Slidell Magazine - February 2023

WE SAY KEEP IT FRESH KEEP IT POSITIVE

Arts Evening Arts Evening

Saturday, April 15, 2023

5-9 pm • Free Admission

Olde Towne Slidell

646-4375 • MySlidell.com

Local Artists & Artwork

Live Entertainment

Fine & Casual Dining

Antique, Boutique & Unique Shopping

Salad Days Stude nt Ar t Exhibit

George Dunbar Gallery in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall

The City of Slidell and the Commission on the Arts would like to thank our 2022/2023 Cultural Season Sponsors for making this event possible:

Renaissance $5,000 Sponsors:

Baroque, $2,500 Sponsor : Silver Slipper Ca sino

Neoclassical, $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & L aura Borchert

Lori ’ s Art Depot & Community Arts C Center • • Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency

Impressionism, $500 Sponsors: P. David Carollo, Attorney At Law • CiCi’s Pizza

Mayor Greg Cromer • State Representative Mary DuBuisson, District 90

Roberta’s Cleaners • Slidell Historic Antique Association

ARTIST: claire bear

Way back in 1999, I was in junior high, and I would charge students one dollar to draw their pets, which they would describe for me. As a result, being a pet portrait artist has always been a dream of mine, but you know… Life happens.

Eventually, I grew up and started a small pet-sitting operation, where I would often paint portraits of my furry clients as gifts for their owners. These gifts later turned into commissioned portraits and memorial paintings that fed my love of art and got me through the slow seasons. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, however, people didn’t need petsitting as much, so I decided to lean into art as a profession instead of a hobby. That lean turned into a dive when I painted my first holiday window at Salad Station, starting my career as a full-time artist. This moment is where it gets good: one day I was commissioned to paint a mural for a dog groomer, and that day is when I met the subject of this cover painting.

Brewster, a six-year-old Shih Tzu rescued from a backyard breeder, was staying at the groomer’s until he could find a forever home. I knew right away that his home was with my family. Now, this milkyeyed boy lives his best royal life, eating only the best homemade food and snuggling on my lap while I paint.

Claire Bear is a Louisiana artist living now in Mississippi with her husband, teenager, five cats and, of course, Brewster. She is also happy to say she no longer charges one dollar for pet portraits. :)

To view more of Claire Bear’s art, or to contact her for commissions, visit: www.clairebearart.com

MAGAZINE STAFF

Kendra Maness Editor / Publisher Editor@slidellmag.com

Michael Bell Graphic Designer Graphics@slidellmag.com

Krista Gregory Administrative Assistant Krista@slidellmag.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

John Case

“The Storyteller”

Charlotte Collins

Extraordinary Slidell Neighbors

Mike Rich

Making Cents of Your Money

Donna Bush

Wading Birds in Louisiana

Suzie Hunt

Did You Know? Quirky but useful information to enhance your knowledge or win a bar bet

Ronda M. Gabb

Legal-Ease

Michael Bell Have Your Cake & Eat it Too!

The picture above captures a great memory - when I presented my friend, Andy Frisard, with the 2022 Community Leadership Award from the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. I was honored to be chosen to award him this recognition; and I’m even more honored to call him my friend.

Andy & I became friends through a business transaction. Many years ago, he called Slidell Magazine to purchase an ad for the Krewe of Dionysus, the incredible Mardi Gras krewe and philanthropic organization whose motto is “Acta Non Verba” (Actions, Not Words). Andy dedicates much of his life to this organization, which dedicates ALL of their efforts to the Slidell community.

I was immediately struck by his friendly personality and, quite frankly, surprised that he wanted to PURCHASE an ad. I get calls almost daily (for over 12 years) to give away free advertising to charities. I help as much as I can, donating thousands of dollars in advertising annually. However, at some point, I must set a limit to prevent myself from going broke and losing the magazine altogether; then, I wouldn’t be able to help charities at all. I typically donate a story about the charity, coming out-of-pocket to pay the writer, photographer, graphic artist, printer, etc. If the charity needs advertising for their annual event or fundraiser after that, I’ll offer them a dramatically discounted rate. I can’t begin to tell you how often it happens or how much it hurts when the charities that I’ve spotlighted are not willing to pay a small cost to advertise, after I’ve donated so much.

Andy and the Krewe of Dionysus insisted, from the beginning, to support this publication with their advertising. I’ve never forgotten it. Since then, Slidell Magazine has become a top sponsor of all KOD events. The partnership between Slidell Magazine and the Krewe of Dionysus is one of respect, dedication, and loyalty. We promote each other, we encourage and advise each other, and we love each other. Thank you Andy for welcoming me to the familia!

“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” ~ Winston Churchill

Few career paths are straight. There is that small percentage of people that seem to innately know what they are meant to become from an early age. We all marvel at these people. Others flounder, and their paths seem to meander endlessly. For these poor souls, they are forever chasing rainbows, and the gold that they imagine at the end never appears. For most of us, we encountered forks in our journeys and we can identify those times in our lives when we made choices that forever changed us. Rodney Lowe related to the latter, and said the moment his career veered to the right came as quite unexpected and unintended. Many of you know Rodney from Slidell High, Class of ‘67. Others know him from his 40 years at Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH). Then there are even more of you that won’t remember Rodney, nor the day you were born at SMH. But, chances are, he might remember your name or perhaps your memorable delivery!

His intention was to follow his cousins to University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and major in education, becoming either an English or History teacher. After three years at USM, he just didn’t find his passion in education. Along the way, he lost his scholarships and decided to get a job near the campus. This is the first fork for Rodney. Right across the highway was Forest General Hospital, which had several openings for hourly wage jobs. Rodney knew several guys that worked there, and really enjoyed it. So, he began working there, mostly doing mundane work, except for the few times he got to go into the surgery rooms. One of his coworkers, Richard Turner, made the decision to go to nursing school. He applied to the local community college, Pearl River Community College (PRCC), and asked Rodney to ride down with him for his interview. Here was fork number two.

I interrupted at this point, as my greatgrandfather, Professor James “Jim” Andrew Huff, played a large part in PRCC. It was begun as Pearl River County Agricultural High School, known as “PRC”. Because of my great-grandfather’s request to the

legislature and the Mississippi Board of Education, it was extended to a community college. He pled for those who would not have otherwise attended college. As a result, two more years were added, and Professor Huff was made the first President of this new junior college. He has been called the Father of the Junior College System of Mississippi, and would be proud to know that, even today, students like Rodney found their success through the opportunities he envisioned. But I get ahead of myself...

Rodney recounted the experience vividly, “Charlotte Odom was the Director of the School of Nursing at the time. When my friend finished his interview, I was waiting on him in the waiting room. Mrs. Odom walked out and asked if I was her next interview. I laughed and said, ‘I don’t think so’ with shock at being singled out. I think it offended her. She fired back, ‘What’s so humorous about my question?’ Rephrasing my answer, I simply explained that I was not there for an interview. She kept her gaze on me and continued with her questions, ‘Well, what are you doing? Are you in school up at USM?’ Now I was forced to admit that I had

A biography by Charlotte Collins Rodney Lowe

planned on getting my student teaching courses completed, but that I was not currently enrolled. Instead of another question she commanded, ‘Come in my office. I want to talk to you.’”

Basically, the Director of Nursing recruited Rodney. He liked the hospital work he was doing. She explained the opportunities in the nursing field, and that his work would get more exciting as he began earning certifications. Plus, he would only have to commute to Poplarville two days a week. He liked that he could help patients in need, and became one of the three males in his class. Rodney was confident enough that the gender issue didn’t bother him a bit. He was a big, strong guy, and I could see how he might have an advantage lifting and moving patients. Describing the decision as “divine intervention,” he explained that he was going nowhere until he was introduced to nursing.

Today, we don’t think a thing about having a male nurse. But Rodney’s dad, Leon, was of another generation, and he never warmed up to the idea of his son being the first male nurse at SMH. Rodney laughed as he imitated his father’s reaction, “Why bother with nursing school when you could just be a hairdresser.” He refused to tell people what his son did for a living, simply saying, “He works at SMH.” Rodney was doing well in school, or at least he thought so. One day, the Director pulled him into her office again to say she didn’t think he was going to make it in nursing. He wasn’t compassionate enough. As Rodney related this story, I couldn’t imagine that. He was quite professional when he spoke about patient stories. But he explained that she was talking about the people he worked with. Rodney took his profession so seriously now, that he took issue with coworkers drinking in a bar in their uniform. I perceived this as a testament to his integrity. He graduated from PRCC in 1972.

If the saying “out of the frying pan, into the fire” pertained to any situation, it described Rodney’s next chosen path. Immediately after graduation, he took a position with Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He worked in the male surgery section on the fourth floor. Rodney described it as, “a super busy place where you see a bit of everything. It was a teaching hospital, so we had M.D. residents and student nurses watching and learning from us all the time, and they were really nice to work with. I was working the night shift, and sometimes there were only two nurse aides and myself for up to 52 patients. There were some very difficult situations, and it made me a better nurse. Sometimes it seemed like all you did was take care of their medications. We had patients that were also prisoners and they would unhook and drink their IV fluids.” He completed three of his six months of his debt to the state for his school stipend there.

Some of the nurses went to Lafayette Charity Hospital. They said the work was more calm there. So Rodney transferred to Lafayette. He explained the changes to me, “The cases were still difficult, but the patients were just so grateful for anything you did for them. It was very different, not as frenetic. I stayed there until I finished my stipend for the state, then I headed back home to Slidell.”

He applied for a position at SMH, and learned that there were no male nurses on staff. At this time, SMH had few Registered Nurses (RNs), so they were happy to hire Rodney. Initially, he started training in the Intensive Care unit called the Rotunda. How many of you remember that green bubble on the roof of the old SMH building? He remembered one nurse in particular, Jimmie Watson, who took him under her wing. Rodney proved his worth through his work ethic, professionalism, and team spirit. He earned the respect of nurses, doctors, staff, and administration.

He shared, “It really was a big honor to me when your classmates or your friends and relatives come into the hospital for surgery and ask for you. But then, you’ve got this idea looming over your head if things don’t go well. Then there’s the awkwardness of the lack of privacy, too.” Chuckling, Rodney added, “The other nurses all tried to set me up with their daughters. I don’t think that I ever had any kind of disagreement with anybody. I appreciated their skills and it seemed that they appreciated mine. The doctors there were fantastic to work with.”

However, being the very first first male nurse meant that there were some departments in the hospital where Rodney was not asked to practice in the 1970’s. “For instance, I really couldn’t go into the room when OB (obstetric) patients came to the emergency room for a pelvic exam. The day finally came when Dr. Sewell, an OB doctor, was forced to call for me because he couldn’t get a female nurse at that instant. He told me to just go in and be professional.”

I felt my shoulders relax a bit. I had been wanting to interview a nurse for some time, as nurses are the professionals we normally see the most often when we are hospitalized. It is from them that we request the most, from minor comfort needs to intervention pleas as a go-between with our doctor.

1954: Brother Lorre, Dad Lee, baby sister Peggy, Rodney age 5, Mother Angeline

Sometimes all we need is a little reassurance. A wry joke from Rodney goes a long way toward brightening a patient’s mood. I can only imagine that nurses get a lot of unexpected requests. I’m also certain there are a lot of good stories in the nurse’s break room. But they are professionals, sworn to privacy, so folks like you and I won’t get to hear those, not even for this interview. Rodney is possibly one of the most diplomatic and professional interviewees I have ever spoken with.

He did remark on another first experience that was etched in his memory. Rodney was called upon to take care of premature babies without warning or training. Suddenly, he was sent to the neonatal unit, and it turned out to be for the babies of a classmate. He distinctly recalled, “Both of her children were preemies. On a personal level, I wasn’t prepared for exactly how small they really were. I was almost afraid to pick them up. They fit in my hand!” Granted, he is a big guy with strong hands, but his gesture indicated a really tiny size that left me marveling.

“It was a real privilege to take care of them, and the mom was blessed not to have to transfer the babies to a hospital across the lake. To minimize exposure to multiple nurses, we took 24-hour shifts. I did what I always do, which is to just follow what I remembered from my training.”

Rodney was devoted to his work at SMH and put in a lot of hours there. He earned a promotion to Supervisor for the evening shift, which also came with a much needed pay increase. Despite the importance of his efforts for patients, nurses back then only made about $7 an hour. His job was so demanding that he didn’t have much time for a life outside of work.

As fate often intervenes, Rodney finally accepted an offer to a party. “I was told I could just keep to myself if I wasn’t interested in the twin sister they thought I may like. She wouldn’t even know why I was invited. I went. Instead I saw her younger sister, Rose Mary, and it was like a light just went on when she smiled. It didn’t go as planned, but it turned out wonderfully! We ended up being inseparable after that. It turned out that we were in Lafayette in the hospital at the same time, but we never met each other. I had dated a classmate of hers, but somehow never met Rose Mary until January of ‘74. Unfortunately, I was already planning to move to Jackson, Mississippi to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.”

Sometimes, fate seems to offer a golden path, then put things to the test. The third fork in the road came as it was time to leave in August for school at University Medical Center in Jackson. He had also secured a job there in the emergency room, so the couple had to make a life choice. Rodney smiled boyishly and revealed, “She had the choice of either a long distance relationship or to go on and get married. Living together is just not her lifestyle.

Six months after we met, we got married. That was July of 1974. I attended classes for two semesters and we found out she was pregnant and I had been accepted to anesthesia school in New Orleans! We decided to move back here and be around family.”

Everything seemed to have fallen into place. Rodney got a job back with SMH, and his parents offered part of their house for the young couple. He proudly announced, “Our first daughter, Erin, was born on October 2, 1975. Rose Mary started working here as an RN at the same time. After the baby was born, my father bought a completely furnished, big mobile home and moved it into the backyard for us. He said that this was his contribution to my education. My mom helped take care of the baby so that I could work and go to anesthesia school at Charity Hospital, and Rose Mary could work and be a new mom. It was tough, but family made it possible.”

Rodney finished anesthesia school, and he and Rose Mary became parents again to their son, Brad. He continued working as a nurse supervisor at SMH. Almost immediately after he finished training, the hospital needed a part-time CRNA nurse (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) in anesthesia. Rodney worked a second part-time job as an RN in the Emergency Room. Unfortunately, the two jobs still didn’t amount to the same salary as a full-time position. Rodney hung in there, as he admitted, “I don’t like change. As an RN, I probably got $7 an hour back then. As a CRNA, I was making $11 an hour. Later, it jumped up to $25 an hour, and kept progressively climbing. Pay really becomes an issue with the birth of a third child, as Kristin was born.”

So the career was one with upward mobility, worthy of Rodney’s time and efforts, and highly sought after by employers. Some of the colleagues with whom Rodney had once worked at SMH all signed up with the new Northshore Regional Medical Center when it opened. Rodney was reistant to change and hesitated to leave SMH, despite having difficulties with one of the doctors. His love for his hometown hospital was strong. Eventually, however, he did join his colleagues at Northshore. “It was probably the best move I’ve made yet. The team was a great group of people. Everybody got along, and it was just totally a different atmosphere. But that was a long time ago, and both hospitals have changed a lot since then.” It was obvious that this decision had been tough for him.

Eleven years later, a new anesthesia group was hired at SMH, and Rodney went back to the organization to which he had been loyal most of his professional career. Of course, I know we all want to hear how SMH endured the recent COVID crisis. Rodney informed me that most of the COVID cases were sent to the third floor where

• No Exposure to Diseases or Parasites from Other Dogs

• Medication Administered

• Less Separation Anxiety

• Insulin Injections

• Waste Cleanup

• Mail Pickup

• Daily Walks

• Nail Trim

“Beignet”

they set up ventilators and reverse-flow ventilation rooms, which was pretty complicated. Still, it was stressful for the whole staff, no matter what department they worked. Rodney sounded grateful as he related, “The younger nurses protected the older nurses like me during the first round, but I kept working as a CRNA in the surgery unit. The younger CRNA’s made sure to take the sicker patients and protected me. The anesthesiologists handled the intubations themselves, so I was not needed there either. The COVID variants are still with us, but the treatments have changed drastically. We understand the virus

more, so people aren’t isolated the way they were during the first round. I feel indebted to the ICU nurses and respiratory therapists who had to work closely with the ventilators and the sickest of the patients. It was truly difficult for our patients and their staff.” He was silent for a moment.

I thought about how frightened most of us were about the possibility of having to go to a doctor or be hospitalized during the pandemic. I can only imagine watching your loved ones leave each morning to work with COVID patients. Though his family was concerned, Rodney remained committed to his profession and his colleagues.

However, in April the time had come for Rodney to officially retire. He had been through a series of illnesses himself, including shingles and COVID. Rodney described, “It was during the second round of COVID that I got sick. I felt a lot of lethargy for a longer period than I expected. I just couldn’t bounce back or seem to get any energy back at all. Finally, I was diagnosed with CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). I’m lucky that mine is not an acute form.”

As you can imagine, he still answers the call when he is needed as a PRN (used as needed).

During our interview, Rodney reminisced about the changes and breakthroughs in his lifetime. “Back at Charity Hospital, all we had was the stethoscope to monitor a patient’s heart, manual blood pressure readings, and small screen heart monitors for EKG rhythms. You had to listen to the heart and the breathing, and always keep your head up to be aware of any changes. That’s about as as fancy as we got back then. We even used glass syringes that we had to sterilize along with the needles. We didn’t have the abundance of disposable syringes and needles back then. We had cloth surgical drapes and gowns that had to be laundered instead of paper disposable ones. Nurses today don’t realize how lucky they are in terms of modern medical supplies. Now, we have modern, sophisticated machines that monitor your respiration, your EKG (heart

1.) School days at Florida Avenue Elementary, 1957. 2.) Rodney at his desk, serving on his high school Student Council. 3.) Slidell High School graduate, 1967. 4.) Rodney’s University of Southern Mississippi I.D. badge from 1967.

Rodney & Mary Ann are surrounded by their growing family at the 2010 wedding of their son, Brad. l-r: Kristen, Alex, and Nathan Jordan, bride Erin and groom Brad Lowe, Rodney & Rose Mary, and Erin & Patrick Abercrombie with children, Alex & Ethan.

monitor), and CO2 (carbon dioxide levels). I had a patient whose heart was arrested after recovery, which totally would have been avoided if we had what we have today.”

I asked Rodney about his goals now that he is retired. His answer was to have time off to travel. He wants to go back to Aruba, and he smiled, “We’ve got the trip planned already. It is just a beautiful place, and warm as a bonus! I just want to enjoy life with my wife and family. The biggest regret I have is not spending enough time with them. You try to give your kids all they can possibly want, and later find out all they wanted was time with you. For now, I’m going to keep working only if I’m really needed. I’m sure there will always be new changes and challenges. Male nurses are no longer a rare sight at SMH!”

“I’ve lived in Slidell for a long time. For me, it’s the people here that makes the community. I’m always finding people that I remember their families or their background. It’s the kind of place where people knew your parents and grandparents. In my profession, remembering a family and their medical background came in very handy. Even with childbirths, I can follow a pattern. I started my career with apprehension, not knowing what I would be dealing with. I ended with a lot of memories, and a great deal of gratitude that I haven’t had to deal with knowing that I caused any harm. But mostly, I’m glad to be here, in Slidell. It’s the kind of place where people are interested in each other, no matter where you are from or how different you are.”

As the saying goes, if you’ve lived here five years, you can call it home,

which makes us all neighbors! One of the things I enjoy most about writing Extraordinary Slidell Neighbors is getting to know more about the people who make up our community. I feel like a get a sneak peek at the biography of someone’s life and experiences. And all are fascinating in some way! Slidell has tens of thousands of people with different backgrounds, different opinions, and different outlooks, which all add to the cultural gumbo of our beloved city.

I hope that all of us in our hometown will try to be more grateful for those who lend us a smile, or an act of kindness. Return the gesture. They may just be someone’s hero who has sacrificed greatly just to be able to serve.

1.) Rodney’s job gave him the opportunity to join Brad and Erin for the birth of their first child, Emily, in 2017. 2.) The Lowe grandchildren: Alex & Ethan (back) Emily & Christopher (front). Not pictured, granddaughter Alex (yes, another Alex!) 3.) Rodney & Rose Mary, 2013

1.) Rodney and Rose Mary’s engagement photo, 1973. 2.) Wedding Day! July 13,1974 at Saint Rita Catholic Church, Harahan 3-4.) Rodney has kept his name tags and patches throughout the years. These are circa 1976.

Sponsored

The Storyteller

There were only three channels in our viewing area and each was only on the air about 16 hours a day, closing in the evening with a picture of the U.S. flag and the playing of the National Anthem. The selection of programs was limited. They broadcast national and local news and weather. John Cameron Swayze was

Club of Slidell North Shore

In Our Community In Our World Rotary Club of Slidell North Shore meets every Tuesday at 7:30AM Pinewood Country Club

a household name and the most popular ad was for Timex watches, “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”

By far the most popular programs were westerns. Between 1952 and 1970, over 60 different western series were aired. Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Tales of Wells Fargo, Yancey Derringer, Wagon Train and many others were great entertainment, we thought. Many of these centered on the theme of the gold rush in California.

While on a Rotaplast mission in Narnau, India in 2018, RCSN member Sharron Newton visited a local school. The Rotary Club of Narnaul City adopted the school, adding running water and toilets for girls.

and white TV, the lighting could make the nugget glisten. I imagined it only took one to make you rich.

I also reasoned that if gold could be found in the streams of California, surely it could be found in the streams around my hometown of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi. I bet my friend Tommy and I waded 100 miles in streambeds all over the county. We explored Big Creek, Beaver Creek, Gill Creek, Hurricane Creek, Jackson Creek, Boones Creek and others in search of that one nugget that would change our lives forever. We dreamed it would be worth a thousand dollars. To us, that’s all the money we would need for a lifetime. We never found one. We did find artifacts such as arrowheads from the Native Americans and fossils from an era when the land was covered by the sea, but nothing we deemed of value. Most all the creeks mentioned above eventually found their way into the Bogue Chitto River. This river ran parallel with the Pearl River some miles to the east. They both enter Louisiana separately but join prior to emptying into the Rigolets, a pass leading to the Gulf of Mexico.

The day would come when the search for gold would evolve into other hobbies. We would build simple boats out of a single piece of 2x4 lumber, cut a point in the front for the bow, and set them afloat on the creek or river. We would write our name and address on the boat with a wood burning set and hope to hear from the person who found it. Our imagination believed it would be someone in Louisiana or, with luck, Mexico or even China. We never heard a word.

We then put messages in bottles with the same result. We never had one found, or at least we were never notified. Finally, the illusive interest of our youth evaporated like Puff the Magic Dragon. We developed other interest and the days of following the creeks and rivers were over; or, in my case, postponed.

Fate took me down the Bogue Chitto; not by boat, but by necessity, to move in search of employment. After I got settled, I had the desire to see where the river of my youth wound itself to.

A few miles from my new Louisiana home, I found a place that rented inner tubes on the Bogue Chitto River. It was a different river down there, much bigger and

deeper. I imagined the water I was floating in had at least a few parts per billion of the water that was shed on our family land back in Mississippi. This somehow led me to believe that I had at least a little ownership of the water on which I was navigating.

Over the next few years, in a small boat and outboard, I explored this river; but more so, the Pearl River. It was larger and more navigable. As an adult now, I somehow returned to the thoughts of finding that elusive treasure, gold. There was a glimmer of possibility in this however, as Jean Lafitte, the famous pirate, was rumored to have buried treasure on the banks of this river.

The river would flood in the spring and drop to almost a drought level in the summer. This is when the current of the high water would expose new treasures on the sandbars that were now pristine white. Again, I never found one gold coin.

Anyone that knows boating realizes there is no perfect boat. It is either too small or too large, and I was no exception. Eventually, with improved finances, I graduated to a larger boat and my excursions were away from the river and into Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Sound.

As I said, there is no perfect boat; so, after forty years, I downsized and went back to a small skiff with a small outboard. It had been years since I had explored the Pearl, and it had changed. There seemed to be less water in it than years before. I would find out there was a reason for this, but it may have led me to the most valuable treasure I would find.

As I nosed the boat up to a clean white sandbar, I could see it. It stood out. Only about four inches protruded from the sand, and it looked like a giant oyster shell from a distance. On closer examination, I could tell it was a piece of driftwood. I had no idea how beautiful it would be or how large. As it turned out, it was bigger than a basketball and the years of exposure to the current driven sand had given it nature’s finish as if it were finely sanded and sculptured by a proficient artist.

I took it home, washed it, bleached it and sprayed it with polyurethane, then mounted it on a wall in our home. At some point in time, a guest who had studied forestry told me it was originally a knot out of a Longleaf Pine

log. Due to its size, it must have come from virgin timber. This species of pine is all but extinct now and they were more prevalent in Mississippi than south Louisiana.

He estimated the tree from which it came would have been over one hundred years old when cut; and that it had been in the water at least one hundred years. It could have drifted down the Pearl, but I choose to believe it came down the Bogue Chitto into the Pearl, giving me a feeling or special bond due to common geography. This driftwood meant something to me.

As I studied the history of the rivers of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana where the rivers unite, I also studied the history of its people.

There is an excellent account of the Native American population by Father Rouquette, a priest in the early 1800s who chose to live among the native Choctaw, learning their language and customs. He held them in high regard, as they did him.

He explained that the river they depended on for food and other needs, they called the Bok Chitto. The Choctaws put the adjective after the noun, so the translation was “creek big,” Chitto meaning big.

I realized these Louisiana Choctaw called the river by the same name that we called it in Mississippi, some 125 miles north. I pondered how was the name of this river consistent with the river at its origin. I doubted these Choctaw traveled that far. Also, at the rivers origin, it is not very big. You can step across it. Certainly not of a size deserving of the name Big Creek or Big Water. Because of this, at first, I assumed that the name originated on its southern end where it was large and migrated upstream to its Mississippi origin.

This would not be consistent with Choctaw legend. Legend has it that the Choctaw arose from a mound called Nanih Waiya in east central Mississippi and populated the area moving south. If there is even a bit of truth to this legend, the Choctaw would have discovered the Bogue Chitto River at its smallest part, making its name an even greater mystery.

My thoughts returned to the piece of driftwood now hanging on my wall. Like the Choctaw, it

had migrated downriver and time and nature had transformed it into something different. It was still beautiful, more so than even in its original state.

I do not personally know any of the Choctaw people, but I do know they exist in nearby proximity. After their villages were destroyed by deserters of the Civil War, they too emerged from this culture to assimilate with the world we have today. Then I thought about all the people that live along the corridors of these two rivers.

The Europeans came from the north and the east. They settled on the Choctaw land. Other nationalities, such as the Irish and Italians, came in from the south. They migrated upstream from New Orleans, bringing their trades as laborers and vegetable and fruit vendors.

The plantation owners imported Africans and enslaved them. They are now a part of this melting pot.

From this melting pot, a rich collection of personalities has emerged. Like the driftwood, they, in my opinion, became more interesting and unique as time blended them together.

The people of this area, like the driftwood, are unique. They are a rich source of history and stories that should be told, both fiction and nonfiction. As I write their stories, or what could be their stories, I have decided to name the area from which they come Driftwood

I few weeks ago, an art expert was in our area, and I had the pleasure of meeting her. She was an employee of a museum and was looking for local art. I told her I was no artist by any means, but I had become fascinated with the driftwood I had found. She wanted to see it. After viewing it from many angles, she asked if I would make it available to the museum for $2,000.

Slidell

Association

“Your Estate Matters”

By Ronda M. Gabb, NP, JD, RFC

Legal-ease

CONTINUING Tutorships

Special needs planning comprises about one-quarter of my law practice and is by far the most rewarding part of my job. Proper planning for special needs persons (both adults and children) can make a huge difference in the lives of the entire family, and there is very little margin for error. A Continuing Tutorship (sometimes called a Permanent Tutorship) is a legal proceeding for special needs children with intellectual disabilities who are age 15, 16, or 17. The legal standard states when the child “possesses less than two-thirds of the intellectual functioning of a person of the same age with average intellectual functioning…” The parents or children usually do not have to make a Court appearance. Based on the documentation given to the Court to prove the intellectual disability of the child (usually IEP evaluations/IQ tests, medical and school records), and with the concurrence of the Coroner (via a signed letter stating the above legal standard has been met to the Coroner’s satisfaction), the Judge will then decide if the child would be competent to make decisions after attaining the age of majority (18 in Louisiana). If warranted, then a Judgment of Continuing Tutorship is granted.

The Continuing Tutor, usually one of the parents (sometimes both, if married), will be named by the Court to “continue” to be the adult child’s “tutor” (in Louisiana, a guardian is called a “tutor”) in the same capacity as when the child was a minor. For example, the tutor continues to make medical, legal and educational decisions for the child and remains legally responsible for their actions.

We often see families with special needs children who have just reached the age of majority and they are seeking our guidance as providers (doctors, teachers, social workers, etc.) for their “adult” special needs children are now asking if an “interdiction” for their child has been done. These providers can no longer speak to the parent about their “adult” child or the child’s health care matters. Imagine the shock that a parent feels when their child’s pediatrician has to tell them this. Unfortunately, because of HIPAA laws and changing times, this has now become the norm. In years gone by, even if your disabled child was now 35 years old, the doctors would still talk to the parents and take all health care instruction from them. The problem is that now the medical professionals face severe legal penalties if they continue

to do this. So the talk of “interdictions” is commonplace these days.

Once a special needs person with profound intellectual disabilities turns 18, there really is no option other than an interdiction. An “interdiction” is a Court proceeding where a special needs person is “sued” in order to deem him or her incompetent to manage his or her own affairs. The Court appoints a “legal guardian” (called their “Curator”) to do so. A Sheriff must serve the special needs person with the lawsuit, an attorney is appointed for the special needs person and one for the parents too. As you can imagine, this is a pretty scary process for everyone but especially your special needs child. Not to mention, this Court proceeding is costly, time-consuming, and oftentimes humiliating.

Unlike an interdiction, in a Continuing Tutorship proceeding an attorney is not needed for the child, and no court documents are served by the Sheriff. It is often faster, far less expensive, and is definitely a less stressful alternative to an interdiction, but it must be done prior to age 18. If you think your teenaged child would be a candidate for a Continuing Tutorship, give our office a call to schedule an appointment.

Ronda M. Gabb and Ronald “Chip” W. Morrison Jr. are both Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialists, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. Chip and Ronda combined have devoted over 40 years of practice solely to estate planning, and are Members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the Governor’s Elder Law Task Force. Ronda is also a Registered Financial Consultant. While Chip and Ronda both reside on the Northshore, Gabb Morrison LLP has offices in Covington and

Have Your &

The Mardi Gras season is well-known as one of excess. Traditionally, Mardi Gras was the last big blow-out party before the Lenten season began. Conversely, Lent (the Christian season of fasting and repentance) is mostly characterized as one of austerity, and adherents voluntarily give up some of their favorite things as a symbolic “sacrifice.”

The four most popular things to give up during Lent are: Chocolate, Alcohol, Sugary Sweets and Coffee. Human nature being what it is, inventive individuals throughout the years have continuously sought to find loopholes in the restrictions surrounding Lent. The greatest loophole (at least according to residents of South Louisiana) is that seafood is not considered “meat.” While those not fortunate enough to live near the Gulf of Mexico have to settle for grilled cheese sandwiches and frozen fish sticks on Fridays in Lent, residents of the Gulf states have a literal smorgasbord of choices. It’s in that spirit that I present you with food options to satisfy both your desire for decadent Mardi Gras excess, and your (wink, wink) reserved Lenten options.

CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is probably the most popular item sacrificed during Lent. Cultivated as a beverage for thousands of years by the native peoples of Central America, it was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. It remained a beverage until the 19th century, when the increased availability of cocoa beans, and the invention of a solid (eating) chocolate in England (1847) and Switzerland (1876) turned chocolate into the popular candy we all know and love.

Looking for a decadent chocolate treat before Lent? Look no further than Coca Cola Chocolate Cake!

QR Code for Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Recipe 

VANILLA

Giving up chocolate for Lent? No problem! Substitute some Vanilla treats to get you through the season. Did you know that vanilla is the second-most expensive spice in the world (after saffron), and it’s one of the most complex flavors in existence (with more than 200 flavor compounds)? As the only variety out of 25,000 species of orchid that produces an agriculturally useful product, vanilla is literally unique.

Looking for a rich vanilla treat you can have during Lent? Look no further than Vanilla & Cinnamon-Apple Latkes!

QR Code for Vanilla & Cinnamon-Apple

Latkes Recipe 

Story by Michael Bell

King Cake

An exploration of foods during Mardi Gras and Lent.

ALCOHOL

Alcohol is the second most popular thing to give up during Lent. Whether you’re a regular beer, wine, or cocktail drinker, this is one of the harder Lenten sacrifices to make. Living in the place that invented drive-thru daiquiri shops doesn’t make it any easier.

If you’re determined to go without alcohol during Lent, here’s a fantastic libation to imbibe during Mardi Gras. It’s called a Tequila Honey Bee, and it was invented by Nick Korbee, the executive chef and beverage director at Egg Shop in New York City.

QR Code for Tequila Honey Bee Recipe 

NON-ALCOHOLIC

If you’ve bitten the bullet and given up alcohol for Lent - bravo! It’s going to be a LOONNGG 40 days for you, but don’t fret! I’ve found a selection of non-alcoholic alternatives you can try out this Lent.

Bartender Jon Harris of Washington, DC’s Firefly has perfected four shockingly convincing alcohol-free drinks that mimic the mouthfeel and flavor of their boozy counterparts. He shares the secrets behind his amazing mocktails if you follow the QR Code link below.

QR Code for Four Mocktail Recipes 

SUGARY TREATS

Sugary treats like cakes, pies, and candy are the third most popular sacrifice during Lent. It’s especially hard when we’re just used to getting King Cake whenever we want, and then they just disappear.

A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple – the colors of Mardi Gras - and is frequently packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses.

If you want to try your hand at making your own King Cake, check out the recipe QR Code below.

QR Code for King Cake Recipe 

Maple Bacon Latte

SAVORY TREATS

If you’ve given up sugar and sugary treats for Lent, then try embracing something savory instead.

Savory is often described as a meaty flavor, which makes sense since it indicates the presence of protein (specifically, the amino acid glutamate). If you’ve ever eaten soy sauce, Parmesan cheese or salami, you’ve tasted savory.

Foods that have been slow-cooked (think soup or broth), aged (like meats, cheeses or champagne), or fermented (like soy sauce) are powerhouses of savory taste.

Interested in trying a Savory Recipe during Lent? Then look no further than this Layered Mediterranean Dip with Pita Chips.

QR Code for Layered Mediterranean Dip with Pita Chips Recipe 

COFFEE

I’m not much of a coffee drinker myself, but I know better than to get between my wife and the coffeemaker in the morning. Coffee is the fourth most popular sacrifice at Lent.

Coffee seems to be the real fuel America runs on. Just look at the lines that form at Starbucks! Beyond the caffeine fix, people seem to enjoy ordering a coffee that defines their personality. Are you a Tall, Non-Fat Latte with Caramel Drizzle? Or a Triple, Venti, Half Sweet, Non-Fat, Caramel Macchiato?

If you’re giving up coffee for Lent then you’ll wanna go out with a bang! They don’t have Maple Bacon Lattes at Starbucks, but you can make it at home with this recipe QR Code.

QR Code for Maple Bacon Latte Recipe 

TEA TIME

For serious coffee drinkers, giving up coffee for Lent is no laughing matter; but, as a lifelong tea drinker, I can assure you that the world of teas is just as large and nuanced as coffee.

Americans, by and large, are not hot tea drinkers, at least not since a certain party in Boston in 1773. Iced tea is the preferred drink for most, especially in the South.

My favorites usually feature vanilla or almond flavors, sweetened with local honey. Irish Breakfast tea is a close direct substitute for coffee. It packs a hefty dose of caffeine and a bold robust flavor.

If lattes are your coffee of choice, then you might enjoy making a Chai Tea Latte with this recipe QR Code.

QR Code for Chai Tea Latte Recipe 

ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder is often thought of as a condition of childhood affecting only school. Research shows that children never “outgrow” their ADD, only transform it. Problems with attention and memory are serious and costly conditions of adulthood. The many factors that affect adult brain health make diagnosing and treating adults even more complex than children.

There is a myth that kids “outgrow” ADD. Most kids take their concentration, tasking, and organization disability into adulthood. Those inadequately treated in childhood have a marked increased risk of drug abuse, bankruptcy, marital conflict, unemployment, depression and anxiety. Those never diagnosed are much less likely to achieve advanced degrees or high incomes. Even those who do achieve “success” may well have achieved more with proper treatment.

I have a patient considered “successful” on many fronts by his family and peers. He became a multimillionaire after proper treatment improved his concentration, organization, and task completion, allowing him to compete on complex bids and negotiating contracts. He attributes all of his later success to proper ADD treatment. His wife finds him more attentive to her needs after treatment—he listens! His children, none of whom were diagnosed previously, were all assessed and treated, with similar outcomes in school, work, and family affairs.

Many common conditions or drugs cause or worsen ADD: Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and dementia (to name a few). Recreational drugs and alcohol dramatically worsen ADD - especially marijuana, benzodiazepam (xanax, clonopin, ambien), over-the-counter sleep aids, and even antihistamines.

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

There are seven types of ADD*

 Type 1 (Classic ADD)

Inattentive, distractable, disorganized, hyperactive, restless, and impulsive.

 Type 2 (Inattentive ADD)

Easily distracted with low attention span, but not hyperactive. Instead, often appears sluggish or apathetic.

 Type 3 (Overfocused ADD)

Excessive worrying, argumentative, and compulsive; often gets locked in a spiral of negative thoughts.

 Type 4 (Temporal Lobe ADD)

Quick temper and rage, periods of panic and fear, mildly paranoid.

 Type 5 (Limbic ADD)

Moodiness, low energy. Socially isolated, chronic low-grade depression, frequent feelings of hopelessness.

 Type 6 (Ring of Fire ADD)

Angry, aggressive, sensitive to noise, light, clothes, and touch; often inflexible, experiencing periods of mean, unpredictable behavior and grandiose thinking.

 Type 7 (Anxious ADD)

Anxious, tense, nervous, predicts the worst, gets anxious with timed tests, social anxiety, and often has physical stress symptoms, such as headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms, conflict avoidant.

If you think you or a loved on may have ADD, read more at www.addclinics.com

*Dr. Daniel Amen, www.amenclinics.com

STANFORD A. OWEN, M.D.

Stanford A. Owen, M.D. is Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists, and the Neuroscience Education Institute as a Master Psychopharmacologist. He is certified in Hyperbaric Oxygen and a Fellow in the Obesity Society.

LA 70458

by: Mike Rich, CFP® | Pontchartrain Investment Management

OK, it’s not a news flash. Everyone knows that wealthy people have more money. What many people don’t know, however, is how wealthy people get that way. An inheritance, you say? Some. Oil wells in the backyard? A lucky few. The lottery? Not many.

Most of the wealthy people I know got that way by following three basic rules:

• Work hard.

• Plan for life’s unexpected events.

• Keep as much money as you can on your balance sheet, rather than transferring it to someone else’s.

It’s as simple as that. Most wealthy people get more money by working hard at their jobs, planning for events that could derail their goals, and keeping more of their money.

Now, I can’t promise you’ll become wealthy. Nor can I do much for you in the “working hard” department. That’s up to you. But I can help you:

1) Develop a financial roadmap that is designed just for you, and

2) Show you lots of ways to keep more money on your own balance sheet, rather than give it to someone else (including our favorite uncle, Sam).

I’ll show you how to get financially organized, diversify your investments, manage your risk, and maybe even establish a guaranteed stream of income for your retirement.1

One of my clients, let’s call him Bob, started on his retirement adventure last November. I had been working with Bob and his wife for more than three years, planning for the big day. During that time, we did four things to ensure that their retirement would be as worry-free as possible. First, we made sure that their investments were compatible with their risk tolerance and income needs. Second, we established and build up a cash emergency fund. Third, we designed an income plan to cover not only their daily living expenses, but also their dreams and desires, mainly frequent travel in their motor home. Finally, we put a plan in place for long term care so they will not have to rely on family members if the need arises. It was fun and exciting for all of us to see their plan come together, and I can’t wait to see how their retirement unfolds.

What about you? Do you have a financial plan like Bob and his wife? If not, it might not be too late to start. By the way, the time we will spend together is complimentary, which is a great way to keep more of your money on your balance sheet – just like those wealthy people!

1 Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company.

Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Tulane offers comprehensive neurosurgery care including Skull Base, Pituitary, Open Cerebrovascular and Spine surgery. Tulane is internationally recognized for utilizing cutting edge research and stateof-the-art technology to improve neurological health and quality of life.

HEIGHT: 48” | WINGSPAN: 84”

COLOR: Blue-Gray

LEGS: Blackish

BILL: Yellow

We are no strangers to wading birds with the abundance of water via lakes, marshes, and canals in south Louisiana. With seventeen species, Louisiana is thought to have more wading birds than any other state. Even if you don’t live on the water, chances are you see wading birds every day. They can be in the retention pond in your subdivision, in the marsh you drive by, even in the ditch in your front yard.

Long legs, long necks, and long bills characterize these birds, making it easy for them to wade and forage for food in shallow water. I find wading birds are the quickest way to hone your bird identification skills. With a few easy to remember tips, you will impress your friends with your birding knowledge in no time.

The first thing you will want to observe is the bird’s height. Of our most common wading birds, the tallest is the great blue heron, with great egret being the next tallest. An easier way to tell them apart is the fact that the great egret has a white body, and the great blue heron is mostly blue-gray with a small amount of white on its head and neck. Along with black-crowned night-herons, the great blue heron has the widest North American distribution of any wading bird. It ranges from southern Canada through most of the United States and Mexico. Easily disturbed, they have a very annoyed cry of “FRAHNK…. FRAHNK!”

Interesting Fact: Despite their large size, great blue herons only weigh 5-6 pounds. They can hunt during the night as well as the daytime due to their high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors.

Great egrets, weighing only 2 pounds, have a willowy build with a graceful flight and reside on all continents in the world except Antarctica. Great egrets far outnumber great blue herons in Louisiana. Known as the “Long White” by 19th and 20th century plume hunters, they were nearly hunted to extinction by 1920. The Audubon Society was formed by a group of concerned citizens

Story and photos by Donna Bush

Great Blu e H e ron

to stop the hunting of egrets for their feathers, which were used in the millenary trade (hat-making). After the Society’s intervention, egrets made a rapid comeback.

Interesting Fact: Great egrets are the symbol of the National Audubon Society. When flying, they can reach a cruising speed of 25 mph with only two wingbeats per second!

Great egrets, along with several wading bird species, have greatly benefited from Louisiana’s crawfish aquaculture. When foraging, they exhibit a unique hunting posture, standing perfectly still, but leaning forward with neck and head almost completely outstretched.

Occasionally, you might encounter a wood stork which resides in Louisiana after their breeding season ends. Typically, they will show up in June and July to roost. They are fairly easy to identify with black lining on their wing edge and a bald, scaly head with a large down curved bill. A male can weigh up to ten pounds.

They are the only stork that breeds in North America, where they are considered endangered. Feeding on fish, crawfish, frogs, and insects, they will hold their bills open in water until they detect a fish and then snap their bill shut, trapping their prey.

Interesting Fact: The concept of a stork delivering babies originated in Greek and Egyptian mythology because storks arrived on their breeding grounds in Poland and Germany nine months after midsummer. Residents encouraged them to nest on their properties, hoping that they would bring prosperity and fertility. The association between babies and storks came about from Hans Christian Andersen’s fable, “The Storks.”

Also found in our waterways are tricolored herons. The tricolored is a beautiful mix of blue-gray, lavender or purplish, and white feathers. Unlike other dark herons, they have a white belly and a white streak from the underside of their neck down to their belly. Their diet is similar to other herons and egrets. However, their foraging technique is more jittery than some other herons. They often chase after fish with wings flapping.

Interesting Fact: Tricolored herons sometime follow behind pied-billed grebes or double-crested cormorants to snap up fish that the others stir up.

Now on to a slightly more difficult issue. The wood stork, great egret, snowy egret, cattle egret, and white ibis are all white, thus making them a little trickier to distinguish. We really don’t have to worry about the wood stork; their unique dark head make them easy to distinguish. To remember the identification of white wading birds, the great egret is largest, followed by the white ibis, which has a curved bill, and the snowy egret, with the cattle egret being the shortest.

Green H e ron

HEIGHT: 17”

WINGSPAN: 25”

COLOR: Deep Green

back / Chestnut

breast & neck / Dark Gray wings

LEGS: Yellow

BILL: Black

Snowy Egret

HEIGHT: 24”

WINGSPAN: 40”

COLOR: White

LEGS: Black / Yellow Feet

BILL: Black

Yellow-Crowne d

Night-H e ron

HEIGHT: 23-28”

WINGSPAN: 44”

COLOR: Gray body / Black cheeks

LEGS: Orange-Yellow

BILL: Black

Great Egret

HEIGHT: 39”

WINGSPAN: 50”

COLOR: White

LEGS: Black

BILL: Yellow

Littl e Blu e H e ron

HEIGHT: 24”

WINGSPAN: 40”

COLOR: Slate-blue

LEGS: Green

BILL: Blue at base / Black at tip

Wood Stork

HEIGHT: 45”

WINGSPAN: 60”

COLOR: White / black lining on wing edge

LEGS: Blackish / Pink feet

BILL: Dark curved

Roseate Sp oonb ill

HEIGHT: 36” | WINGSPAN: 48”

COLOR: Pink

LEGS: Black

BILL: Yellow / Pink

Interesting Fact: Baby white ibis’ bills are straight when they hatch and don’t start the downward curve until 14 days old. The University of Miami mascot is a white ibis, affectionately known as Sebastian. Legend has it that the white ibis was chosen for their heroic ability to withstand hurricanes, which is the name of their football team.

Snowy egrets are more numerous than great blue herons and black-crowned night herons combined. Called “short whites” by the plume hunters, snowies were also slaughtered for the US/European hat trade. Louisiana’s Edward A. McIlhenny of Tabasco fame is largely credited with their survival. McIlhenny excavated a large pond and built bamboo nest platforms, providing snowies with safe nesting habitat. They are the only wading birds that take flight and pick prey off the water’s surface.

Interesting Fact: Both snowy egret parents take turns incubating eggs. As one mate takes over from the previous, often a stick is presented, as if passing the baton. In 1886, their plumes were valued at $32 per ounce by the millinery industry, twice the price of gold at the time!

Cattle egrets are native to Africa but somehow found their way to northern South America, arriving in the United States in 1941 and began nesting in the US in 1953. Interesting Fact: Cattle Egrets will fly long distances towards smoke to catch insects fleeing the fire.

There are

regularly found in Louisiana.

The most common wading birds seen around us are:

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Cattle Egret

White Ibis

Occasionally, if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of one of these other amazing waders!

American Bittern

Least Bittern

Reddish Egret

Tricolored Heron

Little Blue Heron

Green Heron

White-Faced Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

Wood Stork

Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron

Both the black-crowned night-heron and the yellowcrowned night-heron are native to Louisiana. The black-crowned night heron is the more plentiful species, breeding across most of the U.S. They are year-round residents for us. The yellow-crowned night heron is a year-round resident in southeast Florida and extreme southeast Louisiana, south Mississippi, and southern Alabama. They can be seen during breeding season in much of the southeastern U.S. Both are nocturnal hunters with large red eyes, often only spotted at night, very early morning, or late evening.

The black-crowned night heron has a stocky build and almost looks hunched over. Observed during daylight, they look kinda hungover from a night of feasting! The yellow-crowned is leaner and less stocky than their cousin. Both have short necks and powerful bills. The coloring of both night herons is very similar.

During breeding season, the black-crowned heron displays two long white plumes of feathers on their crown. Both male and female are colored the same, although the female is slightly smaller. They don’t get their adult plumage until about 3 years of age.

Interesting Fact: Black-crowned night-herons will brood any chick placed in their nest. They nest and roost with other herons and egrets but forage on their own.

Like their name implies, the yellow-crowned heron has a yellow crown on its head, which is easiest to spot during breeding season, when a yellow plume of feathers appears on their crown. Both male and female look alike. Yellow-crowned night herons have become used to civilization, often nesting on golf courses and within parks and subdivisions with mature live oak trees near water. For years they have nested on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans.

Interesting Fact: In coastal areas affected by tides, yellow-crowned night-herons forage day and night starting 3 hours before high tide and 3 hours after high tide.

Re d dish Egret

HEIGHT: 28-30”

WINGSPAN: 45”

COLOR: Slate Gray / Reddish Rusty neck

LEGS: Cobalt Blue

BILL: Pink base / Black tip

White Ib is

HEIGHT: 24”

WINGSPAN: 40”

COLOR: White

LEGS: Pink

BILL: Curved Pink

Cattl e Egret

HEIGHT: 24”

WINGSPAN: 35”

COLOR: White

LEGS: (NB) Dark

(B) Yellow & Pink

BILL: (NB) Orange Yellow

(B) Dark Orange

NB = Nonbreeding B = Breeding

Black-Crowne d

Night-H e ron

HEIGHT: 23-28”

WINGSPAN: 45”

COLOR: White body & face / Gray wings / Blueish-Black crown & back

LEGS: Yellow

BILL: Black

Tricolore d H e ron

HEIGHT: 23-30”

WINGSPAN: 38”

COLOR: Blue-Gray / Lavender & White / White belly

LEGS: (B) – Pink

(NB) - Yellow

BILL: Bright Blue patch

Photo by Andrea Westmoreland. Used under Creative Commons license via WikiMedia.org

Like other wading birds, both night herons are found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, such as bayous, streams, rivers, marshes, ponds, and even rice fields. They feed mostly on fish or other small sea crustaceans. Occasionally, the black-crowned heron will feed on eggs and young in tern colonies. Both night herons forage for food by walking slowly along the water’s edge or standing still and waiting for unsuspecting prey to approach. Both feed primarily from dusk through evening but can be observed in daytime hours during breeding season when they have hungry babies to feed.

None of the wading birds’ mate for life. As with all wading birds, their young look seriously disturbed with the worst hair-do ever!

Just to throw another wrench in the discussion, we also are home to little blue herons, green herons, and reddish egrets.

Little blue heron adults are dark all over, with a rich purple-maroon head and neck, and dark slate-blue body. Yellow eyes, greenish legs, and a bill that is pale blue at the base and black at the tip help to distinguish them from similar herons / egrets. A bigger challenge arises when identifying juvenile little blues with their white bodies as they are often mistaken for snowy egrets and vice versa.

Interesting Fact: Little blue herons may gain a survival advantage by being white for their first year of life. The immature birds are more likely to be tolerated by snowy egrets than their adult relatives. In the egrets’ company, they likely catch more fish and are provided with some extra protection from predators.

Green herons are about the size of an American crow. At a distance they appear dark. With better lighting their true colors can be seen – deep green on the back with a rich chestnut breast and neck, with wings of dark gray and yellow legs. While plentiful, these colorful herons are often overlooked. Unlike larger herons who prominently show up in the marshes and bayous, the green heron tends to feed at the edges in shallower water and is usually concealed by vegetation.

Interesting Fact: Green herons are one of the few tool-using bird species. They craft fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, and feathers; dropping them on the surface to lure in small fish.

Reddish egrets have a shaggy, reddish rusty colored neck, a slate gray body, cobalt blue legs, and a two-toned bill of pink at the base with black at the tip. They are only seen here during migration.

Interesting Fact: Reddish egrets pursue fish on foot or swoop in from flight to catch their prey.

I’ll give you an easy one to identify – the roseate spoonbill. The only pink bird and the only spoonbill to be found in Louisiana, it is also known as the “Cajun flamingo.” For

years these beautiful birds were rarely seen in southeast Louisiana. Now they are seen more frequently, particularly alongside canals in New Orleans. They acheive their gorgeous pink tinting from their shellfish diet of shrimp and crawfish. Their color is brightest during breeding season.

Interesting Fact: Roseate spoonbills, like aging humans, lose their head feathers as they grow older. When born, the chicks do not have the spoon-shaped bill. At 9 days old, it begins to flatten. By 16 days, it takes on the spoon-like shape; and, by day 39, it is almost full size.

Another indicator is the habitat where you see a wading bird. Great blue herons enjoy foraging in both fresh water and saltwater, plus grassland and agricultural lands where they pursue frogs and small mammals. You’ll see great egrets slowly meandering through a variety of wetlands – marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, tidal flats, canals, and flooded fields. They are frequently seen feeding in water-filled ditches beside roadways. White ibis prefer coastal marshes and wetlands, often foraging in shallow areas less than eight inches deep. Snowy egrets are found in small ponds and along the shore. They are very active and move much faster than the great egret. Cattle egrets are opportunistic feeders, foraging in varied habitats, such as ponds, cattle pastures, roadsides, farmlands, parks, and lawns. They are easy to spot behind department of transportation lawn mowers alongside the roadways. You may see cattle egrets, little blue herons and wood storks feeding with their relatives; whereas great egrets, snowy egrets, tricolored, green, and reddish egrets usually feed solo.

All wading birds feed on various small fish, frogs, reptiles, shrimp, and small crustaceans. I’ve even observed the larger herons dining on baby alligators.

One similarity among all wading birds is nesting habits. They all nest in similar habitat and frequently nest together in colonies. Nests are built of limbs or twigs in a tree or shrub over water. Both parents take part in building the nest and raising the young. Nests are built over water to protect the eggs and chicks from predators, such as snakes and raccoons. This water is inhabited by alligators, which act as the best watchdog a mother wading bird could want.

Interesting Fact: Great blue herons, reddish egrets, tricolored herons, and snowy egrets are known as canopy feeders, meaning they will stand in the water with their wings spread, almost like an umbrella, to entice unsuspecting prey into the shade to become dinner.

Remember – size, color, habitat.

So, now you have some key tips on identifying the wading birds you will see around Slidell. Happy birding!

The City of Slidell presents

Juried Exhibition of Student Art

March 10 - April 21, 2023

Slidell Cultural Center

2055 2nd Street in City Hall

Opening Reception:

Friday, March 10 • 6 - 8 pm

Free Admission!

Gallery Hours:

Wednesdays - Fridays 12:00 - 4:00 pm

Call to schedule an appointment

Deadline for St. Tammany

Parish students to enter artwork is Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. For more info, please call the Dept. of Cultural & Public Affairs or visit our website.

(985) 646-4375 • MySlidell.com

Salad Days is brought to you by the City of Slidell, the Commission on the Arts and the 2022-2023 Cultural Season Sponsors: Renaissance, $5,000:

Plus + Publications

Baroque, $2,500 Sponsors: Silver Slipper Casino

Neoclassical, $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert

Lori’s Art Depot & Community Arts Center

Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency

Impressionism, $500 Sponsors:

P. David Carollo, Attorney At Law • CiCi’s Pizza

Mayor Greg Cromer • State Rep. Mary DuBuisson, District 90

Roberta’s Cleaners • Slidell Historic Antique Association

“Pug Appeel” Maya Hernandez

“A Pirates Life for Me” Connor Carollo

“She Screams” Julia Spiess

What have an old gas station, a nunnery, and the train tracks running along Front Street have in common? They are all pieces of the great puzzle of the places and events that make up Slidell’s history. Founded in 1888, Slidell has played host to some colorful people and interesting places over the years. The best way to keep that history alive is to share it down through the generations. Maintaining Slidell’s historical record is similar to keeping safe your own family’s memories.

Every family has a keeper of the story. It could be your Great-Aunt Ina or your second Cousin Bert. They love to sit around the table and share memories of important events and little-known minutia. Sometimes, you hear the same stories year after year. Family history is important, whether it’s passed down through oral tradition or written in a dusty diary moldering in an attic trunk. If you don’t share it, you lose it.

Slidell has its own official historian in Greg Scott, Curator of the Slidell Museum. And he loves digging up nuggets of local history to share with his community.

A transplant to Slidell, Scott took to the city when he settled here in 2007 to be closer to family. “I’ve been a nomad all my life, as I was an Army brat. Everywhere I lived was a stop to another place,” he said. That is, until he arrived in the Camellia City.

With degrees in several disciplines, Greg was working on his Masters in history when he was asked to join the Leadership

Northshore Scroll project in 2019. You’ve probably seen these striking metal scrolls situated throughout Olde Towne Slidell. They denote sites with historical significance for the area and the stories they feature are Greg’s prose.

“Slidell has a lot of great stories that many people haven’t heard. I’ve enjoyed digging and finding overlooked and disregarded sites in town that were important in their day.”

What’s the saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life”? Greg’s enthusiasm for his adopted city and its past definitely support that statement.

The scrolls project led to a job offer at the Slidell Museum. According to the museum’s mission statement, its focus is sharing the amazing people, places, and events in Slidell’s

Story by Suzie Hunt

Photo by Suzie Hunt

past with its current citizens. With this in mind, Greg has created an online map to highlight some of Slidell’s most interesting historical places and people. The website features more than 30 items of interest, and he is continually adding new information.

“This whole project has been like a treasure hunt. You can stumble across a simple hint or clue, and it leads you to the bigger story.”

One of the most interesting items found on the Google map are the number of historic buildings that are still in use today. It’s a testament to their current users that they have added to Slidell’s story by incorporating the historical building into their day-to-day businesses.

Bruiser’s Hot Dog Place sits on the corner of Front Street and Fremaux Avenue. Looking at the front of the building, it is obvious that it was once a gas station. According to the museum’s records, the building was originally a Gulf Coast Oil Service Station as far back at the early 1920’s. Bruiser’s owners Kevin and Melissa McCoy Barduca saw the empty building several years ago when they were looking for a location for their new restaurant.

“I have an interior design degree. When Kevin and I saw the bay doors and the building’s outside porcelain walls, we knew we could make it what we wanted while still keeping some of the charm of the original building,” said Melissa. Little touches, like saving the original “Slidell Owned and Operated” sign on the outside of the building, show a certain reverence for keeping part of the building’s past alive.

There’s also a rather obscure connection that has spanned the decades involving the people who have used this building. According to Greg’s research, back in the early years when Slidell’s fire department was located around the corner and staffed by volunteers, the gas station was a place for the younger firemen to hang out and work on their cars. When the firefighters were needed, a large brass bell at the fire station was rung to alert the volunteers. It is said there would be a foot race amongst the guys from the gas station to the fire house because first one there got to drive the fire truck.

Almost a century later, the building still has a fire fighter presence in Larry Hess. Retired Fire Chief for St. Tammany Parish Fire District 1, Larry can be seen most afternoons serving behind the bar at Bruiser’s. He was tickled to hear that one of his favorite places in the world had once been a gathering place for his firefighting brothers.

Within throwing distance of Bruiser’s is another stop on the Slidell Museum map. The Slidell Railroad Depot was part of the N.O.N.E. Railroad Facilities in the late 19th century. The original depot was a wood building built in 1883. As the story goes, onboard the first passenger train to cross the new railroad bridge over Lake Pontchartrain was Baron Frederic Emile von d’Erlanger and his wife Marguerite. The baroness’ father was John Slidell. Baron von d’Erlanger named the train stop “Slidell” after his deceased father-inlaw. When a town grew up around the train depot, Slidell was adopted as its official name.

Photo by Suzie Hunt

Photo by Suzie Hunt

“We ordered a subscription for family who moved away. They love receiving it!” -- Mary Beth M. --

Today, the current brick building, built to replace the wooden structure in 1913, still houses the Amtrak train station, as well as two other businesses. Lori Anselmo knew the old building was something special when she was looking to locate her art studio and community center for the arts four years ago. At that time, the southern end of the building had been vacant for many years.

“I’d been in the building before and knew that it was a special place. I was excited to have the opportunity to bring it back to life. There’s something great about working and creating in a building that’s been around for more than 100 years,” said Lori.

Not only do her customers find it an interesting place to view her art, Lori’s younger students enjoy creating there as well.

“The kids get really excited when the trains pass by while they work. I really feel blessed to be able to be in this building,” she said.

What else is on the Slidell Museum Map? Hundreds of interesting facts, stories, and pictures. Greg has spent a great deal of time creating the site and adding to it.

“The first week the site was up, it received more than 10,000 hits. I was amazed at the interest people have shown for this.” Greg was fascinated when he heard someone talking about an item on the website while he was getting a haircut. “That was really something. My mission is to inform the people in Slidell about all the history that is here. It felt good to know someone had learned something.”

If you’re interested in learning where the first elementary school library was in the State of Louisiana or how our streets received their names or who was the infamous Onionhead, check out the Slidell Museum map online through the link on the Slidell Museum Facebook page or by using the QR code displayed here. Greg Scott also encourages everyone to drop by the Slidell Museum and see the fascinating items that are treasures from our city’s past. The museum is located at 2020 First Street in Olde Towne Slidell. Admission is free.

Museum hours:

Tuesday & Wednesday, 12 - 4 pm

Friday, 10 am - 4 pm Saturday, 10 am - 2 pm

For more information, please call the Slidell Museum at: (985) 646-4380

1.) Opening: Slidell Station, c.1960s, Slidell Museum Files. Courtesy of GOSH 2.) Gulf Coast Oil Station, courtesy of the Slidell Museum 4.) Slidell Railroad Station & Front St., c. 1920. Courtesy of GOSH.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. The term “heart disease” refers to several conditions that can affect your heart, many of which are associated with a process called atherosclerosis. When a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries, atherosclerosis develops. The arteries are narrowed due to the buildup, making it easier for a blood clot to form, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Other types of heart disease may involve the valves in the heart, or heart failure due to the heart not pumping well.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking are the three key risk factors for heart disease and almost half of all Americans experience at least one of these risk factors. Having diabetes, not getting enough exercise and eating an unhealthy diet can also increase your risk of having heart disease. Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as age or family history. Steps can be taken, however, to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control. Ask your doctor about ways to prevent or treat these medical conditions that can lead to heart disease.

Symptoms will vary depending on the type of heart disease. Chest discomfort or a heart attack is the first sign for many people. Someone having a heart attack may experience several symptoms, including:

• Chest pain or discomfort that lasts longer than a few minutes

• Shortness of breath

• Pain or discomfort in the arms, shoulder, jaw, neck or back

• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)

• Feeling light-headed or weak

Several tests can be performed by your doctor to diagnose heart disease, including coronary angiograms, electrocardiograms (EKG or ECG), chest X-rays and exercise stress tests. Ask your doctor about what tests may be right for you.

Several steps can be taken to reduce your risk of heart disease and keep yourself heart-healthy:

• Don’t smoke

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly

• Prevent or treat other health conditions, especially high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

• Think calmly, rationally and seek help, do not let minor things stress you out

• If you find yourself depressed, tell somebody and get help

• Don’t ignore symptoms that may indicate a heart attack

Lifestyle changes, like the ones just listed, can help lower the risk of complications if you have heart disease. Sometimes, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough, and your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the disease. Medical procedures or surgery are also options. The staff at the SMH Heart Center focuses and specializes on the procedural care dedicated to heart patients. Cardiology specialists also offer comprehensive care for heart disease in early detection and medical and surgical treatment, inducing stent placement and open-heart surgery when needed. Talk to your doctor about having regular medical checkups and the best ways to reduce your risk of heart disease.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call 911.

Healthtalk makes available the diverse group of healthcare experts at SMH and Ochsner to bring the community enthusiasm, knowledge and care that extends beyond the physical walls of the hospitals. The free presentations vary in length from 20-60 minutes. To arrange a speaker for your next meeting, call SMH Community Outreach at (985) 2908529 three to four weeks before your event.

Builder’s Ball

OUT TAKES

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

148-February 2023 Slidell Magazine

Club Dancers prepare

wow

joined Keep Slidell Beautiful to clean Terrace Avenue in honor of Martin Luther King Day’s weekend of service. Lots of fun and very COLD!

INCREDIBLE! The founders of Slidell’s newest parade,the Krewe of Antheia. l-r: Taylor Frisard, Kathy Lowrey, Buffie Singletary & Amy Thomas.

Volunteer extraordinaire, Sheri Ricks, is having too much fun at the 1st Annual Krewe of KIDZ Mardi Gras Ball hosted by the Olde Towne Merchant Association.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Our friend, Steve “Swole” Hall, is turning the big 3-0 this month. Here’s Steve visiting our booth last Halloween.

The beautiful Slidell Women’s Civic

to

the crowd at the 72nd Annual Krewe of Slidellians Bal Masque.

THE ADHD ICEBERG

THE ADHD

WHAT PEOPLE THINK ADHD IS: WHAT PEOPLE THINK ADHD IS:

FIDGETING DEPRESSION

WHAT adhd actually IS: WHAT adhd actually IS:

DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING & MAINTAINING CONVERSATIONS

RELENTLESSLY LOSING ITEMS

AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER

UNCONTROLLABLE FIDGETING

SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER

TROUBLE RECALLING COMMONLY USED WORDS

FORGETTING TO EAT, SLEEP, GO TO THE BATHROOM

INABILITY TO FOCUS EVEN IF THERE ARE NO DISTRACTIONS

PROBLEMS FOCUSING ON THINGS EVEN IF THEY ARE OF INTEREST

DIFFICULTY SWITCHING TASKS OR INABILITY TO STICK TO ONE

HYPERFIXATIONS

POOR SENSE OF TIME

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS