Slidell Magazine - January 2022 by Slidell Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL

Vol. 135 January 2022

WE KEEP IT FRESH

SAY KEEP IT POSITIVE 1

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Editor’s Letter I’m a big fan of Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist. If you’ve never watched it, check it out. One of my favorite segments is his “Highs and Lows” of the previous week. I thought it would be fun to share a few of my Highs and Lows from 2021. (You should do this too, and tuck it away in a drawer. It might be interesting to look back on it in later years.) 2021 HIGHS & LOWS... HIGH: I cried tears of joy as I watched a woman take the oath of office for Vice-President of the U.S. for the first time in history. A woman of color no less! It didn’t matter which political party I was or how I voted, the significance of that moment superceded everything. As I said before, I was a woman long before I was a Republican. We’ve come a long way baby! LOW: The 2021 riots. Everything about the riots of 2021 just infuriates and horrifies me. Our right as Americans to

protest became a one-upmanship...if deadly and destructive violence took place in Minneapolis, Chicago, Portland, etc, it does NOT excuse criminal behavior at our Capitol. HIGH: I bought a house! It boasts a huge oak tree draping the front yard and a wonderful neighborhood. My dogs love it and so do I. LOW: While moving into my new home, I managed to knock a few back disks out of place. I’m in regular physical therapy now, which is helping. But that dang tree sure does shed, and the yard ain’t raking itself... HIGH: I turned 50! What a ride - I made it! LOW: I turned 50! Gravity has now joined me in the journey! HIGH: I’m engaged to be married! Yep, Bill finally popped the big question. He’s a fantastic fellow and I’m a lucky gal to have him. He’s working in Memphis now and the longdistance thing has its challenges, but I’m hopeful 2022 will bring him back home. Here’s to you and your family experiencing many highs in the coming year. Cheers to 2022!

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MAGAZINE STAFF Kendra Maness Editor / Publisher Editor@slidellmag.com

Kendra Maness Editor / Publisher

Michael Bell Graphic Designer Graphics@slidellmag.com Krista Gregory Administrative Assistant Krista@slidellmag.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Case “The Storyteller”

Leslie Gates Crimmi-Mommly Insane

Charlotte Collins Extraordinary Slidell Neighbors

Ronda M. Gabb Legal-Ease

Mike Rich Making Cents of Your Money

J. R. “Bill” Bailey V-Mail

Donna Bush Global Wildlife

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artist: KENDALL SMITH Kendall Smith, a Slidell native, became interested in art in the early 1980’s. As a child, he took lessons at Le Petite de Art Academy in Slidell, under the instruction of Mrs. Dawn Bosch. Kendall’s parents encouraged him by framing and displaying his art at home. Kendall’s father instilled in him a love and longing for the swamps, marshes, rivers and bayous of Southeast Louisiana and all that lives and thrives within. College studies centered in Biology helped solidify Kendall’s appreciation for the intricacies, complexities and beauty of the natural world. These things are primary motivators and inspirations behind Ken’s artwork. He notes, “Sunrises and sunsets over the Louisiana marshes are breathtaking and hypnotizing.” Kendall recently quit his nursing career to pursue art full time. “Making this kind of change mid-life is scary. However, I have great support from my wife, Lisa,” he says. “I think everyone likes to create, in some fashion. It’s a God given drive!” You can see more of Ken’s art and contact him for purchases or commissions through his FaceBook page:

K.L.Smith Fine Art 5

Rhonda Bradshaw Wylie

A biography by Charlotte Collins

“For any American who had the great and priceless privilege of being raised in a small town, there always remains with him nostalgic memories.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower For those who do not know me, I would first like to introduce myself as a native Slidellian. Through these articles, I hope to introduce you to neighbors you may not know, or perhaps ones you have lost touch with. This edition turned out to be a real blast from the past for me.

albums full of old Slidell happenings at her aunt’s house, Krista realized this was a treasure trove of memories that Slidell neighbors would love to see. Rhonda is still an active, gregarious character and happened to be in the center of each memory.

In my travels, I am often asked to describe my hometown. I think I can speak for many Slidellians when I opine what makes Slidell seem like such a great place. I have heard time and time again that it is the people in Slidell. And I agree wholeheartedly. We love to meet new friends, extend hospitality, and show them all that our town has to offer. We often ask, “Who’s your mama, and your grandmother?” For those who are from here, a quick connection is often made. Admittedly, we also like to tell stories of bygone times when our town was quite small!

As I knocked on her door, a loud, but very friendly, woof greeted me. The Wylie’s have an outgoing, energetic Goldendoodle that looks and acts very much like mine. Once we were able to move our attention to human conversation, I found that Rhonda Bradshaw Wylie and I had more things in common. Many of you will probably find connections of your own through Rhonda this month. For me, it started with our very beginnings in life. We were both born in New Orleans at Baptist Hospital. As a time reference, Slidell Memorial Hospital had just been built. Yes, we can be called “old” but I doubt you would think that if you were with us during this interview. Rhonda was spirited, energetic, and full of stories to share.

This month, I heard stories from Krista Gregory’s Aunt Rhonda. If you are familiar with Slidell Magazine, you’ll know that Krista is our Girl Friday. After looking through shelves of photo 6

Perhaps the fact that she had a complete blood transfusion at only four hours old explains why she clamored to experience life at its fullest. Her parents, Jessie and Mrs. J. E. Bradshaw, moved Rhonda and her sisters, Dianne and Janet, from Chalmette to Slidell when Rhonda was six years old. Her earliest memories of her new town in the 60’s was of a small, quaint little town with lots of opportunities for children. She painted a nostalgic picture, “It was a place where parents all knew each other and got involved in raising neighborhood children together. Kids played outdoors and were allowed to roam from house to house. Luckily, for my grandchildren, things haven’t changed that much here.” Rhonda’s mother owned two daycare schools in Slidell, so they became intertwined with Slidell families immediately. The first daycare was Mother Goose on Second Street. Her parents bought a station wagon so they could pick kids up before and after school. Rhonda laughed, “It’s hilarious

thinking back now, that we actually started the daycare transportation service concept in Slidell.” I have no doubt that some of my readers have their own memories from Mother Goose school. Or perhaps have memories from when the Bradshaws owned Rainbow Ranch Academy on Old Spanish Trail. Rainbow Ranch became so popular that they moved the business to a church on City Drive. Rhonda recalled, “I worked at both businesses with my whole family after school, then ran Rainbow Ranch after Mom passed away.” Her big brown eyes were sparkling as she related, “I bet we cared for probably 120 kids there each day. I have just always loved children.” Maybe this is why she always pictured herself as a teacher. Smiling, Rhonda admitted, “I wanted to be a teacher since I was in first grade. I remember having an easel that I would set up in our living room on Greenwood Street. I had those felt symbols and figures that stuck to a felt board. I would post them to tell my ‘students’ if it was sunny or cloudy.” She threw her head back and laughed, “I taught my imaginary students how to write their names and spell key words.” I had to admit to the same scenario. I lived in the swamp, off Old Spanish Trail, so I learned to amuse myself. I can remember hauling thirty stuffed animals downstairs to play school. Our kitchen countertops were their benches. Instead of the felt board, I had an old fashioned chalkboard, which left dust all over the floor. That was also back when Gause Boulevard was a two-lane gravel road. Now, I know that it’s hard for anyone to picture this heavily trafficked and bustling boulevard as a little gravel road. That end of town was designed to be the new, modern side of Slidell. Rhonda’s family had moved to a brand new development called Lakewood Subdivision. She shared her memories of those days. “We had an empty lot next to us, and our playtime was raking up straw and building a make-believe straw house. We didn’t have all of the

electronics my students have today, and certainly no cell phones, so we mostly stayed outside while it was daylight.” When Rhonda was eight or nine years old, her world expanded beyond her neighborhood, even past her beloved Slidell. New neighbors, the Crawfords, moved into the subdivision. Mrs. Crawford brought an exciting new experience, as she was the feature baton twirler for LSU. Their daughter, Dana, and Rhonda became friends and Rhonda joined their baton lessons. Rhonda described Dana as, “a fabulous twirler, much better than I was. Before I knew it, we were in a different state every Saturday at twirling contests. I really enjoyed it and met a lot of people through twirling. I was nervous but you get used to performing in front of a table full of judges. Sometimes I didn’t even place, other times I would get first place, or even sixth, and I got used to the variations that went with performing.” Rhonda’s mother always said that she gave the twirling competitions credit for her daughter being able to win gracefully and lose gracefully. That is a very important trait that most kids aren’t exposed to anymore. Combine this with her father’s personality (described as someone who ‘never met a stranger’), and this tells you a lot about my interviewee. Agreeing

Rhonda (right) with Dana Crawford at Rosemary Clement’s Dance Studio

with my summation, Rhonda laughed, “They would actually turn the lights off at church on me and my daddy so we would move our conversations to the church parking lot. Sometimes my mom would take her own car to allow my daddy and I to talk as long as we wanted to.” From there, Rhonda began to compete in talent pageants. Her first one was the Little Miss Slidell Pageant. And, guess what? Rhonda won! Unfortunately, dance was what really went over in those pageants, as opposed to twirling. So, she next took up dance lessons with Slidell icon Rosemary Clement and Darlene Haik. She also joined the Slidell Dance Theater and studied with the Birmingham Ballet. She danced the lead role, Maria, in the Nutcracker and, to this day, collects nutcrackers. Next came singing lessons and piano, which pretty much filled her afternoons. But her favorite routines remained the ones in which she was able to tap dance and sing. Her aunt was a pianist and, together with her two daughters and Rhonda, they became the youngest Southern gospel music group in the industry. (One of those girls is Krista’s mother.) She pondered, “Both of my sisters are very talented, and they sang also, but Mother could never get them to sing in front of anyone. I was the ham. It’s pretty funny because now our sister Janet is in a band. She still doesn’t like to sing, but she is a great 7

drummer, and has played in several bands. Now, I only occasionally sing in public, mainly at weddings or funerals.” I looked at pictures of her group, the Gospelettes, in front of their Winnebago as they toured across the Southern states. I also saw the album they made entitled “Born to Serve the Lord.” At home, they performed at Slidell Little Theater and campaign rallies. The young girl loved performing. “It’s a God-given talent. One particular time I remember was at a campaign rally for Lt. Governor Jimmy Fitzmorris at Bogalusa High School. We sang on the back of a flatbed truck hooked to an 18-wheeler as a stage.” She laughed heartily at the old fashioned events that seemed so large to her then.

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Then, there is a whole other side to her upbringing that does not involve all the hoopla. Her father was a deacon in the church and a very upstanding and loving man. Her mother was looked up to by the parents in her daycare. She also took care of all the families in need. At Christmas, she remembers going with her mom to buy presents and groceries, and having other people deliver them to remain anonymous. Reminiscing, Rhonda admitted, “I never realized how blessed I was to have parents and the family that I had. They were just both so hard working.”

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Her dad retired from Tenneco Oil Company and had two service stations in Slidell. They owned the Bay Gas Station on Pontchartrain and the Lion Gas Station on the corner of Third Street (now Sgt. Alfred Drive) and Old Spanish Trail. Her large eyes opened even wider as she asked, “Do you remember Bicycle Bill?” I dare say many of you remember him riding that bike all over Slidell. It turns out that he worked at their gas station, and was there when someone tried to rob the station. Rhonda exclaimed, “He wanted to refuse the robber, and my dad was so worried about that. I overheard him say, ‘Bill, don’t ever fight for the money. I have insurance to cover that. You don’t take your life into your own hands. Give them the money.’ And I remember my parents bought a German Shepherd to put in the service station overnight. But I don’t think most people heard too much about the robberies on the news.” I certainly had not. She was a student at Florida Avenue Elementary School, then St. Margaret Mary, Slidell Junior High, and Salmen High. As she described, “I graduated from Salmen High in 1979, and those were some of my best memories.” She met her future husband, Jay Wylie, there when she was a freshman; but he was a senior, so it was more of a crush. He was the Spartan mascot and, Rhonda says, “I always thought he was handsome. He still had to take an algebra class to graduate, so he joined my ninth grade algebra class. All the girls flirted with him, especially me, and he flirted with us, being the kind person he is. We thought he was “Mr. It”, but he was down to earth and kind

of humble.” For Jay’s part, he remembered Rhonda as, “a cute girl who was involved in everything and liked by everyone. She was a Feature Twirler in ninth and tenth grade, and a cheerleader in eleventh and twelfth grade at Salmen High, and I remembered her big brown eyes.” Jay graduated first, with Rhonda attending LSU after she graduated. After studying Elementary Education for a year and a half, a serious illness caused her to come back home. That’s when she and Jay actually started dating. Rhonda was working at the daycare again and Jay’s sister, Pat Wylie Hughes, had a child there. Rhonda became quite animated at this point in the story, “Pat asked if I remembered her brother and would I be interested in a date with him. I immediately said sure! But it had been years since we were in high school together. It was pretty much a blind date. It truly was a love at first sight moment. We only dated three months before we got married! It was a match made in heaven. In fact, we just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in August.”

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Jay came back in the room with us, having heard his name, and hugged her. “I still can’t believe that she fell for me. I got to see her perform in her last pageant show while we were dating. She wore this red dress and ran for Miss Louisiana! I was nervous that if she won, she would be traveling all the time.” Rhonda interjected, “No worries, pageant shows on that level were something I wasn’t geared for. Those girls and their mothers were totally serious. I saw several violent competitions, and actually had one mother turn on me. I liked it when we were young and there was more of a sense of camaraderie.” I could see that only the most competitive ones stayed in it for long. So that chapter closed in agreement between Rhonda and Jay. Rhonda went on to study at UNO and Southeastern, maintaining a 4.0. Today, they have a son, Barrett, and a daughter, Kathryn, who are grown, as well as seven grandchildren. Smiling, Rhonda added, “And don’t forget that I have a few thousand other children that are like my adopted grandchildren.” While the Wylies were raising their own family, Slidell continued to grow. Rhonda and Jay both recalled when Front Street used to have beautiful, ancient oak trees that were cut down one weekend, despite the controversy. That hit a nerve with me. My own mother helped start the “Save the Trees” committee and was devastated when that happened. Slidell was “modernizing.” At some point, Rhonda’s mother decided that she wanted to move to the country, which is what Slidell was when they moved here. They owned a house in Pearl River that they rented out and, once it was empty, they moved there. It had started out as an investment, then Rhonda’s dad began gardening on the three and a half acres. Jay was a carpenter by trade, and he helped them add onto the

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1.) Lion Service Station, owned by Rhonda’s dad, congratulates her in Accolade’s Magazine, 1972. 2.) Performing Cabaret in a 1972 pageant. 3.) Rhonda, age 11(middle), with cousins Angie and Leesha, recording the album “Born to Serve the Lord” at Benson Sound Studio in Oklahoma 4.) Gospelettes album, 1972.

house. It grew and grew, until there were two kitchens - one for canning and one for cooking. The house now had over 4,200 square feet. Jay and Rhonda moved into the upstairs living quarters, and her parents took the downstairs. Eventually, her parents deeded an acre to the young couple. Both of Rhonda and Jay’s children went to Pearl River High, and now their grandchildren are going to Pearl River schools. Today, their son Barrett owns the big house. Rhonda was really proud that she has her loved ones so close. But Rhonda’s favorite memories are those from Slidell. We talked about Bosco’s, the White Kitchen, and her favorite, the Frost-Top. She used to shop at K & B Drugstore, TG&Y, Sarraille’s Grocery, McKenzie’s, Beale’s, Debbie’s

Hole in the Wall, and Avanti’s. Some of her stories came from the old movie theater, Tammany Mall Theatre, and First Baptist Church when it used to be in the middle of Olde Towne. It was great sharing memories. Rhonda opened several of her photo albums, and we searched in the backgrounds for the places we mentioned. Krista was right, it was a treasure trove of old Slidell history. “One thing that I didn’t really focus on that is important is that I was raised in the Baptist Church. It isn’t the denomination that really matters. Like my preacher once said, ‘Your denomination tag is gonna blow off of you on the way to Heaven or burn off of you on your way to Hell.” She laughed easily, and turned toward her husband. “Jay has

been a wonderful Christian husband. We started a church in our living room.” I looked over to where Rhonda and Jay started The Crossing, which is still active in Pearl River. “I have a piano in the back room, so we had the children back there.” Pointing out the window, she added, “The teens met on the patio. I cooked for everybody, and we just kept growing. Jay would come home and have to park blocks away. We prayed for a new location. I will never forget one night, as we finished praying for a building, a phone call came in that the Po-Boy restaurant location was available to rent. We all laughed and cried!” Rhonda and Jay attended Church of the King in Mandeville where Rhonda once worked in the childcare ministry

1.) As Miss Slidell 1980, winning a scholarship pageant at the Slidell Auditorium. 2.) Rhonda as Miss Slidell in a Slidell Christmas Parade in Olde Towne, 1981. 3.) 1985-1986, Rhonda teaches at Rainbow Ranch Academy. 4.) Rhonda and Jay’s Wedding, 1981. 10

1.) 6th Grade, Slidell Jr High School Tigerettes, with friend Nancy Brown. 2.) When she was 16, the local paper chronicled Rhonda’s pursuits as a twirler, cheerleader, and more. 3.) Rhonda as a Senior cheerleader at Salmen High School, 1979.

and did Pastoral Care. Unfortunately, Rhonda had a dibilitating accident there two years ago. She paused, “I fell with a toddler in my arms.” The good news is that the child was fine. Of course Rhonda would protect the baby at her own peril. Rhonda, however, had a concussion, tore her rotator cuff, and ripped her labrum. All of this has changed Rhonda’s momentum. After shoulder surgery, several neck procedures, and two years of recuperating, she is still having procedures, and had to alter her life a great deal. She refuses to give up work and, fortunately, she has a helpmate in Jay. Looking at him with a swoon, she described, “He’s a gem! Forty years of marriage, and he gets up, fluffs my pillow, and brings me a cup of coffee every morning. Since he

retired, he fixes my breakfast, packs my lunch, and generally does everything around the house. He even irons my clothes! Those were my jobs, so you can imagine how it feels. When I apologize, he tells me, ‘You make it so easy to love you.’” Well, there’s a new line I’ve never heard! The love in that dining room when both of them were together felt like a warm fog settling in. Looking up, I asked her what the future may hold. She smiled calmly and said, “I’m really just happy with my life as it is. The only thing that I wish I could have done differently is to have finished college and earned my teaching degree. Katrina forced me to discontinue my studies. But again, I’m happy as a paraprofessional at Sixth

Ward Elementary. I’m hoping to retire soon. I’ve worked a long time. But I’m not going to be able to sit at home. I’ve never had time for volunteer work, and I know there are so many needs out there.” Rhonda summarized, “I just want to spend more time with my family and doing what God has in store for me. I also want time to reconnect with people. I love people.” I think Rhonda and I could have gone on and on, but the shadows were getting long, and my stomach was rumbling for dinner. Again, much like Rhonda, my retired husband had dinner ready. I invite you to get to know your Slidell Neighbors! You never know what connections you may find!

1.) Rhonda and husband Jay today. 2.) The Wylie family: Rhonda and Jay with their children and grandchildren in Pearl River in 2014 at her son Barrett’s wedding 3.) Slidell Magazine’s Krista Gregory poses with Aunt Rhonda. 11

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MONDAY

RIBBON CUTTING The Joint Chiropractic Mandeville > 11:30 AM

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Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Slidell Auditorium • 7:30 - 9 AM

Lions Club Pancake Breakfast • 8 - 11 AM Camellia City Farmer’s Market Every Saturday 8 AM - Noon Krewe of Bilge Coronation Ball Harbor Center • 6:30 - 11 PM

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CROSS RUN SERIES Fontainebleau Park • 7 AM AFC / NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND

SLIDELL GUN & KNIFE SHOW Friday from 3 PM - 8 PM and Saturday from 10 AM - 8 PM

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Pageant Play > Cutting Edge Theater > 8 PM BLUE > Slidell Little Theatre > 8 PM Habitat Builder’s Ball Harbor Center > 7:30 - 10:30 PM

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Jessica Hester Lions Club 985-273-3003 Pancake Breakfast

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ew Orleans N f o b u l C s s e r 2021 Winner, "Best Column," P

The

Storyteller BESTSELLER It’s inevitable. There comes a time in one’s career when they stop, look, and listen. It usually occurs at about the age of forty and it doesn’t happen overnight; it gradually sneaks up on them. One day, they come to the full reality that they have not accomplished what they had wished at this point in their life.

realized that he was on target as far as his position and income for his age, but his chances of making big money were very limited. Money was actually the minor issue; he wanted job satisfaction. He calculated that he was almost halfway to retirement, and then he most likely would retire as a regional vice-president. Banking, a very respected and honorable profession, has many layers of bureaucracy.

By this time, they most likely have invested fifteen or more years into their profession and changing careers is a frightful thought. If they should change careers, what will they do? How will they pay their bills if they must take a cut in salary? Will they have to relocate? All these questions are frightening, and most accept their present fate and keep plugging on in their present profession.

The more he thought about it, the more he dreamed. What disappointed him in his career the most was that, when he retired, someone else would just take his place. In a couple of years, he would not be remembered as having ever existed. Someone else could do his job just as good as him.

There are a few that have the courage to make the change. Experts suggest that the success of the decision is about fiftyfifty. If they fail, they usually return to their old profession and plod through their life in mediocrity. On the other hand, those who succeed usually have unprecedented success.

The thoughts of his career, or lack of satisfaction in it, began to occupy more and more of his time. However, his career was not the only lackluster part of his life. Not wanting to admit it, he had to doubt the success of his marriage. It was unrewarding, too.

Daniel was at that point in his life. He sat at his desk in a corner office near the rear of the bank. It was nicely furnished, and the name plate indicated he was a vice-president. He

It had not always been that way. He remembered their wedding day. It was joyous. Even more than most newlyweds, they were truly devoted to each other. Helen was beautiful, and

it was said they were the most handsome couple that had stood at the altar in years. They had dreams. He would be successful, in what they didn’t know; but, in their immaturity, the world was theirs for the taking. Their dreams included a nice home, maybe a second home in the North Carolina mountains, and children. She, a registered nurse, would then become a stay-at-home mom. A banking job seemed a good place to start. He would make contacts, have community respect, and the benefits were good, even though the salary was less than he had hoped for. He reasoned; he would excel so the income would take care of itself, or other doors would open. Other doors did not open, or had not to this point. Two years after they were married, they received the most disappointing news. Due to medical issues, she could not conceive. It was a change of direction for both, but mostly her. She would delve into her career, becoming the most at nursing; and this she did. She went back to school and received her designation as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Soon, her income exceeded his. But, with success, there is always pressure. Pressure can manifest itself in marital problems, among other things. Your fortieth birthday is a milestone in life. It is the beginning of middle age, and you realize that you have very few future career years than you have had past years. If he was going to change things, it was now or never. What would he do? He thought about becoming a financial planner. He had the contacts that he had made at the bank, and he was trusted. If successful, he could make the money he dreamed of and be his own boss. He still questioned, what mark would he leave on society when he was gone? This mental debate went on for months. One day, he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a writer. He had written several articles for the banking industry that were well received, and he wrote an article for the local newspaper covering his 20th high school homecoming reunion. It, too, was well accepted. He dreamed of being more than that. He dreamed of being featured in a national magazine, writing novels and even screenplays. For once in his life, he was enthusiastic about what he wanted to do.

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He made some inquiries. A regional magazine agreed to purchase his stories for five hundred dollars per month. He would be a stringer for the local paper, maybe another five hundred a month. He could count on another magazine purchase occasionally to add to his income, and he had some savings he could draw from. Helen also had her income. He would do it, leave his job and security to pursue his dream. He wasn’t expecting his first negative. It was Helen. No longer did she trust that he could give her the emotional things she wanted, and no longer did she give him the encouragement and support he needed. She was successful in her career and their relationship had drifted as two ships passing in different directions. The thrill was gone, and it takes the thrill to see a marriage through difficult times. She would not follow him in his dream. He would have to go it alone, middle-aged and single. The day he moved his belongings, there were tears from both of them; so some hint of devotion remained, but not enough for a reconciliation. That happened five years ago, and now he had the same doubts about his writing career as he had felt in his banking profession. The only difference is that he still wanted to be a writer; he still had the desire. Not a part-time writer, but a professional writer. He still had dreams of a bestselling novel with royalties from movie rights. This hadn’t happened. There was some success. Several short stories had been purchased and published, the newspaper and magazine he had arranged in the beginning had worked out and he got a few paid speaking engagements. It made a living, but barely. As for Helen, she had not found inner satisfaction either; but she realized life was about as good, or bad, as it would be for her in the future. There was something missing, something even her financial success could not provide. He had attended all the writing conferences, taken creative writing courses, and followed all the instructions as best he could. Daniel kept a list of the things all writers should do. The first was to write something every day. This he did religiously. Sometimes, he would write the end of a story with no idea of the beginning. At other times, he would write the first few paragraphs with no idea of the ending. It pleased him that, after months, an idea would bloom, and he could add a pertinent beginning or end to these story fragments. 16

Most of the time, he had to suppress what his mind wanted to dwell on. He missed her. There was still an emptiness in his life. He promised himself, he would not write about that emptiness. After all, she was not willing to follow his dream. Thoughts of her would be disruptive. He was also disturbed to find out that she had not been well. Headaches, maybe from job stress. For the headaches, she self-medicated with the drugs of her trade that were readily at hand. She was addicted, but still functioning. His career was, to say the least, at a point where did not want it to be. With all the drive and desire he possessed, so far, profound words had never emanated from his keyboard. Nothing like Faulkner’s, “The past is never dead; it’s not even past.” On this day, his mind was blank. More barren than usual. No golden words or exciting literary ideas or plots came forth. He looked back at the list of things writers should do. One should have a comfortable place to work. He moved his desk away from the window. Maybe the outdoors distracted him. She had always loved being outside. He remembered their dream, the mountain home; but he quickly dismissed the thought. Next on the list was to think about a real person; and, when you write, fictionalize about some aspect of their life or personality, like mentally drawing a caricature. He left his desk and moved to the front porch. Maybe he did need fresh air and nature. There, he made a list of all the people that had influenced his life. Hers was the first on the list. He returned to his desk, and then he remembered. He remembered the first day of the first writer’s conference he ever attended. The speaker said, “Above all things, write what you know about.” He knew about her, or at least at one time he did. Again, he tried to dismiss her from his mind, as the last time he had seen her, she seemed unsteady on her feet. The chemical abuse had taken its toll. No longer was she the beauty she had been. But then his thoughts reflected, and he realized what he was seeing; someone as troubled as he had been and was now. He realized she had that right just as much as he did. He hurried to his computer. He made several attempts to start, and then, he wrote the first line. “I saw her today, not as a photo in color but as a black and white negative. The positive, accented by the light spots on the film and the

less flattering, darkened by the dark tones. She just needs a touch up. That will be my job.”

addiction, which eventually causes their relationship’s demise. Neither said a word through the entire movie.

She, too, was seeking help from her inner self. Smart enough to realize her demise, she too tried to pinpoint the real cause. Was it job stress or something more important in her life that was missing?

The book he wrote could have been a sequel to that movie, but with a happy ending. It was bought by a reputable publisher and, even though it was not a bestseller, Daniel got an advance for the second book. He remembered the first thing he learned in his first writing course. He wrote what he knew about.

When he called her, she was very receptive and appreciative. Could they start over? They made no promises to each other but looked forward to dinner at an old familiar place. After that night, they visited often as he continued the book. Yes, a book, not a short story. The book would be about them. She, slowly and without outside help, recovered from her dependency. This was part of the story.

Now, several bestsellers later, they enjoy the view from their North Carolina home. She thrives in the beauty of the outdoors, and he thrives in the support and inspiration from her that made his dreams become reality.

One night when she was visiting, an old movie, The Days of Wine and Roses, was on television. The plot stirred emotions in both of them: a couple fighting their way through alcohol

John S. Case January 2022

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“THE SECRET” Is No Secret

I’ll be honest with you. I struggled with money for years. Even before Mary and I got married, I searched for financial success, but I searched in vain. It made me angry and frustrated because the so-called financial “experts” on TV and in newspapers and magazines (the Internet hadn’t been invented yet) kept telling me that they had the secret, the key, the magic wand that would solve all my problems and make me rich. Well, they were wrong. They had no key, no magic wand, no secret. All they had was the latest fad, hot mutual fund tip, or silly marketing gimmick. But then, I met a financial advisor who actually cared about his clients, and I discovered that the secret to financial security is not a secret at all.

It’s just four simple, commonsense steps. He told me I could end my years of struggle and lack of progress by following four rules, rules that none of the financial entertainers on TV ever mentioned, probably because the rules weren’t cool enough. However, those four rules changed my life and led me and my family to a sense of financial security we had never enjoyed before. Here’s what my advisor told me to do: 1) get organized, 2) protect what you have, 3) eliminate short-term debt and use other people’s money wisely, and 4) build diverse assets efficiently, with a long-term eye on income in retirement. That’s it. No magic, no getrich-quick schemes, no secret.

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When I began to follow these rules, my family’s financial life was transformed. We got organized, protected ourselves from unplanned events that could negatively impact our balance sheet, had a clearly defined plan for eliminating bad debt, and started building assets for short- and long-term needs. It was like a breath of fresh air, and I was so excited about what I had accomplished that I vowed I would help other people like me do the same thing. Several years later, I did just that, and now, as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, I get to help people achieve a level of financial security they never thought possible. The son of one of my older clients called me last month, concerned about what might happen if his dad’s long-term care insurance money ran out. How would the family be able to manage what could be a big financial headache? It gave me a lot of satisfaction to tell him that his dad’s insurance policy has an unlimited benefit, meaning that the money will never run out. It might not be enough to cover his total cost

ELECT

of care, but, combined with his dad’s other assets, it is enough to let his dad pay for the type of care he deserves.1 What I didn’t tell him is that his dad followed one of my four rules by purchasing long-term care insurance many years ago to protect the assets that he worked so hard to accumulate. No secrets there, just common-sense financial planning. It’s a new year and it’s a great time to take charge of your financial life. If you want to find out how to apply my four rules to help you and your family achieve financial well-being, call me, and we’ll talk. I won’t keep any secrets from you. Benefits depend on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. 1

Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

ELECT

Saturday, March 26, 2022

For the Good of the People.

Honest. Fair. Available. 19

  

 

REEL IMPACT

The Business of Film. Art of the Film. January 7 to 8

On an exceptionally cold December day in 2010, Mudbugs and Billiards club on Slidell’s Old Spanish Trail temporarily ditched its crustacean-themed moniker, sporting instead a glowing neon sign that proclaimed the venue “Billy’s Mo BBQ.” Its parking lot was bustling with activity, as the ﬁlm crew for dark comedy crime drama Killer Joe were prepping for an upcoming scene in which a car would be transformed into a ﬁery inferno, a pivotal moment in the script. As legendary director William

The conversation took on a serious tone as he noted the importance of ensuring that those with cameras in hand be absolutely certain that all flashes were turned off once filming resumed. “We have only one car, one explosion in one take,” he explained. “A single flash can ruin the entire shot. We must ensure that doesn’t happen.” When The Exorcist director talks, people listen. Though the shot was initially set to take place around 8:00 pm, it would be 1:40 am before the big blast lit the sky with fire. In the end, the entire scene from spark to explosion spanned 38 seconds in the 102-minute long film. So in the big picture, what did that half-minute mean? Rental of the venue’s parking lot for Story and photos the exterior scenes, and of the by Kim Bergeron interior for craft services (and a welcome reprieve from the bone-chilling cold) for the Friedkin mapped out the cast and crew. scene with the film’s stars, Plus numerous Matthew McConaughey and runs to a local Emile Hirsch, St. Tammany h a r d w a r e firefighters were tasked with store, quite a ensuring the safety of the few trips to the cast and crew throughout the neighboring explosive sequence. When McDonald’s it was determined that the to replenish the fare devoured makeshift camera operators’ during the six-hour delay, shelters required additional paychecks for dozens of local safety modifications, Friedkin crew members and more. embraced the resulting delay While Killer Joe was certainly as an opportunity to chat with not Slidell’s first film rodeo, the small crowd of curious (who could forget those onlookers that had gathered thrilling James Bond Live and behind the barricades at Let Die boat chases in 1973?) the parking lot’s edge. the film fired up the city for a He was quite personable plethora of productions that and welcoming, delighting followed. the curious onlookers with When The Baytown Disco title, renamed details of the upcoming (working scene, sharing that it marked a The Baytown Outlaws for climactic moment in the film. theatrical release,) brought

Eva Longoria and crew to St. Tammany, the production booked 850 hotel room nights for the cast and crew in Slidell’s Candlewood Suites and rented numerous venues in Olde Towne and throughout the city. This meant more local jobs, dining in and catering by local restaurants, and more locally-sourced supplies. The film industry remains a powerful economic engine throughout the parish, the metropolitan New Orleans area and the entire state. With an impact of over $800 million in 2020, Louisiana’s Motion Picture Industry is alive and thriving in Louisiana. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a spike in the number of productions being shot in our city, even amidst pandemic closures,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “We’re rolling out the red carpet to make the entire process effortless from start to finish. Among the many advantages Slidell has to offer are access to three interstates and our municipal airport, free-flowing traffic from one location to the next, an abundance of available parking and diverse scenery, including the plethora of bayous, parks, commercial and residential areas and our “Anytown, USA” Olde Towne historic district. We’re looking forward to the continued growth of the industry in our area and the economic impact it brings to our community.” “St. Tammany’s geographic location and natural assets 21

position our community as a targeted, desired, and accessible location for the film and television industry,” he said. “As the economic development organization for St. Tammany, St. Tammany Corporation supports ongoing efforts to retain and attract the film and television industry to our community.” The nucleus of St. Tammany’s film industry is the St. Tammany Tourist and Convention Commission, headed by President and CEO Donna O’Daniels, whose office houses the St. Tammany Film Commission, fielding inquiries regarding locations, hotel accommodations and additional resources available throughout the parish.

Those resources will be strengthened via two upcoming events designed to showcase the many facets of the film industry, for which the Tourist and Convention Commission is serving as a Title Sponsor. On Friday, January 7, The Northshore Collaborative small business network will present “The Business of Film” featuring Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, a luncheon at Pinewood Country Club in Slidell. The Lt. Governor will share an overview of the many ways the film industry impacts the state, including the many opportunities available to local businesses, large and small, plus unique ways communities and individuals can benefit. Tickets to the Business of Film luncheon are available at www.NSCollaborative.com. On Saturday, January 8, Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition and The City of Slidell, will present “Art of the Film: Louisiana Film Industry Expo,” with a stellar lineup of film

industry professionals with presentations touching upon the many lucrative opportunities the industry has to offer, including the business of music, songwriting, directing, screenwriting and casting for films, behind the scenes tidbits and presentations about Louisiana’s rich history in the film industry. The event will be held from 10 am to 6 pm in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Admission is free. Directly across from the auditorium is the Slidell Cultural Center in City Hall, with “Fifty Shades of Louisiana: A Filmmaker’s Paradise,” a collection of original movie posters from films shot in Louisiana through the years. The exhibition is presented by Movie Poster Archives, Hollywood on the Bayou and The City of Slidell, and it will be open from 10 am to 8 pm on the day of the Expo, with the opening reception from 6 to 8 pm. Admission is free. Collectively, “The Business of Film,” “Art of the Film” and “Fifty Shades of Louisiana” present a pictureperfect celebration of the art of a thriving industry. And there are so many stories still waiting to be told. Art of the Film: Louisiana Film Industry Expo is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by the St. Tammany Parish Commission on Cultural Affairs. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

THE BUSINESS OF FILM with LT. GOV. BILLY NUNGESSER Presented by The Northshore Collaborative Friday, January 7  Pinewood Country Club  Tickets www.NSCollaborative.com

ART OF THE FILM: LOUISIANA FILM INDUSTRY EXPO Saturday, January 8  10 am to 6 pm

THE OF with LT. NUNGESSER Presented by Northshore Cultural Economy CoalitionBILLY and the City of Slidell THE BUSINESS BUSINESS OF FILM FILM with LT. GOV. GOV. BILLY NUNGESSER Presented by The Northshore Slidell Municipal Auditorium  2056 SecondCollaborative Street  Free admission Presented by The Northshore Collaborative Friday, January 7  Pinewood Country Club  Tickets www.NSCollaborative.com Friday, January 7  Pinewood Country Club  Tickets www.NSCollaborative.com

EXPO LOUISIANA PRESENTERS FILM INCLUDE ART OF THE FILM: INDUSTRY EXPO ART OF THE FILM: LOUISIANA FILM Ed and Sue Poole, Hollywood on the Bayou internationallyINDUSTRY renowned movieEXPO experts

Saturday, January 8  10 am to 6 pm Saturday, January 8  10 am to 6 pm Presented by Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition the City of SlidellDirector Linda Thurman, veteran, author and Movie Posterand Archives Executive PresentedHollywood by Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition and the City of Slidell Slidell Municipal Auditorium  2056 Second Street  Free admission Slidell Municipal Auditorium  2056 Secondand Street  Free admission Greg Barnhill, Composer, Songwriter Master Vocalist

EXPOand PRESENTERS Reid Wick, Senior Membership Project ManagerINCLUDE of the Recording Academy/Grammys EXPO PRESENTERS INCLUDE Ed and Sue Poole, on the Bayou internationally renowned movie experts JayHollywood Weigel, Composer, Producer and Conductor Ed and Sue Poole, Hollywood on the Bayou internationally renowned movie experts Linda Thurman, Hollywood veteran, author and Movie Poster Archives Executive Director Linda Thurman,Stelly, Hollywood author andDirector, Movie Poster Archives & Executive Director Christopher LEDAveteran, Executive Group Entertainment Digital Media Greg Barnhill, Composer, Songwriter and Master Vocalist Greg Barnhill, Songwriter and Master Vocalist Trey Burvant, Louisiana Film &Composer, Entertainment Association President Reid Wick, Senior Membership and Project Manager of theExecutive RecordingCommittee Academy/Grammys Reid Wick, Senior Membership and Project Manager of the Recording Academy/Grammys Katherine Brooks, Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker, Writer and Director Jay Weigel, Composer, Producer and Conductor Jay Weigel, Composer, Producer and Conductor Christopher Stelly, LEDA Film Executive Group Director, Entertainment & Digital Media Carroll Morton, Director, New Orleans | Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy Christopher Stelly, LEDA Executive Group Director, Entertainment & Digital Media Trey Burvant, Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association Executive Committee President Jason A.Louisiana Waggenspack, of Possibilities (CEO),Executive The Ranch Film Studios Trey Burvant, Film & Head Entertainment Association Committee President Katherine Brooks, Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker, Writer and Director Katherine Brooks, Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker, Writer and Director BillCarroll Rainey, Casting Liaison, The New Holding Tent and Administrator, Film Project Morton, Director, Film Orleans | Mayor’s Office of 48-Hour Cultural Economy Carroll Morton, Director, Film New Orleans | Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy Jason A. Waggenspack, Head of Possibilities (CEO), The Ranch Film Studios Jason A. Waggenspack, Head of Possibilities (CEO), The Ranch Film Studios Old School Eats food and available for purchase, noon toFilm 4 pm. Bill Rainey, Casting Liaison, Thebeverages Holding Tent and Administrator, 48-Hour Project Bill Rainey, Casting Liaison, The Holding Tent and Administrator, 48-Hour Film Project

Plus Old community opportunities to register for film and video industry resource directory, School Eats food and beverages available for purchase, noon to 4 pm. Old School food and beverages available for purchase, noon to 4 pm. featuring local Eats businesses, industry professionals, potential filming locations and Plus community opportunities to register for fi lm and video industry resource directory, registrations to serve as movie extras and audition for speaking roles. Plus community to register for film and video industry resource directory, featuring localopportunities businesses, industry professionals, potential filming locations and featuring local businesses, industry professionals, potential fi lming locations AND DON’T MISS registrations to serve as movie extras and audition for speaking roles. and registrations to serve as movie extras and audition for speaking roles. AND DON’T MISS movie poster exhibition, presented by “Fifty Shades of Louisiana: A Filmmaker’s Paradise” AND DON’T MISS “Fifty Shades of Louisiana: A Filmmaker’s Paradise” movie posterinexhibition, by Hollywood on theof Bayou, Movie APoster ArchivesParadise” and The City of Slidell, the Slidellpresented Cultural Center. “Fifty Shades Louisiana: Filmmaker’s movie poster exhibition, presented by Hollywood on the Bayou, Movie Poster Archives and The City of Slidell, in the Slidell Cultural Center. Hollywood on the Bayou, Movie Poster Archives and The City of Slidell, in the Slidell Cultural Center.

LouisianaNorthshore.com LouisianaNorthshore.com LouisianaNorthshore.com

Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Ofce of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Supported by a grant with from the the Louisiana Louisiana State Division the Arts,asOf ce of Cultural Development, Department of Culture,on Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation ArtsofCouncil, administered by the St. Tammany Parish Commission Cultural Affairs. Supported by a grant with fromthe theLouisiana LouisianaState Division ofCouncil, the Arts,asOf ce of Cultural Development, Department of Culture,onRecreation and Tourism, in cooperation Arts administered by the St. Tammany Parish Commission Cultural Affairs. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding hasArts alsoCouncil, been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. in cooperation withFor the Louisiana State as administered by the St. Tammany Parish Commission on Cultural Affairs. more information, visit NorthshoreCEC.org/ArtOfTheFilmExpo. For more information, NorthshoreCEC.org/ArtOfTheFilmExpo. Funding has also beenvisit provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, visit NorthshoreCEC.org/ArtOfTheFilmExpo.

FOLSOM, LA

Global Wildlife Foundation - A Taste of Places Far Away story and photos by Donna Bush 24

this month’s story of our continuing coverage series on non-profits, I bring to you a little taste of Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, South America, India and Europe all rolled into one and available in Southeast Louisiana in the form of Global Wildlife Center. This 900-acre wildlife preserve was established in 1991 by Ken Mattherne. Global Wildlife Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, oversees the Center with a mission “to secure the future of threatened and endangered wildlife through active conservation and interactive education.” Their vision: “We seek to be a center of excellence in education; to create a perfect place in which threatened and endangered wildlife from around the world live and flourish in a free-roaming natural environment. We are a place where children, adults, students, and teachers embrace the values of active conservation and wildlife preservation through hands-on education and first-person sensory experience.” Take it from someone who has visited Africa, South America, much of North America and a smattering of Europe, Global gives the patron a taste of the real deal and within an hour’s drive of Slidell! The Center is home to approximately 30 species with around 2500 animals, plus fly-in visitors such as ducks, geese and bald eagles. It is a favorite destination among locals and tourists, logging over 250,000 visitors per year. You have the option of a guided wagon tour with others or book your own private tour in a 4x4 Pinzgauer and enjoy

the real off-road experience like an African safari. Both tours offer open windows, allowing easy animal viewing, up-close photos and, unlike a safari, access to feed and pet many of the free-roaming animals. Also, unlike Africa, the animals at Global don’t have any predators to fear. From South America, they have 3 different species which include alpacas, llamas, and greater rheas. I observed greater rheas when I was in Brazil. They are large, flightless birds very similar to ostriches and emus. As the largest bird in South America, standing approximately 4-feet tall, they use their long, powerful legs to outrun predators. Sadly, these beautiful, graceful birds are considered “near threatened” status as their wild population is decreasing. Many South American residents take their meat and eggs for food and use their skin for leather products. Species from India include axis deer, blackbuck, miniature zebu, and blue peafowl. All of these species are considered of “least concern”. Blackbucks were challenging to photograph as they really did not want to stand still for me. They are one of the smallest antelopes from India with their chief predators being cheetahs, jackals, and wild dogs. Due to their co-evolution with cheetahs, they are able to run about 50mph, not fast enough to outrun a cheetah, but they can maintain this speed longer. Peafowls are most commonly called peacocks. However, the male is the peacock and the female is the peahen. From Asia, there are Pere David’s deer, sika deer, and Bactrian camel. Pere David’s deer, also known as Father David deer, Chinese swamp deer and milu deer are considered “extinct

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in the wild”. Major threats have included over-hunting and human expansion. Of the few remaining in China, there’s a serious lack of genetic diversity, as they are all descended from just 18 animals. The Chinese named these deer “sze pu shiang”, which translates to “none of the four”. With a neck like a camel, a tail similar to a donkey, antlers like a deer, and hooves resembling a cow, they seem to be confused on their heritage!

Friday, January 28, 2022 • 7:30 - 9:00 am Slidell Auditorium • 2056 Second Street Tickets - $20 • Sponsorship - $100 Doors open at 7:00 am Friday, January 28, 2022 • 7:30 - 9:00 am

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Bactrian camels are not evaluated as they are considered domesticated. Global’s Clyde and Chloe are great examples of domesticated camels, as they will eagerly thrust their heads inside the vehicles to get pets and food. Species from Africa consist of cape eland, red lechwe, reticulated giraffe, scimitar-horned oryx, watusi (ankole) cattle, grant’s zebra, and African spurred tortoise. Of these, the red lechwe and zebra are “near threatened”, the giraffe and tortoise are “vulnerable”, and the oryx are “extinct” in the wild.

0:9 - 03Friday, :7Tickets • 2Tickets 20January ,82•are yranow 28, un2022 aavailable J -,y$100 ad•i7:30 rF for - 9:00 am at Community purchase -2$20 Sponsorship The red lechwe is one of the most aquatic of African Auditorium uConcern, iroatt7:00 idu•am A2056 llocated lediSecond lS at 2515 S dnoceSlidell S 6Christian 502Doors • mopen Street Carey Street in Olde antelopes, willing to graze in up to 2 feet of water. They Tickets are now available for purchase at Community tend to inhabit the marshy floodplains of rivers, lakes and located at 2515 Carey Street in iOlde $ - pihsChristian Tickets rTowne oTowne sSlidell nConcern, op S • $20 0 2 $ • Sponsorship s t e k c T $100 Slidell or online at EventBrite.com. Sponsorship or online at EventBrite.com. Sponsorship swamps. A major threat is poaching for meat, droughts acknowledgment event. acknowledgment flooding. ma 00includes :7includes ttwo a tickets nDoors epplusotwo sropen otickets oD atattheplus 7:00 am and homemade dams disrupting at thenatural event. Patrons are warned not to feed the zebras by hand as

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The scimitar-horned oryx is considered “extinct in the wild” due to overhunting for meat, hides and horns, as well as habitat loss and competition with domestic livestock. Thankfully, there are several ongoing conservation attempts to re-establish them in the wild.

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Pursue Wellness

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From North America, patrons can observe, pet and feed American Bison, which are “near threatened” and beefalo, which are a cross between a bison and a cow. Beefalo, also called cattalo, are considered domesticated and not evaluated. They were originally bred for meat, offering lower fat and cholesterol counts with higher protein than regular beef. At Global, there are two different beefalo – a black angus/bison and a Texas longhorn/bison. Since American bison no longer migrate across the Great Plains, they are considered ecologically extinct. However, conservation herds of 1000 + are being re-established. Besides Global, they can be observed in three different National Parks, including Yellowstone in Wyoming. Animals from Europe include miniature Sicilian donkeys, red deer, Holstein fresian cattle and fallow deer. The cattle and the donkeys are domesticated, while both deer species are rated “least concern”. The red deer are found

over most of Europe, as well as existing in Turkey, Iran, Morocco and Tunisia. The Barbary stag, a subspecies of red deer is the only native deer found in Africa. Did you know that the Holstein cow is featured as the Chick-fil-A mascot in their “Eat Mor Chikin” advertising campaign? Last, but certainly not least, are the red kangaroos from Australia. Also, of “least concern”, they live in a separate enclosure and are not free roaming, as they can hop almost thirty feet in one leap, allowing them to easily clear the cattle guards! I found the tour guides and animal care team to be extremely knowledgeable about the various species, their behaviors and conservation status, making the tours very educational for all. This is no surprise since the tour guides receive approximately two months of training that includes driver training on the tractors and pinzgauers. Along with this, they ride tours with senior tour guides; view slideshows and presentations about each species; and have tests and evaluations to verify they are prepared to lead their own tours. Global’s full-time animal care team are just as carefully trained and work closely with several local vets and traveling exotic animal zoo vets which visit monthly. Additionally, a staff member lives onsite in the event of a weather-related issue and to provide 24/7 animal care. Global adheres to the American Zoo Association (AZA) standards of animal welfare, safety and guest engagement. Since the Center is an open, free-roaming park, they are unable to be recognized under the AZA. In 2020, they moved into their newly constructed giraffe barn which currently houses 10 giraffes, ranging in age from 6 months to 28-years old. Attached to the new barn is a nursery to care and bottle feed any abandoned or in-need babies. These have ranged from endangered species to alpaca babies and calves. The most common comment from visitors is they “feel like they are in a Jurassic Park movie” when they pull up to the giraffe stop. A few families have told tour guides that they have been on African safaris, but they would rather take a private tour at Global Wildlife! The Global logo tells the story of their commitment to wildlife and conservation as it depicts the addax antelope, considered one of the most endangered mammals in the world, with less than 500 existing in the wild. Previously, they could be found throughout most of the Sahara, but sadly they have been overhunted. At one time, Libya’s population had sunk from 200 to just 3. Global Wildlife Center “strives to promote the education of children about wildlife, to ensure the conservation of threatened and endangered species, and to secure the future of wildlife preservation.” What a great mission!

History of Global Wildlife Center Land The ownership was traced back to William & Charles Houlton, two brothers from a prominent Minnesota lumber family who owned the Lake Superior Piling Company, which also owned approximately 100,000 acres of virgin longleaf pine in what is known today as Tangipahoa Parish. Using the pine for lumber presented the problem of how to transport the lumber from the mill. The Houlton brothers built a dummy train line to join the Baton Rouge/Hammond Eastern railroad. They named the dummy-line the Uneedus Railroad. The town that sprung up to support the line & lumber needs became known as Uneedus. The Houlton brothers believed that the people of the town needed their big-city ways & ideas, hence the name U-need-us! The town began to prosper with a fully operational sawmill, homes for employees & a post office. The brothers believed the land could be turned into a profitable livestock & agricultural area. In order to educate the locals, they created a model farm where the Center resides today. The farm included a complete dairy with silos, barns & land growing feed for the animals. They brought in cattle & hogs from up north which had no immunity to the deadly Texas fever tick. While the dairy was successful for a time, producing 100 gallons of milk per day, they were never able to grow grain due to the poor soil condition. The brothers did more than any other early lumber barons to try to improve general agricultural practices, including establishing the first two-room schoolhouse. With the construction of roads & implementation of trucking in the 1920’s, the Uneedus line was cut. The dairy shutdown, the land was clear-cut and, with no more jobs & no reason for most people to stay, the little town faded away. The Zemurray family acquired 16,000 acres from the Houltons & planted 5,000 of it with tung oil trees, which soon became a busy tung oil plantation. There were thoughts that this could become the industry that would pull the South from the Great Depression, as tung trees were a fast-growing crop. While the young trees grew, the Zemurray family also raised 500 head of cattle, fertilizing the trees & keeping down weeds underneath. At harvest, nuts were hand-picked by workers paid 10-20¢ per bushel, then trucked to Franklinton or Bogalusa for processing where the mills compressed the oil while pushing out pulp. The oil was used in paints because of its protective quality & the pulp was used as fertilizer. From there, it is not known how the land came into Mr. Mattherne’s possession other than he opened Global Wildlife Center in 1991 and it is now considered the largest center of its kind in the U.S. If our readers have any information about this, please email me at donna.bush@yahoo.com.

moc.lledilSyM • 5734-646 krowtrA & stsitrA lacoL tnemniatretnE eviL What is a

PINZGAUER?

The Pinzgauer is part of a family of high-mobility, all-terrain (4x4) 4-wheel drive and (6x6) 6-wheel drive military utility vehicles. The vehicle was originally developed in the late 1960s and manufactured in Austria. It was named after the Pinzgauer, a rugged breed of Austrian horse. The 6x6 version is primarily a military-use vehicle, but Pinzgauers have been used as tourist transports in Africa, Australia, South America, Hawaii, and other exotic locales.

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Extinct or Extinct in the Wild

Critically Endangered, Endangered & Vulnerable:

species threatened with global extinction

Adopt a Tree: For $25 you can adopt a tree – white oak, poplar, red maple or sycamore and help replace trees lost during recent hurricanes. In return, you’ll receive a t-shirt, fact sheet and a certificate.

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level is $500 and includes a fact sheet and photo of chosen species, plus 2 adult and 2 child safari wagon passes. The silver level at $100 includes a fact sheet and photo, along with 2 child safari wagon passes. The $50 Bronze level includes a fact sheet and photo. Memberships: They range in cost from $55 to $275, depending on how many adults or children are included. Members receive free tours, a membership decal and card, plus invitations to a Members-Only Appreciation Party.

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• The City of Slidell presents •

Arts Evening Saturday, March 19, 2022 5-9 pm • Free Admission Olde Towne Slidell 646-4375 • MySlidell.com Local Artists & Artwork Live Entertainment Fine & Casual Dining Antique, Boutique & Unique Shopping

George Dunbar: Retrospective Arts Evening 2022 exhibit in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall

“ Jazzy 2”” by Nancy Pratt, Arts Evening 2022 Poster Artist

The City of Slidell and the Commission on the Arts would like to thank our 2021/2022 Cultural Season Sponsors for making this event possible: Renaissance $5,000 Sponsors: Plus + Publications

Baroque, $2,500 Sponsors: In Memory of Ronnie Kole • Silver Slipper Casino Neoclassical, $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert • Home Instead Lori’s Art Depot Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency • Purple Armadillo Again Impressionism, $500 Sponsors: P. David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law • Chateau Bleu • CiCi’s Pizza Mayor Greg Cromer • State Rep. Mary DuBuisson, District 90 • Dr. David Hildebrandt - Slidell Family Dentistry Flatliners Entertainment • Old School Eats Food Truck • Pizza Platoon • Roberta’s Cleaners Slidell Historic Antique Association • Tanya Witchen - Engel & Völkers Real Estate 29

“Your Estate Matters” By Ronda M. Gabb, NP, JD, RFC

Legal-ease

RESOLVE TO WATCH YOUR

FIGURE(S)

IN THE NEW YEAR!

A LIST OF IMPORTANT FIGURES FOR 2022 GIFT TAX: The amount you are free to give to each person for this calendar year without either party having to file anything with the IRS went up to $16,000. This means a married couple could give $32,000 to each recipient. This is called the annual exclusion gift amount. For 2022, the lifetime gift tax exemption amount has been raised to $12,060,000 per donor. Currently, the amount one spouse may gift for free to the other spouse who is not a U.S. Citizen is $164,000, and an unlimited amount to a spouse who is a U. S. Citizen. ESTATE TAX: The amount you may leave to your loved ones at your death free of any estate taxes or Louisiana state inheritance is now $12,060,000 per decedent (minus any lifetime gifting made above the annual exclusion amount). This means that a married couple may leave up to $24,120,000 to their loved ones both estate and inheritance tax free! There is a high likelihood that it will be significantly lowered (probably by half) and applied retroactively to January 1, 2022. Presently, the top marginal tax rate for estates that exceed these amounts remains at forty (40%) percent. IRAs: The contribution limit for Traditional IRAs remains the same at $6,000 per year for those under age 50, and $7,000 per year for those 50 or older. If you were born on or after July 1, 1949, you are not required to take your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) now, under the SECURE Act, until age 72. Additionally, there are no longer any age restrictions on contributing to your

IRA as long as you (or your spouse) have earned income to offset the contribution, even if you are already receiving your RMDs. You can use some (up to $100,000) of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to pay to your favorite charities, to reduce your taxable income (called a Qualified Charitable Distribution-QCD). Some of our clients have donated their entire RMD for one year to bring their income down enough to qualify for the Senior Freeze below. SENIOR FREEZE: In 2020, Louisiana voters significantly raised the amount of the “Senior Freeze”. In order to have the assessed value of your Homestead “frozen”, an owner of the property must be 65 years of age or older, reside in the property, and have an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000, or less (through December 31, 2024, after that, the figure will be adjusted for inflation). You must provide your assessor proof of your date of birth and a copy of your 2021 tax return. Once you qualify, future years of higher income do not matter. SOCIAL SECURITY RAISE: For 2022, we saw a 5.9% COLA increase in Social Security checks, however, the Medicare Part B premium and deductible amounts both increased by 14.5%! Part B is now $170.10 month ($148.50 in 2021) and the annual Part B deductible is now $233 ($230 in 2021). MEDICAID: For Medicaid (not Medicare) to pay for nursing home care for one spouse, the “at home” community spouse may retain up to $137,400 in countable resources. The primary home, with equity not to exceed

$636,000 (this limit does not apply if there is a surviving spouse), is not considered as a “countable” resource, but after the death of both spouses Medicaid may seek estate recovery against the home. For Medicaid purposes, a single person who is in a nursing home may keep only up to $2,000 in countable resources, a married couple who are both in a nursing home may keep only up to $3,000 in countable resources. For Medicaid purposes, the amount of monthly income the “at home” spouse may keep of the “institutionalized” spouse’s monthly income is up to $3,435 per month. (This assumes the “at home” spouse has no other income.) Medicaid will not institute estate recovery against the home if an heir’s income is 300% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The following are annualized 300% figures based on family size for 2022: (1) $38,640; (2) $52,260; (3) $65,880; (4) $79,500; (5) $93,120. For example, if ANY heir with a family of four makes less than $79,500 a year, Medicaid will not seek recovery against the entire home, not just that heir’s portion. VA AID & ATTENDANCE PENSION: For 2022, the VA Aid & Attendance Improved Pension Program monthly tax-free benefit for both a qualifying Veteran and Spouse needing care is $2,431.25; for the Veteran only is $2,050.83, for the Widow of a qualifying Veteran: $1,371.33; and for two qualifying Veterans married to each other, is $3,253. The asset resource limit for a qualifying Veteran, either married or single, is $138,489.

See other articles and issues of interest! Ronda M. Gabb is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. She is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Governor’s Elder Law Task Force. Ronda grew up in New Orleans East and first moved to Slidell in 1988, and now resides in Clipper Estates. 30

40 Louis Prima Drive (off Hwy 190, behind Copeland’s) • Covington, Louisiana • (985) 892-0942 • RondaMGabb.com

The East St Tammany Habitat for Humanity invites you to “Dance Like It’s 1992”, at their

th Anniversary

Builder’s Ball

January 21, 2022 // 7:30 pm at the Harbor Center SPONSORSHIPS & TICKETS AVAILABLE!

$75 per person

 Use the camera on your smart phone to click the QR Code

On January 21, 2022, East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity is hosting a celebration of 30 years of building strength, stability, and selfreliance for families in St. Tammany parish. At the Builder’s Ball, we will also be honoring some amazing individuals and organizations that have supported our affiliate over our 30 years! Guests will enjoy an evening at The Harbor Center with live music by Overboard, dancing, delicious food, and an open bar. Plus it’s our Birthday so you know we are going to have Cake!!!

ENTER OUR

$10,000

CASH GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE

$100 buys one (1) ticket entry. Purchase tickets at: 440 Brownswitch Rd. Slidell, LA 70458 985-639-0656

DRAWING HELD 1/21/22 Need not be present to win.

Leslie Story by

Gates

“Raising Teens”

Mom is either too much or not enough. And once she loses it (however that may look) then she’s just…”crazy.”

There is an awkward transition that happens in the heart of a mom once all of her children are in high school. It doesn’t happen overnight, when the last kid goes into their freshman year. Instead, the transition weaves its way in and out like a piercing needle and thread, over many months, stitching tightly enough to hold you together for when the hard part hits. The inner voice that says…they won’t need me ever again like they used to. Hi. My name is Leslie. And I need to be needed. I also need my children to quit being little assholes to me. Pointing blame. Calling me “crazy.” They are all teens now (19, 16, and 14) and it seems like all of a sudden they blame me for everything. EVERYTHING. Even the stupidest things, like the dogs barking and the WiFi not working. From the hair in their food, to the lice in their hair. They blame me that they are bored, but then 32

they blame me for whatever goes wrong when we do something fun. If a phone screen cracks, it’s my fault for not getting them a better phone cover. If Jesus walked through the front door for supper, they’d blame me for not giving them a heads up, and then they’d be embarrassed that I handed him a glass of wine. I could’ve handed him water, but, ya know, he’s Jesus. And when the water turns to wine, yep, you guessed it. My fault.

That’s when we, as moms, have to walk away knowing deep down that we ARE enough. Crazy? Yes. But only because they made us that way. When confidence is built, and we know in our hearts that we are good moms (simply for surviving the day sometimes and not permanently running away) then the snide remarks aimed towards us become comical. Constant self-blame as a mom eventually starts to show in our body language and overall self esteem. Once the people around us catch on to that, we become a scapegoat for their own insecurities, because they sense our weakness. Kids included. I have lived in self-blame since my first child was born. That’s 19 years of beating myself up. No wonder they blame me! I’m done with it. And you should be too!

Back to this transition… It feels uncomfortable because of the major change going on within me. The change from business, to long moments of stillness. The change from constant company, to hours of complete loneliness. The change from holding on tightly, to letting go gracefully. The change from knowing what’s best for them, to believing that they will know that for themselves, and will make the right decisions when I’m not with them. And lastly, the change from self sacrifice, to self love. I say again, self sacrifice, to self love. Crawling out from under the weight and messiness that raising babies, toddlers, small children, and preteens have put on you. An old identity, lost for a time in roles and positions…in the complete surrender that comes from loving your children so unconditionally, that you forget to love yourself. In it, emerging a new identity. A more profound version of yourself, created through absolute insanity, then fine-tuned through grit and perseverance. All

the needles. All the threads. All the stitching and weaving through your heart and out of your spirit that has prepared you to be the mother of teens and young adults, even when you feel anything BUT prepared. There is a quiet calm to this stage of parenting (when they aren’t blaming, whining, or giving attitude) that I feel is preparing me for the next stage. The next transition. When they are out of the house and on their own. When it’s nothing BUT quiet and calm. And when the only thing I can be blamed for is whatever they bring up about me in therapy. At least then, I can catch a break, and can say, “Who’s crazy now?” Keep moving forward no matter what stage or transition you find yourself in right now, and work on loving yourself more. Crazy or not, moms deserve love and respect. And when we give that to ourselves, our kids will follow.

Movie Poster Archive and the City of Slidell present

Fifty Shades of Louisiana: A Filmakers Paradise January 8-28, 2022 • Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall

The City of Slidell and the Commission on the Arts would like to thank our 2022 Cultural Season Sponsors:

Baroque, $2,500 Sponsors: In Memory of Ronnie Kole • Silver Slipper Casino Renaissance $5,000 Sponsors:

Plus + Publications

Neoclassical, $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert • Home Instead Lori’s Art Depot • Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency Impressionism, $500 Sponsors: P. David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law • Chateau Bleu CiCi’s Pizza • Mayor Greg Cromer • State Rep. Mary DuBuisson, District 90 Dr. David Hildebrandt - Slidell Family Dentistry • Flatliners Entertainment Old School Eats Food Truck • Pizza Platoon • Roberta’s Cleaners Slidell Historic Antique Association • Tanya Witchen - Engel & Völkers Real Estate

MAIL

Writing For Victory World War II Style Service men have always looked forward to the shout, “mail call!” A letter from home, the family, wife or girlfriend did wonders for the morale of the troops. A letter could also bring unpleasant news like a death in the family, a “Dear John Letter” or, like a scene from the movies, a soldier on the front lines could receive a letter stating, “Greetings, you have been drafted.” The U.S. entered World War II on December 7, 1941 and the military postal authorities were soon swamped with the ever-increasing volume of mail from relatives and friends to men who were mobilized and sent overseas. Identifying numbers were assigned to each military postal facility as a security and organizational measure. This would permit rapid sorting and delivery without disclosing a unit’s location. During the early days of World War II, the greatest difficulty was logistics; mail sacks had to wait their turn at the dock along with food, munitions and medical supplies. Letters would arrive at their destination often months old, or never arrive, due to enemy action.

By J. R. “Bill” Bailey

The Army ordered Col. William Rose, Army Postal Director, and his staff to develop a microfilm mail system. Rose and his staff began working closely with the Navy and the U.S. Post Office to develop a plan that would deliver mail to and from the Army and Navy overseas post offices (APOs and FPOs) in New York and San Francisco. The Army Signal Corps would be responsible for microfilming and developing processes and establishing photographic mail stations. However, where conditions permitted, stations were contracted to the U.S. Eastman Kodak Company or the British firm, Kodak, Ltd. The Signal Corps would supply the service in war zones and in other civilian restricted areas. Army Micro Photographic Mail Service was ready by the summer of 1942. Col. Rose did not like this title and decided to change the name to “Victory Mail.” But someone thought to shorten it to just V-Mail. It was calculated that 150,000 ordinary one-sheet letters would require 37 mail sacks, while the same number of V-Mail sheets would require 22 mail sacks. After

microfilming, the V-Mail material would be able to fit into one mail sack. V-Mail service was announced by Postmaster General Frank S. Walker on June 12, 1942 with letters delivered to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. By the time of this announcement, V-Mail sheets had already been printed and were being used by the armed forces overseas. The new V-Mail forms, which measured 8 ½ by 11 inches, were available to the public through the local post office at no charge. However, no more than three sheets were allowed a single patron on a single day. By July 1, 1942 the first Photo Mail Company had become operational. Trained men were scattered around the globe but Eastman Kodak Company continued to train Signal Corps men. Later in the year, the Signal Corps established an official Photo Mail Station in the Pentagon and conducted their own training. The user would write in the prescribed space – ideally in black ink, since this photographed best. The Carter Ink Company even marketed a special “V - Mail Ink.” Many people found that they did not have enough room in the limited space in order to write all that they had to say. To make things worse, the instructions at the top of each letter stated that “very small writing is not suitable.” The form, with space for about 700 words, was folded and sealed to become its own envelope and addressed to the recipient and APO or FPO (Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office) number. Members of the armed forces were allowed free postage on V-Mail, while civilians at home paid 3-6¢, depending upon

whether surface or air service was desired for the domestic portion of the transport. The letter would then be sent to a V-Mail station in San Francisco or New York. Outgoing letters were fed into an opening machine, sorted by hand for destination and according to whether they were typewritten or handwritten. The letters were then fed into a recorder at the rate of 2,000 an hour. After each 100 letters, a “target” letter bearing a number was fed into the recorder. If any letters were found to be faulty, they could be easily located by the numbers on the “target” letter and put through again. The long strips of exposed film were developed in a continuous process and, after inspection, the film was packed for shipment. A 100 foot roll of 16mm black and white camera film with 1,500 letters weighed less than seven ounces, reducing a ton of mail to 25 pounds. At its destination, each letter was enlarged to a 41/2 by 5 3/16 inch print. The letter had a pre-formed crease 17/8 inch from the top to insure that the address would be correctly centered. The letter was then placed in a window envelope and delivered to the addressee. Although about half the size of the original V-Mail, it was entirely legible. 35

overseas for transmittal to the U.S. went from 18,000 in June 1942 to 7.6 million in June 1943, with the peak volume of 63.6 million in April 1944. With this huge volume of mail, the V-Mail service could boast that they never lost a letter. Even with ships being sunk, airplanes shot down or any other form of destruction, it would mean a slight delay, as all original letters were kept until reproductions reached their destinations. The final V-Mail letter, number 338,824,081, was sent on October 14, 1945. There was one drawback with the V-Mail. It could not copy a dollar bill, picture, stamp or chewing gum. The letters were opened mechanically at high speed and any extra contents were scattered and could not be traced. The outgoing V-Mail was not censored; however, incoming V-Mail was censored in the country of origin. Black ink or a strip of white paper was pasted over words that had to be omitted. The censor would then stamp it with a rubber stamp, “ARMY EXAMINER” or “NAVAL CENSOR” along with his signature. The censor would then fold the letter and seal it and put it in the mail. The letters were microfilmed and sent to the United States where each frame was enlarged, put in a window envelope and sent to the addressee. If, however, the letter could not be microfilmed for some reason, the letter was refolded, stapled together and sent on to the addressee. V-Mail letters sent in June 1942 numbered 35,000 but, within a year, it had jumped to 12 million. The number of V-Mail letters processed 36

V-Mail’s importance to the morale of the serviceman cannot be measured; but, as the World War II soldier-cartoonist Bill Mauldin wrote, “A soldier’s life revolves around his mail.” I had four uncles in the service (two in the Navy, one in the Army, and one in the Army Air Forces) and we received

many letters, a large percentage of them being V-Mail letters. V-Mail served the United States well during World War II and is now only a memory for those of “The Greatest Generation.” Memories as simple as trying to write a letter in the rain, mud, snow, the chocking dust of the North African desert or the sweltering heat of the south Pacific. Today, these small V-Mail letters can still be found among the cherished treasures of the World War II serviceman and his family. After World War II, those in the military went back to regular mail. I served in Fighter Squadron 213 aboard the aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CVA-16) and USS Hancock (CVA-19) during the early Vietnam War. We always liked to hear the announcement over the “bitch box” (PA system) “COD coming aboard.” COD stood for Carrier On-board Delivery which, at that time, was a Grumman S2F twin engine “Tracker” which brought mail, spare parts and personal aboard. We waited anxiously for the next call over the bitch box - Mail Call. With today’s technology, a serviceman does not have to sit down and write a long letter home and wait weeks for an answer. The computer has done away with all of the paper work and puts a serviceman back home at almost any time that duty permits.

A member of the Army Photographic Mail Service holds a box of microfilmed V-Mail that replaces the bags of regular mail in the background. One roll of 16mm film held 1500 V-Mail letters and weighed seven ounces. This process reduced a ton of mail to 25 pounds.

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