Rp mag 2016 winter by L'Observateur

c'est la vie

• 11 AND COUNTING: Homeschooling, faith strengthen family bonds • Courtroom Close: Judge Becnel retires A special publication of L'OBSERVATEUR

www.lobservateur.com

Winter 2016 Edition

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As the end of the year nears and a new one begins, it is the perfect time for our community to focus on our faith, families and friends. The holiday season shines a bright light on what is really important in our lives, and provides the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. It is also a time to look back on last year and give thanks for all that is good in our parish and our lives. Eight communities comprise St. John the Baptist Parish and results in a collective blend of heritage, culture and charm. The people of St. John have retained many old customs especially during the fall and winter months. Fairs and festivals highlighting our unique cuisine are held annually to raise money for worthy causes. On Christmas Eve, bonfires dot the levees on both sides of the Mississippi River and River Road is lined with visitors from near and far to partake in the holiday festivities. Built mostly of logs and cane reeds, these bonfires represent the creativity of our people and showcase a spectacular view of fireworks, good food and family fun. As history would have it, the bonfires along the river “light the way for Papa Noel.” In this issue, our community’s most valuable resource will be highlighted - our people. Our residents are strong and resilient and share in our passion for community. Their hard work, volunteerisim, and public service combine with our efforts to make St. John Parish a better place to live, work and raise a family. As Parish President, I am committed to providing a secure economic future and improving the quality of life for all residents of St. John the Baptist Parish. With a $107 million budget set for 2017, critical infrastructure projects (roads & drainage), new government facilities, improvements to recreation trails, housing renovation programs and water system upgrades are underway. The Parish’s budget has increased by 15% because of state and federal grants. Other Parish revenues continue to increase, while parish debt decreases which is a positive trend. Please take time to read this special issue and share in the pride of our community and our people. We ask that you support our local newspaper, as it features important news and community events. Be a part of something great and help make St. John the Baptist Parish the best that it can be. Please visit the parish website at www.sjbparish.com to view our latest news and upcoming events in the community. We encourage you to join our Shop Local, Shop St. John Campaign and support our local economy. Participating in our Shop Local Trivia Game can also lead to winning gift cards and prizes from our local retailers. Thanks for your support and Season’s Greetings.

– Natalie Robottom St. John the Baptist Parish President RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Table of Contents Trailblazer Whitney Joseph Jr. ----------------- 5 Bergeron family of 11 children stays close ------ 8 Jae’Lasha Julien kicks with the boys --------- 12 Healthy eating involves right foods -------- 14 Judge Becnel enjoyed improbable path ----- 15 SCENE IT: Libraries celebrate 50 years ----- 18 Dining -------------------------------------------- 20 Parting Shots: Service for others --------------- 23

River Parishes Magazine, C’EST LA VIE Publisher/Editor ~ Stephen Hemelt Advertising ~ Christine Browning • Candace Hemelt Contributing Writers ~ Monique Roth • Kyle Barnett • Lori Lyons • Joseph Paul Graphic Designer ~ Christine Browning • Candace Hemelt 116 Newspaper Dr., LaPlace, LA 70068 • 985-652-9545

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Outgoing St. John the Baptist Parish Assessor Whitney Joseph Jr. points to a framed photograph of his family. Joseph, a trailblazer in the River Parishes, is retiring after 20 years as assessor and 40 years at the office. (Photos by Joseph Halm)

JOSEPH BLAZES TRAIL FOR MANY ‘I’m a blessed man because statistics said that I should not have succeeded.’

t. John the Baptist Parish Assessor Whitney Joseph Jr. has recorded many firsts in his political career. In 1974, he became St. John the Baptist Parish’s first black resident to serve as Chief Deputy Assessor. Then in 2005, he became the first black man elected to a parishwide assessor seat in Louisiana, and now he’s ready for another first – retirement. “I think I’ve done what I set out to do,” he said. “And that was to show that no matter what skin color

you have, you can do anything. That was my goal, and I think that is why God blessed me. I’ve done what I had to do, and it’s time for somebody else to do what they need to do.” It’s a simple summary after more than 40 years in public office for a man who was happy as a math teacher before he joined the assessor’s office. “My motivation was to prove that a black man can succeed in politics,” he said. “I was teaching school, and I was happy with that. I wanted to show the community that a black man

can do anything if given the opportunity. I think, hopefully, that is what I did.” Joseph said education has been the key to his success, but it wasn’t easy. He is a Southern University graduate, but he took the bus daily from Reserve to Baton Rouge and back to earn that education. “I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world,” he said. “My parents and grandparents instilled in me that I had to go to school. My daddy would say that he didn’t want me to work like he was working.” Even with all that encour-

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agement, it took a life lesson one summer to fortify his desire. During that summer, he worked at a refinery and was considering giving up college for a refinery career. After spending one day working in a bauxite container, he quickly reconsidered. Joseph remained active in the community after college and when Henry J. Hotard Jr. became assessor in 1974, Joseph was picked by Third District Voters League members as their recommendation for chief deputy assessor. He was appointed and never looked back. “The main thing for us as black people is to be recognized,” he said. “I’m a blessed man because statistics said that I should not have succeeded. I had good parents and good grandparents. I hope that what we have done here – and I say we because there are so many people that helped me get here – has made a difference.” Joseph has seen a lot in office, but when he took over in 2005, he said one of his biggest achievements was computerizing the office, which he described as “just something that needed to be done.” Joseph said that no matter what, he’s always put the people first as evidence by his open-door policy. “This office doesn’t belong to me,” he said. “It belongs to the people. It was always about the people because they are the ones that decide if you’re going to be here or not. I decided that I had my time, my place and I hope that I did everything that was good for the people. When you get in a position, you can begin to think that you’re the only person that can do it. I didn’t want to get like that. If you buy into that, you’re in trouble.” Joseph won his first election with nearly 70 percent of the vote and ran unopposed the next two times. He gave

St. John Assessor Whitney Joseph Jr. stands with his longtime assistant Bruno Burrell Jr., who Joseph credited with his early election victory.

SJBP Council Office 1805 W. Airline Hwy • LaPlace, LA 70068 985-652-1702 • www.sjbparish.com 6 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

his chief deputy Burno Burrell Jr. all the credit for his first victory. “Bruno Burrell is responsible for me being assessor,” he said. “He made a commitment to support me. That guy is amazing. That is who Hillary Clinton should have had as her campaign manager, and she might have gotten elected. He never asked for anything. It was a true blessing.” Married for 48 years to Precious Joseph, the retiring assessor said he plans to spend more time with his four children — two sons and two daughters — nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He’s active at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and is the president of St. John Self-Help Federal Credit Union and treasurer of the Knights of St. Peter Claver. He also plans to spend more time fishing. Joseph said the public has always gotten an authentic version of the man they voted into office. “I’ve been able to be me, and I’ve been blessed to be able to do that,” he said. “If I couldn’t have been me, I wouldn’t be here today. I guess the people thought it was all right to be me. I’m thankful to the people who put me here, and I’ll always be thankful for that.” As for advice on how to be successful, he said education is key. “My advice to anyone in life is to set a goal, apply the plan on how you want to achieve that goal and get an education,” he said. “In anything, education is the most important thing. You can do anything you want if you’re educated.” — By Joseph Paul

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ALL IN THE FAMILY

Bergeron family bonds grow tighter into 3rd generation

hink of all of the time, love, devotion and attention it takes to raise one child. The laundry. The dishes. The sleeplessness. Now multiply that by 11. Anne Thompson Bergeron, who grew up in Metairie as the baby in a family of seven children, married New Orleans native Emile in 1987 after meeting him in a church group. “He is the oldest of six children,” Anne said. “We were always very open to having a large family.” A family came sooner rather than later, as Emile and Anne were married in February and pregnant in May of the same year. “We were open to what God want-

ed,” she says, adding the couple chose to forgo traditional birth control methods. “We weren’t shooting for any particular number.” First came Bethany, and later Abbi, Ben, Becca, Hannah, Joseph and Jonathan (twins!), Christiana, Lydia, Chloe and Noah were all born into the Bergeron family. The family has grown, and grown up, in LaPlace. Seventeen-year-old Christina’s favorite thing about growing up in a large family is always having someone to hang out with, a sentiment shared by oldest daughter Bethany. “My siblings became my closest and best friends,” Bethany says, adding even though they had their days of not getting along, they

would all watch out for each other. Expanding the large family, however, came with some heartache. Anne experienced four miscarriages, and the experiences, she said, put life into perspective. “One time when I found out I was pregnant I freaked out a little bit,” Anne says of feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. “I ended up losing that baby, and I told myself I will never ever again be upset about being pregnant.” The parent’s desire to raise Godly children with well-rounded educations and solid work ethics led Anne to home school their children, a decision she initially never thought would be in the cards. “Growing up, we lived across the

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street from the school I went to,” she says. “I used to watch all of the moms drop off their kids at school and then go to my mom’s house for coffee.” She pauses to laugh. “I always thought that would be me one day,” she says. Anne said the decision to home school was important to her and Emile for character building, adding the thing she really loves about homeschooling is each child can supplement activities to suit their interests. Each of her children play piano and most play a second instrument, Anne says, adding art classes and other activities supplement their academic pursuits. Each of her high school graduates have gone on to earn bachelor’s or associate degrees, pursuits Anne says they have been able to pursue debt-free because of the family’s financial plans. “We always believed God would provide,” Anne says about the financial implications of raising a large family. “I can get emotional thinking about it. God really meets your needs when you need them.” These days, Anne says it’s strange getting used to not always having everyone under one roof, as marriage, academic pursuits and job opportunities have meant moves for some of her children. Emile and Anne are also now grandparents, as Bethany welcomed their first grandson, Clark, in September. Now a mother, Bethany says there are many areas in which she hopes to model her own mom. “I hope to replicate her humility and grace,” Bethany says. “My mom readily made herself available to us, putting our needs and concerns before her own. Even now, as I am learning about being a wife and a mother, she reminds me that she is available for me when I need her.” Anne says even though a large family was always something she thought she’d have, sometimes it’s hard for her to really believe. “Sometimes when we go to bed at night and I’m laying there I think, ‘We have 11 children,’” Anne says laughing. “Is this real?” — By Monique Roth

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NOT JUST A BOYS GAME

Jae’Lasha Julien completes football season as kicker

aPlace Elementary School football coach Chad Smith was walking the halls one day when he was approached by a potential player. “I want to play football,” the child said. Normally, Smith would say, “OK. Come out to practice this afternoon.” This one was a little different, however. To this one, he replied, “Go ask your parents.” Jae’Lasha Julien was no ordinary player, you see. For one thing, she’s a girl. She is no ordinary girl, however. Jae’Lasha and her identical twin Lae’Layah, 13, are extraordinary soccer players. Jae’Lasha also plays basketball, volleyball and runs track. So it really wasn’t that out of the ordinary for her to want to give football a try. “It was just something I wanted to try to see if I could do it,” Jae’Lasha said. Apparently, she could. Smith said the first time she came out to a practice she kicked the ball about 85 yards down the field. “She already knew how to kick because she’s real good in soccer,” Smith said. “I just had to show her how to do the steps on kickoffs and I showed her how to punt.” Then he showed her how to kick an onside kick. That also involved teaching tackling techniques. “I showed her how to smother the ball and we actually pulled one of them off in a game,” Smith said. Jae’Lasha said she had no problems with her teammates accepting her on the team. “They rallied around me and took care of me,” she said. “They were glad I was there.” Some of her opponents, however, were a different story. Jae’Lasha Julien served as the 2016 LaPlace Elementary School football kicker, even scoring a conversion.

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Jae’Lasha Julien, seen with the LaPlace Elementary football team, has hung up the pads, saying one year was enough.

“Some of the other teams said some things,” she said. “I didn’t let it bother me, though.” Smith said he always told the opposing coaches there was a girl on his team and to “kind of keep an eye out for her.” There was one game, however, where she took a pretty solid hit from an opposing player. “It actually was a block in the back — kind of a cheap shot,” Smith said. “She was just standing there after the kick and a kid came and ran into her. She shook it off, though. She was tough. She said, ‘Coach, I’m OK.’ After that I told her, ‘Look, after you kick the ball you just run straight to the sideline and to me.’” Jae’Lasha’s football career was rather short, though. She only played in a few games this past fall for the Bobcats, kicking off and punting. She never got to kick a point-aftertouchdown, although she did run in for a 2-point conversion. Once the season was over, Jae’Lasha turned in her helmet. “I don’t think I want to do it again,” she said. Smith, who is a longtime coach in the area, said the season with Jae’Lasha was a unique experience. “All these years, that was a first for me,” he said. “I had a chance to coach a female in football. “I’m all for it,” he said. “If her parents and the administration have no problem with it, I’ll take a girl on my team any day. I told my players, ‘She’s proof that you don’t have to be a man to be tough.’” — By Lori Lyons

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Choose the right foods

large part of healthy eating involves choosing the right foods. In addition to choosing the right foods, health-conscious individuals must choose the right methods to prepare those foods in order to maximize their nutritional value. Cooking methods such as frying can make for delicious meals, but such meals may not be so healthy. For example, each tablespoon of oil used when frying can add more than 100 calories to a meal. When counting calories, men and women should recognize that the way they prepare foods can affect the overall calorie count of a meal. In addition to choosing healthy cooking methods, health-conscious men and women can employ the fol-

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Healthy eating involves more than the foods you cook. Be sure to remember how those foods are cooked to make your family’s meals are healthier.

lowing strategies to make meals as healthy as possible. • Invest in new cookware. Choose nonstick cookware that will reduce the amount of oil, spray and butter needed to keep foods from sticking. Manufacturers are now touting ceramic cookware, which is free of trace metals or dangerous chemicals that can leach into food from the cooking surface. What’s more, pots and pans don’t contain chemical coatings that can eventually flake off into food. • Stock up on healthy recipes. Purchase cookbooks that showcase healthy recipes or peruse the Internet for heathy recipes. Many websites cater to health-conscious foodies who do not want to sacrifice their health to enjoy delicious meals. • Choose smart fats. All oils are loaded in calories, but healthy oils can still be used without sacrificing flavor. Olive oil is an unsaturated fat that is a much healthier choice than butter or saturated fats. When cooking with oil, do so in moderation. • Think about baking foods. Baking is handy for more than breads and desserts. Baking is one method of cooking that may not require the addition of fat. Meats that are baked can be placed on top of a rack, so that excess fat drips off and is contained in the bottom of the pan. • Explore poaching, broiling and grilling. Poaching, broiling and grilling are three healthy alternatives to

frying. Broiling and grilling expose food to direct heat, so it is a fast method of cooking and may not be appropriate for foods that require longer cooking times to tenderize. Poaching is the process of simmering foods in water or another flavorful liquid. • Use minimally refined ingredients. Select among whole grains and ingredients that have not been refined. The closer a product is to its natural state, the more nutritional properties it is likely to have retained. • Season foods yourself. Rather than relying on prepackaged seasonings, mix your own blends. Packaged seasonings generally contain a lot of salt. Use fresh herbs whenever possible for the freshest of flavor. • Add heat for flavor. Spicy pepper, dry mustard and other zesty flavor enhancers can make foods taste delicious without added calories. • Try low-fat or fat-free dairy. Substitute low-fat alternatives for fullfat dairy items. For example, Greek yogurt can sometimes be used in place of less healthy ingredients such as mayonnaise. • Trim excess fats. Prepare meats and poultry well by trimming the fat and skin to make the final product even healthier. By remembering healthy eating involves not just the foods they cook, but also how those foods are cooked, home cooks can make their meals that much healthier.

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JUDGE LIKE NO OTHER Becnel, entered as court reporter, leaving as tenured judge of more than 20 years

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Judge Mary Becnel stepped down from the bench in December after 23 years as judge, a four decade journey that started as a court reporter.

udge Mary Becnel’s ascent to judicial bench was improbable. A judge on the 40th Judicial District Court since 1993, Becnel retired from the legal world in December. The 67-year-old’s roots come from a blue collar Norco family. The oldest of seven children, Becnel’s father was a laborer at the Shell refinery in St. Charles Parish and her mother was a homemaker. “I started off working at Shell Oil,” Becnel said. “I went to business school after high school and I started working as a secretary at Shell in Norco, which is where my dad worked, my aunts and uncles worked, basically, my family. I was very unhappy there. The people were wonderful; I just didn’t want to be a secretary for the rest of my life.” Her introduction to the legal world came by happenstance, Becnel’s mother noticing an ad in the newspaper searching for court reporter applicants. “I didn’t know what a court reporter was, but my mother knew I was very unhappy and said, ‘Look, Judge

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(Charles) Bradley is looking for a court reporter and I hear it is a very good job,’” Becnel said. Bradley was looking for a court reporter who would take notes in shorthand, rather than on a stenotype machine as they do now. Becnel ended up practicing shorthand by watching Perry Mason. At the age of 19 and only knowing basic aspects of the law, Becnel started working in the courtrooms, learning right away she was in the right place. Her first day was Jan. 2, 1969. “I had never been in a courthouse before and the first day I went into a courtroom,” Becnel said. “I just felt this belonging like I belong here.” In the early days, St. Charles Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish shared a judicial district and judges traveled between the parishes. Despite having broken tradition with family and moved on from the refinery, Becnel’s parents were pleased with her choice. “At the time, it was a very good job for a woman, and I worked for Judge Bradley, who was very highly respected in the community,” she said. “He was a wonderful man. He was my mentor and, I guess, you could say my second father.” Becnel learned the legal system’s function in society and importance to the community. She worked for a judge she admired because of the difficult decisions he made as judge. “It is hard to make a decision that affects somebody’s life, and I saw him do that,” Becnel said. Before long Becnel began attending night school at Loyola University New Orleans. Law school followed her undergraduate work thanks to prompting from her husband (attorney Daniel Becnel) and Bradley. “It was something I wasn’t sure I could handle, but the more I thought about it, I had been in the courtroom for so long I thought I could do as good a job as some of the lawyers I see here,” she said of thinking at the time. Eleven years after stepping foot in the courtroom as a 19-year-old court reporter who practiced note taking from watching a television legal drama, Becnel was admitted as a member of the Louisiana Bar. “Being a court reporter really helped me in law school because I already knew so much,” Becnel said. “When I started practicing law, most people were very intimidated by the

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Judge Mary Hotard Becnel, right, of Division B was lauded at a 2014 St. John the Baptist Parish Council meeting for her work of instituting CHARM School in the parish. Pictured with her is former St. John Parish Councilman Lucien Gauff III.

courtroom and I felt at home in the courtroom. It helped me ease into law school. It helped me ease into practicing law.” For 13 years after law school, Becnel practiced as an attorney at her husband’s firm, the Reserve-based Becnel Law Firm. She focused on family law, at the time one of very few women between New Orleans and Baton Rouge practicing family law. She describes the work as a service, part social worker and part confidant. She started getting a lot of male clients who would say, “Well, I really didn’t want to come here, but my friends told me you were the best one and if I didn’t hire you first, my wife would,” Becnel joked. “Being a lawyer, I practice in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and all of the courthouses in between and I was in front of some really good judges and I was in front of some bad judges,” Becnel said. “I decided if the opportunity comes up, this is something I think I can do.” That opportunity came near the end of Judge Thomas Malik’s career, Becnel mounting her first campaign against Malik in 1991. It was unsuccessful. Malik was a well-respected member of the community who had been a judge for years. At the time, Becnel said she felt change was needed but later gained a new perspective. “That is one of the biggest regrets of my life, running against him,” Becnel said. “I was young and the older I got I

began regretting that.” Two years later the seat was vacated when Malik stepped down and Becnel ran again and won over four other candidates. “It was a really unique experience, I just relied on the friends and family I knew and was just humbled by the fact that so many people were willing to stick their necks out and help somebody get elected,” Becnel said. She stepped behind the bench for the first time in 1993. “No matter how you prepare for it, when you first put on that robe and walk into the courtroom and everybody rises, it is a totally different animal,” Becnel said. “It was nothing I could have ever been prepared for, and I thought I was as prepared as I could be. “It was humbling and it was also terrifying that I had all of these decisions that I had to make that would affect people’s lives. It was something I adapted to very easily, but it was mindboggling at first to think about the burden that was on me and people’s expectations of me.” The diversity in the cases a local judge sees on a weekly basis can be staggering. In any given week, judges go from felony motions, misdemeanor and traffic, juvenile, child support, custody and jury trials for felonies and civil matters. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are divided up, with some judges handling criminal, civil or juvenile, but small

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parish judges handle all. Becnel quickly developed three rules: One, determine the facts of a case; two, apply the law to the case; and three, use common sense. “If people don’t like it, they can appeal it, but I always wanted to let everyone know why I made this decision, whether they were happy with it or not,” Becnel said. “Of course, half the time they are happy with it and the other half not. I tried to make them understand why I made the decision and it was the best decision I could come to. I didn’t make my decisions lightly.” Given the support Becnel received over her years on the bench, it is apparent she applied those rules well. In addition, Becnel said it is important for judges to realize their roles, while extremely important, are not bigger than the system or others who make up that system. “Once you put on that robe, you are not just some kind of God,” she said. “You treat people civilly, you treat them with respect and always remember that you used to be a lawyer. Being a lawyer is a very difficult job. You have people’s lives hanging in the balance, depending on you. Lawyers get a lot of criticism and they have a lot bur-

dens on them, and I respect that.” The majority of cases have a negative aspect, whether it is a lawsuit, a criminal matter or family law case, with one exception. “An adoption is the only thing we do that is happy, where everybody walks in happy, because it is a kid getting a chance, a child getting new parents,” Becnel said. “We always take pictures when they come to court. Everything else we do, someone has problems and you can’t make everybody happy.” One thing she has done as a judge is start a charm school for juvenile girls, which she will continue working with in her retirement. “About 10 or 12 years ago I was seeing all of these girls come into court for fighting or being runaways or ungovernables, just difficult personal problems,” Becnel said. “The girls have fights, but mostly they have family and emotional problems and they just don’t know how to behave. That is when I started my charm school.” Becnel acknowledges she is leaving the community in a different place than which she approached it and feels, realistically, she fulfilled a tough role. “I wanted to make a difference, and when you are younger and fresher and

have just taken the bench you think, ‘God, I can make a difference,’” Becnel said. “You do try and you try and you try and it is just heart breaking when you don’t see it actually occur. It is a difficult place to be in when you are responsible for what is happening with that future of that person and you think it is going to make a difference and it doesn’t.” Now at the end of her career, Becnel knows she was not infallible, but that she did the best she could. Considering 2017 means she will not be in the courthouse for the first time in over four decades, Becnel said it is difficult leaving the legal community behind. She looks forward to spending more time with her husband, children and grandchildren. “It is bittersweet,” she said. “I am leaving a family. The people have changed in the courthouse over the years, of course, but they are all like a second family to me because I have worked with them for so long. Some of the people I work with now are children of the people I used to work with.” — By Kyle Barnett

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Celebrating 2 years of Service CHEZ-ELMA

VACHERIE PERSONAL CARE SERVICE, INC.

Programs • Long Term Care • Children’s Choice Waiver • Community Choice Waiver • New Opportunity Waiver • Supervised Independent Living • Early Periodic Screening & Diagnostic Testing

We are accepting employment for CNA or DSW MUST PASS CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK

Service St. James, St. John, St. Charles, Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption Parishes 2554 LA HWY. 20 • Vacherie, LA Monday - Friday: 9 am - 5 pm Office: (225) 265-2280 • Toll Free: 1-(800) 573-4524 *24 Hours Accessibility Call 1-877-456-1146 to enroll in services 8 am - 5 pm Email: vacheriepcs@bellsouth.net

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Adult Day Health Care Center, INC. • • • • • • • • • • • •

Transportation to and from the facility at no cost Assistance with activities of Daily Living Meals and Two (2) snacks daily Recreation, including Bingo, Arts & Crafts, Pokeno Music Program Daily exercise, Bowling Cultural activities Prevention and Health promotion for Elders Personal health and nutrition counseling Stress and relaxation exercises Health and wellness education

Volunteers Needed to Interact with Clients Monday – Friday: 7 am – 4pm

2544 Highway 20, Vacherie, LA Off: (225)265-4463 • Fax: (225)434-2047 Email: chezelmaadhc@gmail.com Call 1-877-456-1146 to enroll in services 8 am - 5 pm

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East St. John High teacher Billie Duncan, from left, joins students and members of the school’s Interact with Rotary Club Angelique Johnson, Kennika Love and Hoxyana Brown enjoy the library’s 50th birthday.

Elija Tumblin and Ariel Ramos smile for a picture during the library’s 50th birthday celebration.

Siblings Logan, Mya and Preston Bukaske joined the library’s 50th party in Reserve.

Library staffers Tamara Chauvin, from left, Rachelle Gardner, Dardnella Clark and Lillian LeBlanc helped guide patrons through the library’s festivities during their birthday celebration.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Dining St. John Parish Aloisio’s Bakery 504-430-1194 • 504-858-8432 Avis 3900 Hwy 51., LaPlace 985-651-8684 Baba’s Sports Bar & Grill 509 Main Street., LaPlace 985-359-5555 Bailey’s Andouille 513 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9090 Belle Terre Country Club 111 Fairway Drive, LaPlace 985-652-5000 Best Wok Chinese Restaurant 530 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-9989 Buddy B’s 2788 River Road, Garyville 985-535-3663 Cajun Grill 135 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-4745 Chili’s Grill & Bar 1820 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-1227 Chinese King 1036 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-651-7888 Church’s Chicken 1601 W Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2089 Chung’s Heavenly Sweets 607 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-7987 Connie’s Grill 1462 LA-44, Reserve 985-536-3256 Dragon Garden 140 Belle Terre Blvd., Ste E., LaPlace 985-652-7250

Dunkin Donuts 1334 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-9244 Donut Hole 421 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-651-4001 El Mexicano 1036 W Airline Hwy # 123, LaPlace, LA 70068 (985) 652-4250

Mabile’s Restaurant

“Home of the Best Roast Beef in Town!” • Fresh Po-Boys • Seafood Muffaletta • Finger Sandwiches • Vegetable Trays • Plate Lunches • Italian Muffaletta

985-651-2893

1124 W. Airline Hwy. • LaPlace, LA 70068

El Paso Mexican Grill 1900 Hwy 51, LaPlace 985-618-3313

LaCaretta 107 Carrollwood Dr., LaPlace 985-651-9991

Fatty’s 186 Museum St., Garyville 985-535-5555

Madea’s Kitchen 975 Cambridge Dr., Ste. B, LaPlace 985-359-1929

Frenier Landing 113 Dottie Lane, LaPlace 985-224-2178

Mama Jo’s 2917 Hwy 51, Ste A., LaPlace 985-224-2666

Frisco Deli 1113 W Airline Hwy, Laplace, LA 70068 (985) 651-7745

McDonalds •4297 U.S. Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-652-5171 •1608 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2600 •5387 W Airline, Hwy, Garyville

LaPlace Frostop 411 Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-6361 Gator’s Den Old Highway 51 South, Manchac 985-386-7902 Hibachi Supreme Grill 1721 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace 985-652-5233 Huddle House 4325 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-1800 IHop 220 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-4468 Jacob’s Andouille 505 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9080 Kobe Japanese Steak and Sushi 506 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8880/652-8853

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New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co. 1338 W. Airline Hwy., Ste. 7A, LaPlace 985-653-6731 Napoleon’s Bakery 532 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-9549 Petra 10363 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-8888 Pier 51 Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar 3017 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-651-0300 PJ’s Coffee 1808 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-764-7573 Pirougue’s Cafe 719 W. 10th St., Reserve 985-479-7800 Popeye’s Fried Chicken 1603 W Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-3030

Raising Cane’s 123 West Airline Hwy, Laplace 985-652-4701

Café 234 225-

Rotolo’s Pizzera •3503 W. Airline Hwy., Ste. B, Reserve 985-536-3503

Chin 849 225-

Ruby Garden Chinese Restaurant 3101 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-653-8700

Chuc 1056 225-

Sam’s Southern Eatery 1173 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-359-1677 Sicily’s 214 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-7010 Subway •357 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8700 •1616 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-4822 •2701 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace •1900 Hwy. 51, Ste. B, LaPlace 985-479-7827 985-652-9699 Tavern 61 1421 W Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-359-6161 Turn Arounds 1107 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-224-2818 Waffle House 4304 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-6111 Wayne Jacob’s Restaurant 769 W 5th St., LaPlace 985-652-9990 Zaman Mediterranean Cafe 1502 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-5566 Zora Christina 2003 W Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-3673

St. James Parish Breon’s Frozen Yogurt 10850 Hwy. 3125, Ste. C, Gramercy 225-258-4448

Creo 3409 225-

DJ’s 2106 225-

Gold 935 225-

Gran Cas 3415 225-

Hym 8740 225-

Jenn Pobo 114 N 225-

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Oak 3645 225-

Pizza 1665 225-

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Café Perique 234 East Main St., Gramercy 225-869-1774

Popeye’s 982 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060

Destrehan Buster’s Grill 10405 Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-472-0771

Grumpy’s 14984 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-2083

China King 849 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-2000

Sandwich World Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060

Cafe Ormond 1974 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-0741

Happy Gardens II 15264 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-3888

Chuck Lee’s Chinese Kitchen 10560 Hwy. 70 W., St. James 225-473-3050

Sonic Drive In 852 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-5666

Cajun Kitchen 13322 U.S. 90, Boutte, Ste. Q 985-785-2405

Hong Kong 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. D, Destrehan 985-725-9099

Cashio’s Food Villa and Deli 13572 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-9389 Chow’s Garden 1974 Ormond Blvd., Ste. I, Destrehan 985-725-2469

The Howling Pepper 109 St. Rose Ave., St. Rose 504-466-1944

Creole House Cafe 3409 Hwy 3125, Paulina 225-859-3333

DJ’s Grille 21060 La. Hwy. 20, Vacherie 225-265-7600

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Golden Grove Restaurant 935 La. Hwy. 641, Gramercy 225-869-1212 Grand Point Truck Stop & Casino 3415 La. Hwy. 3125, Paulina 225-869-6960

Spectacular Tubers 1665 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-5600 Subway 10850 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy

Cucina Bon Creole At Cypress Lakes Country Club 10 Villere Dr., Destrehan 985-764-6868

Hymel’s Seafood Restaurant 8740 La. Hwy. 44, Convent 225-562-7031

Taylor’s Express Truck Stop 964 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-1734

Jenny’s Overstuffed Poboy & Chicken Shop 114 N. Airline Hwy., Gramercy 225-869-0899

Tod’s Catering 2180 S. Albert St., Lutcher 225-869-7000

Dot’s Diner 12179 U.S. Hwy. 90, Luling 985-785-6836

Nobile’s Restaurant & Bar Serving Authentic River Road Cuisine In An Historic Place

Open Lunch: M-F 11 am - 2 pm Dinner: Thursday 5 pm - 8:30 pm Fri - Sat S 5 pm - 9 pm CLOSED Sundays

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Oak Alley Restaurant 3645 La. Hwy. 18, Vacherie 225-265-2151 Pizza Hut 1665 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6151

St. Charles Parish Anita’s Smokin’ Steak Burgers 13145 U.S. 90 Ste. B, Boutte 985-785-2220 Bamboo Garden 13491 U.S. 90, Ste. 6, Boutte 985-785-9929 Bei Jing 12895 U.S. 90, Ste. D, Boutte 985-331-8885 Breeze Cafe 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-8800 Boulevard Bistro 1950 Ormond, Ste. B,

Jas Café 307 Paul Maillard Rd., Luling 985-785-0200

Daddy’s Fried Chicken 15683 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6743 Destrehan Donuts 1974 Ormond, Ste. D, Destrehan 985-764-0050

IHOP 14099 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013 Iron Gate 13299 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013

Julie’s Restaurant 15805 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6349 Little Tokyo 13371 U.S. 90, Ste. A, Boutte 985-331-0887 Lovecchio’s Deli 29 Apple St., Norco 985-725-5683

El Gato Negro 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. 1, Destrehan 985-307-0460 El Mexicano 12715 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. 140, Luling 985-785-7694

Mariano’s Italian Eatery 12371 Highway 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-785-7777 McDonalds 3009 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-1021

El Paso Mexican Grill 12895 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-331-1984

Mizu Japanese Restaurant 12715 Hwy. 90, Ste. 190, Luling 985-785-8168

Frostop 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. H, Destrehan 985-725-1116 Grand Café 500 Willowdale Blvd., Luling 985-308-1640

Mrs. Snowman 110A Lakewood Dr., Luling 985-331-1411 Ormond Plantation Restaurant 13786 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-8544

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Palmetto’s Restaurant 10405 Airline Hwy, St. Rose 504-472-0771

Sailfish Food and Spirits 12287 U.S. 90, Luling 985-308-0712

Sub Express 26 Apple St., Norco 985-764-9922

Pam and Dale’s 14620 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-3112

Seafood Pot 14386 River Rd., Destrehan 985-725-0053

Pizza Hut 12439 Hwy. 90, Luling 985-331-8380

Southern Latte Cafe 50 Wade St., Ste. 1, Luling 985-308-1472

P.J.’s Coffee of New Orleans 150 Ormond Center Court, Ste. T, Destrehan 985-764-7573

Sonic Drive In 12557 U.S. 90, Luling 985-331-0099

Subway •613 Paul Maillard Road, Ste. 200, Luling 985-331-2257 •14130 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-785-9818 (located inside Walmart) •13001 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-331-1786 •12715 U.S. 90, Ste. 120, Luling 985-785-3999 •12609 Airline Drive, Destrehan 985-725-1108 •1955 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-9444 •15632 River Rd., Norco 504-469-8864

Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken •116 Longivew Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1231 •13210 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-785-1377 Portside Restaurant 11698 River Road, St. Rose 504-5469-3111 –Rotolo’s Pizzeria 150 Ormond Center Court, Destrehan 985-725-2411

Sports Pub & Grill 3001 Ormond Blvd, #B Destrehan 985-331-0099 St. Rose Driving Range & Sports Bar 10362 Airline Dr., St. Rose 504-466-0411 St Rose Tavern 14466 River Rd, Destrehan 504-469-8864 /985-725-3133

Taste of Tokyo 1972 Ormond Blvd., Ste. E-2, Destrehan 985-764-1818 Trey Wah (Chinese) 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1147 Two Sisters Bakery 100 Melonie St., Ste. E, Boutte 985-308-0280 Voodoo Grill 100 James Drive East, St. Rose 504-464-1880 Waffle House 14173 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-758-6499

Sushi Cafe 13899 River Road, Ste. A, Luling 985-308-1003

Waffle House 10384 E. Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-467-1522

Take Away Donuts 13441 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-785-6499

Wingzzz 613 Paul Maillard Road, Ste. 400, Luling 985-308-0743

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River Parishes Magazine A Special Publication of L’OBSERVATEUR

Advertise in our Spring issue publishing in April 22 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

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C’EST LA VIE: Parting Shots

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Eighth graders Kaitlyn Caraway, left, and Jaden Francis use nets to collect insects to get a closer look at their anatomy under the guidance of National Park Ranger Stacy Meyers. LaPlace Lions Club members serve meals at Twin Oaks Nursing and Convalescent Home in LaPlace during the annual Christmas party.

If you would like to submit your own ‘Parting Shots,’ send us your photographs at stephen.hemelt@ lobservateur.com

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. — Mahatma Gandhi

As a culmination of the Harry Hurst Middle School United Way fundraising drive, Principal Jason Madere kissed an alligator. Students deposited change in the bottle of the administrator they most wanted to see kiss a live alligator. Madere was the winner. More than $5,000 was donated to the St. Charles United Way.

Marny Stein of Destrehan shows her excitement as she goes down the zip line at the Forever Girl Scout Adult Camping Weekend.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

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