Slidell Magazine - 63rd Edition by Slidell Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL

Vol. 63 October 2015

WE KEEP IT FRESH

SAY KEEP IT POSITIVE

HISTORICAL ANTIQUE ASSOCIATION’S 34TH ANNUAL FALL STREET FAIR

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Editor’s Letter So, this is what vacation looks like!

Cover Artist

Five glorious days at this cabin, with friends and family, swimming in the river, chatting lazily on the porch, sitting by the fire, watching the lunar eclipse, and relaxing.

Ok, not really. This is what my vacation setting will look like when I leave for it, the day after this publication goes to print. The picture you see here was taken at the beautiful cabin owned by The Storyteller, John Case, and his wife, Brenda. It was part of a photo shoot for the upcoming release of John’s book, Bogue Chitto Flats.

Just thinking about it makes me feel.... STRESSED OUT. I started Slidell Magazine in February 2010 and haven’t taken a vacation since. I don’t have any regrets - my job is fun every single day. But, I’m finding it difficult to make the transition from the frenzy of my job to the the relaxation of a vacation. I have this overwhelming urge to do SOMETHING all the time. And vacation means, well, doing a whole lot of NOTHING.

Matt Litchliter has been an artist for as long as he can remember. Living in Slidell his entire life, Matt has always pulled inspiration from his environment. While attending Southeastern, he began to focus on making his art a career, graduating with a degree in design. When Katrina hit, Matt found inspiration, not in the destruction, but in the uplifting nature of his subject matter. Matt’s painting style then evolved to match what he was feeling at the time.

My anxiety is assuaged by my friends, most of whom really NEED this time to relax. For some of them, this is their first vacation in years, too. Their lives are filled with family obligations, school schedules, job demands and community projects. It warms my heart knowing that they’re willing to take this time with me and we’ll all have memories of our vacation together to look back on when daily life overwhelm us.

My real vacation pictures won’t be this perfect, I guarantee. I won’t see make-up or hair products for days and I’ll leave my dresses and business suits behind, trading them in for flip-flops and cut-offs. Best of all, NO COMPUTER. The cabin is located on the scenic Little Black Creek in Mississippi and was the perfect backdrop for taking historic pictures to accompany John’s nostalgic tales. Lucky for me, someone snapped this shot of me while we were on the back porch. I’ve looked at this photo, and all of the others we took that day, many times over the past few weeks, to rev myself up for the vacation that awaits me.

The gestural style and bright color scheme in his paintings shows the energy and vibrance of New Orleans. Matt focused on subjects intended to lift the spirits of the city: jazz musicians, cityscapes, the food of New Orleans, The New Orleans Saints and even Morgus The Magnificent. He is currently the Creative Director for eMerge where he focuses on his graphic & web design. Matt enjoys spending time with his growing family and will continue to push himself as an artist. To Matt, his art is his passion and his purpose, and it will always be a part of him.

Spending time with my friends, sharing moments and making memories....now that I think about it, that really is doing something.

You can find Matt’s art in Olde Towne at Artists’ Galleries de Juneau or visit his facebook page:

Litchliter Art

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Illustrations by: Zac McGovern www.HalMundane.com Contributing Writers Donna Bush EFOP, Charlotte Lowry Collins The Storyteller, John Case Jockularity, Corey Hogue Pet Points, Jeff Perret, DVM Crimmi-Mommly Insane, Leslie Gates Nauti People, John Felsher www.JohnNFelsher.com Once Upon A Time...In Slidell, Ronnie Dunaway Ronnie@WhoDatShoppe.org Making Cents of Your Money, Mike Rich MikeRich@MyPontchartrain.com Go Beyond, Rose Marie Sand Rose@RoseMarieSand.com

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OCTOBER 2015

Extraordinarily Fascinating “Ordinary” People

Sonya Soniat

Sponsored by

by Charlotte Lowry Collins

“Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft.” ~ Winston Churchill

Together we have met a wealth of native Slidellians that have made a difference in our city. This month’s EFOP is not a native, but she is someone who carries Slidell’s history around everywhere she goes. Literally. I recently bumped into Sonya Soniat outside the grocery. Her broad smile and twinkling eyes greeted me as always, followed by a big hug. Once we caught up with each other’s news, she asked me to follow her over to her car to get copies of my family history she had come across recently. You

see, Sonya is president of the Guardians of Slidell History (GOSH). I looked in her trunk and saw boxes of color-coded files. It took no time for her to locate my family, filed in the yellow folder. I’m sure you reread my second sentence, doubting yourself, right? Why would anyone, especially not a native with ancestral ties, be so ensconced in Slidell history? In fact, Sonya’s experience of being a newcomer is precisely what heightened her ‘yearn to learn’ as much as possible about the history of this town.

Sonya Soniat will tell you that she certainly had no love for history in high school. As happenstance would have it, her lifelong journey into research and a passion for history came from the purchase of her first home in Slidell. You see, Sonya and her previous husband bought a historical home in Brugier subdivision without knowing its significance, or even much about the city where they were moving. They moved here some years after the NASA computer center opened, along with enough other new residents to more

Photographs from Sonya’s collection document the history of Slidell’s historic landmark, the Neuhauser building

than double, almost triple, the size of our then sleepy little town. The city experienced immediate sprawl syndrome with this boom in the 1960’s. But Sonya discovered Olde Towne. Because she had something to compare it with, she recognized something rare. Join me as we see Slidell through Sonya’s telescope... She set the context for me first by describing, “My family, named Ayers, was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where there were 2,000 kids in my high school alone. There was an area called Northside, Eastside, Westside and Southside,” she said with a flourish of her arms, alternating for directions, “Each like its own little insulated mini-town. Jacksonville was huge, and is even larger now. My whole family is still in Florida, but I guess I was the wanderer, and I’ve always wanted to experience other places.” Her smile widened into a grin, and her voice rose as she exclaimed, “I wanted to travel! So, at 22 years of age, I moved away and later married in Tampa. Then, in 1976, my ex-husband and I moved here and I found the small town I would have loved to have grown up in. I fell in love with Slidell quickly.” She unknowingly bought the Neuhauser home on Teddy Avenue, where Elizabeth “Bib” Neuhauser Graves grew up. As she started familiarizing herself with the vintage home, she began to muse about the history of the previous owners. “I found myself quizzing my neighbors. Then I realized that I loved hearing their stories about the history of this city. I learned that the Neuhauser brothers came with the railroad and founded the largest private general store in St. Tammany Parish. There was a company store for Salmen employees, but the Neuhausers reached out to other areas of the parish and state with ad graphics that were way ahead of their time. You could buy anything there, from clothes to cars. And Christy Graves, Bib’s daughter, was my doctor for almost 40 years.”

“I found myself asking more and more questions about the early days in Slidell, and was amazed by how much my neighbors all knew about these families. For instance, each neighbor I quizzed was quick to point out that Dr. Griffith, whose original home was catty-cornered to mine, was the first member of the U.S. House of Representatives to hail from Slidell. He was very active in Slidell organizations as a Royal Arch Mason, the Bonfouca Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and the Knights of Pythias. They explained that he was also a physician in World War I and so revered in this town that Griffith Park is named for him. After that, I felt like I had a connection to that park I had been enjoying.” As an aside for my readers, it is amazing how many of the landmarks in this article still stand despite our hurricanes, flooding, termites, humidity, and extreme heat, much less the ‘out with the old and in with the new’ mentality. You will find that when the locals tell stories, they always point out the landmarks associated with the people. Even Dr. Griffith’s office, in the original Bank of Slidell Building, still stands at the corner of Front and Cousin Streets. Sonya continued her quest, “Everyone was also quick to point out that the (Wesley) Carroll house was next door to mine, so of course I

Sonya accepting the award for 2014 Mainstreet Board Member of the Year

wanted to hear the rest of the story. Wesley told me there once was a fence between our houses when he was a small boy, and he and Bib would visit through the wooden fence. He grew up to become a war hero in World War II. Then the Cooley’s once lived across the street.” As she pointed her arm, I could tell that in her mind she was standing on her old porch as she described the historic neighborhood. “L.V. Cooley, Jr.’s father was one of the last paddlewheel riverboat captains. L. V. moved to Slidell after earning his law degree in New Orleans. He taught kids maritime skills and was heavily involved in many organizations, as well as the city and city businesses. All of those names meant little to me until I joined GOSH, and started hearing the monthly speakers, who were mostly native Slidellians. The GOSH Museum photos and documentation filled in the gaps for me. Then I learned how these people played a huge part in Slidell’s early history. It was something I sensed by looking at these unique homes, but was delighted to hear the first-hand accounts. Now, history is my passion. It is surprising how seldom the GOSH members disagree about historical details. I’m still learning Slidell’s history, and thoroughly enjoying it.” Then Sonya grew serious and said, “The newcomers that arrived around the time I did lived mostly out in the new subdivisions and apartments on the outskirts of town. But it dismayed me that most of them didn’t know this colorful history, and didn’t even see the need. But it also was sad that the locals didn’t seem to see the importance of teaching newcomers like me. Even the young people from the early families weren’t always aware of their own family’s contributions.” Then her laughter returned, as she recalled, “I remember reading that Slidell Memorial Hospital opened with ten patient rooms. Now they have grown to 229 beds and are still expanding. Slidell has grown so much, even since I moved here.” 7

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Sonya as a “Domino Doll” in a Slidell St. Patrick’s Day Parade “My then-husband was in the oil and gas industry, and gone a lot, so I thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and making friends. One day, a neighbor asked me to go with her to the Slidell Little Theatre, and I met the most amazingly talented people. I got involved in props and set construction and had a ball. Through this, I met Marie Riccca, and she suggested we start a female marching group for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She was the creator, and I was the implementer, and the first Captain. We had a great time.” Again Sonya laughed aloud. Her blue eyes shone as she showed me the photos. “We called ourselves the “Domino Dolls”, and marched for eleven years. Many of us still get together every month as friends, but now we humorously call ourselves the Defunct Domino Dolls. I was also the office manager with the Chamber of Commerce in the late 1970’s. I wasn’t officially a member, but I helped with anything they asked. There is an abundance of good people, but you have to get involved to meet them.” “Later, I joined the Krewes of Mona Lisa and MoonPie, and Perseus. We have just started a luncheon group for friends we met while in Perseus. Eventually, I became the historian for the Olde Towne Slidell Main Street organization, and volunteer annually with the ‘Through the Ages’ luncheon, a fun look back at fashions of the past and Slidell’s history presented each November. This fundraiser contributes to a façade renovation grant for an Olde Towne business. As I collected more and more vintage clothing for the fashion shows, it took over my guest room. Now the guests have to stay on blowup beds in the living room,” she chuckled. “I graduated from Leadership Northshore in 2010, and my Meyers-Briggs personality assessment was startlingly accurate. Turns out, I have an insatiable hunger for knowledge,” she laughed. “But the main thing I gained through all of this was the chance to meet awesome people. I wanted others to have the same opportunities so I started an email list-server, ‘Slidell In the Know’, and sent out flyers, particularly for non-profits and Olde Towne events. I like people, more or less, and like to know what’s going on with them.” “Regretfully, I had to sell the house on Teddy after my divorce. Just changing the light bulbs in the 12’ ceilings meant a ladder heavier than I could handle. But the recent owners have really made a lot of restoration improvements. It looks better than I’ve ever seen it. Ironically, I married a contractor, who could have restored the house, several

The GOSH Museum, next to City Hall, in Olde Towne years after I sold it. Perry Soniat du Fossat is the love of my life, and we have been married 24 years now.” “You could say I’m here to stay since we’ve bought two plots in historic Greenwood Cemetery in Olde Towne. I was a travel agent for 20 years, and Perry and I will keep traveling as long as we can,” she laughed. “But I always look forward to coming home. Slidell just has a quality of life unmatched anywhere. Most of the residents now come from somewhere else, so they are always receptive to the new friends and entertainment that a small city has to offer. We have great schools, and there are so many talented people that it is easy to get things started here. My main concern is that we keep our unique character like Olde Towne, that is the heart and soul of this city,” she said earnestly. “Leave the malls to the outskirts! My main goal would be to get young people interested in history. They are the ones with new ideas, energy, and technological flexibility. History tells you about the people that went before you, and how things became the way they are in your lifetime. Personally, I want to leave behind a way to collect history and make it accessible, a way for people to relate Slidell’s history to themselves, maybe an app. I also hope I have enough time to finish all the things I’ve started,” she playfully added. Sonya is definitely an inspiration to me. And she is right. If you feel the desire to meet more people, all you have to do is volunteer. There are hundreds of organizations waiting for new members, or even just occasional volunteers for single projects. There are so many organizations in the arts, athletics, business, and civic arenas, I could probably keep this up alphabetically as there are so many opportunities! For me, helping out is energizing. And if you want to know more about the history of this city in which you live, check out the GOSH museum, and hear from some of their speakers first-hand. Plus, Slidell Magazine always has fascinating people and facts to introduce to you! Even for me, a native, each edition brings new insights. So, this month, I personally invite you to get out, have fun, and experience Olde Towne! 9

Elect

RANDY

SMITH

S T. TA M M A N Y PA R I S H S H E R I F F

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After nearly 30 years in law enforcement, he knows the people, the problems – and the solutions. With his success as Police Chief, he has a proven record of managing tax dollars wisely and efficiently, and with full transparency.

he wasn’t finished. The people of Slidell overwhelmingly chose him as their police chief in 2010, and the results have been evident. There are now more services, more technology, and lower crime, even as the City struggled with budget issues that resulted in cuts. The Slidell Police Department renewed its National Accreditation, and added motorcycles and public safety programs. When major crimes and disasters have occurred, Randy has been there – on the scene, taking charge, making sure the people are safe.

As Sheriff, he will be visible in the community, among deputies, and on the streets. He won’t be satisfied with public service that is merely “acceptable,” but will always strive for excellence. He demands professionalism and accountability. Married to Adele Bruce Smith and the father of Nathan, 21, and Ashley, 25, Randy shares our values and knows the importance of family and faith. Randy and Adele are Members of Church of the King near Mandeville.

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Katrina, Mother in Law Slidell Little Theatre • 2pm

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The

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Storyteller The Ghost of the Bob Smith’s Cabin I never met Bob Smith. In fact, I may not have ever known anyone that actually knew Bob Smith. Plenty people claimed to have known him and said that getting tuberculosis was the best thing that ever happened to him and to the community. To be honest, from what I have learned, I don’t think he even had tuberculosis, TB, as they called it.

It was an undertaking that was not encouraged by parents. You see, old Bob Smith had reportedly died of TB in that cabin, probably around 1920. A lot of people thought that the TB germ could still be there in 1960. People had strange beliefs about diseases back then. I was told never to look directly at anyone that had pink eye or I would surely catch it. TB was a lot worse than pink eye.

He did have a cabin, because I saw it. Yes, at one time, I believed there was a ghost there. Well, at least all the evidence led to a ghost being there. You know, there were strange, glowing, flickering lights, things that moved inside, noises, and a hellish odor. That I do know.

By the time we were fourteen, we felt that we had enough outdoor skills to make our first exploratory foray into the woods in search of the cabin. It was supposed to be located about five miles deep in the woods. There were no roads nearby and no trails that led to it. We would find it, if we were lucky, in a forest so thick that a horse could hardly make his way through the trees.

I can’t decide if I should tell you about Bob or his cabin first. Neither is a story without the other, but since I named the story The Ghost of Bob Smith’s Cabin, I suppose I will tell you about the cabin first. I must have heard about it for ten years prior to ever attempting to find it. That means it was something I knew about all my life. Finding the

mysterious cabin in the woods was a ritual that every generation or every age group attempted. Very few were successful and there in was the challenge. My brother before me failed to find it, but my uncle before him found it and told me about the large sand rock just outside the front door. He was the one that told me to take binoculars because I would not be able to get very close to it.

Not all that had found it agreed on how to go, and none had been there more than one time. It was the general consensus that we needed to go to the river and cross the river at the railroad bridge. At that point, we were to head southeast at about a 45 degree angle and we may find it. It would be about an hour’s walk from the railroad.

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The three of us, Tommy, Steve and I, decided that we would camp at least one night, maybe two. This would give us more time to search for the illusive structure. We were sure that a confirmed sighting would give us notoriety in the community.

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***** Now, I will tell you what I was told about Bob Smith. He was eccentric, or that is what we would call him today. He wore a band around his head with a feather in it, like an Indian. It was said he had no Indian blood in him, but I have an idea he may have had some. I don’t know if there is any truth to the thought that Indians like fire water, but I was told that he sure did. He also wore a hatchet in a holster on his belt. That was the nearest thing to a tomahawk he could find. In researching old newspaper articles and court records in preparation of writing this story, I cannot find that he was a threat or that he harmed a single person, but he frightened them. Merchants hated to see him in town because when he came into a store, every single customer would leave.

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He was loud and he did have a threatening demeanor. In addition, and maybe his worse trait, was that he had the most vulgar vocabulary of anyone in the county. This may have been his demise. Of course, the fact that his first stop was at Sam the bootlegger’s place on the edge of town did not endear him to anyone. Sam sold only Dan Vergis’s moonshine. Dan was a powerful, overbearing man and had connections whereby he created a monopoly in the liquor business and mostly ran the town through intimidation and payoffs. He made good whiskey too - corn only, no rye. As good of a customer as Bob was, Dan despised him. It probably began back when Bob had used profanity in front of Dan’s wife and young daughter. Dan warned him that, if it happened again, he would take action and Bob would not like the results.

How far are you willing to delve into the darkest of desires that unite all mankind?

***** The three of us left on a Thursday morning. We did not own backpacks or traditional camping gear. Our complete camping accoutrement consisted of a painter’s drop cloth. It was somewhat moisture resistant and we could wrap up in it to ward off the rain if it came, and the mosquitoes that were sure to be there. We also had one canteen of water each, but we knew springs were plentiful for refills. Our food consisted of an assortment of cheap cookies, a Stage Plank to be exact, nabs, and sardines. Of course, each of us had a cigar or two to keep the mosquitoes away. Our favorite cigar was a Honey Rum Crook. Just to reassure us that we had come of age, we hid a pack of cigarettes under our pants leg stuffed in our sock. We took along a camera to record our success. We searched an area beyond the railroad all day with no results. Finally, just before dark, we made camp. We built a big campfire, laid out our bedrolls and lit up some cigars. Life was good. That is when we first smelled the odor. A sour, but sweet, smell. There should not be a living soul within five miles of us. Where did this odor come from? We noted the wind direction. It was from the north, so the source should be north of us. When daylight came, we would seek out whatever or whomever was causing this odor, even if it were not connected to the cabin. In our conversations with my uncle and another man who had successfully found the cabin, we knew we would not be able to actually go inside. No one had been able to do that. The cabin was located on a mound, like an island, surrounded by marsh and water. The water was either too deep, or the mud was too

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We must have walked about a mile and that is when we picked up the smell again. The wind was not blowing, so we knew we were close. Soon, we saw it. By our excitement, you would have thought we had discovered Noah’s Ark. Everything was just as we had been told. With binoculars, we could see the sand rock at the entrance. It had been thirty years since my uncle had seen that, but it was still there. The side of the cabin had large, louvered panels that could be raised for fresh air. However, they were closed when we saw them. I have recently learned that fresh air was one of the treatments for TB. There were two other unusual features about the cabin. It had an extra-large chimney for such a small place, and a shed was attached to the rear. We assumed that Bob probably trapped mink and cured the hides under that shed, but that was just a guess. We had no explanation for the gigantic chimney. At the time of our visit, the cabin was about 55 years old. The undergrowth and vines had pretty well obscured the view, but the cabin, structurally, appeared to be in good condition. How could that be after all these years of being vacant? We only spent about an hour on site, and I suppose we left disappointed. With all the anticipation, the find was anti-climatic. We went home. Over the course of the next eight or nine months, we talked about that cabin a great deal. Our imaginations had rekindled a new interest. We knew over the Easter break we would return, and we did. Finding it again proved harder than the first time. There was no odor to follow. Finally, we set up camp for the night and built a very small fire, as we could not find much dry wood. We again lit our cigars. At some point, just before turning in for the night, I wandered away from the campfire to go to the bathroom. That is when I saw it. A glow of light, faintly trickling through the trees. There would be no sleep that night. We immediately left our campsite, leaving all of our possessions behind, and headed toward the light. Yes, it was coming from the cabin. The louvered panels were raised and Tommy and Steve said they could see movement in the building. The glow was the type produced by a fire, but it was too warm that night to have a fire that large in the fireplace. Our better judgement told us that it would be best if we kept our presence unknown to the inhabitants, be they ghost or be they human. We started back to our campsite but we were unable to find it. We were lost. We did not panic. We waited for daylight and then we waited for the train. All we had to do was find the railroad and we could find our way home. At 6AM, the number two came through. We headed towards the noise it made and then found our way home.

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In the weeks that followed, we could not agree on what we saw. Steve said he saw shadows moving in the house. I actually did not see that, but Tommy was sure he saw people. We did not really believe in ghosts, so someone was in that cabin. There had to be a way to get across that marsh. We had to find out how. Our next trip, if there was to be one, would have to be during

summer vacation, almost a year since our first trip. It never happened. One Monday morning, while driving to school, we spotted a helicopter flying rather low overhead. Seeing a helicopter close up in those days would get your attention. On our way home from school, we saw several helicopters. That night on TV, we saw the ATF agents as they raided Bob Smith’s cabin. Three moonshiners were arrested. The still inside the cabin was destroyed and the cabin accidently caught fire and burned.

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We then found out that the odor we smelled that night was the mash that had been poured out and soured, the large chimney was not a fireplace at all but a way to vent the flames from the still, and the flickering light was the fire as it crackled under what was most likely a copper kettle. Access to the cabin remained a mystery, as that was not mentioned on any of the news’ broadcasts. It would be years before that was explained. In the months to come, we learned that this still had been in continuous operation since the days of Bob Smith. Did Bob have TB or was he just a moonshiner? By the next summer, the Bob Smith cabin saga was over and, I suppose, would have been forgotten, if I had not stumbled onto something while doing genealogy research in the local library. In a box that was labeled “Unfiled”, I found a small booklet titled, Memoirs of a Moonshiner, The Life of Dan Vergis. It was written in 1932. I was familiar with that name and knew that he once was a powerful, and most likely, very corrupt man. I took it to the reading table and began to glance through it. It seems that, sometime around 1925, “Moonshine Dan” (as he calls himself) got religion. This is what he wrote: That Sunday morning, I heard the call of the Lord. I was delivering a batch of whiskey and I stopped my car in the middle of the road. It was as if the Angels were speaking to me. I drove straight to the church, interrupted the sermon, told the preacher I wanted to be baptized right then. He stopped the service, took me and the congregation to the creek behind the church, and baptized me. I was soaking wet, and then myself and several of the men went and poured all the moonshine in the creek. I never made or sold another drop. I read on and came to a chapter called “Bob Smith”. It read: I was the head of the White Caps at the time and we were about the only law in the county. (The White Caps were a vigilante group. They did not use due process and administered harsh and unusual punishment). Looking back, we weren’t much law, and I am ashamed of some of the things we did, but Bob Smith had it coming. He insulted my wife and daughter with his foul mouth and I warned him. Within a few months, he did it again. The White Caps paid him a visit. I intentionally was not present. They had him all stretched out between two trees with his clothing off. Billy Daniels was cracking his bull whip, practicing to know just how far away from Bob he should stand in order to inflict the most pain. As planned, I rode up on my horse. I told the men to leave me alone with Bob for a few minutes. I made him a deal he could not refuse. If he would do what I told him, I would call the White Caps off. You see, the revenuers had been raiding my operation. They never got to me, but three of my best operators were in jail. I convinced Bob that I would get the doctor to diagnose him with TB. I would build a cabin with a large production capacity so

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I went to the court house and looked up the sale of the property. I noted the purchasers’ names and went back to the library. I then pulled the micro of the newspaper at the time of the raid. Those arrested were the men that Dan sold the property to, some thirty plus years earlier.

deep in the woods that no one would find it. No one would want to find it if they knew someone with TB lived there. Old Bob went along with the plan, partly because he knew he could get free whiskey, and we actually dug a ditch to the river to get in and out and used the fill dirt to elevate the cabin. We then flooded the surrounding ground to form a moat. Things went well until about 1920, when I suppose Bob drank himself to death. I had made enough money and found God, so after a few years, I sold the place with three hundred surrounding acres to some young moonshiners. They are still operating there until this day. I have to assume that no one ever read Memoirs of a Moonshiner, as it would have given the secret away thirty years before the Feds raided the place. I was pleased to find out the secret of how they got to and from the cabin, but I was curious about other things.

I shared what I had found with Tommy. Steve was still alive but had left his mind in Viet Nam, so he was unable to go with us. We were both grown and mostly retired and I have no idea why we wanted to go back there but, old men dream dreams, so Tommy and I decided we would try to find the spot again. We knew the cabin was gone, but it was just something we wanted to do. This time our equipment was Cabella’s, first class. Amazingly, we found the rotten remnants of our camping gear we had left there years before. From there, we knew the direction the light had led us. We were pleased to find that the moat was dry, or at least dry enough that we could walk to the cabin site. Sure enough, the sand rock was still there. I don’t know why he did it, but Tommy rolled it over. Under it was a rusty hatchet. About dark, we set up camp in the spot we had abandoned years ago. We lit cigars, not cheap Honey Rum Crooks, but expensive Fuentes. Again, life was good. That’s when we smelled the odor. That sweet and sour odor.

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There are so may “need to know” things when you’re raising a dog. Clients say to me all the time, “It’s like having a kid!” Well, it’s not rocket science, and it’s probably not quite as intense as raising a child. But owning and raising a puppy does require a pet-owner to stay on his toes if he wants to keep little Fido happy and healthy and out of harm’s way. A frequent topic of owner questions at my office: dangerous substances, that is, things we don’t want puppies, or adult dogs for that matter, to eat. These dangerous substances fall into several categories. There are many

common toxic plants inside and outside the house. Many are well-known, such as sago palms, and lists of toxic plants are widely available. Then there are medications. To keep it simple, follow this rule: don’t give your pet any medication unless specifically instructed to do so by your vet, despite what you may have read on the internet, or what you were told by your cousin’s neighbor’s ex who used to work at a vet, like 17 years ago. If you weren’t told by your vet or someone at her office to give THAT medicine to THAT pet at THAT dose, don’t do it.

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A third category of dangerous substances is foods. People foods, mostly. Sometimes, a pet food that a given pet has never eaten might cause an upset stomach, especially if a change is made too quickly or if a treat doesn’t agree with Fifi’s sensitive stomach. Human foods can obviously cause mild, moderate, or severe intestinal upset, but some human foods are downright toxic, and can kill a dog if ingested in sufficient doses. Chocolate is one that almost everyone knows about. Onions are another. In the past few years, grapes, and therefor raisins

as well, have come to be recognized as toxic to some dogs (we can’t predict which), causing kidney failure in susceptible individuals. Now, we have a relatively new artificial sweetener, xylitol, which can cause dangerous or fatal hypoglycemia (which is a drop in blood sugar - ironic, isn’t it?) in dogs. Xylitol is found mostly in sugar-free gums and mints, and has no known toxic potential or side effect in humans. At higher doses, it can even cause fatal liver damage in dogs. Xylitol is particularly worth talking about now, though, because, as I just recently learned myself, it’s starting to show up in a food that some folks routinely give to their dogs, especially as an aid in administering medicine. That food is peanut butter. Though xylitol has been present in all kinds of foods and dental products for several years, peanut butter is a newer, special concern, says Ahna Brutlag, DVM, a toxicologist at the Pet Poison Helpline. “First, dogs fed straight peanut butter as a treat or fed treats baked with xylitol-containing peanut butter may certainly be at risk for harm,” she says. “Second, a dog that nabs the entire jar of xylitol-containing peanut butter without anyone knowing could quickly become extremely ill. If this occurred during the day while the owners were not home, it’s possible the dog could die before anyone returned.” It’s important to note that, so far, mainstream peanut butter brands haven’t started using xylitol—only a few specialty brands include it in their formulations. These include Nuts ‘n More, Krush Nutrition and P-28 Foods brands. These all fall under the “organic” or “all-natural” marketing category. Dr. Brutlag is urging pet owners to be vigilant about checking labels and looking for keywords that can indicate that a food contains xylitol. “The most obvious thing to look for is the word ‘xylitol’ itself. It may be prefaced or followed by clarifying words,” she says. Something else to check is whether the packaging says “sweetened naturally” or that it uses a “natural sweetener.” It’s a common misconception that xylitol is an artificial sweetener—but it’s not. It’s naturally found in small amounts in fruits and vegetables, so if you see those terms, look deeper to see if xylitol is listed. Chemically, xylitol is classified as a sugar alcohol, so this is another phrase to look for.

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Other sugar alcohols, such as erythritol, glycerol (also called glycerine), maltitol, mannitol and sorbitol are not known to be toxic to dogs; however, some food labels do not list the specific sugar alcohol used. When in doubt, if you want to feed a product to your dog that lists ‘sugar alcohol’ as an ingredient, but doesn’t list which one, don’t use it. Because xylitol and other sugar alcohols are not technically sugars, they may also be found in products simply labeled “sugar free” or “no sugar added.” While it seems unlikely that xylitol will become so mainstream that it begins to replace sugar in most foods, it’s very likely that more and more products will contain xylitol going forward. For now, we can safely use a little peanut butter, the “regular” grocery store brands like Jiff, Skippy and Peter Pan, or generics / store brands, to administer medicines, when told to do so by a vet. Just exercise caution, which is always good advice no matter the situation.

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Of Your Money By Mike Rich, CFP® Pontchartrain Investment Management

If you want your money to get you where you want to go, ya’ gotta have a map! In early September, Mary and I took a weeklong trip to Duck, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks. We met my brother Tommy and his wife, Lesley, there. We had a great time. Even though it’s about 1,000 l-o-n-g miles from Slidell to Duck, we decided to drive. Having never driven to that part of the country, I needed to plot our route, so I ordered some maps from AAA. My guess is

that some of you might think of paper maps as old fashioned, but I like them. To me, it’s fun to have that map in my hands so I can see ahead to where we’re going. The AAA travel books are nice, too, when we looked for a hotel to stay on the way. As an LPL Financial Advisor, I urge my clients all the time to have a plan – a map – for their money. I can’t count the number of

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times a client has told me she hadn’t done any real planning because she didn’t know where to begin. It seems we all know that not planning to do the right things with our money for now and the future will likely end badly, just as we all know that a steady diet of fried oyster po-boys with a side of onion rings is not good for us, either. So, with this article, I hereby announce to one and all: I’ve had it with excuses, your financial security won’t happen by magic, and it’s time: “Get a map!” Here are some things that should be on it:

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It doesn’t make much sense to build assets if you aren’t protecting the ones you already have. Your family comes first, so any breadwinner in the house needs life insurance. You’ve got a choice between whole life and term life insurance, but the important thing is to have the correct amount, and we can help you figure that out. Whole life gives you cash value and a lot of other benefits, but term can get you started. For many people, it’s cheap. And, for your biggest asset (no, it’s not your house), you need disability income insurance. EVERYTHING STOPS if you can’t work and don’t have an income. If you have a group policy, make sure you understand how it works (some don’t work very well). If you don’t have a group plan, get your own. Call me to figure out how much you need.

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If the tires on your car are worn out and you have to pay for new ones on credit, my guess is that you don’t have enough liquidity and that you need a cash emergency fund. If the money seems to disappear before you can build up some cash, consider opening an on-line savings account and setting up

automatic, regular deposits. Automatic is good. Set it and forget it. Make it an iron rule that you won’t touch it unless you have a financial emergency (Note: a weekend in New Orleans is not an emergency).

3. Eliminate Short Term Debt In my opinion, short-term debt is bad debt, and I want it off your balance sheet. Pay off high-interest credit cards first, then tackle the rest.

4. Build a Diversified Portfolio of Assets with an Eye on Stability of Income in Retirement No matter what your goal – college savings, a bigger house, retirement, or a new boat – rate of savings is key, and planning for the long term is even more key. It’s especially important to have a retirement income plan that includes a stable, guaranteed income. The investment landscape can be overwhelming, and the financial entertainers on TV and the Internet pummel us with so much drivel that it’s no surprise many of us just give up trying to figure it out and then, sadly, do nothing. If that’s the case, call me to help. It’s my job, it’s what I love to do, and I’m passionate about helping people set and achieve their financial goals.

5. Map Out your Long Term Care Strategy A recent study1 predicts that 40% of individuals who reach age 65 will enter a nursing home during their lifetimes. Furthermore, the probability that an individual over age 65 will become cognitively impaired or unable to complete at least two activities of daily living – which includes dressing, bathing, or eating – over his or her lifetime is even bigger: 68%! It means that a lot of people are likely to be spending a lot of their retirement money on long term care. Many people will choose to remain in their homes for such care, but even that’s costly.2 It’s not too difficult to imagine how much harm could be unleashed so quickly on a retirement income plan than an unfunded long term care need. There are at least five strategies for dealing with this, and I can help you find the right one. If you are in your mid-40’s or older, the time to start planning is now.

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Mike Rich, CFP® Pontchartrain Investment Management 985-605-5066

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.

An amazing rate makes amazing things happen. A Regions Home Equity Line of Credit is a smart way to borrow – especially when the rate is so low. Our introductory rate for 12 months can help you consolidate debt, pay for higher education or renovate your home. As always, our associates are here to assist you with quick decisions and helpful advice. Ready to do something amazing? Michele Tierney | Branch Manager | Slidell and Gause Branches Slidell Branch, 985.847.0667 | Gause Branch, 985.326.2520 Kurt Bozant | Business Banking | 985.326.2526 Charmaine Seymour | Mortgage Loan Originator | 985.326.2527

Just like the map Mary and I used to get us to the Outer Banks, a map for your money is just as important. It’s a pretty safe bet that, if you don’t know where you want to be money-wise five, ten, or 25 years from now, there’s a good chance you won’t get there. Why take that risk? Call me today for an appointment, and we’ll get started on the map to your money’s future.

After that, variable ra tes range fr om

4.25 %– % % 9 . 2 5 9 1.9

, pay an e im t d e t i For a lim ry rate of only to introduc * APR

APR

f ity Line o u q E e m o on your H for 12 months. it d e r C

© 2015 Regions Bank. *INTRO RATE: For each of your first twelve (12) billing cycles, the monthly Periodic Rate for new transactions, except those made to cover overdrafts in your designated checking account, will be an ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR) of 1.99%. Beginning with your thirteenth (13th) billing cycle, the Periodic Rate and the corresponding ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE for all transactions and balances will be based upon your contracted rate which will be a variable rate based upon The Wall Street Journal prime rate, which was 3.25% as of 1/8/15, but will never be more than 18% or less than 3.75%. Your APR will be based on several factors, including your credit history, loan-to-value ratio, property type, and lien status. Non-discounted APRs as of 1/8/15 ranged from 4.25% to 9.25% APR. Intro Rate Discontinued for Payment Default will take effect on the first day of the billing cycle following the sixty-first (61st) day of delinquency. If you exercise your option to convert all or part of the balance in your Credit Line Account to a fixed rate as provided in the “Conversion Option” section of the Agreement, the Intro Rate will not apply to any balance so converted. Your first billing cycle after the date of the Agreement may be less than a full or complete billing cycle. No other discounts apply to the Intro Rate. Other discounts based upon your other Regions relationships may apply after the Intro Rate period. Talk to your Regions representative. OTHER COSTS OR FEES: Closing costs are estimated to range between $150 and $2,000, and Regions will pay closing costs for Lines of $250,000 or less. For Lines greater than $250,000, Regions will pay up to $500 in closing costs. If you terminate your Line within 24 months from the account opening date, third-party closing costs paid by Regions will be charged back to your Line. The $100 inactivity fee is waived the first year and, as long as you receive at least one advance every year, for each subsequent year. Other fees could include an Overlimit fee of $29, a late fee of 5% of the payment amount ($29 minimum, $100 maximum) and a Loan in a Line conversion fee of $100. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: To obtain a Line, a) you must provide an enforceable first or second lien security interest in your primary or secondary residence located in a state in which Regions maintains a retail branch, b) your equity interest in that residence must be at least $10,000, and c) at the time of the account opening, the ratio of all debt secured by the residence (including any Line you obtain from us) to the fair market value of that residence must not exceed 80%. Account is subject to a 10-year draw period, followed by a 10-year repayment period. The minimum line of credit is $10,000. Property insurance required, including flood insurance if applicable. Consult your tax advisor about the deductibility of interest and other costs. All loans and lines are subject to credit approval, documentation and security requirements. All terms are subject to change. Other legal requirements must be met. Not available in all states. The Intro Rate offer may end at any time without notice. Monthly Payments: During the Draw period, your minimum monthly payment will be 1.5% of the current outstanding balance or $50, whichever is greater. During the repayment period, your outstanding balances will be amortized over 10 years. For Loan in a Line balances, the fixed monthly payments are amortized over the chosen Loan in a Line term. TEXAS LIMITATIONS: A minimum $4,000 draw is required for Texas Home Equity Lines. The amount of the Line cannot exceed 50% of the fair market value of the residence. The total indebtedness secured by the residence (including the Line) cannot exceed 80% of the fair market value of the home. Inactivity fee and prepayment penalty are not applicable to Lines secured by a Texas residence. Visa Platinum Access card is not available in Texas. | Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

SLIDELL NOON LIONS Touching those in our community with the “Touch a Truck” Fundraiser Lions Club History Melvin Jones and a group of Chicago businessmen, motivated to help their communities, founded the Lions club in 1917. The Lions grew rapidly and become international in 1920. In 1925 Helen Keller charged the Lions to become “Knights of the Blind”. Since that time, preventing blindness and helping the blind has been a major focus of Lions Clubs worldwide. Today the Lions are the world’s largest service club organization

with 1.4 million members and 46,000 clubs in over 210 countries and geographic areas. The Lions have a history of creatively supporting the cause of the blind. Lions introduced painted white canes with a wide red band to aid the visually impaired in 1930. Lions donated a Talking Book machine to the Milwaukee Public Library allowing blind to read books in1935. Members of the Detroit Uptown Lions Club converted an old Michigan farmhouse into a school to train dog guides

for visually impaired persons in 1939. The world’s first eye bank was created in New York City in 1944 by the Lions and today most eye banks are Lions-sponsored. In 1945 Lions services began to broaden, even assisting in drafting the United Nations charter. In 1954, the Lions chose an official motto of “We Serve”. In 1957, Lions launched youth service programs, including the now popular Leo Clubs. In 1968 Lions Club International Foundation (LCI) was established

THE CITY OF SLIDELL’S

and by 1973, LCI welcomed its one millionth member. LCI welcomed women to become members in 1987. Beginning in April 2015 and continuing through June of 2018, Lions International is celebrating its Centennial Celebration and has launched the Centennial Service Challenge with the goal of serving 100 million people worldwide, focusing on youth, vision, hunger and environment.

CONCERT SERIES

Slidell Noon Lions The Slidell Noon Lions Club was chartered in October 1928 and is celebrating its 87th year in operation. It is the 4th oldest club in Louisiana and the oldest service club in Slidell. The Slidell Noon Lions sponsored the Covington Lions, Pearl River Lions, Slidell Evening Lions, the Slidell Lioness Clubs and, most recently, the Salmen and Slidell High School Leo Clubs. The Slidell Noon Lions meet every Thursday at noon in their den located at 356 Cleveland Street in the house that was generously donated by the Lois Canulette Baker in 1982. The club has served as a focus of Slidell businessmen with many pillars of the community being members including well known Slidell family names including Canulette, Baker, Fritche, Folse, Schneider, Honaker, Mayfield, Gambrell, Neuhauser, Griffith, Begue, and many others. In its early years the club served the community by erecting Slidell’s first street signs, purchased playground equipment, and served as the initial Chamber of Commerce of Slidell. Today the club currently has 64 members and continues to serve with its Cubsight vision-screening program that in 2014 screened 1,148 children at 30 preschool/parochial schools. In 2014 the Slidell Noon Lions also have: sponsored the Salmen High School Leo Club; sponsored 7 children to attend the Louisiana Lions Camp for crippled and diabetic children at no charge; sponsors the Camellia City Market; supported LeaderDog for the Blind with their quarterly Saturday pancake breakfasts at the Lions den, and supported Louisiana Lions Camp, Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation and several local community organizations with donations of funds. The Slidell Noon Lions also aided many local residents to obtain free eye exams and eyeglasses. Lions also collected 2,000 pair of used eyeglasses that are recycled and used to assist vision impaired people in countries around the world. Lions members also volunteered over 6,300 hours locally to support causes including homeless, veterans, disadvantaged, elderly, disabled, food bank,and art/cultural/community events. They also aided Keep Slidell Beautiful (adopted Sgt. Alfred Dr.); hospital volunteer programs; medical mission to Belize; various foundations and boards; and is sponsoring the new Leo Club at Slidell High School. The Lions main fundraising activity is Wednesday night Bingo at the West Hall Street K of C Hall. Over the years

Sept. 27 Michael Baptiste & Real Soul

Oct. 11 Band of Brothers

Nov. 1 Vince Vance and the Valiants

Sundays • Admission is free Heritage Park • 5:30 - 7:30 PM 646-4375 • www.myslidell.com Brought to you by the City of Slidell and the 2015-2016 Cultural Season Sponsors: Renaissance • $5,000

Baroque, $2,500: CLECO Power, LLC Expressionist, $1,500: Jazz on the Bayou/Ronnie Kole Foundation Jonathan Johnson Agency, Blue Cross Blue Shield of LA Neoclassical, $1,000: Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien • Lori Gomez Art The Slidell Independent • Slidell Northshore Rotary Club

Impressionism, $500: Blue Bell Creameries • CiCi’s Pizza Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert • Dr. Nathan Brown, Northlake Oral & Facial Surgery Chateau Bleu • Representative Greg Cromer • Honey Island BBQ & Catering Olde Towne Slidell Main Street • Pontchartrain Investment Management Roberta’s Cleaners • Silver Slipper Casino • Slidell Historical Antique Association Terry Lynn’s Cafe • Vicky Magas Insurance Agency

Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts as administered by the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.

the Slidell Noon Lions have donated over $234,000 to the Louisiana Lions Camp for the disabled and diabetic, and $258,000 to the Louisiana Eye Foundation that conducts critical research to help prevent blindness and manages the Statewide Cubsite program. Today new fundraising activities are being developed to continue the Lions tradition of serving others.

New Touch a Truck Fundraiser On Saturday November 7, 2015, at the new Fremeaux Town Center Mall from 10am-3pm the Slidell Noon Lions will conduct a Touch a Truck fundraiser to benefit Lions causes including the Louisiana Eye Foundation, and Lion Camp. The Touch a Truck is an opportunity for young children to “touch” various static display vehicles, learn about those vehicles and have their parents take a picture in the various vehicles. There will be

various trucks on display including several fire trucks, a police SWAT vehicle, ambulance, tree cutting truck, 18 wheeler tractor trailer, Textron armored vehicle, antique World War Two and Korean war vehicles, antique pick-up trucks, antique farm tractors and many other surprises that will be of interest to young children and truck enthusiasts. There will be a nominal entrance fee and soft drinks and water will be available for purchase. Lions will also have display booths set up to explain our Lions programs, including a free vision screening booth for young children ages 2-5. The Noon Lions are looking for companies that would like to financially sponsor and support this fundraising event and interested companies or unique truck owners who would like to display their vehicle should call Dan Ferrari, Lions Touch a Truck Project Leader, at 504 606 8081.

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by Corey Hogue

As I am sitting here, early September, I am trying to feel hopeful and excited about the upcoming football season. That crisp in the air is coming, I remind myself. As sticky as it may be outside today. The fandom that you can feel is just around the corner. And our boys in black and gold are studying up, working hard, and training daily to give their fans the season we all want to see. But I’m trying to feel hopeful, and am having a rough time. Because, as my television currently sits on ESPN, I am struck with one thing about the Saints: man have we had a stinky preseason. I mean, pee-eww! Like, crawfish tails and baby diapers after you’ve miss the trash pickup the past three times. It paints a pretty picture, dudn’t it? But I remind myself - fortunately, or unfortunately?, how a team does in the preseason doesn’t always set an exact tone for how they will perform in the regular season. I think I need to say it again, for myself: How a team does in the preseason doesn’t always set an exact tone for how they will perform in the regular season. As an example, the Saints won three of their preseason games last year, and had a losing regular season at 7-9.

But so - if it doesn’t always reflect or give a good representation of how a team will do in the regular season, what good is the preseason? Why do we have to have these games that get our hopes up and give us that glimmer of what’s to come? Why give us the lackluster appetizer when we know our Commander’s Palace steak is on the way? Why do we care?

Exhibition (preseason) games have been around as long as there have been teams to play in the league. After many years of trying to determine which games would count towards a championship, the AFL and NFL merged, drawing the plan for the preseason system that we have today. The games have become a testing ground for unproven players and a revenue-focused venture for owners. Because, after the merger, the owners gained the ability to charge season ticket holders for preseason games if they wanted to keep their season tickets. Before 1978, there were six (SIX! THE INHUMANITY!!) preseason games. Thankfully, that was cut down to four like it is today. Because, if I had to watch six games that didn’t matter, I would be a Falcons fan (Oooooooooooh!!!!). Also, my monthly budget of chicken wings would almost double. No thanks. But what does it really matter? The games don’t determine anything. Having a winning preseason doesn’t guarantee anything, so there’s really no incentive to win any of them. It’s not like Drew Brees is REALLY going all-out when we do get to see him in these games, which is rare. We don’t see the exciting plays that we are used to (and

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want). The coaches even brag about how “vanilla” their schemes are going to be during the preseason. It’s not like anyone is playing like the games matter, be it on the sidelines or on the field. The players laugh, shrug, and generally are apathetic at times. To top it off, the players we DO see probably either won’t be on the team in a few weeks or will be riding the bench for the whole season. I’m boring myself just writing about it. Essentially, the preseason is the biggest tryout of the year. Four preseason games are all some rookies, struggling vets, and unproven, newly-signed players have to prove they are worth keeping on the team. To them - this means something. Potentially, a BIG something. It’s during the preseason that Sean Payton decided a 7th-round wide receiver was so impressive that he released the team’s previously solid second-string wide receiver to make a place for him. Ever since then, Marques Colston has been one of the better decisions Sean has made from the preseason. Chris Ivory, Khiry Robinson, Pierre Thomas, Zach Strief, and many others have benefited from this game-time experience. It is the best way for these players to prove to Sean and Mickey Loomis that they are worth the nickel they are paid, and convince them to keep shelling out the nickels and, hopefully, eventually turning those into quarters.

Also, consider this - you never know when a player might get injured during the season. Without safety Rafael Bush playing so well during the preseason, he might not have been able to show his stuff when Roman Harper got injured a couple of years ago. You never hope for something like that but, if it happens, you have to have contingencies. Can you imagine if life were played like a team that didn’t have a plan B? “Oh well, my car broke, so I guess I should tell the office I can’t work this year.” Yeah, that will fly with the boss. He will tell you get a rental, bum a ride from a coworker, get a bike, or anything else than stay home. When you think of it these ways, the preseason is such a big part of the future for NFL players. It’s where the stars we know and love grow into the pros we count on to lead our teams today. It’s not often a player steps from the draft, to the practice field, to throwing for 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns. Or collect 15 sacks on defense. Or whatever fantastical expectations we have for whomever steps on the field for the Black and Gold. Most players need time to become great. Whatever they have, they need that extra time or that extra experience to be the players we know they can be. I can tell you, if I didn’t have as much leeway to get good at the jobs I have had, if instead I was that Saints first-round

draft pick, I would be booed off the field so fast, even Brandin Cooks wouldn’t have been able to catch me. Preseason will never be what we as fans want it to be. Only the most die-hard followers know every player, study every move that is made, and know exactly what the team is going to do with the passing of every preseason game. For everyone else, the preseason is a reminder that football is on its way, not that it’s here. But maybe the preseason really just isn’t so much for us. Maybe we should just be grateful that they televise them at all! We all know that it helps us to get our fix earlier in the year, as disappointing as it may be. Preseason is bigger than the fans. The teams and players count on these games for their future. They use these situational scrimmages to scrutinize what would happen “if” the worse happened. Players use these games to earn a job, to show their stuff, to prove their worth. And coaches use these games to know what kind of football team they are going to have this season. No one can say the preseason is necessarily fun to watch. But it is necessary for our teams. So that when the games actually start, maybe the Saints won’t redefine the meaning of “stinky”. (Again).

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Sea School story and photos by Donna Bush

Dr. Bruce Neill and wife, Evelyn, had a dream a dream to reach children at a young age and teach them about the beauty of the marine world. They achieved this dream when they left the fast paced New York lifestyle behind and dove head first into the creation of Sanibel Sea School. Enjoy this latest installment from award-winning outdoors photographer and writer, Donna Bush. Inspired by life... Curiosity seeker... Inviting all Slidell Magazine readers to join her.

Catering to students, young and youngat-heart, from all over the United States, Bruce and Evelyn use their unique talents to enthuse children age 4 to adulthood about the mystery and magic of marine creations. “Doc Bruce” grew up exploring the various ecosystems of southern Florida and the Bahamas, which led him to pursue a Masters degree in Coral Reef Biology and a Ph.D. in

Conservation Biology. Having held academic positions at colleges, field schools, grammar schools and the American Museum of Natural History, it’s easy to see why he is so passionate about teaching and sharing his love of the sea. His wife and partner, Evelyn, daughter of a science teacher, pursued her interest in marine science before starting a career in advertising. With a career as a creative director for such brands as Nike, Microsoft,

Coke and Visa, overseeing communications throughout the world, she understands the driving force of communication. In 2004, Bruce left his college teaching career to start the Sea School and share his love of marine life and inspire others to love it in the same way he does. This starts with an education and appreciation of what is in the water. Sea School’s vision is “a world where all people value, understand and care for the ocean.

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Our mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time.” Catering to the age and knowledge of each student, Bruce encourages the students to stretch their knowledge, to take the challenge and try something they wouldn’t normally try. While attending one of his classes of home-schooled children, ages 6-11, I observed his unique teaching style. Bruce made each and every student feel special, recognized for their knowledge. When they were hesitant to answer a question, Bruce had a way of getting them to open up and give an answer. Before class starts, Bruce introduces me to the kids. Of course, they are quite curious, especially since I have a camera. Bruce explains that I am hanging out with the class to write an article about Sea School and that I will be taking pictures to go with the article. He elaborates by telling them that the best way to get their picture published is to ignore the camera. What a great idea! I am able to shoot impromptu photos without distracting the kids. Bruce has a great way of making the kids forget the camera and concentrate on him. We started our class with a question and answer session in the classroom on the water

cycle. Bruce’s demeanor with the children is infectious. I find myself wanting to jump into class. Muriel, the oldest, from Hanover, New Hampshire, has attended Sea School several times with her brothers. The other three students are sisters, ages 6-8, Jenny, Ellie, and Katie, from Durham, North Carolina. All of the girls had a very good understanding of evaporation, photosynthesis and the entire water cycle. Very impressive, especially for the young ones. Then we don our sunscreen, grab water and hats, and make the two-block walk to the beach where the Sea School boat is anchored. Katie, the youngest, admits she has never been on a boat and is afraid that it will sink. Bruce allays her fears by assuring her that he would never put them in harm’s way and that he does not want the boat to sink either. He reassures her by telling her that the boat is unsinkable! Everyone is fitted with a life jacket. Katie is a little calmer, but still a bit nervous. We slowly motor through the no-wake zone, all the time searching for manatees or any other creatures we might find. Once past the no-wake zone, Bruce asks, “Is everyone ready to go faster?” Everyone says yes - Katie, a bit hesitantly. We accelerate to glide over the smooth water. All the girls break into giant grins,

including Katie. Bruce asks her if she is scared and she giggles, “No.” We get close to the bridge and stop to look at the brown pelicans hanging out underneath. We motor over to a beachy area and slow to look at the many wading birds feeding. We get to admire spectacular roseate spoonbills, as Bruce explains, “As the roseate swings its beak from side to side, it is feeding on the small fish in the water by using its beak as a strainer to sift out the edibles.” As we start to leave, we see a bonnethead shark swimming in the shallow, transparent water. There are several small ones bravely coming up and under the boat. As we lift anchor, crank up the boat and ease out, we see a dolphin! How cool is that! We head into a bay, anchor the boat, and jump over into the knee-deep water to wade and see what interesting sea creatures we can find. First, is a huge lightning whelk shell. Muriel picks it up and water squirts out, making all of us laugh. The lightning whelk, ranging in size from 3-8 inches, is inhabited by a soft mollusk type creature and is found in sandy shallows where they feed on clams, scallops and oysters. Finding numerous lightning whelks, we each take a turn holding one and getting squirted.

Sea School has several aquarium tanks in their school building. While we are out, we will gather a few creatures to place in the tank for a couple of weeks of observation before returning them to their native home. Next, our exploration turns up hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, sea snails, a blue crab and a sea star. Muriel is an old hat at picking up horseshoe crabs. Hesitant at first, eventually Jenny and Ellie are also picking up the crabs. Not wanting to be left out, Katie tries her hand at it, too. The horseshoe crab is not really a crab. It is more closely related to the arachnid family. Like the lightning whelk, they eat clams. We find one horseshoe crab that has just molted and still has a soft shell. We leave him hidden where he can’t be found for food for other larger creatures while he is in this vulnerable state. We find a small jellyfish, being nibbled on by tiny crabs and snails, while it is caught in a pool of water as the tide retreats. We are able to touch the center. Don’t ever touch the outside of a jellyfish, as they are quite poisonous, although the very center is non poisonous and feels a little like jelly. We move on and find the tiniest flounder I have ever seen, probably less than an inch long, but obviously mature enough to have both eyes on one side. When a flounder is born, it has one eye on each side of its body. Between larval and juvenile stages, it goes through a metamorphosis during which one eye migrates to the other side of the body. We hop back on the boat for the trip back home with our bucket of new aquarium residents. Our day is capped by seeing a manatee. What a wonderful day, and educational too!

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Bruce and Evelyn have worked with children and adults of all ages and walks in life. Recently, they have been working with the PACE center for girls (www.pacecenter.org). PACE is an advocacy program for girls nationwide, to provide them education, counseling and life guidance. These are usually girls who’ve had a troubled childhood, family instability, abuse, trouble with the law, trouble in school, etc. Sea School has taken on a class of several PACE girls, around 16-18 years of age, providing education and life lessons from the ocean. One of the PACE instructors complimented Bruce on his role in the girls’ lives. “You are the only positive male influence that most of these girls have ever had. Plus, you demonstrate to them a stable family life with your wife, Evelyn, and your children.” Akin to the Carl Hiaasen’s book Hoot, Bruce and Evelyn’s desire is to inspire children to protect the marine environment. They don’t expect to see every student become a marine biologist. Evelyn laughs at the thought and says, “I sure hope that doesn’t happen.” Their hope is that, no matter what walk of life a person chooses, that they will always remember the appreciation and education from Sea School. Who knows - the kids might become lawyers, bankers, builders, or any other profession. But, whatever their job, they can always have an influence on preservation and conservation of our environment. “We will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” ~ Baba Dioum

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TAKE NOTE MEN!! I AM GOING TO EXPLAIN THE MIND OF A WOMAN!

was driving down our street recently, windows rolled down, worrying about EVERYTHING, staring off into space, when my husband tells me, “Get out of your head.” He knows me very well after 13 years. The funny thing is, right after he said it, a pebble from someone’s lawnmower flew right through the window, and hit me smack dab in the middle of the forehead. This only confirmed the truth in my husband’s words. Ya think the universe was trying to tell me something? Basically, I was in “a funk.” For me, this as a mixture of anxiety and depression, rolled into a big ball of premenopausal hormones that is then dipped in guilt, and sprinkled with some hot-flashes. Not fun. The worst part is that it creeps up, for no reason!

“Get out of your head”... Sure! That sounds great! And which button do I push for that? Now, I know that every woman is different when they are in this “funk.” Some have it more than others,

some are better at hiding it, but then most likely lash out later because of that… but in a nutshell - WE THINK TOO MUCH. Why does this happen? Here is my theory… Close your eyes, but not really because you have to read. I am gonna take you for a ride through Funk Town, on the Crazy Train. (And I apologize that you now have two songs stuck in your head.) This train has NO BREAKS and it goes super-fast, so just hang on for the ride. It shouldn’t last TOO long. First, on this wild ride through a woman’s mind, we will be heading through Guilt Gardens. There is a beautiful garden of children there who constantly need watering. I don’t just mean food and drink, but yes, that too. I’m talking constant attention, praise, discipline, and love. We are never really sure if we are over or under watering, because all children are different. Even if they don’t have children in their garden, women will always find something to nurture and care for. And, if something bad happens while in their care, women will blame themselves, even if they’ve done nothing wrong.

For example, I decided it was time for a girls day out because it had been waaaaay too long since I had one. The kids were in school, but I had a babysitter set up between the time they got off the bus until my husband got home from work. What happens in this short amount of time? My son flies off his bike and hits his head on the street. Bad enough that he was knocked out and suffered a concussion. Neighbors helped out. One found him lying there in the middle of the street. Another walked him home once he came to, a third watched over him, and a fourth neighbor drove him to the ER, staying with him until I could get there. As a woman, ya know what we do? We carry that whole burden of guilt by blaming ourselves. We call ourselves selfish for trying to have some “me time” or irresponsible for not forcing our children to wear helmets. Even going as far as thinking we are the most horrible mothers on the earth. We are completely aware that these things are going to happen to our kids, whether we are there or not, but it’s still hard to completely grasp that truth. We know we can’t be there for EVERYTHING - nor can we wrap them in a damn bubble…

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Wait? CAN WE? SHOULD I HAVE!? I KNEW IT! Movin’ on down the track, we run into Anxiety Alley. Could you please get me some wine? Quick! And yes, I know trains don’t usually run through alleys, smart ass! But it starts with an A! And well, my train runs on a different set of tracks, so deal with it. When running through these alley ways, you will see lots of roaches. Because I hate them! Why haven’t you killed the roaches yet! Huh!? Wait, what was that noise? Did you hear that? Are you even listening?! Look at all this homework everywhere! There are SO MANY school papers that would TOTALLY make sense if 2x2 still equaled 4 in today’s education world, but it doesn’t! It equals 203! Or something! I don’t even know! Give me my wine! Oh God, that was painful. We need a change. Where’s the Polar Express? Not here! The BI-polar Express maybe? Yep. Onward to Depression Desert! We will slowly chug along through here. It pretty much explains itself because, honestly, we really don’t have the energy to explain it. Very desolate, there’s a dark room with a bed, and a cactus or two that stabs you along the way, just for good measure. It’s probably best to not figure out how we got here. We probably took the Empathy Elevator and got trapped on the 7th floor. Please just leave us alone. Look out though! Hormonal highway is approaching quickly! SURPRISE! Yeah, it’s a surprise alright. And a highway. Because there’s NO tracks. And we are just running this bad boy right through it! We don’t

care who is in the way. We really WANT to care, but it’s hard to get there between laughing, crying, and bitching - all within the same millisecond. Can’t blame us really - we are burning from the inside out, expelling every ounce of iron in our bodies, all while a tiny demon uses C-clamps to squeeze our reproductive organs. I’m sorry, did you say dinner tastes bad? Didn’t think so. Oh look! Guilt Garden again! Wait, weren’t we just here? Of course we were. We are back because, after passing through the Hormonal Highway to Hell (at least you can switch songs now) died down, we can see the path of destruction we caused with our words. Ummm… Sorry? It’s a circular track that runs through this town. It’s just that some circles are bigger than others. Might take a little longer. Or maybe the stops are in a different order. In other words, there are no worries of a runaway train (am I the only one hearing songs?) So, men, did you enjoy that? Didn’t think so. Neither do we. But we manage. And, luckily, we don’t visit Funk Town too much. But, if we do, I’m sure there is a pharmacy there. Which now makes it even funnier that my writings are sponsored by a pharmacy (plug). Ahhh, it’s all making sense now. I’m not going off on some feminist rant or anything, BUT Women are AWESOME. Confusing, but still awesome. And if we didn’t have all these wacky emotions or deep feelings, we wouldn’t be able to love as hard, or give as much as we do. If we didn’t have the guilt, we wouldn’t push ourselves to do better. (Keeping in mind that sometimes things

JUST HAPPEN, and no one is to blame). If we didn’t have the anxiety, it probably means we stopped caring. If we didn’t have the depression, we couldn’t appreciate all the happy moments in life as much. And if we didn’t have the hormones, we wouldn’t have babies to love. (Although I’m still talking to God about the menopause thing). And, by the way, now I see why Jesus was a guy. He was like, “I’ll suffer for you, and feel the same pain you feel… but childbirth and female hormones? Nope. I’m good.” Which, in my book, makes us saints. So guys, don’t take it personally. We may need to take a drive to avoid saying something hurtful, isolate ourselves in the room with some ice cream (topped with peanut butter, topped with M-n-M’s, topped with honey), so you won’t see us cry, or do something impulsive and fun to get out of our own heads. But, it’s not like we want to tie you down to the tracks and run you over. You just might want to get out of the way for a little bit. Or, better yet, remind us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Tell us that it will pass. Give us a tight hug (and maybe a present), and know that, although we struggle inside ourselves sometimes, we still push through it, and only want the best for those we love. The train WILL come back to the station again. It always does. And, if you are there waiting for us, the “return” will be even better. 37

By John N. Felsher

Old Nauti and

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum displays the rich nautical heritage of St. Tammany

Created by the incredible flow and periodic overflow of the Mississippi River and crisscrossed by numerous other streams and lakes, southeastern Louisiana owes its very existence to water. From the earliest days, eons before Europeans came to settle the land, waterways created natural trade routes and highways of communication. Even now, boating and shipbuilding contribute heavily to the economy, recreation and culture of southern Louisiana. Today, people can experience a taste of that vibrant nautical heritage spanning centuries by visiting the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum on the Tchefuncte River at 133 Mabel Drive in Madisonville. Visitors can walk through history starting with a diorama of a Louisiana cypress swamp and finish by viewing award-winning films covering the maritime history of the area. Along the way, visitors might see anything from Native American pottery, thousands of years old, to models of modern vessels. “The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum features unique exhibits that illustrate 38

the innovation, creativity and perseverance of Louisiana’s people, concentrating on the maritime history of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, the lower Mississippi River Valley and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana,” explained Don Lynch, the museum executive director. “With our exhibits, we do more interpreting though storyboards, films and other things than just displaying artifacts.” The museum opened in 2002 on land once occupied by the sprawling Jahncke Shipyard, a complex that built cargo ships to supply the Allies fighting in Europe during World War I. Large ocean-going ships built at Jahncke drew too much water to navigate down the Tchefuncte River into Lake Pontchartrain and out to the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, they had to ride on massive pontoons that lifted the ships until they reached water sufficiently deep enough to sail on their own. “This area has a very long shipbuilding heritage,” Lynch said. “Long before Jahncke, the U.S. Navy actually had a shipyard here as early as 1812. Some smaller yards even go back to the late 1700’s. From the earliest

days, this region was well-known for producing naval stores and tall masts for sailing ships because of all the pine trees in this area.” Naval stores, once a vital strategic product, included resin-based components necessary to build and maintain wooden vessels. This included pine pitch to soak into fibers used to caulk spaces between wooden planks to keep ships from leaking. As steam began to replace sail power in the early 1800’s, steamboats began plying the lakes and rivers hauling cargos of cotton, rice, lumber, naval stores and other items. Visitors can “board” the Louisiana, a near life-size half replica of a sternwheeler steamboat that carried cargo through the rivers in the early 19th century. “In the early 1800’s, Madisonville was the largest, most prosperous town on the North Shore,” Lynch said. “Madisonville was actually the southern terminus for the Natchez Trace, so there was always a lot of commerce going back and forth through this area.” In 1834, Congress appropriated funding to build a lighthouse near where the Tchefuncte River hits Lake Pontchartrain. On Jan. 1,

1838, Benjamin Thurston Jr. took over as the first keeper of the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse. He stayed in that position until his death on Dec. 3, 1845. During his time as lighthouse keeper, Thurston kept a detailed diary, offering an excellent glimpse into the daily life in St. Tammany Parish back then. The museum now owns the original diaries. “Our prized artifact is probably the Thurston Diaries,” Lynch advised. “We traditionally think of lighthouse keepers being lonely and isolated, but he had visitors almost every day. There was always some ship coming or going. Our goal right now is just to stabilize the pages to preserve them.” During the Civil War, Union forces captured New Orleans in 1862, but Confederate forces still held the North Shore. That turned Lake Pontchartrain into a war zone. The powerful Union Navy blockaded Confederate ports to prevent Southern states from exporting cotton to buy weapons and vital war supplies. Union

gunboats also patrolled Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne and associated rivers. “Trade went back and forth across Lake Pontchartrain early in the Civil War,” Lynch detailed. “During the war, the Union transported all Southern sympathizers who did not take the oath of allegiance out of New Orleans and dropped them off on the North Shore. That created problems because there wasn’t enough food for everyone.” Occasionally, the two forces exchanged fire. Once, a Confederate force hiding near the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse fired at a patrolling Union gunboat. The gunboat returned fire, destroying the original lighthouse. A rebuilt lighthouse began operations in 1868 and remains active to this day. In 1999, the Coast Guard transferred ownership of the lighthouse to Madisonville, but still maintains the light as a navigational aid. On behalf of the town, the museum manages the lighthouse with plans to restore it and open it to the public.

“The lighthouse is one of two still in active operation in Louisiana,” Lynch explained. “The other is at Southwest Pass on the Mississippi River. The lighthouse itself is in pretty good condition, but only reachable by water. A couple years ago, we did a lot of restoration to the tower. When Hurricane Isaac hit in 2012, it broke five steps in the spiral staircase. We’re getting new steps cast. In the museum, we have a Fresnel lighthouse lens dating from the mid-1800’s. They are pretty rare now.” Desperate to break the strangling blockade during the Civil War, Confederates turned to revolutionary ideas. In 1862, Horace Hunley and others in New Orleans worked on a secret weapon, long cylindrical iron vessels that could submerge and sneak up on Union warships. They built the Pioneer and successfully tested it on Lake Pontchartrain, but scuttled the vessel in a New Orleans canal when Union forces captured the city a few months later. “The Pioneer carried a 3-man crew -- the captain and two men to work a hand crank that turned a propeller to move the submarine,” Lynch advised. “It carried a barrel of gunpowder attached to a long rope atop the submarine. The idea was to dive under an enemy ship and tow the barrel behind it until it hit the side of the ship and exploded. In tests, the submarine destroyed some target ships, but never attempted an actual mission. However, the Pioneer led to the C.S.S. Hunley, the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship when it sank the U.S.S. Housatonic in Charleston Harbor in 1864.” For decades, a submarine believed to be the Pioneer sat on public display in front of the Presbytere in New Orleans. However, old records indicate that the Pioneer was discovered, raised and sold for scrap in 1868. No one ever found any documentation of the mystery submarine displayed in New 39

Orleans for all those years. People found the mystery submarine in Bayou St. John on Lake Pontchartrain in 1878. It now rests in the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. However, visitors to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum can see, and even crawl, into a life-size model of a Civil War submarine built from plans drawn on the rediscovered Confederate vessel. Submarines in the 19th century operated with hand cranks driving propellers. By the 20th century, however, gasoline-powered motors had become popular. The Madisonville museum displays about 50 antique outboard motors. Many people visiting the museum recognize motors similar to those their fathers or grandfathers used, bringing back pleasant memories. “One of our most popular exhibits is our outboard motor collection,” Lynch recalled. “Each motor has a story. One interesting story concerns an old Montgomery Ward motor that dates back to the late 1940’s. The lady who donated it said her husband bought it about a month before they married. They bought it on time and made payments every month. She still had all the payment records for that old motor. The family used it for about 10 years until they bought a bigger motor. Her husband continued to crank that old outboard every year until he died around 2009. It’s the human interest stories behind these motors that make them so interesting.” The museum also displays many boat models depicting the most historically and culturally significant craft used along the northern Gulf Coast. The display includes models of a pirogue, a Cajun rowing skiff, a Biloxi schooner and a New Orleans lugger, plus a real dugout canoe and other full-size boats. 40

“Those four boats were the most important types used in this area,” Lynch said. “A rowing skiff was used more for family transportation and hauling cargo in small, shallow waters. Luggers were used to harvest oysters. At first, they were sailboats. In the early 1900’s, many owners converted them to diesel power for hauling cargo. Biloxi schooners, shallow-draft sailing vessels about 60 feet long, were the main form of transportation along the northern Gulf Coast for years. To me, though, some of the more interesting exhibits are about the Merchant Marines from World War II.” United States shipyards built about 2,700 Liberty cargo ships during the war to carry men and supplies overseas. The Germans sunk about a third of them, killing more than 9,000 Merchant Marine sailors. Despite the danger, those sailors did not receive veteran status until 1988. “We have an all-metal model of a Liberty ship, which is really rare,” Lynch commented. “The gentleman who built it welded together Liberty ships during WWII. During the day, he worked on real ships. At night, he built his model.” People can learn to build their own boats by taking classes offered by the museum. Master craftsmen teach students how to build wooden pirogues, bateauxs or johnboats and Atchafalaya lake skiffs -- but no Liberty ships! The museum supplies the tools and knowledge, but students buy their own materials. Classes usually meet twice a week. “We use traditional boat-building methods, but there are no plans for the boats so each one is different,” Lynch explained. “We guide them through the building process, but the students do the work.”

Whether interested in learning how to build a fishing boat or viewing top-secret Civil War weapons, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum offers something for every nauti person interested in discovering more about those nauti people before us. For more information, call 985-845-9200 or visit LPBMM.org

Wood Boat Festival recalls glory days of boat building Normally a village of several hundred people, the Madisonville population swells to thousands each October for the Wooden Boat Festival. “The 26th Annual Wooden Boat Festival will be held October 10-11, 2015,” advised Louise Saenz, the festival coordinator. “It’s one of the premier events on the North Shore. We’re expecting between 20,000 and 30,000 people.” The festival actually kicks off Oct. 9 with a fundraiser at the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum. The festival pays homage to the rich boat-building tradition in St. Tammany Parish. “The festival started when a group of boat enthusiasts pooled their resources to put together a festival,” Saenz recalled. “Over

time, it grew. Eventually, it became too much for the organizers so they agreed to let the museum manage it. We will have some classic wooden boats on display that represent particular boat styles built in this region.” Festival attendees can view about 100 wooden boats floating on the Tchefuncte River or sitting on trailers. The display will include many hand-built craft. Some people may want to build their own boats. Up to 20 teams may enter the Quick and Dirty Boat Building Contest. Each team receives the same materials and must build a boat in the allotted 14 hours.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR... A native of Louisiana, John N. Felsher grew up in Slidell and graduated from Slidell High in 1978. He’s a professional freelance writer and photographer with more than 2,300 articles in more than 140 magazines to his credit. He also co-hosts a weekly live outdoors radio show and a weekly syndicated show that goes to multiple stations. If you have an idea for a future Nauti People column, please contact Kendra at editor@ slidellmag.com. Contact Felsher through his website at www.JohnNFelsher.com.

“The Quick and Dirty Boat Building Contest is always a festival staple,” Saenz explained. “Some teams compete every year and bring elaborate plans. Some teams have no idea what their boat will look like. It really has a Mardi Gras feel to it. After the contest, we parade the boats. Many competitors wear costumes, decorate their boats and play their own theme music. We launch the boats into the Tchefuncte, but not all of them float, which is also entertaining to watch.” For event schedules and more information, call 985-845-9200 or see www.woodenboatfest.org.

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As a teenager in the 60’s, Boones Farm Strawberry Hill was my introduction to the culture of American wine. Drop a couple of ice cubes in a Dixie cup, pour in some pinkish wine-ish liquid, open a bag of Doritos, and you had yourself a party. So, as I sat on the elegant veranda of Domaine Canernos in Sonoma, California last month, sipping fine sparkling wine and tasting toast

points with truffled whitefish caviar, I had to admit - I’ve come a long way, baby.

Sonoma Valley is home to almost 60,000 acres and more than 400 wineries.

Although the most sophisticated distinction I sometimes make about wine selection is red, white or pink, I hung with the wine experts for a few days, sampling my way through more than a few bottles of California’s finest.

Did you know that one grapevine produces 18 pounds of grapes, which makes 6 bottles of wine? Or that one-acre in a vineyard can produce 225 cases of wine?

There’s a lot to learn if you’re going to make the most of a visit to wine country. California’s

After a few wine tastings, the scenery tends to blend into one fantastic memory of woody grapevines and rolling acres of green and

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purple. Wine tasting experiences can involve an excursion by trolley into the fields, a peak inside cavernous rooms with barrels piled like Jenga pieces, and a delicious array of foods to enhance the experience. There’s an abundance of companies that offer personalized tours of your favorite wineries in Napa and Sonoma without ever worrying about designating one of your group as driver. Consider going this route – a driver will pick you up from your hotel or rental in a comfortable SUV or limo, transport you to several wineries in one day, and some will even provide a linen-tablecloth meal at the end of the day. California knows how to do this thing right. Another option to consider is the Napa Valley Wine Train. Combining the glory days of luxury train travel with multiple course meals, fine wine and a vintage rail car, this 25-mile track travels through the heart of Napa Valley. There’s something about having a meal on a train while watching mile after mile of vineyards pass by at 12 miles an hour that’s just so classy. Which leads me to an important point – what if you don’t know a Shiraz from a Pinot? Wine snobs can be so, well, snobby. I reached for a glass of Pinot Noir (that’s red wine made from black Pinot grapes, as opposed to Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio made from white grapes), and heard the gentleman next to me remark, “Look at the lovely legs.” No, he wasn’t looking at mine; he was gazing lovingly into his glass. The way it’s done, you see, is to grasp your wine glass firmly but delicately by the stem, swirl the liquid a bit, inhale the aroma deeply and notice the tiny rivers, or “tears” of wine that form on the inside of the wine glass.

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More “legs” or droplets can indicate either high alcohol content and/or high sugar content in wine. Wine legs are caused by alcohol evaporation from the sides of the glass, an example of Gibbs-Marangoni Effect, a phenomenon that is the result of fluid surface tension caused by the evaporation of alcohol. Feel free to use that term to impress others with your knowledge of legs, but truly - just drink the stuff. It’s delicious and beautiful, and that’s enough for me. I did rewatch my favorite wine movies, “Sideways” and “Bottle Shock,” in preparation for my wine country experiences and to brush up on a bit of wine culture. Although I do prefer Pinot Noir to Merlot, as does the Paul Giamatti character in Sideways, I don’t turn my nose up at the lowly Merlot. (Side note - following the film’s U.S. release in October 2004, Merlot sales dropped 2% while Pinot Noir sales increased 16% in the Western United States.) But his description of the wine…“Its flavors… they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and ancient on the planet,” is spot on. Whether you wax poetic about the aromas and flavors, or you’re in it for the buzz, there’s a social atmosphere at a wine tasting event that’s akin to our Louisiana preoccupation with all things edible or drinkable. Fine food is to fine wines like crawfish is to beer in our part of the world. Which brings me to the important act of wine and food pairings. One of my favorite wineries was V. Sattui, because the wine is good, but the picnic lunch pickings are even better. In addition to luscious wines, V Sattui houses an Italian Marketplace and Deli that knocked my socks off. I chose the housemade Mozzarella and Heirloom Tomato Salad and Barbequed Oysters, and enjoyed the perfect picnic under

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200 year old oak trees. Much like our beloved area restaurants, I found that Sonoma and Napa abound in amazing food choices. My favorites were Brix Restaurant and The Farm at Canernos Inn. Domaine Canernos takes my vote as the most elegant tasting I experienced, as it’s the closest to sipping Champagne at a French Chateau I’ve ever gotten.

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Actually, I didn’t meet a meal or a wine I didn’t like! One of the best tips for enjoying a wine tasting is keeping notes as you progress through the day. At each wine tasting, you’re given a glass of several different varieties, depending on your interests and the wineries you visit. You don’t have to get all technological with terms like “buttery or peachy tones” with your notes, but a simple rating system will help you remember what tickles your fancy. I just stuck to “buy” and “don’t buy.” Almost all tours end in the obligatory gift ship with opportunities to purchase bottles or join a wine club. At the end of the day, you may find yourself with the enviable choice of either consuming the bottles you purchase before leaving California or buying cases to bring them home with you on the plane. I chose the wine club option – who doesn’t love to be surprised once a month or so with the delicious liquid memory to share with friends? No better way to get through the winter, I say. You say you’re not a wine aficionado? No problem. You can still enjoy the weather and scenery and have a delicious time in the valley; there’s a good choice of things to do besides winery hopping. A hike at Armstrong Redwoods Reserve in Sonoma County is the perfect counterpoint to a few days of imbibing. You can zip line through redwoods, paddle a lazy kayak, or meander through towering trees for as much or as little natural rejuvenation as you like. In a future column, I’ll also tell you about the amazing adventures I had in San Francisco, before I even arrived in Sonoma! Our stay in Sonoma was made all the more memorable and comfortable because we chose to rent a local home on this trip. We truly felt immersed in a four-bedroom ranch style home with a hot tub, swimming pool and state of the art kitchen to enjoy every day. A taste of “how the other half lives” spoiled me completely.

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Technically, I did not have Champagne, ‘cause it wasn’t bottled in the Champagne region of France. Since this winery is in California, I actually enjoyed sparkling wine. You see, all Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Note: although Miller advertises itself as the “Champagne of bottled beer,” it really isn’t Champagne either.

Yet this side of the country can spoil one greatly, too. And I left wondering - does knowing about wine really make it taste better? Do I really taste the difference between an eight-dollar bottle I get at Rouse’s and the eighty-dollar bottle I bought at Benzinger? Is it about perceived value rather than actual taste? I’m saving that pricey bottle for a special occasion, and then I’ll let you know. Have I whet your appetite for wine? Consider that a short drive from Slidell is one of Louisiana’s own wineries, complete with a tasting room, wine club, and music events in the fall. I won’t go back to my Boones Farm and Doritos days, but I will pack a picnic basket, take a drive to Pontchartrain Vineyards in Bush, and relive the California winery experience some time this month. Grab a glass and join me. We do this thing right, too.

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Douglas L. Lait

K&B Drug Store

Prelude: My mom forever told me that, if I kept my mouth shut sometimes and just listened, I might learn something. As always, she was right. I was working at my desk a few months ago when this nice lady stopped in to do some shopping. She began having a conversation with Zelda, my assistant, when I overheard her mention that her husband was the long-time manager at the K&B Drug Store in Slidell. Now, I might be an amateur writer, but I know a good story when I hear one. My ears stood straight up and I listened to everything

she said. After a few minutes, I just had to jump into the conversation. I really was interested in her husband’s relationship with K&B, so I asked her several questions, giving her little chance to breathe between each one. She didn’t know it yet, but I knew I was going to write a story about her husband and K&B. Towards the end of our conversation, she told me that her husband of more that 50 years died just a few months back. It saddened me to hear that and, the more she talked about her husband, I began to feel the love they had for one another.

After a lengthy conversation, I asked her if I could write an article about her husband and K&B. She looked at me, smiled, and said that would be nice.

K&B

was as much a part of Slidell’s history as streetcars and beignets are to New Orleans’ history. Even if you are too young to remember, I think you will enjoy this story. But keep one thing in mind - this story is not so much about the store as it is about the man who managed our own local K&B.

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K&B evolved from a single store located on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. It was the first venture of a new partnership between Gustave Katz and Sidney Besthoff, Sr. This new business was call Katz & Besthoff Drug Store but later it was shortened to just K&B Drug Store. Mr. Katz was a native of New Orleans and had his own drug store on St. Charles Avenue. He operated his store under the motto, “An uptown store with downtown prices.” Mr. Katz was always credited with being the first to aggressively compete with larger chain stores. He also implemented a policy of double-checking prescriptions for accuracy. He was also the first to use the telephone for accepting prescriptions and often used a bicycle to make deliveries. Mr. Besthoff was from Memphis, Tennessee, a registered pharmacist and a successful drug store owner. He traveled to New Orleans to get married. While there, he met with Mr. Katz. Later, he returned to New Orleans and was eager to enter into a partnership with Mr. Katz. As soon as the partnership was official, they set about their first order of business, opening a new store. It was a risky venture. Their first store was located in a downtown shopping area, a location that had proven to be disastrous for other drug stores that had opened and closed there many times before. Like any good partnership, they each brought their own special skills and character to the company. When mixed together, it produced success after success. Mr. Katz was an excellent fiscal manager and careful organizer. Mr. Besthoff was the secretary and treasurer and a great public relations man. It was Mr. Katz who pushed for customers to have credit in the way of a K&B credit card. It was Mr. Besthoff who convinced Mr. Katz to start a retail chain. In 1910, the expansion began. Their second store opened on Canal Street, not far from

the original store. In 1920, a third store opened, and a fourth in 1923. In 1928, they opened their fifth and sixth stores. By that time, the company was operating their own ice cream plant as well as their own photo finishing laboratory. By the time Mr. Katz died in 1940, the chain of stores was fourteen strong. His heirs decided to sell their shares to the Besthoff family. Not too many years later, Mr. Besthoff ’s son, Sidney Besthoff, Jr., and his family took over the business. Sidney Jr. took time off from the business to serve during WWII, and when Major Besthoff returned in 1945, he resumed his position as senior officer. It was then that the company consolidated its operations to a new building on Camp Street. By 1955, K&B had filled more than 10 million prescriptions in New Orleans alone. A new period of fast expansion began in 1962 when Sidney Besthoff III became vice-president of the company. By 1965, Sidney III had become president of the company and, lucky for us, decided to open the first K&B outside of New Orleans. He chose Slidell to be that location, a move that proved to be the beginning of the company’s vast expansion throughout the southern part of the country. In 1974, the executive office moved to Lee Circle. The headquarters itself won many awards for its architectural designs. By 1975, K&B had filled over 50 million prescriptions. By 1994, they employed 2000 full-time employees and 2500 part-time employees, had two distribution centers, 177 drug stores all over the southern part of the country, an ice cream plant, and a state-of-the-art photo labatory. In 1977, the famous purple sign that read “K&B” was never to be seen again. Rite-Aid Drug Stores bought them out. When asked why they sold their considerable franchise, Mr. Besthoff simple said, “It was time.”

Douglas Lait, K&B Drug Store manager, Slidell

Before I move on to the real reason I wrote this story, let me give you some cool K&B facts: Long before Blue Bell Ice Cream was the best ice cream in the country, there was the delicious, delectable, delicacy that was K&B ice cream. (If you’re “old Slidell”, you probably still have one of their gallon storage containers with the plastic handle.) The ice cream factory was located on Camp Street in New Orleans. It was made fresh everyday and delivered to all the stores, as well as local restaurants. K&B used only natural ingredients and offered over 30 flavors with true New Orleans flair, such as vanilla, chocolate, creole cream cheese and their incredible chocolate eclair. K&B also was responsible for the famous “flat fifths”, which was a full fifth of a gallon of ice cream, packaged in a flat carton for the sole purpose of it sliding into the freezer without taking up much space. Did I mention that K&B used fresh milk and cream from dem cows down in the Parish? Did you ever wonder why K&B chose the color purple for their public recognition logo? Well, it happened long before paper bags were used. An unnamed New Orleans merchant had ordered a railroad car load of purple wrapping paper for a special promotion. But when it arrived, the merchant didn’t like the color. The paper was reduced to below cost so K&B bought it all. Remember, in those days, many items sold at stores were wrapped in paper and tied with a string. K&B thought it was good advertising 47

Douglas L. Lait It was often said that you could find just about anything you needed at your friendly K&B Drug Store, even your future wife. That’s exactly what happened to Douglas Lait. Douglas started working for K&B around 1960.

K&B Drug Store ribbon cutting in Slidell, LA l-r: Douglas Lait, Sidney Besthoff III, Slidell Mayor Cusimano, unidentified official

because people would know where it came from. And, the wrapping did just that. It was so successful, it inspired one of their slogans: “If it’s purple on the outside, it’s only the best from K&B on the inside.” Because of K&B, the Times Picayune newspaper was the leader in the nation for using purple ink! Today, when you buy paint, if you ask for K&B purple, they will know exactly what you want. Did ever notice the two check marks on their purple sign? What did it mean? It was simply a reminder to customers that each prescription had been double-checked for accuracy. Did you know that it was very hard to get a K&B credit card? Their credit policy was very stringent. If you had one, it was considered a badge of honor. And, most importantly of all, can you sing K&B’s theme song? If you answered yes, you really are from here.

In 1961, he was promoted to assistant manager at the Carondelet store. Darlene Staples worked across the street for an attorney. She and several of her friends would often have lunch at the K&B lunch counter. Ralph LeBlanc, the manager of the store, decided that Douglas and Darlene would make a cute couple so he introduced them to each other. They really didn’t start dating until Mardi Gras, 1962. Six months later, they were married. Not long after the wedding, they built a new home in Avondale. Eighteen months later, Mr. Besthoff promoted Douglas to manager of the new K&B being built in Slidell. Mr. Besthoff had a lot of confidence and respect for Douglas. Actually, Douglas was so efficient at his job that Mr. Besthoff would have him train all future managers. Not only was Douglas the youngest manager in the company, he was also the first manager who was not a pharmacist, not to mention the first manager of an out-of-town store. The new K&B was located in the Northside Shopping Center, just a few doors down from Winn Dixie. The store was one of the largest in the entire chain. One thing I clearly remember about my first visit to K&B - it was wall to wall PURPLE. Purple cash registers, purple shelving, purple signs, purple ice cream cases, purple uniforms, purple bags and purple floors. When it came to purple, Barney the Hippo didn’t have a thing on K&B!

K&B had over 60 years of experience when they decided to branch out to Slidell. Mr. Besthoff was picky when it came to new locations. He knew exactly what he wanted and would not acccept anything less. Not too long after the store opened, Mr. Besthoff and Douglas were faced with an unpleasant issue. But, since both of these men were at the top of their game, it was resolved rather quickly. Even though the new drug store faced Hwy. 190, it was set back several hundred feet. This concerned Mr. Besthoff, so he had the business fortitude to state in the contract that nothing could be built blocking the view of the store from the highway. Sure enough, a gas station was built that blocked the view. At the time, they were building a new shopping center across the street. So, Mr. Besthoff moved the store to the new center where Rite-Aid Drug Store is today. The new store was even larger than the original and nothing would ever block the view again because it was nearly sitting on the highway. During Douglas’ 30 year career with K&B, he earned many awards, such as the Stanley Award, the Service Award, the Old Spice Father’s Day Award and his 30th Anniversary Award. Douglas received these awards because of his loyalty to the company and his friendly relationship with his customers. He believed in service, quality, and reliability. He treated every customer like a friend. Ask anyone and they will tell you that Douglas made K&B an even better drug store. In Loving Memory of Mr. Douglas L. Lait 1934 - 2014 A donation has been made to The Michael. J. Fox Foundation for the study of Parkinson Disease in memory of Douglas L. Lait Special thanks to Darlene Lait for giving me so much information for this story and allowing me to honor her husband on the first anniversary of his passing.

Resouces: John S. Epstein, Darlene Lait, Images of America by Bonnie Vanney

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