PROFILE 2021

Celebrating the River Region’s People & Traditions Visit us online at www.lobservateur.com

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Mardi Gras parades and Springtime festivals might be absent this year, but Louisiana's River Parishes are still packed with culture. From the great outdoors to Cajun/Creole heritage, there is no place quite like South Louisiana. The Southern hospitality and kindness shown to neighbors in our great region are unmatched.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Get outdoors & explore the River Parishes

A Year of Firsts

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‘A match made in heaven’ 25-year-old firefighter dedicates time to caring for twins with special needs

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Louisiana Creole Voices: Preserving recordings of descendants of enslaved people along the Mississippi River

14

Not Lost Nor Forgotten Bayou Gauche captures age-old Cajun to culture

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Louisiana Creole Voices:

Preserving recordings of descendants of enslaved people along the Mississippi River

T

he Laura Center for Creole Heritage has asked the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to digitize approximately 200 cassette tapes of forms of Louisiana Creole almost extinct today so they can be preserved for the future.

This data fills a void in their collection of recorded materials of Louisiana French speech varieties along the Mississippi River. In November 2020, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities awarded a $6,560 Rebirth grant to the Louisiana Creole Voices Project. Cassette tapes were transported to Lafayette at the end of January 2021, and the digitization process is currently underway. The entire process will take four to six months to complete.

“Creole” is currently recognized as a blend of cultural influences from the three groups that were present in colonial, pre-1803 Louisiana: Native American, Western European and West African. (From Laura Center for Creole Heritage)

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From left to right, Dr. Margaret Marshall, John Sharp, Chris Segura and Dr. Thomas Klingler deliver two boxes of cassette tape interviews of Louisiana Creole speakers recorded in St. James, St. John, PointeCoupée and St. Tammany parishes in the 1980s and 1990s to the Center for Louisiana Studies at ULL for digitization.

The cassettes were recorded in the 1980s and 1990s along the Mississippi River, especially on the German Coast and in Pointe Coupee Parish, as part of the research for “A Dictionary of Louisiana Creole” by Albert Valdman, Thomas A. Klingler, Margaret M. Marshall and Kevin J. Rottet (Indiana University Press, 1998).

After the digitization is complete, The Laura Center for Creole Heritage will familiarize audiences with the historical, linguistic and social significance of these varieties of Louisiana Creole through a series of public lectures.

The Laura Center for Creole Heritage was created as a 501(c)3 organization in 1996 as the “friends” group of Laura Plantation, known commercially as “Laura: Louisiana’s Creole Heritage Site,” a historic house museum in Vacherie. The organization has been mostly inactive until recently, when small expense stipends were awarded to French interns sent annually by the French Heritage Society to work on various research, tour guiding or other projects at Laura Plantation.

The Laura Center envisions this Creole language project as an opportunity to restore Creole language components to the site, given the historic and contemporary presence of the Louisiana Creole language on land that was associated with the plantation and in the historic buildings, including original 1840s slave cabins that are part of daily interpretation. It is also believed that Alcée Fortier recorded a number of his “Louisiana Folktales,” published in Louisiana Creole and English in 1894, in the cabins at Laura Plantation.

The Laura Center implementation team includes board secretary Joseph Dunn, past director of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL). Recognizing that the Creole linguistic and cultural identity of the enslaved and their descendants is often ignored/overlooked 6 River Parishes Strong

in historiography, Dunn, a speaker of Louisiana Creole and French himself, has become an outspoken advocate for its inclusion in the interpretation of the Louisiana story.

The term Louisiana Creole refers to the contact language that arose on Louisiana’s plantations and was spoken mainly by enslaved people and their descendants. It took about 10 years to collect the data on lexical categories of speech.

These words often led to a discussion of traditional cultural practices. For example, words dealing with sugar cane led to a discussion of how it was planted and harvested. Home remedies, legends, folktales, funny stories and many personal anecdotes accompany the elicitation of words. The Louisiana Creole language of the German Coast and Pointe-Coupée Parish is fading away, only spoken by small and rapidly dwindling numbers of elderly residents. Therefore, these recordings are the main oral records of this speech. The cassettes are very old and fragile, and there is a sense of urgency to digitally preserve them.

As soon as the digitized recordings are made available, the transcription of 15 recordings chosen by Drs. Klingler and Marshall will begin. Ideally, each 60-minute cassette will take 10 hours to transcribe. Drs. Klingler and Marshall will cull these transcriptions to choose the most representative selections to share in a series of public lectures on Louisiana Creole spoken along the Mississippi

The Creole language is deeply embedded in the history and culture of South Louisiana.

The cassette tapes were recorded in the 1980s and 1990s along the Mississippi River, especially on the German Coast and in Pointe Coupee Parish.

River, focusing on Creole-speaking areas where extensive fieldwork was conducted.

Researchers will discuss the contents of the tapes being digitized, the folklore, the language structure, the history and culture. These free lectures will create awareness in the public of the rich heritage passed down by the descendants of enslaved people.

The digitized cassettes will be housed at The Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Once the transcriptions are complete, the recordings will be shared with Louisiana museums/ archives having expressed an interest in making them available to the public, including The Laura Center for Creole Heritage, the Historic New Orleans Collection Williams Center, the Louisiana State University T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History, the Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge, the West Baton Rouge Parish Museum and Whitney Plantation.

According to researchers, Louisiana Creole has declined more quickly than Louisiana French (also known as “Cajun”), not only because of modernization, but also because of the shame associated with slavery.

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The Laura Center for Creole Heritage is a “friends” organization to Laura Plantation, a historic house and museum in Vacherie.

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The first people enslaved on French-speaking Louisiana plantations came from many African linguistic backgrounds and needed a form of communication. Over time, they developed a language capable of expressing all their needs. The recordings also illustrate the oral histories of many different informants who discuss topics of concern to them such as agriculture, schooling, poverty, employment, folk medicine and much more.

Researchers consider the language an amazing testimony to humankind’s ability to learn to communicate in the most difficult situations. Researchers involved in the Louisiana Creole Voices project have been privileged to get to know these speakers of Creole, to learn to speak Creole with them and to understand how they transformed the French they heard into their own language. It is their hope that through an awareness of these recordings, these forms of speech will come to be appreciated for their true worth and will be valorized.

Researchers also hope that the recordings will serve as a valuable educational resource for the growing number of people of Creole descent who express a strong desire to learn the language spoken by their ancestors.

Creole French has historically had many scornful terms associated with it but, in reality, it is a beautiful and rich form of expression that can only be truly appreciated by getting to know it.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing concerns, lectures have been planned for Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube Live platforms to reach a much wider audience throughout the state. The primary product of the project -the digitized recordings and their transcriptions - will be available online to the general public in perpetuity.

For more information about this project, follow Laura Plantation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

— Submitted by Laura Center for Creole Heritage Board Secretary Joseph Dunn, past director of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana.

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Get outdoors & explore the River Parishes This itinerary was presented by Louisiana’s River Parishes Tourist Commission, which represents St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Charles parishes

O

utdoor recreation is overflowing in Louisiana’s River Parishes.

The natural beauty of the wetlands and wildlife are prevalent throughout the region and can be explored daily on exciting excursions into the bayous and swamps. The abundance of recreation is also enhanced with many outdoor sports activities. Out here you can kayak, canoe, hike or go cycling. Plus, our region’s waterways offer endless varieties of freshwater and saltwater fish.

DAY 1

Begin your outdoor adventure with a breakfast platter at Donut Land in Destrehan. Along with a hot cup of coffee, have a breakfast burrito or eggs on a croissant. The donuts and pastries are home-made, so make sure to try those as well.

Have fun teeing off at the St. Rose Driving Range in St. Rose. It doesn’t matter if you are an avid golfer or an amateur; the driving range offers the

perfect setting to practice your swing. Beginners are welcome to spend some time at the range developing their swing.

Speed through the landscapes of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in LaPlace on a four-wheeler, dirt bike or any other type of ATV. The 850-acre spillway offers smooth and rough riding trails that weave and twist through nature.

Dine at the Seafood Pot in New Sarpy for lunch. Start your meal with a bowl of gumbo or stuffed artichokes, followed with the house special – crabmeat au gratin with crab cakes over pasta seafood. Finish your meal with a slice of homemade cheesecake.

Enjoy kayaking and canoeing through the historic Manchac Swamp with Wild Louisiana Tours. While paddling and rowing, observe the unique flora and fauna of our region. Admire the scenic beauty of one of the most diverse habitats for plants and wildlife in the country.

For dinner, enjoy a sunset meal at Frenier Landing Restaurant on the west

Alligator hatchling farms are found in many old Cajun towns, including Bayou Gauche.

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Golfers and outdoor enthusiasts can visit the driving range in St. Rose. Photo credit: Boone Clemmons shore of Lake Ponchartrain in LaPlace. The alligator sausage with creole mustard or fried crawfish tails are great appetizers! Entree options you might enjoy are eggplant napoleon or the whole stuffed flounder. For dessert try the bread pudding or a slice of rum cake.

DAY 2

Start today’s exploration with breakfast at Southern Latte Café in Luling.

Have the new Lavender Bliss Latte, and enjoy a Breakfast Sandwich with a bagel and cream cheese or a Breakfast Burrito with a breakfast biscuit.

After breakfast, see first-hand how Louisiana blue crabs are processed at the Crab Factory in Des Allemands. The tour includes a beautiful view of Bayou Des Allemands, a walk-through of the crab factory, and watching local fishermen unload freights of crabs at the factory’s dock.

Discover the natural beauty of the swamps on an exciting excursion with Swamp Adventures in Luling. You’ll visit with alligators throughout the trip while journeying into the quiet marshlands and exploring the beauty of the wetlands.

Dine at Zora Christina Catering in LaPlace for lunch. Choose one of the buffet specials, deep fried cornish hen over mashed potatoes, topped with crawfish étouffée or the blackened fish over shrimp alfredo pasta. For dessert, have some homemade bread pudding.

Go fishing the remainder of the day in Louisiana’s River Parishes. There are several fishing piers and boat launches throughout the region, where the catch is plenty. For a more personal fishing trip, contact one of the local fishing guides.

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For dinner, enjoy a meal at Pier 51 Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar in LaPlace. For starters, have a bowl of gumbo or fried green tomatoes followed with a boiled shrimp & crawfish platter. Enjoy the brownie fudge sundae or a slice of cheesecake dessert.

DAY 3

Start your journey today with breakfast at Chung’s Heavenly Sweets in LaPlace. Have a regular or jalapeno kolache or sausage wrapped in croissant dough and glazed with sweet sauce or have a breakfast croissant served with ham, egg, and cheese, glazed with honey.

Cruise on the calm and peaceful waters of a private Louisiana wildlife refuge with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours in LaPlace. Relax and enjoy the primitive beauty of moss-draped Cypress trees, sightings of alligators and hidden treasures of the forested wetlands.

Travel along Louisiana Highway 643 for a picturesque collaboration of moss-draped cypress trees, beautiful woodlands and canals off Lake Des Allemands. Pull over at the boat launch to do some bowfishing.

Stop by La Bon Boucon in Vacherie and grab some tasty Creole snacks.

Try some cracklins, smoked Andouille and one of their old-fashioned pies, while enjoying the décor of the diner that presents a passion for the old ways.

Dine at Spuddy’s Cajun Foods in Vacherie for lunch. For starters, have the bayou style fries or some crawfish kickers, followed with the “Spudman Special” or a shrimp and crabmeat stuffed potato. For dessert, have some bread pudding or a slice of pie.

Continue today’s outing with a relaxing bike ride on the Mississippi River Trail. The trail is a designated paved bike path on the top of the Mississippi River Levee that stretches throughout Louisiana’s River Parishes.

Choose your location to cycle, and enjoy nature’s scenic beauty.

For dinner, enjoy a meal at Ormond Plantation in Destrehan. Fried mush-

A boat is seen near Frenier Landing in LaPlace.

Photo credit: Boone Clemmons rooms and fried eggplant sticks romano are great appetizers, and the “Des Allemands Combo” and the “Pasta Pontchartrain” are delicious entrees.

For dessert, have the white chocolate bread pudding or a slice of honey pecan pie.

DAY 4

Start your voyage this morning with breakfast at Boots Diner in Luling. Have the Chocolate Chip Pancakes Combo or the Eggs In A Nest Combo, and choose a meat of your choice that comes with every meal.

Spend the day on a charter expedition with Precision Fishing Charters in Des Allemands. Guaranteeing you a first-class fishing trip, Precision Fishing Charters targets speckled trout, red drum, black drum, sheephead, flounder, shark and bull reds.

End your outdoor adventure with dinner at Anita’s Smokin Steak Burgers in Boutte. Grilled onions or portabello Mushrooms are great for starting your meal, followed with the Bourbon steak burger or the Quarter bacon and cheese burger. You are sure to end your outdoor adventures on a high note after a filling meal infused with local flair.

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Not Lost Nor Forgotten Bayou Gauche captures age-old Cajun culture

S

BY ANDREW FEHN

ince the mid 1700s, Acadians have been molding and developing a lifestyle and traditions into a Louisiana culture unlike any other worldwide. In this modern time when everything sacred seems to be threatened and vulnerable to cease existing, there is hope that this culture will withstand its history.

Surely, over the past couple of decades, Cajun people and their cultures have gained national popularity due to a new curiosity from television, movies, cuisine and their swamp critters. Many people throughout the United States have sparked up an interest and seem to always ask what the difference is between the Cajun People and the Creole People because they see that they're from the same region. Creole people are a mix of French, African American and Native American, whereas the modern day Cajuns have descended from the Acadians. Old school Cajuns still speak Cajuns French and make conscious efforts not to lose it among newer generations.

Tourists from all over the world come to New Orleans to experience the French Quarter parties and go wild while walking down Bourbon Street.

However, that's basically where it ends as far as an education about the area's culture and its people.

Not all world history is taught in primary schools, so now, with an encyclopedia in our hands (cell phones) at our disposal, it's easy to learn how Bayou Gauche is a peculiar town known for having one road in and certain events brought this culture where it is today. To set the stage, Great one road out. Photo credit: Kelsey Cole

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Britain defeated France in 1763, which resulted in the Treaty of Paris. Because of this, Acadians were exiled out of various territories and migrated to Louisiana.

It's hard to imagine that after living in northern areas such as Canada and showing up in a hot, humid swamp, how it must have felt for all the families. Cultures begin by learning how to survive and adapt to the terrain and nature’s elements.

For many towns in Southern Louisiana, because the waterways end up in the Gulf, there is only one road in and the same road out. So hence, there are the folks that have spent their entire lives basically living at the end of the world.

While settling into a new region, the first thing one has to do is evaluate the natural resources in order to eat, and that's when the food culture begins. So because of the environment, the seafood cuisine becomes a main focus and formulates into its unique taste as time goes on and the menu starts its traditions. Cajun cooking flavors its dishes with various peppers and dark roux, whereas Creole recipes use more tomatoes and herbs to enhance their original flavors. Now you can find Cajun foods, frozen and on the shelves of grocery stores throughout the United States and other parts of the world.

One small community in particular that holds its own value in Louisiana's history is Bayou Gauche, located in St. Charles Parish. This is a peculiar town and is definitely one of those "one road in and the same road out places." It is mostly owned by family corporations which are the heirs of the late Sidney Simoneaux, who leases all the home sites to its residents.

When driving into “The Island", (as the residents refer to it), you can feel the locals’ eyes honing in on you from their home windows. If they don’t recognize your car, their heads slowly follow as you pass by. Outsiders are welcomed with caution because they protect one another and their properties like a fortress.

This Historical Fisherman’s Wharf photo is a well-known sight in Bayou Gauche, located in St. Charles Parish.

The oldest bar in town has one pool table and behind it is an alligator hatchling farm. Once you gain a little trust here, the folks are very friendly and receptive to your needs and they often gather for some homemade Cajun food, music, dancing and entertainment as all visitors are invited to share a “pass a good time.”

As a tourist of Louisiana or a visitor from other parts of the state, a visit to the Bayou country and its swamps is a must. There are local swamp tours on regular boats as well as the exciting "Air Boats." To a foreigner,

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As all cultivated cultures, it evolved at a slow pace with many sacrifices and losses. Those who endured and brought sanctity into its own authenticity is the reason we can celebrate and be fascinated with the overall culture. As in all things, there is a looming possibility that in this new age of the instant need to be satisfied, these traditions could be in jeopardy.

However, most people in these communities are still easy going and don't feel a need to change with the times as the rest of the techno world becomes diluted to their surroundings. Therefore, at least for a while longer the Cajun Culture should neither be lost nor forgotten.

This small volunteer fire station is located on the water in Bayou Gauche.

the music may be strange, but experiencing it in its natural setting is fun and very memorable. Watching this on YouTube will obviously never do it justice. The Cajun society has a mood and a language of its own, and if you're open to feel the intensity, for a moment, you can become it.

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‘A match made in heaven’

25-year-old firefighter dedicates time to caring for twins with special needs

BY BROOKE R. CANTRELLE

The year 2020 had been nothing short of challenging for the Schexnaydre family.

Anne Schexnaydre’s mother passed away in February. The grief was still sharp when she fell and broke her back just four weeks later, adding physical pain to the emotional toll. Later that spring, an unrelenting storm dumped 12 inches of rain in Destrehan, flooding their family home along with the houses of more than 200 neighbors.

To make matters worse, the entire family contracted COVID-19 in the midst of all the chaos. The illness faded away within a couple of weeks, but the family’s time of need did not.

Physical limitations imposed by Anne’s four surgeries and her husband Ron’s recent rotator cuff surgery made it difficult to provide around the clock care for their 20-year-old twins with special needs.

Joshua and Jacob are big boys at 6 feet tall, and their size sometimes makes it challenging to meet their day-to-day needs. They are nonverbal and have no concept of fear or danger, meaning they require 24-hour supervision in addition to daily help with bathing, dressing, feeding and diaper changes.

“It’s hard to find help right now with COVID. While my husband and I were struggling, we were struggling to take care of them. Help was really necessary,” Anne said. “I put a little a little post on Facebook describing Jacob and Joshua, and it was shared over 350 times. That’s how strong this community is. It was a rallying for help, and the community did not disappoint. Every day, I was getting emails. Even if people didn’t know someone, they were sending me private messages asking if we found someone.”

Christian Mire clicked instantly with Joshua Schexnaydre, pictured at left.

Jefferson Parish firefighter Christian Mire answered the call for help.

The first time Christian met Joshua and Jacob, he bent down to their level as they sat on the sofa, and he greeted them in a gentle, friendly tone.

Words weren’t needed to know Christian was the perfect fit for their family. Within 60 seconds of meeting him, Jacob and Joshua’s eyes lit up, and they leaned forward to wrap their arms around him in a warm embrace.

“He clicked with Jacob and Joshua right away. Most of the people who have come in to help us are girls, so it is really nice to have a guy around,” Schexnaydre said. “It’s remarkable because he’s 25 years old and he’s engaged. Most guys his age are worried about other things, and he uses his spare time to come here.”

Christian has been a firefighter with Jefferson Parish for the past five years, but his desire to help others and serve the community traces back to the time he was a child. From a young age, he was surrounded by firefighters on both sides of his family.

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Christian Mire is pictured with his fiancé, Holly, and his 3-year-old stepdaughter, Mia.

Firefighting is a tradition in Christian Mire’s family. He has been a Jefferson Parish firefighter for five years and counting.

Supporting children and adults with special needs is another value Christian’s family holds near and dear. His teenage cousin is nonverbal and unable to walk. Each year, the family coordinates the Miracle Beauties pageant to give girls and women with disabilities a chance to shine.

Whether the contestants dance, sing or simply stand on stage, the Miracle Beauties pageant proves that everyone is worthy of a crown.

Christian and his family have raised money for the pageant through various fundraisers, including crawfish cookouts, cornhole tournaments and selling king cakes to ensure every participant can get her hair and makeup done cost-free.

“Special needs kids have always been a big part of my life and my whole family’s lives. It’s not just me. They just hold a special place in our hearts, and we try to do everything we can,” Christian said.

When he isn’t working or spending time with his fiancée and 3-year-old stepdaughter, Christian usually cuts grass on his off days during the summer. This past winter, he was searching for a new part-time job when he heard Jacob and Joshua’s story.

On a typical day at the Schexnaydre house, Christian will get the twins off the bus, change them, make them a snack and hang out. Jacob loves to play on his iPad, while Joshua loves his toy bus. Sometimes they will

Jacob Schexnaydre enjoys snacks and his iPad.

Christian Mire said twin boys Jacob and Joshua Schexnaydre are very affectionate and, above all, love to be loved.

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Jacob and Joshua Schexnaydre Joshua Schexnaydre enjoys an stand with their father, Ron, center. outing to CiCi’s Pizza. go on outings to CiCi’s Pizza or take rides around the backyard on a golf cart.

Tacos are one of Christian’s favorite meals to make for the guys. Some weeks, every day is Taco Tuesday, even if it’s actually Wednesday or Thursday.

Anne said it’s wonderful to see Christian go above and beyond to teach the boys new skills.

“It was really touching when we were trying to teach Joshua how to use spoons to eat. He’s so patient. He sits next to Joshua said says, ‘Come on buddy, you can do it.’ He helps him hold the spoon and bring it to his

mouth. He’ll do that for the whole meal, and he never loses his patience,” Anne said.

Just like Joshua and Jacob, Christian is an identical twin, and Anne said it seems their families have a lot in common.

“We bonded instantly with his family. We met his parents and grandparents within the first week, and that was important to him for us to meet his family,” she said. “That just shows what type of upbringing he had, which matches perfectly with ours.”

Christian is grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the boys and give parents Anne and Ron some reprieve.

“My hat goes off to the parents. Any way that I or anyone else can help the parents of a kid with special needs is the most rewarding thing,” he said.

It’s also rewarding to see the boys smile and laugh. Even though they are nonverbal, they make their affection loud and clear when they hug Christian, give him kisses on the cheek and laugh every time he dances. When Christian sits down, they fight to sit down next to him.

“They are so happy and so loving, and they have so much to offer. I feel like most people don’t understand that they are kids, too. They still have that same love to give to others. They are so special in so many ways, and I think they are the best people ever,” Christian said.

He added, “They love to be loved. They want to hold your hand. They want to come outside with you. They love for you to be around them.

That’s what they care about the most. Since I started watching the boys, they have impacted my life for the better. They’ve made me a better person and more appreciative for everything I do have.”

Anne said Christian laughs just as much as the boys do during their time together.

“It’s a match made in heaven, and we’re so happy that we found him,” she said.

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Lagniappe Seafood Gumbo This gumbo is a seafood lover’s dream come true.

Try substituting one pound of shrimp with crawfish tails.

Ingredients • 3 lbs. small or medium shrimp, peeled • 1 lb. Bailey’s smoked sausage, sliced • ¼ c. vegetable oil • 3½ qts. hot water • 1 box Bailey’s Cajun Creole Roux Mix • ½-1lb. crab meat • 2 doz. raw oysters (optional)

Shrimp &Andouille Pasta

Directions In an 8-quart pot, fry shrimp and smoked sausage in oil for 15 minutes.

Add hot water and bring to a boil.

Mix roux packet with boiling water from pot until it is soft and smooth.

Add roux to pot.

Add crab meat, seasoning and spices packets.

Cook uncovered over medium heat for 45 minutes.

If desired, oysters should be added in the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Skim excess oil.

Serve over cooked rice.

Yields: 8-10 servings.

Substituting some or all of the shrimp with crawfish tails can only make this pasta dish more delicious.

Ingredients • • • • • • • •

1 lb. seashell pasta 1 lb. Bailey’s andouille 2 tbsp. butter 1 c. green onions, chopped 1 garlic, minced 2 lbs. medium shrimp 1 c. half-&-half Bailey’s Cajun Creole Spice Blend, to taste

Directions Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse and set aside. Remove casing from andouille, quarter, slice and set aside.

Sauté green onions and garlic in melted butter until wilted. Add andouille and shrimp. Cook until shrimp are done. Toss in cooked pasta and spice blend.

Slowly, stir in half-&-half.

Mixture will slowly thicken as it is stirred. When desired thickness is achieved, remove from heat, and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

For more recipes visit  http://www.baileysandouille.com/

Preserve family memories for years to come Families enjoy many moments together throughout the years. However, in today’s digital world, quite often those experiences fail to see the light of day past an initial tweet or Instagram post. Too often file upon file remains in a digital graveyard on a mobile phone or external hard drive.

Instead of letting photos, videos, drawings, and memorabilia from vacations and other family experiences linger unappreciated, families can preserve these memories. Explore the various ways to share occasions with others.

PHOTO BOOKS Don’t procrastinate and let photo files pile up.

Promptly upload them to your favorite photo printing site or bring them to a retailer that has photo machines, such as a nearby pharmacy.

Such businesses routinely offer coupons and steep discounts on photo books. The software is user-friendly, and, in a week or two, you can have a photo book ready to go. This is less time-consuming than making photo albums, printing photos and then placing them behind plastic-lined pages. The photo book software also may include background designs and funny captions to help customize pages even further.

PHOTO COLLAGE If you are a purist and like to have photo prints in hand, then have several of a particular occasion made and then attach them to a decorative piece of wood. Using a decoupage product or a

shellac, coat the collage so that it can be preserved. Hang your collage as a piece of handmade artwork on display.

ARTWORK GALLERY Children routinely bring home artwork they made in school, daycare and other organized classes. Sometimes these items get stashed in plastic containers that are ultimately stored in attics or basements, only to be “discovered” years later. Rather than relegating them to storage, invest in frames of various sizes and hang the pictures as if they were in an art gallery.

Make sure the frames are easy to access so that the artwork can be swapped out periodically.

Kids will take pride in sharing their creations with family and visitors.

KEEP A JOURNAL Another way to preserve memories is to write down experiences. Each member of the family can fill out a page with a special recollection of a trip or another momentous day. Keep the journal on a coffee table so it can be reviewed every so often. Save it and gift it to future generations.

Family memories are worth keeping and sharing. There are many ways to display photos, thoughts, and other sentiments from special events.

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A year of firsts in St. John Parish

P

arish President Jaclyn Hotard’s first year in office was trial by fire with the onset of a global health pandemic paired with a historically active hurricane season. Despite the challenges, Hotard made the most of the year by implementing new quality of life events to bring every piece of the community puzzle together.

Art classes and contests, a drive-thru Trunk-or-Treat, a Coats for Kids Drive and non-traditional recreation opportunities were among many “firsts” for St. John the Baptist Parish this year, building upon a wide-spanning Community Engagement Initiative.

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