ts In Bloom

STORY TARA BENNETT PHOTOS BROOKE WATSON

Art will blossom again during the annual Northshore Arts in Bloom event this spring as the nonprofit organization celebrates its second year.

Presented by the Northshore Arts Foundation, Northshore Arts in Bloom will take place from April 28-30, 2023, in Downtown Hammond. The exhibit will feature 30+ floral artworks by local and regional floral designers, ranging from professional to enthusiastic hobbyists.

This year’s festivities, led by chair Colleen Scarle, include programming and partnerships with local businesses and organizations, such as the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, the Hammond Regional Arts Center and the Hammond Downtown Development District.

“Northshore Arts in Bloom is a wonderful occasion to celebrate springtime in Hammond through the intersection of floral design with artwork,” Scarle said. “We’re looking forward to showcasing these incredible works by our area’s most accomplished florists and artists.”

Each floral designer is assigned a specific painting as a reference to interpret the art in a floral arrangement. Using live flowers, designers create an opportunity for visitors to see art from a new frame of mind. The floral arrangements will be beside their painted counterparts, allowing guests to see the two perspectives.

Full Bouquet ticket holders will be among the first to see these fantastic floral works and paired artworks during the Patron Party on April 28, which kicks o� the weekend. Patron Party participants can vote on their favorite floral arrangement for the People’s Choice Award while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and live music.

In addition to the floral art competition, three professional floral designers will be invited to create spectacular floral installations on a grand scale. Visitors can view these indoor installations at the Columbia Theatre throughout the weekend.

In addition to viewing the featured floral arrangements, visitors may enjoy a variety of performances and activities throughout the weekend. Other events include staged readings of winners from an international playwriting contest featuring three categories: Adult, Collegiate and Teen. Professionals in landscaping, horticulture and flowers will speak on various subjects during the lecture series.

The Hammond Regional Arts Center will display glass & sculpture works of artists Paulo Dufour, Erica Larkin Gaudet and Mitchell Gaudet. A special Art and Flower Market will be held in conjunction with the Saturday Hammond Farmers’ Market. There will be a variety of fun activities, such as a children’s chalk walk, unique art, along with plants and cut flowers to jumpstart one’s spring gardening. On Saturday there will be strolling musicians and belly dance performances before culminating with live music in Cate Square Park hosted by the Downtown Development District.

Northshore Arts in Bloom puts an emphasis on giving back by selecting a local charity each year to donate a portion of the weekend’s proceeds. Last year, the Hammond Regional Arts Center and the Hammond Garden Club were chosen as organizations to fund.

“We think of others in need and come together in support of our communities to give from the heart,” Scarle said.

More information on sponsorships, participation and tickets can be found at the Northshore Arts Foundation website at northshoreartsfoundation. com.

Mike Cooper

Carnival season is o�cially upon us!

This season ushers in one of my favorite times of the year, as it gives our loved ones and neighbors an opportunity to gather joyfully, while celebrating the many, vibrant traditions of our beloved Parish. Mardi Gras parades are now rolling through every community within our Parish. I look forward to joining you all on the parade route as we rejoice this triumphant season.

2022 was an extraordinary year for St. Tammany Parish Government; however, we are laserfocused on exceeding the standard that we set. My administration has once again put forth the most funding for infrastructure in our Parish history, surpassing last year’s budget, which will make longawaited, impactful projects a reality.

I passionately believe, with infrastructure investments, proper planning and economic development, our Parish will continue to thrive with our citizens ideals on the forefront.

Among the many programs launched under my administration was the removal of nearly 3,400 fallen trees from our Parish’s scenic waterways, as a result of Hurricane Ida. This ambitious initiative will beautify our scenic waterways and enhance the drainage capacity. The $12.6 million project is expected to be completed in early 2024.

The Department of Animal Services is among our greatest success stories. When I took o�ce, the live release rate was around 40%. I am tremendously proud to share for the second consecutive year, the live release rate is 97%, which designates our Animal Services as a ‘no-kill’ shelter. In 2022, our sta� took in nearly 4,000 animals, which is twice as many as 2020. This feat would not have been possible without hard working sta�, volunteers and fostering and adopting families.

I look forward to seeing you throughout this Carnival season and while supporting our local nonprofit organizations at their remarkable events this Spring.

Serving as your Parish President continues to be one of my most humbling honors.

The holiday season has ended, and here in Louisiana we have switched gears to the Carnival season.I am pleased that St. Tammany krewes continue to provide family-friendly options for our residents to enjoy Mardi Gras parades and festivities.

I am also very proud to continue our partnership with STARC by placing a float at the end of several local parades to collect beads. The STARC clients sort, repackage and sell those beads back to float riders. This is a worthwhile program as it not only prevents these beads from ending up in our landfills or attics, but it also provides work and funds for the citizens serviced by STARC. It’s truly a win-win for our community.

Ensuring a safe and fun Carnival season takes a great deal of planning and cooperation.

Our deputies work together with the municipal law enforcement agencies, state police and other surrounding law enforcement to maintain order and provide crowd and tra�c control along parade routes throughout our parish.

Our Reserve Division is an integral part of this cooperative e�ort, with our reserve deputies working countless hours during our many Northshore parades.

If you are interested in becoming a part of our top-notch Reserve Division, you can apply online or call our Human Resources Department at (985) 726-7700 for more information.

We are also actively hiring for full-time positions in our Patrol, Corrections and Communications Divisions. Our employees are our greatest asset, and we continue our e�orts to recruit and retain quality employees by providing competitive pay, excellent benefits and opportunities for advancement.

Becoming a corrections deputy or a dispatcher is a great way to start out in law enforcement. These are both challenging and rewarding jobs with the potential for future growth through advancement in those divisions or transfers to a position in patrol or investigations.

If you or someone you know is interested, please visit www.stpso.com/job-opportunities<http:// www.stpso.com/job-opportunities> and fill out an online application.

I wish you all a safe and happy Mardi Gras season and encourage each of you to watch for our deputies along the parade routes and thank them for the job they are doing to maintain a safe environment for our families to enjoy the Carnival season.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the 2023 READERS’ CHOICE

Northshore Media Group Nm

2023 Readers’ Choice Winners

ST. TAMMANY EAST