41st Edition - December 2013 by Slidell Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

magazine magazin Vol 41 December 2013

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The wheel is come full circle.

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-William Shakespeare On November 7, 2013, history was made and remembered as the Chamber of Commerce purchased their new home the historic two-story, red brick building on Front Street, in Slidell’s Olde Towne.

ﬁt well for both of us. He taught me about sales and leadership and life. He called me “Sunshine and Light”. Around him, I always was. He made it easy to respect him and love him.

I am so proud of my Chamber for seeing the value in preserving this landmark building and creating a center for the Slidell community. When the renovations are completed, the building will house the Chamber business ofﬁces and conference room, a Marketplace featuring the Adam Sambola Art Gallery, KLH Pottery Studio, a coffee house and café, and showcase numerous local artists.

I worked on and off at Professional Image for the next 15 years, with Ed advising and guiding me through college, the successes and failures of relationships, purchasing my home, my journey through cancer, and owning my own business.

The revitalization movement of Slidell’s Olde Towne district will benefit from the presence and the power of our nationally recognized, 5-Star Chamber. This historic building has seen dozens of owners in its 100+ years. The most recent owners were Ed and Debbie Emerson, and their business, Professional Image. Ed and Debbie started their company from their home and it expanded and grew to become one of the largest name badge manufacturers in the country. I started working for the Emersons when I was 23 years old. I was a file clerk, working from a coffee table at their house. Ed saw potential in me (the little girl who talked too much) and promoted me to customer service, where I took orders. Borrowing from his confidence, I became a fearless salesperson, both on the phones and in the field. Soon, I was traveling to different cities and businesses and learning the trade of outside salesperson. He insisted that, as I traveled into each new town, I stop into the local Chamber to make connections and pick up information that could help me in my sales. He was my mentor and my friend. I began referring to him as my Paran (French for “godfather”). We were not related, but he assumed the role of father figure, and it

Fast forward to February 2010. I move back home with the idea of starting Slidell Magazine. My first stop was to visit my Paran. Not having a location for my office yet, we filed for the Slidell Magazine business license under his work address, 1808 Front Street, that same historic two-story building. From there, following his long-standing instructions, I went to the Chamber to ensure that I started my business on the right foot. From that first meeting, I began a relationship with the Chamber staff and members that is the driving force behind the success of Slidell Magazine. The first edition of Slidell Magazine was published in June 2010 and was dedicated to my Paran. Ed died from cancer on June 26, 2011. His business, still thriving, moved to another location on Front Street. The historic red building stayed empty for two years, until the Chamber’s purchase last month. You never know who or what you will encounter along your journey through life that will impact you in the future. Life truly does come full circle. Lots of circles, of all sizes, constantly being formed and shaped and then completed and closed for others to start. I miss my Paran. I think of him often and I know I will think of him every time I walk through the doors of the Chamber. A new circle is forming - full of promise, sunshine and light.

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Kendra Maness - Editor/Publisher Editor@SlidellMag.com Alan Lossett - Graphic Design Lee Kreil - Staff Writer Contributing Writers: Donna Bush EFOP, Nancy Richardson Sli-Ku, Lee Kreil The Storyteller, John Case Jockularity, Corey Hogue Pet Points, Jeff Perret, DVM 20/20, John Maracich, III Crimi-mommly Insane, Leslie Gates Lori Gomez Mike Rich John N. Felsher Rose Marie Sand

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This year, a special tradition makes its 40th anniversary. The Bayou Classic, annually held in New Orleans, brings together Grambling University Tigers and Southern University Jaguars for one of the biggest rivalry games in Louisiana history. And a heated rivalry it is. There are generations of Southern fans that heckle generations of Grambling fans. Having said this, the rivalry is so much more than a game. This event is a city-wide convention. There is everything from fan fests to band duels and the whole week is a family-friendly event. Without a doubt, this is located in the most perfect place in the country for this type of game. It is important to our history, it brings us together as a family, and it is deﬁnitely a true Louisiana tradition.

The Bayou Classic dates back to 1974, but the rivalry game itself dates back to 1936. It is also important to note that both of these schools are considered to be historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and that this rivalry game is the best known rivalry game with such a distinction. It is held on the last Saturday of November and the game frequently draws tens of thousands of fans to the Super Dome to watch these two Division I FCS (Football Championship Series) teams play. While Grambling has held the edge in the most recent years, overall the series is really

FINE GIFTS close. It’s like splitting a hair with a knife. These teams are ﬁerce rivals and the winner gets serious bragging rights, and a Waterford Crystal trophy to boot. Besides the game itself, these two schools have had numerous graduates to the NFL ranks and various national academic honors. Some, like Grambling’s Willie Brown, have even made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Serious talent can come from this rivalry and it is always a fun competition to watch. There is so much more to do than watch a great game though. In addition to the football game, there is a Thanksgiving Day Parade led by the bands of both schools and stretching from the Super Dome to the French Market, helped by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. There is also a golf tournament, a beauty pageant, and several different fan and family related events. There is even a gospel brunch afterwards. How many other rivalry games you know would have a civilized breakfast afterwards? To top it all off, there is even a career fair for the students of both schools. It’s almost as if the schools use the week as a reason to remind college kids that they have to think about their careers, and then have their families “reinforce” that reminder. Out of these many festivities, though, the most famous and well-attended is the Battle of the Bands. The Super Dome plays host to Southern’s “Human Jukebox” and Grambling’s “Marching Tigers” bands while they try to out-duel each other. They perform elaborate routines and play everything from school songs to fan favorites. There is no judge to crown a winner other than fan applause. And these fans are serious too. This is an all-night affair, aimed at competing with each other but, in the end, giving

everyone a wonderful musical experience. It’s one of those “everybody wins” kinds of competitions. The whole week is so reminiscent of a Super Bowl week, but with a family-friendly twist. All of these events are wholesome festivities and really bring great publicity to New Orleans and both of these universities. It also is a great economic boost to the city. In 2012 the rivalry drew more than 250,000 visitors to New Orleans and estimates of the impact of this game are consistently in the millions of dollars. That is a serious inﬂux of people. And no, my house is not available. It also attracts roughly 4 - 5 million television viewers on NBC. This is, after all, a nationally recognized game. While both

schools typically forgo Division I playoff eligibility to participate in the Bayou Classic, this game is one of the most watched smallschool games in the nation. National attention aside, the more I have heard about the game, the more I hear about what a fun time the Classic experience is. Generations of families talk about this game and the great times had in the days before and after. It stands the testament of time solidly, no matter what kind of record the football teams have before the game starts. Both teams could have won only one

game, but this game is the most important of the whole season. Even if both teams are going through a losing season, they still get a chance to play for a championship trophy. Without a doubt, this is a Louisiana tradition. It’s rare when you can definitively say that an event with that many people is a “family” event. But, in this case, it is true. These schools may be fierce rivals, but it is all in good fun. And that is Louisiana sportsmanship at its finest. We have a strong spirit of competition, but still understand what is important in life. We appreciate the escape, and appreciate the chance to experience that with our families. This is why it is so much more than a game. It is a part of Louisiana culture. The game

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is fun to watch, but the experience of the week is really the draw of the whole event. I always love to hear people from Louisiana joke that any holiday, celebration, or small special occasion is just an excuse to get together, eat food, and have a good time. But that is truly what we see from the Bayou Classic. Everyone gets together, eats a lot of good food, and has a great time. What is more Louisianian than that? The Bayou Classic is a great week to be a part of Louisiana culture. There are plenty of fun things to do, it is great for the whole family, and brings together two of the most historically important colleges in the state. The rivalry stretches for decades, but the competition is just a small part of the

whole experience. When you break it down to its most basic form, it’s a festival that celebrates Louisiana history and culture. I hope you had a chance to catch the game, or got out to New Orleans and experienced the great times. But if you didn’t, make sure you get out there next year. Because, no matter who wins, Louisiana is the true beneﬁciary of this storied tradition.

Corey Hogue December 2013

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

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Vacations are all about sightseeing, right? We visit natural and man-made wonders for the “ooh & ahh” moments accompanied by the requisite photo opp. And often we pay lots of money and travel great distances to do so. But in December, opportunities abound within a stone’s throw of our homes for virtually free sightseeing - holiday lights are truly the greatest free show on earth. Whether your fancy runs to puffy inﬂatable characters, artful light displays or religious pageantry, pack up the family and friends in a cozy vehicle for your own private showing. Let someone else do the work and bear the expense of fantastic shows. All it takes is enough gas to get to nearby locations. True, sometimes it takes a little patience to drive through the traffic, but that’s when CD’s of Christmas carols comes in handy. Who doesn’t like to sing along to “Jingle Bells” for 25 miles?

What’s that you say? Is there an Ebenezer Scrooge-type in your group? No problem, grumble away. The ghosts of Christmas future will visit your dreams and there will be lumps of coal in your stockings! A d m i t t e d l y, m y o w n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n Christmas decorating has often run to Scrooge-like behavior. One year, frustrated with trying to untangle a carelessly stored string of multi-colored mini lights, I simply placed them on a patio table in front of my house in a clump. “There!” I exclaimed. “It’s abstract art – you can see anything you want in it --- Santa, Rudolph, even Mr. Bingle.” The family wasn’t impressed, but I thought I’d done my part. Okay, I was lazy but that’s another problem. Art is subjective. One of my absolute favorite and inspiring displays of such art was a tree I saw in Pasadena last year. The house had twinkling

white Christmas lights, but a big barren tree in the front yard was adorned with a lawn chair, a lamp, a framed picture and mirror, and assorted kitchen utensils. I’m sure there was an interesting story there – was it a statement piece or a pre-garage sale enticement? Unusual displays are also often found in the many lighted boat parades that crop up in our Louisiana cities. Catch as many of those as you can this season, they’re a lot of fun. But don’t plan on catching beads. Even though many boats may throw them, they usually end up in the bayou rather than the waiting hands of onlookers. I caught the boat parade in Slidell last year, and will make it an annual tradition. Even a perennial Scrooge like me has a few holiday traditions that are can’t-miss and there’s a few new ones I’m looking forward to. Find a couple of days in December to

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travel to what’s become known as the “Trail of Lights,” in the Natchitoches-Shreveport-Bossier City area. Natchitoches has the largest Christmas celebration in the state each year, and they’ve added so much to the month-plus-long celebration in recent years that every other December weekend is pretty much a mini-festival on its own. If you don’t have a couple of days to travel, there are more than enough Christmas activities in New Orleans. Celebration in the Oaks of City Park is a favorite, and riding the train around the park isn’t just for kids anymore! New Orleans’ beautiful St. Louis Cathedral offers several holiday programs, and there’s caroling in Jackson Square in the evenings. You can make a day of it, as five French Quarter residences are open to the public and dressed up for the holidays. Try a Creole Christmas Home Tour in New Orleans, with a walk with the Friends of the Cabildo to visit three historic houses dressed in Creole Christmas decorations, followed by the Creole Christmas Story and refreshments.Or choose the Preservation Resource Center tour of New Orleans’ Garden District homes bedecked for Christmas, with music and shopping provided, too. If you’re a glutton for this sort of thing, just about every plantation home in Louisiana is a red and green masterpiece right now; the Beauregard-Keyes house is one of my favorites. It offers a peek into past celebrations and Frances Parkinson Keyes’ doll collections and folk costumes. There’s something for everybody in these grand homes and plantations, and you won’t see an abstract clump of lights, I’m sure. If you’re inspirited to do more to your own home after viewing the plantations dressed in holiday finery, take a peek into your neighbors’ homes by visiting one of the many Parade of Homes for ideas. Ambitious homeowners actually work for weeks and then open their doors to gawkers, usually to benefit charitable organizations. While I personally will never be moved to do such a thing, I’m sure glad others do!

There’s one on December 12 at Docville Farms in Meraux that I’m looking forward to. The Docville facility will be turned into “A Winter Wonderland” featuring antiques, entertainment,  artisans and crafters, food, and all of the proceeds benefit the St. Bernard Volunteers for Family and Community. Slidell’s Christmas celebration is at Christmas Under the Stars in Griffith Park and throughout Olde Towne. At the park, you’ll find the Parade of Trees decorated by each of the area’s schools, a beautifully painted Nativity scene from artist Lori Gomez and – oh, yes - the toy train is back! But there’s more – a light show, and a variety of nightly musical and fine art performances, photographs with Santa and a gingerbread house contest. The Grinches among you still not convinced that holiday lights will melt their hearts? How about watching people burn up structures they’ve built on the levee on Christmas Eve? I’m always in awe of the groups that build elaborate wooden bonfires to light the way for Papa Noel. What a great use for the levee system! Now if you’re still turning your back at these traditional holiday activities, don’t fear. There’s a celebration (of sorts) for you called “Festivus” - for the rest of us. Made popular by the Seinfeld comedy series, Festivus is a true event with roots in ancient history. It involves AOG (Airing Of Grievances), a bare aluminum pole, and FOS (Feats Of Strength) aimed at claiming the rightful place of head of the family. I’m sure Festivus lovers will be just fine with lumps of coal in their stockings. Festivus is sarcastic, anti-holiday, and absolutely fills a need for some of us to blast to smithereens every pre-conceived holiday notion. I’ve heard many a complaint from visitors in my neighborhood who get stuck in traffic surrounding the display of a Christmasaholic neighbor. Personally, I love the place. The owners have gone all out, and you can even tune into a radio band to hear Christmas music coordinated with their light display. Longtime residents of our area may remember the brouhaha when Al Copeland turned his home into a lighted display of gigantic proportions. Those decorations are now displayed at Lafayenre Park in Metairie, and friends tell me that it’s become bigger and bigger over the years.

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But there’s truly only one place in the hemisphere to see as many lights as possible on one street. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the ultimate Americana Christmas Display. This display took my heart a couple of years ago when my family visited Disney at holiday time. Our group included my siblings and their spouses, and we all took turns pushing my Mom in a wheelchair around the Streets of America location on a back lot. Over ﬁve million lights that drape the buildings are synchronized to holiday music and ﬂash to the beat with changing colors. It’s sensory overload, but in a good way. The history of the display dates from a Little Rock family whose family light displays were closed down by the Arkansas Supreme Court when they started buying houses in the neighborhood to erect and store their spectacular displays. I’m not sure whose side I’d be on if I’d lived in that neighborhood, but I’m glad Disney saw the press coverage of the ruling and provided an appropriate crowd-controlled home for this extravaganza. Young and old alike congregate in the street and stare at this unbelievable megadisplay.

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I carry several special memories of seeing bright holiday lights with my children. Experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child keeps these traditions going. But that year in Disney, I was a child again. Chuck Sabadie

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At times, the Grinch that lives in my head looks around at the over commercialization of the holiday and shakes her head in dismay. But on that street, in the mecca of make believe, my Mom’s happy face made me smile and look forward to Christmas. We stopped in the street as the music and blinking lights began. My Mom held up her hands to the falling (fake) snow that showered upon us and my brother took her in his arms to dance to “White Christmas.” That melted every “bah, humbug” thought I had. We make memories to last a lifetime during this important holiday – memories that make us look forward to December all year. I hope the sights you see this holiday season fill your heart with hope and love and that you have a safe and happy holiday season.

Sli-Ku “Time’s fun when you’re having flies!” no, wait…that’s what Kermit the Frog would say. “Time flies when you’re having fun!” yeah, that’s it!! I always get those two mixed up. The point being, this year has flown by and I had so much FUN writing each month’s installment. It seems like just the other day, I sat down to write the first ever Sli-Ku, beginning my adventures writing for Slidell Magazine. This December marks the dozenth Sli-Ku as well as the final one of 2013! I managed to come up with an entire year of Sli-Kus and you, the reader, managed to survive an entire year of puns, silly wit, digressions, and being informed of way too many obscure holidays and observances. That being said, it’s time to delve into December… And what better way than to point out that December is Awareness Month of Awareness Months Month (AMAMM). That’s right; this mouthful of an observance is when all the 2014 Holidays and Observances get finalized, voted on, officially recognized, etc…during this, the penultimate month before the next calendar year. Heaven help us if Bathtub Party Day on December 5th gets skipped because someone forgot to officially request its annual recognition date! Quite a few observances are permanent as a result of passage through acts of Congress, like Pearl Harbor Day on December 7 for example. On the other hand, National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day on the 16th…not so much an automatic observance and thus the reason and need (I use “need” very loosely) for AMAMM. Slidell is a wonderful place to live and work the other 11 months of the year, so why expect December to be any different? In fact, this final month is the

icing on the cake. With more activities, events, meetings, Chamber happenings, and performances than I can mention, I encourage everyone to keep this copy of the magazine with you at ALL times this month. December is as full as Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. Escape the hustle and bustle of the holidays by making your very own Calendar of Events. Pick any night in December and just hop in the car and drive around the different neighborhoods and business districts of Slidell and you’re sure to see wonderful lights and decorations of all kinds. Christmas lights and Nativity scenes, giant Menorahs and Hanukkah displays, and simple Winter-themed decorations adorn houses and businesses alike. And yes, there will be almost as many WHO DAT? decorations and ﬂags out, as many Slidellians hope the Saints make another playoff run! There is something in December for everyone to enjoy. Focus your attention on what gives meaning to you during this time of the year; help others to see… the experience can be eye opening for you both. Slow down and enjoy what you have; you’ll discover you have more than you think once you stop and look back. Now keep looking - not back, but backwards, and you’ll ﬁnd that “stressed” is really just “desserts” when spelled from this new viewpoint. When you start to feel pressure…eat a cupcake… if for no other reason than having to take the paper cup off is like the adult equivalent of counting to “10” in order to calm down or relax. Joy and kindness are always free to give; receiving either one is more valuable than anyone can put a price on. Thank you, readers, for this past year and Peace Yall!

You’ll celebrate life See son, when you look closely You’ll know the reason

Until next time…

Lee Kreil

Barry Rush with his sister, Betty Cuevas

A Brave Face by Lee Kreil

If you were to visit Olde Towne and walk along one end of First Street, you would come across several unique small businesses offering antiques and wares of all kinds. It’s fun to go in all these shops and look around; you will almost always see something new each time you pop in one of them. The old buildings and houses that make up the antique area look rustic and charming on the outside; all rather similar in appearance actually, but each one with its own personality and special treasures. Almost like each shop’s façade hides what’s really going on inside. Antiques and Arts on First is one of these shops; if you stop by, you will be greeted warmly by whomever is there. If you are lucky, Barry will be there to personally greet and welcome you upon entering his shop. Like the building itself, Barry Rush has a pleasant appearance with a warm welcoming smile and nature about him. But Barry’s personal façade hides a secret to what’s really going on inside. Barry is fighting for his life.

Walking among us, without most others ever knowing, are people whose outside appearances hide the challenges and struggles that each may be going through. In most cases, as with friends and colleagues, we are totally unaware of any struggle simply because their outward appearance gives no hint of any ill health or condition. Kidney disease is one of these conditions. Up almost 25% from just a few years ago, twenty-six million adults suffer from chronic kidney disease, with 1 in 3 American adults being at risk of developing kidney related diseases. Nearly 350,000 Americans are currently on dialysis with just over 70,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant. You may not realize it, but we all know someone affected by kidney disease; a family member, co-worker, colleague, or friend or acquaintance. Statistically and realistically, there is someone that each of us interacts with on a regular basis that suffers with a kidney related condition. Barry Rush is just one example. Born with only one kidney, Barry was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease

when his only organ began failing in 1980. Barry was fortunate in that he was typed with his sister and was able to receive a “Live Organ” kidney transplant from her. His age at the time, plus factors including the genetic match and the fact that the transplant procedure was with a living donor, all contributed to the longevity of a properly functioning transplanted kidney. “My kidney lasted for over 30 years…that’s a long time for a transplanted organ,” Barry informed me. He went on to say, “I was on dialysis for about six months leading up to the transplant and developed side-effects associated with being on dialysis. But after the transplant, my diabetes, high blood pressure and the restrictive diet and fluid regiment were all things of the past.” Though Barry’s transplant was caused by a birth defect, diabetes is the most common cause for kidney transplantation and accounts for nearly 25% of procedures in the United States. The dramatic health improvements like Barry experienced are some of the benefits patients can experience when receiving kidney transplants.

Transplant recipients generally living up to 15 years longer versus being kept on dialysis only. And as with Barry, patients generally have fewer medical and health complication from a successful transplantation than if just kept on standard dialysis. Barry benefitted greatly from the type of transplantation he received, which is a factor in determining the overall long-term prognosis of recipients. Living donors and deceased donors (formerly known as cadaver or cadaveric donors) are the two classifications of kidney transplantation. Currently, almost 1 in 3 (or 6,000 of the nearly 16,500) kidney transplants that take place come from a live donor. There are always exceptions and special cases, but the benefits of a live donor kidney are more preferable when compared to those of a deceased donor organ. However, improvements in medicine and procedures are helping to close the gap in performance and longevity of the organs between the two sources. The first kidney transplant occurred in 1950 with the kidney being rejected ten months later as a result of no immunosuppressive drugs being available. With the first reliable kidney dialyses being available from the 1940’s, deceased donor transplants were not even performed in some countries until well into the 1960’s, with the advent and development of reliable anti-rejection medications. The first live organ donor transplant occurred in 1954 between identical twins. They were chosen because of the low risk of rejection due to a perfect genetic match, with the recipient going on to live another eight years after the procedure. To date, medical advances have improved greatly and have led to transplantation of non-compatible and non-genetic organs. Advances in techniques with the transplantation surgery and procedure itself have improved, making those compatible for receiving or donating a kidney more numerous. Also, recent studies have found that there is no long-term harm to the health of the donor, which has helped to increase the available pool of kidney donors.

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Education is paramount and groups and organizations like Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) and National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) work tirelessly to get their word out. The purpose of these two groups are to help patients raise money and manage the cost of transplantation, in addition to education and awareness about organ donation. LOPA is a not-for-profit agency and is responsible for servicing the state of Louisiana through housing and maintaining the Louisiana Donor Registry and recovering organs and tissue for transplant. LOPA’s goal is to save and enhance lives and educate people on the importance of being a donor. Their aim is to make organ donation accepted as a natural extension of life. NFT is helping Barry and others like him with fundraising efforts to help pay for the high costs associated with kidney transplantation. “I have to come up with $10,000 to be eligible to start the process of finding a donor for my kidney transplant,” explains Barry. He continues, “I have to be able to show

an ability to pay for the transplant. Just as costly as the operation are the followup care and drugs that I’ll need and will take for the rest of my life.”

All of Slidell will have another chance to help in Barry’s cause - and have a great while helping! On December 5th, the Slidell Little Theatre will host a special showing of “Gifts of the Magi” with 100% of the proceeds for the night going towards the $10,000 goal. In addition, tax-deductible donations can be made to Barry via NFT by check. Just write “in honor of Barry Rush” on the memo line. You can even make a secure credit card or online donation to NFT in Barry’s name.

Volunteering for the Kidney Foundation just after his first transplant, Barry reached out to that group for assistance but found there is little money available. He then found the NFT and, as a foundation, this group has worked with individuals for the last 30 years to help raise the money needed for transplants. But the $10,000 payment still must be made by the recipient. That’s where Barry’s extended family and friends, throughout Olde Towne and all of Slidell, come in.

Every day, people walking amongst us put on their brave faces as they go through their daily lives and put up their own fight with kidney disease. It can strike anyone at any time. Barry’s journey could one day be mine…or yours…or someone close to you. 1 in 3 American adults will face some form of the disease. Find out more and become educated about this disease that touches us all. Learn about organ donation and become an organ donor. Reach out to LOPA, NFT, or your local hospital to learn more about how to protect yourself, get involved, or

“We had a huge garage sale on antique row to help raise money and deposit in my NFT account. The sale went well but there is still a long way to go raise the rest of the money I need for my transplant,” Barry says with a mix of appreciation and pride. “It’s hard asking people for money and I am so thankful for everyone who supported and participated in the garage sale.”

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even become a living donor. Find out how you can make a difference in your own life or in the lives of others. Go by and see Barry at Antiques and Arts on First and see the brave face of someone determined to overcome chronic kidney disease again and, as Barry says, “live a normal, contributing to society, amazing, adventurous life!”

TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TO “GIFTS OF THE MAGI” TO BENEFIT BARRY RUSH OR TO MAKE A DONATION, PLEASE CALL: 985-643-4790 Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency www.lopa.org 1-800-521-GIVE National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) www.transplants.org 1-800-489-3863

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Slidell Bui lds Business Using Social Media... In just a few years, “social media” has gone from an interesting oddity to the dominant form of communication (in addition to excellent magazines focused on small to medium sized municipalities, of course). Your grandmother is on Facebook or your grandkid is on Instagram. Dad’s on Twitter. Mom’s using Pinterest. Even your weird uncle has a Google+ account. Slidell businesses have realized how important it is to have a social media strategy. And with a number of top notch companies focused on honing and crafting the online presence for many local businesses, Slidell is ahead of the game in comparison to other towns. To learn more about how Slidell businesses connect with their customers on the internet, we talked to Drew Franzo, a local social media expert. Drew’s company, eSYNCS, has been recognized as a leader in “buzz marketing.” In business since 2011, eSYNCS has already won several high proﬁle awards for marketing and advertising.

do it right. Services like Instagram and Pinterest cater to certain demographics - their reach isn’t as broad as Facebook and Twitter. Google+ is a desert.

Give us a success story - not just about how you helped a business increase its “likes” on Facebook - but how those “likes” translated into a real increase in revenue.

Slidell 2020: What are the most popular social media sites here in Slidell? Franzo: If you’re going to go fishing, cast a pole where the fish are swimming the most. Locally, Facebook rules the land in regards to numbers. Are there any other sites that have high usage elsewhere that we don’t often use here in Slidell? In densely populated areas nationally, Twitter is very popular. LinkedIn has very strong benefits for business professionals, but the learning curve is much higher for people who want to

Additionally, we offer services like website development, email marketing, search engine optimization, graphic design and digital signage.

What kind of services does a company like yours offer to a small business? Complete management for social media. We handle all the day to day postings, monitoring, communicating, and overall brand management for business and organizations of all sizes.

Here’s a great example of how social media can change a business in the short term: a local steakhouse here in Slidell. We manage all their day to day postings on Facebook. Since starting our service, in just over two months, we have increased their fan base to just over 2000. The results are a direct impact on the number of Christmas party bookings, weekend dinner reservations and overall brand engagement.The return on investment has been incredible!

Brrrriiiiinnnnnng! By Donna Bush

pinning through the cool, crisp air, wheels turning in big round circles, feeling the breeze in my face. Cycling brings such pleasure. Bicycling knows no age or season. We all remember our first new shiny bike on Christmas morning. I know you remember the purple one with the banana seat and the streamers from the handlebars. Or maybe yours was a red BMX that sent you racing ahead of all the neighborhood kids. Thoughts of bicycles always bring back childhood memories. But bicycling is something you never outgrow. Like they say, you never forget how to ride a bike! Bicycling has much to offer – it’s an excellent form of low-impact exercise, opportunity to commune with nature, visit with friends, see places you can’t see from the highway and it’s even kind to the environment. You can enjoy bicycling during any season, even winter. Our winters are so mild that bicycling gives you a perfect opportunity to get off the sofa and go outside. You don’t have to travel far to take advantage of cycling. You can do it in your own local neighborhood or you can

take advantage of some of the wonderful trails we have available to us within a short drive. In some cities, bicycles are a primary mode of transportation, allowing riders to easily avoid car-congested streets. Some people even commute to work along Hwy 90 from Fort Pike to the NASA Michoud Facility. The rides are in the early mornings and late evenings, when it is still cool and provides the best opportunity for observing wildlife, not to mention beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Check out bikeeasy.com, whose mission is “To make riding in New Orleans easy, safe and fun.” They are a grassroots, non-profit organization aimed at promoting an improved quality of life for all who share New Orleans streets. How can they go wrong, with a motto like “Getting New Orleans Streets in Gear?” They provide commuter maps and a listing of bicycle incidents and thefts on their website. You can spend a little or a lot for the necessary equipment. If you are a casual rider, you may want to start with an inexpensive bike from your local Wal-Mart or sporting goods store. As you become

hooked on cycling, you will want to advance to better equipment. At this point you are ready to make a decision on your favorite style of riding – mountain biking or street biking, even racing or competition. Bike choice is important and should be tailored to your cycling style. You don’t want to take a mountain bike, with its fat, off-road tires on a paved bike path. You will be miserable and always trying to keep up with your friends, who will fly past you on their thintired street bikes. There are a whole host of options available for bicycles. They can be extremely lightweight, made of carbon fiber, streamlined for every ounce of speed. They can even have shocks to cushion every bump in the trail. There are choices beyond the traditional upright bike that we all grew up with. One option is the recumbent bike. Not necessarily new, but increasing in popularity. Recumbent bikes offer an ergonomic design by providing a more natural seated position for the back and legs. The back is in a slightly reclined position, legs extended in front of the body, head balanced in a natural position above the cervical spine.

This takes all the stress off the neck, shoulders, wrist and back. All the weight is on the butt, as in a normal seated position. There can be an adjustment period, as they are a bit tippy on take off. Another consideration would be recumbent trikes, even lower to the ground with 3 points of contact, making for a very stable ride. An option in between the recumbent and the upright is the crank forward. These bikes offer ease of use, comfortable wider seat, no wrist, arm or neck pain and a flat-footed stance while seated.

Local Clubs:

In addition there are many other clubs dedicated to promoting safe cycling as a recreation, sport and alternative mode of transportation, such as the Crescent City Cyclists, which is the oldest and largest cycling club in the New Orleans area. Visit their website at crescentcitycyclists.org. Becoming involved with your local cycling club will prove invaluable to you as a beginning cyclist. They will instruct in the finer points of cycling, whether it be for racing, adventure or just the sheer fun of it. Most clubs have weekly organized rides, running anywhere from 25 miles (short) to 70 miles (long). These rides are guided and pre-mapped to ensure a safe riding environment.

Many of the local clubs will take part in fundraising events such as the Tour for the Cure for Multiple Sclerosis and Tour de Cure for Diabetes. There are numerous other events raising money for breast cancer research, United Way, March of Dimes, children with disabilities and a host of others. What a great way to get your exercise and do your part to help others as well.

Trails within New Orleans and Northshore Area:

As a beginning cyclist, you may want to consider one of the local cycling clubs. There are many clubs that focus on cycling as a racing sport, like the New Orleans Bicycle Club. Check their website at neworleansbicycleclub.org. You will find that most major cities along the Louisiana/ Mississippi coast have a racing club. You can find a number of these listed on the N.O. Bicycle Club website along with corresponding website links.

Also check out the League of American Bicyclists’ website for lots of useful information for the beginning cyclist, as well as the experienced.

Trails outside New Orleans and Northshore Area:

Don’t overlook the possibility of a used bike. Serious bikers are always upgrading to newer, better bikes and selling their old ones. Check with your local bike shop, newspaper classified sections and Craigslist. Bike shorts are important to add to your comfort factor. They come padded to increase the cushion of your ride. Padded shorts are not as much of a necessity with the recumbents as with an upright. A helmet is another crucial part of your bicycling safety equipment. Regardless of how slow you think you are going, a helmet is indispensable if you have a mishap. If you are riding in automobile traffic, you will want to be seen easily. Reflective clothing, a light and a flag are all good options to make you more noticeable.

The rails-to-trails system provides a great place to cycle in St. Tammany Parish. Visit their website tammanytrace.org for the latest details on recently completed additions to their trail system. In St. Tammany Parish the trail system provides a 31-mile recreational outlet for cyclists, joggers, walkers, roller bladers and equestrians. Don’t overlook such great paths as City Park, Audubon Park and the lakefront as wonderful places to take a morning or afternoon ride. If you want more of a nature-oriented experience, my favorite is the trail at Boy Scout Road in Big Branch NWR in Lacombe. On the ride out to the observation deck, you are likely to encounter red-cockaded woodpeckers, great egrets fishing among the wild irises and maybe even a bald eagle. At the observation deck you have a great view of the marsh out to Lake Pontchartrain. Ride down to the end of the trail and you will venture through an old-growth oak forest and end up on Lacombe Bayou. Check out bikelouisiana.com for the most complete information on biking in Louisiana. It provides a list of road rules for bicyclists, along with trail information, events and contacts for rental companies, clubs and trails throughout the state. There’s even a cool search feature that allows you to find a trail that matches your location, style of riding and length of trip. Bring back some of those childhood memories! Dust off your bike or buy a new one. But go out and ride. You can even put the streamers on the handlebars and get a bike bell! Brrriiinngggggg!

New Orleans Bicycle Club Crescent City Cyclists League of American Bicyclists

neworleansbicycleclub.org crescentcitycyclists.org bikeleague.org

Long Leaf Trace (Hattiesburg to Prentiss 41 miles) longleaftrace.org Kisatchie National Forest southernregion.fs.fed.us Hooper Park Baton Rouge (5 mile shaded bike path) trails.com Natchez Trace natcheztracetravel.com Louisiana Bike Trails bikelouisiana.com

St. Tammany Trace East Bank Miss. River (22mile) Fontainebleau State Park Big Branch NWR – Boy Scout Road Bayou Sauvage NWR – Levee trail Louisiana Bike Trails New Orleans

tammanytrace.org jplanaux.com crt.state.la.us/parks fws.gov/bigbranchmarsh fws.gov/bayousauvage bikelouisiana.com bikeeasy.com

Crimi-mommly Insane I WILL, be ok. And so will I. By Leslie Gates

Cartwheels and Christmas Shopping Editor’s Note: Readers, It is my pleasure to introduce you to Slidell Magazine’s newest contributing writer, Leslie Gates. I ﬁrst read Leslie’s hilarious and touching family stories through her blogspot and have been addicted since. Leslie was born and raised a Slidell girl and a diehard Saints fan. Her love of writing started at a young age where it was nurtured by her biggest fan, and strictest grammar teacher, her Mom. It blossomed later, as life gave her different challenges. She graduated from Salmen High in 1995 where she danced as a Spartanette (but always secretly wished she played basketball instead). Due to a strong sense of patriotism, and to follow in her Dad’s footsteps, at age 17 she joined the Army. Her travels took her to places such as Ft. Lewis, Washington, Kuwait, and Ft. Benning, Georgia, where she jumped out of perfectly good airplanes. After 4 years as a truck driver and helicopter refueler, she was honorably discharged from the Army. Her heart brought her back to Slidell, where she completed nursing school and began working as a medical research nurse. During this time, she met and married her other biggest fan, her husband Brian, now a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel. During her six years in the new role of military wife, they had 3 children, now ages 11, 8 and 6. Leslie’s children have been the center of her world and her writing, and her full time job since the day she learned she would be a Mom. This journey through motherhood has been her greatest challenge, fullﬁlled her deepest love, and opened a whole new world of wacky, everyday, real-life stories to tell. Slidell Magazine is proud to share her stories with you. ~ Kendra Maness, Editor

It never fails. I always get the shopping buggy with the one spinny wheel. Oh yes, I could easily put it back and grab another one, but I never do. Ya wanna know why? Because I‛m only gonna end up picking its defective twin brother. I am meant to have them. What are the odds in the buggy line-up that ole‛ wobble wheel is at the front of the line every time I walk in the store? I‛m usually convinced it will get better as I‛m pushing it along. That maybe it will just fix itself in some magical way. If I‛m feeling extra smart, I will pretend like I know what I‛m doing and grab a random item out of my purse, shoving it into the mechanisms of the wheel, hoping to straighten it out. But then it just stops rolling all together. By the time I get to the produce aisle, I‛m ready to give up. As I‛m shamefully pushing my defective buggy though the store, I always look around for others of my kind. Another poor soul, click, click, clicking their way through the aisles. Someone to share a brief look of sympathy with. But nope, it‛s just me. At the mercy of Satan‛s buggy. Halfway through the store, I start frantically searching the aisles to find that one lonely buggy sitting by itself so I can do a quick trade off. If I find one, it‛s usually in worse condition. Or there is a hairpin stuck in the wheel. Duh. That‛s why they left it there in the first place.

Now, this whole wheel issue always comes with a bigger problem. THE VORTEX. It‛s that pull to the left or the right that causes me to keep having to scoot the damn thing straight again. The heavier the buggy, the harder to keep from being sucked into the sideways vortex. This causes a major forearm cramp during the whole shopping experience. I play it cool though. Trying to hide my shame. But there are always those people that are snooty about their buggy once they see mine. It‛s that look...”Oh, you‛ve got THAT buggy”. How they mock me so. Every now and then, I will get a little humor break when I find someone‛s old shopping list down at the bottom of the cart. That always amuses me. I mean, ya gotta read it, right? Right. It always starts with milk. Then it gets weird. Milk, dog bones, tampons, whistle, a wrench, smelly thing for car, and carrot sticks or Milk, WD-40, hemorrhoid cream, flashlight, glitter, and potatoes It makes me laugh to myself, forgetting about the problem at hand. But only briefly. Now. Imagine this... It‛s Christmas time. The store is packed. And I have to get the kids some presents without them seeing. Because, yes, they were with me on this shopping trip.

The baby was crying, trying to pull things off the shelves. My toddler was riding underneath, purposely hanging a limb over the side because he thought it was funny to control the brakes. Which, by the way, is most likely NOT going to get me the “Mother of the Year Award.” Then my five year old, hanging onto the front of the cart. Usually a little to the left or right, causing the vortex to suck me in even more. Got that image? Greeeeat. Because my foot was also broken. One in a big boot and the other in a flip flop. It‛s like having one long leg and one short leg. It hurts the hips. I know this now.

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BOYS & GIRLS PONY RIDES • FUN ACTIVITIES BIRTHDAY PARTIES • & MUCH MORE! Step one: Push though the pain. Head to the blanket aisle and grab a very boring blanket. This is important. Just make sure there are no patterns or pretty colors because the kids will try and take it. It needs to be cozy though, you WILL be buying it. Unless you just want to pack it back up the way you found it once you are done with it. Ya know - folded perfect, cardboard insert, perfectly straight ribbon meeting in the middle to a cute little bow. Yeah. You‛re keeping it.

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Part C: Head to the toy aisle with open blanket at the ready. Once you ﬁnd the item of interest, use one hand to point away from you and yell, “it‛s Santa!”, quickly grabbing the item simultaneously with your other hand and throwing it under the blanky. Please don‛t pick a toy that makes noise upon movement. That would require another block of instruction. And I really don‛t have the energy. Or the meds. Five: Once you have retrieved all desired items and hidden them under the blanket, grab a couple of odd things to go on top. Duck tape, trash bags... oh wait, scratch that. But deﬁnitely grab a bottle of wine. You will need it.

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Time for check out! Say your prayers! Cause this part STINKS. The lines are ridiculously long, two registers are open, and there are 10 employees standing around playing Candy Crush, talking about God knows what. I‛m sure it isn‛t about opening another register. At this point, the candy in the check out line is your best bet. Just give into it this time. Let them all pick a candy with the letter... I don‛t know...Q. That should give you enough time to get everything on the conveyer belt, while the kids are still looking for that Qit-Qat or whatever. Throw the blanket on top, give the cashier “the Mommy look” which means, double bag it please, then REALLY let your kids pick out a candy once all toys are hidden. After all, they have been putting up with your cursing for the last hour. Finally - pay, do a happy dance, and be on your merry way!

Make sure to give those 10 workers a dirty look as you are walking sideways out the door. They should be ﬁxing the damn buggy wheels! Almost to the car! Your forearm will be painfully numb at this point, and will most likely be the arm you will need to hold up the back door of the SUV, if it‛s like mine was, and had a broken spring. One arm holds the door up, one arm grabs a bag. Don‛t get this confused. That door really hurts when it falls on top of you. The kids think it‛s funny though, as they are climbing the cart return in the pouring rain. When you pull up in your driveway, the lights from above will be shining upon you, and the angels will be singing songs of praise. Get out the car, grab the bags, throw them in the closet, go get on the couch with your cozy new blanket and bottle of wine, and give yourself a pat on the back.

Wait! Get back up and get the kids out of the car! Okay, NOW you can relax. If it just so happens to be around the same time that your spouse gets home, he/she will most likely wonder why you are sitting on the couch doing nothing. Hold it together. And just be glad you didn‛t grab the duct tape and trash bags. So remember, if you ever get THAT buggy (which you won‛t, because I‛m the only one that does) keep on pushing through it. WHATEVER it is in life. Push though. Even when the cart wheels try and stop you, there will still be a light at the end of the aisle. And a bottle of wine. In any case… Happy Christmas shopping!

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Dressed in ci rca 1888 styl e, Susan McClamroch, Olde Towne Slidell Main Street‛s Director, gree visitors at Ci ts ty Hall for S lidell‛s Quasquicent ennial Celebr ation and Pelican Party

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