Slidell Magazine - August 2022

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL

WE SAY KEEP IT FRESH KEEP IT POSITIVE

Vol. 142 August 2022

EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY

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White Linen and Lagniappe

Saturday, August 13, 2022 ◆ 6-9 pm

Towne Slidell

This is the SIXTH cover for Slidell Magazine by artist Keith Dellsperger. “Like This, Mommy?” is an almost life-sized painting of Keith’s former neighbor, Sarah Gumino. It’s only fitting that Keith paint Sarah, as he had previously captured her brother, Cole, on a canvas equally as breathtaking (and is Kendra’s favorite painting EVER). This month’s cover was chosen for the City of Slidell’s 2022 White Linen & Lagniappe poster; one of the many accolades that Keith’s paintings have received.

Stop into Keith & Kelly Dellsperger’s art studio on First Street on the night of WL&L to see the original, purchase a signed poster, and view more of their spectacular art. We’re sure to be there!

When he’s not painting, you can find Keith in or around Olde Towne, performing on his ukelele. You can regularly catch him at the Farmer’s Market, charming the Saturday morning shoppers with his songs.

We always look forward to Keith’s works and beg him constantly to paint more. This month’s cover is sure to be an award-winner and we can’t wait to submit it for 2022 Best Cover at the New Orleans Press Club next year! Talk about anticipation!

I went to my very first art show in 2010. I was invited by Kim Bergeron, then-Director of Cultural Arts for the City of Slidell. I was so complimented that she invited me to share that experience! (FYI: The city’s art shows are open to everyone and free, but I didn’t know that at the time.) I stayed awake studying for hours the night before, learning as much as I could about the various mediums and styles of painting - Impressionism, Realism, Baroque, Abstract, etc. I absorbed as much information as I could, to “fit in” with those artsy-fartsy types at the gallery. The night of the reception, I donned my best dress, most expensive jewelry, and used a half-can of hairspray to look as close to Audrey Hepburn as my blonde hair and limited budget would allow.

Arriving at the City Hall gallery (now named the George Dunbar Gallery), I steadied myself for a night of fancy art talk and pretentious prattle with Slidell’s art elite.

Upon entering, I quickly realized that my impression of the “artsy” people couldn’t have been more wrong. The artists weren’t wearing berets and ascots, the visitors were not examining the art with monocles, and NO ONE was talking about the medium or style of the paintings. Everyone was casually dressed, the atmosphere was light and the conversation was easy. Maybe I had seen too many movies from New York.

A bit self-conscious from being over dressed and soaked in a vat of Chanel No. 5, I still hoped to impress with all of my newly acquired art knowledge. I approached a painting, studied it carefully, and lingered long enough for someone to join me. It was Kim Bergeron. Now, if you know Kim, you know she is a huge arts advocate and aficionado. Still today, twelve years later, I’ve never met anyone who knows more about art than Kim.

I began my critique, delving deep into the artist’s psyche and the juxtaposition of the colors, the symbolism of the images, the allegory used to convey a deeper meaning through the structure of the lines...prattle, prattle, prattle.

Kim thought for a moment. “Hmmm... I like the colors.”

I love telling this story because that moment has impacted my life, and this magazine, in more ways than I could ever have imagined at the time.

Art is EASY. Not in its creation, but in its enjoyment.

Check out the City of Slidell’s Cultural Events Calendar page in this month’s magazine. Take some time to enjoy the talented artists of every type that we are fortunate to have in our community.

It’s easy.

Whether you enter through the broad, brick front steps to the old Sunday School room, or from the shady back porch door, the colorful slogans and imagery let you know that all are welcome at Brandee’s apothecary shop. Brandee may be working in the back, but her warm, gregarious spirit fills the air. I recall my first visit to Green Oaks Apothecary and wondering if this were Wonderland, or the home of a Seuss character or Harry Potter. Perhaps a smattering of all three! Regardless, it was magical and inspirational. My presence was announced by a soft, clear bell sound, as a friendly employee emerged from within the labyrinth of rooms. Brandee has been slowly opening more rooms, each with their own imagery and ambience to match the unique handmade items within. Murals on the ceiling or walls match the mood of each particular room with its own individual purpose. Beyond the health-conscious products one would expect to find in an apothecary, there are so many original gift ideas. I even found presents for kids who have everything, handcrafted by the daughter of a friend of mine.

I continued passing through rooms until I arrived at the library, with research books about health and medicinal products. Slidell’s first modern day apothecary is not a commercial pharmacy with prescription medications; but Brandee’s homeopathic version, resulting from years of her research, training, and personal selections of one-of-a kind items. Once Brandee joined me, I learned the humble beginnings of her seemingly impossible dream, now the reality in which we were enveloped.

So, sit down with us in the red velvet chair, next to the old record player, the smell of sage clearing your mind. You’re sure to enjoy this visit with Brandee...

Many of you know Brandee as a promoter of Olde Towne Slidell events. She is full of good ideas and positive energy, bringing young people and adults into all the establishments located in the heart of our community. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she has been President of Olde Towne Slidell Main Street Coalition, Social Media Director of the Olde Towne Slidell Merchants Association, Queen of the St. Patrick’s

Day Parade, Grand Marshall of the Krewe of Mona Lisa and MoonPie, and now, Queen of Mona Lisa and MoonPie for 2022! But her life has not been without obstacles. In fact, it was something more like a roller coaster ride. Along the ride, she surrounded herself with good people and, as she claims, “an angel on my shoulder.”

Brandee was two years old when her family (brother Danny, mom LaNelle Walker and dad Geoffrey Santini) moved to Slidell because her dad was transferred with his job as an FBI agent. Recalling her Slidell neighborhood in Heritage Estates as her first “community” experience, she related, “It was the most amazing neighborhood to live in because all the adults were about my parents age, and there were so many children. It was a party neighborhood, and the parents met for cocktails every evening. We would corner off a huge cul de sac, close off the street at night, and play cabbage ball with the whole neighborhood. It was a great childhood from the time I was two to eight years old, going to school at St. Margaret Mary. My father worked long

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” - Marcel Proust

A biography by Kendra Maness

Brandee Mercedes Santini

hours with the FBI. There are actually a lot of documentaries about him working in New Orleans with the shipping industry and undercover drugs. It prevented him from being home much, which eventually caused a split in my family. All of my friends’ families took care of us until my parents finally got divorced, and my brother, mother, and I ended up moving to Pascagoula, Mississippi and moved in with my grandparents.”

Her grandparents, George and Peggy Walker, were both retired teachers who had also moved home to take care of George’s mother, Brandee’s great-grandmother. Her great-aunt also lived in the small family home. Her grandparents instilled in Brandee her love of plants and animals and how to treat all human beings with respect and kindness; because, as they said, “You never know what someone else is going through.”

Brandee relaxed in her velvet chair, savoring the memories. “Nothing was more important to them than family and their faith. My grandfather had opened a flower shop in Pascagoula called One Day at a Time. It is where my green thumb came from. Unfortunately, Grandpa developed Alzheimer’s at 56 years old, and my grandmother took care of everyone and everything. That is where I learned my work ethic, caring about people around me, and all about plants!”

Laughing, she admitted, “My grandmother’s life must have been totally uprooted. Our family goes back from the very beginning of Pascagoula, so I had this amazing network of people. My grandmother found herself once again a working mother with 40-hour work weeks, raising the two of us practically feral kids. Then, the only man she’s ever loved gets Alzheimer’s. And she still managed to come home, clean and cook almost every day. She made sure everyone’s birthdays and holidays were amazing. It felt like I had 100 cousins that lived there, because my grandfather had 13 siblings. Grandma went to work every single day, never missing a day of work. She was so independent, and I think that’s where I get it from. She could grow

anything. Their house looked like the Garden of Eden. I don’t know how she did it. Now she is 90 years old, lives by herself, and is the hardest headed person I have ever met in my life. I bought this building because it has three bedrooms, and I wanted her to come live with me.” She shook her head, “It’s never gonna happen. She’s too independent.”

Brandee had a lot of other strong females in her life. Her favorite table was the one with a dozen or so women in the family. She set the busy scene, “They would play cards, drink, sing, and say the rosary. They would bet on football sheets every Friday and Saturday night during football season. There were always fireworks at New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July. It was just like there was always a celebration of life going on there. The kids were always told to go outside and play, so we were always outside, and we loved it! When we would have big family get togethers with all the cousins, there could easily have been 45 adults in the kitchen. That was such an amazing childhood, other than my mom becoming an alcoholic and my grandfather having Alzheimer’s. But everyone else made up for these painful moments, so it was just part of life around there. We all navigated around the difficulties together.” But a beam of light entered Brandee’s countenance

when she announced, “My mom has been sober for 20 plus years!” A philosophical person, Brandee admitted, “I honestly wouldn’t change one single thing in my entire life. Nothing. It makes you who you are, the good and the bad.”

While all of this was going on in Mississippi, Brandee’s dad, Geoffrey, bought a home in Olde Towne, near the Lions Club. He remarried Benita Galatas, a local girl from Slidell. Brandee would visit on weekends. Eventually, her dad’s union would bring a daughter, Maria. They’ve remained in that house for 30 years, so Brandee kept her personal connection to Olde Towne. She remembered, “On weekends, we would walk to KY’s to get nachos, then over to the Soda Shoppe. And then we would walk back home leisurely through our stomping grounds in Olde Towne.”

I chose to write about Brandee because I love Olde Towne also. Although I have to drive there from my Bayou Liberty home, Tom and I love to park our car and amble around all day.

Knowing Brandee’s independent streak, it’s no surprise that she put herself through college at the University of South Alabama. She graduated with two degrees, one in history and one in anthropology. Her work ethic served her well. The entire time, she made her living at Cuco’s Mexican Restaurant in Pascagoula and Biloxi, first as a server, then as bartender.

The lessons learned there proved to be invaluable for owning her own business. She allowed, “One thing I’ll say is that the fast pace really taught me a lot about how to run a business, how to read my customers, and how to interact with them in a moment’s notice. I worked there for seven years, commuting from Pascagoula, Mississippi to Mobile, Alabama, and I graduated Summa Cum Laude! That was a very big deal for me. After college, I got a job with Express clothing store in Biloxi and worked my way up from just an employee to being a District Manager for almost eight years. I transferred to Hattiesburg, Mississippi and learned every aspect of running a

Young Brandee with her grandfather, George Walker

business, including how to manage people, all about HR, and all the details of running a retail store. I fell in love, got married, and had a little girl in 2003, Eva.”

“The second I found out I was pregnant, I started reading the backs of labels. I could not believe that we were allowed to put these chemicals on ourselves, let alone babies. So, even though I was working 60-70 hours a week, I started researching how to live a healthier lifestyle. The problem was that I had to hire people to watch my child while I worked. I’ll never forget the day President Obama got elected, and he was talking about change. It hit me, I needed to change my own life and get rid of the stress. So, I quit. I knew that I wasn’t raising my daughter; everybody else was.”

“We had just bought a house in Hattiesburg when Katrina hit, pretty much destroying our house, and definitely destroying the business.” The angel on Brandee’s shoulder did see to it that Brandee was offered a job to take over a much bigger Express store in Birmingham, Alabama. The young family moved there for about three years, and this is where Brandee got really serious about herbalism and health.

She described, “I literally purchased every book and every magazine I could find on holistic health. I was on the internet reading, reading, reading, in my spare time. I learned to make my own products, started a garden, and just tried to live a healthier lifestyle. Now, all that material is available for reference material to my customers in our Bohemian Room. We use this room to do Reiki sessions, Tarot card readings, training, herbal and nutritional counseling, or just for people to listen to records and relax.”

Brandee used the next two years to try and make up for lost time with Eva. Mother and daughter spent time doing arts and crafts, and then taught them to Eva’s classmates. She also took a lot of her products to different markets and festivals. This is how Brandee got her foot in the door selling her ware. Unfortunately, at the same time, her marriage was dissolving. Brandee knew it was time for her next loop-de-loop. She moved to Slidell to be near her dad as Eva started second grade.

“Dad told me he had my back, so I gave Slidell another try. He bought the house right around the corner from him on College Street, called the old Pank’s house, built in 1890. It was the most perfect thing for me and Eva at that time. I started doing lots of shows and festivals because I didn’t have a dollar to my name. I even started holding craft parties at my friends’ houses. The shows and festivals require deposits and fees, and my dad is the reason why I was able to get going. Maria came home from college and helped me make candles and we travelled together to the shows. You could work your tail off and sell everything or work your tail off and sell nothing. It could rain, or be too hot, or encounter competing events, so many things that can go wrong. One day, out of the blue, Dad said, ‘Hey, you really should get a storefront.’”

Brandee had already done the research and found that nobody

Bayou Tiger

Shrimp Poboy

Philly Omelet

makes a living for long by doing what she wanted to do, and especially not here in Slidell. Geoff and Maria persisted and kept after Brandee to give a storefront a try. Her dad finally offered to pay her first three months’ rent if she would just find a place. There was a tiny space for rent on Carey Street, so she asked her neighbor and owner of the location, Andy Prude, to let her look around.

She laughed, “All I had was the wall of herbs, because that was my most important thing, and three racks of my body products that I made myself. Then I tried to fill the rest of the space with sofas and TVs. But somehow, I always knew the name would be Green Oaks Apothecary. I wanted to recycle and promote green environmental education. Oaks because we are here on the Gulf Coast. And I had to incorporate ‘Apothecary’ because we are an herbal pharmacy. When I first moved in on Carey Street, people would walk by and I could see them trying to pronounce apothecary.” This set us both laughing as she imitated the scrunched eyes and lip reading. “Honestly, back in 2013, there were almost no apothecaries. Now, if you Google search, there are so many apothecaries in the nation.”

Brandee beamed, “I still have the very first dollar that I ever made, hanging up behind my register. You know, you want to open your first business with this ideal space that’s perfect, exactly how you envision it. But that takes money. I had just three months to finish the painting, make more products, and try to get other people’s stuff to sell in there. But I didn’t even have the money to buy a hanging plant. The only reason why I even opened on March 2nd, 2013 was because this lady would walk by every day and look in the window. One day she finally knocked and asked, ‘Hey, can I buy something?’ I didn’t even have a cash register. She bought three soap bars, and I didn’t even have a bag to put them in. She is the one who told me I should frame her dollar. Now I mentor new businesses with the motto - don’t wait to perfect it, just open your doors and get the word out.”

Shortly after, the City of Slidell hosted Arts Evening throughout Olde Towne. Brandee made more that night than she had since she first opened her doors. But, she had expected challenges. “It would be a major struggle to educate people about chemicals like phthalate, a chemical in products that creates viscosity and is a preservative. Unfortunately, it’s also a major endocrine disruptor with a direct link to breast cancer and all kinds of other issues. Now today, customers come to me and say, ‘Hey, my fragrances have to be phthalate free.’ So, I feel pleased with this progress!”

Once on Carey Street, things evolved quickly. “Other Olde Towne business owners and I got together and realized we needed more events on a regular basis.” They joined together to breathe life back into the Olde Towne district, forming the Carey Street Coalition. Brandee contacted musicians, artists, performers, street vendors and crafts people to include something for everyone. They were all advertising and advocating for

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each other. The first Carey Street Crawl was held in April, 2014. It was a success, so they continued hosting them.

After gaining more popularity and a regular clientele, another life loop-deloop came when Brandee’s landlord sold the building that housed Green Oaks Apothecary. She wanted to stay on Carey Street, but nothing to rent was available. She had always admired the historic Sunday School building on First Street. Soda Shoppe owners, Frank and Carla Jackson, lived upstairs and were looking for a tenant for the space beneath them.

Brandee exclaimed, “It was huge! I couldn’t begin to fill that space. I remember asking, ‘Is this price for real? How am I going to fill this space up?’ Then he asked me upstairs so we could discuss the details, and the rest is history! Frank even helped with the remodeling work and became like my second dad. I changed the name

of the crawls to be more inclusive and helped put together our first Olde Towne Crawl in May of 2018.”

Now Olde Towne is the happening spot in Slidell. It has taken decades and the tireless efforts of the Olde Towne business people, but the heart of Slidell is beating stronger than ever.

Brandee described, “Now it has a vibe with friends and neighbors hanging out after work and all of the customers coming from all over to be a part of this scene. I have this beautiful photo of all of our kids at one of the crawls. Now the neighborhood is full of young kids!”

The story sounds like an unlikely fairy tale, but it isn’t over yet. Frank and Carla decided to sell the building, so they gave their tenant first rights. Brandee’s response? “I just started laughing. There was no way I could buy this house.” But Frank pointed out there were three bedrooms upstairs. Eva could have her

own room. And, Brandee could even bring her grandma to live with her. He offered a rent to own option, and Brandee was sold.

Brandee was effervescent now, as she expressed, “In my wildest dreams, never would I have EVER thought that a single mom and small business owner could ever have purchased this by herself. I moved in upstairs in October of 2019. We did a For Sale by Owner and rent to purchase for two years. If I could pay my bills for both spaces for two years, then I would get a real loan. And that’s exactly what happened. I love my space more than anything, and I can’t even imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have this!” Now her tears were ones of joy. “But it really does take a village to create a space as special as Olde Towne. It took all of us who believed in the dream of a town square to come together. For many of us, failure was not an option.”

Left: Dad, Geoffrey Santini, with seven-year-old Brandee and her brother, Danny Santini. Middle: Brandee and dad today.

Right: Mom LaNelle Walker and Brandee’s grandmother who raised and inspired her, Peggy Walker.

1.) Brandee says, “My dogs and cats are my loves.” Pictured is OT (for Olde Towne, because that’s where she found him) and her Boston Terrier, Charlie Wayne. 2.) Three of the feral cats Brandee has adopted. She is a huge animal lover and donates monthly to local animal welfare groups. 3.) Brandee & Eva in 2021. 4.) Green Oaks Apothecary located on First Street today.

Knowing that Brandee mentors new small business owners, I asked her best advice for others. “It took a whole lot of energy and volunteer hours, more than others could imagine. It required more than that, though. It was also a big investment in advertising, recruiting artists and other vendors, plus a willingness to think outside of the box. If you are not getting the traffic you need to be successful, you have to figure out how to bring people inside. Social media is important for young people, but there’s also an entire population that do not get on social media. So, the next advice I have for business owners is what to do once a customer comes inside. It might be your one shot at getting a repeat visit from that person. I put in the hours educating my employees and I always tell them that when people leave here, they need to feel good about themselves and their experience. No matter what kind of day

you’re having, each person we encounter has to feel super welcomed and super appreciated. I want their experience to feel like they are visiting a house and a home. And you know, ‘till this day, we have people that will knock on the door before entering. Eva creates a unique atmosphere with her murals and artwork. It brings that sense of magic that you can’t find somewhere else. People remember their experience and time in here. So that is my secret to success.”

Brandee wants to continue remodeling and adding more products. “My main goal is to continue offering educational experiences for my customers. I want to broaden our classes into different subjects, especially about their own healthy options, like biodynamic gardening and herbs to boost your immune system. Anything that gets people to have faceto-face communication. I think that so many people are suffering in this world

and don’t know where to turn. What has traditionally been prescribed may not be the answer for everybody. I just want people to have the knowledge and experience and to feel better.”

Beyond what she offers others, she wants to expand her own research and herbal education. “There is always so much more to learn. Then I can bring this training to my staff and expand our products.”

Smiling, she revealed, “I haven’t really taken time for myself in a long time, and I’ve realized that once in a while, you need to heal the healer. I’ve heard some of the most difficult stories you can imagine, and I’ve cried with people, I’ve hugged people, and laughed with people. It is a lot to take on every day. But the only way I know in life is to take on everybody. And I wouldn’t be where I am without every one of these people in this neighborhood.”

Left: The original Green Oaks Apothecary location on Carey Street in Olde Towne Slidell, 2013. Middle: The “Olde Towne Gang” comprised of the Carey Street business owners’ children at the first Carey Street Crawl. Brandee’s daughter, Eva, is on the far left. Right: The wall of herbs in GOA is as beautiful as it is healthy.

Left: Brandee serving as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen in 2020. Middle: Brandee will serve as Queen again! This time, with Mona Lisa & MoonPie in October 2022. Here she is with her King, Slidell Magazine cover artist, Matt Litchliter. Right: The incredibly successful Olde Towne Slidell Art Market that Brandee hosts every second Saturday of the month in the GOA courtyard.

The Storyteller

SUGAR BABY

Big Trout, Louisiana is not a town. It’s not even a village, and to call it a community would be a stretch. It doesn’t have a stop sign or a red light, a post office or a movie theatre. A crossroads is a better description, but it is actually just a boat dock. There is an ice house from which fisherman pack, sell and transport their catch.

There is a school, a very small one, with 48 students in grades one through twelve. Some students arrive by boat, but most are transported by Mr. Dyson’s school bus. Mr. Dyson is not a native of the area; no, not by a long shot. From Nebraska, he came to Big Trout as an engineer for an oil company, retired, and just stayed in the area. The small stipend he got from the school didn’t nearly cover the cost of his bus and its operation. He just saw a need and liked the kids.

Corrine Bourgeois was one of the students. It would be hard to say what her ancestry was. Certainly there was French, probably Acadian French. Almost as certainly there was Spanish, as her great-grandfather was a Rodriquez. Maybe a little African American somewhere back there but they became Creoles as they descended. Corrine was a genetic melting pot, but the proportions of each ethnic group combined to create an almost breath-taking young woman.

Her skin was just a little lighter than a good summertime tan, and it stayed that way even in the winter. Her hair was dark. She wore it long and it was naturally wavy. Green eyes and the figure

of a centerfold, she was beautiful and had been since she was a baby. The genes also produced the smartest girl that had ever attended Big Trout Community School. She would achieve a 34 on her ACT, a very high score. She was popular and liked by her fellow students, as well as the entire little community. Corrine wasn’t from a poor family, but they were by no means rich. Her father, William, as his dad and granddad before him, was a fisherman.

Her Uncle Ted, a bachelor, worked offshore as a tool pusher and made good money. The two brothers built the docks and the ice house, so I guess you could say they owned the town. Ted had no other nieces or nephews and was extremely fond of Corrine.

Yes, there was a boyfriend, Raymond Boutee. He had all the genetic blessings that Corrine had, just in male form. A very handsome and athletic young man, he and Corrine started dating early their sophomore year.

Even though Corrine’s family were as well to do as any in the immediate area, she lived a rather sheltered life. Corrine had never been to Baton Rouge, the state capital, and only once to New Orleans. Her parents had taken her there when she contracted a virus and became very ill. Back then, they said they thought it came from a mosquito but could not be certain.

In her cloistered world, she had no ambition other than repeating the life patterns of her parents, grandparents, and the parents before them. She would marry Raymond; he would fish like her

father or work on the rigs like her uncle, and she would work in the ice house and have babies. As a junior in high school with a boyfriend she loved, she had no desire for any other lifestyle.

Only 125 miles away from Big Trout, Jimmy Sinclair’s life was much different. It had drastically changed, especially in the last year. He and his wife Mary had plans to travel; travel all over the world. They could afford it easily. They had paid their dues and had been fortunate.

Jimmy came from a middle-class family and was afforded a good education, culminating with a college degree in Business. He worked for a bank for three years but found it too confining. Only bank presidents make the money that would satisfy his dreams. Mary was a nurse and the job paid well. She could support the two of them while he explored other opportunities.

She continued to work, and he began diverse entrepreneurial ventures. He bought his first fixer-upper house. He sold it and made a nice profit. He realized the profit on that one house was almost as much as he would have made in an entire year at the bank. Mary soon quit her job. In their career, he and Mary would flip over seventy-five houses. On some, they made as much as $100,000. Only on one did they lose money. You might say they had the Midas touch.

He then invested twenty-thousand dollars in a startup stock. The year was 1997 and it was called Amazon. The price was eighteen dollars per share. The stock was now worth $3,000,000 and that was just a fraction of his assets. They sold their home in Metairie, an affluent New Orleans suburb, bought a condo in the French Quarter and built a home across the lake in Madisonville. He planned to enjoy the fruits of his labor. He no longer labored over stock market reports and would never have to flip another house. They would travel. It isn’t as if they had never made trips before, but their new plan was to be gone most of the year. They had no children, no pets, and no business that needed to be tended. Hong Kong and Taiwan seemed to be of interest, so they took a one-month trip to Asia. It was great; that is, until the third week. Mary became ill, nauseated, with fever and weakness. They assumed it was the unusual diet of the area and, in a few days, it passed. When they returned home, Mary was alarmed that she had lost twelve pounds. Maybe she picked up a parasite on the trip? She made an appointment with her doctor.

He ran some tests, referred her to a couple of specialists, and finally gave her the news. She had pancreatic cancer. Her prognosis was not good. He estimated she only had ten to fourteen months. She passed away three months later.

leave; but at least they would be exposed to other options.

The summer after Corrine’s junior year, Mr. Dyson, at his own expense, planned a trip for the entire high school - all sixteen students. His school bus would take them to places some, if not most, had never been. For those who could not pay, he provided food, hotel rooms and some spending money.

Their first stop was Baton Rouge. They went to the State Capitol and had their picture taken by the bullet in the wall that was fired at Huey Long’s killer, or maybe at Huey himself. They stood on the deck, hundreds of feet above the ground, seeing the largest city they had ever seen and the Mississippi River.

Next, they toured the LSU campus. Mr. Dyson had arranged for a guide. They first saw Tiger Stadium and were allowed to walk on the field. It was the first time some had ever seen a real football field. Then, the Maravich Pavilion and finally, a tour of the campus, then lunch.

At lunch, the guide told them that, if you were a Louisiana resident and graduated from a Louisiana high school, you could attend LSU tuition free. It was called the TOPS program. You would have other expenses, but there were grants, loans, and work study programs. He told them that, if they wanted to go to LSU, nothing stood in their way.

Then Mr. Dyson’s bus headed down I-10 to New Orleans. The next day, he treated them to lunch at Acme Oyster House, then a tour of the Superdome. Later that afternoon, they took a tour of the St. Louis Cemetery with a visit to the grave of Marie Laveau.

The next morning, they went to Tulane University. There was no football field at that time as the Tulane team played in the Superdome. That didn’t matter, though; Corrine was drawn immediately. She loved the beauty of the campus and its approach on St. Charles Avenue. She loved the streetcars. Never had she seen such homes, such activity, such hustle and bustle.

As at LSU, the guide had told them of the reputation of Tulane University, its history, and the fine medical school associated with it. Corrine was the first to ask a question.

“Sir, is the TOPS program available for tuition?”

Mr. Dyson smiled as he realized that, for at least one person, the efforts and expense he had incurred had paid off. Corrine had seen something besides Big Trout.

The guide told her that TOPS would only pay the average of the Louisiana public university cost. Tulane was a private school and rather expensive.

That would have been disappointing for most, but not for Corrine. When the guide continued, her spirits lifted.

“Tulane has large endowments. Scholarships, loans and grants are available to deserving students.”

Mr. Dyson felt sorry for the kids from Big Trout. In one way, he appreciated their remote, simple lifestyle; but, on the other hand, he felt they needed to see more. They should see more of the world, not just the fishermen, the boats, and the dock. After they saw it, they could make their choice to stay in Big Trout or

That day Corrine knew that whatever it took, she would graduate from Tulane and its medical school.

Never in Jimmy’s imagination had he dreamed that he would be a widower at 62 years of age. He tried to take a trip or two alone but realized the loneliest place in the world is a place without someone you care about. His money and wealth had little meaning. Four years would pass and all he had saved was of little value without Mary.

He had dinner with a few ladies, but if they were divorced, he could see problems. He probably judged them unfairly, but he reasoned the divorce must have been at least partly their fault. He didn’t understand that. He and Mary had almost never quarreled. The few times they had, he remembered how miserable he was until they made up. That was usually in a few hours. They never once slept in separate beds.

Remarriage was out of the question. He had seen what happened to his friends. Only about one in four had found happiness. He’d rather be lonely than miserable.

Corrine returned home and prepared for her senior year. She would make the best grades she could, and almost overnight she lost interest in Raymond. She felt guilty that her desires now did not include him. She also regretted the intimacy they had shared when she thought that one day she would marry him. But her drive to be different, to get away, canceled out the guilt. She felt sorry for Raymond, as he just didn’t understand. That reinforced the fact that he would continue the Big Trout lifestyle. There was nothing wrong with that, but it was not what she wanted. At first, she didn’t mention to her parents what she intended to do, not until she had all the facts. Then she put it in presentation form. Tuition cost, room cost, meals, books, etc. She then subtracted the TOPS grant and a scholarship that she felt she could count on. The total was ominous. She was $20,000 per year short.

She did not expect any objection to her going to college from her parents. They were pleased. No one in the family, and maybe even no one in Big Trout, had ever gone to college except Mr. Dyson. The money was a different matter.

$20,000 was out of the question. Maybe $10,000, but not $20,000.

Her parents said they needed to think about it overnight and see if there was any way to make it work. The next morning her dad was home when she got up. This was unusual. He had usually been fishing for hours by now.

“Sweetheart, let’s go see your Uncle Ted. He has always considered you his own. Maybe he can help. Bring all the facts and figures. You know he’s a detail person.”

Uncle Ted listened carefully and looked at her financial projections. He used his calculator to check her figures. “You can’t do it, honey.”

Corrine almost cried, but realized her uncle owed her nothing. Then he said, “Nope, you can’t eat in New Orleans for what you have projected. That’s an expensive town. I’ll give you $12,000.”

Corrine did cry.

She graduated highschool with the highest GPA in the history of the school.

Three years passed. Jimmy was 66 years old now. He had a few friends and played golf almost every week with some of them. Most were older than him, as he was able to retire early.

Corrine had finished her junior year at Tulane. Her grades were good enough for med school, but not the perfect scores she had wished for.

After golf, locker room talk can get rather open. What he heard that day would change the rest of his life and Corrine’s.

One of his golfer friends, David Willoby, was the loudmouth of the group. He was also a gossiper.

“You guys hear about Ralph Wilson?”

Ralph was a sometime golf partner but had not been around in a couple of months.

“Yep, the old dude has him a Sugar Baby. Twenty-one years old, I hear.”

Jimmy responded, “What is a sugar baby?”

David continued, “Well, he tells me there’s a website that hooks older men up with young women that need money for tuition.”

“You mean, it’s an escort service? Prostitutes?” Jimmy questioned.

“Not the way he tells it. They just have dinner together and maybe she goes on a trip with him, things like that. He said when you interview, you cannot discuss sex. Probably doesn’t matter, he couldn’t do it anyway, too old.”

Some of the group laughed, Jimmy didn’t. This idea may have merit. He was lonely. A Tulane student would be intelligent and maybe a good dinner partner. He could see merit in that.

A couple of days after the discussion with the golfers, Jimmy was home with the TV on in the background to break the solitude. The headline news story told of a boat exploding at the Big Trout Docks and Icehouse. The ice house was destroyed and five people killed. Four others were injured. The owners of the ice house and dock, William and his wife, and his brother Ted, were among the dead. William’s daughter, a Tulane student home on break, was only slightly injured while trying to rescue her family.

The names had no meaning to Jimmy at that time, but they would.

A couple of days later, Jimmy scanned the internet searching for a Sugar Baby site. There were a couple, but only one appeared to be a source of college students. He wanted intelligence in companionship, not just a female body. To be truthful, he didn’t know what he was looking for.

The site charged a substantial fee to be listed as a Sugar Daddy, and no fee to list as a Sugar Baby. You had to submit your real name, and you would be vetted for criminal activity, and to verify other information you had submitted. You would then be given an alias.

Sugar Babies were handled much the same way, with no fee. Corrine knew about the site. She had seen a news feature on TV. It said thousands of students were using this means to help with tuition expenses. With the loss of financial support from her parents and uncle, she needed assistance.

She had three years invested at Tulane, she had to finish, no matter what she had to do.

Both their profiles came up the same day. His alias was World Traveler and hers Doc to Be. He flagged her name for the administrators at the website and the next morning there was a friendship acceptance. The fee was now $1,000 to be able to correspond with her directly. He was warned that, if there were any mention of a sexual liaison, he would be terminated. This was a companion site, not anything else.

His first correspondence was something to the effect that he was financially secure, 66 years old, with average looks for his age, not overweight, liked to dine out at the best restaurants and maybe travel if possible.

She responded with more detail. She told about the death of her parents and uncle. They were her money source. She had one more year of undergraduate school and had too much invested not to finish. Maybe she could have applied for financial help, but it was too late. She was quite forward. “Can we meet for dinner?”

At this point, the administrators of the program interrupted and reminded them that the first three contacts had to be approved by them. They had to know where and when they were going. Regardless of how compatible or incompatible they were, he would be responsible for sending the website $300, plus giving Doc to Be $300 with transportation paid to and from her residence.

Jimmy knew she was honest as he remembered hearing about the accident on TV. He suggested Restaurant August, not as noisy as Galatoire’s, and one of New Orleans’ best. She agreed, the administrators of the site agreed, and the site charged $300 to his credit card.

coat that did not try to subdue his age. It did, however, have some brightness that enhanced the assets of a 66-year-old man.

Jimmy arrived thirty minutes early and took a seat near the maître d’ just in front of the bar. He was a stickler for promptness. If she was politely late, that would not impress him. He hoped she would not be a game player. She wasn’t. She arrived five minutes early by Uber.

He was swept away by her beauty. She was much more beautiful in person than in her photograph. He complimented her as to that. She replied that she wanted to be desired by who she was, not how she looked. Jimmy realized she was a deep, complicated, and truthful person.

“Corrine, would you like a drink? I am going to have a gin martini, but you may have anything you want.”

“Just ice water, I don’t drink.”

“Are you opposed to drinking?”

“No, not at all. I just don’t spend money that I don’t have on things that I don’t need.”

When the menu arrived, he watched as she examined it. “Jimmy, I have never eaten in a restaurant like this. I don’t know what to order. I see salad of duck confit. My daddy cooked duck and I liked it.”

“Corrine, this duck is not going to be anything like your dad’s. His may have been better.” They both laughed.

“I see Snapper Pontchartrain. My dad caught a lot of snapper, but I never knew they were in Lake Pontchartrain.”

Jimmy laughed, “They’re not. They are named that because the recipe came from the way they were prepared at the Pontchartrain Hotel.”

“Oh. It must be good?”

“It is.”

“Then I will have it.”

Finally, he asked her if she would she like to continue the relationship. She didn’t hesitate and answered affirmatively.

He said, “This is new to me. How do we begin?”

“Jimmy, this is new to me also but there are certain things I have to have financially.”

“Go on.”

“$2300 per month and it must be for a year. I can get loans for med school, and I will make enough money to pay them back, but I am in a real bind now.

“$2300?”

“Yes, and that is for three weekends a month, Friday and Saturday, but I want one weekend free. If you expect more, like going out of town with you, that will be $3,000 per month. I must be back by Sunday noon; I have to keep my grades up.

Jimmy didn’t answer for several seconds. “Do you want dessert?”

“Yes, blueberry shortcake and coffee.”

“Demitasse or espresso?”

“I’m not sure I know what those are, you choose.”

Since Jimmy had not committed to the arrangement, Corrine later would say that she was almost in tears. She thought Jimmy was a nice fellow, but she did not have time to play games, and she needed the money.

He walked her to the Uber. “Here is the $300 and an extra $100 for the transportation. And, by the way, I think I’ll take the $3,000 program.”

She beamed, quickly kissed him on the cheek and disappeared into the Uber.

It would be two nights before their dinner date. He went to Rubenstein’s on Canal and was honest about the occasion. He had developed a close relationship with one of the salesmen over the years. The salesman chose trousers, a shirt and sports

The night went rather smoothly, Jimmy realizing there was a larger age difference and cultural difference than he had expected. She had spent three years at Tulane but a lifetime at Big Trout.

Their next two dates, both monitored by the website, were the next weekend. This satisfied the website’s requirement that they monitor three meetings. She made her first exception to what she had told him at Restaurant August. Since school had not started, she agreed to Sunday lunch at Commander’s Palace.

After lunch and dessert, he asked her when she would need her money and how much.

She had it written down and handed the paper to him as if she were presenting him with a bill.

“Jimmy, I have to pay tuition and make some deposits. I need $12,000. That will be four months in advance.”

Jimmy had expected something like this and quickly wrote her a check for the requested amount. He then handed her a check book, and some papers to sign.

“I have opened a special account. Sign those papers and you can write checks on it as you need. I deposited $36,000 in the account. You’ll never have to ask me for money again. I think you’ll feel better if it is that way, and I will too.”

Corrine reached across the table and grabbed his hand. “Thank you. You can trust me. I promise.”

Jimmy did trust her. He did not regret the arrangement at all. If it didn’t work out, it would not be the first time he had made a not so good investment.

The relationship continued in much the same pattern as it began. Lunches and dinners in New Orleans at its finest restaurants. At a mid-November evening meal at Bayona, another of his favorite places to eat, the subject of Thanksgiving came up.

“Jimmy, I haven’t thought about it. Thanksgiving was a big thing for my family in Big Trout. This is my first Thanksgiving without them. I don’t know what I will do.”

“Corrine, come spend Thanksgiving with me in Madisonville. I will have dinner catered and you can relax from your studies. If the weather is warm, we will take a boat trip on the lake.”

Corrine had dreaded when this day would come. He had never asked anything of her but companionship. Was this a forward step? She then realized the thought of where this may lead was not as bad as she had feared. After all, he had lived up to his agreement and even more.

“I would love that, Jimmy.”

There were no classes the week of Thanksgiving. She reasoned that she did

not want to stay with him a whole week, so she told him she needed to catch up on studies and would come to his house on Wednesday.

Tuesday night she carefully chose the clothes she would take. She had never dressed casually around him, as the restaurants they frequented were upscale. Lots of thoughts ran through her mind on what she should and shouldn’t take. The weather was warm, so there may be a boat trip. Thankfully, she thought, it is too cool for a bathing suit. Shorts and a long sleeve blouse will suffice. Then she was forced to think about what she would wear for bedtime. She had hoped she would not have to consider that, and she knew she didn’t. It was not in the agreement. On the other hand, he had been so kind and considerate, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She packed a very modest pair of flannel pajamas. Her Uber arrived in Madisonville just before noon. His home was not as large as the ones on St. Charles Avenue, but larger than any in Big Trout, and beautiful. Her thought was, “I’ve never spent the night in a home this beautiful.”

They greeted each other with hugs, and he helped carry her luggage in, just two small bags. “Let me show you around, Corrine. This, of course, is the living and dining room and back there is the kitchen. Down that small hall is a bath and down this other way is my bedroom with the guest room next to it.

When he opened the door to the guest room, she did not get the idea it was for her. Magazines and financial papers were scattered on the bed. He then opened the door to his bedroom. There was a king size bed, the largest TV she had ever seen except in the bars around school. The room was immaculate, the sheets were turned down and freshly pressed.

“Now, let’s go upstairs.”

The door at the top of the stairs opened to almost another house. There was a parlor room and then a bedroom. It was also pristine. The sheets were turned back and also freshly pressed. There was a vase with a dozen roses in it.

“This is your room. No one has ever slept in it. Let me bring your things up.”

She was relieved, but in a strange way, it occurred to her that she did not appeal to him. No girl wants to feel that. By this time, they were back in the kitchen.

“Let me cook Thanksgiving dinner for us. I’m a good cook, especially if you like seafood,” she said. How about some vegetables and a shrimp dressing, or maybe oyster? I really want to.”

He replied, “Suit yourself, but you don’t have to. I will take us out to dinner.”

“Nope, drive me to the supermarket, one that has good seafood.”

“I’ll tell you what. You take my wife’s car. It hasn’t been driven one hundred miles since she passed. Just enough to keep the battery charged.”

He gave her directions, some cash and the keys. The car was not a new model, but she could tell it was a fine car, an Infinity. Her family had only a Ram pickup. She shopped the items she needed and returned to Jimmy’s.

That evening, they sat on the porch overlooking the Tchefuncte River. They watched the boats pass by, on which sat what she imagined were trophy girls, prominently being displayed by the elderly owners of the boat. She thought, “I guess I am a trophy girl to some extent, but he is kind enough not to put me on display.”

She respected him even more.

The Thanksgiving dinner she prepared was traditional for Louisiana - turkey and oyster dressing. She was a good cook. She told him most people from Big Trout are. Saturday night she surprised him. “Tonight, we have Snapper Tchefuncte. Jimmy, there are no snapper in this river, but I named it that because this is where I created the recipe.” They both laughed.

Before she realized, it was Sunday noon. It had been a fabulous, carefree holiday. When the Uber came, he lifted her bags into the trunk, and she hugged him. He felt that the affection was genuine. He was thankful she was in his life.

For the Christmas holidays, she repeated the Thanksgiving routine, but for New Year’s he had a surprise. He took her to the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama. When he entered the room, he was more surprised than she. There was only one bed. He began to apologize and, before she could say anything, he had gone to see if another room with two beds could be arranged. It couldn’t. When he returned, she had already unpacked her bags.

This would be one of the most nervous nights of his life. After spending time in the Bird Cage lounge, they went back to their room. It was late and even she had a drink that night, a cosmopolitan.

“Why don’t I go back to the Bird Cage and give you a few minutes of privacy. I won’t be long.”

“You don’t need to, but if you wish.”

She showered, dried and dressed in the flannel pajamas she had worn Thanksgiving. When he returned, she was already in the king size bed. He showered and changed and slipped into the other side of the bed, hoping she was asleep. She wasn’t.

“Jimmy, I know that this is not part of the agreement, but if you want to kiss me, it’s ok.”

“No, Corrine. You’re somewhere between a daughter I never had and my best friend.”

“Just hold me then. I miss having someone hold me.”

Jimmy flipped the light off and put his arms around her. For the next three nights this was their routine. She had the time of her life.

The year passed quickly, and June came. His contract with Corrine was expiring. They decided to have their last dinner where it all began, Restaurant August.

Again, she arrived by Uber early. They sat at the same table, but this time there was no unfamiliarity. They laughed and spread the occasion over four hours.

“Corrine, do you want to continue this arrangement through medical school?”

“No, I already have loans for that. I could not have made it without you. You saved

my career, and I will always love you for that. I can make it from here.”

“There is one thing, Jimmy. I can make it financially, but I can’t make it without you in my life. I’d like our friendship to continue just as it is, but with no financial strings attached.”

When it was time to leave, Jimmy signaled the maître d’. When they walked to what she expected to be an Uber, a shiny white Infinity drove up.

“You know, it was my wife’s car. Its seven years old, but only has six thousand miles, and it’s not doing me any good in my garage. Here is the bill of sale, insurance for a year, and a $400 gas card. It’s yours.”

Medical school was more difficult than she had expected. She struggled, but survived. Four years of the toughest academic curriculum she had ever encountered, but she made it. Then the internship and residency. She was selected to the school of Ophthalmology. Her total commitment had been eight years and all this time she visited Jimmy as often as she could. He was there for her. Kind of like a father, but in some ways more.

They celebrated his 78th birthday. Yes, he had aged. She knew that he now primarily lived for the joy she brought him. A few days after his birthday, she got a call.

“Doctor Bourgeois, I am Nurse Paxton at Lakeview Hospital in Mandeville. We have a patient here, a Mr. James Sinclair. Your information was in his wallet as an emergency contact.”

“Yes, I am. What has happened?”

“Mr. Sinclair has suffered a massive stroke. It would probably be best for you to come as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I’m on my way.”

“Hurry, Doctor.”

Corrine canceled her patients for the next two days and left for Mandeville immediately. Upon arriving, she was escorted to his room. Gone was the healthy color that he had possessed when they met twelve years prior. Gone was his ability to give her that reassuring hug. He was alive, but barely.

She took a chair by his bedside and then took his hand. She imagined she could feel him squeeze it, but maybe she just wanted to believe that. Hours passed. She never let go of his hand.

Sometime about two in the morning, she heard the sound of the monitoring equipment change. If he was gripping her hand, it was limp now.

Nurses rushed into the room, asking her to step outside.

“No, I am a doctor. Let him be. That is the way he would have wanted it.”

Only a few of his golfing friends came to the memorial service. Of course she was there. She was the only one that cried.

Three weeks later, she received a letter from an attorney in Covington informing her that she was named in Jimmy’s will. She was asked to contact the law office for an appointment regarding the succession.

The appointment was made, and she traveled across the lake. “Doctor Bourgeois, Jimmy Sinclair was a wealthy man. He had only one living relative, a nephew. In his will, he left the nephew a million dollars. For you, he left his Amazon stock. Today’s value puts it at a little over $3,800,000. He also left you his home on the river. In addition, $25,000,000 remains to be put into a foundation. This foundation is to provide tuition for young women who wish to attend any Louisiana college. He named you the chairman of that foundation, if you accept. The condo in the French Quarter was left to the foundation for emergency housing.”

“Dr. Bourgeois, what was your relationship with Mr. Sinclair, if you don’t mind me asking?”

She replied, “Somewhere between the daughter he never had and his best friend.”

The attorney responded, “He sure thought a lot of you.”

Corrine, crying, “And I of him.”

John S. Case August 2022

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “coroner” is death. But our St. Tammany Parish (STP) Coroner’s office wants to change that way of thinking. Rather than focusing on death, they want to pursue “Life, Safety and Death Postponement.” How can they accomplish this? The answer is the amazing number of life safety programs they offer.

In 2020, STP Coroner, Dr. Charles Preston established the Life Safety Education Initiative in an effort to reduce and potentially eliminate preventable deaths and tragedies in our parish. Partnerships with professional and private organizations, and individuals around the community and nearby areas flourished during 2021. Despite the pandemic, technological advances allowed the newly developed programs to continue and assist residents.

Dr. Preston describes himself as a “recovering emergency physician.” His background prompted his desire to provide a higher quality of care for Parish residents and we are the fortunate recipients! He and his amazing team are enthusiastic about upgrading the quality of life in our parish.

Let me share with you some of the spectacular programs they have implemented...

St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office Science – Service – Compassion

Safe sleep for your baby

The Coroner’s Office partnered with the Southwest Louisiana Safe Sleep Task Force and national Cribs for Kids© to educate and train parents and caregivers about infant death from unsafe sleep practices. It highlights the correct way to position babies for sleep and the dangers of co-sleeping that can lead to accidental suffocation of an infant. Education includes “The ABC’s of Safe Sleep,” as recommended by The American Academy of Pediatrics, which are A-Alone, B-Back, C-Crib. Once the education portion is completed, parents receive a free Graco Pack N’ Play crib, provided through the generous donations of local businesses, groups and individuals. Since the inception of the program in March of 2021, they have issued over 140 cribs to pregnant parents.

The Coroner’s Office also partnered with Covington First Baptist Church “Sewing Servants” to make “sleep

sacks” to donate to each of the mothers, providing at least one safe sleep garment.

Here are just two of the many realworld examples of how this program has helped members of our community and beyond:

Recently a woman gave premature birth, then left the child’s father to care for the baby alone. The unprepared dad had no crib and knew nothing about infant Safe Sleep. Our STP Coroner’s Office took one of their cribs to the discharging hospital, gave the new father the class, taught him how to set up the crib, and sent him home with a safe way and knowledge for Safe Sleep for his baby.

Shortly before going to print, an outof-state expectant mother was passing through Slidell, went into labor and gave birth at one of our local hospitals. She had no crib for her baby to continue their trip. Upon hearing about this event, our STP Coroner’s Office reached out to the new mom, offering a crib and the Safe Sleep class. Upon learning that she did not speak English, the Coroner’s Office arranged for one of their fluent Spanish-speaking employees to translate the class. Now she will have a safe crib and Safe Sleep knowledge for her return trip.

Story and photos by Donna Bush

While they don’t normally deliver cribs to parents, there are unique exceptions.

Their Shaken Baby Prevention program also targets infant health, by demonstrating with a special state-ofthe-art LED doll, named Annabelle, where injuries occur when shaken. The course offers techniques for parents and caregivers to de-escalate a situation before it reaches critical. Such techniques include checking obvious items such as a needed diaper change, or hunger, etc. They also suggest reaching out to a parent or friend for advice when a baby will not stop crying. Twenty percent of infants sustain brain injuries from being shaken. The main contributing factor in shaken baby syndrome is frustration with the baby’s crying. This program, along with Safe Sleep, are included in the babysitter course provided to interested 10-13year-olds, looking to offer babysitting services to friends and family. Chris Knoblauch, STP Coroner’s Office Community Outreach Coordinator and Forensic Death Investigator, shared, “Annabelle is a real eye-opener for parents and perspective babysitters about how a very small movement can impact an infant’s brain.”

Swimming Pool Safety

The focus here is on pool safety and emphasizes barriers around pools; installing a pool alarm; installation of automatic locking gates; swimming instruction for both children and adults; and installation of drain guards for pools and hot tubs. Most of us think about having a fence around a pool, but often that is not enough. Determined children can easily climb a fence. My neighbor’s 2-year old son was able to open their child-proof back door, climb the fence and access the neighbor’s pool.

Another topic discussed is designating a ‘pool watcher,’ much like a designated driver. The ‘pool watcher’ agrees to forgo consuming alcohol and constantly scans the pool for anyone in trouble. Most people, thanks to TV, associate a drowning person with someone gasping for air, flailing arms and calling

for help. This is very rarely the case. Actually, they are “silent events.” Often children will just slip under the water completely un-noticed by a pool full of people – adults and other children.

Drain guards on pools and hot tubs prevent a child or an adult’s hair from being caught in the drain, dragging them underwater to drown.

The best preventions are swimming lessons for all children and adults; pool barriers and alarms; locking gates; drain guards and knowledge of performing CPR. Check out www.poolsafely.gov for more information.

Firearm safety in the home

This program targets the serious responsibility of firearm safety in the home. Keeping firearms out of the hands of children or those who might want to harm themselves are the MOST important aspects. To highlight this message, the Coroner’s Office partnered with the National Sports

Shooting Association and the national Project Child Safe™ program. Both an educational component and a physical gun lock are provided with this program, with over 150 firearm locks distributed so far.

in another southern parish whose trailer was damaged by the storm. The family was living in the damaged trailer with no electricity or crib for their baby, while running a generator. Our Coroner’s Office took one of their Cribs for Kids© crib, along with a purchased smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector to the social worker who was able to leap-frog these items through other parishes’ social workers to the family in need.

addition, the Coroner’s Office tracks drug related fatalities to alert law enforcement and the community of new trends in our area. Fake Xanax, Adderall, and Oxycodone (Percocet) are often mixed with fentanyl resulting in a lethal dose to the unsuspecting purchaser.

The Silent Killer

Most of us only think of carbon monoxide as a threat during hurricane season when running generators. In reality, it is a year-round threat. Many homes have gas water heaters, gas dryers, fireplaces and automobiles – all of these can emit carbon monoxide. This gas is colorless and odorless, but deadly. You don’t know it is present until it is too late. There is acute exposure, which is what is seen from running generators without proper ventilation. But there is also a chronic exposure from cumulative effects. The molecules can permeate through sheetrock. The treatment is not as easy as just breathing fresh air. Many times, the ER has to treat patients with hyperbaric chambers like those used by a diver who has risen to the surface too fast. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, dull headache, weakness, shortness of breath and confusion. Victims lose consciousness and ultimately die. Prevention is achieved by running a generator a minimum of 20 feet from the home; and installation and maintenance of CO (carbon monoxide) monitors with a battery backup. Check batteries and working condition of monitors annually.

Shortly after 2021 Hurricane Ida made her devastating path across south Louisiana, a local St. Tammany Parish social worker reached out to our Coroner’s Office about a family

A close relationship is maintained between the Coroner’s Office and St. Tammany Outreach, hosting suicide prevention education classes for the public and first responders at their Lacombe facility. The Coroner’s Office investigators work closely with members of the Local Outreach to the Survivors of Suicide Team to connect survivors with counseling and mental health services in the community. They have a staff of instructors who volunteer to teach suicide intervention and prevention in local schools.

This program addresses the opioid epidemic in our nation by partnering with the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority Mobile Opioid Task Force to assist in various outreach events and forums. They distribute free Narcan to families of opioid addicts to hopefully prevent a fatal overdose. The “One Pill Can Kill” campaign targets curious teens and others to make them aware of the number of counterfeit prescription drugs showing up in our community. In

Sexual Assault

Our Coroner’s Office also has on staff two full-time and one part-time certified sexual assault examining nurses. They handle the medical examination, evidence gathering, and counseling. They work hand in hand with the Coroner’s Office DNA Lab, law enforcement, and the DA’s office to apprehend and sentence the criminals. They also provide these services for a fee to Florida Parishes outside of St. Tammany. (The Florida Parishes are East Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helena, Livingston, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Tammany.)

This program was established as a direct result of Dr. Preston’s emergency medicine background. He, first-hand, saw and experienced how many different directions an ER doctor was pulled when dealing with sexual assault patients, while also attending to heart attacks, broken limbs and stitching cuts.

Human Trafficking

Our Coroner’s Office is a member of the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force, working together to bring awareness to our community; to support and protect the victims as much as possible.

Chaplains Corp

The Coroner’s Office coordinates with 40+ volunteer clergy of all religious beliefs, from both east and west sides of the Parish. They assist on death scenes by providing grief counseling to family members and first responders. Additionally, they attend death notification of family members to provide support. Unselfishly, they provide this counsel, regardless of the time of day.

First Annual Special Needs Expo

Internship Program

Our Coroner’s Office has an in-house internship open to college students interested in pursuing forensics. Applicants provide a transcript proving to be an A/B student and a letter of recommendation from a college faculty member. The interns work hand-in-hand with a forensics medical science pathologist and investigator in the DNA lab and more. This is a great way to determine if an intern is up for “the good and the bad” of the job. Dr. Preston shared, “Most have pursued their degree and returned as employees.”

Mental Health

Adele Bruce-Smith, Project Coordinator at our Coroner’s Office, shared, “We want everyone in our community to know that we are here for them, to assist with any mental health crisis. We can help them negotiate the maze of behavioral health.” In an average year, they are involved in over 5000 cases, whether that is substance abuse, sexual abuse, or mental illness. Louisiana is the only state where the Coroner’s Office is responsible

In May 2022, the St. Tammany Coroner’s Office hosted their first annual Special Needs Expo addressing those with disabilities, regardless of age. There were over 50 vendors, entertainment, a food truck and a great crowd. The Mande Milkshakers put on a terrific show as always. Just a few of the vendors I met were Ainsley’s Angels – a non-profit group of runners who participate in foot races and assist those with special needs by pushing their chariots; Ski-Dawgs Adaptive Water Skiing, also a non-profit, make it possible for those with disabilities to participate in water skiing; and Buddy Cruises, who offer an annual cruise for those with disabilities and their family and care givers. In addition to these, there were booths hosted by the Shriners, STARC, Northshore Technical College, Families Helping Families, People First, BrightHouse Learning Center, Hope House, Easter Seals, Riley’s Bikes, St. Tammany Parish Library and many more. I am certain it will grow quickly and be even more in demand next year. When I last spoke with Chris, he shared the terrific news that on October 15, 2022, the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office will host their first Annual Veterans Expo! Stay tuned for more details. Chris shared that, with most of their programs, “We never really know that our programs saved a life.” This is a prime example of “No news is good news!”

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning of a different way to observe and relate to our St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office. Watch their social media for updates about future events. Per Dr. Preston, “Our main goal is to go into each case, whether it is a mental health case, death investigation case, sexual assault case, or a DNA case, and rely on the science and get the facts. We are here to support you through whatever crisis is happening. You are not walking alone.” Please contact the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office if you’d like more information about the programs or services offered to all residents of St. Tammany Parish. 985-781-1150

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for issuing orders of protective custody. This may come about when an individual is a danger to themselves or others, or greatly disabled due to mental illness.

Adele elaborated, “There are many services available but only if the individual is already on Medicaid. But, how do you acquire Medicaid? This is one of the many areas where the maze is difficult to negotiate, and we are here to help!” She explained if an individual is on Medicaid, they qualify for an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, which is a team of mental health professionals available to assist with any needs. These needs can include home visits for medication management, therapy, etc. The goal is to get them the continuum of care appropriate for their case and avoid a repeat occurrence of the crisis.

Adele shared a recent real-life success story. A very elderly 80+ year old lady had a daughter (60+) who had lived with mental illness all her life. The elderly lady would have to come to the Coroner’s Office and request an Order of Protective Custody on a regular basis. After the Coroner’s Mental Health Office intervened, they were able to assure that the daughter did not return to the hospital that she did not like, which always set her up for failure. One of the things the Coroner’s Office is allowed to do is to choose which hospital a person should attend. They don’t force the hospital choice, but they do provide the family with the available resources to choose the hospital that will be most suitable. Staying local is an important part of a successful outcome, which allows the patient to receive the support of their family. This hospital was the perfect choice, allowing the daughter to stabilize. What next? An ACT team got involved to visit the house on a regular basis; they can tweak medication as necessary; check on what is going on at the house; and build a rapport with them which makes it less likely that they will spiral into another crisis. Adele was in the area they lived while running errands on her day off and decided to call to check in. They were good and invited Adele to stop by for a visit. She met the daughter for the first time!

“I love my job! The stigma is still big, and people are ashamed to ask for help. But I walk with them the entire way until they receive the necessary assistance that they need. The sooner they can get help, the faster they can get better. It’s exhausting for the family to deal with on their own. So many people have sat across from me and cried that they were finally able to find the resources to help their loved one. Family members feel that they are trying to tread water! It’s a brain illness just like any other disease - heart disease or diabetes. The more we can talk about it, the more open people will be, and the shame will disappear.”

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DNA Lab

Our Coroner’s Office’s state-of-the-art DNA Lab is the envy of all other parishes in the state! Our Parish is the only one that has their own DNA Lab and are not dependent on waiting up to a year or longer to receive results from the State Lab, due to their humongous backlog of cases. The Lab, which is utilized exclusively for our Parish, can have results returned to investigators within 72 hours! They can work a case outside of our parish if there is a tie to a St. Tammany case.

Evidence is screened, cutting samples, and more. Louisiana Coroner’s Offices are charged with the examination of every survivor of sexual assault. For instance, in a sexual assault case, they must identify if sperm is present by staining and examining slides. Most, if not all, of the instruments are high-end robotics, allowing them to turn-around results much faster than handling everything manually. These instruments also enable multi-tasking. While the instrument processes samples and determines results, technicians are able to work on other tasks. Separating DNA strains by hand would take 4-6 hours; their equipment can do this in 20 minutes!

You might ask, “How are we so lucky to have this fantastic DNA Lab?” I did, and here’s the answer: “The voters in St. Tammany approved a millage in 2004 to build the DNA Lab and fund the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. The Lab opened doors in 2007 and completed the accreditation process in 2008. This millage, which will be up for renewal in the near future, continues to serve the residents of this parish on a daily basis by making our community a safer place to live and raise a family. We hope that the community will see the extraordinary value of this resource for St. Tammany Parish and continue to support this program in the future.”

Recently, the STP Coroner’s DNA Lab tested a piece of evidence for a minor crime in our parish, proving that their arrestee was the perpetrator. Upon uploading their evidence to the national database, they received a hit on a felony bank robbery case and were able to tie the arrestee to both crimes!

We are so fortunate to have this in our community along with diligent investigators who never give up. Chris shared that they are still actively working cases over 40 years old!

I hope you have enjoyed this look into the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office and their mission of Science, Service and Compassion.

• No Exposure to Diseases or Parasites from Other Dogs

• Medication Administered

• Less Separation Anxiety

• Insulin Injections

• Waste Cleanup

• Mail Pickup

• Daily Walks

• Nail Trim

• Crafts, games, and prizes for kids and teens!

• For the first-time bus riders, two school buses will be available to board and explore, to give the littles a feel for what the first bus ride might be like.

• StoryWalk®

• Special Guests Include:

 The PopRocks Musical Duo

 Hey Now Productions

 Sherrol “Kay” Schewe from Make My Space with back-to-school organizing tips

“Gypsy Rose”

Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID) is one of the most frequently diagnosed primary immunodeficiencies, especially in adults. CVID is an antibody deficiency that leaves the immune system unable to defend against bacteria and viruses, resulting in repeated and often severe infections primarily affecting the ears, sinuses and respiratory tract. While CVID is thought to be due to genetic defects, the exact cause of the disorder is unknown in the large majority of cases. CVID is found in about 1 in 25,000 persons; this is the reason it is called “common.” The degree and type of deficiency of serum immunoglobulins, and the clinical course, varies from patient to patient, hence, the word “variable.” In some patients, there is a decrease in both IgG and IgA; in others, all three major types of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) are decreased. In still others there are defects of the T-cells, and this may also contribute to increased vulnerability to infections as well as autoimmunity, granulomata and tumors.

An immunoglobulin test measures the level of certain immunoglobulins, or antibodies, in the blood. Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight antigens, such as

WHAT IS CVID?

JENNIFER OLIVIER M.D.

Allergy & Immunology

1051 Gause Blvd, Suite 400 | 985-280-5350

bacteria, viruses and toxins. There are five subclasses of antibodies, three of which are:

• Immunoglobulin A (IgA): found in high concentrations in the mucous membranes, particularly those lining the respiratory passages and gastrointestinal tract, as well as in saliva and tears.

• Immunoglobulin G (IgG): the most abundant type of antibody, found in all body fluids and protects against bacterial and viral infections.

• Immunoglobulin M (IgM): found mainly in the blood and lymph fluid, the first antibody to be made by the body to fight a new infection.

IgA, IgG, and IgM are often measured together. That way, they can give doctors important information about immune system functioning, especially relating to infection or autoimmune disease.

As with other antibody deficiencies, the most common types of recurrent infections involve the ears, sinuses, nose, bronchi and lungs. These include:

• 2+ pneumonias in one year.

• 4+ sinus infections in a year.

• 8+ ear infections in a year (children), and even less in adults.

• Gastrointestinal infections

One that is frequently ill with bacterial infections should be evaluated. Recurrent pneumonia and chronic infections in the lungs can lead to lung damage called bronchiectasis, which can complicate treatment.

Those with immune deficiencies are at higher risk for cancer (primarily lymphoid and gastrointestinal), autoimmune diseases, declining respiratory function, and allergy development.

CVID can be diagnosed anytime from childhood through adulthood. CVID may be suspected in children or adults with a history of recurrent infections involving the lungs, bronchi, ears or sinuses. An accurate diagnosis can be made through screening tests that measure immunoglobulin levels or the number of B cells in the blood.

CVID is treated with immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IRT), which most often relieves symptoms. IRT treatments must be given regularly and are life-long. Antibiotics are used to treat most infections that result from CVID though patients may need treatment for a longer duration than a healthy individual.

Dr. Olivier treats patients for a variety of allergy and immunology conditions at her clinic in Slidell. To make an appointment, please call (985) 280-5350.

by: Mike Rich, CFP® | Pontchartrain Investment Management

Whether it’s Euros or Dollars Everyone Needs Money for Retirement

Last March, I marked my fifth year of studying Italian and Italian culture. For more than five years, I have studied every day for at least 30 minutes. As I write this article in early July, I have an unbroken study-streak of 1,920 days. That number probably means nothing to anyone else, but I’m proud of it. The thought that I might break my streak is – well – unthinkable, so tackling my Italian lesson is one of the first things I do every day.

For my daily lesson, I use an online program called Duolingo. I also study once each week with mio caro amico, Joe, for a couple of hours, and I watch a lot of videos on YouTube, mostly of Italians cooking and describing their love of good food. In addition, about once every three weeks or so, I meet for class with like-minded Italophiles, all of whom are striving to reach the goal of

someday – un giorno! – communicating with a real, live Italian in his or her own language. We try. We also drink a lot of wine.

My favorite time of the study week, however, is when I meet online with my teacher, Martina, who lives in a small town in Tuscany. Here is a picture of her, taken from her website. Except for some time when she had to stop teaching for a bit, Martina and I have been meeting once every week on Skype for nearly two years. We spend an hour every Wednesday talking, practicing grammar, and learning about Italian culture, government, economics, food, and the arts. Martina is fluent in English, but we use as little as I can manage. It’s a big challenge for me, but the effort is worth it. I can now understand much of what Martina says, and she says I am making progress. By

the way, if you would like to study Italian with Martina, you can find her at www.italki.com.

During one of our recent lessons, I asked Martina how Italians prepare for retirement. If I understood her correctly, she said that most Italians pay into a program that is similar to our Social Security, which then pays them a pension upon retirement. In addition, some companies offer employer- and employee-funded pensions. However, it sounds like American-style investing – that is, individuals investing in mutual funds, annuities, stocks and bonds – is not widespread in Italy. It’s no secret that government-sponsored retirement programs around the world will likely face money challenges in the future, so it is good to have a backup savings plan. Young people such as Martina (she’s only 29 years old) have a great gift: time. I have been

increased her investment a little every year, well, you can imagine the possible result. Mozzafiato!

Although it’s fundamental for financial success, investing is only one part of planning for the future. If you want to assess your personal situation, call me.

We’ll talk in plain English – unless you speak Italian.

1This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rate of return used does not reflect the

995 Robert Blvd. | Slidell, Louisiana

Tulane offers comprehensive neurosurgery care by fellowship trained neurosurgeons. Tulane is internationally recognized for utilizing cutting edge research and state-of-the art technology to improve neurological health and quality of life.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

BLUELINE IV

SLIDELL AUDITORIUM 8 PM - MIDNIGHT

BLUE LINE BASH IV is a great evening of dining and entertainment to support the Slidell Police Department through the work of the Friends of Slidell Police Foundation. Features of BLUE LINE BASH IV include premium open bar, prime rib dinner buffet, and donut bar. There will also be several silent auction items. Musical entertainment is provided by 5 Finger Discount

BLUE LINE BASH IV will be held on Saturday, September 17 at Slidell City Auditorium, 8 PM - midnight. Tickets can be purchased at:

FriendsofSlidellPoliceFoundation.org

Friends of Slidell Police Foundation (FOSPF) was formed in 2018 by a group of citizens committed to maintaining and improving the

excellent relationship between the police department and the Slidell community. FOSPF identifies opportunities to support the police department in ways that the City of Slidell budget cannot. This has taken many forms, including supporting families of fallen officers, customized uniforms and equipment, purchasing a snowball trailer for the KAPs program, supporting the K-9 and Mounted divisions and Slidell Animal Control, along with sponsoring the Pink Police Cruiser for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Click this QR Code to show your support for FOSPF on our website.

LIVE MUSIC BY

• 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)

Legal-ease “Your Estate Matters”

By Ronda M. Gabb, NP, JD, RFC

Here's the 411 on 121 & 1031

Real estate prices have never been higher, so we have been fielding lots of questions about the implications of selling property for a significant profit. While we are not accountants, nor CPAs, a good estate planning attorney must have a competent understanding of these issues to dispense the proper advice. This article is meant to be only a primer on these issues and we highly suggest you speak in more detail with your own tax professional. Let’s start with what is called the “Section 121 Exclusion” (principal residence tax exclusion). This Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section allows you to exclude the first $250,000 ($500,000 if married and filing jointly) of capital gains from the sale of your PRIMARY home if you meet certain requirements. Many people don’t realize this “new” law has actually been around for 25 years now! (Before that, you either had to purchase a more expensive home or if you were over age 55 you had a one-time exclusion of the first $125,000 of capital gains.)

It's pretty simple, if you have owned and lived in the home as your PRIMARY residence for two of the last five years (the 2 yrs/730 days do not have to be consecutive) prior to the Act of Sale then the first $250,000 of capital gains is excluded ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly). It is fine if the title is only in one spouse’s name, but BOTH spouses must have resided there for the 2 year period. Even if your spouse has predeceased you, you still have two years from your spouse’s date of death to utilize their “extra” $250,000 exclusion amount (as long as you have not

remarried). If during any part of the last five years the home was used as a rental property or as a home office deduction, discuss this further with your tax professional as this will offset some of the exclusion amount. I have many clients who literally do this every two years! They buy properties that need some TLC at a good price, fix them up and live in them for the two year period and then sell them for a hefty profit and their first $500,000 of capital gains is FREE. God Bless America!

But what if the property being sold isn’t your primary home? Now we look at what is called the “Section 1031 Exchange” (like-kind exchange). Basically, this neat aspect under the IRC allows you simply to “defer” paying capital gains until a later time, and maybe not ever if the property is held until death and gets a “step-up” in basis (read last month’s “Step Right Up” article for more on that). The property must be used for business, trade or investment (so not your primary or second home, unless it’s rented out) so this is often used for rental property. You will want to use an experienced qualified 1031 intermediary company to handle the process. This is like doing a “swap” of properties, but usually for a property worth more (or the same). Let’s say I purchased a rental property for $150,000, and it has been depreciated down to $100,000, and I now have a buyer giving me $300,000. If I simply sold it now, I would be paying capital gains taxes on $200,000 of gain. If, however, I found another rental property for $300,000 (or more) I could buy the new

property using a 1031 exchange. Although my “basis” remains at the $100,000 mark, I have managed to “defer” my capital gains taxes until I sell this new replacement property. If I die before I sell, then my spouse and/or my children will now inherit this property at the full fair market value as of the date of my death. They can now sell the property and pay NO capital gains at all.

Unfortunately, a 1031 exchange comes with “set in stone” deadlines. When I sell my property (and the 1031 intermediary holds my $300,000) I MUST clearly identify the new property that will replace it within 45 days of my sale (I am allowed to identify up to 3 properties that I may choose) and then I must close on the sale within 180 days of my initial sale.

I have many clients who have been deferring their capital gains for decades upon decades, and if the property was community property, when the first spouse dies, the surviving spouse can now sell it for full fair market value with ZERO capital gains. If you are married and have inherited (separate) property that is subject to a 1031 exchange, or for whatever reason has very low (maybe even zero) basis, you may want to discuss with your estate planning attorney and CPA the pros (and cons) of converting that property to community to be able to get a step-up in basis at the death of either spouse. Now that is some good estate planning! Use this 411 to make good decisions when buying/ selling real estate, and hopefully pay less taxes to Uncle Sam.

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.

In 2016, Carmen and Ector Gutierrez purchased a building on Highway 190 to build a dance studio from nothing but their own dreams and aspirations.

“We started our studio six years ago because we wanted to create a positive environment for our students,” they explained.

Starting with 30 students in 2016, they quickly grew to 90, then 160 within only a few years. Everything was moving on an upwards path, then the COVID-19 pandemic hit at the end of their fourth year.

“All at once, we couldn’t teach and the students couldn’t come and learn,” Ector said. “At a time when we felt that the outlet of dance, and just getting out of the house, could be the most beneficial to our students, we were not allowed to be there for them in a very stressful time.”

Everyone from the teachers, to the students, to the students’ families are considered to be integral parts of the Studio G Family.

IS THE PLACE TO BE!

Both Carmen and Ector have been dancing individually (and together) for most of their lives.

“If it wasn’t for dancing, Carmen and I wouldn’t have met,” Ector says with a smile. “I really liked her right away. In fact, when I was 16, she was the only female I was interested in, and she wouldn’t give me the time of day,” he said, laughing. “It took three years before she even gave me a chance.”

Carmen and Ector met at a Slidell’s Got Talent event where Ector was dancing. This “cute girl” (Carmen) approached Ector with a business card from the studio where she danced and invited Ector to come dance with them. Ector ended up at the new studio and joined the competition team with Carmen.

“Studios want more male students,” Ector explains. “It’s a big goal, because obviously it helps with diversity; but also the number and types of routines you can work on increases when young men are a part of the picture.”

Both Carmen and Ector went on to teach dance at the studio, as well as multiple other studios around the Northshore.

“Dancing together and teaching was something we were both drawn to,” they explained. “The kids we were teaching and influencing were a powerful and positive force in our lives. We realized how important this calling was for us and them.”

This realization, ultimately, is what inspired Carmen and Ector to open their own studio. The act of sale on their new studio building was final the week after their honeymoon, and they’ve never looked back.

“We wanted to create a place that could be a positive influence for our students, and give them an outlet no matter what is going on in their lives,” Carmen said.

At one point, after graduating from Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell, Ector had an opportunity to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a professional dancer.

“What I learned while working as a professional dancer was that the fast-paced lifestyle wasn’t for me,” Ector ruefully explains. “I’m way more of a family man. I’m way more of the type of guy who, if a friend calls up and wants to play some basketball, I want to be able to do that.”

“I truly believe it is my calling to be able to share the life and dance lessons I’ve learned with my community, rather than spending years auditioning for hundreds and hundreds of commercial dancing jobs.”

Ultimately, it was more fulfilling for Ector to teach what he knows, rather than just make a living as a dancer. The dream is always that some of their students have an opportunity to pursue a career in dance, if that’s what they want. But, for the rest, Carmen and Ector hope that they instill their students with the values of hard work, dedication, and responsibility. “Of course we want to teach them how to dance, and to be passionate about it! But, equally as important, we’re also trying to be a good influence in their lives,” Ector said. “In this time of COVID, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of opportunities for kids to interact with each other and have a positive and uplifting mentor that they can look up to.”

Carmen and Ector both related instances where students had confided in them, or asked them for help with their homework.

“Some of our students have grown to view us almost like another parent or perhaps like an older sibling,” Carmen admits. “We’ve become a part of their family, and they have become a part of ours. It’s that personal touch that lets our students know they are not just a number here to learn dance, but a person that we’re here for if they need us.”

Registrations for Fall classes at Studio G have started. There are classes for students as soon as they can walk, all the way through seniors in high school.

“We have our Mommy and Me classes for students who have just started walking,” Ector says. “My own girls started at 10 months old, and it’s the highlight of their week. I’m sure they were dancing with Carmen in the womb, so I’m sure it was easier for them to gravitate toward dance.”

Studio G offers all of the same types of classes as other local studios, like Hip-hop, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Competition, Marching, etc... But, what makes them unique is that they have a lot of male students who study with them.

“As a male dance teacher, who along with my wife, is also the owner, parents have told me that they are very comfortable sending their sons to learn here,” Ector explains. “Many parents are reserved about their boys dancing, how they will dance, and the costumes they will wear. When they see me on stage dancing, they become more assured that we will be a good fit for their sons.”

Studio G had more than a dozen young men participate in their last recital, which Ector said was pretty unheard of in this area.

“We really try to focus and cater to our male students, to make them feel welcome and comfortable,” Ector said. “We’ve added more Hip-hop classes, which is my own particular forte, to appeal to more students, both boys and girls.”

Visit Studio G’s website where you can view their class schedule and awesome dance videos:

www.StudioGSlidell.com or check them out on Facebook: facebook.com/StudioGLLC

Studio G

40261 Hwy 190 E Slidell, LA 70461 985 - 768-7952

Back Pain: Leading Cause of Disability

Symptoms of back pain can range from a mild muscle ache to a shooting, burning or stabbing pain. In addition, the pain may extend to the legs, feet or hips and worsen with bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking. The exact cause of back pain can sometimes be difficult to identify. People who work at jobs that require heavy lifting or involve vibrations from vehicles or industrial machinery are at a higher risk of developing low back pain. Other conditions commonly linked to back pain include:

• Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments.

• Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve.

• Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord.

• Osteoporosis. Your spine’s vertebrae can develop painful fractures if your bones become porous and brittle.

Improving your physical condition and practicing proper body mechanics can help alleviate or prevent the recurrence of back pain.

To keep your back healthy and strong:

• Exercise. Regular low-impact aerobic activities, like walking and swimming, can increase strength and endurance.

• Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises help condition these muscles so that they work together like a natural corset for your back.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight strains back muscles.

• Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk of low back pain. The risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

armrests and a swivel base. Keep your knees and hips level. Change your position frequently, at least every 30 minutes.

• Lift smart. When lifting heavy boxes, let your legs do the work. Keep your back straight, no twisting, and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body.

Both surgical and non-surgical treatment options are available to alleviate back pain. Often, pain relievers such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the only treatment needed. Patients should avoid any activity that makes the pain worse. If the pain doesn’t go away, additional consultations may be needed. Your doctor will first need to know your medical history and perform a physical examination to determine if the pain comes from bones, muscles, nerves or an organ. Physical therapy may be prescribed if the pain is a result of an injury. A back brace may be recommended to help provide comfort and reduce pain. Injections with local anesthetics and steroids may also help. Surgery may be an option if you experience unrelenting pain associated with radiating leg pain or progressive muscle weakness caused by nerve compression. These options are usually reserved for pain related to structural problems, like spinal stenosis or a herniated disk, that hasn’t responded to other therapy.

Our surgeons strive to provide you with the best surgical care. That’s why our team at Ochsner Medical Center –Northshore uses the Mazor X Stealth™ Edition Robotic Guidance System, a technology that assists with precision and predictability in surgical procedures. With the combination of a computer and specialized software and instruments, our surgeons use this system to plan where and how they will operate on your spine. The robotic guidance helps your surgeon execute their plan and perform the surgery with precision. Dr. Bradley Hall is fellowship trained in Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.

OUT TAKES

Slidell Magazine was EVERYWHERE last month! Here are just a few of our adventures!

Slidell Mag

142 - August 2022

Kendra with June cover artist and Ukraine native, Oksana Fogg, showing donations raised for Ukraine by the Widow’s Social Club of Slidell

Joshua Wichterich, three-time cover artist for Slidell Magazine, looking dapper at his recent art show, Four Corners, held in Slidell’s City Hall Gallery

What a gang! Miss Rosemary & Gwendolyn Clement with Police Chief Randy & Dania Fandal and Brenda Case, enjoying Heritage Fest

Looking regal! Mona Lisa & MoonPie pastqueens, Suzie Hunt & Kendra Maness congratulate MLMP Queen 2022 (and August’s Extraordinary Slidell Neighbor), Brandee Santini

Slidell Magazine’s Storyteller, John Case, with wife Brenda celebrating their alma mater’s College World Series championship. Hotty Toddy!

Laura looks on as her husband, Councilmanat-Large Bill Borchert is sworn in by Judge Haggerty. Councilman Borchert has served our city for over 15 years! GO BILLY!!

Slidell Mayor & First Lady, Greg and Peggy Cromer, head to the stage for the inauguration of his second term.

The agents and staff of Century 21 Investment Realty truly feel they are a family. We recently lost a member of our family, Madison Bradley. She was an extraordinary young lady and will never be forgotten.