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JEFFERSON • NEW ORLEANS • PLAQUEMINES • RIVER PARISHES • ST. BERNARD JE THENEWORLEANSADVOCATE.COM
Queen of Soul reigns
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WEDNESDAY JUNE 24, 2015 H
Stennis to host NASA Week events during Essence Advocate staff report
Advocate photo by ROBERT WRIGHT
A few dozen women gathered at the JW Marriott downtown on Thursday afternoon to witness the crowning of the 2015 FestiGals’ Grand Diva Irma Thomas. As Grand Diva, Thomas led the annual Stiletto Stroll down historic Canal Street on Saturday, June 13. FestiGals is a New Orleansbased women’s weekend that takes bonding time with the girls to a new level.
FestiGals names Thomas Grand Diva
Advocate staff report
Grammy Award-winner Irma Thomas
This year’s event surpassed its goal, and $45,000 was raised for the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans and
was crowned the Grand Diva of this year’s
Breastoration, an organization that supports women undergoing
FestiGals events.
treatment for cancer.
About 2,000 women took part in the fifth annual FestiGals that included the Bodacious
Thomas was hailed as a “beacon of survival” in her personal and professional career, by FestiGal organizers. Known locally as
Bras for a Cause luncheon and the annual Stiletto Stroll second-
the “Queen of Soul,” Thomas shared her story with participants
line parade.
as a “Journey of a Musical Lifetime.”
More than 26 events over the four-day weekend gave women
She joins an impressive list of Grand Divas as locals Kelly
the opportunity to be inspired, network and celebrate their
Schultz, Margarita Bergen and Lisa Sins have also held the title.
strength.
For more information visit festigals.org.
Couples reflect on lifetime of love, friendships BY EVA JACOB BARKOFF
It’s also a celebration of a lifetime of friendships that go back longer than those five decades. “Someone like you In a special ceremony on makes the sun shine brighter. the afternoon of June 14 in the Someone like you James B. Branton Chapel on makes a sigh half a smile. the campus of Brother Martin Someone like you makes my troubles much High School in New Orleans, DeeDee and Bob Burns, Beth lighter. and Johnny Kidder, Joy and Someone like you makes life seem worthwhile.” Gary Morris, Julie and Leon Photo provided by HOPE LAGARDE A poem, by writer James W. Ricord, Patsy and Joe Rink, Foley, encapsulates the love Juliette and Arthur Schellhaas, These seven couples, all lifelong friends and all who got married in 1965, will each celebrate and affection shared among and Rosalind and Alan Seicsh- their 50th wedding anniversaries this year. They renewed their wedding vows in a special seven local couples who each naydre renewed their wedding ceremony June 14. Pictured together, from left, are Gary and Joy Morris, Juliette and Arthur will celebrate 50 years of marSchellhaas, DeeDee and Bob Burns, Beth and Johnny Kidder, Julie and Leon Ricord, Rosalind riage this year. äSee COUPLES, page 9G and Alan Seicshnaydre, and Patsy and Joe Rink. Special to The Advocate
Community to feed, care for homeless The 26th annual Feed the Multitudes will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Fourth of July on the grounds of Victory Fellowship, 5708 Airline Drive, Metairie. The free event, aimed at serving the poor and homeless throughout the community, will include live music, jambalaya, red beans, barbecue chicken, hot dogs, sno-balls, pastries and refreshments. “Last year, about 5,000 people attended the event and we are hoping to host about 6,000 this year,” said Christen Kubricht, children’s pastor at Victory Fellowship. Additionally, there will be spa treatments including haircuts and manicures,
Zatarain’s is donating the boxes of jambalaya mix. “Items still needed include Powerade, Styrofoam plates, ice and rice. We also need to borrow tents and canopies. And volunteers are needed AROUND JEFFERSON as well to help in a number of areas.” Bus transportation will be provided at four locations in games for children and a New Orleans. These are the giveaway of shoes, donated New Orleans Mission, 1130 by the nonprofit group SaOretha Castle Haley Blvd., maritan’s Feet. “Besides Samaritan’s Feet, Ozanam Inn, 834 Camp St., the Salvation Army, 4526 other organizations partnerSouth Claiborne Ave., and ing with Victory Fellowship the Broad Street Church, 134 to help sponsor the event North Broad St. include the Salvation Army Pickup times from each whose volunteers serve the location are 9 a.m. and 10 red beans provided by Dia.m. and drop-off times from versified Foods,” Kubricht said. “Maurice’s Bakery will provide all the pastries and äSee BARKOFF, page 9G
Eva Jacob Barkoff
NASA will be supplying out-ofthis-world educational components for the Essence Festival in New Orleans on June 30-July 5. Stennis Space Center is host of the NASA Week celebration of space exploration, which will include space-related displays, interactive exhibits and tours of one of NASA’s premiere traveling exhibits, as well as an opportunity to meet and talk with astronaut Stephanie Wilson from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, inside the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, 1 Canal St., New Orleans. On the second floor of the aquarium, there will be familyfriendly hands- Astronaut on exhibits, Stephanie included in the Wilson will be price of aquar- available for autographs and ium admission. photos as part Outside the of NASA Week. aquarium, families can tour the Journey to Tomorrow traveling exhibit at no cost. This 53-footlong trailer exhibit features hands-on activities and digital learning stations. Visitors will be able to explore such topics as the role of NASA spinoff technology in air travel and everyday life, a comparison of science and science fiction, common questions about space travel, gravity, the solar system and Earth. Visitors also will be able to try a lunar lander simulator. A second location for NASA Week activities is the Morial Convention Center, where there will be displays and information on a variety of space topics. Visitors will be able to learn about NASA’s Journey to Mars, the International Space Station, the economic significance of NASA, Earth science, the solar system and NASA-sponsored educational initiatives. Essence Festival and NASA exhibits and presentations at the convention center are free to the public. Teachers of science and math in grades four through eight will gather for six free professional development workshops on science, technology, engineering and mathematics July 1-3 at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. NASA education specialists from across the country will provide hands-on activities and materials for the teachers to share with their students. To register for the workshops, visit www. auduboninstitute.org/education/ programs by June 24.
Fourth of July celebration begins Friday Gearing up for the Fourth of July? Plan to party early at the annual Happy 3rd of July celebration starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday at City Park’s Goldring Woldenberg Great Lawn. Don patriotic red, white and blue garb, grab lawn chairs and blankets THROW ME and get ready for SOMETHIN’ an evening of outLYNNE door fun, but please JENSEN don’t stake tents or other coverings to the ground. Concessions, including sno-balls, beer and wine will be sold, and you are welcome to spread out your own picnic fixings. If you want to bring your dog, he or she must be on leash at all
times. But here’s my advice: Be independent and leave Fido at home, since he or she may not appreciate the fireworks show at 9 p.m. at the Peristyle across from the lawn. Entertainment will include music by the Marine Corps Rock Band from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.; and Marine Introductions and the Marine Corps Band of New Orleans from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Find out more on Twitter using the hashtags #USMCatCP and #CityParkCool, or visit www. neworleanscitypark.com.
Dueling barges dazzle
Keep those blankets and lawn chairs handy to catch the dueling barges fireworks display at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 4, on the Mississippi River. You can catch a great view from Woldenberg
Park on the east bank and the levee at Algiers Point on the Westbank. The patriotic tribute will be simulcast on Magic 101.9 FM, and WWL-AM, 870 and WWL-FM 105.3 and be broadcast to 38 of our United States of America. Enjoy an independence weekend offer from the Audubon Institute and receive a $4 discount on a single ticket for an adult or child from July 2-5 for the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. To get the discount coupon and for information visit Go4thOnTheRiver.com.
Protect a child’s independence About 100 children are in foster care at any given time
äSee JENSEN, page 9G