38th Edition - September 2013 by Slidell Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL CHECK IT OUT! City of Slidell Cultural Arts Calendar Centerfold

magazine Vol 38 September 2013

“Seussical” Slidell Little Theatre

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HOLD ON! SEPTEMBER IS A HECKUVA RIDE!

Cultural Season has begun! What tickles your fancy? Listening to open-air concerts in the cool, fall evenings? CHECK Bayou Jam Concerts are back!

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Kendra Maness - Editor/Publisher Editor@SlidellMag.com Alan Lossett - Graphic Design

Viewing beautiful photographic displays of nature and our community? CHECK The Slidell Photo Club Exhibit runs through September 20

Lee Kreil - Accounts Manager Photography: ImkePhoto.com Contributing Writers:

Visiting free art shows with original masterpieces by local artists? CHECK The works of artist Mary Christopher opens October 5

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

Fishing in Lake Pontchartrain alongside national tournament champs? CHECK The Redﬁsh National Tournament is coming to Slidell October 3-6 Honoring decades of successful conservation for our most precious resource, our waterways? CHECK The CCA Banquet celebrates 30 years of conservation on September 17 Journeying through Slidell’s history on a boat tour? CHECK Take a tour through the bayou and Olde Towne on October 5 Broadway-styled plays at the local theaters? CHECK Slidell Little Theatre and Cutting Edge Theater are in full production! Celebrating life with our St. Tammany Parish youth? CHECK The A.T.O. Suicide Prevention Concert and Play is on September 28 Cows, Pigs, Horses, Bulls, Flowers, Ferris Wheels, Food, Games, Crafts, Parades, Rodeos? CHECK! It‛s that time again! St. Tammany Parish Fair happens October 2-6 This edition of Slidell Magazine is PACKED with the ultimate MUST-DO list for the Fall Cultural Season. Every weekend is chock full of art and crafts shows, festivals, banquets, plays, concerts, ﬁshing, and the Saints (Welcome back boys!!). And the fun is just beginning - October and November bring even more events our way. Get out there and enjoy all that Slidell has to offer!

Frankly Slidell, Frank Davis Mike Rich John N. Felsher Rose Marie Sand

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ef o

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

Elizabeth “BB” Blanchard September 2013

Since Biblical times, a diagnosis of leprosy meant certain death, and carried with it a stigma brought on by fear that turned the patient and their families into outcasts. LEPROSY (lep-ro-sy) is defined as a chronic infectious disease caused by a mycobacterium affecting especially the skin and the peripheral nerves. It is characterized by the formation of nodules or macules that enlarge and spread, accompanied by loss of sensation with eventual paralysis, wasting of muscle tissue, and deformities if left untreated. About 300,000 new cases of leprosy are diagnosed annually, according to the World Health Organization. Now known as Hansen’s Disease, after the Norwegian scientist who discovered the mycobacterium that causes the illness, it affects about two to three million people worldwide. In the United States, roughly 6000 people have the disease with the states of California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and Texas logging the most cases.

In the past, Louisiana victims of Hansen’s disease were sent to a prison-like facility like the one in Carrville, LA, where they were forced to live out their lives in isolation. Children were separated from their families, who then became outcasts for fear of contagion. A diagnosis of leprosy caused fear and panic then, as well as now. Slidell Magazine’s EFOP for September, Elizabeth BB Blanchard, was diagnosed at age 14 with this ancient ailment. With an indomitable spirit, BB is helping to educate the public and medical professionals alike to take the fear out of this disease. Now an LSU college student, bubbly BB shared her story of how her disease was discovered, her treatment and prognosis, and more importantly, how she is using her experience to help others understand this feared and much misunderstood disease. Here’s her story in her own words:

SM: How did you discover that you had Hansen’s Disease? How old were you? BB: I started high school in the fall of 2007. The summer before starting at St. Joseph’s Academy, I started to notice a red mark on the back of my calf. I didn’t think much of it until my friend asked me about it almost weekly because she noticed it was starting to look like it was growing or spreading. So after getting repeatedly asked about it, I went to the dermatologist with my mother and brother. The appointment was originally for my brother but little did we know that it would turn out to be all about me. My dermatologist was fascinated by the rash, which had now spread to the side of my foot and behind my knee, and the doctor insisted on taking a biopsy to figure out what it was. The first biopsy was taken from my calf and when the results came back, they were still not completely clear on what it was. They called me back for a second biopsy a few weeks later. After the second biopsy results,

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the possibility of it being Hansen’s Disease became more evident. It was then that I was sent to the Ochsner Clinic in Baton Rouge to visit the Hansen’s Disease Clinic. After being examined by specialists, I was officially diagnosed on November 7, 2007, at age 14, with Hansen’s Disease. I had leprosy!

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SM: What was your reaction on getting this news? BB: My initial reaction was shock and relief. Most people are surprised when I say I was relieved; because who would be relieved about being diagnosed with leprosy, which was supposedly one of the most feared diseases from the Bible? Before being diagnosed, the dermatologists were completely unsure about what disease was causing the rash. When the possibility arose that it could be Hansen’s Disease, the doctors explained that if it wasn’t Hansen’s, it was a completely different unknown disease and that I would have to be tested to figure out how to cure it. So at that point, it was either Hansen’s Disease, which has a known cure, or some random disease that only I have and would then have to be a test subject to see how to cure it. In some ways, I was very surprised to hear the news because I did not even realize that leprosy was still around or that it was even possible for me to get it. SM: How did the disease manifest itself? BB: The doctors have no idea how I got it and they probably never will. Only 5% of the world’s population are not immune to it and can get infected by just coming in contact with the bacteria since it is highly contagious to that 5%. It originated on the back of my left calf over a caterpillar scar. At first, I thought that is what triggered it – maybe the caterpillar carried the bacteria and when it stung me, it infected me. Leprosy can live in the body for a long time before showing any symptoms, so I thought that could easily be an option. But the doctors at the Hansen’s Disease clinic said that it was highly unlikely. Furthermore, the rash appeared first behind my calf and then spread down to the side of my foot and up behind my knee. Luckily, it was caught early enough that it did not spread any further. SM: Had you read or heard anything about Hansen’s or leprosy? Had you heard all the scary stories about previous treatment of the victims? BB: I am Catholic and grew up in Catholic schools all my life until college, so the only place I had heard about leprosy has been in passages in the Bible and in some religious movies. I know now that most of the diseases that were labeled as leprosy in the Bible turned out to be completely different bacterial infections. The scariest part about my experience with this disease was at one of my visits to the clinic. Whenever the word leprosy is used, people instantly think of limbs falling off and people looking deformed. That is definitely not true for all cases. Hansen’s Disease not only causes rashes on the body, but it also attacks the nerves. It affects nerves in the hand, elbow, foot and ankle. It also causes a lack of feeling or numbness in the fingers, toes and in the infected area. When patients do not take medicine, the disease worsens, which then causes a greater loss of feeling. Once a patient’s extremities turn numb, one could burn or injure oneself and not realize they did so. This injury could then get infected and it’s the infection and lack of treatment that causes the loss of limbs. Prior to learning all of this, I was visiting the clinic and saw a patient that had not taken her medicine as she should have. She was missing a few fingers and since the infection was on her face, she did seem to appear ‘deformed’. This sight greatly affected my mother and me. Luckily, the clinic psychologist eased our worries and assured us that that was the past and a result of a lack of treatment. She assured me that my case would be nothing like that because I am lucky enough to be young and able to be treated immediately.

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BB: Right when I found out, I remember typing a group email to all of my close high school friends. Of course, they asked what seemed like a thousand questions, but I was happy to tell them that I was going to be alright and that they had nothing to worry about. All of my family was initially scared and concerned. But once I explained that with six months or so of treatment, I’d be basically cured, they realized that everything would definitely be ok. Both my family and friends were completely supportive during all this. Once everyone realized that everything was going to be fine, all the jokes started and every time leprosy was mentioned anywhere, I’d hear, “BB, that’s you, the leper!” Having my family and friends be so light hearted and supportive definitely made this experience easier and practically worry free. SM: Did having this alter your future plans? BB: It only altered them for the better. I used my experience with this disease as a Science Fair project my sophomore year of high school. All the judges were so fascinated with my story and our hypothesis about the bacteria. Eventually, my project partner and I made it all the way to the International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno, Nevada. ISEF was one of my favorite trips and I would not have been able to make it there if it wasn’t for my experience with Hansen’s Disease. Other than that, nothing really changed during my diagnosis. I still went to school, swam on the swim team, hung out with friends. The only difference was that I was taking medicine every day. SM: Who did you rely on the most during all this? BB: I relied on my family the most during all of this. They were there for me every step of the way, through the biopsies, diagnosis and treatment. SM: What is the cure and its effectiveness?

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BB: The cure is a treatment of 2 or 3 different pills depending on the severity of the diagnosis. One of the medicines caused me to become anemic, but after lowering the dosage I was fine. The second medicine, Rifamipicin, causes secretions to have an orange tint, so everyone would love to see if my tears, urine, or sweat turned orange. My doctor was happy that my case was caught early and wasn’t that severe because the third medicine, clofazimine, has the most side effects, such as darkening of the

skin, which would have made my diagnosis more obvious. I was also lucky enough to only have to take the medicine for six months in order to be completely cured. I visited the clinic monthly to make sure the medicine was working. SM: How do you feel now? BB: Looking back at all I’ve been through, being able to educate and shine a positive light on Hansen’s Disease has made this experience one of the most important experiences of my life! I was the first outpatient to tell my story worldwide. It started with an article in The Washington Post and after that, it spread across the nation. I was present in multiple panel studies and featured in various news articles. One of the most exciting articles was one in People Magazine. I had people from all over replying to the articles via blogs and online sites stating what an inspiration and brave young lady I was! One doctor wrote to me and thanked me for educating the world with my story and showing people that Hansen’s Disease isn’t scary and shouldn’t still be thought of as it was in the past. I am so grateful for my opportunity to share my story with the world. After going to the International Science Fair, my story left the nation and I was able to educate people all over the world. My goal is to let people know not to be scared of this disease, and if you think you have it, don’t be afraid of getting it checked and taking treatment. It doesn’t have to be lifethreatening and deforming. Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Blanchard of Baton Rouge, says, “BB was never a leper. The L-word is out. She had it, but thankfully, it’s over. A small scar remains on the back of her leg that she says feels odd when touched.”

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Dermatology students photograph BB’s leg, to learn more and educate others about Hansen’s Disease “She’s very open about it,” said Dr. James Krahenbuhl, Director of the National Hansen’s Disease Programs in Baton Rouge. “In another time, in another country, she couldn’t be so open about it. It would have destroyed her family.” After hearing BB’s story and her determination to change attitudes about leprosy, Slidell Magazine is proud to name BB Blanchard our Extraordinary Fascinating Ordinary Person for September 2013. Keep your positive attitude BB and good luck in your studies at LSU. We know you’ll do great things!

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Thrice Buried and Bones Scattered And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods... Deuteronomy 28:64 KJV

Abe mentally thanked Caleb as he boarded the train. He thanked him for the opportunity. An opportunity; that is all he needed. First it came when he was able to immigrate to America. That would have been enough; but now he had a real opportunity, and to him a real opportunity was more than a chance.

There were scary moments. On one occasion he was arrested by the Confederates thinking him to be a deserter hiding in the Honey Island Swamp. That was a crime that could result in execution on the spot. Lucky for Caleb, when they heard his accent they realized he was not one of them and let him go.

Abe had fit the description of what Caleb was looking for - young, bright, strong, with no family. As the train rolled out of the New Orleans station, Abe knew more. A bit of misfortune had really been a blessing. True, he got sick and could not go to his territory the ﬁrst year, but while he was convalescing, Caleb let him take the steamboat trip up the Pearl River to resupply the peddlers. He was supposed to be one of them, a peddler. But no, the fever, the dreaded fever; it had almost cost him his life.

Caleb realized very soon that, if he could make money working by himself, how much more he could make if he hired dozens of peddlers and they canvassed not only the Northshore, but central Mississippi as well. Abe and others like him would be part of his plan.

It had been hard in Russia, but he was here, here in America, and there had to be some blessing in his inﬁrmity. There was. By resupplying the peddlers, Abe saw ﬁrsthand the money that they were generating. Money they were making not only for themselves, but for Caleb. In short, he now knew both sides of the business. With that knowledge, he knew he wanted his own territory the next year. Next year when he was healthy he would have it. It was now next year. As the steam hissed from the pistons that turned the huge locomotive wheels, his mind raced forward, past being a peddler. He dreamed he would even exceed Caleb’s success. He would have his own store. Not only would he hire peddlers to work for him but he would have a store with a showroom. Caleb had come to America in 1857. A displaced Jew but with an eye for business, Caleb had started as a peddler too. He created his own territory and the novel idea of house-to-house peddling across the lake on the North Shore. He worked alone. He had no backup such as what he was now providing Abe and his team of peddlers. It was just himself.

train. The New Orleans, Jackson and Northern Railroad ran from New Orleans basically through the center of the state of Mississippi. Each was given a map, which Caleb had bartered from a Civil War captain and from which he had drawn handmade copies. On the map he drew lines from the railroad east to the Pearl River, starting at points on the railroad, each twenty miles apart. Each peddler was to work both the north and south side of their line a distance of ten miles therefore not infringing on each other’s territory. The idea was for each peddler to work their way to the Pearl River where they would meet a steamboat and resupply. By 1870, the river was navigable from New Orleans to Jackson. The steamboat America left New Orleans every ten days. The peddlers would then work their way back across the state to the railroad. Leaving in April or early May, they were to return in November to winter in New Orleans. Abe wanted to get to know the people in his territory and earn their trust. Somewhere in his territory is where he would open his store. If the people already trusted him, he would have an instant clientele.

Abe was twenty-two years old as best he could establish. He was tall, strong and handsome but most of all, intelligent. Abe had another asset. His mother had been German and very Arian. Abe had blue eyes, blond hair and, except for high cheek bones, had no resemblance to any speciﬁc ethnic group. Caleb knew he would be able to relate to the rural South that tended to judge character by appearance. Abe was Caleb’s favorite. The plan was that each peddler would be assigned a territory and be transported there by

Mary Dobson had grown up on a small farm with her mother and father and four brothers. She was the youngest of the ﬁve children. Her father just did not have the skill to make the farm very successful and they were poor. Most people were poor, but they were poorer than most. She had been into town, a small village ten miles away, only three times in her life. She dreamed of the things she had seen there. Dresses that were already made and hanging on racks, store bought shoes, ladies with umbrellas, beautiful horses that pulled carriages, and gas street lights. She saw what she believed were happy people - men and women that walked down the street together arm

in arm. They appeared to love each other. She had never seen anything like that between her parents. She imagined herself living there and wearing a store-bought dress and shoes. Maybe even having a handsome man whose arm she could hold. There was no romantic interaction between her mother and father. If there was conversation at all it usually was an argument which ended with her mother getting whipped with a razor strop. The same one he used on Mary and her brothers. She dreamed of better. Mary knew she had one advantage. She knew she was pretty, or maybe even beautiful. Blond hair and porcelain skin, she had grown into a shapely young woman. She realized that the few males she knew, both old men and young ones, treated her differently. If it was her beauty that caused this attention, she knew she would not hesitate to use it to acquire what she wanted. She dreamed that this may be her way out, her way into town. But so much for her dream. When she was fifteen years old, she accompanied her father to the Wilson place about three miles away. They took two cows to be bred with the Wilson’s bull. They could not afford their own bull and did not have enough cattle to justify one anyway. The Wilsons had passed away the summer before. Both had consumption. They had been hard workers and good money managers. The result was a nice place on 160 acres of land. Only eighty acres was cleared, but it had been their dream to clear the rest and put it into cultivation. They had even started building two small houses on the property to attract sharecroppers.

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When they passed away, these plans were put on hold. Their only child, Zack, was in charge now. He was just twenty-four. He had inherited not only the property, but the same work ethic as his parents. He was a good farmer and had plans to continue clearing the cultivatable land. Mary had never met Zack. He had never been to their place and she had never been with her father on one of these cattle breeding trips. Zack welcomed them and offered them some water before proceeding to the barn. She noticed that he seemed flustered. He blushed when she looked at him and he immediately disappeared into another room in the house. In a moment he reappeared with combed hair and a fresh shirt. Mary did not go to the barn to watch the bull and the cow. Ladies did not do such. She walked in the yard and noticed that the outside of the home was painted. There was no paint on any part of her house. She also noted some well tended flower beds in the front yard. All the rest of the yard was scraped clean with not one weed or blade of grass. There were daffodils in the flower bed. There were no flowers in the yard at her house and her dad kept a goat for the sole purpose of eating the weeds in the yard if they got too high. In a few days Zack came over to the Dobson farm. His purported purpose was to borrow a grappling hook. The rope on his well bucket had broken and the bucket had fallen to the bottom of the well. He hoped he could retrieve it by lowering the hook into the bottom of the well and snagging the bucket. Mary could not believe that her family had anything of value that the Wilsons did not have. Two days later he returned. It was late afternoon and Zack was dressed in the best clothes that Mary had ever seen a man wear except those men in town. Not only did he bring back the hook, but also a small bunch of daffodils. Probably the ones she had seen growing in his yard.

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She was now twenty-one, with two children. She hated when he came near her; but, occasionally, she knew she had a duty to fulﬁll. She hoped there would be no more children and avoiding him was her best bet against it. On the other hand, he was everything her mother had suggested. He was a good provider, especially compared to her father. He loved her and he was good to her. Unlike what her mother suggested, she had never grown to love him. She liked him and knew he was a good man, and he did take her to town with him every time he went. He even bought her a store-bought dress one time, and the next time a pair of shoes. They went to town three or four times a year. He, on the other hand, worshiped her. He thought to himself how beautiful she was and how lucky he was. The fact that she avoided him did not really disturb him. He just assumed that women were just that way.

Blushing, he said, “These are for you.” He awkwardly handed them to Mary. His trips became regular and, most of the time, he would sit on the front porch with her family and talk. His conversation was not interesting to Mary; and even though she had never been courted, a girl has a natural instinct to know what is taking place. On the other hand, she thought he might be visiting because of his loneliness, and that she could relate to. She did not like it. She did not like him. He did not have a store in town, an umbrella, or store-bought shoes. He was not handsome; in fact, far from it. She had no desire to walk arm in arm with him. She dreaded his visits. One evening, he came early and arrived just as her father was putting the mule in the barn. She saw them talking. In a few minutes, her father came to the house and Zack remained near the barn. Her father called her mother aside and soon her mother called her brothers. They were all to stay off the porch that evening except Mary. Mary may have had a distant intuition but she was shocked when Zack came up to the porch and said he had something he wanted to discuss with her. He then told her that he had asked her father if he could marry her, and her father had said yes. Mary almost laughed, but somehow she felt sorry for his clumsiness and the fact that he was drenched in sweat and his hands were shaking. She had to ﬁnd a nice way to say no, but the words did not come. Finally, she said that she was too young but she would think about it. Zack left, dejected, but happy in knowing she had not said no. Her biggest surprise came when she told her mother and father that she did not accept his offer of marriage. Her mother went into a rage. When her mother calmed down, she took Mary to the porch. “Mary, you’re being selﬁsh. We are about to starve to death on this farm. You are a woman. You cannot plow or plant like your brothers. You are just a useless mouth to feed.” Mary protested that she did not love Zack, to which her mother replied, “There is no such thing as love. He will be good to you and a good provider. You owe it to us. And besides, if there is anything to love, you may grow to love him. Also, you need to remember that there is not another eligible man in eight miles.” Two weeks later, the family went to the church. Mary became Mrs. Zachariah Joseph Wilson. It was her sixteenth birthday.

John Boone was the wealthiest farmer in the region. He owned four hundred acres just north of the Wilson place and not far from Mary’s parents’ place. It had not come into his possession totally honestly. All of his brothers went to the Civil War; but he, being older, stayed back to tend the farm and oversee the slaves. He knew the South had no chance of winning a war against the industrial North. He also knew that when the war was over the slaves would be worthless. He sold them and pocketed the money. When his brothers returned, he failed to tell them that he had sold the slaves. He just said that they had run off with the Yankees. Somehow, he ended up with the land and the money. There was a small creek that ran through his property. The neighbors had named it Boone’s Creek. In the spring, it would flood and render about eighty acres of his property inundated. The deposits of sediment left from the flooding also made this the most fertile part of his land. He decided to build a levy to stem the flooding. He worked on the levee for years.

Abe’s territory was about 100 miles up the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad from New Orleans. It was in early May and Zack was weeding the corn. Mary saw a man approaching from across the ﬁeld. He was tall, and he had a pack on his back as well as dragging a sled-looking contraption behind him. As he got closer, she could hear him sing out. “I got thread, I got needles, I got shoe leather and I got candy for your children.” He kept repeating this as she watched him come closer to the porch. Finally, when he reached the porch, he rolled the pack off his back and put it down almost at her feet. “Hello Ma’am. My name is Abe, and I have got some things you probably need. Good price too. And if you got some cool water, I might have some candy for those handsome children that’s free.” “Sure, I will get you some water, but you will have to talk to my husband about buying anything. He is in the ﬁeld about a quarter mile yonder way. I will tell you what I need and you can discuss it with him.” She named several articles that she needed and he had all of them. She also brought him a dipper of water. “I’ll just leave my goods here and go see your husband. What’s his name?” “Zack Wilson.” “Yes ma’am, I am going to see Mr. Zack Wilson right now. I’ll be back.”

Zack knew that all the items Mary had requested, she needed. He followed the peddler back to the house to make the ﬁnancial transaction.

after he left, she broke the ground in the old bed, found some bulbs and planted ﬂowers.

Mary liked Abe instantly. First of all, he was company. Not many people passed that way. He also was polite and he mentioned he was from New Orleans. Now that was a big city that she would love to go to. Finally, she felt guilty at the thought that he was handsome. She thought if Zack could be handsome like that, things would be better.

That evening, when Zack came home from the ﬁeld, the change in Mary was obvious. She had a mirror on the front porch where there was light and a magazine with a picture of a city woman in it. Mary was cutting her hair to look as much like the picture as she could. Zack did not disapprove.

Zack and Abe got into a conversation and she could tell that Zack liked him too. She called Zack to the side. “It would be nice to offer him supper and a place to stay. He is from New Orleans and I think the kids would like to learn about a big city. Besides, he would be good company for us too.” “Good idea,” Zack said, “but he will have to stay in the hay loft. Tell him to leave any matches or anything that will start a ﬁre on the front porch.” With excitement, she rushed over to Abe and extended the invitation. “Yes ma’am, it beats sleeping in the open; and a good meal is always a treat for me. Can I bring in the stove wood or help you in any way?” “No, that is not necessary, but if you wish there is a spring at the bottom of the hill and you can wash up.”

She was also singing a song. Some of the words she did not know but she could hum the melody: Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me, Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee; um um um um um, Lull’d by the moonlight have all pass’d away! Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song, List while I woo thee with soft melody; Gone are the cares of life’s busy throng, Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! Um um um um.

“Yes Ma’am.” He took a few items out of his pack and started toward the spring.

What good are feelings if you can’t share them, especially good feelings? The feelings that stir emotions, the feelings that make you alive again, with the hope of love again, or possibly a feeling of love you have never experienced. Mary had those feelings, but she had no one to share them with. She certainly could not share them with Zack.

Zack felt comfortable with Abe and went back to the ﬁeld. He would work a couple of more hours.

She could hardly wait until October. She felt she could share these feelings with Abe. It was just her natural intuition.

Abe saw Zack leave but, instead of washing up, he followed him. “Mr. Zack, I suppose four hands are better than two. What can I help you do?” Just before dark, the two men stopped by the spring and both washed. Abe handed Zack a bar of soap. Not homemade lye soap, but sweet smelling soap. It was something Zack had seldom used. That night, all four of the Wilson family enjoyed the stories Abe told of New Orleans and Russia. Before he went to the hay loft for bed, he told them that he would be working this territory for the next few years. He showed them his map. He also told them he would be by to see them every May and on his return trip in October. He shared with them that his dream was to open a store in one of the towns in his territory. He then reached into the pack and brought out two pieces of rock candy for the children. In the other side of the pack, he withdrew a very small bottle and handed it to Mary. “Flower water, ma’am. It smells good.”

Just as he had said, on a fall day the following October she heard him. “I got needles; I got thread; to mend your pots, I’ve got some lead.” “Mrs. Wilson, do you remember me?” Her feelings were hurt that he would think she did not remember. She had thought about him every day that he had been gone. “Sure Abe, I remember, and we’ve been looking forward to you coming by.” “Where is Mr. Zack?” “He is in the ﬁeld. He has some men helping him clear another forty acres. He hired a man with a team of oxen and he does not come home until after dark. Do you want some cool water?”

Finally he pulled from his pocket a harmonica. On that clear spring evening, the melody of “Beautiful Dreamer” drifted on the night air. Mary thought the song was written by him just for her.

There is at least one incident in everyone’s life when they reach a bend in the road that takes them in a different direction. The direction they choose can be rewarding or it may not. Some can seem one way and end up the other. Abe’s visit was such a day in Mary’s life. Since Mary had become the woman of the house, she had neglected the ﬂower bed. The same one where Zack had picked daffodils when he came courting. She was not raised with the luxury of ﬂowers and saw no point in them. Something changed in Mary the day she met Abe. The morning

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“That won’t be necessary but, if you don’t mind, I am going to wash off down at that spring. I have been thinking about a good wash for two days. Glad it’s a warm day for October. I will get me a drink there.” “You go right ahead and this time I am going to put you some better bed clothes up in that loft. It will get cool when the sun goes down. I’ll do that while you freshen and meet you back here.” She could feel a ﬂush come over her. A sensation of warm and cold at the same time, even with chill bumps to prove it was a new sensation for her. Mary picked out a thick quilt, two sheets, and a light quilt to cover with. She hurried to the hay loft. She intentionally placed the bedroll close to the large loft door hoping that she could see him during the night from her bedroom window.

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Abe was pleased that she seemed happy to see him. He too had thought of only her over the past ﬁve months. He had never had a problem attracting ladies. In fact, he had become known as quite a dandy among the ladies of New Orleans. His feelings for Mary were different. He too felt a sensation not present with the others. He had no guilt in his belief that Mary was not in love with Zack. He knew she could be his, and that is what he wanted.

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She started down the ladder and could hear him entering the barn. She quickly pressed her dress close to her body to preserve modesty as she descended the steps. When she reached the bottom, she turned, and there he was right in front of her. Was it intentional on her part or just an accident? Only Mary will ever know. She lost her footing and fell into him. He steadied her but he did not push her away. He pulled her closer. This was a new experience for Mary. She had never kissed anyone that she was attracted to. In fact, she had only kissed Zack, and that was just when she had to. She put all her effort into it, just as Abe did. They both had thought October would never come, but neither knew with certainty the other felt the same. Now both of them knew. Again, she felt chill bumps all over her body and a sensation that she could not get a deep breath. It probably only lasted thirty seconds; but those seconds were the most sensational of her life to that point. That night, Abe entertained the family as before, but added some stories about other families that he had met. She wondered if there might be other Marys on other farms. She felt jealousy. She knew she wanted to own him. She would not share. As the evening ended, he told them he would be back in May. Before he left, he took his harmonica from his pocket and played “Beautiful Dreamer”.

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Before going to town with Zack, Mary had planned on what she would purchase. She convinced Zack that they could afford for her to have two store-bought dresses and some silk underwear. Just to make sure that he did not change his mind, she had been nice to him. It was bearable if she closed her eyes and dreamed of Abe. She already knew what would happen when Abe returned in May if the opportunity presented itself.

On that late May morning she heard him calling out his wares in the distance. How could she be so lucky? Zack had left early with the children to go to town. He had taken two sick mules in to see the doctor. He told her he would spend the night so that the doctor could treat them twice. He would take the children to the Old Opry House. She was invited but had decided to stay. She made up some excuse, but she knew in the back of her mind that Abe would be coming any day. She had been right.

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As soon as he got close to the porch, she descended the steps and threw her arms around him. Just thinking about him the last few months had made her a passionate woman. Being a passionate woman is not something you learn. It is in you all the time, or either it isn’t.

He was just as passionate toward her. The way he kissed her, she knew there were no other Marys in his life. This time they did kiss for several minutes. He then asked for the cool water and said that he wanted to go to the spring to wash up.

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She dashed inside, put on one of her new dresses and the silk underwear. It was the first time in her life she had ever worn silk underwear. She had not worn this dress before either. A dash of flower water and she felt pretty. She grabbed the bedding and headed to the hay loft. After she finished making his bed, she did not leave. She waited. Soon he came up the steps.

Nothing could be this wonderful. Nothing had ever stimulated her sensations like he did. She felt no guilt, just pleasure. They stayed in each other’s arms, as the May breeze blew through the open door of the loft. He could feel the chill bumps on her body and feel her body quiver as his hands moved over her bare back. She could feel his hands; not soft, but not calloused like Zack’s. Abe’s strong ﬁngers moved over her and she wondered how they could feel like they were so many places at the same time. They stayed there for hours. He was so different from Zack. If Zack put his arms around her at all, it was just for ﬁve minutes and it was over. In ten more minutes he would be asleep. She prepared supper for the two of them; and as darkness fell, they went back in the loft. They stayed there until dawn. The next morning, he told her that he would be back in October. He had saved enough money to buy a store. He asked if she would leave with him. She did not hesitate. She said she would.

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For the next few days, she day dreamed about living in town. Helping Abe with the store and maybe having someone help her with the housework. She had heard that some city women had servants. In June, she felt ill. For the first time, she felt guilty. Was she pregnant? She did not think so. There were no other signs. She continued to get sicker. Finally Zack took her to the doctor in town. Mary was diagnosed with typhoid fever. The doctor gave her some medicine and told her to go home and rest. He was honest. There was not much chance that she would recover. Zack was devastated. Each day, he would prepare her breakfast. He bathed her fevered body, took care of the children, washed the clothes, did the house work - and all of this before going to the field. Some days she was only semi-conscious; but she was aware of his caring touch and his gentle demeanor. The doctor had prescribed Laudanum to ease the pain. Sometimes, she would dream. At first, in these Laudanum-induced dreams, she fanatisized about Abe. Later, they began to be about Zack. She began to get better and stronger and finally, she was able to sit up a few hours a day. By late August, she felt like she had almost recovered. She looked at Zack differently now. Maybe it was just because he had been so good to her and taken such gentle care of her. But maybe her mother was right. Maybe she had learned to love him. She no longer looked out the window when he wanted her. She actually enjoyed him. October was soon approaching and she had a dreaded decision to make. Mary knew Abe would be back and be prepared for her to leave with him. She was confused. She loved Abe, but she had a new attachment for Zack. It would be easier if Abe just did not come. If he did come, what would she do? She did not know.

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How differently things would have been had he not come! She would think about that the rest of her life. Abe came. Again, he came on a day

when Zach had left early to go to town to attend a farmer’s co-op meeting. Again, Zach had taken the children with him. They would be home late after dark. She was in the barn, with the large barn door open. She heard Abe coming. He did not have his pack or his goods to sell with him. He saw her and began to run toward her with his arms open. When he reached her, she backed away. “No, Abe. I am not going.” He replied, “What?” “You heard me, I am not going.” With no intent to harm her, he grabbed her firmly. He knew that, if he could just kiss her, she would melt in his arms - just as she had a few months prior. She knew she would too. She could not let him any nearer. She could not take the chance. Sobbing, she pushed him away. He was not going to let her go, not that easy. Her hand found the handle of a shovel. She did not mean to hurt him. She hit him on the side of his face. He fell to the floor. Realizing she had harmed him, she fell on his body weeping. She cradled his head, kissed him and said, “Yes, yes, I will leave with you.” He did not respond. The words Abe wanted to hear would never be heard by him. Abe was dead. She could hardly see through her tears. Her pain was almost unbearable. Abe was gone forever. His body laid lifeless on the barn floor. But, now what could she do? She was not thinking clearly. There were so many things she could have done. She could have just said he tried to rape her and no one would have doubted her. But she didn’t. Mary bridled the horse. Struggling, but finally with the help of a rope and pulley, she hoisted Abe’s body over the horse and secured it. She knew that John Boone had recently been working on his levee. She also knew that he and all the other men were at the co-op meeting. She led the horse with Abe’s body to the levee. There, she dumped the body in the soft dirt and mud. If only she had brought a shovel! But she had not. With her bare hands, she heaped dirt over the body to a depth that she hoped would keep it covered until John Boone placed more dirt on it.

If a few weeks, other farmers that were Abe’s clients began to wonder what had happened to him. They needed the supplies he sold. One neighbor mentioned that Abe had been to their place and said that his next stop would be the Wilson’s. Abe had also told them that this was his last trip - he was going to buy a store. A few days later, someone found all of Abe’s supplies hidden under some brush about a mile from the Wilson farm. That is where Abe had left them. Mary did not know this and had not anticipated this. The sheriff was notiﬁed and soon arrived at the Wilson place. Both Mary and Zack said they had not seen Abe and had themselves wondered when he was coming through. No one questioned them as to the truth. They were good people. Two years passed and it was a very rainy, wet spring. Boone’s Creek had never been higher in anyone’s memory. When the water subsided, it was obvious that the levee had broken. It was even more obvious that there was a body in the mud. It was decomposed, but it was determined by the clothes and the harmonica in the pocket that it was Abe the peddler.

This initiated a new investigation, a thorough one. Mary knew it was just a matter of time before she and Zack would be questioned. She knew that they would be prime suspects. Sobbing uncontrollably, Mary confessed everything to Zack. The inﬁdelity, the plan to leave together, her change of heart, and the body disposal. She told him all, openly and honestly. She then asked Zack to take her to town so she could turn herself in. Zack never questioned her or blamed her. He held her tightly, pushing her head to his shoulder. He told her that he would not let her go to jail, and that no one would believe that she did it unless she confessed. Zack told Mary that he would take the blame. To make it look more convincing, he would leave and not come back. That night they made love. It would be for the last time. Within a year, Mary had moved to town and became a seamstress. Her mother had been wrong when she had told her that she was just a worthless mouth to feed. She had made all the family clothes since she had been ten years old. She also had additional income as she sold the Wilson place to John Boone. Zack had deeded it to her the night before he left. Emotionally, all was not well. At ﬁrst, she grieved about Zack; but then, she found herself remembering how alive she had felt that afternoon and evening with Abe in the hay loft.

No one knew Abe’s last name. The authorities decided to bury him by the main road that leads from Memphis to New Orleans. It was called the Jefferson Davis Road. They put up a large sign on a tree by his grave that read: Here lies Abe a Jew Peddler believed to be from New Orleans If anyone knows who he is or if he has family contact the sheriff. No one came forward and, over the years, the sign faded and finally rotted away. The story of Abe being buried there was more of a legend than believed to be fact. Until 1936. In 1936, the highway was going to be widened and blacktopped. The new right of way would be over Abe’s grave. The local people remembered the legend of Abe the Jewish peddler and thought it only fitting to have his body removed and given a proper burial. On a July day, about sixty-four years after he was killed, Abe’s body, or what remained of it, was exhumed. There is something that appeals to man’s curiosity about digging up an old grave. And besides, it would be good to finally know if the story of Abe was fact or fiction. Bits of a harmonica were found in the soil. The story of Abe had been true.

There was a large crowd present and they followed the body to a very small rural cemetery about a mile from where it had been buried. There was now a small synagogue in town and a Rabbi presided over the ceremony. A nicely dressed elderly lady stood away from the crowd. She wore a store-bought dress and store-bought shoes. In one hand she held an umbrella and in the other, a small bottle. Flower water. The crowd retreated from the grave site, pleased that Abe would ﬁnally rest in peace. She stayed until the grave had been covered. A few attendants were around as she approached the mound of earth. On the grave, she placed a bouquet. Daffodils. An attendant later said he heard her say, “Abe, I should have gone with you.” No one cared enough to erect a grave marker. In a few years, the location of the grave was forgotten. This proved most unfortunate when in the mid 1960’s the road near the cemetery had to be rerouted. All the graves were excavated and moved at the state’s expense to another site. Abe’s grave could not be found. Since it had no marker and no one even remembered the burial, it was left behind.

As the bulldozer cut deep into the soil a construction worker yelled, “Stop. There are bones.”

“If we tell anyone that we found bones, they will shut this job down for a month. We can’t afford that. Scatter them in the hollow and we will put ﬁll dirt and asphalt over them.”

I think I know the dip in the road that was ﬁlled with dirt asphalt and yes, Abe’s bones. I think about Abe and Mary when I cross that dip. I am probably the only one.

John Case September 2013 Thanks to my friend Molly Mendel and My Uncle Quentin Stringer for giving me the material on which this story is based. John Boone was my great great uncle. Some of the inspiration from this story is from a historical article written by Royce Hart.

The construction company superintendent was called over. The job was shut down for him to call his superiors. When he returned, he gave Abe his ﬁnal resting place.

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Draw your “Money Map” I love maps. I love looking at them, I love using them to plan trips, and at one time in my career, I loved drawing them when I worked as a geologist for oil companies. To me, maps are cool. When I was in college, I got a road atlas from my car insurance agent. College was a long time ago, but I still have that atlas. I like to look at the maps of states I’ve never visited, read the names of the towns along minor highways, and wonder what goes on

there. For example, where do people go for fun in Ida Grove, Iowa? Where do people work in Licking, Missouri? Did any famous person ever live in Epps, Louisiana? Stuff like that. By the way, the answers are: 1) They can take a walk on the Pleasant Valley Trail, 2) Some work at the South Central Correctional Center, and 3) Jake Jones, a major league baseball player from 1941-1948. Now, you might not think roadmaps are cool, but you’d probably agree that they are useful.

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by Mike Rich

Having a map while you’re driving (and actually using it) is like having a plan. If you follow the directions, you’ll likely get where you want to go. Do you think a map for your money might be useful, too? Well, here at Pontchartrain Investment Management, Andy, Chris, Steve, Robin, and I have seen money maps work for our clients just like roadmaps work for drivers. A financial map will not guarantee your success, of course, but our experience shows that it can keep people on course. Consider these money map ideas to help you work toward achieving your financial goals: 1.) Draw a map for your desired retirement income. I cannot state this scientifically, but my guess is that 99% of the people who read this article want to stop relying on a regular paycheck at some point. So, here’s how to make it work. First, if you have a 401(k) or other plan that has an employer match, contribute enough to get the match. Then, work with us to figure out how much income you’re going to need in retirement. Even if the big day is many years off, we can help you with some ballpark numbers. When we have that number, we can draw a map to help us work toward getting there. One of our most important tools will be the time value of money, and it’s really cool how it works. Consider the following scenario. You invest $150 per month in a tax-deferred account and increase that amount by 5% each year. In year one, you’re investing $1,800, year two, $1,890, year three. $1,984.50 – you get the picture. You’re 30 years old and you have 35 years to make this work. You get an average rate of return of 8%. In the end, you’re looking at a pot of money with (potentially) $600,000 in it.1 The numbers are even better if you have a lump sum to start with. Does this sound like the kind of road you’d like to get on? Call us, and we’ll get you started. 2.) Draw a map that will help you deal with bad things when they happen. If you have a spouse or children at home, you need life insurance, and as much as you can get. If you’re reasonably healthy, term insurance can be pretty cheap. If you don’t have a spouse or children, you still need life insurance (if you want to know why, call us, and we’ll give you five really good reasons).

If your family depends on your salary, you need disability insurance to make sure your income continues if you can’t work. Make sure these things are in place so an unexpected event doesn’t destroy your money life. The same thing goes for your car and home insurance. We’re happy to help you evaluate your insurance coverage. Just call us, and we’ll do it for free. If nothing else, you’ll know what risks might be lurking around that next bend in the road. 3.) Draw a map for dealing with the potential income tax hit to your money in the future. Here’s a test. Think of three reasons why income tax rates will go down over the next 20 years. Give up? We do, too. It’s difficult to imagine how taxes might be lower in the future, so it makes sense to prepare. Whether it’s a Roth IRA, cash value life insurance, or a currently-taxable investment account, our bet is that there’s a strategy that will help you deal with the specter of rising tax rates that could make your retirement income plan look pretty dismal. We can’t tell you how many times someone has come in and said, “I want you to help me avoid taxes on all this money I’ve been investing.” Sadly, we often have to tell him or her that we’ve met 15 years too late, because the damage has already been done. The time to deal with future tax issues is now. Call us. 4.) If you have kids, draw a map to pay for their education. The average cost of tuition, fees, and expenses at LSU today is about $10,000 per year. 2 Throw in some money for a dorm room, the food court, and beer pong, and the bill goes up to about $23,000. Even with TOPS, parents are shelling out a lot of money. Sure, loans, summer jobs, and a gift from Maw-Maw might be part of the mix for your future scholar, but it probably makes sense to plan on the lion’s (or Tiger’s) share coming from mom and dad. Whether your kid is Baton Rouge-bound or not, saving money for college is easy to figure out, but the secret is in starting early. We can help you with your plan. 5.) If you are in your 50s or 60s, draw a map that will help you pay for long term care expenses. To borrow a current phrase, OMG! This is like the tropical storm that ruins your week at the beach, only it lasts a lot longer than a week. Unless you and your bank account are ready and willing to shell out $3,000, $4,000, $6,000 a month or more for someone to take care of you if you can’t do it yourself, you must have a strategy for protecting your money. For baby boomers and those coming behind them, the costs are staggering and are growing by about 3% per year. About 70% of us are going to need some type of long term care.3 Seven out of ten people, and you are likely to be one of them. So, why not plan for it? We can show you six ways to work this problem and potentially save your retirement money from destruction. Even if your plan is to have your family take care of you (and pay for it), stress test your strategy. Call us now, make an appointment, and let us help you figure out what might work for you. It’s been said that many people spend more time planning their vacations (with or without maps) than they do their financial lives. Your typical vacation lasts a week or two, but your money life can go on for a very long time. Don’t try to navigate your finances without a map. Let us help. Call today for a free sit-down with one of us, and we’ll get you on the right road.

985-605-5066

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

2242 Carey St. Olde Towne, Slidell, LA

1 These are hypothetical examples and are not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rate of return used does not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 2 www.lsu.edu 3 Probability of needing LTC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care Information, 10/22/08 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.

by Kendra Maness

In 2001, a huge victory was won by the CCA that beneﬁts all of us when, after a 16 year battle, the U.S. Supreme Court issued their ﬁnal ruling upholding Louisiana’s gill net ban. Also, beginning that same year, the CCA showed its support and appreciation for the service men and women protecting and preserving our waterways by launching a Gulf-wide phone number, 866-WE-ENFORCE, to report coastal game violations. They also began providing Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents with navigation, global positioning and sonar equipment.

In 1983, a handful of concerned conser vationists talked in a sporting goods store about banding together to promote responsible management of Louisiana’s fishery resources. What began as the concern of those 14 anglers has grown into a groundswell of support of 75,000 members nationwide for far-sighted, responsible management of the US coast’s fishery resources. By 1984, Louisiana had become the third state chapter of the Gulf Coast Conservation Association, which would later be named the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). Begun in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and speckled trout populations, the CCA is a non-profit organization with 17 coastal state chapters spanning the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic seaboard, and the Pacific Northwest. CCA Louisiana has been instrumental in banning gill nets in state waters, establishing redfish as a gamefish and ensuring good stewardship of Louisiana’s coastal resources. The stewardship started with the “Save the Redfish” campaign, when the CCA called for an immediate halt to net harvesting of adult redfish in the Gulf of Mexico after studies revealed excessive netting in Federal waters could collapse resources. Since that time, the CCA has participated productively in virtually every national fisheries debate since 1984. In the federal court system, CCA’s legal defense fund has been used to defend net bans; fight for the implementation of bycatch reduction devices; support profisheries legislation; and battle arbitrary no-fishing zones. In addition, the CCA network is engaged in hundreds of local, state, and national projects that initiate scientific studies; fund marine-science scholarships; build artificial reefs; create finfish hatcheries; initiate hydrologic and contaminant studies; monitor freshwater inflows; support local marine law enforcement; and more.

In the past few years, the CCA has expanded its message to the next generation. Two programs, CCA Outreach and the CCA Louisiana 4-H Clubs Youth Program, is bringing the positive message of the CCA to thousands of youth across Louisiana. Outreach is a program designed to educate, excite and intrigue youngsters and adults about recreational fishing and the conservation of our marine resources. The presentation is an enthusiastic “show and tell” including audio/visual, demonstrations and hands on participation. The statewide program is free of charge and available year-round. Schools, scouting groups, men’s and women’s clubs and other interested organizations may request an Outreach visit. The Outreach team also gives demonstrations at tradeshows, fishing tournaments, seminars and promotional events. CCA Louisiana has also partnered with 4-H Clubs in a venture that will create dozens of fishing seminars for kids throughout Louisiana. 4-H Club members, ranging from 8-18 years of age will attend the events where they will learn about fishing techniques, fishing equipment, fishing regulations, different species of fish, conservation and stewardship, safety, fishing industry careers, and more. Ed Francis, President of CCA Louisiana, says, “This partnership will allow us to teach Louisiana kids about fishing and the importance of conserving our State’s marine resources. 4-H has taken on fishing as part of their curriculum, and CCA volunteers have the know-how. It’s a perfect partnership.” The Slidell chapter of CCA Louisiana is an active and passionate one, with a tremendous impact on our quality of life. In 2010, construction began on two artificial reefs as part of the I-10 Twin Span projects in Lake Pontchartrain, coordinated and constructed by CCA, marking the first time in Louisiana that artificial reefs were made of recycled debris material.

With so many accomplishments, it’s time to celebrate! To commemorate their 30 year anniversary, the Slidell chapter of CCA Louisiana invites you and your family and friends to join them in a celebration of three decades of successful conservation. The Slidell CCA Banquet will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 6pm in the Slidell Auditorium. With community support and through broadbased recreational angler support; a strong legal and legislative presence; decades of experience; and an unwavering vision for the future of our marine resources, CCA Louisiana will continue the ﬁght to keep Louisiana the Sportsman’s Paradise.

For more information about the Louisiana Coastal Conservation Association, visit their website:

w w w. c c a l o u i s i a n a . c o m

FOR BANQUET TICKETS, CONTACT RON HARRIS

(985) 640-6405

RELIVE THE HISTORY! JOIN IN THE FUN!

2013 Fall Ramble Saturday, October 5, 2013

An ambling, rambling, meandering stroll in boats and on foot through the byways and beauty of Slidell’s Bayou Liberty and Olde Towne district

Scenic Bayou Liberty and Olde Towne Slidell 9:30am REGISTRATION Camp Salmen Nature Park 10:00am ORIENTATION Bayou Liberty and cultural area

Francois Cousin Home on Bayou Liberty - a French Creole Cottage, is the oldest structure in St. Tammany Parish, constructed during George Washington’s Presidential administration. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places.

10:30am-12:30pm BOAT TOUR Bayou Liberty Includes the historic properties of Camp Salmen Lodge Francois Cousin House Tranquility Plantation and Dubuisson Cemetery

12:30pm LUNCH - Camp Salmen Pavillion Contemporary Creole Cuisine provided by Christopher’s on Carey in Slidell 1:45pm TOUR OF OLDE TOWNE SLIDELL Includes the Salmen Fritchie House and the Commissary 3-5pm LAGNIAPPE WRAP UP AND WINE DOWN The Francois Cousin House

Ticket Information:

$50 Per person 10% discount for groups of 10 or more Reservation deadline Sept. 27 For more info: Call: (504)256-0912 Or email: latrusthistoricpreservation@gmail.com

Tour Guides Include:

Frederick S. Ellis (author of L’Autre Côté du Lac ) John Case (the “Storyteller”) Ben Taylor (spokesman for Camp Salmen Nature Park) Alice Twillie (Creole genealogist) Charlotte Lowry Collins (author/photographer of Rooted in Liberté)

A joint fundraiser for the LA Trust for Historic Preservation and the restoration of Camp Salmen Lodge

Join the fun !

OCT . 2-6

Pageants

RIDES Family Buck Night (All Midway Rides $1)

Cheerleading & Dance Team Competitions

IDOL CONTEST!

PARADE! Friday Oct 4

Livestock

RODEO FRIDAY - SUNDAY!

Located at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds between Columbia and Collins Blvd

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FISHING WITH THE PROS By John N. Felsher

Needing one more fish to finish out the daily limit, the angler looked at the angry skies ominously growing darker toward the north. He then glanced at his watch knowing that it took them more than two hours of hard running through surging seas to reach this spot. Time to go if he wanted to make it back to the weigh station in time, but he couldn’t win with just one fish. Suddenly, the cork drifting along the grassy shoreline disappeared. Spewing water and mud, the spot-tailed marauder raced for deeper water as the angler set the hook. If it measured more than 27 inches long, he couldn’t keep it. The long, fat redfish fought hard before the angler’s partner netted it. “Just a hair short of 27 inches,” he said. “Perfect. Let’s go if we want to make that weigh-in!” The team raced north through four-foot seas as salty spray blasted over the bow. They cut through labyrinthine bayous traversing the marshes before cutting across a churning Lake Borgne. Entering the Rigolets, they found some placid water -- for a while -until they hit the frothy Lake Pontchartrain. With barely minutes remaining until disqualification, they pulled up to the dock and ran to weigh their two fish.

Although the scenery and weather might change, professional anglers repeat this process many times each year, often on days when recreational anglers might stay home. They may fish a dozen or so events a year. When not fishing a tournament or preparing for one, they run the roads from venue to venue or to support sponsors with public appearances. Fishing fans may catch a glimpse of this lifestyle when the HT Pro Redfish Series championship tournament stops in Slidell on Oct. 3-6, 2013. “The tourist commission is excited to welcome the HT Pro Redfish Series back to Slidell,” said Renée Kientz with the St. Tammany Tourist and Convention Commission. “The 2012 event was a huge success and this year promises to be a blast with a new festival wrapped around the event.” The angling teams participating in the event earned the right to fish this first-ofits kind championship and a chance to share the $100,000 purse by competing in tournaments throughout the year. In each event, the two-person teams earned points depending upon where they placed in the tournament. The top 35 teams compete in the championship.

“This is the first year we’re holding a series championship and we’re very excited to hold it in Slidell,” said Pat Malone, HT Redfish Series president and CEO. “In 2012, we held our final tournament in Slidell and loved how the entire town treated our anglers and their families. The hospitality was awesome. The area has great redfishing with a lot of activities for the families.” The tournament runs out of The Dock, located at the end of Lakeview Drive (Rats Nest Road for us old-timers). During the first two days, all competitors fish with the weighin taking place at The Dock. On Oct. 5, only the top 10 teams compete, then only the top 5 teams compete on Oct. 6. During the last two tournament days, the competitors will trailer their boats to the weigh-in site at the Northshore Harbor Center. The free public weigh-ins begin at 3pm each day. When it ends after four grueling days, one team will pocket $25,000 and earn national bragging rights for a year. In addition, tournament officials will name a Team of the Year, based upon the total points that team earned during the season. The Team of the Year will win a fully rigged 22-foot Haynie bay boat package powered by a 250-horsepower Mercury outboard motor. The package retails for about $50,000. “This will be a great economic boom for the entire St. Tammany Parish area,” said Dwayne Eschete, a professional redfish angler from Madisonville who along with Clark Jordan of Pearland, Texas, competes on the tournament tour. “This will show the world what great fishing we have in this area. Redfishing around the Lake PontchartrainLake Borgne area is great in October. It’s one of the best times to fish the area.” For the past two years, Eschete and Jordan won the Team of the Year points competition. With multiple tournament victories already this year, they remain the team to beat in 2013. During the 2012 event, Eschete and Jordan ran 115 miles by water from Slidell to the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River near Venice to fish.

“It was pretty rough making the long run to Venice,” Eschete recalled. “A couple boats fishing near us were taking waves over the bow. We actually found a good redfish school in Lake Pontchartrain, but when the winds started blowing really bad, we couldn’t fish the lake. I live on Lake Pontchartrain and it can get pretty nasty in a storm.” In the weeks leading up to a major tournament, professional anglers like Eschete and Jordan might spend 7-10 days exploring the area and scouting for fish. During a tournament, a team might spend a week or more practicing for the event. In addition, many competitors bring their families with them. While the anglers look for redfish, the family members shop, buy souvenirs, go on tours or take part in any other activities the surrounding area offers. On tournament days, many fans and media also come to town to watch the weigh-in and buy fuel or eat in local restaurants. A major tournament like this could easily generate more than $1 million in economic activity for a town like Slidell, not to mention the free publicity the town receives from media reporting on the event. “When we visit an area for a tournament, we might spend $100 to $200 a day just on fuel,” Jordan advised. “When we’re scouting for fish before a tournament, we bring two boats. I might go one way and Dwayne another way. It’s not uncommon to spend $1,000 to $2,000 per man per tournament on fuel, lodging, food and other supplies. Multiply that by the number of teams fishing an event plus their families and it’s a major economic impact.” To win a major redfish tournament, anglers can’t just catch every redfish they see. They must strategize to win. Do they make the long run, risking the possibility of something happening, or play it safe and fish closer? Can their area sustain several days of fishing pressure? In addition, since each two-person team may only bring in up to two redfish measuring between 16 and 27 inches long each day, competitors can’t waste time loading the boat with small fish, nor can they waste time fighting a giant bull red for an hour. Instead, competitors must specifically target perfect sized fish – those heavy, fat and not quite 27 inches long. “We prefer sight-fishing for reds,” Eschete explained. “If we see a fish, we can determine if it’s approximately the right size for us or not. When fishing in dirty water or deep water, we can’t see the fish before they bite.” While the anglers look for fat redfish, families and fans may gather at the Northshore Harbor Center for the inaugural St. Tammany Redfishtival. The free public event will be held from noon-8pm on Saturday, Oct. 5 and 10am-5pm on Sunday,Oct. 6. “The St. Tammany Redfishtival will showcase the Northshore’s great fishing scene,” Kientz advised. “There’ll be live music, an outdoors show, a redfish cooking competition with celebrity judges, live radio broadcasts and many other events that are fun for the entire family.” The Redfishtival will also feature live music by Amanda Shaw, youth events, fishing seminars and other activities. Many professional anglers will be on hand to meet with fans and sign autographs in sponsor booths. “The community really made our anglers and their families feel welcome in 2012,” Malone recalled. “We’re thrilled to be back in Slidell. Not only do the anglers love to come to this area, but their families also love it.”

For more on the Redﬁshtival www.FishtheNorthshore.com For tournament info www.theredﬁshseries.com

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GO BEYOND St Bernard Story by Rose Marie Sand

“Road Trip!” I said into the phone. “I’m in,” Becky replied. My ten-year-old niece, Becky, is in Slidell for summer vacation. Her parents moved to Houston after the storm, and I knew she’d be up for a spontaneous drive.

Although there aren’t as many as before Katrina, there are delightful names to discover: “Junebug, Humbug and Doughboy,” “High Rise” and “There’s No Place Like Home” were favorites.

“Bring jammies and a toothbrush,” I said, and packed my own into my car. Her eyes widened when I pulled up in a new-to-me convertible.

Although I-10’s concrete stretch is quicker, I love this scenic drive, with its steel trestle bridges over expanses of blue. After a leisurely 20 mile drive from the fort, Becky spots a Highway 11 sign on her right.

“Nice ride. Where are we going?” Becky asked.

“Highway 11? Are we back in Slidell already?” she asks.

“Thanks…and we’re going home,” I said.

That was an understandable mistake, as there seems to be a Highway 11 and 90 everywhere around this area. No, I explained, this part of Highway 11 is in New Orleans East.

“Huh? That’s not a road trip. You live, like, 5 miles from here,” Becky replied. “You’ll see,” I said with a grin. Driving down Old Spanish Trail, Becky spotted a sign that says “Pirates Harbor,” and wondered aloud if there were actual pirates that settled on the North Shore. “I don’t know, but keep looking at the signs in front of these camps,” I said. “People get very imaginative.” I turn right at the 90 West sign, and as we travel the new bridge over the Rigolets, I advise her to look left at Fort Pike as we descend.

“Aunt Rose, I can Google all this on my iPhone. School doesn’t start for four weeks, so no history lessons, okay?” she whined.

“You’re kidding me. There’s always been Interstates,” she said, with the confidence of youth. “And you stole that line from the movie, Cars.”

“Okay, okay. Google away!” I said.

Busted.

We approached the stretch of the highway separating Lake Catherine from Lake Pontchartrain, dotted with raised houses.

My first destination was Dong Phuong Bakery and Restaurant

“It reopened recently after being hit by yet another hurricane. Did you know…” As I launch into a history lesson, I’m interrupted.

“Used to be a restaurant named White Kitchen at this juncture of Highway 11 and 90 and this part of 11 will take you back to the North Shore. Highway 90 stretches from Florida to Texas. When I was your age, we used to take 90 from Chalmette to Mississippi on vacation, because I-10 wasn’t built yet,” I just couldn’t resist the travelogue (but you know that.) “We didn’t always go places wanting to make great time, but to have a great time.”

on Chef Menteur – although I just call the highway “The Chef.” This Vietnamese restaurant features beautiful pastries, pho soup and other delicious ethnic dishes. “We’re going to stop in the East at Dong Phuong for Pho and French bread before we go to the Parish,” I inform her. “I have no idea what most of those words mean. It’s like you speak a different language here,” she said. “You have no idea,” I said. We picked out several small bread loaves to bring back, and hopped back in my car. “Okay, when we get on the green bridge, look left at the power plant,” I explained. When we approached the bridge on the 610 split that connects New Orleans East to St. Bernard Parish, I motioned to the left. “This bridge isn’t green, it’s grey,” she said. “Technically. It used to be green and the name stuck. But anyway, see that power plant? See the small levee?” I said. “Yeah, so?” Becky asked.

“Google this - TACA Flight 110 landing on New Orleans levee.” Before I could get much further, she’d rolled her eyes and Googled the story about the 1988 Boeing jet’s dead-stick landing on this short grassy levee near NASA’s Michoud facility on a ﬂight from Belize to New Orleans. It’s an amazing story and, for once, she reads the details aloud to me, instead of the other way around. A left turn from Paris Road to St. Bernard Highway brings us to the famed Rocky and Carlos Restaurant, with its “Ladies Invited” sign painted on the window. This Chalmette institution is a favorite of locals and visitors to the area and its down home cooking and atmosphere is always like coming home, no matter where you’re from. I ordered at the counter and watched the magic when she saw the gigantic portions. Nothing like this in Houston, believe me. Like a pro, she dove into veal parm, baked mac with red gravy and wop salad while I ate brushaloni and lasagna. “You’re a real Chalmetion, you know that?” I asked. “Huh? What’s a Chalmetion? Is that like a dog, or a dig?” She wanted to know. “Nah Dawlin’, you just gotta trust me, it’s a good thing,” I replied. I decided to save the Chalmetion Monologue for later. Becky was learning about her childhood home, New Orleans’ most historic neighbor. We walked off the meal with a stroll along the levee at Jean Lafitte Historical Park and Preserve on St. Bernard Highway, home of the Battle of New Orleans. I used to walk the circle around the obelisk, called the Chalmette Monument, every morning for exercise, and hike up the levee for the beautiful view of the Mississippi River. I delight in showing my niece this beautiful park with its graceful, moss coated oak trees and blue cannons.

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Adjacent to the park is the Chalmette National Cemetery; the ﬁnal resting place to over 15,300 veterans from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War. The headstones speak of valor; a monument’s inscription “cum tacent clamant” caught my student’s eye. “What’s that mean, Aunt Rose?” “Though they are silent, they cry out loud,” I replied. “I used to put small American ﬂags on each stone on Memorial Day with your grandfather’s VFW post. He was a veteran of World War II.” As we walked back to the car, I told her about a small community called Fazendeville that was dismantled in the 1960’s and was located between the Chalmette Monument and the Cemetery. “Most people who visit here don’t know about Fazendeville. For 100 years, one strip of land here was the home of an African-American community founded by a ‘free man of color.’ The Government expropriated the rights to the land for expansion of the Park, and 50 families had to relocate. Many of them went to the Ninth Ward, and built a new ‘Battleground’ Baptist Church there.”

For more information call Rebecca Blossman at 985-705-4440 or email rebecca@lake947.com 33

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Vicky Magas

After the walk, the refreshing air conditioning of the Information Center gave us not only a chance to reboot, but also interesting insights to the famous Battle. I’m lucky enough to still have relatives in my hometown of Chalmette, and we dropped off our overnight supplies at Aunt Pauline’s house. I asked Becky to Google the movies at Chalmette Cinema. The renovated movie house is now part of the New Orleans Film Society, and shows everything from family friendly movies to artsy documentaries.

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This time, my brief history lesson wasn’t unwelcome. A story of losing one’s home through forces bigger than you rings true, even to a child.

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“Okay, check out the sign in the window,” I said. Although beignets are on the menu, the only other items on the menu are Vietnamese dishes. So, she opted for burgers at Old Arabi Eats – which was great for me because their specialty cocktails are fantastic!

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(Across from Cross Gates Athletic Club)

“Whoa, wait a minute,” she said as she spied the restaurant at the mall’s entrance. “What about Beignets and more. I’m down with donuts for dinner.”

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165 N. Military Road, Slidell, LA

“The muffs at Arabi Food Store, steak and scallops at Meme’s, boiled seafood from Today’s Ketch, burgers at Old Arabi Eats, sushi at Umi…” I could have gone on and on about the scrumptious list of local eateries.

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We opted for “Red 2” and as we walked out of the cinema mall, even its delicious popcorn hadn’t satiated our appetites. I gave her a quick list of possible dinner choices.

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The next morning, we bid our relatives goodbye and headed for more adventures. After Sunday mass at a beautiful church named Our Lady of Prompt Succor (home of the annual Tomato Festival), we had breakfast at Par 3 Diner. Its décor of all things golfing charmed Becky as much as her pecan wafﬂe. “It’s time to head ‘Down the Road’,” I turned the car left off Paris Road at Saint Bernard Highway. “I have a feeling that doesn’t just refer to a direction,” Becky said. And she was correct. We use the term “down the road” to refer to the communities at the lower end of the parish. Names like Caernarvon, Delacroix, Hopedale, Reggio, Shell Beach, and Yscloskey comprise beautiful small towns with some of the best fishing you’ll ever encounter. Before Katrina, there was a sign on the end of the highway proclaiming “The End of the World.” Nowadays, there’s a memorial to those who lost their lives near there. In a stretch of the Highway in Violet, we sail through a canopy of hundred-yearold oak trees that line the road and frame Docville Farm. Named for parish icon, Dr. Louis Meraux, the farm Docville stretches from the Mississippi River all the way to Lake Borgne, and often hosts art workshops and festivals in Violet, La. As I see the next landmark on our journey, “Da Pope’s Tavern and

Boat Launch” at the Violet Canal, I explained that its owner, Lionel Alphoso, is one of a cadre of famous Saints Superfans. “He dresses like the Pope at Saint’s games. Da Parish has pride in our community and our Saints. And Mack Cuenka is a Superfan called ‘Mac the Quack’ – he now lives in the Dell,” I said, using a slang term for Slidell. We passed incredible bayous and fishing boats – this area lives up to the “Sportsman’s Paradise” nickname - and Becky took lots of pictures on her cell phone to show her friends when she returned to Houston.

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On our way back to Chalmette, we passed the Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society Museum. This beautiful setting is the site of an annual Islenos Heritage Fiesta in March, which celebrates the culture of the Canary Islanders who settled in the area in 1778. Our final meal together in St. Bernard had to be the award winning gumbo at Charlie’s Diner. This time, we split a seafood platter – doesn’t get much better than that. I told her about a restaurant named “Mutts” that used to be nearby before Katrina, and she asked about the storm.

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“You were a toddler when we all evacuated that August. This parish has rebuilt after being almost one hundred percent devastated,” I explained. “You’ve just seen what people can do when they love their community so much, they won’t be broken. That’s why the adopted slogan is ‘Historic Past, Promising Future’.” Although I love talking about our area’s history, I settled in for the ride home with Fats Domino’s “Walking to New Orleans” blaring from the radio. Might as well give her something else new to learn about through Google! “Aunt Rose, you said the word ‘Chalmetion’ when we were riding here,” Becky remembered. “What’s the story?” “Well, years ago I wrote a poem about home town pride and I named it ‘A Chalmetion’s Monologue’. Someone that obviously wasn’t from here started the term as a joke, I guess, and it stuck. But you know, that’s just human nature – some people always try to feel better about themselves by putting something down. Especially when they don’t understand it.” “OMG,” she laughed. “I’m not surprised. You’re a one woman ambassador for da Parish.” “I’ll email you a copy,” I said, grinning to myself that she called St. Bernard “da Parish”. “And Aunt Rose, thanks for a great weekend. I’m going to come back every time I visit home…and I have a great theme for ‘What I did on my summer vacation’. I went home,” she said. Home is in your heart, and no hurricane can change that. Old hometowns like Chalmette, and my new one, Slidell, have places in my heart that keep me connected to the history of my past and promising future.

by Jeff Perret, DVM

HOMETOWN HERO

Al and Jan Tomsic are the salt of the earth. Al is soft-spoken and unassuming. Jan makes me and my family Christmas ornaments every year. When I took over ownership of Veterinary Medical Center in 1997, they were already existing clients of the practice. Their yellow Labrador Retriever, Sandy (who always got credit for making the Christmas ornaments), remained a patient of mine for many years to follow, until she eventually passed away at a ripe old age. After Sandy, the Tomsics adopted their son’s dog, Darby, who also lived a good, long life under their care. I can still recall a discussion with Jan Tomsic about whether they would get another dog after Darby died. Although she’s a die-hard dog lover, Jan was at the time recovering from surgery, and likely facing more. She told me, with obvious regret, that she would listen to her head instead of her heart, and do without a dog in the house for at least a while, until she was more physically up to it. Fast-forward to October 2012, when t h e To m s i c s d e c i d e d t h a t J a n w a s indeed up to it, and it was time to start thinking about an addition to the family. At the shelter, they had their eyes on a strapping Yellow Lab, in the mold of Sandy and Darby. But as fate would have it, something diverted their attention - a small terrier-mix named Penny. Now, they’d always thought of themselves as “big dog” types. But once again, Jan knew the wise move. She and Al chose

to adopt Penny, the smart, bright little terrier instead of the larger Labrador. The decision was a concession to practicality: they’d reached a point in their lives (her words, not mine, and I’m not about to give away anyone’s age!) where caring for a smaller lap dog just made more sense than a full-sized, slobber-prone Lab. So the decision was made, the papers were signed, and Penny went home with the Tomsics that day. They couldn’t have imagined then what a consequential choice they’d made. Fast-forward again, this time to January 26, 2013. Jan is asleep in her recliner while the cleaning lady is vacuuming a few rooms away. Al, having just taken Penny for a walk, is in his office on the other side of the house, working at his

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computer. Two o’clock in the afternoon on an ordinary, lazy Saturday. Then things got a little less ordinary. The cleaning lady noticed that Penny had arrived to watch her vacuum, but Penny wasn’t content just to watch. She was persistently, and, it seemed, intentionally, disrupting her work. Wherever the vacuum cleaner went, Penny was right in front of it, as if to tell her to stop. After several attempts to ignore, distract, or just work around Penny, the cleaning lady decided something was amiss. Her first concern was for Penny. Maybe this weird behavior was a sign that something was wrong with her? She’d never shown much interest in the house work before, especially not the vacuum cleaner. So, off went the vacuum, and off she went to wake Jan up and try to get to the bottom of this. As the two of them discussed the situation, without the hum of the vacuum cleaner to get in the way, Jan became aware of another strange noise. She followed that sound into Al’s office, and found the source of Penny’s distress. There was Al, slumped over in his computer chair in the midst of a fullblown seizure! Time for action. Call 911. Ambulance arrives in 4 minutes. IV’s are started, and in a blur the scene shifts to Ochsner hospital in Slidell. Al had never had anything remotely like a seizure before. Yet here they were. Where on earth did this come from? The doctors were eventually able to shed some light on the

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situation. It seems that a fall in the bathroom nearly 2 months previous, a fall that at the time seemed to result in little more than a headache, was actually much more than a harmless incident. Al’s head had caught the sink on the way down, and, unknown to anyone at the time, enough trauma had occurred to cause a slow accumulation of blood between the skull and the brain. And so now, two months later, here was Al fighting for his life in the hospital. Despite the fast arrival and efficient work of the EMT’s; despite the diagnostic skills of the doctors; despite an air-lift transfer to Ochsner Hospital in Metairie, where the best surgical specialists would operate to relieve the pressure on Al’s brain; despite all this, the doctors were now telling Jan that the odds were that her husband wouldn’t survive. Well, as you might imagine, this story wouldn’t be published in an upbeat community magazine if it didn’t have a happy ending. Al Tomsic is today fully recovered. Not so much as a residual headache. He does have a metal plate in his head to remind him of the skillful work of his surgeons, which also included drilling two holes in his skull, all to relieve the pressure of the hemorrhage. When I asked him about the episode, he said I should talk to Jan, because he has no memory of anything between Penny’s Saturday afternoon walk and the day he eventually woke up in the hospital, 4 full days later. Jan likes to tell the story of how he scored higher on his mental rehab and memory exercises than she could. She also thinks often about how many little things had to go just right for Al to survive his ordeal. What if the seizure had occurred while he was driving home from the Hornets game in New Orleans the night before? “He’d have been at the bottom of the lake!” she says matterof-factly. What if the ambulance hadn’t been able to respond so quickly? What if the on-going seizures had prevented the MRI that made the diagnosis possible. And of course, this all brings us back to the obvious question: what if Penny - the newly-adopted, second-choice dog from the pound, whom the Tomsics had never even laid eyes on three months before – what if she hadn’t been there to alert the cleaning lady, who turned off the vacuum cleaner and woke up Jan, who was then able to hear the sounds of Al’s seizure in another part of the house? The doctors made it abundantly clear that Al’s survival, even after he got to the hospital, would be a near-miracle, a thousand-to-one long shot. The single most important factor, once the seizure started, was time. Every minute, every second even, that the blood was allowed to continue to build up, the chances of survival got worse. So, yes, a lot of things had to go right for Al to survive, but the first thing that went right was Penny. Without her actions to set everything into motion, none of the rest of it could even have happened, and Al would almost certainly have died at his computer. I don’t know what was going through Penny’s mind when she did what she did. Was she aware that Al was in danger? What is a dog’s concept of danger? And did she “know”, or “hope”, that going to the cleaning lady would bring help to Al, whatever was wrong with him? I’ll leave those questions to the philosophers, the animal behaviorists, the psychologists and the like. What I do know is that Penny saved Al’s life. I know I’m honored to be acquainted with the Tomsics and to be Penny’s doctor. I know I’m really glad that Al is still around. And I know Penny is Jan Tomsic’s hero. And mine, and all of Slidell’s.

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Try to solve this riddle: Good ones are given to you, not created by you. You can’t discard them easily. And they can deﬁne how people look at you forever… Give up? I’m talking about nicknames. And

no where else do you ﬁnd some of the most interesting nicknames than in sports. From “Babe” Ruth to Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain, you can’t help but ﬁnd a memorable nickname in every sport. And you can’t imagine the sports world without them. There are nicknames that are complementary, funny, or that need a little explaining. Without a doubt, these names will give you a smirk as you watch the players in their sport. When you think sweetness, you either think of some punk at a concert talking about how cool things are or you think of two lovebirds

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that are “in that stage”. But, if you are talking about football, there is only one sweetness that comes to mind, and that’s the legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton. Named for his ability to slide through the defensive line, it kinda makes you think of butter. Louisiana sports fans will recognize some of our biggest sports figures with nicknames such as “Pistol” Pete Maravich and Bobby Hebert, the “Cajun Cannon”. Both nicknames had to do with how they handled the ball in their respective sports. “Pistol” would shoot the ball out from his waist, as if he were holding a pistol, and Bobby Hebert could shoot the ball down the field like a cannon. One of my favorites, though, has to be the Pittsburgh Steeler’s “Mean” Joe Greene. While the background on his nickname involves a confused fan and a North Texas University (his alma mater) nickname, he truly earned the “Mean” nickname from his play on the field. Nice enough guy, MEAN on the field.

Some of the nicknames in sports you can’t help but shake your head. Basketball player Glen “Big Baby” Davis is just one of those names. He received his nickname at the ripe old age of 9. Playing peewee football at the time, he was moved to the senior squad because, at 5’6 and 160 pounds, he was just too big to play with his friends. Missing his friends, he would cry and the coach would fuss at him, saying “stop crying, you big baby!” Most guys would be damaged coming out of that but the “Big Baby” name stuck. Another nickname that will bring a chuckle belongs to Chicago Bears lineman William Perry, the “Refrigerator”. He was a massive man in the game of football. Just think about how awesome it is to have a name like “fridge” when you’re on the defensive line or a goal line backer. But, he actually got the name in a funnier way. In college, he was in the elevator when a fellow player could barely ﬁt in the elevator with his laundry. He joked, saying he was about as big as a refrigerator. And so the nickname stuck with him. It’s ok though, he thinks it’s really cool. (Haha!)

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Finally, there are some nicknames that have pretty interesting backgrounds. These nicknames are more personal and have more sentiment to them. The Red Sox’s David Ortiz, or “Big Papi”, was given his nickname through his inability to remember the names of his teammates. He called everyone “Papi”. In return, they called him “Big Papi” back and the rest is history. One of the strangest nicknames in sports involves Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Adam Jones, more commonly known as “Pacman”. While he was a dynamo in college and has been very solid in the pros, “Pacman” didn’t get his nickname from gobbling up balls. He got it from his mother. When he was a child, he would change directions suddenly, just like the famed video game character. Another interesting name involves former White Sox baseball player “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. At ﬁrst, one might think he was so fast, his shoes fell off. As great as that would have been, he received his name due to blisters on his feet. Ewwwww. Well, the story goes that Jackson was breaking in a new pair of cleats but that they were giving him blisters. As the game wore on, he took off the cleats so he could run the bases. A heckling fan hurled the harshest of insults: “You shoeless son of a gun, you!” While he was able to overcome such an obscene statement, the nickname was attached to him even if his shoes were not. Everyone knows the name “Tiger” Woods. But, that is not his given ﬁrst name. In fact, his real name is Eldrick Tont Woods. He was given his nickname in honor of a friend of his father’s who was also known as Tiger. Lucky for the rest of us. With all due respect, Eldrick is not as commanding as the image “Tiger” brings to mind. Finally, we have Paul “Bear” Bryant. This famous Alabama coach is one of the most revered names in college football. His nickname, though, was earned at a much earlier age. When he was thirteen, he agreed to wrestle a captive bear during a theatre promotion. A bear. THE MAN WRESTLED A BEAR! That is one tough guy. And you could tell that

the same courage carried over to the rest of his life, fearlessly leading his Crimson Tide to six national championships. For all of the LSU fans out there, some respect is indeed owed to a man who can win that well in the SEC and then conquer the rest of college football so easily. Probably not too hard for a man who wrestled a bear. Nicknames are great ways to have a deeper connection with a player. The world wouldn’t be the same with Eldrick Woods as it is with Tiger Woods. What would Saints football be without the “Cajun Cannon”? These names give us another way to exalt, laugh at, or identify with a player. It can be fun to look for the “refrigerator” on the ﬁeld or to watch “CP3” (Clippers player Chris Paul) play on the court. These sports really aren’t the same without these names. We look for them, and because we look for them, they enrich the sports experience for us, the fans. That is, those of us who can avoid throwing curses at the players. No one likes to be called a “son of a gun”.

Corey Hogue September 2013 You can enjoy more of Corey Hogue’s insights on sports by visiting:

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“Guardians of Greenwood” The final resting places of many of Slidell’s founders and prominent families can be viewed while walking through Slidell’s Greenwood Cemetery. The people buried here are an important part of our city’s past but we know little about them. So, how is it that we know their names so well? Easy… their names grace the streets we drive, the buildings and halls where we gather, the parks where we take our children, and the schools and centers in which we go to learn and celebrate. All too often, we forget those that came before us and the people that contributed to the city we know today. One group of volunteers is working hard to preserve the Greenwood Cemetery - its history and its future. Located in the heart of Olde Towne just off Bryant Street, Greenwood Cemetery is the only cemetery located within the city limits of Slidell and is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area. Some residents may not be aware of its historical significance. Greenwood Cemetery is the final resting place for members of the Salmen family, the Fritchie family, the Canulette family and many more of the original families of Slidell. Many people are also unaware that it Greenwood Cemetery is a continuing history - with new burials still taking place.

“Wisdom comes from remembering the past and taking responsibility for the future.” ~ Anon The cemetery has received little recognition, and even less renovation, over the years. There have been reminders from time to time; most during news reports covering Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac. There were images of the cemetery heavily damaged by the ﬂooding and effects of these devastating storms. But these few reminders haven’t been enough to keep it in the public eye and the cemetery has been falling into disrepair for a long time. That’s why one team from the 2013 Leadership Northshore class chose their class project to be the restoration and preservation of this historic Slidell cemetery. Named “The Guardians of Greenwood,” the LNS team of Alan Case (VP Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance), Yolanda Paz (VP of Visitor Services with St. Tammany Tourist Commission), Mark Frost (Pike’s Collision Repair), and Kimberly Holmes (Volunteer Coordinator with Ochsner-Northshore) made it their mission to honor and preserve the historical integrity of the cemetery. Greenwood is owned and maintained by the City of Slidell, whose focus is primarily the regular lawn care and keeping the grounds

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free of trash and other debris. But damage from years of wear and tear, excessive water from major hurricanes, and vandals have taken their toll. Many gravestones have either fallen over or were broken, while some tombs were nearly crumbling. Even worse, some tombs had collapsed, exposing burial contents. In addition, sunken gravesites and other areas within the grounds became uneven, making it hard and dangerous for city workers and families to walk through. There was a real need for a group to step forward and do something before it was too late. LNS teammate, Yolanda Paz, saw this as a massive project. “I knew we were going to need lots of help!” Teaming up with Bill Mauser of Keep Slidell Beautiful and Boy Scout Pack #365, the LNS team went to work. Dirt and river sand was brought in to ﬁll the sunken areas as well as to raise and even out many gravesites. Many tombs have been painted and others shored-up to minimize future damage. The historic “Greenwood Cemetery” entrance gate, damaged during Katrina, has also gotten a face lift. “We are so fortunate to live in a community where people love to help and

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get involved,” Yolanda says. “Show the community that you love, respect, and care about it and its people, and they will help you restore its history and its beauty.” Hard work has been done by volunteers, spearheaded by the “Guardians.” However, more work will be needed in the future. Time, nature and the elements will all have an impact on the safety and viability of Greenwood in the future, just as it has had in the past. Part of the LNS team’s goal is to have the project continue long after their involvement has ended. As their project neared completion, they established a 501 3(C) nonprofit organization with a Board of Directors to permanently oversee the care and future of this landmark. The board will continue the mission of the LNS project team - caring for the tombs, creating an updated “Plot Map,” researching and collecting missing or incorrect burial information, establishing a schedule for beautification and maintenance days, and raising money for improvements such as benches, trash cans, and bird baths. Also, the board is considering organized cemetery tours, with information for the family members whose loved ones rest in Greenwood and also for the general public interested in learning more about Slidell’s history and its founding fathers. “Guardians of Greenwood” team members have grown to include an important ally, Sonya Soniat. Sonya is an active member of GOSH (Guardians of Slidell History) and is bringing her knowledge of Slidell, its history, and the families both past and present to the table. As unofficial Head of the Board, Sonya has already made an impact and an impression. She is a wealth of information and had been vital in the organization and clarification of missing plots and lost records. Sonya’s research has uncovered 20-25 obituaries than do not have matching plots in the cemetery. Over the years, the City of Slidell sold plots to funeral homes who then sold them to individuals. Poor record keeping back in the early days, coupled with the loss of records due to Katrina, have all contributed to this problem. In addition, trees and erosion have claimed plots and have claimed ground from the original plans. What next? “We are looking for a representative with the City of Slidell to join our Board,” Sonya explains. “We also would like anyone who shares our vision of preserving this historic final resting place.” It is important to Sonya that the board have representation from family members with ties to plots or family members buried in Greenwood Cemetery. She goes on to say, “Anyone that wants to give a voice to those who can no longer speak or to protect and secure family legacies and identities is wanted.” We owe a debt to those who came before us; to protect them and their final resting place. To know our past is to know who we are today.

For more information: Alan Case: 985-643-1234 Sonya Soniat: 985-641-6585 s.soniat@hotmail.com

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Sli-Ku Everyone should LOVE September this year! It starts off with Labor Day, so how better to begin a month than with a long weekend? Six days later the Saints kick off their 2013 season versus the Atlanta Falcons at home in the Dome. Can I get a “WHO DAT?” On the menu that first Sunday: Dirty Bird Bar-B-Q! Maybe someone will enter that dish in Mayor Freddie Drennan’s 10th annual Wild Game Cook-Off on the 28th. Make your way to Fritchie Park and sample over 30 teams’ dishes. There will be entertainment provided by Witness, a live auction of local artists’ prints along with other sports memorabilia, and awards for best local chef in five categories. Wow, September is going to be sweet and delicious! With Back-to-School only weeks underway, September is when routine and normalcy start settling in. Whether or not you have kids, BTS affects us all. For parents it is a much welcomed break. Sorry teachers, but it’s the parents’ time to experience that same feeling of relief that y’all get on the last day of school! For everyone else, it’s about remembering to slow down in those school zones and to leave a little earlier for work. Well, except on September 5, because that day is officially Be Late for Something Day. Too bad Blame Someone Else Day falls on the 13th or you could cross off two September observances at one time. International Self-Awareness Month is this month. (I write, therefore I am… DONE!) National Preparedness Month is also in September. (I was going to write a whole story about this but forgot to get my ducks in a row.) You might think I make these observances up in order to pander for attention, but I assure you that I don’t. And on that note, September is Be kind to Editors and Writers. So, when you have the opportunity, reach out to Kendra and all the other writers and tell them how wonderful they are. I’ll go first… John Case, you are brilliant!

If you hear “Arrrrrrg!” frequently on the 19th, don’t be surprised. “Thar might be Pirates about, Ye!” since it is Talk Like a Pirate Day. Banned Book Week occurs September 22-28. I tried looking up some titles. NOTE TO ANYONE WANTING TO HAVE A BOOK BANNED: Don’t ofﬁcially ban it because these “banned lists” get more Google hits than the Kardashians. Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month are both observed during the ninth month of the year. It’s not something most people want to think about, in fact, for me, it’s a pain in the a…well, it’s not pleasant. But it is important for all those with family histories or other factors in a risk group to get checked out. Early detection is so important. Get an exam; it could save your life. If you’re male and your doctor’s appointment falls on the 19th, at that most uncomfortable time of the exam you can mark two things off the September Observance to-do list. Arrrrrrrg!! Finally, and because it needed to be “ﬁnally” or else knowing about it would have ruined the effect, September is Subliminal Communications Month. If I did my homework correct then everyone reading this will have an uncontrollable urge to get on Facebook and LIKE Slidell Magazine and LIKE me as well! A lot of you are fans and have already liked us… THANKS!!! For you, I’ll try to subliminally communicate the urge to give me a big hug the next time you see me at a Chamber event or around town! You know you want to…it’s ok… just do it!

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Until next time…

Lee Kreil

by Lee Kreil

ee a need, ﬁll a need. For Technical Sgt. Donald Walker, along with his wife, Khiedrae Walker, Esq., by his side, that’s exactly what they were determined to do. As he serves our country with the United States Air Force, TSgt. Walker has learned and grasped several tenets that would help shape him and prepare him for the challenge he was preparing to take on. “I understand Integrity First, Service before Self, Excellence in All We Do,” states TSgt Walker. And it is with these characteristics that he and his 501 (c) (3) foundation, the Akira & Children Foundation, Inc., will take on their biggest challenge. TSgt. Walker became aware of an epidemic that is occurring in St. Tammany Parish suicide. The subject is not a pleasant one for anybody but it is a very real epidemic. Suicide touches all parts of the United States; but the statistics are unusually high in our parish. It is a shocking reality that St. Tammany Parish has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. T.Sgt Walker wants to put an end to it; especially when it comes to teenagers and young adults. “After discovering the high rates of suicide happening in our area, I wanted to do something to help. I found a lot of information and numerous programs dealing with this problem but all were usually focused on the adults of our community. I had a hard time ﬁnding teen and young adult resources.” TSgt. Walker aims to meet this need for information and resources for our St. Tammany Parish teens through an event, The A.T.O (Airwave Take Over). It is a celebration of life and a message of hope and helping. The goal of this event is to help teenagers and young adults positively deal with issues that surround suicide; peer pressure, mental health issues,

and depression. The A.T.O isn’t going to be boring lectures or presentations with a bunch of statistics. It is truly going to be a celebration! TSgt. Walker feels that, since the program is aimed at teens and young adults, it’s important to make the day fun, positive, and well...cool! There will be a concert featuring Grammy nominated recording artist, Kierra Sheard. In addition to the concert, there will be a full-length drama play, a 3-point shot competition with prizes, Ipads, Xboxes, gift cards, and other give-aways to help make this event a memorable and impactful one! TSgt. Walker envisioned this as a big event so he knew that he would have to reach out to as many people

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as he could to get involved. Living the Word International stepped up to host The A.T.O. event providing their 1,000+ seat state-of-the-art facility to its fellow member. There will be guest speakers from S.T.O.P.S.- St. Tammany Outreach for the Prevention of Suicides; Specialists with Ekems Healthcare, a psychiatric healthcare facility; in addition to St. Tammany Parish social workers and other healthcare professionals. TSgt. Walker also teamed up with other area business and organizations to help make his vision a reality. He’s anxious to get the opportunity to speak to more businesses in the area who share his vision and will help with sponsorships. “Funding….it just comes down to money… it is the main obstacle I’m facing to get this event set up and to get the word out,” he says. Thankfully, social media has helped spread the word, with the A.T.O. gaining popularity every day. The target group TSgt. Walker is trying to help is the very group that social media caters to. The Facebook and Twitter campaigns have been instrumental at attracting the interest and attention of the youths most affected by this epidemic. The A.T.O. has over 700 followers on Twitter already! Headline performer Kierra Sheard’s weekly reality TV show on BET draws millions of viewers from the teen and young adults audience, and her visit to Slidell is causing a buzz! Sam’s Club’s sponsorship, along with other community-spirited businesses, has allowed for additional radio and television advertising to get the word out and share the excitement. With the ﬁnal push underway for the September 28th A.T.O. event, more money will still be needed to ensure the goal of saving lives and educating the future adults of our community. The Walkers have organized The Suicide Awareness Walk-a-Thon as a way to help raise this extra needed money. The goal is to raise $3000 in donations from businesses and organizations, for all 14 miles, on a per mile basis. The walk has already started! It began on August 25th at the Tammany Trace and will end at 2528 Old Spanish Trail in Slidell on the 22nd of September. The Walkers are challenging you to join them as they challenge themselves by “going the extra mile” for the at-risk younger members of St. Tammany.

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This is a big undertaking. A lot of time, energy, and sacriﬁce has already been donated by TSgt. Walker with a lot more to come. He hopes to make this an annual event with the A.T.O. growing and having a deeper impact with each year that passes. “I want people to leave this event knowing who they can call. That there is somebody to talk to if they need help. There is help out there. You are not alone.” With the help of the Walkers, and community support, the future is bright for the youth of St. Tammany!

For more information about the A.T.O. or to donate, visit:

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