July/August 2012 cover by artist Lori Seals.

In her work, Lori strives to portray the visual richness provided by southern Louisiana’s vistas, both natural and architectural. Alert readers may remember her from our May-June 2008 cover. We’ve caught up with her since then and learned that as time flew, her art developed—and her daughters Megan, Amanda and Ally are developing into artists in their own ways and into Lori’s most trusted art critics.

“I might paint over work that I’ve spent hours on, adding a layer, changing something. My girls will come home and say, ‘What have you changed? You did something different!’ and it’s usually for the better, I hope. I have three little art critics. They’re definitely honest and tell me what they think.”

This issue’s cover piece, a watercolor of Penn’s Chapel, was shaped in part by the girls’ scrutiny. Her first go at painting this version of the hidden northshore gem wasn’t quite right. “I think I tried too hard the first time. My daughters looked at it, and they immediately knew that. They said it was too detailed, that it wasn’t really my style. So I did it again when I had more time and I was more relaxed. It’s a better painting.”

Lori got her start in art at LSU, where she studied interior design with a minor in art. She worked as a designer for a few years in Houston and New Orleans. “I loved doing quick sketches for the layout for furniture design; I think that’s evident in my artwork. I do a lot of interior shots, and my work has a lot of architectural detail in it—I love to focus on windows.”

But it’s not all buildings and windows for Lori. She’ll paint just about whatever appeals to her visually. Landscapes and scenes from beaches and swamps often catch her eye, as do still-life subjects and animals—just about everything except human portraiture, although she gets asked to do that quite often. “I enjoy doing more of a candid type of portrait. I’ve done a lot with kids walking on the beach or playing and looking down—not so much front-on, formal portraiture.”

She’s also quite good with animals. Her whimsical dog portraits attract attention and garner the occasional commission. A painting of a perky Yorkie hangs in her studio. “That’s my little dog; they seem to come easier than people sometimes,” she says, laughing.

Getting modern

Many of Lori’s paintings start out as photos. “When I took photography at LSU, my instructor would tell us to look for the light. For years, I’ve thought about that—what a difference the lighting quality makes in your paintings and your photographs.” (Paying attention in college pays off.)

There’s a very practical reason she likes photography as a way to gather scenes and subjects to paint. While she admires artists who work en plein air, working in the outdoors to paint the scenes before them, “I don’t do a lot. I think in Louisiana it’s so hot it’s harder for artists to paint outdoors.”

She hasn’t gone all hog-wild, digitally speaking. “My daughter does a lot with Photoshop, but that takes over everything. I like a little enhancement, but re-doing things is a completely different field.” While she keeps up with her full-size camera gear, Lori’s come into the space age and is just as likely to use her iPhone’s camera as anything else when she spots a potential subject.

Once she’s made a photo or found a scene that’s ripe for painting, she has another decision to make—which medium best fits? Just as she’s comfortable with a variety of subjects, Lori often switches from one medium to another, but says, somewhat wistfully, “Sometimes I think I should just pick one medium and stick to it. Then I’d be really awesome!”

Her proficiency working with watercolors, pastels and oils comes from years of experience and learning what works best with the size of the piece and how detailed she wants it to be. “When I see certain things, I picture them as an oil versus a watercolor or a combination. Sometimes I’m more inclined to do oil, because I know it will sell better and it will be easier to display, where pastels and watercolors may be my stronger mediums.”

Some of Lori’s favorite artists, including Edgar Degas and William Turner, are known for working in different mediums as well. She’ll often consult her substantial collection of art books when she’s trying to figure out how to approach a subject, looking to see how Turner or Degas or Andrew Wyeth, another favorite, might have done it. She also considers the Internet a friend. “It’s wonderful; I can see work from galleries and museums all over the world.”

Passing it on

“My newest development is teaching art. I’m teaching every grade at Mary Queen of Peace. It’s very much a challenge, and it’s really quite rewarding,” Lori says. “I have some students who’ve said they’ve never drawn before. When they pick up a pencil, it’s evident they have a talent for it. That’s exciting to see.”

Through teaching art, Lori has developed ideas for her professional art career. In one exercise, she’s had her students draw objects stacked one on top of the other, a concept she translated to a birthday card design for a friend, with all of her favorite things stacked together on the card.

“It really sparks creativity and ideas for me, too. While it does take time away from my painting, it seems to make me more focused on the days I have off from school. I don’t waste time,” Lori notes.

Her students are getting the benefit of Lori’s experience and her own hard-earned personal lessons. “It’s interesting that what I see in teaching the kids is what I struggled with for many years, which is trying to be perfect. It took me many years to free up and draw loosely and relax. That’s what I do with them—try to get them to not be perfect.”

Of course, with teaching kids, it can’t all be serious. Lori tries to have fun with them, exploring a world that never fails to supply subjects to draw and paint. “I do nature studies with the kids. We’ll do little bugs. It’s kind of fun when you think you don’t have anything to paint and you find you really can paint anything and make it magical.”

 Lori Seals’ work can be seen at Arabella Fine Gifts & Home Decor, 3902 Hwy. 22 in Mandeville, 727-9787; Welcome Home and garden, 214 Lee Lane in Covington, 893-3933; The Studio Gallery in Grayton Beach, Fla., and lorisealsart.com.

The post Practice Makes Imperfect: Cover Artist Lori Seals appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

INFINITY board member and Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise.

INFINITY brings the best of three generations together. First, the engineers and astronauts of the 1960s and ’70s who paved the way for space exploration, fulfilling in less than 10 years President Kennedy’s 1961 promise of putting a man on the moon and bringing him safely back to earth. Then there’s the generation who were gape-mouthed kids planted firmly in front of the nation’s TV sets as they watched those American pioneers begin their giant leaps into space. And now their children, who grew up during the era of a hundred-plus Space Shuttle launches, as the miracle of freeing ourselves from the bounds of earth’s relentless gravity became almost routine.

With the final launch of the Space Shuttle in 2011, and the next planned U.S. human space launch system tests set for 2016, it’s imperative that this current generation have something that will help keep them connected to space and the opportunities it offers.

That’s where INFINITY comes in. In the works for more than seven years, the center opened April 11, 2012—not an insignificant date. It’s the anniversary of astronaut (and INFINITY board vice chairman) Fred Haise’s memorable Apollo 13 launch in 1970. Though he was slated to pilot the lunar module and become the sixth man to walk on the moon, an oxygen tank explosion scuttled the mission. The heroic actions taken by the crew and ground-control personnel to bring Haise and his fellow astronauts safely home were dramatized in Ron Howard’s film Apollo 13.

Haise, a Biloxi native, has been involved with INFINITY’s development since its inception. He explains that after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, security at Stennis was tightened, making it more difficult for the public to access the StenniSphere at its location deep within the campus. Visitors could not drive directly to the StenniSphere, but had to board buses at the Mississippi welcome center and rest area to tour Stennis’ rocket-testing facilities and visit the StenniSphere.

“The actual brainstorming on the new center was initially done by Leo Seal, who was head of Hancock Bank,” says Haise. “His father had a lot to do with the acquisition of land to build the Mississippi Test Center, which became Stennis Space Center.” Roy Estess, who was the director of Stennis for many years, and Myron Webb, who was head of public affairs, were also involved from INFINITY’s beginning, as was Tommy Munro of Munro Petroleum.

Haise continues, “NASA took the first steps and acquired the land. We have a 30-year land-use agreement with NASA for the property. It’s very similar to the arrangement made for Space Center Houston at the Johnson Space Center. From there, under the leadership of Mr. Seal, a not-for-profit board was set up, of which I’m vice chairman. This board’s mission was to raise the money to build it and to operate it, which is where we are today.”

Visiting INFINITY

The first thing visitors see is a large sculpture of an eagle, carved from a single tree and incorporating metal used in the test stands at Stennis and in rocket engines used to propel the space shuttle into orbit around the earth. Soaring over the walkway leading from the parking lot to the center, the sculpture, by artist Marlon Miller, features a plaque with Haise’s likeness and text recounting his accomplishments.

While Stennis is mainly known for its spaceflight connection, the 125,000-acre federal facility is also home to several agencies and contractors, including the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and the Navy’s Special Boat Team TWENTY-TWO. Exhibits at INFINITY’s entrance reflect that, mingling with two massive rocket engines used in the Apollo program, equally massive buoys used by Stennis’ oceanographers and one of the riverine patrol boats used by the special ops naval team.

Haise stands next an Apollo F1 engine. Five of the massive rockets powered Apollo 13 off the launch pad.

One of the rocket engines is an example of the most powerful ever built, an F1 engine designed by NASA’s Wernher von Braun. Five of these engines, each 18 feet tall and 12 feet in diameter, powered the first stage of the Saturn V moon rockets. Altogether, they burned 15 tons of fuel per second while driving the almost-seven-million pound vehicle to a speed of 6,000 miles an hour and an altitude of 36 miles.

Haise, via a video presentation, greets visitors as they enter the center. While the exhibits are geared toward “science” in general, the main goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and, hopefully, Mars-bound astronauts. The first exhibit, Great Nations Dare to Explore, helps accomplish that by leading visitors on a maze-like tour featuring interactive displays that examine how different cultures have set about exploring the world around them.

Starting with the Egyptians, visitors wind their way through passages containing displays of artifacts and dioramas, sometimes dead-ending as the culture being examined (the Vikings, for example) either ceased to exist or stopped sending out explorers into the world. Linda McCarthy, of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce, which markets and manages the center, says, “The coolest thing about the exhibit is that you can touch, hear and even smell things that will throw you back in time through the experience. Each one of the areas has at least one of these features. A display box contains replicas of artifacts.”

Following the exploration of Egypt, China and beyond, the visitor continues into the development of flight, from the Wright brothers to our first forays into space. “We’re examining where humans have gone, where we’d like to go and the possible future of space exploration. While we have been exploring space, there is still a long way to go,” says McCarthy, adding, “Mars is the ultimate goal.”

Next up are demonstrations of Stennis’ multi-tasking place in NASA’s Applied Sciences Program. Using the latest technology, a multimedia touch screen showcases the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Nation Coastal Data Development Center and its Gulf of Mexico project. Exhibits closely examine the effect of weather and changing sea levels on the coastline and coastal marshes. “Visitors can come through and explore what it is NOAA does and how the information they’ve developed is being used. They can see different sea creatures, the variety of life in the ocean and how scientists explore the undersea world,” says McCarthy. “It’s really a great system because for any age it’s both educational and entertaining. The 8-year-olds play with sea creatures, and teenagers get engrossed by the sea exploration presentations.”

A theater that’s very much “in the round” features Science on a Sphere, a giant sphere suspended in the middle of the space that serves as a projection screen for any number of presentations. “It’s actually the first spherical movie screen in the country,” McCarthy says. “It had been at the StenniSphere for a couple of years, and we’re lucky to have it; it’s probably one of our most popular exhibits. We can do a number of different things with the unique screen, and we can actually control it with an iPad or a Wii control system.”

Up Into Space

Scale-model Apollo rockets tower over an atrium with a curving staircase and elevator leading to the second-floor exhibits. It is here that the exciting early days of human space exploration are celebrated side-by-side with present-day technologies and some glimpses into future plans.

Greeting visitors is a wall of more than 100 mission patches donated by the individuals who reproduced them in needlepoint, one from almost every U.S. spaceflight mission. “To have dedicated all of that time and effort and then donate them is incredible. My favorite is the Apollo 13 mission,” McCarthy notes. “It’s exceptional work.”

Display of embroidered NASA mission patches at INFINITY.

Adults who as kids watched the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and early Space Shuttle missions will get a kick from seeing Wernher von Braun’s office re-created at INFINITY. McCarthy says, “Dr. von Braun had an office at Stennis Space Center. The tower that’s at the old visitor’s center was actually his office. He could easily see the test stands from the viewing windows there. We call him the father of the modern rocket engine. He was responsible for the F1 engines for the Saturn program—that huge engine on display outside. If it weren’t for his engine design, it could have taken a lot longer to get to the moon, and maybe we would not have met our goals.”

A space suit worn by Fred Haise, on loan from the Smithsonian, is displayed next to a video presentation on Apollo 13. Visitors unfamiliar with the mission’s harrowing tale can learn about it through the presentation, told in part through TV news clips from 1970.

A reproduction of the first rocket of the modern age, Robert Goddard’s liquid-fueled invention, stands near a sample from the farthest reaches of human spaceflight to date: a sample of rock from the moon brought back from one of the Apollo missions.

Rounding out the spaceflight exhibit are displays which show the evolution of food brought into space, from inedible-looking freeze-dried, vacuum-packed packets and MRE-type entrees to what scientists and engineers hope will be the future for any moon base or Mars mission explorers: aeroponically grown produce nurtured by precise artificial light with water and nutrients delivered to the plants by a spray of fine mist. The stacks of different butter lettuce varieties grown at INFINITY are periodically harvested—they grow fast; from seed to harvest in a matter of three to four weeks—and served to visitors.

Getting a feel for what it would be like to live and work aboard the International Space Station is possible when touring a reproduction of the Destiny module, the U.S. laboratory that also serves as a control station for the ISS’s robot arm.

Other Attractions

A moon rock sample on display at INFINITY.

Though the center’s INFINITY Café has a permanent presence by Domino’s to assure a steady supply of pizza for the kids, it is the serving area set up to feature different regional restaurants that brings a unique
and appetizing offering. “Five of our local restaurants take turns presenting menu favorites, a different one each day. This brings a sampling of the best of our local cuisine to visitors and staffers alike,” says McCarthy. In the brief time the center has been opened, it’s become a favorite for workers at Stennis looking for a quick lunch getaway.

McCarthy notes that INFINITY is intended to be more than an educational destination. It’s also a corporate meeting place and an event facility capable of hosting large crowds for receptions. “In addition to the five classrooms downstairs, we have four meeting rooms on the second floor that we rent. Response has been tremendous. Companies based at Stennis can hold meetings here offsite, which makes sense as their guests won’t have to drive from the interstate to the security checkpoints.”

Future Plans

More exhibits are in the works, and fundraising efforts continue. Haise is very excited about INFINITY’s next phase, called the Earth Gallery, which is highly interactive. He explains, “Visiting children will come on field-trip missions tailored by their teachers to fit their current class curricula. Originally designed by engineers and scientists at Stennis, the missions can be fine-tuned by teachers with the assistance of outreach training from NASA staffers. It will be a capstone to what they’ve been doing in the classroom.” Haise adds, “I think that’s very exciting. There’s no other museum in the country that’s orchestrated this way—directed to science learning to enhance what they get in the classrooms.”

That INFINITY offers opportunities to learn about earth sciences such as oceanography and meteorology and combines this with a celebration of NASA’s 50 years in space is important to Haise. “Here are magnificent things that have been done in all fields that can put a spark in children’s heads—‘maybe I can do some exciting things.’ Not necessarily in space, because not everyone can be an engineer or scientist, but to take advantage of what talent they have in a field that is best for them.”

INFINITY Science Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Located right off I-10, at Miss. Exit 2 (South), next to the Mississippi Welcome Center near the Miss.-La. border. (228) 533-9025. Adults (18-54), $8; seniors (55+), military and children (6-17), $6; 5 and under, free. Ticket price includes a free bus tour of NASA Stennis Space Center.

The post INFINITY…and Beyond! The INFINITY Science Center appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

St. Tammany Clerk of Court Archivist Robin Perkins. Photo by Fielding Photography.

The St. Tammany Archives Department is known as the largest and best-preserved document source in the state, besides Orleans Parish. The parish courthouse has never burned or flooded; most of the document series date back to 1810. They provide information for researching the history of St. Tammany and its citizens. Genealogists can obtain data such as names, addresses, occupations, marital and family status, citizenship and property holdings of their ancestors.

The archives show that St. Tammany has always been a hard-working, industrial parish. Bricks were made, sugar was grown and rice was produced—all right here. Early Revolutionary War veterans who settled in the area brought their work ethic and entrepreneurial vision with them. Robin says, “We’re keeping their memory alive by making people aware of all their contributions. It’s definitely a heritage to be proud of.

“History always surprises us and delights us with the things you can find out,” Robin says. For example, during the 19th century, it was possible to ride a horse from Mandeville to Covington and be in the shade throughout the duration of the trip because of the amount of forestation.

Robin enjoys speaking to the community about the history she cares so much about. She credits Clerk of Court Malise Prieto with providing the opportunity for her to do so. Malise says, “We are most fortunate to have Robin on our staff. She loves what she does, and it shows. She looks at history in a different way. She can entertain you with history.”

Robin engages children who come to see her on field trips by researching their last names. What at first may seem like any other school trip turns into a trip back in time where students learn about their personal ancestry.

We cannot forget about our past. Robin and the archives help us to remember.

The Archives Department is located in the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center, Basement Level, in Covington, (985) 809-8700. Appointments as well as walk-ins are welcome. Copies can be mailed.

The post INsider: Archivist Robin Perkins appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

Ponchatoula, Hammond, Covington, Mandeville and Slidell boast of downtown areas with all sorts of interesting shops for people looking for a hometown shopping experience. Clothing and other retail stores, coffee shops and restaurants line the streets, offering a great way to support local businesses. In addition to farmers markets and art markets (check our Scoop calendar for times and locations), the downtown areas boast many opportunities for food, music and entertainment.

Fontainebleau State Park’s splash park and beach areas are fun places to cool off with your family this summer. Photo by Thomas Growden.

Hammond’s annual Hot August Night celebration takes place August 17 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The evening includes music, food and plenty of fun, especially since most of the shops stay open late and many restaurants provide special meals for the occasion. At the Oak Street Gallery, enjoy the wine tasting while viewing the exhibit, which includes bronze sculptures by William Ludwig and new works by a number of northshore artists. Wander through Discoveries Furniture and Finds for unique items, and stop in at Bra la Vie! for special offers. Live music can be found just about everywhere, with the main stage in front of La Carreta hosting the headliners.

The last Friday of each month brings the Columbia Street Block Party to Covington. From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., enjoy your pick of restaurants and live music along Columbia Street, stopping in to visit deCouer, Shoefflé and Columbia Street Mercantile. To see their latest exhibits, visit Henry Hood Gallery and the St. Tammany Art Association. On the third Friday of the month, the Columbia Street Landing hosts the Sunset at the Landing concerts. There, along the banks of the Bogue Falaya River, live music and good company make for a great evening. Stroll along Lee Lane and visit Laurier, the french mix, Bella Cucina and Welcome Home and garden, stopping for a refreshing spot of tea at The English Tea Room.

The Mandeville Seafood Festival at Fontainebleau State Park offers five days of fun July 4-8. Enjoy carnival rides and games, great food and drinks, arts and crafts, a fireworks extravaganza and live entertainment from bands, including Four Unplugged, Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, Chee Wheez, Bobby Cure and Poppa Stoppa Band, the Bernie Cyrus Jazz Combo and 5 Finger Discount. The 34th Annual Car Show & Cruise will be held July 6-7. And before all the festivities, the FireCracker Fun Run July 7 will benefit Trafficking Hope and other local charities.

In Slidell, the 15th Annual Slidell Heritage Festival celebrates the Fourth of July from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. at Heritage Park. Enjoy fireworks, a children’s area and live entertainment from Mike “Soul Man” Batiste, Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, T Graham Brown and Category 6. Walk to nearby Old Towne, where you can select a chic summer outfit at Izabella’s Villa or prepare for the fall football season at the Who Dat Shoppe. From August 3 to September 22, the Slidell Cultural Center Gallery will feature Optical Illusions: In 3D!, a contemporary exhibit where things aren’t as they seem.

Long known as the “Antique City,” Ponchatoula is experiencing a bit of a rebirth with new shops, art galleries and restaurants. Located in the downtown area, Honey Hive has beautiful antiques, home décor, items of architectural interest and garden accents to please the most discriminating shopper. The Red Dot Gallery features artist Connie Kittock as well as works by owners Nancy and John Perilloux and other local artists. Trendy clothing, accessories, shoes and luxury perfumes and soaps are all available at the new shops. And there are still “old time” antique stores for treasure hunters, including CJ’s, where bargains abound.

Downtown Ponchatoula will host the 12th Annual Fireworks Show July 3 at Ponchatoula Recreation Park, and the annual Christmas in July Sale July 14-15 offers holiday pricing for early shoppers. Rockefeller’s is a great spot for lunch or dinner, offering fresh, vibrant, upscale cuisine. Stroll down Thomas Street and try the mango cheesecake bites at The Chocolate Vine for dessert. Also, be sure to check out the town alligator, Old Blue Eyes, who doubles as town mascot and newspaper columnist. Because of his location, he is privy to much of the local gossip. Pay him a visit the next time you are in the neighborhood. And don’t worry—he won’t bite!

Giraffes are very popular at the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom. Photo by Thomas Growden.

If nature is more your thing, look at some of the local state parks. Fontainebleau State Park was completely renovated after Hurricane Katrina, and the change is remarkable. Now with a new pier, beach area and a splash park for kids, it is a great place to enjoy the beautiful weather and explore nature. Nature walks through the beautiful scenery provide an opportunity for light exercise. While at the park, take advantage of some of the year-round activities. Try your hand at some primitive woodworking or just watch as craftsmen work their trade. If you prefer nature hikes, a site ranger is available on Saturdays and is more than willing to answer any of your nature questions. The park also features cabins for those who want to vacation at the park as well as piers for fishing.

The St. Tammany Trace passes through Fontainebleau. With 28 miles of track for pedestrians and bikers alike, it’s great for exercising. The trail passes through Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe and Slidell. Be sure to check it out!

The newest of our great local state parks is Bogue Chitto State Park, which opened in 2010 with a huge selection of activities for all ages. Want to just lie out on a sandy beach by the river? Look no further, because Bogue Chitto has chairs and umbrellas for guests to rent. Also available are sandy volleyball courts, a playground and a small water park area. On the river, guests can take their pick of tubing or canoeing, as the park offers rentals for both. Also, there are 20 fishing ponds and seven miles of walking trails throughout the park.

Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville offers both history and the beauty of nature. The Otis House, located near the entrance of the park, was originally built in the 1880s as the family home for sawmill owner William Theodore Jay. Renovated in the 1930s by Frank Otis, the house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 and is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday. Across from the house, visit the steam-powered sawmill to learn how trees were made into lumber. Fishing and crabbing as well as an elevated swamp trail and kids’ playground offer plenty to do outdoors. Picnic tables, barbecue pits and fire rings are great for a party or even an overnight camping trip. Guests also have access to the Tchefuncte River from the park’s boat launch.

St. Tammany officials enjoy first casts at the opening of the St. Tammany Fishing Pier. Photo courtesy St. Tammany Parish Dept. of Cultural Affairs.

One of the northshore’s newest fun venues is the St. Tammany Fishing Pier on E. Howze Beach Road in Slidell, which has proved to be extremely popular since its opening in May. Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer. The cost is $3 to fish or $1 to sightsee without fishing. Children under 12 are free.

If you are looking for something a little more structured, how about a swamp tour? Honey Island Swamp offers guided nature tours. With more than 250 square miles of swamp, you can expect to see all sorts of wildlife in the area, undisturbed by human activity. The swamp’s natural beauty is something you aren’t likely to find anywhere else.

Global Wildlife is unique to the northshore. With a huge expense of land, it provides a place to call home for all sorts of endangered species. This summer will be special, as two baby giraffes will be joining the herds. With any luck, you will be able to see them roaming the preserve. On beautiful summer days, there is nothing quite like feeding a giraffe while enjoying the warm breeze.

Maybe you want to find some way to get your kids a little more active this summer? Camps teaching the fundamentals of football, basketball and soccer are available throughout the northshore. Also, be sure to check out the local fitness clubs, which provide a variety of sports leagues for members and classes for non-members.

One of the best things about living on the northshore is that there is always an abundance of ways to have fun! There is no better way to make sure that where we live stays great than by supporting our local businesses and enjoying the area’s natural resources.

Make this summer at home one to remember!

The post Fun in the Sun: Summer Activities on the Northshore appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

High school players from the Northshore Lacrosse League. Photo: Kim Daigle.

Austin Speni, St. Paul’s coach and owner of the northshore’s Quick Stick Lacrosse shop, says that the explosion of lacrosse interest comes from the very foundation of the sport. “Lacrosse has a little bit of everything. It’s fast, it’s physical, it’s full contact. Lacrosse is more of a suburban sport. Access to fields and space is not an issue like it is in a city.”

He adds, “There’s a whole culture to it. It’s almost a counterculture that’s different from any other team sport. These kids always have a stick in their hands; they’re always together. It’s like a fraternity.”

Modern-day lacrosse has 10 men on each side—three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders and a goalkeeper. They play on a 110-yard-by-60-yard field with a 6-foot goal at either end located within an 18-foot diameter circle called the “crease.” The goals are set 15 yards off the end lines so that players may freely roam behind the net.

Lacrosse is a fast-paced game, similar to hockey, where players (or “laxers”) are fully padded from the waist up, including a helmet and gloves. They use a long stick with a net on the end, more commonly known as the “crosse,” (French word for “stick”) to pass and shoot the ball as opposed to hockey’s curved stick and puck.

St. Scholastica beat Caddo Magnet in the JaxJam tournament. Photo: Tab Damien.

The basic outline of the game has both teams starting in a face-off at the center of the field. Once one team gains possession, the objective becomes to move the ball up the field by either running or passing the ball through a slinging-like motion that propels the ball out of the crosse’s net. Each goal is worth one point (in professional levels there is a two-point line), and after each goal, both sides compete in another face-off. The team that scores can earn back immediate possession of the ball in the resulting face-off.

“[Lacrosse] is a great combination of hand-eye coordination, much like what you see in baseball,” Mandeville High School assistant coach Dean Barr says. “It involves the thought process of basketball through zone defenses and setting picks, and it has the physicality of football. It’s a good combination of all the major sports.”

In 2007, Mandeville High became the first group to bring lacrosse to the northshore. Five years later, the northshore has two 5-A schools represented in the boys Louisiana High School Lacrosse League, one 5-A girls team, another boys team not affiliated with any school and an up-and-coming youth program that sets high hopes for the future of northshore lacrosse.

Speni and St. Paul’s Wolves have taken the lead in northshore lacrosse, making the state finals in the team’s fourth year in a 7-5 loss to the Jesuit Blue Jays.

Lacrosse has had a bumpy start to life in Louisiana. With most schools, sports such as football and basketball control athletic departments, and many local athletic directors were not overly supportive of taking on an unfamiliar sport. Lacrosse had no fan base and, more importantly, no player or financial base.

Six separate groups approached St. Paul’s with aspirations of creating a program before the school was able to field a team. One local athletic director told the person who would become his school’s first lacrosse coach that he did not think the program would ever play a game.

Even today, the 13 varsity-level programs are not recognized by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, with teams acting as clubs for their respective schools. While the 13-team league is capable of having a full season, concluding with a state tournament, programs are still forced to look out of state for competition.

Some schools take it as far as preventing their athletes from competing in both football and lacrosse, forcing students to choose their loyalties, with lacrosse often coming up short. Lacrosse programs also typically receive little to no funding from their schools, leaving teams to rely on player dues and fundraising in order to buy uniforms and pay referees. Many of the northshore’s coaches are former collegiate players who have brought the sport to Louisiana from northern schools where the sport is an established staple of the sporting community; they work on a volunteer basis.

According to some northshore coaches, one of the main things holding the sport back is the lack of an established youth program in the area. Major sports such as football and soccer start youth teams as early as age 6. The North Shore Lacrosse League is a community-based program with five teams representing five different age groups (U-11, U-14, U-15, Junior Varsity and Varsity) open to athletes from any school. The program is currently one of the only youth lacrosse programs in the area; the varsity program competes against school-affiliated teams.

St. Scholastica vs. Caddo Magnet. Photo: Tab Damien

Former Colgate midfielder—or “middie” as it is commonly referred to in the sport—Scott Avanzino was the head coach for the NSLL last season. Chris Condon will be the coach during the coming year. (Avanzino succeeded Gregg Spyridon, who helped start the NSLL as well as the Mandeville program before losing his battle with cancer.)

Mandeville High School is currently working with Darren Bell, commissioner for the LHSLL, to start a program at Mandeville Junior High. Programs like St. Paul’s and the NSLL already have teams for non-Varsity or Junior Varsity level teams. Offering such youth teams gives a varsity team a distinct advantage in the early development of players.

However, youth teams are not the only way the sport is expanding on the northshore. St. Scholastica Academy just completed its first season in the growing sport. The 24-girl team went 8-8 in the inaugural season, competing in the four-team girls league. The Doves’ head coach, Kevin Power, was part of the original interest group with Louie Dubuc that started lacrosse at St. Paul’s.

Fontainebleau High School has also begun showing interest in starting its own team, which would join the LHSLL. Christ Episcopal has a program that continues to grow with the newly established high school.
While football may still reign supreme over the athletes of the northshore, the rapid expansion of lacrosse may soon produce more athletes to pick up a lacrosse stick instead of a helmet and shoulder pads. The advancement of youth programs and the fun-natured culture that surrounds lacrosse may put the sport in position to one day challenge the status quo of the northshore sporting world.

The post LA X: Lacrosse Hits the Northshore appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

“Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans” by Ben Sandmel.

They say “truth is stranger than fiction.” In the story of New Orleans R&B musician Ernie K-Doe, truth is certainly more entertaining than fiction. The life of anyone who would title himself “Emperor of the Universe” without any hint of self-doubt has to be worth a read.

It would take a legion of writers working overtime to invent K-Doe, plot out his life and write the words that would come out of his mouth over his lifetime. Luckily for author Ben Sandmel, he didn’t have to do any inventing in putting together the biography Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans, published by the Historic New Orleans Collection.

K-Doe often and loudly exclaimed he was “a Charity Hospital baby,” and, just as often, he would follow that up with a rambling description of the day he was born: “Charity Hospital went to rumblin’ and a-grumblin’! The building started to bendin’, the walls started shakin’…”

“I’m cocky, but I’m good” was a K-Doe motto. His big hit was the 1961 best-selling song Mother-in-Law, which was written and produced by Allen Toussaint. K-Doe declared, “There ain’t but two songs that will stand the test of time, until the end of the world. One of them is The Star-Spangled Banner. The other is Mother-in-Law.”

K-Doe rode Mother-in-Law for the rest of his life, performing the song in his live appearances. The club he opened with his second wife, Antoinette, was named “Ernie K-Doe’s Mother-in-Law Lounge.”
Sandmel’s book is also a great history of New Orleans culture during the rhythm and blues heyday of the early 1960s. Mother-in-Law came out at a time when K-Doe and his New Orleans contemporaries, including Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Art Neville and Irma Thomas, were getting national recognition and cranking out records for the New Orleans market.

K-Doe’s story is illustrated through quotes from those who knew and worked with him, plus photos and vintage concert posters. Standouts are a 1962 poster from a Municipal Auditorium “Battle of the Blues” between K-Doe and James Brown and 1970s photos of K-Doe with Paul and Linda McCartney and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. (Plant, we learn from the book, played his 45 of “Mother-in-Law” so often as a youngster that his mother unplugged the family record player.)

Sadly, K-Doe died a few months after having performed at Jazz Fest and making his last appearance at a benefit show for, coincidentally, Charity Hospital—where he had been so gloriously born June 10, 1936, and where he died July 5, 2001.

Antoinette kept K-Doe’s memory alive, not only by keeping the Mother-in-Law Lounge open but also by commissioning a life-size statue of K-Doe that surreally and serenely held court at the lounge and accompanied Antoinette to various functions around town.

Antoinette passed away on Mardi Gras day in 2009, but the Mother-in-Law Lounge remained open for some time afterward. It’s now closed, although covered in murals in tribute to the couple.

Sandmel includes a quote from artist Willie Birch that pretty much sums up what the book, and K-Doe, are all about. Birch observed that Ernie K-Doe “was someone who not only said, ‘I’m king for a day,’ but he went and lived it every day.”

The post Book Report: “Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans” appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

That’s never truer than in South Louisiana, where the summer heat and humidity combine to make even the thought of cooking unbearable.

Don’t fight it. Head out to one of the area’s fine restaurants and treat yourself (and the family) to one of their culinary delights. If you need further persuasion, just look over our suggestions for a few great dishes from some of our favorite eateries.

Mouth watering yet?

Pardos

Shrimp, Crab and Crawfish Cheesecake—baked with goat cheese, Gouda and cream cheese and topped with roasted Creole tomato sauce.

Cochon de Lait Flat Bread—with caramelized onions and Muenster cheese and finished with barbeque sauce.

Pardo’s Berkshire Double-Cut Pork Chop.

Berkshire Double-Cut Pork Chop—served with an ancho chili/Steen’s syrup glaze with chili-roasted pecans and mashed sweet potatoes.

69305 Hwy. 21, Covington, 893-3603. An American bistro. Lunch, Tues.-Fri.; dinner, Tues.-Sun.
Café Giovanni

Sautéed Lemon Fish—sautéed and baked lemon fish with jumbo lump crab meat cooked in vermouth and topped with a heavy cream tomato sauce.

Bananas Foster—ice cream topped with bananas sautéed in brown sugar, butter, banana liqueur and brandy; topped with whipped cream and hot fudge.

Café Giovanni’s Voodoo Grits and Shrimp.

Voodoo Grits and Shrimp—sautéed shrimp in a sweet-and-spicy sauce with grilled portabella mushrooms, southern cheese grits and a mango salad.

117 Rue Decatur, New Orleans, (504) 529-2154. Italian fine dining. Dinner. Live music, Wed.-Fri.

Café Lynn

A Panaché of Fresh Fish—chef selections of local, fresh-market seafood pan-seared and served with fresh vegetables and potatoes.

Café Lynn’s Panaché of Fresh Fish.

Steak Au Poivre—eight-ounce filet mignon pan-roasted with a brandy-and-green-peppercorn sauce.

Braised Beef Short Rib Lasagna—layered with homemade pasta, house-made ricotta cheese and garlic-spinach; individually baked.

3051 E. Causeway Approach, Mandeville, 624-9007. Lunch, Tues.-Fri.; dinner, Tues.-Sun.; Sunday champagne brunch.

The Lakehouse

The Lakehouse’s Ruby Red Trout.

Lakehouse BBQ Shrimp—seasoned to perfection and served with cheddar grits and rosemary.

Ruby Red Trout—topped with fresh crab salad, avocado accents and brown butter sauce.

Crispy Shrimp Lafourche—lump crabmeat-stuffed shrimp topped with crawfish sauce and served with green bean salad.

2025 Lakeshore Dr., Mandeville, 626-3006. Simple elegance. Dinner, Fri.-Sat.; Sunday brunch.

George’s Mexican Restaurant

George’s Mexican Restaurant’s Tableside Guacamole.

Ceviche—fresh tilapia filet marinated overnight in freshly squeezed lime juice with green bell pepper, red onion, chopped cilantro and a hint of freshly sliced jalapeño; served over two crispy tostado shells and topped with avocado slices.

Tableside Guacamole—two large avocados, chopped purple onion, lime halves, diced tomatoes, diced cilantro, olive oil and water and George’s secret spices, with optional freshly diced jalapeño; all mixed fresh at your table.

Fajitas—seasoned beef or chicken, broiled and served sizzling with guacamole, pico de gallo and flour tortillas.

1461 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, 626-4342. Happy hour, Mon.-Fri. Lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch.
K. Gee’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar

Crawfish Bread—Leidenheimer’s French bread topped with a rich creamy sauce with local crawfish and pepper jack cheese and baked until melted.

Seared Tuna Salad—seared fresh tuna served on top of mixed greens, tomatoes and boiled eggs; topped with house-made charred tomato vinaigrette dressing and house-made croutons.

K. Gee’s Seared Tuna Salad.

Pecan Encrusted Redfish—dipped in pecan batter, lightly fried and served with meunière sauce.

2534 Florida St., Mandeville, 626-0530. Specials for lunch and weeknights. Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat.

Carreta’s Grill

Monterrey Shrimp—select jumbo shrimp served with Carreta’s cheese dip, rice and steamed vegetables.

Mayan Tacos—Baja-style hand-battered fried shrimp tacos served on soft corn tortillas topped with thinly chopped cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotlé dressing.

Carreta’s Grill Tres Leches Cake.

Tres Leches Cake—Carreta’s signature three-milk cake with moist, traditional Mexican flavors.

70380 Hwy. 21, Covington, 871-6674. Authentic Mexican cuisine. Lunch, dinner.

Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery and Caffé

Frozen Coffee—made with fresh-brewed cold drip and blended to order with any of many flavors, including mocha, vanilla bean, caramel and white chocolate.

Nonna’s Muffaletta.

Muffaletta—fresh-baked bread piled high with salami, ham, mortadella, provolone and olive salad; traditional style, panini or Italian loaf.
Stuffed Cupcakes—stuffed with cream filling and topped with garnishes.

2033 N. Hwy. 190, Covington, 893-1488. 7am-7pm, Tues.-Sat.; 7am-2pm, Sun. Lunch 11am-2pm, Tues.-Sat. Some items ready to “grab and go” from case.

The post Hot Summer Dishes: Menu Highlights From Select Area Restaurants appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

Wildlife artist Rock Zeringue has combined a passion for hunting with his passion for meticulous woodworking in his award-winning waterfowl carvings. What’s astonishing is that many of his creations—dead ringers, if you will, for sky-borne pintails, mallards and poule d’eau—wind up floating in the water, beckoning their live-action counterparts to come on down, join the party—and be blasted. (For the uninitiated, poule d’eau is the Louisiana name for the American coot, and it’s a favorite of the Cajun gumbo pot.)

Rock Zeringue.

At first glance, they may seem more suited for the mantelpiece than the marsh. In fact, much of his work is destined for a treasured spot in a collector’s nook. But as proud as he is of his decorative birds, he’s equally as happy with the birds—“gunning birds,” as he calls them—that are put to work as decoys in the area’s duck ponds.

It’s really how he got his start. Rock, a retired New Orleans Public Service shift supervisor, carved his first bird more than 40 years ago. “I used to help an old man who liked to duck hunt,” he recalls. “I put out the decoys for him and stuff like that. There weren’t a lot of retrieving dogs back then, so I was basically his retriever.

“He was a distributor of plastic decoys in Louisiana for the Victor Majestic Decoy and Trap Co., and his company did not build poule d’eau, which I felt was really an essential bird for decoy rigs. I got a hold of some balsa wood and made some poule d’eau decoys. That’s how I got started.”

Rock became an avid hunter himself and, as it turned out, liked his own work. “I liked hunting over something that I made. That’s when I began carving blue-wing teal. From there, I just started carving birds now and then.”

Later, he turned pro. “In the 1970s, a fellow said he wanted to buy a few, and it went from there,” Rock remembers. He began entering his work in various shows and winning awards.

Life in the Marsh

Rock and his wife, Sheila, lived most of their lives in Kenner, but enjoyed a fishing camp in the Rigolets area for many years. About 30 years ago, they decided to build a home on some land Rock owned just across the state line in Pearlington, Miss. “We weren’t happy with the situation in Kenner,” Rock says. One day, he asked himself, “‘So what if I build a house?’ and stupid me says, ‘Oh yeah! What a good idea!’”

For five years, Rock applied his penchant for meticulous craftsmanship to building the home. “Sheila and I drove every nail in this house. I’d go to the lumber yard, buy the lumber and bring it home to Kenner. Then I’d pre-fab what I could, bring it out to Pearlington and put it up.”

They enjoy a nice compound at the end of a canal that leads into the marsh surrounding the East Pearl River. It’s easy access to bird watching and fishing and also to Rock’s raw materials.

For his waterfowl carvings, Rock relies on two types of wood, both of which he can usually find within a boat ride of his home. “I primarily use cypress root and tupelo gum. Cypress root, I pick up on the East and West Pearl Rivers every few months. When we have a rise in the water, it usually uproots cypress trees. I’ll patrol the river until I see a toppled-over cypress tree, and then I’ll cut the roots from it. That’s actually underground; you usually can’t get to it unless the tree has been toppled over.”

Hand-carved decoy by Rock Zeringue.

Rock says the tupelo gum tree grows along with the cypress in the swamp. “It has a swollen butt at the bottom, and I only use the first three feet of the butt. It’s relatively light, and that’s what carvers look for.” He’ll often look for tupelo as it’s being cut and says, “Usually, they don’t use that swollen part, so they either cut it above that in the swamp, or if you talk them into it, they’ll cut it low for you and cut off the butt before they load it up.”

Carving

Once he’s gathered his raw materials, Rock begins by cutting the wood into manageably-sized blocks and rough-cutting the pieces into bird-like shapes with a band saw after drawing a pattern for the top and sides of the bird on the block. Then the hand work begins. “I’ll start rounding it with a draw knife and spoke shavers. I use a pocket knife for more detail and then sand it,” Rock says. “From there, I seal it, prime it and then start painting. I generally use artists’ oils to paint, but I’ve used almost anything.”

Rock’s decoys are a bit more detailed and lifelike than you’d expect. It’s OK for him to take some license with them that he wouldn’t take with finer-detailed reproductions that are destined for a collector’s display. “For example, the pintail has a long neck, so you can exaggerate the neck on the decoy.”

He actually makes three grades of birds, the gunning birds, what he calls “shelf birds” and decorative birds. The shelf birds are decorative, but not as detailed as the decorative birds. “The birds I know are going to be used as a decoy, I usually put a dowel through the head and neck, because the head has a tendency to break,” says Rock. “I’ll also put a skewer through the bill because they also have a tendency to break. The shelf birds aren’t reinforced and are painted with the same type of paint, but are painted a little bit finer. Of course, the decorative birds are painted with a lot of detail.”

Rock’s tools, completed carvings and blanks.

This level of craftsmanship takes time; about two eight-hour days to rough a bird out and about the same time to paint. But, Rock notes, “You know, a lot of people can carve them faster, and a lot of people can paint them faster, but I really enjoy doing them.”

Branching Out

Rock Zeringue’s Viavant-style bird painting.

Besides the band saw, chop saw, planer, vices and other tools of the woodcarver’s trade, there were two things that almost seemed out of place in Rock’s workshop: a board on an artist’s easel and a sideboard. They weren’t out of place at all, he explained, but extensions of Rock’s primary interests, woodworking and waterfowl. The board on the easel was in the beginning stages of becoming a beautiful hunting painting. “I’ve done about 20 paintings so far,” Rock says. His works are in the style of George Viavant, a local artist whose work often depicted harvested wild game, usually hanging by a string. Viavant died in 1925; his original watercolors sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Rock did his first painting on a dare.

“I have a really good customer who’s fairly wealthy. He said, ‘Do a Viavant for me. I’ll buy it. If I like it, I’ll put it in my big house in Natchez. If I don’t, I’ll put it in the bathroom of my fish camp.’” Of course, Rock’s client liked it. “It’s now the centerpiece of his home in Natchez.”

Making a hanging dead duck come to life is a challenge for Rock, but in the end, it parallels the satisfaction he gets from completing a carved bird. “It’s kind of like doing a portrait of someone. Usually, my clients are people who know birds really well. To do something like that, a hanging bird still life, I focus constantly on roundness, to get the dimensionality of it. It takes about two and a half weeks just drawing it. Then I start painting and keep lightening or darkening things to get where I am comfortable.”

The stately sideboard in his workshop was a project he began as a gift for his wife. While the rich color of the wood appears to be a finish or stain applied to it, it’s actually the natural color of the sinker cypress used in its construction, which, it turns out, was a tricky business.

“Cypress has a tendency to move, so you have to build it in panels so it can expand and contract. When you bring it into someone’s house, the air conditioner hits it, and it starts to contract. Cypress is also soft, so I glue a piece of mahogany in here for the stringers to run on so they won’t wear out. The stringers themselves are teak; teak is a self-lubricating wood, so the drawers slide evenly.”

Well Done

A couple of things become obvious when Rock talks about his work, whether it’s his bird carvings, his paintings or furniture: he loves what he does and takes pride in a job well done.

While he doesn’t participate in too many shows, his work was part of a retrospective at the Historic New Orleans Collection in 2008 titled Birds of a Feather: Wildfowl Carving in Southeast Louisiana.

“When I put a knife to something, I want it to come out the best it possibly can. I want it to be better than the last one I did. I keep trying to do that. A lot of my customers like to hunt over them, so I build those birds a little more sturdy than most. It gives me a lot of pride when someone can hunt over my birds for six years and they’ll still be in good shape.”

His clients get more than just birds to hunt over—they’re getting works of art that he’s sure will stand the test of time. Hand-carved decoys are in great demand, especially the antiques. “Basically, after a bird’s 100 years old—I’m hoping some of my birds are around for that long—it’s nothing for one to auction off for $17,000, and some will auction off for a lot more than that.”

Sand piper by Rock Zeringue.

It’s also the case with the home he and Sheila took so long to build. “It’s a good feeling to know you built this place yourself. And it was a real good feeling when we came back from Katrina and this was still standing just as strong as ever.”

As for the hunt, Rock’s not as game as he used to be for the trip out to place decoys in the marsh at a chilly 3 o’clock in the morning. Besides, he’s really gotten to like the birds too much.
“I’ll go hunting, but I seldom shoot anything. To me, the most important part is after the hunt. It’s the best time. You can put your gun away and watch the birds and their habits. It’s marvelous to watch these creatures. You love them and don’t want to shoot them anymore.”

Rock Zeringue’s work is available at The Crabnet in New Orleans.

The post Birds of a Feather: the Wildfowl Art of Rock Zeringue appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

Mitigation fees are the stipend paid by anyone developing land that has been determined to be ‘wetlands’ by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps process for defining wetlands is complex, and a substantial amount of property in St. Tammany is considered wetlands.

The Corps recently announced that it is changing the method used to determine the amount of mitigation fees that must be paid per acre of impacted wetlands. This new method may increase costs as much as four times. The Cypress Bayou drainage project, which will be returned to wetlands when complete, cost taxpayers about $1.2 million in wetland mitigation fees. Under the new method, the price could have exceeded $4 million.

Many citizens are under the assumption that wetlands mitigation fees are used for coastal wetlands restorations. That is not necessarily the case. Mitigation fees must be paid in the same ‘basin’ as the road or project being built. These fees are paid to mitigation banks located in the basin.
A mitigation bank is a piece of property that has been determined to be wetlands by the Army Corps of Engineers and approved as land that will be held in its natural state. Each ‘mitigation bank’ is assigned a number of credits it can sell to pay for the property and its upkeep. The bank owners then set the price for credits in his or her bank.

On the other side, the Army Corps of Engineers reviews each new building project, from a road or drainage retention pond to an entire subdivision, and determines the amount of credits that the developer, including local governments, must pay in fees.

The only mitigation bank in St. Tammany Parish at this time is Mossy Hill, owned by a private equity firm. You can learn about this bank at mossyhillbank.com. When St. Tammany Parish is developing a road, or any other infrastructure project that involves wetlands, this is currently our only option to buy ‘credits.’

The potential tripling of mitigation fees will not restore our marshes or improve our drainage. We believe that there is a better solution.

To reduce costs to citizens and to protect priority wetlands in St. Tammany, parish officials went to Washington to discuss the creation of a parish-owned mitigation bank that would reduce costs and retain or restore wetlands we consider critical for drainage or storm protection.

Wetlands preservation and restoration is vital to our future. The parish is asking for the ability to preserve and restore our own parish with our own funds. This will help meet our most crucial wetlands needs, save tax dollars and keep future development costs in check.

St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister can be reached at (985) 898-2362 or askpat@stpgov.org.

The post Wetlands: What is the Highest and Best Use of Our Mitigation Dollars? appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.

The latest development in CF research is the FDA’s approval of Kalydeco™ for people with the G551D mutation of CF, ages 6 and older. This drug, which is the first to address the underlying cause of CF, opens new doors to research and development in the search for a cure for all those living with CF.

In 2010, Inside Northside Magazine and Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (NYSE:HOS) launched the Northshore’s Finest event with the dual goal of supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and celebrating young northshore professionals who have given their time and talent to their communities.

The 17 young professionals highlighted in the following pages were each asked to raise a minimum of $3,000. During the three-month campaign, each honoree was paired with a CF Ambassador—a child living with CF. The Ambassador families, all living on the northshore, helped the honorees understand what it is like to live with the disease, who the money they raise will benefit and the urgency to find a control for this disease. In the effort to make CF stand for cure found, nearly 90 cents of every dollar raised supports vital CF research and educational programs.

Join the honorees at a CF Leadership Luncheon July 27 at Tchefuncta Country Club, presented by Inside Northside and Hornbeck Offshore. Call Ashley Mills at (504) 455-5194 for more information or visit louisiana.cff.org.

Mickey Gallagher

A New Orleans native, Mickey now resides in Mandeville and practices general dentistry with his father in Metairie.

Mickey enjoys sharing all that the northshore has to offer with his friends and family from out of town. “It feels like I am going to my ‘summer home’ every day as I come home from work,” he adds.

Mickey’s father, Richard, has inspired him professionally. “Having grown up around dentistry, I was exposed to it early on and realized it was something I could really enjoy,” he says.

For Mickey, the search for a cure for CF is close to his heart. “Being married to someone with CF for nearly 12 years, I’ve learned to enjoy today and not take tomorrow for granted,” he adds.

During his free time, Mickey enjoys working around his house and yard and fixing up family property in the Springfield area. His other interests include baseball, fishing and woodworking.

“Professionally, try to do something you enjoy, and if dealing with others, try to treat them as if they were family. Philanthropically, every little bit helps, and you never know who will help out unless you ask.”

Crystal Cook Ferris

Crystal moved from Richmond, Va., to Mandeville when she was starting third grade; she is now a physical therapist and co-owner of Rehab Dynamics Physical Therapy.

Crystal loves the northshore’s strong family atmosphere and the community support for locally owned businesses. “I always knew I would come back here to raise a family,” she says. “There’s always something to do and be involved in.”

Crystal is involved in the Junior League of Greater Covington and serves on the Harvest Cup Polo Classic committee. She is also the president of the Covington/Mandeville Phi Mu Alumnae Chapter, which she reorganized.

With the love and support of her parents, Crystal has been able to reach her goals. “They have helped me through every step of my journey to get to where I am today. My partner, Susan Blanchard, has been a mentor in helping me blossom and continue to grow professionally and in the community.”

A member of a USTA tennis team, Crystal loves to shop and spend time with her family and friends. Her free time is also spent preparing for a baby in October!

“Set bigger and better goals each year and push yourself and your team to meet them.”

Craig Vezina

Born in New Orleans, Craig now resides in Mandeville; he works as a pilot for Southwest Airlines and is also the owner of Vezfly Aircraft Brokerage.

Craig says his favorite part about living and working on the northshore is “the awesome family atmosphere” and the variety of outdoor community events.

During high school, Craig served as a counselor at the annual CF camp for children in Deridder, La. “It was at this time I realized what a challenging disease this is,” he says. “I believe with funding and the advancements in the medical field achieved to date, we can continue to positively affect the quality of life of those diagnosed with CF.”

Craig’s father has been the biggest inspiration in his life, especially his selflessness in helping others while never expecting anything in return.

In his spare time, Craig enjoys boating on the Tchefuncte River with his family or playing tennis with his wife and friends. “Being a father of two girls and husband to a phenomenal wife is the greatest joy in the world.”

“Aspire to never give up and always be prepared, whether it is personally or professionally.”

Angelica Brookshire

Originally from New Orleans, Angelica and her family moved to Mandeville in 2008; she is an RN in the ER at Lakeview Regional Medical Center.

More than anything else, Angelica enjoys the peaceful nature of life on the northshore. “I love working on the northshore because everyone seems like family,” she says. “I have the opportunity to see the impact I have in people’s lives.”

Angelica doesn’t remember a time that she didn’t want to be a nurse, and her job today presents many opportunities to help her community. “I enjoy getting involved in any way that I can to promote injury prevention, health and wellness.”

Angelica believes that God gives her strength and desire, and she says that her husband is her “biggest fan.” She also credits her parents for who she is today—”My dad instilled my best qualities: honesty, loyalty and integrity. My mom has encouraged me and spiritually guides me.”

Much of her free time is spent with her grandsons and youngest daughter. She enjoys live music, festivals, baseball and, of course, Saints football.

“You can make a difference—nothing is too small.”

Boyd Kitchen

A New Orleans native, Boyd resides in Covington with his family and is the Director of Financial Reporting for Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. His table is sponsored by Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries.

Boyd’s favorite part about living and working on the northshore is being able to spend time with his family in a relaxed environment.

Tom and Connie Kitchen, Boyd’s parents, have been the biggest inspiration to him professionally and philanthropically. “They have always been very giving of their time to various organizations in the New Orleans area,” he says. “Despite my mom and dad working to raise three kids, they always found time to be involved, volunteering at our schools or with charities that they were passionate about.”

In his free time, Boyd enjoys jogging, spending time with family and friends and coaching his oldest son’s athletic teams. “Playing team sports has been an important part of my life,” he says. “I played college football for Ole Miss, where I was a four-year letterman. Athletics has shown me that you can accomplish more as a team than as an individual, and I have always been interested in the development of a team over each season.”

“There is no substitute for hard work.”

Kristen Prestenbach

A New Orleans native, Kristen has lived on the northshore since 2004; she currently works as an office assistant for Cornerstone Consulting, Inc. Her table is sponsored by Fleurt Boutique, VooDoo BBQ & Grill, WOW, PJ’s and New Orleans Roast Coffee.

Kristen has fallen in love with the family-friendly atmosphere found on the northshore. “Whether it’s concerts at the Trailheads or Bogue Falaya Park or one of the many festivals or community events, there is something for everyone to participate in,” she says.

Kristen has a passion for helping others and giving back to her community. She is a co-chair for the Northshore Rising Professionals and a member of the Fund Development Committee for Children’s Advocacy Center/Hope House.

Kristen’s aunt, Linda Russo, inspires her professionally. “Her knowledge, charisma, work ethic and genuineness motivate me to follow her example and make the right decisions.” Her philanthropic inspiration is Dr. Charles Stanley, and she tries to follow one of his Life Principles—”God blesses us so that we might bless others.”

Kristen spends most of her free time with her family and friends, especially with her 4-year-old son, Mason, in the parks and play areas of the northshore. She also enjoys volunteering for events that benefit local non-profit organizations.

“The best advice I could give is to get involved—both with networking groups and community events.”

Lance Vitter

Born in Hammond, Lance has called Mandeville home for 12 years; he is the sergeant supervising the Persons Crimes Division for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. His table is sponsored by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Lance feels fortunate to have been able to work and live in both Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes, where “there are some of the best people in the world.” He has enjoyed bringing justice to the victims of crimes and helping make the northshore a safe place to live and work.

Lance says, “My late brother, Chief David Vitter, who passed away in 2007 while he was the active Ponchatoula police chief, has been the most inspirational professional person in my life. He gave a lot to the community he loved.”

Lance enjoys spending time with his wife, Nathalie, and their two daughters. “As a father of a child with disabilities, I understand the trials and difficulties that are associated with such. When presented with an opportunity, I try to pay it forward, because my family has been blessed by many organizations that have enabled my daughter to live a wonderful life.”

“There is no more rewarding accomplishment than doing whatever it takes to put smiles on the faces of people who feel that they do not have the strength to do so.”

Michelle Boudreaux

Originally from New Orleans, Michelle now lives in Mandeville, where she is a clinic coordinator at Premier Chiropractic. Michelle is also president of Mary Payton’s Miracle Foundation. Her table is sponsored by Keta Construction Company.

Michelle’s favorite part of living on the northshore is the community. “I am constantly overwhelmed with the outreach of support our community gives to those in need in our area. It truly makes me proud to live here.”

Michelle says many people have inspired her throughout her life. “I am so lucky to have grown up with a family with so much to look up to. I am surrounded even now by family, friends and co-workers who continuously amaze me with their strength and endurance.”

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time with friends and family, tending to her organic vegetable garden with her children, attending local concerts and watching Saints football. “If football season was year round, I would spend all of my time in the Dome. I love the Saints!”

“When you find something you are passionate about, make a move—make a change! Passion will make you someone you never thought you could be and make you comfortable doing things you never dreamed of!”

Kyle Beerbohm

Originally from Hayward, Calif., Kyle currently resides in Covington. He is a licensed agent for New York Life Insurance Company. His table is sponsored by K. Gee’s Restaurant, Geaux Title and New York Life.

Kyle enjoys the northshore’s plethora of opportunities to eat and shop locally and to volunteer with local non-profit organizations. He is actively involved in the community as co-chair of the Northshore Rising Professionals and as an ambassador with the St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce. “I love helping others, whether it is in a professional setting or a personal/friend setting.”

Kyle’s father has influenced him professionally. “He taught me hard work and how to work with people and treat them the right way.” His friends who work with him at non-profits also inspire him because he sees the impact they have on the community.

In his spare time, Kyle enjoys relaxing and spending time with friends. Some of his interests include economic development, community involvement, youth and adult recreation and tourism.

“Become involved in the community but don’t overextend yourself. Pick the organizations through which you can make the most difference and focus on those.”

Jane Higgins

Born in New Orleans, Jane has made her home in Abita Springs and is an insurance agent for All Phase Insurance.

Growing up in the city has made Jane appreciate the northshore’s laidback atmosphere. “Safe,” “friendly” and “peaceful” are just a few of the words she uses to describe life on the northshore.

Jane’s parents have been huge inspirations in her life, showing her the importance of setting realistic goals and achieving them. Kevin Miller and Bob Buras have guided Jane through her professional journey. Another inspiration is her friend Heather Bourgeois, who finds ways to help every person she comes into contact with.

In her free time, Jane loves spending time with her husband and two daughters. She can also be found working with women in need, speaking at Southeast Mental Hospital, St. Tammany Parish courtrooms and the St. Tammany Parish jail. “These women are going through difficult times in their lives. I speak about changing their decisions, their goals in life and how to enjoy all the moments that God has given to us.”

“Life throws us some curveballs, but if we make good decisions that are both supporting to ourselves and others, we will grow on a personal and professional level.”

Alex Duplechin

Born in Lake Charles, Alex resides in Mandeville and works at Priority Energy Services, LLC, where he manages the financial reporting. His table is sponsored by Priority Energy Services, LLC, and Pipe Pros, Inc.

Since moving to the northshore two years ago, Alex and his wife have fallen in love with the area and the abundance of activities, festivals and outdoor sporting opportunities available. “We participate in local events and are always looking for new ways to improve our community,” he says.

Though there have been many people who have made an impact in his life philanthropically, Alex gives much of the credit to his mother. “Almost every week in the summer, she would sign my sister and I up to volunteer at St. Vincent De Paul’s soup kitchen in Baton Rouge.” Professionally, Alex says his father’s work ethic has always been a source of encouragement. “I recall him working until two or three in the morning, trying to make a comfortable living for his family.”

Alex’s free time in the fall is reserved for LSU football and duck hunting. In the summer, he nurses his green thumb and sneaks out to fish when he gets the chance.

“Be involved—it is a great way to meet people.”

April Vanek

Born in New Orleans and raised in Lacombe, April now lives in Slidell; she is an administrator for Ochsner Health System in East St. Tammany Parish.

April has maintained strong friendships in the northshore community and has created many fond memories that have kept her rooted here. She also enjoys being close to her family. Dedicated to her community, April is passionate about providing the area with excellent, quality healthcare.

She was introduced to Cystic Fibrosis by Lani Fast, a Northshore’s Finest 2011 Honoree. “Lani has an in-depth knowledge of the northshore community and continues to serve through work and personal endeavors, despite her busy schedule,” April says. “I am excited to be working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as it marches toward the cure.”

April enjoys spending time with her 4-year-old son and her friends and family. A supporter of area non-profit organizations, she also raises funds for charities and local families by playing softball.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for contributions. People love to help other people with their time or financial donations and often don’t know how to, or who to contact. It’s never too late to get involved. Giving back builds character—just dive in!”

Sarah Lyons

Born in Alexandria, Sarah grew up in Slidell and lives in Mandeville; she is the head of Vendor Relations at myPhoneMD. Her table is sponsored by myPhoneMD.

Sarah appreciates that the northshore community is committed to helping local businesses grow. “Our first myPhoneMD store in Mandeville is such a testament to the kind of community we have here,” she says. “Our business grew so quickly, especially by word of mouth. People were so happy to see us succeed and helped in any way they could.”

Her father, Jeff Lyons Sr., has been her “go-to” professionally. “Management is an art in my opinion, and he’s the DaVinci of management.” Philanthropically, she is inspired by Made By Survivors, a group that attempts to empower victims of human trafficking and slavery by teaching them a trade and helping them to become economically stable.

Sarah attends CrossFit in Mandeville five days a week and enjoys biking on the St. Tammany Trace. She also attends festivals and local farmers markets as often as possible.

“Don’t allow your own insecurities to stop you from putting yourself out there and jumping head first into what you want. All you need to do is ask how to be of service, and you’ll be on your way.”

Conrad Green

Born in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and raised in Baton Rouge, Conrad now calls Mandeville home. He is the co-founder of myPhoneMD, a chain of urgent repair centers for smart phones. His table is sponsored by myPhoneMD.

“Mandeville is one of the most genuine and unique areas that I have ever lived in,” Conrad says. “The variation of business professionals and personalities in Mandeville makes it not only a fun place to work and live, but also a great place to establish new relationships and passions.”

Following Jesus’ message of loving others has positively impacted Conrad’s personal life as well as his business relationships. “I’ve found that being honest and respecting others allows for a smooth path to success,” he says.

In his free time, Conrad and his wife enjoy the local shops and restaurants in Old Mandeville as well as the outdoor activities that Mandeville’s natural resources provide. “I find myself drawn to the water. I’ve recently taken up kite boarding and have a strong passion for sailing.”

“Avoid placing limitations on yourself and your vision. Allowing yourself to be teachable opens up new learning experiences that require you to humble yourself and be a good listener and better communicator.”

T. C. Ford

Born in Covington and now a resident of Mandeville, T. C. is a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch.

T. C. loves living in a community where “the people are great, the lake is beautiful and the golf courses are plentiful—and it is the perfect place to raise a family.”

He and his wife, Mikaela, are involved with local charitable organizations, working with others toward missions they are passionate about. “It is wonderful living in a community where people are hardworking, generous and know how to have a good time—I think this is a recipe for success,” T. C. says.

His wife has been an inspiration to him since they met when they were 16 years old. “We make a great team and she always keeps me focused on the truly important things in life instead of all the clutter that too often tries to sneak in—this keeps working hard and helping others top priorities.”

T. C. enjoys riding bikes on the trace, running on the lakefront, sailing in the lake and playing plenty of golf and tennis—and he rarely misses a happy hour or dance party.

“Find something you are passionate about and do it passionately.”

Vanessa Gomes

Born in New Orleans, Vanessa now lives in Mandeville, where she is the Operating Manager and Director of Marketing and Social Media at The Barley Oak. Her table is sponsored by The Barley Oak.

Vanessa takes pride in living on the northshore because of the community’s diversity and culture. (A first-generation American, she speaks German, English, Portuguese and Spanish.) “I love the picturesque quality of Old Mandeville,” she says. “Whether you are riding your bike on the Trace or walking around, you feel like you are in an old movie.”

Nick Powers has been an inspiration to Vanessa both professionally and philanthropically. “Professionally, he has been an excellent educator regarding our craft. Philanthropically, we share a vision of giving back to our community by spending the majority of our marketing budget on philanthropic efforts.”

When Vanessa has free time, she enjoys being with her family and walking on the lakefront. “I truly love beer,” she adds. “I love everything about it, from the smell of the boil to the final masterpiece in the glass. I love the passion behind the craft—it is truly an art form, but the medium is in liquid form!”

“Love what you do, and always remember that love with gratitude and give back.”

Bob Hancock

Born in New Orleans, Bob Hancock calls Algiers home but has lived on the northshore for 25 years; he is the owner of South Paws Veterinary Surgical Specialists. His table is sponsored by Connector Specialists, Inc., South Paws Veterinary Surgical Specialists, Power Dynamics, LLC, and the Hancock Family.

Bob appreciates the small-community feel and the big-city amenities available on the northshore. “I really enjoy taking part in the local community events,” he says. “I want to be a leader in the community and do my best for the people who support our businesses.”

Bob’s mother is his inspiration. “She did a good job of making sure I worked hard to get where I wanted to be. She instilled a good work ethic that started in kindergarten. Philanthropically, she brought it home for me how much giving can fulfill your life and ‘be good food for your soul.’”

In his free time, Bob attends many animal-related activities with his family, dines at local restaurants with his wife and helps coach his daughter’s soccer team. Bob and his family are avid Saints supporters and season ticket holders.

“Be thankful for all the blessings in your life. Giving back to the community comes back to you so many ways, but most importantly, it gives your life a sense of fulfillment.”

The post 2012 Northshore’s Finest Honorees appeared first on Inside Northside Magazine Online.