Adventures on the water
St. Bernard couple uses shrimp boat to sail 6,000-mile Great
BY BARRY LEMOINE Contributing writer
If this were a romantic comedy, it would be called “Tracy and Stacie’s Big Adventure.” If it were a seafaring adventure novel, the title could be “Around the Loop in 125 Days.” Whatever you call it, the five-month nautical journey that St. Bernard residents Tracy and Stacie Alfonso recently completed was the trip of a lifetime.
Now the couple is home and their shrimp boat docked once again at Delacroix Island after completing the 6,000 mile Great Loop.
Tracy Alfonso, who grew up in a commercial fishing family and shrimped all of his life, had dreamed of navigating the Great Loop since he heard about it. Called the greatest boat adventure in North America, the journey entails
circumnavigating much of the United States and parts of Canada.
The route is in mostly protected waters. It includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, New York State canals, Canadian canals, the Great Lakes, inland rivers, and the Gulf.
What makes the voyage so special is that “Loopers” take on this adventure using their own boats in their own time.
Some have done it in as little as six weeks. Others have taken years to complete it.
Stacie Alfonso, a retired principal from the St. Bernard Parish Public Schools, was intrigued by the challenge, but not as much as her husband.
“I was hesitant to go, but in July 2023, Tracy got sick and went into cardiac arrest. After this life-changing experience, we decided it was time to do this,” she said.
Getting ready for the journey
To prepare, the couple began researching the Great Loop, deciding on the right vessel for the journey After much deliberation, they chose the boat they know best — the Stacie Lynn, a 41-foot Lafitte Skiff and the family shrimp boat. Stacie Alfonso said it had
Most of our animals love a good petting, and it is often during these instances that we discover a lump or bump that we may have not noticed before. It is common for pets to develop skin growths as they age. Some are raised and visible, and some may be under the skin. While a new growth might be easy to see on a shorthaired breed, they may not be as easy to
it needs to be examined. If it has fast growth, redness, swelling, pus, an opening, or if the pet
ä See LUMPS, page 2G
Chalmette in 2024.
Parades just keep on coming
Irish, Italian and Isleños
Chalmette — from Meraux Drive down to Ventura and back.
FILE PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER
A rider passes a pineapple to a paradegoer as the St. Bernard Irish Italian Isleños Community Parade and Marching Club in
FILE PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE
Shelley Farabee screams for cabbage as the St. Bernard Irish Italian Isleños parade makes its way through the streets of Chalmette celebrating the heritage of the area in 2022.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Stacie, left, and Tracy Alfonso sail to the Statue of Liberty in New York.
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dryer combo and a small freezer, and put up a larger tarp for shade. A fly bridge was also added so “I could could drive up top, and we could see everything,” he explained.
After fueling up with 750 gallons of diesel, and loading 150 gallons of water and provisions aboard to last several months, (including Louisiana seafood in the freezer), the Alfonsos were ready to embark.
The Stacie Lynn departed Delacroix Island on May 23, 2024. Each day, the couple would witness the sunrise, eat breakfast and travel for about five hours.
Life on the water
Stacie Alfonso said the usual speed was about 8 knots. “This is our comfort zone, and the most fuel-efficient way for us to travel. The boat can run up to 28 knots, but we would burn 50 gallons an hour At 8 knots we burn 3 to 4 gallons an hour.”
Along the way, she would cook, bake or grill. “In the evening we either anchor out or dock at a marina, and if we were at a town, we would tour it and usually have dinner there.”
But Tracy Alfonso was on a mission. After reaching a destination his motto was simple: “OK, we’ve seen it. Time to move on to the next spot ” Along the way, they would always meet new people, many of whom were on the loop as well.
There were a few challenging experiences. “In the Neuse River in North Carolina, a squall came, bringing extremely rough seas and heavy, blinding rain,” Stacie Alfonso recalled. “With limited visibility, Tracy was able to use the GPS and radar to guide us to a safe spot to wait out the weather.”
She also recalled traversing the aptly named Stoney Lake, outside of Ontario, Canada. “When he turned out of the channel toward other boats docked there, our boat ended up on a rock. Tracy went straight to work. He launched the dinghy, which helped the boat to lift up, and then he grabbed the bow rope and pulled the big boat off of the rock with the dinghy.”
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appears to be in pain, he will need to be seen by a vet right away Questions the vet will ask:
n Did the lump appear suddenly?
n Has its size, shape or color changed since it was first spotted?
n Is the pet acting differently?
n Has there been a change in appetite or energy level?
The vet will usually remove some cells from the lump with a fine needle in order to examine them under a microscope. Sometimes this process can rule out cancerous cells, but if not, further testing, such as a biopsy of the tissue, may be needed.
Common types of growths: FATTY TUMORS: These appear most often in middle-aged or older dogs, especially around the ribs, but they can pop up anywhere They are considered a natural part of the aging process. Any breed can have them, but larger dogs and those who are overweight are more prone to developing fatty tumors. Often, no treatment is needed.
WARTS: These are caused by a virus and can be found around the mouth in younger dogs. They will go away by themselves. Older dogs might have them anywhere on the body, and they can be removed if inflamed or bothersome. Note that removal doesn’t mean they won’t come back SEBACEOUS CYSTS: These are blocked oil glands that look like pimples. When one bursts, a pasty white substance comes out.
Magnolia Fest will feature Delfeayo Marsalis to aid adults with disabilities
Staff report
Experiencing
big moments
Tracy Alfonso said one highlight stands out above the rest — 305 feet in the air to be exact. When they reached the New York Harbor and got a picture of the Stacie Lynn in front of the Statue of Liberty “We couldn’t believe we made it to the Statue of Liberty on our own shrimp boat, probably the only shrimp boat to ever anchor there.” By the end of the trip, they had befriended several wealthy boat owners. “We left Louisiana on a shrimp boat, and here we are in Canada eating hors d’oeuvres and drinking Champagne on the back of a yacht,” he said.
PET OF THE WEEK
PROVIDED PHOTO
Bubbles is about 7 months old, and he’s been surrounded by other cats and humans since he was little. He loves to have fun, but also knows how to snuggle up and chill. He could be the right guy for you. For more info, email adoptionteam@ animalrescueneworleans.org
ABSCESS: This is a buildup of pus under the skin. It can be caused by an infection or an insect bite.
MAST CELL TUMORS: The most common skin cancers found in dogs, these can also affect other areas of the body, including the spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow The grade of the tumor will need to be determined in order to decide
The experience was life-changing and a reminder of the good in the world, Stacie Alfonso said. “With the hustle and bustle of the world today, we sometimes forget that there are lots of good people out there. We made some of what we feel will be lifelong friendships with some wonderful people.”
And the couple has documented proof of their incredible journey Recently, they received a certificate of achievement, a BaccaLooperate Degree from America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association honoring them with the title of Gold Looper It reads, “May the life lessons, friendships and memories gained on this journey last a lifetime.”
on the best course of treatment and prognosis. I’ve dealt with a mast cell tumor on my hound mix years ago; his was fully removed and no further treatment was needed.
Even if a lump, bump or suspicious growth appears and it turns out to be noncancerous, always keep a close eye out for new ones and have those tested.
Most vets will chart the lumps and bumps and measure to see if there are any size changes from one visit to the next.
Each new growth needs to be treated as an individual instance, so just because one spot may have been ruled a non-cancerous, fatty tumor, doesn’t mean any new growths will automatically be the same thing, even if they look similar
Semi-annual and annual vet exams are important for detecting new growths as a vet with do a thorough check for anything out of the ordinary and can spot any new or suspicious lumps or bumps.
Events
MARCH 29-30: From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, ARNO will be at the New Orleans Home and Garden Show at Caesars Superdome with adoptable dogs and a Doggie Kissing Booth. For more information, email adopt@ animalrescueneworleans.org.
Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer manager for Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), a nonprofit, volunteer-based, no-kill shelter. For more information on ARNO, visit www.animalrescueneworleans.org.
Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra will headline Magnolia Fest, a music and art festival with food, entertainment and children’s activities on March 29 at the Magnolia Community Services campus on River Road in Jefferson.
The festival will raise money and awareness for Magnolia Community Services, which aids adults with developmental disabilities. Proceeds from the fundraiser which is open to the public, will be used to provide services to Magnolia’s clients.
“We’re bringing back Magnolia Fest after a fiveyear hiatus on our beautiful River Road campus, to build awareness of people who live with developmental disabilities, promote community engagement, and support our vital programs,” said Magnolia Community Services CEO Jennifer Conrad.
“We take care of a very special population, and Magnolia Fest will be a celebration of our work and a fun way to raise funds to carry out our mission.”
Festival arts and crafts vendors will include handmade jewelry, wooden sculptures, handcrafted novelty items, ceramics and more.
“Today many families include relatives with developmental disabilities,”
said Marsalis. “My younger brother, Mboya, lives with autism, and needs special care each day
“I am happy to support organizations like Magnolia Community Services that take care of individuals with special needs and give them a safe space to grow, learn and live their best lives.” Crawfish donated by Louisiana Seafood will be available. Magnolia Fest takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 29, 100 Central Ave. at River Road in Jefferson. Admission is free.
St. Charles Art Guild names March artists of the month
St. Charles Art Guild’s March artists of the month are, from left, Ann Clement, “Today’s Catch,” watercolor, first place; Glenn Higgins, “French Vineyard,” oil, second place; Carrie Forel, “Bird,” watercolor, second place; and Joan Longo, “Pacific Sunset,” oil, third place. All works will be displayed during March at the East Regional Library, 160 W Campus St., in Destrehan.
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Lynne Brown, Joan Rasch and Wanda Jenkins pot plants in the garden center at Magnolia.
Delfeayo Marsalis
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The Stacie Lynn passes the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
The Stacie Lynn motors toward the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The boat is a 41-foot Lafitte Skiff that serves as the Alfonso family shrimp boat.
EASTER EGG ROLL: The Alumnae Association of St. Mary’s Dominican High School, 7701 Walmsley Ave in New Orleans,
2240 St. Claude Ave. in New Orleans. Tickets start at $12.
FRANKLIN HIGH: Registration is
for
through April 11. Classes are taught by
and science faculty: ColorWorks
4-5:30 p.m., on March 25 and April 1; The Chemistry of Photography, 4-5:30 p.m., on March 27 and April 3; the Sound of Science, 9-10:30 a.m., on March 29 and April 5; and Flavor Fusion Lab, 9-10:30 a.m.,
COMMUNITY EVENTS BIG BASS FISHING RODEO: Registration is open for the catch-and-release bank-fishing tournament, to be held March 29, starting at 6:30 a.m. The event is open to anglers of all ages throughout City Park and along Bayou St John. Kayakers can compete in the Boats on the Bayou event on Bayou St. John for nonmotorized watercraft Also included is the free Fishtival featuring music, exhibits and hands-on activities for kids. Registration starts at $10. Maps and registration are available online. NewOrleansCityPark.org.
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS & NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FESTIVAL: The 39th celebration of contemporary literature, theater, New Orleans culture and Tennessee Williams will be held in the French Quarter March 26-30, with the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., as the host hotel. More than 60 events are planned, with 50 New Orleans writers, 100 speakers, the 10th anniversary of the Diana Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction and the Stella Shouting Contest. Tickets start at $10. tennesseewilliams.net. BIG BOUNCE AMERICA TOUR: The touring inflatable event comes to New Orleans March 28-30 at the University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. The tour includes 900+ foot long obstacle course, customized sports arena, a three-piece, space-themed wonderland and the deep sea foam party inflatable. Tickets start at $22. Adults-only sessions are available. thebigbounceam-
erica.com.
FRERET STREET FESTIVAL: The annual free festival will be held on Freret Street from Napoleon to Valmont, with three stages, six food courts, 30 bands and more than 200 local vendors. It takes place March 29, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. freretstreetfestival.org.
SAINTS AND SINNER LGBTQ+
LITERARY FESTIVAL: The celebration of book pitches, writer’s craft sessions, author readings, literary panels, book launches, and special events will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, March 28-30. Events include the Glitter with the Literati welcome reception at SASFest’s venue partner BK Historic House and Gardens, 1113 Chartres St. in New Orleans. Literary events take place at the Hotel Monteleone. Tickets start at $40. sasfest.org.
NOLA SPEEDTOUR: The event returns to NOLA Motorsports Park, 11075 Nicolle
Blvd. in Avondale, on March 28-30, with the Hagerty Cars & Caffeine Car Show, food trucks, games, autograph sessions and Throttle & Swing, featuring an 18-hole mini golf course, go karting and arcade. Tickets start at $30 for adults, with kids 12 and under free. Active-duty service members, police officers and firefighters free with valid military or work ID SpeedTour.net/NOLA.
BAYOU JEEP BASH: The festival will be held March 29-30 at the Plaquemines Parish Festival Grounds, 333 F. Edward Hebert Blvd. in Belle Chasse. The event includes numerous Jeep vendors, arts and crafts, live music, a sound and light competition, and more. Tickets start at $10 via Eventbrite. plaqcdg.com.
FRERET STREET FESTIVAL: The annual free festival will be held on Freret Street from Napoleon to Valmont, with three stages, six food courts, 30 bands and more than 200 local vendors. It takes place
March 29, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. freretstreetfestival.org.
SPRING PLANT SALE: The Herb Society, New Orleans Unit will hold its sale on March 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at 2140 S. Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans, next to Marsalis Harmony Park. Members will be on hand to help with selections. herbsocietynola.com
MAKE IT IN ALGIERS: Arts and crafts vendors, along with local musicians and food vendors, will celebrate creativity in the community on March 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at Harold Devore Park, 1500 Teche St. in New Orleans. The event is sponsored by the Old Algiers Main Street Corp. www.oldalgiersmainstreet.org.
CRESCENT CITY COIN CLUB
SHOW: The Crescent City Coin Club will host a show March 29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at The Landing Ballroom, 3310 Florida Ave. in Kenner. The show will feature buying, selling and appraisals of U.S., foreign and ancient coins, paper money, gold and silver bullion, Mardi Gras doubloons and coin supplies. crescentcitycoinclub.org.
CONGO SQUARE RHYTHMS FESTIVAL:
and more. Tickets are $125. Patron tickets are $175. All proceeds benefit the school. www.morrisjeffschool.org.
ST. BERNARD SCHOOLS: Registration is open for the free 2025-2026 preschool program for 4 year olds. Children age 4 by Sept. 30 and those with disabilities, experiencing homelessness or in foster care and are residents of St. Bernard Parish are eligible. www sbpsb.org. (504) 267-3310 or (504) 301-2000
COLLEGES
all who register via Eventbrite, but walk-ins are welcome. www.nunez.edu
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER
Learn embroidery
BY JANE LEGROS Contributing writer
Aspiring embroiderists can learn methods for stitching flowers and leaves, and use them to design and stitch their own embroidered zipper pouch at two New Orleans Public Library workshops.
The first is at Nix Library, 1401 S Carrollton Ave., from 4:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m. on March 26.
The second is at Dr Martin Luther King Jr Library, 1611 Fats Domino Ave., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 28.
Registration is recommended. Walk-ins are welcome for any remaining space. Visit events.nolalibrary.org to sign up.
VIRTUAL AUTHOR TALKS: Talks will two major novelists are coming up.
On March 26, author Jennifer Weiner will join the library in a virtual lecture about her New York Times bestselling novels: “Good In Bed,” “In Her Shoes,” “Big Summer,” “The Breakaway,” and many more. Weiner also will also discuss her forthcoming book, “The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits,” out on April 8 Visit nolalibrary.co/jennifer-weiner to register and submit questions for the author
On April 22, bestselling author Jodi Picoult will discuss her newest novel, “By Any Other Name,” at 6 p.m. She is a New York Times bestselling author of 29 novels. Visit nolalibrary co/jodipicoult to register and submit questions to the author
VIETNAM COMMEMORATION: The library is teaming up with the Fall of Saigon Commemoration to host a Vietnamese jelly tea
(Chè Thái) workshop at East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd., at 10:30 a.m. on March 29.
Attendees will get an introduction to the Vietnamese game Bau Cua Tom Ca while enjoying some delicious tea.
The fast-paced game uses dice and an animal-filled board, and is fun for all. Beginners are welcome.
Also, a small selection of photos by Mark J. Sindler will be on display to highlight the Historic New Orleans Collection’s exhibit “Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans.”
Visit hnoc.org for full details of the exhibit beginning April 4.
FLASH FICTION: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Library will host a flash fiction story workshop from 2 to 3 p.m. on March 29.
Attendees will read, write, and share intriguing two-sentence stories while exploring various genres including mystery, crime, horror, sci-fi, speculative, dystopian, fantasy and humor
Writers of all skill levels are welcome.
Visit nolalibrary.org/for-writers for more information and to explore other literary events and resources at the library, 1611 Fats Domino Ave.
SHORT-STORY BOOK CLUB: Want to join a book club but don’t have time for long novels?
Read specially selected short stories and have a cozy conversation over tea and cookies at Cita Dennis Hubbell Library’s “Teatime Reading Nook: A Short Story Book Club for Busy Folk.”
The group meets on the third Saturday of the month at 725 Pelican Ave. New members are always welcome.
In March, the group will discuss “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner April’s selection is “The Dead” by James Joyce.
Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the New Orleans Public Library
By Amanda McElfresh | amcelfresh@theadvocate.com
Each day, theLouisiana Department of Children andFamilyServices investigates reportsofkids sufferingfromabuse,neglect,domesticviolence, parentswithsubstance useproblems, andmore. In some situations,the Department workswithjudges to findacommunity member to serveasthe child’s advocate as he or sheentersfostercareand thecase worksits waythrough theproperchannels. Formany kids,thisperson, officially called acourt-appointed specialadvocate, is oneofthe fewconstants in theirlives
“These children mayhave alot of people come andgo, especially if they stay in foster care for along time.Their DCFS workersorattorneys sometimes change.Their foster parentscan change,” said Megan O’Cain,a longtime volunteerwithCASAJefferson. “But,their CASA volunteergenerally staysinthe same.It’sreallyimportant forthembecausethey need that stability. It’s quiteanhonor to be that for a childwho really needsit.”
CASA Jeffersonworks with children whohave residencywithinJeffersonParish. WendyMagee CASA Jefferson’sexecutive director,saidthe organization appointedadvocatestomorethan100 children last year.In2024, that number wascloserto about60kids. Currently, more than 30 children are on theCASAJeffersonwaiting list
“That’sthe highestI’veeverseenitinthe 16 years I’ve been here,” Mageesaid. “There’s such along waitinglistfor kids whoneeda volunteer, butwe don’thave thepeoplecomingthrough thedoors I’mnot sure if it’s an effectfromCovid or if people areshiftingtheir mindsets abouthow andwhere to give.But,our volunteernumbers have certainly declined sincethe pandemic whileour need is higher than ever.”
Mageesaidsomeofthe advocates’ primaryduties includeassessing achild’s home environment, monitoring casesinthe foster care system,and finding ways to fillgapsinservices that kids need.They also writecourt reportsand testifyduringhearings, as well as make fact-based recommendationsfor a judge to take under advisement.Advocates also oftencommunicate with achild’s teachers andcounselors to keep an eyeontheir school performance andbehavior.
But, it’s thesmaller actionsthatsometimes have thebiggest impact.DaimonPonthieux, anotherlongtime CASA Jeffersonvolunteer,remembers when a boyaroundage 12 criedwhenPonthieux brought him abirthdaycake, sinceitwas thefirsttimeinhis life he hadeverreceivedone “Eventhose little things cangivea kidsomehope andmakethemrealize there’ssomebodywho cares aboutthem,”Ponthieuxsaid. “A lotofthese kids are really smart, buttheyhavenovisionofthe future.I’ve worked with some whohavereadmorebooks than me andare so knowledgeableabout so many things,but when youtalktothemabout finishing high school, it’s like talkingabout becoming an astronaut. It just seemssoout of reach for them.Whatwetry to do as advocatesisgivethemthathopeand show them that thereisa path forward. If youspend enough time with them,you cansee that start to sink in.”
MageesaidCASAJeffersonadvocates must be at least21years oldwithavalid driver’s licenseand vehicleinsurance.Theymustpassanextensive background check, butthere arenoeducational or professionalexperiencerequirements. Ponthieux notedthatinhis decade-pluswithCASAJefferson he’s metadvocatesfromall walksoflife, including teachers,lawyers,doctors,retailworkers,students andmore.
“Wedoask for aminimum one-year commitment,” Mageesaid. “Weare really lookingfor people who have aheart for helping children.”
O’Cain said she’sespeciallygratefultothe CASA Jeffersonstaff for beingready to answer questions andprovide assistance
“Eachadvocatehas asupervisorwho is an employee of CASA Jefferson, so it’s notlikeyou re assigned acaseand you’re on your own,”O’Cain said.“There’ssomuchsupport.You meet with your supervisor each monthtoreviewthe case andthey canoffer suggestions. They arealsothere when you need to vent,because thesecases areveryemotional. What Iloveabout CASA Jeffersonistheymakesure volunteers understand they arenot alonetobearthe burden of everything.”
MageesaidCASAJeffersonstaff areavailable to speaktobusinessesororganizations aboutvolunteeringand to answer specific questions. They are also lookingfor boardmembers if someonewants to help butdoesn’t have thetimetobeanadvocate In addition,donations arealwaysaccepted,includingfinancialcontributions,schoolsupplies, toys andclothing.
“Whenitcomes to an organizationlikeCASA Jefferson, we areinvesting notjust in thepresent, butfor allofour futures,”O’Cainsaid. “These kids aregrowing up to take care of us laterinlife. It’s on us to buildthemintohappy,healthy adults.This is oneway we candothat. Formoreinformation on becoming an advocate or supporting theorganization, visitwww.casajefferson.org or call 504-533-8757
STAFF
