JJAZZ AND BLUES FEST FOLLOWED BY TWO FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND ä PAGE 6G
THE ST.TAMMANY
ADVOCATE
1G
COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE • MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • SLIDELL
WEDNESDAY JUNE 24, 2015 H
THENEWORLEANSADVOCATE.COM
Sharon Edwards TAMMANY TIMES SEDWARDS@THEADVOCATE.COM
Friends of the Heart to help save lives If you could help do one thing to save the life of a child, what would it be? Families and volunteers with the HeartGift Foundation have been able to do that one thing by helping children from around the world receive lifesaving pediatric cardiac surgery at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Based in Austin, Texas, the program took root in the New Orleans area around 2010. Board members who live in St. Tammany brought the idea closer to home, according to Stephanie Berault, Louisiana executive director of the HeartGift Foundation. It works like this: A HeartGift child arrives in the U.S. with a life-threatening heart defect. They return home a few weeks later, healthy and ready to live a normal life. HeartGift Louisiana partners with Children’s Hospital to provide this care to six children a year. So far almost 30 children have been helped. Some people might ask why help children from other countries if there are those here who need a life-saving procedure. Berault said that’s the point, children here can receive these surgeries at Children’s Hospital. While the heart defects HeartGift children suffer from are serious, in this country the conditions can be readily treated. Without the access HeartGift gives to the world-class health care we have in this area, these children would probably not live or lead a normal life. Berault said working for HeartGift, “I am blessed to see miracles every day.” Several families on the north shore have opened their homes to host the children and their family member during the surgeries. Kendra and Kyle France have hosted children during their stay, including a child from Mongolia. The mother and father returned recently to thank them and prepare the France family a Mongolian meal. Students at Kehoe-France Northshore in Covington where Kyle France is director, have responded just as generously to help support the child during the recovery. Board member Glen Durham has a child who attends Our Lady of the Lake School in Mandeville. Students äSee TIMES, page 4G
BUILDING TOGETHER Advocate staff photos by SCOTT THRELKELD
Spencer Grant, a construction supervisor with Habitat for Humanity, left, hammers a stake into the ground on June 6 during a Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West Building on Faith build in Mandeville. Volunteers from churches across west St. Tammany Parish are helping build a home on Lafayette Street, near seven other Habitat homes under construction.
Faith fuels Habitat project
BY ANDREW CANULETTE Special to The Advocate
W
hen people with a similar cause come together, you sometimes get effective — and impressive — results. That’s what the members of Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West have learned as they work together with members of the local faith-based community to complete seven homes in an area being referred to as Square 150 just north of U.S. Highway 190 in the heart of Mandeville. The project is called “Building on Faith,” and the Director of Construction Brandon Strunk makes walls of the final home on a cut during a Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany the piece of property were West Building on Faith build in Mandeville. raised in the early morning
hours of June 6. The goal is to complete the seven homes for qualifying homebuyers, who help provide the “sweat equity” as they work side by side with local volunteers to provide quality, affordable housing. Preachers, pastors and congregation members and volunteers hailed from centers of numerous faiths – including Christ Episcopal Church and School, Church of the King, Covington Presbyterian, First Baptist of Mandeville, Greater Starlight Baptist, Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic, New Beginnings Church, New Covenant Presbyterian, the Northshore Jewish Congregation, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic, St. Jane de Chantal Catholic,
St. Michael’s Episcopal, St. Paul’s High School, and St. Timothy’s Methodist. Jeff St. Romain, West St. Tammany Habitat president and CEO, said earlier this month that he anticipated four of the homes would be dedicated on June 22 and that in the common method of Habitat, new owners would be buying their homes on June 29. To qualify for purchase of a Habitat house, buyers have to have an income level of 30 percent to 60 percent of area income, undergo credit and background checks, and meet with a family selection committee. The structures raised on June 6 hovered in
äSee PROJECT, page 3G
Nutritionist shares tips on healthy living St. Margaret plans 50th as its pastor retires
A day filled with heavy rain didn’t stop customers from coming into Springs of Life health food store off Lee Road in Covington. They are regulars and depend on advice from proprietor Nancy Fitzmorris, a certified nutritionist with more than 40 years’ experience. She not only helps her customers lead a more healthy life but at times offers solutions for numerous ailments such as cancer and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There are no quick fixes; instead, she counsels her clients IN through education and communication PROFILE in finding their own roads to wellness. DEBORAH “We talk about health issues and alBURST ways look at diet and lifestyle first, then I recommend supplements,” Fitzmorris said. “Then follow up appointments or just talk in the store.” In 2002, Fitzmorris’ sister was diagnosed with a maAdvocate photo by DEBORAH BURST lignant brain tumor and immediately began chemotherapy. Fitzmorris shares her heartwarming story in Nutritionist Nancy Fitzmorris serves a cup of homemade soup in her Springs of äSee NUTRITIONIST, page 4G Life Cafe.
BY KAREN BAKER
Special to The Advocate It’s a busy summer for St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Slidell. Parishioners will say goodbye to their beloved pastor in June, welcome a new pastor in July, and celebrate 50 years of loving and serving the Lord in their corner of Slidell, starting in August. First, parishioners are preparing to say farewell to Monsignor Lanaux Rareshide, whose name graces the Early Learning Center on the school campus and whose joyful nature has touched the hearts of many in the parish and
school. He will celebrate the noon Mass on June 28, and parishioners will gather in the school gym afterward to say goodbye to the pastor who has been their good shepherd for more than 15 years. “It is very difficult to adequately described Father Rareshide,” said Anna Caruso, longtime parishioner and mother of three. “To me, he is like an angel that comes around sprinkling bits of peace and love and mercy on all those with whom he comes in contact. He’ll often treat us to a sweet hug when he sees us. I bet he doesn’t even realäSee ST. MARGARET, page 5G
Youngsters try their hand at fishing in tournament REC & LEISURE ANDREW CANULETTE
Southeast Louisiana is one of the fishing capitals of North America. And in its small but important way, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/ Southeast Louisiana Refuges Youth Fish Event helps promote the local angling tradition. The 22nd annual event was held June 6 at the Pearl River Turnaround at Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. As is customary, a capacity crowd of 175 youngsters
ages 4 to 12 participated in the fun. For many of the young fishers, the youth event is their first chance to make a catch. For more seasoned anglers, it’s a chance to sharpen their skills alongside family and friends. The event is a bargain for everyone involved. For $15, participating kids get to bring home a rodeo T-shirt and a rod and reel. There’s food and drink for the crowd, and
anglers are given all the bait they need to make that special catch. And for the staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the volunteers who help stage the event annually, it’s a chance to foster support for the community. “I think one of the great things about this event is not only the longevity of it but the fact that fishing is a tried and true practice here,” said David Stoughton, supervisory
park ranger for Southeast Louisiana Refuges. “We have a lot of great improvement to the event each year, but one of the best things is the sponsors — both long time and newcomers that come out and help us each year. They give us great support. “And that’s not to mention the volunteers who help us so much. I always emphasize how important it is to have volunteers. They bend
over backwards to make this happen.” The day also was a chance for much of the public to get their first glimpse of the new James A. Schmidt recreational trail and boardwalk. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges volunteer group held an official ribbonäSee FISHING, page 4G