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This summer was different, however. I’m not sure if it’s because I took the time to search out things to do, or just because I was more open to new experiences, or if there was just simply MORE to do than I remember from summers’ past.

Whatever the reason, I had an awesome summer attending plays from Slidell Little Theatre and comedy shows and plays at Cutting Edge Theatre, both of which now hold permanent places on Slidell Magazine’s Calendar of Events. While visiting the Slidell Library, I listened to music and sat in with a Storytime. I beat the

Editor’sLetterBy Kendra Maness

Slidell Magazine

Kendra Maness - Editor/PublisherEditor@SlidellMag.com

Graphics: Alan LossettPhotography: ImkePhoto.com

Contributing Writers:Alex Carollo

Dane KennedyNancy Richardson

The Storyteller, John Case Storyteller@SlidellMag.comJockularity, Corey Hogue Jockularity@SlidellMag.comPet Points, Jeff Perret, DVM DrJeff@SlidellMag.comFrankly Slidell, Frank Davis www.FrankDavis.comFood Spy FoodSpyOfSlidell@SlidellMag.com

This summer, I really invested time in expanding the Calendar of Events in Slidell Magazine to include just about any and all things to do and enjoy around Slidell. It wasn’t ALL work – in researching and compiling the different events of our area, I found some really exciting and cool things right here in Slidell. I had a great time while producing (what I hope to be) a great community events calendar for everyone to enjoy. What a deal!

Prime cultural seasons each year are March - April and September - October (logically based around our local weather). The City of Slidell’s LPO Concert, Art’s Evening and Bayou Jam concerts keep us hopping in the Spring and Fall. There are charity events and fundraising banquets, dances, and parties just about every weekend. The summer was always the “off-season”. Events, particularly cultural events, were not a summertime mainstay. Whether it was because of summertime family travels or just pure exhaustion from the heat, attendance at cultural events was minimal at best.

5

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heat with a guided tour through the City of Slidell Museum. I attended numerous art shows, all free to the public, compliments of the City of Slidell. I jammed to blues, reggae, calypso and folk music courtesy of our local bars and lounges. I ate the best food imaginable at two new area restaurants.

I took some out-of-town friends on a sight seeing tour of Slidell, where we visited the bayou area and the Bayou Bonfouca Marina. The boats and their owners are as eclectic and diverse as you’ll fi nd in any artists’ community. Coincidentally, while at the marina, I stopped for my visitors to take pictures of the “Don’t Feed The Alligators” sign that’s posted at the entrance. Just 5 minutes later, we saw an alligator happily fl oating his way through the channels of the bayou. I’ve lived here my whole life and have only seen a live alligator in the wild maybe twice. Fate was smiling on me that day. They were thrilled, and I will forever be known as the best tour guide EVER.

The City of Slidell’s Annual Cultural Arts calendar is our centerfold this month. I’m darn proud of our nationally recognized, award-winning Cultural Arts Department. Their events totally rock, I never miss one! Check out their calendar, as well as the Slidell Magazine Calendar of Events, to see and enjoy all of the wonderful experiences Slidell has in store for you too!

What a summer!Jockularity, Corey Hogue

Kendra with Vince Vance at the 2012 New Orleans Legends Rock-N-Bowl Concert

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magazine

e f oPerson of the Month

Extraordinarily Facinating“Ordinary”

W6

by Nancy Richardson

This month’s EFO Person goes against the “rules” I’ve set for our monthly EFOP. Originally, I had intended that an EFOP not hold an elected offi ce, board position, or appear in any “Society” sections – basically, an ordinary person who does extraordinary things.When Slidell Magazine’s contributing writer, Nancy Richardson, approached me with her choice for August’s EFOP, Sharron Newton, I was elated…but cautious. Sharron DOES

hold board positions, she’s all over the society sections, and even has her likeness permanently remembered on a mural painting by artist Lori Gomez in Olde Towne.Here’s the kicker: Sharron Newton is RETIRED. She’s a full-time philanthropist. The board positions, the community activism, the endless work she does in Slidell and throughout the world – all VOLUNTEER. The reason we see Sharron in the newspapers, on board listings for numerous charities, and

EVERYWHERE is because she is a tireless advocate for all that is good and wonderful. Extraordinary, indeed. I am honored to have Sharron Newton as August’s EFO Person and as my friend.

Send us your submissions!Email me at

Editor@SlidellMag.com and tell me about an “ordinary” person that you fi nd

“Extraordinarily Fascinating”.

Sharron NewtonAugust 2012

Words to describe this month’s EFOP, Sharron Newton: Tolerant, vivacious, committed, funny, dedicated, insightful, serious. She’s all of these things - but at her core, she’s fulfi lled. She understands people, having learned about them from her many travels, as a child and as an adult. Growing up as a child of the military (her father was Air Force) and living in many different places around the world, Sharron’s life has included travel, which taught her that cultures may be different from hers, but that doesn’t make them better or worse…just different. She also learned that change is good and desirable, at least for her. “In spite of all the problems the US has, we still live in one of the best countries in the world.” In even the poorest countries, like some she’s seen along the Amazon River, people who live without electricity, phones, internet, etc. would seem to be poor, but Sharron fi nds that they have

pride and are happy. “They don’t have material things, but they don’t seem to notice. They are just happy!”

A lot of Sharron’s adult traveling came as a result of her meeting and marrying her husband, Bill. “I had just graduated from LSU School of Nursing, was on a date with a friend of Bill’s at a bar in old Metairie back in the ‘70’s.” A mutual friend introduced them and, as they shook hands, “it was like Love American style, with stars all over the place. It was as if it was a fi ve minute handshake,” muses Sharron. Bill’s date claimed that she and Bill were in love, so Sharron didn’t think the stars were mutual. It took Bill two months to fi nally call Sharron, after fi rst checking with their mutual friend to be sure there wasn’t anything going on there. “He was such a gentleman!” brags Sharron, “That was in June and we were married in November. That was 39 years ago. “

The Newton family travels began a month after their wedding, when Bill’s company moved them to San Francisco. Their only child was born there. “We spent almost 20 years all together in San Francisco, so it’s the closest thing to home,” says Sharron.

Besides travel, nursing provided a major outlet for Sharron’s need for fulfi llment. “I never wanted to be a nurse. I knew nothing about nursing.” Early on, Sharron says she thought she might have liked to be a pediatrician, but she also wanted to be a mom. “At that time, I didn’t think I had time to do both well.” A friend suggested she look at the nursing curriculum. And once she started nursing, she loved it. “I never looked back. I really believe that we are all here to do something, and I feel very fortunate to have found something to provide fulfi llment of my needs.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Sharron receives the Sustainer of Rotary Award from 2011 Rotary District Governor Dick McCarthy

7

“I did Hospice nursing for a number of years and people think that’s depressing, but I believe it’s just the opposite. Death is a part of life.” But when it’s a child that’s dying, she says the entire family is hurting and she can get fulfi llment from helping them through it. “It’s just not the order of things we expect.”

The Newtons moved around a lot with Bill’s business which provided multiple opportunities for different kinds of nursing. She worked at a Shriner’s Hospital in San Francisco where she was exposed to surgery and operating rooms. In Loma Linda, California, she worked at a pediatric hospital; in Davenport, Iowa, she taught at the school of nursing.

Joining Rotary gave Sharron the opportunity for travel while utilizing her nursing skills as well. While President of the Rotary Club of Marin Sunrise (California), Sharron had the opportunity to lead a group of young professionals on a month-long adventure called a Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Australia. Since then, she has also led other groups to the Netherlands and to Italy, where she has family.

Sharron divides travel into 2 types: educational and professional. GSE trips fall into the educational category, as do trips up the Amazon River and at another time, to Patagonia, off Argentina. These were National Geographic-style trips. They fl ew into Quito, Peru (because you can’t get there by car) and traveled up the Amazon. “What was really fascinating was the fact that our tour guide was an Amazonian who knew how to bring out the people. He evoked in them the ability to show pride in what they had. Because he was of their culture, he knew how to stimulate conversation by the way he spoke to them.” She describes the rough manner in which they lived, without modern conveniences, no electricity, etc., but “the people seemed so happy,” says Sharron.

On one of her manyRotaplast mission trips, Sharron

visits in the triage center with patients and their families

8

“Not having material things isn’t poor,” philosophizes Sharron. Her travels have taught her about the many differences in cultures. Whole families sleep in one room, because they want to be together, because it’s what they are used to. Sharron tells the story of a mother and daughter from South America who were here for treatment for the daughter. They stayed at the Newton’s house in adjoining bedrooms. The next morning, the mother, who spoke only a little English, apologized to Sharron, who spoke only a little Spanish (at that time), for sharing one room. She didn’t want to insult her host but explained that they just needed to be together. Some cultures believe that big houses push people apart.

On one of her trips to the Philippines, she observed a man out plowing his fi eld by hand, with two little barefooted children running behind him, laughing as if they didn’t have a care in the world… and perhaps they didn’t, observes Sharron.

Being a Rotarian has heightened Sharron’s sense of fulfi llment. Utilizing her nursing skills and her organizational skills, Sharron volunteers twice a year for Rotaplast medical mission trips. Rotaplast is a not-for-profi t organization that goes into countries to do surgical intervention on children with cleft palates and lips. Rotary clubs host these life-changing trips using volunteer doctors and nurses along with local scrub

nurses. Sharron’s been to South and Central America, SE Asia, and India on these Rotaplast missions. On her most recent trip, she stood at the very bottom tip of India looking out at all 3 oceans. “It was awesome!” exclaims Rotarian/nurse Sharron.

When asked which mission trip stands out in her mind the most, she tells of an old Peruvian grandfather who brought

his grandchild for surgery and asked to have someone take his grandchild home to the US to raise. He wanted his grandchild to have a better life. “It tugs at your heart,” emotes Sharron. “Another case that stands out was one of my fi rst Rotaplast trips and an 18 year old with a cleft lip. His mother had dumped him in the trash at birth. He came every day to the hospital hoping to have his turn for surgery. We normally take the youngest fi rst and on the last day we fi nally got to him. He was so grateful that he even came to see us off at the airport and he has volunteered every year since.”

Sharron describes a typical mission as starting the fi rst day with triaging between 150-200 patients. The fi rst day is followed by 6-7 days of surgery, starting at 6 AM and not leaving the hospital until 8 -9 at night. As head nurse, she coordinates the patients, schedules the surgeries, handles any problems, and talks to parents if something goes wrong. Sharron is the one who has to deal with any “issues”… she gets to hear the venting, the stress of the severity of some of the cases, the fatigue. “The fi rst couple of days, they’re all excited but by the third day, the fatigue begins to set in.”

Sharron says that she “learned in life that the older you get, the more there is to learn”, about people especially. “Change is good and helps you learn to be more tolerant. You cannot judge. If I have a negative attitude, I can’t be an effective nurse. Change isn’t bad or good, it’s just interesting. That’s one of the great things about nursing: I cannot allow myself to be judgmental. I can’t give quality care if I am judgmental.” Never was this philosophy more needed than when Sharron worked with AIDS patients in Atlanta. “One of the reasons I love nursing is, if I do have prejudices, I better leave them behind. I couldn’t have made it in the business world.”

Travel provides broadening attitudes and an appreciation for diversity. Sharron looks at travel as ambassadorial. The Newtons have traveled with their son since he was quite young, believing that travel teaches children so much about the diversity of the world. They took him to Italy to visit Sharron’s family so he could experience the travel that she enjoyed as a kid. She and her Italian family actually swapped kids several times…the Italian kids staying with the Newtons and the Newton’s son staying with the Fabiani family. Bill’s mom is Australian, so they took their son to Australia when he was fi ve. Since he was in kindergarten, he journaled their travels by drawing pictures. The Newtons carried with them a backpack full of Leggos, which

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Sharron and Bill take a quick breakfrom volunteering at the 2012 Heritage Fest

became a magnet for children while waiting in airports. No language was needed. The kids just played. Sharron’s son is a junior high teacher now and putting into practice the skills he acquired in his travels and from his parents - that difference is fi ne and good.

Sharron life isn’t just about traveling all the time. She loves gardening and being out in nature, and is the primary groundskeeper for their beautiful 14 acre, 100 year-old home called Bayou Bend (where some scenes from the James Bond fi lm “Live and Let Die” were fi lmed). Sharron and Bill’s home has become known for its hospitality and they host dozens of visiting friends, relatives and Rotarians each year.

Besides her involvement with the morning Rotary Club (where she is beginning her fi rst month as President), Sharron is also President of the Board of Directors for Rainbow Child Care, and serves on the

boards of Community Christian Concern, as well as a little known charitable group called PEO, Philanthropic Education Opportunities, which raises funds for women’s education around the world.

Not one to sit around much, Sharron laughs about the best tan she ever got…the summer after Katrina. The story is a true testament of her ability to see a brighter side in every situation. She

tells that she was sitting in the yard, staring at a pile of bricks that had been pulled out from under the house as it was being raised, and before too long, she began chipping away at the old mortar and stacking the newly cleaned bricks onto palates while wearing a bikini and a baseball cap. “I got the best tan I ever had!” she boasts. Always optimistic and in perpetual motion, Sharron doesn’t stay sad or sit still for very long!

Congratulations Sharron on being named Slidell Magazine’s August 2012 Extraordinary Fascinating Person of the Month and thank you for your commitment to make our community and our world a better place!

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One of the comments about my stories is that they are often too serious. They deal with accidents, death, poverty, cemeteries and the hard things of life. I cannot change my style and when I try it is a disaster. I like to do research, for example; the story of George Baragona, and Captain Charles McVay. I also like to remember how things were, not that they were better then, just that they include memories of people and places that are no longer there. You see, here I go again being morbid and refl ective. Believe it or not, my childhood was not dysfunctional and some memorable things happened on the light side.

My mother was thirty six years old when I was born. It was 1947 and the Depression was still going on in Mississippi or at least it was at Rt. 2 Box 5, Bogue Chitto, Mississippi. Living on a very limited income and already having two children, when mother found out she was pregnant she went into her own mental depression and I assume she stayed that way until I was born.

I was not what they now call a “planned pregnancy”. Under the circumstances, and after I was born, she always whispered to her friends that I was her “Little Accident”.

Remember now, I was too young to contemplate what she meant, but I was old enough to know that accidents are not good. Can you imagine growing up being known as the Little Accident? How would this make you feel, knowing you were something bad and unwanted. This has certainly shaped my personality and given me the complexes that I have today.

Mom is 101 years old now, and sometimes she is confused when I visit her. She might momentarily ask who I am and I recently told her that I was her Little Accident. A smile crossed her face and then a hardy laugh. It was a smile I had not seen in sometime. She remembered.

N o w i f y o u t h i n k that being the “Little Accident” is bad, you need to hear about my friend who happened to be born the same day I was. His mother had gotten in a “family way” pre- matrimony. That was a little more unusual back then than it is now, especially in the Bible belt where there were more churches than people. But, even devout Christians were not immune from the sins of the fl esh.

She concocted the story that the doctor said she had a fatal disease that could only be cured by her having a baby. She told the neighbors she was impregnated with a test tube. Of course the child was known as the Test Tube baby and gossiped about among the adults. As we got older, we heard this from our parents and we repeated what we heard. We fi rst called him Test Tube and then just “The Tube”.

It was the days before you had fancy water toys for swimming and it was the time when the only place we had to swim was in the creek. We always took an inner tube from a car tire with us to fl oat on. There was an inner tube up on the bank, and so was our friend “The Tube” (whose real name was Reuben).

Just For FunJust For Fun

Grant P. GravoisAgent LUTCF, CLF

985•643•42761322 Corporate Square Dr.

www.grantgravois.com

13

Someone yelled, “Throw in the tube”.

Half a dozen kids ran towards Reuben and threw him in the water. By this time, much like Johnny Cash’s song, “A Boy Named Sue”, he had learned to get mean or die, and on that day, he had come of age. Not a one of us left that creek without a black eye.

Rueben is deceased now, but when I pass his grave, I have the urge to write “The Tube” on the monument, but I never have. At least I have not yet.

EliThere was a tenant farmer that lived on the hill in a pasture across from my house. He share cropped for my grandfather. He was extremely superstitious. He planted his garden according to the moon, would go home and start again if a black cat crossed his path, would not step on a crack in the sidewalk, well you get the picture. All the kids enjoyed visiting him as he was a story teller extraordinaire, and when we were young, we put more faith in his stories than we did the truths told to us by our parents. As we got older, he became the object of several pranks that took advantage of his simple beliefs that he held to be truths.

The high school was building a new track and it was being covered with fi nely crushed red substance. It was almost like sand. I think they called it a Red Dog track, but it was the latest and greatest thing of the time.

We heisted a fi ve gallon bucket of this material and, when Eli was not home, we sprinkled it all over his porch and around his house. We drew some signs of no real meaning in the dust and left. That particular evening, Eli stayed out late drinking. Since he had no electricity, he did not notice the red dust when he came home that night.

The next morning, it was apparent that he discovered the material since we saw that he had hitched his mule to a slide, loaded all of his few possessions on it, and was headed down the road. He left his crop in the fi eld, and half that crop was my grandfather’s. My grandfather heard he was gone and drove down the road to entice him to come back. By this time, Eli was about a mile from home. He explained that some evil spirit had visited him in the night and he had to leave. After much persuading, my grandfather tied the mule to a tree and drove Eli back home.

He told Eli to wait at his house while he went to see someone. Eli would have no part of that, so when my grandfather drove into our yard, Eli was as close to him as his shadow.

“Johnny, come here.”

I minded my grandfather. He asked if I knew anything about the stuff left on Eli’s porch. I did not lie; I never did lie to him. All three of us left with a broom and a shovel. I

Grant P. GravoisAgent LUTCF, CLF

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www.grantgravois.com

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was let out at the house to clean up while my grandfather drove Eli to retrieve his mule and belongings.

We received no real punishment for our prank, but we were not allowed to visit Eli anymore; but we did, one more time…

It was about two years later. We caught some carpenter bees and put them in a jar. We then lightly sprayed them with silver spray paint. We discovered that they could fl y for about fi ve minutes before they died or the paint hardened and they could no longer fl y.

We caught some more and headed for Eli’s house. Just out of sight, we sprayed the bees and then called Eli to come outside just as we released the bees. He had the same fear on his face that he did that time we put the red powder on his porch. He mumbled some Bible Scripture about entertaining angels unaware, and angels had silver wings. He then ran inside and bolted the door.

I am told he went to church that Sunday and never missed church again. He became a faithful member until his death about a year later. I suppose that somehow I contributed to his salvation and something good did come out of our childish pranks.

My Last WhippingMy daddy seldom used corporal punishment on his kids. When he did however, it was not a spanking, it was a whooping. He used a razor strop. Not to be disrespectful of him, but he never really did hurt us. He mostly hurt our feelings, and left our butts a little warm and red.

After Eli died, no one ever moved into that house again. Well someone did, but that is another story too. Soon the eaves of the house served as a weather-protected place for wasps to build their nests. Wasps build a paper-like nest, with hundreds, maybe thousands, of cells in it. In each cell, they lay an egg. Then the egg grows to be a white, worm-like larvae that makes excellent fi sh bait.

In those days, even though you were supposed to, you did not have to have a driver’s license to drive. If you could reach the pedals, you were good enough to go. My dad had a Willis Jeep station wagon. It was a precursor of the modern day SUV. During the week, he drove it about thirty miles to the construction site where he was employed and usually had three or four other men that he gave rides to for a small fee.

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On the weekends, I could occasionally use it. I was about thirteen at the time. My friend and I decided to take the jeep fi shing one day, but fi rst we had to get some bait. Robbing a wasp nest, though more dangerous, was easier than digging for worms, so we headed to the Eli house.

We burned the live wasps off and took the nest back to the jeep and put it in the glove compartment. Like most kids, after a little while, we lost interest in going fi shing. But we did not remember to remove the wasp nest.

I suppose a week or so passed and, on the way to work one morning, one of the men opened the glove compartment. Hundreds of wasps had hatched and were just dying to take their fi rst fl ight.

I don’t think I have to explain the rest. I did not ask many questions but later that day, the

razor strop was hung on a nail where it stayed until my dad’s death in 1994.

The Parrot That Stopped the Church ServiceGoing to church was a social thing back in the 50’s. I am sure that salvation was garnered by those who attended (at least some of them) but by in large I think people went because there was nothing else to do except work. We went Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night. In the summer we went to revival meeting every night for sometime two weeks. Church was big in our lives.

Our church was located the second building off the corner. There was a house that was located in the second lot on the street perpendicular to ours. In other words his back yard backed up to the back of the church.

The owner was a merchant marine and had traveled all over the world. At some time, he had brought home a giant parrot and in the spring and summer kept it in a large wooden cage directly behind the sanctuary.

Ole Joe had been around sailors too much and had picked up some pretty fowl language. The singing in our service seemed to set him off and he would answer our string of sacred hymns with a loud and repeated AW SH--, AW SH--. He would continue repeating this for a long time.

One of the adults in our church must have had some knowledge of behavioral conditioning and Pavlov’s dog. He asked three of us boys to take water guns and when Ole Joe cut lose, to soak him with the water gun.

This sounded like fun. Well, Joe had the ability to make his voice, or at least his infl ections sound like the person he heard talking. When Ole Joe started cursing we opened up on him and one of the boys yelled, “Take this Joe, take this.”

Joe responded with the f-bomb in my friend’s voice. Church dismissed early that day.

Some of the church offi cials visited with Joe’s owner to see what could be done about Ole Joe’s bad behavior. At fi rst the owner was resentful and the committee reminded him that we had an anti profanity ordinance in town. For a while it looked like the matter was headed to court. I can see it now in the newspaper: Does Parrot Have First Amendment Rights?

An agreement was fi nally made with the owner to keep him inside while the service was being held and the legality of the parrot and his freedom of speech was never decided. I understand Old Joe lived about fi fteen more years.

Church was sure fun when Ole Joe was around.

15

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Federal government really stepped up for us here in Slidell and St. Tammany. Certainly, our leaders faced a lot of challenges, and dealing with the feds was not always easy, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency dumped massive amounts of money on us, and we put it to good use to rebuild our lives.

The government came, and FEMA helped. I hate to think what might have been otherwise. However, not everything that comes out of Washington is good for us. Read on.

Earlier this year, the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds released its 2011 Annual Report1, and the news was pretty dismal. The twin safety nets of Social Security and Medicare are in sad

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shape, sadder than they were the year before. Money spent on Social Security benefi ts exceeded non-interest income in 2011, and the Trustees project that this will be the case for the next 75 years. You don’t have to be an insurance actuary to get the sick feeling that the system is in deep trouble and won’t improve unless action is taken soon. In fact, the Trustees issued this plea:

“Lawmakers should address the fi nancial challenges facing Social Security and Medicare as soon as possible. Taking action sooner rather than later will leave more options and more time available to phase in changes so that the public has adequate time to prepare.”

I wouldn’t have stated it quite so politely, but at least the Trustees have raised the alarm.

Despite the warning, however, lawmakers are not addressing these challenges. Instead, they’re adding to them. For example, the much-ballyhooed payroll tax cut, which was touted as putting money back into workers’ pockets, is making the situation worse. Now that workers are paying 4.2% instead of 6.2% into the system, that income shortfall I mentioned above is likely to get worse. So, a legislative move that was supposed to help workers might actually hurt us in the long run.

If this is an example of how government is here to help us, I’ll pass.

Now, I’m not saying that Social Security and Medicare won’t be here for your retirement years, but it might be a good idea to hedge your bets by putting in place your own safety net. Consider making any of these smart moves:

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1. If you don’t have an employer pension, build your own to supplement your Social Security benefi t and provide more guaranteed income for retirement. In my opinion, this is one of the best things most people can do to prepare for retirement income, and there are several possible strategies. For one, you might want to consider an annuity with a special feature called an income rider that will ensure that you (and your spouse, if you choose) will receive a stream of income that cannot run dry for as long as you live2. Everyone needs a source of guaranteed cash fl ow for retirement to cover core living expenses. Don’t count on Social Security to cover them all.

2. Have a strategy for funding your long term care. You might not end up in a nursing home or an assisted living facility, but, even if you simply need someone to come to your home every day to prepare meals or help your spouse take care of your needs, the costs can really mount. Many people think Medicare will pick up the tab for extended care, but that’s fl at-out wrong. Our government’s Medicaid program is an option, but it only pays for nursing home care, and you have to impoverish yourself to get it. That doesn’t sound like much fun to me. When you consider that assisted living in St. Tammany today costs $30,000 and more annually, it’s easy to see that an affordable long term care insurance policy can potentially protect tens of thousands of dollars in retirement assets. Do not risk going broke paying for long term care. Let an insurance company help with the risk.

3. Use life insurance as a “permission slip” to spend assets more freely in retirement. I can’t predict the future, but my guess is that folks will have to lean pretty heavily on cash fl ow from their investments to supplement Social Security. My concern is that simply “living off the interest” will not work for a lot of people, and they’ll have to dip into some of their interest-generating principal to maintain a decent lifestyle. In that case, life insurance makes that strategy possible because it can replace money that was spent during retirement, leaving it for your spouse and others to enjoy. It surprises me that more people don’t use this simple strategy to increase their retirement cash fl ow.

As Americans, we’re fortunate to be the benefi ciaries of government programs that work well much of the time. However, when our own government offi cials (the Trustees, for example) start shouting from the mountaintop that retirement programs are in trouble, it probably makes sense to listen to them. At Pontchartrain Investment Management, it’s our goal to make sure our clients are positioned for a fi nancially secure retirement that takes advantage of what our government offers, while recognizing that we can’t rely solely on the feds to help everyone retire. It’s not magic, but it does require planning ahead, so call us today for an appointment.

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Let’s go back somewhere between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods (that’s in the geologic neighborhood between 200 million years and 65 million years ago). Today’s crocodiles and alligators have literally changed very little from their prehistoric ancestors

that roamed the Earth during that time, a tell-all

clue that these reptiles were (and still remain) extremely

well adapted to their environment.

After all, that notoriously alleged meteor that supposedly wiped out all our dinosaurs seems to have had a very miniscule affect on our “crocodilians” (which, paleontologists confi rm defi nitely included the alligator).

Just that one statement alone obviously made the players and producers of the hit reality series “Swamp People”, as well as every Louisianan legally holding a fi st-full of yellow Louisiana Department and Wildlife and Fisheries “gator tags” happy as those proverbial clams.

“Cuz without alligators there wouldn’t be an R.J, or an Elizabeth and Christie, or a J.Paul, or a Troy, or a Junior, or a Willie, and any of a half-dozen other swampers who hunt down the leathery-skinned, toothed denizens every week on TV!”

More importantly, though, there wouldn’t be nowhere near the score of real-to-life Bayou State hunters who harvest full limits of the gators they chase down every year during Louisiana’s 30 day gator season.

This is the bunch that catches, skins, and makes the delectable gator meat available every September to those of us who don’t get out there to hunt and skin them ourselves.

“See, were it not for these hunter/trappers who produce gator chunks, gator nuggets, gator sirloin, gator ribs, gator tail, and gator sausage for each of us annually,” Dr. David John, LDWLF biologist, explained to me one season, “we’d have only domestic meats and sausages to set out on our tables. But because of gator hunters, we can now relish 28,000 wild gators and 280,000 farm-raised animals every season. . .all the while preserving the species.”

So now I’ll get to the principle questions for this issue:

Where Do Most of the Gator Skins and Meats Come From?

Locally, since much of the local gator is taken from the surrounding New Orleans, Slidell, Hammond, Manchac, and other nearby points adjacent to the hunting grounds, most of the fresh-caught alligator is taken to and sold here to local buyers. That means hunters come in off the water and head directly to the nearest broker (usually set up

in a galvanized shed near the boat launch) to sell their catch, including hides and meat.

Going price paid to the hunter ranges somewhere between $7 and $18 per square foot, depending on the grade of the hide. The meat is usually given to the buyer for him to sell for himself. It generally goes from anywhere from $2.99 per pound upwards to $8.50 per pound.

When’s the Best Time to Sell Your Hides and Meat?

The absolute best time to sell hides and meat is daily so that the meat doesn’t go bad! You take the gator to the shed, strip off the hide, and proceed from there—(1) the hide is heavily salted, rolled, placed in a wooden barrel, and refrigerated until a buyer picks it up; (2) the meat is refrigerated, placed in a cooler, and stays there until a buyer comes to pick it up. Simple, huh?

Well, it’s supposed to be anyway. From here, the hides go to the tanner to be transformed into shoes, suitcases, belts, coats, etc. The meat goes to freezers or to retailers to be individually wrapped into serving-sized packages and later sold—frozen—as food!

Finally, how is the best way to prepare gator meat?

Again. . .very simple answer! You prepare it anyway you want: ground, mixed with seasonings, crammed into pistolettes, and either deep fried or baked; ground and rolled into boulets (balls) and deep-fried at 350 degrees, battered and fried until they fl oat and turn crunchy and super-crispy, mixed with vegetable seasonings, sauteed over a high fi re, and transformed into an etouffee or sauce piquant. Prime portions consist of gator ribs, tenderloin, sirloin, and tail meat.

18

Let’s go back somewhere between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods (that’s in the geologic neighborhood between 200 million years and 65 million years ago). Today’s crocodiles and alligators have literally changed very little from their prehistoric ancestors

that roamed the Earth during that time, a tell-all

clue that these reptiles were

in a galvanized shed near the boat launch) to sell their catch, including hides and meat.

Going price paid to the hunter ranges somewhere between $7 and $18 per square foot, depending on the grade of the hide. The meat is usually given to the buyer for him to sell for himself. It generally goes from anywhere from $2.99 per pound upwards to $8.50 per pound.

When’s the Best Time to Sell Your Hides and Meat?

clue that these reptiles were (and still remain) extremely

Let’s go back somewhere between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods (that’s in the geologic neighborhood between 200 million years and 65 million years ago). Today’s crocodiles and alligators have literally changed very little from their prehistoric ancestors

that roamed the Earth during that time, a tell-all

clue that these reptiles were

FranklyFranklyFranklyFranklyFranklyFranklyFranklyFranklyBy Frank Davis

Alligator Harvesting“Hey! They Really Do Taste Just Like Chicken!”

As with all other delicacies, gator is best when done fresh; but you get fresh only during the open season. The rest of the time you need to go with fl ash frozen—just defrost then marinate in buttermilk—or directly from gator farms. These places can be found all over the Internet, two of the biggest being The Cajun Grocer and Trader Joe’s.

Of course, whether or not you hunt for the meat yourself, buy it from a licensed gator hunter, or pick up a couple of pounds from your Whole Foods Store or wherever you get it, at some point regardless of how you fi x it and whomever you serve it to, somebody—just before the fork reaches the mouth—is destined ask. . .”So what does alligator taste like?”

All you gotta do is look ‘em square in the eye and say with utmost confi dence.....”Chicken! Yep—They really do taste just like chicken!”

Frank’s Skewered Gator & Baby Bellas

Make a fantastic basting marinade, liberally mop it over a bamboo skewer loaded with fresh alligator nuggets and baby Bella mushroom buttons, and broil the brochette in a super-hot oven until toasty and sizzling! Served over a plate of combination rice done in a rice cooker, you got one hellacious meal the kids will die for!!

The Rice Cooker Casserole

2 cups parboiled rice, washed3/4 cup diced seasoning veggies2 tsp. Frank Davis Sprinkling Spice2 cups frozen mixed vegetables3 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced3 cups canned vegetable broth1 bottle clam juice, 8 oz. size1/2 tsp. red pepper fl akes1/3 stick butter, melted

This is one of those all-time, ultra-simple, no-way-to-make-a-mistake recipes. What you do is uniformly combine in an 8-cup automatic rice cooker, one ingredient at a time, all the ingredients that are listed above. You start with the rice, then stir in the seasoning veggies, then put in the sprinkling spice, and so forth and so on until everything is in the cooker. Of course, you need to stir constantly as the various ingredients are added to fully combine everything.

Then, as the Cajuns say, you mash on the button to start the rice cooker and then you let it alone until the rice is done. All that’s left to do is to fl uff up the grains a little right before you serve it.

The Skewered Gator

2 lbs. fresh alligator nuggets, cut in equal 1-inch squares 1 lb. Baby Bellas button mushrooms24 bamboo skewers (12-inch size), soaked in water1/3 cup green onions 2 tsp. Frank Davis Seafood Seasoning¼ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice¼ cup balsamic vinegar1/3 cup teriyaki sauce½ tsp. garlic powder½ tsp. onion powder1 tsp. kosher or sea salt1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper1 cup extra virgin olive oil

19

The procedure for this recipe is done in two parts: fi rst you skewer the gator and the mushrooms and then you make the brush-on marinade. Here are your directions for both:

1. To prepare the gator, take a bamboo skewer, run it through the mushroom button, then through a gator square, then through another mushroom button, then through another gator square. All in all, you will use four mushroom buttons and three gator nuggets on each skewer. When they’re all done, rest them crosswise across a shallow-sided pan and set them aside momentarily.

2. To prepare the marinade, take a blender or food processor and add to it the green onions, the seafood seasoning, the lemon juice, the balsamic vinegar, the teriyaki sauce, the garlic powder, the onion powder, the salt, and the black pepper. Then turn on the machine and begin adding the olive oil in a continuous stream. The mixture should turn into a velvety emulsion within a few seconds. Do not over process!

Now preheat the oven to broil (500 degrees) with the top rack about 4-inches from the broiler element. And when the skewers are all laid across the pan and the marinade is emulsifi ed, take a basting brush or mop and liberally douse the prepared skewers with the liquid fl avoring.

When they’ve all been coated, slide the pan under the broiler and cook for about 5 minutes or so. Then open the oven door, slide out the rack, rotate the skewers in the pan, douse with additional marinade, push the rack back into the oven, close the door and cook for another 4 minutes or so. Repeat this procedure once more until the gator pieces are all golden and toasty. But do not overcook them or they’ll turn tough and chewy!

Finally, when the alligator is ready and the casserole is fl uffy, spoon out a generous helping of combo rice in the center of a warm plate, place a couple of skewers on top the rice, and serve everything up alongside a chilled salad. Oh, should you have a tiny puddle of gator and mushrooms drippings in the bottom of the broiler pan, spoon them over the skewers for a little lagniappe!P.S. It’s perfectly acceptable to brush the gator and mushrooms with melted “garlic butter” the entire time the skewers are broiling.

Chef’s Notes:1. The diced seasoning veggies I refer to are those containers of chopped onions, celery, bell peppers, parsley, and garlic they sell already prepared in the produce sections of most supermarkets.

2. By the way, the skewered gator can also be done outside on a grill or on a hibachi. Just be sure to watch it closely.

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Slidell’sHigh School

Showcaseby Alex Carollo

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools are the best in Louisiana. That’s not just a bold statement. It’s a fact. Take a look at the fi gures.

• St. Tammany Parish Schools are ranked number one in the State of Louisiana in school districts with 20,000 or more students

• The School System received AdvancEDRe-Accreditation in 2010

• In 2010, the American School Board Journal presented the St. Tammany Parish School Board with the Grand Prize Magna Award, awarded each year to honor a school board’s best practices and innovative programs that advance student learning

• Money magazine named District 1 one of the top 100 school systems within the United States’ major metropolitan areas

• Seven schools were named National Schools of Excellence by the U. S. Department of Education

• The St. Tammany Talented Arts Program received the Parish President’s Art Award

• 25 schools were awarded the Healthier US School Challenge Program’s USDA Gold Award of Distinction for excellence in food service and nutrition. First Lady Michelle Obama visited Brock Elementary in Slidell in a special presentation recognizing this honor

The statistics speak for themselves.

“In the overall state rankings we’re fourth, but we are number one in districts with over 20,000 students,” noted W. L. “Trey” Folse, III, Superintendent of the St. Tammany Parish Public School System. “But it’s hard to compare school systems. St. Tammany has over 37,000 students in 55 schools compared to some systems with a couple thousand students in four or fi ve schools. But for any district with over 20,000 students, we’re number one in the state. It’s something that we are very proud of.”

The St. Tammany Parish School Board governs the public schools in the parish. Divided into 15 districts, each is represented by elected members who serve a four year term. The Superintendent and School System oversee the policy implementation and administration of each school. The St. Tammany Parish School

Board serves roughly 37,500 students and employs over 5,000 people, making it the largest employer in St. Tammany Parish.

Slidell, Salmen and Northshore are the three public high schools that serve the Slidell area. Each school has unique programs designed to challenge their students academically and professionally. The schools strive to prepare their students for life after high school, whether they are pursuing higher education or entering the work force after graduation.

Northshore’s Robotics Club

Northshore High School’s Robotics Club, Team 1912 Combustion, was formed by a small group of seniors in 2005 and has since expanded into a team of enthusiastic students spanning all grade levels. With the guidance of school offi cials and community business mentors, the club competes against other schools from around the world in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competitions. Students have to use their knowledge of science and technology and principles of engineering to design and build robots to meet the guidelines of each competition.

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The students rely on the expertise of professional mentors, but they perform all the work themselves. The partnership with mentors affords the team the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art equipment, programs and tools - some of the same items that NASA engineers use in the space program.

“We have engineers from NASA and other highly skilled individuals working side by side with our students,” says Michael Peterson, Principal of Northshore High School. “I can’t say enough about our local engineering community. They dedicate their time to help mentor our students, and it has paid off. Our students have gone on to compete in regional and national competitions.”

FIRST competitions are developed each year by NASA engineers, bringing new and unique challenges and obstacles for the teams to overcome. Teams only have six weeks to plan, design, build, program and test their robot and have it ready for competition. This year, teams had to design a robot to compete in the “Rebound Rumble,” the objective being to score as many points as possible by shooting basketballs through hoops.

“I’m amazed at what they can get these robots to do,” says Peterson. “Every school across the country has the same guidelines. It’s amazing to see the different ways that each team interprets the same specifi cations.”

“The fi rst time I went to one of the competitions, I didn’t know what to expect,” says Superintendent Folse. “I walked in and thought I was at a football game. The intensity and enthusiasm was awesome.”

Team Combustion has a long list of recognitions and accomplishments. They have won the Chairman’s Award for the last three years at the Bayou Regionals, and this year, the team traveled to St. Louis to compete in the World Championship. Of the 300 schools that participated, Team Combustion placed 43rd.

“This is one of the best high school programs I’ve ever seen. It’s phenomenal,” boasts Peterson. “The experiences that this program affords our students, you cannot teach that in a traditional school environment. This is the kind of program that you want your kids to be involved with.”

In their spare time, the members of Team Combustion share their love of engineering with the community - performing demonstrations, volunteering, and hosting workshops and summer camps throughout the region.

For more information about Northshore’s Robotics Club Team 1912 Combustion, visit their website at www.team1912.com. For more info about FIRST, visit www.usfi rst.org.

Slidell High School Academies

“When will I ever use this in the real world?”

There’s always one student who asks their teacher this question. Bringing real world experiences into a classroom setting has always been a challenge for teachers. Slidell High School’s Academies offer students the opportunity to apply their education in a practical, real world environment through internships at community businesses.

“Our school population is pretty diverse,” said William Percy, Principal of Slidell High School and one of the recipients of the 2011 - 2012 Louisiana Principals of the Year. “We have kids that plan on going to college and some that will go right to work. Some will work and go to college at the same time, and some will work for a few years to save up money to go to college.”

23

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“The Academies are a perfect introduction to the business community,” adds Percy. “It gives students life experiences that can’t be taught in a school setting and gives them the opportunity to experience things they might want to pursue as a career.”

Students looking to pursue careers in medicine, business, arts, culinary arts, engineering or education can enroll in the respective academy. Students receive specialized training and have the opportunity to intern at a local business and be mentored by community business leaders. Depending on the academy, students can also earn college credits at Louisiana universities.

Students interested in a career in medicine can choose to enroll in the Allied Health Academy, where they will learn the language of medicine, adopt an elderly friend in a nursing home and and have the opportunity to garner real world experience interning in their selected medical fi eld.

“Slidell High School’s Allied Health Academy is the most popular of the academies,” said Percy. “We are very fortunate because of our proximity to Slidell Memorial Hospital and other medical offi ces. We value our partnership with the medical community.”

Students who choose to enter the Business and Technology Academy can follow two different career paths learning about accounting, marketing and fi nance, or business computer applications, web design and multimedia projects. They can also apply their skills during an internship in the community.

Those students who are artistically inclined can enroll in the Commercial Arts Academy where they can take fi ne art classes or choose mass communications and learn about print and broadcast media and have the opportunity to intern at a local business.

Students who enroll in the Culinary Arts Academy will learn about the business of the food service industry, health, food preparation and customer service skills, and have the opportunity to earn college credits at Louisiana universities.

In the Engineering Academy, students will spend a lot of time honing their math and science skills and learning drafting techniques. They will also have the opportunity to to work with professional engineers in the community.

Students who think they might want a career as an educator can enter the Teaching Academy where they will learn about the stages of adolescent development and work with a mentor teacher while garnering experience teaching in a school setting.

“We have been lucky to have some young teachers who went through this program and have returned to Slidell High to teach,” says Percy. “We are blessed to have them. They are wonderful teachers.”

“Slidell was one of the fi rst high schools to have the academies and it has been very successful,” said Folse. “It gives students the opportunity to experience some of the things they are interested in and the chance to make sure these are things that they want to pursue. The worst thing you could do is decide to go to college for something that you’re really not going to like. It gives them some real life experience.”

24

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Besides the learning academies, Percy is very proud of Slidell High School’s Performing Arts program. “It’s a great program. The teachers do great work with the students and provide a wonderful community for those kids. Those who are lucky enough to posses that kind of talent sometimes have diffi culty fi nding a place to belong. This community becomes their second family.”

For more information about Slidell High School, please visit slidellhigh.stpsb.org.

Salmen’s 9th Grade Academy

Ninth grade is a critical time of transition for many students. Moving from middle school to high school and adjusting to a new school environment can be stressful, even causing some students to drop out of school.

“Ninth grade is a tough transition for any student,” said Folse. “Studies show that if you can make sure that a ninth grade student is successful in their fi rst year of high school, its a good indicator that they will graduate on time and be successful.”

In 2007, the St. Tammany Parish School Board redesigned the ninth grade program to help students adjust to the high school setting. Salmen High School was one of the fi rst to embrace the new program and they created the 9th Grade Academy.

“We researched what different school were doing around the country and we developed and refi ned the program to suit our school,” explains Terri Wortmann, Principal of Salmen High School. “Our Academy Coordinator, Lisa Semere, and all the core teachers do a great job with this program. We are easing our ninth graders into the high school experience, instead of just throwing them in. ”

The 9th Grade Academy practically operates as a school within a school. For the core curriculum - math, science, history and English - the ninth graders are separated from their upper classmen. The students are split into two teams and they share the same core teachers for the year. They even have their own wing and eat during separate lunch periods from the rest of the school.

Their teachers meet together several times each week to plan instruction and discuss different ways

to help their students. They try to take a proactive stance and address

any problems with their students, and if necessary, parents, until the problem is resolved.

The 9th Grade Academy uses an incentive

program to encourage and reward students’ hard

work. Students receive

weekly progress reports on Thursdays and if they meet certain criteria, they can participate in Friday Fun Days, an hour of free time where students can socialize with their fellow classmates and play games. They also work hard to earn quarterly rewards such as fi eld trips and picnics.

Students in the 9th Grade Academy also have access to college guidance counselors, who advise them on what they need to do in high school to be successful in college. One of the quarterly rewards is a trip to a college campus, so that students can start thinking about higher education.

“It is important that students start thinking about college,” says Wortmann. “If they can see that it is an achievable goal, they will work harder to reach for it.”

Wortmann is also pleased that Salmen will once again offer Advance Placement classes for their students. “Its been a challenge for us over the last few years. Our population took a dive after Hurricane Katrina, but our numbers are growing and we can start offering AP classes to our students.”

This coming school year, Salmen will enroll in a state program that allows students to earn industry based certifi cations. Ninth graders will start by taking Introduction to Business Computer Apps and as they progress through school, they will be prepared to take the Microsoft Certifi cation Exam.

“It’s a pretty good document to have when you complete high school,” said Wortmann. “It makes you employable immediately, and sets you on the path for a successful college career.”

For more information about Salmen High School, please visit salmenhigh.stpsb.org.

Every Child, Every Day

St. Tammany Parish Schools have many programs to help the children in our parish succeed. The team at the St. Tammany Parish School System works hard to make sure that both students and their parents are pleased with their services.

“Our motto is ‘Every Child, Every Day.’ Hopefully we are meeting the needs of our students. It’s something we are always working towards,” says Folse. “We are blessed to be in a system where the community supports us. In St. Tammany, we have tremendous parent involvement and support. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

For more information about theSt. Tammany Parish Public School

System, visit their website atwww.stpsb.org.

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Community Awareness ProjectBy Kendra Maness

An exciting new project is underway in our community. The East St. Tammany Habitat for Human i t y (ESTHFH) has launched the 2012 Community Awareness Project to be led by the national, Louisiana-based t ra in ing and consulting firm, kiisa corporation (kiisa).

Sharon Sandifer, M.Ed. and David Kiviaho are the dynamic brother and sister team that co-own kiisa corporation. kiisa corporation is a training and education-based company that offers over fi fty years of combined experience in business, education, training, and management, as well as non-profi t program development. As CEO, Sharon brings over 35 years of experience in the fi eld of education to the table. David is co-founder and vice president and has extensive experience in successful grant writing, public speaking and non-profi t work. Their combined experience and activism within the local community caught the attention of the Habitat board of directors as they developed the long range plan for the organization.

“We compiled our long range plan and we wanted to make sure that the community had the right information about Habitat,” says Debbie Crouch, Executive Director of East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity (ESTHFH). “To move forward and to continue to work within the community, Habitat needed to gauge the public’s perceptions and opinions of our organization.” The Board voted to conduct a community

awareness survey. The task was a big one – not just in creating the survey

and measuring the results, but particularly in getting

the word out to the public about the importance of the survey.

Debbie says, “ESTHFH is always conscious of

how we spend our funds, so making sure we chose

the right company for the right price was paramount. We really do have to get the most bang for our buck. We know we made the right decision, not only

because we know that kiisa corporation is

a nationally well known and well

respected company, but because we have gotten more for our money already and we are in the early stages of the campaign. We are very proud to be partners with kiisa.”

“There are still a lot of people that have misperceptions of exactly what Habitat does,” Debbie said. “It hurts my heart when people don’t know that Habitat houses are SOLD, not given. It’s not just a local issue, I hear it all over the country. We need to make sure this community knows that Habitat houses are not free. We offer a

chance for homeownership by working with the homeowners, physically and fi nancially, to build them an affordable and safe home. It’s a hand UP, not a hand OUT.”

David says, “With this survey, we have two goals. It’s the way we like to do everything at kiisa corporation. First, EDUCATE - make the community aware of the Habitat mission and gain insights on the public’s perception of Habitat in order to garner more support for the cause. And our second goal is ECONOMIC - to show the impact that Habitat for Humanity has on the economy in East St. Tammany Parish

and to get more businesses and corporations involved

in the great work that Habitat is doing in

our community.”

David adds, “One of the problems across the country is tunnel vision. Habitat, as a charity and

o r g a n i z a t i o n , is an economic

driver throughout the country and in East

St. Tammany but many people aren’t aware of that. You could sell lemonade and you’re an economic driver. Habitat is not only helping to provide affordable housing for families, but it is also

helping the economy. Our long range goal is to educate

the public; because if you become aware of the mission,

you realize the importance of it.”

26

?Indeed, the impact Habitat has had on the East St. Tammany Parish economy is huge. “In 2010, we had a 2.8 million dollar impact on our local community. Habitat was responsible for 21.3 jobs on this side of the parish. While we build houses, we’re buying materials from numerous local suppliers, our volunteers are shopping at our local stores, eating at our local restaurants, staying at the hotels and motels in the area. Once the house is built, our homeowners are paying taxes like everybody else,” Debbie says.

David says, “Every single Habitat homeowner is contributing to the economic force of East St. Tammany Parish. There is a lot of pride in knowing that, as a homeowner, you are creating jobs and helping in the prosperity of your region.”

Debbie points out that Habitat’s mission goes far beyond the local community.“10% of Habitat’s funding is tithed. Right now, we are building homes in Argentina to help with their housing shortages. In the past three years, we’ve helped regions in Guatemala and Ghana. In the past 20 years, we’ve built 50 houses worldwide. So, we don’t just stop with our community, we build globally.”

Debbie says, “I can’t imagine getting up everyday and not doing this. It’s in my blood. I have such a love for the Habitat mission, such a passion for the work we are doing.”

“This survey is so important. The St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation has been wonderful in their help with this project. They recognize this survey as a way to help further economic growth of our community. They appreciate the impact that this could have. I think that says a lot about the need for this,” Debbie says.

“It truly is important,” adds David. We designed the survey to be easy, educational and rewarding. The fi rst step is simple. Just log on to www.esthfh.org and take the survey. It only takes 5 minutes to complete. Everyone that completes the survey receives a 10% discount code for their next

purchase from the Habitat Restore. It’s a great bonus for just a few minutes of your time.”

“Owning a home is still the American dream,” David says. “Home ownership is important to

family development, important to the economy. It is one of the major factors in how we are viewed as a community and how we are rated nationally. That’s why this project is beautiful. kiisa corporation is so proud to be a small part of Habitat’s growth.”

Debbie sums it up, “Everybody should have a decent place to lay their head down at night. This project will help us let everybody know it and appreciate it.”

Visit www.esthfh.org to complete the survey today!

Tell UsWhat You Know!

Take theHabitat Awareness

Survey…

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to complete the survey today!

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ab

itat

Aware?

1966The first picture of Earth from the moon is taken by Lunar Orbiter 1. A total of 42 high resolution and 187 medium resolution frames were taken and transmitted to Earth covering over 5 million square km of the Moon’s surface, accomplishing a b o u t 7 5 % o f t h e intended mission.

August 2, 1876Wild Bill Hickock is killed during a poker game. He was holding a

“Dead Man’s Hand”,two pair Aces and 8’s

August 19, 1909Indianapolis Speedway holds it’s fi rst auto race. The car pictured is an authentic 1909 Indy car. The modern Chevrolet Indy car sports a 3,500cc, 32 valve V8 engine with over 700 horse power!

Little Orphan Anniecomic strip debuts. Little Orphan Annie inspired a

radio show in 1930.

August 5, 1924

1953Get a whiff of this...

The Whiffl e Ball was patented on August 14th .

1782The “Order of the Purple Heart” is created by President George Washington. The Badge of Military Merit was only awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers and from then on as its legend grew, so did its appearance. Although never abolished, the award of the badge was not proposed again offi cially until after World War I.

1964Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins is released. Julie Andrews won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Mary Poppins, the fi lm also won Oscars for Best Film Editing, Original Music Score, Best Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and Best Visual Effects, and received a total of 13 nominations.

J u l i u s C a e s a r ’s R o m a n army invades Britain. A group of senators, led by Marcus Junius Brutus, assassinated the dictator on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC, hoping to restore the constitutional government of the Republic.

August 26, 55BC

This MonthIn

History

Slidell, we‛ve heard your feedback!

Beginning this month, Slidell Magazine will feature a monthly Health and Fitness article. In our search to fi nd the perfect writer and expert for this feature, we spoke with doctors and fi tness specialists throughout the area. Slidell offers premium healthcare, excellent providers, state-of-the-art facilities and technology that is cutting edge (no pun intended for our surgeon friends). After all, the health of our community is what ensures our prosperity and continued growth, whether it’s personal health and fi tness, economic strength or cultural integrity.

Our search led us to the offi ce of Dr. Dennis Peyroux of Global Medical. Dennis is a familiar, smiling face in the community. Born in New Orleans, the Peyroux family moved to Slidell during his senior year at Holy Cross. With three brothers, Dennis learned the value of physical activity and competitive sports at a young age, playing a variety of sports throughout school and beyond college. He was never satisfi ed just belonging to something; he had to be the leader. When a diffi cult task presented itself, he applied consistent effort until that task was mastered. His dedication, work ethic, discipline, and leadership led him through Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA, then to LSU, and post graduate school at Life Chiropractic College in Marietta just outside Atlanta.

Sports taught Dennis to win or lose with dignity and respect, which prepared him for life’s celebrations and hard times. To him, defeat was never an option because capitalizing on defeat’s lessons was an advantage.

Via football and international rugby, Dennis realized that chiropractic practices got him back on the playing field more quickly than standardized medical practice, which inevitably led him to his choice of profession.

Just after graduation in 1996, he returned to Slidell and opened the fi rst Global Medical. Dennis’ innovative practice takes a holistic

approach towards the body as a whole, not just a piece or a part, and helps people with injuries, posture deformities or problems, and general health. By 1998, his clinic was the fi rst in the area to offer medically diversifi ed treatments - acupuncture, non-drug and non-surgical therapies, weight-loss programs, and the combination of standard medical doctors, nurse practitioners, chiropractic doctors, and physical therapists to meet the needs of his patients.

A family man, Dennis and wife Michelle (who also dedicates her life to healthcare as an emergency room Nurse Practitioner) have two children, Elise and Gavin. The Peyroux’s have raised their children with the same family values – high work ethics in school, in their athletic endeavors, and within the community.

Community oriented, Dennis is one in a group of business men who created S.T.Y.F.O., St. Tammany Youth Football Organization, and participates in N.S.A., North Shore Baseball Academy, which offers an alternative to S.Y.F.A. and S.B.B.A. He is an active member of B.N.I., Business Networking International, which enlightens its members about business opportunities and encourages business discussions within the local chapter.

Both Dennis and his wife Michelle believe in the benefits of a completely functional medical office that g ives pa t i en t s an ultimate-care health package . Fo reve r vigilant of cutting-edge techniques to improve the quality concern and range of services offered, G l o b a l M e d i c a l treats patients with learning disabilities,

ADD, ADHD, allergies, digestive disorders, diet and nutrition. Global Medical offers application of therapies for contrast structure with musculoskeletal problems, soft-tissue damage, and rehabilitation. Dennis is trained to fi t patients with custom-made back braces, Spine Core, a fl exible dynamic brace designed to alleviate debilitating pain and infl ammation associated with postural deformities due to scoliosis. Diagnostic testing such as x-rays, nerve conduction studies, vascular studies, muscle testing, and range of motion testing are also performed. The staff is family oriented; everyone genuinely cares about the well being of each and every patient. Dr. Dennis expects nothing less. His attitude toward Global Medical Center is to make patient visit’s a great experience with lots of fun, education, and continued progress toward a great outcome.

Slidell Magazine is honored to have Dr. Dennis Peyroux as our Health and Fitness expert and contributing writer. We look forward to reading his articles that will help all Slidellians lead healthier, happier lives!

Health & Fitness

Aby Dane Kennedy

As the weekend draws closer, the same old question rings out amongst friends and family, “What you doing this weekend?” Often the answers echo “I don’t know”, “Are you me kidding, we don’t go anywhere” or “I guess we will do the same thing as we do all the time”. Sound familiar?

As the economy has changed, so have our spending habits. We look for things that give us satisfaction for our (often limited) entertainment budget. All too often, this lends itself to repeating the same things over and over and over again. This comes from being creatures of habit and insulates us from experiencing something new. Although the events that we chose are enjoyable, they’re not as stimulating to our senses as they once were. How about challenging yourself to new experiences?

As you know, this article is titled MUSIC NOTES. This month’s subject matter is an effort to create a challenge. A challenge to get you out and support the live music and venues that are right HERE in the Slidell area! The number of venues that host live music in Slidell will surprise many of you (just see the Music Calendar to the right of the article – WOW!) The diverse styles of music, talent and environments are equally surprising. No matter what your listening pleasure, there is something on the calendar in the area to satisfy you musically and environmentally. With this in mind, it is my intent to cure the condition I refer to as “Same-Old-Itis”.

It is with great respect for musicians, the individuals that actually MAKE the music, that my quest to expose artists to a new a fan base is always in motion. I view these individuals as a landscape. As

it takes years of exposure to the changing elements to create a winding river, rolling hills or any thriving eco-system, it also takes years of dedication to practice, perform, and perfect the music that we enjoy. It does not matter to me what genre it is. I may not care for the style or content, but I always appreciate the individual’s time and talent that is applied in their chosen genre. All of us have a preference in the music we listen to. But, my prescription for Same-Old-Itis is to step out of your routine (or lack of) and “Get on the Band Wagon”.

Take the time to attend the area’s live music venues. Embrace the opportunity to be entertained by an array of talented people in locations that value your business. The venues range from small neighborhood

G e t o n t h e B a n d Wa g o n !

30

MusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicMusicby Dane Kennedy

notesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotesnotes

S l i d e l l Mus i cWhere & When AUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTAUGUSTbars to expansive locations. Some locations serve up great

food while you take in the music. The atmospheres at the locations will take you to tropical outdoor patios, family oriented eateries and intimate smoke-free listening rooms. The musical styles range from Folk to Funk …Mellow to Manic…Boogie to Blues. The consistent quality of the artists performing in our area is impressive. One smoke-free venue in Slidell consistently has individuals performing that are recognized with respected music industry awards such as the Grammy, W.C. Handy, and The BB King Blues Award. There are locations that rotate seasoned regional musical entertainers while other venues embrace the local talent on a regular basis. There is no need to “cross the Lake” to take in some of the best artists you have ever, or have never, seen. Some area entertainment can be attended with no or low cover charges. There is always something good to choose from as you search local publications for the next outing. Start the prescribed activity in motion to cure the Same-Old-Itis and it will surely have you “Realin’ with da Feelin’”.

As you start the prescribed challenge, go somewhere you have never been and listen to someone you have never heard. Also, whenever you take the challenge to experience new places and new faces, it is supporting the local businesses that create commerce in the Slidell area. You will be surprised to fi nd all of the great opportunities there are to engage new people who share common interests that can be benefi cial to your business. Or, you may just make some new friends along the way. It is also very therapeutic to alter the norm. This adds value to your experiences - and will help breathe even more economic life into our wonderful community.

So, talk it up with co-workers, invite the neighbors you never see, make it a night out with friends, have some “Me” time, or make a long overdue date night with your spouse.

I encourage everyone to “Get on the Band Wagon”! Great live music, in some great local venues awaits you!

Good Music…Good People... Good Times!

Bike Night ...................................................... The DockKaraoke with Caren ....................................... The DockGrand Opening .............................................. LandlubbersDvDJ Knuckles .............................................. Olde Towne TavernJason Baglio’s Elvis Experience .................... Silver SlipperGroovy 7 ........................................................ Speckled T’s3

David & The Rockin’ Rhythms ..........................The DockRedline’s “Shades of Blue” ...............................LandlubbersSuperchargers ..................................................O’AcesVideo DJ Cliff Melerine .....................................Olde Towne TavernLimited Addition ................................................Silver SlipperMeanies ............................................................Speckled T’s11

LA Lightning ......................................................The DockAndre’ Bouvier & The Royal Bohemians ..........LandlubbersGroup Therapy .................................................O’AcesVideo DJ Cliff Melerine .....................................Olde Towne TavernHarvey Jesus & Fire .........................................Silver SlipperAugust Rush .....................................................Speckled T’s18

Bike Night ........................................................The DockKaraoke with Caren .........................................The DockMo’ Jelly Band ..................................................LandlubbersBurger N Fries ..................................................O’AcesVideo DJ Cliff Melerine .....................................Olde Towne TavernBB Secrist & His Rockin’ 88s ............................Silver SlipperSupercharger ....................................................Speckled T’s

24

Harvey Jesus & Fire ...................................... The DockBig Daddy ‘O ................................................. LandlubbersLA Lightning ................................................... O’AcesJason Baglio’s Elvis Experience .................... Silver SlipperWeathered ..................................................... Speckled T’s4

Sons of Sonia ................................................ The Dock30 x 90 Blues Women ................................... LandlubbersSigma 3 ......................................................... O’AcesBackfl ow ........................................................ Olde Towne TavernThe Alley Kats................................................ Silver Slipper

1

Bike Night ..................................................... The DockKaraoke with Caren ...................................... The DockMichael Bacon & The Bayou Blues ............... LandlubbersWitness .......................................................... O’AcesDvDJ Knuckles .............................................. Olde Towne TavernLimited Addition ............................................. Silver Slipper5 Finger Discount .......................................... Speckled T’s

10

Bike Night ..................................................... The DockKaraoke with Caren ...................................... The DockThe Rocky Denny Band................................. LandlubbersBackfl ow ........................................................ O’AcesDvDJ Knuckles .............................................. Olde Towne TavernHarvey Jesus & Fire ...................................... Silver SlipperSaints Game .................................................. Speckled T’s

17

Monster Crawfi sh........................................... The DockTijonne Reyes ................................................ LandlubbersMeanies ......................................................... O’AcesDvDJ Knuckles .............................................. Olde Towne TavernBB Secrist & His Rockin’ 88s ......................... Silver SlipperSaints Game .................................................. Speckled T’s

25

Bike Night ..................................................... The DockKaraoke with Caren ...................................... The DockLynn Drury ..................................................... LandlubbersBratt Road ..................................................... O’AcesVideo DJ Cliff Melerine .................................. Olde Towne TavernThe Alley Kats................................................ Silver SlipperGroup Therapy .............................................. Speckled T’s

31

Blues Jam ...................................................... Landlubbers1

Redline .............................................................The Dock5Blues Jam ..................................................Landlubbers8DvDJ Madd Plaid ........................................... Olde Towne TavernSaints Game .................................................. Speckled T’s9

Blues Jam ...................................................... Landlubbers15

Blues Jam ...................................................... Landlubbers22

Redline .......................................................... The DockTop Cats ....................................................... Speckled T’s26

DvDJ Madd Plaid ................................ Olde Towne TavernSaints Game ................................................. Speckled T’s30

Night Train ..................................................... The DockWitness .......................................................... Speckled T’s12

Meanies ......................................................... The DockDisney Radio Tour ......................................... Speckled T’s19

DvDJ Madd Plaid ........................................... Olde Towne TavernChicken On The Bone ................................... Speckled T’s23

Selene Poker Run, Band: Meanies ............... The Doc2

Blues Jam ...................................................... Landlubbers29

DvDJ Madd Plaid ........................................... Olde Towne TavernScott Schmidt Band ....................................... Speckled T’s16

DvDJ Madd Plaid ........................................... Olde Towne TavernRoss King Band ............................................. Speckled T’s2

LLSU’s Baton Rouge campus is really gorgeous. Red tile roofs, stately Live Oak trees, Tiger Stadium, the Memorial Tower; all these things distinguish LSU from other campuses around the country. But there’s another feature that is truly unique, something that no other college campus in America can claim: a live Bengal Tiger mascot. Mike VI, the current LSU mascot, lives in a state-of-the-art habitat, tucked between Tiger Stadium and the Maravich Assembly Center, and he’s one of the most visited attractions on campus.

I arrived in Baton Rouge in 1986 to begin my veterinary education at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. I’d heard through the grapevine that, every 2 years, a new veterinary student was given the job of care-taker for Mike the Tiger. WOW! How cool would that be? Hands-on work with a 450-pound Bengal tiger! And not just any tiger, but LSU’s Mike IV! When I went to inquire about the job, I was under the impression that none of my classmates knew about the opportunity to become Mike’s care-taker. I’d be a shoe-in to inherit the best student job on campus. But, alas, it wasn’t meant to be. One of my classmates had beaten me to it, and already claimed the job. What a let-down. As luck would

have it, though, the new Tiger Guy was a friend of mine, so I was able to start helping him out with Tiger duty, and I became a bit of a Mike groupie. Through my second year of vet school, I spent many hours around Mike’s cage with my classmate Jeff. If I couldn’t be the Tiger Guy, I was still the unoffi cial back-up. Or helper. Or something like that. At least I was able to be around Mike and have some fun.

Two incidents highlighted that year with Jeff and Mike IV. First, the movie Everybody’s All-American was fi lmed on LSU’s campus. Dennis Quaid, Jessica Lange and John Goodman starred

in the 1950’s love story set against the back-drop of LSU football, and Mike IV played the part of, naturally, the LSU mascot. I didn’t get into the fi lm, but I did get to hang around the set, and I got a free wind-breaker! Then there was the “Hostage Tiger” incident. One day in 1988, a man who claimed he’d been promised a job by LSU basketball coach Dale Brown, decided to take matters into his own hands. Claiming to have a gun and a bomb, he got into the outer perimeter of Mike’s cage and held a standoff with police, threatening either to shoot Mike, or blow up the entire tiger cage, unless he was given a meeting with Coach Brown. Coincidentally, I’d decided not to go with Jeff to feed Mike that particular day. I was sitting on the couch that afternoon, eating Cheerios and watching Gilligan’s Island, when a news fl ash came on saying that Mike the Tiger was being held hostage! I drove over to Mike’s cage to fi nd a scene right out of a TV show. Campus Police; Baton Rouge Police; a strange man stalking around inside a section of Mike’s cage; and a crowd of crazy LSU students chanting “Tiger Bait!” Five hours later, Mike’s captor was being led away in handcuffs. There was no gun, and there was no bomb. He never got his meeting with Coach Brown; instead, he got deported back to Brazil. And Mike got his cage back.

by Jeff Perret, DVM

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Toward the end of that eventful second year of veterinary school, my friend Jeff let me in on a secret. He had decided to leave vet school in May to enter medical school instead. And so, Jeff’s decision to become a gynecologist instead of a veterinarian opened the door for me to fi nally become, offi cially, the Tiger Guy! During my third year of vet school, my fi rst year as Mike IV’s care-taker, there were no Hollywood movies, no hostage crises, no big drama. I did get to take Mike to an LSU-Notre Dame basketball game in the Superdome, and meet Brent Musberger (maybe “meet” is too strong a word). Mostly, though, it was just daily feeding and cleaning; but it was the greatest job I could’ve asked for. I learned that the way to wake Mike from his afternoon naps was not to yell, scream or “meow,” but to jingle my keys, which he knew meant feeding time. I gave out samples of tiger poop, which apparently helps to repel deer from your yard or garden (who knew?). I also gave out souvenir whiskers and claws to kids who’d come by to visit Mike. I drove Mike across town to the truck scales now and then to weigh him. Sometimes I’d drive around town with the empty trailer, and when a motorist would yell, “Hey, where’s Mike?,” I’d act surprised and pretend he’d escaped. Of course no one believed me, but it was always SO FUNNY! Miraculously, I also became suddenly more popular at school, as classmates came out of the woodwork to ask if they, along with family and friends and various others, could come along for a feeding or a cage cleaning.

And then there were the home football games.

Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. It started mid-afternoon, loading Mike into his trailer while hundreds of eager fans looked on. Despite stern warnings, a few lucky folks would get a nice spray of tiger urine each week, as Mike christened his trailer every time he climbed in. Then, driving around the fi eld with the LSU cheerleaders riding atop Mike’s trailer. Getting him to roar into the microphone for the student section. Making visiting cheerleaders, and visiting 350-pound offensive linemen, cower when Mike would let out a deafening roar outside the visitor’s locker room. After the Tiger Band played “Hold That Tiger” and the National Anthem, before kickoff, it was back to the tiger cage for a frozen ox tail, Mike’s treat for his weekly performance. Good times.

By the time my fourth year of vet school rolled around, it was becoming clear that 15-year-old Mike’s health was deteriorating. Dr. Sheldon Bivin, head of exotic animal medicine at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, and Mike’s personal doctor, decided that it would be best to retire him. Simultaneous plans were begun to locate a successor, the future Mike V, and to arrange a spot at the Baton Rouge Zoo where Mike IV could retire to a less demanding life. Next month, I’ll reminisce some more about the changing of the guard from Mike IV to Mike V, and some fond memories of the new kid on campus.

33

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THURSDAY - S.I.N. (Service Industry Night)

FRIDAY - Steak Night

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HHave you ever wondered why they call football “Football”? It’s played more with hands than anything, and holds almost none of the qualities of the sport it was adapted from. Football is actually a relative term - depending on the region, the meaning of the term can change. In America, it refers to the football we are so familiar with. In Canada, it refers to their own version of American football, and in most parts of the world, it can either mean association football (soccer) or rugby.

American football evolved from rugby but added different rules to make it our own, much like the Canadians with their own brand of football. Down-and-distance, line of scrimmage, and many other rules football fans are familiar with, all were developed by Americans. Probably the most interesting and innovative addition was the forward pass, something very different from any other type of football. Now we have tackling, passing, running the ball, and kicking the ball between the uprights (the last aspect we can relate “foot” and “ball” with). Because of this evolution, and the fact that no one wanted or cared to change the name, the name “Football” stayed.

Still though, why do WE call it football? Basketball actually has baskets, baseball has bases, and volleyball has people who “volley” the ball back and forth. Technically, we touch the ball with our foot only a few times a game. Wouldn’t it make more sense to call it gridiron ball? Or tackle ball? Or something similar? I personally like “Gridiron Ball”. It sounds like Gladiator fi ghts or jousting from centuries ago. More serious and more intimidating for sure.

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If you really think about it, soccer is more popular worldwide than American football (or Gridiron Ball, as I will now affectionately call it) is here in America. Not only are there teams located in different states and countries of the world, but each country participates in worldwide soccer competitions. These are honest-to-goodness World Champions; as opposed to our “world championship”, the Super Bowl, where no one else in the world actually competes. You would think that to be a world champion, you’d have to have some international competition?? But I guess whoever wrote the rules on that didn’t get my memo. Sure the Canadians play football similar to the USA version, but do they compete in our so-called “World” Championship? That they do not.

I do wonder though, why is soccer more internationally played than football? Why is there more of a following for a sport that doesn’t have 300-pound lineman bearing down on a puny little quarterback? I just don’t understand! How have two sports that originated from the same become SO different in game play and rules, yet still share the same phonetic name. And what does the name “Football” actually have to do with the American sport?

It is said that even the most polite, well-respected Englishman can go into a rage just by watching a soccer, or futbol, match. The sport gets dozens of countries of the world so riled up that riots break out. It amazes me that a sport with an emphasis on ensuring that there is no hurtful contact can cause such violence amongst fans. But, there are some really great lessons in soccer that can teach Americans a thing or two. Nothing else on earth makes people so passionate about their country. During international matches, it is not uncommon to hear people singing their national anthems simply in response to a score by their team. Then there are those weird horns called Vuvuzelas (trust me, you know you are watching a soccer match when you hear that piercing sound).

I’m not saying that Americans aren’t passionate about our sports. As we all know, Americans are very passionate about their football. We get so attached to players like Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, that we forget about the cities they play for, and focus more on the person and their talent. I wish we had more of the soccer fans’ passion in the NFL - more passion for the region the team represents. There are people who cry at football games, but people SOB at soccer games. Soccer fans are so attached to their teams, and they care about the sport itself and what it represents.

The closest in recent memory we have come to this reaction is after the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. In the years since, the Saints have been so much more than a football team for an area decimated by an act of God. But for soccer, it doesn’t take an act of God or total devastation to recognize where a team comes from and where it has gotten. It just IS that big to its passionate fans, without having to earn it. Soccer fans are loyal, whether their team earns zero points or ten. Football fans seem to be morefair-weathered.

American football teams represent cities or states from which they hail. Soccer teams represent cities, states, and entire countries. And we are awed constantly by the capacity that these American football players possess that drives them to tackle and throw balls for four quarters. Four quarters - with constant breaks. Soccer players have to continuously try to get the ball into each others’ goals for 45 minutes straight each half. You tell me which sounds more exhausting. Just THINKING about it makes me winded! Can you imagine if there were no breaks between a tackle on the football fi eld and the next play? The only word for it would be chaos. And as far as the name football itself, soccer defi nitely has a one up on literality.

Despite all of these differences, football and futbol still share common ground, as small an island as it may be. Both kick a ball, just at different times and in different quantities. Both play on grass and have to get the ball between two posts to earn victory for their team. For whatever reason, many years ago, America decided it needed to adapt the sport and make their own version. And look where we have come because of it. I may still not understand why we didn’t change the name (seriously, so little foot action), but I understand the unity it has brought our country and fan bases and regions alike. Maybe it’s not worldwide, maybe it’s not as loudly celebrated, but FOOTBALL is American. And that’s good enough for me.

Corey HogueAugust 2012Jockularity@SlidellMag.com

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Fine Dining? Isn’t all dining…fi ne? What makes any restaurant fi ner than another? After all, all Food experiences are fi ne to me! So, from the world of academia:

“Fine dining restaurants are full service restaurants with specifi c dedicated meal courses. Décor of such restaurants feature higher-quality materials, with an eye towards the “atmosphere” desired by the restaurateur, than restaurants featuring lower-quality materials. The wait staff is usually highly trained and often wears more formal attire. Fine-dining restaurants are almost always small businesses and are generally either single-location operations or have just a few locations. Food portions are visually appealing.”

Well, that sounded like a challenge to me. Where in our area truly fi ts the bill?

Food Spyo f S l i d e l l

.......................Oops!Try Again!

...............................Not Bad

.............................Cool!

The Food Spy of Slidell

How I Rate ‘Em

.....Way Good Stuff

...Slap Your Mama!

Reader input: YOU can take part in this article if you’d like! Send us YOUR discoveries, YOUR questions, YOUR memories!

Until next time, remember- You Are What You Eat!

YAWYE!!

The Food Spy of SlidellFoodSpyOfSlidell@SlidellMag.com

The Slipper’sBlue Bayou Bar & Grill

From my experience, they rate:

Treat yourself to one of the best overall restaurants in the area and see for yourself! And please remember, this article is not a paid advertisement, but strictly one man’s opinion. And that man is a food-aholic!

The list got short, real quick. I then followed a lead and checked out our neighbors at:

Silver Slipper Casino’sBlue Bayou Bar & Grill

5000 South Beach Blvd.Bay St. Louis, MS

While I was not excited about walking through the smoking part of the casino, I quickly became enchanted by the eloquent, yet very friendly, feel of the restaurant. We were escorted to a very well dressed table, by a professionally dressed

hostess. Then we were greeted by a waiter that I immediately became best friends with, knowhatImean? Surely I must have known him from somewhere in the past! Probably not. I

resisted the urge to invite him to sit and join us.

Since this night (actually every Wednesday and Thursday) was their “Prime and Wine” night, we went for it. After all, a good Prime Rib is not something I fi nd often, and I do love it when I fi nd a good one. Ahh, of course I do.

The steak, the service, the experience…was EXCELLENT.

I could describe the steak much like scallops, succulent…the twice baked potato as a great piece of fi sh, fl akey…and veggies like my grandfather, very fresh! (but that’s a story for another day). And the complimentary bottle of wine was paired nicely. It’s cool when the taste of wine seems to have been created for a certain taste of food. (By the way, the complimentary wine was because we ordered two specials, not because they, or anyone for that matter, know who the Spy is!

Let me add something to the above defi nition of “fi ne”, or any dining. You must feel like no matter how much you spent, you believe it was WORTH IT. Even if a $100 bill withers down to just enough

to buy gas for the ride home, it has to be something, well…to write about.

And yes, it was.

While I very rarely think anything deserves a perfect score…

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Slow Downfor School Zones

&Have a Safe School Year!

By: Carol Ruiz – Blue Star Pest Control

www.BlueStarBugs.com

Normally, I deter from making comments that age me, but lately the years just fl y by. I am amazed by the speed with which this particular year is clocking. I mean, August already, really? I probably would not have noticed except for the fact that I found myself headed to the store two days in a row. One day things seemed normal; the next day, nearly every aisle was stocked with school supplies. I thought, where did they cram the food?

It’s at these transitional times in the year, when we are forced on adjusting our schedules, that we can take the time to reassess a few things. One such item would be that list we started in the beginning of the year. You

remember the “To Do” list for your home, don’t you? Well, if you can’t fi nd it under all the summer activity notices, or art projects clipped to the fridge, just start a fresh one.

All summer long the kids have been in and out of the doors, slamming them (or in my case, just leaving them open). Let’s start here with a good inspection of all doors. These openings are large entry points for common pests. Check for proper door alignment and that a good seal is made with the weather stripping. Make sure the threshold is fl ush with the fl oor and fi rmly in place. With the door closed, step back. If you can you see light coming through, you may need to do some caulking.

Repeat this process with windows and garage openings as well. This process may seem like a simple thing to do but

37

for many crawling and fl ying pests, this is the easiest path into our homes. Having well sealed doors and windows will greatly decrease pest numbers as well as lower your energy costs.

Should you happen to discover a pest problem (such as ants using the front door to visit you), give us a call at Blue Star Pest Control and we will quickly send one of our professional technicians to take care of the problem for you.

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Slidell Magazine editor, Kendra Maness, with Rockin‛ Dopsie Jr.Joe DiGiovanni with sister, Rose Marie

Sand, celebrate Mexican Night at the

fi rst meeting of “The Dinner Club”Joe DiGiovanni with sister, Rose Marie

Sand, celebrate Mexican Night at the The New Orleans Queen of Soul, the incomparable Irma Thomas, performs at Rock-N-Bowl

Kendra with the cool rabbit guy from the Times Picayune

Kendra with the cool rabbit guy from

Face painting fun at the 2012 Heritage

Festival on July 4th

Kendra with the cool rabbit guy from At The Rock-N-Bowl 2012 New

Orleans Legends concert, artist Lori

Gomez presents Vince Vance with one

of her famous bowling pins in his image

Rotary club members and volunteers

man the beer booths at Heritage

Fest (the best job EVER!)Rotary club members and volunteers

All hail the King! Kendra carries the coat tails of Fred Martinez from Slidell Little Theatre at the SLT 50th Anniversary show in the City of Slidell‛s Art Gallery

25th EditionSlidell MagOUT TAKES