River Parishes Magazine

River Parishes Magazine Winter 2021

Vacherie family spreads joy with videos

Judge Madeline Jasmine settles into retirement

Church makes 100 years

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Table of Contents Settling into retirement~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 Scorsone Productions bring smiles with music and dancing~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9 St. John the Baptist Church commemorates 100 years~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 14 Finding peace from within~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 24 The health benefit of popular teas~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 24 Getting back to business~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 25 Takin it way back~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 28 Blast from the Past~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 30

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Settling into retirement,

Judge Madeline Jasmine reflects on 30 years on the bench

T

BY BROOKE R. CANTRELLE

he Honorable Madeline Jasmine started college with intentions of becoming an international social worker, but her true calling was right at home.

For the past 30 years, Jasmine has served St. John the Baptist Parish as the Division A Judge of the 40th Judicial District Court. She was a trailblazer from the start as the first African American elected to the position at a time when there were very few people who looked like her in public office. Her dedication to shaping the lives of disadvantaged youth, rehabilitating defendants through drug court and participating in numerous civic organizations has had an unimaginable impact on the community.

Most importantly, Jasmine has always strived to make litigants feel seen and heard in her courtroom. Now settling into a wellearned retirement, Jasmine can hang up her

robe and feel confident that her presence has made a difference.

“I ran on a very simple platform, and I really believe every man deserves his day in court, regardless of whether he can afford representation,” Jasmine said. “I’ve tried to do that, and I have tried to implement that in everything that I do. There are programs we have started, such as drug court and mentoring of young people, because I found that a lot of young people in the system are crying for help. We not only have to apply the law, but we have to be able to listen to everyone.”

As Jasmine departs from the bench, JudgeElect Vercell Fiffie will bring a new face to the Division A seat for the first time since 1991. His term begins on January 1, 2021, just one day after Jasmine’s term expires on Dec. 31, 2020.

“I’m still eligible to run, but most of my friends who are my age and my younger sister are all retired,” Jasmine said. “They have been sort of egging me on, saying we can do things now

The Honorable Madeline Jasmine has presided over Division A of the 40th Judicial District Court since 1991. She is now retiring, and her seat is being filled

by Vercell Fiffie of Edgard.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 5

St. John the Baptist Parish Library system honored 18 of the community’s leading ladies in honor of National Women’s History Month. The honorees included Natalie Robottom, Bridget Dinvaut, Madeline Jasmine, Mary Hotard Becnel, Nghana Lewis, Rachel Bezdek, Wendi De Frank, Quentina Timoll, Jaclyn Hotard, Precious Joseph, Shelia Baloney, Nora Pierre, Eliza Eugene, Natalie Tatje, Kim Bourgeois, Krisy Rice, Mary Belvin and Kristie Jackson.

if you weren’t still working. I always told myself that when it’s time for me to retire, I’ll know. I prayed about it, and I made the decision not to run again because I knew there were some younger people who were interested but would never run against me, Mr. Fiffie being one of them.”

Retirement will be a new journey for her, but she is assured that the future of the 40th Judicial Court is in good hands. Jasmine knows her family needs her, especially in light of the recent loss of her sister from COVID-19.

There’s also a lot to look forward to. In addition to relaxation and a chance for girl’s trip adventures, Jasmine is most excited about spending quality time with her 2-year-old granddaughter.

Jasmine reflected on her journey in the legal field, which was largely inspired by the hard work and dedication of those who came before her.

“When I first went to college, this was not my plan. I wanted to be an international social worker; that was my goal,” Jasmine said.

“However, I took business law as an elective early on, maybe in my second year.”

The class piqued her interest and led her to pay attention to how the legal field impacted every facet of her community. The district attorney at the time seemed to be the go-to person to handle everyone’s business in St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes.

Jasmine remembers going to the Courthouse with her father on a Sunday to get some papers signed. Waiting in the hallway to see DA Murray, Jasmine thought to herself, “I’m going to be a lawyer, and I’m going to come back home.”

The Honorable Madeline Jasmine has participated in many community events, including a breast cancer awareness event at River Parishes Hospital.

Jasmine believes that moment was a major turning point in her life.

She attended Loyola Law School in New Orleans and graduated in 1978. Her graduation fell on the same year as the local district attorney election. When Murray and Harold Morel made it to the run-offs, Jasmine got an assurance from both men that if they won, she could get a job. Morel won, and he kept his promise by hiring Jasmine as an assistant district attorney.

After Morel’s first term, St. John and St. Charles parishes split, and the 40th Judicial District Court was formed in Edgard.

With so few African Americans represented in the local legal scene at the time, Jasmine felt blessed to bring diversity to the courthouse.

“I was in the office every day. My presence, I think, gave people a level of comfort to know that they were having their issues heard and thoroughly looked at,” Jasmine said. “I feel you have a level of

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Judge Madeline Jasmine, a West Bank native, is pictured with her father, Thomas Jasmine Sr.

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e y a r .

comfort when you see someone who looks like you, who has experienced some of the things you’ve experienced, and you know your concerns are being considered.”

As an assistant district attorney, Jasmine oversaw all of the juvenile prosecutions. The unbelievable life stories she heard from young defendants made her realize that many of the juveniles who found themselves in the court were victims of circumstance.

Jasmine saw it as an opportunity to get further involved with juvenile court when St. John Parish was split into sub-districts for the election of judges.

With help from a team of volunteers, Jasmine made it to the December 1990 run-off election against Fred DeFrancesch for the Division A seat. In January 1991, she was installed as judge for the 40th Judicial District Court.

She was most recently re-elected in 2014 for a six-year term that ran from January 2015 to December 2020.

One of her accomplishments in office was starting a “Save Our Youth Day” to put young people in St. John the Baptist Parish on the right path. That torch has been carried on by her son, Denarold Anderson, who reinstated Save Our Youth Day to capture young people’s attention with inspirational speakers and exciting door prizes.

“My mother used to do Save Our Youth Day when I was younger. When Drug Court came about, she had to choose between the two, and Drug Court was more needed at the time. That’s what inspired me to take over Save Our Youth,” Anderson said.

He added that his mother has been a source of inspiration throughout his life.

Madeline Jasmine is pictured with her sons, Denarold and Prentiss Anderson.

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Madeline Jasmine spoke at a December 2019 ribbon cutting for a new traffic signal to increase motorist safety on Highway 3127.

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“I can’t put into words how she has inspired me, not only from being the first African American judge in the River Parishes. She helps people. That’s something that always stands out for me,” Anderson said. “She’s always been the type of person that will put the needs of others ahead of her own. It’s something that I saw growing up, and it’s something that I always wanted to do. She’s tried her best to be a blessing whenever possible, and I try to do the same thing in my life.”

Drug Court has been another way for Jasmine to re-invest in the people of the community. The 40th JDC Adult Drug Court of St. John the Baptist Parish was recently recognized for 20 years of service in March 2020 at the Louisiana Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Albert “Ali” Burl III, who has worked with the Drug Court for many years, said the program provides a helpful tool for bringing families back together and subverting crime in the community. Adult Drug Court ensures the accountability of its clients by promoting efficient practices, thorough treatment, help finding gainful employment, assisting in acquiring their GED and securing affordable housing.

Jasmine was a recipient of the Ernest N. Moral Judicial Pacesetter Award and the 11th annual A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Award. She was honored to serve as Judge Pro Tempore on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal for several months from 2008 to 2009, and she is a past chair of the Louisiana Council of the NBA. In addition to maintaining membership in several prestigious judges associations, Jasmine is one of the founding members of the St. John Alliance for Progress and the West Bank Civic Association, through which she has supported local schools and assisted the community in times of crisis. She is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and New Jerusalem Baptist Church.

“Thank you to the people who have allowed me to serve them for this many years. It has truly been an amazing journey, and I thank God for it,” Jasmine said. “I’m very grateful and humbled for this experience.”

Scorsone Productions bring smiles with music and dancing Grandmother & granddaughter share unbreakable bond

K

BY BROOKE R. CANTRELLE

atherine Scorsone and her grandmother Judy Folse aren’t afraid to throw on a wig in a public space and dance like nobody’s watching – it’s always rewarding to see the smiles that spread across the faces of onlookers.

The Vacherie family is sharing their silly, carefree dances with the world and raising spirits in the process. Sisters Katherine, Caroline, Elizabeth and Amelia are part of the production team, along with parents Michael and Mary Beth Scorsone and grandmother Judy.

Judy Folse and her granddaughter Katherine Scorsone share a sense of humor and a love for making people laugh.

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Judy Folse tries to be the ultimate wingwoman for her granddaughter Katherine Scorsone by holding mistletoe over her head.

Their collection of videos is shared online through the Scorsone Productions Facebook page, which was started this year to bring some light into the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, nursing student Katherine Scorsone’s love for making videos goes back to her childhood.

“Ever since we were little, we just made funny videos together as a family and shared them on social media to brighten people’s day.

As we got older, we got better at videoing, editing and learning what grabs people’s attention and how to make someone who might not be having a great day laugh,” Katherine said.

Katherine picked up her video editing skills by taking an interactive media class in her senior year of high school. Now 23 years old, she still enjoys making lighthearted videos with family. The entire Scorsone family appears in the videos, but Katherine and her grandmother are usually the stars of the show.

Judy, affectionately known as “Nani” by her grandchildren, saw the video platform as a channel to give back during the 2020 holiday season, building upon a tradition that was started by her late husband.

Stanley “Dip” Folse was sometimes called the Santa Claus of Vacherie because he could often be found delivering soup to the

elderly members of the neighborhood at Christmastime. “Dip” passed away on Oct. 29, 2019, but his legacy is far from forgotten.

Instead of soup, some Vacherie neighbors were surprised this year with beautiful poinsettias delivered to their door. The delivery also came with a show a little different from your average Christmas carol.

As the elderly residents came to the door, they saw the Scorsone family in the front yard, dressed in festive Christmas costumes and waving their arms merrily to classic holiday songs.

The family stopped at about 15 houses and recorded the experience in a short video posted to the Scorsone Productions Facebook page.

“We actually made a list of a bunch of people that my Nani knew who she thought would be really excited to get a poinsettia,” Katherine said. “She knew a lot of them had lost their husband this year. My Nani lost her husband last year, so she knows what it feels like to be lonesome, and she wanted to be there for them.”

While many of the neighbors cautiously kept the screen door closed, Katherine could see the smiles that played across their faces as they witnessed the sweet surprise.

“A lot of them had tears in their eyes when we left,” Katherine said.

“Once we brought one poinsettia, it was so contagious. We just wanted to do more and kept asking, ‘Where are we going next?’”

Katherine said it was easily the most complex video the family has produced to date. Every person had a job, whether it was playing the song on the speaker or grabbing and delivering the plants. One person was in charge of a tripod catching the neighbors’ reactions, while another person pointed a tripod to capture the front yard performance.

According to Katherine, it was almost comical how fast they had to get set up in each yard before the neighbor could come to the door

Judy Folse and Katherine Scorsone film a cooking demonstration that devolves into a flour fight.

and question why people dressed in Christmas tree and elf costumes were running around on their property.

Judy enjoyed seeing a small gesture spread a lot of joy.

“We delivered it to a lot of people that were widows, and I know how special it is to get something around this time when you’re without a husband,” Judy said. “Since my husband used to deliver soup to a lot of these people when he was alive, we thought we would do something, but none of us make soup like him. I thought maybe we would get poinsettias.”

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 11

The Scorsone family dresses up in Christmas gear to surprise neighbors with poinsettias.

A “Christmas caroling” excursion through Vacherie included a stop in front of St. Phillip Church in Vacherie.

The holiday season wasn’t the only time Scorsone Productions used videos to give back.

In October 2020, Katherine’s passion for nursing and video production collided when she made a breast cancer awareness video at Lake Sherwood Village Retirement Community in Baton Rouge. Staff

and residents put on pink gloves, pink masks and pink dancing shoes as they took a stand against breast cancer, one step at a time.

“It was really nice. Especially right now with the coronavirus, older people aren’t able to socialize as much as they used to be. They need that social interaction now more than ever,” Katherine said.

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Raising spirits during the COVID-19 crisis was also the inspiration behind a Scorsone Productions video that featured a second line dance party down the aisles of Schexnayder’s Supermarket. The video went viral and earned the family a feature on WGNO in Fall 2020.

Another video included socially distanced driveway dance parties appropriately matched up to the song “Dancing in the Street.” Katherine and Judy post skits to the Facebook page where they have a blast together, whether it is a cooking show that devolves into a flour fight or a video poking fun at Judy’s Vacherie accent.

Katherine noted that people often call her mother and ask what video the girls are planning next. The truth is, almost everything is spontaneous. Once Katherine is out of school and has a set work schedule, she thinks the videos will flourish into a bigger production. For now, it’s a fun side gig.

Whatever the future brings, the videos will always revolve around making people happy.

“The videos always deal with something the average person is not going to be doing in public. We get costumes and wigs involved. Looking at people my age, you can’t really find someone else that’s 23 years old that is going to say, let’s go to the grocery store and put a wig on and dance around just so we can see other people laugh around us. Most people are like okay, no, because what are they going to think of me?

People are going to think I’m crazy,” Katherine said. “My Nani is the perfect partner in crime because she doesn’t have anything to worry about.

We almost had to get both of us a pair of Depends for the grocery store video because we were cracking up together the whole time.”

Katherine said her family appreciates all of the likes and shares, and they read every comment. With every video, Katherine always tells Judy this one is going to be “the best one yet.”

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St. John the Baptist Church commemorates 100 years

S

BY BROOKE R. CANTRELLE

t. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard is an architectural marvel that is rich in history and equally rich in love.

The current church building was consecrated on Oct. 28, 1920 at 2361 Highway 18 in Edgard. For the past century, the building has been a beloved home for generations of Catholic families in the River Parishes. While the current building was consecrated 100 years ago, the roots of the church trace back to the 1700s. In the early 1720s, a group of German settlers established a settlement in the area now known as Lucy. The area became widely known as La Cote des Allemands, or The German Coast, and a small chapel was built to serve the growing population.

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Working towards the future

St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard presents a special Proclamation to Reverend Robustiano Morgia, pastor. Masks were temporarily removed for pictures. (From left to right) Parish President Jaclyn Hotard, Parish Councilman Kurt Becnel, Pastor Rev. R. Morgia, Church Historian Warren Caire and (Top Row) St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre.

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In 1769, Acadians who settled in the area began a search for land to build a church. It was decided that wealthy bachelor Jacque DuBroc would donate four of his 12 arpents of land along the Mississippi River for the construction of a church and cemetery.

According to historian Warren Caire, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is the third oldest church parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, predated only by the St. Louis Cathedral (1718) and St. Charles Borromeo in Destrehan (1723).

The first church stood in the same location as the modern St. John the Baptist Church. Land was expropriated on February 21, 1770, and the building was constructed using hand-hewn Cypress trees. The first pastor was Spanish Capuchin Father Bernardo de Limpach.

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After the first church building was swept away by floodwaters in 1821, Father Vito Modestus Mina, the parish priest at the time, orchestrated an effort to build a new church in the same location. Rather than using cypress trees, builders utilized handmade bricks for much of the structure.

The second church, consecrated on March 17, 1822, also included a large wooden steeple that became a recognizable icon for travelers along the Mississippi River.

Just four years shy of its 100th anniversary, the second church building was destroyed in a vicious fire on March 19, 1918. Undeterred, Father Theopile Stenmans and the dedicated church community followed in the footsteps of their ancestors and began to rebuild. Just three days after the fire, $50,000 was subscribed for the new church at a meeting among parishioners.

St. John the Baptist Church is located at 2361 Highway 18 in Edgard.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 17

Sheriff Mike Tregre shared that he remembers taking field trips to the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church as a child and admiring the grand architecture.

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The current church was built at a cost of $146,000, debt-free, and consecrated on Oct. 28, 1920.

Adjusted for inflation, this would equate to approximately $2.52 million in expenses today.

The bells in the bell tower were recovered from the 1918 fire and serve as a link to former generations of the church parish.

The St. John the Baptist Church that greets parishioners and visitors today is reminiscent of a magnificent Roman Renaissance style. The grand structure is 143 feet long and 60 feet wide, with two towers reaching 89 feet into the sky.

Grand and worldly, the Roman Renaissance style architecture includes altars and communion rails made of white carrara marble imported from Italy and stained-glass windows made in Munich, Germany.

Every ornate detail tells a story of the perseverance of generations of St. John the Baptist parishioners.

As parishioner Betty Joseph puts it, the true church is not the building, but the people.

The Rev. Robustiano Morgia performs a blessing at St. John the Baptist Church’s 100th anniversary.

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RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 19

Old statues were beautifully restored this year at St. John the Baptist Church in Edgard.

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The St. John the Baptist Church Choir includes (From left to right) Nicole Sterling, Margo Lumar, Virgie Johnson, (Second row) Betty Joseph, Heidi Gaines-Lewis, Angelle Sterling, (Top row) Rev. R. Morgia, Claude Steib and Garrien Frank.

“I think what makes St. John the Baptist Catholic Church special is that we are a family,” Joseph said. When someone is in need, we all chip in. When someone needs a ride, we come pick them up. When someone loses a loved one, the whole house is filled with people to share in the burden, pray with you and pray for you.”

Father Robustiano Morgia remembers being told that Edgard is so quiet, “you can hear the sugarcane grow.” That has not stopped the church and parishioners from making bold impacts in the community.

“As we highlight the celebration, let’s remind ourselves that we are the people of today who will take care of this church and pass it on to the next generation,” Morgia said.

PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION

Joseph has been a CCD teacher for well over 40 years, starting from the time she was 19 years old. Children under the Confirmation of Christian Doctrine program become deeply engrained in the church, whether they train as lecturers, join the youth gospel choir or participate in Nativity scenes and passion plays.

Through the years, Joseph has seen so many children step out of their comfort zones as they grow into their leadership abilities and their Catholic faith.

“We teach them the Christian way. We teach them about Jesus and the Catholic faith,” Joseph said. “We have first through 11th graders, and I work with the high school group. From a Catholic standpoint, confirmation is sort of an adult baptism. When you are

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 21

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baptized with water as a child, it’s your parents deciding for you.

With Confirmation, you are now deciding for yourself.”

Joseph said Archbishop Gregory Aymond recently visited the Edgard Church for the confirmation of 13 11th graders and two adults. While confirmation is one of the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, it is only a piece of a young person’s spiritual life.

Younger children participate in Nativity scenes at Christmas, while older children take part in a passion play during the Easter season to understand what took place when Jesus was crucified. Joseph will never forget her late son, Juan, playing the part of Jesus on the cross.

Likewise, she will never forget her younger son, Dray, telling her, “I knew Jesus was crucified, but I didn’t know he went through so much.”

Another ministry within the church involves liturgical dancers who praise God through movement.

“That was kind of new to some of our old Catholics because they couldn’t totally relate to dancing in the church,” Joseph said. She directed the skeptics to scriptures in the Bible where Jesus said to praise the Lord with song and dance. Today, the liturgical dancers bring God’s word to life during Easter, Christmas and Black History Month programs.

According to Joseph, the leadership skills and confidence the liturgical dancers cultivate will help them moving forward in life. The same principle applies to children in the gospel choir who start out too afraid to sing. As they come out of their shells, the completely blossom in the light of God. Joseph said many of the older students start out self-conscious when it comes to reading in the church. Once they find their voices, they go on to become lecturers, ushers, greeters and Eucharistic ministers within the church.

Adult ministries are equally active within the church. The adult gospel choirs sing for funerals and spiritual holidays while a hospitality team prepares the church for special events. Church members have contributed to charitable food drives and coat drives for the needy in the community.

Even Father Morgia labors for the church and can often be found cutting the grass on the surrounding grounds. Joseph said everyone has a niche inside of their loving church family.

“I’m not saying that other churches don’t have those type of things, but I do know that at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, we are a close-knit family. We look after each other as a whole,” she said.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 23

Finding peace from within

J

Innovative Approaches Counseling Center serves public as mental health becomes more important than ever

By Andrew Fehn

ust a few months ago, the average American worked, went to school and did “entrepreneuring” to make a living throughout the week. So many lived by the acronym T.G.I. F (Thank God it’s Friday) and found solace in a variety of pleasurable activities during the weekend.

Friday night dinners, going to the Cinema, dancing, shopping, weekend sports, Sunday Church and a family day at the park were all designed to relax and get our minds right for another productive work week ahead.

Then suddenly, our lifestyle was drastically replaced by shutting it down due to the threat of COVID-19. Since it began, logic, reason and common sense has been swept under a rug and most everyone now lives in a state of fear and confusion. Fear comes in many forms, but this is the fear of becoming sick and suffering a horrible death.

Now some of our Nation’s people have developed a mental condition called “Thanatophobia,” which is an obsession with the constant fear of death. Also, a new found dilemma is finding someone to talk to, in order to gain some kind of comfort, but family members and friends most likely are feeling the same thing. Overcoming this unproductive misery may seem impossible, but there is no shame in reaching out to a professional counselor.

Innovation Approaches Counseling Center located in LaPlace has the answers needed to cope with this ordeal, as well as many other problems we face on a daily basis.

Nyaki Casey Brown and Candace Sorapuru are the owners of this facility and are here to help anyone dealing with the anxieties and difficulties that life lays out before us all. Both ladies are board approved and are “Licensed Clinical Social Workers” (LCSW) and for nearly eight years the Center has been open, helping many people get their

lives in a productive order. The facility offers counseling services to couples, family, children, individuals, group therapy, workshops and supervised therapy.

They also counsel referrals from schools and work closely with the courts to offer an alternative to youths who are having behavioral issues while trying to avoid having them thrown into the juvenile justice system.

We all need a piece of mind in this life, and sometimes we need a little help to rediscover what already lies within us.

Innovative Approaches Counseling Center is located in LaPlace @ 3013 US-51 Suite B. Those in need can book a virtual appointment on line safely and discreetly. For more information, call 985-618-3558 or visit https://www.innovativeapproaches.info/.

The health benefits of popular teas

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hite tea: A 2010 study published in the Journal of Food Science found that antioxidant-rich white tea boasts anti-carcinogenic properties. Penn Medicine also notes that white tea is a significant source of fluoride, catechins and tannins, ingredients that can strengthen teeth, improve their resistance to acid and sugar and fight plaque.

Chamomile tea: Many drink this herbal tea before bedtime because they feel it helps them fall asleep, and one study published in Molecular Medicine Reports in 2010 notes that chamomile tea is widely regarded as a mild tranquilizer and sleep-inducer. Also it has been shown to improve heart health. A 2015 study of 64 patients with diabetes published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found that

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those who consumed chamomile tea with meals had improved triglyceride and “bad” cholesterol levels compared to patients who drank water.

Peppermint tea: The Mount Sinai Health System notes that peppermint calms the muscles of the stomach and improves the flow of bile.

Made from dried leaves of the peppermint plant, peppermint tea can help to soothe an upset stomach and help people overcome conditions like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and motion sickness.

Green tea: Green tea is loaded with flavonoids, which Penn Medicine notes improve heart health by lowering bad cholesterol and reducing blood clotting. In addition, the National Cancer Institute notes that the polyphenols in green tea may protect people against the damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet B radiation. One study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association also associated green tea consumption with a reduced risk of stroke.

Getting Back to Business

T

he River Region Chamber of Commerce celebrated local businesses that are reopening, recovering and returning from the COVID-19 shutdown. This included a week-long ribbon-cutting event started on October 12 and continued until October 16. Chamber teams visited several businesses across the River Parishes and had a ribbon cutting to let everyone know they are open and ready for customers. Pictured are some of the businesses that participated. To learn more about the River Region Chamber call 985-359-9777 or email Rebecca at events@riverregionchamber.org.

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TAKIN’ IT WAY BACK

As 2021 begins, we take a look back at the past.

1971 – On the left, Mrs. James Michael Naquin is the former Miss Linda M. Falgoust, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis P. Falgoust of Reserve. Mr. Naquin is the son Mr. and Mrs. Percy J. Naquin of Des Allemands. They were married November 25 (1970) at the St. Peter Catholic Church in Reserve. On the right, Mrs. Albert Volion is the former Miss Kathleen Jacob, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Jacob of Garyville. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Volion, Sr., also of Garyville. They were married January 2, at the St. Hubert Catholic Church in Garyville.

1971 – Miss Virgie Jarrow, who was crowned Miss West St. John 1971 in the contest held by the Dukes of Edgard, poses with members of her court and last year’s queen. They are (seated, from left) Miss Catherine Borne, first runner up; Miss Jarrow; Miss Cheryl Thomas, second runner up, and (standing) Miss Gwendolyn Oubre, third runner up; Miss Catherine Roussel, 1970 Miss West St. John and Miss Dora Lee Kelly, fourth runner up.

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1971 – Miss Annette Singleton (seated, center), who will reign as queen of the Krewe of Allovus VI, poses with last year’s queen and other contestants for the crown following her selection at a tea at Airline Motors Restaurant in LaPlace. Seated from left are Miss Anne Guillot, who was chosen first maid to the new queen and Miss Abby Hymel, 1970 Allovus queen. Standing from the left are Sandy Doremus, Suzanne Keating, Diana Hajek, KarenWinstead, Linda Cruthirds, Karen Hall and Gina Champagne.

1981 – Original Fan in Maurin’s Theatre – This fan cooled movie fans since 1920. The fan was recently restored and replaced in the lobby of the St. John Theatre in Reserve.

Shown making minor adjustments on the fan are, from left, Lucian Cambre and Dr. Jack Harvey, president of the St. John Theatre.

1981 – July 4th jitterbugs: Shawn Sellars, left and Sally Guidry

1981 – ABWA Scholarship Recipients – Two of the three recipients of $150 book scholarships given

by La Flambeau Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association attended the July 21 monthly general membership meeting. Ann Brady, an East St. John High School graduate, second from left, and Bernadette Austin, a Hahnville High School graduate, third from the left, each received scholarships. Brady plans to study business administration at the University of New Orleans and Austin plans to pursue chemical engineering at Southwest Louisiana University. Also receiving a scholarsip was Robin St. Pierre, a Destrehan High School graduate planning to attend Southeastern Louisiana University and major in accounting. Also in the photo are, far left Beth Ann Hesser Weber, meeting program director; and, far right Judi Williams president of La Flambeau charter chapter. Also at the July 21 meeting, three new members were affiliated and 70th birthday of member Florence Little, a member of the ABWA’s Inner Circle (admitted for a high sponsorship of new members was celebrated).

Little has been affiliated with four different chapters.

1991— Bonnie Louque assists some of her computer based instruction students with their lessons this week, Louque – who teaches at John L. Ory in LaPlace was named Louisiana Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

2011— Rotary Club of LaPlace members Bill Ironside, Mike Tregre, Linda Stein, Melanie Basile and Lucien Gauff team up to pickup litter along Belle Terre Blvd. Joining the effort are Basile’s sons, Nick and Anthony.

1991— Grand Opening – The ribbon was cut recently on Chung’s Novelties, 1701 Belle Terre Blvd., Suite B, LaPlace. Owners are Chung Cutno and Alfred Cutno, fifth and sixth from the left. Also attending the ribbon-cutting were, from left Victor Zaidain, Bob Hymel,; St. John the Baptist Parish Councilman Steve Lee and Bill Terry; the Cutnos; Frank Alexander and Ronnie White.

1991— Color Guard – The Destrehan High School Color Guard

2011 – West St. John’s Ronnie Feist finished second in the shot put at the Region 3-1A championship on Wednesday at West St. John.

Feist has qualified for state and West St. John will be represented in 14 different events in all at next week’s state championship meet at LSU.

2011 – Phillip Faucheux (right) and his 14-year-old son, Cole, share a smile as they struggle to get the Command at Sea pin secured to his uniform during the change-of-command ceremony last weekend.

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BLAST FROM THE PAST: A Look Back at early 20th Century Garyville

M

aria Rowley delivered these photos to L’OBSERVATEUR. Each image is a portal back to a time when men rode to work on horseback and women donned dresses and hats as daily wear. Agricultural plantations lined the bank of the Mississippi River, and a thriving lumber business was the center of activity for the growing town of Garyville in the early 1900s.

The Lyon Cypress Lumber Company provided 1,000 jobs, drawing families from surrounding areas and immigrants who had arrived in New Orleans, according to Carl Monica. The company also built the Garyville Northern Railroad. However, dwindling supplies of cypress and timber combined with two fires and the Great Depression spelled disaster for the lumber company, causing it to shut its doors less than 30 years after opening.

A majority of these photos were taken in 1911 and 1912.

A group of people lounge on the Mississippi River levee.

Florence and Edith Nicholas stand on a dredge boat dipper with an unidentified man in February 1912.

Edith and Florence Nicholas stand on top of a log train car in Garyville.

A passenger train arrives in Garyville.

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Two women play on a see-saw during the Garyville Summer School picnic on June 3, 1911.

Edith Nicholas strikes a solemn pose.

Unidentified ladies and children stand in the front yard of a Garyville house.

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