Edge of the Lake Magazine August | September 2023

We are excited to bring you our High School Football Preview issue! Sports writer Mike Pervel takes a look at the local prep football teams and provides a complete schedule for Northshore teams.

Northshore Media Group is your place for local sports. During the season, Mike and his team will be broadcasting the pre-game show at 6:45pm on Fridays on Lake 94.7, followed by the Game of the Week. The Lake will wrap up all the high school football action on Saturday mornings with At the Goal Line with Mike St. John.

At our sister stations in Tangipahoa Parish, we’ll broadcast game previews on Tangi 96.5 with Blake Esta, followed by the Game of the Week on Tangi 96.5 and Kajun 107.1, along with Under the Hood with Roger Gill on Saturday mornings on Tangi 96.5. Finally, all the Southeastern Louisiana University games will be broadcast on Kajun 107.1, Highway 104.7 and The Boss 103.7. That’s a lot of football!

As always, we wish our teams a safe and fun season!

For those of you who don’t follow football, we have lots of other features in this issue. We meet local artist Christina Pappion, hear more about a local prank that has turned into a social media event and take a visit to Duaphin Island, along with our regular business, social and restaurant features.

Enjoy the issue and please send any ideas for stories or pictures for Around the Lake to edgepublisher@yahoo.com

PUBLISHER

Sarah Cottrell

EDITOR

Hedley Lamarr

ART DIRECTOR

Erich Belk

STYLE DIRECTOR

Patty Beal

BEAUTY EDITOR

Caitlin Picou

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Charles Dowdy

Elaine Millers

Betsy O’ Leary

Mike Pervel

Liz Smith

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jerry Cottrell

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Johnny Chauvin

Phillip Colwart

Nancy Hale

Shane Mutter

Matthew Schlenker

Joel Treadwell

KEY ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE

Eloise Cottrell

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Rebecca Blossman-Ferran

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Erin Bolton

Debi Menasco

Cover Photo

Photo by Nancy Hale

AWARD-WINNING NEUROCARE: BRAIN, SPINE & STROKE

The Ochsner Neurosciences Institute at St. Tammany Health System is a comprehensive brain, back and spine program dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people you love on the Northshore. Ours was the first ICU on the Northshore to have 24/7 neuro-intensivists, physicians fellowship trained in neuro critical care. What’s more, we’re a Primary Stroke Center. Together with our partner Ochsner Health, we’re giving your loved ones not just the care they need, but the care they deserve.

NORTHSHORE MEDIA GROUP NM

We are looking for local business and professional leaders who have achieved success and excellence in their field or shown amazing potential at an early stage of their career. Nominees must be under 40 on December 1, 2023 and live and work on the Northshore. Beginning on August 1st, Northshore Media Group will be accepting nominations for our 2023 Forty under 40 awards. To nominate someone go to northshoremedia.net and fill out the nomination form. Nominations end September 1st. Winners will be notified in early October and the winners will be featured in our December/January issue of EDGE of the Lake magazine.

The Prank Herd Round The World

Prank

STORY BY LIZ GENEST SMITH PHOTOS BY SHANE MUTTER

Several months ago, a sweet elderly neighbor was fearful that the disappearance of the whimsical Bigfoot statue from her front yard was indicative of an uptick of Northshore crime. I assured her that, while it’s certainly wrong to steal, rather than malicious criminals, it was probably just swiped by bored, thoughtless teenagers with nothing better to do. Possibly the same ones that once placed our life-sized Halloween skeletons in hilariously unspeakable x-rated positions on the sidewalk in front of our house. We thought it was funny, but nonetheless started zip-tying all of our holiday decorations into place as a precautionary measure. Perhaps she could do the same?

Unmoved by my suggestion, she became increasingly distressed about the questionable choices and poor character of teenagers these days. My misguided attempt to quell her concerns was to admit that my friends and I engaged in equally mischievous hijinks way back in the 80s. Today’s kids, I assured her, are no worse, really. This was clearly neither helpful nor amusing, as she politely but promptly removed herself from the company of a confessed juvenile delinquent. Probably smart.

In addition to reminding myself to think before I speak, I mulled over this encounter, the aforementioned hijinks of yesteryear, and the razor-thin line between prank and crime when Saia’s Super Meat Market in Mandeville became the target of a hooligan heist this past spring. The mom and pop shop has been an institution around here since 1977, renowned for its superior butcher shop, freshly made fried chicken and poboys. But it’s perhaps most famous for its enormous fiberglass cow, perpetually advertising “LARGE SHRIMP POBOY 8.99” on the letterboard sign affixed to its flanks.

It has stood sentry in the parking lot for over 40 years, but in the wee hours of May 25, the stalwart steer vanished from its prominent spot along Florida Street (the section of Highway

190 that traverses Maneville’s commercial corridor) near the intersection with Girod Street, but luckily was found unharmed and resting comfortably on the lakefront several blocks away. The assumption, of course, was that it was an end-of-year school prank, perpetrated by some crafty seniors.

My 79-year-old dad arrived from Florida for a visit that same afternoon, and while scrolling through his phone, he abruptly queried, “What’s this about a stolen cow?”

This was our first indication that this thing was attracting some serious attention, but we had no idea it would soon become an international social media sensation. Neither did Saia’s owner, Alan Tyrone. I got the chance to chat with him a few weeks later to discuss both the theft and the surprising aftermath.

Alan told me how he had arrived at the store early that morning, only to discover his bovine had been burgled. Thankfully, only 30 minutes elapsed between the time he reported it missing and a Mandeville police officer located it on Lakeshore Drive.

Alan admitted, “I was a little miffed at first. I was worried it was out getting shot all up in the woods somewhere. But, they took good care of it and they were prepared,” he said with a chuckle. Adding, “Our trailer had two flats and they filled them up. And it was nice and neat, propped up on cinder blocks when the police found it.”

That very same evening, Jessie Whiteman of Mandeville launched a Facebook group called “Saia’s Cow Sightings,” with just a few memes and the intention of amusing himself and his friends. But it quickly exploded out of the gate. As of this writing, it has nearly 5,000 members and it’s seen a non-stop stampede of photoshopped images of the cow in a mind-boggling array of settings. It’s pictured doing everything from being abducted by UFOs, getting “cowtapulted” by Monty Python and even morphing into the “Moona Lisa.”

“I don’t even really know the guy who runs it at all,” Alan told me. “A mutual friend reached out to see if it was okay with me, and I said sure. I’m a member of the group and I look at it all the time!”

One of his favorites shows police officers standing beside the cow on the lakefront, but the poboy sign has been altered to read, “Free Donuts.”

Alan’s gotten a big kick out of seeing silly images of his cow coming from as far away as Australia, but it’s also significantly boosted business. They ran out of bread that very first day and have been going gangbusters ever since, with poboy sales up by a tidy 25 percent.

But all fun and gains aside, that cow is sort of sacred in

these parts. Alan was still just a Saia’s employee when the store’s original owner, Vincent Saia, discovered an ad placed by a Gulf Coast steakhouse chain. They’d recently gone out of business and were looking for new homes for their herd of mascots, and he couldn’t resist.

“Mr. Saia had the foresight, he knew it would be a landmark.”

Like a lot of us, the iconic cow is getting up there in age, and wasn’t really built for travel, in the first place, so it should only be done sparingly and with the utmost care. Within the last couple of years, Alan has agreed to allow it to roll with the Krewe of Eve during Mardi Gras, but that’s handled by the seasoned professionals at Keith’s Towing Service.

Alan is unsure of the exact size and weight of it, but it’s probably about double the height of a full-grown adult and heavy enough to make cow-tipping a decidedly hazardous endeavor. There’s no doubt, things could’ve gone terribly wrong, damaging the beloved beast or worse.

“We could fix the cow,” Alan said in all seriousness. “But someone could’ve gotten badly hurt.”

Besides the physical perils, it’s worth noting that at an estimated value of $20,000-$30,000, theft of the cow puts rustlers way above the $1,000 threshold for a felony-level conviction in the state of Louisiana. So, the uh… steaks are pretty high.

Would-be copy cats should think twice. Alan took ownership of the store 22 years ago, and the cow was stolen for the first and only other time the very next year. So, this is not his first, um… rodeo. Not only is it completely lame and unimaginative to duplicate someone else’s prank, but Saia’s is planning to, yes, beef-up security a bit. Plus, both their surveillance camera and those of neighboring businesses can (and did) see everything.

Alan has graciously chosen not to sic the law on any rascally varmints, thus far, but that’s not to say his patience and generosity know no bounds. There’s certainly an artistic aspect to dreaming up a good stunt, but there’s also the science of both executing it and calculating risk versus reward. Pranksters would be wise to remember: If you choose to mess with the bull, you just might get the horns.

(Note to readers: It may not seem like it, but I tried to keep my cow puns and corny wordplay to a minimum. Some silliness that didn’t make the cut include: milking it, steer clear and the one I loved most, the purloined sirloin. Go ahead and groan. I’ll see myself out to pasture.

Expert Cancer Care Close to Home

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I have dedicated my adult life to community service and making things better for the people of Ponchatoula, Hammond, and the Northshore area.

It has been an honor to serve as your State Representative for District 73, and now I’m asking for the opportunity to be your voice in the Louisiana State Senate.

As your State Senator from District 37, I will continue my fight for our people and our values, and I will always be your conservative voice in Baton Rouge. As a veterinarian, husband, father, and grandfather, I understand the challenges we are facing in our state today and realize the courage needed to address them.

I’d be honored to have your prayers and your vote in the upcoming election. God bless!”

Dr. Bill Wheat

Dedicated And Proven Leadership

؞ Reducing government waste and protecting taxpayers

؞ Fully funding law enforcement

؞ Promoting smart economic growth

؞ Improving education

؞ Ensuring available and affordable healthcare

؞ Improving vital roads and bridges

؞ Protecting Lake Maurepas and our natural resources

Dr. Bill Wheat for State Senate

The Northshore Media Group is poised to deliver another comprehensive prep football season covering our deserving student-athletes throughout St. Tammany, who are gearing up for another fall gridiron season, putting their heart & soul into competing at a high level. The Edge of The Lake Magazine invites you to join the Lake 94.7 FM broadcast team each Friday night airing the prep game of the week. Pregame airs at 6:45 followed by the 7 o’clock kickoff from throughout St. Tammany. Mike Pervel handles play-by-play (11th season), along with in-depth analysis provided by Shane Maddox (8th season), joined by Roger Glynn, the numbers guru (who never met a statistic he didn’t like). The Lake broadcast trio encompasses more than 66 years of dedicated broadcast and print journalism excellence serving St. Tammany Parish. The Lake 94.7 broadcast crew is primed and ready to deliver all the excitement of the 2023 prep season as you join us on our coverage journey. All St. Tammany Parish public school turf fields have finally been installed, allowing each team to play their home games in front of their dedicated, supportive fans, and loved ones. One new head coach joins the fray in Washington Parish as Nick “Salt” Saltaformaggio takes over the Franklinton Demons (District 8-4A). Coach Salt is a two-time state champion, guiding the East Jefferson Warriors in 2013 leading the Hahnville Tigers to the title in 2017. St. Thomas Aquinas has hired Shane Mulhern (25) to take over the Falcons (District 8-2A). Four area coaches enter their second season, including two in District 6-5A, Craig Jones charts the Mandeville Skippers, while Trey Willie propels the Ponchatoula Green Wave. In District 8-4A, Eric Collins guides the Pearl River Rebels, and Brent Indest leads the defending district champ, Lakeshore Titans.

STORY MIKE PERVEL NORTHSHORE MEDIA GROUP

ARCHBISHOP HANNAN HAWKS BOGALUSA LUMBERJACKS

Archbishop Hannan (4-8, 1-4) makes its second run in District 8-4A, after moving up last season. Corey Bordelon in his fourth season, welcomes 15 seniors. “This was the best spring program I’ve ever been part of. We have great leadership with complete player buy-in. We feel good about our roster,” Bordelon said. The O-line is the team’s strength with five seniors. Nolan Byers (61, 305), a 4.4 GPA/32 ACT, a 3-year starter, has a scholarship offer from Air Force, with Nicholls State, Southeastern, and several other schools interested. Byers is a two time All-District and AllParish performer. “Our O-line is a special group, providing quality leadership. The D-line is also very solid.” Jr. Brody Smith, the top receiver, who also saw secondary time, transitions to QB. Jr. Hayden Alonzo (28 rec/301 yds/4TDs), also plays CB. Sr. Cartez Brown (720 yds/5 TDs) leads the run game. Versatile Jr. Brennan Obey contributed over 600 all-purpose yards with four scores, also playing DB (third in tackles). Sr. Thomas Tyner (RB) also plays LB. Soph. Xavier Brown, the younger brother of Cartez, provides added depth. Sr. Corey Charleston (2-time All-District/All-Parish) leads the D-line.

Bogalusa embarks on Cyril Crutchfield’s third season, coming off two consecutive undefeated District 7-3A titles. The Lumberjacks (8-2, 4-0), a No. 2 seed, drew a bye, but fell to No. 18 Berwick, 33-30, after winning seven straight regular season games, including a forfeit. Crutchfield (171-78) has authored three state championships. Bogalusa features 15 seniors, returning seven offensive starters and eight defensively. Sr. QB Ashton Levi (First Team All-State and First Team All-District), Mr. Versatility, put together impressive numbers, hitting 139 of 236 for 2,534 yards, tossing 26 TDs with only four picks. He’s being recruited by Southern Miss and Nicholls State. “Ashton is the Top Dog, who means everything to our program. We’ll go as far as he can take us. He’s a tremendous athlete, a born leader, who rallies everyone,” Crutchfield said. The lone returning starting receiver is Sr. Desmond Ramirez. “Desmond will be our go-to receiver. He’s very competitive with a tremendous work ethic.” Jr. linebacker Dyron Jackson (First Team All-District) spearheads the defense, also handling kicking duties. “Dyron is a very intelligent player, who can do it all, playing with reckless abandon.”

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COVINGTON LIONS

Covington (5-6, 3-4) has a new coaching look, naming Riley Boudreaux the OC, adding former Fontainebleau head coach Chris Blocker as the DC. “They’re proven, quality coaches, making it an easy transition,” Greg Salter said. Salter (62-50), in his 11th season, said the Lions have more balance on both sides of the ball. “I like our overall depth. We have three great running backs, who can roll with it, plus three of our five starting O-linemen return. Defensively, we’re solid up front, able to match up with opponents.” The Lions boast 21 seniors with Sr. QBs Brandon Coakley and Jerome Elzy, sharing time. Coakley passed for 374 yards, rushed for 507, and will also play safety. The triple threat running game is led by Sr. David Harris (1,293 yds/12 TDs), also plays LB, looked at by SLU, Southern Miss and Tulane. Kylen Williams (438 yds/2 TDs) joins Harris, along with Justin Chatman (1,300 yards as a sophomore), returning after playing just two games last season, receiving interest from Tulane and ULLafayette. Sr. Lawson Champagne plays TE/FB, starting at DE with La Tech, Southern Miss, Tulane and UL-L interested.

FONTAINEBLEAU BULLDOGS

Fontainebleau opens a new era under head coach Johnny Kavanaugh, taking over for Chris Blocker, who stepped down, after leading the Bulldogs for eight seasons. Kavanaugh (51), spent his entire five-year head coaching career at North Caddo (33-21), with playoff appearances each season, including a 2021 quarterfinals appearance, named District 1-2A Coach of the Year (2019 & 20). He received his undergrad from LSU- Shreveport in 1996, and his masters from Centenary in 2007. “Heading into my first season, I’m trying to change the program’s mindset. I’m excited about what our 30 seniors bring. It’s a hard-working group, who can push our program in a positive direction. I want the guys to compete and be positive,” Kavanaugh said. Initially, Kavanaugh will call plays, running a pro style set, with Chase Hammant, signalimg the defense. Sr. quarterback Ian Burleson returns joined by Sr. back Jaden Echols, who is getting interest from South Alabama, Southern Miss and UL-Lafayette. The Dawgs want Echols out in space, exploiting match ups. Jr. slot receiver Sebastian Miller is a talented play maker. Sr. Trent Gagnon (LB/Safety) leads the defense with strong side LB Jr. Dominick Silvan-Owens.

FRANKLINTON DEMONS

Franklinton (5-6, 3-2) hired a new, legendary head coach with 41 years’ experience winning two state titles to replace Guy LeCompte. Nick Saltaformaggio (63) led East Jefferson to the promised land garnering the 2013 state crown, followed by Hahnville in 2017. Coaching at his alma mater, Holy Cross, for the last three years, he wondered if his career might be over. Franklinton principal Shane Smith then offered coach “Salt” the Demons’ vacant job. “Coaching is the best profession in the world. This job rejuvenates my career, inheriting a solid staff. Franklinton football is special, totally backed by Smith, who coached the 2010 state champions. The community loves and supports this team,” Saltaformaggio said. ” I’ve fallen in love with Franklinton, and I’m very optimistic we’ll be successful. We have a great work ethic, and prideful passion. I want our players to outwork everybody.” The Demons have 11 seniors, counting on 26 juniors to produce. Soph. Jacob Crain moves in at QB with Jr. Connor McGee (WR) triggering the Demons in wildcat formation. Sr. Tim Partman (DE), the team’s best player, leads the 3-4 defense. Saltaformaggio’s winning philosophy: 1A: The Lord, 2A: My Family, 3A: Coaching.

HAMMOND TORNADOES

Hammond (5-6, 2-5) features 10 seniors as Dorsett Buckels (42) enters his fourth season, vying for continued improvement. “Our group is young, but we have more depth. The younger talent needs to step up. It’s all coming together following a good spring and summer. Our kids work hard and are close-knit. We have potential to be pretty good and we have high expectations,” Buckels said. Five players will see action on both sides of the ball. Four offensive starters return led by Sr. Eli Johnson, who rushed for 416 yards with five scores. Srs. Leon Winsberry (WR) returns and tackle Nyieen Addison (6-1, 300), anchors the front. Fr. QB’s Terin Jones and Dakota McAlister are vying to run the Tornadoes’ spread offense. Five defensive starters are back led by Sr. Jermaine Davis (CB/WR), the team’s fastest player (4.52 forty-yard dash), has been offered scholarships by Alabama State, Northwestern, Southeastern and Southeast Missouri State. Jr. Kenyatta Fleet (DB/ WR) has been offered by Grambling. NG Darius Servick (6-2, 260) has offers from Grambling and Southeast Missouri State University. Sr. Javeon Jones (Free Safety) adds quality to a deep secondary.

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LAKESHORE TITANS

Lakeshore’s Titans (10-3, 5-0) put their undefeated district mark on the line, coming off their sixth consecutive District 8-4A crown, last year orchestrated by first-year coach Brent Indest, trimming Franklinton in 21-18 Week 10. “Our district is extremely competitive and wellcoached. Taking the job late limited our Wing-T capability but not this year. Our execution will improve, playing to our strengths,” Indest said. The O-line decimated by injuries last year, is solid, averaging about 6-1, 265-pounds. Sr. Austin Roberts (First Team All-District) moves to center with Sr. John Michael Papis switching back to tackle. Lacking overall team speed, the Titans lost their firepower graduating QB Sam Willie and tailback Colby Ziegler. Jr. Beau Bernard takes over, a good runner with a live arm. Sr. Jaden Wells (First Team All-District) is the top threat offering quickness and elusiveness. Defensively, SRs. Kaiden Broussard (First Team All-District) along with Landen Schlink (First Team All-District) and Jared Roberson, provide experience. Coach Indest, a self-proclaimed DJ in the weight room, has been known to hit music playlists, blending in some country, rock and even rap (maybe a little

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Fontainebleau (A)

Chalmette (H)

Terrebonne (H)

Washington-Marion (A)

St. Stanislaus (A)

Salmen (H)

Loranger (A)

Pearl River (A)

Hannan (H)

Franklinton (A)

MANDEVILLE SKIPPERS

Mandeville (4-6, 4-3) cruises with a boat load of 30 seniors, opening its highly anticipated second season under Craig Jones, since he moved over from Lakeshore. “It’ll be a lot better this year with the staff having a year under our belt, not having to figure out who the players are, or where they should play. Having the off-season, being in the second year of the system benefits us,” Jones said. Seven offensive starters return, highlighted by rising Jr. Nate Sheppard. “He’s good as advertised, a fantastic, versatile athlete, plus being a tremendous student. He’s a true weapon, in the backfield, or in the slot.” Sheppard has multiple offers, including Ole Miss after he attended a summer camp. Nate’s older brother, Will, attends Vanderbilt, who is showing interest. Jr. Isaiah Baham (RB/WR) presents depth. SRs. Caden Clark and Noah Kyle compete at QB. Four O-linemen return with SRs. Cole Beecher, Spencer Davis and Caden Rogers along with Jr. Reagan Touchstone. The Skippers have eight defensive starters back led by SRs. Tasmin Showers (CB) and Pierce Melancon (DE). Richard Guillot triggers the offense, while Zach Vicknair, signals the defense.

NORTHLAKE CHRISTIAN WOLVERINES

Northlake Christian School (8-4, 4-1) took major strides last year, winning district 7-2A, unseating St. Thomas Aquinas (3x champ), after going just 1-8 the previous season. Fifth-year coach James Willis looks for another strong season, defending the title. Things will be tougher, featuring only five seniors, after graduating 12. “Our leadership numbers are small, so we need to get the kids prepared mentally and physically. I like our number of skill players and their experience level. We need to put the guys in position to be successful,” Willis said. The roster is down to 42 players, dropping from 62 last year, but Willis is counting on some late arrivals and possible transfers. A few players will need to play both ways. Jr. Luke LeBlanc returns at QB along with super sophomore sensations, Kam Casnave and Jordan Willis, the Wolverines’ dynamic, electric, productive one-two punch. Sr. receivers Ollie Brumfield (300-meter hurdle state champ) and Chase Mizell are elusive targets. Sr. Dylan Angelo (OL) returns as one of seven offensive starters. The defense brings back nine, including SRs. Ben Harrison and Gavin Krone (LBs) with Jr. Lee Dauterive and Soph. Trace Crane, being counted on.

NORTHSHORE PANTHERS

Northshore (8-4, 5-2) ended a long drought, winning its first playoff game since 1986, trimming Salmen 21-14. Energetic Bobby Sanders (44) in his third season, hopes his Panthers can continue their consistency. “We need to maintain our level of play, putting in hard work with energy and determination, handling the mental and physical aspects. It’s nice having 24 seniors, knowing what it takes to win. We need to continue working toward that standard, being the best we can be,” Sanders said. “District 6-5A is solid, with good teams, good coaches and good people across the board.” Northshore had a strong outing in the Mandeville 7-on-7, falling to the Skippers in the championship. An experienced offense returns nine starters propelled by explosive Sr. back Kohen Rowbatham (First Team AllDistrict), who also plays LB and safety. Jr. signal caller Donovan Weilbaecher offers seasoned experience with a couple go-to receivers. Sr. Kyle Williams (First Team All-District), has a few offers, including La. Tech, Ole Miss, Southeastern and USM, also playing CB. Fellow Sr. T. J. Coleman (WR) helps spread the field with his speed and elusiveness. Sr. Ja’mire Bolden (First Team AllDistrict) bolsters the line.

PEARL RIVER REBELS

Pearl River (5-6, 2-3), looks to take another step up the district 8-4A ladder, chasing the six-time defending champion Lakeshore Titans. Coach Eric Collins (64) enters his second year, (carving out the path,) making the trip with only seven seniors. “I love our team. They’re a blue collared outfit, that won’t be outworked. The O-line is one of our strengths with the kids getting much stronger. We’re much better at this time than last year, when I took over the program late,” Collins said. The Rebels have a solid baseball flavor on the roster with some guys, who star in both sports, being counted on to help lead the club, contributing significantly. One of those leaders is Sr. Trey Turnage, who takes over at QB. Jude Cooley plays QB/RB/WR, while Jr. Dalton Sabathe (TE/DE), nicknamed “Diesel” (Two Time All District) is an all-around athlete, who has tremendous character, being very versatile. Jr. Sean Jenkins (WR/OLB) and Soph. Noah Benson (FB/LB) are key components. Benson has great hands playing tough, physical football. Sr. John McQueen bolsters the NG slot.

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Pope John Paul ll (A)

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Nov. 03 7 PM Archbishop Hannan (A)

PINE RAIDERS

Pine enters year 12 under Bradley Seal (6155). The Raiders (6-4, 1-3), the No. 8 seed, fell to West Lake, 26-24 of the playoff opening round. “We have a stronger team this year with 11 quality seniors. I like our team’s makeup, super competitive with great chemistry. They show up, playing to the best of their ability,” Seal said. Four-year starting QB Luke Spears, guides the Raiders’ Wing-T offense. “Luke has a great grasp of our system, extremely comfortable in his role.” He completed 95 of 173 passes for 1,365 yards with 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Jr. RB Vaughn Johnson rushed for eight scores. WR James Owens provides big play capability, rushing for 500 yards, adding 400 receiving. Jr. D. J. Garrett caught 37 passes for 530 yards with three scores. Sr. Preston Stogner returns after missing three games with a knee injury. The Raiders have a revamped O-line, counting on Jr. Jackson Jones (6-7, 295), to anchor things. Jones attended various camps, with Louisiana Tech, Tulane and Ole Miss, interested in him.

PONCHATOULA GREEN WAVE

Ponchatoula (5-6, 3-4) opens their campaign with Trey Willie embarking on his second season. “Replacing Coach Hank (Tierney), things should be easier for the staff and I this year. It was a great learning curve last year for the staff and our guys. Our players took big strides in the weight room. They are a very cohesive group. Things are shaping up for us, with a chance to be pretty good on both sides of the ball,” Willie said. The Green Wave returns five offensive starters with Sr. Bishop Davis starting at QB, after taking over midway last season. “We have a good running back room with lots of depth. That combination should allow us to run the ball in key situations.” JRs. Cory Jackson (WR) and C. J. Braziel (athlete), were both members of Ponchatoula’s state championship basketball squad. Six defensive starters return led by SRs. Jamaal Sapp and Albert Smith, who are moving from DE to LB. Smith (4.6 forty time) has received numerous offers, including verbally committing to Arizona State. Coach Willie loves his front seven, describing them as very talented.

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Pope John Paul II (4-6, 2-3) vaults into its third season under Philip Pigott, counting on just four seniors, spearheading the way. The face of the team, reference its Heart-and-Soul, is Jr. back Blaze Rodriguez (First Team All-District). “Blaze is a top-notch kid, who leaves everything out on the field while competing,” Pigott said. Sr. Allen Raimer (6-2, 180), switches to QB, this season after making Second Team All-District at LB last year. Sr. Mikey Strain (TE/LB) provides quality leadership. So. Gus Pizza (WR/TE) provides flexibility. “Early on its imperative that we connect the dots. We’re very young but our players have the desire and ability to succeed. They’re very hard workers and the potential is there. They don’t have many bad habits to break yet.” The O-line, which is a Jaguars’ strength, returns key players, including Sr. James Thompson, Jr. Sean Smith and Soph. Michael Thiel. Sr. Joseph Whitehouse (First Team All-District PK) is regarded as one of the best. Former longtime Slidell High head coaches Wayne Grubb (RBs) and Artie Liuzza (OC/O-line) highlight the Jaguars’ staff.

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LET’S GET YOU BACK IN THE GAME

SALMEN SPARTANS

Salmen (5-6, 4-1) head coach Eric Chuter is very excited and optimistic entering season six at Spartan Field, hoping to battle for a District 8-4A crown. “I’m anxious to finally play on our new home turf, travelling all last year. That was challenging and we also have a new press box,” Chuter said. The Spartans fell to Northshore 2114 in the first-round playoffs. “We competed strong in the LSU and Southeastern 7-on-7’s, battling stiff competition. We were right there, improving along the way.” Sr. QB Cameron Dorsey, a talented triple threat, finished 103 of 196 for 1,176 yards with nine TDs, rushing for five. “Cameron is a proven winner, and we’ll give him the keys to the Cadillac. We love his ability, and instincts.” Sr. Jacobi Jefferson (618 rushing/ 8.96 YPC/8 TDs) is called a TD machine by his coach. SRs. Damon Narcisse (36 rec./414 yds) and Kaileb Rayford (29 rec./352 yds) are quality receivers. Sr. Tre Hartley (DL) one of nine returning defensive starters, registered 40 tackles, five sacks, seven TFL and three forced fumbles. Jr. Desmond Beasley (DB) netted 70 tackles, two interceptions, forcing three fumbles.

SLIDELL TIGERS

Slidell (9-3, 6-1), the defending District 6-5A champs, posted a quality season under Malter Scobel, who replaced Larry Farve, now the principal. The seventh-seeded Tigers defeated Hammond, 55-22, eventually falling to No. 10 Westgate 28-7 at home. “I’m excited about our potential, but potential means, you haven’t done anything, yet? We need to figure out how to be competitive in close games, being able to handle the mental pressure,” Scobel said. The Tigers defend their crown, counting on the leadership of 26 seniors. “The O-line will be our team’s strength, returning four Sr. starters. We’re good enough up front and more athletic with running back depth. We hope to lean on our running game, complementing our passing game.” The SRs. Mehki Gill, Riggs Knight and Xavier Ratcliff solidify the Tigers’ offensive front. Sr. Zayvien

Bartee and Jr. Landon McGrath compete at QB. Sr. Trevell Watts is the lead back. Slidell’s D-line is manned by Sr. Jalen Anderson and Jr. Isaiyah Gallien (Both First Team All-District) along with Sr. 3-year starter Dwayne Mills. Scobel handles defensive signals again.

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Loranger (H)

ST. PAUL’S WOLVES

St. Paul’s (7-5, 4-2) gears up for its 25th season under coach Ken Sears as the pack joins the hunt for a District 6-5A championship after finishing runner up to Slidell last season, also losing to Covington. “We have 23 seniors, who offer a large, quality class, providing tremendous leadership and great work ethic. They’re leading this team in the right way, hoping to achieve our team goals. We have lots of experience coming back,” Sears said. “We have real parity in our district. I see it being a wide-open battle, hoping we can stay away from too many injuries during the season.” Sears talked about his Wolves’ excellent showing in two Southeastern Louisiana University 7 on 7’s with the quarterback and receivers on the same page offensively. Jr. QB Brennan Keim (6-2, 175) returns, employing a tremendous skill set, looking to hook-up with SRs. Ben Buisson and Jeb Reina. The top defensive returning performers include SRs. Gavin Bourgeois (LB), James Hardwick (S) and Devan Menon (CB). Jr. Drew Talley is back handling Wolves’ place-kicking duties.

St. Thomas Aquinas (3-8, 3-2) hired Shane Mulhern (25), replacing Randell Legette after five seasons, winner of three district titles. Mulhern takes over after serving as the defensive coordinator at St. Stanislaus High in Bay St. Louis and will teach history. “We want to lay the foundation, being able to write the story together, redefining STA football,” Mulhern said. He was born and raised outside of Philadelphia, playing LB at Bloomsburg University and Widener University, leading the team in tackles in 2018-19. Four offensive starters return, highlighted by Sr. Cace Reed (WR), a tremendous playmaker. “He lit it up attending the LSU Mega Camp back in June. The Tigers invited him and about 40 others to take part in the Showcase for those top performers. I’m so very proud of him,” Mulhern added. Sr. Justin Domiano, a 3-year starting infielder (Southeastern commit), is playing football for the first time, being named the starting QB. Mulhern described him as elusive with tremendous leadership, playing with confidence. Sr. Kendrell Perry is a big, strong powerful back, while Jr. De’Shad Sheridan (OLB) is the defensive leader, returning just three starters.

Painting It Forward

Artist Christina Pappion Spreads Kindness & Culture

STORY BY LIZ GENEST SMITH PHOTOS BY JERRY COTTRELL

When you meet someone for whom all the stars and planets seem to have magically aligned to light up their path to a career that brings them both success and immense personal fulfillment, be honest. Do you feel just a smidge envious? Like, why do they get all the breaks?!

Well, when that person is someone like Mandeville artist Christina Pappion, it’s impossible to do anything but cheer her on. Yes, even though she once danced on stage with Diana Ross and was babysat by Linda Ronstadt. And she was personally commissioned to paint a portrait of Drew Brees’ family. And she regularly works with the Saints and Pelicans. And gets paid to travel all over the country doing what she loves.

So, who is this fortunate woman, and how did she manifest such a cool life for herself?

Christina is originally from Gentilly, and though her parents divorced when she was young, each passed along some valuable gifts. She credits her dad, a skilled craftsman, builder and welder, for her creative talent, and she says her business savvy comes from her mom, EJ Encalarde, president and COO of Festival Productions Inc. EJ has been helping to put on huge festivals like Jazz Fest and Essence Fest for decades, and Christina appreciates all the benefits it afforded her.

“I was going to Jazz Fest at six years old,” she told me, sounding as though she still marveled at and delighted in the concept. “I really enjoyed it! I absorbed the art and culture, and the imagery and scenery had a huge impact on me. Plus, I looked up to my mom. She had the coolest job!”

Along with extraordinary encounters with internationally acclaimed celebrities, she also grew up with local royalty, like Allen Toussaint, among her circle of family friends. Christina describes these relationships as having provided her with kindness, spiritual influence and an overall positive impact, all of which remain with her to this day.

As a child, when her mom traveled for business and Christina stayed with her grandparents, she typically entertained herself by drawing with plain old pencil and paper.

But she says a summer camp at St. Frances Cabrini School in New Orleans, and more specifically a teacher named Miss Betsy, lit a fire in her.

“I was 10 or 11, and I was so excited for arts and crafts class. I knew then that that was what I wanted to do with my life.”

Christina’s talent for both drawing and painting further developed while she attended Mount Carmel Academy. She started entering and winning local competitions, then attended Xavier University on an art scholarship, and ultimately earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New Orleans. But the jump to full-time artist didn’t happen right away.

After graduation, she began teaching art to local children through non-profit organizations. While she enjoyed her work, she always yearned for more. Even her pro bono work and selling her art in the French Market didn’t quite do the trick for her, but she can pinpoint the precise moment when she refocused her energy and her art career took off.

“I was working with Junior Achievement, I had just had my second baby and I told my husband I was supposed to be doing something else. Don’t get me wrong, I loved working with nonprofits, but it wasn’t my true calling. A friend, who was also my boss, suggested doing live events. I had never heard of this, but when I looked it up, it was so me!”

By live events, she is referring to what is essentially a live visual performance where an artist creates a painting or other work of art in real time as guests at private or public events look on.

With support and encouragement from her husband Isaac, she immediately, that very night, started working on a website. And by later that week, she managed to secure a gig with an event agency to whom she’d offered her services for free. It paid off big-time, as it turned out to be a private art gallery event to benefit the philanthropic foundation of former Saints’ player, Pierre Thomas. Not only did she make important connections, but the piece she created fetched over $3,000!

Many doors opened up at that point, leading to a huge array of opportunities. In addition to festival posters and other commissioned work, Christina has created artwork, murals, and entire media and merchandising campaigns for New Orleans’ beloved professional sports teams. Highlights include the “My Cause My Cleats” initiative, where Christina works with individual Saints to design custom cleats that spotlight nonprofits and are worn on the field. She was also chosen to design the art that was featured on the season tickets and merchandise for the season that Zion Williamson joined the Pelicans. Other high profile clients have included the All-State Sugar Bowl, Dixie Beer and Verizon.

Asked to describe her personal aesthetic, she replied, “Impressionistic and colorful. Some say abstract, but I just say joyful. I’m known for my use of resin and gold flakes, but mainly, I like to touch people’s hearts. I like my art to have meaning and make them feel good.”

While Degas and Monet are her favorites of the old masters, she doesn’t hesitate to give a special shout-out to her favorite local artist.

“Oh, I’ve definitely been inspired by Terrance Osborne,” she gushed reverently, referring to the internationally acclaimed New Orleans artist, whose vivid and whimsical work is perhaps most recognized from his many official Jazz Fest posters. “He’s not afraid of color!”

Neither is Christina, as you’ll find when you peruse her work on her website, Etsy shop or in places like Redoux Home Market, Nola Living, Forever New Orleans,The Ground Floor NOLA and Haydel’s Bakery. You’ll instantly recognize the cultural and aesthetic influence of South Louisiana culture through her depictions of fleur de lis, streetcars, second lines and all sorts of iconic New Orleans street scenes and symbols. What makes it uniquely hers is that it’s all Illuminated in a signature palette of rosy, vibrant hues, as though directly inspired by daybreak or sunset.

Those cheerful, uplifting vibes translate perfectly into her paintings depicting jubilant brides and grooms as they dance and celebrate their big day with loved ones.

Christina has been a full-time artist for 10 years now, and she lives in Mandeville with her husband and daughters, Sophia, 13, and Gabriella, 10. She estimates that 70% of her business comes from live wedding painting, but she has also found time to create a line of colorful hair bows with her daughters, which they sell online.

As for her husband, Isaac, Christina made sure to emphasize that he’s been absolutely crucial to her success. “I don’t want anyone saying, ‘This girl is doing it all by herself.’ He left his corporate job to handle the marketing and business side of things when my work took off, and it’s now a true family business.”

Christina also takes time to speak at schools to pass on this positive energy and to encourage kids to reach for the stars. Everyone told her she was crazy to pursue a career as an artist, and look how it’s worked out for her!

And lest you think the live painting gigs are all about travel and monetary reward for Christina, there’s much more to it. She feels lucky to be one of only a few African American women to engage in this line of work, and she also considers herself to be an ambassador, of sorts.

“I’m proud to represent New Orleans and South Louisiana when I do events in all these other cities. It’s all about the fun, the party. It’s the joy of color. And I’m leaving them something that I hope will make them happy for years to come.”

So, why is it so easy to feel nothing but happy for Christina and this charmed life she appears to be leading?

It’s simple. She takes none of her good fortune for granted and hasn’t allowed herself to become jaded. If you ask her about her life and her art, everything is wrapped in optimism, gratitude, humility and a delightfully giddy appreciation for her gifts and blessings.

“I give God all the glory for my talent, which I want to share with the world to spread happiness and joy.”

If you’re interested in commissioning Christina for a portrait, custom piece or a live painting event, visit her website at www.PappionArtistry.com.

DAD, DOMINOES AND DAUPHIN ISLAND

STORY BY CHARLES DOWDY

PHOTOS BY CHARLES DOWDY

Ifpeople were asked to describe my dad with one word, most would probably call him “quiet”. I would use the word “smart” since he knows how to keep his mouth shut when he doesn’t have anything to say. But over a game of dominoes, that single word might be “loud,” or even “obnoxious”.

A game of dominoes happens at most family gatherings, but when we go to the beach it is guaranteed. Almost always after dinner. Dad will summon three other players to the table. He will form the teams and the trash talking will commence. While considering his play, Dad will make a noise that sounds like the mating call of a dolphin named Elvis. Once the domino is down, Dad’s voice morphs into some kind of crying clown as he joyfully sings the score.

Over my lifetime our family has taken our annual beach trip up and down the coast, from Panama City, to Destin, to Perdido, to Gulf Shores, and Fort Morgan. Lately, we have settled in on Dauphin Island.

This is my extended family. We always take the trip near Father’s Day and my mother frowns on non-attendance. Not that it is difficult to get everyone to come.

There’s always the summer vacation I imagine I will take. One that includes full nights of sleep, lots of hydration, daily exercise and some healthy meals. And that’s usually how it starts. For a day. Then Dad slips onto the porch just shy of noon with frozen margaritas or pina-coladas that could double as jet fuel, and the day slowly dissolves into sun, drinks, books and not a lot of motion. About the only organized group activity all week is dinner, eaten late, and that’s usually some fresh fish prepared in enough butter to give Paula Dean pause.

There’s plenty of reasons we have settled on Dauphin Island. A lot of it has to do with how we vacation. We don’t do much. We don’t go out. This year, during our beach week, I got in a car three times, one each for the grocery, liquor store and seafood market. We’ve even given up on the family

picture where everyone dresses in the same color and you hire some contract photographer to capture a moment that does not at all reflect what that week was really like.

The “no formal picture” thing is legit. There was an unfortunate incident during our staged family picture a few years back in front of a high-rise condo. Some dude yelled off his balcony, “Hey, get your fat @##!% out of the sand dunes.” Apparently, the photographer often employed the spot for beachy serenity. He was non-plussed. But we were shook. It was like a Hollywood Squares of laughter from the rest of the condos as the guy kept heckling us. The resulting photos looked like we were told to smile at gunpoint.

We are more like pirates during our beach trips. I subscribe to the notion that if you look well put together during your beach week then you aren’t doing it right. (Not everyone, including my wife, subscribes to this.) This year my first shower didn’t happen till Tuesday. There were maybe one or two

more after that. I re-wear clothes, since all I’m going to do is sit in the water or the sun.

I think we like Dauphin Island because it is easy to get to, but hard to find. It strikes me as the kind of place that locals want enough people to visit to keep the lights on, but maybe not to stay too long. Compared to the places on the other side of Mobile Bay, there’s not a lot of signage or gaudy billboards advertising the island. After meandering down from the interstate on any combination of two-lane highways, visitors arrive on the island via a threemile high-rise bridge. From the bridge the island barely rises out of the water. It is 14 miles long, and under two miles at its widest point, but most of it is much narrower than that. There’s one of most things, a grocery store, coffee shop, seafood store, and a couple of restaurants. And it appears that the small putt-putt course operates on the honor system.

A few years back, on our first family trip to Dauphin Island, we had come straight from the New Orleans airport. We were late, 3:45 in the morning, getting there. While going down the desolate main drag, one of our twins said, “This looks like the kind of place a serial killer might hang out.”

There’s 1,300 permanent residents, in addition to a steady stream of cars coming on the island to catch the ferry across Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan. And there’s legit touristy things to do on Dauphin Island, like visiting historic Fort Gaines, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, or the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. (Note: If you go to the fort they will occasionally fire a cannon without a lot of notice, and if you are about to have a child, need to go to the bathroom, or happen to be a candidate for a heart attack, then you have a serious problem.)

I’d been on Dauphin Island many times, often on my way to the ferry. I remember one beach week years ago when I had to leave Fort Morgan with the twins to go home for a couple of baseball games. We did it as a two-day marathon thing. As I rushed back I made the last second decision to try to catch one of the final ferries across the bay. It was a risky choice, but I thought it would time out right. And it did. We were one of the last cars to pull on the ferry, and it left the dock before I had the car in park.

There was a thirty-year-old Ford truck in front of us. As I watched, this guy two and a half times older than his Ford let down his tailgate. His cut offs had actually been jeans at one point in the recent

past, the edges had not frayed much. A muscle shirt showed off thin brown arms that would put a skin doctor into shock.

He went back to the cab of his truck and retrieved a small blanket and a basket. A similarly dressed woman joined him as they set the blanket over the tailgate and laid out a spread of grapes, nuts and cheese, along with a bottle of wine. I looked back at my sweaty ball players. We had come in so fast we didn’t have a bottle of water. These two let their legs dangle off the truck as they took in the sunset.

Right before the end of the crossing I approached the guy and we talked for a minute. He told me they lived on Dauphin Island. I think, ultimately, that’s what I like about the place. Other locales try to grab this distinction, but Dauphin Island is a Jimmy Buffet song. This guy told me they liked to ride over to Fort Morgan on the ferry, then turn around and ride back. He called it their “date” and said they got to see a lot, and it didn’t even cost him much gas.

Well, if he really needed fuel for his truck, I guess I could have let him have one of Dad’s margarita’s.

Charles Dowdy is the morning show host on the Lake 94.7. Find his podcasts wherever you get your podcasts: Charles is Not in Charge.

Robby Miller Tangipahoa Parish President

As we move into the second half of 2023, we have so many good things happening here in Tangipahoa Parish!

Hundreds of new jobs are on the way. From retail interest to additional investments from our new and existing industrial partners, Tangipahoa Parish is working! Moving into the 3rd and 4th Quarters of this year, we expect more good news for our business community, and there is no shortage of jobs to be had.

Need more info? Contact our Geaux Jobs office at (985) 902-4200. Our team is here to help you find work!

Want to open or expand your business here in Tangipahoa? Our Economic Development team stands ready to help you in that endeavor. Check out https:// tedf.org/ for a wealth of tools and information.

As we prepare for the opening of a new school year, the start of a new semester at Southeastern Louisiana University and Northshore Technical, and the excitement of our annual fall fair and festival activities, there’s never been a better time to be part of our Tangipahoa Parish community. And don’t forget–the state’s longestrunning parish fair is right around the corner! The Tangipahoa Parish Fair kicks off the first full week in October, and this year, the fair is moving to a new location, next door to the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite. It’s the “same fair with a new flair,” and we couldn’t be more excited about this year’s event! You’ll definitely want to make plans to join us!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing many more good news stories from around our parish. Stay tuned! The future looks bright for Tangipahoa Parish!

It’s been a hot and busy summer so far in the City of Slidell. We celebrated Independence Day with two big events, the Slidell Rotary Clubs’ Heritage Fest and the Olde Towne Merchant Association’s 4th of July Celebration. Both were great community celebrations with record

Just like everyone else, I was watching baseball this summer. All of us LSU Tiger fans were cheering when #6, Slidell’s own Brayden Jobert, hit a home run in the 9th inning of the College

To celebrate Brayden and his fellow teammates’ victory, Saturday, July 8, was declared Brayden Jobert and LSU Baseball Day in the City of Slidell. Over 1,000 people joined us at Northshore High School where Brayden met with fans and signed sports memorabilia for

As the Mayor of the City of Slidell, I always take great pride in recognizing our local talents and all the good they do in our community. Brayden proudly represents the City of Slidell and is an inspiration and great role model for kids of all ages in St. Tammany Parish and beyond. We were honored to celebrate with Brayden and the Jobert family on their special day. Geaux

We are in the middle of yet another hurricane season, and I continue to ask our citizens to be prepared, have a plan, and stay informed. Team Slidell is working hard to make sure that the city is prepared. We are continually checking all the choke points, clearing waterways, and

To keep our citizens informed, we will post emergency information on our city website at MySlidell.com and on the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” Facebook page. These sites can be accessed from virtually anywhere via cell phones, laptops or tablets. Even if you have to evacuate, you can

Greg Cromer City of Slidell Mayor

IS FOR THEM! STEM

STORY BY BETSY O’LEARY PHOTOS BY PHILLIP COWART

We caught up with the movers and shakers of the Northshore STEM community to learn about their new projects. Present from Northshore Regional STEM Center were Wendy Conarro, Director; Dan Scheer, Education Manager; and Catie Mackey, Americorps VISTA Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator.

Tina Roper, Director of Geaux Jobs (Louisiana Workforce Area 20) and Board president involved with the Northshore STEM Coalition also joined the group, along with George Corkern, a robotics instructor from the Bogalusa YMCA who serves on the board of the Northshore STEM Coalition.

Other leaders in the STEM community include the following board members for the nonprofit Northshore STEM Coalition: Collin Whitcombe, Northshore Regional STEM Center project coordinator; Dr. George Anthon, Anthon Chiropractic; Dr. Deborah Dardis, SLU Biology Department; Darnell Whitington, Explore & Learn, LLC; and Betty Lee, City of Hammond Recreation Department.

The group wants to share STEM with local students and community members. The members know involvement with STEM is a pathway to prosperity for children and adults. Community engagement opens doors to jobs in health care, robotics, and environmental and computer science.

A major hurdle here is rural isolation. The signature project, the Brain Food Truck (sponsored in part by the United Way and other local and national groups), combats this by bringing mobile resources designed for hands-on, minds-on STEM activities. Projects target kids in 3rd-8th grades on the Northshore by getting them involved in fun, real-life projects.

The group and its local sponsors worked together for nearly a decade in various taxpayer-funded collaborations with present and former area politicians and community leaders. One such project is the annual STEM Fest back-toschool event held the last Saturday of August (26th this year) at SLU’s Pennington Student Activity Center. Last year, almost 2,000 schoolchildren and their families attended and

interacted with 40+ organizations both inside and outside, like the Black Hawk helicopters on display.

“It’s estimated that 60-80% of youth who play computer games get into STEM technology., “Conarro said, parents seek year-round opportunities for eager kids with interests in and aptitudes for STEM. The one popularity of their four STEM café pilots bears this out, as up to 200 kids attended each café in five Northshore parish schools and community centers.”

STEM’s connection to gaming, e-sports, and robotics have enhanced its popularity for kids eager to design games and write code for them. They realize well-paying game development and coding careers begin now with the skills developed in STEM.

When it comes to the big picture, the Northshore STEM Coalition is the think-tank and the community’s action arm tasked with strategizing and making the most of resources. There’s a need for quality STEM mentoring, and the Coalition uses a network of coaches to discover potential robotics mentors. The annual Robotics Mentoring Extravaganza by Mentorforrobotics.org builds relationships with industry insiders while leveraging resources to fund immersive STEM environments. Students need mentoring by faculty or community members who can share their expertise in business, marketing, and fundraising.

Investigating opportunities linked to STEM can change a family’s economic trajectory. Adults can take classes and get certified by completing either Northshore Technical

Community College’s two-year program or a four-year degree from Southeastern. High-demand STEM jobs can bring in competitive, six-figure salaries.

The interactive site STEMExchange.org launched this year to connect people with industry resources. Users create accounts and check off interests. Those with interests checked get email digests of upcoming events and information on volunteer opportunities and activities like field trips, and summer camps for social media sharing.

Louisiana groups and industries utilize advanced manufacturing, logistics, and robotics to produce and ship products. From Hammond High Torbotics to Elmer’s Candy, STEM robotics plays a local role.

Summer is ending and we will soon step into Fall, which means many things for Southeast Louisiana. Our children are back in school, the Friday night lights will flicker on, and of course, stifling heat and the peak of Hurricane Season.

Preparedness for tropical weather is key, and readiness is something we focus on yearround. Public Works teams are focusing on our drainage systems. The Department of Emergency Preparedness is meeting with essential personnel and upgrading our procedures.

While we get ready, I encourage all of our citizens to do the same. Stock up on a few extra non-perishables, check your generators and revisit your family’s emergency plans.

The “Dog Days of Summer” refer to the hottest days of the year, which we have become too familiar with in St. Tammany Parish, but it’s also a great opportunity to share the monumental success at our Department of Animal Services. From when I took office to now, the Live Release Rate, which is based on the number of animals who find homes, jumped from 45 to 97%. This is due to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and loving adopting and foster families.

If you have space in your home and your heart for a furry family member, please stop by the Shelter on LA 36 in Lacombe.

Our commitment to improving the Parish’s infrastructure, planning and our quality of life is renewed daily. I am proud of the great strides we have made, by commissioning the first-ever Parishwide Comprehensive Drainage Plan and Unified Development Code Rewrite, which revamps the standards by which we build, just to name a few.

As our youth step back into the classroom, I wish you all good luck! Keeping making us proud!

Serving as your Parish President remains one of my most humbling honors.

There are a lot of great things going on with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office right now. This past July, I adopted an $88 million budget for the new fiscal year.

That budget included a 3.5 percent pay raise for all existing employees. Since taking office on July 1, 2016, I have increased the base pay for a new patrol deputy 29 percent, from $34,800 to $44,910. Our employees are our greatest asset, and I have made it a priority to increase deputy salaries so we can hire and retain highly qualified personnel.

The new budget also includes additional funds dedicated to expanding our enforcement efforts. In 2022, we revamped our criminal patrol districts, adding an additional district to address the growth on the western side of the parish. Currently under construction is a new 3rd District Headquarters, located off Highway 21.

Future plans include a new 1st District Office in unincorporated Slidell to address the growth in that area of our parish. This will also free up space at the Administration Building on Brownswitch Road to house the Training Division as part of a long-range plan.

Plans are also underway to design and construct a new 4thDistrict Office in the Bush area to replace the temporary building currently being used and to address the predicted future growth expected to take place following the completion of a new four-lane highway.

The budget also includes increased funding to grow our body camera program and to purchase new vehicles.

It has been, and remains, a priority to stay ahead of the curve and be proactive rather than reactive. In keeping with this goal, the Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget reflects my investment in our deputies, my investment in our community and the financial stability to provide a safe community now and in the future.

While we continue to see an increase in crime in surrounding areas, that is not the case here in St Tammany, and that is in part due to the great partnership that we have with our community members.

As always I encourage you all to be safe. It is an honor to serve the people of St. Tammany Parish, and it is my pleasure to lead such an outstanding agency.

Mike Cooper

St. Tammany Parish President

Randy Smith St. Tammany Sheriff

"BEST FESTIVAL OUTSIDE NEW ORLEANS"

Miller Tangipahoa Parish President

As we move into the second half of 2023, we have so many good things happening here in Tangipahoa Parish!

Hundreds of new jobs are on the way. From retail interest to additional investments from our new and existing industrial partners, Tangipahoa Parish is working! Moving into the 3rd and 4th Quarters of this year, we expect more good news for our business community, and there is no shortage of jobs to be had.

Need more info? Contact our Geaux Jobs office at (985) 902-4200. Our team is here to help you find work!

A while back, it came to our attention that a number of graves at Wilson Cemetery (our historically Black cemetery) lacked grave markers. Marilyn Young, whose mother helped care for the cemetery for decades and who now continues that tradition, contacted Covington Monument Company who offered to make grave markers at a cost of $75 each. Since taxpayer dollars cannot be used on private property (each gravesite is privately owned), a call went out to the community. Through the generosity of our residents, the third batch of gravestones were recently manufactured and have now been placed by grateful recipients on the graves of their ancestors … a community that clearly cares.

Want to open or expand your business here in Tangipahoa? Our Economic Development team stands ready to help you in that endeavor. Check out https:// tedf.org/ for a wealth of tools and information.

Very Cool.

Subsequently I received requests for seven more markers. Again, the call went out to the community for assistance. In the first afternoon, I received 50 pledges for the seven markers … from a community that clearly cares.

Very Cool.

As we prepare for the opening of a new school year, the start of a new semester at Southeastern Louisiana University and Northshore Technical, and the excitement of our annual fall fair and festival activities, there’s never been a better time to be part of our Tangipahoa Parish community. And don’t forget–the state’s longestrunning parish fair is right around the corner! The Tangipahoa Parish Fair kicks off the first full week in October, and this year, the fair is moving to a new location, next door to the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite. It’s the “same fair with a new flair,” and we couldn’t be more excited about this year’s event! You’ll definitely want to make plans to join us!

A visit to Wilson Cemetery (1400 N. Columbia Street) is a walk through the family names of 20th century Covington. A visit to Covington Cemetery #1 (608 N. Columbia Street) will take you back to the Battle of New Orleans with Covington’s founder, John Wharton Collins, as well as a veteran from every American war fought up to and including Vietnam. Soldiers from both the Union and the Confederacy are buried there along with the merchants and business leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries. Each December, the Daughters of the American Revolution honor each veteran with a small, poignant ceremony by laying a wreath at their headstone and by speaking their name.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing many more good news stories from around our parish. Stay tuned! The future looks bright for Tangipahoa Parish!

Good Stuff.

Dear Citizens,

It’s been a hot and busy summer so far in the City of Slidell. We celebrated Independence Day with two big events, the Slidell Rotary Clubs’ Heritage Fest and the Olde Towne Merchant Association’s 4th of July Celebration. Both were great community celebrations with record attendance and the entertainment, food, and fireworks were enjoyed by all who attended!

Just like everyone else, I was watching baseball this summer. All of us LSU Tiger fans were cheering when #6, Slidell’s own Brayden Jobert, hit a home run in the 9th inning of the College World Series final, helping LSU win the 2023 Baseball National Championship!

To celebrate Brayden and his fellow teammates’ victory, Saturday, July 8, was declared Brayden Jobert and LSU Baseball Day in the City of Slidell. Over 1,000 people joined us at Northshore High School where Brayden met with fans and signed sports memorabilia for everyone who attended. It was another great event for our community.

As the Mayor of the City of Slidell, I always take great pride in recognizing our local talents and all the good they do in our community. Brayden proudly represents the City of Slidell and is an inspiration and great role model for kids of all ages in St. Tammany Parish and beyond. We were honored to celebrate with Brayden and the Jobert family on their special day. Geaux Tigers!

We are in the middle of yet another hurricane season, and I continue to ask our citizens to be prepared, have a plan, and stay informed. Team Slidell is working hard to make sure that the city is prepared. We are continually checking all the choke points, clearing waterways, and making sure that our pumps are ready and working should we need to use them.

To keep our citizens informed, we will post emergency information on our city website at MySlidell.com and on the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” Facebook page. These sites can be accessed from virtually anywhere via cell phones, laptops or tablets. Even if you have to evacuate, you can still get continuous news and updates about Slidell.

Mark Johnson City of Covington Mayor

Robby

Greg Cromer City of Slidell Mayor

Investing in Tangipahoa

Over 53% of Tangipahoa Parish residents can barely make ends meet.* From disaster response to helping children succeed in school, United Way of Southeast Louisiana is investing in Tangipahoa Parish to tackle poverty. Together, we can reimagine brighter futures for all of us.

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

$25,000 50 Chrome books distributed to families in Tangipahoa Parish through our partnership with ATT

$7.2 M Estimated child care assistance program allocations for 9,177 children through our advocacy efforts

$58,272

EFSP Phase 39: helped Tangipahoa families in need with food, shelter, rent & mortgage, and utility assistance

$200,000 27 families assisted through Hurricane Ida Long-Term Recovery Needs Tables

$10,500 Gift cards for 35 families affected by the 2023 February tornado

$176,675

1,177 households received utility bill help through our partnership with Entergy

For nearly 100 years, United Way of Southeast Louisiana has been a leader and trusted partner in improving lives and making a lasting difference. We have a bold vision of equitable communities where all individuals are healthy, educated, and financially stable – and we have a plan. United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Blueprint for Prosperity guides all strategic investments in programs, initiatives, collaborations, volunteerism, and advocacy aimed at tackling poverty.

Director

SONJA RAGUSA NEWMAN UWSELA Northshore Executive

The above represents a snapshot of our Tangipahoa Parish investments.

St. Tammany NOW

St.Tammany NOW brings you the latest economic development information and business and industry insight in our community provided by St. Tammany Corporation, the economic development organization for St. Tammany Parish. St. Tammany NOW highlights who and what makes the St. Tammany business community thrive and illustrates the opportunities to diversify and fortify our economy.

In this issue, we share highlights from our Impact Report, which showcases the wide-ranging program of work that we have facilitated in our efforts to support our local economy through strategic partnerships, business technical assistance, and forward-thinking, responsive program development.

Our Impact Report serves as a complementary progress report for THRIVE 2023, St. Tammany’s first ever comprehensive strategic economic development plan that was adopted in 2019 and has served as the organization’s roadmap through multiple unexpected and overlapping crises that affected the region and nation, including multiple active hurricane seasons, an economic downturn, and a global pandemic.

This report shows that St. Tammany Corporation’s efforts have resulted in over $173 million in investment and 895 new and retained jobs in the local economy from July 2020 through the end of 2022. In addition to jobs and investment numbers derived from directly supporting local businesses, the team at St. Tammany Corporation created and implemented multiple strategic initiatives that bolster key industry sectors, support entrepreneurs and small businesses, and help the residents of St. Tammany Parish access quality jobs.

ORGANIZATIONAL 5-YEAR LOOKBACK

In July 2023, we celebrated five years of St. Tammany Corporation being a part of the community. While our Impact Report covers mid-2020 through the end of 2022, it’s important to look at where our local economy is compared to where we were just five years ago. During those five short years, we are proud to have made tremendous strides in helping local businesses expand and create new jobs, working with our partners to carve out new pathways for our residents to start strong or level up in their careers, and increasing strategic investments into our economy. Our organization has also grown into a fullservice, independent economic development organization, and we now have in-house staff that can provide project financing technical assistance, state and local incentives program assistance, project management, site selection, business attraction, communications and research support, and workforce development tools for businesses looking to start up, relocate, or expand in our parish.

Since our organization’s founding in 2018, we have been able to work directly with businesses to provide tailored technical assistance, directly resulting in business expansion and attraction announcements representing over $210 million in capital investment and 1,839 new and retained jobs in St. Tammany Parish. Our award-winning business retention and expansion program, Advance St. Tammany, is the platform through which we work to help break down barriers to businesses’ growth and success in our community.

The positive spillover effects of direct technical assistance to businesses are also significant, and our local economy has proven its resilience. Our most recent analysis shows that our labor force has just shy of 121,000 workers either employed or actively looking for a job in St. Tammany, making ours the fourth largest labor force in the state. In fact, over five years, even with the economic downturn, pandemic, and natural disasters, our economy added more than 3,000 jobs, with continued positive projected growth.

The total size of our economy has also increased by nearly $2 billion—with a B—over five years. Gross Regional Product, which you can think of as the local version of Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, measures productivity within a local economy and captures the total size of all wages earned, investments made, taxes paid, and other transactions generated within our local ecosystem. Every time a resident or visitor pumps gas, buys groceries, or enjoys a meal at a restaurant within our parish’s boundaries, it contributes to the total size of our local economy.

In 2023, we are on the verge of having a $14 billion economy in St. Tammany Parish alone. Our economy accounts for 15% of the ten-parish Greater New Orleans region’s GRP and 5% of the state’s economy. As one of the fastest growing parishes in the state by population, and the primary destination for residents migrating within the Southeastern Louisiana region, we see the potential for opportunities that accompany this growth: more job opportunities for our residents and a more appealing business environment.

BELOW WE OUTLINE SOME OF OUR KEY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT WE WERE PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT IN THIS REPORT:

NORTHSHORE REGIONAL RESILIENCY COLLABORATIVE

As an operational ethos, we strongly believe in collaborations and partnerships to help accomplish our work for the broader success and edification of our community. During the pandemic, we saw an opportunity to work with our economic development colleagues across the five-parish Northshore region to pursue a federal grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration that would create the Northshore Regional Resiliency Collaborative, which includes elements such as business continuity and resiliency planning, economic impact analysis, and regional comprehensive planning.

This initiative is led by St. Tammany Corporation in partnership with Livingston Economic Development Council, St. Helena Economic Development Foundation, Inc., Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation, Washington Economic Development Foundation, and Northshore Technical Community College.

The scope of this initiative encompasses EDA’s priorities of recovery and resiliency by assisting with economic resilience in the form of business continuity and emergency disaster preparedness programming and training to maintain and grow competitiveness. An

Chris Masingill Chief Executive Officer St. Tammany Corporation

innovative, collaborative program of this nature in this multi-parish footprint returns positive economic impacts far beyond the parish boundaries through innovative and intentional public-private partnerships. The Northshore, Greater New Orleans, the Baton Rouge metro, and the Gulf Coast all benefit from the outcomes of this grant: workforce education and training, talent retention, business diversification and continuity, and innovation and business formation.

NORTHSHORE HEALTHSCAPE

By multiple metrics—including jobs, productivity, and growth—healthcare is one of the top industries in the three-parish Northshore region, which includes St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes. In fact, the healthcare and social assistance industry supports nearly 23,000 jobs and contributes more than $1.6 billion to the Northshore’s economy. The demand for healthcare jobs is also projected to increase by 10% over the next five years alone. Recognizing that this industry is a major economic driver on the Northshore, and noting the strain that the pandemic put on healthcare providers across the nation, St. Tammany Corporation saw an opportunity to bring our major healthcare institutions to the table and start a conversation surrounding strategies to harness the competitive advantages of the industry sector and foster workforce and talent development to position our community as a healthcare destination for world-class care. Major hospitals and workforce training providers serving our region are represented in this initiative, led by St. Tammany Corporation. Northshore Healthscape is supported by North Oaks Health System, Ochsner Northshore-Mississippi Gulf Coast Region, Our Lady of the Lake Northshore, Slidell Memorial Hospital, St. Tammany Health System, and St. Tammany Corporation in collaboration with Northshore Technical Community

College and the Workforce Development Board for TriParish Works.

STARTUP NORTHSHORE

In August of 2022, St. Tammany Corporation introduced STartUP Northshore, a three-year regional pilot program focused on catalyzing entrepreneurship, innovation, and business formation in the threeparish Northshore region. The program’s launch was accompanied by the announcement of a strategic partnership with The Idea Village, the New Orleansbased hub for entrepreneurial resources credited with elevating the region’s reputation as a center of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business in the Gulf South. With the support of The Idea Village, we introduced the first ever IDEAinstitute Northshore program, building upon the IDEAinstitute model’s success in New Orleans by offering this idea-stage accelerator program to entrepreneurs based on the Northshore.

IDEAinstitute Northshore is the first “spoke” in The Idea Village’s vision of creating a “hub-and-spoke” network meant to increase hands-on support and accessibility in surrounding communities by developing a network of local satellite programs that expand the program’s reach across the region.

Today, St. Tammany Corporation is the only economic development organization in the state of Louisiana that has an entrepreneur-in-residence on staff whose primary purpose is to build up a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. To date, we have facilitated two IDEAinstitute Northshore cohorts, hosted the first ever New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week event on the Northshore, and plan to launch the Northshore’s first pitch competition, the NSpire Startup Slam, during the third quarter of this year. There is so much more exciting news to share from our organization’s work. To read more about what St. Tammany is doing to support businesses and create jobs in our community, visit StTammanyCorp.org to read the full Impact Report, or stop by our office to pick up a copy of your own.

St. Tammany Corporation continues to be a resource hub for businesses and consistently shares timely, relevant information related to our economic landscape and upcoming business resource programming on our online platforms. Stay connected with St. Tammany Corporation on Facebook and LinkedIn at @StTammanyCorporation, our website at StTammanyCorp.org, and our data and research platform at StTammanyStats.com.

Ashley Llewellyn and Elizabeth Lee are the lead staff contributors to this article.

My turn: by Francesca & George Saliba

ABOUT FRANCESCA & GEORGE

In every issue, EDGE of the Lake invites a local chef or restaurateur to visit another eatery on the Northshore.

Francesca Saliba and her husband George took ownership of Fazzio’s Restaurant in 2012. A local institution for 30 years, they knew it was like the Cheers of Mandeville, and have carried on its longstanding tradition of great food and friendly neighborhood vibes. The chefs continue to use signature recipes and methods, serving up the authentic Italian cuisine, seafood and steaks that has been enjoyed by multiple generations.

George and I usually have date nights on Thursdays, and we recently decided to visit Kazoku. It’s in a great location in a strip mall on Highway 59 at 1088, so everyone in Mandeville knows where it is. It was already busy when we got there around 6:30 or 7, but we only had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated.

It’s such a cute place with an open floor concept, which is refreshing, so you can see across the room. When we were seated, we noticed trays going by carrying what looked almost like cake. It was sushi, but the presentation was just so pretty.

When we first sat down, they brought us bowls of soup that had a seafood base with noodles and shallots to enjoy while we decided what to order. As we looked over the menu, first of all, I noticed the design. It looks modern and eye-catching instead of a more standard, traditional style, and it offers a great selection of mostly sushi and Vietnamese options, along with some Asian fusion dishes. I also appreciated the vegetarian section and interesting twists, like the Vietnamese tacos, that make you go, “Ooh, what’s that? I want to try it!”

For appetizers, we chose the vegetarian egg rolls, which were so good and came with a sweet chili sauce. For our dinners, George had the Vietnamese lemongrass chicken entree and I had the Vietnamese tacos. The steamed buns were super fluffy, almost like silver dollar pancakes, and they were filled with chicken and pickled carrots and cabbage. They were served in a bamboo-type bowl, so the presentation was great, and we both enjoyed everything.

The service was excellent, and even with the short wait, we were in and out in about an hour and fifteen minutes. It’s a brightly lit space with both tables and booths, and it was mainly a family crowd while we were there. I’d definitely recommend it for a family outing or a date night.

The City of Slidell pres ents the

2023-2024 Cultura

Slidell Cultural Events

All events offer free admission.

White Linen and Lagniappe 2023

Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023 • 6-9 pm • Olde Towne

Bayou Jam Fall 2023 Concert Series

Fridays • 5:30-7:30 pm • Heritage Park

Sept. 22 - 5eaux4 • Sept. 29 - TBA • Oct. 6 - Redline

Oct. 27 - Halloween Bash with Vince Vance & the Valiants

Christmas Under the Stars

Dec. 1-31, 2023 • Nightly • Griffith Park

Krewe of Kringle Christmas Parade

Olde Towne Slidell Community Golf Cart Parade

Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 • 5 pm • Olde Towne Slidell

Holiday Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2022 • 6 pm • Slidell Auditorium

Arts Evening 2024 Cultural Festival

Saturday, March 2, 2024 • 5-9 pm • Olde Towne

Bayou Jam Spring 2024 Concert Series

Fridays, 5:30-7:30 pm • Heritage Park

March 22 - Fat City Swing Band

April 5 - Clifton Brown and the Rusty Bucket Band

April 19 - High School Band & Choir Shocase

Some Enchanted Evening with the Northshore Community Orchestra

Saturday, May 11, 2024 • 6 pm • Heritage Park

l

S eas on C alendar

Slidell Cultural Center Exhibits

George Dunbar Gallery in Slidell City Hall 2055 2nd Street in Olde Towne • Free Admission Call (985) 646-4375 to schedule an appointment. Appointments available Monday - Thursday, 10am - 4pm

Inspirations, Impacts, and Influences Olde Towne Arts Center Exhibit

Opening Reception: Friday, July 14, 5-7 pm

July 17 - August 25, 2023

Romualdo Costa:

A Century of Faith, Love, and Art

Opening Reception: Friday, Sept. 15, 5-7 pm

September 18 - October 27, 2023

Mixed Media 2023 Juried Exhibition

Opening Reception: Friday, Nov. 17, 5-7 pm

November 20 - December 22, 2023

Playing With Fire

Opening Reception: Friday, Jan. 19, 5-7 pm

January 23 - March 8, 2024

Salad Days 2024

Juried Exhibition of Student Art

Opening Reception: Friday, March 22, 5-7 pm

March 25 - April 26, 2024

Reinterpreting the Classics: Movie Poster and Film Prop Exhibition

Opening Reception: Friday, May 10, 5-7 pm

May 13 - June 28, 2024

Sponsorships for the 2023-2024 Cultural Season are now available. For more information please call Alex Carollo, Director of Cultural & Public Affairs, at (985) 646-4375. Thank you to our 2022-2023 Cultural Season Sponsors for supporting the arts in Slidell! Renaissance, $5,000:

Neoclassical, $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert • Lori’s Art Depot Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency Impressionism, $500 Sponsors: P. David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law • CiCi’s Pizza • Mayor Greg Cromer Rep. Mary DuBuisson, District 90 • Pizza Platoon • Roberta’s Cleaners • Slidell Historic Antique Association

Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West’s Hammers and Heels at Maison Lafitte

Northshore Humane Society held a Night Out at Morton’s Seafood Restaurant

The Liberto family’s Cook’n with the Blue inVINCEible Jambalaya Cook Off at the Mandeville Trailhead

St John Fools of Misrule Fools Fest at the Covington Trailhead

Hospice House’s 18th Crawfish Cookoff in Fritchie Park

Tangipahoa Chamber’s Annie Award Luncheon celebrating the 2023 honorees, Brenna Barzenick, Denise Tullier- Holly, Tricia Hebert Landaiche, Donna Distefano Miller, Sarah Mitchell and Jessica Shirey. Special guest speaker Kim Mulky was also awarded a surprise Annie Award at the luncheon.

Celebrating #6 Brayden Jobert and LSU Baseball Day at Northshore High School

Vist the Northshore Brand Reveal held at the Pontchartrain Yacht Club

Northshore STEM held a volunteer event to celebrate and recognize some of the outstanding work done by volunteers throughout the 2022-2023 year.

Saint Paul’s students Gabe Osborne, Claude Scarpelli, Miller Bourgeois, and Colin Ocman, along with Spanish teacher Liz Brett, kicked off their summer by traveling to Central America to participate in a three-week exchange program with Colegio LaSalle, a Lasallian school located in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Covington Business Association’S Kokomo Stroll