River Parishes Magazine c'est la vie
A special publication of L'OBSERVATEUR
www.lobservateur.com
Summer 2016 Edition
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
Bienvenue!
As we embark upon the summer season, it is my pleasure to represent St. John the Baptist Parish and all that it has to offer. Our culture, diversity, family and heritage are integral components of our community, while snoballs, seafood and Saturday baseball games bring families together to cheer on their favorite teams. St. John the Baptist Parish is located on the east and the west banks of the Mississippi River and is home to some 45,000 residents in Edgard, Garyville, Mount Airy, LaPlace, Lucy, Pleasure Bend, Reserve, and Wallace. We are uniquely positioned to ride the wave of economic development in St. John Parish, while preserving the heritage and culture of our community. Our picturesque scenic by-ways along River Road invite tourists to view the historic architecture of our homes, churches and plantations. Our culture provides tourists visiting New Orleans and Baton Rouge a day trip with a change of scenery. Working with our partners, the Port of South Louisiana, the River Parishes Tourist Commission, the River Region Chamber of Commerce, Greater New Orleans, Inc., and our neighboring parishes, we offer great food, fun and an abundance of outdoor activities. St. John the Baptist is making huge investments in infrastructure and the recent completion of a multi-million dollar recreational improvement project ultimately enhances the parish and provides entertainment during the summer months for our youth. Visit any Park Parishwide to view the improvements which include new spray parks, a dog park, gazebos, walking paths, fitness equipment, soft surface play grounds and more. More information on the project can be found through our website at www.sjbparish.com. The annual Independence Day Fireworks Show will be held Thursday, June 30th at 6 pm at St. Peters Church on the Eastbank and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on the Westbank. The 2016 Veterans Luncheon featuring Governor Jon Bel Edwards as the guest speaker will be held earlier in the day at 11 am at REGALA Gym in Reserve. We invite you to join us for a fun-filled day paying tribute to our heroes in red, white and blue. St. John the Parish is the best place to live, work and raise a family and we are proud to call it home. – Natalie Robottom St. John the Baptist Parish President 2 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
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Table of Contents Jenkins, Nielsen find love after tragedy -------- 5 St. Joan of Arc class gathers 50 years later ---- 11 Sterling: Entrepreneur before his time ------- 14 7 Questions with Senior Olympian Wisher ----- 16 Jill Eichhorn cooks up Shrimp Rice ----------- 18 Coaches switch allegiances in St. James ---- 20 Keep fruits & vegetables longer --------------- 22 Scene it: Summer reading finds magic ------- 24 Dining -------------------------------------------- 28 Parting Shots: Grandparents & Grandkids ---- 31
The River Parishes Magazine, C’EST LA VIE Publisher/Editor ~ Stephen Hemelt Advertising ~ Christine Browning • Corey Thomas • Constance Woods Contributing Writers ~ Raquel Derganz Baker • Kyle Barnett • Pamela Folse • Lori Lyons • Monique Roth Graphic Designer ~ Christine Browning • Candace Hemelt 116 Newspaper Dr., LaPlace, LA 70068 • 985-652-9545
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Dustin Jenkins and Daniell Nielsen became engaged in June 2015. They have since moved to Gramercy, where Jenkins is a sergeant with the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office. They are set to wed in July. The family dog is Blue.
Enduring connection Daniell Nielsen, Sgt. Dustin Jenkins find love after tragedy
In his 13 years as a St. James Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, Sgt. Dustin Jenkins has faced fear on many occasions. He has broken up fights, seen the routine traffic stop escalate, seen the aftermath of a devastating car crash and watched a deadly tornado head right for his town. But the scariest thing Jenkins ever had to do was call his fiancée, Daniell Nielsen, last May to tell her that a suspect aimed a gun and fired at him and that he was unharmed. “I was fine through the shooting,” Jenkins said. “The hard part came after when I realized that she was going to be expecting a phone call from me. I usually send her a message telling her I was home. I definitely had to think about it before I made the call. That wasn’t the easiest phone call.” Nielsen had gotten such a call before. Well, not quite the same. On Aug. 16, 2012, Nielsen’s husband Brandon was one of two St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Deputies killed when suspects in the shooting of
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
another deputy opened fire in a LaPlace mobile home park. A fourth deputy was critically wounded. It rocked the close-knit River Parishes community and destroyed Nielsen’s world. On that day, Nielsen became a 35-year-old widow with four children and a stepdaughter. She also became a very visible face of anguish in the metro area. Her sobs were recorded on TV and in photographs in newspapers. She stood stoically on stages as group after group honored her late husband with plaques, proclamations and medals and tried to help her and her children. “I think people just wanted to do something to try and make me feel better,” Nielsen said. Now it’s four years later and Nielsen is doing better. Once a popular manicurist in Destrehan, she has a new career as a personal trainer after deciding to transform her life and her body in the wake of Brandon’s death. Running was her therapy, her escape. “It looked like I was just sweating, but sometimes it would be tears rolling down my face,” she said. She has a new home with a new pool in Gramercy, where she and Jenkins
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The new Brady Bunch: When Daniell Nielsen and Dustin Jenkins wed next month, they will create a blended family with Nielsen’s stepdaughter Gabby, left, Nielsen’s sons Tyler and Jared, Daniell, Dustin, Daniell’s son Cody, back right, Brandon and Daniell’s daughter Lily, front, and Dustin’s son Clayton, front right.
live with her and Brandon’s 10-year old daughter, Lily. They get frequent visits from Nielsen’s three grown sons, Tyler, 22, Cody, 19, and Jared, 17, from her first marriage and occasional visits with Brandon’s 17-year-old daughter, Gabby, who lives full time in Ohio
with her mother. Then there are ‘biweekly visits with Jenkins’ 11-year-old son Clayton. There’s also a dog named Blue. “We are the new Brady Bunch,” Nielsen said. Nielsen is converting from St.
Charles Parish football to St. James Parish, where Jenkins’ brother, Dwain, was the coach at St. James High until he moved back over to Lutcher High. Jenkins got the thrill of watching last year’s Class 3A state championship game between Lutcher and St. James from the sideline in the Superdome. The gang is happily planning for Nielsen and Jenkins’ July 23 wedding, which will bring them all together. It’s a move that has some friends, family and even strangers scratching their heads, though. “Everyone asks me why would I marry another cop,” Nielsen said. “And I’ve never been one of those women who are, you know, just attracted to a man in uniform. That was never the one thing that was appealing to me. “I never came out of this saying I’ll never date another cop. I’ve heard that out of some widows, I could never do this again. But I loved being married. I liked being a wife.” Jenkins, she said, is worth it. It’s not every man who would take on a woman with a U-Haul’s worth of baggage, including the memory of her tragically lost husband and her gaggle
of kids, but the 34-year-old Jenkins has. It’s not every man who would help his soon-to-be-wife set up a shrine to that lost husband in his living room, but Jenkins has. Just to the right of the mantle and big screen TV in the living room are Nielsen’s white motorcycle helmet and black motorcycle boots surrounded by an array of memorial flags. Not only is it a reminder of the man his future wife once loved, it’s also a reminder to him of what he faces every day on the job. “It grounds me,” Jenkins said. “Every day when I leave the house to go to work, it reminds me to walk into the bedroom to tell her goodbye. It reminds me to walk in my son’s bedroom and tell him bye. It’s a constant reminder when you walk out your living room of the sacrifices law enforcement officers are making. “I know how much he meant to Daniell. She still has a whole heart of love for him. I know he needs to be a part of her life and she needs to remember him. And also Lily needs that. She needs to grow up knowing that Brandon was a good guy and an amazing father and an amazing hus-
band to Daniell.” Said Nielsen: “He gets it. It’s so important for Lily to see that we remember and we honor him because these guys that put on this uniform every day, they’re walking targets. They know they’re walking targets and they still put on the uniform every day. She needs to know that’s the type of person her dad was.” A LOVE STORY BORN IN TRAGEDY Nielsen and Jenkins first met in May of 2013 in Washington, D.C. It was Nielsen’s first visit to the National Law Enforcement Memorial for the annual tribute to fallen officers, her first time seeing her late husband’s name etched on the stone wall there. Police departments across the country send representatives for the annual candlelight memorial. That year, Jenkins was one of a contingent to accompany St. James Parish Sheriff Willy Martin. He also was friends with Misty Triche, the widow of Jeremy Triche, who also died that August day. Jenkins had briefly met Brandon, who worked a short time in St. James Parish. He also had responded to the
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scene of the crime after the St. John Sheriff’s Office put out an all-call for assistance. “I had just worked a 12-hour shift and I was at the gym, running on the treadmill,” Jenkins said. “I responded to the scene wearing gym shorts, tennis shoes, a T-shirt, a gun belt and a vest.” The lasting effects on Nielsen and her family were obvious. The day’s events also affected Jenkins and, indeed, all local officers. “It definitely affects the way you do your job,” Jenkins said. “It affected the way everybody around here viewed the safety of law enforcement officers. Knowing that our communities pretty much mirror each other, you know it could have just as easily been on this side of that parish line instead of on that side. It struck home with everybody.” Nielsen said even she thought her husband would be safe working as a deputy in St. John Parish. “We took for granted that we
were safe here,” she said. “I think that’s what rocked the community the most. You’ve got two officers shot and two officers dead and it’s LaPlace. I never ever in a million years thought this could happen. That was just never on my radar. As crazy as it sounds, I don’t think I ever imagined him just not coming home.” So when Jenkins escaped unharmed after that close call last May, Nielsen had to stop and think hard. Did she really want to link her life and her children’s lives to another man who puts himself, literally, in the line of fire? “I felt like this was almost a test,” she said. “I asked myself, ‘Do I really want to do this again?’ But, I already loved him by then. He called me and he was, like, ‘I’m OK. We had a little incident. There was a shooting.’ Then he was like, ‘I know the deal.’ Because we have a deal. He’s not allowed to get killed.” — By Lori Lyons
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The motorcycle helmet and boots worn by the late Deputy Brandon Nielsen and the ceremonial flags presented to his family have a special place in the living room of his widow, Daniell, and her fiancé Dustin Jenkins.
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50 YEARS LATER
Time capsule’s resolve no match for SJA’s Class of ’66 lasting bonds
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he tension was ever-present as the St. Joan of Arc class of 1966 stood over a hole in the school’s courtyard watching the completion of an excavation in front of the flagpole. After 50 years the class members were congregated — some seeing their fellow classmates for the fist time in five decades — awaiting the results of a project they had put together 50 years prior as the first graduating class of St. Joan of Arc — a time capsule. “You think 50 years, we’ll be on Mars by then,” Anita Fortino Granier said. “When you think 50 years it is so far down the road but here we all are. I don’t feel 50 years older. It is just weird.” The classmates, who were only adolescents when the time capsule was first buried, now found themselves in their early 60s, budding senior citizens, flashing silver and gray, a far cry from their eighth grade class photo, which was prominently displayed. As two men uncovered the top of a rusted out drum on this May morning in 2016, they put down their shovels, grabbing a crowbar and started to pry into the lid uncovering murky, putrid water that had seeped into the vessel over the years. The items started being removed — a series of plastic bags filled with disintegrated paper containing who knows what. After all, this is the class that stayed together in front of a TV in school as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and its after effects were played in the news. This is the class who were the first fans of culture shifting musi-
Tanya Roccaforte, with blue gloves, goes over the contents of a time capsule buried by the St. Joan of Arc class of 1966. Class members dug up the capsule in May. Behind Roccaforte are Joann Weber, Leonard Arcuri, Anita Granier and Thomas Malik, son of Judge Malik.
cians such as Elvis and The Beatles. Items that were discernible included a baseball, a cover of L’OBSERVATEUR from an unknown date announcing the purchase of the Leon Godchaux sugar refinery and three 45RPM records containing singles by artists of the day, of which only one by The Beatles, the chart-topping single “I Feel Fine” was leg-
ible, along with the B-side “She’s a Woman.” Little else survived the 50 years. “Even though it was mush, after 50 years we are lucky we are not mush,” event organizer and alum Tanya Roccaforte said. While the discovery of the water inundated vessel was underwhelming, the question wasn’t of what was in those bags but what’s more
important — the things we collect and our lives or the memories we share? The overwhelming consensus of the class of 1966 was of the latter. The idea of the time capsule had been that of the late 40th Judicial District Judge Thomas Malik, who in his early days as an attorney had taken up a teaching position at the newly created grammar school soon after its founding in 1961. “He was our home room teacher,” Leonard Arcuri said. “He wasn’t a certified teacher or anything, he was a professional. He was an attorney and things weren’t going real fast at the court.” Granier remembered Malik well. “All of sudden we got this man, he was a lawyer, and he was in between jobs or whatever, and this guy was intelligent,” Granier said. “He really inspired us a lot. And he was into a lot of individual targeting — ‘You do the best you can’. Before then I think they just kind of taught us like a herd. We were all just smashed together.” While many of the former students had not thought about the time capsule since they left it behind after graduation, others had kept it in mind. “Danny Rome was the one who contacted us and Rene Elfer was our best PI (private investigator) in finding everyone and getting them together,” Roccaforte said. “We all texted back and forth and pulled it off.” Roccaforte said the months of long planning paid off. “Out of the graduating class of 32, five had passed away and only three weren’t able to come,” she said. “It
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was truly a blessing to be able to get back together after all of these years.” However, after the idea of finally uncovering the time capsule first sprang forth — the class of 1966 had to locate it first. “The funniest discussion had to be, ‘Does anybody remember where the time capsule is buried?’” Granier said. Even though a metal plaque had been engraved and embedded in a slab of concrete, over the years the marker had been covered by the various growth of the intervening decades, what could be considered the sands of time. It took volunteers who owned a metal detector and were located via Facebook posts to uncover the location of the time capsule. “They did find it and thank God they did,” Granier said. One of the students Malik tapped to start the project was Arcuri, who procured the five-gallon Gulf Oil grease drum that served as the container for the items stored in the time capsule. In addition, Arcuri helped curate what went in it, but he did not remember quite exactly what the class left behind. “All of the eighth graders and also
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the seventh graders wrote letters of what we wanted to be when we grew up or whatever,” Arcuri said. “I don’t remember what I put in my letter but I became an HR person. “We had newspapers. We had pictures. Someone was assigned to go all around LaPlace and take pictures. So some things that I know that are no longer here anymore, like Airline Motors. The Rattlesnake Farm, we used to have this place called the Playhouse in LaPlace that had an arcade center. I can remember those in particular.” Delores Marks also helped out in managing the project as it was coming together. “I know we wanted to put things that were pertaining to the time, what was popular,” Marks said. Marks remembers approaching the project with enthusiasm. “We just thought it was cool,” Marks said. “I remember writing letters. We put records in it, newspaper articles. I remember just saying my name, what grade we were in, our teacher, what we wanted to be when we grew up. Of course I put a nurse.” Marks did go on to become a nurse,
but more important to her than any artifacts or messages she hoped to uncover from her younger self, was the idea of getting back together with her classmates after so many years. “It has been so much fun to see everybody,” Marks said. Granier does not remember what she wrote in her letter, but she went on to become a teacher, in part due to her experiences at St. Joan or Arc, first at Leon Godchaux Junior High School and then East St. John High School before moving to Kentucky. In experiencing the changes in education and culture throughout the years firsthand Granier said things are definitely different. “I think back in those days it was simpler,” Granier said. “It was an easier time. You just came to school, made friends and went home. That was about all you did.” Now it’s up to the next generation as lying only a few feet away from the class of 1966’s plaque was that of another 50-year-old time capsule belonging to the class of 2012 to be opened in 2062 on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the school. — By Kyle Barnett
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SELF MADE
Alfred Sterling Sr.’s entrepreneurial spirit lives on
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any peolocated at 1417 W. ple say Airline Highway in Alfred LaPlace. Sterling “People would Sr. was say if they were a man before his time. out of Clorox, he Sterling, an entreprewould give them neur, did things most Clorox,” Radecliff black men weren’t said. “If they were doing in the 1950s. short a quarter, he It started out with would give them a food truck, accordthat. He would find ing to daughter Clara people just out in Sterling Radecliff his parking lot and “He would sell he would let them fruits and vegetables, stay on the property depending on the and he would give season, from his food them a job. All of truck,” Radecliff the people he did said. “He would also that for were white cut hair. He did that people, he helped because he went to one black guy that barber school on the was sickly.” GI bill, which they “He was just difgave for WWII veterferent,” she said. Airline Laundromat, located at 1417 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace was started ans.” “He never had by Alfred Sterling Sr., a man before his time, who worked as an entrepreneur. Thanks to the GI bill times for games or before his time.” Sterling also went to things like that. He Synder-Burton said she admired the school for plumbing, electric work and didn’t’ believe in loaning money, he way Sterling was able to take care of brick laying. believed in people working for their and provide for his family. She said if “Later on he opened up a place for money.” Sterling was a young man like in the teenagers to go in the 50s,” Radecliff Sterling worked for his family, giv1990s or now, for example, he would said. ing them what they needed, not what probably have been a very rich man. “I remember people who say ‘Your they wanted. “He had a very good business mind,” daddy was always trying to have a “My daddy bought us stuff that we she said. “He wanted to do more. He place for children to be at.’ There could learn from, there was no junk in wanted to improve and he wanted to wasn’t much for blacks to do back the house,” Radecliffe said. “He bought expand.” then, things were still segregated.” us a watch so we could learn to tell Radecliff, one of Sterling’s eight chilRadecliff said she loved her father time, and he bought us a type writer to dren, can attest to that. Radecliff said very much, adding he was 80 when he make sure that we knew how to type.” her father bought land in Garyville, passed away in 2007. Growing up Radecliff said most Reserve, LaPlace and outside St. John Music, food, drinks and good times people didn’t have air conditioning but the Baptist Parish. He was in the car were had by all who attended, accordher family did. wash business before it was popular, ing to family. “My daddy had money but he never along with the gas station and laundro- splurged,” she said. “He didn’t buy Barbra Synder-Burton, who is himself a Cadillac until 2000. He could Alfred’s sister-in-law, said she and oth- mat business. Radecliff said over the years she had have bought one years before, but he ers would always go to his sweet shop. to sell most of her father’s property chose not to live like that. He always “We would grab a cookie or snack because it was too much for her to told us if we wanted something we had and go dance,” Synder-Burton said. handle on her own. One piece of propto work for it.” “I admired his entrepreneurship. erty she refuses to let go of, however, is At the time, I was just a young lady her laundromat, Airline Laundromat, — By Raquel Derganz Baker but as I grew, I knew he was a man
At left on page 14: Clara Sterling Radecliff stands in her business, Airline Laundromat, which was started by her father, Alfred Sterling Sr. Sterling, a self-made entrepreneur who began work in the 1950s, asked his daughter never to sell the laundromat.
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
Chuck Wisher takes a break from retirement to smile with his wife, June. The couple was married in 1965.
7 Questions With .... Chuck Wisher Chuck Wisher was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1926. During his youth, he lived in Louisiana and Florida, where Wisher spent most of his time. After serving in World War II straight out of high school, Wisher went back to school, attending Florida State University and Auburn University, earning an engineering degree. Wisher worked at Shell in Norco, meeting his wife June along the way. The couple was married in 1965. After moving for work, the two finally returned to LaPlace for retirement. The couple has five children, more than a dozen grandchildren and five great grandchildren with another on the way. Wisher hasn’t spent his retirement doing lazy things, He has a role in American Legion Baseball and has won more than 300 metals competing in the Senior Olympics.
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Why did you first get started in the Senior Olympics? I joined the Senior Olympics in 1989. I had always been athletic in high school. I played a lot of baseball. I found out about it from a fella I was bowling with. I was back five years before I even heard about it. The guy asked me to bowl with him in the State Olympics and that’s how I got started. I was 63 years old. Bowling was the big thing, but I also did track and field. What’s your current fitness routine? I’ve been working out with small weights, but I plan to join a fitness center because it would be a lot easier then working at home. Working out at home by yourself is kind of tough. I do some exercises every day but I’m not doing as heavy or as much as I
should or would if I were at a fitness center. I also try to eat properly and drink a lot of water. It’s important to stay hydrated all the time. I try not to do anything that tears me down inside like drinking or smoking, never drank and I never smoked. Do you work harder in retirement then when did you when you had a full time job? I feel working was a lot harder than retirement. I think that retirement is the best job you could ever have. I’m enjoying it up to the brim. Are you worried about the decreasing number of people in your bracket for the Senior Olympics? This year I’m in the 90 to 94 bracket. I’m concerned that I wouldn’t have
much competition. I don’t like to get out there and compete against myself. In some events, like bowling, I have to drop down to a much lower age bracket because when you have a partner, the older person has to drop down to the younger person’s bracket. I usually drop into the 75-79 bracket with my partner. I have to shoot with the younger guys which I like more because the few guys I do have in my bracket in bowling don’t give me too much competition. Who is your all time favorite athlete? If I had to pick someone who has always been a favorite of mine, I would have to say Jim Thorp. He was a Native American. He was so outstanding in the Olympics. I think the thing I liked most about him was the fact he was a pure athlete with no outside influences at all. In the 30s and 40s was when he was in his real prime. Who was the best athlete to come out of the River Parishes? Within the time that I’ve been here, I would say Gerald Williams — he played baseball. Gerald’s mother lives in the subdivision behind us. He signed a baseball for our grandsons. What does the River Parishes mean to you? I’m from Florida but I’ve spent more time in Louisiana and the River Parishes, probably two to three times the amount of time I’ve spent in my home state. I would have to say that I consider the River Parishes more my home than any other place. It’s my wife’s home, which is also a big factor. I’ve become involved with so many things here and met and known so many people that I feel like this is more my home than Florida. — Reported by Raquel Derganz Baker
Chuck Wisher has won more than 300 metals competing in the Senior Olympics.
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Shrimp rice makes summer sensation
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aseball practices, swimming lessons, blowing bubbles, visiting the park … it’s what summer afternoons are made for! Things they’re not made for are long and complicated recipes. Jill Hymel Eichhorn of LaPlace recently shared her recipe for Shrimp Rice — a recipe she learned from her mother — with RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE readers, and it is easy to see why it’s the perfect summer meal. Jill said the meal has been a family favorite, especially with her son Robbie. Now an adult, she said Robbie has started to cook the meal for himself. SHRIMP RICE INGREDIENTS 1 stick of butter 1 pound of peeled shrimp ½ quart of chopped seasoning (or 1 chopped onion and 1 bell pepper) 2 cans of Campbell’s soup. Jill said choose two “cream of” soups, adding she likes to use two flavors like Cream of Shrimp and Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Shrimp and Cheddar Cheese. She said it’s fun to be creative with it. 2 cups of Mahatma rice 2 cans of water (use soup cans) Tony’s seasoning to taste DIRECTIONS Saute shrimp in butter until pink, then add chopped seasoning and cook until glassy looking. Add soup and Tony’s seasoning and cook for 15 minutes. Add rice and water and bring to a boil. Pour mixture into a greased 13x9 baking dish and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Stir after 30 minutes of cooking and return to oven. JILL’S TIP: For Shrimp Rice with a kick, she likes to add ¼ teaspoon of crab boil to her Shrimp Rice. She cautions not to use the lemon-flavored ones. — Reported by Monique Roth
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Jill Hymel Eichhorn, right, said her Shrimp Rice recipe has been a longtime hit with family members, including son Robbie, left, who now makes the meal for himself.
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Familiar faces lead W
Former West St. John High School football coach Robert Valdez is now leading his old arch rival, St. James High School, as its new head coach.
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hen the Friday night lights illuminate the playing fields this fall, both St. James Parish high schools will have new head coaches. Both young men know one another well, have shared their philosophies of coaching and lessons learned through coaching experiences. Coach Robert Valdez left West St. John High School in July 2015 to be the head coach at Scotlandville High School, just north of Baton Rouge. He is now returning to the River Parishes to coach his one-time arch rival, St. James High School. “At West St. John, we always circled the St. James game on the calendar. It was our target game. We worked hard toward winning that game,” Valdez said. “We just didn’t want to lose to St. James. We had really good football games and we didn’t have to try very hard to motivate the kids that much for the game. The St. James vs. West St. John game became the Alabama vs. LSU kind of game in fanfare, emotions and spirit of rivalry.” This fall, Coach Valdez, who also serves as athletic director, will be circling the date of that rival game on another calendar in another locker room. “It plays both ways,” laughed the coach, whose family lives on the East Bank of St. James Parish. “The kids at St. James were very well coached. Week one will set up the rest of the season,” he said, referring to the arch rival game that is the first game on each team’s schedule. His Wildcats will be playing across the gridiron from some of the Rams Valdez once coached. The ragging has already begun on the West Bank, where Valdez is being compared to Nick Saban, who left his coaching job at LSU, took a hiatus in the NFL at the helm of the Miami Dolphins and then returned to the SEC to coach the despised Alabama Crimson Tide. “I’ll pull for West St. John every week of the season but week one,” Valdez added with a laugh. Clearing the way for Valdez to return
ading in new places to the River Parishes was the departure of previous St. James High head coach Dwain Jenkins, who returns to his alma mater this year to coach the Lutcher High School Bulldogs. Jenkins grew up just two blocks from the East Bank school and always looked forward to playing at the stadium he could see from his house. He played under former head coach and athletic director Tim Detillier, whom he is replacing in both roles. After graduation, Jenkins planned to attend LSU to major in business, aspiring to be a lawyer. However, while still in high school, he coached a baseball team of 7- and 8-year-old boys and continued with them for approximately three seasons. That experience caused him to change his major to education so he could be a coach. His former coach hired him to coach the middle school baseball team. While working, he enrolled in the Master’s degree program at the University of Ohio in order to position himself to someday earn a head coach/athletic director title. Jenkins said because he lives in the area and has coached in Lutcher before, nothing about the new job has truly surprised him. “Expectations are really high, not just for the football program, but for all of the athletic department,” he said. He said the time demands are tough to try and balance coaching and family time, but adds it has been exciting coming back to see new construction and renovations to the sports complex. While at St. James, Jenkins helped restore what was once called the Best Bank Bowl, a rival game between Lutcher and St. James, which was last played in 2004. As athletic director, Jenkins had the task of planning for parking, traffic and crowd control at the new St. James High stadium, located at a very busy intersection in Vacherie, especially on a Friday game night. Jenkins will have that same responsibility this October when Valdez and his Wildcats go marching into Lutcher to meet his Bulldogs on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. — By Pamela Folse & Candace Hemelt
Dwain Jenkins, a former players and assistant coach at Lutcher High School, has returned to the school as the Bulldogs’ head football coach.
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
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How To ….. Make Fruits and Vegetables last Melons, tomatoes, radishes, cherries, carrots and nectarines. They’re just a few of the fruits and vegetables now in season, and while most people know why they should be eating them, many people may not be storing them correctly. Correct storage can keep produce fresh for as long as possible, while helping to ensure families are able to best benefit from the nutritional offerings of the produce and making sure nothing goes to waste. Jill Ray, a Reserve native who works at Anytime Fitness in LaPlace and Gramercy as a personal trainer, said it is important to fuel our bodies with the right nutrients because diseases and obesity are more prevalent than ever in our nation. “Fruits and vegetables are excellent nutrient-dense foods that can help prevent obesity and diseases and also provide us with more energy throughout the day,” she said. So how should fresh produce be stored? More Matters, a health initiative
focused on helping Americans increase fruit and vegetable consumption for better health, breaks down storage options for various fruits and vegetables on its website, fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. “Many fruits and vegetables should only be stored at room temperatures,” the website states. “Refrigeration can cause cold damage or prevent them from ripening to good flavor and texture.” Fruits and vegetables suggested for room temperature storage include apples (fewer than seven days), bananas, melons, pineapple, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes. For some fruit — including avocados, kiwi, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums — it is recommended to let ripen on the counter before refrigerating. “To prevent moisture loss, store fruits separately in a paper bag, perforated plastic bag or ripening bowl on the counter away from sunlight,” the Fruits and Veggies – More Matters website states. “Ripening fruit in a
bowl or paper bag can be enhanced by placing an apple with the fruit to be ripened.” Refrigerated storage is recommended for the majority of fresh fruits and vegetables, including apples (more than seven days), berries, cherries, grapes, sprouts, beets, cauliflower, summer squashes, carrots, mushrooms, radishes, artichokes and asparagus. Fruits and Veggies — More Matters authorities recommend placing fruits and vegetables in separated, perforated bags in the refrigerator and using them within one to three days for maximum flavor and freshness. As far as cleaning produce goes, officials said consumers should rinse fruits and vegetables under tap water immediately prior to use, because washing too far in advance removes some natural preservatives. However, they said lettuce or leafy greens tend to remain crisper when washed right away and then refrigerated. Visit fruitsandveggiesmorematters. org for additional storage tips, recipes and more.
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t. John the Baptist Parish Library System started its Summer Reading Program June 1. The program has been a huge success so far with performances by Mitch the Magician, Queen Nur the Storyteller and Hey Now Hooping. The next big performer will be Matthew Noel, the Magic Yo-Yo sensation. Noel is a New Orleans entertainer who brings his stage show to audiences of all ages using magic, yo-yos, juggling, and comedy. His passion for performance keeps his show progressing and changing year after year. He hopes to inspire children to follow something that they love, do it with passion, and share it with others. He will bring his skills to all four libraries. He will be performing at the Garyville Branch for 10:30 a.m. June 30 and the Reserve Branch for 2 p.m. June 30. On July 1, he will be performing at the West Branch for 10:30 a.m. and the Central Library for 2 p.m. The entire community is invited to come out and enjoy the show. The Central Library in LaPlace is also hosting other children’s programming, such as Books and Beyond and Fit Kids. Books and Beyond is for children ages 5 to 8 and includes a story related to the sports and fitness theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program. It also includes games, crafts, races and other activities to go beyond each week’s book. The program is offered at 5:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Central Library. Fit Kids is offered for ages of 5 and 12. Children engage in some sort of movement at each session, whether it’s Zumba, yoga, hula-hooping, jump roping or hop scotching. The program is offered at 5:30 p.m. every Monday at the Central Library.
Kelsey Cummins, left, and Michael Motton, right, assist in the ‘growing handkerchiefs’ trick performed by Mitch the Magician, center. Each time Kelsey and Michael pulled back, another handkerchief appeared attached to the previous ones.
Justin Duhe, grandson to library manager Elmira Duhe, enjoyed the summer kickoff reading program in Garyville.
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Kailynn Millet had fun laughing and participating with the crowd for the magic show.
Jayla Johnson, wearing pink, and Jalissia Johnson laugh because the magician’s wand kept falling over or flopping around.
Kenzie Coburn was chosen to participate in the magic trick where a cup with water in it emptied before Kemzie was told to pour it on her head.
Justice Smith attended the library show in Garyville.
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
Dalarie Joseph enjoys the summer reading program kickoff while watching and laughing with her friends.
Kara Coburn assisted in the magic trick called ‘spin the tail’ as she waved her magic giant wand and the tail would spin on the donkey.
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Danielle Coburn is joined by, from left, Cimarron Cummins, Kara Coburn, Kelsey Cummins and Kenzie Coburn as they watch Mitch the Magician turn a circle rope into a square, then a triangle
Arianna Tilley, left, and Payton Snyder loved seeing the magician making balloon animals, one being a fishing rod with a fish at the end.
Legend Taylor was chosen to participate in the bubble trick, where the magician put his hand inside a bubble without the bubble popping.
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
Dining St. John Parish Aloisio’s Bakery 504-430-1194 • 504-858-8432 Athena 1502 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-653-3336 Avis 3900 Hwy 51., LaPlace 985-651-8684
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
IHop 220 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-4468
Pirougue’s Cafe 719 W. 10th St., Reserve 985-479-7800
Jacob’s Andouille 505 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9080
Popeye’s Fried Chicken 1603 W Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-3030
Kobe Japanese Steak and Sushi 506 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8880/652-8853
Raising Cane’s 123 West Airline Hwy, Laplace 985-652-4701
Baba’s Sports Bar & Grill 509 Main Street., LaPlace 985-359-5555
Krystal 143 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-651-1780
Bailey’s Andouille 513 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9090
LaCaretta 107 Carrollwood Dr, LaPlace 985-651-9991
Belle Terre Country Club 111 Fairway Drive, LaPlace 985-652-5000 Best Wok Chinese Restaurant 530 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-9989 Bombshells 1421 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-2654
El Paso Mexican Grill 1900 Hwy 51, LaPlace 985-618-3313 Fatty’s Restaurant & Bar 186 Museum Street, Garyville 985-535-5555 Frenier Landing 113 Dottie Lane, LaPlace 985-224-2178
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
Madea’s Kitchen 975 Cambridge Dr., Ste. B, LaPlace 985-359-1929 Mama Jo’s 2917 Hwy 51, Ste A., LaPlace 985-224-2666 McDonalds •4297 U.S. Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-652-5171 •1608 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2600 •5387 W Airline, Hwy, Garyville
Buddy B’s 2788 River Road, Garyville 985-535-3663 Cajun Grill 135 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-4745
Mabile Restaurant 1124 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-651-2893
LaPlace Frostop 411 Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-6361 Fuji Japanese Express 1922 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-618-3186 Gator’s Den Old Highway 51 South, Manchac 985-386-7902
Chung’s Heavenly Sweets 607 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-7987
Hibachi Supreme Grill 1721 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace 985-652-5233
Connie’s Grill 1468 River Road, Reserve 985-536-3256
Huddle House 4325 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-1800
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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
Rotolo’s Pizzera •406 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-1032 •3503 W. Airline Hwy., Ste. B, Reserve 985-536-3503 Ruby Garden Chinese Restaurant 3101 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-653-8700 Sam’s Southern Eatery 1173 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-359-1677 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 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
St. James Parish
DELICIOUS CAJUN FOOD!
Market Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm Restaurant: Mon-Sat, 11am-4:30pm 2155 Hwy. 18 (next to Laura Plantation) Vacherie, LA
225-265-8356 • FAX: 225-265-9960
Breon’s Frozen Yogurt 10850 Hwy. 3125, Ste. C, Gramercy 225-258-4448 Café Perique 234 East Main St., Gramercy 225-869-1774 China King 849 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-2000
Pizza Hut 1665 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6151 Popeye’s 982 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060 Sandwich World Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060 Sonic Drive In 852 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-5666 Spectacular Tubers 1665 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-5600 Subway 10850 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy
Chuck Lee’s Chinese Kitchen 10560 Hwy. 70 W., St. James 225-473-3050 Creole House Cafe 3409 Hwy 3125, Paulina 225-859-3333 DJ’s Grille 21060 La. Hwy. 20, Vacherie 225-265-7600 Golden Grove Restaurant 935 La. Hwy. 641, Gramercy 225-869-1212 Grand Point Truck Stop & Casino 3415 La. Hwy. 3125, Paulina 225-869-6960
Taylor’s Express Truck Stop 964 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-1734 Tod’s Catering 2180 S. Albert St., Lutcher 225-869-7000
Nobile’s Restaurant & Bar 2082 W. Main , Lutcher 225-869-8900 Oak Alley Restaurant 3645 La. Hwy. 18, Vacherie 225-265-2151
Boulevard Bistro 1950 Ormond, Ste. B, Destrehan
Grand Café 500 Willowdale Blvd., Luling 985-308-1640 Grumpy’s 14984 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-2083
Buster’s Grill 10405 Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-472-0771 Cafe Ormond 1974 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-0741 Cajun Kitchen 13322 U.S. 90, Boutte, Ste. Q 985-785-2405 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
Happy Gardens II 15264 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-3888 Hong Kong 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. D, Destrehan 985-725-9099 The Howling Pepper 109 St. Rose Ave., St. Rose 504-466-1944 IHOP 14099 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013 Iron Gate 13299 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013
Cucina Bon Creole At Cypress Lakes Country Club 10 Villere Dr., Destrehan 985-764-6868
Jas Café 307 Paul Maillard Rd., Luling 985-785-0200
Daddy’s Fried Chicken 15683 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6743
Julie’s Restaurant 15805 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6349
Destrehan Donuts 1974 Ormond, Ste. D, Destrehan 985-764-0050
Little Tokyo 13371 U.S. 90, Ste. A, Boutte 985-331-0887 Lovecchio’s Deli 29 Apple St., Norco 985-725-5683
Dot’s Diner 12179 U.S. Hwy. 90, Luling 985-785-6836
Hymel’s Seafood Restaurant 8740 La. Hwy. 44, Convent 225-562-7031 Jenny’s Overstuffed Poboy & Chicken Shop 114 N. Airline Hwy., Gramercy 225-869-0899
Destrehan 985-725-1116 Breeze Cafe 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-8800
El Gato Negro 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. 1, Destrehan 985-307-0460
Mariano’s Italian Eatery 12371 Highway 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-785-7777
El Mexicano 12715 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. 140, Luling 985-785-7694
McDonalds 3009 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-1021
Bamboo Garden 13491 U.S. 90, Ste. 6, Boutte 985-785-9929
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
Bei Jing 12895 U.S. 90, Ste. D, Boutte 985-331-8885
Frostop 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. H,
Mrs. Snowman 110A Lakewood Dr., Luling 985-331-1411
St. Charles Parish Anita’s Smokin’ Steak Burgers 13145 U.S. 90 Ste. B, Boutte 985-785-2220
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
Ormond Plantation Restaurant 13786 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-8544
–Rotolo’s Pizzeria 150 Ormond Center Court, Destrehan 985-725-2411
Palmetto’s Restaurant 10405 Airline Hwy, St. Rose 504-472-0771
Sailfish Food and Spirits 12287 U.S. 90, Luling 985-308-0712
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
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
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 Sub Express 26 Apple St., Norco 985-764-9922 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 Sushi Cafe 13899 River Road, Ste. A, Luling 985-308-1003 Take Away Donuts 13441 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-785-6499
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 Waffle House 10384 E. Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-467-1522 Wingzzz 613 Paul Maillard Road, Ste. 400, Luling 985-308-0743
River Parishes Magazine A Special Publication of L’OBSERVATEUR
Advertise in our Fall issue publishing in September 30 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
C’EST LA VIE: Parting Shots Surely, two of the most satisfying experiences in life must be those of being a grandchild or a grandparent. — Donald A. Norberg
Rachel Penn, right, gets a hug from Ellie Robertson, her little girl in pink.
O’Neil Boe smiles next to granddaughter April Boe Smith.
Earl and Lisa Miller posed with grandson Carson LeBoeuf.
Greg and Jeannine Loisel stand with granddaughter Madeline Heltz.
Iris and Barry Terrio sit with Isabella. Juju and Pie Duhon smile at the playing field with grandchildren Grace, Ava and Cooper.
Send your parting shots to monique.roth@lobservateur.com
RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE
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