May 2020

SBMAG.NET | MAY 2020 |

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From the Shreveport and Bossier City communities and the entire staff of SB Magazine, we want to thank all our Healthcare Workers.

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1

from the

EDITOR

I

don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get back to working from my office instead of from home. I’m ready to socialize – from a safe distance - to eat inside a real restaurant (instead of my kitchen, which exists only because it came with the house), to see my coworkers’ bright smiling faces, and to sit in a church pew instead of my couch with the laptop in front of me. These quarantine days have been rough on all of us but understandably necessary. All in all, our community has done pretty well but I think it could be said that we are all ready to “get back to it!”

We’d love to hear how you, our readers, have coped with the changes we’ve been forced to endure. I’ve enjoyed watching people from around the country entertain us on a Facebook page called “Quarantine Cabaret.”

I’m amazed at how many incredibly talented folks we have out there. I’ve also laughed out loud at some of the humorous Memes and videos being posted across the internet on Facebook and You Tube. Some of my favorites were sent to me by our son, Blake who lives in Baton Rouge.

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I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe.

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I need to practice social distancing from the refrigerator.

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Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.

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Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.

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This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her. I came into my house, told my dog.... we laughed and laughed.

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Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.

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I’m so excited — it’s time to take out the garbage. What should I wear?

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I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda. I’m getting tired of Los Livingroom.

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Day 6 of Homeschooling: My child just said “I hope I don’t have the same teacher next year”.... I’m offended.

I don’t know where these originated, but they should make you laugh a little as we continue to face this pandemic while staying sane. We need to continue taking the virus seriously, but it can’t hurt to maintain a healthy sense of humor. I have heard every newscaster on television end their broadcast with, “We’ll get through this America. Stay safe.” You know what? We will!

Seva Day May Executive Editor

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PUBLISHER G. Byron May

OWNERS

G. Byron May Seva May Noble Feldman

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Seva May

ASSISTANT EDITOR Hailey Lawson

SALES DIRECTOR Wendy Thomas

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Ryan Watson, Creative Director for May Marketing

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Keyle Cavalier

Stephanie Pringle

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Marshall Allen and Lisa Song Chris Colvin and Eoin McLaughlin Sarah Beth Dupree Sarah Duncan Debbie Henry Dr. James Patterson Joe Todaro

HOW TO REACH US

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Copyright © 2020 SB Magazine, Inc. Volume 21, Issue 5

GUIDING YOU TO

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• Reme Halo • Healthy Climate Filters • Hepa Filters Captures Microscopic Particles:  Dust  Mold Spores  Smoke  Pollen  Pet Dander  Bacteria • Emergency Service Available 24/7 318.636.0823 | 24 HOUR SERVICE

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MAY 2020

COLUMNS: 8

SB Community

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SB Finance & Investment

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SB Home

20 SB Art & Culture 24 SB Pets 42 Crafter’s Corner 44 SB Recipes

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59

46 SB Good to Know 52

Eye on SB

64 SB Trends: Fashion 69 SB Scene

FEATURES: 25 Economic Lessons from Global Pandemics 32

Covid-19 and Mental Health

38 Talking to Your Kids About Covid-19 54 Covid-19 Sanitizer 59 Mother’s Day Tribute 66 Entering the New World

32 ON THE COVER Thank you to Rhonda Gentry and the Kitchen and Bath Cottage for letting us use your entryway for this month's cover video.

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COMING

NEXT MONTH IN SB MAGAZINE

Back to Business. A special advertising section for our local businesses. Read all about how the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected them and what they’re doing to get back on track.

Banking and Finance - How our community banks have risen to the occasion in helping our local businesses with the Payroll Protection Funds.

Is your banker your new hero? Has your accountant been working around the clock to help you navigate your PPP Loans. SB Magazine visits one on one, six feet apart, with these new warriors.

Check out gift ideas for Father’s Day, featuring out-of-the-box gifts for every type of father.

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New Name, Same Family Business The all-new Mercedes-Benz of Shreveport is the newest, cleanest, state-of-the-art facility in Northwestern Louisiana.

We are now open at 1330 E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Expressway (across the street from our previous location). Since 1937 we’ve been making it easy to keep you safely on the road and we will continue making it easy to safely buy and service your vehicle during the days ahead. Sales M–F 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Service M–F 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

1330 E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71105 | Sales: (318) 224-8805 | Service: (318) 231-2853 | www.mercedesshreveport.com A Holmes Family Business

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COMMUNITY | hailey lawson

food for

thought A

n unprecedented amount of people in this country must face the prospect of being unable to put food on their tables. The modern-day economic situation when counting the numbers of families who are suffering is far worse than what Americans fought during the Great Depression. The gravity of the situation is not just about families trying to feed themselves, but families facing life or death choices in a pandemic. Farmers, processing plants and supermarkets have all experienced disruptions and great economic loss. On April 17, President Trump directed nineteen billion dollars in relief for farmers and ranchers to maintain the integrity of our food supply chain and to aid local food banks. To understand the challenges of feeding our nation during a pandemic, people must turn to ask the experts of feeding people, the great philanthropists who know how to feed people in staggering numbers.

When the problem is about feeding people who don’t have the means to buy food, we don’t have time to find long term solutions because we are talking about the urgency of now, which is what people refer to when talking about food and water. The solution has to be immediate. In early April, Americans were shocked while watching the evening news when they saw the video of over 10,000 people who showed

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up to an emergency food distribution event in San Antonio. The cars filled with hungry people covered a super bowl sized parking lot and stretched beyond in lines that went for miles down the highway. Each family was given 200 pounds of food, including whole chickens, bagged fruit, dried staples, and several gallons of milk.

According to the nutritionists employed by Feeding America, the amount of food given to each family that day is just enough food to provide sustenance for a typical family of four for two weeks.

Feeding America is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization for domestic hunger relief. The organization supports a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries, including the Foodbank of Northwest Louisiana.

Even with hundreds of millions of dollars in donations and federal aid, Feeding America is struggling to meet the demand for food during this time of great economic loss due to COVID 19. Many of the Feeding America food banks are out of food and do not have enough volunteers to continue feeding the hungry masses.

er, food banks have and continue to make changes so that volunteers and paid workers are able to work under a safe system. New food-delivery logistics, social distancing, construction for safe separation, and measures that allow some staff to work remotely have been implemented at many food bank locations.

Feeding America conducted surveys of food banks during the week of March 19, before the worst problems even began, and found that there was a 92 percent increase in demand for food assistance from American families.

In these surveys the amount of increase varied depending on the location. Some food bank locations reported increases that were double and even septuple the usual size of food distributions. One example is found at Dayton, Ohio’s Foodbank, Inc., which served about 175 to 200 households per day before the COVID 19 crisis. But in the March survey, the food bank distributed food boxes to 667 families in just one day during just a few hours through its drive-through service.

The federal government has taken steps to increase food and money flowing through the American supply chain.

This includes funding for additional purchases from farmers for emergency food programs. Also, states are allowed to temporarily add the maximum food-stamp benefits to more households. Increasing food-stamp benefits provides more grocery money to low-income Americans.

If these benefits take effect, the benefits will reduce some of the burdens on food pantries.

Two-thirds of food banks surveyed nationwide have experienced a major drop in food donations. Food bank managers are worried about running out of food. Now that demands for food have surged from needy families, the donations from grocers and supermarkets have decreased because the stores have little inventory left over to donate. Many food bank executives also worry that the private donations that food banks heavily rely on will stop coming in to support food purchases. Not only have the monetary and food donations stopped pouring in, but food bank volunteers have also stopped coming in to help distribute the food.

Food banks report a two-thirds decline in volunteers.

There are several reasons volunteers have stopped working at the food banks. The main reason is that most of the volunteers are retirees, and vulnerable older people who now have to stay home to be safe where they can avoid other people who may have COVID 19. Another reason volunteers are avoiding the food banks is because they are unwilling to work under dangerous and stressful conditions. Food bank distribution centers are not set up under the social distancing guidelines for workers. Howev-

The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana is the largest distributor of donated food for its seven parishes. In the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the food bank distributed 12.5 million pounds of food with a value of $18,629,000 to more than 75,000 children, women, men, seniors, veterans, homeless, disabled, unemployed and underemployed individuals living below the federal poverty level in seven parishes: Bienville, Claiborne, Webster, Red River, DeSoto, Bossier, and Caddo Parishes. Here are some ways you can help the Food Bank and the Communities they serve: make a secure online monetary donation (every $10 donated provides $100 in food), volunteer to help pack emergency food boxes, donate fresh produce and non-perishable food items, and donate cleaning/sanitation supplies. People who can donate do not have to go to the store. Donations can be purchase online and delivered straight to the food bank. Anyone who is healthy and wishes to volunteer their skills and time by helping in a variety of ways, please see the food bank website or call for more information.

Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana 2307 Texas Avenue Shreveport, LA 71103 Phone: (318) 675-2400 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 3:30pm Email:Â info@foodbanknla.org SBMAG.NET

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THANK YOU TO OUR CNB FAMILY THAT HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. PICTURED ARE A FEW OF THE CNB FAMILY MEMBERS.

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A Banker’s Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic A little over a month ago no one in the Shreveport Bossier Metro area could have ever imagined how fast and how drastically things were about to change. The normal pre-Spring routines were starting and area schools were preparing for Spring Break. My how things changed. On March 22, when Governor Edwards issued the Statewide “Stay at Home Order,” Citizens National Bank and every other bank in the state was included on the list of essential infrastructure businesses. This is really when our work world started to change. As a bank we are required to have a “Pandemic Policy,” but this was the first time we had ever had to seriously think about using it. We were faced with implementing a plan that struck a balance between providing essential banking services to the communities we serve (Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto and Webster Parishes) and the health and safety of our over 200 employees. Like many other local business we moved our services to drive thru only and guided our customers to electronic delivery platforms. Now more than ever online banking, mobile banking and social media play a critical role in our ability to inform and serve our community. Our next step was to allow our most vulnerable employees to work from or stay home. We took the early decision that any employee that fell into a CDC defined high risk category, would be allowed to stay home and stay safe with pay. We also evaluated possibility of temporarily closing locations if the Pandemic worsened or infiltrated our organization. Thankfully that hasn’t happened. However, we have been challenged in other ways.

We had no idea what was to come in late March when Congress began debating the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. During the last three weeks Citizens National Bank and the entire community banking industry was consumed by the SBA PPP. These banks were thrust into the Federal Government’s plan to move $349 Billion into local economies in less than a month. Days are being spent on calls with local, state and national industry as well as Congressional leaders to collect the most current SBA PPP updates.

Nights are spent developing a delivery mechanism that will respond rapidly to customer needs and be compliant with an ever-changing SBA loan program. It has been unlike anything I have experienced or read about in the banking industry. Our team of dedicated professionals answered the SBA’s call. We were able to originate loans to over 565 Northwest Louisiana businesses and provide funding for 8,560 families paychecks. Community Bankers doing Community Bank stuff.

Each morning since the Pandemic started our entire staff meets on a conference call where all our branches and departments dial in. These calls give us a chance to begin our day together on a positive note. There is something about a shared sense of purpose that has united us.

We are praying the COVID 19 Pandemic will end soon and we look forward to continuing to serve our communities.

Jason D. Smith, President and CEO

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FINANCE & INVESTMENT | Wil Adams, AAMS®

financial focus CARES ACT OFFERS HELP FOR INVESTORS, SMALL BUSINESSES

A

s we go through the coronavirus crisis, we are all, first and foremost, concerned about the health of our loved ones and communities. But the economic implications of the virus have also weighed heavily on our minds. However, if you’re an investor or a business owner, you just got some help from Washington – and it could make a big difference, at least in the short term, for your financial future.

Specifically, the passage of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act offers, among other provisions, the following: •

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Expanded unemployment benefits – The CARES Act provides $250 billion for extended unemployment insurance, expands eligibility and provides workers with an additional $600 per week for four months, in addition to what state programs pay. The package will also cover the self-employed, independent contractors and “gig econMAY 2020

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omy” workers. Obviously, if your employment has been affected, these benefits can be a lifeline. Furthermore, the benefits could help you avoid liquidating some longterm investments you’ve earmarked for retirement just to meet your daily cash flow needs.

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Direct payments – Individuals will receive a one-time payment of up to $1,200; this amount is reduced for incomes over $75,000 and eliminated altogether at $99,000. Joint filers will receive up to $2,400, which will be reduced for incomes over $150,000 and eliminated at $198,000 for joint filers with no children. Plus, taxpayers with children will receive an extra $500 for each dependent child under the age of 17. If you don’t need this money for an immediate need, you might consider putting it into a low-risk, liquid account as part of an emergency fund.

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No penalty on early withdrawals – Typically, you’d have to pay a 10% penalty on early withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k) s and similar retirement accounts. Under the CARES Act, this penalty will be waived for individuals who qualify for COVID-19 relief and/or in plans that allow COVID-19 distributions. Withdrawals will still be taxable, but the taxes can be spread out over three years. Still, you might want to avoid taking early withdrawals, as you’ll want to keep your retirement accounts intact as long as possible.

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Suspension of required withdrawals – Once you turn 72, you’ll be required to take withdrawals from your traditional IRA and 401(k). The CARES Act waives these required minimum distributions for 2020. If you’re in this age group, but you don’t need the money, you can let your retirement accounts continue growing on a tax-deferred basis.

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Increase of retirement plan loan limit – Retirement plan investors who qualify for COVID-19 relief can now borrow up to $100,000 from their accounts, up from $50,000, provided their plan allows loans. We recommend that you explore other options, such as the direct payments, to bridge the gap on current expenses and if you choose to take a plan loan work with your financial adviser to develop strategies to pay back these funds over time to reduce any long-term impact to your retirement goals.

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Small-business loans – The CARES Act provides $349 billion to help small businesses – those with fewer than 500 employees – retain workers and avoid closing up shop. A significant part of this small business relief is the Paycheck Protection Program. This initiative provides federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain payroll during this emergency. Significantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers use the loans for payroll and other essential business expenses (such as mortgage interest, rent and utilities) and maintain their payroll during the crisis.

We’ll be in a challenging economic environment for some time, but the CARES Act should give us a positive jolt – and brighten our outlook.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.

Wil Adams, AAMS® Financial Advisor Proudly serving our Shreveport/Bossier community.

Thank you for your support!

2223 Old Minden Road Bldg A, Suite 4 Bossier City, LA 71112 • (318) 741-0085

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

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CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT

E

merging Viral Threat Lab at LSU Health Shreveport Scientists at LSU Health Shreveport have established the Emerging Viral Threat (EVT) Laboratory to address the need for faster detection and processing of COVID-19 tests.

Led by LSUHS faculty members who are nationally and internationally renowned NIHfunded virologists, the EVT Lab is the first in North Louisiana approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to conduct and analyze tests to determine if an individual has COVID-19. The EVT Lab is different from any other laboratory in Louisiana because it does not only process tests to determine if a patient is COVID-19 positive, it can also screen samples for other mutations of the virus. The multifaceted expertise and cohesiveness of LSUHS researchers made the EVT Lab possible and functioning in less than two weeks. The team of world-renowned virologists and molecular biologists allow the lab to not only do diagnostics, but also troubleshoot any issues that may arise quickly and effectively.

help of LifeShare Blood Center and LSU Health Shreveport researchers. The transfused plasma was donated hours earlier by two people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 at LifeShare Blood Center in Shreveport. LifeShare is one of the first centers in the country to be able to provide this type of therapy. It is possible convalescent plasma contains antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and might be effective against the infection. The new LSU Health Shreveport Emerging Viral Threat Lab and its upcoming serology testing platform makes us uniquely able to identify potential convalescent plasma donors in collaboration with LifeShare to produce this possibly life-saving therapy.

The only source of this convalescent plasma is donations from people who have been recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks and have produced antibodies.

S

Convalescent Plasma Therapy: This past weekend, the first convalescent plasma therapy in Louisiana was provided to a critically ill COVID-19 patient in Shreveport with the

patients with severely damaged lungs. Dr. Keith Scott is the Principle Investigator and is working closely with Dr. Steven Conrad. Nitric oxide is a colorless, odorless gas inhaled through a mask or potentially through a small “flute” t essentially “kill” coronavirus in the lungs and improve delivery of oxygen to injured tissues. It may also prove helpful in protecting healthcare workers on the front line of the pandemic from getting sick.

LSU Health Shreveport faculty and 7 residents respond to call to assist with COVID-19 crisis in New Orleans: Dr. Angela Cornelius, Associate Professor Emergency Medicine volunteered to be the leader of the LSUHS Strike Team composed of she and seven residents (in fields of anesthesia, internal medicine, med-peds, ob/ gyn, otolaryngology, and surgery ) when LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor G. E. Ghali MD received a call from LSU Health New Orleans asking for help with the COVID-19 pandemic in New Orleans. The volunteer Strike Team left with plans to stay for one week (March 24-April 1) but their services were so impactful they were requested to stay and help at another location which they agreed to do with a new return date of Easter Sunday.

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Inhaled Nitric Oxide Clinical Trial: LSU Health Shreveport recently joined the Department of Anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) as one of the first places in the U.S. to enroll patients in an international study testing using inhaled nitric oxide to improve outcomes for COVID-19

Salutes

● Faculty on the front lines of caring for COVID-19 patients in Shreveport, Monroe and the Strike Team to New Orleans ● Faculty contributing the following significant measures in testing and treatment of COVID-19 patients Creation of the Emerging Viral Threat (EVT) Testing Lab — a CLIA/ CMS/CDC approved lab yielding high volume and reliability Creation of a serology testing lab critical to optimizing convalescent plasma therapy success and a “return to work” pathway Creation of lab producing 3D nasal swabs critical to expanding COVID testing due to national swab shortage Delivering the first convalescent plasma therapy in Louisiana to a critically ill COVID-19 patient Delivering the first inhaled nitric oxide therapy in Louisiana and the second in the US following Harvard 14

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RISING ABOVE THE CHALLENGE RED RIVER BANK

W

hen togetherness becomes a challenge, community is more critical than ever.

Red River Bank was founded more than twenty years ago on the importance of community banking, and we’re committed to being here for Louisiana families and businesses every step of the way.

Together, we’ve worked to keep our team, customers and neighbors safe and healthy while also safeguarding our customers’ financial health.

We’re proud to be the bank who has never asked customers to choose between banking with people and banking with technology. As a

result, Red River Bank Customers have gone into the current crisis with both: powerful financial tools in the palm of their hands and bankers they know and trust staying in close contact. While we haven’t been able to offer the usual hugs and handshakes in the lobby, we’ve worked virtually handin-hand with our customers on every changing need at work and at home—especially as many of our customers adjust to combining the two.

channels. From navigating SBA loans for our business customers to helping homeowners take advantage of low rates, we’re here, responding to ongoing changes in ways that help our customers, like us, remain strong and stable.

Louisiana has faced and risen above countless challenges. We’re the bank made in Louisiana, made for Louisiana—and made for times like these. Together, we’ve got this.

We’ve reduced and completely waived certain fees for the entire month of April. We’ve created safe, efficient interactions through our drive-throughs and technology

318-675-2900 • redriverbank.net

Alexandria • Baton Rouge • Lake Charles • Northshore • Shreveport

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SB HOME | by seva may

HOW

TO

clean

& disinfect YOUR HOME

W

hen I was growing up, keeping the house clean and organized was a must. We had four kids (three brothers) and usually a couple of dogs and several cats so Mom kept things pretty tight.

We were also a military family and most often lived in base housing. Growing up on an Air Force Base was always fun for us kids. For one thing, we were safe. With lots of other kids to play with, youth center activities and team sports, we stayed occupied and, for the most part, out of trouble. Life was good as long as we did our chores and kept our grades up. Until Dad got PCS orders. PCS is an acronym for Permanent Change of Station – relocating from one duty station to another. Back in those days (1960’s) this would happen about every two to three years. Not only did it mean leaving your friends and your school, it meant getting your house ready for the dreaded “Military Housing Inspection.” Those were stressful times for my parents to be sure but certainly a walk in the park compared to cleaning and disinfecting your home during a pandemic.

According to the Center for Disease Control the Covid-19 virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

Being in close contact with one another, being the recipient of a cough or a sneeze, simply talking with another person increases the risk of inhaling the virus. Even being around people who show no symptoms but who may carry the virus is a danger.

Digging deeper into the CDC website, I found a 15-page spread sheet with every EPA-registered disinfectant that meets the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Most of the cleaners we use in our homes will be marked as EPA-registered to save you the

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time of working your way through the CDC website. But, if you’re curious, the address is https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/preventgetting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html Be sure to understand that there is a difference between cleaning your home and disinfecting it. According to the CDC, cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting refers to using chemicals, for example, EPA-registered disinfectants, to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

There’s no better time than now to roll up your sleeves, put on disposable gloves and get started.

Clean surfaces using soap and water. Any surface that is used and touched frequently should get a thorough cleaning every day. High touch surfaces include: Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.

Once you’ve cleaned everything it’s time to break out the disinfectant products.

Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product.

MANY PRODUCTS RECOMMEND: • Keeping surface wet for a period of time (see product label) • Precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

• Diluted household bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface.

• Check the label to see if your bleach is intended for disinfection, and ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Some bleaches, such as those designed for safe use on colored clothing or for whitening may not be suitable for disinfection.

• Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

• Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.

• Leave solution on the surface for at least 1 minute.

TO MAKE A BLEACH SOLUTION, MIX: • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water • OR 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water ALCOHOL SOLUTIONS WITH AT LEAST 70% ALCOHOL MAY ALSO BE USED. For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes: • • •

Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces.

Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely OR disinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant.

DON’T FORGET YOUR ELECTRONICS. TABLETS, TOUCH SCREENS, KEYBOARDS AND YOUR REMOTE CONTROL ARE ALL FAVORITE SPOTS FOR GERMS. • Consider putting a wipeable cover on electronics • Follow manufacturer’s instruction for cleaning and disinfecting • If no guidance, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol. Dry surface thoroughly.

TIPS FOR TACKLING THE LAUNDRY INCLUDE: • Laundering items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.

• Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from a person who is sick.

• Dirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people’s items.

• Do not shake dirty laundry.

• Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces.

• Remove gloves, and wash hands right away.

As you are cleaning and disinfecting, be sure to wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds and always wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with a person who is sick.

If soap and water are not readily available and hands are not visibly dirty, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.

Additional key times to clean hands include: • • • • • •

After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing After using the restroom Before eating or preparing food After contact with animals or pets Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

WHEN SOMEONE IS SICK

Keep separate bedroom and bathroom for a person who is sick (if possible) The person who is sick should stay separated from other people in the home (as much as possible).

Only clean the area around the person who is sick when needed, such as when the area is soiled. This will help limit your contact with the person who is sick.

Caregivers can provide personal cleaning supplies to the person who is sick (if appropriate). Supplies include tissues, paper towels, and cleaners. If they feel up to it, the person who is sick can clean their own space.

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The person who is sick should clean and disinfect a shared bathroom after each use. If this is not possible, the caregiver should wait as long as possible before cleaning and disinfecting.

The person who is sick should eat (or be fed) in their room if possible.

Handle any used dishes, cups/glasses, or silverware with gloves. Wash them with soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.

Clean hands after taking off gloves or handling used items.

If possible, dedicate a lined trash can for the person who is sick. Use gloves when removing garbage bags, and handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands afterwards.

Now, you’ve probably noticed the frequent recommendation to WASH YOUR HANDS. If you’ve ever watched a medical drama where a surgeon is preparing to enter the OR, they will stand over that sink with a scrub brush until you think they’re going to start bleeding. They scrub all the way up to the elbow. You don’t have to go to these lengths, but you do need to wash your hands and wash them often throughout your day – especially if you are caring for someone who is sick. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another. Follow these steps to ensure you are going about it properly.

WET your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. Turning off the faucet after wetting hands saves water, and there are few data to prove whether significant numbers of germs are transferred between hands and the faucet.

LATHER your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Lathering and scrubbing hands creates friction, which helps lift dirt, grease, and microbes from skin.

SCRUB your hands for at least 20 seconds. Don’t have a timer? Sing the birthday song twice through.

RINSE your hands well under clean, running water.

DRY your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However, Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs. If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, a hand sanitizer may not be as effective. If you’ve been using pesticides or working with heavy metals, you’ll want to clean your hands with a product that is stronger than sanitizer.

A note of caution: Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use.

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HOW TO USE HAND SANITIZER

and best performed by a professional.

•

And just like that, our country went from a great economy, a decent healthcare system and plenty of people alive and well and working to where we are now: a country beginning to slowly open back up. Cleaning and disinfecting our surroundings, washing our hands and observing social distancing is going to me more crucial than ever. Until we have a vaccine, which may take up to 2 years to develop, we need to be on our guard against this nasty virus and all the other virus’ just waiting to rear their ugly heads.

• •

Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).

Rub your hands together.

Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Covid-19 is an airborne virus that is spread mainly through close contact from person to person in respiratory droplets. People who may not have symptoms may be able to spread the virus without knowing it. We’ve all been observing a self-imposed quarantine, leaving the house only for essential errands. Well, some of us have anyway. If you’ve been in close confines with other people in your family and obviously breathing the same air, now would be a good time to investigate air duct cleaning. Think of your heating and cooling system as the lungs of your house, taking in air and then exhaling that air out. Normal occupation generates a large amount of contaminants and air pollutants. Our pets create dander. We tramp dirt and dust in from the outside on our shoes. We use spray-on deodorant or hairspray that contain chemicals.

These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work. Don’t panic! Dirty ducts may not produce unhealthy air in your home but they can contribute to larger health issues for people with pre-existing respiratory health conditions, autoimmune disorders or allergies. Having your air ducts cleaned is a simple process

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art

by joe todaro in SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER

CULTURE

The old saying goes: What a difference a day makes.

Someone forgot to tell the calendar, because we’re much in the same boat today as when last you read this column: stores open in limited fashion, restaurants closed, theatres shuttered, other performances cancelled or postponed. If you have any plans, call ahead before you go.

The Marshall Symphony Orchestra was supposed to present Kermit Poling’s Nosferatu in April, but that couldn’t happen.

It’s been postponed to August, virus willing.

For more information, go to www.marshallsymphony.com.

If you would rather journey to El Dorado Arkansas to see it, it’s scheduled for October 31, which should make for a particularly spooky Halloween.

Mark your calendars, in pencil for Thursday October 31 at 7:30 p.m. at First Financial Music Hall in the Murphy Arts District in El Dorado. Tickets can be purchased online at https://tix.eldomad. com/single/SelectSeating.aspx?p=738 More than just the inconvenience of late has been the passing of at least two of this area’s theatrical contributors: Ruth Doreck and Jamie Sanders.

According to conservapedia.com, Frances Ruth Velotta Varady Doreck, was a leading figure for more than fifty years in the theater community of Shreveport and Bossier City.

Doreck last appeared on stage in January 2020, when she was cast in the Stage Center production of “The Curious

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Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.” It is unknown how many productions that Doreck performed during the years.

Lane Crockett, former entertainment editor of The Shreveport Times and the former Shreveport Journal, said, “Theater was Ruth’s go-to-place. I remember seeing her as Agnes Gooch in “Auntie Mame” not long after I moved here, and she stole the show. …”

Doreck was the director of human resources at Aeropres Corporation and was an owner at Doreck Oil Company.

Billie James “Jamie” Sanders died March 1 after a long battle with COPD. Sanders worked for many years and in many theatres in the area, on stage, backstage, and even building the stage.

He collaborated with Shreveport Little Theatre’s Managing and Artistic Director Robert Darrow, PhD. “Jamie and I worked together for years at Shreveport Little Theatre. Jamie was the technical director, including lighting and set design and construction.

Jamie was the consummate artist--an amazing dancer, actor, performer, sculptor, and painter. Every penny counted and Jamie would recycle and repurpose materials so that our sets cost SLT nothing. Of all the shows that I’ve directed, the Tuna series with Jamie and John-Michael Strange is probably my favorite. His hard work and talents helped make it possible for SLT to rebound and thrive.”

Longtime actor/director Richard Folmer also remembers Sanders fondly. “Jamie was and always will be a beloved member of the theatre family in Shreveport/Bossier.

When I directed or performed in the old and wonderful Performing Arts Center at First United Methodist Church, I would often find Jamie working into the wee hours of the morning. He would be either building or painting scenery and I loved to stay with him and ‘help’.

My ‘helping’ consisted of 1. Hold a piece of two by four while he attached it to a piece of scenery. 2. Jump up and

down on a platform to be sure it would hold the actors. 3.

Bring him the cans of paint he would need.

“During these early morning hours, which I really loved, we would talk about all sorts of things sometimes until 2 or 3 in the morning or until I asked what else I could do to help and Jamie would, politely say: ‘Go home! I’ll never get this done, ‘cause we talk too much!’

“Once I asked him how he textured a piece of scenery to make it look old? He took a large can of water and put it at the top of the piece of scenery. He slowly poured the water from the top of the scenery and let it drip down. He said, ‘Meet Mr. G.’ That gave me a greater respect for Mr. Gravity.”

Former Centenary Theatre student and now living in Fort Worth where she is Music director at Holy Family Catholic Church, Keisha Snyder Matthews remembers Sanders for his fun-loving and antic personality. “Jamie told me a story once about when he was in the Navy and the ship pulled into San Francisco. He and all his buddies were excited to see the city, so they got dressed up in their civilian clothes, which consisted of tight, big bell-bottoms and platform shoes (it was the 70’s). They had no idea what it would be like to walk those hilly streets with those tight jeans, which were REALLY tight all the way to just past the knee, and platform shoes. He acted out the walk in the way only Jamie could...he couldn’t bend his knees because the jeans were so tight; and you can only imagine him acting out how they went downhill in those get-ups! He said they picked up speed going down the hills! I laughed so hard the tears rolled down my face. Such a wonderful memory. I’m laughing now!”

time, spattered with various colors of paint, stirring a can of something destined to become art. He immediately declined my offer of one of the most iconic roles in all of American Musical Theatre.

“But I persisted. After much back and forth, he began to weaken. ‘I will do it on one condition’, he said. I was willing to agree to anything at that point since I desperately wanted him to do the role. ‘What’s the condition?’ I asked hopefully.

‘I ain’t shaving my head!’

“Directing Jamie (with his magnificent ponytail) was one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve ever had.”

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When asked to share her memories of Sanders, Heather Peak Hooper, theatre and English teacher at Captain Shreve High School, said, “None of my favorite stories are clean.”

Richard King also worked with Sanders on numerous productions for the local stage. “I approached Jamie one day years ago to ask him to play the part of the King in a production of “The King and I” that The Gilbert and Sullivan Society had asked me to direct. Anyone who knew Jamie, would not be surprised to know that he was kneeling on the cement slab behind the Shreveport Little Theatre at the

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Construction and acting aside, Sanders was also a fine artist whose paintings and sculpture grace many local homes. Joe Hedl was once a familiar face on the local stage before he and his wife moved to South Carolina.

“Back in 1996-97, [my wife] Terry and I saw two works by Jamie at an East Bank Theater exhibition. They were sold, but Jamie offered to create two similar pictures for us.”

Folmer said, “I have a number of paintings in my home and a wire sculpture of Tevye from ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ I love and cherish them.”

Sanders and I worked on a Centenary College production many years ago of Tenness William’s “Camino Real,” and directed by the legendary Robert Buseick. Sanders played Cassanova in this dystopian drama and, as an opening night gift, he gave me a handmade card that seems to be the perfect coda to this article. It is a quote from Thomas Campbell.

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

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SB PETS | by hailey lawson

take a PAUSE

wash your

PAWS! F ALL THE NEW WORRIES WE LOUISIANANS HAVE added to our lives, the health of our beloved pets can be found near the top of the list.

But what is a pet owner to do when there is so much new inform a t i o n to comb through and understand about taking care of our precious friends? These days, advice about pet care and dealing with the Coronavirus comes from a variety of sources. Fortunately, SB has combed through the research and the rumors found in the latest information and is here to alleviate the concerns of pet owners.

The great news is that humans cannot contract COVID-19 from animals! Whether or not animals can contract the disease from us is still under investigation.

The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) wants people to know that there are no reports of pets sick with Coronavirus Disease, that is caused by SARS-CoV-2, in the United States. The understanding is that pets can have other types of coronaviruses, like canine and feline coronaviruses, which are types that cannot infect people and are not the COVID-19 virus. Every kind of

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Coronavirus can cause infection in certain species. So, there is a very small possibility that your pet could catch COVID-19 from you or another person. Scientists are conducting studies to understand which animal species are susceptible to the COVID-19 virus.

Knowing that humans can’t contract COVID-19 from animals is such a relief. This knowledge has come from many diligent American scientists who are working to reassure everyone that humans are safe with their pets, and research on pets and other animals will help combat the outbreak. IDEXX, an American laboratory testing company, announced on March 13, that it found no evidence of disease in an evaluation of thousands of canine and feline specimens. As of April 10, the CDC has investigated a number of dogs and cats reported to have Coronavirus outside the United States. Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) has investigated reports of two pet dogs, a Pomeranian and a German shepherd, that were thought to have COVID-19. Both dogs have tested negative for the virus on numerous tests and are showing no symptoms of the virus. The AFCD also conducted tests on 17 dogs and 8 cats who live in households with confirmed COVID-19 human cases and found no infection in the animals. However, some findings from lab-

oratory studies of laboratory animals indicate cats are the most susceptible species tested so far.

In the United States, the first case of an animal testing positive for COVID-19 came in the form of a big cat, a tiger at a zoo in New York City.

Health officials believe the tiger and some other large cats housed in proximity became sick after exposure to an infected zoo employee. All animals are in quarantine and are continuing to be monitored and tested.

The summary of this animal research indicates that the Coronavirus may be spread from people to animals in certain situations.

So, the encouraging news is pet owners only have to worry about their pet's health if the pet's family members are infected. The scientific information shows evidence that pets have a small chance of contracting COVID-19 from humans. Fortunately, practice makes perfect, and we already know how to protect others and ourselves from contracting COVID-19. The CDC advises taking the same precautions with our pets as we take with people. The advice for pet owners is a list of simple tips for interacting with animals. Keep your pets healthy by keeping them separated from people and other people’s animals who are or might be infected with COVID-19 or showing symptoms. Also, pet owners need to add another hand washing session to their routines; protect your pets by washing your hands before petting and playing with your pets.

In order to keep pets healthy, pet owners who are ill with COVID-19 need to follow a few strict guidelines from the CDC for taking care of pets during self-quarantine. If possible, restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick. Perhaps a healthy member of your household could take care of your pet. If you have to take care of your own pet for any reason, it is recommended that you wear a face mask and avoid kissing and hugging your pet. You should wash your hands thoroughly before and after interacting with your animal, including petting, walking, feeding, or playing with your pet. Do not share towels or bedding with the pets or people in your

home. These practices can ensure that your animals stay healthy.

Even though, there have not been reports of pets becoming sick with the disease in the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) agrees that anyone sick with COVID-19 should apply the common-sense approach that the CDC recommends. The AVMA also recommends that if you get infected with Coronavirus, tell your physician or public health official that you have a pet or other animal in your home.

And the AVMA also suggests animals belonging to sick owners should be kept from contact with other pets and animals as much as possible. The idea is just like social distancing between people but keeping animals apart that live in the same household might take some creative thinking.

What should you do if you suspect your pet is sick? First, remember that there are no suspected cases of pets with COVID-19, so your pet most likely has some other kind of illness. The next step is to call your veterinarian or a telemedicine veterinarian service so that you and your pet can possibly stay at home to conduct the vet visit. Before you call, write down a list of symptoms that you notice in your pet and

any other concerns you might have. If you have concerns that your pet is sick because of exposure to someone with COVID-19, be sure to tell the veterinarian. Tests have been made available for COVID-19 in pets, but the test request must be submitted by a veterinarian along with a rationale for the test. The CDC does not recommend testing pets, and there is not a vaccine for COVID-19 at this time.

On the bright side, our pets are waiting to play with us, and all the COVID-19 information about pets and pet owners is advice that we can all manage and deal with if we have to. Pets offer many pet owners a way of relieving stress. Pet lovers can be thankful while we have time to stay home and spend time interacting with our animal friends that offer us unconditional love. Just remember to pause and wash your paws before and after you take a break and take the time to pet your pet today!

The information in this article as of April 11 and more information can be found at: www.cdc.gov www.avma.org/coronavirus www.afcd.gov.hk/english/index.html www.usda.gov/coronavirus SBMAG.NET

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Medics in masks at a US army hospital in 1918. Shutterstock/Everett Historical

Coronavirus and Spanish flu: economic lessons to learn from the last truly global pandemic

A

s news of the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged, global financial markets reacted pessimistically and behaved in ways not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. But fully understanding the potential future economic impact of the virus which leads to this disease remains difficult – because spread of a disease on this scale is unprecedented in the modern world.

Organization. About one-third of the world’s population caught this acute respiratory tract infection.

Conservative estimates put the death toll at 20 million, but it could have been more in the region of 50 million. By comparison, nine million people died in combat during the entirely of the first world war.

The closest parallel is the 1918 influenza pandemic, popularly known as the Spanish flu (because it was first reported in Spanish newspapers). So, what are the lessons from this historical pandemic for policymakers today?

Probably about 2-3% of those who caught this RNA virus ended up dying, but much of the mortality was the result of complications – such as pneumonia – rather than the flu itself. There were several waves of flu and most deaths occurred within a week of each outbreak. The last outbreaks, in 1919, took place a year after the disease was first identified.

The 1918 flu was the last truly global pandemic, its potency exacerbated in an era before the existence of international public health bodies such as the World Health

The pandemic spread globally because of the particular set of circumstances in which it first arose. The first world war had just ended, and entire armies were being demobilized,

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The quiet streets of Rome, March 2020.

EPA/RICCARDO ANTIMIANI

returning home with the disease. Outbreaks spread along major transportation routes.

sporting events cancelled and private gatherings – including funerals – banned to stem the spread of the disease.

Much of the world’s population was already weak and susceptible to disease because of wartime strains, especially in Germany. To make matters worse, there was an absence in transparency and little policy coordination. Wartime media censorship was still in force and governments were preoccupied with planning for the peace.

The economic consequences of the pandemic included labor shortages and wage increases, but also the increased use of social security systems. Economic historians do not agree on a headline figure for lost GDP because the effects of the flu are hard to disentangle from the confounding impact of the first world war.

Those who perished were typically in the prime of their lives, between 15 and 40 years of age. Aside from these deaths, exposure to the flu had serious permanent longterm physical and mental health consequences on many survivors, especially the very young. There were also immediate and long-term consequences for the economy.

The long-term consequences proved horrific. A surprisingly high proportion of adult health and cognitive ability is determined before we are even born. Research has shown the flu-born cohort achieved lower educational attainment by adulthood, experienced increased rates of physical disability, enjoyed lower lifetime income and a lower socioeconomic status than those born immediately before and after the flu pandemic.

Urban populations proved particularly susceptible to this strain of flu, partly because of pollution. Researchers recently found that many more people died in the more polluted cities in 1918 relative to less polluted urban areas, suggesting a direct link between air pollution and influenza infection.

Economic consequences The immediate economic consequences of 1918 stemmed from the panic surrounding the spread of the flu. Large US cities, including New York and Philadelphia, were essentially temporarily shut down as their populations became bedridden. As in Italy now, businesses were closed,

Three lessons from the past The lessons from 1918 are stark. First, the public health response to the spread of the disease must focus on containment. The reason why the 1918 pandemic resulted in so many deaths was that so many people caught the disease in the first place.

They were exposed because policymakers failed to stop the spread. Indeed, their actions helped spread the flu more widely. The repatriation of troops to their countries of origin was probably the main culprit.

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Communicable disease control policy works. Researchers found that US cities which implemented efforts to reduce infectious contact between people early in the 1918 outbreak had significantly lower peak death rates than cities that were later to adopt disease containment policies.

regions or countries, as recently enacted in Italy, will no doubt cause a recession.

The emergency lowering of interest rates in the US and the UK must be the first of many policies aimed at mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19. New fiscal policy measures must now also come into play.

Individuals in low-paid precarious employment deserve targeted attention. Where medical care and sick leave are costly, this can force people to go to work even if they are still carrying the virus.

Just as in 1918, people in more polluted, urban, areas are likely to be particularly at risk.

These are populations that are already more susceptible to respiratory illness due to environmental factors.

Special measures to help these groups must be considered.

The second lesson is that good information is key to disease control. We cannot afford a media blackout or, worse, an active disinformation campaign. We can already see the terrible consequences of such policies in Iran.

The truth always comes out eventually – there is nothing to be gained from hiding it. Indeed, governments stand to lose if censorship leads to social unrest. Political scientists are already speculating on the long-term political impact of media manipulation of coronavirus news in China.

Preparing for the worstcase scenario The third lesson is that we must prepare for the economic and human consequences of the virus and act to minimize its impact. This pandemic is both a shock to demand and supply. Just as the disease is highly contagious, so too is the economic crisis it causes.

The labor lost from implementing the recommended 14 days of self-isolation for suspected cases alone will have serious economic implications. Closing down entire

And babies born to those affected by flu must be monitored closely and remedial interventions designed. We should not just focus on the headline mortality rates. We need to pay attention to those who survive this pandemic, and their offspring too.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Authors: Chris Colvin Senior Lecturer in Economics, Queen’s University Belfast Eoin McLaughlin Senior Lecturer in Economics, University College Cork

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COVID-19&

MENTAL

HEALTH W

e are currently living in an extraordinary time.

A time that will be noted in the history books; a time that we will tell our children and grandchildren about - “The COVID Pandemic”. The day will come when we can look back on this time and reminisce. When we will remember having to shelter in place, stay isolated, work remotely, and wear masks. We will look back and remember those who died by the thousands, and miss them. Today as I write this, more than 2 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide, and more than 134,000 have died. Louisiana has been

by James C. Patterson II, MD, PhD

hit hard by this virus having the ninth most cases in the U.S. and is ranked #3 in cases per capita. At this time, Louisiana has more than 22,000 cases and 1,200 deaths with the rate of new cases reported each day remaining very concerning. Caddo and Bossier Parishes are also suffering with more than 1,300 cases and 70 deaths.

The numbers are staggering when you stop to think about it, but it also helps to look at in context. Of course, we do not want anyone to die…but death and dying is with us every day. Some of us are acutely aware of that, especially if we have experienced the loss of a family member or someone you love. While many do not see death up close or have not SBMAG.NET

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the stress. Go to Church with your friends, but do it on Facebook or Skype – many Churches now have live feeds available. There are lots of way to social distance while staying at home: p Stay busy: Exercise through doing yard work or gardening, take a walk, rearrange your furniture, clean your house. Take control by creating a schedule that works for our current situation. p Stay connected: Check on a friend, enjoy a group video chat or exercise session with family using Skype, write a letter or reach out to co-workers who are also now at home. p Relieve Stress: Play a board game, laugh, take time for personal grooming or to enjoy a hobby you rarely have time for. p Get enough sleep: Avoid stimulants and limit screen time before winding down for bed. experienced personally, death will always be a part of life.

For example, about 300,000 people have committed suicide this year already. Cancer has killed over 2 million.

We don’t want this virus to take any more than it has…but it will. We need to internalize this fact and realize that our role is to not spread this stealthy little virus around anymore than possible.

Being cooped up at home can be stressful. Many are not used to being at home, and want to go back to work, or get out and do things. Especially with our schools, businesses, churches, and places where we gather socially being closed, the isolation can be frustrating. Prior research on social isolation finds that lacking social connections is unhealthy much like other harmful behaviors such as smoking cigarettes. Most of us are in isolation not because we are lonely, but because we are trying to stop a pandemic. There is a huge difference. One of the most powerful tools you can use against the anxiety and frustration is to realize that staying put is saving lives. It may not be your life, but it could be someone you know or love, and even if not, it’s still a life that is precious to someone.

There is something else, which is the unfortunate reality that our current state of affairs causes other secondary problems such as unemployment, increases in domestic violence, and access to services that are needed in ways that may not be obvious. For example, our schools are closed, but some children depend on those schools for meals, and depend on school for shelter from abuse at home. There are risk/benefit ratios that need to be examined in all cases. If the environment you are in is unhealthy, then get help. If it is safer to go elsewhere than to stay home, then by all means do not stay home.

Social distancing and social isolation are important as it is literally saving lives. So, let’s figure out ways to alleviate

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p Ask for help when needed Social isolation does not mean you should stay inside or discontinue communication. It simply means keeping the appropriate physical distance from others and doing so creatively. By all means stay connected with those are important to you. We can do this!

The TMI problem is also something worth talking about.

There is simply too much information for many people to cope with. The fear and anxiety that comes from watching the news or too much social media can get overwhelming. Here’s an idea: turn off the news. Turn off the videos, turn off the television, turn off the computer, and just relax. Try listening to some favorite music, or (if you can’t actually turn off the digital world) use a calming app or listen to audio tracks of the sound of surf, a babbling brook, a thunderstorm, or anything that helps relax your mind. Disconnect from the digital world as much as you can, for as long as you can. Read a book. Write a journal.

Have you and or your kids create stuff for a time-capsule that will be a treasure for future generations.

It helps to remind yourself that everything you read on Facebook or Twitter is not true. Get your information from factual sources and remember that what we know and how we should act will change as new information on COVID-19 becomes available. When this pandemic first started, masks were only indicated for the confirmed sick, and of course for those directly caring for them. Now it’s generally a good idea for you to wear one if you have to leave the home, and especially if you are an essential employee and working around others.

Our very own LSU Health Shreveport is doing some amazing work to fight COVID-19 and has useful information available at www.lsuhs.edu/coronavirus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has excellent

information that can educate you about this disease and ways to prevent spread.

Lastly, be aware and take advantage of the fact that behavioral healthcare is available to you without leaving your home. Stress management techniques, psychotherapy and counseling, even medication management, can all be accessed virtually through telehealth. If you need help, call 318-626-2445 and remember this situation will not last forever. Together we will weather this pandemic and be stronger personally, as a community and a nation.

James C. Patterson II MD, PhD Professor and Chair – Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Clinical Director – Louisiana Addiction Research Center Christus Schumpert Chair of Neurobiology

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This past month has tested all of us. We’ve taken our own business model and amplified what it means to be creatives. We have worked around the clock with small businesses such as Citizens National Bank, Lowder Baking Company and The Swim School to remain relevant in a time of crisis. Altering business plans to restructure online has become more prevalent with our clients, and we’ve been there to help all along the way.

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Dear Parents, One day last week our family was feeling like we had found a groove. The weather was nice, we had played outside and gone for bike rides (because sunshine and staying strong is more important now than ever) and we even celebrated taking one kid’s training wheels off! This quarantine thing maybe isn’t so bad, right?

But that night one kid woke up convinced that Little League had not really been canceled, it was just an elaborate hoax and everyone else in the world was still playing baseball except him. As parents, we validate fears but put fears back to bed: WHAT?!? That is a terrible nightmare! But it’s not true. Yes, I’m sure. I know because we just got an email from Coach saying he misses you all and wants you to keep practicing until the season starts up again and believe me, if something happens, we will hear about it on GroupMe. Believe me, GroupMe knows about it first.

Another child woke up terrified that the world had run out of popsicles. That’s understandable, when she hears the grownups talking about grocery lists and running out of stuff, and it dawns on her that she hasn’t actually been to a grocery store in a while and maybe the world really is running out of popsicles! But again, with the fears: WHAT?!? That is a terrible nightmare! But it is not real.

Yes, I’m sure. I’m looking right now at PopsicleChecker. com and the official index shows that actually we were up 2,000 popsicles world-wide today, in all flavors. Yes, I’ll put extra popsicles on the list, YES, the ones we buy at the store not just the ones to make at home, I promise.

And then a final night terror woke up in blind fury that Ariel had taken her shoes, because Ariel is a mermaid who

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turns into a person and she’s not used to legs and feet much less shoes and so she’s not very nice about other people’s shoes and… and this one was NOT hearing our reassurances and was NOT going back in there to her room where mermaids just take whatever they want so I am up, writing a letter to all of you parents.

These times are tough, and fears are real. Whether they are serious grown up fears or more real fears like running out of popsicles. Anger is real whether it is fury at canceled baseball seasons, postponed graduations, or mermaids that steal shoes. Our children are learning about giving things up and being a little afraid constantly at an age far younger than we want them to learn about such things.

There are, however, some things we as families can do to get through these times. p Talk with your family about their hopes and fears, joys and sorrows. All of us need to have someone to trust who will listen and help keep worries and furies in perspective. Grownups need to be mindful of children’s emotions as well, and anticipate regressions and clinginess and emotional vulnerabilities. Peer groups are great for rants and reducing isolation; grownups are better for perspective and reassurances. Being afraid or angry or worried sucks; being afraid or angry or worried together is not as bad. Make sure kids are venting to or asking questions to a good source; this is a time when being taken advantage of is more critical than usual. p Make a family journal or a shared art piece. Odds are, you have a notebook lying around and you can scribble and doodle your way through these days.

Journaling is a great way to keep track of your hopes and fears, accomplishments and failures, and chart the days that make up this strange season of our lives.

devices off. We all have the opportunity to get caught up on sleep; use the opportunity wisely. Teachers are telling stories of homework submissions with 2AM time stamps, and students who game all day, sleep until whenever, and submit work when no one else is using the family computers. Not to quote Chicago excessively, but this is going to be a hard habit to break. Make a healthy schedule for devices, don’t feel bad for taking the phones away!, and shut it all off when it is time.

p Keep up with their studies. A favorite coach once said, “The best way to kill time is to work it to death!” Kids have that extra time they always seemed to need and even when parents are still working, siblings and friends can be enlisted to help stave off isolation and to know when to call it a day. Get them help when they need it; ask for grace when it is too much. Schoolwork doesn’t have to be perfect, and teachers are anticipating how to deal with this extraordinary summer learning loss, but doing something generative in a period of enforced waiting is a proven way to maintain emotional health. At the very least: Read. Read to, read with, read near by your children, and let them read to you.

p Look for stories and signs of courage and humor; look for beauty in the world and in the brave actions of those fighting this virus. Laughing really hard together over a shared story is strong medicine indeed. When you find these things, write them down, take a photograph, and share these points of light as beacons of hope.

p Turn. Off. The. Devices. Don’t get me wrong, use them for work and research and staying connected, but they have an off button for a reason. Students are responsible for work and assignments in this School-at-Home period of time, but know that too much screen time is really not good for any of us. At a certain time, just put the phones away and turn the

Now that schools have been closed for the remainder of the year there is very little doubt that your child has not heard about coronavirus. When every radio and television station is reporting death counts and forecasting grim models of infection rates, everything seems to be related to COVID-19. Kids have this supernatural ability to sense concern and anxiety, so it is vitally important that we help

Mary Cason Duncan

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them with their fears. Often, the reaction of parents is to “call in a professional!� but please remember that you are the experts on your children, and the conversations you have now will be the template for dealing with adversity for the rest of their lives.

Mary Cason Duncan, Ema Duncan and Liam Duncan

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When they come to you, they may not ask about COVID-19, but their questions might show a profound sadness about missing friends or family, or a pervasive anger at cancelled seasons or indefinitely postponed graduations, proms, and other rites of passage. With younger children, turn down news coverage that may frighten or confuse them, and instead talk to them about germs and make a fun ritual of hand washing with songs and lots of bubbles. With older children, begin by asking them what they know about the virus already. If they have questions, try to be as informative as possible without adding to their angst. Be honest and reassure them that scientists and doctors are working hard all over the world to create a vaccine that will prevent people from getting this virus, reassure them that not everyone will get sick, and remind them that most people who get sick do recover. That said, schools are closed during this pandemic because children are vectors and schools are uniquely susceptible places where germs from families can be shared and spread in a manner terrible in its efficiency. High schoolers have long enjoyed the reputation of believing they are invincible, bulletproof demigods, and keeping

them away from group activities seems almost cruel. Talk with them about ways to postpone, replace, or just skip some of these events, while being mindful that they are experiencing the stages of grief; denial, anger, grief, and depression are emotions that parents can anticipate instead of being bewildered by.

One last thought about what we can all do to help our families, children, friends, co-workers, our country, and world to adjust to this new normal: Pray. Pray for the strength to cope with what we cannot change, the courage to address what we can change, and

for the people who are fighting this virus. Read the stories of saints and Biblical characters who went through great trials, trials that now may seem a bit more real. The sufferings of Jesus himself tell us that our God does not pretend suffering is not real, or that pain and sadness are not real. He shows us the way through these times, not around them. We can pray, “Dear Lord, Give us hearts for love and courage,� and look forward to a time when we can be together again.

Sarah Duncan, LPC Art Teacher and Counselor St. John Berchmans Catholic

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Feed the Birds WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Toilet paper rolls Peanut butter Spreading knife Wild Bird Seed

INSTRUCTIONS:

This is so simple and fun to do. Plus, it is messy which adds to the fun. You can always eat any left-over peanut butter but not the bird seed!!

1. Pour bird seed onto a paper plate.

2. Take your knife and smear the peanut butter on to the toilet paper roll.

3. Roll the toilet paper roll around in the bird seed, carefully covering the entire roll.

4. Place the roll on a ledge or inside a birdhouse and watch as wild birds enjoy a healthy snack.

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Bird Feeder Isn,t it great that you can buy pop-cycle sticks from a craft store? Isn,t it great that you can buy pop-cycle sticks that have already been painted from a craft store? You will also need a hot glue gun and glue sticks.

1. Square up four of your sticks so that you don’t have a lopsided floor.

2. Place your sticks side by side using the hot glue to adhere them to two of the sticks - be careful.

That glue is hot, and it will burn you! Ask your Mom, Dad or an older brother or sister to help.

3. You need to make three of these panels – one for the base and two for the roof.

4. Flip your base over and hot glue one stick from the center of the base extending well over the edge to make your perch.

5. Start stacking the sticks across each other in an alternating fashion adhering them to each other with the hot glue.

6. Once you have about an inch height of sticks begin your frame. With four sticks, hot glue one to each corner of the base. Let the glue set for a bit before you add the roof.

7. As you hot glue roof on to your upright sticks, you might find that you need an extra pair of hands to hold the roof panel as you glue it in place. Repeat for the other side of the roof.

Daily Lunch Specials!

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SB RECIPES | seva may

instant

Pot Salmon 44

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3.

4.

pressure to build.

Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer’s instructions, 10 to 20 minutes. Remove lid. Pour in coconut milk, then add broccoli and kale. Mix vegetables gently around the side of salmon, but be careful not to break up the cooked salmon. Sprinkle salt and pepper over top.

Replace lid and set vent to “Sealing.”

Select the Steam function and steam for 2 minutes.

Release pressure by turning the seal to “Venting.” Remove lid.

COOK’S NOTES: • Use a side of salmon weighing between 10 and 12 ounces. If you are using frozen salmon, set the timer during the High pressure cooking phase to 7 minutes.

• You can use coconut milk or coconut cream, depending on your preference.

“This is a traditional Filipino fish stew, made with coconut milk and veggies. Serve this with white rice and you’ll feel like you’re experiencing your backpacking trip through the Filipino islands once again. Serve with a bowl of white rice on the side.”

NUTRITION FACTS • Per Serving: 651 calories; 50 g fat; 16.7 g carbohydrates; 37.6 g protein; 92 mg cholesterol; 2041 mg sodium.

• Servings Per Recipe: 2 • Amount Per Serving • Calories: 651

INGREDIENTS: • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 3 drops sesame oil, or to taste • 1/4 cup diced onion • 2 diced green onions, white and green parts • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato • 2 tablespoons fish sauce • 1 cup vegetable broth • 1 (11 ounce) salmon side, bones removed with plier • 1 cup coconut milk • 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets • 1 cup chopped kale • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper DIRECTIONS 1. Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot(R)) and select Saute function. Warm vegetable oil in pot, and add sesame oil. Add onion and green onions and saute for 1 minute. Add garlic powder; cook for 1 minute. Mix in diced tomato and pour in fish sauce; cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.

2. Add vegetable broth to the pot and place salmon on top of the liquid and vegetables. Select Cancel to turn off Saute mode, and close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions; set timer for 5 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for

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GOOD TO KNOW

News from the Front Lines Can we get a big HURRAY for all the Doctors, Nurses, Researchers, Laboratory Technicians and other extremely vital Health Care Workers? Their commitment to our health – mere words cannot express the gratitude we have for these people.

And a special thanks to the professionals working diligently behind the scenes to keep us updated on the efforts to battle the Corona Virus.

From the Emerging Viral Threat Lab at LSU Health Shreveport: Led by LSUHS faculty members who are nationally and internationally renowned NIH-funded virologists, the EVT Lab is the first in North Louisiana approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to conduct and analyze tests to determine if an individual has COVID-19. The EVT Lab is different from any other laboratory in Louisiana because it does not only process tests to determine if a patient is COVID-19 positive, it can also screen samples for other mutations of the virus. The multifaceted expertise and cohesiveness of LSUHS researchers made the EVT Lab possible and functioning in less than two weeks. The team of world-renowned virologists and molecular biologists allow the lab to not only do diagnostics, but also troubleshoot any issues that may arise quickly and effectively.

The first convalescent plasma therapy in Louisiana was provided to a critically ill COVID-19 patient in Shreveport with the help of LifeShare Blood Center and LSU Health Shreveport researchers. The transfused plasma was donated by two people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 at LifeShare Blood Center in Shreveport.

LifeShare is one of the first centers in the country to be able to provide this type of therapy. It is possible convalescent plasma contains antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and might be effective against the infection. The new LSU Health Shreveport Emerging Viral Threat Lab and its upcoming serology testing platform makes us uniquely able to identify potential convalescent plasma donors in collaboration with LifeShare to produce this possibly life-saving therapy. The only source of this convalescent plasma is donations from people who have been recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks and have produced antibodies.

LSU Health Shreveport recently joined the Department of Anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) as one of the first places in the U.S. to enroll patients in an international study testing using inhaled nitric oxide to improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients with severely damaged lungs. Dr. Keith Scott is the Principle Investigator and is working closely with Dr. Steven Conrad.

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Nitric oxide is a colorless, odorless gas inhaled through a mask or potentially through a small “flute” t essentially “kill” coronavirus in the lungs and improve delivery of oxygen to injured tissues. It may also prove helpful in protecting healthcare workers on the front line of the pandemic from getting sick.

Louisiana Tech freshman makes ear guards for medical workers Louisiana Tech freshman Avereigh Barras heard there was a need for ear guards for medical personnel.

Barras, a mechanical engineering major and student worker who operates the College of Education’s 3D printers, answered the call in a big way.

In only eight days, she’s made more than 1,000 ear guards, or “mask strap extenders,” and sent them freeof-charge to 28 facilities — hospitals, clinics, home health units, hospice care, labs, pharmacies, and nursing homes — in seven states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, and California.

“Overall, this project is going great and only becoming greater with more help and support,” she said from her family’s home in Albany near Baton Rouge. “Next, I hope to distribute to whoever would benefit from them.”

Ear guards/extenders are a recent invention by Canadian Boy Scout Quinn Callander that protect the backs of face mask wearers’ ears from the discomfort of the elastic constantly pressing on them. It’s both simple and genius.

Imagine a thin six-inch ruler with four little wings on the edges that act as hooks. The guard goes on the back of your head, parallel to your shoulders at ear level. Then, the mask’s elastic strings are adjusted to hook onto the “wings” so the elastic doesn’t touch the ear at all.

“The game plan,” Barras said, “is to just keep printing and shipping. All of the people who have received their mask strap extenders have loved them and say that they give them so much relief.”

Using two of the University’s printers and her personal machine, she made 150 guards the first two-and-a-half days of the project that began April 6. She would crank out about 16 guards in two hours.

But “now,” she said, “all hands are on deck.”

Now the output is up to 25 or 26 guards in two hours.

That’s because she now has five 3D printers at her house, including one from friends Justin and Trisha Slade who live nearby, and another from Tech alum Kyle Plauche, “very generous people,” Barras said, “who are letting me use them for as long as there is a need.”

The guards are made of PLA, a plastic most commonly used for 3D printing. Some of the PLA she’s used comes from Tech, but most is from her personal stash. Plus, her friends who loaned out their printers also donated the filament they had on hand.

She’s also taught her mom how to take ear guards off a printer once they are complete and how to tell the printer to print more “so through the night, my mom and I alter-

GOOD TO KNOW nate waking up to keep the printers printing,” she said. “My dad helped me fix a couple of printers when they ran into some problems — both are back in action. Many friends and family donated money to be used for materials, which is very kind as we are not asking for money from people we make the ear guards for.”

Barras said it takes her only a few minutes to get the guards off and tell the printer to make more, and she continuously has all five on the job “the whole day I’m awake,” she said. “I keep this rhythm going throughout the day, because with the quarantine, all I have to do during the day is class and homework and chores.”

Although the relief of having one is immeasurable, an ear guard costs approximately eight cents; this is the best calculation since it’s a new invention. And that’s if every gram of filament is used and if there are no machine errors, Barras said. One roll of filament costs about $20. The price does not include electricity, shipping, and packaging, which of course makes the cost of each ear guard a bit higher. Each ear guard weighs four grams.

Barras first heard of the idea from her mom, who’s a nurse and saw a Facebook post about the Boy Scout who introduced them. The same day, UTeachTech Master Teacher Glenn Larson shared the same post with her. Plus, a friend who’s a nurse in Hammond texted her that everyone’s “ears are getting bloody from the masks.”

“An already stressful shift of work shouldn’t be made more stressful when there’s an easy fix: ear guards,” Barras said.

Her mom is helping her with the project, both by contacting people who may need the guards, assisting her with shipping and handling, and now, since she’s been “trained,” by helping with the actual printing.

Barras is taking 10 hours this quarter. She’s also a member of both the Association of Catholic Tech Students (A.C.T.S.) — she serves on its leadership team as the Faith Formation Committee Co-chair — and the Engineering and Science Association’s Freshman Council.

“I would say the best way to help in a time like this, when we are unable to comfort others in the way we normally would, is to pray and do our part to the best of our ability,” she said. “We are all called to give of our own unique gifts and abilities, whether it’s following the rules mandated by our Governor, saying a prayer for those who are sick or caring for the sick, washing our hands, shopping for an elderly or immunocompromised neighbor, or 3D printing ear guards for medical workers.

“As the A.C.T.S. always says, ‘If everyone does a little, a lot gets done.’”

To help fund the project, Barras has started a GoFundMe page.

“We will use the donations to pay for materials and supplies as far as printing and shipping goes,” Barras said. “Any excess donations will be given to a food bank that serves those in need due to job loss during this pandemic.”

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System to Resume Some Surgeries CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System is preparing to begin phasing in a number of procedures and surgeries at all of its facilities on April 27, consistent with the provisions of the Governor John Bel-Edwards original order on April 20.

The revised guidance from the Louisiana Department of Health initially covers medical procedures and surgeries performed in order to treat an emergency medical condition, to avoid further harms from an underlying condition or disease, and for time sensitive conditions.

State officials have outlined the process will begin with allowing for procedures that have already been postponed for 30 days to be reassessed. If the physician approves and there is appropriate documentation in the patient’s medical record, the procedure should be allowed to proceed. As these procedures resume, state officials will monitor the situation closely, including for an increase in ICU patients and/or ventilator utilization.

“In many cases, the procedures and surgeries we that have been delayed or deferred are directly tied to a patient’s immediate quality of life,” said T. Steen Trawick, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, Chief Medical Officer, CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System. “However, as we look into the future and the road ahead alongside our community, quite a few of these procedures will also help ensure patients live longer, healthier lives. Safely returning patients to our operating rooms, when medically necessary, as quickly as we can, is critical. But as with all surgeries and other procedures throughout the system, we must ensure our patients, Associates and physicians are safe. That is a foundational element of care at CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System,” Dr. Trawick said.

Our facilities have secured the personal protective equipment (PPE) and excess capacity necessary to safely care for the full spectrum of medical conditions and patient needs that we have worked so hard to address in our communities for more than 150 years.

We are working with physicians at facilities in Shreveport, Bossier and Coushatta now to reschedule their patients for medical and surgical procedures they were forced to postpone due to the initial order. While we all understand the reason that these procedures had to be postponed, waiting has imposed a hardship on many of these patients, as many can no longer delay care for heart disease, cancer, pain, vision problems and other conditions.

We are working to avoid a surge in illness and suffering as a result of deferred and delayed care.

Individuals are encouraged to discuss their individual cases with their physician directly to understand their upcoming procedures and surgeries.

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System practices infection prevention every day. In addition, the CHRISTUS is leading the Northern Louisiana community, and the country, by recently announcing the rolling out antibody testing for some patients, Associates and physiSBMAG.NET

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cians in its ministries. This new screening tool allows the hospital to test these groups for antibodies related to the COVID-19 virus, helping it to identify how each patient should receive care and how to keep its caregivers safe.

Not only that, but CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier has been steadily working and planning to continue providing necessary, non-COVID care to keep people safe and healthy. To keep all who enter our facilities safe, CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier continues to have these following precautions in place:

• Limiting visitors; • Screening everyone who comes through our doors; • Isolating COVID-19 patients to one area of the facility; • Temperature checks for all Associates; • Requiring everyone on our campuses to wear masks; • Using telemedicine to treat active COVID-19 patients, so their caregivers and support staff limit the number of times they enter their rooms.

This may be an unprecedented time, but we have experienced many of these since CHRISTUS was founded 154 years ago. In fact, the first three Sisters who started the CHRISTUS ministry in Galveston faced an epidemic of Yellow Fever within the first six months of opening the very first hospital. Epidemics and tragedies have been part of CHRISTUS’ history, and so too has the resolve, after each of those challenges, to move on in love and service to those in need.

“CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System is answering the call to help our communities – today and tomorrow. In all that we do, we are devoted to keeping patients, their families, our caregivers and our Associates safe. And we are here when you need care. We are ready,” Dr. Trawick said.

AEP Foundation funds face shield production A $50,000 grant from the American Electric Power Foundation to the LSUS Foundation is allowing LSU Shreveport students and faculty to create components for face shields to help first responders and hospital employees work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the local impact of the COVID-19 pandemic became more acute, we recognized the opportunity for LSU Shreveport to leverage our new CyberCollaboratory to join a community consortium to help meet some of the personal protection needs of regional first responders and health care workers,” said LSUS Chancellor Larry Clark. “The AEP Foundation provided the critical financial support needed to serve the COVID-19 needs of the Ark-La-Tex region.”

The AEP Foundation is funded by Amerian Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and its utility operating units, including Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), which serves

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LSUS Senior Matt Dixon

approximately 220,000 customers in Northwest Louisiana.

The LSUS CyberCollaboratory has become an impromptu 3D printing shop. LSUS senior Matt Dixon, who’s majoring in digital arts, is one of the students helping produce the components. He has a personal reason for protecting those on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. His mom, a respiratory therapist working in Shreveport-Bossier City hospitals, was exposed to the virus.

“There’s just a struggle of not having the right amount of supplies to protect themselves,” Dixon said. “They told her she had been exposed to patients that they didn’t know had the virus. She had a little bit of a cough for a while, but they tested her, and it came out negative. She’s 54 this year, and it could have been bad.”

The LSUS CyberCollaboratory is a 10,000-square-foot center designed to teach all LSUS students how to use emerging technology for creative solutions to real-world problems. It was developed in part by a $300,000 grant from the American Electric Power Foundation. Set to open this fall, the CyberCollaboratory will have a huge impact on student learning and the ability to transfer knowledge into applications, said Dr. Julie Lessiter, LSUS vice chancellor of strategic initiatives.

The grant from the AEP Foundation helped cover the cost of additional printers and supplies to produce the face shields. LSUS, Bossier Parish Community College and the nonprofit Sanctuary Arts School shared the grant.

“We care about our customers and understand how this pandemic is reshaping all of our daily lives,” said Carey Sullivan, SWEPCO director of corporate communications.

“SWEPCO, the American Electric Power Foundation and our employees are proud to support LSUS as its team makes face shields to assist healthcare workers and first responders.”

The American Electric Power Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area.

The foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering, math and the environment and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger.

Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, support healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and cultural heritage.

The AEP Foundation is based in Columbus, Ohio.

LSU Health Shreveport Faculty Producing 3D-Printed Nasal Swabs for COVID-19 Testing The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has produced many medical challenges, which LSU Health Shreveport has risen to meet. Among the most important goals for clinicians and scientists has been to determine whether a patient is infected with COVID-19. While the LSUHS COVID-19 Response Team very rapidly created the Emerging Viral Threat (EVT) Lab at the health sciences center, there have been national shortages for testing supplies, which have threatened the ability of such testing labs to perform tests. A crucial part of COVID-19 test kits are the nasal swabs, which have been in short supply as the demand for COVID-19 testing has increased around the United States and internationally. These swabs need to be prepared from specific materials and must have particular shapes to ensure accuracy of for specimen collection.

Fortunately, scientists at LSU Health Shreveport were able to utilize existing research and design facilities at the institution to 3D print resin polymer nasal swabs which can be used by the EVT Lab. As part of a national cooperative with the University of South Florida (USF) Health, Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider, and Formlabs, LSU Health Shreveport has obtained the printing files for a patented swab design,becoming the first in Louisiana to produce these patented 3D-printed swabs. Steven Alexander, PhD, Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, is leading the effort and started to produce these 3D-printed nasal swabs in large numbers using a technique called photopolymer laser printing. This light activated printing technique can produce medical devices which are chemically inert, sterile and compatible with accurate testing procedures. Dr. Alexander’s lab has started swab production with photoprinting occurring throughout the day and night. His lab has the capability to produce 324 of the swabs in one day and is planning to ramp up production significantly over the next couple of weeks. The printing of additional batches of swabs is already underway, and Dr. Alexander is working with LSU Health Shreveport’s EVT Lab to get the swabs into their COVID-19 test kits.

“This type of printing enables us to make even the most sophisticated testing tools available anywhere and the workflow is increasing so that hopefully soon we may not only meet our own needs, but perhaps other hospitals in the area,” said Dr. Alexander. “The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally challenged how we work, but 3D printing can really help overcome problems with the availability of medical supplies, shipping and delivery which help to ensure continuity of medical testing and care.”

“I want to commend Dr. Steven Alexander, an extremely bright and humble physiologist, for thinking outside the box and finding a solution to address the local and national rate-limiting factor for COVID-19 testing, which is lack of nasal swabs. This newest 3D printing development will revolutionize access to swabs, and our intent is to help increase testing capabilities, not only regionally, but throughout the United States,” stated LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor G. E. Ghali, DDS, MD, FACS, FRCS(Ed).

Geaux 4 Kids In 2019, there were over 1,200 foster children in the Shreveport region. Due to COVID-19, there are now more children in a vulnerable state and the number is increasing as schools are closed, and resources and parents are stressed to their breaking points.

The need we serve is always during an emergency placement of abused, neglected children in the first night of protective custody of foster care.

COVID-19 has not stopped the need for the Geaux Bags service, but we have met with some barriers. We are not able to operate with volunteers to pack Geaux Bags. We are not able to accept in kind donations as easily or safely. Funding is the greatest barrier, as we need to buy Geaux Bag contents in bulk online and pay essential personnel.

Last year’s annual fundraiser accounted for half of our annual budget, and we had to cancel it for 2020.

What’s in a Geaux Bag? A Geaux Bag contains age appropriate clothing, personal items, comfort items, water & snack, backpack, pillow & blanket and a note of encouragement.

A social worker delivers the Geaux Bag with the child to the foster home, ensuring the child has some personal belongings and the foster parents have an opportunity to focus on the emotional needs of the child.

Advanced giving begins April 21. All donations will be processed on May 5, 2020. Geauxbags.org MUDBUG MADNESS 2020 CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS The organizers of the Annual Mudbug Madness Festival held each Memorial Day weekend in Downtown Shreveport has announced the cancellation of the 2020 festival due to the Coronavirus. Over its 36 years, Mudbug Madness has become one of the largest and most popular SBMAG.NET

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music, food and cultural festivals drawing thousands of locals and visitors to Shreveport’s Festival Plaza each year.

“We would like to thank everyone for their patience in allowing us the time to make this difficult decision,” said Festival Chair, Terri Mathews. “It was painstaking as our committee works hard each year to bring our attendees a quality event, and this year would have been no exception.

However, we know it is the responsible course of action right now in order to keep everyone healthy and allow more time for the situation to stabilize.”

Looking ahead, the 2021 Mudbug Madness Festival is scheduled for May 28-30. “We will be back!” Mathews said. “And with the music, food and fun that this festival is so known for!”

For more information, contact Terri Mathews at (318) 455-2001 or Mary Helen Marrs at (318) 658-0758.

Doctoral candidates earn spot in NASA’s ‘Ignite the Night’ Event A pair of Louisiana Tech students have been selected to compete in “Ignite the Night,” a virtual event by NASA’s iTech team that invites innovators and enthusiasts to meet NASA, learn more about its iTech program, and present an idea on stage to an esteemed panel of NASA’s Center Chief Technologists, industry experts, and investors.

The Tech pitch is one of only 10 finalists selected.

The event is Wednesday, April 22. Tech submitted a proposal and was chosen to be part of the competition that NASA designed to create another opportunity for the agency to connect with innovators and enthusiasts directly. For Tech, this represents a public forum where significant research being conducted by investigators can receive national attention.

AJ McFarland and Chris Miller recently developed antimicrobial/antiviral medical textile that can be used for filtration of the air as well as used in N95 masks; these masks are what medical staffs are wearing to protect them from Covid-19. Miller will make the actual presentation.

Both McFarland and Miller are Texas natives, research students, and doctoral candidates in Molecular Science and Nanotechnology (MSNT) in Tech’s BioMorph Lab directed by professor Dr. David Mills.

Miller is Director of Research for Mills’ business enterprise, organicNANO. “We are very much honored,” Mills said, “to be among the first 10 companies to be involved in this Pitch Competition.”

One pitch of the 10 will be selected to move on to the final competition.

You can watch Miller’s presentation live Wednesday, 2-4 pm on this link, which is also attached to Miller’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram profiles: https://livestream.com/nasaitech Miller participated in an orientation, interview, and training session with NASA Wednesday and was both motivated and encouraged by the dialogue with Dr. Ramona

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Travis, the Chief Technologist for the NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC), as well as the interaction with several other NASA staff members, entrepreneurs, and fellow competitors.

“My family, friends, and love for science inspire me discover a world where positive change can come from anywhere and at any time,” Miller said. “I would like to thank all of those who have encouraged me to continue pursing my passion of changing the way we live.”

At this winter’s Won in One idea pitch competition presented by the University’s Technology Business Development Center (TBDC), McFarland won first place for Organic Nano, an antimicrobial filament for 3D printing.

Miller won both third place and People’s Choice for Hemosite Hemostatic Gauze, a metalized Halloysite nanotube used to enhance wound healing, prevent infection, and regenerate different tissues more efficiently.

NASA iTech identifies and searches for cutting-edge technologies being developed outside of NASA that solve problems here on Earth but also have the potential to address the challenges facing exploration of the Moon and Mars.

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Helping Keep Small Business in Business The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting small businesses in a variety of ways and will likely change business as we know it. Just like health and government officials are working to maintain the health and safety of the people, small business owners are encouraged to keep their employees, customers, and themselves healthy.

With the loss of business to working remotely, things are changing fast during the COVID-19 outbreak and businesses are being forced to adapt.

CFO ProSolutions provides services

that can help small business reassess and make changes to their business strategy in order to remain in business throughout the stay at home order and beyond.

Fortunately, the U.S. government is helping small business with the PPP loans that are forgivable if at least 75 percent of it is used for payroll costs.

Because they are funded by individual banks, accurate records with documentation will be vitally important.

Many small businesses will get into trouble if they don’t have good payroll, bookkeeping and banking practices in place. Now is a good time to seek help in that area if you haven’t done so already.

CFO ProSolutions has been working with business owners to gather documents needed to complete applications for the SBA loans. We are also working to ensure that the funds are used optimally so that the loan is forgiven. Our customers appreciate the value in having a high-quality payroll service especially during this unprecedented and stressful time. At CFO ProSolutions, we take pride in offering a broad range of services to help business owners save time and focus on running a profitable business.

Missy Fussell Accountant & QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor www.shreveportcfo.com

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Payroll Payroll Tax Reporting Sales Tax Reporting Account Reconciliations Financial Reporting Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable QuickBooks Setup, Clean Up & Training Missy Fussell, Owner Accountant & QuickBooks Pro Advisor 405 Ashley Ridge Blvd · Shreveport, LA 318.629.6266 www.shreveportcfo.com

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EYE ON SB | debbie henry

CHILDREN’S PARADE

The annual Children’s Parade, held on Fat Tuesday at Pierre Bossier Mall, is the last parade of the Mardi Gras Season and it is all about the kiddos. Friends of the former Les Femme Mystique Krewe wanted to continue the tradition for the children. Under the leadership of JJ Conway and with the help of volunteers like Veronica Cook, this Children’s Parade was a huge success. This family centered parade included floats, bands, walkers, wagons, gocarts, horses, ponies, motorcycles, and bikes. Food booths and Mardi Gras vendors were onsite as well. The Snow Sisters who resembled Anna and Elsa were the 2020 Grand Marshalls.

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1. Grand Marshalls of the Children’s Parade were the “Snow Princesses” Amelia Osborn and Joy Rester 2.Theresia Kveder with Children’s Parade Committee Chair JJ Conway and Ginger White 3. Bossier Deputy City Marshal Roy Proctor with daughter, Jade 4. Children’s Parade 2020 Committee and Volunteers 5. Robert Hasson with his Firetruck Krewe 6. Krewe des Ambassadeurs rides in the Fat Tuesday Children’s Parade 7. Ryan Douglas catches tons of Mardi Gras beads as baby brother Holden, Mom-Kerry Douglas, and Grandma-Gwen Zylks cheer him on from the sidelines.

8. Fat Tuesday Children’s Parade around Pierre Bossier Mall 9. DJ Gardner with Sloane on the Epicurious Children’s Float 10. Kennedy and Ashley Belden with Sandy Franks 11. Shreveport El Karubah Shriners 12. Miss BPCC Maelena Thompson 13. Meredith and Caroline Johnson SBMAG.NET

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You Might Be Buying a Hand Sanitizer That Won’t Work for Coronavirus

S

anitizers that don’t contain the CDC’s recommended minimum of 60% alcohol are flying off store shelves and listed by sellers on Amazon for outrageous prices.

Here is what you need to know.

by Marshall Allen and Lisa Song March 6, 5:23 p.m. EST

It’s tempting, especially now, to buy one of the many hand sanitizers whose label says it “kills 99.99% of illness causing germs.” But that does not mean the product will protect you against the novel coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends rubbing on hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol when you aren’t able to wash your hands. Huge pumps and multipacks of bottles are flying off store shelves. But “alcohol-free” products — which are not recommended by the CDC — are also getting snatched up in the consumer frenzy.

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Some of the hand sanitizers made by the brands Purell and Germ-X rely on benzalkonium chloride instead of alcohol as the active ingredient. Such non-alcohol antiseptic products may not work as well for many types of germs, the CDC says, or may merely reduce the growth of germs rather than killing them. They may be better than nothing, experts say. But people are buying them without knowing the difference.

Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers Are Selling Out, Despite Not Being Recommended by the CDC These alcohol-free products are selling out, with internet price-gouging in full swing. At times, it can be hard to tell, by looking at the listings, that they’re different from the kind the CDC recommends.

Purell Hand Sanitizing Wipes have jumped in price on Amazon.com from $11.88 in January to $79.99 on Wednesday afternoon before jumping to $199.99 on Wednesday night, according to the price tracker Keepa. com. They are currently sold out.

The front of the package doesn’t mention that it’s alcohol-free; the back includes small print that lists benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient and the label “alcohol-free formula.” Nowhere on the Amazon product listing does it say it’s alcohol-free.

Germ-X Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer is also sold out on Amazon, with prices surging from $10 in mid-January to $49.95 last Friday, according to Keepa.com.

On eBay, 6 fluid ounces of Purell’s alcohol-free sanitizer — the equivalent of three-quarters of a cup — had a $55 price tag on Thursday night.

Amazon officials have said they are monitoring listings for price gouging, blocking or removing those they suspect of it. Ebay announced that it was banning listings for hand sanitizers, masks and disinfecting wipes, and that it will “quickly remove” listings other than books that mention coronavirus or COVID-19, the disease it causes.

Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers Are Better Than Nothing. None Are as Good as Washing Your Hands.

At a time when all hand sanitizers are in short supply, the benzalkonium chloride products are better than nothing, said Emily Landon, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Chicago Medicine. She said the CDC recommendation for hand sanitizers is based on the fact that 60% alcohol kills “all of the coronaviruses we know about.” A sanitizer with benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient is “not as good,” because we don’t know as much about it, she said. As a physician, mother and infection-control expert, she called alcohol-based products her “first choice” for hand sanitizers.

Labels for the Purell and Germ-X alcohol-free hand sanitizing products that contain benzalkonium chloride are vague about which germs they work against.

ProPublica asked Kelly Ward-Smith, the spokeswoman for Gojo Industries, the company that invented Purell, what the product labels mean when they say they kill “99% of most illness causing germs.” She declined to answer, saying in an email that because this article is about coronavirus, the FDA could interpret any answer to violate its rules.

The company, which also sells hand sanitizers that contain alcohol, does not appear to be marketing any of them for protection against COVID-19.

ProPublica reached out for comment to Vi-Jon, the company that makes Germ-X, but did not get a response. They also sell alcohol-based products and also don’t appear to be marketing any of their hand sanitizers for use against the novel coronavirus.

Don’t Waste Your Vodka

If you type in “coronavirus hand sanitizer” on Amazon, the results include hand sanitizers made by different companies that don’t contain alcohol. Amazon had not responded to questions about alcohol-free hand sanitizers by the time of publication.

The shortage of hand sanitizers has led consumers to take extreme measures, brewing their own elixirs of alcohol and aloe vera gel. Landon said the “homemade Pinterest recipes” she’s seen are no good, as people are using whiskey or vodka that doesn’t contain enough alcohol to be effective. The World Health Organization’s guidelines for making hand sanitizers require 96% ethyl alcohol.

Customers seem to be confused. One gave Purell’s alcohol-free, benzalkonium chloride-based hand wipes five stars, writing: “Honestly these wipes were a life saver. Due to the corona virus and me traveling to Vietnam, I bought a pack… I used these on flights, utensils before eating and seats before sitting. It gave me [a feeling] of safety...”

Taking its consumer mission to heart, Tito’s Handmade Vodka tweeted a warning to its customers on Thursday that its product didn’t contain enough alcohol to sanitize effectively: “Per the CDC, hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is 40% alcohol.”

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HIGHLAND GRAND BAL

Krewe of Highland celebrated their 25th anniversary with their Grand Bal “25 Years of Fantasy,” held at the new Ochsner Healthcare Campus on Margaret Place. Guests dressed in past themes from the last 25 years of Highland’s Grand Bals. Fireworks illuminated the sky as Captain Sydni Smith took center stage along with her Co-Captains Michele Marcotte and Jennifer Harvey. Over a dozen Dukes and Duchesses pranced up and down the runway stage for their night of fame. Queen XXV Robin Drury made her way through the crowd on someone’s shoulders, while King XXV Stephen Pederson cruised his way through on a float cart then dancing his way to the stage.

Entertainment provided by Tipsey and Junior the Third.

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1. Highland Captain XXV Sydni Smith 2. Highland Queen XXV Robin Drury and King XXV Stephen Pederson 3. Brandi Daigle, Matthew Lynn, and Chuck Daigle 4. Highland Co-Captain Jennifer Harvey, Captain Sydni Smith, and Co-Captain Michele Marcotte 5. Highland Grand Bal XXV

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GEMINI GRAND BAL

The Krewe of Gemini Grand Bal and Tableau XXXI “Vacation” was held at the Shreveport Convention Center. Gemini Captain XXXI Chris Stansell planned out the perfect vacation adventure for his royal court. The Dukes and Duchess of Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas wore elaborate costumes of their favorite vacation destinations. Gemini King XXXI Gene Corley and Queen XXXI Mary Louise Stansell arrived in royal style with long beaded lavender trains and capes. Attendees to this black tie formal delighted in music by The Molly Ringwalds, an open bar, a late night breakfast buffet and a booze bar raffle.

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1. Captain XXXI Chris Stansell 2. Duchess of Arkansas Michele Gooch and Duke of Arkansas Shane Phillips 3. Former Gemini King Benny Whaley and Queen Karen Baker 4. Gemini Prince Parker Gay and Princess Jayden Anderson 5. Duchess of Louisiana Amie Martin and Duke of Louisiana Carl Bolt 6. Gemini Queen XXXI Mary Louise Stansell 7. Duchess of Texas Segalit Rivera-Murray and Duke of Texas Troy Underwood SBMAG.NET

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Cherish

by Sarah Dupree

Sarah lost her mother this past year due to diabetic complications. Sarah was too young to lose her and her mother was much too young to leave. Through her struggle to understand the “why” her mother died, Sarah found the reason her mother had lived. On this Mother’s Day, and every day, we should appreciate all that our mothers do for us and our families. Life is too short to go even one day without showing her your love.

In this issue, we celebrate motherhood with some wonderful images of mothers and their daughters. For our mothers - we hope you enjoy your Mother’s Day.

A Tribute to Mothers on Mother’s Day Children.

Cherish your mothers.

Cherish the hands that encompass you with fierce protection of a tiger protecting her newborn.

Cherish the endless, gruesome hours spent caring for you with hand and foot as if you’re the highest form of royalty in her eyes.

Cherish the moments of tender, pure affection fed to you through a constant stream, as though a bubbling river were flowing seamlessly through your veins.

Cherish the silk soft words that smoothed the frayed ends of your heart, the aiding support with words sweet as honey and tender as a butterfly.

Cherish the woman who jumped on broken feet to reach into the heavens and give you the stars from hands cracked by care.

Cherish the moments where you cry. Where you may scream, you may yell, you may become like separated puzzle pieces of a game in need of being put back together.

Cherish those trying moments. Although they may not be joyful, they are the moments overflowing with the love of a concerned mother whose heart aches for her child who just needs to be cushioned from the fall of the world.

Cherish those special moments, until it is you who shall smooth the frayed ends of her heart.

Children.

Cherish your mothers.

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Adreana Burton, Averee Burton, Aeren Burton and Nadine Kirkendoll. Three generations of fabulous.

Lily, Deanna and Lucas May. Mallory Thompson, Debbie Canatella, Olivia Thompson, Brandy Canatella Thompson.

60 MAY 2020 | SBMAG.NET Melina Keele, Anna Maria Patton, Lina Sparke. Three generations.

Dr. Morgan Lang with daughter Emery.

Sarah Beth and Lisa Dupree

61 Babin (on the left), Elizabeth Babin (on the right) and Dru Babin.

Kelly Babin| (Mom), Audrey SBMAG.NET MAY 2020

Robin and Megan Jones

Mom Deana with twins Catherine and Trey Kalmbach Lily and Deanna May

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Zoe, Kendra, Abigail Wheeler

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Cindy and Adelaide Aubrey.

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Don’t you just love dolphins?

I want some for my feet!

Take your Zumba workout to a whole new level.

FASHION

trends

These are just a few examples of what is “out there,” literally.

Whether you like them, love them or think they’re crazy, the question is: would you wear them?

With Mother’s Day being celebrated this month, we so wanted to do a fashion trend layout featuring moms with their little ones. But…it just didn’t work out so well with everyone staying home or in quarantine. In my boredom and endless search for fun and interesting topics for the magazine, I visited Pinterest. Five or six hours later – it’s amazing how long that site can keep you interested, (wait…interest – Pinterest? Now I get it!) I came across a random pin for an outlandish looking shoe which led me to other pins for shoes that you wouldn’t believe existed.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m pretty out there myself when it comes to shoes. I own a pair of boots that are all rhinestones. Some of these designs I might be persuaded to try on. (not sure I’d buy them. After all, where could you wear them?)

Who says you can’t take your bird for a walk?

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Instead of stepping on your kid’s toys, pick them up and glue them to your pumps.

You know those days when you don’t know if you’re coming or going?

When you want to count your steps and look good doing it!

When you can’t decide what height heel will look the best…or where to put it.

No – not horse shoes. Unicorn shoes!

1. Ebaumsworld.com 2. Thom Brown Spring 2020 3. Virtualshoemuseum.com 4. Bellatony.com 5. TrulyNYAfashions 6. Stylecaster 7. John Paul Gaultier 2020 8. Horseking SBMAG.NET

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by seva may

entering

a new

WORLD “I don’t think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks, we’d go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone.”

— Anonymous Like it or not, our lives have changed practically overnight. Businesses temporarily shuttered, restaurants having to rethink food service, churches scrambling to adapt to a more technically reliant format, healthcare systems overworked as other medical procedures are halted altogether and the auto industry facing auto sales tumbling at a far steeper rate than initially forecasted. Now, our governor has issued an extension of two weeks to the stay-home order. How are we going to survive?

My neighbor posted a message on Facebook that stated, “We don’t know what we don’t know.” Now, she is extremely smart and works in the medical field with EXTREMELY intelligent people so for her to make this statement speaks volumes.

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The novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 has affected businesses across not only the nation but the globe.

Companies are being forced to make some really tough decisions. Even those companies who have received the Payroll Protection funds from the federal government are going to struggle to remain open once that money runs out especially if our state government continues to extend the closures. With or without extended closures, many businesses fall into a crack that will prevent them from allowing group gatherings for a long time to come or, at the very least, we have a vaccine.

Here’s what’s confusing to many of us. Why have so many businesses been deemed essential and allowed to remain open while others are required to suffer through this. For example, some local furniture stores are open but limiting customers to 40 at a time in the store. Craft stores are open with similar constraints. The in and out stores that also sell gasoline – open. Grocery stores are doing well and are always crowded with people donning masks and others just keeping a safe distance from the next customer. The supply chain, however, is showing signs of breaking down. Tyson recently closed down pork plants in two locations that employed 100,000 workers. Better start hoarding those pork chops while you can. Home Improvement stores are active as are some sporting

goods stores. Hair salons – closed. Laundromats – open.

And what about these tattoo parlors and CBD stores?

What is considered essential and non-essential businesses and activities vary from state to state and often defies logic. One example is Michigan where you can’t go out to the lake on your boat, but you can get an abortion. One is considered essential citing a medical emergency, the other is not. One could argue that boating helps us relieve stress. You can do this, but you can’t do that, and it varies from state to state and city to city. At the very least, can’t we all get on the same page?

As of April 28th, Louisiana has had 27,068 confirmed cases with 1697 deaths. 93 of those deaths have occurred in Caddo Parish. Last year, Louisiana experienced one of the deadliest flu seasons on record with 1400 deaths statewide. Why didn’t our lives come to a screeching halt then? It comes back to “you don’t know what you don’t know.” When will Covid-19 be through with us?

Restaurants and churches have been the hardest hit. Most restaurants have converted to drive-through and pickup service only. According to successful restaurateur Phil Barbaree, business at The Superior Steak House has stopped completely. Superior Bar and Grill has a pick-up service that’s doing okay. He predicts that once the PPP money dries up in August, many area restaurants will be forced to close completely. And once the stay-home order is lifted and people start getting out more, will they?

Will there still be a fear of contracting this virus? Going to a fine dining restaurant where tables are placed 6 feet apart, no bar mingling whatsoever and forget the musical entertainment – it absolutely puts a damper on the socializing and entertainment aspect of “going out” to dinner. These establishments will be lucky to serve a third of the guests they could serve prior to this pandemic.

Barbaree predicted the “menus will most likely feature half of the dishes served by half of the staff – it’s a pretty bleak picture. The biggest draw to eating out is to socialize and when that’s taken away by social distancing it’s not as appealing.” What happens to the eateries who manage to survive this first round of virus when the secondround hits in the fall. What happens to those employees?

What’s more, will those families who have been given stay at home orders and are not working themselves be able to support local eateries if they don’t have any money coming in to pay for the food?

Churches on the other hand need only shift the manner in which they deliver their service. First Presbyterian in Shreveport hasn’t had “in-person” services since March 8, 2020. Within a 24-hour period, all activities were cancelled, support staff began working from home, and all formal services started going on-line. Fortunately for the church, they had already been planning an entrance into the digital world, so it was only a matter of completing that setup with the help of church member, David Green.

At Easter, members were encouraged to take communion

from home as they were led by Pastor Chris Currie in the live stream. First Presbyterian is committed to providing the glue to help people connect and to continue serving the most vulnerable in our community. They have amped up support and donations to the homeless populations, providing disinfectants and cleaning supplies to Hope Connections, collecting food for the Food Bank of North West Louisiana and the MLK Health Center.

Pastor Chris Currie put it best, “The need for the church community in this time: ‘Now more than ever, having lost something and not knowing when it might be restored, I sense that the importance of the church community and the ties that bind us together are more valued than ever.

When everything in our lives falls down around us, we are given the opportunity to reassess and find ways to cultivate and place added emphasis on those things we cannot do without. I think we are finding out how important the bonds are in our communities of faith in a time such as this. During a health and economic crisis, the congregation I serve has strengthened our ties while we have been apart, and we found new and creative ways to show up for each other, to care for each other, and to connect with each other. Whenever we can get back to some semblance of normality, I hope we don’t lose that renewed bond. It is sacred.”

As it happens, most churches in our area and around the world are making do and using creative ways to reach their congregations. Using Group Messaging to stay in touch, providing guidance for giving on-line and even taking attendance by checking your family into events via a church app are just some of the ways of staying connected to a church family.

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Other businesses would be wise to take a page from the church playbook. Get creative with your advertising.

Stay in touch with your customers through e-mails, digital ads, or Facebook campaigns. Use this “down time” to re-tool your website. Ask yourself what you can do to modify your business to adapt to social distancing. Don’t throw up your hands and give up. Yes, our world will be different going forward but thanks to our biological plasticity, we are a very adaptive species.

And when it’s all said and done, we’ll look back to analyze what we did and how this whole thing was handled. Will we have a game plan in place should we ever face another pandemic? We may all take a very different view than we did when this began. Forget the conspiracy theories about this being a ploy to ruin the United States. Forget the constant bashing of the President who acted as quickly as was possible to close travel from China but was still raked over the coals by some political leaders for being racist. How does that make sense? Ignore the 24/7 media coverage that fuels our fears. The media, putting the President in a position of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” Why would anyone place the blame on one person? The Covid-19 shows know partiality to political party affiliation, it doesn’t care about our race, age, or socioeconomic position. It doesn’t care who resides in the White House. It’s time we take the politics out of it and put humanity back where it belongs.

First Presbyterian Church Shreveport

Faith flattens fear.

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debbie henry | SB SCENE

BARKUS & MEOUX PET PARADE

Krewe of Barkus & Meoux held their 2020 Pet Parade at Events on the Red across from Centurylink for “Woofstock 21: A Mewsic Festival.” Thousands of people and their pets, many dressed in groovy costumes, came out to support the local pet krewe. Along with the parade, there were over 50 vendors with food booths, craft booths, animal rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies. Many new activities as well as past favorites included a costume contest for pets and owners, a car show, pony rides, face painting, photo ops, and a Red River Obedience demonstration. Congratulations to King Ambassador Alex Anderson, Queen Ambassador XXI Kim Jensen, Captain XXI Jean Johnson, and Co-Captain Keith Woods and the rest of their royal court for representing our love for animals.

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1. Barkus & Meoux Pet Parade “Woofstock 21: a Mewsic Festival” 2. Michel Yeatts and “Chloe” won 1st Place in costume contest 3. Barkus & Meoux King Ambassador XXI Alex Anderson and Queen Ambassador XXI Kim Jensen with Barkus & Meoux Pet Royal, King “PeeWee” 4. Taylor Washington and Hope Mapes with chiweenie “Rosie” 5. Duke and Duchess of Furry Friends Tony and Allyson Prestidge with Pet Royal Duke “Holden” 6. Felicia Corley with Pet Royal Prince “Oreo” 7. Tiffany Henry holds Sarah Porter’s Red Tail Boa named “Big Boy” SBMAG.NET

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SB SCENE

HARAMBEE GRAND BAL

The Krewe of Harambee 20th Saada Maskhara Bal “Sankofa XX” was held at the Shreveport Convention Center. Sankofa means to go back/return to and seek or take. This is exactly what the Krewe of Harambee did as they journeyed back in time and honored the Kings, Queens, and Captains of the last 20 years, taking the knowledge and insight from those who created and developed the krewe over the years. The royal tableu included Captain Dee Miles, Co-Captain Roderick Casey, Queen XX Regina Winn and King XX Jonathan Reynolds.

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1. Harambee Captain XX Dee Miles 2. King Harambee XX Jonathan Reynolds 3. Queen Harambee XX Regina Winn 4. Harambee Co-Captain Roderick Casey 5. Harambee King Jonathan Reynolds and Queen Regina Winn 6. Harambee Royalty Chair Rosalind Blackshire 7. Harambee Grand Bal Saada Maskhara “Sankofa XX”

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WE APPRECIATE THE WORKERS WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINE OF THE COVID-19 IMPACT

OFFICES IN SHREVEPORT AND BOSSIER

PHONE: 318-230-7016 FAX: 318-746-5998 WWW.JACQUELINESCOTTLAW.COM

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