe peaches, the Mitcham Farms’ Peach Store offers a cornucopia of peach products, including everything from preserves and syrups to butter and salad dressing.

They even have peach salsa! We sampled the homemade peach ice cream – a perfect frozen treat on such a hot day – and picked up some fresh peaches to take home.

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Louisiana Peach Festival June 21 – 22, 2019 experienceruston.com

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Our end of the day destination was a local pizza restaurant and bar called the Utility Brewery. This is a popular hangout and offers a wide variety of pizzas and drink specials. I just had to sample the Peach Mojito(!) and wasn’t disappointed. We ordered the Pesto Pizza, which comes with roasted red peppers and caramelized onions, and the Hot Pig Pizza, which includes a mixture of smoked pork, bacon and jalapeño. Both were accompanied by local beer.

On Saturday morning, we drove into downtown Ruston for the festival and discovered a very walkable town. Ruston is home to the Louisianan Center for the Blind, and they have taken great care to make sure that the downtown area is accessible, with wide walkable sidewalks and braille signs all around. In fact, a large sign in the middle of town has the word Ruston written in Braille. Just a few blocks away is Louisiana Tech’s campus, home of the Bulldogs and about 12,500 students who contribute to the collegiate atmosphere, especially on game days. We found parking easily in historic downtown, even on a festival day, and stopped in at the Railway Coffee House, a local small batch specialty roaster.

Enjoying a cup of coffee along with a bacon cheddar scone was such a nice start to the day.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying the festival. The first Peach Festival was held in 1951, and it is one of the longest running agricultural festivals in the state. It is spread out throughout the downtown area, so we were able to easily walk to visit the arts and crafts at the Civic Center, sample the festival food along the way, and end the day listening to the live bands playing in Railroad Park. Bag of Donuts, always a crowd-pleaser, had the crowd up and dancing. We enjoyed dancing the night away until the last band’s very last encore.

Understandably, a late start was in order for the next morning. A Nutella beignet had my name on it, so a quick stop at the Parish Press was on the day’s agenda. After the previous day of festival fun, we decided to spend a day in Lincoln Parish Park. Located a few miles north of Ruston, the park is rated as one of the best mountain bike trails in America. Lincoln Parish Park is a treasure for mountain bike lovers and non-cyclists too. The 10-mile bike trail offers a challenging and exciting course for the advanced rider and something for beginners as well. A 1.25-mile path winds around the beautiful lake, and fishing is permitted from piers or non-motorized boats (kayaks and canoes are welcome). Inside the park grounds there is a boundless area allowing children of all abilities a chance for fun and play. The park’s sandy beach and swimming area is open Memorial Day to Labor Day with a lifeguard on duty. A leisurely walk through the trees and around the lake was a refreshing break from all the festival activities and would be a nice place for a bike ride. Next time maybe we can even talk some friends into bringing their camper and spend a whole weekend at the park.

After our extended weekend it was time to head home with the sweet smell of peaches temping us the whole way. I have to be honest, not that many made it home.

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The City of Slidell presents

with the

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Sunday, May 5, 2019 Slidell’s Heritage Park Special Presentation begins at 5:30 p.m.

Concert begins at 6 p.m.

Free Admission!

646-4375 • MySlidell.com In the event of rain, the concert will move to the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell.

Thank you to the City of Slidell’s 2019 Cultural Season Sponsors!

Renaissance $5,000 Sponsors:

Baroque $2,500 Sponsors: CLECO Power, LLC • C. Ray Murry, Attorney at Law, LLC Jazz on the Bayou/Ronnie Kole Foundation Neoclassical $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert • Lori Gomez Art Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency • Purple Armadillo Again • Silver Slipper Casino Impressionism $500 Sponsors: Chateau Bleu • Chef Charmaigne, Fine Creative Food • CiCi’s Pizza Mayor Greg Cromer • Flatliners Entertainment • The GlassMen • Old School Eats Food Truck Olde Towne Print Shop • Pontchartrain Investment Management • Roberta’s Cleaners Slidell Historical Antique Association • Terry Lynn’s Cafe & Creative Catering Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts as administered by the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.

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Performing over 20 hits of his truly timeless classics, a stunning galaxy of internationally renowned performers paid tribute to the Burt in grand style!

Where can two sisters add a little zest, fun and excitement to their lives, find it? Bingo! On any Bingo night at St. Joseph’s, you can find Pastor Mac, Lonnie and Cindy Conklin, Marge Meranski, Coach Anderson, and the many off beat, colorful regulars we meet through the eyes of Sis and Babe. They dish the dirt, giggle like school girls and share old memories. They’ve been coming to play Bingo together for years because they love it.You can Play with them too.

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My turn:

by Chef Joey Najolia

ABOUT CHEF JOEY NAJOLIA

In every issue, EDGE of the Lake invites a local chef to visit another eatery on the Northshore. Joey Najolia grew up in Slidell and graduated from Delgado Culinary. Shortly after, he began an apprenticeship under French-born chef Chris Kerageorgiou at La Provence. There were cooking stints in New Orleans and France before he ended up back where he started as Executive Chef. In 2007, Joey, along with his new wife Brandi, set out to open CafĂŠ Lynn, and welcomed their first child six months after that. They describe their restaurant as casual, family friendly, fine dining American fare with local ingredients and everything made from scratch.

I went to Mandeville’s Times Grill with Brandi and our three sons for dinner. I would describe it as a place that is family friendly with a great atmosphere for our crew. They sat us in a booth, which was a perfect size for our family of five.

Brandi and I each ordered a Gnarly Barley Jucifer IPA to start. Our appetizer, which came off the Lenten menu, was the fried crawfish tails, which were served on a bed of lettuce with a remoulade sauce. We enjoyed it, but didn’t get to eat much ourselves because the boys are crawfish fanatics.

Having been to the Times before, I’m usually a fan of the Cajun Sunset Burger with the fried egg, but I was determined to try something new for this review. I went with the BBLTPC, which is Burger, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle and Cheese. It was nicely put together; it wasn’t messy and didn’t fall apart when I picked it up. (I’m not a fan of a sloppy burger where half of your stuff falls off when you try to eat it.) Brandi got their hamburger steak with onion rings and loaded garlic mashed potatoes. I stole a few bites and it was so, so good. Our boys enjoyed the coloring kids menu with all the activities, but they of course wanted adult plates. In the end, two of them got Jr. Times Burgers with fries. One of them went with the Crawfish Pasta, which I got a bite of and was exceptional.

The Times Grill is great for a family evening.

Sure, there is a bar area for adults to retreat to if they choose, but the main dining room is well laid out and makes you feel relaxed. We get so busy with school, soccer and work. It was really nice to go there and have the hour and a half to just play and be together. All five of us were being goofy and a little loud and laughing and you just felt good being there. I would recommend either location of the Times Grill. The service was fantastic, the food was great and it was a perfect evening for our family.

TIMES BAR & GRILL 1896 N. Causeway Blvd, Mandeville 985.626.1161 1827 Front Street, Slidell 985.629.3335 timesgrill.com

Mark Salvetti

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Covington Celtic Club’s (CCC) 3rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and celebration took place in downtown Covington.

Former Saint’s player and WWL radio Voice of the Saints, Zack Strief, performed the duties as the 2019 Grand Marshal.

The CCC was joined by The St. Paul’s Marching Wolves, Fools of Misrule, Mandi Milkshakers, Bagpipes, the CCC kids’ float and the Covington Bicycle Club.

(Photos by Matthew Schlenker) The Mandeville High School Robotics Team, The S.S. Prometheus, returned home victorious from the FIRST Rock City Robotics Regional in Little Rock. The team, along with their alliance teammates, the Destrehan High Wildcats and the Hammond High Torbotics, won the competition and earned a ticket to the World Championships in April!

A crowd of more than 3,000 enjoyed the 35th Annual Chef Soiree, held at the Covington Trailhead. Guests enjoyed

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food and libations from local restaurants and music from Super Charger, Boogie Falaya, and Christian Serpas and Ghost town.

Rick and Tina Flick of Banner Ford donated the winner’s choice of a 2019 Ford Mustang or 2019 Ford Escape for the Grand Prize in the night’s raffle. Proceeds from the event go to the Youth Service Bureau.

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The Kelly Kicking Cancer’s 4th Annual Shamrock Sprint took place at the Covington Trailhead.

It included a 5k and a 1-mile Fun Run and post-race activities were enjoyed by all. All proceeds went directly to brain cancer research.

Saint Paul’s School hosted several members of the Covington Police Department for a special training drill. Sergeant Jacob Lehman, Training Director, brought three officers from the Criminal Patrol Division to receive specialized defense training using the Saint Paul’s Wrestling Wolves’ padded floor space in the Gene Bennett Sports Complex.

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Northshore High School was proud to welcome members of the United States Army with a very special guest speaker from the 82nd Airborne Division.

Command Sergeant Major Cliff Burgoyne, a native of Slidell and Salmen High School graduate, is currently in charge of 18,000 paratroopers serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. Slidell Mayor, Mr. Greg Cromer, added to the presentation with his story regaling his time spent obtaining his Master’s degree at the age of 58.

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St. Tammany Hospital Foundation held their fun filled Gurney Games. Proceeds from the 2019 Gurney Games benefited the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Expansion Initiative.

Want to be featured in Around The Lake?

Send your pictures to edgepublisher@yahoo.com

Pirate at breakfast STORY CHARLES DOWDY

Charles Dowdy is a broadcaster and writer living with his wife and four children on the Northshore. You can hear him each weekday morning from 6 to 10 on Lake 94.7.

Until the pirate walked in, the most interesting character in the diner was the guy who put a large bottle of prostate pills between his All-American Breakfast and a leather wallet the size of a brick. This guy had been sharing his prostate woes with his server, and she, like everyone else in the place, kept looking at that wallet. It was square. And the same faded square could be seen on the left back pocket of his tight jeans when he stood.

I creep, I think that’s what the kids call it today. I like to hear or see a bit about a person and try to fill in the gaps. I’m not going to apologize for it. I’m not going to follow you home and kill you while you sleep. In an era where we share embarrassing amounts of personal information in search of validating “likes” I prefer to paint my own picture and draw my own conclusions. I love to people watch. And people listen. That’s why I was sitting there when the pirate became more interesting than the prostate.

There was something sparkly right in the middle of his eye patch. A decorative stone of some kind.

And then the man ordered. Loudly. In a diner where you order off a menu with pictures on it. Most people just point at what they want. Usually it is a grunt and a finger.

Not this guy. His voice was hoarse as he laid out what he wanted item by item, and even the timing he wanted it delivered with. He started with coffee, black.

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Then, after they had enjoyed a few moments with their coffee he would like the server to bring their eggs. Lightly scrambled with just a little cheese. Only after their eggs were consumed would he like wheat toast, no butter, with blackberry preserves.

“What?” his waitress asked.

“Preserves,” the pirate said.

“Is that like jelly?” the server asked.

The pirate looked to his tablemate and she nodded. He indicated that jelly would suffice.

“Well, we only got grape and strawberry,” the waitress said.

He decided plain toast would be fine. Then he would like crispy bacon, and the whole thing capped off with a large orange juice.

Instead of yelling out the order like usual, the server was forced to huddle with the short order cook. He took one look past her at the man, perhaps trying to decide whether they should call the cops, then shrugged and turned back to his griddle.

A woman came in with her daughter. The thirty something younger one was the spitting image of the older one, except she was enduring the mother of all hangovers or there was a drug problem in her past, and present. Based on how strung out the younger one looked I was guessing this was some kind of a motherly intervention breakfast. I’ll never know because they took a corner booth and huddled over the table, heads almost together

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as they held hands and talked, which is an oddity in breakfast joints. You might be sitting at another table but you’re really eating with everyone in the place. These might be conversations about mundane things like the weather. They might be about jobs and marriages and kids. It is waffles and therapy.

And you will hear about prostates, wonder about family interventions and watch a very particular pirate dig into a plate of eggs. The servers usually call you “honey” or “baby”. They check on you often, in the name of good service but also moving you along, granting most of their customers a fortified breakfast but not necessarily a leisurely one.

I kept going back to the pirate. I feel like most of the time these days we see the person but don’t hear the order. We see what we need to see, then categorize it into our own little world of understanding and never take the time to really hear what is being said. Oh, I had more questions about this guy than I did answers. But perhaps something about our social media existence these days makes us feel like we know the answer before we ever hear the question?

By the time I headed for the cash register to pay my bill the pirate and his companion were in to their third course, the cook was jawing with a construction guy about whether the Saints would make the play-offs, and Mr. Prostate was limping through the parking lot, a warm breakfast in his belly and his worries right there behind him.

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