EDGE of the Lake December 2016 | January 2017

P E O P L E

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M U S I C

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H E A LT H

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A R T

DECEMBER 2016 | JANUARY 2017

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F O O D

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T R A V E L

Funky…Family Freindly Atmosphere

Food Made to Order with Fresh Ingredients

Come in & Take Off!

Open for Lunch & Dinner

Check Facebook for Daily Specials

Blue Plate Specials

Happy Hour 4-6 Tuesday - Thursday

Fast…Friendly Service

Catering Available

Shackyard

Play Safely in Fully Enclosed Yard Games for Kids Great for groups and booster clubs

Watch the Game Live Music on Friday • 6-8pm Patio Bar Dining at its Best

Sunday Brunch • 10am-3pm Tuesday - Thursday • 11am-9pm • • • Friday & Saturday • 11am-10pm Text SHACKTASTIC to 51660 & receive 10% off your next visit

theshackcovington.com • 985.888.6288 • dine in or take out • 1204 W. 21st • covington greatfood@theshackcovington.com

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A HEALTHY YOU EATING HEALTHY NEVER TASTED SO GOOD

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MICHAEL EDDY

FROM THE HEART

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GNARLY BARLEY LOCAL BREW

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ERICA SPINDLER KILLER WRITER

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SPORTSMAN’S EDGE REEL FUN

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CUTTING EDGE OF FASHION

THE SEW MUST GO ON

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GIVING BACK STRONGER TOGETHER

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GO FOR IT! THE DREAM WORLD

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MAKING MUSIC STUDIO IN THE COUNTRY

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RESTAURANT MY TURN BY: PAT GALLAGHER

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WORTH A DRIVE REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

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‘TIS THE SEASON HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

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GETAWAY BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

Glass and concrete sculpture by artist Michael Eddy page 12

THE NEW TASTE OF MEXICO Traditional & Specialty Mexican Dishes with an El Salvador Flair ent d u st SLU ount 7 k disc a wee s day

Maurepas

18780 Hwy 22 225.698.9378

HAPPY HOUR Mon. - Fri. 3pm - 7pm

Hammond

45653 University Ave. 985.429.1344

LOT S PAR OF KIN G

Denham Springs Coming Feb. 2017

PUBLISHER Sarah Cottrell

Welcome to the all new EDGE of the Lake! Every issue we will bring out a fresh, edgy look at the parishes north of the lake, from opinions about local issues to interviews with the unique mix of people who live here. Our editorial staff and photographers will seek out what is happening around us and share those stories with our readers.

We are so excited and proud to share our first issue with you. To say it took a village is an understatement. The support and encouragement from our community has been overwhelming. We are truly humbled by everyone’s support. And a big thank you to all who worked on this first issue. From the talents of our art director, Fernanda Kirk, our writers, photographers and our account executives, this would not have been possible without their professionalism, commitment and vision.

So take a look around and let us know what you think. We are already hard at work on issue number two and we have some great things coming your way. For now, we hope you enjoy our inaugural issue, and thank you to everyone for their encouragement and support.

THE EDGE TEAM

EDITOR Keyser Söze ART DIRECTOR Fernanda Chagas Kirk STYLE DIRECTOR Patty Beal COPY EDITOR Katie-Ruth Priest TRAVEL WRITER Elizabeth Kennedy Wells CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kim Bergeron Sarah Cottrell Paul Chauvin Charles Dowdy Angie Eddy Feemster Sarah Herndon Ann Joyce STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jerry Cottrell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Yehleen Bacalso-Gaffney Fernanda Chagas Kirk SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVES Eloise Cottrell Rick Clasen ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca Blossman-Ferran Erin Bolton Daniel Calmes D’Ann Davis Lisa Jones Michelle Wallis-Croas

ON THE COVER Sunrise on the lake Photo Jerry Cottrell

The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted

by EDGE Publishing ©2016 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

We enjoy receiving awards and recognition from our peers, but the joy we get from seeing positive outcomes for patients is our true reward. We achieve those positive results thanks to the dedication of our nurses. On their behalf, we’re proud to announce that STPH is one of only three hospitals in the state to achieve the Pathway to Excellence® from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. We’re also excited to have received our third consecutive Women’s Choice Award for Heart Care & Obstetrics.

OUR NURSES ARE TRUE CHAMPIONS.

A member of

Health Network

#Rewards Vs Awards | (985) 898-4000 | stph.org

Photo Fernanda Chagas Kirk

Eatin never t so SARAH HERNDON

SUPER SEVEN SALAD* Kale, spinach, purple cabbage, spring mix, grape tomatoes, garbanzo beans, broccoli slaw, shaved brussels sprouts, sliced beets, toasted pumpkin seeds, golden raisins, feta cheese, panko-crusted goat cheese, served with Bragg’s vinaigrette.

For a complete listing of the Eat Fit Northshore restaurants and to access the Eat Fit app, please visit www.ochsnereatfit.com. *Available at Coffee Rani (all locations)

There is no doubt that Louisiana is well-known for its rich, savory dishes such as gumbo and crawfish étouffée, and its hearty po-boy and muffuletta sandwiches. However, the state’s rates of chronic disease are higher than the national average and many of the population are struggling to keep their blood pressure and cholesterol at normal levels.

Molly Kimball, a registered dietician with Ochsner, was prompted to create a program to address this. Many of her clients with blood pressure and cholesterol issues were asking her for appropriate food suggestions for dining out in New Orleans. As a result of this, Eat Fit NOLA was formed. Now, three years later, this well-received initiative has partnered with over 80 NOLA restaurants to provide better access to healthier meal and beverage options.

Kimballl’s program is now reaching across the lake. At the same time Ochsner sought a larger footprint in the Northshore community, the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Community Wellness Center received a grant from the National WIC Association (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children).

One goal of the grant was to develop access to nutritious food options in the community. The Eat Fit Northshore initiative began earlier this year, and

while its original plan was to collaborate with only seven local restaurants, they are now partnered with 16 chefs in the Mandeville and Covington area.

“We worked around the ingredients they already had and suggested healthy substitutions. We wanted to help these chefs see what they could do to make what they were already offering better for their customers,” says Joey Skinner, nutritionist and Eat Fit Northshore Ambassador.

While Joey thought that this would be a hard sell, it turned out to be just the reverse. Most of the chefs were very amenable to tweaking their recipes, as many had health problems of their own.

The changes can be very simple, such as reducing the sodium level in a hot sauce used as an ingredient, while trying not to interfere too much with existing recipes.

“We have a lot of respect for their dishes and we try to maintain that level of integrity with them,” says Molly.

Coffee Rani is one of the collaborating Eat Fit Northshore restaurants. While their menu is already based on this healthier lifestyle premise, directly aligning some of their options with the Eat Fit criteria has been very helpful.

“Often times, our customers ask us for our guidance when they come into the restaurant and they have really

ng healthy tasted good enjoyed it being spelled out for them. The program has made it very easy for them to order,” says Angèle Darling, owner of the Mandeville Coffee Rani.

The black and white Eat Fit logo can be easily seen on the menu of participating restaurants, denoting what foods would be the better option for those with diet restrictions and health concerns. There are also Eat Fit cocktails and appetizers, and one Northshore restaurant, Trey Yuen, even offers a choice of nutritious kids’ meals.

As if this was not easy enough for the consumer, there is an app, of course: The Fit NOLA powered by Eat Fit NOLA app where everything having to do with wellness throughout the community can be found. This includes information such as yoga and fitness classes, as well as a complete listing of the Eat Fit restaurants with a nutrition guide for each of their healthier menu options.

Sandy Matthews, Director of the Community Wellness Center at STPH, is excited to be part of Eat Fit Northshore and is hopeful that the community will embrace this initiative and be open to changing their lifestyle.

“Promoting Eat Fit is fifty percent working with the restaurants to identify healthy options and put the logo on their menu, and it’s fifty percent education and motivating people to want to make that choice,” adds Molly.

GRILLED REDFISH BOBO* Pan seared redfish with blackened seasoning and browned butter served with zucchini, tomatoes and shredded yellow squash.

LETTER FROM THE PARISH PRESIDENT

GET OUTSIDE St. Tammany Parish is flanked by Lake Pontchartrain on the southern end of the Parish and exquisite countryside on the northern end of the Parish. Our quality of life is exceptional. We have the best of both worlds for the person who is a serious adventurer and for the person who enjoys the occasional reminder of the brilliance of nature.

Every day, the Tammany Trace opens at sunrise.

We encourage every person to carve out some time to explore this outdoor gem set among the tall trees and natural surroundings of our community. It is a place where families can experience quality time in an outdoor setting, on a historical Rails to Trails conversion and getting to know a large portion of St. Tammany — one community at a time.

The St. Tammany Fishing Pier, near Slidell, is open Wednesday through Sunday during seasonal hours which vary. Every Wednesday, senior citizens and active or retired military fish for only $1. Every Sunday is Grandparent’s Day, and grandparents fish for $1 when they bring at least one grandchild. Pier patrons have boasted redfish, flounder, speckled trout and blue crab as some of their fresh catches of the day.

Camp Salmen Nature Park offers an outdoor classroom for the nature lover and wildlife enthusiast. Set on the banks of Bayou Liberty, Camp Salmen has walking trails and a 5,334-square-foot boundless playground that can accommodate both special needs and able-bodied children. The bayou-side amphitheater and three pavilions situated throughout the park are available for rent by calling 985.867.5095 or 985.898.3011.

To learn more, visit www.stpgov.org/getoutside.

No matter how you choose to embrace our temperate seasons, I encourage you to get outside and experience all that St. Tammany has to offer.

PAT BRISTER St. Tammany Parish President

125 Lake Drive Covington 985 327 7111 1915 S. Morrison Blvd.

Hammond 985 345 8550

NOW OPEN! 631 N Causeway Blvd Mandeville, LA 70448

125 E 21st Ave Covington, LA 70433

ANGIE EDDY FEEMSTER

Michael Eddy From the heART

It’s that wonderful time of year when Fall meets Fest, and Covington’s Three Rivers Art Festival never disappoints. Each year, 200 artists come to this quaint town from ‘around the corner’ and as far away as the West Coast to enjoy the opportunity to share their craft with thousands of art lovers. Covington, which has reinvented and revived itself over the years, truly appreciates and welcomes art in all forms and holds dear their local, as well as visiting, artists.

One local artist, Michael Eddy, born and raised in Covington, was a cheeky, outgoing kid when the town was quiet and unassuming. He grew up alongside our town, as it was growing up alongside him. I know this because I am Michael’s sister. When I left Covington to travel the world with my Army husband in 1991, I returned year after year to a transformation not only in my small town, but also in my brother, as he rediscovered and grew with his talent, his bliss.

Michael grew up with art. Our grandmother graduated from Newcomb College in 1940 with a degree in art. Art is in his blood and art embraced his soul. In 2007, after some distractions from the art world, he finished his art degree at Southeastern Louisiana University and worked on his senior project. Michael says, his “art had been dormant for a long time, so going back to school was an opportunity to get back into it, and it unleashed all sorts of pent up creativity that had been meaning to come out for a long time.”

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EDGE Dec 2016 | Jan 2017

Michael’s glass and concrete sculptures were mind-blowing, edgy and awe-inspiring. “The dichotomy of fragility versus strength, putting something so fragile with something so structurally sound was like pushing the envelope, but yet preserving the fragile glass with the concrete and supporting the structural integrity of the concrete at the same time, or at least the illusion that this is happening, makes people step back and really think.” It was this senior project, his first collection, offered at his first Three Rivers showing, that catapulted Michael’s reputation as an artist to be taken seriously. He was honored with the “Best in Show” award that year, and he has been steady-going since.

The 2016 Three Rivers Art Festival was his 6th year as a juried artist in the festival.

Participating in Covington’s Three Rivers Art Festival obviously holds a special place in his heart, so I asked him more about it. “What makes Three Rivers Art Festival so special is the general charm of the layout of the city, and the original structures which are works of art all on their own. The historic district is special, easy on the eyes, and the organizers of Three Rivers really take care of and support the artists and want them to succeed and return year after year. It’s just a perfect, synergistic combination that brings the community together.”

Photo Jerry Cottrell

Photo courtesy of Michael Eddy

Michael’s art continuously reinvents itself making him sort of a renaissance man. His inspiration builds upon itself, and he’s always coming up with something new — a new medium whether it be sculpture, jewelry, block printing, photography or “functional art,” like his concrete and glass countertops. His imagination is boundless. From time to time, customers come up with their own ideas and give Michael free reign to bring their ideas to artistic reality. Much of his work is based on commissions during and after a weekend festival such as Three Rivers or Jazz Fest. Some customers appreciate his old-style rough, asymmetrical sculptures and others enjoy his polished contemporary pieces.

When describing his sculptures, he says, “The color, the glass, is a

representation of life as flowing and constantly changing. The concrete is the constant in life. Like when you see a stained glass window and the sun shines through the glass throughout the year. That filtered colored light is going to shine differently at different times of the year in that constant environment.

It’s representative of how things are not always constant — everything is always changing and moving around, shifting and compensating, but concrete isn’t always constant either.

It’s always curing and moving and getting stronger even 20 years after it’s been poured… until it’s been compromised by something else.”

In the last few years, Michael has brought that dichotomy of elements to his jewelry collection which has become very popular at Three Rivers. There’s nothing quite like his

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

Photo Jerry Cottrell

wearable art with an industrial quality.

“There’s a lot of metal manipulation, reshaping, cutting and etching. I use a cold connection technique (micro fasteners) instead of using heat via soldering.” His jewelry is edgy, much like his sculpture, combining fragile light filtered through firm metal. Some of his most sought after items are the locally inspired pieces, such as his Louisiana and NOLA pendants. Not only have locals enjoyed wearing these Louisiana spirit pieces, but many displaced locals, like myself, have picked up these pieces as gifts or to satisfy homesickness for their cherished home.

If you study Michael’s art long enough, you’ll realize there’s a repeating element in many of his pieces — the heart. Attracting more customers, these pieces catch their eye and effectively grab a hold of their own heart. Love is what inspired Michael to be an artist, and love is what keeps him creating and enjoying his craft in the place he calls home. After all, home really is where the heart is, and I can vouch for that.

Michael started teaching parttime in 2010 in the Talented Arts Program, and he now works full-time at Covington High School as the Talented Arts teacher. It was a dream job offer. This is a special program to him because he too was a student in the program beginning in 4th grade. “I was

one of the first Talented Arts students in the program, and here I am today working alongside some of the same art teachers that taught me when I was in high school. It’s truly a full circle experience for me.”

“I love working with these kids.

I have 24 kids all with varying personalities and backgrounds, but with a common investment in the program. Many of them have been in the program for a long time; they know how it works, and they want to achieve the most that they can in order to get the most out of the program.

They are so much fun. We have a good chemistry and an element of humor and fun balanced with the seriousness of getting the grade. I can completely relate to where they are coming from — the awkwardness and challenges they face in high school.” For Michael, looking back at being a product of the program he says, “It was a saving grace. It kept me on the straight and narrow — kept me out of trouble — especially during the most challenging times in my high school life.”

Michael plans to be at Palmer Park Art Market for their upcoming holiday events, which is always a good time.

He is currently on the waitlist for the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival in March, with Jazz Fest right behind that. 2017 will mark Michael’s 8th year at Jazz Fest.

On behalf of the City of Covington, I would like to welcome Edge of the Lake as the newest publication for the citizens of the Northshore.

I am excited to be a part of the first issue of a new source for community news and events in our area.

Covington has much going on this 4th quarter of the year. We are “finishing strong” with many projects underway including the 15th Avenue bridge at Mile Branch, drainage and roadway improvements on 15th Avenue in River Forest and the 2016 roadway improvement project which includes overlaying over 5 miles of streets in our neighborhoods.

With the holiday season upon us, I would like to ask everyone to please take part in our upcoming festivities which include The Farmers Market every Saturday and Wednesday, the Covington Art Market on Saturday, December 3rd at the Trailhead and Deck the Rails at the Trailhead on Saturday, December 3rd. OnStage will present A Christmas Carol on Thursday, December 8th at the Fuhrmann Auditorium. The annual “Christmas in the Country” will continue every weekend in December until Christmas. I remind everyone to shop our local businesses and enjoy everything Covington has to offer during the holiday season. I wish our citizens a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

MIKE COOPER City of Covington Mayor

MICHAEL EDDY 985.264.8786 www.stormeddy.com

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y MM s! a m t s i r Ch

1291 N.Causeway Blvd #4, Mandeville • 985 629 4152 • Smokemifyougotem.com

SIMPLY SOUTHERN

Since opening in 2011, Simply Southern has focused on supporting and showcasing the amazing talent of artists and craftsmen within our community. We feature a wide selection of “exclusively southern made” jewelry, artwork, religious items, and décor allowing for the ultimate SHOP LOCAL experience.

This Christmas season will feature ornaments by over two dozen Louisiana artists and a variety of unique, one of kind gifts for everyone on your list!

Gold & Silver Leaf Orb Ornament $29 / Let it Snow Ornament $22 Virgin Mary Ornament $26 / Druzy & Gold Bracelet $50 Blessed Mother Statue by John Hodge $48 / Suede & Stone Necklace $72 Honey Comb Earrings $40 / Standing Burlap Angel $85

70488 highway 21 covington • 985.871.1466 • www.simplysouthern.com

store hours : Monday-Saturday, 10 to 6

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70457 HIGHWAY 21 STE 108 COVINGTON, LA, 70433 (BEHIND CAFE DU MONDE by Winn Dixie)

Hours: Open 7 Days a Week 11am - 10pm

Phone: (985) 888-6277

OnSTAGE 2017 Season Passports Available Now!

GENERAL ADMISSION (open seating) Advance Tickets $15 At Door Tickets $20 (if available)

For information about admission to SSA, contact:

To order online - eventbrite.com

985 727 1887 www.aboutface.com • info@aboutface.com 3441 E Causeway Approach, suite M, Mandeville

Celebrating 10 years!

I opened About Face of Mandeville to create a warm, comfortable and open environment for women to enhance the beauty in which they already possess. Many of our customers refer to it as a "candy store for big girls." The beauty industry can be overwhelming, with all of the products available and the way they are marketed. At About Face Of Mandeville, we carry the right products to cover your individual beauty needs, without overwhelming you. In addition, all of our staff are licensed professionals with the expertise necessary to ensure that your beauty needs are met.

The store has grown in so many ways, and we have enjoyed touching the lives of our customers. In addition to helping customers with our products, our professionals apply makeup to make our customers feel beautiful for their special occasion, and pamper them with relaxing facial treatments. About Face has also grown in other ways. We launched our first franchise location in New Orleans two years ago, and our second franchise is slated to open in 2017.

We have been humbled over the years in receiving many accolades such as Northshore’s Best Make-up Artist for the past two years and The Knot's pick for Best of Weddings for the past three years.

It has been our great honor to serve the community for the past 10 years and we thank each and every one of our customers for allowing us to bring out the beauty in each of them. Remember that when you shop local and support small businesses within your own community you are supporting someone’s dream. I encourage you, especially during this holiday season, to keep your support local whenever you can.

We look forward to serving all the beautiful women of our community for many years to come.

Look what our customers say about us: “You guys are amazing with your flexibility and extended hours. I love the changes! Every time I leave your store I feel prettier than when I arrived. You give women confidence!”

“I love you all! I am so comfortable coming into About Face.

I have recently had my brows waxed and they looked great.

That service was probably the best I've ever had!”

Services: • MAKEUP • SKINCARE • WAXING • FACIALS • LASH EXTENSIONS • SPRAY TANS • HAIR

o t e k i L d l u We Wo Customers Thank Ourreat Years! for Ten G Cogan NataOlwineer

Y L R A Y N E G L R A B

Photos Jerry Cottrell

GNARLY

CHARLES DOWDY

Z

ac Caramonta brews beer in his garage.

Well, a ten thousand square foot garage that could also be called a brewery.

Housed in a metal building behind a shopping center in Hammond, this is not a small operation. Huge cylinders and containers are positioned along one wall while a few workers move about measuring different grains and checking different instruments. In the back corner, a bar has taps and merchandise featuring the brewery’s logo. But in a lot of ways, even amongst all that, Zac says he is still back in his garage, where his journey with brewing beer began.

As soon as I arrived, Zac led me through the brewery, describing the process and equipment like someone who had gone through this particular exercise hundreds of times.

There is patience in his voice, and his friendly eyes are set above an unkempt yard of a beard. His business partner and wife, Cari, describes him as a tinkerer — a sort of modern day MacGyver who can make anything out of anything.

“Some really good work is being done here in Louisiana and in the South in general,” Zac said when I asked him about the growing micro-beer movement. “So, it is really an exciting time for beer.”

Cari joined us. She is bright and assertive. I had interviewed her before, and she always answered questions in confident, well-organized sound bites. They sat close to each other on a couch in a small office right off the brewery floor. I sat opposite them next to some kind of baby corral that took up the middle of the room. They like to say they have two babies. One actual baby, a girl, and their other baby, Gnarly Barley.

According to Cari, she and Zac were in each other’s orbit for years before finding one another. She went to Covington High while he went to Fontainebleau. They had a lot of the same friends. She says they spied each other in a nutrition store where she worked and where Zac would drop off his rent check, but didn’t connect romantically until later when they shared classes in Southeastern’s White Hall.

While they dated, Zac introduced Cari to micro-brews.

The fabricator in him had explored the design of skateboard parks, but he never got too far away from beer. There were home brewing kits in the garage and long nights perfecting different batches. Then came the moment, years later, when Zac had just finished up another homebrew batch on a piece of equipment he designed himself. That’s when he told Cari, who by then was his wife, that he was put on the Earth to brew beer. Zac said he wanted to quit his job and open a

brewery, and she agreed. I pushed them both on this. Sure, it plays well for the Gnarly Barley story, but really? What guy wouldn’t want to own his own beer brand? That’s right up there with being a superhero or a professional athlete. I put the question to Cari again. She willingly jumped off this cliff with him? She nodded. Yes. She did.

Now, they may be the owners of a well-received local brewery, but do not call them beer snobs. Don’t even call them beer aficionados.

“I am a passionate person about the brewing process,” Zac said. “So, I could talk a lot more about the theories of water creation and mineral content, malt and extraction and all those things, than I can talk about who is making a whale of a beer.”

“Little bit of a mad scientist,” Cari said, rolling her eyes.

Zac says he has always focused on the science behind brewing and can remember wanting better beer. From a very early age, he spent what little money he had on the quality of the beer he purchased, instead of quantity.

As far as the day to day operations of their brewery, Cari handles the image and public relations, but don’t think she’s totally hands off when it comes to the beer.

“We’re not big on titles around here,” Zac said, “but, let’s say I was the president; she was the vice president, and we had these very specific job titles.” He caught his wife zeroing in on him. “Ahh, don’t look at me like that.”

Cari laughed, “What if I was president?”

Zac held up his hands in appeasement. Theirs is clearly a collaboration. They both say having that atmosphere between the two founders of the brewery from day one has created a good company dynamic.

“We can only blame ourselves for anything that doesn’t get done,” Zac said.

Cari nodded. “We are in it together.”

There are plans underway to increase their output. “This next year we’re going to do about two thousand barrels of beer,” Zac said. “In this same building, in this same brewery, just by adding cellaring tanks, we can probably do close to fifteen thousand. We have a lot of capacity in here. I probably oversized the building compared to some other breweries, but that’s good. It allows us to grow without moving.”

Another big step for Gnarly Barley will be canning their own beer. That’s going to be a really big leap into the beer market considering on the Northshore about nine percent of beer is sold in draft form and ninety-one percent in a bottle or a can.

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“We are in it together.”

GNARLY BARLEY BREWING CO. 985.318.0723 1709 Corbin Road Hammond, Louisiana 70403

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BREWERY HOURS SATURDAYS 12 PM - 3 PM TOUR TIMES SATURDAYS 1:00 PM

EDGE Dec 2016 | Jan 2017

Right now, the Gnarly fans who want to stop by the brewery can watch the beer being made and sample the final product. “But, we want a tap room,” Cari said, speaking of future plans. “A nice air-conditioned space where people can come, drink some beers and watch the game.”

When I asked them about what they didn’t expect when they set off on this adventure, they laughed and talked about how busy they were, and how they texted each other from different sides of the brewery.

I looked down at the empty cup in front of me. One good thing about interviewing the owners of a brewery is that you get to sample the beer. Out on the brewery floor, Zac had asked me what kind of beer I liked. I won’t print my response here, but he urged me to try their Peanut Butter Korova Milk Porter. Peanut butter? In a beer?

I tried to wave him off. Then, I looked at the two of them standing in the brewery they built and producing their own brand named after his skate-rat past. They were chasing a dream. This was literally their baby, and with a touch of guilt, I realized I was looking to play it safe. I tried the Peanut Butter

Porter, and it was delicious. Zac talked about the finish, acid and some other stuff as I took another sip. I didn’t really hear what he was saying. The beer tasted ridiculously good. And that is what this whole thing is all about. So, maybe it isn’t the work of Einstein. Or, is it? This is a couple who is dedicated to the science of brewing beer and hanging out in their brewery tinkering and tasting while many of us chase a mouse around a desk. Maybe they are smarter than the rest of us.

“I feel like this is a neat thing for Hammond to have,” Cari said as we wrapped up our conversation. “It is a fun, totally different environment than anything else that’s going on.”

“We’re not working,” Zac added.

“We’re making beer. This was my hobby. At any given point, I’m just a few feet away from a bar, and I can pour myself a pint.” He waved a hand at the vast space filled with his equipment and his beer. “I’m still in my garage. I just have a really big garage now.”

Gnarly Brewery tours are FREE, and beers are available to purchase at the bar. No need to call ahead to reserve a spot.

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

Hammond is busy preparing for the Christmas season, and December will be an exciting month.

This year we have doubled the number of Christmas displays and changed the location to welcome everyone as they enter downtown. We have promising surprises, so be sure to come tour the lights before Christmas. The annual Christmas parade is December 2, and a yuletide concert by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is also that night at the Columbia Theater.

Don’t forget to check out the Renaissance Festival that runs each weekend through December 11th and the Nutcracker at the Columbia Theater on December 11th-12th. Throughout December, you’ll also see cast members of DOA, the third film shooting in Hammond this year. The film is a remake of a 1950’s thriller where a desperate man tries to find out who poisoned him.

Along with the festivities, Southeastern Louisiana University will graduate another class on December 10th. Did you know that Southeastern was recently ranked the safest campus in Louisiana and 15th in the nation among large colleges and universities?

Kicking off Mardi Gras will be a Twelfth Night celebration on January 6th hosted by the Krewe of Omega. Mark your calendars now for the parade on February 17th.

The replacement of the runway intersection at the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport will be completed early next year. This 6 million dollar investment prepares Hammond to accept larger planes and strengthens the durability of the runways. The Hammond airport has around 10,000 air traffic operations every month making it a busier airport than Lakefront and one of the largest general aviation airports in the state.

As always, Hammond is on the move!

PETE PANEPINTO City of Hammond Mayor EDGE Dec 2016 | Jan 2017

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985-888-1888 byjulianola@gmail.com 3933 Hwy 59 Ste A Mandeville, LA (across from Capital One)

985.892.2317 • Covington, La www.delucasjewelry.com facebook.com/delucasjewelry

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Member of International Academy ofDec Cosmetic EDGE 2016 | JanDermatology 2017 025

Photos Yehleen Photography

ERICA SPINDL ONE KIL WRITER

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CHARLES DOWDY

Imagine you could hear the thoughts of people walking along the Mandeville lakefront. What would they be saying to themselves? The young woman in yoga pants: “Cardio again at 10. I wonder if the Barre class is full at 5.” The sweaty man in a t-shirt promoting a local non-profit: “What if I really can’t make the payment this month? Then what?”

Or the nice looking, redheaded woman staring at the water as she walks: “If it’s stuffed in a freezer that isn’t plugged in, how long before the body starts to stink? And how much time before it decomposes enough to stop stinking? And how far would the smell carry?”

The first two people from the lakefront are real enough. You see them there on any given day. And so is the redheaded woman. She walks there often, except she is not a killer.

Her name is Erica Spindler, the New York Times Bestselling author of more than thirty books. She has won prestigious writing awards, and her work, translated into several languages, can be found in more than twenty-five countries. You can also often find Erica around the Northshore, creating suspenseful page turners that have her fans guessing until the very end, and then clamoring for more.

I met Erica at her Mandeville home, a large raised house tucked into a neighborhood within a stone’s throw of Lake Ponchartrain. We sat at her kitchen table. The house was empty and quiet, but pictures along the walls and counters spoke of louder, more chaotic times before her children moved on. Outside there was orange tape wrapped around a

spot on the balcony where the railing gave way, and her husband tumbled into the yard below. (He is recovering and perhaps, given what she writes, it is a reminder that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.)

While some pretty terrible things can happen to the characters in her books, Erica says not to read too much into that when it comes to her own life. She grew up in Rockford, Illinois. Her parents divorced when she was in sixth grade so she grew up in a household with a single mom who had to work very hard to support four children. She says her mother was always near the end of her rope, and with a quick shrug she adds, “I did have a pretty dysfunctional family. But who doesn’t?”

Erica studied to be a visual artist, earning multiple degrees related to painting and art history. She taught at Southeastern for several years, but it was a summer cold that got her writing.

“I always wanted to be a working artist and a university professor, that was it, that was my dream,” Erica says. “That summer, before I started teaching, I got a bad chest cold, and I stopped in the old K&B Drug Store for cold tablets and Kleenex. They dropped a free Nora Roberts romance novel into my shopping bag.”

Although a big reader since childhood, Erica almost gave the free book back since she didn’t read romance. Instead, hours later, bored with television and being cooped up inside, she pulled out the book. She says she was mesmerized, and after a Nora Roberts reading frenzy, she decided to try her own hand at writing.

“As soon as I sat down and tried to write a novel, it took over my life,” Erica says.

She built her career mainly in the genres of Crime and Suspense but it was a romance novel called Heaven Sent that she sold first. Many more have followed. Erica is still writing for a major publisher, St Martin’s Press, but she has also created her own publishing imprint called Double Shot Press.

“The double shot kind of works two ways,” Erica says, “because I do a lot of my writing in coffee shops; I have for years, and I always get a double shot. And, as you know, I write crime fiction and suspense and, well, you shoot them twice, just to be sure.”

Up first for Double Shot Press is Erica’s new supernatural series. She said the independent press came out of a new project she wanted to pursue, while her publisher urged her to keep writing books like the ones she’s already written.

“It is a crazy amount of work,” Erica says, talking about publishing herself. “Even though I hire editors and I hire marketers, the buck stops with me. And when a publisher has my stuff, they have the final word on everything. So, I can just complain when they do something I don’t like.

Now that’s all on me.”

Erica hopes there will be a writing collaboration with her son in the near future, and she encourages anyone to give writing a try.

“If you have the determination and passion, I think it is a great thing to do with your life. Absolutely.” But she adds, “I’ve run across aspiring writers who think that every one of their words is golden. And it is going

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“I always wanted to be a working artist and a university professor, that was it, that was my dream.” to be hard to succeed that way because every one of my words certainly isn’t.”

And, to that point, Erica keeps an unpublished manuscript in her drawer.

She has retitled the effort Fatally Flawed.

“That would not be a bad suspense title,” Erica says. “The reason I retitled it was because every time I went back to look at it over the years I kept thinking I really know what I’m doing now. I can take that manuscript, clean it up and sell it. But I finally realized it was fatally flawed. I had literally made every mistake a new writer makes.”

Erica and her husband have been on the Northshore since 1992, after leaving New Orleans for a bigger yard and better schools for their young children.

Calling herself “kind of a nut” about trees, she bemoans the Northshore’s rapid growth and the loss of green spaces to commercial development, although she says she won’t complain about the great restaurants.

“I love the Northshore,” she says.

“I love the schools, the teachers, the neighborhoods. It is a friendly place.

There are lots of opportunities for the kids.” And then she thinks for a moment and adds, “You know it is awfully

idyllic. We used to joke and call it the Mandeville bubble, and I think it is kind of a bubble for the kids, too. It is a great place to raise a family.”

Despite how well she writes about crime, Erica assures me that she has never killed anyone. She says she is as interested in the psychological threads that lead to the crime as the crime itself — and the ideas can come from anywhere. One morning after Katrina, she opened the newspaper to find a story about refrigerator graveyards.

“The imagery of it was just startling, and it really called to me,” she says.

“It talked about these rows and rows of refrigerators that someone had to go through, and I thought what if an EPA guy opened one and found a serial killer’s trophies?”

Most of us would just see refrigerators.

Erica Spindler sees a crime and builds a story around it. And, she does it well. So, you might see her on the Northshore, walking her dog or holed up in a local coffee shop. Maybe she is working her way through problems we all have, something to do with family or health, or maybe, she is committing a crime, if only in her mind.

Triple Six, Erica’s new book, came out in November. It is available in hard cover, trade paperback and e-book and can be purchased at online retailers.

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in dear ol’ Mandeville. The city is gearing up for holiday festivities.

On Friday, December 9th, the Old Mandeville Business Association is sponsoring their annual “Sips of the Season” from 5-8 p.m. Participants may purchase a souvenir mug available in advance for $12 at Das Schulerhaus Gifts, Varsity Sports or K. Gee’s Restaurant and then receive a beverage sample at the 19 participating stops. For a complete list of stroll stops, go to OMBA’s website at www. oldmandevillebiz.com.

On Saturday, December 10th, OMBA will host their annual Christmas Past Festival from 9-3.

The festival will be packed with over 40 vendors lining Girod Street extending from the Mandeville Trailhead and continuing down to the lakefront.

Maps and the program of events can be found on the Christmas Past Festival Page on Facebook.

Immediately following Christmas Past on December 10th, The city’s Winter on the Water Event will commence starting with Santa’s parade at 4:00 p.m. at Jackson and Lakeshore Drive.

The parade includes live bands, antique cars and holiday marching troupes. The parade will continue down Lakeshore Drive culminating at the gazebo where there will be live entertainment, featuring Missy & Ray of Witness and the Mandeville Elementary School bell ringers. Santa will be giving out candy canes to every child and will be available for photos. Parents don’t forget your cameras! The lights will then be turned on illuminating the oaks along the lake and a dazzling boat parade will follow. The Christmas lights will remain lit on the lakefront until New Year’s Day. Local businesses are participating in a “Get Wrapped Up in Mandeville” event, so come to Mandeville for all your Christmas shopping! We have everything you need for the holidays. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy New Year to all!

DONALD VILLERE City of Mandeville Mayor EDGE Dec 2016 | Jan 2017

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REEL FUN PAUL CHAUVIN

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Louisiana is well known as The Sportsman’s Paradise, and the Northshore offers a myriad of fishing and hunting opportunities. While hunters must endure an unwelcome pause between hunting seasons, fishermen and women can enjoy their sport year-round in a plethora of local lakes, rivers and bayous. Whether it’s taking the kids to a fishing pier or chartering a boat for a day-long excursion, there truly is something for everyone.

If you want to increase your chances of catching fish — and an early bird — charter a boat and head out to the lake. It’s a perfect way to catch a beautiful sunrise and a delicious dinner. Beginners can obtain valuable fishing advice from a knowledgeable boat captain, and experienced anglers can enjoy hassle free transit to some lively fishing holes. Both will enjoy picturesque lake and marsh views.

One such captain, Captain Mike Gallo of Angling Adventures of Louisiana, is a well-known captain with many years of experience reeling in fish. You’ve probably seen him on the Fish and Game Report with Don Dubuc. Captain Mike personally guarantees that you will catch fish on his outings (you don’t pay if you don’t catch!) and supplies his clients with everything they need for a successful outing, from live bait and equipment to especially useful angling tips.

Our staff photographer joined Captain Mike and two of his regular clients, Tami and M.J., on their charter early one Wednesday morning in October. Saying the early bird catches the worm is an accurate metaphor when it comes to fishing. Tami started fishing with her father as a child.

Fishing is the one time she can get away and not worry about anything other than whether or not she has a bite on the line. “Captain Mike is the most knowledgeable guide in the area with a great sense of humor; I learn something new every time I fish with him.” The convenience of pulling up and having the boat and fishing tackle ready, and then, upon returning, having the fish cleaned and carried to their car makes chartering a boat the perfect choice for Tami. “And the cost is considerably less than owning my own boat,” Tami laughs.

Once you get home, it will be time to fire up the grill for your delicious FRESH catch of the day. The real treat of fresh fish is that is requires very little effort for a tasty, healthy meal. Captain Mike suggests marinating the fish in hot sauce to infuse a slight bit of heat into the meal. Don’t forget to obtain a Louisiana recreational fishing license before heading out.

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• Serve with boiled potatoes and fresh grilled asparagus topped with shaved Parmesan cheese.

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Y

OTHER FISHING SPOTS • St. Tammany Fishing Pier, Slidell Paying homage to the resilience of the citizens of St. Tammany Parish, the former I-10 twin span was repurposed into a fishing pier. Open since 2012, the pier boasts clean tables, restrooms and gazebos.

• The Sunset Point Fishing Pier, Mandeville • Both Washington and Tangipahoa have excellent rivers and bayous.

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Photos Yehleen Photography

The Sew PATTY BEAL

My fashion assignment: find something different, something unique and something edgy in the fashion industry that has its roots on the Northshore. Ok. Tieler Garsaud. Done!

Tall and engaging, with his hair in a top knot, current “40 Under 40” Gambit recipient, Project Runway: Threads winner, and Abita Springs resident, Tieler met me for an interview during a free hour after school. This award winning fashion designer is 16 years old!

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EDGE Dec 2016 | Jan 2017

His people (Mom, Tahmi) and my people (Edge publisher, Sarah) sat down for a sweet nosh and a chat about his amazing journey as the designer for his own fashion label: Tieler James.

Afterwards, amid a leak-turned-construction-zone in his family’s century-old home, we took our camera crew to capture the determined artist at work. With design deadlines nearing, the show sew must go on!

w

Must Go On PATTY BEAL When did the fashion bug bite you?

TIELER GARSAUD I attended a summer camp at Ogden Museum of Southern Art when I was 13. I was drawn to the period costuming at the museum. I loved the fabrics, the design and the vibe. My initial inspiration and style comes from those collections.

I’m in the Theater Design program at NOCCA now [New Orleans Center for Creative Arts]. I do a lot of creating there.

PB How did you develop your sewing skills?

TG I went through some rough years being bullied, so I threw myself into art and design. It kind of saved me. Basically, I’m self-taught, but I had a few classes on specific sewing machine mechanics. I do all my tailoring and draping myself. It’s like origami to me only more fluid than structured.

PB How would you describe your aesthetic?

TG I love the Neoclassical style, and I’m into humanities. I like to put a new twist onto forgotten paths. I’m an old soul, really.

PB You say that with a lot of passion.

TG Women are objectified, however women have power. I want to give power back to women.

PB Through their clothes?

TG Yeah. Power gives emotion.

Every garment has a meaning.

There is a “why” behind every stitch and every detail. There’s a reason I choose that particular button.

Nothing is random.

PB What are you working on now?

TG I’m a junior now, but I’m starting to work on a 30-piece collection for my senior project. I have some commissioned pieces I’m working on too. One’s a wedding dress.

PB How did your passion become a fashion label: Tieler James?

TG It all propelled after I was on Project Runway: Threads. (A design competition on Lifetime television.)

When I won, things started to happen — opportunities. I got a lot of calls to show at different fashion weeks. I needed to bring a collection with a name — a label. James is my middle name. It sounded great. We [looking at his mom] loved it.

PB Where have you shown?

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Photo courtesy of Simon Armstrong

Photo courtesy of Lifetime

TG New Orleans Fashion Week, Pensacola Fashion Week, South Walton, Austin, Mobile, Vancouver, Internationally. I’m in a lot of magazines like Vogue UK, Glamour UK and Seventeen.

It’s all on my website. [tielerjames.com] PB How do you manage it all being a high school student?

TG My mom! She’s my manager. She does all the marketing, sales and building of my brand, Tieler James. My models have been with me a long time. They’re like family.

PB I know you recently spent time in New York City…

TG Yes! I went to the Met every day!!!

[Metropolitan Museum of Art] I spent hours there! Looking at everything! And, I visited Parsons.

PB Parsons School of Design? For college?

TG Yes. And, I met Anna Wintour!

[Editor-in-chief, Vogue]. She was there, and I asked her if she had any advice.

PB And? TG She told me to stay in school. Get the degree. I’ve been accepted to Parsons, and I’ll be going there after NOCCA for four years!

PB What’s after college?

TG Pursuing more clients. Empowering women through my clothes.

PB Tieler, you’re a very insightful man at your age. It’s been an honor.

TG [Big smile. Open arms. Hugs all around.]

TIELER JAMES 985.400.9498 • tielerjames.com tielerjamesdesigns@gmail.com

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Congrats to Beau Hart again!

Beau flew to California because he was bumped up to a recurring guest star role on a TV series in which he co-starred in the spring! Beau is 7 years old and has been training in acting classes since he was 5.

Along with booking many commercials, Beau has booked co-starring roles on TV series such as “Scream Queens,” Disney's “Stuck in the Middle” and Warner Brothers’ “The Middle”. A BIG THANK YOU to Beau's amazing agents, manager and acting coaches!

creatingu@att.net | 985-893-2218

It’s Christmas Gumbo Time!

The perfect gumbo spoons, bowls & cookbooks make a perfect gift!

Christmas

UNDER THE STARS Dec. 2-3 & 9-10 • Griffith Park 6:00-9:00 PM • Free Admission Holiday Lights and Decorations Gifts • Gift Baskets • Fine Wines & Liquors • Premium Cigars • Catering Gourmet Food • Cheeses

Parade of Trees

Large selection of oyster trees, wreaths & ornaments

Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus

Terri, STARC Artist

Christmas Cottages Mixed Media art exhibit in City Hall

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WINE TASTING 12/02 & 12/09 5:30 - 7:00 pm

985-645-WINE (9463) Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 7:00pm DELI is Open 11am - 3pm

This event is supported by the City of Slidell’s 2016-2017 Culutral Season Sponsors and by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts as administered by the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.

(985) 646-4375 • www.myslidell.com

SARAH COTTRELL

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for two years after our son died. I told him he needed to see a doctor, get a job and get up out of the bed. He carped at me for being ‘a nothing’ and for never contributing anything — as he had always belittled my efforts and skills.

He probably resented the fact that I lived, and our son had died. I felt so alone. I was unloved, worthless and ugly. I felt like I was 100 years old with the only thing to look forward to being death. The positivity and hope that I created and exuded through those ten years of cancer for the sake of my sons was dead. The cancer of depression and emotional abuse had killed my spirit. But, if you are the one left to live, you have to live, right? But, how?

A new friend, hearing my story for the first time, immediately matched me with You Night. At her encouragement, I emailed the organization and was accepted.

It sounded frivolous… a fashion show? But, I went to the first meeting, and there found the beginning of my next chapter in life. A circle of women telling their story. A story of cancer, yes, but also of love, support, strength and sadness, friends and spouses and children.

I lifted my head at sound bites: “my husband was my rock,” “depression took over,” “if it weren’t for my girlfriends,” “I had to get away from negativity.” Each spoke to me and my needs. I found in these women the permission (permission!) to put myself first for a change and feed my own needs.

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So much love fills the Castine Center each year for the You Night celebration. At this inspiring event, women who are all in various stages of cancer treatment or recovery walk the runway while being cheered on by their family, friends, and medical teams. This wonderful fashion show pulls at the heartstrings.

Being invited to meet and follow one of this year’s participants, I walked away humbled from hearing Alison Condon’s story. Her raw honesty and bravery shone through as she detailed her journey without holding back.

She talked about her life as a mother, wife and middle school teacher, the tragedy of losing her son to cancer and becoming a cancer patient herself, and her brave path to feel whole again.

After her cancer treatment, including a double mastectomy, and then her reconstruction under the skilled hands of Dr. Scott Sullivan of the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, Alison still didn’t feel whole. She was left struggling with her self-image, trying to maintain her old life in a new, different reality. Looking through her pictures from earlier in the year, I saw a lost and sad woman — a very different version of the woman I see today. Alison’s story proves her strength.

To honor her braveness and the ones she loves, I felt a huge responsibility to share Alison’s story, but how could I find the words? Early on a Sunday morning in true Alison fashion, Alison sent me an email that answered my question. To tell her story, I would use Alison’s own words.

IN HER WORDS, HERE IS HER STORY: In April this year, I was at an all-time low. Cancer had created a 10-year gap in my life, first with my son’s cancer and then with mine. I survived cancer, but my son did not. The guilt, the unfairness of life, the grieving that never ends, triggers such depression. I felt like cancer had robbed me of my son, my life before cancer and any future I have. My oldest son, employed and successfully living in Tokyo, didn’t need me anymore. My youngest was approaching 16 and busy with a social life and school. My marriage, which was never really good, showed all its cracks.

My husband holed up in the bedroom with the TV on

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Photo White Donut Productions Photos Fernanda Chagas Kirk

So, Alison’s journey and recovery had started. Following the initial meeting of the Class of 2016, the models attended a weekend retreat where Dr. Katherine Williams spoke. The team started to bond, and everyone felt a genuine affection for each other. They shared their faith, strength and advice.

The women’s bond grew as they moved through the process – photo shoots, a launch party and onto the runway training.

The class was trained by Elise Charbonnet Angelette, Tammy Broussard, Leslie Legania, and Lauren Siegel, and their first run-through was in a car park near the Covington You Night office. I had to ask, would they ever be ready?

Why not have the models just walk down the runway turn around and walk back? No! This was to be a fully choreographed show with each model learning her own walk. Days of practice led up to the big day.

Alison could not wait to show me the dress that she wanted to model. We peeked in the window, and there was the most fabulous red dress, but would it fit? Could she borrow it? Would it still be there when we went back? The next week when I arrived at the fitting, I walked in to see Alison in the red dress, THE RED DRESS! It was made for her, and she looked like a princess.

On the day of the show, the models went to Air Blow Dry Bar and H2O in Mandeville for their final hair and make-up. Alison’s transformation was complete, the butterfly had emerged from her cocoon and she was ready to fly! And fly she did. When Alison hit the runway, she owned it! I couldn’t have been more proud of her and so grateful to her and all the You Night models for allowing me to share in their experience.

While not giving up teaching, Alison has had the opportunity to model at a fashion show put on by Slidell Memorial Hospital. She also works to raise money for the foundation she set up to honor her son, Christopher. The Cool Doctor Foundation provides scholarships to local aspiring medical students.

For more information on The Cool Doctor Foundation, visit cooldoctors. com. For more information on You Night, visit younightevents.com or call 877.591.5936 extension 1.

Lisa McKenzie and the You Night team prove there is so much good in the world. To see how selfless and tirelessly they work to help this magnificent brave group of woman feel whole again, beautiful and proud is the most wonderful gift. You Night is just so much more than a fashion show and runway celebration. You Night is the culmination of months of work, growth and empowerment, but most of all, love.

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

CLASS OF 2016 Charo Arnold, Terri Barba, Selena Barthelemy, Monette Bernard, Joy Broggi, Marie Campo, Alison Condon, Rhonda Ebel, Beth Farinola, Judith Frick, Becky Gilbert, Sharon Judice, Jane LaBauve, Shannon Maisano, Rhonda Mayes, Cathy Mohr, Penny Murphy, Rena Roberto, Kim Munsch, Nancy Thayer, Catherine Voight and Cindy Wolz.

As the holiday season fast approaches, I’m asking everyone to Shop Slidell and support our local businesses. Shopping online and outside of Slidell has taken much needed tax revenue out of city coffers. We need to keep our local tax dollars here at home, so we can repair roads, fix broken water and sewer lines and continue to improve Slidell for our citizens. So, save on time, money and gasoline and Shop Slidell.

There are many great events happening this season, such as Christmas Under the Stars in Griffith Park on December 2nd-3rd and 9th10th from 6 to 9 pm, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Yuletide Concert on December 5th at 2:30 pm in the Slidell Auditorium, Slidell’s Bayou Christmas in Heritage Park from December 15th – 23rd, Slidell Movie Nights in Heritage Park on December 17th at 7 pm and a Holiday Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra on December 20 at 7 pm in the Slidell Auditorium.

Hopefully, you and your family can enjoy these great events.

As I reflect on 2016, we have so many things to be grateful for in our community. We have our nationally accredited Slidell Police Department and St. Tammany Fire District 1 to keep us safe. St. Tammany Parish schools and teachers are among the best in Louisiana and provide our students with a great education. We have many talented artists in our community and numerous festivals and cultural events that provide us with an exceptionally high quality of life. We have beautiful parks and many recreational opportunities for us to enjoy. Our local restaurants and small businesses give us great food and services. But, most importantly, it’s you, the citizens, that make Slidell such a great place to live.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, FREDDY DRENNAN City of Slidell Mayor EDGE Dec 2016 | Jan 2017

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e h T am e r DWorld

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KIM BERGERON

magine, for a moment, a fantasy-like workplace that gifts its employees with movie posters, unique memorabilia and daily breakfast, lunch and snacks. Picture elaborate parties with steak, sushi and over the top offerings including donut walls, bacon popcorn and specialty drinks.

Employees stroll across the campus past a scenic fountain, calm streams, mini waterfalls and a koi filled pond. And every now and then, there are encounters with Hollywood A List actors and directors.

For Slidell native Chris Hewitt, this isn’t just a dream.

It’s his job. This is DreamWorks Animation, and for Chris, it’s living up to its name.

When he was a young boy, Chris had aspirations of becoming a veterinarian. However, a conversation with his eighth grade English teacher, Sally McKellip, changed that. It was she who recognized his talent as a writer which ultimately changed the course for his future.

“It was the first time that someone other than my parents had told me I had exceptional talent in anything,” says Hewitt. “So, I started focusing that, and around my freshman year at Northshore High School, I decided what I really wanted to do was write and direct.”

In his senior year of high school, Chris entered the PTA Reflections contest with a short film he made titled, ‘Timeout.’ The storyline involved a young boy who wanted to play games with his family, but all of them were too busy to indulge his requests. Chris described the production as his first serious filmmaking effort complete with the use of tripods and a makeshift dolly fashioned out of his old baby stroller and long wooden planks.

The film garnered numerous awards for the young filmmaker — including recognition at the national level. But it was the judges’ comments that gave Hewitt a reason for pause. Quite a few shared that the film had made them cry.

“I always thought that the ability to bring an audience to tears was a challenge,” he said. “We’re taught at a young age that crying in public is a sign of weakness. On top of that, many people are naturally very guarded when it comes to responding to a message from a film. While I had hoped that ‘Timeout’ would evoke emotional responses, I definitely wasn’t expecting the full extent of its impact.”

That revelation solidified his belief that this was the profession he needed to pursue. His parents, Stan and Sharon, were supportive of his decision.

He then headed to the University of Texas at Austin where he soon discovered a passion for animation. He recalls watching Toy Story 2 “for the bazillionth time” and experiencing an epiphany.

“This time around when I watched that scene, I realized that the storyline mirrored my life. Like Jessie, I was the child who had grown up and ‘abandoned’ my parents by moving away for college. I thought about how they must miss their little boy running around the house, and it

deeply saddened me. Then, I realized that no live action film has ever made me feel like that—only animation. So, that’s when I knew those were the kinds of films I wanted to make to evoke similar feelings in others.”

While in college, Chris created two short films, ‘Sick Daze’ and ‘Sandwich’d.’ Both of which garnered several film festival awards. But, he says, his favorite award was the Best Short Animation Screenplay for his animated short script ‘Grizzly’ at the International Family Film Festival.

What he loved most about this fest was that it included scenes from the scripts performed on stage by professional improv actors.

“I was in an audience of roughly 50 people,” he said, “and being there when the audience laughed at all the parts I wrote to be funny was an experience I’ll never forget.”

When he was a junior at UT, he learned that fellow Slidell native, DreamWorks animator Marty Sixkiller, was scheduled to present an arts-in-education program in his hometown. Chris made a bold decision to do whatever it took to meet the animator. He reached out to the City of Slidell’s Department of Cultural & Public Affairs and requested assistance with making the connection, then hopped a plane from Texas just for the opportunity to spend a few minutes chatting with Marty. It was an epic move that paid off in spades. The two developed a friendship and a mutual admiration which led Marty to recommend Chris for a summer internship working in post-production at DreamWorks. After the internship ended, Chris kept in touch with some of his colleagues and soon learned that a temporary position was scheduled to open shortly after his graduation. With another leap of faith, he made the move to Los Angeles and landed the temp job.

“I treated it as an audition,” he said. “I worked my butt off and kept a happy attitude. I was one of two temps hired, and our job was to assist in the creation of Digital Cinema Packages of trailers for ‘Rise of the Guardians.’ As the temp job was about to end, I was offered a full time position.”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

While he has enjoyed several opportunities to meet some of the celebrities who have visited the campus for voiceover work, one his favorite encounters was with actor Kevin Hart who was extremely personable and very appreciative of the crew. He’s almost giddy when recalling an opportunity to meet director Guillermo del Toro whom Chris says was on his people-to-meet wish list since day one on the job. A few years later with the assistance of a co-worker, that wish was granted. The two enjoyed a lengthy conversation about their mutual interest in kaiju (think Godzilla) among other things. Then del Toro invited him to attend a production meeting — a generous offer that Chris regretfully had to decline.

“Despite the fact that Mr. del Toro is so incredibly busy, he was so completely in the moment when we chatted,” said Chris. “It felt like this was a guy you could talk with about absolutely anything.”

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Just another example of livin’ the dream.

After the release of ‘Rise of the Guardians’ in which Chris received his first DreamWorks credit, his parents arranged for a screening of the film at the Grand Theater in Slidell.

Chris flew in and was joined by a packed house of family and friends. After the movie ended, as the end credits rolled and his name appeared, the crowd cheered wildly.

The presentation was followed by a Q and A session and, yet, more applause. He says the experience was easily one of the most surreal moments of his life.

Among his favorite DreamWorks perks are the employee events held in conjunction with movie releases.

Several weeks before a film comes out, the company hosts a crew screening and wrap party. Chris describes the parties as huge, elaborate celebrations with tons of food and decorations and often held in theme-related places.

For ‘The Croods,’ the studio rented out the Natural History Museum, and for ‘Turbo,’ the event was held, appropriately, at the Peterson Auto Museum.

“Release days are also a ton of fun,” said Chris. “The company always provides a themed lunch and numerous activities. For ‘The Croods,’ we were served massive ribs that made our plates look teeny. For ‘Kung Fu Panda 3,’ we had a temporary tattoo station, a fortune teller and story artists who sketched caricatures of us in kung fu poses in the style of the film. Then, a martial arts group came and performed. For ‘Mr. Peabody and Sherman,’ a 9-hole, historythemed putt-putt course was installed.”

And he’s making a living this way. Seriously?

One of his favorite new release memories is that of the ‘Madagascar 3’ festivities. All of the employees were given rainbow afros, and Chris wore his the entire day.

Circus performers dotted the campus, and music from the soundtrack was blasting outside. As the song ‘I Like to Move It Polka Dot remix’ played, he and a friend played ping pong with their colorful afros bobbing throughout the relays.

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Wednesdays include free screenings of films that are currently showing in theaters plus occasional advanced screenings and Q and A sessions with directors, DPs, producers, animators and more. There’s also a wide variety of free classes offered on campus, such as yoga and painting. Employees are also encouraged to pitch project ideas internally earning bonuses for those which move forward to production. It’s an opportunity that remains high on Chris’ priority list.

So, what advice would he give to aspiring filmmakers and animators?

“Be true to yourself, focus on a specific goal and always believe in yourself,” he says. “Hollywood can be a tough, fickle business full of people who have tried and failed. Know that you can do whatever you set your mind to, and do it.”

He also encourages aspiring filmmakers to seriously study the film industry and to explore in depth the areas in which they want to specialize. He believes that, with so many subsections of the industry, it’s more important to become an expert in one or two than it is to be above average in many.

As to the future, Chris and his fiancée, Jen, will be married in the summer of 2017. The pair met at a mixer during his first summer in Los Angeles in 2010. Initially, there were no romantic sparks. However, a few years later, she moved to LA, and the two were reunited for dinner with a mutual friend. It was during that dinner that Chris says he knew she was the girl he would marry. He envisions a future with two kids and a full time writing career, bringing it all back to the seeds planted by his eighth grade teacher.

Someday in the near future, as was the case with Marty Sixkiller, Chris may find himself teaching an arts-ineducation program to students in his hometown. And maybe, he’ll have an opportunity to meet another young, aspiring filmmaker providing a real “pay it forward” moment.

Because that’s how a dream works.

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STUDIO IN THE COUNTRY

PAUL CHAUVIN

Long before Louisiana had any real ties to the California entertainment industry, twentythree-year-old William S. “Beau” Evans had a passion for music that extended into a vision to build a state of the art recording studio.

With the help of Tom Hidley of Westlake Audio in Los Angeles and architects Tom Knight and George Augspurger, Beau’s vision became a reality on a 26-acre plot of land

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outside of Bogalusa surrounded by fields, woods and ponds.

In the summer of 1973, the studio opened its doors and has welcomed many legendary recording artists who sought the peace of recording an album without the distractions of everyday life. Kansas’ platinum albums Leftoverture, which included Carry on Wayward Son, and Point of Know Return, with Dust in the Wind, along with Stevie Wonder’s Journey

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Through the Secret Life of Plants and Jimmy Buffett’s multi-platinum Boats, Beaches, Bars and Ballads were recorded at the Studio in the Country.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas gave a lively description of their experience recording Leftoverture in an episode of In the Studio with Redbeard, “It was the middle of a swamp. We’d walk out of the studio, and there would be gators in front of the studio, mosquitos the size of B-52s and at

times armadillos would run into the control room laughing.”

The history is on the walls. Lined with gold and platinum records, these walls boast the accomplishments for the records recorded in the studio.

The highest level award being the multi-platinum sound track, Dirty Dancing, that sold 32 million copies.

Local musicians were fond of the convenience the studio provided. Pete Fountain, Professor Longhair, Dr.

Photos Jerry Cottrell

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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

“It was the middle of a swamp.

We’d walk out of the studio, and there would be gators in front of the studio.”

Kerry Livgren Guitarist of Kansas John and The Neville Brothers are included in a long list of notable clients. Louisiana Leroux’s classic New Orleans Ladies was recorded here in 1978.

Since 1979, Bogalusa native Debbie Farmer has owned the studio that stands very much as it did when it was built 43 years ago. The original equipment remains to pay homage to days long gone, and new equipment has been added to keep up with modern technology. Under the guidance of sound engineer and manager Ben Muphries and engineer Jay Wesley, the studio is still making music today.

In 2010, a two story, four-bedroom house, originally built in downtown Bogalusa in 1905, was moved to the grounds so visiting musicians can stay on site.

In recent years, Cyril Neville, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Dash Rip Rock and Beach House have all recorded on that 26-acre plot that was once just a dream.

FOR MORE INFORMATION studiointhecountry.com 985.735.8244

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The City of Bogalusa is at a crossroads, moving from our storied past to our bright future. Ever since our virgin pine forests caught the attention of the Goodyear family of New York, we have been a city whose economy was driven by forest products.

While forest products are still a major driver of our economy, we have become a regional center for healthcare. Our Lady of Angels Hospital offers a variety of healthcare specialties, and we are tremendously proud of the Rural FAMILY Practice residency program that trains competent and dedicated family physicians to serve rural and often undeserved populations.

I am proud to be the mayor of this city where family, friendships and faith are our cornerstones.

We are proud of our Northshore Technical and Community College Sullivan Campus which is one of the fastest growing schools of its size in the nation.

A variety of shopping experiences from nationwide concerns to small, locally owned shops and restaurants can be found here. Every door you enter will lead into a friendly place that will feel like home.

We are bordered on the east by the Pearl River which offers many recreational opportunities. Many parks and playgrounds are present in our city while Cassidy Park’s new pavilion and the implication of an exciting, forward looking master plan will transform the park. The park is home to Christmas in the Park that opens on November 24th.

We have much to be thankful for in our city.

We are working hard to protect our investments, create new opportunities for our citizens and investors and make progress in providing economic opportunities and improving our quality of life.

WENDY O’QUIN PERRETTE City of Bogalusa Mayor

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LAW OFFICE OF Peyton B. Burkhalter PERSONAL INJURY CRIMINAL DEFENSE FAMILY LAW 213 N. Vermont Street Covington, La. 70433 (985) 307-0112 (By Appointment Only)

2540 Severn Avenue, Suite 129 Metairie, La. 70002 (5 (504) 266-2044 Pete@peytonburkhalterlaw.com

SAL AND JUDY’S 27491 Hwy 190 Lacombe, LA 70445 For reservations call 985.882.9443

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My turn: by chef Pat Gallagher Photo courtesy of Romney Caruso

Chef Gallagher’s experience at Sal and Judy’s: For my wife and I, Sal and Judy’s is one of our favorite places to eat, and I knew it would be a review I wouldn’t have any problem doing.

When you enter Sal and Judy’s, you are greeted by Greg at the bar. He takes the reservations and seats everyone, and he has been with Sal for twenty-five years.

One thing I have taken notice of from Sal over the years is that he has a very personal relationship with his customers. He does table visits, which I also try to do with every customer who comes in my place, and watching him work over the years I have felt the personal relationship that he develops with his guests.

I ordered the crab claws in the white wine cream sauce and the seafood cannelloni. We almost always get those for appetizers. The oyster artichoke soup is wonderful. I was really looking forward to soft shell crabs, and they had them.

Sal’s crab is always good. I know he has great sources for his seafood down in Lacombe. His fish is always fresh. He deals with top of the line proteins and products.

My wife got lasagna which looked like enough to feed three people. At Sal and Judy’s, you almost always walk out with a to-go bag. The lasagna was terrific, and I also got a brucioloni to bring home for the next day. I always do that.

We had a nice bottle of Jordan which was delicious and priced very fairly.

Brandon was our server. He was superb from start to finish. There was no room for dessert, I have to tell you that.

One thing about the menu is the value — outrageous. For the quality and amount of food you get, his prices are so reasonable. It is remarkable. He does a fantastic job of giving you value and exquisite food.

Reservations there are absolutely necessary.

We were there for a couple hours because we went back to the bar after dinner and had a glass of wine before we left.

Sal’s an old, dear friend of mine. I had been eating with him prior to opening my own restaurant and had gotten to know him. He’s always been so gracious, a good friend and a great chef to boot. He’s just a wonderful person and ambassador for this business.

ABOUT THE CHEF Chef Pat Gallagher has been a food fixture on the Northshore since the 1970’s. From the Winner’s Circle, to Gallagher’s Grill in Covington and Pat Gallagher’s 527 Restaurant and Bar in Mandeville, and through other partnerships in the food industry over the years, Chef Gallagher has championed good food on the Northshore for a long time. When The Edge presented Chef Gallagher with the opportunity to visit a restaurant that was not his own and share that experience with us, he chose Sal and Judy’s. What follows are his own words about his dining experience.

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Photos Jerry Cottrell

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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

ANN JOYCE

What better way to spend an afternoon with a bunch of teenagers than outdoors being active and physically challenged. We left all the electronics in the car, had an ice chest full of drinks, plenty of snacks and an adventurous spirit.

The group prepared for a unique squirrel’s eye view of nature by attending a safety course given by the guides, which included the proper use of clips and harnesses and strict instructions to remain in the harnesses and clipped on at all times. Safety is a priority for the staff and after the safety course they took everyone on a trial run in the safety training area. Then we were off!!

This 50 Tree-To-Tree obstacle course is a physically challenging course requiring climbing and crossing tight ropes, wobbly bridges, swinging logs, nets, ziplines and more. The aerial trails with platforms and games become more challenging as you progress, all at your own pace. And guides are there to help and encourage along the way. We took a break about a third of the way through the three hour course to rest and hydrate, and then it was onwards and upwards!

Recommendations – wear fitted clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty, with long hair tied back. Don’t forget to eat beforehand and make sure you are hydrated. The course is open in most weather conditions (closed during thundering or lightning).

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LAT 30° 36’ 74” N, LONG 89° 09’ 28” W WHERE? Gulfport, Mississippi HOW FAR? An hour from Covington and an hour and a half from Bogalusa WHAT? ZIP’N FUN Adventure Park WHO? Ages 5 to 75 Tree Top Adventure Course 54”minimum height Junior Adventure Course 36” minimum and 60” maximum height FOR MORE INFORMATION 228.206.7056 • zipnfun.com

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‘Tis the Season

BEETS BY OX LOT OXLOT 9 Covington Bartender Paul Calecas

• Bols Genever Gin • Beet Juice • Spicy Ginger Shrub • Apple Bitters • Celery Bitters • Ginger Beer • Garnish With Compressed Apple

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ESPRESSO MARTINI

Nuvolaris Old Mandeville Bartender Wallace Simmons • Vodka • Espresso • Simple Syrup • Chocolate Syrup • Touch of Cream • Garnish with Espresso Powder

MOSCOW MULE

The Shack Covington Bartender Lucas Foster • Vodka • Ginger Beer • Garnish with Lime

ELF IN A CUP

Morton’s Restaurant Madisonville Bartender Tara Miller • Chocolate Vodka • Chocolate Syrup • Cake Vodka • Crème de Menthe • Crème de Cacao • Green Sugar (for the rim) • Garnish Cherry And Fresh Mint

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277 Lee Lane Convington, LA 70433

(985) 807-2120 www.bellacucinadesign.com

“Bainbridge Island: The Nantucket of the Pacific Northwest” –

Photos courtesy of Realogics Sotheby’s Int’l Realty

Vogue Magazine, September 2016

ELIZABETH KENNEDY WELLS

Not all of the best vacation destinations are well known. In fact, many are well-kept secrets, shared by those in-the-know only with the best of friends. And so it was that I was introduced to the wonders of Bainbridge Island.

Only five miles wide and ten miles long, this alluring island in the beautiful Puget Sound Basin is a relaxing and scenic 35 minute ferry ride from Seattle. With beautiful views of Seattle to the east and Bainbridge Island to the west, the ferry ride is a statement, delivered subtlety but effectively, that you are traveling to somewhere special.

Thanks to the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and its active preservation of green space and tight control over development, outdoor activities abound on Bainbridge Island: Hiking, cycling, kayaking, and fishing among them.

Extensive hiking trails throughout the island traverse thousands of acres of forests, lakes, and wetlands. Traveling along these well marked trails, you are likely to see runners, hikers, mountain bikers, and families out walking their dogs. It’s also a great place for bird watching.

Bird enthusiasts are attracted to Bainbridge for its 270 species – some easier to spot than others.

For the cycling enthusiast, the Chilly Hilly bicycle ride on Bainbridge Island has kicked off the cycling season in the Pacific Northwest for 44 years. With chilly February weather and 2,191 feet of climbing, the ride is aptly named!

This event, a 33-mile route around Bainbridge Island with nearly 3,500 riders each year, draws cycling enthusiasts from as far away as the UK. Chilly Hilly 2017 is on Sunday, Feb. 26th.

For those looking for an outdoor activity with a little more refinement, a local favorite is The Bard at Bloedel, a summer Shakespearian performance in the meadow of the Bloedel Reserve. Performed by the Bainbridge Performing Arts’ Shakespeare Society, this really is an event not to miss. With open seating – blankets in the front and lawn chairs in the back – it is an opportunity to see a professional Shakespearean performance up close and personal. The meadow on the Bloedel Reserve is only a small part of a 150-acre public garden and forest preserve which successfully captures the qualities of naturalness, reverence, and tranquility. Complete with immaculate lawns, a moss garden that rivals any fairyland, a Zen garden, both natural and highly landscaped

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lakes, a rhododendron glen, and a reflection garden, it is pure beauty.

The performing arts on Bainbridge Island are not limited to Shakespeare. Celebrating its 60th anniversary season, the Bainbridge Performing Arts Center offers year-round access to the arts: plays, symphonies, chamber music, dance, and comedy in a 245-seat theater.

The Edge Improv Troupe is comedy created entirely from audience suggestions. For those looking to hone their own comedy skills, check the schedule for teen and adult classes on the art of comedy.

Not to be left out, the visual arts are in abundance on Bainbridge Island, which celebrates the beauty and craftsmanship of locally made art, including paintings, photography, textiles, and paper. One way to enjoy the galleries and meet some of the artists is to visit during a First Friday Art Walk (held year-round), when many of the galleries host artist receptions with live music.

Refreshments are served at most galleries, and many local restaurants join the monthly event, offering small plates on their menus.

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Saturdays on Bainbridge Island feature a special farmers’ market of locally grown and handmade items. The market is in the middle of town and adjacent to galleries, bakeries, wine tasting rooms, lavender vendors, ice cream shops, and the Town & Country grocery store which is quite possibly the most impressive grocery store you will ever enter.

To satiate the culinary lover in all of us, Bainbridge offers a rich mix of restaurant choices: from pub food to high end French.

Even the most jaded New Orleans restaurant aficionado will not be disappointed.

Restaurant MarchĂŠ serves Paris bistro classics prepared with fresh local ingredients

by James Beard award winning Chef Greg Atkinson. This charming restaurant is definitely the spot of choice for a date night on the Island.

Recently opened on the south end of the Island is the Manor House which offers high end, excellent meals in a historic other-worldly setting. If you visit during the winter, ask to sit near the fireplace. When the kids are in tow or you are just looking for a casual, relaxed

atmosphere, try Steamliner Diner for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The Harbor Public House is another choice for a great casual meal on the water. And for a true farm-to-table experience, Hitchcock Restaurant (and the less formal Hitchcock Deli) serve locally sourced meats.

Not to be left off of the list is Café NOLA. While there is no connection to our NOLA, it is an Island favorite and highly recommended.

Since the 1960s, Bainbridge Island has become an increasingly affluent community.

It is home to an eclectic mix of denizens, including lavender farmers, authors, playwrights, performing artists, visual artists, musicians, inventors, fishermen, and CEOs. The list also includes part-time residents Joni and Andrew Lemmon, from New Orleans, who have a vacation home on the Island. Joni and Andrew discovered Bainbridge Island on a vacation with friends, fell in love – on the island and with the island – and ultimately hosted their wedding in the place that means so much to them. As they say, good things happen to good people, and that is exactly the fortune of

my friends who shared with me the secret of Bainbridge Island. And as luck would have it, Joni and Andrew Lemmon are not only sharing the secret of Bainbridge, they are also sharing their vacation home on the Island.

Located on the water, nestled in fir trees, and right next to the 150-acre Bloedel Reserve is the Lemmon’s three level home. With floor-to-ceiling windows, it has captivating views of the water from every room. The home’s size (3,850 square feet with four bedrooms) and stocked “New Orleans” kitchen (Joni is a graduate of the John Folse Culinary Institute), make this home a vacation destination in and of itself. The beauty of the home and its view of the water are evident in the photos.

Bainbridge Island’s close proximity to Seattle provides rich lagniappe and easy access to many of the Pacific Northwest’s premier outdoor destinations – think Pike Place Market with fresh fish, bountiful flowers, and exotic spices; Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks; and Chambers Bay Golf Course – but it’s what the Island itself has to offer that is the real prize.

LAT 47° 39’ 19” N, LONG 122° 32’ 6” W • Lemmon’s Bainbridge Island home For rental info: Joni Lemmon (504.261.6490) • The Bard at Bloedel Bainbridge Performing Arts (206.842.8569) The Merry Wives of Windsor July 7 – 23, 2017 • First Friday Art Walk Downtown Winslow, Bainbridge Island First Friday of every month, 6-8 PM • Chilly Hilly Cascade Bicycle Club (206.522.3222) info@cascadebicycleclub.org

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