37th Edition - August 2013 by Slidell Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL HALL OF FAME MUSEUM OPENS IN NATCHITOCHES!

magazine Vol 37 August 2013

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame FIRST - ROUND INDUCTEE

Boxer Tony Canzoneri from

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I’m showing my age. I’ve been listening to cheesy 80’s music for the past week. It started with one throw back song on the radio and I’ve been addicted ever since. I’ve been downloading, Google-ing, Pandora-ing, iTune-ing…it’s ironic that modern technology is making it easy for me to step back into the 80’s, the very beginnings of the internet age. And don’t think for a minute that I’ve been listening to any thought-provoking or introspective melodic poetry (was there any of that in 80’s music?). Nope – my computer speakers are screaming with the really, REALLY cheesy, ﬂuffy-stuff that made the music critics cringe and teenage girls dance in delight. Songs like “Walk Like an Egyptian”, “99 Red Balloons” and just about anything from the Go-Go’s (I sooo wanted to be a Go-Go when I was in 6th grade). My guiltiest pleasure of the past week has been “Mickey”. Remember those Pulitzerprize winning lyrics?

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Kendra Maness - Editor/Publisher Editor@SlidellMag.com Alan Lossett - Graphic Design Lee Kreil - Accounts Manager Photography: ImkePhoto.com Contributing Writers:

Oh Mickey, you’re so fine, You’re so fine you blow my mind, Hey Mickey, hey Mickey….repeat Do you remember when MTV debuted in 1981? I remember the very first music video I ever saw, at my neighbors house (she had cable, we did not). It was Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. I remember thinking that the video was a scene from a movie – one of those singing segway moments like in the old Elvis beach films. When the video ended, I thought the “movie” ended. I remember thinking to myself, how lame – that movie only lasted 3 minutes! My high school years were from 1985-1989, so my entire teen years were spent listening to and dancing to 80’s music. It really was a good time to be a teenager. I always hear about the good ol’ days from my senior friends (their teen time was in the 50’s. Good, indeed). Now, I join them in saying that my time was a simpler time too – less convoluted, more innocent, more fun. If music is any indicator, the teeny-bop ballads and simple pop musings of the 50’s and 80’s really do reflect a simpler time. It was ok to be a one-hit wonder (Rock Me Amadeus!), it was cool to dance (Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul) and MTV was still actually showing music videos in the 80’s. My friends sometimes chide me playfully about my love of music and dancing. I have my “Snoopy Dance” songs – the 80’s songs that come on the radio that I simply HAVE to dance to, regardless of the time or place. When I hear the first few notes of “Walking on Sunshine”, I’m Snoopy-dancing – head tossed back, chin high in the air, arms raised above my head and ears flopping. Music makes you feel good. Take a trip down memory lane one night with your sweetheart, two glasses of wine and the music from your decade. I promise you’ll laugh and tell stories, have sentimental moments, and dance. Definitely dance.

Carol Ruiz EFOP, Nancy Richardson Sli-Ku, Lee Kreil The Storyteller, John Case Jockularity, Corey Hogue Pet Points, Jeff Perret, DVM 20/20, John Maracich, III Frankly Slidell, Frank Davis Mike Rich John N. Felsher Rose Marie Sand

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Slidell Magazine now available at all Slidell and

ef o

Extraordinarily Fascinating “Ordinary” Person of the Month by Nancy Richardson

Will Rachal

Ambassador for Slidell Sometimes life doesn’t take you where you thought you wanted to go. But being open to change, embracing it, making it work for you, is what this month’s EFOP Will Rachal is about. He is also all about helping Slidell develop economically which, in the end, beneﬁts us all. Will thought he would spend his career in the Navy; ﬁrst diving, then teaching others his skills, but, he says, “God had other plans for me.” Those other plans would bring him and his family to Slidell, and utilize all his skills to become a community ambassador. After the Gulf War and while stationed in Bahrain, Will had the unfortunate (or maybe it was fortuitous) luck to be hit by a drunk driver. The accident left him with a serious knee injury. “With a messed up knee, I couldn’t dive anymore,” says Will, “but I became a military instructor to military personnel from other countries, our Allies.”

August 2013

involved with the charities and networking opportunities in Slidell. But first, Will needed to get to know the people and the resources that Slidell had to offer in order to find the perfect fit. Beginning in 2007, several things happened. First, Will saw a small ad in the newspaper advertising the Slidell Leadership Program. Calling for more information, he got excited and knew this program was something he could benefit from. “The Slidell Leadership program helped me to consolidate 7-9 years of community knowledge shrunk down to one year,” he says enthusiastically. “That program really gave me a jump start!” It also gave the existing community leaders a chance to appreciate and value Will’s talents, skills and commitment to his adopted home.

After serving his last tour in Gulfport, Will and his wife, Charese, remained in Slidell to raise their family – son, Marseille and daughter, Taryn. In his various station assignments with the Navy, Will found that locals didn’t really embrace military folks, so he never really felt connected to any place. Says Will, “Slidell was different. She embraced me and I have embraced her back. I decided to ﬁnd a way to utilize my skills for the betterment of my new community.” In 2003, Will and Charese opened a Curves franchise while they endeavored to secure a place for themselves in Slidell’s economic community. Meanwhile, Reverand Donald Bryan was encouraging him to get more

Will as a young Navy recruit

Will believes that by nature people are good, but most people are fearful of change, clinging to the familiar. “Slidell seemed like a place full of people who could embrace change to become a better place,” philosophizes Will, who feels that God had special plans for him. He tells a story about an incident in his youth which demonstrates how he feels about God’s plans for him. When he was a kid, his brothers dared him to put his finger in a rabbit trap and pull it out before it snapped off his finger. As the trap snapped down sharply on his index finger, Will looked down not to find a bloody mess, but just to feel the jaws pressing down. Will says, “God couldn’t let me lose a finger because you can’t join the military with a missing digit. God knew I would need that finger to serve in the military.” He tells this story to illustrate how he feels about God’s will and man’s will… he calls it Perfect will and Permissive will. “We have control over some things, but if we veer off God’s course for our lives, He will step in.” Will has deep religious convictions combined with a very positive attitude toward life and his fellow humans. The second thing that happened to change his life back in 2008 was a phone call from Judge Jim Lamz who presides over Slidell City Court. The Slidell Drug Court program was established in 2002, under Judge Gary Dragon, to help youthful, mostly first-time offenders, not to become repeat offenders. It was determined that when a kid appeared in drug court, it was usually the result of other problems like family issues, low performance in school, etc. Judge Lamz asked Will to manage the drug court program. At the time, Will was working with

Charese on their Curves franchise. “My initial thought was to work in the drug court for about two years. I am five years into that two year commitment. Besides, it’s hard to say ‘no’ to Judge Lamz!” “Judge Lamz really cares,” declares Will. “He’s a smart, caring judge and great person.” As envisioned by Judge Lamz, the Drug Court Program takes a kid for a 12-14 month period, working closely with the school and provides counselors, anger management, as well as parental training, if that’s needed. “Being a government funded program, we are limited on how the funds can be spent, but the financial needs go way beyond the program. So we searched for local groups to help. Groups like the Rotary Clubs and Northshore Mall (as well as others) have been great partners to provide funds to help those kids and their families.” Will goes on to say, “These kids haven’t had any encouragement until they showed up at Drug court. We try to give them that encouragement.” In his travels around the globe, Will sees that, by comparison, Slidell is a very positive community—one that recognizes problems in their community and does something about it. Will doesn’t believe in handouts, but rather utilizes the ‘teach a man to fish’ philosophy. He sees himself as an ambassador, a conduit, a clearinghouse. And thus the concept of his latest venture took life. Back around 2009, when he was getting to be known around town, former Mayor Ben Morris & business owner/community activist Brenda Case involved Will in a project called “Slidell Ready Communities Steering Committee”, a task force to review the economic and business needs of Slidell. In addition, Slidell Economic Development Advisory (SEDA) board was created, on which Will was asked to serve. He started looking at business development and the opportunities and obstacles involved. As he talked to people who ran small businesses out of their homes, as well as small business owners wanting to expand into the North Shore area, he asked the question - What can we do to help you? As a result of that, Will determined that small business people needed a place to hold meetings, meet with clients, access to suppliers, etc. Most small businesses start up working out of their homes, and are hesitant to take that expensive next step in the growth of their business. Will tells of an incident that showed him what was needed. “I was sitting in a coffee shop and noticed a man with a huge stack of files who was obviously meeting a potential client there at the coffee house. The guy spilled coffee all over everything including the client who stormed out saying something about the lack of professionalism. Being inquisitive, I went over and talked with the guy. I asked him if he thought he could use a place with nice surroundings, a conference room, a/v equipment, a receptionist, all the things that say ‘professional’ to clients that he could utilize for his business (other than a coffee shop) and the guy got really excited. ‘Where is this place?’ he wanted to know. I told him it doesn’t exist yet - I’m just conceiving it,” recalls entrepreneurial Will. Thus was born Dream Builders Network. Will’s next challenge was to find just the right location for his bright idea. As luck would have it, and because Will is a self-confessed information junkie, he came across a federal program called HUB Zones – Historically Underutilized Business zones. The benefit of a business being located in a HUB Zone is that those businesses get preferential treatment for federal contracts. Doing some research, Will found that certain areas of Slidell qualified. So he dug deeper and found that Slidell had once been designated a HUB Zone but that the time had run out. He followed the recertification process, hoping a part of Slidell could be redesignated as a HUB Zone. A very proud Will states, “In January, 2013, parts of Slidell - including the Old Spanish Trail area along with Old Towne - were certified as HUB Zones.” Now, he explains, “I needed to find a place for Dream Builders in that area, which I did.” And small businesses

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Will and Charese join with other volunteers to man the Veterans Day Parade drink booth at Heritage Fest who become part of Dream Builders means their business is then located in the HUB Zone too. A win-win! Early on, Will was recognized as someone to watch. He was the ﬁrst recipient of the prestigious Bill Lowrey Service Above Self Award, presented by the Rotary Club. “I believe that Paul Harris (Rotary’s founder) had Slidell in mind when he developed the concept of Rotary. Rotary has been a great partner for economic development in Slidell,” says Will. On a more personal note, Will Rachal wishes that our community more completely embraced our ethnic and cultural differences. “We’re not black or white or native, just different. We’re good at embracing our differences but we can do better!” says Will, whose goal is to help grow our economic base with all groups. “We are a powerful country and could be much stronger if we managed our skills better.” To demonstrate his point, Will shares this story: “There was a man who made a stinky limberger cheese sandwich and got some on his mustache. The man kept smelling the cheese everywhere he went. The kitchen stinks. He went into the hallway - hallway stinks. He went outside, still stinks. The man decided that the whole world stinks. A lot of people have limberger cheese on their mustaches. We’ve got to wipe it off!” Will chooses to see the good and says, “We each do our part. All our gifts are to help each other, but attitudes and social grouping limit us.” Good at telling stories to illustrate his point, he shares this one: “The US Navy patrols the 90 mile area between Cuba and Key West. If a Cuban can traverse that 90 miles without drowning or being eaten by a shark to make it to shore and grab a handful of sand, he wins! Immigrants work hard, seeing the whole forest, seeing the opportunity.” In every country he visits, Will makes a point to visit three places: a hospital, a school and jail. These places tell him what he needs to know about that society. He feels that, “The great equalizer in America is Capitalism and attitude. My dad would say that given a fair opportunity, anybody willing to work hard can win. I believe this. I like to climb the tallest tree at times; not literally, but to get above the trees to see the forest. In a forestry operation, management is in charge of supplies, labor, etc. Trees are coming down, progress is being made. A leader climbs the tallest tree and says, ‘We’re making great progress but we’re going the wrong way!’” Will’s great and positive attitude has served him well, but it hasn’t always been that way. While in the Navy, he had a supervisor that was just plain mean. “She was just a mean person,” remembers Will. “I ﬁnally went to her supervisor and told him that I’d take the

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Our mom really knocks it out of the park! nastiest, most difﬁcult assignment just to get away from her. Give me weekend duty, anything, but I’ve got to get away from her!” Will says the guy listened patiently and then suggested that he give it a month, and during that time, try to ﬁnd out more about the mean boss and get to know her. So Will agreed. At the end of the month, he had learned that this mean person was going through a bad divorce, and had other situations causing her grief. They sat down and had a long talk, with the end result that she admitted that she had been mean but didn’t really intend to be. They worked it out because Will took the time to understand. “I learned a lot from that.”

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Will, representing Slidell Drug Court, along with other recipents of the annual Rotary Skeet Shoot fundraiser Married for 27 years, Will and his wife and best friend Charese have forged a terrific working relationship with her as the tree chopper and him the tree climber. Putting her interior design background on the shelf for now, Charese has agreed to give him a year to get Dream Builders off the ground. According to Will, “Most people would find working so closely with one’s spouse to be difficult, but we make it work.” The secret to their success in being able to work together is their heightened sense of respect for each other and their individual contributions to the whole. Will knows he couldn’t have achieved what he has without her by his side. And we suspect that feeling is quite mutual. Will’s professional and private lives blur. He feels that his purpose in life is to be a conduit…to gather information and share it where it will do the most good. Slidell Magazine’s motto is Keep it Fresh, Keep it Positive. We think that Will Rachal embodies that philosophy and lives it daily. We can’t wait to see what Will dreams up next!

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Grand Opening Lean Training Studio 3–5pm

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Expansion Celebration Habitat Restore Old Spanish Trail 3-5pm

Your Money Questions Open Forum Discussion Pontchartrain Inv. Mgmt 6pm 6

Communication Committee Olde Towne Soda Shop 11:30am

Free Continuing Ed Class Microsoft Publisher Slidell Library 10am-12noon

“Seussical” Slidell Little Theatre 2pm

Business After Hours Patton’s 5-7pm

Education Committee Chamber Boardroom 8:30am

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Small Biz Committee Chamber Boardroom 8:30am Business After Hours Slidell Little Theatre 5-7pm

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Grand Opening Clementi’s Gladiator Academy & Crossﬁt of Slidell 3-5pm Dine & Discover Community Reinvestment Chamber Boardroom 11:30am

EYP Luncheon La Rosetta • 11:30am Grand Opening La Rosetta • 1-2pm

August 6 & 7 • Hot Art in a Cool Space - Art Show & Sale Northshore Unitarian Universalists • Lacombe • noon-6pm Opening Reception August 6 • 6-9pm 13

Grand Opening Creole Bagelry 3-5pm

AUGUST

EYP After Hours Social Location TBD 5-7pm

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Fan Up! Pep Rally Slidell Municipal Auditorium 5-8pm

Book Signing J. Steven Spires Author of Three Little Shrimp Mia Sorella 1-4pm

Tribute to Peggy Lee! Cutting Edge Theater • 8pm

SCHOOL BEGINS!

“13” The Musical Cutting Edge Theater • 8pm

Camellia City Farmer’s Market Grifﬁth Park Every Saturday “13” The Musical Cutting Edge Theater 8pm

Public Policy Committee Chamber Boardroom • 8am

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“Seussical” Slidell Little Theatre • 8pm

“Seussical” Slidell Little Theatre • 8pm 23

“13” The Musical Cutting Edge Theater • 8pm

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“Seussical” Slidell Little Theatre • 8pm Photo Club Exhibit Opening Reception Slidell Cultural Center • 7-9pm

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 3

The story goes that William Faulkner was in Hollywood working on a movie script. While riding in the car with the famous director Howard Hawks they stopped and picked up actor Clark Gable. Hawks and Faulkner continued a previous conversation about literature. Gable just listened. After a few minutes Gable asked a question. “Mr. Faulkner, if you wanted to read the best modern books, what authors would you read? Who are the best modern writers?” After some thought, Faulkner answered, “Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather, Thomas Mann, Joe Dos Passos, and myself.”

Front Porches Gable was taken aback and with surprise he said, “Oh Mr. Faulkner, do you write?” Faulkner replied, “Yes, Mr. Gable - and what do you do?” First of all, it would be pretentious for me to even mention the worthy name of William Faulkner in any of my efforts at storytelling. I relate the above because I think it is a good story and it entertains. With that said, I am often asked questions that are somewhat similar. Why do you write and what inspires you? After a story is printed, I may also be bombarded with phone calls and emails asking how much of the story was true. Generally, I will casually say something to the effect, “All of my story is true.”

If the questioning continues, I will just point to the top of the page and tell them that I am dubbed “The Storyteller”. This sometimes leads to additional interrogation as to how much of my stuff is true. Well, I am not going to answer that for you today and I am not going to answer it for you tomorrow. If you think my work is totally true, then I am doing a good job. If you think it is totally ﬁction, you are probably not reading much of it anyway. I will say this - THIS story is true. I am writing it because I have been asked to. It is not because I have run out of subject matter, which I may someday. It is just that several of you have asked the questions… where do I get my subject matter and why do I write it?

When I was about six years old, my elderly grandfather had pecan trees that he was very proud of. It bothered him that the crows were eating the pecans and, due to his declining health, he could do nothing about it. I told him that I would build a scare crow. He helped me fashion a cross-like structure, gave me some old pants, a hat and other materials I would need and off I went. I got the efﬁgy assembled but needed to dig a hole in the ground to hold the structure up. I found the ground too hard to dig, or maybe I had just lost interest, so I left all the supplies lying in the ﬁeld and went back to PaPa’s house. He eagerly awaited me and asked about the completion of the scare crow. Since I respected him more than any man I knew, I had to tell him something more than the fact that I had just quit. So I told him that, while working, a bear came up and scared me away. He appeared to be interested in the bear story, and in my young mind I thought he believed it. Since it worked so well, I decided to go a step farther. “PaPa, actually it was two bears and one was a lot bigger than the other.”

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He looked puzzled and replied, “You saw two bears?” “Yes Sir.” “Well I don’t blame you for leaving, I would have left also.” I knew then that storytelling was something I was well suited for. In the future I continued to sharpen my skills, especially if it proved beneﬁcial to me. As I grew up, I noticed in others the art of telling a story and making the impossible seem believable. Those were the days before TV. Those were the days when neighbors visited, and strangers as well as out of town kinsmen were welcome to drop by for a visit. Those were the days when children were to be seen and not heard, so I listened. It was also a time before air-conditioning. All of the above contributed to the center of activity being on the front porches. I think most writers in the south have taken their stories from the rural front porches. I was no exception. I remember we would all be on the front porch and someone would tell a story. There was no question; some were better storytellers than others. If the storyteller was good, the old men and women would pull their chairs nearer and cup their hands behind their ears in order to not miss a word. Sometime later, I would hear one of them tell the same story as if it was originally theirs, but always with a little different spin that fascinated me. Often, two stories were combined. One of my mentors was a distant kinsman who was basically homeless. He would travel from relative to relative and partake of their hospitality until he felt it was time to move on. We called him Cousin Austin and he would stay with my grandparents. He was a front porch storyteller extraordinaire. He only had one leg, as he had lost one in a logging accident years before. This added to the intrigue that at least the children had for him. I asked him once how he lost his leg. He went into great detail about going to milk a cow and the calf licking it off. He also told of how to cure warts.

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Cousin Austin was a storyteller of fiction, but the story of his life (which I will publish someday) is fact. He was a most unforgettable man and the only one I know that has a second-hand tombstone on his grave. I learned a lot from him and from stories about him. Not realizing what he was doing at the time, my dad contributed to my repertoire of stories. He somehow took the Bible literally when it came to the passage about entertaining angels unaware. He could not resist picking up hitch hikers and, on more than one occasion, I would wake up in the morning with a stranger in the next bed. Some of these people were very interesting and I have used them in my stories of fact and ﬁction. Lee was such a character. Daddy picked him up coming out of Houma in the late 1950’s. He was a WWII veteran and claimed to have had a bit part in the movie Band Of Angels starring Clark Gable. Lee turned out to be handy around the house so he stayed with us a few weeks. He fell in love with a woman down the road and one night he stole my motor scooter and they eloped. He brought it and the new bride home to move in with us. Dad accepted the motor scooter but the next day sent the couple on their way. His whole life was a story, partly truth and partly ﬁction. One walking traveler knocked on our door one Sunday at noon. He said he was hungry and we invited him to have Sunday lunch with us. Mother had prepared one pork chop for each person and two for my dad so there was an extra pork chop.

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His method was simple. All you had to do was wash the warts in dark stump water. Of course, he told you that if you thought of a possum while you were washing them, the treatment would not work. As you can understand, this made the cure impossible to follow.

In my house, it was good manners and a custom to offer the guest the ﬁrst helping and his being a tramp did not change that rule. He took all but one of the pork chops. We named him Wimpy after the “Popeye” comic book character that had a big appetite. For years he would occasionally stop by our house – unexpected, but always around meal time. His stories were entertaining and taught me at an early age not to judge a book by its cover. Wimpy may have been a vagabond, but he was an inspiring storyteller. I had an uncle, Jim McCaffrey, who was a good storyteller. His stories were most often fact and history based. He told me the story of a boiler explosion at the cotton gin and the man pinned beneath a piece of heavy equipment. They had to cut his leg off to remove him. I have used that scene in previous stories.

I learned a lot of stories and folk tales from the black population that lived around us. Their stories were rich with a mixture of religion and superstition. I have drawn on these often, but not as much as I would like. I have a problem knowing what is politically correct and what is not. I refrain. I am a person of little discipline. I have always thought that if God gives you a talent, whatever he gives you is all that you are going to get. I wanted to play a musical instrument. After learning the fingering of the notes, I did not improve. I did not improve because I did not practice. I did not practice because I thought God had given me all I was going to get, or maybe all I needed. For many years, I had written a few stories. Looking back, I had written about fifteen over a twenty year period. Twenty-six months ago, I was asked to contribute to Slidell Magazine and I submitted my first story. Twenty-six stories later, I know I do a better job now than I did then. The discipline of practice has been good for me.

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Where do I get my ideas? From the situations I described above, from you - the public, from newspapers, and cemeteries. A recent story, “Leaving Home,” was inspired by a photograph sent to me by a friend. The picture was of a man walking down the road with two suitcases. Sometime I will write the beginning of a story and I cannot ﬁnd an end. A year later the end will come to my mind as clear as day. I also have test readers that give me ideas and I am grateful to them. My wife, Brenda, is my biggest fan but she can also be my most honest critic. I owe so much to her and her patience and input. What is my ambition? My ambition is to someday be able to write something that is profound and lasting. Something that will inspire, encourage, or touch someone in a positive way. I think I can entertain, but in the end does it have any meaning? To this end, I try to enhance my skills. I read and discuss writing with my peers, those that are better than me. I learn a lot from them. Hopefully, someday, with their help and your patience, I will be worthy of being called a wordsmith.

John Case August 2013

Making ₵ents

of your money by Mike Rich

We don’t have a catchy slogan, just four cool ways to help you with your money. There’s a chain of restaurants, located mostly on the East coast, called Legal Sea Foods. I’ve been to their place in Crystal City, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. The food was good, the crowd was big and loud, and I had a great meal. Still, something was missing. I don’t know if it was because the oysters weren’t salty enough, or that no one was banging a knife handle on a crab claw to get at the meat, or that the waitress didn’t call me “Dawlin”,

but it wasn’t like it is here. I’ll tell you what: we’ve got it good in our beautiful state when it comes to cooking and enjoying seafood. As for folks who aren’t lucky enough to live here? Well, I feel sorry for them.

but we do have four really great ways to help you deal with your money. In fact, they provide the foundation for the core values on which we run our ﬁrm. Here they are:

All that aside, Legal Sea Foods has a really neat slogan. It says, “If it isn’t fresh, it isn’t Legal!” Isn’t that cool?

money. When it comes to managing money, we can’t promise you success. Frankly, a lot of it depends on your own commitment to make it happen. But, we can share with you how we’ve helped other clients with a slow and steady approach to money management for retirement, college tuition, a vacation home, and lots of other financial goals. We’ll really enjoy showing off the power of compounding, that fantastic money trick that can turn interest into principal almost like magic. If you want to see a calculator go up in flames with some fun number-crunching examples, call us and we’ll show you. Bring a fire extinguisher with you, just in case.

Well, here at Pontchartrain Investment Management, we don’t have a catchy slogan,

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2.) We help our clients spend their money. Everyone likes to spend now and then (some of us seem to like it a little too much), and we certainly want our clients to enjoy their hard-earned money. But, we also want to make sure they don’t run out of cash before they run out of time, and that takes planning, discipline, and careful management. To be sure, we can’t guarantee success, but we can show you how to use ﬁnancial tools to turn your savings into income. We especially like to help folks who don’t have an employer pension build one for themselves. If you’re one of them, call us. 3.) We help our clients protect their money. If you are not protecting your money and other assets, you could be one catastrophic event away from, well, catastrophe. One of the ﬁrst things we like to do for our clients is review their car insurance, because that’s where a lot of folks are vulnerable. More times than not, they’re driving around town

with very low liability limits, which exposes them to a ﬁnancial nightmare if an at-fault accident and a lawsuit come their way. Often, it’s an easy ﬁx, and might not cost anything more out-ofpocket than they’re paying now. If you are not sure about your situation, let us take a look. We’ll also review your disability insurance, life coverage, and health insurance. Don’t take chances with your money. Let an insurance company take on the risk. That’s what they do best, and they have deep pockets.

4.) We help our clients learn about money. This is the part that’s really fun for us here at our office. Our monthly workshops are the focal point of our commitment to client education, but that’s just part of the story. We want to help our clients make smart decisions about their money so they can achieve their goals, and a good way to get smart is to learn how money really works. Here’s our promise to our clients and prospective clients: when you meet with one of us – Andy, Chris, Steve, Robin, or me – you will leave our office smarter about your financial situation than when you came in. Even if you’ve come in for an introductory meeting, but choose to not work with us, you’ll leave with information of value. That’s something we can guarantee. One of my newest clients lost her husband last year. Like many women who suddenly find themselves alone (and whose husbands were the “money men” in the family), my client needed help with investing, income planning, and – very high on her list – what to do if she needed long term care in her later years so she wouldn’t be a burden to her children. My client’s situation is not some fake reality TV show, it’s real life, just as it is for a lot of folks. The fixes for her were relatively simple, but she’s in a much better place financially because of them. Even better, she has peace of mind that someone is minding the store for her so she can enjoy her retirement years with family and friends. Doesn’t that sound great? No, unlike Legal Sea Foods, we don’t have any cool slogans here at Pontchartrain Investment Management. Frankly, we’re not spending a lot of time trying to come up with any. We think it’s a lot cooler to help our clients with their financial goals and to enjoy their money. If you agree, call us for a complimentary review of your situation. And, sign up for our August workshop. We’re unveiling a new, interactive planning tool that will help you see how to make the most of your retirement money. Bring a friend or family member.

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Pontchartrain Investment Management, 2242 Carey Street, Slidell, LA 70458 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.

Leadership Northshore

“Team Talent” by Kendra Maness

HEADS UP SLIDELL! Another Leadership Northshore project team is making their mark on the Slidell community this fall. On Saturday, September 21, the Leadership Northshore project team, “Team Talent”, in partnership with Slidell Little Theatre, will be hosting Slidell’s most talented citizens as they strut their stuff on stage for prizes and the honor of being named the very first “Camellia City Talent Contest” winner! After 9 months of learning about the various aspects of their community, parish, and state, Leadership Northshore students (usually consisting of a class size of approximately 25) are challenged to adopt a project that will have a lasting impact on the community. The class is divided into 4-5 project teams, who will work outside of their regular Leadership classes to conceive, initiate, fund and implement their chosen project, using the principles and knowledge

they’ve gained through their Leadership Northshore training. Since the Leadership program was started 22 years ago, our community has benefited from these projects in more ways than most of us realize. From the recent “Pelicans on Parade” project, to the Senior Spring Fling, the Camellia City Race, the Heritage Park Playground and Kids Unlimited Playground at Salmen Nature Park, Leadership team projects have benefited our community and countless charities over the past two decades. The idea for the Camellia City Talent Contest was borne from the Cultural Arts Day within the Leadership teaching year, when the class visited Slidell Little Theatre to learn more about Slidell’s vibrant art community. On this day, Team Talent members, Juliette Bloomer (Chamber of Commerce), Tim

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Mathison (City of Slidell), and Michele Bond (Slidell Memorial Hospital) were given their first exposure to the performing arts in Slidell. “We went to Slidell Little Theatre (SLT) for Leadership’s Cultural Arts day and we saw their needs,” Juliette said. “Their biggest need, honestly, is money.” SLT is a non-profit 501 c (3) organization and is only partially funded by state grant money set aside for arts programs (which seems to always be decreasing). In addition to their amazing corporate and private sponsors, the theatre is dependent on their members and fundraising efforts such as the talent show in order to continue bringing plays, workshops, and productions to the area. Fundraising efforts also enable the theatre to purchase and maintain their top quality sound, lighting, props, etc.

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SLT also has a piano and CD player available for contestants’ use. The matinee show will be 3-5pm, and is sponsored by Slidell Memorial Hospital, who graciously donated 200 seats to be given to the nursing home residents of the Slidell area. The finale will be held from 7-9pm and is geared towards the general public. Cost of admission is only $20, with all proceeds donated to Slidell Little Theatre. By night’s end, Slidell will have their very first, and most talented, Camellia City Talent Contest winner!

Tim says, “All of the money raised, everything - the ticket sales and all of the sponsorship money - will be donated to SLT. We also hope that this project will be a sustainable source of funding for SLT with a committee in place to hold the contest annually.” Michele adds, “I didn’t even really know that Slidell had a theatre. Leadership Northshore exposed me to all kinds of things I didn’t know before. I’ve always enjoyed the arts but knowing that there is something like this [the theatre] in Slidell, is great.” After their visit, the team discussed their experience at the theatre, the value of the arts in our community, what needed to be done, and began their plan for a city-wide talent show. “The Camellia City Talent Contest will not only showcase the talent of the people in Slidell, but it also gives the opportunity to show our community’s commitment and passion for the performing arts. Slidell Little Theatre has been putting on great performances for decades – they are celebrating their 50th season this year. We didn’t realize that going into the project, but knowing that makes it that much better,” Tim says. The contest is open to Slidell residents of all ages and all talents. Individuals, teams, groups, singers, jugglers, dancers,

comedians, magicians – you name it, they want to see it! From August 1-31, contestants submit their videos through Facebook for preliminary judging, and Team Talent members will review the entries to choose 16 acts for the talent show contest. The videos must be 4 minutes or less, appropriate for all ages, able to be performed within a stage setting, and no dangerous acts. “We are hoping to have a lot of submissions, then lots of auditions, and whittle it down from there. We look forward to a large pool of contestants to have a real variety of talents showcased,” Tim says. On September 21, the show begins! After the 16 participants are chosen through Facebook video submission, the contestants will perform a matinee and an evening show at Slidell Little Theatre. The evening show will feature celebrity judges, who will decide the winner. This year’s celebrity judges are Dawn Sharpe-Brackett, Chamber CEO; Mayor Freddy Drennan, Police Chief Randy Smith; and the incomparable LA Music Hall of Famer, Ronnie Kole (rumor has it that there just might be a surprise performance by Ronnie!).

YOU could be the winner of the Camellia City Talent Contest! It takes talent and following these simple steps. The registration process is EASY!

Step 1 Between August 1-31, submit your videos to the Camellia City Talent Facebook page, facebook.com/ CamelliaCityTalent Videos must be titled with your first & last name and your talent Step 2 Email teamtalent2013@gmail. com with your name, phone number, and email address letting them know you’ve submitted a video Step 3 Submit a $10 Registration Fee and signed Entry Form to: Camellia City Talent P.O. Box 828 Slidell, LA 70459

Contestants are responsible for their own props, while Slidell Little Theatre will provide all technical aspects of lighting and sound, printing tickets, and promotion through their website and membership data base.

By Corey Hogue Louisiana is a state rich in history that stems from so many areas. This history has affected people in communities, states and nations all over the world. The wide world of sports is certainly no exception to Louisiana’s inﬂuence. Such proof exists in the prestigious Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Created in 1958, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is an organization tasked not just with advocating sports in Louisiana and honoring the state’s outstanding athletes and coaches, but also holds the responsibility to remind the nation of Louisiana’s importance to the sports world. This summer, this significant organization opened a new museum that encapsulates influential sports figures, events and achievements in Louisiana sports history. To commemorate this new addition to our state, I am excited to show you some insight and history on the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, remind you of some of the

athletes, coaches, and contributors of Louisiana’s sports past, and detail the impact of this new museum on Louisiana. Until this past June, the Hall of Fame was located in Natchitoches, Louisiana in Northwestern University’s Prather Coliseum. Lisa Babin, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hall of Fame says, “There wasn’t a permanent home for the Hall until Northwestern built display cases to house a modest collection of memorabilia and portraits, and commissioned additional portraits of all inductees, in 1972. Natchitoches has been home to the Hall ever since.” Even though there has been interest and talk of moving the Hall to Shreveport and Bossier City due to a strong desire by these cities to host as the museum home, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, responsible for first forming the hall in 1958, has decided through its Hall of Fame Committee that the Hall should remain in Natchitoches.

It may seem like a relatively simple decision and process to act on, to construct a new building and create a museum for our Hall of Fame. But after extensive research, I have learned this is not so! So many guidelines dictate how a project such as this must proceed. And taking a look at the process makes the concept and appreciation of this new Hall of Fame so much greater. First, it had to gain acceptance into the Louisiana State Museum system and agree to construct a museum that would also include the “Old Courthouse Museum,” which was already a part of the museum system, to help memorialize the Natchitoches history. Afterwards, legislation occurred in the 2003 session for the museum and a year later, the first capital outlay request for museum construction was introduced. Trahan Architects was then hired to develop conceptual plans for the museum. After plans were established, a construction proposal was presented to the state bond commission and work on the new museum was to start in late 2008, with Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu outlining the vision for the Hall of Fame groundbreaking in January 2009. The vision was to “build the nation’s best and most spectacular sports museum to celebrate a sports culture that is second to none in America.” Lt. Gov. Landrieu pointed out, “Louisiana has the best sports fans, remarkable sports figures and great sports history that constantly evolves and is second to none, and this museum should reflect that profile.” Anyone, after seeing this museum and the great representations of sporting past on display, would be hard-pressed to argue that point.

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But this isn’t just a museum for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. This is important because, when you look at the incredible architectural design of the museum, you will see the inspiration for the design in the surrounding city and geography of Natchitoches. The museum overlooks the Cane River Lake at the boundary of the Red River valley. Trahan Architects embraced this landscape in its design. “The firm derived the buildings geometry from the area’s distinctive geomorphology and aspects of river hydromorphology.” Whew! That means based on things like the river channels and the land that these channels ﬂow around, the museum’s gallery and walkways are organized similarly to the surrounding geography of Natchitoches. The focus of the interior is the atrium, which serves as a place for community gatherings and special events. However, one of my favorite aspects of the architecture is the light-colored cast-stone panels which illuminate the space with natural light from all sides and above. Another of my favorite architectural features are the wood planks on the outside of the museum, a reference to the region’s rich timber legacy. This museum was built to be more than just a dedication to Louisiana sports history. It is a dedication to the surrounding region and the state itself. As much history is already known about sports athletes and figures in Louisiana, there is even more being written. It is a constant ﬂowing, living, evolving part of our great state. We have wonderful athletes who play here or who are from here to thank for that. The state has seen several iconic sports figures play a role in putting the spotlight on Louisiana’s wealthy sports heritage. We have much to be proud of.

In fact, one of the very first two inductees i n t o t h e L S H O F i n 1 9 5 9 w a s To n y Canzoneri, a professional boxer, born in Slidell and raised in New Orleans.

Hall of Fame, in addition to being a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. As you can see, Tony’s impact on the sport of boxing is undeniable.

Tony Canzoneri - Boxing, Inducted 1959

Warrick Dunn - Football, Inducted 2012

In 1925, when Tony began his career at the age of 17, he was 5’4” and weighed a whopping 95 pounds. 95 POUNDS. He was considered the best fighter, poundfor-pound, in the world. He was also one of three professional boxers to ever hold two or more professional titles simultaneously. In total, he had 21 world championships in four different divisions, becoming a three time world champion and holding a total of five world titles. Tony came from humble beginnings, originally employed as a shoeshine boy in New Orleans. He was inspired by his older brother, who loved to box, and boxing legend Pete Herman. In fact, Pete Herman had similar origins and ended up in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame a year after Tony. In his famous career, where he became a legend in New York, Tony was knocked out only once in 181 professional fights. He scored 44 knockout victories, won 96 fights by decision and lost only 29 in his 11 year boxing career. That is IMPRESSIVE. He then became a television and movie actor and went into the restaurant business after his boxing career. Sadly, Tony passed away at the too-young age of 51 of what is believed to be natural causes. He was a great first pick for the Louisiana

Warrick was born in Baton Rouge and attended Catholic High School there. Despite his size (standing only 5’9”), his ferocity at the running back position throughout his playing career helped to consistently prove his doubters wrong. Currently, Warrick is in the top 20 running backs of all time in terms of yardage and one of 27 to rush for over 10,000 yards, a fact made more substantial when you consider that only 10 of these 27 are under 6 feet tall. His standout career started with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a first

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round draft pick, where he was voted as offensive rookie of the year, and ended with the Atlanta Falcons after three Pro Bowl Nominations.

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Warrick made an even bigger impact off the field. He is a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, an award voted on by teammates for being a role model of sportsmanship, courage and inspiration. He is also a recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the Byron “Whizzer” White NFL Man of the Year Award, and the Bart Starr Award, all of which highlight his leadership in the NFL and his work in the communities he is a part of. Furthermore, he is chairman, founder and key contributor in countless charities and fundraisers. Perhaps Warrick’s most honorable charity is that which hits closest to home. Warrick honors his mother, Betty Smothers, a single mother who wished to own her own home, through his Warrick Dunn Family Foundation and his Homes for the Holidays program, which offers single mothers a chance to purchase their own homes. If you ever needed an example of a football player that took his career and made the communities around him a better place, look absolutely no further than Warrick Dunn. Maybe more than most, he deserves his place in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as an example for all athletes. Terry Bradshaw - Football, Inducted 1988 Terry played high school and college football in Louisiana. With a prolific arm, he quarterbacked his Louisiana Tech team into the #1 and #3 spots in the NCAA in passing yardage his junior and senior years, respectively. He was the first small school prospect to be drafted first overall in the NFL Draft; however, he did not start his professional career with much fanfare. (After all, 24 interceptions doesn’t exactly win a season in the NFL) But after those first disappointing seasons, he ended his career as a four-time Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, two of which he was named MVP. He was also voted to the Pro Bowl three times and is a part of pretty much any “All-Time Great” team you can think of. Terry threw an impressive deep ball, even if it was erratic at times, was aggressive on the field, and even called his own plays throughout his football career, an uncommon find on most football fields. One of the most interesting moments in Bradshaw’s career was when he orchestrated the “Immaculate Reception,” among the most famous plays in NFL history. With 1:17 left, the Pittsburgh Steelers trailed the Oakland Raiders 7 – 6, facing fourth down on their own 40 yard line. Terry, under great pressure from the Raiders defense, threw the ball to the 35 yard line, toward his running back. The Raiders safety collided with the running back just as the ball arrived, knocking the ball out and backwards for several yards until Steelers’ fullback Franco Harris scooped it up just before it hit the ground. Harris outran and stiff-armed his way to a touchdown, giving the Steelers a 12-7 lead, and winning them the game.

Much like that play, early on it didn’t seem like Terry was going to make it. But he is a living testament to keep going to work, keep learning, improving and trying your best. He played through pain, lots of interceptions (as in 210 in his career compared to, say, the 165 that Drew Brees has thrown to date), and even started to lose his hair at 26. But he never gave up. His leadership helped lead his Steelers to many wins in his career, including those Super Bowl trophies. He became great, even if he certainly wasn’t born that way. Off the field, Terry has made his mark as an analyst since his retirement in 1983. He is outspoken, critical, and just plain fun to listen to. He continues to remind us that players have a certain standard to achieve and maintain, and he shows that by example. No wonder he was a first-ballot NFL Hall of Famer in 1989. Even beyond his playing years, he is still a leader of men. Sue Gunter - Basketball Coach, Inducted 2005 Onward and upward from the athletes themselves, there are other inﬂuential figures in sports than just the players. Players need someone to direct, develop and push them. They need guidance, plans and encouragement. And not just for what happens on the field of play. Coaches are more than just faces on the sidelines. If you look not at the results they give, but the players they coach, you will see what kinds of legends coaches can truly be. Take, for example, an inductee that helped bring the Lady Tigers basketball team to prominence. Sue Gunter is revered in women’s basketball lore at LSU. Sue built a great reputation as a player, coach, and educator before she made her way to LSU. She collected a 442-221 record with the Lady Tigers. She retired as the fourth-winningest head coach in NCAA Women’s Basketball history in 2005 and was posthumously enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. While she had 11 awards as a coach, what impresses people the most are her team accomplishments, 14 of which made NCAA Tournament trips and one of which reached the Final Four, in her final season of 2004. She made a lasting impression on LSU sports. Many of us might not remember many dominant men’s basketball teams for LSU, but if you were to ask about dominant women’s basketball teams, you would immediately hear of Sue Gunter.

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Skip Bertman - Baseball Coach, Inducted 2002 Sticking with LSU, another famed coach in LSU lore is baseball coach Skip Bertman. A man can be measured by many things. A coach is more commonly remembered by his results. Five College World Series Championships is certainly enough to hold his name forever in any Hall of Fame. Of course, his other accolades are nothing to scoff at. Six National Coach of the Year awards, 11 appearance in the College World Series, a 870330-3 career winning record at LSU, seven SEC Championships, and

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even a bronze medal in the 1996 Summer Olympic games. He is also honored in the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame (where he began his coaching career), and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. But, these are a bunch of his personal accomplishments. What really matters as a coach is how well you prepare your players beyond just the next game, the current season, or even four years of college athletics. Skip had 28 of his players go on to the majors. But what’s even more impressive is how he touched the lives of his players. Jeff Reboulet, a Los Angeles Dodgers infielder and former LSU baseball star said of Skip, “It’s not often that you can say a coach helped you get to the big leagues and helped you stay there. But that’s what Coach Bertman did for me. He helped me mentally understand the game. He preached the little things.” There are dozens more quotes of great teachings and experiences his players will never forget. Skip went on to have a great tenure at LSU as their Athletics Director. He oversaw national championship teams and massive renovations to athletic complexes. His touch on LSU athletics didn’t stop with his retirement from coaching baseball. His leadership is an inspiration to future players, coaches, and anyone else who holds a position with a passionate sports team. Ronald Ardoin - Horseracing, Inducted 2013

Ronald Ardoin is the seventh thoroughbred jockey to be honored with induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. His path, however, is different than the other modern-era jockeys who have reached the pinnacle in their home state. Louisiana has been a big part of Ronald’s career. Of his 5,226 career wins in 30 years as a jockey, more than 90 percent came at the five Louisiana tracks. Born in Carencro and a resident of Haughton for nearly four decades, he won six riding titles at Louisiana Downs and six more at Fair Grounds. At one time or another, he was the all-time leader in victories at Louisiana Downs, Fair Grounds and Lone Star Park. Ronald would dominated the Louisiana circuit for many years, including a stretch of

four consecutive riding titles at Fair Grounds from 1993-96. He is one of five Louisiana natives – along with Eddie Delahoussaye, Mark Guidry, Kent Desormeaux and Calvin Borel – to win 5,000 career races. He became the 16th jockey in North American racing to reach the 5,000-win plateau on Aug. 20, 2000, when he booted home Heart of an Angel at Louisiana Downs. Since a wrist injury forced his retirement from the saddle 10 years ago, Ronald has remained in the sport as a jockey agent. He is a member of a pair of racing halls of fame, at Fair Grounds and Lone Star Park, in addition to his induction in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. “The first thought was kind of shock,” Ardoin said of his induction. “That’s something I never thought would happen. It’s a great honor. When I started, I never thought I’d be in any kind of hall of fame. I just rode for love of the game.”

Kathy J. Clarke - Gymnastics, Inducted 1996 Kathy is one of only three American women to win an individual medal in both World Championship and Olympic gymnastics competition. At 16, she moved near Shreveport to train. An All-American at Centenary College in 1978 and 1979, Kathy Johnson made the U.S. Olympic team in 1980 and won two medals in the 1984 Games, taking a team silver and an individual bronze on the balance beam. She is one of only five U.S. women to win an individual Olympic medal. She was the 1984 USA Olympic gymnastics team captain and twice was named America’s Gymnast of the Year (1977, 1985). She has also been a network analyst for ABC and ESPN. David Dixon - Builder, Inducted 1999 New Orleans would not be the same city without David Dixon. He helped create the New Orleans Saints, the Louisiana Superdome, World Championship Tennis (WCT) and the United States Football League. An alumnus of Tulane University, Dixon created the New Orleans Professional

Football Club to lobby for an NFL franchise starting in 1962. Pulling inspiration from Buckminster Fuller, the internationally renowned architect who envisioned a future of encased cities, Dave pushed for a domed stadium for the city of New Orleans to attract an NFL franchise. On November 1, 1966, the efforts of Dixon and Governor John McKeithen paid off when the NFL awarded its 16th franchise to New Orleans. On November 8, after Dave had persuaded Governor McKeithen to endorse financing of a domed stadium, New Orleans voters approved funding to construct the Superdome. Along with John W. Mecom, Dixon became a part owner of the Saints. Claude Gresham, Jr. - Sports Writing, Inducted 1989 Claude “Grits” Gresham, Jr. got both his nickname and his love for the outdoors from his father, a sports writer and minor league baseball player. After serving four years in the Air Force, he decided to pursue a career in wildlife management. That brought him to Louisiana, w h e r e h e completed his college education at LSU. After taking a job with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services in Tennessee and transferring to Arizona, in 1953 he returned to Louisiana as editor of the Louisiana Conservationist, and in 1955 the Gresham family (including three children) moved to Natchitoches—where they’ve lived ever since. The first outdoorsman chosen for membership in the Hall of Fame, Claude G r e s h a m , J r. w a s t h e W i n c h e s t e r Outdoorsman of the Year and Louisiana Conservationist of the Year. He spent 13 years as a field host, consultant and producer for ABC-TV’s “The American Sportsman.” Well-known for television commercials and personal appearances as a Miller Lite All-Star, Claude was shooting editor of Sports Afield Magazine and published six books. There are so many more Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductees with incredible stories and contributions to sports history than this magazine has space for, such as high school football coach J.T. Curtis, LSU running back and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon, LSU basketball phenom Pete

Maravich, and well-known four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal. That is what’s important about the new addition that this museum represents. There is so much to be learned from these historical sports figures. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame creates a much greater purpose than simply illustrating Louisiana’s sports history. It is a reminder, a lesson, on how we can go on to live our lives and create differences. Sports are great entertainment but if you look beyond the cameras, beyond the scoreboards, at the people being a part of these games, people who have so much to teach us about ourselves and our communities and the “bigger picture”, you see something so much more than entertainment. Every inductee into this Hall is specially chosen, not just for their impact on the sports they have played, but for the way they became great and deserve to be immortalized. They brought themselves to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. This museum is important to our community and to the public because we know how these legends made their lives, and the lives of the people around them, better. We can learn about dedication, perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and so much more. Sports are such a unique phenomenon in human history. We learn about the spirit of competition and sportsmanship, as well as learning more about human nature. Boys and girls of all ages can gain a richer experience learning from this museum in more ways than the internet, books or TV. Living, breathing history is in those walls. It’s something we should always remember and shouldn’t take for granted. Visit the museum. Come see why we are so proud of our Louisiana sportsmen and women. Come see why we are so enamored with our sports teams or favorite players. But most of all, come see the bond that Louisianans share. We are the “Sportsman’s Paradise” after all!

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The museum had its grand opening on June 28 of this year. I encourage all of my readers to visit this historic landmark. And, if you are interested, make a donation to this important preservation of history. You can visit the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s website to learn more about the Hall and to find out more about making donations at www.lasportshall.com

The LA Sports Hall of Fame 2013 Inductee Class

RONALD ARDOIN - Horse Racing TOMMY HODSON – Football ERVIN JOHNSON – Basketball JAMES JONES – Basketball ANNA KOLL – Athlete

KEVIN MAWAE – Football SHAQUILLE O’NEAL – Basketball CHANDA RUBIN - Women’s Tennis ED “SKEETS” TUOHY

By Gay DiGiovanni

Art and money – these two things do not go together for many artists. The Voices Foundation, a non-proﬁt organization that supports the arts, is hoping to have more money available for scholarships for St. Tammany and St. Bernard high school students through a dynamic fundraising effort called “Chair-ish the Parish.” One-of-a-kind masterpieces by St. Tammany and St. Bernard artists on painted chairs are a part of the Auctions in August at Gulf Coast Bank locations throughout Slidell, Chalmette, Metairie, and New Orleans. The Chair-ish the Parish program is the latest in a host of projects that fund those scholarships. The original artwork on the chairs ranges from swamp and wildlife scenes, ﬂeur-de-lis and even a Who Dat! Chair. What better way to show your love of our area and support the arts than with one of these creations by local artists! The chairs will not only garner attention for business owners, they will enhance your home’s unique decor. “We’re excited to be able to showcase these incredible local artists and to expand our scholarship program by

donating all proceeds of the sales to new scholarships. The mission of the Voices Foundation is to preserve the history and culture of our area, and a big part of fulﬁlling that mission is our scholarship program,” said Voices board member Rose Marie Sand. “I was proud to present scholarships to St. Tammany students for the past several years, including one in memory of Slidell’s Rita Stockstill O’Sullivan.” O’Sullivan was a teacher in the St. Tammany Parish Talented Theatre Program and founder of her own ANGELS Academy of Drama in Slidell. “Rita was a dear friend who helped kick off the Voice’s initial project, a play called “The Voices of Louisiana” in 2006. Since then, the Voices Foundation has awarded over $12,000 in scholarships to St. Tammany and St. Bernard high school students who wish to continue their education in the arts,” said Sand. Sand is a Slidell artist with deep roots in St. Bernard Parish. She’s been a part of the arts scene in both parishes, in both theatre and mosaic art, and explains that the Foundation was born out of

the devastation of Hurricane Katrina when seven talented actors, educators, writers and producers, created a humorous and poignant show called “The Voices of Louisiana”. These ambassadors traveled from Chalmette to the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, performing before audiences of a few, to a few hundred. “It was vital to tell our audiences why Louisiana is so special. The essence of our artistry and creativity is tied to our land, our river, and our heritage. Through our art, we wanted to give “voice” to our stories - to anyone who would listen. Rita helped book our tour, and knew that a child’s creative spark can become ﬁre if it is nurtured, tended to, and invited forth with dedication, learning and opportunity. That’s why these scholarships are so important,” said Sand. The Voices Foundation also funds a scholarship in memory of Rose’s husband, Milton Sand, himself a talented artist from Chalmette High School. Other scholarships are awarded to Culinary Arts students, Music students and Drama students.

Sand explains her feelings about the original chairs she created. “I created two stained glass mosaic chairs for the Chairish the Parish project,” Rose said. “I enjoyed working on the chairs, knowing that the profits will help young artists explore their creative talents. One of my chairs is titled “Hearts and Flowers,” and was inspired by a love of the natural beauty of our parishes.” Other artists who have painted chairs include St. Bernard Art Guild members Donna Lind, Ed Estopinal, Dana Sherlock, Janet Attaway, Donna Lind, Ed Estopinal and Elaine Hodges. Hodge’s “Crawfish on Paper” is one of the beautiful chairs in the Slidell branch office. The wooden chairs were donated by Ronda and Doyle DeForest, owners of Flour Power Confectionery in St. Bernard. Ronda is also a board member of the Voices Foundation.

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Slidell Magazine’s editor Kendra Maness created a “Muse”ical Chair, showing the 9 Greek Muses dancing. The beautiful, ﬂowing plant placed in the seat is kept company by the sounds of a music box hidden beneath. “I loved being a part of this project, knowing that I could create something that not only would be appreciated by the bidder, but also beneﬁts such a great cause! Since the storm, St. Bernard and St. Tammany residents have become one big family. We share a passion for our community, education and the arts. That’s what this project is all about.”

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Slidell Gulf Coast Bank branch manager Barbara Fagot explains that the “Auctions in August” is a silent auction that the bank hosts and facilitates for the entire month of August. “Each branch houses several items for people to bid on, encouraging people to visit multiple branches to get the most out of their auction experience. We’re excited to include the Chair-ish the Parish art chairs for the Voices Foundation in our auction. The chairs are beautiful and original and that is what makes them perfect for Auctions in August. I love having the chairs in my lobby!” said Fagot.

Business owner Andre’ Neff purchased the ﬁrst Chair-ish the Parish chair at a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting in St. Bernard. Neff explains, “The project is great as it develops the work of young local artists. As Picasso said, ‘every child is an artist.’ The problem is how to stay one while growing up into a pressured adult world. Creative thinking and reinforcement must be encouraged and supported.” For more information about the Voices Foundation and the “Chair-ish the Parish” program, visit www.voicesoﬂouisiana.org

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www.AuctionsinAugust.com Hurry! The bidding process ends on August 31, 2013. Help fund the future for our aspiring young artists!

by John Maracich III

Networking groups are changing business as we know it... and Slidell leads the way! In years past, being a salesperson was viewed as an almost mystical, mysterious art. Like ninjas and masters of Kung-Fu, great salespeople were reluctant to share the secrets to their success. Hopefuls would pour over sales bibles from the likes of Tom Hopkins and Zig Ziglar with the intent to discover the holy grail of success. Now, at least here in Slidell, things have become a lot easier. And it isn’t technology that’s changing things. Yes, leaps in the ability to communicate through the internet, cell phones, and video have made it easy to keep tabs on your customers. Email, Facebook and Linked In have made it easier to ﬁnd customers. But nothing will ever replace the impact of face to face, human to human networking. Business networking groups are nothing new. Salesmen and business owners have been getting together since money was invented. There are numerous passages in the Bible that seek to instruct proper business ethics and principles. The thing that is distinguishing a new breed of networking groups is how impactful they are to the bottom line.

BNI BNI stands for Business Networking International. If you own a business or deal with businesses in Slidell, you’ve been invited to a meeting of one of the area’s six BNI groups. The concept is simple. Business people gather weekly and trade qualiﬁed referrals (leads) to each other. They meet regularly and learn about each others’ strengths and weaknesses. When you get a potential customer from someone in your BNI group, you can probably feel conﬁdent that person knows a lot about you before you’ve even met.

Developed over 25 years ago by Ivan Misner in California, BNI has grown to over 6,800 chapters worldwide. Misner attributes success to the simplicity of the concept. “Referrals aren’t given easily. If you don’t take the time to establish credibility, you’re not going to get the referral. People have to get to know you. They have to feel comfortable with who you are and what you do.” “It’s not for everyone,” says Tony Schiro, a member of BNI for 9 years. “Done correctly, though, BNI can really help grow your business.”

Chamber of Commerce The Chamber is already synonymous with business and has been for years. Slidell’s Chamber (the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce) has established itself as a potent force in the business community. Winner of Chamber of the Year both nationally and state wide, our chamber sponsors networking events on an almost daily basis. Between the Business After Hours, New Business Grand Openings, luncheons, special events and educational events, Slidell entrepreneurs get a lot of bang for their buck with their membership. Now the ESTCOC is spearheading a new networking group that might take things to an even higher level.

Rotary Rotary International as an organization has been changing lives worlwide for years. On a local level it has certainly done so in a big way. But if you look at the list of members of the Slidell Rotary Clubs, you’ll see a list of local business leaders almost without equal. “While traveling down the road called Rotary,” says long time Rotarian Vicky Magas, “I’ve met many wonderful people who get to know me as a person of integrity - a friend they can count on. While I did not become a Rotarian to build my business, being a Rotarian has deﬁnitely allowed referral business to come my way.” The truth of the matter is this: Slidell business has embraced networking as an important trade principle in a big way. A great salesperson employs the “3 foot rule”. If someone is within three feet of you, you should talk with them about your company and product. Even greater business people take this concept and expand it to bring those new friends into the fold as their trusted business partners.

by Jeff Perret, DVM

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When Sneezes Go Backwards I enjoy a trip to the emergency room as much as the next guy. Magical places of nervous anticipation, buzzing fluorescent lights, long waits and stale coffee. I can see why someone might want to spend long stretches of time there, as a patient, as a parent, or as a pet-owner. Such is the lure of the emergency room that I’ve personally seen, o r h e a r d reliable reports of, pet-owners taking time in the wee hours of the morning to visit their local veterinary emergency room for some seemingly minor issues:

It may sound like some sort of behindthe-back basketball move that LeBron James would execute, but a reverse sneeze is actually fairly aptly named. Most people think the dog is choking on something or has something stuck in his nose or mouth. They also think the dog cannot breathe. While a forward sneeze is a forceful expulsion of air out the nose to blow mucous and whatnot into

• Eye boogers – no kidding, someone once brought a pug in at 3 a.m. • Hiccups – granted, a legitimate medical condition, but one that can probably wait until regular business hours. • Flatulence – enough said. • And the dreaded “reverse sneeze”.

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the world, a reverse sneeze is that noisy phenomenon that happens when dogs inhale forcefully to try and suck that same mucus into their pharynx, or throat. It’s quite a dramatic display, and I suppose that for a first-time observer, it could cause some understandable concern that a serious problem is occurring. The dog’s tonsils and tongue set up such a rattle when it happens that some owners are certain their dog is choking, and they scoop them up and head into the ER in a panic. The skin and muscles over the neck tense up, the lips stretch backward, and the animal can appear to be in real distress. Usually when they arrive, however, both parties are looking sheepish as the episode has passed and no one is really sure any more why they are there. Reverse sneezes can be set off by allergies, dusty environments, airborne irritants– who knows, maybe even ghosts or approaching earthquakes. It’s not a serious event and definitely doesn’t warrant a trip to the ER.

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In some cases, though, it can be enough of a persistent or annoying problem for either the dog or the owners that it does need addressing. In some cases, antihistamines or other medications can help blunt the effects of allergies, so opening up a conversation with your trusted family veterinarian can be helpful. DO NOT ADMINISTER ANY MEDICATION WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING YOUR VETERINARIAN. I have had many owners tell me that they think gently massaging their dog’s throat just under the angle of the jaw can help shorten the episode; the key word here is gently. Blowing (again, gently) into the nose, or temporarily occluding the nostrils has also been suggested. Results may vary.

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This problem can be especially pernicious in those snub-nosed breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs and Boxers. They are prone to a whole constellation of upper airway malformations, known as Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, that results from several yards of extra tissue in the throat that can flap around like a flag in the wind. Severe cases may need surgery, but milder cases can sometimes be managed with medication, weight loss or lifestyle changes. I’m going to toot my own horn a bit here, and mention that I’ve become pretty good at imitating the reverse sneeze, which comes in handy when trying to confirm that the behavior a pet-owner has observed is indeed a harmless, passing reflex, as opposed to a serious or even lifethreatening episode. At my office, or in public, if you’d like me to demonstrate it for you, I’m always happy to do so - as a public service. If you’d like to get better educated quickly, the Beagle video, 5th on the results list after searching for “reverse sneeze” on You Tube, is a particularly good example. It could save you a trip to the emergency room.

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GO BEYOND Body and Soul Story by Rose Marie Sand

Travel is about more than a geographical location; travel inspires body and soul. This month, I’d like to share some trips that include creative retreats and physical activities that go beyond a touristy destination, and my discoveries on those journeys.

entries and staying in the Quarter to work on a play. This column, in fact, was finished in Heritage Park. Sure, there are distractions in those places, but somehow the designated time away can be a sort of oasis among confusion.

When deadlines loom and productivity wanes, it’s amazing how I can procrastinate with mundane activities – like washing clothes or dishes. So, I often travel somewhere, anywhere, to get away from chores and find inspiration in new surroundings.

I’ve always found that creativity flows like a river when I’m near nature. I’ve gone to a wonderful annual summer writer ’s conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A day trip from the conference to Yellowstone is just what the doctor ordered to kick start writer’s block.

I’ve gone as far as bringing my laptop to a coffee shop to finish QuickBooks

Being outdoors always does it, but especially in circumstances when you

just have no alternative but to just “be.” In years past, I’d scribble notes during motorcycle rides. Oh, no, not while driving the Harley, but as a passenger behind my husband. I remember grabbing a white paper bag at a pit stop while riding to Thibodeaux; I propped the makeshift notebook on his back and wrote down an illusive phrase, lest it would be forgotten in the wind. These spontaneous bursts of creativity are important, but so are planned creative retreats. There are several nearby places to check out – there’s many culinary classes in Mandeville and New Orleans and art classes abound in St. Tammany Parish. The Pine Lily

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Retreat House offers weekend getaways in Lacombe, as does the Rivers Retreat Center in Covington. The Carmelite Center in Lacombe also provides both artistic and spiritual retreats. I’ve written chapters of plays and books in just about every city I’ve visited, often heading ﬁle names with locale, i.e. “Still Dancing, Boston 2010.” I spent a week at Harbor Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Pass Christian expressly to ﬁnish that project, even packed a printer, and celebrated the completion with a sunset walk on the beach. That walk capped a memorable working vacation, and the shells I gathered provided inspiration for a mosaic project.

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Perhaps the most exciting travel to renew body and soul are those that involve physical activities like hiking, running or biking. When I decided to hike the Grand Canyon in 2000 – certainly my most adventurous travel experience – I trained by walking up and down the levee near my home in Chalmette. After a couple of hours of doing that, I was looking for a trail with a bit more of a challenge. A day trip to Tunica Hills near St. Francisville, with its towering (for Louisiana!) 300 foot elevation, was a great change of place, and pace.

The day we hiked out of the Canyon in October 2002 was cold, rainy and grey. We even braved a hailstorm during the last two hours of the hike. While hiking down, the panorama of the Canyon is stretched before you; hiking up provides only a view of endless steep steps and the rear of the hiker in front of you. When I took that last step to the South Rim and turned around, all I saw were grey clouds. Since then, I’ve dreamed of returning to the Rim and looking down at the distant speck of the ranch to experience the satisfaction of completion. My body, and my soul, made it up intact and rejuvenated. In 2003, my essay about the hike was published in “Chicken Soup for the Body and Soul.” Below is an excerpt from that story: August 2000 “I’ve wanted to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon for some years now. Most of my friends and family were incredulous when I told them. I could guess what they were thinking, and I don’t blame them. At ﬁfty-one, with as many extra pounds on my body as years of my life, I’m not exactly a poster girl for a hike that’s been compared to running a marathon. But I possess something that few aspiring runners or hikers have – a reservation for two

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The Grand Canyon is, of course, quite a different experience than a Louisiana hill, and it drew me in from the ﬁrst time I walked up to the South Rim. You can see the switchback trails and a thin ribbon of blue at the bottom – and you can’t believe you’re walking down there. Phantom Ranch has cabins and dorms near the Colorado River on the floor of the Canyon, and other than backpacking a tent, it’s the only place to sleep down there. I packed a waterproof notebook and sketchpad, lots of trail mix, and down I went. On the Canyon ﬂoor, I wrote, sketched and photographed for hours. The saying is to take only pictures and leave only footprints. Yet I have more than pictorial memories of that trip. My journaling turned into a published essay called “The River of Life.”

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nights at the Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It’s dated October, two years from now. Last Christmas, I received a couple of movies about hiking the Grand Canyon. When my husband watched them with me, he kept repeating how this was the last thing on earth he would want to do. He said he’d drop me off at the South Rim for my canyon odyssey, while he headed for Las Vegas. I smile every time I watch my Grand Canyon hiking movies. I see a version of myself that I’d like to meet, climbing unfamiliar terrain with aged rock faces and cliffs. I don’t know what I’ll find of myself on that hike; I’ll probably wonder what the hell I’m doing here, or how in the world I thought I’d b e a b l e t o do something so strenuous. Many others that have gone before me have wondered the same – or maybe they were too busy celebrating the life they have. One thing’s for sure: I’m no athlete. So I expect I’ll want to turn back at some moment. But wanting to turn back and turning back are two different things. I know I’ll be proud of myself, and hear, see and smell things I never knew existed; but I’ll also be anxious about climbing back out. The only

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way up is on your own two feet (or a mule’s back) unless there’s a medical emergency, and even then getting helicoptered out isn’t an easy matter. After my ascent from Phantom Ranch, will I have learned anything new? Will I be more fit in ways that stretch beyond physical strength or toned muscles? How will I know unless I try? I need to know, so I need to try. I’ll have one hell of a story, and toned muscles would also be grand. I think the lesson of the Canyon is to go with the flow of the river of life. A canyon is formed because it allowed part of itself to be carried out to sea; in letting go of its sediments, its beauty is revealed. Maybe it’s the same with us. Postscript October, 2002 I faced every fear I own on those trails, and uncovered a few new ones as well - the physical pain in knee joints unaccustomed to such steep terrain, the pain of separation from loved ones, and the apprehension of slipping on wet, mud-coated rocks; not to mention cold, achy muscles. But I also found that although I wasn’t the most graceful hiker on the trail, I could do it. With my hiking poles in hand for support, trail mix spilling from my pockets, the footsteps of my friends to follow, and my inhaler in hand – I did it. I traveled to Arizona to conquer fear. I went to find my spirit. I sang and laughed and cried and saw and felt the beauty of Joshua trees, soaring condors and a deep green river cradled by strong, marbled walls. I found that love and a little courage will take you anywhere and back again and that your body will follow, if you just stay open to each step in a new direction. PPS August 2013 Next month I’m returning to Arizona for the first time since then. Not to hike to the bottom, but to enjoy the views at the North and South Rims. I’ll bring pen and paper, and tell you about it. But I know, above all, that I’ll find inspiration that feeds my body and soul through every mile I travel.

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For you, Rose…The view you earned, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon ~ Editor

Sli-Ku

Always looking for a way to cool down, Kool-Aid Days occur from August 9-11. With close to 100 ﬂavors worldwide, this very well-known drink mix could have dried up before ever making it big. Edwin Perkins originally made a liquid concentrate version and called it Fruit Smack; thankfully shipping costs were too high and he had to dehydrate the concoction to make it affordable to distribute. “Hey, Fruit Smack!” just doesn’t have the same ring to it!

On August 3rd, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain on his ﬁrst voyage across the Atlantic. 521 years later, I am writing Sli-Kus for the greatest magazine, in the most amazing city, located perfectly on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. Try explaining that connection! It is fascinating when I to try to wrap my head around the fact that Columbus’ ability to convince Spain that he could go West to get to the East may have directly resulted in me having to drive West down East Gause. August is HOT…ok, there I said it. Let’s focus on the fresh and positive aspects of this dog-day month. August is loaded with lots of COOL days and observances. In the past, I have mentioned days of note or have made comedic efforts in comparing a few opposing observances, or have really just focused on a single major holiday. But I have discovered the gold mine that is August and I am staking my claim and am going to pan it for all it’s worth. Any good claim needs a name so I think I will go with a local theme and call it “Dat’s Mine!” So let’s see what nuggets we can dig up...

National Garage Sale Day happens on the 10th. This is a day when all Americans try to get rid of their “valuables” whether they be too old, outdated, broken (but I swore it was working the other day!), or outgrown - like the 200 tons of baby clothing that changes hands every year - at these “tax free” entrepreneurial endeavors. And shame on ALL of us for targeting neighbors to pawn this stuff off on! Or for endangering everyone by pasting posters to stop signs that read “Huge 2-Family Sale” – when it’s just YOU and YOUR stuff. Congratulations, you unloaded the love seat that your 75 pound dog has been sleeping on for the last two years and you have a little money in your pocket. What to do with it? Well, wait a week and on the 17th it is National Thrift Shop Day and you can buy more junk that will end up in your next garage sale!

Psychic Week is in August - but some of you out there already knew this, didn’t you? Saturday the 3rd is National Mustard Day. During this day some people might experience Dijon Vu, the feeling that they are having the same mustard that they have had before. While doing research and trying to look up unique days, I was pleasantly surprised when I accidentally came across Serendipity Day; how cool! This falls on the August 18 every year so, ironically, Serendipity Day by deﬁnition can only be serendipitous to its observers just once!

Lots of other great events happen during August. The Little League World Series and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are two traditions that have become icons of the American landscape. The science nerd and kid in me comes out each year as the Perseid meteor shower lights up the night and pre-dawn sky. August 12 is the peak this year and upwards of 60 meteors per hour can be expected. Speaking of space, the 24th is recognized as the day the former planet, Pluto, was demoted. I’m a glass half-full kind of guy, so I think of this as the day Pluto was promoted to the second-most massive dwarf planet known! Plus, Pluto is just one Kuiper Belt collision away from being #1. Pluto, there’s still a chance…

A gust…hot air blows Cooled only by light showers Refreshing Oh, Yeah!

There is no way on earth that I would miss pointing out that August 16 is “Hug Your Boss Day.” I have a very huggable Boss and I could easily petition for this one-day event to be turned into a weekly or monthly occasion.

Until next time…

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Tempting trout in the trench by ‘Old One Eye’ By John N. Felsher

Across Highway 433 from Capt. Mike Gallo’s Spots & Dots Lodge southeast of Slidell, Little Lagoon glowed orange with the rising sun as we prepared for a new day of ﬁshing. Silhouetted by the rising orb, a young man casting for bass drifted across the weedy, shallow lagoon. No one else could see the boat because it only existed in my memory. So many mornings, I greeted this same sun in the same place. Frequently, we launched near the Salt Bayou Bridge, just down the road from where the lodge now stands, and roamed these wetlands from Lake Pontchartrain to West Pearl River. Today, much of this magical marsh remains preserved as part of the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. In the other direction along Highway 433, an old wooden dock next to a tiny shell beach once provided a great place to crab. On one occasion, my mother and a neighbor woman “volunteered” me to take them crabbing. Of course, the fact that our neighbor had two beautiful teen daughters certainly helped the negotiations! On this day long ago, about an inch of water covered the old platform. At first, the women didn’t mind a little wading to run the crab lines. Then, my mother started pulling in a line, which she believed held a fat blue crab munching on a chicken neck. As she readied the scoop net and gently pulled the line toward her, a 6-foot long toothy alligator garfish vaulted from the canal merely a few feet from her and the other ladies. Just about the time the screaming subsided roughly to the decibel level of jet fighters taking off, I caught a small bream that I planned to use for bait. While showing my neighbor’s young son the fish, it escaped his hands and plopped on the partially submerged dock. Immediately, it tried to make a hasty getaway by ﬂopping across the toes of the barefooted ladies. Well, that’s when the proverbial bovine fecal matter really impacted the atmospheric oscillating device as the vociferous women attempted

to climb on each other’s shoulders while uttering extremely incoherent, high-pitched tones – not infrequently directed at me! “Ready to go?” calmly asked Capt. Mike Gallo of Angling Adventures of Louisiana. The hysterical ladies and the old aluminum boat in the lagoon vanished into my mental vault as Kendra Maness, publisher of Slidell magazine, and I climbed aboard Capt. Mike’s boat for a voyage to create new memories. We headed down the canal to Salt Bayou and into Lake Pontchartrain to fish the marshes between the Rigolets and the Chef Menteur, two deep natural passes that connect Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne. “The marshes around the Rigolets and the north shore of Lake Borgne have some good fish,” Gallo advised. “In the fall, when the shrimp migrate out of Lake Pontchartrain into Lake Borgne and on to the Gulf of Mexico, the passes that ﬂow into Lake Borgne can produce good action. The mouths of those passes and their tributaries make great ambush points.”

In 1699, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, founder of the French Louisiana Colony, sailed these same waters. He first ventured into Lake Borgne, conjured from the French word for “one-eyed.” Rigolets comes from the French word “rigole” meaning trench or gutter. Thinking he found a major river instead of just a marshy pass, Iberville dubbed the other “Chief Liar,” or Chef Menteur in French. Iberville also named a lake after Louis Phélypeaux, the inﬂuential French Minister of the Marine, better known to history as Comte de Pontchartrain. During hot weather, trout, croakers, redfish, black drum and other fish seek the cooler,

deeper waters of the Rigolets and Chef. Both passes average about 35 feet deep, but some holes drop to more than 60 feet deep. Many people fish near the U.S. Highway 90 bridges that cross the passes or the old railroad trestles spanning the passes farther east near Lake Borgne. My grandfather used to tell stories about taking the “Angler’s Special” train from downtown New Orleans to fish the trestles crossing the Rigolets and the Chef about 80 years ago.

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“The Rigolets can produce a lot of good fish,” Gallo explained. “The old railroad bridge over the Rigolets is always productive. Since the Rigolets is such a confined area, the tide can really run through there. People have to pick times to fish when the water is not moving too fast. During the tide change from incoming to outgoing or during neap when there’s small tidal movement is a good time to fish the Rigolets.” We entered the Rigolets from Lake Pontchartrain and passed under the new U.S. 90 Bridge that replaced a narrow and rusty edifice built in 1930. We rode by Fort Pike toward Sawmill Pass and into Lake St. Catherine where I hunted and fished so often years ago. Completed in 1826 to guard New Orleans from invading British, Fort Pike served as a military outpost during the Civil War. In Lake Pontchartrain across U.S. 90 from Fort Pike, the “hospital wall,” creates an artificial reef that attracts fish. After nearly two centuries of storms and erosion, the remains of this medical facility that served soldiers assigned to the fort now hides under several feet of water studded with rocks and other debris. The fort never fired a cannonball in combat, but did see some “invasions” before the property became part of the Fort Pike State Historic Site. When fishing the Rigolets with my father, we often launched at the Fort Pike landing. After returning from fishing, Dad let me climb through a cannon port and explore the fort while he put the boat on the trailer and stowed our gear. Continuing through Lake St. Catherine, we motored down Miller Bayou into Unknown Pass, situated about halfway between the Rigolets and the Chef. In late summer, schools of menhaden or pogies often move through this pass between Lake Borgne and Lake St. Catherine. Speckled trout, white trout, gafftopsail catfish, black drum, redfish and many other species follow the menhaden. Near where Unknown Pass hits Lake Borgne, we used to fish a deep hole at the mouth of a marshy bayou. Once, while fishing at this hole, my friend baited a line with a whole live croaker and dropped it into the hole. When the reel started screaming, he thought he set the hook on a big shark or garfish, but pulled up one of the largest redfish I’ve ever seen. Earlier that same day, he hooked a black drum exceeding 50 pounds on

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After catching our fill of trout, we drifted the Lake Borgne shoreline for redfish. Kendra caught her first marsh marauder, a doubledigit spot-tailed bruiser that engulfed a gold spoon and gave her the fight of her life.

light bass tackle with 14-pound test line and fought it hard. We pulled up the anchor and let the large fish drag us for 45 minutes until we finally got it in the boat. On this day, Capt. Mike stopped where the pass ﬂows into Lake Borgne. A school of speckled trout moved through the pass, devouring our live shrimp. Besides trout, Kendra battled a monster sheepshead. In the deep water, Capt. Mike fished with a special current rig. He tied a sinker to the end of his line. Above the sinker, he rigged a 1/8-ounce jighead tipped with a plastic shrimp trailer. The heavy bottom weight holds the rig near the bottom while the plastic shrimp undulates in the current off the bottom.

“We catch a lot of redfish along the western shoreline of Lake Borgne,” Gallo recommended. “In the summer, when we get a south wind, that shoreline gets pounded and the water gets dirty. At that time, the redfish get farther offshore until they find clean water where they can feed.”

“In the summer, I usually use live bait, especially live shrimp, but I also like to use soft plastics for trout,” Gallo explained. “Years ago, I fished some spots where the tide was running so hard that we couldn’t keep bait on the bottom. When there’s too much current to remain in contact with the bottom using only a jighead, I add some extra weight. This rig is especially for fishing deeper water with a lot of current. It almost works by itself with the current making the bait wiggle. Sometimes, I just twitch it every once in a while. When trout see it, they jump up and bite it.”

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Finally, we headed back toward the Spots & Dots, but made a slight detour to fish the new Interstate 10 Twin Spans that replaced the highway demolished by Hurricane Katrina. With little other structure in the lake, bridge pilings looking like inundated concrete forests serve as cover where fish can ambush bait. Anglers frequently see sheepshead hovering among the barnacleencrusted structures where they nibble on crustaceans. Decades ago, few people considered Lake Pontchartrain a trophy trout lake. Shell dredging disturbed the soft muddy bottom. Waves carried silt throughout the system, making the water murky. Shell dredging stopped in 1989. The bottom became more firm and natural sea grass sprouted again. The natural filtering of sea grass oxygenated and cleansed the lake. In addition, the state banned gill netting in 1995. In January 1999, Kenny Kreeger caught an 11.99-pound speck, the biggest trout seen in Louisiana since May 1950 when Leon Mattes set the state standard with a 12.38-pounder. Nine months later, Jason Troullier yanked an 11.24-pounder from the Rigolets. In April 2002, Dudley Vandenborre caught a 10.50-pounder in Lake Pontchartrain. “In the summer, I do a lot of fishing under the bridges,” Gallo said. “The bridges over Lake Pontchartrain always hold some good trout, black drum and sheepshead. The bridge supports provide good structure where fish can hide and ambush bait. We started catching fish on the new Twin Spans even before it opened.” Finding only a few sheepshead and hardhead catfish nibbling our shrimp under the Interstate 10 bridge this day, we returned to the Spots & Dots Lodge loaded with new memories. After so many years and miles, these and infinite other memories could fill volumes about the lakes and wetlands that will always occupy a special place in my heart. END NOTE: John N. Felsher grew up in Slidell. He’s a professional freelance writer and photographer with more than 1,875 articles in more than 125 different magazines to his credit. He also co-hosts a weekly outdoors radio show. Visit his website at www.JohnNFelsher.com

HAVE YOUR VERY OWN FISHING ADVENTURE! Call Capt. Mike Gallo of Angling Adventures of Louisiana 877- 4AAOFLA or visit www.aaoﬂa.com

My how things have changed By: Carol Ruiz – Blue Star Pest Control

but some look forward to going back to school. It all starts when you head to the store and see the school supply aisle. My eyes begin to glaze over and the kids begin to complain. ”Noooooo Mom! Summer is not over yet!”

Ugh, it’s HOT! Sometimes I wonder why I bother saying that. Of course it’s hot, it’s August in southern Louisiana. I could move to a cooler climate, but everything and everyone that makes life worth living is right here and that makes August bearable. Besides, August is the month that the kids head back to school. YAY! No more sleeping in, camps, watching TV all night and snacking all day. It’s back to the books. Most kids will go back kicking and screaming,

You see my husband has realized that it is best to keep me away from ofﬁce/school supply stores. I LOVE THEM. I come home with some cool stuff and, to me, that makes starting a new school year worthwhile. When I was in school it was orange #2 pencils, plain spiral notebooks, and black & white composition books. Now the options are endless. Before long, the kids complaints give in to: “Aw cool, Mom can I get this and that?” SURE! Now these little darlings can head off to school with their cool supplies from their even more cool mom. Just like school supplies have evolved over the years so has the pest control industry. Gone are the days of spraying down baseboards with smelly chemicals. Today’s pest control is quite comprehensive, and savvy consumers realize that smell does not kill pests.

At Blue Star, our ultimate goal is to keep pests from ever entering your home to begin with; so outdoors we create your home’s primary line of defense. To build an exterior pest barrier we treat around all doors, windows and eaves while simultaneously creating a band around the full perimeter of your home. We maximize interior protection with a strategic application of products to neutralize any pests currently in your home, focusing on cracks and crevices. Depending on your property’s individual needs, we have additional specialized treatment options available such as rodent, ﬁre ant, mosquito control, carpenter bee and, of course, a comprehensive termite protection plan. Contact us about your speciﬁc pest problems or visit us on the web. BlueStarPestControl.com

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