Slidell Magazine - July 2022 by Slidell Magazine

WE SAY KEEP IT FRESH KEEP IT POSITIVE Vol. 141 July 2022 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL

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Saturday, August 13, 2022 6-9pm ◆ Olde Towne Slidell MySlidell.com ◆ 985.646.4375 “Like This, Mommy?” by Keith Dellsperger Bring your lawnchairs and blankets and join us on Saturday evenings this summer on JUNE 25 , JULY 9 & 23 and AUGUST 6 at 8:30 pm. Admission is free. Concessions will be available for a nominal charge. To see the list of movies, visit the City of Slidell’s website MYSLIDELL.COM or SLIDELL MOVIE NIGHTS on Facebook. Heritage Park • Free Admission Movies Start at 8:30 pm Slidell M VIE NIGHTS Adventure! Music! Comedy!Slidell Movie Nights has it all! It’s time to C el ebr ate Slidell! Join the City of Slidell for these fun summer events! The City of Slidell and the Commission on the Arts would like to thank our 2021/2022 Cultural Season Sponsors! Renaissance • $5,000 Sponsors: 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 Impressionism, $500 Sponsors: P. David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law • CiCi’s Pizza • Mayor Greg Cromer State Representative Mary DuBuisson, District 90 • Dr. David Hildebrandt - Slidell Family Dentistry Old School Eats Food Truck • Pizza Platoon • Pontchartrain Investment Management Slidell Historic Antique Association • Tanya Witchen - Engel & Völkers Real Estate White Linen and Lagnlappe

Why

COVER: BAXTER ON AFTERNOON WATCH ARTIST: Debbie Ainsworth Editor’s LetterKendra Maness, Editor / Publisher

It’s all about perspective. This is a recent photo of me and my friend, Dianne Baham, the long-time Slidell community and spiritual leader, disABILITY advocate and powerhouse force behind STARC for 47 of its 50 years. It was wonderful to visit with her again. After every conversation I’ve had with Dianne over the years, I’ve always felt uplifted and inspired. I’m sure anyone who knows her would say the same.

Dianne is still recovering from her battle with Covid, which started a year and a half ago. She was hospitalized for months and endured a terrible journey through the illness that almost took her life.

You

paint? Because

There was a woman who was losing her hair. She awoke one morning to find that she only had 3 hairs left on her whole head. She exclaimed, “Thank you Lord! I have three hairs. Now I can make a braid!” And she did. The next morning, she awoke to having only two hairs. She exclaimed, “Thank you Lord! I have two hairs. Now I can part them down the middle!” And she did. The next morning, she awoke to having only one hair. She exclaimed, “Thank you Lord! I have one hair. Now I can wear a ponytail!” And she did. The next morning, she awoke and was completely bald. She exclaimed, “Thank God, I don’t have to do my hair

art.

today!”

PO Box 4147 Slidell, LA

It’s all about perspective.70459 a Peaceful you for taking an interest in my My style features bright, vivid colors, combined with a bit of iconic nostalgia. I moved around a lot as a child, and as an adult. But, I had one constant - New Orleans and the surrounding areas, where people are not only allowed to paint their homes in bright colors, but they’re actually encouraged to do so. do I it brings me peace. The world today seems to be such an unhappy place. It can be stressful and overwhelming at times. All of that goes away when I pick up a brush. Most of my paintings reflect my love of New Orleans and her architecture. My use of bright, vivid color is my way of expressing the happiness I find in making art. I pour that happiness and love and peace into every painting. And I hope my art helps folks find their own peace. Debbie Ainsworth can view and purchase Debbie’s art through her website: ArtByDArt.com

www.slidellmag.com 985-789-0687 MAGAZINE KendraCONTRIBUTINGSTAFFWRITERSManess Editor / Publisher Editor@slidellmag.com Michael Bell Graphic Designer Graphics@slidellmag.com John Case “The Storyteller” Charlotte Collins Extraordinary Slidell Neighbors Mike Rich Making Cents of Your Money Alex Carollo & Kendra Maness Summertime Frank Davis Watermelon Ronda M. Gabb Legal-Ease onlysubscriptions$39 / www.Slidellmag.comyear! Visit our website to subscribe, view current & past editions, view advertising rates & more! Krista Gregory Administrative Assistant Krista@slidellmag.com Bright Houses and

Mind... Thank

As long as anyone can remember, Dianne has had beautiful, thick, long, looong (waist-length) dark brown hair. When describing her, it’s inevitable that her hair would be part of that description. It has been her most defining physical characteristic for most of her life. I didn’t know that Covid caused Dianne to lose all of that beautiful, identifying hair. When our eyes met, I unintentionally gasped before I could prevent myself. Hugging her, I almost cried when she told me how grateful she was for her new, short hair. She then told me a story. Dianne is a master storyteller, many of them parables from the Bible or short quips that impart valuable lessons. Here it is:

Seeing her last month was even more special than usual.

With Sam’s encouragement and oversight, a new library was built, and a gallery was designed in the old library building. The newly redesigned building was named the Slidell Cultural Arts Center and it was the predecessor of the current Cultural Arts Center in City Hall. The Cultural Arts Department had its own budget for the first time and Suzanne was busy writing grants for things that extended beyond that budget. Slidell received the first National Endowment for the Arts grant awarded to a small city.

Of course, there were efforts before Sam’s leadership that helped to set the tone. The arts were always here, but they were part of the city’s Recreation Department. Stennis Space Center and Michoud had brought a wave of scientists and engineers to Slidell. By the mid-eighties, these families were eager for cerebral pursuits like improvements to our libraries, and expanding the visual and performing arts opportunities. The Mayor’s Commission on the Arts came into existence under the previous mayor, Webb Hart. I served on the board under the direction of Suzanne Parsons Stymiest.

Audio equipment and lighting systems were renovated at the new Cultural Arts Center, the Auditorium, and the Slidell Little Theatre, to name a few.

Sam’s wife, Martha Caruso, took over as an advocate for the arts. Previously, art openings were attended mainly by other artists, which meant sales would be low. Martha went beyond the standard method of advertising and sent out personal invitations to the City Council, all the local civic clubs, and everyone she could think of. Participation increased and so did the sales. The arts flourished under Mayor Caruso’s tenure until 2002; and, by then, the impact on our youth and community was tremendous. Luckily, Mayors Ben Morris, Freddy Drennan, and now Greg Cromer have kept the torch alive. This was the small part of politics in which I was involved. Little did I know the stories that have never been told - until now that is! This month I offer you a glimpse into Sam’s foundational upbringing, a culture that is all but lost today. More intriguing is the story of the Priorities Convention in which the delegates brought different factions

A biography by Charlotte Collins SALVATORE “SAM” CARUSO

Welcome to the days before internet, smart phones and laptops. You will also be reminded of the days when personal integrity and accountability were the norm. As you read this glimpse into the life of Sam Caruso, Sr., you’ll see how personal connections can shape and influence your life, and even your Thecommunity.yearwas 1985 and I was a young mother and art teacher. Slidell had gone through a rapid growth period and many new initiatives were improving our small bedroom community. As the new mayor, Sam Caruso Sr. fully embraced the arts and what they could offer our community. I was excited, knowing the impact arts could have on Slidell, for our youth in particular, and certainly for artists. But you can’t imagine the impact it had for our citizens who typically drove to New Orleans for cultural events, or had perhaps never been to an art exhibition or musical performance.

It only takes a moment of conversation to easily recognize the good Catholic boy in Sam. Smiling, he reminisced, “I grew up in an Italian-American immigrant family with nine people living in our house on Carondolet Street, including my mother’s parents, my parents, and the four of us (he was the oldest of two boys and two girls), plus my uncle. We were near to poor, and yet we were surrounded by nice, wealthy people that never looked down on us. In fact, they befriended us, and it was an absolutely wonderful neighborhood.”

The former Mayor explained that the Catholic Church system is organized within geographically defined parishes. “All of that has a strong personal and social effect. Classmates all lived near each other and went to school together. After classes were over, we went home, changed clothes and immediately went back to the school yard or a playground to meet the same friends we had been in class with all day. But now, it was to play softball, or football, or basketball, or volleyball, or stick ball, or whatever else we could make up. The parish church building and the school became, along with the houses we lived in, the physical and psychological centers of our lives.”

Pointing one finger up, Sam expounded, “Lifelong friendships were made in that system, and you all pushed each other to be the best you could be. We held each other accountable and taught each other respect for what we call ‘intellectual honesty’. This means you don’t say that something is true just because you want it to be true or because it serves your side of an argument. That’s a lost art. As young seminarians, we realized that, and learned how important honesty and integrity are in life. So it was much more than just friendship, we committed to each other.” Little did he realize then the impact some of these relationships would have on Slidell.

In addition to the influence Sam received from his classmates, his parents, Frank and Josephine, and his grandfather, Peter Vitale, were also very instrumental in establishing Sam’s foundational morals and ethics. “My grandfather started it all by immigrating from Sicily in 1904. He told us all stories about Italy going all the way back to the Roman Empire. What was astonishing was that he had very little formal education. He read everything about history that he could get his hands on, and he taught it to us. He had a great interest in public affairs and he really gave me my first interest in perhaps doing something for my community as an elected official.”

We all know that, in New Orleans, if you ask where someone went to school, they want to know which high school you attended. But Sam’s alma mater goes all the way back to his grammar school. “We went to the local parish Catholic school, which has since closed. What was amazing was how supportive we all were for each other, and still are! Many members of our grammar school class still stay in touch with each other. Bob Livingston was a member of the class, and he even attended our reunion while he was serving as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.”

Sam had to go to work. With a twinkle in his eye, he informed me, “Somewhere about this time, though, I met Martha, and very quickly it was clear that this was going to be my future!” He recalled the day they first met at a wedding in Mobile for one of his grammar school classmates. Sam served at the mass, reading the scripture. “I had been a lector for years, and had memorized the reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians about love being patient and kind, and so on. Because I had practically memorized it, I was able to look up while saying the next line.”

After grade school, Sam went to what used to be called a minor seminary. With a poignant laugh, Sam added, “There was nothing minor about the education. We carried a big academic load and went to school six days a week. Every Saturday morning, we attended a full set of classes, including Latin, Greek, and French, along with all the other academics. That was the first place where my friends and I discovered how accurate my grandfather Peter Vitale’s history lessons were. When the history professor would start a topic that included the history of Italy, my friends and I would all look at each other. And we knew what he was going to say next because my grandfather had told us these stories.”

of Slidell together. Lastly, you will be privy to difficult decisions and behindthe-scenes negotiations that formed a major part of Slidell’s acquisitions.

After his rigorous studies in the seminary, he completed college at UNO, majoring in history. He intended to go on to graduate school and teach, or perhaps go to law school. Unfortunately, his father died in his last year of undergraduate school.

He paused a moment and looked at Martha. “When I looked up, there she was in the congregation just to my left, Sam in his grammar school days

sitting in the first or second pew. And I remember saying to myself that I have got to meet her at the reception.” They met and talked for the rest of the afternoon.

One year later, they were married, and recently celebrated their 55th anniversary. Sam did go back to school and earned a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Tulane, while Martha went back to work with Exxon, pushing off her graduate studies until the family was established. Their son, Sam Jr. was born, so the new dad worked, went to school, and still made time to be an ever-present father and husband. While Martha drove the one car to work, Sam rode his bike three miles to Tulane, then to the daycare down the block, where Sammy Jr. would be strapped in the basket, and off they would go!

After he graduated, his first job was in a little town called Robstown near Corpus Christi, Texas. Sam was part of the team that collected the history and developed the treatment plan for individuals and families. There they welcomed their daughter, Mary Martha. But Sam and Martha missed the friendships and family back in New Orleans. It wasn’t long before the young Caruso family moved back to New Orleans where Sam took a position as Executive Director for Big Brothers. In 1976, Sam became an assistant professor with LSU Medical Center (LSUMC) and the family moved here to Slidell. The housing was affordable and they fell in love with the people and the schools in our Camellia City. Sam became a city councilman and found an interest in public affairs. At the end of his council term, in 1982, Sam wanted to tackle the drainage problem in our city and made the decision to run for mayor. As he reasoned, “I decided to stop talking about it and do something about it. Drainage was my main platform and I ran against the beloved incumbent, Mayor Webb Hart.” Webb won reelection, and Sam continued working at LSUMC. In 1982, the police jury played a big role in the parish. A group of jury members approached Sam to help save our community hospital. “Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH) was a financial and administrative wreck and they needed somebody who knew about health care and public office.” Sam refused their pleas for help numerous times, but the jury members were insistent that Sam was the solution. He finally agreed. “I took the challenge. SMH was in a condition you could not imagine! But today, we have this wonderful, modern hospital. I can’t tell you enough good things about SMH. It took years, but it has developed and developed until you have what we have today.” As Chairman of the hospital board, Sam recruited a new administrator and the hospital began its long turn around. Kelly Lutman Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach 985-768-8898

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The first issue was whether Slidell should remain a small commuter town atmosphere, or to bring in a whole lot more commercial and industrial businesses. As it is still today, the answer was mixed. Sam allowed, “We had to admit, in the end, the delegates didn’t want to see too much change. Remember, these delegates were people who were truly representative of the whole diverse community. They recognized that we’ve got to have some industrialization and commercialization here, but a whole lot of them preferred to just enjoy the tranquility we have here as unique from New Orleans. From this came the guidelines for the rest of my term, including the whole moral commitment to the greater good. I was Mayor for 17 years, so it must have solidified us.”

In 1985, Sam ran for mayor again; this time, in a special election after Mayor Hart resigned. He won with over 76% of the vote. His first full mayoral campaign came in 1988, which he won handily. He resigned his chairmanship at SMH, which opened the opportunity for Martha to accept a job offer as the Patient Representative there. While Martha served the community as a hospital representative and Slidell’s First Lady, she also completed her studies, earning a Master’s Degree in Business Management in 1992. I asked Sam to tell me some highlights from his tenure.

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“One thing of which I am most proud is creating a true leadership role as Mayor. People used to talk about the mayor’s role as if they were talking about a managerial job. But there is so much more to it, including the morality side I had seen in my youth. I saw my role as a leadership job, one requiring vision. Management means you take what’s there already and you work with it to the best of your ability. Leadership is different; your job is to take what exists and move it to yet another level through vision.”

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Sam felt that what Slidell desperately needed was something he called “The Priorities Convention.” His concept was to call together representatives of all the identifiable groups in town. Once the groups were identified, the City Council would appoint some delegates, and the mayor would appoint some. “I asked all of the pastors in town, because I wanted the churches to be heavily represented. I asked the civic clubs around town as well. The autonomy would come through identifying subgroups. I even had a group called Original Slidellians. Finally, somewhere around 650 people received appointments and invitations. Over 600 delegates showed up in the Salmen High gymnasium to sit down together. I think we were all surprised!” It was so popular that he proposed a second convention with similar tenets. In the morning, they pondered the big questions; in the afternoon, they divided into groups for key discussions.

Left: Sam (#19) at Our Lady of Lourdes School on Napoleon Ave in New Orleans, circa 1954. Right: The OLL 8th grade graduation class of 1956. Sam is 3rd row from bottom, 2nd from left. The same group continues to hold class reunions to this day!

“In those days you could do what I’m about to tell you. School bus drivers owned their own buses and, if they were willing to do it, they could lend their buses out for different purposes. I put together about 200 people on buses for drivers to bring us into various subdivisions.

The next quandary was whether or not they would support additional sales tax for the infrastructure in Slidell that would be required for development.

A day in the political life of Sam Caruso... Left: Sam & Martha greet the floats from City Hall during Mardi Gras. Middle: Sam with U.S. Senator from Louisiana, Russell Long. Right: Sam with LA Governor Buddy Roemer and LA State Senator Gerry Hinton The moral codes learned and the relationships built during Sam’s grammar school years became the foundation for the rest of his life.

Surprisingly, the answer was almost overwhelmingly positive from the delegates, provided the changes were moderate. He leaned back, arms crossed on his chest, as he recalled the Saturday one week before the election.

I compiled a drop off spot and pickup spot, and the riders and I would canvas the neighborhood. Then, we would move to the next area, until we knocked on every door in this city in one day.” Sam finished with a big grin. At the election one week later, the tax increase passed with 57% of the vote. Now you see the kind of positive energy Sam brought with him wherever he went! When Sam became Mayor, Northshore Square Mall was already built outside the city limits of Slidell, but it had not officially opened. He cut the ribbon for the grand opening, as there was no Parish President at that time. It was a beautiful new mall, and people were going there to shop almost exclusively. I was among the crowd that was delighted to forgo the drive to New Orleans or Metairie every time I went shopping. But it was more than the shopping; there was a food court, arcade games and a movie theatre, and everything was under one roof with temperature control, with the exception of the theatre. Believe me, it was THE place to be. Teens hung out, adults could stroll their babies, seniors could walk safely and comfortably. Add visits from Santa, glassblowing demonstrations, sales, free samples and remember the electricity in the crowd during Christmas? We dressed up to go shopping back then, because we knew we would run into at least a dozen friends along the way. It was the most exciting thing that ever came to ButSlidell.forthe City of Slidell, this magical destination meant something else.

Not only was he solving a problem for

Left: Sam was the eldest of four. l-r: Sister Angela, Sam, sister Barbara (in front), mother Josephine, dad Frank, and brother Peter.

Middle: Sam & Martha on their wedding day in 1967. Right: The first inaugural program for Mayor Sam Caruso, 1985.

The mall owner agreed to talk to his team in Chicago. Fortunately, that hurricane did not hit Slidell, and Sam continued to stay in touch, reminding him of the line from Ghostbusters. By now, both of them were able to share the joke. “Then something occurred to me. I was talking to my Chief Engineer at the time. I noted that the mall had built their own water and sewer plant, and I thought we should offer to buy it. I figured the City Council would go along because it would pay for itself in a short period of time. If we bought the plant from them, they get cash. We get a water and sewer plant and we knew how to run it better than they did. The price for them was annexation into the city. So, it all made sense.”

Left: A Caruso family Christmas! Sam & Martha are joined by (l-r) son-in-law Robb Melancon, daughter Mary Martha and granddaughter Isabella, son Sam Jr. with grandchildren Andreus, Abbey, and Ariana and daughter-in-law Anna. Right: Sam & Martha Caruso, photographed in 2011 for the one-year edition of Slidell Magazine.

Sam saw the great, the good, and the threat from the mall. He admitted that the city administrators had watched it literally draining the city budget, week by week. Nodding at the memory of his dilemma, Sam smiled wryly and announced, “I had to find a way to persuade the owners to petition for annexation. I tried various things, but none of them worked.” Mother Nature proved to be the catalyst. One day, as a minor hurricane was threatening Slidell, one of the mall owners called the mayor to ask for the city’s help in clean up and repair if the hurricane hit. Sam told the owner that he could only help the people and businesses within city limits. “I reminded him that I had been trying to show him the advantages of annexation for months, but they just wouldn’t have anything to do with being part of the city. In those days, St. Tammany Parish had no sales tax at all, so their ability to help was minimal. Having a larger tax base is important. I asked if he had seen the movie Ghostbusters,” Sam’s laughter erupted like a shaken can of soda. He was barely able to speak the famous line he was laughing so hard. “I asked him, ‘Who ya gonna call?’ trying to add some humor to the conversation. The parish doesn’t have the capacity to help you. I don’t have the authority to send my people and my equipment outside Slidell. I’ve been trying to explain this since I became Mayor. But what we should do is to pray that this thing does not come here.”

Sam had another incredible story to share with us. Some of you may remember when NASA was going to close their building on Gause Boulevard, which included the surrounding 14 acres within the city limits. Sam threw his hands up and exclaimed, “It’s a big, huge building that the government was closing down. The question was, what could be done with that Federal property? I started talking to groups like the Chamber of Commerce, the City Council, and various other local groups. Well, in the middle of our brainstorming, it turns out that the Federal law at the time had a list of priorities. The first priority for the use of property like that was to make it available for the homeless. Now, I’m in favor of trying to help the homeless as much as we can. But that place was huge. It just wasn’t a fit.”

“I needed permission from the government because they own that road, and the General agreed to give his opinion to allow this. Boom, that was how we did it! Now, they even have a name for this method of annexation. It is referred to as an ‘umbilical annexation’, like an umbilical cord. The whole thing was just incredible.”

Later, Sam received a call from a General at the Pentagon. He wanted to know more about the facility that used to be owned by the Federal government that was now owned by the City of Slidell. Sam won him over in his jovial team building manner and learned that the Defense Information Services Agency was looking for a facility, but didn’t have a huge budget to get started. It would bring about 150 people to Slidell within the year, with salaries averaging at least $50,000 a year. “We held a big ceremony on the site. Not many people know what happened behind-the-scenes, but the story is so incredible!“ Yes, it is! Lest it may sound like Sam Caruso’s terms as Mayor were all a walk in the park, here is one of the catastrophes that plagued the city during his tenure. Sometime back in the 80’s, my brother-in-law put his anchor down in Bayou Bonfouca and we watched in horror as oily bubbles started forming on the surface. John pulled up the anchor, and a dark brown gooey sludge clung to it, slithering off in big, heavy globs. I grew up hearing about the old creosote plant that was near the train station. I had no idea of the implications of this on the environment. My aunt, who spent every holiday and summers here, said she associated the smell of creosote with her grandparents and her childhood, and that it always brought pleasant memories of the home she referred to as “the Creosote House”. My great-grandfather lived on the site as manager for decades in the early 1900’s, and magical tales of those days abound in my family. Little did we know that the chemicals that coated pilings that were used to build the railroad bridge to New Orleans would be a blight on our city. Long after my great-grandfather died and the Creosote House ceased to exist, a fire erupted in the old plant. In 1970, the sludge slipped like lava into the upper reaches of the bayou. Folks that grew up on Bayou Lane recalled wading in the sludge and using gasoline to clean their feet and ankles. Some said it was a cure for bee stings. Studies proved the waterway to be dangerously contaminated, and 54 acres of the Camellia City along Bonfouca became a Federal Superfund Site. The cleanup took years, with incinerators burning 9.8 million gallons of the sludge they dredged up. Water plants treated 235 million gallons of contaminated groundwater. After 10 years, the ground level was built up higher than before, all the old “spooky” remains of the buildings were razed, and the land was useable. Shortly after the work was finished, Mayor Sam was walking behind the train station and realized, “This city has no opening to its own waterfront; no opening to its own place of origin. And this place back here is a trash dump. We have to change that.” The land he envisioned as a scenic entry to our Bayou Bonfouca had two separate owners. The mayor contacted both of them. One, the Scoggin family, was happy to cooperate. The other one, the railroad, was not so cooperative. But after a bit of time and negotiations, a deal was put together. Next came the City Council. The mayor asked four council members to meet him at the site one afternoon. He set the tone, “‘Please close your eyes

Sam called his grammar school friend, Bob Livingston, who was the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee at the time. Sam convinced Bob that it should be added as a donation on the Federal budget that was a few weeks away from being adopted. Hoping his lifelong relationships would pay off for the city he loved, Sam waited anxiously. It passed without a hitch! “I have that certificate somewhere around here,” he says with a proud smile. Once again, Sam accomplished something huge for the City of Slidell. The city held a big announcement, and everybody was incredulous. Now it is our Slidell Regional Education Center (SREC), and home to LSU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a satellite campus for UNO and LSU, and technology center.

12 the city budget, but also one for the mall. I was reminded that Sam loved to solve problems in a way that both sides felt like winners.

However, the mayor had to solve the issue of the distance between the mall and city limits. The law was clear on annexation; the land had to be contiguous. But Sam had a possible solution in mind. Meeting with then-Attorney General Billy Guste, he reasoned that annexing Highway 190, which touches the mall property, would solve the dilemma.

13 and try to imagine the scene I am about to paint for you in words.’ They did. And I did. I told them, if you give me the money, I think I can get it done for less than a million dollars.” The council approved, the build out was completed and the final cost came in about $200,000 less than estimated.

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The park along the bayou was named Heritage Park and now contains playgrounds, picnic areas, a gazebo, a splash pad for kids, an outdoor stage, a new marina and beautiful vistas of both land and water. The mayor’s staff, to thank him for seventeen years of truly visionary leadership, secretly ordered a plaque bearing his image and the quote, “His vision made Slidell a better city.” They had it mounted on a pillar in Heritage Park. One of Sam’s successors, former Mayor Freddy Drennan, accepted the Excellence in Reuse Award from the EPA once the cleanup was reviewed and completed. The “Bayou Bend” complex surrounding the marina and a Tammany Trace connection are additional future plans; and it all stems from Sam’s vision over thirty years ago. Sam Caruso negotiated a balance between growth and maintaining the culture his constituents wanted, and still desire today. He negotiated new implementations of infrastructure plus the financial base for support, without squeezing out the peaceful environment native Slidellians and newcomers sought. All the while, he also managed to create a team out of factions on both sides of the fence, while keeping his Council and other local organization members coming to the table with open minds. I can now fully appreciate how much we owe to our former Mayor, Sam Caruso, Sr. The plaque in Heritage Park that commemorates Sam’s vision for the park and our community Dr. LA

again!goweHere6AUGUST22JULYtoBacktheChapelBacktotheChapel SEPTEMBER 17-9 JULY 16&15 AUGUST 27-19 I Want My MTV FINLEY WATKINS FRIENDS& artisttributerockabilly 16&15JULY 8PMatSAT&FRITWO NIGHTS ONLY! FinleyWatkins again!goweHere6AUGUST22JULYagain!goweHeretoBacktheChapelBacktotheChapel JULY 22 AUG 6hiatus...longaAfter Back!FinallyAreGirlsThe Love”YourGetAnd”ComeChapel:TheToBack brings journeytheircontinuetoMargo&MarlaGinger,Betty,back andlosssurvivingVietnam,intobreakinglove,findingof uplifting&funnyThisfriendship.trueofvaluethelearning youhavewillthat1970’sthefromsongsincludesmusical Featuringdisco!tobackyoubringing&seatsyourindancing haven’tyouIfsee!mustait’s-castpowerhousevocala thisintorightjumptofreefeelshows,twofirsttheseen It’sout!missDon’tfast!realupyoucatchwillgirlstheone, age.EVERYofwomanEVERYupliftingshow,POWERFULa Betty Ginger Marla Margo ANASTALENTSYOURLENDTOWANT OURTOVOLUNTEERORMUSICIANACTOR, THEATER?COMMUNITY @BRIANCALL 985-649-3727

15 SATURDAYTHURSDAYWEDNESDAYTUESDAYMONDAYSUNDAYFRIDAY J U L Y 2 0 2 2 SlidellCenter,HarborThe|PM7-3|202222,September SlidellSt.,Carey2220 CovingtonBlvd.,Hollycrest610 StTammanyChamber.org|985-892-3216 |BOOTH!YOURRESERVE atRheamsAnneContact 985-273-3008 or Anne@StTammanyChamber.orgDayDistribution-SeniorsforFoodPM1-3•ChurchCatholicLuke’sSt. BINGO! 3PM•Thurs&TuesEveryAve.Cleveland356•ClubLionsSlidell NetworkingB2BChamberCovington8:30-9:30AM CitiestheofState AuditoriumSlidell AM7:30 CUTTINGRIBBON PizzaBoy’sFatAM11:30>Mandeville CUTTINGRIBBON Co.&TitleBest AM11:30>Covington GALANIGHTSSOUTHERN PM7>ProvenceLa@Inn BIRTHDAY!HAPPY DeLongSharon BIRTHDAY!HAPPY LaporteNell DAYWATCHMETEOR DAYGAMEVIDEO DAYBASTILLE DAYCREAMICE DAYPARENT’S PM5-7•LibraryRiverPearlNemoFindingMovie:Familysttammanylibrary.org PM5•LibraryRiverPearlGardnerMasterYourAsk sttammanylibrary.org PM5-7•LibraryRiverPearlDoryFindingMovie:Familysttammanylibrary.org PM2:30•LibraryLacombe PARTYBUBBLE sttammanylibrary.org PM8>TheatreLittleSlidell>VizierRoyalaofStoryUntoldTheTwisted:PM7andPM2>TheatreLittleSlidell>FISHBIGperformYATs PM8>TheatreLittleSlidell>VizierRoyalaofStoryUntoldTheTwisted: SERIESCONCERTSUMMER AM11>SlidellTowneOlde FISHBIGperformYATsSlidellLittleTheatre>2&7PM VisierRoyalTwisted...SlidellLittleTheatre>2PM VisierRoyalTwisted...SlidellLittleTheatre>2PM CASEJOHNStoryteller”“ThebyTOURSCEMETERYGREENWOODFREE 985-707-8727•AppointmentBy•PM1-NOON•THURDAYS-TUESDAYS SHOWKNIFE&GUN AM9•31&30JulyDERBYROLLER PM7•LadiesLethalNS EXPOBridetheComesHere PM1•CenterEventFirehouseSlidell KIDSLUNKERS&LIARS TOURNAMENTFISHING RIVERPEARL•ONELOCK CelebrationJulyof4thPM6•HallTownRiverPearl CHALLENGEDESIGNS.T.E.M. AM10:30•PARKSLIDELLJOHNCelebrationJulyof4thAM11•SlidellTowneOlde COFFEE&CARS AM8•CrabBlueThe BALLCORONATIONTITANSOFKREWE PM7•AuditoriumSlidell MarketArtTowneOlde PM3-10•ApothecaryOaksGreen MarketFarmer’sCityCamelliaNoon-AM8SaturdayEvery PM8>TheaterEdgeCutting>PlacesLowinFriends&WatkinsFinley PM8>TheaterEdgeCutting>AgainGoWeHereChapel:thetoBack PM8>TheaterEdgeCutting>AgainGoWeHereChapel:thetoBackPancakeClubLions AM11-8•BreakfastNIGHTSMOVIESLIDELL PM10:30-8:30•ParkHeritage NIGHTSMOVIESLIDELL PM10:30-8:30•ParkHeritageSLIDELL FESTIVALHERITAGE Fireworks•Food•Music PM11-4•PARKHERITAGE NIGHTEACHPM8:30-5:30•SLIDELLOFCHURCHBAPTISTFIRST•SCHOOLBIBLEVACATIONPM6:30•MeetingCouncilSlidell PM6:30•MeetingCouncilSlidellPM6:30•MeetingCouncilSlidell CONCERTLOUNGELOBBY PM9-7•NestMoreEver SHOWCASE CONCOMIC AM10•JULYJUNE 312425262728293017181920212223101112131415163468975262728293012

Many of my readers, I believe, are fifty plus years old. Your children are grown and you are comfortable in your profession, or maybe retired. It’s been a long time coming, maybe forty or fifty years, but you have earned a certain degree of freedom. When Brenda and I were in our thirties, we were the typical couple, trying to make our mark. By that, I mean establish our business, rear our kids, and do good things for our community. It was a busy pace and let me add, we had little money and less spare time. In those days, our travel time and financial resources were limited. We took a compass like you would use in geometry and, with a map, we put the point on Slidell. We then drew circles of different sizes. The first circle was the distance that we had the time and resources to travel in one day. The next larger circle was the distance we could travel in two days, and so on and so forth for seven days.

Over the course of transcribing our notes from handwriting to type, it morphed into something else. As you read it, you may think this is a political writing. It is not intended to be that at all; but when I finish, as a fragment of this story, I hope there is just a hint of that. A positive hint, that is. This is unlike any piece I have written before; and, before you ask, it is true. My intention is that it will give you an idea about travel and what you may learn from it. Most of the time, we travel to arrive at a certain destination. I present to you the idea of traveling for the journey with no destination in sight.

Needless to say, in all those years, we never but once made a seven-day trip that was just for pleasure. All our trips were business connected with maybe an extra day or two to Fastunwind.forward forty years. We had a business trip planned that would take us to Ashville, North Carolina. The meeting got cancelled. We surprisingly realized that we had a full week blocked out, so let’s go somewhere. We realized we had a newfound freedom. Little did we know that, over the next week, we would know much more about freedom. We didn’t have to go anywhere specific. We were free to go anywhere eight days would take us, except for spending the first two days with a relative.

16 FREEDOM 1 W r B s o u s f New O l

StorytellerThe

It was the journey, not the destination. This was intended to be just a travel journal for Brenda and me only.

“

First time there and loved it ! Very nice and polite people. Knowledgeable about what they’re doing and quick and easy! Highly recommend for any kid that’s going into teen years and any adult too! I don’t think I’ll dread the dentist as much as I used to now...

Jenni M. Triola, DMD 102 Smart Place, Slidell SouthernSmilesNorthshore.com

We left Saturday morning, the day before Easter. We had a very enjoyable visit with Brenda’s Aunt Lucy and her husband Mac. Monday morning brought no agenda. We headed north, arriving in Chattanooga, TN midafternoon. We had made up our minds that the destination was not our goal, the goal was the journey. We would look for the subtle things that are unexpected and we would experience them each as an adventure. We checked in to a famous old hotel, the Read House in downtown Chattanooga. It has been modernized, but the charm of the old days is still there. My first adventure, if you call it that, was seeing a young man and his parents, who wore a St. Paul’s Wolf shirt. They had to be connected to our area of Louisiana. Yes, the father turned out to be the first cousin of prominent Slidell resident attorney Tom Thornhill. What a small world. With the journey not the destination in mind, the next day we had a beautiful drive to Lynchburg, Tennessee. This is where they make Jack Daniels whiskey. Over the years, I have contributed my share to their bottom line, so we thought we should see how it’s made. The tour is fantastic. The water used in the process flows from the side of the mountain. You find out that nothing is wasted. The mash is sold to pig farmers, the charcoal from the filtering process is sold for charcoal briquettes. The tour takes an hour and a half, but worth every minute of it. The town of Lynchburg is very small and almost all the businesses are connected to the Jack Daniels distillery. We found no decent accommodations, so we left for Franklin, Tennessee. Now, that is a nice place to visit. It is built around a circle that is the center of its old town. There is only one hotel in the area, and it was out of our budget, but we splurged and stayed two nights. It was called the Harbeth House. It has a great restaurant and the affluence of nearby Nashville was obvious in the Bentleys, Ferraris and the like that started arriving. The real pleasure was visiting the Carnton Plantation where the battle of Franklin was fought. It was only a two-day battle; but, for its length, was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The McCavock family owned a large home that became the hospital. The tour of this site is a must. Blood stains still remain on the floors. On one morning, five Confederate generals lie dead on the front porch. After the battle, the thousands of dead were buried where they fell, in shallow graves. This would create a problem the next year.

:)”

-- Reagan M. -- (Slidell, LA) 985-641-4005

BOOK AN APPT BY PHONE or ONLINE A WOMAN and MILITARY-OWNED Business!

Mr. McCavock needed to put his fields into cultivation but couldn’t because of all the dead popping up from the soil. He donated a cemetery plot and, with the help of others, buried the dead and identified as many as he could. They are interred by the state they came from. There are 200 plus buried there from Louisiana and more than 400 from YouMississippi.won’tforget this experience. If you haven’t visited a major Civil War battleground, you can’t understand the price of freedom. This is not to lessen the importance of those who perished in all the other wars. I will write more

The park attendant recommended we try an old hotel located in the tiny town of Belmont, and we did. This was an unknown pleasure. The place only had a few rooms and was much like a bed and breakfast with no breakfast. The hotel, built shortly after the turn of the 20th century, had a wrap porch on two sides. The hotel itself was the last building on the east side of town. Adjacent was a privately owned railroad. On the railroad were parked old, abandoned freight cars. My thought was ghost cars, but the hotel owner said occasionally they would be moved. It was haunting but picturesque.

Next arrived a tandem bicycle. John and Sue Fritz of Roswell Georgia were bicycling the Trace from Nashville to Natchez, then to New Orleans. Their goal was about 45 miles per day. Three days later, on our trip home, we passed them some one hundred miles down the Trace. We stopped and had our final chat. Memories are the best thing about a trip like we had. We didn’t let the failed reservation dampen our experience. We just realized the hotel in Belmont was a blessing, an unexpected adventure.

Now, for the good part, guests began to arrive. The first was a hiker that was walking the Natchez Trace from Natchez to Nashville to bring awareness to autism, a condition affecting his three-year-old son. His name was Brad Meshell and he was a native New Orleanian. His goal was to make the trip in thirty days, and he had eight more to go.

From there, we visited Shiloh Battlefield, and then onto our next destination which was Tishomingo State Park in Northeast Mississippi. Well, guess what. Mix up in reservations. No place in the park until the next night. Let me tell you, this is a rural location with next to no accommodations. We got lucky.

about that momentarily. Visiting this site spontaneously set a different priority; it would still be the journey, but with Memorial Day approaching, I wanted to dedicate some of that time to remembering them.

John S. Case, July 2022

Since we have gotten home, I have heard a speaker talk about the trouble this country is in. We certainly have our problems, but I think it is unfair to think it is worse, or even as bad, as it has been in the past. I thought about all the places we went and passed; all the dead fighting for and against our country. It’s appalling: Battle of Chattanooga - 13,824 casualties; Chickamauga - 34,624; Franklin - 9,500; Shiloh - 23,000; Corinth - 6,500; Tupelo - 1,700; Brice’s Crossroads - 800; and Jackson, Mississippi - 1,100. A total of 91,048, all within less than a day’s drive of home. Many of these men died for freedom, many others died to keep men in bondage. All of them thought God was on their side. As we pass Memorial Day and head to Fourth of July, let us realize that something as simple as a road trip is only possible due to the sacrifices thousands have made. On the next one of these days of remembrance, take some time, pause, and think of their sacrifice; but sadly realize that others will most likely have to make a similar sacrifice in the future. Pray for them.

140

• Suggest screening tests to detect problems before you even notice them. For example, a mammogram to screen for breast cancer.

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A PCP can answer questions about chronic conditions, infections or medicines. They provide preventive care, teach you how to make healthier lifestyle choices, identify and treat common medical conditions and help connect you to specialized care, when needed. Typically, once a patient finds a PCP they connect with, they stay with that physician for decades. This long-term relationship allows a PCP to really get to know you, your family history and develop a baseline for your well-being, allowing for optimal management of your overall health. A long-term relationship with a PCP keeps you healthier and can lower medical costs. Your family history and lifestyle contribute to your overall health. A PCP will consider those factors and then:

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• Help you manage long-term health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure or depression.

901

2750

The Importance of Establishing a Primary Care Provider (985) 280-2200 SlidellMemorial.org (985) 639-3777 Ochsner.org

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A primary care provider (or PCP) is a healthcare professional who helps you manage your day-to-day health needs. PCPs are usually doctors, however, some nurses and physician assistants also provide primary care. Generally, people in good health rarely need medications or the care of a specialist. At some point, however, everyone is going to feel under the weather. This is when it makes sense to have an established PCP that you can trust and who can act as the first point of contact when a health issue arises. Finding a PCP that is right for you may take time but it can improve your well-being in the long run.

• Teach you ways to make better decisions about your health to prevent disease. For example, your PCP can guide efforts to quit smoking, eat more nutritious foods or manage stress.

• Treat health problems that pop up, such as a rash or an infection.

• Find a medical specialist like a knee surgeon or a heart doctor. How does one find a primary care provider?

• Make sure your vaccines are up to date to prevent illnesses like the flu.

07.2022

•

The SMH Physicians Network and Ochsner Health provide a network of primary care providers and nurse practitioners that can provide a lifetime of primary care for your whole family. We make it our mission to develop long-term, caring relationships with our patients and their families. Our six locations in Slidell make it convenient for you to get the right care, when you need it. Call today to schedule an appointment: Gause Blvd., Suite 100 (985) 280-8970 Robert Blvd., Suite 100 (985) 280-5400 East I-10 Service Road (985) 280-9909 Gause Blvd., Suite 380 (985) 641-8086 Gause Blvd., Suite 103 (985) 280-5800 Gause Blvd. East (985) 639-3777

What is a primary care provider?

How can a primary care provider help me?

15 - Comedy Night with Mike Strecker

Under the Stars

Olde

1 - Amanda Shaw October 15 - Comedy Night with Mike Strecker October 29 - Halloween Bash with Vince Vance and the Valiants Christmas Under the Stars Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 2022 • 6-9 pm • Griffith Park • Free Admission This holiday celebration features thousands of twinkling lights, festive decorations, visits with Santa, and a life-size Christmas Village. Olde Towne Slidell Community Christmas Parade Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022 • 5 pm • Olde Towne Slidell • Free Admission The community is invited to decorate their golf carts and participate in the third annual Christmas Parade! Holiday Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 • 6 pm • Slidell Auditorium • Free Admission Louisiana Film Expo January 20-21, 2023 • Slidell Municipal Auditorium Arts Evening 2023 Saturday, March 25, 2023 • 5-9 pm • Olde Towne • Free Admission Come enjoy an evening celebrating art, live music, fine and casual dining and antique, boutique and unique shopping in Olde Towne Slidell. Bayou Jam Spring 2023 Concert Series Saturdays, 5-7 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission April 1 - High School Band & Choir Showcase • April 15 - TBD • April 29 - Redline Some Enchanted Evening with the Northshore Community Orchestra Saturday, May 13, 2023 • 6 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission Slidell Movie Nights Summer 2023 June 10, 24 • July 8, 22, 2023 • 8:30 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission Grab your lawn chairs and gather your family and friends and enjoy familyfriendly movies under the stars. “Like This, Mommy?” Keith Dellsperger, Poster Artist White Linen and Lagniappe 2022 Vince Vance C ty 2022 023

This

holiday celebration features thousands of twinkling lights, festive decorations, visits with Santa, and a life-size Christmas Village.

Holiday

Jam Fall 2022 Concert Series Saturdays • 5-7 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission

October 29

Bayou

evening of shopping, dining, live music and lagniappe. Presented by the City of Slidell, Olde Towne Slidell Main Street, Slidell Historical Antique Association, and Slidell Merchant's Association. Bayou Jam Fall 2022 Concert Series Saturdays • 5-7 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission

Towne Slidell Community Christmas Parade

October

Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra

community is invited to decorate their golf carts and participate in the third annual Christmas Parade!

October

2022 • 5 pm • Olde Towne Slidell • Free Admission

1 - Amanda Shaw

Sunday, Dec. 4,

Saturday, Dec. 17,

Christmas

2022 • 6 pm • Slidell Auditorium • Free Admission Louisiana Film Expo January 20-21, 2023 • Slidell Municipal Auditorium Arts Evening 2023 Saturday, March 25, 2023 • 5-9 pm • Olde Towne • Free Admission Come enjoy an evening celebrating art, live music, fine and casual dining and antique, boutique and unique shopping in Olde Towne Slidell. Bayou Jam Spring 2023 Concert Series Saturdays, 5-7 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission April 1 - High School Band & Choir Showcase • April 15 - TBD • April 29 - Redline Some Enchanted Evening with the Northshore Community Orchestra Saturday, May 13, 2023 • 6 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission Slidell Movie Nights Summer 2023 June 10, 24 • July 8, 22, 2023 • 8:30 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission Grab your lawn chairs and gather your family and friends and enjoy familyfriendly movies under the stars. “Like This, Mommy?” Keith Dellsperger, Poster Artist White Linen and Lagniappe 2022 Vince Vance The City of Slidell pres ents the 2022-2023 Cultural S eas on C alendar Slidell Movie Nights Summer 2022 July 9, 23 • Aug. 6, 2022 • 8:30 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission Grab your lawn chairs and gather your family and friends and enjoy family-friendly movies under the stars. White Linen and Lagniappe 2022 Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 • 6-9 pm • Olde Towne • Free Admission An evening of shopping, dining, live music and lagniappe. Presented by the City of Slidell, Olde Towne Slidell Main Street, Slidell Historical Antique Association, and Slidell Merchant's Association.

The City of Slidell pres ents the 2022-2023 Cultural S eas on C alendar Slidell Movie Nights Summer 2022 July 9, 23 • Aug. 6, 2022 • 8:30 pm • Heritage Park • Free Admission Grab your lawn chairs and gather your family and friends and enjoy family-friendly movies under the stars. White Linen and Lagniappe 2022 Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 • 6-9 pm • Olde Towne • Free Admission

The

- Halloween Bash with Vince Vance and the Valiants

October

Dec. 2,

3, 9, 10, 2022 • 6-9 pm • Griffith Park • Free Admission

21 Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall Exhibits Located at 2055 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. Free admission. Gallery hours: Wednesdays - Fridays, 12-4 pm 4 Corners² - Olde Towne Arts Center Exhibit June 24 - Aug. 19, 2022 • Opening Reception: Friday, June 24, 5-7 pm Lori Anselmo: A Celebration of 20 Years of Art! Sept. 2 - Oct. 21, 2022 • Opening Reception: Friday, Sept. 2, 5-7 pm Slidell Art League's 2022 Artist of the Year Exhibition Nov. 4 - Dec. 16, 2022 • Opening Reception: Friday, Nov. 4, 5-7 pm Movie Poster Archive Exhibition January 6 - 27, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, Jan. 6, 5-7 pm Salad Days 2023 Juried Exhibition of Student Art Feb. 10 - March 10, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, Feb. 10, 5-7 pm A juried exhibition featuring the works of St. Tammany student artists. Arts Evening 2023 Exhibition March 23 - May 5, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, March 23, 5-7 pm Slidell Photo Club Exhibition May 19 - June 23, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, May 19, 5-7 pm (985) 646-4375 MySlidell.com Sponsorships for the 2022-2023 Cultural Season are now available. For more information please call Alex Carollo, Director of Cultural & Public Aﬀairs, at (985) 646-4375. "Steampunk Octopus" by Lori Anselmo Thank you to our 2021-2022 Cultural Season Sponsors for supporting the arts in Slidell! Renaissance, $5,000: 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 Impressionism, $500 Sponsors: P. David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law CiCi’s Pizza • Mayor Greg Cromer • State Rep. Mary DuBuisson, District 90 Dr. David Hildebrandt - Slidell Family Dentistry • Old School Eats Food Truck Pizza Platoon • Pontchartrain Investment Management Slidell Historic Antique Association • Tanya Witchen - Engel & Völkers Real Estate Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall Exhibits Located at 2055 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. Free admission. Gallery hours: Wednesdays - Fridays, 12-4 pm 4 Corners² - Olde Towne Arts Center Exhibit June 24 - Aug. 19, 2022 • Opening Reception: Friday, June 24, 5-7 pm Lori Anselmo: A Celebration of 20 Years of Art! Sept. 2 - Oct. 21, 2022 • Opening Reception: Friday, Sept. 2, 5-7 pm Slidell Art League's 2022 Artist of the Year Exhibition Nov. 4 - Dec. 16, 2022 • Opening Reception: Friday, Nov. 4, 5-7 pm Movie Poster Archive Exhibition January 6 - 27, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, Jan. 6, 5-7 pm Salad Days 2023 Juried Exhibition of Student Art Feb. 10 - March 10, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, Feb. 10, 5-7 pm A juried exhibition featuring the works of St. Tammany student artists. Arts Evening 2023 Exhibition March 23 - May 5, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, March 23, 5-7 pm Slidell Photo Club Exhibition May 19 - June 23, 2023 • Opening Reception: Friday, May 19, 5-7 pm (985) 646-4375 MySlidell.com Sponsorships for the 2022-2023 Cultural Season are now available. For more information please call Alex Carollo, Director of Cultural & Public Aﬀairs, at (985) 646-4375. "Steampunk Octopus" by Lori Anselmo Thank you to our 2021-2022 Cultural Season Sponsors for supporting the arts in Slidell! Renaissance, $5,000: 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 Impressionism, $500 Sponsors: P. David Carollo, Attorney-at-Law CiCi’s Pizza • Mayor Greg Cromer • State Rep. Mary DuBuisson, District 90 Dr. David Hildebrandt - Slidell Family Dentistry • Old School Eats Food Truck Pizza Platoon • Pontchartrain Investment Management Slidell Historic Antique Association • Tanya Witchen - Engel & Völkers Real Estate

I visit her job sites as often as I can. She works in some of Slidell’s most beautiful neighborhoods and, of course, the waterfront views are spectacular. July is her busiest month but I slowed her down just long enough to give me a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her fascinating water world. Thankfully, she also has a penchant for writing, so I encouraged her to share her story - her passion for her job and what it is exactly that she does. I’m proud to shine Slidell Magazine’s July Business Spotlight on Wendy Maness and Dockside Marine Restoration, in her own words... I have always been a “hold my beer” kind of girl. Growing up, I was the child of my mother’s that was going to be dirty, in trouble and, most likely, injured. I have always had a love for excitement and, even as a baby, had NO fear of the water. Our summers were spent sneaking into apartment pools, swimming in the bayous, canals, and at the beach, jumping off the Eden Isles bridge on a dare, you name it... If there was water, I was in it. We even loved it when the streets flooded; that meant no school. The cul-de-sac on our street would become our precious flooded circle, where we would risk awful ear infections and who knows what other kind of illnesses to play in until the drainage would eventually happen and we had to go inside.

My sister’s job fascinates me. Heck, my sister fascinates me! I guess it’s natural to look up to your older siblings and hold them in high regard. After all, they’ve made all the life decisions before you, setting an example to follow, or not. They’ve made all the mistakes before you, giving you the chance to escape the same fate. My big sister, Wendy, is only two years older than me, so I was fortunate to have a freshly cleared path to follow. We share the same work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, although our jobs couldn’t be more different. Wendy owns a marine restoration company based right here in Slidell. In the male-dominated construction industry, her job and position make her a unicorn. That sounds cool, but it can have its challenges. How many female-owned construction companies can you think of? Her work is already highly specialized; throw in the fact that it’s a girl calling the shots and getting the job done and people’s minds are blown. She’s been asked (more times than we can count) when her “boss” will be available to give an estimate. And it’s especially fun to join her when she’s in the Contractor Pick-Up line at Home Depot - the stares are priceless! She’s a good sport through all of it and welcomes the opportunity to debunk the stereotype.

By Kendra Maness and Wendy Maness

I had been a small business owner in Slidell, born and raised here, so I already had an established business reputation as honest and reliable. I knew that going into the construction field wouldn’t be easy, but I knew that the formula would be simple. Be honest, deliver a superior product, and back up your product. Especially with all the hurdles we are handed in today’s world, people are starved for quality customer service, ethical business practices, and quality work.

Every property offers its own issues, and my team and I are proud to be the solution! We meet such wonderful homeowners, and the wildlife we encounter will forever amaze me. I encourage my co-workers to pause and take it in. It’s the best. Good weather, bad weather, high water, low water, hot or cold, I enjoy it all. I can’t get enough of that feeling when you leave a property knowing you made a difference. We literally restore the wall that retains the property for our customers. That’s a huge responsibility that should never be taken lightly. In restoration, you are not working with perfection. We are dealing with lumber and pilings that are being eaten away by wood boring worms and broken; shifting structures and years of damage. It’s our goal to restore and protect everything in the water and make it as strong as it once was, or even stronger. We offer many services, but I do have a favorite. For me, the restoration of an aged and failing wooden bulkhead is my passion. Certainly, we can’t ignore that the waters and the climate are forever changing, and that vinyl and plastic are solutions that we gravitate to. But, for the customer that wants a reasonably priced solution, a wooden bulkhead restoration is an amazing way to protect your property without the high cost of a new bulkhead and all new pilings.

I also pride myself on my knowledge and continued education on waterfront property solutions. We strive to continue to learn, grow and add solutions to our current list of restoration services. I like working closely with my customers and I’m proud that we are a full disclosure, female-owned, local, small business. I really like when a customer gets involved. I have even had them get in the water with me on the inspection to show them the damage, and then again after we have built their solution. There is no greater feeling than a satisfied customer that knows they got what they invested in. This is also why we can offer a 5-year warranty. We don’t use substandard material and we build it to last. I see to it personally. What about Alligators?

It is a joke amongst my friends that I am the alligator whisperer or, as a customer named me, the “Sorceress of the Swamp.” It has even been said that 9 out of 10 alligators think that Dockside employees taste like chicken. I am frequently asked if I fear alligators. Alligators have an instinctual fear of humans and that lends to our safety. Often, when alligators are sighted in our work area, the work continues with mutual acknowledgment. They are curious and, believe it or not, can be very predictable in their behavior. That is, unless they have been fed by humans. Those are the

My mother had us in swimming lessons as soon as we were old enough to be in the pool at the Elks Lodge, snotty-nosed and burnt red, every summer! At a young age, I earned the nickname “Fish” which, in later years, became “Wanda Fish.” I need it! I need the water!

I was presented with an opportunity to learn about marine restoration and I fell head over heels in love! I knew I would not only make it my career, but I would also excel at it. I have a deep respect for the power of water and the wildlife that exists in and around it.

What should I do to stop land loss at the edge of the bulkhead? This is an interesting conversation that I have with my customers when I see the effort they put into stopping “sink holes” at the edge of the bulkhead. Some of the “solutions” that people use to fill the holes from land loss lead to additional land loss. Land loss should be considered a warning. If you are experiencing holes in your yard behind the bulkhead, it could be indicating a broken tie back rod or a rotted area of bulkhead. Limestone, gravel, or concrete are not the solutions, and the issue will only get worse if ignored. Dockside does free inspections for homeowners and can identify the reason and the solution for land loss. What should I look for when buying waterfront property? Did you know that when you buy waterfront property, the seller does not have to disclose issues with the bulkhead? If you are thinking about purchasing a home on the water, make sure to have a full water inspection done prior to sitting down to the negotiating

24 alligators we can not work with because they now view us as a food source. We never want a confrontation with any wildlife. We work in their backyard, and we respect that. We have had unfortunate situations where we have had to have alligators removed by Wildlife and Fisheries. That is never our intention, unless they pose a danger to us, and they pose the greatest threat once they have been fed. Feeding alligators is illegal and you could be fined. However, most people that feed the alligators aren’t even the ones that will be at risk. I am not an alligator whisperer, but I do respect that I work in their environment. I know the dangers of feeding them and I can’t stress enough how reckless it is to adjust the natural fear an alligator has for a human. Do you find any treasures in the water? We work in so much debris and that is sad, but we are dedicated to removing what we come across that is not safe in the water or could harm the wildlife. We have removed furniture, lawnmowers, glass, lots of roofing materials and too many other items to list. We don’t charge our customers for the removal of debris from the water. This is a duty we take on because it feels right. We have been asked to search for items ranging from a Rolex dropped off a dock, to recovering a prosthetic leg for a gentleman who lost it while in the water with his andRestoringgrandchildren.bulkheadspilingsisourjob, but the extra effort to remove the things that shouldn’t be in the water is a job perk that we all enjoy.

25 THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS! SERVICES & SOLUTIONS FREE WRAPPEDENCAPSULATEDBULKHEADDOCKSPECIALTYINSPECTIONS!CARPENTRY/DECKBUILDREINFORCEMENTSPILINGSPILINGS

Customer satisfaction is our goal. Longevity through repeat and referral business is our mission. Emphasis on timeliness, attention to detail, and service-minded attitudes are our objectives EVERY day for EVERY customer. We will proudly BUILD, RESTORE & PROTECT your waterfront property for generations to come!

Piling Wraps can extend the lifetime of your pilings and protect pilings that are compromised from further Pilingdamage.Encapsulations are an affordable solution to protecting and extending the lifetime of compromised pilings. Replacing a bulkhead can be costly. Instead, reinforce your bulkhead to protect your property. Our reinforced bulkheads are wrapped to extend the lifetime of your investment. Is it time to replace unsightly decking? Interested in a bigger deck? Repair, replace or add an addition to your Needdeck/dock.astaircase? Thinking about a fishing table? Could you use an outdoor addition? We offer specialty carpentry. If you can imagine it, we can build it! Don’t allow worm damage to compromise your property. Each FREE inspection provides the homeowner with knowledge of exactly what is happening to their property under the water.

TO SCHEDULE

CALL AT 985.212.0998 YOUR INSPECTION TODAY! table. Dockside has been called out shortly after the purchase of a property only to let the new homeowner know that they had extensive damage that needed to be addressed to save their yard. Don’t let that shock happen after the sale. Dockside has saved potential buyers from investing in properties that have severe issues with the bulkhead. We have also been able to offer comfort to waterfront buyers that all is well and they can move forward, feeling good about their investment. Dockside works closely with real estate agents that sell waterfront properties. We do a full water inspection that includes pictures, concerns, and approximate cost for any needed repairs. Find out what is happening under the water before buying on the water. STATEMENT

WENDY

MISSION

| Pontchartrain Investment Management Read Mike’s past onlinearticles  Securities & advisory services offered through LPL Financial, mypontchartrain.com | 985-605-5066 Open Camera App & click web link. 2065 1st Street, Slidell, LA See our SERVICES on our WEBSITE Looking For A Road Map To Future?FinancialYour Spring Cleaning

Do You Have A “Money Map”?

In early May, Mary and I had the wonderful privilege of travelling to Scotland. We started in Glasgow, made our way through the picturesque and rugged western coast and Highlands, and finished our adventure in historic Edinburgh. Mary and I and our 13 fellow travelers were accompanied by our delightful Scottish guide, Helen, and our driver, Colin. Colin and I are standing here in Inverness at the side of his coach (those of us on the other side of the pond call it a bus). By the way, Colin treats his coach like a member of his family. One does not mess with Colin’s coach.

If you’ve been to European destinations, you know that many of the backroads and country lanes are quite narrow and winding, and our route had plenty of them. At many places where a vehicle passed us from the opposite direction, we could have reached out the window of our coach and shaken hands with the driver – once we started breathing again, that is. Colin, on the other hand, didn’t worry a bit. He was the master driver. In fact, one of the more interesting experiences of our tour was watching and commenting on how Colin was able to thread our coach through seemingly impossible road situations. Fun! Many of our Scottish destinations were in tiny, out-of-the-way places. Even Colin, skilled driver that he is, needed a map to guide us along the way. That had me thinking about other types of maps. As a financial advisor, I want my clients to have a “money map”, a plan for one’s financial future. Here are a few things that should be on it:

by: Mike Rich, CFP®

Cleaning 9 9 5 R o b e r t B l v d . | S l i d e l l , L o u i s i a n a N E W N E U R O S U R G E R Y C L I N I C T u l a n e o f f e r s c o m p r e h e n s i v e n e u r o s u r g e r y c a r e b y f e l l o w s h i p t r a i n e d n e u r o s u r g e o n s T u l a n e i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z e d f o r u t i l i z i n g c u t t i n g e d g e r e s e a r c h a n d s t a t e o f t h e a r t t e c h n o l o g y t o i m p r o v e n e u r o l o g i c a l h e a l t h a n d q u a l i t y o f l i f e CONTACT US TODAY TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT T: 985-265-7524 F: 985-445-1094 www.tulanedoctorsneuro.com

Just like the maps Colin used for driving our merry band of travelers to our Scotland adventures, a map for your money is just as important. If you don’t know where you want to be money-wise five, ten, or 25 years from now, there’s a good chance you won’t get there. Why take that risk? Call me today for an appointment, and we’ll get started on your “money map”.

Securities and Advisory Services are offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Maintain liquidity: If the tires on your car are worn out and you have to pay for new ones on credit, my guess is that you don’t have an emergency fund. If the money seems to disappear before you can build up one, consider opening an on-line savings account and setting up automatic, regular deposits. Automatic is even more key. The investment landscape can be overwhelming, and the financial entertainers on TV and the Internet pummel us with so much garbage that it’s no surprise many of us just give up trying to figure it out and then, sadly, do nothing. If that’s the case, call me for some help.

Protect first: It doesn’t make any sense to build assets if you aren’t protecting what you have already. Your family comes first, so the breadwinners in the house need life insurance. And, for your biggest asset (no, it’s not your house), you need disability income insurance. EVERYTHING STOPS if you can’t work and don’t have an income. If you have a group disability policy, make sure you understand how it works. If you don’t have a group plan, get an individual policy. Call me to figure out how much you need.

LEGERMORRISONGABBLLP Call 985-892-0942 for your FREE personalized estate planning consultation. New Name. Same Game. Estate Planning... It's All We Do. A partnership of estate planning specialists: 40 Louis Prima Drive (off Hwy 190, behind Copeland’s) Covington, Louisiana • (985) 892-0942 Introducing GABB MORRISON LEGER LLP Estate Planning & Elder Law Practice A LOUISIANA • Ronda M Gabb & Associates, LLC > Ronda M. Gabb (in the middle) • Morrison Law Group, PLC > Ronald “Chip” Morrison Jr. (on the left) • Leger Law Group, LLC > Siobhan S. Leger (on the right)

GABB MORRISON LEGER LLP Estate

& Elder

While death is sad and final, we also have to look at what “good” can come of it. One of those things is what is called the “step-up in basis” and its impact can be huge for many people. Here is a common scenario. Our decedent, John Doe, died on July 1, 2022, owning a vacation home with a fair market value of $1,500,000. John Doe purchased the property thirty years ago for only $250,000. Had John sold this property during his lifetime, say on June 1, 2022, he would have had to pay significant capital gains taxes on his “profit” of $1,250,000.

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. Planning Law

Stepright up!

First let’s discuss what “basis” is. In short, it is the price you paid for an asset (like stock or real estate), or perhaps the value of a business that you started. If the asset was donated to you, your basis is whatever the donor’s basis was. Some assets can be tricky because many of us also “depreciate” the asset that we own, especially if it is a piece of rental property. That depreciation directly lowers your cost basis. Depending on how long someone has owned an asset their cost basis could even be ZERO. This is why these very low-basis properties are usually sold through a “1031 exchange” during the life of the owner to defer the capital gains/ depreciation recapture until death and the step-up occurs.

LAW-niappe: If the property is your primary home, and it has been your primary residence for two of the last five years (the two years is actually cumulative), then even during your LIFTETIME the sale of the home may qualify for what is called the “Section 121 exclusion from capital gains” for the first $250,000 of profit ($500,000 for a married couple), and you do NOT have to purchase another primary home. One of the most important concepts that an estate planning attorney needs to be familiar with is cost basis and step-up in basis for their clients, especially when handling successions. Giving wrong or incomplete advice to clients in this area can cause significant adverse tax consequences. Unfortunately, we often see this occur with inexperienced attorneys handling successions.

LOUISIANA

Practice A

For 2022, the federal capital gains tax rate assessed on the profit from assets held long-term (more than one year) is either 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your taxable status. In this example, the tax rate would be the max of 20%. For assets held short-term (less than a year), it is your ordinary income tax rate. In addition to this federal capital gains tax, Louisiana charges a capital gains tax, too, up to a max of 4.25%.

However, when John Doe died on July 1, 2022, his beneficiaries/heirs/ legatees received the property now at the “stepped-up basis” of $1,500,000. If the property was sold on August 1, 2022, for $1,500,000, there would be absolutely ZERO capital gains taxes due! Additionally, if the property was

the COMMUNITY property of John Doe and his spouse, Jane Doe, then the entirety of the property gets a stepup in basis, NOT just the community half of the deceased. So even if Jane sold the property during her lifetime, her “new” basis now is “reset” to the $1,500,000. This is only available in community property states and fairly often we see that the spouse’s ability to step-up their half is overlooked. Now you see why it is critically important that succession attorneys make sure that their clients provide them with accurate valuations for properties and business interests so that their clients’ assets get the “new” and proper stepup in basis when these assets are later sold. If assets are “under-valued” then the full step-up in basis may be jeopardized.

29 See other articles and issues of interest! Legal-ease“Your Estate Matters” By Ronda M. Gabb, NP, JD, RFC 40 Louis Prima Drive (off Hwy 190, behind Copeland’s) • Covington, Louisiana • (985) 892-0942 • RondaMGabb.com

Editor’s Note:

Check it out! Look it up! Do the research! Tell all the grandkids! History confirms that. . .

Kendra Maness, Editor & Publisher

“In the good ol’ summertime, In the good ol’ summertime, You bring your watermelon, And I’ll bring mine… In the good ol’ summertime!” by: FRANK DAVIS

Frank authored four cookbooks, all of which contain classic New Orleans seafood, Italian and Creole recipes. Because Frank was the WORST RETIRED PERSON EVERRR and had boundless energy, he began writing a monthly food column with recipes for Slidell Magazine in April 2012, titled “Frankly Slidell.” He continued his monthly stories until June 2013 when his health became such that he was unable to write. Some of my most cherished memories came from our phone conversations every Sunday, where we would visit for hours and he would dictate his last few stories to me from his hospital bed. Frank died in December 2013. I miss my friend terribly. I think of him all the time, which is normal when you’ve lost a friend. (Plus, his cookbooks and photo are prominently displayed in my kitchen.) So, I had Frank on the brain as I began work on this month’s edition of Slidell Magazine. The temperatures outside have become hellfire, and I yearned for a cool culinary respite. Searching through our archives, I found the following story from Frank that appeared in our July 2012 edition, ten years ago. It is my honor to bring it to you again.

I first met Frank Davis, the larger-than-life New Orleans television personality “known for his outdoors acumen, culinary skills, love of Carnival, characteristic Crescent City accent and affable demeanor” (nola.com) in February 2012, when I interviewed him for a biographical story in Slidell Magazine. As with everyone who had ever met Frank, we instantly became friends. This was about a year after his retirement from WWL-TV, where his 40-year career included creating and hosting the segments “Naturally N’Awlins” and “The Fish and Game Report” as well as appearing in weekly morning cooking spots.

EverywhereEverybodyLovesWatermelon!

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 seedless watermelon, 5-6 pounds3 cups vegetable or Canola oil fordeep frying

2 egg whites, well beaten

2 teaspoons bottled water

 And finally, most of us are happy as clams just to be able to bite into a slice of ice cold, sweet watermelon and relish it au naturel. However, eating watermelon by the bite right off the slice isn’t the only thing you can do with the popular summertime treat. I’ve got some really super recipes I want to share with you:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Oh, yeah. You can deep fry it!

I’ve always thought them to be “six of one and a half dozen of the other.”

Some watermelon stats:

10X powdered sugar for garnish Cut watermelon into quarters (4 lengthwiseslices). Now remove the rinds, cut the melonflesh crosswise into 1-inch thick slices, theninto 1-inch thick triangles. If you end up withodd-shaped chunks…hey, that’s alright!Then heat the oil in a deep-sided chickenfryer to exactly 350 degrees. While the oilis coming up to heat, whisk the cornstarchwith the egg whites and water until totallycombined and smooth. All that’s left is todredge the watermelon chunks in the panof flour then dredge them in the cornstarchbatter. Then deep fry ‘em in batches untilthe chunks are golden brown (don’t crowdthe melon in the oil—the pieces need roomto fry.)

 Seedless watermelons were first produced by a Japanese scientist in 1950 using genetic engineering.

Some spin the melon to see if it wobbles as it turns (meaning the inside is still developing and not yet ready to eat); some buy only melons with a dull rind and a slightly waxy shine; some purchase only melons which are symmetrical without any flat sides; some insist that only melons with a pale yellow underside (not white or light green) are ready to eat; some say that melons should have a green stem, while others argue that the stem of a ripe melon needs to be dried and shriveled and brown. But the most common method of selecting a ripe melon is the “thumping method,” whereby the middle finger is flicked off the thumb so as to produce a deep, rich, resounding thudding sound. Pick the method you like the next time you go melon shopping!

Finally, remove the melon chunksfrom the oil, drain them well on a cookierack, and liberally sprinkle the chunks witha generous dusting of powdered sugar. Isuggest you serve them immediately whilepiping hot!

Louisiana DeepFried Watermelon

Technically, they are actually watermelon “fruit,” but have always been considered to be a type of “melon,” a pepo, a berry with a thick outer rind and a sweet, deep red, fleshy inside. Of course, science notwithstanding, it goes without saying that its sweet, juicy, cooling effect lends a welcome relief to the hot, sweltering days of summer!

According to all the botanists and melon-masters, every year from May to September—but especially from June to late August—watermelons, regardless of the varieties, are in their prime season! And, in all honesty, that just couldn’t come at a better time! Botany tells us that scientists believe watermelons were indigenous and originated in tropical Africa where they grew wild in runners along the ground.

 Whole, uncut watermelons can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, somewhere between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. But chilling below 40 degrees will turn the flesh to mush in short order.

 The age-old discussion on “how to choose a ripe watermelon” has been going on probably as far back as The Big Bang. Every nationality, every city and state, every neighborhood, in fact everybody and his brother can tell you the perfect procedure for detecting melon ripeness!

 Watermelons will continue to ripen and soften at room temperature, but not by very much.

2 pounds miscellaneous fresh fruit cut in small cubes

1 cup bottled water

Several fresh mint leaves

And you can even make it with a splash of Tequila!

WatermelonLemonade

1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice

In food processor or blender, puree watermelon with honey and wine until completely liquefied. Then transfer to a large serving bowl, stir in the fruit cubes, raisins, and mint leaves. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (overnight is better) and serve as a first-round fruit soup.

3 tablespoons local wild honey

1/3 cup sweet dessert wine

3/4 cup fresh raspberries

1/3 cup granulated or superfine sugar

10 cups seeded watermelon chunks

1 hefty handful golden raisins

Watermelon Soup

6-8 cups fresh de-seeded watermelon cubes

All that’s left is to stir in the sugar, lemon juice, and Tequila and stir briskly until all the sugar dissolves. Refrigerate for about an hour and serve mid-afternoon out on the veranda! Add a splash or two of Triple Sec and substitute lime juice for lemon juice, and you got yourself a Deep South Watermelon Margarita.

Great for lunch during the dog days of summer!

Put the watermelon, the raspberries, and the water in a high-speed blender. Then cover and process until totally smooth. At that point, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a glass pitcher.

2 jiggers Tequila (optional, for adults only)

1-1/2 ounces dark chocolate, cut into small pieces

1 cup whipped topping or whipped cream

WatermelonPudding

Place watermelon chunks into a food processor and whip until you get about 2 cups melon juice. Now transfer the juice to a small saucepan, whisk in the sugar, and the cornstarch and whip until the cornstarch dissolves. At this point, bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Let the mix continue to boil until pudding turns a bright red. Now stir in the orange blossom water and the cinnamon. Immediately, though, pour the mixture into about a half dozen small ice cream goblets. Then stir in the chocolate pieces and the nuts. All that’s left to do is chill the pudding and serve it with a liberal helping of cold whipped topping.

Half of a 5-pound watermelon, rind removed and cubed

1/4 cup superfine sugar

1 tsp. orange blossom water (found in liquor stores)

Photos by Imke

What a great Southern dessert!

1/4 cup chopped pistachio nuts

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 cup cornstarch

S Fun

Slidell Little Theatre and their kid’s summer acting program, Young Actor’s Theatre, are offering plays that are perfect for families and a great introduction to theater for children. Registration for the summer programs start as early as April. But their performances are in full swing now and open to the public. It’s a real treat for the whole family in the large, air-conditioned, professional setting of our community theater. Upcoming YATS performances are: Descendants, The Musical Friday, July 1 - Sunday, July 3 (showtimes 7pm & 2pm) Big Fish Friday, July 8 - Sunday, July 10 (showtimes 7pm & 2pm) The cost is $25 per person, per season. The season starts in June and includes 6 shows. For more info, visit www.slidelllittletheatre.org.

34 ummertime

Finley Watkins and Friends in Low Places Friday, July 15 - Saturday, July 16 (showtimes 8pm) Tickets start at $30. www.cuttingedgetheater.com By Kendra Maness and Alex Carollo

“I’m Thosebored.”arethe two words that every parent dreads hearing during the long summer months. If you or your kids have a case of the summertime blues, then it’s time to get out of the house. You’ve still got a long (and hot) July ahead so get out the daily planner and let’s find some adventure! You’ll be surprised to find out how many exciting things there are to do not only in Slidell but in St. Tammany and beyond. Become a tourist in your own backyard this summer and explore the Northshore. People love going to the movies, but not the high price of tickets. The Grand Theatre IMAX 16 in Slidell is offering a great deal for families this summer. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am, families can enjoy movies for only $5 +tax. And you don’t even have to sneak in snacks, because the price of admission includes a kiddie sized drink and popcorn. Now, most of the movies are second-run, but they are worth seeing on the big screen, especially if you missed them the first time. This is also a great opportunity to acclimate the little ones to seeing a movie on the big screen. Visit www.thegrandtheatre.com for more information.

Cutting Edge Theater also has a July show that’s great for all ages and promises to have you rocking in the aisles! Finley Watkins is a 13-year-old singing and performing phenom who performs the songs of artists like Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and more. Finley has performed on many television shows, including a two-time stint on the Ellen Show. He delights fans across the country with his spot-on Elvis impersonation and impressive stage show.

Everyone can enjoy some exercise without the stifling temperatures outdoors.

Another great family outing, or a safe place to leave your well-behaved tweens unattended, is Skater’s Paradise.

Admission is between $6$9, depending on when you want to go skating, with rental skates costing only $2. There are arcade games and typical roller rink food choices. Saturday mornings are a great opportunity for you and the littles, with the rink opening early from 10am-noon just for kiddos 10 and under to hone their skills at skating. Skater’s Paradise is open 7 days a week, with most days having afternoon and night hours. Check out their website for more info: www.skateslidell.com

The library is also a great place to borrow children’s books, DVDs, audio books, and even e-books that you can read on your Kindle, Nook or iPad. And best of all, it’s free! Really, the library is a fantastic way for any age to escape the summer heat and have a great time. There are far too many things to do than we can list here, so go check out their website for all the happenings: www.StTammanyLibrary.org

The Slidell Community Pool is officially open! The city now welcomes everyone to join in the fun at the public pool located just outside of Possum Hollow Park. Summer pool hours are Tuesdays-Saturdays, from 12-6 pm. The cost is $1 per person.

We have a great alley right here in Slidell, Bowling USA. There are promotion happening throughout the summer. You can grab dinner (and even adult beverages) while you’re there too. They’re open 7 days a week, with varying hours. You should call ahead for availability as lanes are available on a first come, first served basis. 985-649-4811

Parks & Recreation

Group swim lessons through Lakeside Swim Club are also available at the community pool for $125 for six lessons. For more information, please call Nicole Beebe at (228) 363-2601.

The St. Tammany Parish Library offers lots of kid’s activities during the summer at every one of their locations throughout St. Tammany Parish. There are 4 locations in East St. Tammany - Pontchartrain Drive, Robert Blvd, Pearl River and Lacombe. Activities include storytelling, popular animated movies, arts and crafts projects, scavenger hunts, games and much more.

Heritage Park is the home of the City of Slidell’s Bayou Jam concert series and Some Enchanted Evening with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Slidell’s annual Fourth of July Heritage Fest and numerous other events in Slidell. The park lies of the banks of scenic Bayou Bonfouca and features a walking path, Kid’s Community Playground and splash pad, a Hurricane Katrina sculpture, a 9/11 monument with a piece of the World Trade Center, a public boat launch, a new marina for overnight boat docking and several pavilions perfect for picnicking in the park.

What is summer without family bowling night?

If you want to hit the courts with your kids, grab your rackets and some tennis balls and head to the Calamari Courts at Veterans Park in Olde Towne. If basketball is your game of choice, head on over to the gymnasium of John Slidell Park or Fritchie Park to work on your jump shots or shoot some hoops with the kiddos. And if your family likes to bike, explore the Northshore on the Tammany Trace, which connects Slidell to the rest of the Parish. Visit www.tammanytrace.org for more information.

Whether it’s sports, exercise, picnics, playground facilities, swimming, or community events, parks are a great source of free or low-cost entertainment for families. Lucky for us, Slidell has over 30 of them.

If you haven’t visited the Heart of Slidell, come see what you have been missing. Whether you’re a foodie or a shopaholic, an art enthusiast, music lover or a history buff, Olde Towne offers something for everyone. If you love to shop, First Street in Olde Towne is anchored by some diverse options. Green Oaks Apothecary has everything for your senses including herbs, natural health products, bath and body products, original art and creations to view and purchase, and a reading room for a quiet, cool summer respite. The Olde Towne Art Market is held here on the second Saturday of every month.

One of the most beautiful parks on the Northshore can be found between Lacombe and Mandeville. Fountainebleu State Park was founded on the grounds of an old Sugar Mill. The 2,800 acre park boasts gorgeous oak trees, campground and cabin facilities, nature trails, a water playground and even a beach for sunbathing. Bring the kids for a swim in the temperature-friendly, shallow waters of Lake Pontchartrain. And, feel free to bring your dog on a leash for a dip also! There is a $1 entry fee for adults. Kids 12 & under and adults 62+ get in for free! The web address is a doozie, so just Google “Fountainebleu State Park”. And speaking of the beach, did you know the beach on Carr Drive is open? Next time you want to take a dip, sunbathe, or build sandcastles, skip the drive to the Gulf Coast and enjoy the beach right here in Slidell. Olde Towne Slidell

On the other end of First Street, be sure to take a stroll down Antique Row for Slidell’s most unique shopping including art, antiques, vintage dishware and collectibles, retro clothing, jewelry, dolls and more. On Robert Street, you’ll find Create Dat which offers FANtastic shopping for every sports enthusiast, specialty holiday items, as well as unique gift items and the chance to get them all personalized in-house. Whether you’re a bargain hunter or a chic shopper, Olde Towne has something for everyone in every price range. You’ll also want to attend the Camellia City Farmers Market for some of the best produce and specialty foods available in Slidell, held every Saturday morning in Olde Towne.

Camp Salmen offers a peaceful and serene experience for families. Tucked away along the banks of Bayou Liberty, this park was formerly the site of a regional Boy Scout Camp. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it in an open air pavilion, which was once the home of the Boy Scout’s dining hall. Explore the ruins of old cabins and walk through the bayou on numerous trails. And good news, the Tammany Trace has been extended to Camp Salmen. For park hours and information, visit: www.campsalmennaturepark.org.

While you’re in Olde Towne, take a journey through Slidell’s history at the Slidell Museum and the Mardi Gras Museum on First Street. The exhibits are fascinating and available to view at your own pace, with or without a guide. This is a must for the whole family, as there is something appealing for all age groups. Admission is free. Museum hours are: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 12-4pm Fridays, ToursSaturdays,10am-4pm10am-2pmalsoavailableby appointment. To schedule field trips and tour groups, call 985-646-4380. Olde Towne has multiple street events throughout the summer. Visit www.oldetowneslidell.com.

After you’ve worn yourself out from shopping, relax and grab something to eat and drink in one of the many restaurants found in Olde Towne. From Mexican to Italian, American to Creole Cuisine, there is something for every time of the day and even the most discerning of taste buds. You can end your dining experience with a sweet finish at Olde Towne Soda Shoppe while playing some mini-golf at the brand new putt-putt course next door.

Also, while you’re on the website getting your tickets (www.audubonnatureinstitute.org), don’t forget to get your tickets to the Aquarium of the Americas and the Entergy IMAX Theatre for one reasonable low price. If you want to get more up close with the animals, then Global Wildlife Center in Folsom offers a great experience for animal lovers of all ages. Hitch a ride on a covered wagon and go on safari to see zebra, giraffes and other exotic animals in their natural habitat. You can also purchase food and have the giraffes eat right out of your hands. You won’t believe how long their tongues are! For info, visit www.globalwildlife.com.

At Insta-Gator Ranch in Covington, kids can learn everything they ever wanted to know about alligators. Fun Fact: Did you know that an alligator’s skin pigment is actually black? The ranch is run by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, and kids and adults will learn about the alligator business in Louisiana, from hatchlings to handbags. Visit www.instagatorranch.com.

If you’re willing to take a ride across the lake, the Audubon Institute offers enough fun to fill an entire week of activities. The Audubon Zoo is one of the best in the country, winning several national awards for their animal care and conservation. With a ticket to the zoo, you can purchase entry to the Cool Zoo water park for an additional $10. The wet and wild, kid-friendly fun starts with a 750-foot lazy river and continues with a huge alligator water slide, spider monkey soakers, waterspitting snakes and more splash-worthy activities. Best of all, it’s right beside the animals inside Audubon Zoo.

On a hot summer day, the INFINITY Science Center in Mississippi at the NASA Stennis Space Center just may be one of the coolest places in the galaxy! This interactive, state-of-the-art center allows children and adults the chance to witness the history of exploration on Earth and in space and showcases the Gulf Coast’s many contributions to NASA and the space program. Hours are Thurs-Sun, 10am5pm. Visit www.visitinfinity.com for more information. These are just a few of the things you and your family can explore here in St. Tammany Parish and the surrounding areas. The St. Tammany Tourist and Convention Commission’s website is a great resource for everything that’s happening on the Northshore. Visit www.louisiananorthshore.com for more great ideas.

If you want to see alligators in their natural habitat, then take a swamp tour with one of Slidell’s three tour companies, Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tour, Pearl River Eco Tours, or Cajun Encounters. You will board a boat and follow your guide deep into the swamp where you will experience the sights and sounds and critters of the Louisiana swamplands. Who knows, you might even spot Bigfoot! Reservations are required for all. You can find these and more, including tours on airboats and kayaks, and tours of swamps throughout the state by searching “Louisiana Swamp Tours” online.

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