April 15, 2015 - May 15, 2015 • Volume 2/Issue 4
A Smile Cost Nothing
Cover: Irma Thomas Photo by Bach Imagery
A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor, but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone, until it is given
away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile; Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia
Table of Contents Advanced Care /Page 6 by Laurie Panzeca Money Matters /Page 7 by Mike Rich Walgreens: Managing Medications /Page 10 by Chris J. Riviere, PharmD
Inspiring Quotes /Page 12 by Kelly Walgamotte Cover Feature, Irma Thomas/Page 16 by Mary Bounds
- Michelle Carollo & Kelly Walgamotte Publishers
Spring has Sprung /Page 22 by Michelle Carollo Senior Sampler /Page 24 by Michelle Carollo
For Senior Living Magazine Advertsing InformationPlease contact: Mary West at (504) 610-1051 or email to MaryWest2@aol.com
St Tammany Fishing Pier /Page 28 by Gay DiGiovanni Back in the Old Days /Page 30 by Joe Dubuisson
Staff Publishers Michelle Carollo & Kelly Walgamotte Editor Lana Walgamotte
Account Executive Mary West
Contributing Writers Lisa Bologna Lisa Clement Mary Bounds Mike Rich
Chief Designer Chris Tiblier
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Photographer Bach Imagery
Senior Living is published monthly P.O. Box 752, Slidell, LA 70459. Michelle Carollo 985-445-3644 / Kelly Walgamotte (985) 778-6171 Copyright 2015 by Senior Living. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the written, expressed consent of the publisher. Reproduction of editorial content or graphics in any manner or in any medium is prohibited. Opinions of staff & contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. For advertising information, contact Senior Living business department
at 985-778-6171 or e-mail at seniorlivingmagla@gmail.com. Letters to the Editor are Welcome – send signed letters to P.O. Box 752, Slidell, LA 70459. Please include a phone number for verification (it will not be published). E-mail letters to seniorlivingmagla@gmail.com. The Editor reserves the right to edit for length, style and spelling. Postmaster: Send address changes to Senior Living P.0. Box 752, Slidell, LA 70459
Comprehensive new SMH Heart Center ushers in more convenient, advanced care for cardiac patients. by: Laurie Panzeca
Care
Advanced
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esidents of East St. Tammany Parish and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including Picayune, are now able to take advantage of more coordinated, convenient cardiac services and advanced technology in the completed Slidell Memorial Hospital Heart Center. And with this project’s completion, the community now has a specialized heart hospital within a full-service
“For the community, this means the ability to provide state-of-the-art cardiovascular care in a consolidated environment, close to home” acute care hospital. It is yet another promise kept by SMH leadership and staff. “For the community, this means the ability to provide state-of-the-art cardiovascular care in a consolidated environment, close to home,” said SMH CEO, Bill Davis. In addition, SMH has now been certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center, recognizing SMH meets exacting standards to support better out-
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comes for stroke care. The SMH Heart Center was built in two phases. The first, opening in late 2013, was part of the construction of the new wing of the hospital. That new wing houses the expanded Emergency Room on the first floor and the inpatient rooms of the SMH Heart Center on the second floor. The second phase of the SMH Heart Center, promised to the community when the first phase opened, brings together all other cardiac services of the hospital into one convenient, efficient location adjoining the first phase. What this project also brings to the community are leading-edge patient care features and the latest in diagnostic technology. There are 38 private, technologically advanced “smart rooms” for inpatients, two state-of-the-art cardiac cath labs, a superior patient monitoring system and care delivered by one continuous team from “door to discharge.” The adjacent outpatient services area houses all diagnostic technology and treatment services including SMH Cardiac Rehab. “The new Heart Center advances cardiac patient care by placing the patients at the center of every design and technology decision in ways I’ve never seen before, even in heart-specializing hospitals,” said SMH Cardiology Medical Director Vasanth K. Bethala.
To schedule a tour of the hospital or for more information on how you can benefit your community by giving to the SMH Foundation, call (985) 280-8820, or visit smhfdn.org.
Laurie Panzeca
by: Mike Rich
Tick, tick, tick... There’s a potential time bomb ticking out there, and it’s set to go off in 2016. No, we’re not talking about when “Law & Order” might be going off the air, but it’s just as scary. In 2016, the first baby boomers will turn 70½, and that means they’ll have to start taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from their 401(k)s, 403(b)s, traditional IRAs, SEPs, SIMPLEs – the whole alphabet soup of retirement plans. You might have forgotten about this little detail, but our friends in Washington sure haven’t, and they can’t wait to get their hands on that tax money you have been happily deferring for all those years. So, boomers will have to pony up, not only in 2016, but for a lot of years after that, as well. Tick, tick, tick. In case you need a refresher course, here’s the skinny on RMDs. Our tax law says that account holders must begin making these withdrawals after they reach age 70½, but they have a little leeway. Account holders don’t have to begin distributions precisely on their 70½ birthday. If one chooses, these distributions may be taken any time prior to April 1 following the year in which the account holder reaches that age. Thus, a person who is 70½ in June 2015 must take her RMD no later than April 2016. However, her RMD for 2016 must be taken by December 31, 2016, as will distributions for successive years. So, if she chooses to do that, the extra money (two RMD amounts) could put her in a higher tax bracket. She might not want that, but that’s a subject for another article. Of course, the boomer age demographic is only one of many things that could influence the financial markets, so we can’t know for sure what might happen when RMDs start to force aging in-
vestors to unload their wealth to pay taxes. However, we do know that now is a good time to review your investments and devise a strategy that might help you and your family keep more of your money so you can take advantage of the good things your golden years have to offer. If you are in the 70½ age group – or if you will be in 2016 or beyond – have you thought about how you are going to calculate your RMDs, how you will time the distribution to minimize taxes, which accounts will you use, and what you will do with the money? We help our clients with these decisions, and, for many of them, take care of the details so they don’t have to worry about them. Plus, we show them ways to keep their money at work. After all, even though you have to take your RMDs and pay taxes, you don’t have to spend the money (or worse, waste it). What will your strategy be? The important thing is to actually have a plan and not be caught by surprise. So, if you want to be ready for 2016 and beyond, call us and we’ll make an appointment to meet. Don’t let the RMD time bomb blow up your financial plan.
Mike Rich and Steve Kernahan, Pontchartrain Investment Management, 2242 Carey Street, Slidell, LA 70458 985-605-5066
Managing Your Medicine: How Walgreens' MTM Services Can Work For You by: Chris J. Riviere, PharmD While the numerous pharmaceutical developments in recent decades have certainly contributed to increased life expectancy rates, they have also resulted in much more complex medication regimens. These complex therapies often require multiple prescription medications to treat a single chronic condition, which can potentially lead to adverse events and lowered adherence rates. This alone is a huge concern, but the fact that 77% of elderly patients have two or more chronic conditions highlights the need for professional guidance when sorting through these prescription regimens [1]. It is critical that patients discuss all of their medications with their physicians; however, this task has become increasingly difficult with many patients seeing multiple physicians for different conditions. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to patients receiving duplicate therapy or experiencing adverse drug interactions.
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Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a service that helps simplify these complex therapies, while identifying and preventing possible adverse events. This MTM service is often provided by your local pharmacist, and it can involve anything from a comprehensive review of your medications to a simple phone call checking for any medication-related complications. Walgreens' pharmacists currently utilize multiple programs to identify patients that would benefit most from these MTM services. These programs work with a patient's insurance provider to identify potential therapy problems, ranging from a high number of prescription drugs to basic adherence issues. The Walgreens' pharmacists use this information to sort through the prescribed medications and identify the most effective dosing schedule. If potential drug conflicts are identified, or the patient describes a medication side effect that has discouraged him/her from taking the medication, the pharma-
cist will reach out to the physician to discuss alternate therapies. These are the type of benefits that MTM services offer at its very core, and they are being developed and expanded upon daily. While improving the safety and effectiveness of the patient's prescription regimen is the ultimate goal of these MTM services, they also provide a potentially significant cost benefit for patients. Through the improved medication adherence resulting from these MTM interventions, patients can avoid paying for unnecessary physician visits or hospital admissions that are often the result of medication-related problems. As further proof of MTM's effectiveness and cost savings, many of the most commonly used Medicare plans allow for their patients to receive these services at their local Walgreens for no additional cost. Call or visit your local Walgreens' pharmacist today to find out more about the benefits that their MTM services can offer you and your loved ones.
Chris J. Riviere, PharmD Magazine St. Location
Top
Twenty Inspiring
Quotes
It is never too late to be what you might have been. - George Eliot What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. - Henry Stanley Haskins Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind. -Emily P. Bissell I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work. Thomas Edison You must be the change you want to see in the world. -Mahatma Gandhi A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him. -Sidney Greenberg Pg. 12
Here are 20 of the most inspiring things human beings have ever said. Let these inspirational quotes get you back on your feet, and walking down the lighter side of the street.
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. -Mark Twain If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today. - E. Joseph Cossman In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed. - Sid Caesar Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right. -Henry Ford The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision. - Helen Keller Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it. - Joe Clark
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. -William Bruce Cameron
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. -Martin Luther King, JR.
Author: Mary Bounds • Photo’s by: Bach Imagery
Irma Thomas, the undeniable Soul Queen of New Orleans, is anything but bluesy about her attitude toward life. With a career that has spanned over 50 years, this twice fired “Singing Waitress” continues to command large crowds, delivering Gospel and Blues with the voice New Orleans claims as its own.
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Louisiana-born Irma Thomas
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o describe her life as having “ups and downs” would not amply portray the underlying story of survival she has to tell. Yet through it all Irma Thomas has no regrets and does not consider any of her life’s challenges as insurmountable. “It just is what it is, and you deal with it!” This straight forward attitude and gutsy determination continues to characterize who she is today. Irma Lee was born on Feb.18, 1941 in Ponchatoula, La. She moved with her parents to New Orleans four years later and began a lifelong relationship with the city that would one day call her Queen. As a young child Irma sang in the Baptist Church children’s choir. She credits singing in front of the congregation as a basis for her stage presence and says she’s never been afraid to perform for large groups. “I don’t sing with my eyes closed; I enjoy seeing the crowd as much as they enjoy seeing me!” Irma was twice divorced with four children by the age of 19. She kept the surname of her second husband and has since been known as Irma Thomas. In those early years Irma worked as a waitress to support her young family. She occasionally sang while on duty at the Copper Kettle and the Pimlico Club. Eventually Irma was fired for singing on both jobs, but not before she gained the attention of bandleader, Tommy Ridgley. It was Ridgley who recognized Irma’s talent and helped her land a record deal with the local Ron label. Irma openly discusses being fired for singing and smiles as she adds, “God was trying to tell me something!” Indeed, within two weeks of losing her job at the Pimlico Club she recorded her first hit single, “You Can Have My Husband, but Don’t Mess with My Man” which quickly climbed to #22 on the Billboard R&B chart in the spring of 1960. From this point her career would advance rapidly. Soon Irma was recording on the Minit label, working with songwriter/producer Allen Toussaint on songs including "It’s Raining”. Imperial Records took over Minit in 1963, and Irma enjoyed a list of successful releases all charting
on Billboard’s Pop chart including, “Wish Someone Would Care”, “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is” and “Time on My Side” (later recorded by the Rolling Stones). Irma also recorded with Chess Records in 1967-68, reaching the R&B chart with “Good to Me.” In the late 1960’s Irma’s most ardent fans in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast continued to be enthralled with her soulful style. In 1969, after Hurricane Camille devastated the coast she moved to California seeking more opportunities to provide for her children. Once there Irma began working at Montgomery Ward for $1.75/ hr. selling vacuum cleaners and sewing machines. Irma laughs as she recalls making her children’s clothes (with her boss’s approval) during sewing demonstrations at work. “You just do what you have to do for your family as long as its legal. You kick into survival mode.” Irma also performed on weekends to supplement her income and remarkably found time to earn her GED. Eventually Irma returned to New Orleans and met the man who would become her manager, husband and soul-mate, Emile Jackson. Married on November 19, 1977 after dating for two years, they blended their families from previous marriages and together are now blessed with 7 children, 15
grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. When asked about her husband Irma responds, “We’ve been together 40 years. It was just meant to be!” Despite her busy life juggling career and family, Irma earned an associate degree in Business Studies from Delgado Community College in 2002. She helped to found the Irma Thomas Center for W.I.S.E. (Women in Search of Excellence) where she is a role-model, inspiring others to look beyond their circumstances and fulfill their academic, personal and professional potential. She regularly volunteers at the impressive New Orleans center which is named in her honor and close to her heart. Devoted fans held their breath when their Queen of Soul was initially feared to be missing after Hurricane Katrina. Irma was later discovered to be safe, performing in Austin, Texas. She and her husband returned to find their New Orleans East home and Lion’s Den Club in shambles. They never considered leaving New Orleans permanently but moved to Gonzales temporarily while their home was under repair. Their Lion’s Den club did not reopen, since most of their band members and employees relocated to other areas. Irma explains it was not the building, but the incredible people they worked with, that had made their club so special.
Continued
Her 2006 masterful album appropriately named “After the Rain” was recorded during the early rebuilding period post Katrina. Irma reflects on that time saying, “Working on this album was poignant, it related to our situation and became our therapy.” The lyrics of the songs seemed to talk about the storm, the anguish, the recovery. Truly singing from her soul, Irma’s voice richly resonated a timely, heartfelt passion shared by many in the New Orleans area. Her deep flowing delivery personified the plight of her city, in mourning for so much destroyed and so many lost. New Orleans felt personal pride when their royal songstress received her first Grammy, “Best Contemporary Blues Album,” for this exceptional release. Many consider it to be her finest work. The walls in Irma’s comfortable home showcase her celebrated career and the many distinguished awards she has received. Her accolades are numerous, but notably she was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and named the “Soul Blues Female Artist” for 2013 and 2014. She has also been honored with the W.C. Handy Award, A Big Easy Award, Offbeat Magazine Award and the Mo Jo Magazine Legends Award (London, England). Her annual Gospel and Blues performances at the New Orleans Jazz Fest are particularly fun for the resident Soul Queen who confides she has mingled, unnoticed in the crowd before her show. One year she overheard fans saying she was in Florida and would not be appearing that day, so she introduced herself and promptly set the record straight! At age 74, Irma’s musical career and voice are as strong or stronger than ever. She considers herself blessed with longevity in an industry where she admits, “Age can work against you, but I’ve never denied my age. It’s a blessing if you can do what you love and make a living at it.” Today Irma Thomas embraces life in her beloved New Orleans. Whether she is singing alto at her local church or exercising in her neighborhood gym, she brings her personal style and positive energy wherever she goes. Her compelling life story, much like her music, continues to inspire others to reach for their dreams. You can call her Soul Queen, Grammy Award winner, role-model, loving wife or devoted mother, but Irma Thomas is a treasured icon. She is and always will be as much a part of New Orleans as New Orleans is of her.
Come see Irma Thomas at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Performing on the Acura Stage: Sunday April 26, 2015 at 3:00 PM Performing at the Gospel Tent: Friday May 1, 2015 at 3:50 PM
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by: Michelle Carollo
More than 80 Million people each year enjoy gardening. It is considered one of America’s favorite leisure outdoor activity. Gardening provides a relaxing and meditative activity for most. It is a time for reflection and a relief from the demands of everyday life. As we age some may feel that this is a hobby that we may have to give up as they become less physically able. This is to the contrary, gardening can enrich the life of the senior gardener in so many ways. Enrichment can be physically, mentally, and spiritually to a person.
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Chemical herbicides poison the soil and can remain in the dirt for years, says Soler. Instead, get rid of grass and weeds by pouring an earth-friendly mix of equal parts hot water and vinegar over the selected area once a day for a few days until the offending plants turn brown. The vinegar will kill the leaves and most of the plants’ roots, making it easy to pull up the grass.
Listed below are some tips for assisting the senior gardener to stay active and make the experience worthwhile: • Be mindful of the weather, wear lightweight clothing, long sleeved shirt, eye protection, sunscreen, a big hat, and gardening gloves. • Attempt to garden early in the morning or late in the day. Avoid being out between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. When the sun is at its strongest point. Make sure to drink plenty of decaffeinated fluids to prevent dehydration. Take time for breaks in the shade. • To enable the senior gardener to easily locate tools, paint your garden tools with a bright color. • The use of a vertical garden or trellis will allow the senior gardener to plant and weed without stooping or bending.
• Use the right tools, ergonomic tools are designed to be easier on the hands. Long handled or curved handled tools provide better grips and more leverage. • Try to purchase seed and seed tape for easier handling & planting. • Build and design raised beds that provide a place to sit and garden. • Try using a kneeler stool, chair, or bench to avoid constant stooping or squatting. • Grow plants that heighten the sense of sight, touch or smell.
Senior Sampler Spring Vegetable Pasta Primavera chopped 1 bunch green onions, chopped 2 zucchinis, diced 1 cup chopped sugar snap peas 1/2 cup shelled English peas 1 bunch asparagus, stalks diced, tips left whole Salt to taste 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or as needed
INGREDIENTS Makes 6 servings 1 bunch fresh basil 3 cups chicken broth, divided 1/2 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic 1 pound fettuccine pasta 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large leek, white and light green parts only,
DIRECTIONS 1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in fettuccine bring back to a boil, and cook pasta over medium heat until cooked through but still ďŹ rm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain. 2. Blend basil leaves, 1 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup olive oil, and garlic together in a blender until smooth.
about 5 minutes. 4. Increase heat to medium-high. Stir in 2 cups chicken broth, zucchini, sugar snap peas, and English peas; bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add asparagus and continue cooking until asparagus is soft, about 3 minutes more. 5. Pour 1/4 cup basil-garlic mixture into zucchini mixture and cook and stir until heated through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. 6. Place pasta in a large bowl; pour zucchini mixture over pasta and pour remaining basilgarlic mixture over the zucchini mixture. Spread Parmesan cheese over the top. Toss mixture briey to combine and tightly wrap bowl with aluminum foil. Let stand until pasta and vegetables soak up most of the juices and oil, about 5 minutes. Toss again.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir leek and green onion in hot oil until softened,
Creamy Baked Artichoke Dip INGREDIENTS Makes 5 to 8 servings 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained 1/2 cup minced red onion 1 tablespoon lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
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2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, Parmesan cheese and onion. When these ingredients are combined, mix in artichoke hearts, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to a shallow baking dish. 3. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 20 minutes, or until light brown on top.
Senior Sampler Spring is here! What’s in season?? There are a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to pick from this time of year. Check out what is available at local stores and farmers markets. Spring Fruits & Vegetables • Apricots • Artichokes • Asparagus • Avocados
• Carrots • Chives • Fava Beans • Fennel • Leeks
• Mangoes • Morels • Peas • Pineapples • Potatoes
• Rhubarb • Spinach • Strawberries • Watercress
Strawberry Mojitos Strawberries are plentiful this time of year. Who doesn’t like to sit on the porch and have an ice cold spring time refreshment. Try one of these….
INGREDIENTS Makes 8 mojitos White sugar, for rimming of glass 2 large limes, quartered 1/2 bunch mint leaves 7 strawberries, quartered
Carrot Cake INGREDIENTS Makes 1 - 8x12 inch pan 3 eggs 3/4 cup buttermilk 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup white sugar 1 cup white rum 2 cups club soda 8 cups ice cubes DIRECTIONS 1. Pour riming sugar onto a small, shallow plate. Run one of the lime quarters around the rim of each cocktail glass, then dip the glasses into the sugar to rim; set aside.
1 cup flaked coconut 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice 1 cup raisins DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8x12 inch pan. 2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour mixture and mix well. 4. In a medium bowl, combine shredded carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple and raisins.
2. Squeeze all of the lime quarters into a sturdy glass pitcher. Toss the juiced limes into the pitcher along with the mint, strawberries, and 1 cup of sugar. Crush the fruits together with a muddler to release the juices from the strawberries and the oil from the mint leaves. Stir in the rum and club soda until the sugar has dissolved. Pour into the sugared glasses over ice cubes to serve.
5. Using a large wooden spoon or a very heavy whisk, add carrot mixture to batter and fold in well. 6. Pour into prepared 8x12 inch pan, and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Check with toothpick. 7. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. Cream Cheese Icing: 1 (250 g) package brick style Cream Cheese, softened 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
St Tammany Parish Fishing Pier: Diamond in the Rough by Gay DiGiovanni “The St Tammany Parish Fishing Pier is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered,” says Jacqueline Wall, a member of the Leadership Northshore Class of 2015. Leadership Northshore, in its 25th year, is a non-profit organization created to develop community and business leaders. Each group is tasked with the development and implementation of a community wide project with lasting beneficial impact. Joining Wall on Team Geaux Fish are Shelta Collins, Gay DGiovanni, Nicky Mistretta, Joseph Montelepre and Laurie Panzeca. The group’s project will beautify, bring public awareness, and an invitation to fish at The Pier. Montelepre sees The Pier as a “piece of paradise in our own back yard.” He and his team hope to create a park-like environment
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with comfort and amenities comparable to other Gulf South fishing piers, bringing many locals and out-of-towners to The Pier. “This will be more inviting for people to come out and enjoy the area,” says Mistretta. The Pier is located on I-10 exit 261 East service road at 54001 Howze Beach Road, and it exemplifies the resilience of the citizens of St. Tammany Parish. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the original I-10 Twinspans, Kevin Davis, then Parish President, decided to repurpose the remaining half mile structure for public use. In June of 2012, the 650 foot timber pier was opened to the public, making history as the
first public fishing pier in the region since the 1960s. However, when Hurricane Isaac hit in August 2012, The Pier was damaged and closed. Repairs to reinforce The Pier were completed and it reopened in January 2014. In a letter of support from the current
Parish President, Pat Brister states, “The Pier offers our residents and visitors easier access to lake fishing.” The Geaux Fish @ The Pier project in partnership with the St Tammany Parish Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and Chris Tiblier of the Marsh and Bayou Magazine, has three major areas of focus. Beautification will improve the surrounding grounds to create a peaceful and natural setting with low maintenance shrubbery and three benches along the entranceway to the Pier. Concrete pads for the three existing picnic tables will offer accessibility to wheelchair bound visitors, and shelters matching the existing pavilions will provide valuable shade and comfort. “I love this project for two reasons...I love to fish and I thought this would be the most beautiful place to bring a family,” gushes Collins. The second focus is a significant educational effort that reaches out to the young and young at heart. Permanent informational signs will identify local fish and wildlife, include an updated historical marker, and a how-to-fish placard. These will be placed throughout the entranceway and on The Pier. Visitors will also be able to view a short video offering pier fishing practices. The Pier will be promoted to local schools and educators as a field trip destination, introducing children to the thrill of fishing. “I picture a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle bringing youngsters to The Pier, and talking to them while they fish. The atmosphere lends itself to just that experience,” states DiGiovanni. Marketing and promotion encompasses a multilayered approach bringing awareness of The Pier to the surrounding community and tourists looking for a destination location for great family fun between New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Details for a one-mile Family Fun Run, and Fishing Rodeo are coming soon. Why should you come to The Pier, you may ask? Panzeca says, “Create memories such as those I share with my family – picnics, sunsets and fishing.”
The Geaux Fish @ The Pier Leadership Northshore project is looking for sponsorships and donations from national corporations, local businesses and individuals, and grants from non-profit organizations, with similar interests and goals to promote outdoor family fun. Costs for the project are estimated at $45,000 and in-kind donations are also welcomed. Naming rights are available for the pavilions, benches and educational placards. Donations may be sent to: Geaux Fish @ The Pier c/o Gay DiGiovanni, 1290 7th St., Slidell, LA 70458.
For more information: St. Tammany Fishing Pier 54001 E. Howze Beach Road near Slidell (East side of I-10, exit 261) Phone 985.649.1922 Website www.sttammanyfishingpier.com Hours of Operation Winter 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (beginning Nov. 2) Summer 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fall 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (beginning Sept. 1) Admission: 12 and over: $3 fishing or $1 sightseeing Under 12: Free fishing and sightseeing Fishing Licenses: Required by all who are fishing Available by phone, 1-888-765-2602, via www.wlf.louisiana.gov/licenses/fishing or at local bait shops and stores Leadership Northshore http://www.leadershipnorthshore.com
Hard Times - The Great Depression by Joe Dubuisson At the height of the Great Depression in 1933, more than 15 million Americans (one quarter of the nation’s workforce) were unemployed. For many of those who suffered hardships during that time, the depression would affect their attitudes toward life, work and their community throughout their entire lives. To many people, however, the Great Depression is only a chapter in the history books, living only in stories told by relatives and friends. Yet, the effects of the great depression are still with us today. The programs instituted to bolster the country’s collapsed economy expanded our government’s intervention into new areas of social and economic concerns and fundamentally changed the relationship between the government and the people, both locally and nationally. The economic road on the north shore had been fairly smooth during the Roaring Twenties with a few bumps along the way in the years that followed World War I. Like the rest of the country, the demand for consumer goods and services was on the rise. The era had produced an innovation called “credit,” an attractive name for mass-marketing consumer debt. With new roads and bridges in the area linking New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, there was a brief period of growing land speculation. Then came the gigantic pot hole in the economic highway known as the Great Depression. A period of self reliance and making-do akin to the hard lifestyles of the early pioneers began. People living in the country or rural areas who were able to hang onto their property with farms and gardens could cultivate their own food and often fared better than those living in the cities. Of course, the fishing and hunting available on the north shore helped out with putting food on the table too. When a good catch was brought in, it was spread around to friends and family. One oldtimer reported that his family couldn’t afford beef, but they never lacked for pork with all the wild pigs in the swamp! Although some people on the north shore were able to live off of the land and others were able to eat well from ingenuity or good fortune, my cousin, Fritz Broom, says that what stands out most in his mind about those days is the number of malnourished and barefooted kids. He remembers breaking his toe when he ran into another kid who was lucky enough to have a pair of those big ol’ Brogan shoes to wear to school. There were no school lunches for the kids — for lunch you could go to the grocery and get a slice of banana on French for a dime; that is, if you had a dime. Many didn’t. It was during the depression that a program was begun to serve kids a glass of milk to help combat the problem of malnourishment. Fritz remembers hearing the “Kingfish,” Gov. Huey P. Long, on the radio telling people to save the “pot liquor” when cooking vegetables and greens to give to the children to drink for extra nourishment. (Old Kingfish hadn’t gotten around yet to putting a “chicken in every pot” along with the greens!) Often the stories of those hard times include tales of the community’s sharing and pulling together to help one another out. It was during the depression that many community service groups arose and flourished.
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It was reported that Slidell town workers took a 20 percent cut in pay, but generally were able to hold onto their jobs. The schools, threatened with shortening school terms, were saved by local fund raisers that allowed the nine-month school terms to be saved, albeit at lower salaries for the teachers. The local business community suffered along with the people it served. My father had a bakery at the start of the depression and business was good, then a twist on the old rule of supply and demand came into play. As for as demand went, he had plenty of customers that wanted bread. Only problem was, their supply of money to pay for the bread was too low, so his business went the way of so many others at that time. One of the early programs birthed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” domestic policies was the Emergency Relief Administration (ERA), which gave federal money to the states for direct relief to the unemployed. In 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) replaced the ERA and in 1939 was renamed the Works Projects Administration (WPA). Roosevelt’s WPAs were responsible for creating many jobs through federal and state projects, employing nine million people between 1935 and 1943. After my father’s bakery folded in 1935, he went to work for the WPA as a foreman overseeing a crew responsible for painting the Rigolets and Chef Bridges. His salary was a whopping $16 per week. Other WPA projects in the area included construction of the brick sidewalks in Slidell’s Olde Towne area and the start of construction necessary for Highway 190. Another New Deal program was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created by the U.S. Congress in 1933 for the conservation of natural resources in the country — timber, soil and water. This program provided employment planting trees, fighting forest fires and doing conservation work in national parks. Several of our family members joined the CCC in the depression years. It provided for the enrollment of unemployed and unmarried men between the ages of 17 and 23 who were U.S. citizens. Members received a base pay of $30 a month and lived in work camps operated by the Department of War. During its operation, the CCC employed about 3 million men working on projects that included such work as reforestation, construction of fire towers, development of state parks, and laying of telephone lines. The pay these members received went back home to help out the family. Massive spending for World War II in the forties finally brought an end to the Great Depression and closed the chapter on one of the most trying times in our country’s history. But the legacy of the work and effort of the courageous people and programs of that time are still visible all around us in St. Tammany. Today we get concerned about things like the price of cable TV going up and the fact that we might not be able to get all the digital packages we want. It brings to mind a famous saying: “I was sad for I had no shoes; then I saw a man who had no feet.” Something to think about, huh?
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