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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2015 H
JEFFERSON • NEW ORLEANS • PLAQUEMINES • RIVER PARISHES • ST. BERNARD THENEWORLEANSADVOCATE.COM
Special needs advocate retires after 35 years BY JANE PIC ADAMS
Special to The Advocate A local parent who helped form an advocacy group for autism and later, special needs recreation programs in Jefferson parish, has retired. Peggie Massaro has been involved with the Alternative Program of the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department for individuals with disabilities and special needs for 35 years — first as a contract worker, then as special programs supervisor. She retired in December, leaving a program that she helped develop and nurture from its infancy. Massaro, whose youngest son was diagnosed with autism when he was 4, learned through
Eva Jacob Barkoff AROUND JEFFERSON
8th Family Gras Festival kicks off Friday in Metairie As the first weekend of parades kicks off this weekend in Metairie, so does the eighth annual Family Gras Festival, which will feature several well-known local and national musicians. Located on Veterans Memorial Boulevard between North Causeway Boulevard and Severn Avenue, Family Gras hours are 5:30 p.m. Friday until the Krewe of Excalibur arrives about 8 p.m., which will be followed by the debut of the Krewe of Athena. On Saturday, Family Gras hours are 11 a.m. until Krewe of Caesar arrives about 8 p.m.; and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. No parades are scheduled Sunday. Headlining Friday will be Allen Toussaint, as well as Nola SuperGroup, which features Chuck Credo IV, John “Papa” Gros, Chad Gilmore, Brian Stoltz, Cass Faulconer, Mark Mullins and Craig Klein. On Saturday, musicians include So Long, Storyland, Foreigner’s Lou Gramm, Cowboy Mouth, Becky G and The Beach Boys. And on Sunday, performers will be Remedy, Creole String Beans, Amanda Shaw, Easton Corbin and LeAnn Rimes. In addition to the music, there will be food, an arts and crafts market and activities for children. Admission is free, but for those wanting to get a better view, Royal Pass tickets are available for $99 a person. It includes premium stagelevel and front-of-stage viewing, artist meet and greets as available, VIP backstage catering and private restroom accommodations. For more information, go to the Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau website www.experiencejefferson. com or call (504) 731-7083. The Krewe of Excalibur and the new Krewe of Athena roll at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively, Friday. Athena, the first predominantly African-American, all-female äSee JEFFERSON, page 4G
advocating for his education, medical treatment and numerous therapies of the need for additional stimulation for these children once their school day and school year ended. She and five other parents with children diagnosed with autism from Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard and St. Charles parishes joined in 1976 to start a summer program at Temple Sinai on St. Charles Avenue. These parents, working together for their children, were the nucleus for the foundation of the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans. Massaro took classes to become certified in aerobics, arts and crafts and dance, and became involved with other summer programs for indi-
viduals with disabilities. When she joined the JPRD in 1979, she brought her ideas, dedication and expertise to a fledging idea — to provide after-school activities for children with disabilities through the recreation department. She began with offering aerobic exercise. As the response from parents increased, crafts, cooking and therapeutic art classes were added. Massaro developed a summer day camp that has grown into three different groups offering age-appropriate activities for children, youth and adults. Line-dancing and adaptive karate was offered for the teen and young adult age group. The adaptive karate class, one of the first in the country, gave
a demonstration at the 1990 Youth Congress Convention of the National Down Syndrome Congress annual convention in Memphis, Tennessee. It was a huge success. Ed and Lynn Delaney, whose son, John, was the youngest in the class, said, “This class gave John self-confidence. He continued in the adaptive class, then was able to attend regular classes and worked towards his black belt. It was a wonderful experience.” “Looking back on those early days,” Massaro said, “I knew that all disabilities should be included. Even though my son could not attend because of his uncontrollable actions, I want-
BIG WHEELS
“I wanted everyone to be involved, stimulated and leave each day having learned something.” PEGGIE MASSARO, special needs advocate Photo provided by Gold Coast Skydivers
Peggie Massaro skydives with tandem diver Martin Swords. äSee RETIRES, page 4G Massaro recently retired and is pursuing her ‘bucket list.’
Max, left, and Mike Alford, right, and Paul Frommeyer, center, from River Ridge, came to the Monster Jam.
Larger-than-life trucks take Monster Jam to new heights More than 50,000 fans came to see the Monster Jam on Saturday at the MercedesBenz Superdome. Trucks included Grave Digger the Legend, World Champion Max-D and Overkill Evolution. A Pit Party was held earlier in the day to see the trucks that run approximately 12 feet tall and about 12 feet wide. Monster Jam trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. The trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air. Tickets are already on sale for the 2016 Monster Jam.
Advocate staff photos by MATTHEW HINTON
Tom and ‘Little’ Tom Hornwell, 6, of Independence, joined others who packed the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans to see the Monster Jam with its many monster trucks, including Zombie, with a walk-around party in the afternoon and races Saturday evening.
NOMA hours adjusted during Carnival season open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 14 — the It’s no news that City Park is a natural day of the Endymion Parade — and treasure and that tens of thousands will be closed on Mardi Gras, Feb. of manmade treasures are housed 17. at the heart of the park. The New Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 Orleans Museum of Art at One Colp.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 lins Diboll Circle was dedicated on a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. March, 22, 1911. It was originally to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The named for Isaac Delgado, who museum is closed on Monday. Visigave $150,000 to the City Park Imtors must arrive at least 45 minutes provement Association to build the THROW ME before closing time museum. Winter, spring, summer and fall, SOMETHIN’ Here’s some good news: admisLYNNE sion is free on Wednesday for Louithe fine arts institution we call JENSEN siana residents, and you can’t beat NOMA welcomes visitors. This month, the museum will adjust its hours during the Carnival season. It will äSee THROW ME, page 4G
300 years of parish history depicted in 130-foot mural ment of the scenes. From left to right, the scenes depict the Native AmeriMore than 300 years of history in cans; the arrival of the explorers St. Charles Parish is depicted in a and Germans; Cajuns and hunting, new mural recently dedicated by the trapping and fishing; the Louisiana St. Charles Museum and Historical Purchase; the 1811 Slave Revolt; sugar refining; Civil War; and public Association. The 130-foot mural is located on education, churches and industry. It the side of Cashio’s Food Villa, 13572 ends with the last of the St. Charles River Road, in Destrehan. According ferries and the building of the Hale to the Historical Association, the site Boggs Bridge. Beneath the mural is was selected because it is located in a timeline that lists the dates for each the “Mile of History” corridor, which scene. “I love to drive by and see people runs from Van’s Lane to Destrehan pulled up in their cars, gazing at the Plantation. Mural artist Hans Geist, of Gray, mural and studying it. It’s a frequent worked with the Historical Association members in deciding the placeäSee MURAL, page 4G
Advocate staff report