EDGE of the Lake April | May 2017

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APRIL | MAY 2017

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T R A V E L

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CUTTING EDGE OF FASHION ANNE DALE

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SPORTSMAN’S EDGE IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

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YOUNG CHEF OLD SCHOOL EATS

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GIFT GUIDE MOTHER’S DAY

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A HEALTHY YOU ALL ABOUT THE KIDS

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PEOPLE PAPER QUEEN

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COOL SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Frog found at Turtle Cove page 64 Photo Jerry Cottrell

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GO FOR IT! PRECIOUS GEMS

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WORTH A DRIVE

POLO

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GIVING HOPE OPERATION ANGEL

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TURTLE COVE RESEARCH CENTER

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RESTAURANT REVIEW MY TURN BY: BRIAN BAGLEY

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GETAWAY MAKING MEMORIES

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AROUND THE LAKE SOCIAL

PUBLISHER Sarah Cottrell

We are so excited to bring you our spring issue of EDGE of the Lake magazine. As we like to say, expect the unexpected! There is something for everyone packed into this issue.

We learn about Operation Angel, a program for recovering addicts that is the vision of Covington Chief of Police Tim Lentz, and we meet a special group of cheerleaders whose enthusiasm left me cheering for them. I took a drive to Summerhill Farm in Folsom and learnt about all things Polo; I am really looking forward to returning for the games when the season opens. We put together an extensive Summer Camp Guide for all those parents out there who are looking to keep their children busy this summer and a Mother’s Day Gift Guide for kids old and young looking to find the perfect gift for mom.

We truly are blessed to live in a culturally rich area, and we strive to bring you stories representing the best of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes.

I am once again humbled by the support for our publication. It truly is a team effort, and it would not be possible without the talents of so many people. Thank you to the team, our advertisers and our loyal readership.

PUBLISHER

EDITOR Hans Gruber ART DIRECTOR Fernanda Chagas Kirk STYLE DIRECTOR Patty Beal COPY EDITOR Katie-Ruth Priest CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kim Bergeron Sarah Cottrell Charles Dowdy Mike Gallo Sarah Hendon Stephanie Miller Murphy Katie-Ruth Priest STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jerry Cottrell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Yahleen Bacalso-Gaffney Tom Ballantine Bobby Gilboy Dr. Murray Pendarvis Paul Wood SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVES Eloise Cottrell Rick Clasen ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca Blossman-Ferran Erin Bolton Daniel Calmes D’Ann Davis Michelle Wallis-Croas

ON THE COVER SO POLO Photo Jerry Cottrell

The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted

by EDGE Publishing. @ 2017 with all rights reserved.

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

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

STORY PATTY BEAL PHOTOS YEHLEEN PHOTOGRAPHY

ANNE DA L E gemologist to discoverer 008

EDGE April | May 2017

Anne Dale may be known as a gemologist, designer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, educator, author, lecturer, founder, and inspirer, but few know that our local jeweler is the discoverer of the Louisiana State gemstone, LaPearlite.

Anne met with EDGE and, over coffee, we learned her story from gemologist to discoverer.

PATTY BEAL: A gemologist!? How and why did you become a gemologist?

ANNE DALE: My mom would come home from work to the smell of burning plastic only to find me melting Mardi Gras beads in my Easy Bake Oven. I would make pendants or pins out of the ‘designs.’ I wanted to sell them, but I ended up just giving them away. One of my favorite things to do as a child was to look for glass pieces in the street. I was intrigued with the idea of making rock candy. I married my high school sweetheart, and back in our younger days Mike’s sister was a jeweler. He worked with her doing repairs and sales, and I hung around a lot and it peaked my interest, like my childhood passion. Later, I was at a conference and attended a gemological lecture. I was in awe of the science and lore of gemology, and I wrote on a piece of paper, “I WILL BE A GEMOLOGIST!” PB: And you did! What steps did you take to do that?

AD: First, I attended UNO then the Gemological Association of Great Britain, which is the foremost leader in gemological education.

I am designated as a Fellow there. Also, I went to the Columbia School of Gemology in Maryland and the Geological Institute of America. It was hard being away from home and Mike. In Maryland, I used to sell shrimp on the side to buy a plane ticket home.

PB: That’s very impressive, Anne, and I know you’ve traveled nationally and abroad educating the industry on gems, including diamonds. And speaking of seafood, how in the world did you discover our state gemstone in an oyster shell?

AD: Well, it was just after the 2010 BP oil spill in the gulf, and Mike and I had bought a bunch of seafood to freeze. I was sitting on the back porch drinking a beer and shucking all these oysters. It was in the late afternoon, and the sunlight caught the inside of the oyster just right. It glistened. I examined it close. It wasn’t like mother-of-pearl.

It was different, more opal-like. It had gemstone qualities! I ran to show Mike.

PB: And our new state gemstone was discovered!?

AD: I called it LaPearlite immediately. Mike and I cut and polished it, and it became even more beautiful, unfolding golden rings and swirls. I really thought we had something here: I thought it could promote the affected coastal

seafood industry. As a gemologist, I knew it qualified as a gem. We mined it, cut it, designed it, marketed it, and sold it. The cabochon cut of this new found gem was beautiful. I decided to go to the state legislature to propose a bill to make it the official Louisiana state gemstone.

PB: And it became official when?

AD: The Smithsonian Institute officially recognized LaPearlite as a gemstone, a bill was written, and finally signed by the Governor on August 15, 2011.

PB: Is it hard to harvest? Is there a LaPearlite gemstone in every oyster?

AD: It is very hard to harvest, and out of 400 crassostrea virginca mollusks, only 35 have the gem.

PB: Congratulations! What a find. Do you have some pieces in your store?

AD: Of course.

PB: Speaking of your jewelry store, you have some other special pieces you’ve designed in support of a cause. I’m most familiar with the Katrina first responder badge. Can you tell us more about that?

AD: While we all were recovering from Katrina, Mike and I created this badge of honor piece titled “I Know What It Means to Love New Orleans,” and we dedicated those efforts to first responders. The first casts were presented to city leaders and first responders.

The badge represents a shared, nonverbal bond between wearers. It shared love and empathy.

Dan Aykroyd saw the one given to the chief of police of Harahan and wanted it. Before the chief gave it up, he called me to make sure he could have another! Dan then ordered 500 to present to other first responders.

PB: What a joy to be able to use your artistry to express real emotion.

AD: Yes. I have a collection of jewelry called Jewelry for a Cause. Many inspirations led to each cause, each design. We have one for Self Esteem, the Power of One, the Statue of Liberty, and many more including The Star of Hope, representing the 5 branches of the military with a ribbon around the star symbolizing a prayer for our protectors’ safety. I had the honor of presenting this piece to retired Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North who was a guest speaker at a Supporting War Hero event at the WWII Museum. What a moment.

PB: Do you have a favorite gem?

EDGE April | May 2017

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LETTER FROM THE PARISH PRESIDENT

SHOW ST. TAMMANY YOUR LOVE — NOT YOUR LITTER

AD: Well, I do love diamonds. And a lot of our business is diamond rings, specifically engagement and wedding rings.

PB: So who does what? Do you do the designing and Mike the crafting?

AD: When a client comes in, they get the dream team. I’m more front of the house and Mike’s more the back, and one of our sons, Stephan, knows all the aspects of the business. But before you know it, we are all there together assisting that customer. You get the designer, crafter, stylist, educator, historian, and scientist all helping you. Jewelry is the ultimate gift. It’s romantic, very personal, a reflection of your feelings. It’s forever. We love when engaged couples come in. A wedding ring is a reminder of where and when you started your life together. It will bring you back to that emotion of love.

PB: Again, there’s that emotion in your craft.

AD: Diamonds are millions of years old… just waiting… and waiting for that moment to be on her finger.

PB: Thank you Anne. It’s been an honor to chat with you!

ANNE DALE JEWELERS 985.626.4266 annedale.com

On Valentine’s Day, our newly formed Keep St. Tammany Beautiful organization (KSTB), in partnership with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, launched a full-time Litter Abatement Cleanup Crew to work five full days every week, solely on litter cleanup. This is a positive use of our shared resources, as well as an investment in our environmental soundness, our public health, and the aesthetic beauty of our community.

However, we need more than just a cleanup crew to keep our Parish unsoiled.

We need each and every one of you to become invested in this mission. Teach your household that each of us is personally responsible for the litter that we generate. We need business owners to provide adequate receptacles for garbage disposal, so that no customer can claim that they had no choice but to toss litter to the ground. We need every trash hauler to follow Parish ordinances and transport secured loads so that debris does not line our Parish roadways.

Littering is a crime. It is also a burden to taxpayers as government agencies must enforce litter laws, clean up litter, and dispose of litter. If you see a litter violation, you can report it at keepsttammanybeautiful.org by filling out a litter prevention form. If you see a roadway in dire need of cleanup, you can fill out a road cleanup request form on stpgov.org or on the Keep St. Tammany Beautiful website.

Let’s work together and set a standard of excellence that we carry with us no matter where we go, and let’s make it a standard we expect of our neighbors, friends, family and visitors.

PAT BRISTER St. Tammany Parish President

277 Lee Lane Convington, LA 70433

(985) 807-2120 www.bellacucinadesign.com

Photos courtesy of Herman Prager

STORY MIKE GALLO

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EDGE April | May 2017

IT’S A WOND ERFUL LIFE

Many anglers have fished from my Cajun Limo during my 20 plus years of guiding on Lake Pontchartrain and the surrounding areas. Some have changed my life and the way I now see things.

I started my charter fishing service in 1997, guiding on weekends and days off. By late 1999, I went into guiding full time. I started with a small, slow boat and big dreams.

Operating out of my home on Salt Bayou, I saw many sunrises and sunsets in the same day. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed my home in 2005, my wife, son and I moved to higher ground north of Slidell. My Uncle Dan & I then slowly turned the home on Salt Bayou into a lodge to accommodate my many out of town clients.

Not long after Katrina, Herman “Dutch” Prager booked a trip with me. Dutch wanted to catch redfish in the Biloxi Marsh. We set out early and were treated to a beautiful sunrise over Lake Borgne. We made our way over to the Biloxi Marsh, enjoyed a good day of catching redfish and returned safely. Soon Dutch called to book another trip, then another, and another. Several times over the years Dutch fished alone because his partners could not make the trip for one reason or another. I decided to pair Dutch with my Uncle Dan on a few trips, and we all had a great time.

In the fall of 2008, Al Calabrese booked a trip with me. Al, an avid fisherman, had just moved to Louisiana from Florida, and Al fished alone. I paired Al with my Uncle Dan, and we fished the Biloxi Marsh, catching speckled trout and redfish. Soon Al called to book another trip, then another and another.

I thought Al and Dutch could fish together; the cost would go down for each and the enjoyment would go up. Little did I know that this would turn into a fond friendship for the three of us. Al, Dutch & I made our first trip on November 20, 2010. I learned that Dutch caught his first redfish in the Biloxi Marsh over 80 years ago as a young boy. In 1936, Dutch and his father would leave New Orleans on the Prager yacht named Plauen, and head over to Bayou Biloxi to catch redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, “Whatever would bite.” “We spent many weekends fishing,” Dutch recalled.

There are several significant dates and parallels that make me believe the three of us were destined to fish together and form strong friendships. Both Dutch and Al served our country on submarines. Dutch’s first patrol on his sub — the USS Kingfish — was on October 12, 1944, my father’s birthday and Al’s birth year. Dutch made many patrols on the USS Kingfish sinking several ships and rescuing British airmen, also surviving three torpedoes and many depth charges. Dutch returned to Midway Island on August 14, 1945, the end of WWII, my mother’s birthday. Soon after the war, Dutch married and worked his way up in the family business, Prager Inc. Dutch also resumed fishing, but after bigger fish.

In 1958, at the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, Dutch saw a 465 lb. blue marlin weighed in. Dutch would later recall, “I had to catch a fish like that.” With the help of several fishing friends and businessmen, Dutch started the New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club in 1961, with 27 members and Dutch as President. The

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FISH TACOS WITH PEACH SALSA INSTRUCTIONS Set EGG for direct cooking at 400°F/204°C. SALSA INGREDIENTS • 1½ cups diced fresh peaches • 1 firm, but ripe avocado, diced • ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro • ½ small jalapeño, minced • Juice of 1 lime, about 3 tablespoons Combine salsa ingredients in a medium bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

FISH TACOS • 1 teaspoon cumin • 1 teaspoon brown sugar • 1 teaspoon ground coriander • 2 teaspoons olive oil • 1½ pounds fresh redfish favorite fish • Corn tortillas • Lime wedges In a small bowl, combine cumin, sugar, and coriander.

Brush fish with olive oil and sprinkle with spice mixture.

Grill fish on oiled cooking grid for 3-5 minutes per side until cooked to your liking. Char tortillas on cooking grid, about 10 seconds on each side.

Serve tacos with fresh salsa and desired toppings.

Makes 4 servings Recipe Courtesy of biggreenegg.com Green Eggs available at Abita Lumber

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EDGE April | May 2017

next year was a good year for Dutch, catching the first of his 21 Blue Marlins, a 396 lb. beautiful fish. Under Dutch’s leadership, NOBGFC hosted many fishing tournaments, assisted Louisiana’s Wildlife and Fisheries, and continued to grow. In 1990, Dutch retired as president of NOBGFC and a year later retired as president & CEO of Prager Inc. He sold the business to have more time to fish and play golf. The NOBGFC has continued to grow and now has close to 200 members.

A few years ago, we celebrated Dutch’s 90th birthday with a cake that looked like a redfish. Of course we celebrated in the Biloxi Marsh on Dutch’s Cajun Limo.

After learning of Dutch’s WWII service, I asked Dutch if he would mind if I named my boat “Dutch’s Cajun Limo” in his honor; he agreed. Al informed us last year that Al, Dutch and I have made over 75 fishing trips together. Back before Al started fishing with Dutch, I paired Dutch with some great local anglers: Steve McNemar, Don Dubuc and Todd Masson to name a few. Each of these anglers enjoyed the day with Louisiana’s ‘Godfather’ of fishing.

When I think about Dutch’s life as a fisherman - beginning as a young boy catching redfish in the Biloxi Marsh, and later as a man catching much bigger fish, to now a senior and back to catching redfish in the Biloxi Marsh — it clearly reminds me that this is a “Wonderful Life.” I’m just blessed to have played a small part in it. Dutch reminds us that when we fish together it’s not just about catching fish, it’s about the adventure, making memories with good friends, being spiritually connected with nature and, of course, a safe return to do it all over again. Dutch is 92 and still catching a few. We love ya’ buddy.

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w ol d l e O ol N ho s c t o S a h s e c t r S Ea T Some people live much of their lives without knowing what it is they want to do when they grow up. But for 10-year-old Abbey Caruso, that doesn’t appear to be the case. The young, aspiring chef loves watching cooking shows then applying what she has learned to create a variety of culinary treats.

Among her favorites are chicken dishes, gumbo, desserts and pot pie made from scratch — including the crust.

So when an opportunity arose for the fourth grader to be mentored by Old School Eats food truck proprietors Chef Christopher and Karen Case, she was overjoyed. When she was advised that this would culminate with cooking demos on April 29, during the Camellia City Kids Fun Fest in Heritage Park, she could not contain her excitement — but, she confessed, she also was just a little bit nervous.

Abbey first met Chef Chris and Karen when, via their school-bus-turned-restaurant, they catered a party at the home of Abbey’s parents, Sam and Anna Caruso. She was intrigued by one of the dishes, and asked the chef for information as to its ingredients. She was invited aboard the bus for a mini-tour, and on that day she became one of Chef Chris’ youngest fans.

The food truck’s fan base isn’t limited to Louisiana. Old School Eats recently was selected as the first place winner of Progressive Commercial Auto’s “Flo’s Fabulous Food Truck Contest,” a national competition. Its $10,000 prize enabled the couple to add more improvements to their rolling restaurant, including a much needed air conditioning system.

Abbey had a chance to revisit the newlycooled bus on the first day of her mentorship.

She was wearing a new chef ’s jacket and

a pleated toque upon her head, custom embroidered with her claim to the stake as the Jr. Chef of “New School Eats.”

Motioning toward Abbey’s head, Chef Chris shared a quick anecdote about the toque. “Do you know why chef ’s hats have 100 folds?” he asked. “According to an old French adage, it’s because there are 100 ways to prepare an egg.”

And thus began the day’s lesson.

The teaching continued in a nearby restaurant kitchen. As her proud parents looked on, Abbey was taught the proper way to handle a knife (ironically, it’s not by the handle) and the difference between carbon and stainless steel knives. She learned how to julienne bell peppers, which the chef advised is a classic French cut. He also showed her that by placing a damp towel beneath the cutting board, she could reduce the possibility of the board slipping and the potential for unwelcome cuts as a result.

The proper procedure for whisking eggs came next. It started with Chef Chris asking Abbey to shake his hand, advising that such is the same way one should grip a whisk. He then instructed that the eggs should not be stirred, as many tend to do, but gently pushed in a back and forth motion. “I didn’t know that,” exclaimed Karen. “I’ve watched him do that time and time again, but I hadn’t noticed this. I just learned something new!” As Abbey successfully demonstrated her whisking skills, Chef Chris smiled, saying that with that technique mastered, she was prepared to make a Hollandaise sauce.

The importance of having everything set up on the counter, ready to add to the dishes being prepared, was next on the checklist. “It’s what we call ‘Mise en Place’ — everything in

STORY KIM BERGERON PHOTOS PAUL WOOD

CAMELLIA CITY KIDS FUN FEST When: April 29 (Saturday) 10AM-6PM Where: Slidell’s Heritage Park *Admission is $5, and it includes all of the event’s activities.

For more information visit CamelliaCityKidsFunFest (Facebook) camelliacitykidsfunfest@gmail.com OLD SCHOOL EATS Offers its fare at various festivals and locations throughout Southern Louisiana, plus catering for public and private events.

OldSchoolEatsFoodTruck (Facebook) oldschooleatsbus@gmail.com 985.773.2461

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EDGE April | May 2017

its place,” he explained. “You’re going to learn a bit of French over the next few months.”

There is also a science to cooking, he shared, with the interaction of different foods, techniques and temperatures, all of which he was looking forward to sharing with his pupil.

Next came a trick question. “Do you know where French Fries originated?” he asked. Abbey shook her head no. As it turns out, the tasty ‘tater treat’ was created by Belgians, who blanched the potatoes then fried them in horse fat.

The chef explained that blanching activates the starch, pushing it out to the edges, then the frying caramelizes it. And instead of serving with ketchup, the original, Belgian version of the dish, is accompanied by aioli, a creamy garlic mayonnaise.

So by now, the day’s lesson plan has included cooking techniques, plus a touch of foreign language, science and geography. It seemed only natural to move on to history, with a little background information about the mentor.

“When I was six or seven years old, I fell in love with cooking,” Chef Chris shared. “Everything about it fascinated me.”

He tells his protégé that while creating can bring joy, it also requires a lot of discipline. He attended the acclaimed Johnson & Wales University, and after graduation, he

first worked then taught there, further fueling his passion.

“I see that same fire in you,” he told Abbey. “Not everybody has that.”

Abby’s interest in the culinary world began about three years ago, said her father. It has included countless hours spent viewing the cooking shows of Martha Stewart, Chef John Besh, Chef John Folse and old re-runs with Julia Child. (Talk about Old School!) A St. Margaret Mary School field trip to La Provence in Lacombe provided her an opportunity to tour the kitchen of one of her idols, Chef Besh, with whom she would also love to work in the future.

“Abbey also has learned a lot by helping when my mother cooks for our family gatherings,” said Sam. “We’re from a large Italian family, and so much of our culture is celebrated cooking and enjoying great food.”

The family celebrated that heritage during a trip to Italy with Anna’s parents in the summer of 2015. The vacation included stays at a family member’s farm, plus stops including Milan, Turin, Rome, Sorrento, and Palermo.

“While the rest of us enjoyed a variety of authentic Italian dishes throughout the trip, Abbey was the only one who made it a point to try the exact same pasta recipe in every city we visited,” said Sam. “She had spaghetti pasta with olive oil, garlic and a little pepper. Her favorite — and we agreed — was the dish she enjoyed in Turin.”

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

DEAR CITIZENS, When she’s not serving as a food critic or cooking up a storm in the kitchen, Abbey plays basketball and soccer, with a bit of acting on the side. She also enjoys spending time with older sister, Ariana and younger brother Andreus. Though her siblings don’t share her passion for cooking, they love indulging in the results of her efforts.

The Leadership Northshore team that founded the Camellia City Kids Fun Fest is delighted that Jr. Chef Abbey, and her mentors Chef Chris and Karen, will be part of their second annual event.

In addition to the cooking demos, the Fun Fest will include live entertainment, pony rides, a petting zoo, a giant maze and bungee trampolines. Kids can pan for gold, lasso a horse and create craft projects with representatives of Home Depot. Additionally, St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District 1 will bring its smoke house and will teach kids about fire safety and prevention.

“Our goal is to provide kids of all ages an opportunity to have fun and spend quality time with their families,” said Kelly Burdett, one of the event’s organizers. “We also want to expose them to arts, crafts, entertainment and other experiences that they otherwise might not be able to access. Hopefully, seeing someone their own age with a passion for cooking will inspire other kids to get in the kitchen and cook with their parents!”

Kelly said she and her festival team welcome recommendations of talented St. Tammany children they may wish to showcase at future events. She was excited to share the news that this year’s festival beneficiary is Riley’s Bikes, an organization that provides physically challenged children with mobility, via bikes created especially for them.

“For kids to be able to join their friends in everyday activities like bike riding is such an incredible gift,” she said.

But for young Abbey Caruso, the gift will be a chance to share her passion with the children who attend the festival. It’s also an opportunity for kids to snap a photo with the Jr. Chef, so that years from now, they can look back and say they met her as her star was beginning to rise.

Given her passion and her determination, that star is sure to shine brightly in the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to several cultural events that are happening in our city.

The City of Slidell is celebrating the 15th anniversary of our Bayou Jam Concert Series. The concerts begin on Sunday, April 2, with Audio Beach and continues on Sunday, April 23, with Harvey Jesus and Fire. Pack your picnic blankets and chairs and bring your family and friends to enjoy these free concerts in Heritage Park. Concerts begin at 5:30 p.m.

The spring concerts conclude with Some Enchanted Evening with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday, May 7, in Heritage Park. The concert begins at 6 p.m.

“Deceptive Space: Op Art from the New Orleans Museum of Art” is currently on display in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall. Featuring iconic works from the optical art movement, the exhibit will remain on display through Saturday, April 29.

The Slidell Cultural Center is located at 2055 Second Street. Hours are Wednesdays and Fridays, 12-4 p.m., Thursdays, 12-6 p.m. and on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

I look forward to all of the festivities and encourage everyone to join us for these events, which are made possible by the city’s 2016-2017 Cultural Sponsors. For more information, please visit myslidell. com or call 985.646.4375.

FREDDY DRENNAN City of Slidell Mayor

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WELCOME TO LAKEVIEW REGIONAL We are proud that nearly 20 physicians and providers who previously worked with Louisiana Heart Hospital have decided to partner with Lakeview Regional Physician Group’s experienced team. We’re growing to better meet your healthcare needs.

Farhad Aduli, MD Sergio Barrios, MD Interventional Cardiology Interventional Cardiology

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Jeffery Kitch, NP Nurse Practitioner

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Carol Raymond, NP Nurse Practitioner

Darren Rowan, MD General Surgery

Richard Sanders, MD Family Medicine

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MOTHER’S DAY Krewe Sunglasses

The Villa 1281 N. Causeway Blvd. #1 Mandeville 985.626.9797

Tocca Eau De Parfum Travel Set deCoeur Gifts and Accessories 228 N. Columbia Street Covington 985.809.3244

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Beatriz Ball Devilled Egg Platter Purple Armadillo Again 2024 Front Street Slidell 985.643.2004

Kismet Cosmetics Posh 21 Boutique and Shoeffle (Covington) Blue Sparrow Salon & Boutique, Obsession Boutique and Southeast Hair Design (Hammond) Hemline (Mandeville) Info 985.247.8083

Spring Wreath Water Street Wreaths

700 Water Street Madisonville 985.792.7979 EDGE April | May 2017

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afternoon tea English Tea Room and Eatery

734 E. Rutland Street Covington 985.898.3988

Red dress Columbia Street Mercantile

236/231 Columbia Street Covington 985.809.1690

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plants Bantings Nursery

26300 US-190 Lacombe 985.882.5550

hand pained Stained glass inspired wood plaques Simply Southern

70488 Highway 21, #500 Covington 985.871.1466

Unique Cypress Carvings Cypress Framing

100 Tyler Square 12B Covington 985.327.7927

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All about the kids a look at the new and improved emergency room STORY SARAH HERNDON

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EDGE April | May 2017

As a mom to three young children (ages two, eight and ten), I never know when I might need the services of my local hospital. I experienced a trip to the St. Tammany Parish Hospital emergency room (and a subsequent overnight stay on the children’s floor) last summer with my youngest. And while we received quality care during our time there, I do not have many concrete memories of the physical ER or what really was going on behind all of those curtains and doors. More recently, I was able to tour the newly renovated facility without the tired eyes of a mother with a sick child.

Melissa Hodgson, Director of Communication for the St. Tammany Parish Hospital, met me inside of the ER, and I was struck with how bright the entrance-way looked with its pendant lights and modern dĂŠcor. The couches in the waiting area actually looked comfortable, and the contemporary lighting hanging from the ceilings made it feel like you could be in the lobby of a nice hotel. Melissa explained to me that they wanted to make the waiting area feel small even though it had a very large capacity. The space did not feel overwhelming, as it had many different curves and nooks where you could sit peacefully until it was your turn to be seen.

Adjacent to the main ER is a new concept for the hospital and one that really resonated with me as a mother - a pediatric waiting room that led into specific treatment areas for children.

I thought back to several occasions over the years when one of our children had an emergency and we had to sit and wait

Photo Jerry Cottrell

in the mix of sick and injured adults, with nothing for them to look at or touch.

However, this new addition is very child-friendly with a three-dimensional mural displayed on one of its walls and a canopy of colorful lights overhead. There are child-sized tables and chairs and a television playing cartoons - I mean, doesn’t Disney make any bad day a little better?

The decision to devote space solely to children was met with some opposition, and the hospital was told that they would lose money if they built a pediatric wing. The statistics showed otherwise with a quarter of the patients seen at STPH each year being under the age of 18.

“We have a responsibility to provide what the people who live in this service district need, and the need in the community suggested that we should see more patients through the emergency room, but more specifically see the pediatric population,” Melissa said.

The pediatric wing is open during peak emergency hours — noon until midnight — which helps to remove the younger patients from the stressful environment of the general ER. It also allows them to be seen quicker by a separate pediatric staff.

Dr. David Toups, Medical Director of Emergency Services, and Carly Pfeiffer, BSN and Department Head of Emergency Services, met up with us during the tour. They commented on the importance of having this specialized space for children, along with its own dedicated staff.

“You have to deal with the pediatric population differently as far as how you talk to them and how you assess their parents because of the different coping skills,” Carly said, “There is that child-life skill that they [the staff] bring to the table.”

Another valuable resource new to the ER is the addition of a pediatric orthopedist, Dr. McCall McDaniel. Although my trips to the ER have never been due to broken bones, I can only imagine the number of children needing casts from dangerous antics on the monkey bars or even a game of leap frog gone awry.

“There really has been no pediatric orthopedist on the Northshore and most patients had to travel to the Southshore,” David said, “Many general orthopedists are uncomfortable taking care of fractures in children and will send them to a specialist, but now we have her in the community and she is already very busy.”

Just down the street is the Ochsner Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic where the hospital has access to pediatric physicians such as cardiologists and urologists. Both Carly and David stressed the importance of having these specialized doctors on hand for the young patients because their bodies are growing and changing much more rapidly than someone in their forties.

Leaving the pediatric wing, we entered into the general ER with updated trauma rooms that are now better equipped to deal with aging patients and mental health emergencies. “As we expanded, we wanted to be able to address the geriatric

EDGE April | May 2017

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Photo courtesy of Rick Olivier Photo courtesy of Sarah Herndon

population and recognize that obesity is an issue in this area — we needed to respond to bariatric patients more safely and quickly and to handle mental health emergencies more expediently,” Melissa said.

The hospital staff now has access to a lift in one of the trauma rooms that can more easily maneuver fragile and obese patients. For those needing mental health care, there are now several rooms in the ER behind a secured door where patients can be treated, yet be away from the bustle of the main ER. As we were winding down our tour, I brought our conversation back to what an asset it is to receive consistent, quality health care in your own community.

Carly nodded in agreement. She told me that they were a primary stroke center and had won awards for administering the needed clot medication to stroke patients within a small amount of time. She went on to say that it really doesn’t matter that they were winning but “it’s the fact that we are providing that high quality care to the patient.”

One of my favorite stories from the tour was about a man who was from this area but was vacationing in Turks and Caicos. He had a stroke and chartered a private jet home so that he could be treated where he felt comfortable, in the ER at STPH. Many of the staff have been here for over twenty years, and that tenure has built a high level of trust and respect within the parish.

As I left the hospital, I hoped that I wouldn’t be standing inside the ER again anytime too soon. But after seeing the renovations and hearing about the specialized care, I felt grateful as a mother and proud as a community member to have such a reputable hospital in my own backyard.

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EDGE April | May 2017

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One of Louisiana’s oldest pageants has been held in Washington Parish since 1940. For over 75 years, the American Legion Post 24 crowns their Paper Queen at the Coronation Ball held at the American Legion Home in Bogalusa.

Filled with much pomp and pageantry, the event is also a fundraiser for the American Legion which supports Veteran families and pays for public flags.

For the 2016-2017 season, Madison Pope was crowned the 76th Paper Queen. Madison is a native of Bogalusa, attended Saint Scholastica Academy in Covington, and is now a freshman at Louisiana State University where she is studying communication disorders with plans to be a speech therapist after graduation.

Along with the title, Madison received a scholarship and the honor of representing her hometown and the paper industry. Throughout the year, Madison travels around the state to various fairs and festivals often watching other queens receive their crowns.

One of the most exciting trips for Madison, and for her royal predecessors, is the annual trip to Washington D.C. for Washington Mardi Gras. The Paper Queen is one of the few queens invited every year — queens from pageants without such a long history must take turns to attend. For over 70 years, the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians has brought the pageantry of Mardi Gras to the nation’s capital. Since 1944, it is a place for displaced Louisianians living in the Washington area as well as Louisiana denizens traveling there to celebrate Louisiana, its people, politics and culture. This year’s theme was ‘Louisiana:

STORY SARAH COTTRELL PHOTOS JENNIFER POPE

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EDGE April | May 2017

Love, Health and Happiness.’ Madison travelled with her parents, Jennifer and Scott Pope and brother Seth to attend Washington Mardi Gras.

During the five day trip, along with the many events and tours scheduled by the organization, Madison was thrilled to be invited to the nation’s capital to meet her Congressman, Ralph Abraham. The highlight of the festivities was the Carnival Ball held on Saturday night in the ballroom at the Hilton, hosted by the Captain, Congressman Steve Scalise.

The King of the ball was Warner Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Health System. The Queen was Easton Lee Thomas, daughter of Linda and Warner Thomas, who is a high school senior at Louise S. McGehee School in New Orleans. Each of the pageant queens in attendance wore a full train gown and entered the room led by a sign carrier.

Three thousand people attended the event including many dignitaries. The trip was an amazing experience for Madison made even more special by the fact that Madison was able to share it with her family.

EDGE April | May 2017

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EDGE April | May 2017

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

NORTHSHORE SPORTSPLEX Sports, Basketball, Cheer, & Art Camp Session ages and activities vary by week Hours 9AM-1PM 70239 Highway 59 / 985.264.6552 northshoresportsplex.com

BELIEVE SUMMER CAMP Week long performing arts day camp Ages Boys and Girls 3rd Grade and up Dates June 19-23 Bogalusa High School, 100 M.J. Israel Drive / 985.516.1758 believecamp.com

On April 1, Family Fun Day at Goodyear Park — sponsored by Our Lady of Angels — will kickoff the new Farmers’ Market. The market will open every Saturday from 9-1. Michael Norman and market organizers are recruiting vendors; anyone interested should contact the market: Facebook “Bogalusa Farmers’ Market,” email bogfrmmkt@gmail.com or call 985.807.4447.

Relive the good old days every second Thursday from 5-9 p.m. through August when the Open Road Cruisers bring their vintage vehicles to the Zesto Drive-In. Other owners of old rides are encouraged to join the “Cruise In” to compete for cash awards. For additional information, call Jeff at 985.516.0643 or Robert at 985.750.2112.

On April 15, the Bogalusa Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held in Cassidy Park beginning at 10 a.m.

May 5 is Movie Night in Cassidy Park.

In addition to the movie, enjoy the new walking trail that connects to Goodyear Park, and bring a container so you can pick fresh blueberries and dewberries on the fruit trail.

On May 12, Relay for Life will be held in Goodyear Park. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

For more information, visit us at bogalusa.org or on Facebook: City of Bogalusa.

Happy Spring!

WENDY O’QUIN PERRETTE City of Bogalusa Mayor

SPLENDOR FARMS Horse Camp for Girls Weekly Sessions (vary by experience level) Ages Girls 6-16 Dates May 30 - July 28 Hours Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM (Before & Aftercare) 27329 Mill Creek Road / 985 886 3747 splendorfarms.com

ARCHBISHOP HANNAN HIGH SCHOOL Ages 5-17 Boys and Girls Hours 8:30AM-Noon Dates Vary Little Hawk Day Camp, Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Soccer, Ceramics, Painting and Video Production.

Archbishop Hannan High School, 71324 Highway 1077 985.249.6363 / hannanhigh.org CAMP ABBEY Catholic Sleep Away Camp Ages completed 2nd-8th (1 week sessions) Boys June 04 - July 01 Girls July 02 - July 29 77002 K C Camp Road / 985.327.7240, ext. 3223 campabbey.org CAMP OLD HICKORY Summer Day Camp Ages 5-12 Dates May 29 - July 21 Hours 9AM-3PM Horseback riding, swimming, archery, canoeing, team sports.

73234 Louisiana Avenue / 985.892.4788 campoldhickory.com CHRIST EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Creation Sensation and Drama.

Ages Pre-K-7th Dates June 05 - June 23 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) 80 Christwood Boulevard / 985.871.9902 christepiscopalschool.org

CREATING U Acting and Modeling Camp Join Creating U for a week-long interactive camp for youth eager to strike a pose, walk the runway and act for the camera while building confidence and friendships along the way.

Ages 8-15, Boys and Girls Hours 9AM-3PM Dates June 20 - June 24, July 18 - July 22 La to LA Acting Intensive and Showcase The camp includes three days of training from two top L.A. acting coaches. The showcase will be in front of Agents and Managers from Los Angeles and the South East market.

Ages 5-Adult Dates June 07 - June 11 69154 Highway 190, E. Service Road / 985.893.2218 creatingu.com KEHOE-FRANCE Northshore Camp Ages 1-13, Boys and Girls Dates June 05 - July 28 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) 25 Patricia Drive / 985.892.4415 kehoe-francens.com KIDCAM Summer Camps Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity.

Ages 3-13 Weeks May 30 - August 04 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) Covington at Coquille Park / 985.237.1616 kidcamcamp.com NORTHLAKE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Camp Northlake Ages Entering K-6th Dates May 29 - July 28 Hours 8:30AM-3:30PM (Free Before & Aftercare) 70104 Wolverine Drive / 985.635.0400 campnorthlake.org PLAYMAKERS SPORTS Sports Camp for Kids Ages 5-12 Dates May 22 (for 11 weeks) 800 Winward Drive / 985.898.2809 playmakersindoor.com PLAYMAKERS THEATRE Frank Levy Summer Theater Camp Ages 5-16 Dates May 29 - August 06 Robin Hood, Little Mermaid & Alice in Wonderland 19106 Playmakers Road / 985.893.1617 playmakersinc.com ST. PAUL’S CAMPS Ages 8-14 Boys and Girls Hours 9AM-4PM Dates Vary Baseball, Football, Wrestling, Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Speed/Strength, Robotics, Video Production, Drama and Creative Writing.

917 S. Jahncke Avenue / 985.892.3200 / stpauls.com ST. SCHOLASTICA ACADEMY Ages 4th-8th grades Hours 9AM-4PM Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Movie Making, Cartooning, Sculpting, Video Games, Cheer and Dance.

122 S. Massachusetts Street / 985.892.2540, ext.129 ssacad.com

ST. TAMMANY ART ASSOCIATION Summer Camps Ages 6-12 Hours 9AM-3PM Dates Vary Sculpture, Drawing, Wheel and painting 320 N. Columbia Street / 985.892.8650 sttammanyartassociation.org THE LITTLE GYM OF THE NORTHSHORE Skill Thrill Camps Ages 3-12 Hours 3 hours a day Dates June 5 - August 12 51 Park Place Drive / 985.871.8989 tlgthenorthshorela.com YMCA Summer Camp Ages 5-15 Weeks May 24 - August 04 Hours 8:30AM-4:30PM (Before & Aftercare) 71256 Francis Road / 985.893.9622 ymcaneworleans.org

BIG SKY RANCH Farm Camp Hands-on activities captivate as they teach about nature, animals, farming, food, and the environment.

Ages 5-15 Weeks June 5-8, June 26-29 Adult Farm Camp June 17 Hours 9AM-3PM 15442 Jack Fork Road / 504.415.0137 bigskyranch.org ZOO 2 U & PONIES 2 1 week camps and single days.

Ages 6-14 Hours 9AM-3:30PM (Before & Aftercare) 82089 Highway 25 / 504.756.1501 zoo2uparties.com

KIDCAM Summer Camps Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity.

Ages 3-13 (Field trips for children 5-13) Weeks May 30 August 04 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) Chappapeela Sports Park, 19325 Hipark Boulevard 985.237.1616 / kidcamcamp.com CAMP DISCOVERY Enrichment Camp for academically gifted/advanced students.

Ages 1st-8th grade Weeks June 05 - June 23 Hours 9AM-4PM (Before & Aftercare) Southeastern Louisiana University / 985.549.5083 southeastern.edu CAMP ENHANCEMENT Enhancement camp to assists campers with their reading and math skills. Weeks May 31 - June 22 Laboratory School,11200 N. General Pershing / 985.549.5234 southeastern.edu

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY Camp Rec Camp Rec features sports, games, fitness activities, nutrition, crafts, swimming, field trips and camp performances all designed so kids will have an absolute, total blast.

Ages 5-12 Weeks May 29 - August 04 Hours 9AM-4PM (Before & Aftercare) Student Activity Center / 985.549.5591 southeastern.edu

MADISONVILLE EQUESTRIAN CENTER Riding Camp Ages 4-16 Dates May 29 - August 04 Hours 9AM-2PM (Before & Aftercare) 135 Vista Street / 985.778.6981 madisonvilleequestriancenter.com LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BASIN MARITIME MUSEUM Aquatic Robotics Camp Ages 10-17 Dates June 05 - July 14 Hours 9AM-4PM 133 Mabel Drive / 985.845.9200 lpbmm.org

ART TIME Riding Camp Ages K-8th grades Dates May 01 - August 04 Hours Vary 705 Asbury Drive / 985.674.2023 arttime.biz BLOSSOM GIRL Arts, Crafts, Make-up, Hair, Fun and Games.

Ages 6-12 Girls Dates June 12 - June 17, July 17 - July 21 Hours 9AM-2PM 1281 N. Causeway Boulevard / 985.626.6280 blossomgirl.com CAMP GIRL BIZ Arts, Crafts, Make-up, Hair, Fun and Games.

Ages 5 and up Dates May 29 - June 30 Hours 9:30AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) 5200 Highway. 22, Suite 6 and 7 / 985.705.9288 campgirlbiz.com CEDARWOOD SCHOOL Summer Camps Camp Kaleidoscope (For Younger Campers) Ages 2-6 (entering preschool through kindergarten) Dates June 05 - July 28 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) Colossal Specialty Camps Ages Campers entering 2nd-7th grade Dates June 05 - July 28 Hours 9AM-12PM or 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) MADD Camp (Music, Art, Dance, Drama) Ages 1st-7th grade Dates June 19 - June 30, July 10 - July 21 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) 607 Heavens Drive / 985.845.7111 cedarwoodschool.com

200 years ago, in 1817, Madisonville was officially incorporated as a town in Louisiana. The Madisonville branch of the public library has been around just as long and is currently celebrating 200 Years on the Tchefuncte. An exhibit at the library celebrates individuals who influenced the town. Stepping back in time 200 years, we remember how our town came to be. I hope you have a chance to view the exhibit.

Today, in 2017, time seems to be flying by.

We celebrated New Years and then toasted King George Allan Pennington and Queen Ashley Adam Guidry at the Krewe of Tchefuncte Ball and Boat Parade. Also, the town Garden Club had a successful Spring Plant and Garden Show.

Now as the second quarter approaches, we know that it will be just as action packed.

On April 1st Madisonville Jr. High School will host a gumbo cook-off open to anyone wanting to enter a team or just to show up to support the cause. On April 19th the town will welcome and host the quarterly meeting of The St. Tammany Municipal Association.

Rounding out the month, the Madisonville Chamber will hold their general membership meeting and crawfish boil on April 27th.

In May, the riverfront will abound with activity. On May 13th everyone is encouraged to enter a team in the popular Dragon Boat Races. Then on May 20th, the chamber w ill hold their Cruisin’ the River Car Show.

In closing, I encourage everyone to visit our improved town website. It has information on all of our departments, businesses, historical homes and upcoming activities and events here in Madisonville.

JEAN PELLOAT Madisonville Mayor

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

CULINARY KIDS Cooking & Kitchen Science Camp Adventure, Science, Cooking, Crafting & Creative fun.

Ages 5-13 (divided into peer groups) Dates May 05 - June 01, June 05 - June 09, June 19 - June 23 and June 26 - June 30 Hours 9AM-3PM Autism Camp Dates June 12, 14 and 16 Hours 1PM-4PM Special Needs Camp Dates June 5, 6 and 7 Hours 1PM-4PM 915 Marigny Avenue / 985.727.5553 culinarykidsns.com

Easter is just around the corner! On Saturday, April 8th, hop on over to the Mandeville Trailhead for Easter fun at the Market from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Join us for games, arts & crafts, a petting zoo, live entertainment and face painting. We have also opened our new sandy beach, and construction will begin soon on the Florida Extension West bound lane from North Causeway to the West Approach.

Springtime is home improvement time, and we often get calls from residents who are looking for ways to lower utility bills. We are happy to offer many ways to conserve water, here are just two: First, washing dishes in a dishwasher usually conserves more water than washing dishes by hand. Running the average kitchen sink faucet for just four minutes can use the same amount of water as a conventional dishwasher, and dishwashers use between 6-16 gallons of water per cycle.

Make sure your dishwasher is full before running it to save additional water. Second, a common problem is a toilet leak. You could be wasting about 200 gallons of water every day. That would be like flushing your toilet more than 50 times for no reason. Try this experiment: Place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak. It often costs little to fix and saves on your bill month after month.

Finally, make sure to sign up for E-Briefs on the home page of our website before hurricane season begins for the latest information available during a storm.

DONALD VILLERE City of Mandeville Mayor

FRANCO’S Summer Camp Athletics, Swimming, Arts, weekly field trips, Water Slide, Games and Activities.

Ages 4-13 Dates May 29 - August 04 (10 sessions) Hours 9AM-3 PM (Before & Aftercare) 100 Bon Temps Roulé / 985.792.0200 francosmandeville.com HUNTINGTON LEARNING Get back on track this summer, helping students improve their grades and test scores. Call for more information.

1748A N. Causeway Boulevard / 985.727.0000 huntingtonhelps.com KIDCAM Summer Camp Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity.

Ages 3-13 Dates May 30 - August 04 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) Pelican Park, 63350 Pelican Drive / 985.237.1616 kidcamcamp.com LOUISIANA ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS Music Camp Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity. Ages 5-16 Dates July 10 (3 one week sessions) Hours 9AM-3PM 316 Girod Street / 985.674.2992 laapa.com MANDEVILLE SPORTS COMPLEX Summer Camp Ages 3-12 Dates May 24 - August 11 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) 23052 Highway 1088 / 985.727.7277 mandevillesportscomplex.com MANDEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS Water Wonders Camp Ages 4th-7th grade Dates June 05 - 09, June 12 - 16 Hours 8AM-4PM 1100 Mandeville High Boulevard / 985.624.3169 cityofmandeville.com

MIKE STORMS Summer Camp Ages 5-11 Dates May 23 - August 04 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) 4420 Highway 22 / 985.674.7887 stormskarate.com NORTHLAKE ACADEMY OF MUSIC Music Camp Ages 2-6 Dates June 05 - 09, June 26 - 30, July 31 - August 4 Hours 9:30AM-Noon (Optional extended day to 3PM) 375 Asbury Drive / 985.630.8112 northlakeacademyofmusic.net NORTHSHORE GYMNASTICS Tiny Tumblers Summer Jamboree Ages 3½-7 Hours 9AM-2PM Dates June 19 - August 04 (Six one week camps) 1973 6th Street / 985.624.8310 northshoregymnastics.net PELICAN ATHLETIC CLUB Summer Camps Ages 18 months-13 Dates May 24 - August 04 Hours Vary 1170 Meadowbrook Boulevard / 985.626.3706 thepac.com PRIDE, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES Positive Action Camp Ages 9th-12th grades Dates June 23 - 27, June 28 - July 2 Positive Attitude Camp Ages 7th-8th grades Dates July 18 - 21, July 22 - 25 Fontainebleau State Park / 985.727.7710 pacamp.org ST. TAMMANY ART ASSOCIATION Summer Camp Drawing, Painting, Theater Ages 6-12 Dates Vary Hours 9:30AM-2:30PM Mandeville Trailhead, 675 Lafitte Street / 985.892.8650 sttammanyartassociation.org 30 BY NINETY THEATRE Theater Camps Shakespeare Camp Ages 8-12 Dates June 19 - 23, June 26 - 30 Hours 9AM-3PM Legally Blond Musical Ages 4-8 Dates July 10 - 14, 17 - 21 Hours 9AM-3PM Ages 9-12 Hours 5PM-9PM 880 Lafayette / 844.843.3090 30byninety.com

IMAGINE Art Camps Little Hawk Day Camp, Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Soccer, Ceramics, Painting and Video Production.

Ages 3-10 Dates June 19 - August 04 Big Red Barn Creative Arts Center, 18769 Weinberger Road 985.373.0468 / bigredbarn4barn.com

CORAL REEF DIVE SHOP Two camps for kids to learn about scuba diving.

Ages 8 and up Dates July 11 - July 15 1501 Gause Blvd #7 / 985.641.9888 diveatcoralreef.com CROSSGATE Cub Camp Ages 3-4 Dates May 24 - August 18 Hours 8:30AM-1PM Pre-K Camp Ages 4-5 Dates May 24 - August 18 Hours 9AM-4PM Traditional Camp Ages 5-13 Dates May 24 - August 18 Hours 9AM-4PM 200 Military Rd and 1311 Cause Boulevard / 985.643.3500 crossgatesclub.com CSI SCIENCE CAMP Two camps for kids to learn about scuba diving.

Ages 5-11 Hours 9AM-3PM Cypress Cove Elementary / 504.232.6208 diveatcoralreef.com GYMNASTIC PLUS FUN & FITNESS Summer Camp Ages 5-12 Dates May 25 - August 07 Hours 9AM-3PM 58445 Pearl Acres Road / 985.643.0914 gymplus.net KIDCAM Summer Camp Weekly themes are action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship and creativity.

Ages 3-13 Dates May 30 - August 04 Hours 9AM-3PM (Before & Aftercare) First Christian Church,102 Christian Lane 985.237.1616 / kidcamcamp.com SLIDELL LITTLE THEATRE Youth Actors Theatre. Information not available at press time.

2024 Nellie Drive / 985.643.0556 slidelllittletheatre.org SLIDELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND ST. TAMMANY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO.1 Fit as a Firefighter Summer Camp A summer nutrition and fitness day camp that aims to build self-esteem and teach nutrition and exercise skills to local children. Fun activities teach children and their families to embrace a healthy, active lifestyle.

Ages 8-12 Dates June 05 - 09 Hours 8AM-4:30PM STFPD No.1 Training Academy, Camp Villere, 34780 South Range Road / 985.280.8820 slidellmemorial.org

*ALL CAMPS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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Audubon Aquarium

July 24 - 28

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Liuzza Land

July 31 - August 4

STORY SARAH COTTRELL PHOTOS STEPHEN MILLET

L

ike parents all over the country, I find myself rushing to cheer practice. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t have a daughter, so why am I spending a Wednesday evening at cheer practice?

There is a special reason I am here: to meet a group of young cheerleaders that come together once a week to train and compete all over the region.

The girls are all waiting in the lobby of the Mandeville Sports Complex; they are clearly excited and are chatting to the staff sharing stories of their day at school. The girls attend public schools in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Orleans parishes, and they all have special needs. It is so much more than a cheer group. For the parents, it is a place for them to come together and share information and support each other. For the girls, it is a place for them to improve their physical skills, socialize, learn to take directions in order to work as a team and, most importantly, gain self-esteem.

Jenny Singleton is the team mom. She was displaced from her home in Slidell after Katrina and moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Whilst living there she found a cheer group for

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her daughter Bailey. When she moved back to Mandeville in 2014 she looked around for a similar group but found there wasn’t one. The only thing left to do was to start her own group. Jenny reached out to Liz Guidotti who coached the Pelican Park cheer recreation team from 2001 to 2003 and formed the first competitive cheer team at Mandeville Sports Complex. Liz agreed to coach the team and has headed up the program ever since its formation. Together, Jenny and Liz found a home for the team at Mandeville Sports Complex where they train alongside other cheer teams. The Ultimate Gems is a thriving competition cheer team that calls the gym home. Jenny and Liz decided to call their team the Precious Gems. Flyers were sent out to the public schools to recruit members and the team was formed.

Liz said that when the girls get on the mat everything just comes together for the team. There are five volunteer coaches who work with the girls. Practice starts with stretching and progresses into working on their cheer routines as well as strength and coordination skills. All the girls on the team have learned to tumble and eagerly show off their tumbling

PRECIOUS GEMS The Precious Gems are looking for new members.

They welcome boys and girls seven and up. preciousgemscheer@gmail.com THE TEAM Sarah, Angelica, Deaven, Lauren, Maggie, Larissa, Bonnie, Paula, Amanda, Olivia, Cathey, Bailey, Hannah and Gabrielle.

techniques. For the girls to be able to say that they are on a cheer team gives them a great sense of pride. There is so much enthusiasm and joy in this group.

The Precious Gems team consists of 15 members traveling from Abita Springs, Covington, Mandeville, New Orleans and Ponchatoula. They train year round at the Mandeville Sports Complex. All of this training is for cheer competitions held from November to April all around the region — from Lafayette to Biloxi. Being in a setting with typical cheerleaders but having their own category allows the girls to succeed. They all are given awards at the meets. The Precious Gems also perform at events such as Relay for Life and special needs events.

After the practice, Bonnie, one of the cheerleaders, comes to talk with me. I ask her what her biggest accomplishment is and she proudly tells me that it is the ‘toe touches.’ She loves the girls on the team and hopes to be the captain one day. Bonnie is always excited to perform in front of crowds and feels it’s a blessing when she hears the cheers. On this day, I am part of that crowd and join in the cheers with this special group of girls, coaches and parents.

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LAT 30.63° N, LONG -90.18° W

T

here are not a lot of boring people who play polo. And while polo players may have vastly different backgrounds, it is a love of the game that unites them.

In the U.S., there are about 4,000 people playing under the United States Polo Association and 300 polo clubs nationwide. That’s a fairly small number. In Louisiana, we have only one club, the New Orleans Polo Club, and all of their matches are played on the Northshore.

To find out more about the game and about our local club, I talked with Doug Parsons, Segundo Ortiz and Kim McGrath. We met at Summergrove Farm outside of Folsom and sat around a table in the clubhouse.

Through the windows, green fields and hills stretched out in all directions.

Doug Parsons took up polo in the early nineties and now serves as the manager of the New Orleans Polo Club, one of the most well managed clubs in the country. He explained that polo has been played for thousands of years, likely starting as a military game to train the horses. The sport has grown into a fun experience for both the player and the spectator.

Parsons explained the thrill of the game. “You have

eight big animals reaching speeds of thirty-five miles per hour on a playing surface of three hundred yards by a hundred and sixty yards.

Polo is intense.” So intense, in fact, that a fresh Polo Pony is needed for each period of the game. These periods are called ‘chuckers’ and they last just seven minutes, but in that time the horses can sprint over two miles.

The intensity comes not only from the speed of the play. “It is a physical sport,” Parsons added. “High contact.”

Kim McGrath has a background in show jumping and thoroughbred race horses. Her own show jumping experience began at Audubon Park when she was six years of age. Now, in addition to owning Turning Point Horse Farm where she runs a competitive show barn and teaches horseback riding, McGrath is a competitive polo player.

“You have to be pretty fit to play, to ride four chuckers,” McGrath said. “I mean I do other cross training. I run.

And, still, after some of the games I’m out of breath.”

Segundo Ortiz is a softspoken professional polo player who grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where polo has a huge following. Polo players are ranked based on their handicap: the number

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THE GAME • Polo is played in periods called ‘chuckers.’ In the U.S., standard polo is a 6 chucker game. The New Orleans Polo Association plays 4 chucker polo. A chucker last 7 minutes; there is a 4½ minute break between chuckers; and halftime is 10 minutes.

THE FIELD • Polo is played on a field 300 yards long by 150 yards wide. With the end zones, it is 10 acres — the approximate area of 10 football fields. This is the largest field in any organized sport.

THE MOUNT • The Mounts, called ‘Polo Ponies,’ are full size horses with very defined traits: speed, stamina, agility and maneuverability. These horses play an integral role in the game; they account for anywhere from 70-80% of a player’s ability and worth to his/her team.

THE PLAYERS • Each team has 4 players, and each player wears the number which corresponds to their position.

Player 1 plays offense and is expected to score the goals. This player is usually the novice or weakest player on the team, but the position is one of the most difficult to play.

Player 2 is also an offensive position, but needs to be more aggressive than Player 1, as this player is expected to break up the opposition’s plays to get hold of the ball.

Player 3 is the tactical leader of the team — think football quarterback — and must be a powerful hitter to feed balls to Players 1 and 2. Player 3 also plays defense and is usually the best player on the team.

Player 4 is the primary defensive player and is expected to guard the goal and keep the opposition from scoring. Player 4 can move anywhere on the field.

Photo Jerry Cottrell

THE GEAR • The Mallet has 2 parts. The head is made of wood and is attached to the cane (stick) at an angle to make it easier to hit the ball. The cane is made of bamboo so that it is flexible and can bend during a hard hit.

• The Ball is made of hard plastic and dents a bit each time it is hit.

• Polo Plates are special, lightweight shoes for the horse. They are made of iron with an inner rim slightly higher than the outer one, making it easier for the hoof to pivot in all directions.

• The Martingale is a leather strap that runs from the nose band to the girth and keeps the horse from raising its head too high.

Photo Jerry Cottrell

of goals they can make in a game. This ranking ranges from -2 (an amateur) to a 10 (best in the world). Anyone with a handicap of 2 or higher is a professional polo player. Segundo’s current handicap is 3, although earlier in his career he played as a 6, which makes him kind of a big deal.

Not only is Ortiz a big deal on the playing field, he is an excellent polo instructor. His love of the game comes through in his instruction and is contagious for his students. Parsons encourages horseback riders who are interested in polo “to come out and take lessons.”

Ironically, with a game as intense as polo, the spectator side of the sport is laid back and relaxed. “It is a nice atmosphere,” McGrath said. “Most people just come and tailgate. So, you can bring your beverages and whatever you want to eat and watch polo.”

All three of these polo players spoke with enthusiasm about the excitement of the sport, and getting more people to take advantage of the opportunity to see it locally. “It is pretty casual,” Parsons said. “You probably saw polo in Pretty Woman or the Thomas Crowne Affair. We’re a lot more laid back than that. We do have several events during the year where people dress up, but, for the most part, it is very casual.” And except for those dress up events where polo matches are played as fundraising events, admission is free. Occasionally there are even food trucks at the games.

Parsons suggests that newcomers attend games that are announced. “It will give you a lot clearer picture of what is happening on the field.” And you may even recognize the voice.

The New Orleans Polo Club’s official announcer is Tony Bentley, the announcer at the New Orleans Fairgrounds for 25 years.

Parsons hopes that people who are intrigued by the sport will take advantage of the local connection and come check it out. You can find their schedule online at neworleanspoloclub.com.

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OPERATION ANGEL STORY CHARLES DOWDY PHOTOS SARAH COTTRELL

“The war on drugs is over. We lost.”

Covington Chief of Police Tim Lentz was driving his pickup east on I-12 when he said those words. A long-time law enforcement officer, Lentz has made his share of drug arrests.

Then a 911 call to his station in 2015 caught him off guard. His voice dropped as he continued to talk about it.

“When you listen to that call… it was on Jefferson Street.

Downtown Covington. A guy about twenty-six years old. He was overdosing on heroin.”

Chief Lentz and I were on our way to the Giving Hope Retreat in Lacombe, which is part of the New Orleans Mission.

He was explaining his change of heart when it came to law enforcement’s open war against drug abusers.

“This guy had stopped breathing. They transferred the 911 call to Acadian Ambulance and you can hear them giving his wife CPR instructions. But what hit me hard was that they had two little babies. You could hear them crying in the background.”

The authorities arrived and they used a drug called Narcan to bring the victim back. He was transported to a local hospital, treated and released. Lentz continued the story.

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“Well, our police officers were waiting to arrest him. Then they go back to the house and arrest the wife. They call DCFS [Department of Children & Family Services] and have the kids taken away. And I’m sitting there wondering, what did we just accomplish? We’ve broken up a family. As a law enforcement officer, I have come to realize that we can’t arrest ourselves out of a problem. This is more of a disease than a crime. We put two people suffering from this disease in jail and took their kids away. At the end of the day, what did we accomplish?”

Lentz decided law enforcement needed a new tactic. He wondered if the answer was to keep drug users out of the criminal justice system, finding a way to help them before they did anything that got them arrested. Then Lentz stumbled on a program from Massachusetts called Operation Angel. A police chief there decided to offer help instead of handcuffs. He started the program that Lentz and the rest of St Tammany’s police chiefs have since adopted. Basically, if someone is willing to walk into a police station, surrender their drugs and ask for help, then no questions will be asked, and police will facilitate getting that person on the road to recovery. This was a daunting offer considering many of the drug users were indigent, without

insurance or resources. And it led Lentz to a partnership with A drug dealer had put him in a local hotel room. Richard the Giving Hope Retreat, which had just opened in Lacombe. finally got desperate enough to step away.

Large pieces of modular housing were sitting on trailers “So, I just walked right down the middle of 190. Cars were along the dirt drive when we pulled in. We were later told this going around me. Finally, a sheriff pulled in. Then another. would assemble to become a big kitchen. The Giving Hope And I just explained to them that I had been up for five or Retreat is very much a work in progress, not unlike the people six days smoking crack. I was miserable, seeing things, hadn’t it serves. People stay there voluntarily. At any point, someone eaten or showered.” seeking help from the Giving Hope Retreat can walk away.

Richard ended up in the back of an ambulance, but not Giving Hope Director Matt Mays had a smile that didn’t before one of the deputies told him about Operation Angel. reflect the pain he saw daily, nor his own background. Like He said the paramedic who treated him in the ambulance also many who chose to serve in this field, Mays has his own dark mentioned Operation Angel. Richard still had insurance. He personal experiences. At 17 or 18, Mays said he left home. was treated at a local hospital and then released. Richard said “I was the true prodigal son. It wasn’t another country, it was he did not know what to do or where to go. another state. But I lived another life. I did a lot of the same “I was just walking and there was this nice, grassy area on the things these guys do that land them in this program.” corner of somebody’s yard. I just laid down on the grass. So Mays said a renewal of his faith helped turn his life around. exhausted. I just wanted to go to sleep.”

“It hasn’t been perfect and it hasn’t been free of struggle. It At this point, from the other side of the table, Tim Lentz hasn’t meant that I haven’t messed up. That I haven’t sinned and said, “I remember this.” didn’t relapse those first couple of years.”

Richard continued. “Man, I’m about to doze off and a But Mays said his own accountability to the people around lady pulls up. She asks if I’m OK. She could see the hospital him was a powerful motivation for staying clean. He also spoke band and I just told her I had been using. She asked if she about his community of faith. He could call someone and I said there called these the pillars of his recovery, was nobody. I walked away from and he said they are some of the same a job. I left everything behind. I’m beliefs they use to help people who miserable and I don’t have anyone show up at the Giving Hope Retreat. you can call.”

Faith and a treatment facility with Lentz looked at his phone as he no walls. Can the power of belief cut in. “Saturday, September twentyand the support of people who are fourth at ten-thirty in the morning.” in the same boat win against drugs?

“Was it that early?” Richard The man we had come to see was asked. He seemed confused halfway through his treatment that Lentz knew this part of his program. This man admitted that story. Lentz asked Richard if he Tim Lentz he had been struggling. In fact, he remembered the woman’s name.

Covington Chief of Police said he’d been ready to walk the He did not. Richard did remember night before, until he was told that that the woman said she and her we wanted to hear his story. And he wanted to tell it. We sat husband were recovering addicts and asked him if he had around a conference room table: Tim Lentz, Matt Mays and ever heard of Operation Angel. a man named Richard.

As tears began to flow Richard said he told the woman, By appearance Richard looked like a young grandfather “You’re about the fourth person who has mentioned you might see at a park in Covington. Or someone who might Operation Angel. And she said to me, ‘If I call the Covington help you at a pharmacy in Slidell. Or a fellow commuter Police right now they won’t arrest you. They’ll come get you waiting in line to make his daily trip across the Causeway and they’ll take you to the New Orleans Mission.’ I had been from Mandeville. Maybe he hung his head a little, like he was running so long. I didn’t care anymore. She called them. bearing an unseen weight, but what he did not look like to the They came. They didn’t cuff me. They asked me a couple casual observer was someone whose life has been ravaged by questions. They were nice.” drugs. Oddly, no one at Giving Hope really did.

Richard was on his way to getting help. But in that conference Cocaine was the problem for much of Richard’s life. Like room six months later he admitted he was still struggling. This many trying to get clear of drug abuse, Richard’s path had been was a man tortured by what his body wanted and what his filled with starts and stops. Church congregations, organizations mind knew he didn’t need. and individuals have all made powerful impacts on him, but he Lentz said Richard’s story is a common one. Drugs are always found his way back to drugs. everywhere and easily obtainable. He also said he remains About six months ago, Richard had a job and a girlfriend. alarmed by how widespread the opioid problem has become.

He had been on the road and came back to St Tammany for a He said there were 5 homicides in St Tammany last year. quick weekend off. He ended up using.

During that same period, he said as many as fifty-five people “This wasn’t a couple day binge,” Richard said. “This thing died from opioid-poly overdoses. I asked Lentz why so many went on for weeks and I couldn’t stop.” people were having problems.

“The war on drugs is over.

We lost.”

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Director Mike Mays meets with Chief Tim Lentz at the Giving Hope Retreat.

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

OPERATION ANGEL 504.523.2116 neworleansmission.org

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EDGE April | May 2017

“I’ll use myself as an example,” Lentz said. “This past July I had shoulder surgery. After that they handed me a script for 90 Oxycontin pills. I took six of them. My shoulder had issues.

I had to go back in for another surgery two months later. I got the same script for another 90 Oxycontin pills. People start on these pills and they get hooked and then their doctor cuts them off. They’ve developed an addiction to these opioids and now heroin is cheap. It is easy to acquire. And once you put that needle in your arm, it is done.”

Lentz has been telling his story about Operation Angel around the region. The Metropolitan Crime Commission awarded the Covington Police Department an Excellence in Policing Award for Operation Angel. And Covington Mayor Mike Cooper, who worked with Lentz on a recent fundraising event to raise money for Operation Angel, said, “I commend Chief Lentz for recognizing the drug problem and seeking a remedy. Chief Lentz engaged law enforcement agencies in our region to join the cause which resulted in providing an immediate impact for addicts needing help.” Another local law enforcement officer also praised the effort, while at the same time bemoaning the amount of resources compared to the size of the drug problem.

Maybe the solutions that anyone offers to our drugs problems are as imperfect as we are. But the war on drugs is being redefined, maybe even surrendered, by some of the warriors themselves. By men like Tim Lentz, who doesn’t necessarily seek to make the path better, but, instead, wants to try a different one.

During our time at Giving Hope there was a young man in a field by himself. He was flying a kite. Or trying to. The wind

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

The Covington Police Department received the 2017 Excellence in Law Enforcement Award for Operation Angel from the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

was not cooperating. He would jog for a while and the kite would soar through the air. Then he would get tired. When he slowed down, the kite would fall toward the ground.

As you read this Richard might have gone back to his drug abuse, not soaring high like a kite above life’s fray but crawling through the mud of society’s underbelly. Maybe, as Lentz contends, it has happened because Richard is sick. Richard was aware of what he’s lost and who he’s lost and what he’s missed.

And he felt guilty about the people who have tried to help him along the way: the religious leader at Giving Hope Retreat who had been on the same path as Richard but found a way off, the well to do woman who battles her own demons and stopped to help a stranger on the side of the road, and the cop who wanted to try something different and hopes he doesn’t have to put a person like Richard in jail.

Lentz, while he was with Richard, was a man comfortable with his own faith. The two of them spoke of the power of prayer and the hope of better days ahead. There were no admonishments from a lawman, no pick yourself up and fly straight. Only the comfortable sharing of expressions of faith, a hand on a hurting man’s shoulder, and the quiet acknowledgment of the struggles ahead.

Lentz appears to have waged a new kind of war: war on a disease, and this may be a war we can win.

Before we left the Giving Hope Retreat that day Lentz passed Richard his business card. He said it had his personal cellphone number on it. Chief Lentz told Richard to call him if he ever found himself in a bad spot. Lentz has given up the war on drugs, but he’s not giving up on people like Richard.

Greetings! On behalf of the City of Covington, I would like to wish everyone a joyous spring and Easter Season filled with reflection and family times that create lasting memories. This time of year brings many celebrations, thoughts of gratitude, and new beginnings.

Around Covington, the warm weather brings with it numerous ways to enjoy the outdoors. I invite all of you to enjoy our annual spring events and the fundraisers that benefit Youth Service Bureau, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington Rotary Club and other great organizations and non-profits.

Springtime is the perfect chance to enjoy bike riding on the Tammany Trace, kayaking on the Bogue Falaya River, or meandering through our quaint downtown to enjoy the many restaurants and shops. I would like to remind everyone to visit the City of Covington’s website at covla.com and our Facebook page: City of Covington - Office of Cultural Arts & Events. There you will find information about Covington, local events, and a full events calendar.

In closing, I would like to congratulate the graduating seniors of our local high schools. I wish all of you the best and feel hopeful that our community has provided a strong foundation for your future endeavors. As always, it is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of my hometown.

MIKE COOPER City of Covington Mayor

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T U RT L E C OV E Nestled in the wetlands’ aquatic environment on Pass Manchac, where the freshwater meets the salt, is Southeastern Louisiana University’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station. Field research as well as education and outreach programs have been administered by the university at Turtle Cove since 1981.

“This is a special region because it has a lot of environmental aspects tied to the culture,” said Dr. Robert Moreau, manager of Turtle Cove.

Home to a wide variety of ecological and environmental research and education programs, Turtle Cove is actively developing into a facility that is nationally recognized through four prioritized goals — scholarly research, university teaching, teacher training and public service.

Southeastern uses the facility for university classes and graduate student research, as well as collaborating with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Along with education programs through the university, the facility is also used for professional research through opportunities like the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Research Program. Turtle Cove also offers field trips for K-12 and other community groups.

Turtle Cove houses several lake skiffs and canoes that are available for use by station visitors, and field trip tours are taken on the Turtle Cove Pontoon Boat. Holding tanks and microscopes along with other field equipment are also accessible to visitors at the research station.

Located at the upper end of the Lake Pontchartrain estuarine ecosystem, the facility is in close proximity to various pristine restored wetland environments ranging from fresh

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STORY KATIE-RUTH PRIEST PHOTOS DR. MURRAY PENDARVIS

to saline, including bottomland hardwood forests, cypress swamps and marshes.

“The health of the environment is going to greatly impact the health of humans, and so, it’s very important to understand our relationship within a greater natural environment,” said Dr. Moreau.

Through education grants, advanced middle school and high school students can receive hands-on training of wetlands studies. These students can also monitor experiments being conducted by Southeastern faculty and graduate students.

“This region and this environment have a great story to tell,” explains Dr. Moreau. Only accessible by boat, Turtle Cove was once a private hunting and fishing lodge constructed by a businessman, logger and outdoorsman from New Orleans. The three-story virgin cypress wood building, built in 1908, is now used for a research facility, living quarters that sleep up to 15 people and classrooms.

Future plans for Turtle Cove include facility development comprised of a new research and education building and additional housing facilities for both students and researchers.

Turtle Cove has seen great success over the years through educational opportunities and research and restoration projects.

Because of Turtle Cove, both university and K-12 students have the opportunity for hands-on learning experiences with numerous species in a natural environment.

“I think the great success that Turtle Cove has had over the past 20 to 25 years has been the widespread interdisciplinary use of the facility,” said Dr. Moreau.

Photo courtesy of Turtle Cove/SLU

Photo Jerry Cottrell

Photo Jerry Cottrell

TURTLE COVE is an exemplary ambassador representing the Manchac region to educational institutions and the community as a whole. Its facilities provide visitors with a variety of unique opportunities and insights including through photography, ecological studies, historical tales, and aesthetic wonders.

Turtle Cove is a natural wonderland for nature photography. It provides the photographer with a host of subjects from ecosystems to the microscopic world. Yes, there is a unique beauty in those weebeasties and ornate algae. Looking at the biological diversity around Manchac with a critical eye makes one appreciate the complexities and interrelationships of the biological world. If I had to choose a favorite subject to photograph at Turtle Cove, it would certainly be the birds. They are beautiful and present a challenge to photographers.

The great thing about teaching biology is that nature is at your fingertips. With all of the senses attuned, even a walk around the block can be very fascinating. Turtle Cove takes things to the next level. Not only do my students enjoy getting out of the traditional classroom, they enjoy the Turtle Cove experience. The sights and sounds are intriguing. Even my friend, co-author, and accomplished nature photographer John Crawley from Utah is captivated by the diversity of life found within the swamp at Manchac. selu.edu/turtlecove

“The health of the environment is going to greatly impact the health of humans.”

Dr. Robert Moreau Manager of Turtle Cove

DR. MURRAY PENDARVIS Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

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Photo courtesy of Brian Bagley

My turn:

by Brian Bagley

ABOUT BRIAN BAGLEY Brian Bagley started in the restaurant business back in high school. He got his first managing gig at Sullivan’s Steak House in Baton Rouge. Now he is the mastermind behind BourrÊ Restaurant in Mandeville.

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EDGE April | May 2017

THE SHACK 1204 W 21st Ave. Covington, LA 70433 theshackcovington.com 985.888.6288

The Shack is one of those hidden gems with an eclectic and comfortable atmosphere. I went to The Shack on a Saturday for a lunch date. We had the duck quesadillas to start, and they were delicious. We followed that with a Caesar Salad, which was interesting because they used kale and a vinaigrette instead of traditional Caesar, which was really good. It was fresh and light and a nice, different take on it. Then, for the main course, we went with the Cuban Sandwich which is served with black beans on the side. It was exactly what you would want from a Cuban — it was really well done. You could tell the barbecue was smoked — the smoke flavor really came through — and they used a nice spicy whole grain mustard. There was a nice press on it, but the bread wasn’t too crispy. I was going to work later that afternoon, so we drank tea and water but there was a nice-looking bar off to one side of the room.

The staff was good to us. They were knowledgeable about the food and told us the day’s specials when we sat down. The entire meal was an experience worth repeating for sure. We sat inside, but I did get to go around back to check out the Shack Yard which is really cool. The Shack was a great culinary experience and I recommend it not only for lunch, but also for dinner — inside or out.

The Shack serves fresh refined comfort food in a funky, family friendly atmosphere. They smoke all of their meat in-house and offer gluten free options on their menu. The Shack is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 until 9 and on Sunday for brunch from 10 until 3. The Shack Yard offers music and outdoor dining, it’s a perfect place to bring the children or hang out on game day. Featuring a sand pit and games for the children and a big screen TV in the outdoor bar area. Opening hours vary.

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JJ Martinez, AuD., FAAA Board Certified in Audiology

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Making Memories STORY STEPHANIE MILLER MURPHY

Stephanie Miller Murphy, CTA is the owner of Miller Murphy Travel — an affiliate of Brownell Travel and Virtuoso. Miller Murphy Travel specializes in custom travel experiences for families around the globe.

MILLER MURPHY TRAVEL millermurphytravel.com stephanie@millermurphytravel.com 985.727.5577

Take a moment to think back to your childhood vacations. Is there one memory that stood out over the years as your favorite? Are there several?

Most adults remember vacations from a very young age. In fact, many of these memories are significantly stronger than memories of school events or even birthday parties.

Travel has always been an important part of my life.

As a child, I was fortunate to experience yearly road trips with my family, camping in beautiful parks and forests the majority of the way. Over the course of several years we covered 38 states. My love for everything outdoors and my passion for animals was cultivated by these experiences as a child.

As a young adult, I began traveling to Europe with my mother. These first international trips were the beginning of my true awareness of the world. What I learned on these international travel experiences could never have been learned from a textbook and these experiences jump started my lifelong passion for travel.

The trend for many years was for parents to put their travel bucket list on hold until their children had flown the coop. Today we have a completely different dynamic

with family travel. The Baby Boomers are healthier, wealthier and more active than any other generation in our history. They were given the chance to travel as children and now want to provide their own children with the same opportunities.

Today it is not uncommon for families to take international vacations together with three, even four generations of family members. Children as young as four to five years old recognize the differences in cultures by trying the food, listening to accents and experiencing time zones. Exposing kids to international travel enhances their development, broadens their horizons and shapes them into world citizens.

It also helps young children become flexible, independent travelers as they enter their teenage years.

Geographically, families live farther away from each other than at any time in history. Multigenerational vacations bring families together. We live in a fast paced, highly digital world. Travel is one of the few experiences that provides families with the chance to unplug and spend quality time together. Families that travel together have the opportunity to share family wisdom and history while creating lifelong memories.

The planning process is particularly important with an international vacation that will include a broad age range of family members. Finding the right itinerary, destination and type of accommodations that will keep everyone comfortable and engaged is key. Families should take the time well in advance of their travels to include everyone in the planning process.

Once you are on vacation, everyone traveling should play a part. Vacations require leaders and role players. Who’s driving? Who’s cooking? Who’s paying? Families should establish these roles early to avoid awkward moments and disagreements. Choosing a main point person is recommended. Too many cooks in the vacation-planning kitchen is a recipe for indecision and hurt feelings.

Figure out the finances early on in the planning process.

Consider everyone’s budget and make sure to discuss who is paying for what well in advance. There are many ways to accommodate varying budgets on the same vacation such as having different levels of hotel rooms available.

Families should also consider the activity level and mobility of all family members, as well as any dietary restrictions and medical conditions. Also, ensure that the travel itinerary accommodates all ages of family members. It is much more difficult to travel with strollers, car seats, wheelchairs and walkers than a purse and roller bag! Renting a house or villa may be an easier, more intimate option. Having a full-sized kitchen and a dining room is very convenient, especially when lots of young children are involved. Have each family host a cooking night and pass on a favorite family recipe.

There are several ways to keep the peace while traveling as a multigenerational family. Don’t overtax the grandparents! Their idea of a vacation may not involve staying with the grandkids every night while mom and dad go out. Schedule enough free time that everyone can take a break and go their separate ways. Even the closest families will get on each other’s nerves eventually.

Pack a great attitude! If unforeseen events happen, stay flexible and positive. Children can learn important life lessons from watching how the adults in their lives react to challenges while traveling.

Include special moments on a family vacation such as celebrations for birthdays or anniversaries. Take time for family photos. Hiring a professional photographer is worth every penny. Everyone should try and spend a little time with each family member individually. Most importantly, enjoy and have fun. This should be the easy part with the right planning.

There are several current trends with multigenerational family travel including Voluntourism. There are a lot of families going on vacation with the sole purpose of social responsibility. Grandparents are getting to experience the chance to give back with their children and grandchildren.

Green is the new black when it comes to multigenerational vacations. Families are taking trips that help the local economy. They are choosing destinations such as Costa Rica to teach the family the value of sustainability.

Baby Boomers today do not think of themselves as aging.

Boomers are healthier than ever and as a result, adventure travel has gained popularity with multigenerational families. Taking a bucket list trip — such as an African safari or a trip to Australia — is a popular trend.

Escorted Family Tours and European River Cruises are also growing in popularity for families. With an Escorted Family Tour your group will travel with a tour director, so you can sit back and enjoy the trip.

Cruising always offers a tremendous value for multigenerational family trips. One price includes all accommodations, meals, activities and entertainment on board the ship and kids’ programs. When you pick the right cruise company and ship, you will not hear “I’m bored” from your kids or your parents. Cruising is not generic. The right product is key!

Families cannot start planning soon enough when it comes to multigenerational international vacations. A minimum of 6–8 months to plan is recommended. Working with a travel professional to plan your family vacation will ensure that all family dynamics are taken into consideration.

Traveling together as a family is worth the effort.

These experiences create lifelong memories and fond family legacies.

Coming This Summer...

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Madisonville Animal Hospital is proud to feature Companion Animal Therapeutic Laser Therapy – a drug free way to treat injuries, wounds and arthritis for those older pets that have slowed down.

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Photos courtesy of Dan Cobb

1. East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce Membership Awards and Appreciation Event, Starry Starry Nights celebrated 2016 Members of the Year and the chamber being awarded Louisiana Large Chamber of the Year.

2. Hammond Regional Arts Center’s newest fundraising event “Art of Cocktail” kicked off its inaugural year with “spirited” creations from 10 local mixologist teams.

3. Covington Celtic Club inaugural St. Patrick’s Parade and Celebration took place in downtown Covington.

4. Covington Lion’s Mardi Gras Parade featuring Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser as the 2017 Honorary Grand Marshal.

5. Congratulations to Salmen High School Cheerleaders on winning the National High School Cheerleading Championship title.

6. St. Paul’s Senior cross country runner Eric Coston was named Gatorade Louisiana Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

7. Bailey Smoorenburg reads EDGE of the Lake from the edge of the Arctic Circle near the Lofoten Islands, Norway.

Please send photos for Around the Lake to edgepublisher@yahoo.com

80’s, 90’s, Today and Everything Northshore

Wylklake on Facebook @lake94point7 985-867-5990