St Bernard Magazine Winter 2022

Painting & Promoting The Parish

Awarding-winning artist Sabrina Evans Schmidt, Descendant of Isleno Colonists Pg.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Charles D. Jackson, President

JPR (Jackson Public Relations) Enterprises, LLC

Office - 2429 Octavia Drive, Chalmette, LA

Mail - P.O. Box 57801, New Orleans, LA 70157 Email - stbernardmagazine@yahoo.com Website - stbernardmagazine.com Phone - (504) 609-7509

Vol. 4, Issue 4 - Winter 2022

St. Bernard Magazine, a subsidiary of JPR EnterprisesChalmette, is printed by Fox Press in Mandeville, LA.

JPR Enterprises, LLC, Chalmette, registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State on 2/23/18, Charter No. 42965547K. Member, New Orleans Press Club; St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce

Publisher Charles D. Jackson, (504) 609-7509 jacksonprnola@yahoo.com 2429 Octavia Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043

© 2022 JPR Enterprises, LLC, New Orleans, LA. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. The information contained in St. Bernard Magazine is intended for educational purposes only. JPR Enterprises, LLC, publisher of St. Bernard Magazine, does not endorse or promote any of the products or services described in the pages of St. Bernard Magazine, and the publisher does not verify the accuracy of any claims made in advertisements contained.

Pen

Publisher's Pen

Shop Local

Your next Christmas gift might be right around the corner.

Start on St. Claude Avenue at St. Claude Arts in the Old Arabi Cultural District. It’s a mini-mall of paintings, portraits, photos, and crafts, anchored by a unique gift shop – the Cottage Store. Two blocks away is Old Arabi Marketplace, the gem of antique furnishings, and Hidden South.

On Mehle Street (inside St. Bernard Voice historic building) sits Old Arabi Lighthouse Records and Books, specializing in vintage, collectibles, and original art by locals. For home furnishings, visit Courtesy Discount on West St. Bernard Highway, near Psalms Too Restaurant.

Go east on Judge Perez Drive to Local Flair Gifts, inside of Healthy Solutions Pharmacy. You’ll find something for him, her, the kids, and even newlyweds. Across the street is one of 10 women’s boutiques on Judge Perez and Paris Road. A children’s consignment store with toys recently opened next to Chalmette High. Sweet Dreams Mattress rests near Paris Road.

On Paris Road, DTS Appliance (next to WinnDixie) has the latest ranges, refrigerators, washers and dryers. Two Fish Books inside Cafe Aquarius (near East St. Bernard Highway) is a must-read for children and adults.

For personalized gifts, stop by Southern Silk Screening, Ink Designs Custom Printing/T&T Communications on Judge Perez; and LA Unlimited Tees and Signs Express on Paris Road. They can fit the whole family, and team.

For folks with a green thumb, Country Roots Garden Center (formerly Renaissance Gardens) on Judge Perez has those hard-to-find plants and trees. Chalmette Lawn Mower & Bicycle on East St. Bernard Highway (parts specialists) can sell you a new set of wheels or fix what’s old.

Need more space? J&B Feed Store, Poydras Hardware and Ed’s Sheds have got you covered. For a “live” gift, check out Beau’s Feed & Pets on Bayou Road, and Aquatic Fish & Pets in Meraux behind Crave. It’s a sea of aquariums!

Need fuel? Fill up at Par3 Restaurant, Family Cajun Kitchen, MeMe’s, Crave, Rocky & Carlo’s, Smoothie King, Cafe Roma, Penny’s Cafe, Rotolo’s Pizzeria, WOW Cafe & Wingery, Gerald’s Donuts, El Paso, Tag’s Meats, Jeanfreau’s Meats, Big Easy CBD Products & Cafe, Meraux Food Store, Fish Shack, Today’s Ketch, Ponstein’s, Canseco’s, B&G Market, Meraux Tackle Box, Heidi’s Cheesecakes, Eddie Pinto Marina, and Shell-Paris Road.

Need tires? Try Smitty’s, Chalmette Mobile, and Wuertz Brothers. The best gift might be insurance. There’s Louisiana Notary & Insurance, Cindi Meyer State Farm, and Clements. Thanks for supporting our advertisers.

The magazine highlights the rich history, people, progress, traditions, culture, resilience, diversity, civics, small businesses, schools, organizers, and the extraordinarily welcoming community atmosphere of St. Bernard Parish. This mixture makes ‘Da Parish “The Most Unique County (Parish) in the Country.”

by Charles D. Jackson

Publisher's

by Charles D. Jackson

Scan Here for St. Bernard Chamber Shop Small Participants

by Pastor Matthew Woodward

The Kitchen Table Restoring A Blessing

As I entered the doorway, I observed what looked like a violent washing machine gone awry. My furniture was moved and deposited throughout the house. Soaking wet, turned upside-down, broken, and missing – a torrent of destruction from Hurricane Ida had swept through my home.

After waiting days to get back into our home, the hours and days of gutting a house in the sweltering Louisiana heat was almost too much to bear. In this state of mind, it is easy to just want to quit and be done with everything. It was at this point my wife said, “We are keeping the kitchen table,” much to my dismay.

I wondered, “How could this half-destroyed piece of furniture be saved?”

As I stood amidst the destruction, I was reminded that I’ve seen this before. Seventeen years ago, I

moved my family from Phoenix, AZ, to partake in the rebuilding and restoring of St. Bernard Parish after Hurricane Katrina.

I witnessed the emotions of loss in so many people. Now I’m on that side of destruction. Losing not only my house, but also the place I work, The Gathering, were both completely destroyed. What should I do next? And how do I move on? These were the questions that permeated my thoughts for days.

Here’s where the old phrase, “practice what you preach” becomes imperative.

For so long, this is the message that I have shared as a necessity for a spiritual and authentically biblical community. It is in this community you find those willing to help you in an abundance of ways. In this long journey moving forward, the process of restoration begins in the community.

After a few months of living with friends, my wife and I were able to buy a home to start a new chapter in our lives and to move forward from all the loss. With hardly any furniture in our house, the kitchen held a plastic table and some chairs we found. As we slowly bought beds and other necessities, the kitchen kept its plastic table. Could I have bought a new table? Of course, but I realized that replacing something doesn’t make everything better.

We all have struggles in life. What do we do when we find ourselves in these struggles? Do we avoid them, run from them, or buy something in hopes of making everything go away? Maybe what we need isn’t something new, maybe the best thing is something old. Maybe what we need is to renew, revitalize, and restore what we once had.

That table for us had meaning. It was the first table we bought for our kitchen when we moved here. We had countless family dinners together at that table. We had many friends over for conversations, drinks, games and fun. I could not let that go. I spent weeks learning how to rebuild that old table, restoring it to what it once was. Now that table will continue to bless our family for many more years to come.

As I look around our society, I wonder, are we always looking for something new to help us with our anxiety, fear, frustration, brokenness and the never-ending violence? Maybe what we need is to restore something that is old, something that is good and true.

The Lord proclaims: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask about the ancient paths, ‘Which one is the good way?’ Take it, and you will find rest for your souls…” Jeremiah 6:16

The Bible is a story of restoration, wholeness and purpose. Are these stories needed today?

Los Islenos Fiesta 2023

March 4 & 5

A Celebration of Louisiana's Spanish Heritage

Saturday 11 am - 10 pm and Sunday 11 am - 9 pm. Entrance Fee $5.00 Children 12 and under FREE 1357 Bayou Road, St. Bernard, La. http://www.losislenos.org

Come and enjoy Great food, Living History, Crafts, Rides, and Much More. Music by the Canary Island group Joapira from El Hierro Island, Rockin Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters, Cypress Pop Trio and More.

Matt Woodward, who has two degrees in Middle Eastern history, is CEO of The Gathering, co-owner of The Coffeehouse, and a leadership author. In his pursuit of leadership and community development, Matt has spent over a decade learning how to combine ancient wisdom with modern ideas to help transform culture.

How Should You Pay For Short-Term Goals?

(Sponsored Content)

As you go through life, you will likely have longand short-term financial goals. But you may need different strategies to meet these different goals.

To meet a long-term goal of a comfortable retirement, you may want to invest in taxadvantaged retirement accounts, such as an IRA and a 401(k).

But for shorter-term goals, such as a family vacation or home renovation, you’ll want to use accounts and investment vehicles that not only align with your risk tolerance and time horizon, but also provide you with the desired amount of money when you need it.

If you aren’t able to save enough to meet your short-term goals, you could borrow the money through a credit card or loan, or you could sell some of your investments. In making this choice, you’ll need to weigh several factors. For example, is the interest rate on a loan going to be higher than what you could earn on your investments? Or if you sell investments, could you incur taxes and other expenses?

By carefully evaluating your options when it comes to short-term goals, you can make the choices that align with your needs.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Niko Tesvich, your local Edward Jones financial advisor.

Tesvich can be reached at 504-392-3977 or 504-214-8227.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Niko Tesvich serves St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes for Edward Jones. He enjoys watching football, boiling seafood, eating barbecue, and volunteering in the community.

for Great Gifts

Her

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends…there sure are a lot of important women on our holiday shopping lists. But gift giving doesn’t have to be hard. It’s really a matter of knowing what makes these special people tick. Oh, and speaking of ticking…

How about that Apple Watch? It works seamlessly with your iPhone. With new, never-before-seen methods to select, navigate and input information (such as Digital Crown and Force Touch), the always user-friendly, intuitive device is activated by simply raising your wrist. Because you’ll want to use it all day, the Apple Watch battery lasts 18 hours to keep you connected with everything and everyone.

Ever heard her wish for a personal assistant? How about the next best thing: the Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robot. We already use machines to wash our clothes and dishes, so why not to clean our floors?

Does she love to cook? Get her a Le Creuset Dutch Oven. Made from enameled cast iron, this beloved kitchen classic absorbs and spreads heat evenly, and its smooth surface prevents sticking. It is available in a variety of vibrant colors to match any kitchen or personality.

Is she into yoga? Upgrade her old, boring yoga mat with a colorful, patterned one. She’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd with the vibrant NeoBaroque Yoga Mat from Gaiam.

Does she maybe need a little down time to herself? Pamper her with Philosophy’s “I Think You Are Wonderful” gift set, which includes shampoo, a shower gel/bubble bath combo and body lotion, all in a fresh cream scent. This is the perfect gift to show her you appreciate all the hard work she does.

Is she a health fanatic? With the NutriBullet, she can make delicious smoothies and beverages in no time. The NutriBullet is easy to use and features extractor technology that breaks down tough ingredients for maximum absorption of nutrients.

Do you often hear her say she’s tired? Help her get the best sleep of her life with a new set of stylish pajamas. Lauren Ralph Lauren’s Short Sleeve Notch Collar Top and Pajama Shorts Set comes in a variety of patterns. She will drift off to sleep peacefully in these comfortable cotton pajamas.

for Great Gifts

Him

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Whether he’s a techie or a foodie, a gentleman or an athlete, an outdoorsman or a do-it-yourselfer, a homebody or a world traveler, we’ve got all the men in your life covered.

Trust me. He wants one. I can feel it in my drones! (Pardon the pun.) Drones, or more specifically drone cameras, allow you to capture landmark footage the likes of which was previously only possible with a Hollywood film crew. Prices range from $50 to well into the thousands. For a drone you can operate with a smartphone, try the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter.

Indulge your drill seeker. Compact and lightweight, the Dewalt DC970K-2 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit offers a powerful, high-performance motor tucked into a compact design to improve user comfort, especially when working in tight spaces over long run times.

Help him channel his inner couch potato. Roku offers a series of set-top boxes for streaming online content, including movies, music and news, onto your television via a wired or Wi-Fi connection. The latest model even comes with games to play using the motion-control remote.

Get him something that will really fire him up. The Coghlans Magnesium Fire Starter’s simple design allows you to create fuel and light hundreds of fires in two easy steps. It’s the outdoorsman’s lifesaver.

Cushion the blow of all that air travel. The versatile Ostrich Pillow Light can be used as a neck support or a sleep mask. Its ability to reduce sound will help him sleep soundly during long flights. It is lightweight and has an elastic drawstring that will allow him to adjust the pillow to his liking.

Expand his cooking repertoire with Esquire’s Eat Like a Man: The Only Cookbook a Man Will Ever Need. Featuring recipes and interviews from famous chefs such as Mario Batali and Tom Colicchio, this is the perfect gift for the guy who already knows the basics of cooking but is looking for recipes he’ll love.

Help him keep his fitness goals on track with the Fitbit Charge Wireless Activity Tracker + Sleep Wristband. This comfortable wristband can be worn all day and monitors everything from eating and sleeping habits to steps, distance and calories burned. Fitbit syncs with his smartphone to track his activity, shows progress toward his goals, and even shows incoming calls with caller ID. Wal-Mart,

for Great Gifts

Kids

He’s making his list, he’s checking it twice… There’s nothing like waking up as a kid on Christmas morning and seeing whether Santa has left presents for you under the tree or coal in your stocking. Spread cheer this holiday season with our selection of gifts sure to please every kid on your holiday shopping list.

Give a gift the whole family can enjoy. Classic board games such as Monopoly, Life, Scrabble, Candy Land, and Chutes and Ladders will be sure to please family members of all ages and interests. Family game night just may become your new holiday tradition!

The movie theater experience isn’t complete without hot, buttered popcorn. Your kids will want to have movie nights at home with the Presto Orville Redenbacher’s Stirring Popcorn Popper. It even has a built-in butter melter, so each kernel will have that buttery flavor kids love.

Help your child be the most stylish kid in school with a pair of Chuck Taylor Converse All Star sneakers. The shoe comes in a wide variety of colors of patterns, and you can even custom design a pair to fit your child’s personality.

Take your kids back in time with the VW Campervan Children’s Pop-Up Play Tent. This miniature version of the 1965 VW camper van is a stylish way for your kids to camp out in the backyard or play make believe in the living room. The tent can be used indoors or outdoors, is easy to set up and fits up to three kids at a time.

Bring it back to the classics with the Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696. This building set will provide hours of entertainment as your children use their imaginations to construct anything they come up with and create vehicles using the wheel and tire pieces.

Your toddler will be a rock star with the VTech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set. The toy features three drum pads and a cymbal, each with its own sound. Kids can use their drumsticks and play along to nine melodies in various styles while learning numbers, letters and music.

Bring out your preschooler’s inner artist with the Crayola Magnetic Double-Sided Easel. With a chalkboard, dry erase board and a clip to hold paper, your child will be a miniature Picasso in no time!

Diagnostic

St. Bernard Parish Hospital meets your diagnostic needs at one convenient location. Our highly trained staff guarantees a smooth transition between detection, diagnosis and treatment. We send your test results directly to your doctor to make sure you get the care you need without delay. We gladly accept orders from any provider.

St. Bernard Parish Hospital 8050 West Judge Perez Drive Chalmette, LA 70043

by Barry Lemoine

'There's Beauty All Around'

- Sabrina Schmidt, Plein Air Artist

The pandemic made space for this art form, allowing me to be outdoors in my community to paint daily.

Photos by Farrah Ross Appleman

As a yoga teacher, Sabrina Schmidt stresses the importance of breathing. It’s a good thing because as an artist, her work is breathtaking.

For decades, Sabrina has promoted the history and heritage of her hometown, and enhanced tourism. Her recent commitment to plein air painting is the latest example of her gift to our community and a testament and tribute to her talent.

Sabrina said her inspiration for plein air or outdoor painting occurred during the early part of the Covid-19 lockdown. She said she wanted to make the most of a difficult time. “The pandemic made space for this art form, allowing me to be outdoors in my community to paint daily.”

Paint the Parish

“The more I get out to paint, the more I see that I want to paint,” she said. “This has deepened my relationship with my hometown in its beauty and the people.”

Sabrina also wants others to witness this beauty. During the past year, she invited a number of regional artists to join her. More than a dozen have taken part in her Paint the Parish project and have been surprised by two things – the beauty of St. Bernard and its proximity to the city.

“They were amazed at how close they were to New Orleans, and how beautiful and varied our parish is. St. Bernard wasn’t what they expected.”

She said her fellow artists were inspired by our diverse beauty – from marsh landscapes, shrimp and oyster boats, old-growth oak trees, river views, and historic homes and plantations. “There’s beauty all around – a painting can be made anywhere, but to really feel connected, it takes time exploring.”

And how does she know what she is looking for? “When you know, you know,” she explained. “It hits you in the core, and takes your breath away.

Outdoor Spaces

Sabrina loves all of the elements of plein air painting and has had commercial success and critical acclaim over the last several months. In Marksville, her work was awarded Best in Show, and at the Farm To Forest Plein Air Festival, organized by the Alexandria Museum of Art, Sabrina was awarded an Honorable Mention ribbon, sold three of her paintings and had several pieces selected to hang in its museum. She is also the recipient of the Fine Art Faculty Award given by the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art.

She said this kind of recognition has motivated her and inspired her to keep moving forward. Her experiences at other festivals also had her musing. “I saw plein air festivals taking place across the country, so why not St. Bernard?”

So with the help of Sidney Torres, much of Sabrina’s recent work as well as the paintings done in St. Bernard by her invited artists are part of a display at the Crevasse 22 | River House through January. Torres’ indoor/outdoor art space is located in an idyllic setting of St. Bernard Parish near the St. Bernard State Park in Poydras.

‘Enjoy St. Bernard’

Sabrina said her artistic journey has been a winding one. For 26 years, she used her art in commerce as an established graphic artist, working in tandem with her husband, Eric. But her foray into plein air painting has sent her artistic career on a new and fulfilling trajectory. “I enjoy using my creative talents to better the community.”

Evidence of this commitment is everywhere in St. Bernard. Her work can be seen at the Docville Farm, the Compassionate Friends Memorial Garden, on the utility boxes in Arabi, and in homes and businesses throughout the region. But one of her biggest contributions may be the most overlooked and yet ubiquitous presence in our community - her Enjoy St. Bernard campaign. Shirts, hats, pins, posters and other merchandise

Sabrina’s art reflects her calm, peaceful personality. Her plein air series of paintings throughout St. Bernard Parish captures our rich history, culture and the importance of our unique, fragile environment.

- Sidney D. Torres III

Sabrina’s “Enjoy St. Bernard” campaign is one her biggest contributions to the parish. She works in tandem with her husband, Eric. Sidney Torres owns Crevasse 22 |River House where her paintings are displayed.

are seen everywhere – a simple reminder to appreciate this place that she, and many of us, call home. The design and message are simple and beautiful - Enjoy St. Bernard Parish.

Sabrina also uses her artwork to help others. For instance, after the tornado tore through Arabi earlier this year, Sabrina created a specialty T-shirt. Proceeds from the fundraiser were used to buy gift cards from Arabi businesses and given to residents. “That way we were able to help both groups impacted by the storm – the small business owners and the residents.”

Sabrina said finding balance is an important part of her life and her artistic outreach. As a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, Sabrina focuses on building physical stamina and flexibility. She utilizes those techniques while painting. "Something changes when you push yourself beyond what you think you can do," Sabrina said

Embrace Life

Whether it's trying to perfect a new pose or capturing a perfect moment in her painting, doubt and uncertainty are always lurking, she said. To combat this, she offers this simple but powerful advice – a reminder to say yes.

“Embrace everything that comes your way,” she said. “Really consider every opportunity, even the ones you automatically want to say no to. It’s coming to you for a reason. Life is for moving. Do it now. If you are not in a good place, change it. It’s never too late. As long as you are breathing, anything is possible.”

So for all she has done to improve our parish, and for her passion, artistry, and selfless spirit, I say thank you, Sabrina, for sharing your time and talent with so many of us. You are a true gem, a great ambassador to our community, and a perfect example of Parish Pride.

To see her paintings or to learn more about upcoming events, visit www.sabrinaschmidt.me. Follow her on Instagram@sschmidtartist.

Sabrina Evans Schmidt descends from Isleño colonists from Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Gomera who founded the civil parish between 1779 and 1782. She has always nurtured an intense passion for this community, which her ancestors struggled and sacrificed to build more than 200 years ago.

- Bill Hyland, St. Bernard Parish Historian

Barry Lemoine is an award-winning writer and educator. His commitment to and passion for the Parish and its performing arts have earned him the moniker of “The Bard of St. Bernard.”

Sparking The Creative Economy

Meraux Foundation Creates Arts Campus in Old Arabi Cultural District

By Todd Ragusa

Driving along St. Claude Avenue. in Arabi near the parish line about six years ago, it would have taken a lot to imagine the stretch as a hub for arts and culture. An old theater, pawn shop, and industrial supply store each sat vacant and surrounded by empty lots.

Thankfully, with the support of local artists, the Meraux Foundation had the vision to see an opportunity – and the drive to seize it.

The area, a main point of entry into St. Bernard Parish, lies within the state-certified Old Arabi Cultural District, which offers incentives for artists.

“We wanted to help ignite the development of the Cultural District,” said Rita Gue, president of the Meraux Foundation. “The nearby Bywater neighborhood in New Orleans had been flourishing and spaces were filling up and at a premium.

Arabi was positioned to welcome artists looking for galleries and studio spaces. We saw the opportunity to assemble properties and create the critical mass needed to establish an anchor for the Cultural District – and the overall creative economy in St. Bernard Parish.”

Since then, the private family foundation has invested millions of dollars to develop a two-block stretch of vacant and underused properties into an “arts campus” that includes studios, galleries, a theater, and an arts park. Today, St. Claude Arts is packed with artists and bustling with activity.

Creative Placemaking

When conceptualizing St. Claude Arts, the Meraux Foundation looked to national best practices and nearby success stories and borrowed from creative placemaking approaches. In 2017, Board Member Bill Haines and others from St. Bernard Parish government and economic development traveled

Photos by Andrew Alwert

to Arnaudville, LA, for a creative placemaking workshop. In the rural town of a little over 1,000 people, artists created a collective that revitalized an area that had suffered from significant decline.

“I thought, ‘We can do this, too,’ ” said Haines, referring to the Meraux Foundation’s ability to revitalize the area in St. Bernard, which hadn’t fully rebounded since Hurricane Katrina.

Placemaking is an intentional, collaborative effort to build the character of a place. Creative placemaking employs arts, culture, and creativity to transform a community in a way that builds character, identity, and a sense of place. There are many approaches to creative placemaking, including cultural districts, creative industry clusters, mixed-use development, and public art.

“A growing body of evidence shows that fostering creative activity is an effective way to invigorate communities. And we’ve seen it firsthand since we began work on St. Claude Arts. The area is blossoming with new stores, shops, restaurants, and cultural venues,” he said.

Arts Park Opens

Over the years, St. Claude Arts has grown and evolved. Its anchor property houses 12 studios that provide workspace to artists as well as a storefront and galleries. The old pawn shop is now the home to Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center, which relocated to the space in 2019 and is celebrating its 36th anniversary this year. In what was once the Arabi Theatre, Art Conscious provides art consulting, fine art printing, and picture framing.

The latest addition to the campus is the St. Claude Arts Park. The outdoor venue nestled between Art Conscious and Zeitgeist provides a stage, amenities, and space for performances, arts markets, and other events that support the cultural economy in St. Bernard Parish. The Meraux Foundation tapped the nonprofit Zeitgeist to program the space and leverage it to raise funds. More information can be found at stclaudearts.org.

Local artist Sabrina Schmidt plein air painting during a reception celebrating the opening of the St. Claude Arts Park in October.

Arabi was positioned to welcome artists looking for galleries and studio spaces. We saw the opportunity to assemble properties and create the critical mass needed to establish an anchor for the Cultural District – and the overall creative economy in St. Bernard Parish.

- Rita Gue, President, Meraux Foundation

Board members Bill Haines, Floyd and Rita Gue, Chris Haines

Murals Connect Campus

To beautify and visually connect the collection of its buildings along St. Claude Avenue, the Meraux Foundation sponsored a series of murals. It partnered with the NOLA Mural Project to identify the artists and manage the project, which continues to grow with the addition of new murals.

Making Vision Reality

When Arlene Meraux founded the Meraux Foundation, she asked her niece, Rita, to manage it with a simple guiding principle: to ensure that the land resources that Arlene transferred to the foundation would be used to improve the quality of life in St. Bernard.

For more than a decade, the family foundation’s current board has been implementing a strategy focused on land use, education, environment, economic development, arts and culture, and community resilience.

“Our foundation is guided by my Great Aunt Arlene’s vision, and by creating St. Claude Arts, we’ve taken a huge leap forward in making that vision a reality,” said Chris Haines, board member of the Meraux Foundation.

For more, visit merauxfoundation.org.

The St. Claude Arts Park, the latest edition to the arts campus developed by the Meraux Foundation, opened in October.

A mural by artist Kalli Padge on Zeitgeist faces the new Arts Park, adding to nearly a dozen others sponsored by the Meraux Foundation along St. Claude Ave. in Arabi.

Celebrations

Christmas at the Complex

St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis is hosting his annual Christmas at the Complex on Friday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. in Sidney Torres Park behind the Government Complex at 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. Festivities include photos with Santa, train rides, cookies, doughnuts, and hot chocolate while listening to the caroling of our own St. Bernard Parish schoolchildren.

Los Islenos Lights & Bonfire

Los Islenos Heritage & Cultural Society of St. Bernard celebrates on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3:30 p.m. at its complex, 1345 Bayou Road, St. Bernard, LA. It’s an afternoon filled with Santa, school choirs, bands, arts and crafts, food, and historical artifacts. Guests tour 18th century Colonial cottages of early settlers, IsleÑos from the Spanish Canary Islands, and learn about their lifestyle and culture.

As darkness falls, crowds gather for the lighting of a 10-foot wood pyramid, the largest bonfire in Greater New Orleans. The bonfire tradition started in 1991 by Kenneth “Jack” Estopinal and his son.

Santa on the Bayou

The 23rd Santa on the Bayou Christmas celebration is set for Saturday, Dec. 10, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society Complex, 1357 Bayou Road. Santa has gathered over 1,000 toys for the wonderful children of St. Bernard. The celebration, which began as a boat parade in Eastern St. Bernard many years ago, has become a St. Bernard classic. It is coordinated by retired attorney Anthony Fernandez with assistance of St. Bernard Parish Government, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society, and many volunteers.

Due to Covid restrictions, the event will again have a drive-through format with all vehicles entering the venue via Highway 46 (the four-lane) and exiting on Highway 39 (Bayou Road). The roadway through the Islenos Museum Complex will be illuminated by thousands of Christmas lights.

For more information, visit the St. Bernard Parish Government website (www.sbpg.net).

Photo by Farrah Ross Appleman, Audrianna White, 9, enjoys Santa at Los Islenos Heritage & Cultural Society 2021 celebration.

St.

Bernard History

by William de Marigny Hyland

Chalmette

The Man, The Site Of The Battle Of New Orleans

Chalmette is a place name synonymous with St. Bernard Parish. Since 1939, it has been the seat of government, home to the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse, St. Bernard Parish Council and Government, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Department, and the St. Bernard Parish School Board.

Chalmette Monument at Battlefield

Chalmette is the name of the sole high school in St. Bernard Parish and is also the name of an elementary school. More than 23,000 people called Chalmette home according to the U.S. 2020 Decennial Census. But how many people realize that Chalmette is named for an 18th century Louisiana colonist and American patriot who was born in New Orleans?

Ignace Francois Martin de Lino de Chalmette was born on Aug. 23, 1755, and baptized in the Church of St. Louis in New Orleans on Oct. 12 the same year. His father was Louis Xavier de Lino de Chalmette, a native of Quebec City, Canada, who served as lieutenant in the Navy assigned to the French Louisiana colony. His mother was Madelaine Margueritte Broutin, a New Orleans native. Ignace was named for his maternal grandfather, Ignace Francois Broutin, the chief engineer of Louisiana who designed the Ursuline Convent, the very face of mid-18th century French colonial New Orleans. His godparents were his maternal uncle Ignace Francois Broutin II and Francoise Delille Dupard, wife of his maternal half-uncle Antoine Phillipes de Marigny de Mandeville.

Elite French Family

Ignace’s family surname was Martin; the names de Lino or di Lino and Chalmette were the names of estates in Piedmont, Italy, and southeastern France, which were owned by his ancestors. His great-grandfather, Claude Martin de Sieur de Lino, married Antoinette Chalmette. From that time forward, this branch of the Martin family was known as Martin de Lino Chalmette. Claude was the first family member to live in the New World, serving as a member of the Sovereign Council in Quebec in the 1650s. These families were among the earliest French colonists in Quebec and formed an elite.

Louis, the grandson of Claude, and his first cousin, Pierre Denys de La Ronde, accompanied Pierre Rigaud, the Marquis de Vaudreuil to Louisiana, when Vaudreuil served as governor of the French colony from 1743-1753.

Louis died in 1755, the year of Ignace’s birth. Louis’ widow, Madelaine Broutin, married his first cousin Pierre de La Ronde. Children born to this marriage included Pierre Denis de La Ronde, who became second commandant of St. Bernard Parish, and constructed the plantation home known today as the Delaronde Ruins; and Louise “Louison” Denis de La Ronde, who married Andres Almonester y Roxas. Their daughter (Ignace’s niece) Micaela Almonester married Celestin de Pontalba, another Broutin cousin. It was Micaela who built the

Pontalba Buildings in New Orleans facing Jackson Square and a magnificent, opulent residence in Paris, today the American Embassy in France. Colonial Louisiana was a tiny place in terms of its population, and everyone was related by blood or at least connected in business in some manner.

Spanish Military Service

Ignace Chalmette was 10 years old in 1766 when the first Spanish governor, Antonio de Ulloa, arrived in New Orleans to take possession of the west bank of the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada and the Isle of Orleans as the Spanish colony of Louisiana.

In 1775, he entered the Spanish military, first as captain of militia and later as captain of infantry in 1781. Chalmette also fought in the American Revolution as a member of the Galvez Expedition in the Battle for Mobile in 1780, resulting in Spain capturing Mobile from the British. (St. Bernard Parish is named for the patron saint of the second Spanish governor, Bernardo Galvez) Chalmette served in the military at posts throughout the Gulf Coast region, such as Pensacola in 1785.

Appointed in 1790, Chalmette served four years as commandant of the Arkansas Post, established in 1686 as the first European settlement in modern-

Baroness Pontalba, Ignace Chalmette’s niece

Portrait by Amelie Legrand de Saint-Aubin

day Arkansas. Chalmette’s wife, Victoire Vaugine de Nuisement, found life at the Arkansas Post too primitive and encouraged him to retire from the Spanish service to New Orleans, where her children could have better educational opportunities and enjoy a somewhat more civilized lifestyle.

Back on the Bayou

In 1795, Chalmette permanently returned to lower Louisiana and became a planter. He purchased a small sugar plantation fronting Bayou Terre-auxBoeufs in what is today Toca Village. In 1805, he began to purchase a plantation with Mississippi River frontage that would become the Chalmette Plantation, and site of the celebrated Jan. 8, 1815, decisive engagement, the Battle of New Orleans.

Chalmette’s subsequent purchase of more than 16 arpents in 1813 brought his total Mississippi River property to 4,400 feet, almost 1 mile fronting the river by a depth of 3 miles from the Mississippi. There was a principal house, sugar mill and kitchen in addition to many other ancillary buildings.

Chalmette lived life to the very fullest for his day and age. He enjoyed hunting parties, large banquets and social life in New Orleans. He maintained a comfortable existence with a halfstory French Quarter brick townhouse facing Bourbon Street, which he built after 1806 near the corner of St. Louis Street, a site today included in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. He was a devoted husband and a doting father of six children, always concerned about his family and their welfare.

Bernard de Marigny, founder of the Faubourg Marigny in New Orleans, became a ward of his cousin Chalmette following the death of his father in 1800. Chalmette told Marigny in 1802: “A man is not whole without education. I am sending you to work in the mercantile firm of Panton and Leslie to study the art of business.” Chalmette always placed high value on education and its value in intellectually evolving any human being.

Breakdown After Battle

By December 1814, when the British invaded Louisiana below the city of New Orleans, Chalmette was in tremendous debt. He had borrowed money from his half-brother, Pierre Denis de La Ronde, and others. Fate did not smile upon him during the British invasion. He and his family had relocated to their Bourbon Street home after learning about the British naval presence on Lake Borgne. The sugarcane grinding season was largely complete and Chalmette, at the age of 59 years, did his best to serve in the American armed forces in defense of his homeland and property.

Because the impenetrable swamp and ridges along the Mississippi River were closest between the British Expeditionary force camp at the Villere plantation (today Valero Oil Refinery) and New Orleans at the upriver boundary of Chalmette’s plantation, Gen. Andrew Jackson decided to construct his principal line of defense along the mill canal of Juan Rodriguez.

This made Chalmette’s plantation the very epicenter of the decisive battle of Jan. 8, 1815, the Battle of New Orleans, as well as previous intense skirmishes in late December 1814 and early January 1815. Jackson was compelled to order the destruction of the Chalmette home, sugar mill and all outbuildings to prevent the British from having any advantage in firing on American armed forces.

The American victory marked the singular triumph of a diverse force of Native Americans, Frenchand Spanish-speaking descendants of Western European colonists, European immigrants, Creoles of St. Domingue (today Haiti), Filipinos, enslaved people of African descent, free people of color,

Bernard de Marigny became ward of his cousin, Chalmette

state militias, and U.S. Army, Marine and Navy forces arrayed against one of the very finest military forces in the western world.

Since the Battle of New Orleans took place on the Chalmette plantation, called the “Plains of Chalmette,” the name Chalmette became inextricably linked to the American victory over Great Britain. Chalmette’s surviving son, Francois Delino, was severely wounded while fighting and died later in 1815.

Oral tradition in the Delino de Chalmette family holds that when Chalmette was finally able to survey his totally destroyed plantation property, he was left despondent, knowing that at the age of 59 he was ruined financially. He returned to his remaining home on Bourbon Street, and after he experienced a stroke, he died and was buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans on Feb. 11, 1815.

Plantations to Subdivisions

Succession for the Chalmette estate was opened in April 1815, and the estate’s remaining assets were inventoried. Despite the destruction of the plantation house, sugar mill, barns and other outbuildings, the estate was appraised in 1815 at $86,184, or $1.6 million in 2022 U.S. dollars. However, Chalmette’s indebtedness was so great that the sale of the plantation was forced to satisfy the debts he had incurred.

Pierre Denis de La Ronde acquired the plantation and sold it to Louis and Michel de St. Amand, free men of color from St. Charles Parish who had emerged as sugar planters. By the middle 1820s, the St. Amands had subdivided the larger plantation into smaller parcels fronting the

Mississippi River, where wealthy New Orleans businesspeople purchased in order to construct elegant “country retreats” used as weekend and vacation homes.

By the 1830s, the Battleground Plantation, a combination of the former Chalmette and Bienvenu plantations, had been subdivided and evolved into an elegant development of country weekend residences. Adjoining the Bienvenu plantation was the former plantation of Pierre Denis de La Ronde, also subdivided in the 1830s, into the Versailles Subdivision with Paris Road, running from the Mississippi River north toward Bayou Bienvenue as the main thoroughfare of the development. The Lacoste and westernmost sections of the Villere plantations were also subdivided in the mid-19th century and served as dairy or vegetable farms following the American Civil War.

The business elite of New Orleans began to envision the area from the present-day Chalmette Slip to Paris Road as an industrial corridor, which by the 1890s was called Port Chalmette. Businesses at the port included the Chalmette Hotel, the Chalmette Docks, Chalmette Grain Elevator and Record Oil Company, an early oil refinery.

Fazendeville Established

In 1867, following the Civil War, Jean Pierre Fazende, born into the elite of the free people of color community, subdivided a portion of a tract inherited from his parents that formed parts of the Chalmette plantation and established a settlement to house freed enslaved African people and former free people of color.

The settlement removed the formerly enslaved from the plantation environment, promoting the development of skills and trades that would enable residents to function in an economy that was no longer based in slavery. The village was linear, facing a road that ran from the Mississippi River to the wooded wetlands.

Oil canvas of The Battle of New Orleans at Chalmette Plantation displayed at New Orleans Museum of Art.

Jean Hyacinthe de Laclotte

A row of wooden houses constructed on brick piers faced the road. Battleground Baptist Church, established concurrently with the founding of the settlement, served as the anchor of a largely faith/family-based community. There were two churches, a one-room elementary school, general store, two lodge halls and other amenities.

as well as family papers, furniture and belongings. Consequently, there are no surviving images of this singularly important figure in our history.

Through Chalmette’s military service in the Galvez Expedition, he directly aided the cause of American independence during the American Revolution. During the Battle of New Orleans, his personal fortune and family were sacrificed to secure the American victory. Winning that battle guaranteed American ownership of New Orleans and the Mississippi Valley, enabling expansion to the Pacific, and securing America’s destiny as the preeminent global power in the 20th century.

Generations of the same families lived there until 1964-1965 when the United States acquired Fazendeville by “right of eminent domain.” Thus, a site of vital importance to understanding the evolution of enslaved peoples to freedom was lost to posterity.

Chalmette Schools

Recalling the commitment of education exemplified by Delino de Chalmette, the only high school in St. Bernard Parish and an elementary school proudly carry the name Chalmette. Established in the 1950s as the second high school in western St. Bernard Parish (replacing Joseph Maumus High School), Chalmette High School is today one of the best public high schools in the metropolitan New Orleans region. Its huge campus is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, firstrate sports facilities, and an incredible one-of-akind performing arts venue.

For more than 50 years, Wayne Warner has served as principal. He is in many respects the benevolent patriarch of the community, having educated and served generations of youths in St. Bernard Parish.

Chalmette Elementary School (K-5) was established in the 1960s. The thoroughly modern school, equipped with excellent technology resources, was constructed after its destruction by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Katie A. McNab serves as principal of a healthy school population, offering a complete curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

Lasting Legacy

Descendants of Chalmette still live in St. Bernard and the New Orleans area. Family oral tradition maintains that portraits of Chalmette and his wife were destroyed during the Battle of New Orleans,

The Battle of New Orleans also redefined the American identity – people of diverse races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds coming together as Americans to defend their homeland against foreign invaders. Despite natural disasters, the community of Chalmette remains a thriving suburb with excellent educational opportunities. It has sustained a resiliency perhaps equaled, but never surpassed anywhere in the nation.

All told, the legacy of Chalmette is quintessentially American, embraced in the Latin expression “E Pluribus Unum” – From Many Came One!

Dedication

This work is dedicated to the memory of Marie Josephine Cruzat de Verges, 1890-1980, great-great granddaughter of Ignace Francois Martin Delino de Chalmette, first vice president national of the United States Daughters of 1812, advocate for the establishment of the Chalmette National Historical Park in 1939, tireless preservationist and gifted historian – in so many ways she was a living personification of our cultural heritage.

William de Marigny Hyland is the distinguished St. Bernard Parish Historian and Site Manager of Los Isleños Museum Complex, owned by St. Bernard Parish Government.

of

Friday, Jan. 6

• School Day, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Woodlands site behind the Government Complex.

• Symposium - Nunez Community College Auditorium

• National Park Service Living History re-enactment, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Chalmette Battlefield

Saturday, Jan. 7

• Open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reenactments at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Woodlands. Parking at Government Complex for shuttle to site.

• Daughters of the British Empire wreath laying ceremony at De la Ronde ruins at 10 a.m., St. Bernard Highway, near Chalmette Refinery.

• National Park Service Living History re-enactment, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Chalmette Battlefield

• Symposium, St. Bernard Parish Government Council Chambers

Sunday, Jan. 8

• Jackson Day Race, 8 a.m., in Old Arabi, starting and ending at Aycock Barn

• National Parks Service wreath laying ceremony at Chalmette Battlefield, 10 a.m., with Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser as guest speaker

Small Business Profile

by Charles D. Jackson

Battlefield Bar

Showcasing The Battle of New Orleans

What’s Inside

Behind the bar are period weapons: a sword and Tennessee/Kentucky rifles. On walls hang banners and souvenirs honoring the Battle of New Orleans. On the stage is a mural depicting Jordan Noble, an enslaved 14-year-old drummer boy, leading soldiers to battle. Gen. Andrew Jackson once called Noble “the hero” of the war.

When It Happened

On Jan. 8, 1815, a small, “ragtag” American force defeated the world’s No. 1 military force, Great Britain – within two hours – at Chalmette Plantation. Gen. Jackson declared it “America’s Greatest Victory.” The night skirmish of Dec. 23, 1814, at the Villere Plantation (current site of Valero refinery) occurred near the ground where Battlefield Bar stands today on Paris Road at St. Bernard Highway.

Who Tells The Story

One of the bar’s three partners, David Smith, is a walking encyclopedia of the battle. He’s been involved with Battle of New Orleans re-enactments for 31 years, since he was 5 years old. His father, David Peter Smith, was one of St. Bernard Parish’s first re-enactors in 1989. “I don’t do it anymore because of my father’s influence, but because of my love for the parish, and desire to make sure we keep sharing our rich history.”

Mural of Jordan Noble on the bar’s stage.

Battlefield Bar owners Vincent Lauro, left, Matthew James Heine, and David Smith show off attire and weapons from that period.

Why It Matters

Pointing at the mural of Noble, Smith said the battle is an important teaching tool. “For the first time, we came together as a country of diverse backgrounds — working together for the common good.”

Where’s The Party

Each year, starting on Dec. 23, the bar kicks off a month-long celebration, offering drink specials such as “BattleNog,” and other battle-themed brews and cocktails. “We’re the largest craft and draft bar in Chalmette, with 19 taps,” partner Vincent Lauro said.

Fundraisers

A benefit for St. Jude Children’s Hospital is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. The owners have also hosted fundraisers for autism, leukemia and other causes. “It’s all about being a part of the community,” said partner Matthew James Heine, whose idea it was to name the bar Battlefield. “Since opening three years ago, we’ve been thankful to have had overwhelming support and recognition before COVID. Now we’re working back in that direction.”

Cemetery Culture

Burial Grounds Embody A Legacy of Faith, Commitment to Community 1st of 3-Part Series

By William de Marigny Hyland, St. Bernard Parish Historian Photos by Farrah Ross Appleman

Tony Fernandez visits Historic St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery on Bayou Road.

St. Bernard Parish is the site of many of these hallowed places so important in preserving our identity. They display excellent examples of architectural design, simple yet elegant wrought- and cast-iron crosses; monuments and many other features that help to tell a story of unparalleled interest. This is the first of a three-part series on 10 cemeteries located in St. Bernard Parish. We start with the most historic: St. Bernard Catholic, which is older than St. Louis #1

St. Bernard Catholic

Also known as Terre-aux-Boeufs Cemetery, St. Bernard Catholic is the oldest documented burial ground in St. Bernard Parish. Established in 1787 and fronting Bayou Terre-aux-Boeufs, the cemetery and St. Bernard Catholic Church, established in 1785, were placed in the geographic center of the Poblacion de San Bernardo (population of St. Bernard). It was along the banks of Bayou Terreaux-Boeufs that modern-day St. Bernard Parish was born in 1807. The original cemetery, located in the front yard of St. Bernard Church, is no longer visible. It expanded across Bayou Terre-aux-Boeufs in 1813.

Today, a marker donated by Anthony A. “Tony” Fernandez Jr. identifies the site of the earliest interments in the cemetery beginning in 1787 with Jose Messa, a native of Icod de los Vinos in Tenerife Island, Canary Islands.

Cemeteries are the last resting places of people who shaped the destinies of their communities, reflecting a rich cultural diversity which distinguishes Louisiana from other states.

Interred in the cemetery in 1787 were Diego Thomas, free person of color; a young boy, child of free man of color Pedro Thomas, a veteran of the Galvez Expedition and original recipient of the land grant that would include the future site of Shell Beach. Clemans, an enslaved African native of the Congo belonging to Manuel Carrier, free man of color, was also interred in St. Bernard Cemetery in 1787. Acadian interments included Marguerite Doucette in 1789 and Josephine Ache in 1790.

A beautiful monument erected near Bayou Terreaux-Boeufs constructed in stone from Arucas, Gran Canaria Island, and donated to the Isleño descendents community by the government of the Canary Islands memorializes the original Canarian colonists buried in St. Bernard Cemetery.

Acadian colonists joined Isleños, enslaved Africans, wealthier Louisiana-French planters and free people of color in choosing St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery as their final resting place.

Military Burials

Veterans of every military conflict since the 18th century are buried in St. Bernard Cemetery: The American Revolution, by virtue of their service in the Galvez Expedition (1779-1781), the War of 1812 – Battle of New Orleans (1814-1815), the American Civil War (1861-1865), World Wars I and II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Galvez Expedition members include Nicolas Olivier de Vezin, who died in 1815 and is buried in a beautiful Greek Revival-style marble tomb designed by Jacques Nicolas Bussiere de Pouilly, the architect of the St. Louis Cathedral as it exists today. Battle of New Orleans veterans interred in St. Bernard Cemetery include Isleño descendents Roque Acosta and Joseph Serpas, both interred in masonry tombs on the first surviving row facing Bayou Terre-aux-Boeufs. French-language epitaphs are chiseled in the marble headstones of several mid-19th century tombs.

One masonry tomb that is both controversial and odd is the burial place of Pablo Feliu, whose death in 1868 during Reconstruction ignited an abomination which can only be described as a massacre of recently freed enslaved people. According to oral tradition, Feliu fired shots, killing recently freed blacks who were passing by his home. They retaliated by killing Feliu and burning down his house. That gave credence to a white mob to kill hundreds of blacks at random. Fragments of a marble headstone are embedded in the tomb and a tombstone with the incorrect date of 1869 for Feliu’s death and incendiary inscriptions (assassinated by slaves) stands atop the tomb, strongly suggesting that the tombstone was erected following the 1947 hurricane, which severely damaged the cemetery.

Toward the center of St. Bernard Cemetery stands a monument dedicated in 1947 and erected by the Rev. Clement Schneider, the long-term, highly respected pastor of St. Bernard and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic churches commemorating the veterans of World Wars I and II, including Theodore Agraria, a Filipino, and Vicente Molero, an Isleño, both of whom died during World War I. Behind the circle surrounding the war monument stands the newest part of the cemetery with interments from the late 20th and 21st centuries.

Coping Graves

Coping graves, a sort of masonry chain wall or fence encircling a burial plot for below ground burials, oftentimes had not only marble or granite headstones and cast-iron gates, but shadow boxes where religious statuary such as the Virgin Mary or Saint Joseph could be seen.

“Mamerto” Lopez, a native of the Spanish Basque country who fled to St. Bernard Parish in the 1920s and married Maria Robin, built many of these graves. Also, there was a great preponderance of wooden “headboards” with the names of the deceased painted on the wooden memorials. Regretfully, none of these wooden “headboards” survive in the cemetery, though several are displayed in the Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge. Modern gray granite tombs and copings are found today throughout St. Bernard Cemetery. Tulane School of Architecture – Preservation Studies Studio students under the direction of Eugene D. Cizek, Ph.D, FAIA, completed a collection of Historic American Building Survey drawings of St. Bernard Cemetery tombs and coping graves in 2002-2003.

Older Than St. Louis No. 1 St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery is the oldest extant cemetery remaining in the immediate vicinity of New Orleans. Established in 1789, this cemetery is two years older than St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

Cemetery Culture Continues

Spring 2023 - St. Bernard Memorial Gardens, Chalmette National, Freedmen’s, and Fazendeville’s Ellen.

Summer 2023 - Reggio Baptist, Merrick, Sebastopol-True Love, Creedmore, and First Baptist-Verette.

Small Business Profile

by Charles D. Jackson

Smitty’s Tire Turns 50

The day Anthony Cuccia, Jr., turned 18 in January 1973, he got his first job: working for his girlfriend’s father, Cola Long, at Smitty’s Tire. Today, he owns Smitty’s, and fondly remembers his humble beginnings as he celebrates a half-century in business.

Dolores and Cola Long "took a liking" to Anthony and gave him their daughter in marriage and a lifelong job.

His Story:

“When my wife and I met, we were teenagers. Her family took a liking to me. I was graduating from high school, and her father, Cola Long, was working at Tenneco. When there was a strike, he’d be out of work. To keep money coming in, he decided to buy a little tire shop in Violet called ‘Smitty’s.’ A few months later, he said, ‘I’ve got to go back to work at the refinery — you’ve got to run the tire shop.’

I managed the business along St. Bernard Highway. He later told me, ‘Son, if you ever intend to marry my daughter, you’ll have to do more than change tires.’ I worked so hard to expand the business, and when I turned 20 years old, I married his daughter, Lori. We built a house in Chalmette and began making a family.

My father-in-law and I had a business that no one could have imagined at the time. We decided to move the little tire shop from Violet to Meraux where we could expand the growing business.

My father-in-law opened a second tire shop in Chalmette, and then he purchased a third shop in New Orleans East. Eventually, my son began working with me at Smitty’s.

Through the years, we’ve served generations of family members. People would come by to just sit and tell stories. We became a gathering place for the community to hang out and get their cars serviced.

Anthony Cuccia Jr. is flanked by his son, Scott, left, who manages the Chalmette location, and Meraux employees Logan Urquhart and Allen Labat.

Greatest Accomplishment?

I’d have to say getting back open after Hurricane Katrina. At one time before the storm, we’d sell 100 tires a day. When Katrina hit, the world stopped. I had to start over. No one thought I could bring it back, but Mr. Glenn, who owned a rubber company, helped me to get it going again.

When my father-in-law retired, he told me to take over the business. He was more like a dad to me. We got along so good. He passed away a few years ago, and I miss him so much every day.

We’re happy with our two locations today. My son does an amazing job managing Smitty’s Tire of Chalmette, and I’m here running the original Smitty’s in Meraux. We have three mechanics that do a great job, and they’ve got their own customer base that asks for them by name now.

I love what I do, while serving the community that I call home. I’m so proud to celebrate 50 years in business.”

Civic Groups

by Charles D. Jackson

DADS Club Fundraising For Kids

What started out as a group of guys hanging out and helping out has turned into a major fundraising A-team for Our Lady of Prompt Succor School. It’s the DADS Club of OLPS, which started in the 2017-18 school year.

They all aren’t just dads of students. Some haven’t had a child at the school for decades. Like sports, it’s the fun, camaraderie, and selflessness that bonds them together, volunteering in support of education.

DADS Clubs are a staple at many parochial schools throughout the metro area. “Jason Moran asked if we could start a dads club,’’ said Herbie Fisher, the current president, and father of 8- and 11-year old boys who attend OLPS. “The school didn't allow it before. A new principal allowed it to happen.

“The significance is bringing people back together and volunteering,’’ Fisher said. “I thought it was lacking. This is something that's bigger than

yourself; you’re doing something selfless. Last year we raised over $10,000 for the betterment of our children's future at OLPS.

Fisher said one of the group’s major fundraising events is the Louisiana Crawfish Festival, where members sell sangria and daiquiris. “That event helps raise startup money for the Tomato Festival at OLPS. We’ve funded school projects such as redoing the gym floor, purchasing sports equipment and buying pop-up tents. That allows the school to earmark budget money to go toward the children's education, rather than for infrastructure or things that would normally eat up the budget.”

The DADS Club boasts 50 members, including alumni. “One of the noteworthy members is Sal Cusimano, who’s an excellent chef and all-around nice guy,” Fisher said. “He hasn’t had a child in school for years. He once told me, ‘I’m going to keep on doing this as long as we’re having fun.’

Cusimano Helping For 40 Years

“Seeing all the returning faces and new members inspires all of us. It shows us people out there who really care about something besides themselves.”

Cusimano said he attended kindergarten at OLPS in 1956, and started working with the Tomato Festival when his son, Nick, who is now 40, was in kindergarten.

The club meets the third Tuesday of the month. “Sometimes we call it, 'Dads All Doing Stuff,' Fisher said. “It's not exclusive to OLPS. Membership is open to the community, the neighborhood, anyone. We donate baskets to people. We’ve held fundraisers for our members’ family friends. We helped to raise $70,000 for a young person suffering with a disease.”

What a way to hang out and have fun while supporting worthy causes. Let’s hear it for the DADS!

(If you are a member of a civic club, group or organization that supports the community, email your mission, accomplishments, and spokesperson’s contact information to stbernardmagazine@yahoo.com. )

Diggin in the Garden

by Anna Timmerman

Gifts That Keep Giving: Plant Trees in Wintertime

Fall and winter are the absolute best time to plant new trees in our landscapes. Planting now gives the young trees ample time to get established before the summer heat. They will have plenty of rainfall to develop a strong root system, even when dormant.

Many fruit trees enjoy being planted in November and December, and many of our hardy, native tree species thrive if planted during this ideal planting window. Some young fruit trees, including citrus, will need to be wrapped if we get a deep freeze, but most other fruit trees handle chilly winter temps just fine.

When planting trees, choosing the right tree for the space available is important to the tree’s longterm success. This means considering what space is available, and identifying any potential issues like poor drainage, power lines, or septic systems on the site.

The LSU AgCenter has a good free, online guide to selecting trees that describes the mature height and spread of each tree, planting conditions, and any other characteristics such as flowering or fall color to consider. The online version of this PDF is available by searching “LSU AgCenter Trees for Louisiana Landscapes Handbook.”

Digging the Hole

When planting, be sure to dig the hole twice the diameter of the root ball, but no deeper than the height of the tree’s root ball. Remove the nursery pot, or any burlap or containment wires from the roots. Gently tease the root ball apart, or slash through the outer inch of the root mass with a serrated knife to encourage lateral growth.

The top of the root ball should be level with the ground. The tree’s “flare” or base should be above the soil line. Covering the flare sets the tree up for rot and weak growth. Backfill the hole with the

soil you removed when you dug it. Don’t add any compost, fertilizer or soil additives to the hole. Water the tree deeply as needed to get it off to a good start.

Fertilizing & Securing

In February or early March, lightly fertilize with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer to encourage the canopy to grow. A layer of mulch 3-4” thick around the tree helps to keep the soil moisture consistent and helps to eliminate competition for water and nutrients from weeds. You may need to stake the tree to keep it secure until the roots knit into the soil profile.

Use some wooden stakes or metal T-posts set out 2 to 3 feet from the trunk of the tree to support it. If staking with wire, wrap the portion that makes contact with the trunk in some cloth, old towels, or recycled rubber hose to prevent rubbing or the wire cutting into the bark. Periodically, check the tree and loosen the ties as needed.

After one year, the support should no longer be needed. Adding a trunk guard (plastic tree guard that wraps around the base of the trunk) to protect it from lawn mowers and string trimmers is also a good bet.

Anna Timmerman is an LSU AgCenter horticulture agent working in the Greater New Orleans area. Email her: atimmerman@agcenter.lsu.edu

Family Favorite Stuffed Mirliton

With Lindsey Jones

Ingredients

4-6 mirliton ◆ 1 large onion ◆ 1 bell pepper ◆

Garlic as much as your heart desires ◆ Seafood of choice: shrimp, crab or crawfish ◆ You can also use ham. ◆ 1 stick of butter ◆ 1 tablespoon of parsley ◆ 2 cups of bread crumbs ◆ 3 slices of bread

Directions

Cut mirlitons in half and remove the seed. You can either boil your mirliton until tender or microwave in a glass bowl half full of water for 20 minutes. Once tender, take a spoon and remove the meat. Place meat aside in a strainer until ready to add to the pot. You can either stuff the shell or just make a casserole.

In a large pot, melt butter and add all chopped seasoning. Cook until the seasoning is tender. Take slices of bread and dampen them with water. Crumble the damp bread into the pot of

I learned to cook at a young age. I enjoy being in the kitchen and making new and old recipes. My grandmother, Catherine Serpas, made this dish every Christmas and passed it down to me. It's a family favorite. I have to triple the recipe because everyone wants to take mirlitons home.

My grandfather, Donald Serpas, grew mirlitons at his home on Bayou Road, and I used to love helping him pick them. When I would find random recipes, he was always my taste tester (and best critic). I dedicate this recipe to my grandmother, Catherine, who is now my best critic since my grandfather passed. Love you Granny.

butter and seasoning mix. Blend everything into a smooth paste. Once the mirliton is strained, add it to your pot. Mix everything well together. Add seasoning of choice. Add 1 1/2 cups of bread crumbs. Mix everything together, then add your meat of choice. Once everything is mixed well, let cook on low for 15 minutes.

Add the dressing to the shells or in a baking dish. Sprinkle the rest of your bread crumbs on top and add some pats of butter and bake on 350° for 20 minutes.

Got questions? Call me at 504-884-0497.

Ask a Doctor

by Michael Voorhies

Are You Experiencing Sciatica Nerve Pain?

The most prominent symptom of sciatica is leg pain, which starts on one side of the lower back and radiates to the buttock, thigh, leg, or foot on the same side. The pain is often described as being “deep” or “like a cramp” but can also be “electrical” or “shooting.”

Sitting, standing, or sneezing may make the pain worse. Changes in skin sensation, such as numbness or burning down your leg, sometimes reaching the foot or toes can occur. In severe cases, there can be weakness in the affected limb.

Sciatica is frequently caused by compression or pinching of a spinal nerve as it exits the spine. Several different conditions can cause it. The most common cause of sciatica is a slipped disc that causes pressure on the nerve root. Spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis are conditions that can also cause sciatica.

A complete medical history, including a review of symptoms and a physical exam, will usually provide a doctor with enough information to determine the likely cause of your symptoms. In some cases, an X-ray, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography (CT) scan or an electrical study of the nerves may be needed to determine the cause of symptoms and treatment.

Treatment plans for sciatica typically include recommendations for limited rest, physical therapy, injections and the use of medication to treat pain and inflammation. Surgery is usually reserved for patients who do not respond to conservative therapy, are still in pain or have weakness that interferes with function. Call 504-493-2200 or

Michael Voorhies, MD, completed his undergraduate degree in biological sciences at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He also earned his Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at LSU Health Sciences, where he went on to perform a fellowship in pain medicine.

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR DEDICATED CUSTOMERS FOR THE PAST 37 YEARS!

Fazendeville Featured on WLAE

WLAE-TV, a New Orleans public television, aired its new groundbreaking documentary “Battlegrounds: The Lost Community of Fazendeville” – an emotionally harrowing story of one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in New Orleans that was razed during the Civil Rights struggles 60 years ago – in late October with several encore presentations during the month of November and December.

Presented by the Meraux Foundation, the hourlong, powerful documentary features never-beforeseen photos of Fazendeville, an idyllic, closely knit St. Bernard Parish neighborhood of Black families who were forced to leave their homes in the 1960s. Families in the neighborhood were paid pennies on the dollar by the federal government to leave their homes so the land could be used for an expansion of the Chalmette National Battlefield site.

This emotionally charged documentary tells the story of a self-sustaining community called “The Village” built by a free man of color named Jean Pierre Fazende in 1867. “The Village” was originally established for recently emancipated slaves before being abruptly dismantled and bulldozed 100 years later, leaving scores of displaced Black residents with no choice and no voice as they scattered to other areas of New Orleans.

“Battleground: The Lost Community of Fazendeville will continue airing frequently on WLAE-TV (Channel 32, COX Ch. 714 and 1014, Charter Ch. 11 and 711 and AT&T/DISH Ch. 32, Comcast Ch. 3 in Houma, Vision Comm Ch. 32 & 1032, RTC Ch. 2 in Reserve) during December 2022 and January 2023, or you can view the show here anytime at https://vimeo.com/757285184/77cdee378c.

To learn more about the Louisiana International Terminal, visit our Community Connection Office in Violet. We will be in our Violet office every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. 4:30 p.m., and are available on Tuesday and Thursday by appointment. To make an appointment with our team, email us at litinfo@portnola.com.

The Premier Gulf Gateway

The Louisiana International Terminal will meet future market demand and create opportunities and jobs for St Bernard and Louisiana. We will continue to share information and gather your input as we move through the process. Port NOLA will continue to work with our neighbors to design a project that brings opportunity for St. Bernard families and businesses and protects local quality of life. Visit our Community Connection office located at 6201 East St.Bernard Hwy.

www.louisianainternationalterminal.com

Faces of the Parish Newcomers and Longtime Residents

1. Janet and David Hood, pictured at Family Cajun Kitchen, are lifelong residents. Janet graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and David from Chalmette High.

2. Abby Rose Molinary, 21, is a lifelong resident who lives in Violet. “I like that everyone knows everybody. We’re a close-knit community.“

3. Lifelong residents Roxanne Gray of Meraux and Anthony Graff of Chalmette enjoy the Tomato Festival. Roxanne sings and plays guitar at Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

4. Pete Bauer’s family moved to Arabi when he was 4 years old. The 70-year-old now lives in Violet and enjoys frequenting Penny’s Cafe and Gerald’s Donuts.

5. Lifelong residents Latonya Bell and daughter Denver Anderson attend the Tomato Festival. Denver is a student at Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

6. Danny Plauche moved to St. Bernard in February 2016 after serving five years in the Navy. “I consider myself still a newcomer. I like to brag about the place, the history with the battlefield, where I take my son for picnics. I love the scenery.”

7. Danzel Moore moved to Chalmette in December 2021 from Metairie. “I moved here for peace of mind,” he said.

8. Erica and John Retif of Chalmette have lived in St. Bernard all their lives. “I enjoy fishing, shrimping and crabbing,” John said.

9. The K family: From left, Kayla, Keith, Kaiden and Kain Hemelt enjoy dinner at Crave. They are lifelong residents.

10. Marina Caro moved to Hopedale from Houma a year ago. She’s joined by sons Mason, left, Peter and Colt, who attends Gauthier Elementary.

11. Waiting for their meal at Par3 are lifelong residents Destiny Reyes, her mother, Karen Delos Reyes, Ryan Ducote Sr., and the couple’s children.

12. Lena Nunez, left, and her team of volunteers at St. Bernard Catholic Church serve dinners to support the church’s operation fund.

Faces of the Parish Newcomers and Longtime Residents

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