The Times-Picayune 11-27-2025

Mississippi River, upriver

THEMISSISSIPPI’s RISING PRESSURES

RiversafetyvalveshavekeptLouisiana dry, butthatmay no longer be enough

through it.

“Wedon’tcontrol that Mississippi River,” says the owner of Gautier’s At The Harbor.Headdslater: “Ifit’snot managed correctly,itcan be catastrophic.”

“Wedon’tcontrol that Mississippi River.... If it’snot managed correctly,itcan be catastrophic.”

Beside the murky waters off Pass Christian, shrimpboats docked inthe distance, David Gautier is worriedabout athreat many miles away that he cannot control.

Gautier,64, runs aseafood business on the waterfront of this historic town along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. But his concern has less to do with his home state than with neighboring Louisiana —or, more precisely,the flow ofthe water from the mighty river that runs

Gautier went years without oysters andonly recently began to emerge from that hit to his business. The reason? They were killed off in 2019, theresult of high Mississippi River water diverted through theBonnet Carre Spillway near New Orleans.

Thefresh water and nutrient pollution that eventually inundated theMississippi Soundwreaked havoc on the region’s ecosystemand tourism industry.Itisa dilemma thatisonly expected to worsen

FEMA changes couldimpactLa.

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON —The struggle overthe federal government’srole when disaster strikes is coming toa head as President Donald Trump grapples with whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency should continue —and in what form.

Trump’sHomeland Secretary chief Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, has adramatically smallervisionofthe

ä See FEMA, page 9A

TO OUR READERS

Today’sedition was printedearly to accommodate readers whowant their Thanksgiving edition in advance.you can find complete news and sports coverageonline at nola.com.

DAVID GAUTIER, ownerof Gautier’sAtThe Harbor

in the decades aheaddue to projections showing more extremeweather,and its implications range far beyondthe Mississippi Coast Aseries of giant safety valves along the MississippiRiver hashelped protect

the New Orleans area from catastrophic floodingfor nearly acentury.But now there’s aproblem—several of them,in fact, and they’re converging all at once. TheMississippi Gulf Coast’sprotests over the use of one of those valves, the Bonnet Carre Spillway,have grown louder and led to lawsuits, particularly after recordopenings in 2019. The Morganza Spillwayonthe opposite side of the river has been rarely used, but opening it more frequently draws concernfrom landowners, residents and port operations in its path.

If seasonal river flowsincreaseas

ä See RIVER, page 6A

City Park’s newCEO says shehas bigplans

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

Weeksbefore theopening of Celebration in theOaks, NewOrleans City Park’s flagship winterholiday event, the giant oak tree at the center of the Botanical Garden was short of lights. Park staffwho were prepping for the popular event hadmorelights on order, but

supply-chain issues related to the deadly Nov. 4UPS flight crash were threatening to delay delivery “I’ll run to Home Depot,” City Park Conservancy CEO Rebecca Dietz told her team while walking through the Botanical Gardens earlier this month. She then shifted gearstofundraising. Could

ä See CITY PARK, page 8A

The Bonnet Carre Spillwaywhere it meets the

fromNew Orleans

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Last in aseries BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By CHRISGRANGER

Rebecca Dietzwas promoted to NewOrleans CityPark Conservancy CEOin2024.

Missing coach wanted on criminal charges

BIGSTONE GAP,Va. AVirginia highschool football coach who disappeared days before his undefeated team’splayoff game is being sought on charges of possessing child sexual abuse material and using acomputer to solicit aminor,Virginia State PolicesaidTuesday

Police said Travis L. Turner 46,ofAppalachia,Virginia, is wanted on warrants obtained Monday for five counts of each charge, adding that additional charges are pending as an investigation continues. They did not share details about what prompted the charges Turner has been missing since last Thursday,when state police special agents from aBureau of Criminal Investigation office were sent to his home, not to arrest him but to talk to him as part of an investigation. As officers traveled there they were notified that he was gone, police said. The subsequent search nearby has included drones, dogs and rescue teams, police said.

The Associated Pressleft amessage seeking comment Tuesday at aphone number associatedwithTurner.The court did not yet have acase docket that would list any attorney for him, and records connected to his charges were not made available by the courtorstate police.

Turner is the football coach at Union High School in southwest Virginia’sWise County.Union has strung together 12 straight wins to remain undefeatedthis season and advance to aregional final this Saturday Before coachingUnion’s team Turner was aquarterback at Appalachia High School, which mergedintoUnion High School in 2011. His father,Tom Turner, was also his high school football coach.Tom Turner wasinducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame in 2005.

Online records indicate Travis Turner was in Virginia Tech’s 1998 recruiting class alongside future NFL quarterback Michael Vick, and also went on to play football at University of Virginia Wise in 1999.

U.S. climber among2 killed in N. Zealand fall

WELLINGTON,New Zealand— AU.S. climber was among two people killed in afall on Aoraki, New Zealand’stallest peak, authorities said Wednesday

The men were part of afourperson group climbing near the summit of Aoraki,alsoknown as Mount Cook, on Monday.Two members were rescued byhelicopter after authorities received adistress call late that night.

The other two couldn’tbe found. Searchers in helicopters looked for them through the night before their bodies were discovered on Tuesday morning local time.

Specialists from rescue organizations and governmentagencies recovered the men’sbodies later on Tuesday,Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said. None of the climbers hasbeen publicly identified, but Walker said one of the dead men was from the U.S. Authorities, she said,were working with the U.S. consulate Acoroner in New Zealand will investigate the deaths.

Jesse Jacksonleaves hospital after treatment

CHICAGO

The Rev.Jesse Jackson has been released from a Chicago hospital where he was treated for arare neurological disorder, his son saidTuesday

The 84-year-old civil rights leader was discharged Monday from Northwestern MemorialHospital, hisson and family spokesperson Yusef Jackson said. In 2013,Jackson, whonow receives round-the-clockcare at home, was diagnosed with Parkinson’sdisease. The diagnosis was changed last April to progressivesupranuclearpalsy, or PSP,aneurodegenerative disorder whichcan have similar symptoms to Parkinson’s.

Yusef Jackson thanked “the countless friends and supporters whohavereached out,visited and prayed for our father,” as well as the medical and security staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

OriginsofX accounts come underscrutiny Newfeature showswhere usersare based

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY AP technologywriter

Theygobynames like @TRUMP ARMY— or @MAGANationX, and their verified accountsproudly display portraits of PresidentDonald Trump, voterrallies and American flags.And they’re constantly posting aboutU.S. politicstotheir followers, sounding likediehard fansofthe president.

Butafter aweekend update to the social mediaplatform X, it’snow clearthatthe ownersofthese accounts, andmanyothers, are located in regions such as SouthAsia, Africa and EasternEurope.

Elon Musk’sXunveiled afeature Saturday that lets users seewhere an accountisbased. Online sleuths andexpertsquickly found that many popularaccountsposting in support of the MAGA movementto thousands orhundreds of thousands of followers, are based outside the U.S.— raisingconcernsabout foreign influence on U.S. politics.

Researchers at NewsGuard,a firm that tracks online misinformation, identified several popular

accounts —purportedly run by Americans interested in politics

thatinstead were based in Eastern Europe, AsiaorAfrica.

The accountswere leading disseminators of some misleading and polarizing claimsabout U.S.politics, including ones thatsaid Democrats bribedthe moderators of a2024 presidential debate.

Nikita Bier,X’s head of product, announced Saturday that the social media platform is rollingout an “About This Account”tool, which letsusers seethe country or region where an account is based. To find an account’slocation, tap or click the signup date displayed on the profile.

“This is an important first step to securing the integrity of theglobal town square. We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify theauthenticityofthe contentthey see on X,”Bier wrote.

In countrieswith punitive speech restrictions, aprivacy tool on Xlets account holders onlyshowtheir regionrather than aspecific country So instead of India, for instance, an account can say it is based in South Asia.

Bier said Sunday that after an updatetothe tool, it would 99.99% accurate, though this could not be independently verified. Accounts, for instance, canuse avirtual private network, or VPN,tomask theirtrue location. On someaccounts, there’sa notice saying thelocation data may notbeaccurate, either because the account uses aVPN or because some internetproviders use proxies automatically,without action by the user Some of theaccounts supported slain conservativeactivist Charlie Kirk as well as President Donald Trump’schildren. Many of the accountswereadorned withU.S.flags or made comments suggesting they were American. An account called “@BarronTNews_,” for instance, is shown as being located in “Eastern Europe (Non-EU),” even though the displaylocation on its profile says “MarALago.” The account,which has more than 580,000 followers, posted on Tuesday that “This is a FANaccount, 100 %independent, run by one guywho lovesthis country andsupports President Trump witheverything I’ve got.”

DeathofFla.teenageron cruise ship ruledhomicide

BYKATEPAYNE and JEFF MARTIN Associated Press

Thedeath of aFlorida teenager on a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month hasbeen ruled ahomicide, thelatestdevelopment in acase that has drawn international attention and sparked intense speculationonsocial media.

Anna Kepner’scause of death was “mechanical asphyxia,” accordingtoa copy of her death certificate obtained by ABC News, which said the 18-year-old “was mechanicallyasphyxiated by other person(s).”

Mechanicalasphyxia is when an object or physicalforce stops someone from breathing,according to Stephen Nelson, a chiefmedical examiner in Central Florida whoisnot involvedinthe case.

“In some way,shape or form, your airway has been cut off,” said Nelson, aformer chair of Florida’sMedical Examiners Commission.

Vacation that endedintragedy

Ahigh school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast who was settograduate next year,Kepner had been traveling on theCarnival Horizon ship with her father, stepmother,her stepmother’stwo childrenand her grandparents.

The night before she was found dead, Kepner had spent time with hergrandparents in the ship’scasino, her grandmother BarbaraKepner told ABC News

“Shesaid, ‘Meemaw,Ilove you guys I’ll seeyou. I’ll see youlater’,” Barbara Kepner recalled. “Wenever saw her again afterthat.”

Thenextmorning, amedical alert

blaredout over theship’sbroadcast system, directing first responders to the room Kepner wassharing with twoother teens, including ayounger stepbrother

Aroom attendant found Kepner’sbody “concealed under the bed,” according to her grandmother “I just screamed. Icouldn’tstopscreaming,” Barbara Kepner said.

Stepbrotheridentified as asuspect

Kepner’s deathaboardthe ship that sailedfromMiami has remained shrouded in mysterywith theFBI and medical examiner’sofficeinSouth Florida refusing to disclose any information aboutthe case for weeks.

The teen’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been identified as asuspect in her death, according to court documents filed by his parents.

The disclosures —contained in motions filed in an ongoing custody dispute— offer the clearestpublic indication that federal investigators are scrutinizing amember of the victim’sown blended family

As of Tuesday,afinal autopsy report had notbeen released and the Miami-Dade CountyMedical Examiner’sOffice has not responded to messagesleft by the AP Kepner’stime of death was11:17 a.m. on Nov.7,according to the medical examiner’s office, and the ship returnedto PortMiami on Nov.8asscheduled.

CarnivalHorizon cruises theWestern Caribbean with stops in Cozumel,Grand Cayman, Montego Bayand Ocho Rios, according to itineraries posted on the company’swebsite.

Lawyers who practice maritime law say they’re not surprised that nearly three weekshavepassedwithnocharges filed in the case.

“When I’vehad international marine deaths— deathsona vessel in international watersinthe high seas —itcan take quitesome time to getthe finalautopsy reports,”said Houston attorney Marcus Spagnoletti.“It’snot unusual.

TopU.S. officials to visit Caribbean leaders

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON TopU.S. military officials are meeting leaders of Caribbean nations this weekas theTrump administration has escalated its firepower in the region as part of what it calls a campaign against drug trafficking.

Defense Secretary Pete HegsethwilltraveltoSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic, and meet Wednesday with the country’s top leaders, including President Luis Abinader, Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre and other officials, the Pentagon said Tuesday The announcementcame the same daythatGen.Dan Caine, chairmanofthe JointChiefs of Staff andPresident Donald Trump’sprimary military adviser, met with Trinidadand Tobago PrimeMinister Kamla Persad-Bissessar They “exchanged views on challengesaffecting the Caribbean region, including the destabilizing effects of illicit narcotics, arms, and human trafficking, andtransnational criminalorganization activities,” according to asummary released by Caine’soffice. The U.S. militaryhas built up itslargest presence in the region in generations and has been attacking allegeddrugsmugglingboats sinceearly September.Todate, the military,under Hegseth’scommand, has carried out 21 known strikes on vessels accused of carrying drugs, killingatleast 83 people. The actions are seen by many as apressure tactic to get Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to stepdown. The visits by Hegseth andCaine this week come as Trumpevaluates whether to take military action against Venezuela,whichhehas not ruled out despiteraising the possibility of talks with Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the U.S. The Trumpadministration added extra pressure by officially designating the Cartel de los Soles as aforeign terrorist organization on Monday

SlenderMan attacker won’tfight extradition

BY TODD RICHMOND Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. The Wisconsin woman who won release from amental institutionafter almostkilling her sixth grade classmate in the name of horror villainSlender Manonly to flee the state weeks later won’tfight extradition from Illinois.

Morgan Geyser agreed not to contest her transfer from jail in CookCounty,Illinois, to Wisconsin during ahearing Tuesday,acourt spokesperson said. Wisconsin authorities now have 30 days to pick her up.

Wisconsin health officials could revoke Geyser’sconditional release and send her back to the facility where she spent most of thepast eight years. She also could face new charges in connection with her escape.

According to police, Geysercut off her GPS monitoring braceletonSaturday evening and fled her Madison group home with a43-yearold companion. Police found them Sunday evening sleeping onasidewalk outside a truck stop in Posen,Illinois,a village of 5,300 people about

25 miles south of Chicago, andarrested them

Policehaveidentified Geyser’sfriendasmale, butGeyser can be heard on officers’ body camera footage during their arrestssaying that the individualistransgender and refers to thepersonas“she.”

Her friend hasbeen chargedwithtrespassing and obstruction,but The Associated Press isn’tnaming the companion because the personhasn’t been charged with aiding Geyser’sescape. The AP’sattemptstocontact that personhavebeen unsuccessful.

The companion did call WKOW-TV on Monday, however, saying thetwo became friends at churchand had seen each other daily for the past month. Geyserdecidedtoflee becauseshe was afraid her grouphomewould no longer allow them to see each other,the person said. “She ran because of me,” the friendtold the television station.

Geyserand hercompanion took abus overnight into Illinois, the friend said. The Posen officers’body camera footage shows Geyser and her friendshivering in the

cold outside the truckstopas officerstry to ascertaintheir namesand wherethey’re from. Geyser does most of thetalking while her friend gathers their belongings and places them in abackpack, saying only “south” when asked where they’re from and giving officers afake name. Hercompanion initially refused to give aname.

As officers threaten to arrest them, Geyser clutches a stuffeddog toy and clings to her companion’sarm.When officers separate them, she insists that her friend doesn’t know Geyser’sname or what she’s done.

When Geyser refuses to give her real name, an officer asks her:“You’renot wanted for murder,right?”

Geyser repeatedly begs the officerstolet her companion go. Pressed by officers, Geyser says:“Idid something really wrong.”

Geyser finally writes her real name on an officer’s notepad. As they’re running herfor warrants, she tries to go to her friend, but an officer pushes her back.

“Let me saygoodbye, please,” Geyser says. “I’ll never see her again.”

Rescuersfindgrandmother, kids whowentmissing on hike

ByTheAssociated Press

CLEVELAND,S.C. Rescuers on Tuesday found agrandmother and three grandchildren who reportedthe prior evening that they had got lost while hiking ina South Carolina state park, prompting amassive search with drones, helicopters,offroad vehicles and dogs

The Greenville County Sheriff’sOfficesaidthe four had parked avehicle near one trailhead at Caesars Head State Parkin Cleveland but were discovered on adifferenttrail altogether.

Ahelicopter evacuated them from rough terrain that was slickenedfurther by rain, said Greenville CountySheriff Hobart Lewis. They were no injuries immediately found and the hikers were being reunited with family,hesaid. Emergency responders were set to assess their health further

“Everything has gone fine and everybody should have made their reunion up there,”Lewis toldreporters

Tuesday

Aboy called 911 on Monday evening saying he and three family members had beenlostfor about three hours in the area of the state park, the sheriff’s office said in astatement.

The sheriff’s office identified the hikers as Tonda Michelin, 53; Melody Bangs, 14; Michael Lawton, 11; and Dale Moser,9.Authorities have not saidwhether they live locally,orwhy the grandmother did not place the call.

During the 911 call, the child said his phone battery had almost run out but was able to stay on the phone for 10 or 12 minutes, the sheriff said. The boy was coherent and knew what was going on, he said.

“We’ll talk to the grandmother and kids and figure

out whattheymight have done last night,” Lewis said. The searchbegan Monday andatleast50peoplefrom half adozen agencies includingthe National Guard were involved. Caesars Head StatePark is about 30 milesnorthwest of Greenville,SouthCarolina, andisaprotected environment for rare animals and plants. The hikers had parked near the startof theRavens Cliff Falls trail, which is a4-mile round trip, leading to Caesars Head, a dramatic granite overlook atop the Blue Ridge Escarp-

ment that provides views of many waterfalls.

All the CaesarsHead trails are rated as advanced and areinawilderness setting, accordingtothe website. They werediscovered on theBill Kimball trail, which is aparticularly difficult hike.

“It’srough,”Lewis said. “There’ssome trails there, some formore experienced hikersthan others. Hurricane Helene turnedover a bunch of trees that are still down there, andcovered a lot of those trails up. There’s somesigns that are gone.”

BY JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NEW YORK Anotorious 1979 missing-child caseis headed to trialathird time after New York prosecutors vowed Tuesday to retry the manwhose murder conviction wasrecently overturned in thedisappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz.

In acase thathas long been gnarled by time and uncertainty,anew set of prosecutors now will need to bring back witnesses, elicit memoriesand try to persuade another jury that Pedro Hernandez lured and killed theboy as he walked to his school bus stop in New York City

“Afterthorough review, thedistrict attorney has determined that theavailable, admissible evidence supportsprosecuting” Hernandez on murderand kidnapping charges, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney SarahMarquezwrote, addingthatprosecutors “are prepared to proceed.”

Hernandez’s lawyerssaid they were deeply disappointed by prosecutors’ decision.

Hernandez is due in court Monday for adiscussion of next steps. Underfederal court rulings, jury selection forhis retrial mustbegin by June 1, or he must be released from prison.

Etan’sfather,Stan Patz, declined to commentwhen reached by phone Tuesday

He had hailed Hernandez’s now-overturned conviction as “somemeasure of justice for our wonderful little boy, Etan.”

Hernandez, now 64, workedatanearbycorner

“Weremain convinced that Mr.Hernandezisaninnocentman.But we will be preparedfor trial andwill present an even stronger defense,” attorneysHarvey Fishbein and Alice Fontier saidina statement.

store when Etan disappeared on May 25, 1979. It was the first day his mother let him make theroughly blocklong trip to the bus stop by himself. The first grader’s body wasnever found, but he was legally declared dead in 2001, at his family’s request. His case fueled anational focus on child disappearances andabductions. Etan was oneofthe first to

ThanksgivingPrayer

OurFather

Thank youfor your love,your grace, and foryour daily presencewithus.

We thankyou forthe privilegeofliving in afreecountryand in astate whereweare surrounded by the overwhelming evidenceof the beautyand bountyofyour creation. At this time of Thanksgiving, we thank youfor the abundanceofour land and ourwaterways Guideustoalwaysrememberand help those who aresuffering andthose who areinneed.

Ourhearts go out to the people in theMiddle East,Ukraine,Haiti, Cuba, and other areas affectedbywar andviolence. Youhavesaid thatthe peacemakers areblessed. Help us to work and pray forpeace

Mindful of your generosity,help us to be generous. Open ourheartstothe emotional and physicalneeds around us.Helpustolove as youlovedand to serveasyou served

We ask all these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Guy T. Williams,President

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

MARK LENNIHAN

Health care plan runs into familiar GOP divisions

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON A health care proposal circulated by the White House in recent days is running into the reality of Republican divisions on the issue — a familiar struggle for a party that has been trying to scrap or overhaul the Affordable Care Act for the past 15 years.

The tentative proposal from President Donald Trump would extend expiring ACA subsidies for two years while adjusting eligibility requirements for recipients. The plan has so far been met with a stony silence on Capitol Hill as Republicans debate among themselves whether to overhaul the law, tweak it or simply let the subsidies expire.

It’s unclear now when the White House plan might be released, or if it will be released at all.

The Republican indecision comes as the COVID-era tax credits are set to expire Jan 1, creating sharp premium increases for millions of Americans. Democrats who shut down the government for six weeks over the issue are demanding a straight extension with no changes, though some indicated they could support a plan similar to the one circulated by the White House.

But support may be harder to find in the GOP conference, where many lawmakers say costs are still too high and have been eager to make another run at repealing the ACA. The last effort in 2017 failed when Republicans couldn’t decide on how to provide coverage to millions of Americans who depend on government-run marketplaces for their health care. It’s a dilemma that persists for the party after record numbers signed up for coverage this year Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., promised a group of moderate Democrats a vote on the ACA tax credits by mid-December in exchange for their votes to end the government shutdown. But it’s unclear so far whether that arrangement will lead to a solution.

Bipartisan compromise?

Health care has long been one of the most politically fraught topics on Capitol Hill, so a bipartisan compromise seems unlikely But the coming price spikes have motivated some lawmakers to look for points of agreement Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said last week that he hopes the subsidies are extended.

“I’m sure some of my colleagues will be mad at me for saying this — if we don’t address the subsidies issue in December, I don’t think it’s going to get addressed next year,” Tillis said, adding that Democratic campaigns will be “just churning up all the very sympathetic stories” if it isn’t fixed.

The draft White House proposal would put new income limits on the tax credits at 700 percent of the federal poverty level, according to two people with knowledge of the proposal who requested anonymity to discuss it. The White House would also require those on Obamacare,

regardless of the type of coverage, to pay some sort of premium for their plans. That would effectively end zeropremium plans for those with lower incomes, addressing a concern from Republicans who say the program has enabled fraud.

Some Democrats have suggested they are open to those ideas as a part of broader negotiations. “I’m glad the president is reportedly considering a serious proposal,” said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, one of the Democrats who voted to end the shutdown.

Some Republicans have signaled support as well. Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood, the chairman of the businessoriented Republican Main Street Caucus, said in a statement that the group supports “President Trump’s ongoing efforts to address the ACA tax credit cliff with an extension.”

Several bipartisan bills in the House would extend the ACA credits for two years, with changes such as income limits for the enhanced credit. “I think two years is really the sweet spot where everybody is OK,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Premium spikes on Jan. 1

Still, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, has declined to say whether he will allow a vote on a health care bill. Many other members of his GOP conference want to see the subsidies eliminated or the underlying law overhauled. In addition, Thune

and other Republicans have said they want new language on abortion restrictions if they pass an extension — a dealbreaker for Democrats.

If Congress doesn’t act, the enhanced premium tax credits that have helped many Americans pay for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans will disappear And premiums could more than double for subsidized enrollees, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF

Signups for next year’s insurance began on Nov 1, meaning that many Americans are already planning for the higher costs. Democrats who forced the shutdown at the beginning of October had hoped to negotiate an extension before open enrollment began.

“When people’s monthly payments spike next year they will know it was Republicans that made it happen,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said last week.

GOP could go alone

As Democrats elevated the health care issue during the shutdown, some Republicans saw an opportunity to renew their efforts to overhaul the law GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate have been meeting to find consensus, though they haven’t found it yet.

Among the GOP ideas are separate proposals from Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy to use savings accounts to either shop for insurance or defray out-of-pocket costs.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J SCOTTAPPLEWHITE

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, walks from the chamber to speak with reporters Nov. 12 after the final vote to bring the longest government shutdown in history to an end.

some projections indicate, in partdue to climate change, the nation will have to figure out where to channel all the water—another illustration of how much of the country’s fate is tied to the river at the center of the world’sthirdlargest watershed.

Mississippi officials are careful to stress that they do not want New Orleans or anywhere else to flood.But they say solutions can be found, and the burden can be shared.

“This is anational problem, anditcalls fora national solution,” said Gerald Blessey,the former mayor of Biloxi now helping lead acoalition seeking to draw greater attention to the issue.

‘Can’t afford it’

The long reach of the river is notalways readily apparent, but its complex connections to surrounding communities, the restofthe nation andeventhe world arecentral to Louisiana’s existence

The need for areliable shipping channel, as well as the obligation to protectcities fromflooding, hascreated alargely man-made system of managing the Mississippi, andany change to it can reverberate elsewhere.

The current system is now nearlya centuryold,and it has worked largely as designed. Built in the wake of the epochal 1927 Mississippi River flood, the modern network of levees,floodwalls and spillways has prevented the lower river from breakingits banks and allowed shippingtoflourish,including for grain exports from the country’s Midwest to ports around the world.

Arecent analysis by the Army Corps of Engineers determined that overall system, known officially as the Mississippi River and Tributaries project, has reduced or prevented $114 in damage for every $1 invested —an extraordinarilyhigh number for aCorps project.

The Bonnet Carre has in particular been vital to south Louisiana. To keep the river from rising above 1.25 million cubic feet per second —ormore than 550 million gallons every minute —the Corps opens it. It is asurprisingly analog process, with cranes removingwoodenbeams —or “needles” —set across 350 bays to allow river water to gush through. The number of bays opened depends upon the amount of water that must be diverted.

The water then tumbles through the spillway itself, guided by levees through a channel for nearly 6miles to Lake Pontchartrain. It eventually reaches the Rigolets, the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf.

For decades, the system did not pose aserious problem. It was expected that Bonnet Carre wouldhave to be opened roughly once a decade, with the occasional influx of freshwater and nutrients actually helping replenish coastal ecosystems over the long term, as formerly occurred when the river ran wild and free.

For the first decades of the spillway’sexistence, that prediction proved roughly accurate, though, as always, with lots of variation in weather patterns. Bonnet Carre was opened eight times between the completion of construction in the 1930s and the end of the century

But since 2000, it has been opened seven times, and it looked as if it would again be necessary earlier this year.Inthe end, it remained closed thanks to river levels remaining just below the trigger TheCorps hadcomeunder heavy pressure from Mississippi officials to use Morganza before opening Bonnet Carre. That didnot happen, but, farther upriver,the flow of water diverted from the Mississippi River through the Old River Control complex to the Atchafalaya

THE RIVER’S RECKONING

ROUT NG THE RIVER ROUTINGTHE

R UTING

jumpedsignificantlyaround that time, recordsshow. Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett said Old River,aset of structures that keepthe Mississippi fromchanging course to the Atchafalaya, was operated as itnormally would be regardless of the state of Mississippi’sconcerns. The record 2019 openings werethe last strawfor Mississippi. Forthe first time, Bonnet Carre had to be opened twice in ayear,for a total of 123 days. An estimated 10 trillion gallons rushed

through it

openings. The organizationleading the charge on the issue, the Mississippi Sound Coalition, hassignaled itsfight will continue. At arecent meetinginGulfport, Mississippi, Gulf Coast leaders spoke of their ongoing strategy to engage politicians and the public on the problem But addressing Mississippi’sconcerns is notso simple.

‘Findsomeway’

The muddy,brownwaterdrained from partsof 31 states andtwo Canadian provinces brought withit harmful algae bloomsand nutrient pollution. Thatwas amplified by increased flow from thePearland Pascagoula rivers. The result was afederally declared fisheries disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Essentially all oysters that grow in the westernMississippi Sound died, shrimp landings were down sharply,

andeggs andlarvaefrom species suchasspeckled troutwere harmed, said Kim de Mutsert,acoastal scientist at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dolphin andsea turtle deaths were up significantly,Mississippi officialssay Skin lesions were also found on dolphins

Many touristsopted to stay away.Atone point, tourism was down along the coast by around 47% from thepreviousyear,according to some measurements.

“Coast tourism tax reve-

nue represents over 30% of thetotal tourism tax revenue of the entire state,” said Linda Hornsby,executive director of theMississippi Hotel and Lodging Association. “Wecan’tafford it. We’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Mississippi communities filedtwo separate lawsuits against the Corps in the flood’swake. One wasdismissed, and the other resulted in only apartial victory,requiringthe Corps to consult with federal fisheries officials on Bonnet Carre

Back in Louisiana,down Cajun back roads and far away from the Mississippi Coast, Ed Boyd sitsonthe tailgate of apickup truck andrecalls whenthe water rose. It wasin2011, thelasttime the Morganza Spillway was opened, requiring the entire community of Butte La Rose to evacuate and hope forthe best. The tiny outpost of fishing and hunting camps, signsout frontcarrying nicknames like “Dad’sPad When Mom’s Mad” and “Recovery Room,” sits within the spillway Boyd and his wife packed up whattheycould and headed to Lafayette, but, in theend, it wasn’t as badas feared. TheMississippi water channeled through the Morganza and into the AtchafalayaBasin submerged Boyd’sdock, but did not reach the house.

Boyd, now 76 and aformer pastor at the Lafayette-basedAsbury United Methodist Church, reflected on how attempts to manage Mother Nature always cause unintendedconsequences. He said he’snot opposed to seeing the Morganza opened moreifreasonable calculationscould be made to limit damage.

“Aslongastheycould findsomeway of beingable to estimate how muchthey couldput in here without destroying people’sproperties,” said Boyd. “But you see, the way it is now,everybody wants somebody else to get hurt besides them.” The Morganza Spillway could be considered asibling of Bonnet Carre. Located farther upstream at the town of Morganza, not farfrom the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola,it funnels water to the river’s west bank, directing it to the AtchafalayaBasinand eventually down to theMorgan City area. It has only beenused twice in itshistory,in1973 and 2011, but every year the Corps must notify by mail the roughly 2,500 landownerswithin thefloodway of the possibility.The federal government purchased “flowage easements” from the landowners when the spillway was built, but they continue to own the land. Cattle canbeseengraz-

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

THE RIVER’S RECKONING

Continued from page 6A

ing in the shadow of the Morganza structure, where the water flows when it is opened. Before opening it, the Corps must also work with local and state officials to encourage wildlife to relocate, including black bears. Releasing water gradually helps signal to wildlife to clear out.

‘You accept the risk’

The trigger for opening the Morganza — 1.5 million cubic feet per second — has only been reached once, during the floods of 2011 The 1973 opening was necessary because of the collapse of a wall at the Old River Control structures upstream, requiring emergency measures to keep the Mississippi from shifting course to the Atchafalaya.

The Corps can open Morganza based on a forecast of river levels reaching the trigger and, in fact, could be obligated to do so. That’s because the spillway gates cannot be opened after they are overtopped. In 2019, the trigger for Morganza was almost reached, but it ultimately fell just short. Mississippi officials point to that with bewilderment and disappointment, questioning why so much water must be funneled through Bonnet Carre while the Morganza stays closed. Are there potential solutions? There may be, but politics and federal government cost-cutting are preventing them from being explored at the moment.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been engaged in a sweeping, five-year, $25 million “mega-study” on the future of managing the lower river The issues are so multilayered and complex that the plan was to have the “mega-study” open the door to other related inquiries — or “tiered studies” — to delve even deeper.

The mega-study was paused in June due to a lack of funding from the federal government. Corps officials hope it can eventually be restarted, and political leaders in both Mississippi and Louisiana have been pushing for funding for it.

“We consider this a generational opportunity for us to look at how we manage the lower Mississippi River and to make actual recommendations for improving how we manage it over the next 100 years,” Rick Raynie, Corps project manager, said recently at a gathering of scientists and other experts.

One key change that was being looked at involved altering the amount of water allowed to be diverted through the Old River Con-

trol complex to the Atchafalaya River The amount of flow through the complex on an annual basis — 30% of the combined flow of the Mississippi and Red Rivers — is locked in place by congressional mandate.

It is unclear whether altering Old River flows would be enough to adequately address the dilemma of the Bonnet Carre. Corps officials say a later “tiered study” could look at how to best operate Bonnet Carre, Morganza and Old River as one system.

Any change will draw controversy The Port of Morgan City, for example, where water funneled through Old River and Morganza eventually ends up, is concerned that the accompanying buildup of sediment will prevent deep-water access to its docks, requiring costly, expensive dredging and jeopardizing billions in business.

Other potential solutions have been proposed in the past from scientists In one example, a study by Tulane scientists Ehab Meselhe and Chia-Yu Wu explored the possibility of building river diversions upstream from Bonnet Carre that could both replenish wetlands and ease pressure on river levels. They found that such a plan could be beneficial, though money and political will would be needed for it — a challenge at a time of budget cuts.

While not a solution, De Mutsert, the USM scientist, is at work on modeling that could determine the potential effects of future spillway openings on fisheries.

In Butte La Rose, feelings are mixed. There is a sense among some that additional water could actually help the Atchafalaya Basin’s troubled conditions.

But picking up and evacuating for more Morganza openings could be problematic, especially if the water rises high enough to flood houses.

“You accept the risk when you come out here,” Jules Langla, 79, who moved to Butte La Rose in 2020 with his wife for the Atchafalaya Basin’s tranquility and bass fishing, said from his living room overlooking Bayou La Rose.

“We would have enough time to get out. But if it gets as high as our second floor here, that’s catastrophic.”

Farther north, Jacques LaCour drives his truck over a levee and past soybean crops growing in the fertile ground between the gates of the Morganza Spillway and the Mississippi, one portion of his extended farmland.

He tells the story of how, when he was younger he talked his father into allowing him to plant corn there, known as Morganza’s forebay, which can flood when the river is high. They would usually wait until June to decide whether to plant there to allow enough time to know that year’s conditions.

But the river seemed low enough in March, and LaCour wanted to get the corn growing. His dad told him it was a bad idea, but allowed him to go ahead and try to plant 200 acres.

By June, the corn crops drowned.

“He was right. You never

know what Mother Nature is going to do,” said LaCour, 62.

These days, he still plants in the forebay, but understands the risks. He also has about 400 acres on the other side of the spillway’s gates, which floods when Morganza is opened, but he only grows timber there. He grows sugar cane on other sections of land.

LaCour also serves as a commissioner for the Atchafalaya Basin Levee District and was part of a recent delegation that met with Mississippi Coast officials to discuss ways forward. LaCour said one question being posed is whether the Wax Lake Outlet, which connects to the Atchafalaya River near the coast, could be widened to more efficiently pass water through.

“Of course, our preference would be that we never need

to open it again,” LaCour said of the Morganza while sitting on the back deck of the Old River Landing and boat launch he owns in the town of Batchelor “But it’s there for a purpose that serves the greater good of the nation and the community here.”

‘Can’t fight each other’

At his spot on the dock in Pass Christian, Gautier describes his long family history in the seafood business. Originally from Pascagoula, the grandson of a state senator and entrepreneur, he grew up in the industry and learned it the hard way, doing the dirty work of unloading boats and supplying them with ice.

After college, he rejoined the family business and, along with his brother, eventually bought out his father,

a World War II vet with degrees from Tulane and Harvard, but who chose to “work in a shrimp plant.”

“He always had a buttondown with a tie on,” said Gautier “He needed to go weld something in the back, he would just throw his welders over it.”

Gautier eventually left the family company for a time, but still dealt in seafood, particularly shrimp. He says he has always made special efforts to maintain the quality of the product, ensuring customers know the difference between fresh, local catch and cheap imports.

“If it’s produced and packed from the boat to the loading dock to the processor if you do everything right, it can be as precious as the nicest shrimp in the world,” he said. “If you don’t take care of it, it’s just another commodity.”

Gautier, who had been living much of the time in Florida, bought the current business in Pass Christian in 2021 and moved back, giving him more time to see his two daughters, both of whom went to LSU and live in Baton Rouge. He didn’t give the Bonnet Carre much thought, believing the oysters would be back relatively soon. It wasn’t until the fall of 2024 that he was able to bring in any oysters at all. The shrimp business was also difficult for a variety of reasons over the past few years. Gautier, who runs the business with his wife Ashley, said he has had to dig into his own money to maintain the company, keeping faith that it will eventually turn around.

He argues that more planning is needed when it’s clear a high-river year is on the way Routing so much water through one outlet makes no sense to him.

“Everybody’s got to work together on it. We can’t fight each other on it,” said Gautier “And that’s what’s going on.”

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

The Bonnet Carre Spillway is pictured upriver from the Mississippi River, with Dow Chemical and Entergy Waterford nuclear power plants located across the river.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

The Morganza Spillway has only been used twice in its history, in 1973 and 2011.

FILE PHOTO

Workers pull needles from bays in the Bonnet Carre Spillway flood protection structure in St Charles Parish after the U.S Army Corps of Engineers ordered the opening to stem the rise of the Mississippi River in 2019.

they find corporate sponsors for the Cajun Navy display across from the tree?

It was afairly standard set of suggestions fromDietz,a former vicepresident and chief administrative officer at the park who was promoted to CEO in 2024 after Cara Lambright’sabrupt exit. For muchofthe past year,she’s jumped from big pictureissues around fundraisingand master planning to the more prosaic but critical park problems, like not enough holiday lights, that need quick fixes.

She’salready notched a notable achievement: In August,she steered to approval a20-year blueprint for City Park improvements, following acontroversial twoyear planning process that hinged on support from the community Moving ahead, the biggest hurdle for the Arkansasnative, who has lived in New Orleans since her days at Tulane University’slaw school, will be seeing the hundreds of projects outlined in the park’smaster plan to completion, and ensuring New Orleans’ signature park is well-funded for years to come.

“I had always been drawn to public service,” said Dietz,49. “At this point, I’m completely invested in the city and its success.”

Building relationships

Dietzsaysshe fell forNew Orleans on the frequent walks and publictransit rides she took as alaw student more than 20 years ago.

“There’sadifference in taking in the city by streetcar or bus versus acar.It’s pretty remarkable,” she said.

After graduating with a specialization in environmental law,she and her husband, Greg, spent ayear in Washington, D.C., where they hated the cold and missed the comforts of the city.They moved back.A friend, former New Orleans City Attorney Richard Ortiz, offered her ajob as acontracts attorney in City Hall.

Once there, Dietzworked her way up, firstbecoming former Mayor Mitch

Landrieu’sexecutive counsel, andthenhis city attorneyin2015. “She was smart,focused, fair and incredibly determined,” said Judy Reese Morse, aformerdeputy mayor inLandrieu’s administration whoisnow the president and CEOofthe Urban League of Louisiana.

Dietz’stimein government helped her make connections that followedher long after her departure. Oneofthemwas with Ron Forman, the recently retired Audubon Nature Institute CEO whohelmed theinstitute for more than 50 years. Dietz joined Audubon as general counsel at the end of Landrieu’sadministration

“How she interactedwith staff and became aleader at City Hall was oneofthe reasons we were so excited about recruiting her,” Formansaid. “Because she has that warm personality, and that makes abig difference.”

Upon arrival in 2019, she was tasked with convincing voterstopass the first joint parks and recreation millage forNew Orleans’ four park managementagencies: Audubon, City Hall’sParks and Parkways Department, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission and City Park

She and others involved hit up neighborhood associationmeetings.Theyheld public forums and otherwise worked to gain voters’ support for aproperty tax redistribution thatwould see Audubonreceive less tax revenues so other entities could get more.

The parks measure passed overwhelmingly,and Dietz credits thepublic engagement experience as one that helped her learn how to gain support for City Park’smaster plan. Twoyears later,Dietz took ajob at CityPark as avice president, where she felt the need was greater Diving in at thepark

Leaders of the 1,300-acre park had alongto-dolist at the time. It was planning to transitiontoa nonprofit model with theability to raise money for operations, have an annual budget and launch an 18-monthmaster plan to guide future park investments

But some of the proposed

plans —like apaved road through the nonprofit Grow Dat Youth Farm,orturning aportion of the park’sBayou Oaks Gold Course into a nature-focused attraction sparked public outcry.Criticsclaimed theparkfailed to get proper input from the city’sdiverse population.

Lambright made an exit mid-controversyfor an outof-staterole less than three years into thejob,prompting the Conservancy board to hire Dietzinher place.

Topofmind for Dietz once shecameaboardwas earningthe public’ssupport for amaster plan centeredon better access, connectivity, healthy landscapes and recreational opportunities.

Scrapping previousplans andrevamping the park’s approach to public engagement was key, Dietz said, reflecting on thelistening skills she gained during the millage campaign at Audubon.

“It wassobeneficial. You learnsomuchwhen you just listen,”she said of the community engagement campaign.

What’s next

The board approved the final masterplan in August. Moving ahead, she’slaserfocused on theimplementation of its hundreds of proposals, which will require significant public and privatefunding.

The first phase of improvements, set to come onlinein

the next year and ahalf, include anew outdoor “arts, culture andcommunity” amphitheater next to Tad GormleyStadium,aswell as lighting andsecurity upgrades,sidewalk and trail repairs, and new drainage. The combined cost of that work is $8 million.

Dietz plans to be aggressive about expanding partnerships andgoing after federal grants. The park’s maintenance standards are also starting to change there will be less emphasis on mowing the grass, for example —asthe park begins to updateits infrastructure and restore the area’snative habitat, potentially cutting down costsinthe long run.

Forthe 16 million annual visitors thatflock to City Park’sgreen spaces, nature trails, museums and various attractions, the estimated $400 million worth of investments over the next 20 years is critical, she said.

“I believe when we make meaningfulinvestment in anchor institutions likeCity Park, you’re making meaningful investment in New Orleans and you’re giving people just one more reason to stay here,”Dietz said. Email Joni Hess at joni hess@theadvocate.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED By NEWORLEANS CITy PARK

Celebration in the Oaks is apopular holiday attraction in CityPark.

federal government’sdisaster response than aspecial taskforce set up by Trump. That group recommends amore expansive role for FEMA than Noem has Regardless of thefinal form, the efforts appear on track to shift much of the work to the states,with major changes in the way aid is given to home and business owners in abid to speed getting money into communities after disaster strikes.

Fewer scuffles at the U.S. Capitol carrymore meaningful stakes for Louisiana, where 57 hurricanes have made landfall from the mid19thcentury through 2023, according to NOAA, notto mention innumerable tropical stormsand evenmore flood-inducing rainstorms.

“Louisiana knows better than most just how badly FEMA needs serious reform,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said Tuesday “As the Trump administration has said, the agency is abureaucratic mess and too frequently failstomeet the needs of Americans during their darkest days. From delays in delivering relief to how they’ve made flood insurance unaffordable, I have heard from so many families, small businesses and elected officials who are deeply frustrated with FEMA in its current state.” Louisiana received roughly $49 billion in federal aid for 26 disasterssince 2005 —$22.9 billion in public assistance,$8.7billion forindividual and household aid, $16.6 from the Department of Housing &Urban Development, and $892 million in low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration, according to the CarnegieEndowment, aWashington-based think tank.

Any dip in federal aid would have to be covered by taxpayers in astate where 1in5 residents lives in poverty FEMA also oversees the flood insurancerelied upon by about 450,000 Louisiana home and business owners.

“I’ve been the first to say that FEMA isn’tperfect and needs to be reformed and strengthened,” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter,whose New Orleansbased district has weathered many stormsand who, like others in the Louisiana congressional delegation, spends much time championing legislation on disasters.

“I hope the Trump administration startstaking this agency and the policy recommendations from expertsseriouslyand will work with them to strengthen FEMA on behalf of hurricane-prone communities,” Carter added.

Amuch-anticipated report outlining the Trump administration’sposition was due Nov.16but has been postponed until midDecember Meanwhile, the Republican-majorityHouse teed up aFEMA revamp billin early September for avote,

but it has not been scheduled —apparently awaiting aTrump decision on the futureofthe agency “Whether that agency is called FEMA or something else doesn’tmatter.What’s important is Louisianans are prepared and protected when the next hurricane hits,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy,R-BatonRouge.

In January,Trump said he was leaning toward “getting rid of FEMA” andletting thestates handlerecovery from tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and other natural disasters. He created theFEMAReview Council, composed mostly of Republican officials and co-chaired by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, tocome up withrecommendations. As recentlyasJune, the president discussed “phasingout” FEMA. Disaster aid is costly HurricaneKatrinain2005 cost thefederal government $41.6 billion, whileHur-

ricane Maria in 2017 cost $74.8 billion. Thosekinds of outlays have come in for harsh criticism from some policy groups.

“Trump’s instinctsare rightonthe money: Decades of federal interventionin what has traditionally been astate-led process have produced slow,inefficient disasterresponses, poor mitigation, andwasteful boondoggles” the Cato Institute, a48-year-old limited government think tank, said last week.“In theory,the council’sreportcould still catalyzea smaller federal role in disaster management by narrowing FEMA’s missiontotruly catastrophic events, ratcheting down the federal cost share, and curbing subsidiesthatencourage building in harm’s way.”

Trump’s FEMA Review Council, after several meetings mostly behind closed doors, came up with a160page recommendation that envisions more state involvementindisaster relief

but also amore robust agency independent of Noem’s Homeland Security Department, with aseat at the cabinet table in its own right Noemisdrawing —her draft isn’tfinished —a much shorter counterrecommendation, onein which Homeland Security would keep FEMAbut the disaster agency’s functions would shift from providing direct help to issuing grants covering specific state projects approvedat the federal level, according to The Associated Press. The grants would cover about half of the costs, as opposed to the usual 75% federal to 25% statematches nowinplace.

Noem also would layoff about half of FEMA’s staff, which already is down athird fromlastyearatthis time She proposes FEMA focus on disaster response,such as removing debris, and leave to other agencies taskssuch as getting the lights back on and roads reopened.

Homelan dS ecu rity spokeswo ma nTricia McLaughlin said in astatementthat Noem is working “collaboratively” with members of the special review council.

Both Noem and the task forcerecommend that statesreceive grantsup front instead of reimbursementafter thework is done

But from there the proposals head off in different directions.

Thecouncil, which hasn’t released itsrecommendations publicly,wants to elevate FEMA to aCabinetlevel agency andleansinto detailed ideas to makeit easier for individuals and local government agencies to receive assistance. That would include streamlined applications thatchange the decades of accounting practices that Congress hasaddedtoFEMA’s procedures.

Whatever road Trump decidestotravel as theadministration approaches its new December deadline, Congress will have to be involved becausebothplans require changes to the 1988

Stafford Act, which dictates FEMA’s actions.

The House legislation cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee in early September on avote of 57-3. It is ready for avote on the House floor

“This will be the mostcomprehensive FEMA reform since Hurricane Katrina,” said Missouri Rep. Sam Graves, R-KansasCity,who chairs thetransportation committeeand sponsored the bill along with Rep. Rick Larsen, of Washington state, the panel’shighest-ranking Democrat.

CalledFixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025, the bill would make FEMA aCabinet-level agency directly answerable to the president and revampagency operations to remove bureaucratic hurdles that slow the distribution of federal aid.

“We’vegot people on both sidesbought intothisprocess,”Gravessaidearlier this month. “I don’tthink we’llhaveproblems with the Senate.”

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate. com.

Patelgifts NewZealand officials3D-printedguns

Inoperable pistols inspired by toyNerfguns

BY CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-MCLAY Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand Inoperable pistols gifted by FBI Director Kash Patel to senior New Zealand security officials, who had to relinquish them for destruction because they were illegal to possess, were revolvers inspired by toy Nerf guns and popular among 3D-printed weapons hobbyists, documents obtained by The Associated Press show

The AP first reported that Patel gifted the plastic 3Dprinted replica revolvers to New Zealand’spoliceand spy chiefs, along with two cabinet ministers, in July Police documents released this week identified the model as the Maverick PG22, a working revolver modeled on the brightly colored toy gun of the same name Pistols are tightly restricted under New Zealand law, requiringapermit beyond astandard gunlicense Law enforcement agencies didn’tsay whether the officials who met with Patel held such permits.Without them, they couldn’tlegally keep the gifts. After the officials sur-

rendered the revolvers, emails betweenpoliceleadersand firearmsspecialists confirmed the giftsmet the legal definition of in New Zealand. 3Dprinted weapons ar treated the same other guns.

Patel, the highestranking Trump ad ministration offici to visit New Ze land, was in Welling ton to open the FBI’s first standalone office in the country

“The gifted item was a 3D-printed replicaofa firearm, and it was specially designed to be incapable of firing ammunition,” a spokesperson forPatel said by email Tuesday.“The item was modifiedinvarious ways, to include but not limited to omittingchambers, barrels, and firing pin within the replica. These modifications ensuredthat it wasinoperable.”

In New Zealand, inoperable weapons are treated as functionalifthey could be made operable withmodifications. In August, days afterPatel’s visit, police armory team leader Daniel Millar emailed his bossesto outline how simpleitwould be to make the guns operable.

“These processesare very straightforward processes and requireminimal skills and common ‘handyperson’

tools,”Millarwrote. He added that these toolswere “a battery drill and adrill bit forthe holesand asmall the firing pin.” New Zealand’s lice union said February that the Maverick PG22 was amongthe most common 3D-printed guns seizedbyofers. Millar wrote thathis team requested tokeepone of therevolvers for testing, but the police commissioner deniedthe request and the guns were destroyed on Sept.25.

“The first risk is that it can be made viable anditgets intothe hands of the wrong personand it’sused fora crime,” saidprofessor AlexanderGillespie,alecturer on firearms regulation at New Zealand’s University of Waikato. “The secondriskis it just explodes because it’s not actually safe. There’sa reason these have been made in people’sbackyards insteadofcoming from an armory.”

Online instructions for making theMaverick PG22 say it “does not feature proper modern safeties andshouldbeusedina controlled environment.”

It’sunclear whomanufactured Patel’sguns, which Millarwrote had been “manufactured to ahigh standard.”

5officials gifted guns

Three top New Zealand law enforcementofficials said they received the gifts on July 31. Chambers was one. The other twowere AndrewHampton, director-generalofthe country’s human intelligence agency NZSIS,and Andrew Clark, director-generalofthe technical intelligenceagency GCSB.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell andJudith Collins, whooversees themilitary and spy agencies, also received revolvers in meetings with Patel.All five officials voluntarily surrenderedthe guns.

It’s uncommon to seepolice officersinNew Zealand carrying weapons. Frontline officersaren’t usually armed on patrol and leave theirweapons locked in their vehicles

The NewZealand Police refused theAP’spublic records request for photos of theguns,onthe grounds that“releasing therequested imageswould be likely to prejudice New Zealand’s relations with the United States of America.”

Photos and instructions formaking the Maverick PG22are available online

The policedidn’texplain whyreleasing images of aU.S. official’sgifts to his New Zealand counterparts could harm the relationship.

Strong gun controls

NewZealand bolstered its gun restrictions following a2019 whitesupremacist attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch. An Australian man, who hadamassed acacheof semiautomatic weapons le-

gally, shot dead 51 Muslim worshipers during Friday prayers. The guns Patel giftedto the law enforcement chiefs werenot semiautomatic models now prohibited after the Christchurch massacre. Butthere aremany other reasons New Zealanders aren’t legally allowedto possess certainweapons, including the specific pistol permits. New Zealanddoesn’thave apassionate culture of gun ownership and the weaponshavebeen viewedmore dimly sincethe mass shooting. Gunownership is enshrinedinNew Zealand law as aprivilege, nota right. Guns are commoninrural areas for pest control. But violent gun crime is rareand many urbanresidentsmight neverhave even seen afirearm in person.

Firm hadworked with asister city in Ukraine

BY DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press

WASHINGTON Hackers

with links to Ukraine and its defense against Russia.

“They routinely go after organizations that support Ukrainian institutions directly,provide services to Ukrainian municipalities, and assist organizations tied to Ukrainian civilsociety,defense, or government functions,” saidIsmael Valenzuela,Arctic Wolf’s vice presidentoflabs, threat research and intelligence.

The attack on the engineering firmwas identified by Arctic Wolf in September before it could disrupt the engineering company’soperations or spread further Amessageleft with officialsatthe Russian Embassy in Washington seeking commentwas not immediately returned.

Many townsand cities aroundthe world enjoy sister-city relationships with other communities, using the program to offersocial and economic exchanges.

Several U.S. cities, including Chicago, Baltimore,Albany, N.Y. and Cincinnati,have sister-city relationships with communities inUkraine

working for Russian intelligence attacked an American engineering company this fall, investigators at aU.S cybersecuritycompany said Tuesday —seemingly because thatfirm had worked for aU.S. municipality with asister city in Ukraine. The findings reflect the evolving tools and tactics of Russia’scyber war and demonstrate Moscow’swillingness to attackagrowing list of targets, including governments, organizations and private companies that have supported Ukraine, even in a tenuous way Arctic Wolf, the U.S. cybersecurity firm that identified the Russian campaign, wouldn’tidentify its customer or the city it worked with to protect theirsecurity,but said thecompany hadnodirect connection to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However,the groupbehindthe attack, known to cybersecurity experts as RomCom, has consistently targeted groups

The campaign in Septembercamejust afew weeks after the FBI warned that hackers linked to Russia were seeking to break into U.S. networks as away to

burrow intoimportant systems or disrupt critical infrastructure. According to the latest bulletin from the U.S. Cybersecurity andInfrastructure SecurityAgency,the Russia-aligned hackers have multiple motives: disrupting aid and military supplies to Ukraine, punishing businesses with tiesto Ukraine,orstealing military or technical secrets.

Lastmonth, the Digital Security Lab of Ukraine and investigators at SentinelOne, aU.S. cybersecurity firm, exposeda speedy andsprawling cyberattack on relief groups supporting Ukraine, including the International RedCross andUNICEF.That hacking campaign used fake emails impersonating Ukrainian officials thatsought to fool usersintoinfecting their own computers by clicking on malicious links.

Theinvestigators at SentinelOne stoppedshort of attributing the attack to the Russiangovernment but noted that the operationtargeted groups working on Ukrainian assistanceand required six months to plan. The “highly capable adversary” behind the campaign, the investigators determined, is “an operator well-versed in both offensive tradecraft and defensive detection evasion.” U.S. engineeringcompany targeted by Russianhackers

Experts have mixed reactions to U.N. climate talks

COP30 meeting in Brazil ends with no clear plan

BY SETH BORENSTEIN AP science writer

BELEM, Brazil After an agreement from U.N. climate talks in the Amazon that fell short of many nations’ expectations, experts found some bright spots alongside weighty reasons for worry in the fight against global warming.

The Associated Press asked 17 experts — diplomats, analysts, advocates and scientists — the simple question: After the talks, known as COP30, in the city of Belem, what’s next?

“We leave here with a clear signal, very very clear signal, that we have entered the era of implementation,” said U.N. Climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell “As we move forward, it’s about doing. It’s about rolling sleeves up.”

Others look at the key failure of not delivering a road map to phase out coal, oil and gas — the main causes of warming. The road map had the public support of Brazil’s president and more than 80 nations, but powerful opponents.

“This should have been the moment. A COP in the Amazon, a president calling for a fossil fuel transition road map, the science screaming for action. But the world

blinked again,” Panama climate negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez said. “The next year will be harder on communities and ecosystems. Impacts will intensify, because emissions are not slowing down.”

Building on specifics

Stiell pointed to seven different paragraphs in the agreements from Belem that could spur action for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fewer fossil fuels.

The COP presidency highlighted 117 “action agenda” items mostly for business to put pledges into real-life action

That agenda includes a promise of $1 trillion for improving energy grids and infrastructure; ramping up the production of biofuels; industrial decarbonization plans in developing countries; $5.5 billion toward a fund to pay countries to keep their forests standing; and other pledges of funding, including from the private sector, for projects in areas like farming and adaptation Among the most ambitious actions is a push to raise $1 trillion for renewable electrical grids and energy storage.

One specific action that Stiell and several others emphasized was a new “global implementation accelerator,” a voluntary and cooperative system designed to help nations that want to do more than they’ve previously proposed in their climate

fighting plans. The emphasis is on getting money to where it’s needed.

“If the ‘ambition accelerator’ can help to do this, it will make a massive difference to the global warming outlook,” said Bill Hare, CEO of the climate science and policy institute Climate Analytics.

Outside of U.N. talks

Because they couldn’t get a consensus at the talks in Belem, the COP30 presidency promised to create two new “road maps,” one to guide the transition away from fossil fuels and another to stop deforestation. But those road maps won’t have the force of something agreed upon in UN talks.

COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago said his office will study both areas extensively and use science and economics to come up with those plans. He said they would be tailored to different countries’ needs.

Do Lago also promised that his office will join with Colombia and the Netherlands to organize a special fossil fuel phaseout conference scheduled next April.

“If they come with real timelines, accountability and finance, they have the potential to shape global action and hold governments to their word,” said Mariana Paoli, of the anti-poverty group Christian Aid. “They don’t have power on their own, but they can create the structure around which real change

is built.”

Flawed process

COPs need consensus, which often means the weakest deals because they have to please everyone, experts said.

“In future negotiations, it will be essential to control the petrostates,” New Climate Institute founder Niklas Hohne said. “They have understood that this process can be dangerous for them and they put even more effort than ever into blocking any progress.”

“The outcome of COP30 reminds us once again that action dependent on global consensus will never be enough to tackle the climate crisis at scale,” said Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy

Yet Paoli said these conferences are not powerless. She said they are “slow and imperfect, yet they have still moved the world forward sometimes in unexpected ways.”

A mixed future

“Over the next year we are likely to see continued escalation of climate impacts alongside gradual progress on climate action,” said Mohamed Adow, director of PowerShift Africa. “Renewable energy expansion will continue, but so will new fossil fuel investments in many parts of the world.”

Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research, said all

forms of extreme weather and climate events will increase, hitting the most vulnerable people hardest and threatening the survival of coral reefs and the very Amazon that hosted the talks.

“These are unacceptable outcomes of a solvable problem,” Rockstrom said.

Reasons for hope, action

With the United States’ federal government withdrawing from climate action under President Donald Trump, states, cities and businesses are cutting emissions in a way that will allow the U.S. to reach its climate goal, said

former U.S. climate envoy Trigg Talley, now a representative of America’s All In.

“The COPs are only one part of a wide tapestry for action on climate change,” said World Resources Institute’s International Climate Director David Waskow “We need to pull all the levers at our disposal to limit global warming.”

“The giant boulder of climate action is already rolling down the hill in the right direction,” Hayhoe said. “It already has millions of hands on it. And as each of us adds our hand too, it goes a little faster.”

Water security threatened on both sides of the border

BY SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — One of North America’s longest rivers, the Rio Grande — or Rio Bravo as it’s called in Mexico — has a history as deep as it is long. Indigenous people have tapped it for countless generations, and it was a key artery for Spanish conquistadors centuries ago.

Today, the Rio GrandeBravo water basin is in crisis.

Research published recently says the situation arguably is worse than challenges facing the Colorado River, another vital lifeline for western U.S. states that have yet to chart a course for how best to manage that dwindling resource Without rapid and largescale action on both sides of the border the researchers warn that unsustainable use threatens water security for millions of people who rely on the binational basin. They say more prevalent drying along the Rio Grande and persistent

shortages could have catastrophic consequences for farmers, cities and ecosystems.

The study done by World Wildlife Fund, Sustainable Waters and a team of university researchers provides a full accounting of the consumptive uses as well as evaporation and other losses within the Rio Grande-Bravo basin. It helps to paint the most complete and most alarming — picture yet of why the river system is in trouble.

The basin provides drinking water to 15 million people in the U.S. and Mexico and irrigates nearly 2 million acres of cropland in the two countries.

The research shows only 48% of the water consumed directly or indirectly within the basin is replenished naturally The other 52% is unsustainable, meaning reservoirs, aquifers and the river itself will be overdrawn.

“That’s a pretty daunting, challenging reality when half of our water isn’t necessarily going to be reliable for the future,” said Brian Richter, president of Sustainable Waters and a senior fellow with the World Wildlife Fund. “So we have to really address that.”

By breaking down the bal-

ance sheet, the researchers are hopeful policymakers and regulators can determine where water use can be reduced and how to balance supply with demand.

Warnings of what was to come first cropped up in the late 19th century when irrigation in Colorado’s San Luis Valley began to dry the snowmelt-fed river, resulting in diminished flows as far south as El Paso, Texas. Now, some stretches of the river run dry for months at a time. The Big Bend area and even Albuquerque have seen dry cracked mud replace the river more often in recent years.

Irrigating crops by far is the largest direct use of water in the basin at 87%, according to the study Meanwhile, losses to evaporation and uptake by vegetation along the river account for more than half of overall consumption in the basin, a factor that can’t be dismissed as reservoir storage shrinks.

The irrigation season has become shorter, with canals drying up as early as June in some cases, despite a growing season in the U.S. and Mexico that typically lasts through October In central New Mexico, farmers got a boost with summer rains. However,

farmers along the Texas portion of the Pecos River and in the Rio Conchos basin of Mexico — both tributaries within the basin did not receive any surface water supplies.

BY JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press

DALLAS Viola Ford Fletcher,who as one of the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in Oklahoma spenther lateryears seeking justice for the deadly attack by aWhite mob on the thriving Black community where she lived as achild, has died. She was 111. Her grandson Ike Howard said Monday that shedied surrounded by family at a Tulsa hospital.Sustained by astrong faith, she raised three children, worked as a welder in ashipyard during World WarIIand spent decades caring for families as ahousekeeper Tulsawas mourning her loss, said Mayor Monroe Nichols, the first Black leader of Oklahoma’ssecond-largest city.“Mother Fletcher endured more than anyone should, yet she spent her life lighting apath forward with purpose.”

She was 7years old when the two-day attack began on Tulsa’sGreenwood district on May 31, 1921, aftera local newspaper published a sensationalized report about aBlack man accused of assaulting aWhite woman. As aWhite mob grew outside the courthouse, Black Tulsans with guns who hoped to prevent theman’slynching began showing up. White residents responded with overwhelming force. Hundredsofpeoplewerekilled and homes were burned and looted, leaving over 30 city blocks decimated in the prosperous community known as Black Wall Street “I couldneverforgetthe charred remains of our once-thriving community,

the smoke billowing in the air,and the terror-stricken faces of my neighbors,” she wrote in her2023 memoir, “Don’tLet Them Bury My Story.”

As herfamily left in a horse-drawn buggy,her eyes burned from the smoke andash,she wrote. She describedseeingpilesofbodiesinthe streets andwatchingasaWhite manshot a Black man in thehead, then firedtoward her family

She told The Associated Press in an interview the year her memoir was published that fear of reprisals influenced her years of nearsilence about themassacre.

Shewrote thebookwith Howard, hergrandson, who said he had to persuade her to tell her story

“Wedon’t wanthistoryto repeat itself so we doneed to educate people about what happened and try to get people to understand why you needtobemade whole, why you need to be repaired, Howard told the AP in 2024.

“The generational wealth that was lost, the home, all the belongings, everything waslost in one night.”

Theattackwent largely unremembered fordecades.

In Oklahoma, wider discussions began when the state formed acommission in 1997 to investigatethe violence Fletcher,who in 2021 testified before Congress about what she went through, joined her younger brother, HughesVan Ellis, and another massacre survivor,Lessie Benningfield Randle, in a lawsuit seeking reparations. The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed it in June 2024, saying their grievancesdid not fall within the scopeofthe state’spublic nuisancestatute.

“For as long as we remain in this lifetime,wewill continue to shinea light on one of thedarkest days inAmerican history,” Fletcher and Randle said in astatement at thetime. VanEllis had died

ayear earlier,atthe ageof 102.

AJustice Departmentreview, launchedunderthe Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Actand released in January 2024, outlined themassacre’sscope and impact.Itconcluded that federal prosecution may have been possible a century ago, but there was no longer an avenue tobring acriminal case.

The city has been looking for ways to help descendants of themassacre’svictimswithout giving direct cash payments. Some of the last living survivors, including Fletcher,received donations from groups buthave notreceivedany payments from thecity or state.

“The factthatshe died without any meaningful redress —not for herself, her family,orher community —isn’tjust alegal failure. It’samoral one,” Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney for thesurvivors and thefounder of the Justice forGreenwood Foundation, said in astatement.

“She would notwanther passingtobethe endofthe fight,”hesaid. “She would

most of her early years in Greenwood. It wasanoasis forBlack people during segregation, she wrote in her memoir. Her family had a nice home, she said, and the communityhad everything from doctors to grocery stores to restaurants and banks. Forced to fleeduring the massacre, her family becamenomadic, living out of atentastheyworkedinthe

Fletcher,born in Oklahoma on May 10, 1914, spent

By SOPHIA GERMER

Construction is nearly complete on the state-funded, 147-acre John Alario Jr. youth Sports Complex, located on Nicolle Boulevard across from NOLA MotorSports Park.

New athletic complex to open in Avondale

Jefferson Parish targets youth sports to bolster tourism

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

Jefferson Parish will soon enter the booming youth sports industry as it opens a roughly $45 million complex in Avondale, which parish leaders say will drive economic growth and tourism for the West Bank.

Construction is nearly complete on the state-funded, 147-acre John Alario Jr Youth Sports Complex, located on Nicolle Boulevard across from NOLA MotorSports Park. It features four multipurpose artificial turf fields that can be used for baseball, softball, football, soccer, lacrosse and rugby, as well as a sports shop, pavilion, concession stand and covered restrooms.

The complex is already nearly fully booked with travel sports tournaments for 2026 and has already started booking dates in 2027 and 2028, according to operator Andy Powers Project leaders plan to expand the facility to include a dormitory and administrative building, and local developers are eyeing the area for a potential hotel.

The public facility will be primarily used for travel sports, although local sports will have some opportunities as well. The complex’s inaugural tournament is scheduled for Feb. 21 with 60 baseball teams expected to participate Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said the new complex, along with the parish’s other sports tourism ventures, will offer Jefferson Parish a unique opportunity to develop its own tourism market, rather than rely solely on visitors passing through to New Orleans.

“This will be the first time visitors get off a plane with the destination being Jefferson Parish,” Lee Sheng said. The project, spearheaded by former

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AI raises concerns over disaster misinformation

La. prepares for challenges verifying online content

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

Kelesha Williams, a reporter for Television Jamaica, saw countless unbelievable scenes of destruction late last month as she rode out the worst of Hurricane Melissa’s wrath in St. Elizabeth Parish, a coastal county that was ground zero for the storm’s landfall.

There were the leaking walls of her Treasure Beach hotel room as the Category 5 storm inched over the tourist town on Oct. 28, packing 185 mph winds that tore whole sheets of zinc from nearby homes and a deluge of rain so intense that water seeped through Williams’ walls. Once she was able to venture out, she saw the waist-deep holes left in roads that had just recently been repaved and the

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‘More than meals’

New Orleans volunteers serve Thanksgiving dinners with a side

of dignity and hope

PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

ABOVE: Standing shoulder to shoulder while filling trays with hot Thanksgiving food at the New Orleans Mission, staff from Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts quietly look after those who need a warm meal on Tuesday. ‘Many years ago, we began with one day of giving,’ said Marv Ammari, CEO of Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts. ‘Today, it’s a movement that continues every day of the year. Our partnership with the New Orleans Mission is about more than meals — it’s about dignity, hope, and the reminder that no one in our city should feel forgotten.’ ‘ Creole Cuisine’s years of generosity have been transformational,’ said David Bottner, executive director of the New Orleans Mission. BELOW LEFT: A long line stretches down the sidewalk as dozens wait outside the New Orleans Mission to receive a hot Thanksgiving meal on Tuesday BELOW RIGHT: A young girl quietly eats her Thanksgiving meal — one of hundreds served on Tuesday.

NOLA Education creates ‘national training center’

Company buys historic row on Julia Street

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

John Alvendia, founder and CEO of NOLA Education, has taken a major step in expanding his fast-growing national educational program with the recent purchase of nearly an entire row of historic buildings along the 600 block of Julia Street in the Warehouse District.

The new space, which stretches from St. Charles Avenue to Church Street, will serve as NOLA Education’s National Training Center, allowing the company to bring teachers from across the country to New Orleans for intensive, hands-on training in its Star Academy program. “We just kind of focus on doing what we do, and because the program works where other programs don’t work, we’re able to keep expanding,” he said.

Alvendia said NOLA Education has been training hundreds of teachers at dozens of locations around the country and having a New Orleans center makes sense. “Having it be like a destination location for their training I thought would be really cool,” he said.

Alvendia paid $2 million for the 8,000-square-foot building, according to records filed with the Orleans Parish clerk of court. Its ground floor space at the corner of St. Charles and Julia, for years, was a FedEx location.

Alvendia’s NOLA Education already owns two historic town houses across Julia Street from the new property, the so-called Thirteen Sisters Federal and Greek Revival-style

software program that grew into a $35 million educational technology company serving K-12 classrooms, adult learners and correctional programs.

In 2018, Alvendia acquired Star Academy from Kansas-based Pitsco Education, a program he had been representing and marketing across the country since around 2008. “I liked the program and saw more potential in it than they did,” Alvendia said. “I saw that we could do it better, and ended up acquiring Star Academy from that company and starting NOLA Education.”

Star Academy is designed to reach middle school students who are academically behind or disengaged from school, helping them catch up and stay on track toward graduation. The program uses project-based learning, emphasizing hands-on engagement rather than passive instruction.

The training effort at the new center will aim to bring about 80 teachers at a time to learn the new system.

houses built there in the 1830s. That has been the company’s base as it has grown fivefold in the last seven years, where about 80 program developers, trainers, sales and other staff work daily

Alvendia’s path to building NOLA Education began in a far simpler way While earning his degree in electrical engineering at the University of New Orleans, he tutored high school students part-time — a modest start that planted the seeds for his life’s work. After graduation, he worked as a project engineer at a chemical plant and later cofounded JRL Enterprises Inc., where he designed and coded “I CAN Learn,” an algebra

The Star Academy program relies on a combination of proprietary software and teacher support. NOLA Education staff develop programs that guide teachers in running projectbased classrooms. These programs provide the structure needed for students to engage with hands-on projects while ensuring the instruction aligns with academic standards. Teachers receive training not only on the content but on managing classrooms where students may be working on different projects simultaneously Alvendia emphasizes that the program’s impactismaximizedbybeingphysicallypresent in schools. “We believe in full engagement of the students,” he said. “If the kids are working

STAFF PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO By NOLA EDUCATION NOLA Education’s new block on the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Julia Street runs up to Church Street. It will be the

with their hands-on projects, then they fully engage and see the reason why they’re doingitand what kind of careers it canlead to.”

Hands-on approach

Each Star Academy site typically serves about 80 students at atime —though in classes about aquarter that size —allowing for intensive, personalized instruction for those who have struggled in traditional classrooms.

Funding forNOLAEducation comes from amix of federal and state sources, grants, and contributions from the schools adopting the program.

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state legislator JohnAlario Jr was funded through state capital outlay funds and developed by the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, better known as the Superdome Commission. By using theSuperdome Commission, the parish was able to circumvent a25% local match rule for all state capital outlay projects. Duplantis Design Group, of Thibodaux, designed the complex, and Ratcliff Construction Co. of Alexandria handledconstruction.

The project took more than adecade to come together due to feasibility studies, COVID-19 delays, planning and construction. Its cost, estimated to be between $42 million and$45 million, ended up being morethan double the original estimate due to rising material and labor costs, as well as the addition of afourth multipurpose field, according to operators. Once complete, ownership of the facility will turn over to theparish, which has contracted Champions Sports Management LLC to manage it. Under the agreement, Champions will invest $1 million over five yearsto

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decimated farms that,until recently,fed much of the country

“Leaving the hotel and seeing all of that, Iwas like, ‘Wow,’”Williams said from her home in Kingston about aweekafter the storm hit. “It’sstill so hard to describe what Isaw.” But what about the sharks winding through flooded city streets?Orthe cascading landslides that took out entire towns?

Those images, though they spread rapaciously across the internet and defined the scale of destruction for many who saw them, were the work of artificial intelligence Among the strongestAtlantic storms on record, Melissa brought widespread devastationtothe Caribbean, killing nearly 100 people and displacing thousands.

The reality of the storm wasdramatic enough on its own. But in Melissa’saftermath, social media was inundated with AI-generated photos and videos claiming to show scenes from Jamaica, forcing locals like Williamsto wade through fake content to get to realinformation about impacts to their towns and ongoing recovery efforts. Misinformation on social media has long beenanissue for emergency management officialsleading up to and afternatural disasters. But never before has it been so easy to create fake images andvideosthat,insomecases, look entirely real. AndasAIbecomesincreasingly accurate, efficient and accessible,officials in Louisiana are gearinguptoface adisaster prep future that could includebattles with amore sticky and believable kind of misinformation spread online

“This has beengoing on for awhile,” said Collin Arnold, director of the NewOrleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. “It’sjust obviously with

Alvendia said he’sconfident that theprogram’s effectiveness will continueto drive its growthdespite educational cutbacks. “The bottom line is our program is justsoimpactful that regardless of whether themoney’scoming from the feds or from thestates we just kind of focus on doing whatwedo, andbecause the program works where other programs don’twork, we’re able to keep expanding,”he said.

Since acquiring Star Academy,Alvendiahas grown NOLA Educationfivefold, despitechallengessuchas the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily disrupted in-person instruction.Today, tens of thousandsofstudents have passed through Star Academyprogramsacross

construct an administrative buildingonthe property startinginMay 2026, with a$1millionmatch from the parish.

Champions will also remita percentage of gross operationalrevenue back to theparishonagradual scale from 0% in year one to3% after the third year

Champions SportsManagementLLC is run by Andy Powers, the owner andfounder of twoTexas baseball training facilities, andWally Pontiff, father to the late LSU baseball player Wally PontiffJr.

Youthsportsboom

Families currently spend more than $40 billion every year on youth sports, according to the most recent data from The Aspen Institute

Parents spent an average of $1,016 on their child’s sport in 2024, an increase of about 46% compared with pre-pandemic spending. Travel makes up the largest portionofthosecosts at $278, accordingto an AspenInstitute survey conducted with Utah State Universityand Louisiana Tech University That survey also found that about 1in10ofthose parents believe their child could compete at the Olympic or professional level, indicating manyparents see athletic

the images andwhatyou can do with AI now it’sgetting just more andmore …outrageous ”

Misinformation

Since practically theadvent of social media, agood chunk of emergency preparedness resourceshave gone to debunking rumors, photoshopped images and falsified or dramatized weather forecasts spread online, Arnold said. Each year,satellite images of particularly ominous past storms are erroneously relabeled to bear an incoming system’sname,sowing fear andconfusion. Hurricanes Katrina from 2005 and Dorian from 2019 are among the most popular choices, Arnold said.

But, up untilnow,much of thefakecontentout there has been easy for acritical usertospot. Therehave only been afew instances over the years that somethingsoegregious ran so rampant online that Arnold’soffice had to directly address it. With AI, all that could change.

“There very wellcould be atime whereyou’re going to have avery difficulttime discerning that,”Arnold said. ‘Very, very troubling’

Of course,inmanyways social media hasmade emergency preparation and response moreefficient.It’s easierfor officialstoget information out to the masses, and the photos and messages people post online can offer deeperinsight into what’sactually goingon.

Arnold saiditwas aphoto posted to Twitter afew years ago that alerted hisoffice to an Uptown homethat had collapsed duringa thunderstorm.Thanks to that post, Arnold said his officewas keyed ontothe situationsix minutesbefore the first 911 call came in, giving responders more timetopull avictim to safety

The problem, he said, is that AI could make it easier to fake those kinds of images, creating the potential for

the country At the Julia Street location, NOLA Education will be able to centralize training operations. The first floor willbedivided into multiple classrooms that simulate the Star Academy experience students encounter nationwide, while the upper floors will house research and development.The facility will accommodate roughly 80 teachersata time for training sessions andprovide additional space for staff supporting operations and curriculum development.

At theheart of things Alvendia appreciates the Warehouse District as alocation for the training center Its proximity to the Ernest N. MorialConventionCenter makes it convenient for edu-

spending as an investment in their child’sfuture.

Investors ranging from large privateequityfirms to small towns have clamored to reap from the “youth sports arms race,”asThe Washington Post called it in 2022.

Best known for youth sports is Cooperstown, New York, with theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, often considered arite of passage for 12-year-old baseball players. But other hot spots for children’ssports include centralFlorida; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and Sandusky,Ohio.

In Overland Park, Kansas, developers lastyear opened the $70 million, 420,000-square-feetAdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk, witha3,200-seat arena, eight basketball courts, aturf football field and NHL regulation ice rink.

Sites for regional tournaments currently operatein Baton Rouge, Youngsville andHammond,and at the northshore’sPelican Park and Coquille Park.

‘The placetobe’

JeffersonParishleaders saythey are confident thefacility will standout to prospective families for its proximity to New Orleans andthe airport, alongwith

wasted rescueefforts and resources.

Arnold recalled the dramatic photos of flooding in Texas after Hurricane Harveyhit in 2017. Onein particular stuck withhim: Seniors andemployees outside anursing home trapped in waist deep water,waiting for help.

“Whenwesee that, it will send up every alarm bell, and every personthatwehave availablewewill tryand get to those people,” Arnoldsaid.

“And if that’ssomething that has been manufactured, I mean, Ijust —it’svery,very troubling.”

Trauma monetized

Tulane University computer scientist Nicholas Mattei has been working with AI in some formoranother since he took his firstartificial intelligence class in 2005.

But even Matteiisamazed by thepace at which the technology hasadvanced

It wasn’t too longago,he said, thatthere were dead giveaways social media userscould employ to spot AI-generated content.A person’shands might be deformed, their hair might flowinthe wrongdirection or their movements might be unnatural.

But with therelease earlierthis year of improvedAI models, Mattei said, “I think we mightbebeyond the point where, especially with the videocontent, it’ssupereasy to tell.And that’s kind of disturbing.”

UntilHurricaneMelissa, Mattei neverconsidered that AI might be used to create dramatic videos and photos of natural disasters. But it makes sense.

If yousee avideoofsharks swimming through the streetsonline, you’re going to stop and watch. And on the internet, Mattei said, “you can monetize eyeballs.”

cators visiting New Orleans, andthe historiccharacterof thebuildings provides adestination-like atmosphere for the training programs. While some of theupper-floorresidential units remain leased to tenants, themajority of the space is devoted to business operationsand training. At the heart of NOLA Education’s philosophy is afocus on service as much as product, which makes it different from the software-only direction of much of the offerings in education,Alvendia said. Every teacher in the Star Academyprogramreceives monthly,in-person support to ensure they can effectively implement thecurriculum “Weliterally visit every teacher that’sinour program,” Alvendia said. “That is to support those teachers,

nearby attractionslike the motorsports park, the Tournament Players Club Louisiana golf course next door andswamp tours in Bayou Segnette.

Powerssaid theyplan to starttournaments with Mardi Gras-style parades and second-lines tointroduce the teams

“There’snoplaceonEarth like here,” said Powers. “If you triedtorun it like anybody else, you miss ahuge opportunity to lean intothis New Orleans Cajun culture.”

The hope is that the new facility willspur economic growth in the immediate area, especially agrocery store or restaurant to serve the food desert there,said state Sen. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, the successor to Alario

He said tournaments will alsobring awindfall of tax revenue through both sales and hotel occupancy taxes, andprovide aboost to local businesses during theslow summer months.

One tournament alonecan attractthousandsofvisitors to nearby hotels and restaurants forseveral days at atime. Powers said they plan to see familiesfrom anywherewithina six-hour driving time, including Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississip-

Trustedsources

Just like social media, both Mattei and Arnold said AI hasa lot of good to offer the meteorology and emergency managementworlds,ifused responsibly

Recent advancements in hurricaneforecast modeling, for example, are partly thanks to artificial intelligenceand machine learning, according to Mattei.

That means thatAIand AI-adjacent technology have helpedtomake hurricane forecasts more accurate, which could in turn save lives, property andmoney

Arnold said the localemergency management office is alreadyrunningits plans through differentAItools. It can help identify more efficient evacuation routes, buildings throughout the area thatcould be used for shelters or storage supply, and whether neighborhoods

be outthere with them,understandthe challengesthey have, so we can continue to improve ourproductand our service.”

Despite the company’s national footprint, Alvendia prefers to keep alow profile personally.“It’sadistraction,” he said. The company highlights student success stories and the work of teachers who implement the program, reinforcing its mission to reengage at-risk students withhands-onlearning experiences

The Julia Street purchase represents amilestone in NOLA Education’s growth, offering apermanent, stateof-the-art space to train educators, develop new software andcurriculum, andrefine the Star Academy experience.

pi, Tennessee and Texas.

“Once this thing gets going, you’re going to see hotels, you’re going to see the grocery store, you’re going to seepop-upfood vendors andchains,”saidMario Bazile, the parish chief administrative assistant overseeing theRecreation Department.

“Once this gets rolling, this is going to be the place to be.”

Lee Sheng hasmade sports tourism afocal point of her secondand finalterm as a means of boosting thelocal economy while revitalizing underutilized recreation spaces.

In addition to the new complex’supcoming tournaments, the parish also plans to soon host aprofessional disc golf tournament at Parc DesFamilles in Marrero this March, andthe Mike Miley Pickleball Tournament in Metairie in February.And last summer,Powerboat P1 hosted itsseason opener powerboat race in Lake Pontchartrain.

“It’sthe one investment that we can get directly back in our economy,”Lee Sheng said. “So many things like zoning, we’re trying to lay a good template forbusiness to come here.With this, the investment in sports infrastructure is adirect investment in the economy,”she added.

have the infrastructure to support certain emergency response resources

“Particularly with evacuation, Iwill say that AI can be good at both giving you some optionsthatmaybe you hadn’tlooked at or considered fully,” Arnold said.

Butwiththe growing presence of AI-generated content online, Arnold said it’smore important now than everthat people have trusted sources

Follow real meteorologists whoworkwithlocal TV stations or the National Weather Service, he said. Getyour storm prep and forecast informationfromlocal news outlets. Subscribe to your city or state emergencyalert service, like NOLA Ready which Arnold said hasgrown and improved dramatically over thelastseveral years.

Andmostimportantly of all, he said, don’tbelieve everythingyou read —orsee —online

Abila,A.L Ambeau,Robin Brent, Gaynell Davis, Joseph Gary Sr., Louis Jackson, Gregory Jackson, Mark LeBlanc, Doris Minor Sr., Edward Mull, Lovenia Perkins Sr.,Anthony Rodgers,Frances Thibodeaux, James EJefferson Garden of Memories

Abila,A.L LeBlanc, Doris Leitz-Eagan Rodgers,Frances Richardson FH Jackson, Mark NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Gary Sr., Louis Charbonnet

Perkins Sr.,Anthony DW Rhodes Ambeau,Robin Estelle JWilson

Brent, Gaynell Lake Lawn Metairie Mull, Lovenia

Majestic Mortuary Minor Sr., Edward River Parish Robottom

Jackson, Gregory West Bank Robinson FH Davis, Joseph Obituaries

Abila, hissisterEdith Schmidt (late, Will)brother Richard Avila(Jo,surviv‐ing), daughter Jemaine Leigh Halvorsonand granddaughter Jessica. A.L.issurvivedbyhis beloved wife of 70 years

Martha, hisson Vincent Peter,his grandchildren Lindsey Abila; Jennifer, Caroline, andThomas Halvorson (Thomasson-inlaw)brother Robert Avila (Bess),sisters;BerthaGar‐cia (late, Robert), Agnes Palacios(Alfred), Lorraine Berkos(late,Michael)and manyniecesand nephews. A.L.graduated from St MaryHighSchool in Albu‐querque,NM. He then joinedthe U.S. AirForce duringthe Korean conflict, being honorablydis‐charged 4years later. Shortly after beingdis‐charged,heappliedand was acceptedtoa position withthe FederalAviation Administrationwhere he servedwithdistinction for 27years,becomingthe youngestfacilitychief in the Southwestregionat thattime. Duty locations withthe agency as a pro‐fessional airtrafficcon‐troller were Albuquerque, NM, SanJuanPR, SanAnto‐nio,TX, Lubbock, TX Roswell NM andLakefront Airport in NewOrleans and Moisant International, New Orleans where he retired. Uponretiringheowned and operated ahunting and fishingshopinKenner, LA. He sold that business and went into avariety of outside salespositions withvarious companiesas hethoroughlyenjoyed the contact with thepeople. Duringhis lifetime,A.L was adevoted catholic parishioner at St.Christo‐pherthe Martyr,hewas veryinvolvedinthe Knights of Columbus,serv‐ing as Past GrandKnight, 3rd Degree,PastFaithful Navigator,4th Degree, Dis‐trict Deputy,PastGrand Commander,International Order of Alhambra.Hewas alsoveryactivewiththe Clearview LionsClubhav‐ing served as Presidentsix terms.Hewas therecipi‐ent of numerous KC and Lions awards includingthe Pro DeoPatreaMedal (4th Degree) andLionofthe year(sixtimes). A.L. was anavidhunter and fisher‐man andlefta largevari‐ety of trophies in hishome A.L.traveledextensively for business andpleasure but mostly forpleasure withhis beautifulwife Martha. Family andfriends are invitedtoattenda memorialservice on Fri‐day,November28, 2025, at GardenofMemoriesFu‐neral Home,4900 Airline Drive,Metairie, LA 70001 Visitationwillbegin at 9:00 am, with amassstartingat 11:00 am.A burial will take place at alater date.To send flowerstothe family, offeronlinecondolences or plant atreeinmemoryof A.L., please visit, www.gar denofmemoriesmetairie com.

Ambeau,Robin Rene

With sadnessweshare the passingofRobin Rene Ambeau, on November 6, 2025. Please visitwww.rho desfuneral.comtoview service information, sign onlineguestbook,send flowersand sharecondo‐lences.

Brent, Gaynell Rousell'Too-Too'

GaynellRousell Brent, affectionately called "TOOTOO", wasbornonNovem‐ber 6, 1939 andentered intoeternal rest on Novem‐ber 18, 2025. Sheissur‐vived by herson Reverend WilliamBrent,Jr. (Jai)and daughterBridgette Brent Frick (Darril, Jr.) as well as her sister EugenieR.Jack‐son.She wasalsothe guardianofher nephew ClaudeA.Wilsonand niece Evangelyn Wilson Caldwell Gaynell wasthe ninthof ten children born to the union of thelateUlmontB Rousell, Sr.and AdaM Rousell. Shewas preceded indeath by hersiblings; Ul‐montB.Rousell, Jr., Edwin B.Rousell, Sr Roudolph B. Rousell, Sr., LeonardB Rousell, Irving BRousell, Dorothy Rousell, Anita Rousell Lewis, andGwen‐dolyn RousellLove. Gaynell acceptedChristasher Lordand Savior at an early age andwas baptizedby the late Reverend Crispus S. Gordon,Sr. at theFirst

AfricanBaptist Church of the 6thDistrict. As an ar‐dentworkerfor theLord, under theleadershipofthe Rev.Gordon, Sr.Gaynell servedasthe Director of the YouthDepartment, a SundaySchool teacher, Baptist Training Unionand VacationBible School teacher.She wasa mem‐ber of theSeniorChoir and GospelChorus, whereby she sang withher strong altovoice.While servingin the Master's Vineyard, Gaynell wasa biblical scholar who dedicatedher‐selftothe teaching arms ofthe church as acommit‐ted member of BibleStudy Class. Sister Gaynell demonstratedand exer‐cised stewardshipuntil she wascalledtobewith the Lord.Educatedinthe New OrleansPublic Schools, shewas agradu‐ate of Walter L. CohenHigh School,class of 1957. She furthered hereducation and received herBache‐lor's,Masters,and ad‐vancedstudies from Xavier UniversityofNew Orleans. After graduation shejoined the staff of Xavier and taughtHealthand Physical Education.Following her tenureatXavier, shewas employedbythe New Or‐leans Public School System asanelementaryand prekindergartenteacher for thirtyplusyears.During her career as ateacher she wasfeaturedonthe local news forher accom‐plishmentswithyoung childrenaswellasother accolades.She wasactive inher community with the city'syouth.She served as a refereeand coachfor volleyballand othersports withthe NewOrleans RecreationDepartment (N.O.R.D.). Gaynellwas a stern,yet loving person who wastruly aGod-fear‐ing ChristianWoman with a jovial heart. Shehad a richheritageand life and was supportedbyher awe‐somevillage.Members of First AfricanBaptist Church (Old Baptist),the pastorand membersof PureLight Missionary Bap‐tistChurch,Greater Anti‐och MissionaryBaptist Church andSt. Stephen MissionaryBaptist Church, leadershipand staff of Total Community Action, Inc.,WalterL.Cohen Classesof1957 and1979 members of McDonogh 35 Class of 1981, friendsfrom Dillard University and members of DeltaSigma Theta Sorority,Inc.(NOA), staff of FleurDeLis and MemorialDaVitaCenters and thestaff of Passages Hospice Services arein‐vited to attend theCele‐bration of Life Servicefor Gaynell RousellBrent at PureLight Missionary Bap‐tistChurch locatedat3944 MartinLutherKing, Jr Blvd.,New Orleans Louisiana 70125 on Satur‐day,November29, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. visitation will be 8:30a.m.until 10:00a.m., Dr. AndreSigler(Host Pas‐tor), Rev. William BrentJr. officiating(Pastor of First African BaptistChurch). In‐terment: Mount Olivet Mausoleum,4000 Norman Mayer Ave. New Orleans, La. 70122. Gaynellwillbe sorelymissedbyher chil‐dren, sister,nieces, nephews,cousins,and a hostofmanylovingrela‐tives andfriends.Funeral ArrangementsEntrusted ToEstelle J. WilsonFuneral Home, Inc.,2715 Danneel Street,NOLA70113. Infor‐mation: (504) 895-4903. To signonlineguest book pleasevisit www.estelle jwilsonfh.com

Davis, Joseph Ronald

Joseph Ronald Davis, 72 ofMarrero,LA, wasbornin New Orleans, LA,onJuly6 1953, to thelateVonne Davis and thelateJoseph Shargois. He wassur‐rounded with intenselove, being oneofseven broth‐ers andeight sisters. He was abeloved husband,fa‐ther, grandfather, brother, and friend—knownfor his loveoftrucks, family,peo‐ple,and good food.Joseph leavesbehinda legacy of love, strength,service,and faith,learningearly theim‐portanceoffamily, disci‐pline,and hard work Josephmarried Shirley Davis on April27, 1980, and togethertheyshared45 years of marriage.Profes‐sionally, Joseph wasanen‐trepreneuratheart—build‐ing businesses, pursuing new opportunities,and in‐spiring others throughhis ambitionand discipline. He was well respected throughoutthe community forhis strong character

andleadership. Atruepil‐lar in thecommunity Josephwas always willing tohelpthose in need.He was aleaderofmen teachingand developing skillsthatallowed many to build careersthatsup‐portedtheir livesand fami‐lies. Histhrivingtrucking businessservednot only ashis livelihood butalso asa placewhere he men‐tored countless individu‐als,teachingmanyhow to drive trucks andlaunch their ownpaths in thein‐dustry. As apartofhis en‐trepreneurial ventures, Josephalsodrove school buses fora period of time, which afforded himthe op‐portunity to buildmean‐ingfulrelationships with students, coworkers, and community members— manyofwhombecamelike extendedfamilytohim Depending on thesetting those who knew himaffec‐tionately called him“Big Daddy,” “Poncho,”or Westside Daddy.” Joseph was strong,resilient, and confident.Baptizedatan early age, he wasa fol‐lower of JesusChristwho creditedGod forevery blessing—oftensaying, Man, Godhas blessedus too much forustobewor‐riedabout that foolish‐ness.”OnNovember14, 2025, ourbeloved Joseph RonaldDavis transitioned intoeternal rest,entering the presence of theLord whomhefaithfullyserved. Heissurvivedbyhis loving wife, Shirley; hischildren, Carlie(Loronzo),Kikoa (Thomas), Cedric (LaShawna), Terrell, and Eric; 14 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren;his brothers, Glenn(Darlene), Terry,Reginald(Lisa), Floyd (Marisa),Darryl (Pauline),Michael (Roslyn), andRicardo;and his sisters, Darlene, Crys‐tal,Patricia, andDebbie (Joseph). He is also sur‐vived by hisbrother-in-law James Jr.(Juanita) andhis sister-in-law Joycelyn.He isprecededindeath by his sisters Diane, Alice, Glen‐rose, andSandra, as well ashis mother-in-law Juanita andfather-in-law James.Healsoleavesbe‐hinda host of nieces and nephews,along with ex‐tendedfamilywho loved him dearly.Relatives and friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend thecelebra‐tionoflifeservice which willbeheldonFriday, No‐vember28, 2025, at Second Saint John BaptistChurch located at 242 Avondale GardenRoad, Avondale,LA 70094. Thevisitationwill begin at 8:30 a.m.,and the service will beginat10 a.m.PastorDamianJ Brown officiatingand in‐terment will follow at Rest‐lawnMemorialParkCeme‐teryinAvondale, La.Fu‐neral planning entrustedto RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home9611 LA -23, Belle Chasse,LA7007 (504) 2082119. Foronlinecondo‐lencespleasevisit www robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

LouisGarySr. 71 of Picayune,Mississippi passedawayonNovember 15, 2025. Louiswas born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He isprecededindeath by his fatherLouis Jamesand his motherDorothy Williams son;CourtneyGary, sis‐ter’s;Shirley Wilson, MarthaWilsonand Patricia Forthner, brother; Harold Garner, mother-in-law; Marie DeLoney, sisters-inlaw;Antionnette Simon and Yvonne DeLoney. He leaveshis wife Lillianand children: LouisGaryJr.,Ke‐wanaHenderson,and stepson Reginald Williams, his children in California Lavelle,Darell, Shuvette, and Lavette Gary,siblings; DeborahJackson,Earin

Garner,ReginaldGarner, JeromeJames,Saprita James andDeleechSav‐vage, siss-in-laws; Ann Scheaffer,Fanny Harrison, daughter-in-law;Trina Gary, son-in-law;VernHen‐derson, andbrother-in-law Arthur Harrison.Healso leavesthirteen grandchil‐dren, nine greatgrandchil‐dren, anda host of rela‐tives andfriends.Family and friendsare invitedto Celebrate Louis’sLifeon Saturday, November 29, 2025, for11:00 a.m. at Good NewsBaptist Church,2301 PaintersSt, NewOrleans, Louisiana 70117. Visitation willbegin at 10:00 a.m. ReverendOscar Williams officiating. Intermentis private.Repastat9511 ChefMenteur Hwy, Suite 112, NewOrleans,LA. The familywishestothank The BoydFamilyFuneralHome and Boyd Brooksfor their service andkindness. Guestbook Online:www anewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

GregoryJackson affectionately known as "Action Jackson" passed away peacefully at this home in NewSarpy,LASunday, November 23, 2025 while watching his favoritewesterns. Sonofthe late Melinda and Abraham Jackson, Sr. Brother of Brenda Jackson Washington of Destrehan, LA,the lateMary Lee Jackson, Olevia Jackson, Gloria Jackson Clark, Edna Cain, Abraham Jackson, Jr., Russell Jackson, Alvin Cain, Lewis Jackson, Howard Jacksonand Walter Jackson. Also survived by a host of nieces, nephews great-nieces and great nephews who lovedhim dearly, otherrelatives and friends. Age70years. A nativeand resident of New Sarpy, LA.Relatives and friendsofthe family,also pastors,officers, and membersofSt. Matthew Baptist Church and all neighboring churches are invited to attend thefuneral serviceatSt. Matthew Baptist church, 604 ES Johnson Street, NewSarpy, LA on Friday, November 28 2025 at 11:00 AM. Rev Albert Bailey,Pastor, Officiating.Interment St. Rose Cemetery, St. Rose, LA.Visitation at theabove namedchurch from10:00 AM until service time. SERVICED BY ROBOTTOM

Mark Anthony Jackson, born on June 21, 1961, to EthelBennett Jackson and thelate DaveJackson, Sr., in NewOrleans, Louisiana was aformerresident of both NewOrleans and Avondale.Hedeparted this life on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in St.Gabriel, Louisiana.

Mark was agiftedkeyboardist and singer, known for his warm spirit and abilitytoconnect with ev-

eryonehemet.Hewas cherished by many. He wasprecededin death by hisfather, two sisters: DianneJackson andDebraTrepagnier and nieceDiane Charles. He leaves to cherish his memory hismother, Ethel B. Jackson;two brothers: Dave Jackson,Jr. (Sophia) and Michael R. Jackson (Julian), onesister Patricia Thompson anda host of otherrelativesand friends. Relativesand friends are invited to attendthe funeral service on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Richardson Funeral Home, 11112 Jefferson Hwy., RiverRidge, LA 70123. Aviewing willbegin at 9:00 a.m. Intermentwill follow at RestlawnParkCemetery in Avondale, Louisiana. Richardson Funeral Home of Jefferson, River Ridge,LA, is in charge of arrangements. www.richardsonfuneral homeofjefferson.com

Doris“Dot” AnnLeBlanc, 89, thesecondoldestoften children, passedawaysur‐rounded by love on Satur‐day,November22, 2025 BorninNew Orleanstothe lateNed LouisLeBlanc and the late Alma Hicks LeBlanc,Dot grew up in Mid-Cityand attended St JosephGrammarand High School on Tulane Avenue In 1954, sheentered the Daughters of Charity, serv‐ing until1968. During this time, sheearnedher Bach‐elor’sDegreeinEducation, later receivingher Mas‐ter’s in SpecialEducation fromthe University of New Orleans.Inthe late 1960s and early1970s, Dottaught outpatientchildrenatDe‐PaulHospital. Shethen began herlongand beloved career as aspecial education teacheratLake‐viewElementary—later Hynes Elementary—where she devotedmorethan30 years to herstudents. She was honoredmultiple times as Teacherofthe Year. As aproud member ofDelta KappaGamma she served as vice presi‐dentand remained deeply committed to thebetter‐mentofthe teaching pro‐fession.Dot waspassion‐ate abouteducation and the wellbeingofevery child entrustedtoher care Dotwas preceded in death

by hersiblingsEaston LeBlanc,Joyce L. Duke,Ned LeBlanc,and Robert “Bobby” LeBlanc. Sheis survivedby5 siblings Jan‐ice L. Stiebing (late, Charles), Alma L. Hesse (late,Richard), Mary L. Ford(late,Charles), James “Jimmy” LeBlanc(Sheryl), and BarbaraL.Worden (Ernie),2 sisters-in-law, Helen C. Leblancand Laura A.Leblanc andher dearest friendand companionof over50years,Catherine “Bridget” Spanja.Dot is alsosurvivedbya large and loving extended fam‐ily:34niecesand nephews (with onedeceasedniece), 62great-niecesand nephews (withone de‐ceasedgreat-nephew),and 20great-great-niecesand nephews,withtwo more onthe way. Dotwillbere‐memberedfor hervibrant personality andthe simple joysshe treasured—an avidreader, alover of frozencoffee, an enthusi‐astic bingoplayer, anda devoted cigarette andvape smoker. Shefound deep fulfillmentinspending timewithher familyand worryingovereachof theminher ownloving way.Her sharpwit brought laughtertocountless mo‐ments,and heraccep‐tance,kindness, andnon‐judgmentallovemade everyonefeel seen and cherished.Toknowher was to love her—andtobe loved by herwas trulya blessing. Thefamilyex‐pressestheir heartfelt gratitude to Veronica Holmes, who became like family, forher devoted care, support, andlove duringthe last four years. Theyalsooffersincere thankstothe compassion‐ate staff of Passages Hos‐piceand NouveauMarkIn‐dependent Living Facility for theirexceptional care Familyand friendsare in‐vited to attend thememor‐ial services on Saturday November29, 2025, at Gar‐den of Memories Funeral Home, 4900 AirlineDrive, Metairie, La 70001. Visita‐tionwillbegin at 12:00 pm witha Mass followingat 2:00pm, burial will follow immediatelyafter services inGardenofMemories cemetery. Allguestsare welcome to join thefamily backinFuneralHomeafter the burial fora reception. Tosend flowerstothe fam‐ily,offer online condo‐lencesorplant atreein memoryofDot ,please visit,www.gardenofmem oriesmetairie.com

You are missed and loved!

Remember

LeBlanc, DorisAnn 'Dot'

Jackson, Gregory

See more DEATHS page

Gary Sr., Louis

Jackson, Mark Anthony

Editor’snote:This editorial, withslight modifications,has appeared on previous Thanksgivings in the newspaper

In early October1863, President AbrahamLincoln issued aproclamation.

“I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, andalso those who are at sea and those who aresojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe thelastThursday of November next as aDay of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Fatherwho dwelleth in the heavens,” he wrote.

Lincoln’sproclamation,for thefirsttime, officially established the date of America’sannual Thanksgiving Day,though the traditionof giving thanks went back much further.Traced to aharvest feast shared by Plymouth settlers and Native American Wampanoag people in 1621, thecustom of thanksgiving had persisted in the colonies and states for decades before Lincoln’s time Lincoln’scall for unity was driven by his conviction that, despite whathecalled “a civil war of unequaled magnitude andseverity,” there were still blessings to be counted “by the wholeAmerican people.”

We find these words resonant. Awartime president, despised in large swaths of the countryto thepoint of armedconflict, called on allAmericans to join together and acknowledgethateven in the face of immense challenges, they had much to be thankful for Lincoln noted in his proclamation thateven amid thewar,manyplaces were peaceful,laws were respected and people lived in harmony. Additionally,crops were still being grown,towns and cities were expanding and American industry was healthy and robust.Freedom,heexpected,would continuetoincrease.

Those words are applicable today

We remain aland of plenty.Weare still aplace where,for many,everything weneed and most things we want are easily obtained.Thisisnot true for everyone, of course, and our gratitude should fuel our service to them.

Our abundance still draws thehuddled masses who, like those four centuries ago who risked a dangerous sea journey to arriveonthese shores, undertake perilous treks to the United States in the hopes of abetter life. It is worth it to remember that those firstpilgrims were immigrants to a new world, reliant on those they met here to treat them with kindness

Even our intense political differences can be cast in away that engenders gratitude. Onedoes not devote intensity to something about which onedoes not care. Apathywould beatruecause for concern.

We don’twish to whitewash our problems. We will certainly spend ahefty portion of the other 364 days of the year focused on those

But on this one day,the fourthThursdayinNovember,wechoose to join with Lincolnand callon our readers to consider our manyblessingsworthy of being “solemnly,reverently,and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.”

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE

WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

In 2023, as Louisiana celebrated securing Class VI primacy,Itold thenewspaper that Louisiana was “on theverge of anew golden age” of energy.With carbon capture and sequestration poised to take American energy dominance to new heights, we were years ahead of any other state.

As theTrumpadministration repealed manyofthe Biden-era tax credits, it doubled down on support for CCS in theOne Big Beautiful Bill because thetechnology is viable and has clear market demand. Since gaining primacy,industry announced $70 billion in new investmentcoming to our state, almost all with aCCS component. This investmentcan create more of the job opportunities that will keep our kids here in Louisianaand improve lives across our state.

Butaswe’ve had theopportunity to supercharge Louisiana’seconomy past other Southern states, we spent two legislative sessions debating whether to kneecap thebiggest economic advantage Louisiana has had in our lifetime.

Now,almost two years since gaining Class VI primacy,Louisiana has permitted only one project, and Texas is on the verge of surpassing us.

Earlier this month,the EPAannounced it has awarded Texas with Class VI primacy,erasing Louisiana’shead start. My counterpart at the Texas Oil and Gas Association Todd Staples is saying, “Texas is now poised to lead the world in CCS, which means moreinvestmentand more jobs for Texans.”

While we no longer have the lead, the gameisnot over.Companies are deciding now whether to do business in LouisianaorTexas. They are looking at regulatory uncertainty,antibusiness litigation and hesitancy of astate to seize clear opportunities. We still have thepotential to take back the leadership position that is attracting so much opportunity to our state. We just need to grasp it. TOMMY FAUCHEUX president, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association

Louisianans work hard,pray hard and look outfor one another Buttoo manyfamiliesare one medical bill from broke, one tuitionhike from giving up. We don’t want socialism. We don’t want rigged, winner-take-all capitalismeither Look at Denmark,Sweden, Norway —the freest, mostprosperous, happiest countries on Earth. Their leaders say it loud: “We’re capitalist marketeconomies.” Theyjustrefuse to letgood people fall through thecracks.

Their recipe:

n Health care forall —nobankruptcies,no funeralsoverbills

n College andtrade school youcan actually afford n Safety nets that catch families, not trap them

n Lowtaxes on workers and small businesses; big corporationspay theirshare Results? Highertake-home pay, more startups,better schools, longer lives. That’snot radical.That’swinning. Louisiana can do it our way:

n Real health care without thegames.

n Affordable college andskills training for good local jobs.

n Fairtaxes —cut the little guy abreak, make the giants pay up.

n Train our people for the next boom, not thelast one. Hard work should pay. Period Faith.Family.Fairness. That’sthe Louisianaway

Let’sbuild astate whereeverybody gets a shot —not just the connected few.

Regarding thearticle, “Debate over ‘no-party’ voters reignites” on Nov.10, Iagree withthe concept that a“large swath of unaffiliated voters” will get to pick one party or the other.That’s better than nothing, but why should we have to settle for that?

The new law on closed party primary elections is somewhat confusing, because it is partly “open primaries” (but not “pure closed” primaries) withthe condition that “No Party voters who choosetoparticipate in the closed-party primary will be able to select aparty’sballot at their polling place and must stay with that party through any necessary runoff.” Why should unaffiliated voters have to stick with the partyofthe person they voted for in aprimary if there is arunoff? Andifthey

cannot vote in party primaries at all, why should taxpayers pay for administering primary elections at all?

It would be much simpler if we in Louisiana, as some states do, had open primaries and ranked-choice voting (alsoreferred to as “instant runoff” and currently banned here) in the primaries and in the general election. Such asystem would be simpler,less expensive and allow unaffiliated voters to escape what one writer has called the “stranglehold” of the two-party system.That would increase participation and strengthen theinfluenceofunaffiliated voters —overall greatly benefiting our democraticsystem to moreaccurately reflect the will of thepeople.

BRUCEWILDER NewOrleans

SCOTT LEBLEU Lafayette

I’mfrom Alabama, and an Alabama State University football fan, however,I cheer forall HBCU programs. And by the way,there’snothing better than Cajun food and beautiful Louisiana women.Please review the University of West Georgia’sfootball program to see how ayoung African American coach named Joel Taylor turned alosing program into apowerhouse in just twoyears. Taylor would turn Southern’sprogram into an instant winner and dominate the SWAC virtually every year.And more importantly,hewould challenge forthe national championship on ayearly basis.

JOHN SHAVER Valley, Alabama

Regional Summary

DEATHS continued from aryService,Inc.(504) 5235872.

MinorSr.,Edward Louis'Pip'

Edward LouisMinor,Sr.

December26, 1929 –No‐vember10, 2025. Edward Louis “Pip”Minor,Sr.,age 95, passed away peacefully onNovember10, 2025,with his loving wife,Charlene Reimoninq Minorbyhis side. BelovedfatherofKim G.Minor (Orelia),Gia M. Bowens(Alonzo)and the lateEdwardL.Minor,Jr. He was afather figure to Ter‐rence Johnson(Kiana) TravisJohnson,Terriane Jefferson (Cleveland), and Therese Johnson. Cher‐ished grandfatherof14 and great-grandfatherof6 Heisalsosurvivedby brother Carlos Minor (Lerner), sister-in-law Theresa Minorand ahost ofnieces, nephews, cousins andother relatives and friends. He nowjoins ineternal rest hisparents Rathonise Honore’and JosephC.Minor,his first wife, BlancheM.Minor,son EdwardL.Minor Jr andhis siblingsVeronicaMinor, JosephMinor,Irene Smith, LorraineTroullier (Jerome), Eleanor Williams,Robert Minor,Alvarez Minor (Yvonne)and Harold Minor.Edwardownedand operatedGalvezCleaners for over 50 years, serving the 7thWardwithloveand dedication. He wasa funloving, fancy dressing prankster that always had a greatjoketotell. His kindness, faith, andgen‐erosity touchedcountless relatives,friends,neigh‐bors, andcustomers.Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend theFuneral Service on Monday,De‐cember1,2025 at 10:00am atPilgrim’s Rest Baptist ChurchNo. 2, 2200 Louisiana Ave. NewOr‐leans,LA70115. Visitation willbegin at 9:00am.Burial willbeinSoutheast Louisiana Veterans Ceme‐tery34888 Grantham Col‐legeDr. Slidell, LA 70460. In LieuOfFlowers Please SendPottedPlants. Profes‐sionalArrangementsEn‐trustedtoMajesticMortu‐

Lovenia B. Mull(Lou) on Monday, November 24, 2025atage 92 with her husband by hersidewent home to be with Jesus. Born on December 2,1932, to her parentswho preceded her in death along with her beloved brotherAllan and son-in-lawGary Palmisano Sr. Sheissurvived by the love of her life and soul matefor 73 years Philip (Phil) Mull, her childrenPhilip (Phil)Mull Jr.(Dottie), Debbie Mull Cindy Catalano (Frank), and Karen Palmisano, her grandchildren, Philip (Phil) MullIII (Meredith), Chad Mull(Dana), Shaun Mull (Gaylin), ChantellJennings (Peter),BrandonLaiche, Gary Palmisano Jr. (Megan) Frank Catalano Jr. (Stephanie), Brandi Shoemake(Cal), Nick Catalano,SuzieSiragusa (Sal), Jacen Catalano, many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Lou is also survived by her siblings, Ruby, Millie, Roy and Sue along with many treasured nieces, nephews and friends. Lou wasretired from StateFarm after 28 years as avaluedsecretary.Her greatestjoy was cateringtoher husband, family and friends and helping anyone in need. Shewas so very proud that herfamilyextended to five generations and loved when everyonewas together.Lou and Phil enjoyed manyyears ofdriving vacations to allstates outwest, alongwithLas Vegas, Montana and Canada. Along the way they sharedmany laughs, made beautiful memories and storiestoshare. The family wouldliketoextend theirheartfelt gratitudeto her wonderful caregiver

family:Dr. MichelleDavis, MJ, Jessi,Mrs.Lois, Mrs Augustine,Ms. Nyrobe,Ms. Darlene and theAnvoi Hospice Family.A celebration of life will be held at a laterdate.

AnthonyI.Perkins Sr., affectionately knownas BigPerk,"was called hometorestonSunday, November16, 2035 at the age of 63. He wasbornto the late Joseph Green Perkins,III andMaudrey Mae PerkinsonSeptember 23, 1962. Devotedhusband ofBarbara C. Perkins. A proud graduate of Booker T.WashingtonHighSchool Anthony furtheredhis edu‐cationbyattendingSouth‐ern University in Baton Rouge,where he wasa memberofthe renowned "HumanJukebox"March‐ing Band.Hededicated his professionallifeasa truck driver, workingfor compa‐niesincluding Sysco, Southeastern, andABF Freight lines. Anthony leavestocherish hismem‐ory,ninechildren, Ay‐isheya, Jessica, Antoinette Jasmin, AnthonyJr.,J’Nea, Jo’Nell,Timothy Perkins and MacAnthony Fryar; thirtyone grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; sisters,Lutre’Pichonand Maudrey Jones, as well as a host of nieces,nephews, other relativesand friends. In addition to hisparents, Anthony is also preceded indeath by siblings, JosephG.Perkins,IV, Abi‐gailPerkins andFaith Hampton, twograndchil‐dren, Tierra Le’Nay and Journee Perkins. ACelebra‐tionservice honoring the lifeand legacy of thelate Anthony I. Perkins, Sr.will beheldatPhillip Memorial UnitedMethodist Church 3632 Burdette Street,New Orleans,LA70125 on Satur‐day, November 29, 2025 at

10:30 am.Interment Provi‐dence Memorial Park.Visi‐tation9 am in thechurch Pleasesignonlineguest‐book at www.Charbonnetf uneralhome.com. Charbon‐net LabatGlapion,Direc‐tors(504)581 4411.

Frances Boyce Miller Rodgers,beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, entrepreneur,artist, and friend, passed away peacefully in NewOrleans, Louisiana, on November 18, 2025. She was 95. She was born on July1,1930, in Amarillo, Texas,toRobert William Millerand Rebecca Boyce Ware. Educated exclusivelyinTexas,she earneda Bachelorof Science degree in Costume Design, Clothing and Textiles fromthe University of Texas at Austin. On August 16, 1952, Frances wed John Alden Rodgers,also of Amarillo, and together they relocated to NewOrleans, Louisiana, where they raised their family and resided forthe remainder of their lives. In the early 1970s, drawing on her design background, Frances foundeda retaildesign establishment, Caché Pôt,on Magazine Streetinthe Garden District of New Orleans. She builta successfulbusiness and had a stylethat was uniquely her own. Recognizedbythe NewOrleans community forher exquisite designs, her creativeworkwas featuredonseveral occasions in The Times-Picayuneand NewOrleans Magazine. Fanny, as she was affectionatelyknown to her family,was atrue force and aclass act.Toknow her was to understand she was keenly observant and insightful,fiercely devoted, and generous beyond mea-

sure.She hadanartistic, creative mind, aheartthe sizeofTexas, anda flair that suitedher adopted city of NewOrleans.She wasa trailblazerand graciously shared hertalents with herfamily, clients, and many friends. She touched so many lives and will be deeply missed. Frances is survived by her children: Robert Rodgers (Patty), RebeccaGrant, Victoria Spruce (Joseph), and Marjorie Sullivan (Richard), sister Ida Dwight,grandchildren: Jason,Melissa, Victoria Ashley, andShannon, and great-grandchildren: Quinn, Myles, Aspyn,and James. Shewas preceded in death by herhusbandof 63 years, John, andgrandson, Michael Alden. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Frances's memory to Parkway Presbyterian Church,where Frances wasa chartermember and gave countless hoursof hertimeand talents to the betterment of hercommunity. www.parkwaypresbyt erianchurch.org. Aprivate memorial service will be held by thefamily.

Thibodeaux, James Rogers 'Jimmie'

JamesRogers Thibodeaux (Jimmie) en-

teredeternal rest on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the age of 86. BelovedhusbandofViola Thibodeaux. Sonoflate MesminThibodeaux and VerniceVigeHumphrey Jameswas also preceded by twobrothersCharles Thibodeaux andRaphael Thibodeaux andsister Betty Collins. Also,his great grandson Nicholas Walther, Jr.Survivedbyhis daughterCheryl Thibodeaux Holmes (Chuck) and GranddaughterEmily Bowman. Grandsons EugeneBowman, Donnie Walther and Nicholas WaltherSr. There are also numerousStepchildren, Step grandchildren andnumerousnieces and Nephews. Jameswas born in Opelousas, La. March2 1939 and spentmost of his life on theWestBankof NewOrleans,September 27, 1969 he marriedViola Matherine were married45 years before shepassed. James's memory will live in ourheartsforever Arrangements are being handled by Family-Funeral andCremation in Pensacola later we will have agravesideservice at RestlawnPark, Avondale, Louisiana

Mull,Lovenia 'Lou'

PerkinsSr.,Anthony I. 'Big Perk'

Rodgers,Frances Boyce Miller

SPORTS

Five lights in dark times forN.O. sports fans

Happy Thanksgiving, New Orleans sports fans.

And yes, Iknow what you’re thinking. What in the world is there to be thankful for when the calendar is approaching December and the Saintsand Pelicans have combined for five wins?

Sometimes, you have to look beyond the results.

Today’sedition wasprinted early becauseofThanksgiving deadlines To find up-to-date sports coverage, visit nola.com

Rod Walker

Other times, you have to look somewhere other than AirlineDrive, which is whatwewill do here as we start this list of five things New Orleans sports fans should be thankful for 1. Tulane football

Yeah, let’sbypassthe Saints and Pelicans’ facility in Metairie and start Uptown,where

Jon Sumrall’sGreen Wave team is about to punch its ticket to the American Conferencechampionship game.It’llbethe fourth consecutive year theGreen Wave hasplayedfor the conference title,meaning thereare some students on campus whoprobably think winning footballisthe norm around Tulane.

Trust me, that hasn’talways been the case, but it is now.

So props to Tulane, which needs to beat 1-10 Charlotte on Saturday night to host the conference championship game. Beating Charlotte shouldn’tbeaproblem. While you can count the Saints andPelicans’ wins on one hand, you can countCharlotte’s wins on one finger Atrip to the College Football Playoffis also withinreach for the Green Wave,so there’salso that to be thankful for.The real

ALLE YES ON KIFFIN

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

Around noon on Nov. 17, several of LaneKiffin’sfamily members, including his ex-wife, walkedout of aprivate hangar at the Baton Rouge airport. Theyclimbedinto ablack Chevrolet Suburbanand were driven through the city forthe rest of the day, getting afeel for where they might live as he consideredthe LSUjob.

Alittle morethan aweek later,Kiffin is still theprimary target in LSU’s coaching search, multiple sources with knowledge of the process told The Advocate. LSU leaderswant to secure acommitment from himwithin theweek,but histrue intentions remain uncertain to many involved heading into acritical weekend.

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

ä LSU vs: Marist 7P.M. FRIDAy,ESPN+

Last season, the LSU women’sbasketball team flew to The Bahamas the week of Thanksgiving to play two power-conference teams, including one thatwas ranked This year,the No. 5Tigers (6-0)won’t be challenged thesame way.They’re competing in theParadise Jam Tournament on the U.S. Virgin Islands this week.OnFriday,they’ll face Marist for a chance to play either Miami of Ohio or awinless Washington State team from the zombie Pac-12 on Saturday LSU doesn’tplay aparticularly difficult nonconferenceschedule. It neverhas, at least not since coach Kim Mulkey took over theprogram in 2021 But this season, the Tigers have given themselves an especially lighter preludeto Southeastern Conferenceplay.Preseason No. 7Duke is the only power-conference team on the slate, and it’s already suffered three losses and fallen out of the AP Top25 Poll, which means that LSUlikely will have to wait until January to play aranked team. Mulkey’s OK with that scenario.

BY GUERRYSMITH Contributingwriter

Safety Bailey Despanie,one of seven Tulane players on the verge of making American Conference history,understands exactly how significantawin against Charlotte would be Saturday No onehas reached the league’s championship game four years in a rowsince its inception in 2015, but the 49ers (1-10, 0-7) are theonly team standing between the Green Wave (9-2, 6-1) and that first-time accomplishment. When Despanie redshirted in 2021, Tulane went 2-10.Inhis four active seasons, the Wave is 41-11. “It definitely makes it sweeter formethat we put so muchinto the program to put us in this position,” he said. “It took alot from administration, coaching and the players Everybody just bought into ourTulane culture. Ifeel like that’sthe majority of it right there. Everybody just bought in and we’ve just been playing Tulane-fashion

ä Charlotte at Tulane 6:30 P.M.SATURDAy,ESPNU

football ever since then.” On the current roster,only Despanie, wide receiver Bryce Bohanon and defensive tackle ElijahChampaign were part of that dismal 2021 season. Guard Shadre Hurst,defensive linemanKam Hamilton, defensive end Gerrod Henderson and wide receiverGarrett Mmahatjoinedthemin 2022, when Tulane reboundedindramatic fashion, going 12-2 while pummeling Central Florida in the American championship gameatYulman Stadium and stunning USC in the Cotton Bowl. With the exception of defensive backs coach J.J. McCleskey,everyone else, including coach Jon Sumrall, arrived after the start of Tulane’sglorious run. Despanie, whohas 182 career tackles, is not shy about taking someofthe credit forthe sustained

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane safety Bailey Despanie

STAFF ILLUSTRATION ByTANyARAMIREZ

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD Saints quarterback Tyler Shough warmsup before agame againstthe Atlanta Falcons on Sundayatthe CaesarsSuperdome.

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS

3:30

3:30

10 a.m. Richmond vs.

Destrehan RB gives back with food drive

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Destrehan junior Malachi Dabney is best known for what he can do on the football field, especially with how the standout running back scored seven touchdowns in a rivalry win against Hahnville last month

Or with the way he ended his football season as the District 10-5A offensive most valuable player

His desire off the field is to make an equally large impact.

Thanksgiving begins the period of the year when Dabney will ask for non-perishable food donations so he can personally make deliveries to those in need.

He hosted a food drive for the first time last year and made what he said were “three or four” inperson deliveries to homes in St Rose. At each home, he knocked on the door and waited for someone to open it.

“I was a little nervous because I never did nothing like that before,” Dabney said. “But it wasn’t that bad. It felt good to give to people that are in need of food and stuff like that.”

“You could tell on their faces they were really thankful,” he said.

Dabney created the food drive because “I always want to help somebody,” he said. “If there’s a way for me to help, I love to help. It’s positivity, and I just want to spread that.”

He thought for longer than a year that he would like to lead a food drive.

“The people I’m surrounded by,” Dabney said, “and the stuff I’ve seen growing up, I was just inspired to do it.”

Rachel Demouchet helped Dabney organize the food drive as one of the coordinators for the locally based Next Generation 7-on-7 football team and the More Than Athletics education-based initiative — both founded by former Hahnville standout and NFL

Area playoff schedule

All games 7 p.m. Friday

I No.

(11-0)

player LaRon Byrd.

Demouchet said the 7-on-7 players are encouraged to participate in community service activities, and Dabney told her “There were quite a few times at home we didn’t have enough food,” and so he suggested, “How about a food drive?” she said.

From there, Dabney came up with the Feed the Dream name for the food drive and had a logo created that included an interlocking MD (his initials) with block lettering.

That logo will be displayed on a food collection bin placed at the Destrehan High School main entrance starting Monday, Demouchet said. Food collection will continue until Dec. 20. Distribution will begin Dec. 22. Coach Marcus Scott said the food drive was the first he saw from a high school player

“I’ve had guys who have been older who went off to college and went on to the NFL and came back,” Scott said as he described Dabney as “tough” and a “teamfirst guy.”

Byrd, the former NFL player from Hahnville, has trained Dabney during the winter and spring

for the past three years. He saw how Dabney kept up with the older players when he was younger and how he ran the levee after workouts.

“The biggest thing I see from Malachi is he is competing with himself,” Byrd said.

The two watch film together, “and he always cuts to the plays where he could have done better,” Byrd said.

Dabney always has been “so willing to say, ‘Oh, let me help,’” said his mother Mikeisha DeJean-Dabney “It’s a true blessing, a testament that he really is growing up to be a great young man.”

His success on the football field should elevate his platform.

Demouchet was with Dabney in a Walmart sometime after the seven-touchdown game against Hahnville when someone recognized him and asked, “Is that No. 24? Is that the guy that got all them touchdowns last week?”

“He was his same humble self,” Demouchet said. “‘Yeah, that was me.’ Nothing flashy.”

With Dabney, “You don’t have to worry about him doing those stupid teenager things,” Demouchet said “We don’t have to tell him to take something down off social media, or tell him, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t have said that to that person; that was mean.’

“He’s caring, he’s kind, he’s always wanting to help people.”

Dabney does not want to stop at just a food drive.

“How can we start building homes for homeless people?” Demouchet said he asked her

The food drive is just a starting point.

“I’m hoping as time goes on it gets better and it can be more of an impact so it can help families,” Dabney said. “I just want it to get bigger over time.”

Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

Packers’ Love says shoulder won’t impact his play

BY STEVE MEGARGEE

AP sportswriter

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love says he’s “not going to sugarcoat” the fact he’s dealing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, however the Green Bay Packers quarterback says it isn’t something that should prevent him from playing effectively Love hurt his left shoulder and missed part of one series before rallying the Packers to a 27-20 victory over the New York Giants on Nov 16. He returned to start Green Bay’s 23-6 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday but was only handing off with his right hand.

“It’s one of those where I’m able to play through it,” Love said Tuesday “Obviously, anytime you take a hit, fall on it, you feel it But nothing that it is holding me back or nothing that I can’t play through.” Love is dealing with this injury as the Packers prepare to play their second game in a five-day stretch. The Packers (7-3-1) visit the Detroit Lions (7-4) on Thursday Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Love’s ability to continue playing is a testament to the quarterback’s toughness.

“It takes a lot of physical and mental toughness to play the quarterback position, to be able to stand in there, especially when you are injured, knowing that you’re probably going to get hit at some point,” LaFleur said. “I thought he exuded that I thought there were some moments where I was kind of holding my breath at times where he’s getting hit and releasing the ball.”

This is the second time this season that Love has dealt with an injury to his non-throwing hand or arm. He underwent surgery on his left thumb in August, an injury that gave him some experience at using only his right hand on handoffs.

“I think early on when I had my thumb surgery, I was doing a lot with just (my) right hand, and I think I just kind of subconsciously

Buzz builds for Arizona, ASU rivalry contest

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Territorial Cup will be brimming with juice this year

A rivalry dating to the McKinley presidency will take a massive uptick in intensity on Friday night, when Arizona faces Arizona State in one of the most anticipated Territorial Cup games in a decade. Both teams are on the upswing, both still have plenty to play for and, yes, they still don’t like each other

“Rivalry games have so much to them that make them so fun and exciting, but when you have two teams coming together that are both playing good football, it adds a little extra juice to it,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said.

The Territorial Cup has been dotted with lopsided wins in recent years — the latest, Arizona State’s 49-7 win in Tucson — as the programs have labored to find a consistent footing.

This year will be different. Arizona State is coming off its first College Football Playoff and is still in the mix for another albeit a longshot — despite a litany of injuries this season in its third year under coach Kenny Dillingham. Arizona took a major upward swing in its second season under Brennan, riding a four-game winning streak after winning four games all last season.

The result: the rivals both have eight wins heading into the Territorial Cup game for the first time since 2014.

“It’s awesome to have this game played with two really good football teams,” Dillingham said. “I think that’s what you want. You want this game to matter It’s awesome that it matters.”

Dillingham has done his part by returning the Sun Devils to the national spotlight.

Arizona State labored through an injury-ravaged 3-9 first season under the ASU alum in 2023 before pulling together one of the program’s best seasons.

Led by quarterback Sam Leavitt and battering-ram running back Cam Skattebo, the Sun Devils won the Big 12 championship their first season in the league and reached the CFP for the first time last year Skattebo is now in the NFL and Leavitt suffered a season-ending foot injury in early November, yet Arizona State has kept finding ways to win.

Bay

Green Bay, Wis.

started doing that in this game,”

Love said.

LaFleur noted the complications that can come from only using one hand for handoffs throughout a game

“I don’t think you necessarily want to see that,” LaFleur said. “I think it’s not natural, and you never want to put the ball in jeopardy And certainly some of our passes will come off our actions, and if you’re not doing the right action, it can take away from that effect, I would say.”

Love’s latest injury occurred when he took a big hit from Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles at the end of a scramble late in the first quarter of the Giants game. Malik Willis came in and led the Packers into the end zone before Love returned for the next series

“It’s an injury,” Love said “I’m not going to sugarcoat it.”

The injury didn’t stop him from throwing two touchdown passes later in that game and leading the Packers to another victory the following week.

Love had season lows in pass at-

tempts (21) and passing yards (139) against the Vikings, but LaFleur said the Packers stayed conservative on offense by design because their defense was dominating the game so thoroughly

Love said the Packers have taken steps to help protect his shoulder as much as possible, though he didn’t offer specifics.

“There’s things that you are able to do, and we’ve done those things,” Love said “So we’ll continue to do them but I’m not going to continue to get into detail and talk through it, but there’s definitely some things that we’ve done to help out and be able to play and hopefully put myself in the best foot forward. But at the end of the day, anytime you’re injured, playing through things, there’s always a chance of risking more injuries, things like that.”

Sunday marked the third time in four games that Love hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass. He has two touchdown passes over his past four games after throwing 13 in Green Bay’s first seven games. He has thrown only three intercep-

tions all season. Love lost his most reliable option when tight end Tucker Kraft tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Nov 2. Love has spent the past two games adjusting to taking snaps from a different player, as Sean Rhyan took over at center after Elgton Jenkins hurt his ankle. LaFleur has said Jenkins is “highly unlikely” to return this season. The Packers did get wide receiver Christian Watson back last month after he recovered from a torn ACL. The Packers also opened the 21-day practice window for Jayden Reed last week as he prepares to return from foot and shoulder injuries that have kept him out since mid-September

“I think the offense, we’ve got to constantly be evolving and finding ways to get guys who are kind of hot in the moment, keep feeding them and finding ways to evolve as an offense,” Love said. “That’s the journey of the season as it goes through. Injuries happen, but you’ve got to find ways to keep going and keep adjusting.”

Quarterback Jeff Sims has filled in for Leavitt nicely and the Sun Devils (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) still have an outside shot at playing in the Big 12 championship game again after blowing out Colorado 42-17 last week. Arizona State’s rise and Dillingham’s enthusiasm have ignited a fan base that’s been blasé at times through the years, leading to sellouts every home game this season.

“It certainly makes it more exciting for the fans, knowing that both teams are coming into it playing good football and I think that’s what it should be,” Brennan said. “You want these games to have a big impact.”

Brennan has engineered a similar second-year turnaround in Tucson.

The former San Jose State coach inherited a program coming off a 10-win season under coach Jedd Fisch but had trouble gaining any traction in his first season in Tucson. But after finishing 4-8 last year, the Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) have turned the narrative around behind dynamic quarterback Noah Fifita and a stifling defense that’s among the nation’s best after being one of the worst a year ago.

“They’re playing as good of football, in our league, as anybody right now,” Dillingham said. So are the Sun Devils, adding a whole lot of juice to the Territorial Cup.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Destrehan running back Malachi Dabney runs for a touchdown as Hahnville defender Jacob Jeffrey gives chase on Nov. 1, 2024, in Destrehan.

AP PHOTO By ROSS D FRANKLIN Arizona State quarterback Jeff

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT LUDTKE

Green

Packers quarterback Jordan Love passes during a game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in

TULANE

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successthroughformer coach Willie Fritz and Sumrall.

“The majority,that’son me,” he said. “I was here when we established that, and me being able to keep that thing going with two coaching staffs,I’m proudofit.”

Tulane can join an exclusivelist

In the 10 conferences thathave beenaround for thechampionship-game era, Clemson(2015-20 in the ACC), Florida (1992-96in the SEC), Oklahoma (2017-2020 in the Big 12), Ohio State (2017-20 in the Big Ten), Boise State (2017-20 in theMountainWest),UL(201821 in the Sun Belt), Marshall (1997-2002 in the Mid-American Conference) and Northern Illinois(2010-15 in the MAC)are the other schools with four or more consecutive appearances in title matchups.

Sumrall singled out Despanie and Bohanon,who was leading the team in receptions before suffering aleg injury in practice last week that likely will prevent him from playing on senior night against Charlotte. Before2022, the Wave had not sniffed aconference championship sincegoing undefeated in 1998 as amember of Conference USA.

“This program is playerdriven,”Sumrall said.“Slim Despanie, Bryce Bohanon, that’swhy we are

LSU

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Will Kiffin stay at Ole Miss, where he has ateam on the cusp of the College FootballPlayoff for the first time, or leave for LSU or Florida? Kiffinhas said repeatedly he feels happy with his lifeatOle Miss,but he may believe theother programs offer abetter chance to win national championships. He has yet to sign acontract extension with the Rebels, even afterameeting last Friday with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter and university chancellorGlenn Boyce. Although asenseofconfidence has grown since late last week around LSU, multiple officials acknowledged Kiffin’sunpredictable natureand the way coaching searches can take an unexpected turn in the final days. Many are waiting for finality with an announcement on Kiffin’sfuture expected Saturday,the day after No. 6Ole Miss plays rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl Adeal with Kiffinhas not been finalized as of press timeTuesday evening, multiple sources said, and LSU has narroweda list of other candidates that includes Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz. It’s unclear who else is underserious consideration. At this stage,all eyes areonKiffin.

HowLSU gothere

Kiffin, 50, emerged as atop targetafter LSU firedcoach Brian Kelly on Oct. 26. The beginning of the search was chaotic as LSU partedways with athletic director Scott Woodward afterhefaced public criticism from Gov. Jeff Landry,but the school named longtime athletic official Verge Ausberry as his replacement less than aweek later.Ausberry’s coaching connections were seen as an advantage. The search heated up last Monday,when LSU officials arranged for adonor’sprivate plane to bring Kiffin’sfamily to Baton Rouge

where we are—because of their commitment toseeing this thing through and look different than maybe it didintheirfreshman year.Thoseare two unbelievable leaders on this team. It’samazing to seewhattheyhavegone throughtowhere we are nowasa program.”

Sumrallalso paidtribute to the leaders of the past,from linebacker Nick Anderson to quarterback

Kiffindid not make the trip. They spentabout six hours on the ground before flyingback to Oxford, Mississippi, using thetime to look at housesand learn about the local high schools.

Kiffin’sson, Knox, is aquarterback in the 2028 class who has gathered afew scholarship offers early in therecruiting process, according to 247Sports. Knox posted aphotoofhimself on social media Friday night wearing LSU headphones before aplayoff game. Theday before, Kiffin’sdaughter, Landry,attended an LSUbooster event in BatonRouge.Landry, a sophomore at Ole Miss, is dating LSUlinebacker Whit Weeks.

DetailsonLSU’s offeremerge

Conversations have continued between the two sides since then, and LSU leaders discusseda contract that would make Kiffin oneof —ifnot the— highest-paid coaches in thecountry.LSU is expected to offer at least $13 million per year, sourcessaid. Officialswanted ashorter term than the 10-year contract Kelly had with the Tigers, andYahoo Sports first reported it would be aseven-year deal.

Kiffinmade$9millionthis season before incentives. Accordingto USAToday,Georgia coach KirbySmart is currentlythe highest-paid coach in the country with an annual salary of $13.3 million.Kelly was fired in thefourth yearofacontract worth more than $100 million.Sources said Landry, whocriticizedhigh-priced contracts last month, hasbeen kept informed on the search.

LSU hasalso prepared to commit $25-30 million per year for theroster through acombination of revenuesharing and NIL.Investment in the rosterisbelieved to be an important factor to Kiffin, whose runatOle Miss hascoincided with the success ofits booster collective.

LSUspent about$18 millionon theroster this season, Kelly said, and signed one of thetop transfer classes inthe country.Itdid so, in part, by front-loading at least $10 million through NIL deals withits

Michael Pratt to offensive lineman Sincere Haynesworthtowide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson. All of them were instrumental in the transition from 2-10 to conference champion.

“A lotofguyslaidthe groundwork for us to be able tohave this success,” Sumrallsaid.“Therewas agroup of people that 41/2 years ago madeadecision this is not going to look the same anymore.”

Tulane is oh-so-close to achieving its mostimportantgoal giving itself achance to make up for back-to-back losses in the championship game. The fouryear guys desperately want to recapture theelation they felt in 2022 rather than thedisappointment of 2023 and 2024 in defeats to SMU and Army

“Getting that first one and winning the CottonBowl really set

collective beforerevenue sharing and an NIL clearinghouse took effect underthe House settlement. LSU’scollective, Bayou Traditions, has now been dormant since July However,LSU can now arrange NILdeals with corporate sponsors, andwith the $20.5 million revenuesharing cap set to increase 4% the next two years, theteam would need between $10-15 million in NIL deals to reach its financial goals. While that likely cannot be guaranteed in writing, the number is viewed as attainable.LSU received alucrative cash infusion through new sponsorship deals with Venture Global(on-fieldadvertisement) and Woodside Energy (jersey patches), the specifics of which are unknown. Other businesses can continue to sign athletes to NIL deals as well. Will thatseparate LSU’soffer?

Maybe not. Ole Miss and Florida arealso sendingKiffindealsworth at least $13 millionper year and promising an annual roster investmentofatleast $25 million, according to On3.

An unusualsituation LSU has competition withinits ownconference. Kiffin’sfamily visited Gainesville, Florida,the daybeforetheirtrip to Baton Rouge, and 247Sports reported that Florida athletic officialsmet withhis representation last Thursday.Florida has continued to court Kiffin, according to multiple reports, and is also waitingonhis decision.

Amidanuncertain future, Kiffin met last Fridaywith OleMiss athletic director Keith Carter and university chancellor Glenn Boyce. They agreed that he would coach the Egg Bowl, andthen an

“This programisplayer driven. Slim Despanie, BryceBohanon, that’s whyweare where we are— because of their commitmenttoseeing this thing through and look different than maybe it did in their freshman year Those aretwo unbelievable leaders on this team.”

JON SUMRALL,Tulane coach

the standard, so losing these past twoconference championships really put abad taste in my mouth,” Hurst said. “The hunger,the desire is there. We really wantthis. Ifeel like we can’tbedenied.”

The 35-14 title-game loss in the cold weather at Armylast year wasparticular bitter

“Wedefinitely still had that taste from Armythroughout the whole season,” Despanie said. “Even after we played them (winning 24-17 at home in October), we still had that taste. It wasalways agoalto make theconference championship. It wasnever agoal to beat Duke, to beat Army, so that definitely stayed in the back of our minds. It’s real good to have the opportunity to host the conference championship, but we’vestill got to go winthis week.”

announcement would be made Saturday.Kiffinsaid earlier this week it is “very important” to him to coach Ole Miss through the rest of the season. He dodged other questions about his future.

The timing of all of this became complicated for Ole Miss, which could win 11 gamesinthe regular season for the first time by beating Mississippi State.With awin, the Rebels will likely go to the Playoff and could host afirst-round game. However,ifKiffin leaves the team before then, it could affect their seeding. LSU would be open to him coaching in theCFP,sources said, but OleMiss may notlet him if he’s going to another school. It would be an unprecedented decision.Kiffin said asituation like this was “bound to happen” in college football if someone wanted to hire aplayoff-boundcoach,calling it a“systematical problem.” His former boss at Alabama, Nick Saban, saidSaturday on ESPN’s “College GameDay” that collegefootball needs to adjust its calendar to avoid asimilar scenario. Others argue Kiffin could shut it all down by making adecision.

“This is not aLane Kiffinconundrum,”saidSaban, who’srepresented by Kiffin’sagent,Jimmy Sexton. “This is acollege football conundrum that we need some leadership to step up andchange the rules on how this gets done in terms of coaching searches and opportunities to leave.”

Although LSU can wait through the week, sources said it would prefertohavea coach in place beforethe earlysigning period begins Dec. 3inorder to get started on next year’sroster and the coaching staff. According to CBS Sports, LSU would be open to former head coach Ed Orgeron returning under Kiffin. Orgeron and Kiffinhave along relationship.

The ongoing pursuit is likely to come to aresolution this weekend. Amonth after LSU fired Kelly,everyone wants to know Kiffin’s next move.

“It’sLane Kiffin,”one source said, “soyou never know what he will do.”

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Miss coach Lane Kiffin

in

Miss.

Bengals QB Burrow excited for long-awaited return vs. Ravens

BY CHARLIE GOLDSMITH Associated Press

CINCINNATI Cincinnati Bengals

quarterback Joe Burrow confirmed on Tuesday that he’ll be returning on Thanksgiving night to start against the Baltimore Ravens.

Burrow had surgery to repair a turf toe injury on Sept. 19, and is making his return nearly a full month ahead of schedule.

“We pushed it within the limits of what we could do, and kind of just based it on how I was feeling, how I was recovering, how it looked the next day after we pushed it, and just went from there,” said Burrow, who missed nine games.

Burrow returns to a 3-8 Bengals team that has dropped four straight and is tied for last place in the AFC North. Even though the Bengals are reeling, it was important to coach Zac Taylor for Burrow to return when he was ready regardless of the Bengals’ record. It was also important to Burrow

“I’m a football player,” Burrow said “If I get hurt, I’m going to go through the rehab process and then I’m going to let everyone know when I feel like I can go out there and play I don’t really know what else to say about that. I’m not ever going to go to somebody and say, “Yeah, I’m healthy, but I don’t think I should go out there and play.’ That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. I’m not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening.”

Even though Burrow hasn’t played in more than two months, he looked sharp in practice last week. The coaches worked Burrow in on the scout team as well as with the first-team offense for 11on-11 drills where he got a better feel of the speed of the game.

Burrow had a chance to play last week against the New England Patriots in a game that the Bengals lost, 26-20 Taylor decided to stick with Joe Flacco for that game, and

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question is this: Can Tulane pull off the Thanksgiving trifecta and be able to hold on to Sumrall, one of the most coveted coaches not named Lane Kiffin on the market?

2. Pelicans rookies

Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears and Micah Peavy are off to strong starts in their NBA careers, and it looks like the Pelicans nailed their three draft picks.

Queen hasn’t even played 20 games yet, but he’s already getting the loudest cheers during pre-game introductions. The trade to get him will be criticized for years to come, but it’s pretty clear what Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver saw in him. There’s a reason Queen, taken with the 13th pick, has vaulted all the way to third in odds to win Rookie of the Year Fears is just three spots behind him, and Peavy is making a name for himself on the defensive end by guarding the opponents’ best player, but he’s coming around offensively, too.

“All three of our rookies have been doing their thing,” Zion Williamson said Tuesday

3. A high draft pick

This isn’t for the Pelicans. They traded what looks like a lottery pick in the deal to get Queen This is for the Saints, who look like they could be on their way to being one of the first teams on the clock in April. You probably didn’t think that a few weeks ago when they beat the Carolina Panthers before the bye and looked like they may have turned a corner Then they had a reality check of a performance against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday The last six games on the schedule include tilts against the lowly New York Jets (2-9) and the even worse Tennessee Titans (110) So the Saints may not be bad enough to get the No. 1 overall pick, but a top-five pick could be in the cards.

4. Tyler Shough

There may be some who still aren’t sold on Shough, but I’m not one of them. The rookie quarterback has completed 64.3% of his passes for 829 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in his three starts. While those aren’t jaw-dropping numbers, Shough has shown he can move the offense. It’s too bad

Burrow said that he understood the decision

“I had a good workout early in the week, I was feeling good,” Burrow said. “Wednesday and Thursday practice happened, I took a lot of reps. My body was pretty sore. Not necessarily my toe. My toe feels great. The rest of my body being back out there for so long. I was confident I could get that right to play on Sunday Zac ended up thinking it was better to wait the extra four days. I think that was a good decision.”

Following a challenging past two months, Burrow said that it’s meaningful to get a chance to play on Thanksgiving on a national stage. He has clear memories as a kid of watching the Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Baltimore started the season 1-5, but has won five straight to move into a tie with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North

“You don’t like them,” Burrow said. “It’s a division rivalry You got respect for them. It’s intense out there. I wanted to be out there for playing on Thanksgiving. It’s

something I’ve always wanted to do, that I pushed for in the past, and the NFL gave it to us. Then, you know, the injury happened, and thought I wasn’t gonna be able to play And then as we got closer, I felt like it was a real possibility So that’s exciting to me. It’s a national stage to go out and prove yourself again after not playing for several weeks.”

The Bengals will also have wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase back after he served his one-game suspension for spitting on Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey However, Tee Higgins will miss Thursday night’s game because of a concussion.

Chase said he was happy because “I got my friend back out there” when discussing Burrow

“I know he’s excited for it. There’s not a better game for him to come back and show what he can do,” Chase said. “I know he wanted to play (last week), but I don’t think it was time. They have him another week to relax and get himself back under him. So his legs should be feeling good, his feet should be feeling good, and he should be ready.”

the Saints’ red-zone issues have continued, but that is more on the play-calling of Kellen Moore than Shough’s play Saints legend Drew Brees said on Sunday’s broadcast that Shough had some “Josh Allen qualities.” I’m not ready to go that far, but I see enough promise that the Saints could avoid taking a quarterback with that high draft pick they most certainly will have.

Also be thankful that the Saints, like the Pelicans, picked some promising players in the 2025 draft class.

5. The 36-year-olds

This includes the two the Saints have and the one the Saints don’t have.

You won’t find two current athletes who do more for the city of New Orleans than Cam Jordan and Demario Davis. From Jordan giving out Thanksgiving meals on Tuesday to Davis’ Devoted Dreamers Foundation, you can always count on them to do their

part The two of them won’t play forever, but New Orleans should be thankful for No. 94 and No. 56 while they have them. And also be thankful the Saints did NOT sign another 36-yearold: Justin Tucker It was a possibility after the Saints released struggling kicker Blake Grupe on Tuesday Tucker received his first NFL workout with the Saints on Tuesday after serving a 10game suspension for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy Sixteen women accused the former Baltimore Ravens kicker of inappropriate misconduct during massage-therapy sessions. Tucker has denied the accusations. If the Saints had signed Tucker, it would have been a PR nightmare for a team in the midst of an already nightmarish season. Instead, the Saints signed former LSU kicker Cade York. Thank goodness.

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

MULKEY

Continued from page 1C

“I think it’s worked for us,” she said last Thursday after a 112-49 win over Alcorn State. LSU breezed through its first six games. The Tigers are winning by an average margin of 57 points — the widest gap in the country. According to WarrenNolan.com, they’ve played the nation’s 261st-toughest schedule to start the year

LSU’s SEC peers usually give themselves some difficult games in November and December South Carolina scheduled Clemson, Southern Cal, Duke, Louisville and Penn State Texas agreed to play UCLA, North Carolina and Baylor Oklahoma signed up to face UCLA, North Carolina State and Oklahoma State.

their tournament runs inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center one of the goals Mulkey sets every season.

“You’re trying to get a firstand second-round game here,” Mulkey said. “You’re trying to get a decent seed in the NCAA Tournament, and I think we’ve been able to do it.”

“We basically use the nonconference, particularly when we start in October, November, December — it’s like an evaluation (period). I’m still looking, I’m still learning, I’m still teaching during these games.”

KIM MULKEy, LSU coach

LSU is playing the Blue Devils and 13 mid-major teams. Why does Mulkey like to keep it light?

“We basically use the nonconference,” Mulkey said “particularly when we start in October, November, December — it’s like an evaluation (period). I’m still looking, I’m still learning, I’m still teaching during these games. And with eight new players, you don’t want to over-schedule.”

LSU’s nonconference schedule hasn’t hurt its NCAA Tournament seeding in previous seasons. The Tigers have been given a No 3 seed in each of their first four seasons under Mulkey which means they’ve begun all four of

LSU also plays a tough conference schedule Eight SEC teams were ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll after the third week of the regular season. The Tigers are guaranteed to face each of those teams once, except for the No. 4 Longhorns. LSU will play them twice this year, once in Baton Rouge and once in Austin, Texas. Until then, the Tigers will beat up on overmatched opponents, gaining confidence and correcting small mistakes along the way In nonconference play across the last five seasons, LSU has picked up three wins of at least 80 points, seven wins of at least 70 points, 10 wins of at least 60 points and 18 wins of at least 50 points.

If things go according to plan this week, the Tigers will add two more victories of that variety on the Virgin Islands, then gear up for their road trip to Duke.

“It’s worked for me,” Mulkey said. “It’s worked for me since I’ve been a head coach. We just know what we do, and by the time you get to conference (play), there’s enough people in the league to give you all you want.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU coach Kim Mulkey reacts to a play during a game against Alcorn State on Nov. 20 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears goes for a layup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov 14 at the Smoothie King Center

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAy LAPRETE

Injured Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow walks on the field before a game against the New England Patriots on Sunday in Cincinnati.

Make use of leftover turkey with simple, hearty soup

BY LINDAGASSENHEIMER

Tribune News Service (TNS)

Looking for away to use up leftover turkey? Trythis simple turkey soup made with onion, carrots, and celery —or simply toss in any vegetables you have on hand. Ilike to add barley for extratexture andto give the soup arich, satisfying body

To save time, Ipartially cook the barley in the microwave for 5minutes before adding it to the pot, where it finishes cooking and absorbs the savory flavorsofthe soup. Look for quick cooking pearl barley in the market or brown rice can be used instead

Slice the vegetables in afood processor orbuy ready sliced vegetables from the produce section. If you don’thave leftover turkey,use roasted or sauteed chicken.

Turkey Soup

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

garlic cloves

Thyme sprigs and 1tablespoonleaves (optional garnish)

10 ounces cooked turkey pieces

1. Place 1cup chicken broth and quick cooking barley in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with aplate or microwave-safe lid. Microwave on high for 5minutes. Remove andleave covered until needed

2. Heat oil in large saucepan. Addonion,celery,and carrot and saute 5minutes. Add garlic and continue to saute 2more minutes. Addthyme sprigs, the barley and 5cups brothremaining chicken broth. Bringtoa simmerand cook 5 minutes.

3. Add turkey and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to warm turkey.Remove thyme sprigs. Divide soup in half and ladle into two soup bowls. Optional garnish, sprinkle thyme leaves on top.

LIVING

Giftsfrom theheart

swepack away the leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner,webegin to thinkahead to the parties of December.This is the traditional time to remember the little favors your neighbor did for youduring theyear,how nice the teachers have been to your children, and those times that your co-worker helped you through a hardtime at work.

How do you acknowledge those actsofkindness? Get intothe kitchen and make afew goodies. Onereally easy but delicious holiday gift is peppermint bark. Ilike to maketwo batches: white chocolate and dark chocolate. This gives visual contrast and a serious choice of flavors. The whitechocolate does not have the bitterness of dark chocolate. When you make the bark, if you want to be abit less traditional, you can add healthy things like chopped pecans or dried cranberries. There is no law thatforces you

to only use peppermint candies. Orange and ginger marmalade is another delicious choice. Adding an unexpected kick of freshginger grated intothe orange marmalade is sophisticated. It is perfect for amorning wake-up for your taste buds. And this ginger element works no matterwhat type of orange you usefor the marmalade. While you are at it, nestle asmall jarofwhole cardamom intothe bag withthe marmalade. Ateaspoon of cardamom added to morning coffee grounds is an aromatic complement to toast and marmalade. Because these are presents, we have to be particular about how we present them. The marmalade

can be put in 8-ounce canning jars. If you are giving one jar as a gift, you can skip the actual canning —just be sure to tell the recipient that the marmalade needs to be refrigerated. Alabel on a string tied around acircle that fits over the lid can remind the recipient to put it in the refrigerator

Awide-mouth jar is agood thing forholding the chocolate bark. If that is too heavy or bulky,try a cellophane bag tied with abow

The chocolate bark should be kept in the refrigerator,too. But I am sure that neither the bark nor the marmalade will last very long. Youmight need to makeextra in case the gifts disappear quickly

Liz Williamsisfounder of the Southern Food &Beverage Museum in NewOrleans. Listen to “Tip of the Tongue,”Liz’s podcastabout food, drink and culture, wherever you hear podcasts. Email Liz at lizwillia@ gmail.com.

BY JOANNABROWN Staff writer

locally sometimes whenthere’s notsomuchavailable —which is whythe idea of finding that place that has something originalisevenmore special these days. Plus, they’ve got variety.” Losing local kitchen stores is

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Liz Williams’ white and dark chocolate peppermint bark, RECIPES 2D

PHOTO By LINDAGASSENHEIMER

Liz Williams TIPOFTHETONGUE

OrangeMarmalade

Every navel orange makes1 cup of marmalade. Thiscan be your guide so that you can make as much or as little as youwant. This recipe makes 1pint (2 cups).

2navel oranges, washed 2cups sugar Juice of ½largelemon

1tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1. With avegetable peeler,remove theorange skin from the oranges.Do not take the white pith from theorange.With apair of kitchen shears, cut the skin intojulienne strips. Place them into asmall pot filled with 2cups of water.Boil the orangeskins for 10 minutes and drain. Repeat withfresh water twice more. This will keep the orange marmalade from being bitter.(If you wantaslight bitterness, only boil the orange skin twice.)

2. With asharp paring knife, peel the white pith from the oranges. Discard the pith. Do this over the potthat you will use to cook themarmaladesothatyou capture any juice that drips from the oranges. Youwant to keep thefleshofthe oranges as well as the juice. Discard the interior skin of the orange segments(give it asqueeze to extract all of thejuice into the pot before youdiscard it) and just keep the juice, theflesh, and add theprocessed skin to the pot. Add the sugar and 2 cups ofwater plus thejuice of half of alargelemon. Add the grated ginger 3. Bring the contentsofthe pantoafast boil forabout 5

minutes. Stirring as needed Reduce the flame to low medium andsimmerfor 45 minutes, stirring every 3to 5minutes. Take themarmalade off theheat and stirwell. Pour into 28-ounce jars and allow to cool on the counter Screwonthe lids andplace thejarsinthe refrigerator. It will continue to thicken as the mixture becomes cold.

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Makes 1½ pounds of bark

211-ounce packages of good-

white chocolate chips

peppermint sugarcandies

and white candy is traditional, but you could use amixtureof red and green peppermint candy), crushed roughly.Reserve 2 tablespoons for the final finish.

1-3 drops peppermint oil

1. Prepare an 11-inch by 17-inch bakingsheet by lining it with asilicone sheet or parchment paper. Make sure to have the baking sheet ready,because it will be hard to spread if it begins to cool while you prepare the sheet.

2. Place the whitechocolate chips into alargemicrowavesafe bowl.(Ilike to useaglass bowl with ahandle.) Heat in themicrowave for 1minute. Remove from the microwave andstir. Sometimes thechips keep their shape untilyou stir,so don’treturnthem to themicrowave without stirring them. If they are not allmelted, return thebowl to the microwaveand heat for30seconds. Remove and stir again. If it is completely melted, addone to three drops of peppermint oil, to your taste. Use one drop to

keep thechocolate flavor predominant; threetomake the peppermint dominant 3. Add the crushed candy, reserving the2 tablespoons. Stir well and pour out onto thepreparedbaking sheet. Acting quickly,spread with aspatula to makethe bark even and sprinkle with the reserved 2tablespoonsof crushed candy.Place the paninto therefrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to overnight. Break the bark and place the pieces into cellophane bags, jars, or metal gift cans.

Dark ChocolatePeppermint Bark

Makes 1½ pounds of bark.

211-ounce packages of goodquality dark chocolate chips (If you cannot find dark chocolate, youcan use semi-sweet chocolate, but itis much richer with dark chocolate.)

12 peppermint sugar candies (red and white candy is traditional, but you could use amixtureof red and green peppermint candy), crushed roughly.Reserve 2 tablespoons for the final finish.

1-3 drops peppermint oil

1. Prepare an 11-inch by 17-inch bakingsheet by lining it with asilicone sheet or parchment paper. Make sure to have the baking sheet ready,because it will be hard to spread if it begins to cool while you prepare the sheet.

2. Place the chocolate chipsintoa large micro-

KITCHENARY

Continued from page5C

customer base,but Sur La Table closed in 2020. National chains have struggled, too. Bed Bath &Beyond closed in 2023, though it has announced aplan to return to brick-and-mortar stores. For now,the closest WilliamsSonoma is in Houston. Beyond pots andpans

“Wealso have lots of dinners,wine tastings, bourbon tastings —it’sjust so fun,” said Beth Champagne. “I’m from Lafayette, and when Iwas growingup, my father worked right down the street from where we are now.SoIjust love working in the Oil Center.” For Champagne, the shop isn’t just retail. It’s apath back into the community that shaped her —and it’sthat community,she said, thathas kept the store strongdespite online competition from giants like Amazon.

“Wetry to make it more of an experience forthe customer,” Champagne said.

“Weoffer great customer service,lunch. There are always samples out —our customers just really love to come in and touch, see and feel.” She knows she can’tmatch the convenience of one-click delivery, but she alsoknows that’snot why her regulars come.

“Wekind of just have a reputation as aplace where

wave-safe bowl.(Iliketouse aglass bowl with ahandle.) Heat in the microwave for 1minute. Remove from the microwave and stir.Sometimesthe chips keep their shape until you stir,sodon’t return them to the microwavewithout stirringthem. If they are not all melted, return the bowl to themicrowaveand heat for 30 seconds.Remove and stir again. If it is completely melted, add one to three drops of peppermint oil, to your peppermint taste. Use one drop to keep thechocolate flavor predominant; 3tomake the peppermintdominant 3. Addthe crushed candy, reservingthe 2tablespoons. Stir well and pour out onto

you come to look,” she said.

“That’s why we work to make it extra special for someone to comeand have agreat 15–20 minutes in the store.”

On Veterans Day,The Kitchenary hosted afourcourse ticketed dinner with chef Justin Girouard of The French Press, with paired cocktailsfrom J.T.Meleck Distillers.

“It’salocal business, which is harder to find these days. Everyone who works here is apart of thecommunity,” Champagne said.

TheChampagnes also own Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop on the same strip. They expanded The Kitchenary with alunch counterthatserves diners Monday through Fridayfrom11a.m.to2 p.m.

Store manager AliDaigle knowsthe ins and outs of every shelf —espressomachines,chefknives, pasta makers, mortars and pestles, microplane graters. Whenasked for afavorite item, she doesn’thesitate: a large straining ladle, ideal forserving winterstews and gravies. She also swearsby themeat chopper

“This is actually the best gift ever,” Daigle said,addingthat she usesitoften to chop up ground beef or ground turkey

Thegadgetwall

So much of what The Kitchenary sells finds its way into weeknight meals, birthday cakesand the first gumboof the season —small tools woven into the rituals

Cleaning with airdustercans

Dear Heloise: Iamnot sure if you’ve had this idea suggested before. Air duster cans (compressed air in acan) is great for cleaning computer keyboards and other devices. However,Ialso use it to blow out small hairs in thebeard trimmer and when gettingintohardto-reach areas while I’m working on projects, such as woodworking. There are 101 things you can use it for in lieu of abig bulky electrical compressor Kevin O’Malley, via email Neck cream

thepreparedbaking sheet. Acting quickly,spread with aspatula to makethe bark even and sprinkle with the reserved 2tablespoonsof crushed candy.Place the paninto therefrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to overnight. Break the bark and either place them into cellophane bags, jars, or metal gift cans. Once you feel comfortable with these recipes,you can play with theadditions.Instead of crushed peppermint candy,you can use any type of sugar candy or candy canes. The flavors are fun to playwith. Youcan alsouse cinnamonred-hotcandies or sunflower seeds or raisins or dried cranberries.

of home.

The store’s“gadget wall” is atreasuretrove for hobby cooks, inviting customers to linger,laugh and reminisce. Onion goggles andtoast tongs sitalongside quirky stocking stuffers that often becomekitchen staples.

Many of thesame customers return weekly,Daigle said, dropping in for lunch and alittle browsing. Seasonaldécor greetsthem at thefront of theshop. Occasionally,Kitchenary itemsend up on the clearance shelf at Champagne’s, and leftover lunch-counter mealsappear in its graband-go section.

“This place is anecessity,” Daigle said. “Weshop local, we live local. We get local chefs to come in and cook. That’sjust something that we’re reallybig about, and it’sjust grown and grown.” In aworld of onlinecarts and overnight shipping, The Kitchenaryoffers somethingrarer.It’smorethan gumbo bowls, aprons or multi-generational recipes. It’s aplace where cooking still feels communal —and where walking through the door is the start of somethingshared.

The Kitchenary is located at 456 Heymann Blvd., Suite C, Lafayette,inthe OilCenter.The store offers complimentary gift wrapping for every $50 spent.

Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@ theadvocate.com.

Treating the face, neck and decollete (upper chest) as one entity works well. Good-quality cleansers, toners, SPF lotions and creams workfine on this section of your body.Protection from the sun helps alot. —Heloise

n Don’tleave your drink or bag unattended.

Hints from Heloise

Oniontears

Dear Heloise: How can I avoid onion tears? —Della K., in Austin,Texas Della, put your onions in the freezer 15 minutes before using them or in the refrigerator overnight. Either way,itwill reduce the spray of onion oils. —Heloise

Dear Heloise: Is aspecial cream for my neck necessary? —MaryJ., in Fort Wayne, Indiana Mary,the skin on our necks can be moredelicate and thinner; therefore, they lose elasticity and show aging morequickly Butmost experts agree:

ByTheAssociated Press

Today is Thursday, Nov.27, the 331st day of 2025. There are 34 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Nov.27, 1978, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and citysupervisor and gay rightsactivist Harvey Milk were fatally shot inside CityHall by former Supervisor Dan White.

Also on this date:

In 1895, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel signed his will and testament establishing the Nobel Prizes, bequeathing most of his fortune for annual prizes honoring outstanding achievements in peace, physics, chemistry,literature, and physiology or medicine. (The prize in economic sciences was

Partypeople

Dear Heloise: For ladies and gents, if you find yourself at abusiness or party event, here are somehints to keep you safe: n Don’taccept adrink from anyone if you didn’t see it prepared.

TODAYINHISTORY

added in the 1960s).

In 1924, Macy’sfirst Thanksgiving Dayparade —billed as a“Christmas Parade” —took place in NewYork.

In 1934, bank robber and “Public EnemyNo. 1” Lester Joseph Gillis, better knownasGeorge “Baby Face” Nelson, was killed in agunbattle with FBI agents in Barrington, Illinois.

In 1970, Pope Paul VI, visiting the Philippines, wasslightly wounded at the Manila airport by a dagger-wielding Bolivian painter disguised as a priest.

In 2003, President George W. Bush flew to Iraq under extraordinary secrecy and security to spend Thanksgiving Day with U.S. troops and thank them for “defending the American

n When entering ameeting room,know where the exits are.

n Don’tdrink and drive or accept aride from anyone whohas been drinking. —Kevin P.,inIllinois What time is it?

Dear Heloise: Why does the doctor’soffice stafftell a patient that her appointmentisat10a.m., then say, “Comeinat9:30 a.m. to do paperwork”? Either the appointment is at 10 a.m., or it is at 9:30 a.m. Or perhaps there are two appointments, one with staffand one with the doctor.I find this bait-and-switch procedure to be rude. If there is aneed for paperwork to be done, this should be apart of the appointment time. —FranR., in San Antonio

Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

people from danger.” In 2015, agunman attacked aPlanned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing three people and injuring nine. (The prosecution of suspect Robert Lewis Dear stalled in the courts after he wasrepeatedly found mentally incompetent to stand trial.)

Today’sbirthdays: Fashion designer Manolo Blahnik is 83. Film director Kathryn Bigelow is 74. Science educator and TV host Bill Nye(aka the Science Guy) is 70. Author and diplomat Caroline Kennedy is 68. Actor Robin Givens is 61. Actor Michael Vartan is 57. Baseball Hall of Famer Iván Rodríguez is 54. Actor Kirk Acevedo is 54. Rapper Twista is 52. Actor Jaleel White is 49. Actor Lashana Lynch is 38.

TheAmerican RedCross ofLouisiana is hereall year.

Local support. Local impact.

TheAmerican RedCross in Louisiana serves4.65millionresidentsacrossall64parishesandextendshopeto communitiesacrossthenationandaroundtheworld.Whenyousupportyour localRedCross,youmakeadirectimpactinyourcommunity Poweredbygenerosity. TheRedCrossisnotagovernmentagency.Wearea501(c)(3) nonprofitthatreliesonthepowerofvolunteersandthegenerosity ofdonorstocarryoutourhumanitarianmission. RedCrosssupportersprovideabeaconofhope.Fromhelping duringdisasters,toprovidinglifesavingtrainingandsupporting militarycommunities,theRedCrossistherewhenhelpcan’twait.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Liz Williams’ orangemarmalade

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Channel your energy wisely. Take time to catch up and to get rid of the deadweight in your life. Organize your surroundings to encourage better productivity.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Participating in groups will connect you to someone who can impact your life and how you choose to live. Let go of the past and embrace the future with an open mind.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Think twice; question your motives and what others want or expect from you before making a move. Emotions will be close to the surface. Don't reveal your next move prematurely.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Learn something new and invest time and money in your future. Trust your instincts, and pursue what makes you feel good about yourself and the direction you head in.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Control your emotions and gather the facts. Don't fear doing things differently. Follow your heart and ease your stress, and you'll gather momentum.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Bide your time and reach out to those you trust to offer a different perspective or option. Partnerships and personal growth are on the rise and are best handled with care, consideration and caution.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Don't overload your plate, promise more than you can deliver or let your emotions get you

into trouble. Focus inward and choose healthy activities that help you look and feel your best.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Don't mix business with pleasure or let your emotions interfere with your ability to advance. It's time to expand your interests, upgrade your skills and challenge yourself.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Change only what's necessary. Choose to fix what's broken instead of spending money to replace it. Social events require careful planning and the proper attire.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Choose your words and gestures carefully if you want to avoid interference, opposition or rejection. Domestic problems will arise if you let your emotions take the lead.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) It's best to take a wait-and-see approach, especially when joint ventures, expenses and partnerships are involved. Hold on to your cash, protect your position and reputation, and live within your means.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Get out, plan to have some fun and avoid emotional drama going on at home or with family. The time you spend with people who offer a unique perspective on life and the options you face will pay off.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by nEa inc. dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

TODAy'S CLUE: C EQUALS V

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudokuis anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several givennumbers. Theobjectistoplace thenumbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column andeach3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. Thedifficulty levelofthe sudoku increases from monday to sunday

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS CurTiS

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER

JeffFoxworthy, famous for hisredneck jokes, said, “The designated-driver programisnotadesirablejob.Butifyou ever getsuckedinto doingit, have fun withit.Attheendofthenight,dropthem offatthe wronghouse.”

Bridge players drop tricks with wrong plays,bothasdeclarerand—muchmore often —ondefense. Also, key-cards can drop.For example, you have nine cards missingonlythe queen. The percentage play (just) is to cash the ace andking, hopingthe queen will drop.

Inthisdeal,whereisthedrop?Southis in three no-trump. West leads the heart queen.Whatshoulddeclarer do?

North used Stayman to try to find a 4-4 spadefit, then settled for three notrump.

South starts with six top tricks: one spade,one heart, two diamonds andtwo clubs. But since the heart ace will have been dislodged by trick two, declarer must take the next eight tricksafter that. He is faced with threefinesses in spades, diamondsand clubs. Which shouldhetake?

The typical deal hasonlytwo finesses. Thenyou should play for the drop in the suitwiththegreaternumberofcards(or more top tricks). If the missing honor appears, fine; if not, finesse in the other suit.Here,Southhasevenmorechances. He shouldcashthe four minor-suittops endinginhishand.Ifeitherqueendrops, the contract is home.Here, though, neitherappears.SoSouthfinessesinspades, running the 10, then running the queen, then playing low to dummy’sjack. Finally,somethingworks. ©2025 by nEa,inc.,dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

wuzzles

Each Wuzzle is aword riddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previousanswers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,”suchas“bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAY’s WoRD scARIER: SKARE-ee-ur: More frightening

Average mark 19 words

Timelimit 30 minutes

Can youfind26ormore wordsinSCARIER?

YEstERDAY’s WoRD —MEDLAR

made

dare deal dear dermal dram dream lade lame lamer lard lead alder armed rale read real realm ream

there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps thelaw, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles hidato mallard

dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

Puzzle Answer ken ken

WiShinG Well

InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a

Scrabble GramS

roSe

whichadjoinand mea‐sure each 20 feet fronton CharentonAvenue,same widthinthe rear,by a depthof120 feet be‐tween equaland parallel lines; Lot55being nearer to andcommencingat a distance of 40 feet from thecornerofCharenton Avenue andOzark Street Accordingtoa survey made by F.G. Stewart, Surveyor,dated August d d d

y g 29, 1964, and redated Oc‐tober14, 1964, theprop‐erty is shownasabove described, andsaid Square 152 is shownto

of StatePark, CapitolAnnex, Third Floor,1051 NorthThird Street,Baton Rouge, LA 70802. WrittenProposals must be received by StateParks at this ad‐dressnolater than 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday,Janu‐

with

improvements, servitudes, rights,ways, privileges, appurte‐nancesthereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseap‐pertaining, designated as UnitC-6 of TheLaurel Condominium,compris‐ing 662.72 netsquarefeet of floor area andinclud‐ing an undivided15.77% ofthe ownershipinterest inthe common elements and common surplusas morefully setforth in thatcertain Declaration ofCondominium Creat‐ing TheLaurelCondo‐minium, by actdated July28, 1983, before GeorgeL.Gibbs,Notary Public, registered in COB 788-C, folio584-599 records of Orleans Parish, Louisiana, to‐getherwiththe survey, and otherinstruments and documentsannexed thereto andincorporated byreference therein, which establishesThe LaurelCondominium and which includes among the commonelements thereof thefollowing de‐scribed real property: TWOCERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND, together with all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all of therights, ways privileges, servitudes, appurtenances andad‐vantagesthereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseap‐pertaining, situated in the SIXTHDISTRICTof the CITY OF NEWOR‐LEANS,STATE OF LOUISIANA,inSQUARE 143, bounded by LAUREL ANNUNCIATION VALANCEand CADIZ STREETS, designated as LOTSNOS.14and 15. Said lotsadjoineachother and measureeach27 feet,3 inches,2 lines frontonLaurelStreet

RESOLUTION

Aresolution providing for theincurringofdebt and issuance of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) of Limited TaxBonds, Series 2025, of the Law Enforcement District of theParish of Orleans, State of Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions thereof and providing for the payment thereof; confirming the awardofsuch Bonds to the purchaser thereof; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

WHEREAS,the Law Enforcement District of the Parish ofOrleans, State of Louisiana (the “District”) is apolitical subdivision of the State of Louisiana, organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of La. R.S. 13:5901, et seq.; and

WHEREAS, the District is authorized by the State Constitution to levy aspecial tax of 2.46 mills (such rate being subject to adjustment from time to time due to reassessment) which the District is authorized to impose and collect in the years 2026 through 2035 (the Tax”)within the corporate boundaries of the District, provided that said millage to be levied in 2026 shall be reduced by the millage rate levied in such year for the District’s outstanding general obligation bondsmaturing September 1, 2026; and

WHEREAS, the District nowdesires to incur debt and issue its Limited TaxBonds, Series 2025, in the principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) (the “Bonds”), pursuant to Part II of Chapter 4ofSubtitle II of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,asamended, and other constitutional and statutory authority,for the purpose of capital expenses for the upkeep of jails and related facilities, including security and surveillance repairs and replacements, and paying the costs of issuance of the Bonds; and

WHEREAS, it is the desireofthe District to fixthe details necessary with respect to theissuance of the Bonds and to provide for the authorization and issuance thereof; and

WHEREAS, it is the further desireofthe District to confirm the sale of the Bondstothe Lender (hereinafter defined) at the price and in the manner hereinafter provided;

I, SUSAN HUTSON, Sheriffofthe Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana (the “Sheriff”), acting as the governing authority of the District, hereby resolve that:

SECTION 1. Definitions.Asused herein, the following terms shall have thefollowing meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:

“Act” means Part II of Chapter 4ofSubtitle II of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutesof 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority

“Additional Parity Bonds” means any additional pari passu bonds which may hereafter be issued, pursuant to Section 9hereof, on aparity with the Bonds.

“Agreement” means the agreement to be entered into between the District and the Paying Agentpursuant to this Resolution, if required.

“Bond” means any bond of the District authorized to be issued by this Resolution, whether initially delivered or issued in exchange for, upon transfer of, or in lieu of any bond previously issued.

“Bonds” means the District’sLimited TaxBonds, Series 2025, authorized by this Resolution, in the total aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000).

“Bond Register” means the records kept by the Paying Agent at its principal corporate office in which registration of the Bonds andtransfers of the Bonds shall be made as provided herein

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,asamended.

“District” means the Law EnforcementDistrictofthe Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana.

“Executive Officers” means the Sheriff.

“Fiscal Year” means the one-year accounting period beginning Janaury 1ofeach year,orsuch other period as maybedesignated by the Governing Authority as the fiscalyear of theDistrict.

“Governing Authority” means the Sheriffofthe Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana.

“Government Securities” means direct obligationsof, or obligations the principal of and interestonwhich areunconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America, which arenon-callable prior to their maturity, may be United States Treasury obligations such as the State and Local Government Series and may be in book-entryform.

“Interest Payment Date” means March 1and September 1ofeach year,commencing March 1, 2026.

“Lender” means Trustmark National Bank, of Jackson, Mississippi, the original purchaser of the Bonds.

“Maximum Annual DebtService” means the highest amount of principal and interest due on the Bonds, and any Additional Parity Bonds in any Fiscal Year,provided that if thereisoutstanding any balloon indebtedness subject to mandatory sinking fund payments or redemptions, such balloon indebtedness shall be calculated as amortizing on the dates and in the amounts such mandatorysinking fund payments or redemptions arerequired, rather than on the date such indebtedness matures.

“Outstanding” when used with respect to the Bonds means, as of the date of determination, any Bond theretoforeissued and delivered under this Resolution, except:

1. Any Bond theretoforecanceled by the Paying Agent or delivered to thePaying Agent for cancellation;

2. Bonds for which payment or redemption sufficient funds or government securities, or both, have been theretofore deposited in trust for the owners of such Bondswith theeffect specified in this Resolution or by law;

3. Any Bond in exchange for or nlieu of which another Bond has been registered anddelivered pursuant to this Resolution; and

4. Any Bond alleged to have been mutilated, destroyed,lost or stolen which may have been paid as provided in this Resolution or by law

“Owner” when used with respect to any Bond means the Person in whose name such Bond is registeredinthe Bond Register

“Paying Agent” means ArgentTrustCompany,ofRuston, Louisiana, until asuccessor Paying Agent shall have been appointed pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Resolution and thereafter “Paying Agent” shall mean such successor Paying Agent.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,trust,unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“RecordDate” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date means the 15th calendar day of themonth nextpreceding such Interest Payment Date.

“Resolution” means this resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds, as it may be supplemented and amended.

“State” means the State of Louisiana.

“Tax” means the special ad valorem tax of 2.46 mills (such rate being subject to adjustment from time to time due to reassessment) which the Districtisauthorized to impose and collect in the years 2026 through 2035 (the“Tax”) within the corporate boundaries of the District, provided that said millage to be levied in 2026 shall be reduced by the millage rate levied in such year for the District’soutstanding general obligation bonds maturing September 1, 2026.

SECTION 2. Authorization of Bonds;Maturities. Subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, and in compliance with the terms andprovisions of the Act, thereishereby authorized the incurring of an indebtedness of Fifteen Million Dollars($15,000,000) for,onbehalf of, and in the name of the District,for thepurpose of capital expenses for the upkeep of jails andrelatedfacilities, including security and surveillance repairs and replacements, and paying the costs of issuance of the Bonds; and to represent said indebtedness this District does hereby authorize the issuance of its Limited TaxBonds, Series 2025, in the principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000). The Bonds

the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paidor duly provided for, payablesemiannually on March 1and September 1of each year,commencing March1,2026, at

rate of 4.18% per annum, calculated on the basis of a360-day year consisting of twelve

months. The principal of the Bonds shallmatureininstallments, without necessity of notice, on March1 of each year as follows:

*Final Maturity

The installments of principal of the Bond, as they fall due, and interest on the Bond shallbepayable by check of the Paying Agent or the District mailed to the Owner (determined as of the close of business on the RecordDate) at the address shown on the Bond Register or,in the discretion of the Paying Agent,bywirefromthe Paying Agent or the District delivered to the Owner (determined as of the close of business on the RecordDate) in accordance with wiring instructions provided by the Owner,provided, however,that principal of the Bond at final maturity shall be payable at the designated office of the Paying Agent upon presentation and surrender thereof. Each Bond delivered under this Resolution upon transfer of,inexchange for or in lieu of any other Bond shallcarry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which werecarried by such other Bond, and each such Bond shall bear interest (as herein set forth) so neither gain nor loss in interest shallresult from such transfer exchange or substitution.

No Bond shallbeentitled to any right or benefitunder this Resolution, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless thereappears on such Bonda certificate of registration, substantially in the form provided in this Resolution, executed by the Paying Agent by manual signature

SECTION 3. Prepayment Provisions. The installmentsofthe principal of the Bonds arecallable for prepayment at the optionofthe District in whole or in part, at any timeonorafter March 1, 2027 at aredemption price equal to the principal amount of the called Bonds and accrued interest thereon to the call date. Official notice of such call of the Bonds for prepayment shall be given by means of first-class mail, postage prepaid, by notice deposited in the United States mailorvia acceptable means of electronic communication not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the prepayment date addressed to the registered owner of this Bond to be prepaid, at his address as shown on the registration books of the Paying Agent.

SECTION 4. Registrationand Transfer.The District shall cause the Bond Register to be kept by the Paying Agent.The Bonds may be transferred, registered and assigned onlyonthe Bond Register,which such registration shallbeatthe expense of the District, and onlybythe execution of an assignment form on the Bonds being transferred. Anew Bond or Bonds, may,upon request, be delivered by the Paying Agent to the last assignee (the new Owner) in exchange forsuch transferred and assigned Bond or Bonds after receipt of the Bond(s) to be transferred in proper form. Such new Bond or Bonds shallbeinanauthorized denominationofthe same maturity and like principal. The Paying Agent shall not be required to issue,register the transfer of, or exchange any Bond during aperiod beginning at the opening of business on aRecord Date and ending at the close of business on the Interest Payment Date. The Lender reserves the right, without the consent of (but with notice to) the District, to assign, transfer or convey the Bond or any interest therein or portion thereof,but no such assignment,transfer or conveyance shall be effective as against the District, unless and until the Lender has delivered to the District written notice thereof that discloses the name and address of the assignee and such assignment, transferorconveyance shall be made only to (i) an affiliate of the registered owner of the Bond or (ii) banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions or their affiliates. Nothing shall limit the right of the Lender or its assignees to sell or assign participation interests in the Bond to one or moreentities listed in (i) or (ii).

SECTION 5. Form of Bonds. The Bonds shall be in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit Bhereto, with such necessary or appropriate variations, omissions and insertions as arerequired or permitted by the Act and this Resolution.

SECTION 6. Execution of Bonds. The Bonds shall be signed by the Executive Officersfor,onbehalf of, in the nameofand under the corporate seal of the District, which signatures and corporate seal may be either manual or facsimile.

SECTION 7. Pledge and Dedication of Revenues. The Bonds shall be secured by and payable solely from an irrevocable pledge and dedication of the avails or proceeds of the Tax. ThisGoverning Authority does hereby obligate itself and its successors in office to impose and collect the Taxineach year,and does hereby irrevocably and irrepealably dedicate, appropriate and pledge the annual income to be derived from the assessment, levy and collection of the Taxineach year to the payment of the Bonds. The District further covenants that it shall not lower the rate of the Taxtoresult in lower Taxrevenues than werecollected in the Fiscal Year prior to the proposed adjustment.

SECTION 8. Sinking Fund. For the payment of the principal of and the interest on the Bonds and any additional parity bonds, therehas been created aspecial fund known as “Limited TaxBonds, Series 2025, Sinking Fund” (the “Sinking Fund”), to be established and maintained with the regularlydesignated fiscal agent bank of the District. The District shall depositinthe Sinking Fund from the first revenues of the Taxreceived in any calendar year,a sum equal to the principal and/or interest falling due on the Bonds in that calendar year.The depository for the Sinking Fund shall transferfromthe Sinking Fund to the Paying Agent at least two (2) days in advance of each payment date funds fully sufficient to pay promptly the principal and interest falling due on such date.

It shall be specificallyunderstood and agreed, however,that after the funds have actuallybeen set aside out of the revenues of the Tax forany year sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the Bonds for that year,and all required amounts have been deposited in the aforesaid Sinking Fund established for the Bonds, then any annual revenues of the Taxremaining in that year shall be free for expenditure by the District for thepurposes for which the Taxisauthorized.

All moneys depositedwith the regularlydesignated fiscal agent bank or banks of the District or the Paying Agent under the terms of the Bond Resolution shall constitute sacred funds for the benefitofthe Owners of the Bonds, and shall be secured by said fiduciaries at all times to the full extent thereof in the manner required by lawfor the securing of deposits of public funds.

All or any part of the moneys in the Sinking Fund shall, at the written request of the District, be invested in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the StateofLouisiana.

SECTION 9. Additional Parity Bonds. The District shall issue no other bonds or obligations of any kind or naturepayable from or enjoying alien on the revenues of the Taxhaving priority over or parity with the Bonds, except that Additional ParityBonds may hereafter be issued on aparity with the Bonds under the following conditions:

(a) The Bonds herein authorized or any bonds issued on aparity therewith or any partthereof,including the interest thereon, may be refunded, and the refunding bonds so issued shall enjoy complete equality of lien with the portion of the bonds which is notrefunded, if therebeany,and the refunding bonds shall continue to enjoy whatever priority of lien over subsequent issues may have been enjoyed by the bonds refunded; provided, however,that if onlya portion of the bonds outstanding is so refunded and the refunding bonds requiretotal principal and interest paymentsduring any year in excess of the principal and interest which wouldhave been required in such year to pay the bonds refunded thereby,then such bonds may not be refunded without the consent of the owner of the unrefunded portion of the bonds issued hereunder (provided such consent shall not be required if such refunding bonds meet the requirements set forth in clause (b) of this Section). (b) Additional Parity Bonds may be issued on and enjoy afull and complete parity with the Bonds with respect to the revenues of the Tax, provided that: (1)

SECTION 11. Application of Proceeds. The Executive Officers arehereby empowered, authorized anddirected to do anyand all things necessary andincidentaltocarry out allofthe provisions of this Resolution, to cause the necessary Bonds to be printed, to issue,execute andseal the Bonds, andtoeffect delivery thereof as hereinafterprovided. The proceedsderived from the sale of the Bonds shall be usedonly for the purpose for whichthe Bonds areissued.

SECTION 12. Bonds LegalObligations. The Bonds shall constitute legal, binding andvalid obligations of the District andshall be the only representations of the indebtedness as herein authorized andcreated.

SECTION 13. Resolution aContract.The provisions of this Resolution shall constitute acontract between the District, or its successor,and the Owner or Owners from time to time of the Bonds, andany such Owner or Owners may at laworinequity,bysuit, action, mandamus or other proceedings, enforce andcompelthe performance of alldutiesrequired to be performed by this Governing Authority or the District as aresult of issuing the Bonds.

SECTION 14. Amendment to Resolution. No material modification or amendment of this Resolution, or of anyResolution amendatory hereof or supplemental hereto, maybemade without the consent in writing of the Owners of two-thirds (2/3)ofthe aggregateprincipal amount of the Bonds thenoutstanding; provided, however,thatnomodification or

SECTION 15. RecitalofRegularity.This Governing Authority having investigated the regularity of the proceedings hadinconnection with the Bonds andhaving determined the same to be regular, the Bonds shall contain the following recital, to-wit:

“It is certified thatthis Bondisauthorized by andisissued in conformity with the requirements of the Constitution andstatutes of this State.”

SECTION 16. Effect of Registration. The District, the Paying Agent, andany agentofeitherofthemmay treat the Ownerinwhose name any Bondisregisteredasthe OwnerofsuchBond for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal of andinterest on such Bondand for allother purposes whatsoever,and to the extentpermittedbylaw,neitherthe District, the Paying Agent, nor anyagent of eitherofthemshall be affected by noticetothe contrary

SECTION 17. Notices to Owners. Wherever this Resolution provides for noticetothe Owners of anyevent, such noticeshall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing andmailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Owneratthe address of suchOwner as it appears in the BondRegister. Wherethis Resolution provides for noticeinany manner, such noticemay be waivedinwritingbythe Owner entitledtoreceive such notice, eitherbeforeorafterthe event, andsuch waivershall be the equivalent of suchnotice. Waivers of noticebyOwners shall be filedwith the Paying Agent andthe District, but such filing shall not be acondition precedenttothe validity of anyaction taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 18. Cancellation of Bonds. All Bonds surrendered for payment shall be promptly canceled by eitherthe Paying Agent or the District. All canceled Bonds held by the Paying Agent shall be disposed of as directed in writing by the District.

SECTION 19. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or StolenBonds. In case any Bondshall become mutilated or be improperly cancelled, or be destroyed, stolen or lost, the District may in its discretion adopt an ordinanceand thereby authorizethe issuanceand delivery of anew Bondinexchange for andsubstitution for such mutilated or improperly cancelledBond, or in lieuofand substitution for the Bonddestroyed, stolen or lost, upon the Owner(i) furnishing the District andthe Paying Agent proof of his ownership thereof andproof of suchmutilation,impropercancellation, destruction, theft or loss reasonably satisfactory to the District andthe Paying Agent, (ii) giving to the District andthe Paying Agent an indemnity in form andsubstancereasonably acceptabletothe District andthe Paying Agent, (iii) complying with such other reasonable regulations and conditions as the District may prescribe and(iv) paying such expenses as the District andthe Paying Agent mayincur.All Bonds so surrendered shall be delivered to the Paying Agent for cancellation pursuant to Section 18 hereof. If anyBond shall have matured or be about to mature, instead of issuing asubstitute Bond, the District may pay the same, upon being indemnified as aforesaid, andifsuchBond be lost, stolen or destroyed, without surrender thereof.

Any such duplicate Bondissued pursuant to this Section shall constitute an original, additional, contractualobligation on the part of the District, whetherornot the lost, stolen or destroyed Bondbeatany time found by anyone. SuchduplicateBond shall be in allrespectsidentical with those replaced except thatitshall bear on its face the following additionalclause:

“This bond is issuedtoreplace alost, canceled or destroyed bond underthe authority of the Act.

Such duplicate Bondmay be signed by the facsimile signatures of the same officers who signed the originalBonds, provided, however,that in the eventthe officers who executedthe originalBonds arenolongerin office, thenthe newBonds maybesignedbythe officers theninoffice. Such duplicate Bonds shall be entitledtoequal andproportionate benefits andrights as to lienand source andsecurity for payment as provided herein with respect to allotherBonds hereunder, the obligations of the District upon the duplicate Bonds being identical to its obligations upon the originalBonds andthe rights of the Ownerofthe duplicate Bonds being the same as those conferred by the originalBonds.

SECTION 20. Discharge of Resolution; Defeasance. If the District shall pay or cause to be paid, or there shall otherwise be paid to the Owner, the principal of andinterest on the Bonds, at the timesand in the manner stipulated in this Resolution, thenthe pledge of the money, securities, andfunds pledged underthis Resolution andall covenants, agreements, and other obligations of the District to the Ownershall thereupon cease, terminate, andbecome void andbedischarged andsatisfied, andthe Paying Agent shall pay over or deliver allmoneyheldbyitunderthis Resolution to the District.

Bonds or interest installments for the payment or redemption of which money shall have been set aside andshall be held in trust (through deposit by the District

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Main Library

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Alvar Library 913 AlvarStreet (504) 596-2667

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Cita Dennis Hubbell Library 725Pelican Avenue (504)596-3113

Rosa F. KellerLibrary and Community Center 4300 South BroadAvenue (504) 596-2660

Dr.MartinLuther King, Jr.Library 1611 Fats Domino Avenue (504) 596-2695

Milton H. Latter Memorial Library 5120 Saint Charles Avenue (504) 596-2625

Norman Mayer Library 3001 GentillyBoulevard (504) 596-3100

Mid-City Library 4140 CanalStreet (504) 596-2654

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REACH Center

2022 St.Bernard Avenue,Building C (504) 256-6983

Robert E. Smith Library 6301 Canal Boulevard (504) 596-2638

EARLY LITERACY EVENTS

BLUE HOUSE MUSIC

COMMUNITY ARTMAKINGBY WHOLE VILLAGEART THERAPY*

Make art and enjoy communityatthis eventwhere all are welcome.Drop-in between 12 pm and 4pm. All art materials areprovided.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN CRAFTADVENTURE WITH ARTIST BASQOBIM*

Come ready to create art or artsy gifts for the holidays. Bring your creativity—all supplieswill be provided. Open to children 6– 12 years of age andtheir families. Program will be bilingual in English and Spanish.

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Saturday,December 6 from 2pm –3:30pm Alvar Library

DIVERSIÓN

BILINGÜE

EN FAMILIA/BILINGUAL FAMILYFUN TIME

TAMALESWITHNADINAMELARA*

Tiempo para pasar juntos en familia. Actividades gratuitas que incluyen merienda ylibros de regalo

Hang out time for Spanish-speaking/ bilingual families with freeactivities, snacks, and books.

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Wednesday, December 17 from 5pm –6:30pm Central City Library

Saturday,December 13 from 12pm –4pm Norman Mayer Library

LUNARNEW YEAR CELEBRATION-YEAROFTHE HORSE FORKIDS

WITH VIET*

Welcome the Lunar New Year with joy and creativity.Kids can enjoyhands-on activities and crafts, and discoverwhich zodiac animal represents their birth year

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Saturday,December 20 from 11am –12:30pm Milton H. LatterMemorial Library

CATURDAY

CATMEET& GREETBYLOUISIANA

SPCA WITH THEMED CRAFTS*

Louisiana SPCA cats and kittens are headed to the Library.Kids and familiescan meet these fluffyvisitors, craft toys to go back with them to the shelter,and leave with an animal themed book.

Saturday,December 20 from 2pm –3:30pm Mid-City Library

TEEN&TWEEN EVENTS

TWEEN GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING WITH DELGADO CULINARYARTS

Get ready for asweet and creative adventure.Tweensare invited to design and decorate theirvery own gingerbread house using colorful candies, icing, and festive toppings.

TEEN VO

Serveyour socialize hours. Te teens ag Register nolalibrar

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Saturday,December 6 from 11am–12pm Nora Navra Library

MATH

WORKOUTS FORKIDS WITH MAKE IT COUNTMATH*

Up your mathskills and learn some fun games to continue at home.Light dinner provided. Open to rising 3rd –6th graders.

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Tuesday,December 9 from 5pm –6:30pm East New Orleans Regional Library

TEEN DROP-IN*

Hang out,play games, makeart, learn anew hobby,orexplore newtech at this program for teens ages 11 –18. This month’sactivities include:

•Origami Art

•Perler Beads

•DIY Gift Wrap and Tags

Visit nolalibrary.co/teen-drop-infor times and locations.

TeensCreateMarket*

Tuesday from 4p East NewO

Tuesday from 4p Milton H.

Wednesday from 4p Rosa F. Ke &Community

Tuesday from 4p Algiers Re

EXPRES MONTHL HANGOU PRIDECEN

Enjoy gam ch month at ages 11

Cozy Winter Register ss-yourself to help us

Thursday from 4:30pm Main Library

Visit with local teen authors and artists at our first Te zines, and art will be availablefor purchase. We have authors and artiststosignupstartingNovember 1st

Stopping by Teens Create Market? Register in advan nolalibrary.co/teen-markettoreceivea tote.

Saturday,December 13 from 2pm –4pm MainLibrary

ADULT EVENTS

POP-UP HOLIDAY CARDSAND 3D GIFTTAGS

Learn cutting andfolding techniques, and get creative makinga uniqueholiday card or gift tag for someone special.

Tuesday, December 2

from 11am –12:30pm Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. Library

Thursday,December11

from 5pm–6:30pm Nix Library

AUTHOR NIGHT AT LATTER LIBRARY: JUST WRITE-READINGS OF POETRY AND PROSE*

Enjoy readings by local writers and members of the Just Write virtual creative writing workshop at this end-of-year celebration. Light refreshments served.

Thursday, December 4 from 5:30pm –6:30pm Milton H. Latter Memorial Library

HONEYBEESINOUR GARDENS WITH MASTER GARDENER MIRANDABRADSHAW

Learn about honeybee biology,the roles within thehive,and whatyou can do inyourown garden to help honeybees thrive

Monday,December 8 from1pm –2pm Nora Navra Library

AUTHOR NIGHT AT HUBBELL LIBRARY:

DAVIDMICHAEL SCHNEIDER

CRIME IN COLONIAL NEWORLEANS: TERROR ON THEFRONTIER

Schneider takes readers into the crime historyofcolonial New Orleans,where things were very tense, very wild, and fulloffascinating tales of life on the edge of empire

Tuesday,December 9

from 6:30pm –7:30pm Cita Dennis Hubbell Library

BEYOND BOOKS-

NON-TRADITIONAL RESOURCESATTHE LIBRARY

Get more than bookswith your Library card. Discover some of the Library’s non-traditional resources, including the Culture Pass Program, CakePan Collection, andSeed Libraries.

Wednesday, December10 from 3pm –4pm Robert E. Smith Library

Thursday,December 18 from 3pm –4pm Norman Mayer Library

INDIEAUTHOR PROJECT EXPERT SESSION

HOWTOUSE ROLE-PLAYINGGAMESTO WRITEYOUR FIRST DRAFT

Award-winning urban fantasynovelist S.G. Tasz explains howyou can borrow concepts from role playing games like Dungeons &Dragons to get words on the page and complete your firstdraft.

Register for this virtual eventat nolalibrary.co/expert-session.

Thursday,December 11 from 3pm –4pm

SPEEDPUZZLINGCOMPETITION*

Teams of up to 4participants compete to see who can finishtheir puzzle the quickest to win amazongift cards.1st prize is $100,2nd prize is $60,3rd prize is aLibrary Tote Bag. Registration begins at 12:30-1pm or until full.

Saturday,December 13 from 12pm –3pm East New Orleans Regional Library

BIKINGAFTER DARK*

Safety Workshop with BikeEasy Learn how to be safer biking at night at this free workshop.Topics covered include:

•Legal Requirements

•Lights, Reflectors, and High Visibility Gear

•Strategies for Biking in Dark and Dim Conditions

Attend the entire sessionand bring your own biketoreceive afree set of bikelights.

Thursday,December 18 from 5:30pm –7pm REACH Center

Take apuzzle,leave apuzzle! CommunityPuzzle Exchanges now open at Algiers Regional, Alvar,Central City, East New OrleansRegional, Hubbell, Keller,Latter,Mid-City,and Smith Libraries.

LEARNTOTYPEWITHOUT

LOOKING-AND HAVE FUN TOO!

Learn typing skills, including the ability to find keys on the keyboard. Increase your comfortlevel in using acomputer Forall ages 16 years andupand all computer skill levels.

Registration suggested but not required at nolalibrary.co/typing

Tuesdays in December from 10am –11am Main Library

TECHCONNECT

Book aone-on-one appointment to develop confidence,build computer skills, andgrowmorecomfortablein today’sdigitalworld.

Register at nolalibrary.co/techconnect or by calling 504-596-3501.

Tuesdays from 10am –12pm Wednesdays from 3pm –5pm East New Orleans Regional Library

Stream New Orleans’only free music service,Crescent CitySounds andlook outfor anew class of musicians joining the platform this winter.

WINTER ... is the time for home.

Thewarmthofsummerhas wounddown, thecrisp fall airhas takenover, and thoughts have turned to thecomingwinterwithits sparklinglightsand biting winds. As thepoetEdith Sitwellsaid, “Winteristhe time forcomfort,for good food andwarmth…itisthe time forhome.” This specialseasongives us reason to serveupcomfort,tomakeeverydaymoments with friends,familyand community special. So,eat dessert first, cook your family’s favorites, give from the heartand lean into winter andholiday funathome.

TABLEOFCONTENTS

GatherRound the Table pages4-21

Dessertare on deck,froma stunningPavlova towertoa scrumptiouswinterspice Bundt cake.Createeasyappetizersthat go from slow cooker to party (orjusttoyourdiningtable) andbrush up on classic side dish recipes.

Thoughtful Giving pages22-40

Treatyourselfand your loved ones to agift that feelslikeluxury. Ideasfor family favorites, andour suggestionsfor personalizedgiftstomakegivingfeel so good.

Home andHearth pages41-59

Exploreseasonalcrafts, DIY décortipsfor warmingupyour space on acoldnight,and make azinefor some unpluggedholidayfun.

Photobyigishevamaria/AdobeStock

Black Forest Pavlova Christmas Tree

ThisBlack Forest PavlovaChristmas Tree is atrueshowstopper. Crisp, airy meringue layers,swirled with silkycream,rich chocolateand ruby-red cherries,stacked into aglittering holiday tower. Inspired by theclassicBlack Forest cake,it’sa dreamy blendoftextures— crunchy, creamy,sweet andtangy —that dazzles on thetable andtasteslikepurecelebration.

RecipesbyPatti Diamond, DivasonaDime

Winter Wishes

JasonCoblentz/DivasOnADime

What You’ll Need:

Meringue:

•8 large eggwhites

•1 ¾cupssugar

•1 teaspooncornstarch

•1 teaspooncream of tartar

•1 teaspoonvanillaextract

Cherry Compote:

•2 (12-ounce) bags frozen dark sweetcherries

•¾ cupsugar

•2 tablespoons cornstarch +1teaspoonwater or cherry juice

•½ cupdried cherries

•Optional: ¼-½cup golden raisinsand/ordried cranberries

•1 teaspooneachvanillaextract, almond extract, balsamic vinegar

•Optional: 1-2 tablespoons kirsch or brandy

CreamCheeseWhipped Cream:

•1 (8-ounce) brickcream cheese,atroomtemp

•2 cups cold heavycream

•¼ cuppowdered sugar

•1 teaspoonvanillaextract

ChocolateCoating:

•1 cupsemi-sweetchocolate chipsorchopped chocolate

•1 teaspooncoconut oil

Optional Garnishes:

•Chocolate curls

•Cocoa powder

•Sugaredcherries

•Rosemarysprigs

Here’s How:

1. Make Meringues: Preheatovento225 F. Line baking sheets with parchmentand trace 5-7 graduatedcircles (largest 7inches, smallest3 inches). Flippaper.Beategg whites to soft peaks; graduallyadd sugaruntil stiff,glossy peaksform. Beat at least5 minutes.Beatincornstarch, creamoftartarand vanilla. Spoonorpipeintocircles; shapesmallestcircleintoapeaktotop thetree. Bake 90 minutes. Turn off oven; cool completelyinside theoven, ideallyovernight.

2. Cherry Compote: In asaucepan, cook cherries and sugarovermediumheat. Stir cornstarch slurry into mixture;bring to aboil, stirring,until thickened. Adddried fruit;simmer 5minutes. Remove from heat;stirinextracts, balsamic andkirschifusing.Cooltoroomtemperature

3. CreamCheeseWhipped Cream: In amixingbowl, beat creamcheeseuntil smooth,set aside.Inanother bowl, whip creamand sugartomediumpeaks. Graduallyadd reserved creamcheese, then vanilla, andbeatuntil fluffy.

4. ChocolateCoating:Microwavechocolate andcoconut oilin20-30 second bursts, stirring,until smooth.Brush onto cooled meringues during assembly.

5. Assemble Tree:Add alittledollopofwhipped cream to servingplatter to “glue” firstmeringuediscinplace. Place largest meringue disc on servingplatter.Spreadwith athinlayer of chocolatecoating,adrizzle of compote, then alayer of whippedcream.Continuelayering, stacking from largest to smallest.

6. Decorate:Dustwithcocoa powder,garnish with chocolatecurls,sugaredcherries androsemarysprigs. Serve within an hour forbesttexture.

Serves:10| Prep:45minutes |Bake1 hour 30 minutes| Cool:2 hourstoovernight |Total Time:3 hours

WinterSpice GingerBundt Cake

ThisWinterSpice Ginger Bundtisgingerbread alldressed up forthe holidays.Withlayers of warm spice, ahintoforangeand atendercrumb,it’sthe kind of cake that perfumes the wholekitchen as it bakes. Finished with asimple glaze, it’s striking enough fora holiday tableyet easy enough to make on aweeknight.

What You’ll Need:

3¾cupsall-purpose flour 1tablespoonbakingpowder

1teaspoonbakingsoda

¾teaspoonkoshersalt

1tablespoongroundcinnamon

1tablespoongroundginger

1teaspoonfreshly grated nutmeg

1teaspoongroundcloves

½teaspoongroundallspice

¼teaspoongroundblack pepper

1heaping tablespoonmincedcandiedginger

1cup +2tablespoons butter,atroomtemperature

1cup +2tablespoons brownsugar, packed

¾cup granulated sugar

Zest of 1orange

2teaspoons freshlygratedginger

¾cup molasses

3large eggs, at room temperature

1½cupswhole milk

Orange SpiceGlaze

1cup powdered sugar, sifted

3tablespoons freshlysqueezed orange juice

¼teaspoongroundcinnamon

Pinchgroundcloves

Here’s How:

Preheat theovento350 F. Coat a12-cup Bundtpan with bakingspray or grease generously anddustwith flour.

In amediumbowl, whisktogetherthe flour, baking powder,bakingsoda,saltand spices, then add thecandied ginger andstirtoevenlydistribute; setaside.

In thebowlofa standmixer fitted with thepaddleattachment,beatthe butter with thebrown andgranulatedsugars until light and fluffy, about2 minutes. Scrape down thesides andbottomofthe bowl.Add theorange zest,fresh ginger, molasses andone egg, mixingonlow speed. Addthe remainingeggsone at atime, mixingafter each addition.Scrape down thebowlagain.

With themixer on low, add one-third of thedry ingredients, followed by half themilk.Mix gently,thenrepeatwith anotherthird of thedry mixture, theremainingmilk and finallythe last thirdofthe drymixture.Mix just untilblended.

Spoonthe batter into thepreparedpan andsmooththe top. Bake for40minutes, checktosee if atoothpick inserted near thecentercomes outclean.Ifit’snot,add 5more minutes andtestagain.Cool in thepan for15minutes, then invert onto awirerackand let cool completely.

Forthe glaze,whisk thepowderedsugar, orange juice,and spices in amediumbowluntil smooth andpourable. Place thecooledcakeona rackset over asheet pantocatch drips, then slowly pour theglaze over thecake, letting it cascade down thesides. Allowthe glaze to setbeforeslicing.

Yield: 12 servings |PrepTime: 10 minutes| Cook Time:45minutes |Total Time:55minutes

JasonCoblentz/DivasOnADime

PeppermintChocolate Whoopie Pies

Twopillowyroundsofchocolate cake hugging a fluffy peppermint filling, rolledincrushed candy canesfor sparkleand crunch.They’re festive, fabulous andfar easier to make than they look.

What You’ll Need:

Forthe whoopie pies:

2cupsall-purpose flour ¾cup cocoapowder

1teaspoonbakingsoda

¾teaspoonsalt

½cup (1 stick) butter,atroomtemperature

1cup packed brownsugar

1large egg, at room temperature

1teaspoonvanillaextract

1cup buttermilk,atroomtemperature

Forthe peppermint filling:

¾cup (1 ½sticks) butter,atroomtemperature

1¼cupspowderedsugar,sifted

1teaspoonvanillaextract

½teaspoonpeppermintextract

⅛ teaspoon salt

2(7-ounce) tubs marshmallow creme(marshmallow fluff)

Crushedcandy canes, forrolling

Here’s How:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line twolarge baking sheets with parchmentpaper.

In amediumbowl, whisktogetherthe flour, cocoapowder, bakingsodaand salt.

In astand mixer,beatthe butter andbrown sugaruntil light and fluffy, about2 minutes. Mixinthe eggand vanilla.

Alternateaddingthe flourmixtureand buttermilk in turns, beginning andendingwiththe dryingredients. Mixjustuntil combined,thengivethe batter a finalstirbyhandtobesure no drypockets remain.

Drop heapingteaspoons of batter (oruse asmall scoop) onto thepreparedsheets, spacingabout 2inchesapart Bake 10-12 minutes, until thecenters spring back when gently touched. Cool for5 minutesonthe sheets, then transfertoa wire racktocoolcompletely.

Forthe filling: Beat butter andpowderedsugaruntil fluffy. Addvanilla,peppermintextract andsalt. Mixinmarshmallowcreme until smooth,thenchill at least30minutes.

Spread or pipe fillingontothe flat side of half thecakes and topwiththe remainingcakes.Rolledges in crushedcandy canesfor afestive finish.

Tips:Use dark cocoapowderfor adeep, sophisticated chocolate flavor.For thebestrise, let eggs andbuttermilk come to room temperature.(Shortcuts: rest eggs in hot tapwater for10minutes, andwarmmilkinthe microwave for50seconds.)

If your kitchen runs warm,chill the filled whoopiepies for 15 minutesbeforeserving. This helpsthe fillingset, so the tops stay putand don’tslide off thebottoms.

Thesefreezebeautifully. Wrap individually andfreezeup to 2monthsfor make-ahead magic.

Yield: about24servings|Prep Time:50mins|Cook Time:10mins|TotalTime: 60 mins

leekris, stock.adobe.com

Holiday Celebration Biscotti

Perfectfor gifting, dunkingoradding to aholiday cookie plate. Crispbut not tooth-breaking andjustsweet enough.

What You’ll Need:

4tablespoons unsalted butter,softened or cold,cut in pieces

¾cup granulated sugar

2large eggs, room temperature

1to2teaspoonextract(see flavor variations)

2cups flour(all-purpose,or half all-purpose +halfwhite whole wheat)

1teaspoonbakingpowder

½teaspoonsalt

Optional:turbinado sugarfor sprinkling

Here’s How:

Heat oven to 350 F. Line abaking sheet with parchment.

Beat butter andsugaruntil creamy. Addeggsand extract; mix well.Whisk flour, bakingpowderand salt.Add to bowl;mix until combined.Stirin flavor add-insifusing.

Divide doughinhalf. Shapeintotwo 8-inchlogsand flattento¾ inch thick. Sprinkle with coarse sugarifdesired. Bake for25minutes, until lightly golden and firm to thetouch.Coolon thepan for30minutes.

Slicelogs diagonallyinto¾-inch slices. Laycut side up on thesheet and bakefor 15 minutes, until dry. Cool completely. Optional:For extra-crunchycookies, turn off the oven andleave thebiscottiinthe oven to cool.

Flavor Variations:

•Crunchy Almond:1teaspoonalmond +1 teaspoonvanillaextract. Stir in 1cup chopped almonds.

•Cranberry OrangePistachio: 1 teaspoonvanilla+ zestof1 orange. Stir in ¾cup driedcranberries and ¾cup chopped pistachios.

Tips:Dress them up!Dip oneend of cooled biscotti in melted chocolateand sprinkle with nuts,chocolate chipsor festivesprinkles.

Thesebiscottikeep1-2 weeksatroomtemperature or 3monthsinthe freezer.

Yield: 20 -24servings| Prep Time:10minutes |Cook Time:45minutes |Total Time:55minutes +cooling

Holiday Brie madeeasy

Party season is here,and the eternalquestion arises: What am Igoing to serve(or bring) that looksimpressivebut doesn’t eatup my time or budget?

Here’s theanswer: Bake awheel of brie.It’squick, elegant, universally adoredand equallyathomeata backyard potluckorablack-tie soirée. Warm,gooeybrieis especiallywelcome in thecolder months,when “richand creamy”sounds downrightirresistible.

Brie is versatile, pairingbeautifullywithboth sweetand savory toppings. Thebasics aresimple: place awheel of brie on parchment, scorethe rind andbakeat350 Ffor 1015 minutes untilsoft and melty.Serve it just like that (alwaysahit), or dress it up with toppings fora festivetwist.

powdered sugar“snow.”

•Caramelized Onion& Thyme: Sweet onions slowly cooked down with freshthyme.

•SavoryMushroom&Herb: Sauteed mushroomswithgarlic andparsley.

•PepperJelly Kick:Spicy-sweetred pepper jellywithasprinkleofalmonds.

Whydoesitsmellfunny?Briehas anatural“bloomy rind.” If it smells strong when youunwrapit, just let it breathefor 30 minutes—the aroma mellows andthe flavor is divine

BAKED BRIE JEWEL BOX WITH JAM &NUTS

JasonCoblentz/DivasOnADime

Sweet &SavoryTopping Ideas

•Cranberry-Orange:Warmcranberry sauce with orange zest andtoasted pecans.

•Fig &Walnut: Fig jam, chopped walnutsand adrizzle of honey.

•CherryPistachio:Dried cherries, pistachios andmaple syrup.

•Holiday Harvest: Pomegranatearils, freshrosemaryand adusting of

Mixsomething sweet, something savory andsomethingcrunchy,and you’ve gota show-stoppingappetizer.

QuickBrieQ&A

Is therindedible? Yes! Scoringthe top makesiteasier to scoopthe gooeyinside,but youcan eatthe rind too. Do Ihavetobakeit? Notatall —brie is delicious at room temp,but warmth makesthe flavor shine.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Placean8-ounce wheelofbrieonparchment andset on abakingsheet. Scorethe toprindina crosshatch pattern. Spread 2tablespoons of jamacrossthe top, sprinkle with 2tablespoons chopped toastednuts, drizzle with 1tablespoonhoney and finish with apinch of flaky salt.Bakeuncovered for10 minutes, until bubbly.Let cool slightly,thenserve with crackers or slicedbaguette. In thephoto,apricotjam, pistachios anddried cranberries were used forapop of color. Butthe combinations areendless.

Yield: 4to8 servings |Time: 15 minutes

Tip:Keepa wheelof brie,a jarofjam anda bagofnutsinyour“emergency entertainmentarsenal.” In minutes, you’ve gota built-in partytrick that lookslikeyou plannedahead.

Wishes

robynmac,stock.adobe.com

Easy Throw-togethers

Pair simple ingredient lists with low-effort cookingmethods withoutsacrificing taste.

Whenyou need arecipefor somethingthatcomes together quickly,tastesyummy,is easy to transportand looksgreat on aplate, look no further. Thesemeatball recipeswork with anystandard frozen meatballand also with veggie meatballs.Serve plated on toothpicks foranappetizerspread, or make them with pastaand servefor acozy family dinner.

GRAPE JELLY MEATBALLS

What You’ll Need:

•1 bagfrozen beef or pork meatballs

•1 12-ounce jarofgrape jelly

•1 12-ounce jarofchili sauce

Here’s How:

Combineall ingredients in a slow cooker.Cookonlow for4-6 hours. Stir andserve with toothpicks.

Tip:Not achili sauce fan? Substitute ketchup if youlikea sweetersauce.Ormix half ketchup andhalfbarbecuesauce.

Winter Wishes

MEATBALLS with RICOTTA and RED SAUCE

What You’ll Need:

•1 bagfrozen Italian-style meatballs

•1 jarspaghetti sauce,yourfavoritevariety

•½ cupgratedRomanoand Parmesan cheese,plus more forgarnish

•15-ounce containerofricottacheese

•Parsley,chopped,for garnish

•8-ounce packageoffresh mozzarellapearls(for appetizer)

•1 bunchofbasil leaves (for appetizer)

•1 boxpasta,likepenne, ziti or rigatoni (for meal)

zoryanchik, stock.adobe.com

Here’s How:

Combinethe meatballs, jarofsauce andgrated cheese in aslowcooker. Cook on lowfor 4-6 hours. Before serving, add ricottacheesetosauce andstir. Allowtoheatinslowcookerfor 15 minutes.

Forappetizers: Spoonsauce onto aplatter.On toothpicks, thread amozzarellapearl,abasil leaf and onemeatball.Sprinklewithadditional grated Parmesanand parsley.

Forameal: Cook pastaaccordingtopackage directions. Combinecookedpasta andmeatballsin sauce,and garnishwithadditional grated Parmesan andparsley.Serve with crusty garlic bread.

BONUS RECIPE: MEAT CANDY

(Bacon-wrappedsausages)

•1 packagebacon

•1 packageporkLittleSmokies sausages

•1 cupbrown sugar

Cutbaconstripsintothirds.

Wrap each sausageinapiece of bacon andsecurewitha toothpick.

Place in aslowcooker, andcover with thebrown sugar, making sure each sausage is coated in brownsugar.

Cook on highfor 3hours,stirring after thesecondhour, untilcrispy. When it’s partytime, setthe slow cooker on warm, andwatch thesedisappear

Wishes

DIY AppleCiderStation

By PattiDiamond,Divas on aDime

Holiday cheerisinthe air, and what better way to celebrate than with acozy, DIYapple cider station? This funand inviting setupis perfectfor gatherings or simplyaquiet night at home,turninganordinary eveningintoadelightfulexperience.

DIYAPPLECIDER STATION

ESSENTIALS

Startwithabaseofhigh-quality applecider from your favorite localstore.Toinfuseitwiththose warm,autumnal flavors, pour thecider into apot or crockpot andadd cinnamonsticks, wholeclovesand freshorangeslices. Letit simmer gently on thestove until your home is filled with the comforting scentofspicedapples andcitrus.

HOWMUCHCIDER TO STARTWITH

Forthisrecipe, startwith1gallon of applecider. This amount is perfectfor singleservingsfor asmall gatheringof 8-10 people or providingmultipleservingsfor acozynight in.Multiplyasdesired.

SPICEMIX RECIPE FORMULLEDCIDER

Foranextra boost of flavor,createyourown spicemix to addtothe cider:

•3 cinnamon sticks

•1 tablespoonwhole cloves

•1 teaspoonwhole allspice berries

•1 star anise(optional, forasubtlelicorice note)

•1/2 teaspooncardamompods

•1 orange,sliced

Addthese ingredients to thepot with theapple cider and simmer for20-30 minutes formaximum flavor infusion.

Strain theciderbeforeserving fora smooth,spiceddrink.

CUSTOMIZETOYOURHEART’S CONTENT

Make your cider stationinteractive andinvitingwithanarray of add-ins andtoppings. Here aresomeideas to elevateyourcider experience:

•KeepitWarm: Useaslowcookeroraninsulated drink dispensertokeepyourcider warm throughout theeveningwithout needingconstantattention.

•Whipped Cream: Addadollopofwhipped creamfor an indulgenttouch.

•Caramel Drizzle: Adrizzle of caramelsauce canturn your drinkintoadessert-worthytreat.

•Nutmegand/orAllspice: Alight sprinkle of thesespices addsdepth andwarmth.

•CinnamonSugar Rim: Dipthe rimofyourmug in abit of waterorapple cider,thencoatitwithcinnamon sugar forasweet, festivetouch.

•StarAnise: Forasophisticated look andanaddedlayer of flavor.

•HomemadeSyrups: Offer flavored syrups like vanilla, mapleorpumpkin spicefor guests to personalize their drinks.

•Mini Marshmallows: Addabowlofmini marshmallows forthose wholoveasweeter,dessert-like twist.

•SpicedHoney: Provide spiced honeyfor atouch of naturalsweetness with awarm, aromatic kick.

•GarnishGalore: Provide guestswithcinnamon sticks, thin appleslices or orange twists forastylish garnish.

•AlcoholicOption: Foradult gatherings, offer asplashof spicedrum, bourbonorapple brandy foraspiritedversion.

sveta_zarzamora, stock.adobe.com

PAIR WITH TREATS

Complementyourcider stationwith simplefall snacks like spicednuts, gingerbread cookies, or applecider donuts.

Pumpkin Bread: Moistand spiced with cinnamon andnutmeg, it’s perfect fordunking in cider.

MaplePecan Scones: Theseadd a buttery, nuttytouch that pairsbeautifullywiththe warm flavorsofapple cider.

CinnamonRolls: Soft,gooey rolls topped with creamcheeseicingadd a rich andindulgent treat.

Cheese andCharcuterie Board: A mix of sharpcheddar,smokedgouda, driedfruitsand nuts complements the sweetnessofthe cider.

AppleFritters: Aclassic match that emphasizes theapple theme.

Toffee or CaramelPopcorn: Adds asweet andcrunchy snackthatpairs with thespiced flavors.

Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels: Sweet andsalty,these make agreat accompanimenttothe cider’s warm spices.

Mini Pumpkin Pies or Tarts: Individual servings that pack the flavorsof fall in each bite.

Spiced Shortbread Cookies: Simple, butteryand with ahintofcinnamonorclove.

TIPS FORTHE PERFECTAPPLE CIDERSTATION

To add an extra layerofcoziness, consider including:

DIYToppingsBar Sign: Create asmall,decorativechalkboardsign listingall theavailable toppings and garnishesfor apersonaltouch.

Themed Mugs: Provide fall-themed

ormismatchedvintage mugs to make theexperience even more charming.

CiderBar Labels: Create labels or tags foryouradd-insand toppings to make it easy forguests to explore options.

Seasonal Decor: Addsmall pumpkins,gourdsand autumn leaves around thecider stationfor afestive ambiance.

MusicPlaylist: Curate afall-themed music playlist to enhancethe cozy atmosphere.

PERFECTSCENARIOS FORYOUR APPLECIDER STATION

Autumn Get-Togethers: Bringthe warmth andcozinesstoyourfallthemed partyorfamilygathering.

Thanksgiving Celebration: Delight guests as they arrive with awarm, fragrant drinkthatsets thetonefor a festivemeal.

WeekendBrunches: Addaseasonal twist to your brunch menu with a cider stationalongside classic breakfast treats.

Book ClubsorCraft Nights: Create arelaxed andinvitingatmospherewith acomfortingbeverage that everyone cancustomize.

OutdoorBonfires: Servewarm spicedcider whilesitting around the fire andenjoyingthe crispautumn air.

HolidayDecoratingSessions: Sip on your creation whiledecking the hallsfor theupcomingholidays.

Whetheryou’rehosting friends or cozyingupwitha book, this apple cider stationisa surefire waytoembrace theseason. Enjoythe warmth, comfortand cheerthatthissmall touchcan bringtoyourhome.

Winter Wishes

Goncharuk film,stock.adobe.com

A Fresh Take on Green BeanCasserole

ByPatti Diamond, Divason aDime

Forgetthe canned soup andfried onions —thisupgraded version is all aboutrealfood. Freshbeans are blanched to stay crispand green, then foldedintoasilkymushroomsauce made from butter,stock andcream

Topped with golden friedshallots, it’s vibrant, flavorfuland afar cryfromthe canned classic.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Yield: 6-8servings| TotalTime: 45 mns

What You’ll Need:

2poundsgreen beans(freshorfrozen)

1tablespoon+1 teaspoonkoshersalt, divided

2tablespoons butter

8ounces mushrooms, sliced or quartered

½teaspoongroundblack pepper

3clovesgarlic, minced

3tablespoons all-purpose flour 1cup chickenorvegetable broth

2cupshalf-and-half

1(2.8-ounce) packageFrench’s

Onions or 1recipeCrispyFried Shallots (below)

Here’s How:

Prep thebeans:

•Fresh beans: Bring1gallon waterand 1tablespoonsalttoaboil. Blanch beans5minutes,thendrain andplunge into ice water. Drain againand setaside.

•Frozenbeans: Thaw,drain andpress

outexcessmoisture.

Make thesauce: Melt butter in a large, oven-safeskillet (10-12 inches) over medium-high heat.Add mushrooms, 1teaspoonsaltand thepepper. Cook,stirring, until mushroomsrelease their juices, about5 minutes. Stir in garlic andcook2 minutes more.

Sprinkle flourovermushrooms,stirring to coat.Cookbrieflyuntil the flour begins to brown. Stir in broth, scraping up brownedbits. Simmer 3minutes. Lowerheat, add half-and-halfand cook until thickened, about10minutes (longerifyou prefer athicker sauce).

Assemble: Stir aquarter of thefried shallots(or onions)intothe sauce, then fold in greenbeans until well-coated. Transfer to acasserole dish if desired. Topwithremaining shallots/onions. Bake at 350 Funtil bubbly,about 15 minutes. Servewarm.

CRISPY FRIED SHALLOTS

Yield: 6-8servings| Total Time:25mns

What You’ll Need:

12 ounces shallots(about 3large)

¼cup cornstarch (or corn flour)

1cup vegetableoil

Pinchofsalt

Here’s How:

Usinga mandoline, slice shallots into thin rings(aboutdime-thick). Toss with cornstarch to coat,separatingthe rings. Heat 3inchesofoil in adeepsaute panovermediumheat. Fryshallotsin batches, 3-5 minuteseach, until golden. Stir to keep ringsseparate.

Transfer with aslotted spoontoa papertowel-lined tray andsprinkle with salt.Repeatuntil allare fried. Save the flavorfuloil forother recipesthis season

Make-Ahead Tip:Busy holiday kitchen? Prep the beans, mushroom sauce,and fried shallotsaday ahead. Storeseparately, then assemble andbakejustbefore servingfor an effortlessside dish.

JasonCoblentz/DivasOnA Dime

Winter Wishes

On Thanksgiving, theturkeymay take centerstage,but it’s the sides —especiallystuffing —thatsteal theshow. Everyyearwewonder:Why don’twemakethismoreoften?

Forgetthe box. Homemade stuffing is simple, versatileand always worthit. Startwithdried bread(pick up day-old sourdough, ciabatta,cornbread or any hearty loaf), toss in onionand celery, then enrichwithbutter, brothand eggs forthatcustardymiddle andgolden crunch on top. Addsausage,baconor creative extras, andsuddenlystuffing goes from sidekick to scene-stealer.

CLASSIC THANKSGIVING STUFFING

Yield: 8servings| TotalTime: 1hr20mns

What You’ll Need: 1(16-ounce) loaf bread, cutinto1-inch pieces anddried 2tablespoons oliveoil

Spotlight on Stuffing

12 to 16 ounces sausage, baconor mushrooms

1½ cups onion, diced 1½ cups celery, diced 2cupsadd-ins(optional;see variations below)

2teaspoons poultry seasoning ¾cup butter,divided 2eggs 2to4 cups chickenorturkeybroth

Here’s How:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter a9×13inch bakingdish. Place driedbread in a large bowl.

In askillet over medium heat,warm oliveoil.Cookchosenmeat, breaking it into crumbles, until browned. Usinga slottedspoon, transfer to thebowlwith bread.

In thesameskillet, cook onion, celery andany additional aromatics. Season with salt,pepperand poultryseasoning. Stir often until onions aretranslucent. Addany add-ins(like appleorpeppers) andcookuntil softened.Stirin½cup butter until meltedand infused with flavor.

Scrape themixture into thebread bowl.Inanother bowl,whisk together eggs and2cupsbroth;pouroverthe breadmixture.Seasonwithsaltand pepper,tossingtocombine.Add more broth, ½cup at atime, until thebread is fullymoistened

Transfer stuffing to theprepared bakingdish. Cutremainingbutterinto small pieces anddot over thetop.Cover with foil andbakefor 30 minutes. Uncoverand bake20minutes more,until golden.

Recipe Variations:

•Apple Cranberry Pecan: Use12 ounces maplesausage.Add 1cup chopped apple, ½cup chopped pecans and½cup driedcranberries.

•BaconParmesan: Use12ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped.Stirin1 cupgratedParmesan, ½teaspoon blackpepperand 1tablespoon chopped freshrosemary.

•VegetarianorVegan:Substitute1 poundcoarselychopped mushroomsfor themeat, sauteinguntil caramelized. Forvegan:Use oliveor coconutoil insteadofbutter, vegetablebroth in place of chickenstock, andomitthe eggs.

Roast Beets with Orange-ThymeGlaze

Sweet,earthybeetsget aglamorous upgradewitha glossy orange-thyme glaze. Roasteduntil tender andcaramelized,thentossedina citrusy, honey-kissed sauce, they make avibrant,elegant side dish that’s surprisingly easy.

What You’ll Need:

12 beets (small,mediumorlarge)

3tablespoons extra-virginolive oil, divided

1teaspoondried thymeor1tablespoonfresh leaves

1teaspoonkoshersalt

½teaspoonfreshly ground blackpepper

1tablespoonbalsamic vinegar(or redwinevinegar+apinch of sugar)

Zest of 1orange(finely grated)

Juice of 1large orange (~¼ cup)

1tablespoonhoney (ormoreto taste)

Optional:tinypat of butter or splash of oliveoil forshine

Here’s How:

Preheat oven to 400 F. Line alarge bakingsheet with foil andspray with cookingspray.

Trim tops androots of thebeets. Leavethe peel on for simplicity.Cut into 1½-inch chunks (halve small,quarter medium, eighthlarge).

Toss beets with 2tablespoons of theolive oil, thyme, salt andpepper. Spread in asinglelayer androast 35-45 minutes, turningonceortwice,until tender andcaramelizedatthe edges.

Meanwhile, make theglaze: Warm 1tablespoonolive oilin asmall saucepan over medium heat.Add balsamicvinegar, orange zest, juice andhoney.Simmeruntil slightly thickened andglossy.Adjustsweetness or acidity to tasteand stir in a pinchofthyme.

Toss hotroasted beets with thewarmglaze.For extracaramelization,returnglazedbeets to theoven5minutes.

Garnishwithfresh thymeand extra orange zest before serving.

SageParmesan Popovers

Not just ordinarypopovers (thoughthose arefabulous) —these are fluffy, buttery, Parmesan-and-sagepopovers, served with garlicky sage butter to take them over thetop.

No specialequipmentrequired:Use a standard muffintin (you’ll getabout 10 smaller popovers)orasix-wellpopover panfor six generous ones

Popovers areinstant gratification no yeast, no rise time.Steam does theheavy lifting,and in aboutanhouryou’llhave golden, crisp, hollow beauties readytodevour.

Forthe best rise,preheat theempty muffintin until it’s blazinghot before addingthe batter.And don’tskip room-temperature eggs and milk.(Shortcut:Warmeggsin hottap waterfor 10 minutes andzap themilk in themicrowave for50seconds.)

SAGE PARMESAN POPOVERS

Here’s How:

We’regoing to startbyinfusingour butter.Place 1½tablespoonsbutterin asmall skillet over lowheat. Addthe smashedgarlic cloveand sage leaves to thebutter. After about5minutes the butter shouldbebrowning, thesage crisping andthe garlic smellingheavenly.Removethe garlic andsagefromthe skillet andreserve formakingthe sage garlic butter (recipebelow). Transfer the

infused butter andpulse,add flourand Parmesan andblendfor 30 seconds. No blender? No problem.Inamedium bowl,whisk eggs andmilk together. Whiskinmeltedbutter. Add flourand Parmesan,whisk untilsmooth.

Carefullyremovethe nowextremely hottin from theovenand divide the batter evenly into the10oiled cups. Cups shouldbeabout half full

Prep Time:15mns |Cook Time:35 mns

What You’ll Need:

Vegetableoil and/orcooking spray

1½tablespoons butter

1clove garlic, smashed

6freshsageleaves

2large eggs, room temperature

1cup wholemilk,roomtemperature

1cup all-purpose flour

3tablespoons freshlygratedparmesan cheese

infused butter into asmall bowl to cool. Move theovenracktothe lowest position.Preheat oven to 425 F. Next, either generously usecooking sprayor add 1teaspoonvegetable oilto10muffincups(leavethe middletwo empty). If usingapopover pan, you’dspray or oil thosewells as well.Place muffintin or popoverpan in oven to heat while you make thebatter.

Place theeggsand milk into ablender andblendtoget all foamy. Addthe

Bake popovers at 425 Ffor 20 minutes, then withoutopeningthe oven door,reduce heat to 350 Ffor 15 minutesmoreoruntil they’repuffed,golden brown andcrispy. Do notopenthe oven door during baking, as thechange in temperature can causethemtodeflate, andthat makesnoone happy. Turn popovers outontoacooling rackand pierce thebottoms with asmall knifetoallow steamtoescape. This helps keep them puffylonger. For best results, serveimmediately. However, they will keep forup to aweeksealedinazip-top baggie.

GARLIC SAGE BUTTER

Mash thereservedgarlic into apaste with aforkand mince thecrispysage. Stir thegarlic andsagetogetherwith4 tablespoons softened butter.Slather on everything.

Have extra sage?Preserveitbymincing finely andplacing1tablespoon into each well of an ice cube tray.Add just enough waterorolive oiltocover Freeze, then storeitinafreezer bag.

Winter Wishes

JasonCoblentz/DivasOnADime

MEALSCAPES

Make dinnertime an experience with atoppingsextravaganza

Agood tablescape —creatinga pleasing decorativestory foryourdinnertable —can make an ordinarymenufeelupscale. When youhaveguests or just want to make a family dinner feel extra special, youcan take thepressure off of creating alabor-intensive meal by letting themealbethe tablescape. Combineatried-and-truestaplewithanarray of toppings fora dynamite DIYdinner.Here’s how.

Flex Mex: At-home BurritoBowls

Slow-roast aporkbutt(easy-peasy in aslow cooker) andshred.Serve with cilantro rice, blackbeans,pinto beans, fajita veggies, corn relish,anarray of salsas,shreddedcheese, sour creamand shreddedlettuce.Bonus:tortillachips andqueso.

Quickcornrelish: Defrostand drain abag of frozen corn.Add 2tablespoons of limejuice and ¾cup of finely choppedred onion. Stir andlet setfor an hour to blend flavors.

arinahabich, stock.adobe.com

Wintery Warmup: Chili

Serveacrockpotofchili alongside favorite toppings, complementedwithcornbread,sliced breads with butter,crackers,chopped freshherbs anda selectionofhot sauces.

Toppings: cheese,sourcream,crushedcorn chips, tortillastrips, chopped onion, tomato, chives, cilantro,parsley,jalapenos.

Winter Wishes

pbdStudio, stock.adobe.com

Hot Stuff: Baked Potato Bar

Arrange aplatter of baked potatoes with classic (and notsoclassic) toppings like cheese,sourcream,chives, chili, chopped rotisserie chicken, steamedbroccoli, bacon, caramelizedonions, sauteed mushrooms, roasted garlic or chopped avocado.

Hotpotatoperfection:

Preheat oven to 450 F. Wash anddry potatoes, then pierce on all sides usingafork. Add alittleoil to your handsand rubitall over thepotatoes. Place on abakingsheet and season all sides generously with salt.Bakeabout an hour and15minutes depending on size,until aforkcan be inserted easily.

Winter Wishes

HOLIDAY BONUS: CookingSubstitutes

Missing an Ingredient?Try TheseSubstitutes

No eggs?

If it’s forbaking, substitute 1/4 cup applesauce for1egg.

No cornstarch?

Forevery 1tablespoonofcornstarch, use 1tablespoonarrowroot,or1tablespoon potato flourorpotatostarch, or 21/2 tablespoons flour.

No buttermilk?

Useplain yogurt, thinned sour creamor cremefraiche instead. Or add 1tablespoonlemon juiceorwhite vinegarto1 cupmilk andlet stand5minutes.

No kitchentwine?

To trussaturkey, useunwaxed, unflavored dental floss.

No cake flour?

Replace2tablespoonspercupofallpurposeflourwith2tablespoonscornstarchandsiftthoroughly.

No sweetpotatoes?

Fora casserole, soup or gratin-typedish, usebutternut squash or pumpkin.

No confectioners’sugar?

To make your own, add 1tablespoonof cornstarch to each cupofgranulated sugarand whirlinblender forafew secondsuntil it’s a fine powder.

No granulatedsugar?

Forevery 1cup needed,use3/4 cup confectioners’ sugaror3/4 cuphoney.

No parchmentpaper?

Usebrown paperorwaxed paper(not over high heat), or just grease and flour thepan.

No drybreadcrumbs?

Just getsomebread,tearitupintosmall chunks andsaute in askillet with alittle butter untilbrowned.Whirltoasted bread pieces in afoodprocessor.

African Peanut Stew with chicken

By DonnaErickson

This easy-to-prepare chickenpeanutstewisanadaptation of adelicious dish Ienjoyed during atrip to theUbangiregionofthe DemocraticRepublic of Congo.Servedinlarge bowls, it is afavoritemeal forcelebrationswhenfamilies andguests gather. This simplified interpretation serves 6-8and uses bonelesschicken breastsfor easy prep.Natural peanut butter givesitacreamyrichnessand an “I’ll gladly have asecondhelping” flavor. Thechilies provide aspicy kick.

Preparethe hearty recipe forfamilyand friends for amemorable meal if youcelebrate Kwanzaa this year (Dec.26-Jan. 1), andserve it at othereventsinthe newyear. You’ll likely discover that it will be anew favorite forbothkidsand adults.

WhatYou’ll Need:

1/4 cuppeanutoil or canola oil

11/2 pounds boneless, skinlesschickenbreasts, cutinto small bite-sizepieces

1teaspoonsaltand blackpeppertotaste

1mediumonion,chopped 1clove garlic, minced

1large sweetpotato, peeled andcubed

1inchpiece freshginger, peeled andminced, about1 tablespoon

1(14-ounce) candiced tomatoes,drained

1/4 cupcannedchopped chilies (optional) 3cupschickenstock

1/2 cupnaturalpeanutbutter, smooth or chunky

2cupssalad spinach, chopped

Chopped roastedpeanuts,for garnish

Here’s How:

Heat 2tablespoons oilinalarge stew potover medium-highheat. Season chickenwithsaltand pepper,and add to pot. Cook until tingesofbrown appear on all sides, about8 minutes. Transfer to aplate,and setaside.

Addremaining oiltothe potand sauteonionuntil soft, about5 minutes. Addthe garlic, sweetpotatoand ginger, stirring frequently, about3minutes. Stir in tomatoes. Return chickentothe potand add chilies (optional) and 2cupschickenstock.Bring to aboiland simmer on lowfor about15minutes.

In amediumbowl, whisktogetherthe peanut butter and remainingcup of chickenstock.Stirthe mixtureintothe soup.Add chopped spinachand simmer forabout 5minutes. Adjust seasoningand serveinbowls with peanutssprinkled on top.

Ph ot ob yD on na Er ic ks on

The meaningoflifeisto find your gift. The purpose of lifeistogive it away.

—Pablo Picasso

If nature hasmadeyou for agiver, your hands areborn open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when yourhands are empty, your heart is always full.

—Frances HodgsonBurnett

Rememberthat thehappiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.

—Robin Sharma

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.

—James Allen

Winter Wishes

giving from theheart

Some people arenatural gift-givers. They seem to instinctivelyknowthe perfectitemthatwilllight up someone’sface,and they take pride in making every exchange feel personal.For therestofus, choosing giftscan feel overwhelming—where do youevenstart? Agood rule of thumbistobegin with theperson, not thepresent.Whatdo they enjoy, howdotheyspend their time,and more importantly, what little luxuries wouldtheyrarelybuy forthemselves?

Once you’ve answered thosequestions, consider these ideas forinspiration:self-caretreatstonurture their well-being, ways to spoiltheir (oryour) furrycompanions,cleversmart-homeupgrades that add convenience,personalizedpresentstomakethemfeelseen, adventures andlearningopportunities to sparkcuriosity,oraDIY creation that comesstraightfromthe heart.

GiftingSelf-Care

Forthe deservingsouls on your holiday list whogiveand give to others,considerthe gift of self-care. Here are10ideas forpresentstohelpyourloved ones pause, pamper andrestore!

1.

Ajournal or plannertorecordthoughts, tracktheir dailyjourney or stay organized. Trythe PassionPlanner (passionplanner. com, weekly planners from $55),a beautifullydesignedplanner with space to dream andgrow. Pair with stickers andwashi tape,as well as aselection of gelpens.

2.

Forthe consciously flexibleoranyone lookingtomaintainfunctionalstrength, trygivingyogagear. Anew mat(with a strapfor toting)inaspunky, upliftingcolor or design, or ablock (foamfor restorativeposes; cork forsupport andbalance) canhelpbuddingyogis keep their pose game fresh.

Winter Wishes

FotoHelin, stock.adobe.com

3.

Theuse of essentialoilsfor health and wellness benefits is common practice,and aromatherapy diffuserspairessential oils andwater vaportokeepyourenvironment smellingclean andfresh.

4.

Forthe carpoolparentand caregiving errand runner whospendshours aday in their vehicle, consider agift certificate for acar detailing, includingsteam-cleaned upholstery anda nice newair freshener!

5.

Asilk (orsatin) pillowcase canhelp reduce facial creasesand keep hair smooth during theovernight hours. Fishers Finery 25mm 100% PureMulberrySilk (fishersfinery.com, $55) andBlissy(blissy. com, $80) aretwo highlyrated brands.

6.

Bath bombs, bath saltsand all thebody buttersturntub time into ahighlyanticipatedwellnessritual. Forbathbombs that foam forever, andhappentobevegan and cruelty-freeaswell, trythe incredible selectionatLush(lush.com).

7.

Heated eyemasks add weight and warmth to relaxfacial muscles,block light andeasedry eyes. Lookfor asoft,removable andwashablecover.Microwaveable versions areperfectly respectable, or spring fora USB-chargedelectronic version, includingmasks that add gentle massage.

8.

Meditation has proven health benefits,so tryasubscriptiontoaprovider like Headspace or Calm.

9.

Newpajamas areaclassic holiday gift, butdon’t overlook comfortableloungewear —soft knitswithcomfortable waistbands areperfect forsleepy, snowyweekends when youhavetogoout butyourheart is still in bed.

10.

Feel cozy,calmand secure with aweighted blanket. Search forone that has a stitched grid small enough to keep the filler beads(typicallyglass)welldistributed. An easy to add/removewashablecover is a plus.

ThoughtfulPresentsfor Pets and thepeople who love them

Here areyoureight best bets fora petgiftthatwill be appreciatedand remembered

By SamMazzotta

Pets arepartofthe family,and celebratingthe holidayswouldn’t be completewithout them. Andpet owners appreciate thoughtful giftsfor their furry(or scaly, or feathered) companions Notall giftsare appropriate, though.Beforerunning outand buying the first flashy petgift yousee,keepa fewthings in mind. Here’s what nottobuy forsomeone else’s pet(unlessyou’veasked them first):

•Pet beds:Dogs andcatscan be finickyabout wheretheysleep andrest, and findingthe perfectbed forthemcan take afew tries. If youbuy this gift,makesurea generous return/refundpolicycomes with it.

•Food andtreats: Many pets areonspecial diets.

•Stuffed toys: They’reeasyto chew to pieces, creating achoking hazard,and will cluttertheir home.

Winter Wishes

1 Apersonalized collar and/orleash. There’snothinglikeabedazzledcollartoshowoff apet. Andowners like keepinganextra collar andleash around

2 Agift card to Chewyoranother favorite petretailer.Good petproducts canbeexpensive,and you’ll helpdefray thosecosts.

4 Anew puppygift basket. Forfamilies gettingapuppy,a basket filled with puppy-appropriate treats, toys, soft blankets, trainingpadsand agift card will be appreciated.

5 Coveravet visit. Forseniors,students or friends in atough spot,a gift card to coverawellnessvisit is atremendoushelp. Annual checkups can costover$200.

3 Dogorcat subscription services. BarkBox, WolfPacksand othersubscriptionservices send amonthly box of goodies —treats, toys andother products —tothe petowner

6 Ayearofpet insurance. Costsfor pet insurancevarywidely,but forpuppy owners,pet insurancethatreimburses their costs forthe firstyearisafantastic gift.

7 Pet-themedhousehold items. A welcome matwitha bone or paw prints, kitchentowelswithgamboling kittens, amug with pets’names printed on them —all giftsunder $20 that pet moms anddadswill love.

8 Privateorgroup dog training. While aprivate sessioncan cost$150 per hour,group trainingfor most breeds runs about$200-$300 percourse. This is agift you’ll want to talk to theowner about first, butcoveringtheir puppy’s trainingwill be arealrelief to their wallet.

Winter Wishes

By SamMazzotta

ASmart Home Gifts for the SmartHomeFanatic

re youlooking foragift forsomeone who’sinterestedinupgradingtheir houseto asmart home?Frombasic smartmonitorstofullyautomated systems,you’vegot plenty of itemstochoosefrom. Butwhichsmart device is asmart gift —and which will be apaperweight?Here’saquick guide to choosingthe rightsmart home device.

ASMART START: THEBASEDEVICE

If your recipientdoesnot alreadyown a smartspeaker or hub, thebestgifttogiveis thebasestation that will tietogetherdevices as they add them. Amazon’s Echo and Apple’sHomePod (whichworks on the Appleecosystem) arepopular choices. Software like Google’s Home or Amazon’sAlexa connects to hundreds of smartdevices and appliances from different manufacturers, allowingusers to controlthemthrough the software “hub”without having to open the manufacturer’scontrol app.

jade,stock.adobe.com

JuanCi Studio,stock.adobe.com

CONNECTED ELEMENTS:ESSENTIALDEVICES

Thebestpartofcreatinga smarthomeishavingthe abilitytoautomatekey functionsand controlthem remotely. Thedevices beloware excellentgiftsthathelpmaximize thesmart home experience.

Weather Stations

No need to struggle outsidein winter weathertocheck your barometerand temperature.Gift aweather stationthatconnects to AlexaorGoogleorApple.

HomeSecurity

Products like SimpliSafe make it possible to setupmultiple security camerasand sensors to protectagainstintrudersand receivewarnings even when not at home

Thermostat

Connectedthermostats like ecobee,Nestand Sensiprovide precisedigital readings andallowusers to controltheir home’s temperature remotely.Prices range from around $50 to over $200.

VideoDoorbell

Ring,Blinkand SimpliSafe canconnect throughthe base stationand asmartphoneto alertusers when someonerings thedoorbell. They canalsobe configuredasmotionsensors. Expect to pay$35 andup.

WaterSensors

TheseBluetooth-connected devices alertusers to increased moisture in bathrooms, kitchensand basements—helping to minimize waterdamagewhen abathtub overflowsorapipe breaks.

Motion Sensor/Bluetooth Light Switches

Save up to 25% more energy with motion sensor switches that turn lightsonwhenyou enterthe room.Picka Bluetooth-connectedswitch,and youcan schedule or control lightsthrough your Amazon or Google device.Pay as little as $15 fora connectedmotion sensor switch.

Automatic Shades

Pricey butimpressive, connected shades, like thosefrom Smartwings canopenorclose basedonsunriseand sunset timesinyourarea, or by voice command.

(www.smartwingshome.com)

imagecredits: ecco,stock.adobe.com

This year’s trendiestgift: blind boxes

By SamMazzotta

“Blindboxes”are thehottest trendinthe collectibles industry rightnow,and that’s part of what makesthemagreat gift ideafor friends or familymembers wholovesurprises or whocollect varioustoys, cardsorother productseries.

Availableassinglepurchases or as part of asubscription, blindboxes areoften beautifullydesigned —sothey’re as nice to look at unopened as when they are finallyopenedto reveal thecollectible item inside.

Thetypeofitemvaries. Inside,itcould be a figurine, atoy or akit that youhavetobuild. Thecatch:You don’tknow what’s actuallyinside.And that is theattraction that blind boxesholdfor collectors.Justlikeholdingalottery ticket

minutes before thenumbers aredrawn,anunopenedblind boxgenerates athrill of anticipation that’s often better than thejoy of finallyopeningittosee what’s inside.

Further, becauseblindboxes typicallyoffer itemsthat arepartofacollectible set, people keep comingbackfor more,buyingbox after boxtobuild their collection. They’re lookingfor rare andlimitededition items. Best of all,blind boxesare affordable—usuallyunder $20 —makingiteasy to getintocollectingthem.

That is part of what makesblindboxes agreat gift.You canbuy asubscriptiontoa blindbox delivery service,or purchaseindividualblindboxes to give to friendsorfamily. Collectors andkidsalike will appreciate this thoughtful gift.

Winter Wishes

PhotobyTadaImages, stock.adobe.com

BLINDBOX LINGO:

•Chase: acollectible in aseries that has thelowestoddsof beingfound,and is therefore more rare.Somemanufacturers obscuretheir “chase” items, increasingthe mystery around them.

•Foil: High-endblindbox collectible boxesare lined with foil wrap to preventpeople from usinghigh-techdevices to seewhat’sinside.

•Mystery box: Similartoblind boxes, butnot always tied to a themeorseries.

•Lucky bag: An earlyname forblind/mystery boxes. The “lucky bag” (fukubukuro) originated in Japan’sdepartment stores andwas away to repackageand sell leftover inventory. Today’sblindboxes arehardlyleft over,asbuyersscramble to find that rare chase figure.

•Unboxing: Literally, opening andtakingout thecollectible item from ablindbox.Unboxingvideos aremassively popularonsocialmedia.

PhotobyLarissa,stock.adobe.com

Making it personal

Exceptionalgifts aretuned especially to therecipient.These ideasput personalizationfront andcentersothe presentisall aboutthe person.

1.

Commissionedart. Hire an illustrator to create aportraitofa family member, treasuredpet or favorite location.Find an artist whoworks in astyle your recipientwould like,whether that’s cartoon, traditional,minimalistlineart or watercolors.

2.

Engraved MaporCoordinatesJewelry.Keepmeaningfulplaces closetoyour heartwithjewelry that’s etched with the coordinates of abirthplace,engagement spot or your favorite person’s favorite city.Searchfor jewelrymade with maps that featureyourhometown, or maybe whereyourparents honeymooned.

Mari Dein, oiland palette knifeoncanvas, stock.adobe.com

3.

Birthstone Items. Jewelryfeaturing birthstonesisa timelesskeepsakefor anyone. Lookfor delicaterings, necklaces, or cufflinks featuringbirthstones. Afresh take is “family” jewelry, whichcombines stones forkids, siblings, or partners.Mom mayloveanecklace with abirthstone charmfor each child; let Dadsparkle with abirthstonesignetring.

4.

MonogrammedGoods. Everyday items canbeheirloomswhentheyhavethe addition of afancy monogram. Thinkleather keyfob or wallet; atotebag with initials; personalizedcharcuterie boardorcutting board; or coasters with thefamilyname.

5.

Custom PhotoPuzzles. Afun activity that turnsintoa family keepsake, puzzles from afamilyphoto,vacationsnapshot, or even achild’sartwork areeasytocreateand canbemade in differentsizes and difficultylevels.

6.

PrintedTextiles. Addpersonality to your home with acustom-printed fabric item. Consider teatowelsorapronsprinted with heirloom handwrittenfamilyrecipes. Or cozy throwblankets or pillow coversthatfeature family photos or artwork.

7.

MixtapeorCurated Playlist. Music capturesmemories. Create acustomplaylist of songsthatspeak to afriendship, alove, amomentintime. Burn it to aCD, completewithcustomart coverand tracklist on theback. Or,createa Spotify/Amazon/ Applemusic playlist with aprinted insert explainingyoursongchoices.

8.

EmbroideredGoods. Hand-embroidered details harken back to asimpler time andfeelintimate. That’s whytheymakea beautifulgift. Thinkhandkerchiefs,napkins,orpillowcases with names, quotes or song lyrics; embroidered patchesfor jackets or tote bags; even clever recreationsof an old-school“sampler” that featurepersonaltouches.

GiftingExperiences

from virtual workshops to in-personadventures

By SamMazzotta

Watercolor,Drawing & Painting: SiteslikeDomestika

offer thousandsofgroup courses in amonthly or yearly subscription package, or fora one-time course fee(many under $20).

Ifthe Covid-19 pandemic hadasilver lining, it wasthe explosionofvirtual experiences availabletoanyone, anytime, anywhere in theworld.Online coursesoffer rich learningexperiences that areeminentlygiftable.

Virtualconcerts bringpopular bands andgreat performances rightintoyour home.YouTube dominates this category,but MomentHouseisstill plugging alongwithscheduled performances that canbebookedonits site (MomentHouse.com).

ANew Language: Gifting asubscriptiontoa language app like Duolingo or RosettaStone is agreat waytoget started. Or,how aboutasignlanguagecourse? ASLBloom, Lingvano andSignSchool teachcomprehensive, accurate American Sign Language.

PrivateYoga: YouTube teemswithyoga sessions that are easy to follow alongwith, buta one-on-one virtualsessionwitha gurucan improveform, prevent injury andboost confidence.

Monkey Business, stock.adobe.com

Hybrid Workshops: Awelcome offshoot of completelyvirtual workshops,the hybrid workshopcombinesavirtual classwiththe righttools andsupplies. From cookingand cocktail making, to painting andclayart,hybridworkshops provide amorepersonalized experience.You canpurchase credit,gift cardsorasubscriptionfor your favorite person from siteslikeUncommonGoods, which shipsthe suppliesfor aclass aheadoftime.

Genealogy: Help someonetrace their familytreewithanannualsubscriptiontoAncestry, FindMyPast, or FamilySearch.Or, buythemavirtual sessionwitha professionalgenealogist.

Career Development hastaken off thanks to apps like Coursera, Master Classand Wondrium. Subscriptionsare affordableand open aworld of skillsand knowledge. From computer science andinteriordesign to history, literature andonward, thegift of virtuallearningcanimmeasurably improvesomeone’s life.

In-PersonAdventures: Does your giftee prefer their adventures to stay IRL? Here areafew ideas:

•Local attractions: Aseasonpass, one-time pass,orgift card to anearbytheme park, museumsorother attractionsprovides real enrichment.

•Pottery classes: There’sareasonthatsmall potterystudios aresurviving —painting and firing clay artisfun!Purchaseagift card or aclass forsomeone youknowwho lovescraftsand clay art.

•Skydiving (orskydiving simulators): I guessafew people DO enjoythe idea. Checkwiththem firstbeforepresenting this gift.

•Get outdoors:Gift aNationalParks pass ($80,available at REI, LL Bean or shop. usparkpass.com) or astate parkspass to someonewho lovescamping.Or, gift them aguidedtriporastayatAMC’s High Mountain Huts (www.outdoors.org).

SpaDay: From skincare to relaxingfacialstomakeuptutorials, recipients cantreat themselves andbeatthe winter blahs.

MusicLessons: Learntoplay an instrument,singorstudy music theory.Lessons andsubscription packages canguide buddingartists throughthe basics andbeyond.

AstrologyReading: Bin thoseexpensive psychic readings andgift avirtual classonhow to read your ownbirth chart.

Merry, Mindful, and Healthier:

Homemade FoodGifts for the Holidays

ByPatti Diamond, Divasona Dime

The holidaysare a time forindulging in belovedtreatsand traditions—but this year,my family is giving ours agentle makeover.Not acookiecancellation(perish thethought!), just ashifttowardlowersugar, higher-protein, wholefood options alongsideour nostalgicfavorites.

Thegoal?Tocreatenew, wholesometraditionswe’ll love everybit as much as theold ones. Andwe’re not alone—somanyfriends and

readerstellmetheir families arecraving thesamechange. Whetherit’ssupportingloved ones with diabetes, heartissues,allergies, chronic inflammation or simplyadesirefor healthier habits, it’s agiftof wellness wrappedinsomethingdelicious.

Theserecipes arejustthe thingfor thoughtful,healthconscious holiday giving.Easy to make,budget-friendlyand packed with flavor —they provethat“better foryou” can still feel indulgent.

Winter Wishes

JasonCoblentz/DivasonaDime

DARK CHOCOLATE BARK

Melt unsweeteneddarkchocolate andspread it outonparchment paper. Topwithnutsand asprinkleofsea salt.Onceset, breakitinto pieces andpackageitinadecorativebox or jar. Dark chocolateislower in sugar, andthe nuts andseedsprovide healthyfatsand fiber, makingthistreat both indulgentand nutritious.

MAPLE TOASTEDCOCONUT CASHEWS

Yield: 12 servings |Total Time:30mins

•3 cups roasted, unsalted cashews

•½ cupshreddedcoconut flakes, unsweetened

•¼ teaspoonsalt(optional)

•1 tablespooncoconut oil, melted

•3 tablespoons maplesyrup

•2 tablespoons demerara sugar

Preheat oven to 300 Fand line abaking sheet with parchment. In amixingbowl, mix cashews, coconutand salt.Meltthe coconut oiland combinewiththe maplesyrup.Stirin maplesyrup mixturetocoatcashewmixture. Addsugarand stir once more.Spreadthe mixture on thebakingsheet ina singlelayer with gaps forairflow.Bake15minutes, flip andbake another10minutes until golden. Cool for30 minutes before storing.

NO-BAKE CASHEW COCONUT BITES

Yield: 32 pieces |Total Time:1 hr,10mins

•½ cupmedjool dates, chopped,tightly packed

•1 cuproasted,unsaltedcashews

•1 cupshreddedcoconut flakes, unsweetened

•½ cupoats

•½ teaspooncinnamon

•2 tablespoons chia seeds

•½ tablespoonpuremaple syrup

•2 tablespoons coconutoil,melted

•½ teaspoonvanillaextract

Blitzdates andcashews in afoodprocessor until chopped.Add coconut, oats andcinnamon, andpulse.Add in chia seeds, maplesyrup, coconutoil andvanillaand pulseuntil combined. Pressintoa parchment-linedloafpan andrefrigerate until firm.Slice into squares.

PEANUT BUTTER STUFFED DATES

Yield: 1dozen |Total Time:1 hr,15mins

•12Medjool dates, pitted

•¼ cuppeanutbutter

•¼ cuproasted peanuts, chopped

•2 tablespoons dark chocolate, chopped

Slice dateslengthwiseand remove pits. Fill each date with 1teaspoonpeanutbutter. Sprinklethe sticky peanut butter with chopped peanuts anddarkchocolate. Chillbeforeserving.

Easy giftable treats: 3No-Bake PeanutButter Delights for the Holidays

Amongthe optionsfor holiday recipes, there’sa classicduo that is always popular: peanut butter andchocolate.We’re goingtogivethe oven abreak todayaswecraft threeno-bake wonders.

By PattiDiamond,Divas on aDime

THE EASIEST PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

Yield: 40 pieces |Total Time:1 hr

4cupsgranulatedsugar

1cup milk

2cupspeanutbutter

1tablespoonbutter

1tablespoonvanillaextract

Line a9x13 baking panwithparchment paperand setaside.Ina heavybottomedsaucepan, setovermediumheat, slowly bringmilk andsugartoaboil. Boil forexactly4minutes, stirring constantly to dissolvethe sugar into themilk.Overcooking leadstocrumbly fudge. Remove from heat,stirinpeanutbutter, butter andvanillauntil well-incorporated and smooth.Pourintoyourpreparedpan,let cool completely, then cutintodelicious squares.

Tobias Arhelger, stock.adobe.com

The followingrecipes requiremeltedchocolate. Meltingchocolate in themicrowave is aquick andeasy process. Breakyourchocolate into small,uniform pieces to ensure even melting.Place them in a microwave-safe bowl andheatin15-secondintervals,stirring after each interval. This prevents overheating andmaintains asmoothtexture. Typically, it takesaround1to2minutes, depending on thequantityand type of chocolate. Just be patient, stir well andyou’llberewardedwithsilky, smooth chocolate.

PEANUT BUTTER TRUFFLES

Yield: 90 pieces |Total Time:1 hr

3½ cups powdered sugar, sifted

1½ cups creamy peanut butter

8tablespoons butter,softened 1tablespoonvanillaextract ½teaspoontable salt

2½ cups chocolatechips or chocolatecandy coating

Mixpowdered sugar, peanut butter,butter, vanillaand salt until well-combined.Shape into 1-inchballs, placingthem on waxed or parchmentpaper.Let ballsstand for20minutes until firm.Meltchocolate accordingtodirections. Usingafork or skewer,dip each ball in thechocolate andlet them setto harden. Storecovered in acool, dryplace.

NewAfrica, stock.adobe.com

NO BAKE CHOCOLATEPEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Yield: 30 sandwich cookies| Total: 1hr30mn

1cup peanut butter

60 butterycrackers (suchasRitz, 2sleeves)

2½ cups chocolatechips or chocolatecandy coating

Line abakingsheet with parchmentorwaxed paper. Spread a generous 1teaspoonofpeanutbutterontohalfofthe crackers, then topwiththe remainingcrackers.Put them on your preparedbakingsheet andrefrigerate until firm (20-30 minutes). Melt chocolateaccordingtodirections. Dipeachsandwichinto chocolatetocoatand refrigerate until firm (about 30 minutes). Storeinanairtightcontainer foruptoone week.

AlenaKos, stock.adobe.com

GIVING

for the seniorwho has everything

Someseniors have acquired so much “stuff”overthe yearsthatitfeels like they have nearly everything andmore. If you’ve held off buying agift forasenior in your lifebecause youdon’t know what to getsomeone whoalready has everything, here area fewgift ideasthatwould be most welcome.

•Gift certificatesfor rides, restaurant meals, laundryservices, auto detailing, spaorhairsalon services.

•Gift basket createdespeciallyfor your senior,suchasgourmet food,cheese, jams or chocolate. Or considera subscription to aquarterly or monthly gift club.Options range from fruit baskets to bacon, coffee andcigars or cupcakes.

•Pay forayearofcable TV,the daily newspaper, magazinesubscriptionora streamingservice.

•Two ticketstoa play or otherevent whereyou’llaccompanyyoursenior, or apairofmovie passes so your seniorcan take afriend.

•Pay forasenior’slifelonglearning class, either at thesenior centeror nearby university, andarrange for transportation.

•Put together abox of useful things,like stamps,notecards andaddresslabels, alongwithacalendarwithlarge print.

•Makesingleserving mealsfor the

freezer.Havethe grandkidsdecorate labels foreachmealwithwords of love.

•Don’t leaveout your ownparticipation andthatofyourchildren. Asmall couponbookfull of services youcan do year round, such as cleaning, painting aroom, weedingthe garden, raking

leaves andcheckingexpiration dates on food in thecupboardall will be appreciated.

•Sendfresh flowers, or better yet, deliver abouquet of themonth yourself. What do seniors really want most? Thegift of your time.

HAPPY at HOME

CELEBRATETHE JOYOFTIME TOGETHER

Thesmells of Christmasare thesmells of childhood. —Richard Paul Evans

Kindness is likesnow. It beautifies everything it covers. —Kahlil Gibran

Hanukkahisabout thesparkofthe divine in allofusmade visiblethrough hope,resilience, andjoy.— Unknown

Thegreatestlegacywecan leaveour childrenishappy memories.– Og Mandino

Winter Wishes

ByAmy Anderson

I3From-the-HeartDIY

fyou’reheadedintothisholiday season thinking timesare toughand moneyistight,Ihavegoodnews: Themostmeaningful giftsdon’t come from astore;theycomefromyourtime, effort andthoughtfulness. Thinkofhow abox of candyfroma storeis nice,but freshlybaked cookies in your favorite flavor hitdifferently Just becauseit’sDIY doesn’tmeanitcan’t be cute andusable foranyoneonyourlist. Here arethree simple,heartfelt DIYprojects —pineconefirestarters,a jarofencouragement notesand ahand-painted flowerpot—tospark your creative (and thrifty) gift-givingplans

1.

Pinecone Fire Starters

Foranyonewitha fireplace or fire pit,thiscozy, thoughtful gift perfectly addswarmthand ambiance on acold night.

Supplies Needed:

•Clean,dry pinecones

•Wax (old candles,soy wax, or paraffin)

•Wicktrimmings or candle wicks (optional, helps with lighting)

•Muffintin or oldcupcake liners

•Essential oils (like cinnamon, pine,orcedar)for fragrance (optional)

•Twine or ribbon forbundling

To Make theFireStarters:

1. Melt wax carefullyin adouble boiler or heat-safe container. Add

essential oils or fragrances (if using) andstir.

2. Wrap wick around pinecone,leavingacoupleofinchesstickingout for lighting.

3. Dippinecones into wax, coating thoroughly;allow to cool andharden. Repeat forstrongercoating.

4. Before wax dries, sprinkle on anyof thefollowing forextra flair(or flare).

•Dried herbs (lavender,rosemary)for acharminglook

•Glitter,which will sparkleas it burns

•Table salt forayellowglow, Epsomsaltfor awhite glow, Borax foragreen glow

5. Bundle afew pineconeswithribbon forgifting.

GiftstoMake with LOVE

2.

Encouragement Jar

Provide ongoingsupport andlove throughout theyearwithajar of notes that canbereadanytime they areneeded.It’slikegivingsomeone ahug for everyhardday.

Supplies Needed:

•Mason jarordecorativecontainer

•Colorfulpaper or index cards

•Pensormarkers

•Ribbon, stickers,orwashi tape for decoration

To Assemblethe Jar:

1. Cutpaper into slips.

2. Writeprompts like “Openwhenyou feel discouraged,”“Open when youneed alaugh,” “Openwhenyou miss me.”

Addheartfelt notes, quotes, or memories on each.

3. Fold andplace notesintothe jar.

4. Decorate thejar with ribbon,stickers, or alabel.

5. Presentitwithinstructions: “Open onewheneveryou need alift,” or You’re lovedevery day.”

3.

Hand-PaintedFlowerpot

Gardenersoften have plants to spare (and share). Combineyourplant babies with aprettybut simplepainted pot, and your gift recipientcan enjoyboththe pot andthe living plantinside.Itwill make them smile andthinkofyou everytime they waterthe plant.

Supplies Needed:

•Plain terra-cottaorceramic flowerpot

•Acrylic paints or paintpens

•Paintbrushes

•Clear sealantspray (toprotect design)

•Small plant, herb,or flowersfrom your garden

To Paintthe Pot:

1. Cleanand drythe pot.

2. Sketch asimpledesignorpaint freehand—think florals, geometricpatterns, or wordsofencouragement.Handprints of children work very well forgrandparentgifts.

3. Allowpaint to dry, then spraywith sealant.

4. Planta flower,herb, or succulentfrom your garden inside.

5. Addahandmadegift tagfor a finishingtouch.

Gift-givingisnot aboutperfection, but intention. When youthink it through andput effortintothe execution, ahandmade gift carries love in everydetail.

Celebrate theSeason With Winter Lights

Create awarmglowona winter nightwiththese easy-to-make projects.

By DonnaErickson

Candles glow this monthonour advent wreath,onmyhusband’s birthday cake andonour frontporch to welcome guests throughout theholidayseason. Different occasions,different meanings, butthe candles areuniversal. There’ssomethingabout that small circleoflight that has drawn people together since thebeginningoftime. So no matter what you’re celebratingthisholiday season,light acandleand let itsgentleflickerdrawyou closer to the people andcommunity youlove.

LUMINARIAS

Your children will keep busy indoorsaddingtheir creativetouches to these“paper lamps,”and thewhole family will enjoysetting them outside before dusk.Place flickeringlightsalong apathway to your home,oronadeckor porchtowelcome eveningguests.

FLOATING VOTIVES

Fill atall,clear vase one-thirdfull with freshcranberries. Addwater anda candle floating on topnearthe rim.

Fold thetop of apaper lunchbag over 1inchtoform acuff. Useapaper punchtocreatedotteddesigns belowthe cuff on thetop half of thebag.Or, decorate with stickers.Bring thebagsoutside,poura cuportwo of sand in each oneand place avotivecandleinthe center. Line your walkwaywithdozensofbagsifyou wish,or clusterseveral together on your porch. Make extra luminarias andshare them with your neighborstolight up your street.

Winter Wishes

DonnaErickson

CANDLESINAJAR

Pour 1cup of sand into aclear,glass canningorjam jarand nestle avotivecandleinthe sand.Makeseveral foraneye-catchingdisplay.

OUTDOOR ICECANDLES

Fill aballoonwithwater untilitisthe size of asoftball.Blowonceintothe balloonand tieaknot. Place in aplastic bowl or deli containerand setinthe freezer forabout 6hours.Onceathickshell of ice has formed inside theballoonbut youstill hear some watersloshinginside theshell,pop theballoonand discard of it properly.Pourthe excesswater outtoleave acavityinthe middle whereavotivecandlewill laterbeplaced. Refreeze.

At sunset, remove from thefreezer,place a votive candle in thecavityand light it outside.It will sparklelikecrystal!

If youmakethe ice candles in an area where thetemperature is abovefreezingthe next day, storeitinyourfreezer

Indoor use: Fill adecorativebowlwithsnow or chippedice.Set theice candle in themiddle of theice,and light fora centerpiece on abuffet table.

Safety note: An adultshouldalwaysbepresent when burningcandles. Keep an eyeonburning candles (and neverleave children unsupervised around burningcandles).

SNOWBALL LAMP

Afterasnowfall,besuretoinclude all ages in making thesnowball lamp.

In your yard,arrange 12-14 snowballstogetherin aringshape.Securelynestleavotiveorpillarcandle in themiddle of thering. Adda second ring of 10-12 snowballsontop of thefirst.Continuetopilesnowball ringsontop,makingeachringslightly smaller than the onebeforeuntil youare leftwitha small opening at the toplarge enough foryou to reachintolight thecandleatsunset. Thecheeryglowofthe candle will shine throughthe snowballs.

DonnaErickson

By DonnaErickson

IPick aPen From a Holiday Bouquet

love howsimple, decorative holiday touches add charm, sparkleand extra glitztoour home.Evenour draband dull calendararea in thekitchen gets aseasonallift.

“Out”withaboringcontainer jam-packedwithmismatched pens,markersand unsightly pencils, and“in”withacolorful, mock floral bouquet of spiffedup new, inexpensive pens that I decorate andarrange in afavorite bowl.Nolongerdullsville, now shinymini ball ornaments, glittery starsand bright-red poinsettias topthe slim pens to brighten thespace forthe holidays.

Notonlyattractive andhandy, they arealsoa thoughtful token to give friends when they come by forholiday visits andgatherings. NowIjustsay,“Pick apen!”before adults andkidsheadout the door.It’sanice little mementoof ourtimetogether.

Then, purchaseseveralpens, such as roundstick pens that areflatontop.

2. Attach toppersusinggreen floral tape.Place a stem or wire of theobjectgoingupwardabout 11/2 inches from theend of thepen with theflowerorcharm on thetop endofthe pen. Hold in place andwrapthe entire lengthofthe penwiththe tape.Wrapwitha slight angle to preventbunching.

Here’s howto do theeasycraft,perfect for involvingyourkids:

1. Gather silk flowersand holiday charms with wire attached to decorate thetopsofthe pens.

Alternatemethodusing a glue gun: An adultshould carefullyremovethe button at theend of thepen with an X-acto-style knife. Insert a tine stem or narrow part of an objectinthe hole andsecure in place with thegluegun. Wrap with tape as described above.

3. Arrange pens in apretty containerfilled with whiterice or Arboriorice.

Extraidea: Usedecorated pens as placecards at your holiday table. Setone by each plateovera mini notepad. On thetop page,write the guest’s name.

Winter Wishes

DonnaErickson

Fragrant & Natural

Make pomander balls for holiday decorand gift-giving

By DonnaErickson

Inserting wholeclovesintoa firm appleorcitrus fruit to create what is knownasapomander is alovelytraditional craft youmight remember doing when youwereyoung.‘Tisthe season to pass this artful funontoyourown kids or grandkids. Easy to make,pomander balls’ rustic beauty andholiday scent make them unique giftsfor friends andneighborsthat will last long into thenew year.

Forthisversionusingapples,you’llneed to do some shoppingfor just twoingredients: wholeclovesand apples. Ieconomize by buying cloves in bulk at our neighborhood co-opgrocerystore.You mayalso find them in jars in thespice sectionofmostmarkets. Use anysize appleyou prefer. This year,Ichose cute, small snack-size apples ratherthanlargerones, whichmakes creating alovelyclove-studdedapple easier forkidsto completeinone sitting.

Here’s the stuff forone pomander ball covered with cloves:

•Fresh, firm apple

•Whole cloves

•Narrowfestive ribbon

•Toothpick or bamboo skewer

•Gift boxto fit finishedpomander ball andone sheet of tissuepaper (for gift-giving)

Here’s the fun:

To coverthe entire applewithcloves, usethe toothpick or bamboo skewer andpokeseveral evenly spaced small holes making acircularpattern throughthe apple skin, beginningnearthe topstem. Insert cloves oneby oneintothese holes, like a“dottodot”activity. (Leave space betweenthe cloves, as theapple will shrink in size.) Continue making holes around andaroundthe appleand fillingthemwithclovesuntil youreach thebase.

Foragift,decoratethe clove-studdedapple by criss-crossingcolorfulribbonarounditverticallyonce or twice andtoppingitwithalooptohanginawindowsill or on awreath. Fora nice presentation,set in small gift boxwith tissuepaper.Whenthe recipientliftsthe lid,the delicious,spicy scentwillpermeatethe air.

DonnaErickson

Cute & Edible

HOWTOMAKEA MARSHMALLOWSNOWMAN

Onacold, wintry day, whip up asnack with thekidsthatpairs perfectlywith ahot cupofcocoa!Children love assembling —and then eating —these cute marshmallowsnowmen.Assemblesupplies andunleashyourcreativity.

Supplies Needed:

•Large whitemarshmallows

•Stick pretzels,for connecting andfor arms andlegs

•Writing icing, jelliedfruit,large sprin-

kles,fruit leather, etc. fordecoration

Usingstick pretzels,connect threemarshmallowsstacked oneontop of theother.

Usepretzels forarmsand legs.

Usewriting icingtocreateaface,buttons down thefront or to outlineascarf between thetop andmiddle marshmallows. Getcreativeand useawedge of jelliedfruit fora nose or astrip of fruit leatherasa scarf. Make sure yougiveyoursnowman abig smile or aplayful smirk.

Admiretheneat!

Winter Wishes

AdobeStock Azurita

Hanukkah Craft and Play

Make aDreidel Decoration andTreat Container

By DonnaErickson

DuringHanukkah, theJewishfestivalof lights, children play atraditional game with adreidel, afour-sided Hanukkah top. You andyourkidscan create your owndreidel-shaped decoration to give as aparty favor, arrange on aholiday tableoruse as averyspecial boxfor a small gift.

Here’s the stuff youneed:

•1 half-pintclean anddry cardboardmilk carton or asmall,squarebox

•Stapler

•Tempera or acrylic paints

•Markers andpencil

•Decoratingmaterials such as coloredtissue, foil,paper strips, glitter, fabric scraps

•Household glue

Here’s the fun:

Place thesupplies on anewspaper-covered table. If youare making thedreideltobeusedas agift box, putsometissuepaper inside themilk carton or box. Then tuck thegift in thetissuepaper. If you’re usinga milk carton,carefullystaple shut thespout of thecartonand paintit, covering it completely. Letdry.

Turn thecartonupside down,and usethe marker or paintinsqueezebottles to writeadifferent Hebrew letteroneachofthe four sides. They beginthe Hebrew wordsthatmean, “a great miracle happened here.” (Gotowww.holidays. net/chanukah/dreidel.html to seehow to write theletters.You’llalsobeabletoreadthe wordsto thesong, hear themelodyand play thegame.)

Decorate thecartonorbox.Ifyou’reusinga carton,pokeapencilthrough thebottomsothat thedecorationlooks like atop.(If thereisagift inside,besuretopokecarefully!)

If you’re usinga box, poke thepencilall theway throughitand outthe otherend.

DonnaErickson

diy Doughs

By DonnaErickson

Doyou want to make some doughwiththe kids this weekend? Putawaythe eggs and thebutter, becausehereare tworecipes forafamilyholiday craft youcan enjoythat doesn’t involveeating. Theholidaysare busy,sodiscoverhow nice it is to pauseand simply do somethingfun together.

Whetherit’sasimpledough of flour, salt andwater,oranaromaticdough requiringonly twoingredients in very oddproportion—equal partsapplesauce andcinnamon —creativityisendlessasyou shapeeye-catchingornaments foryourtreeorasagift tag, or builda mini indoor snowman. CreateandBakeSimpleOrnamentsandAccentsinYourKitchen

DonnaErickson

Salt Dough

This traditional salt-doughrecipe, whichiseasytomix androll outorsculpt, is akeeper. Once thecreations areslow-baked in an oven, grab paints,glueand glitterfromyourcraft drawer, buttons andbeads from ajar,and getcrafting.

Here’s thebasic stuff youneed:

•2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

•1 cupsalt

•1 cupwater

•Medium-size mixingbowl, rollingpin, cookie sheet

•Toothpick or straw

•Acrylic paints

•White household glue,optional

•Ribbonorwire

•Cookiecutters

Mixthe flour, salt andwater together in amedium-size bowl. Kneadseveraltimes on a flouredboard or countertop.Ifthe dough is toodry,justadd abit more water. It it’s toosticky, add flour. Now youare readytoshape andbakethe dough. To theright aretwo ideas to getyourstarted:

Make Holiday Ornaments

Roll outthe doughwitharollingpin to 1/2-inch thickness. Dipcookiecutters in flourand cutout your favorite shapes. Poke aholenearthe topwitha toothpickorstraw forhanging on atreeorgarland,or throughribbons on thetop of presents.

Make Whimsical Sculptures

Play with some of theclayinyourhands andshape into asnowman,house,birdorreindeer.

Bake thecutouts or small sculptures on atrayinan oven heated to 250Ffor about1 1/2 hours, or until doughishardtothe touch. Cool completelyona rack.

Paintwithacrylic paints andlet dry. Forextra shine, coat with whitehousehold glue. Thread ribbon or wire throughornaments, twistortie.

ExtraIdea: Make your owncookiecuttershapes forsmall handstograbontobybendingand shaping with pliersthe open endofsmall tomato sauce cans. Shapeintoasymbolofthe season,suchasa star.

Youdefinitely won’twanttoeat this concoction,but youcan enjoyits deliciousscentascut-outsfor tree ornaments, gift tags andevenjewelry for holiday gifts. Welcome to AppleCinnamonDough!

Here’s what you’ll need for asmall batchofdoughtostart:

•1/2 cupgroundcinnamon (purchaseinbulk)

•1/2 cupcommercialapplesauce (homemadeis toorunny)

Here’s thefun:

Mixtogetherequal partscinnamon andcommerciallymade applesauce.If it gets abit sticky,add more cinnamon. If it’s toostiff,try more applesauce.

Scoopontoapiece of waxedpaper, place anothersheet on topand roll it

out until it’s almost 1/2 inch thick. Stop anddecide what “charms” forjewelry or ornament shapes youwould like to create —stars,hearts, pine trees, alphabetletters,etc.Use cookie cuttersyou have,ormakeyourown templatesby cuttingout pieces of cardboardfroma cerealbox in thedesired shapes. Place on topofthe doughand trim away the dougharoundthe pattern.

Useadrinkingstraw to poke ahole in shapes forthreadinglater onto ribbon or string.Use atoothpick and carvedetails,suchasscales on a fish or asmile on acrescentmoon.

Time to decorate!Usingacrylic craft paints in squeezebottles, create patternsofany kind on your shapes. Dry.

Fashionapin or broochbygluinga clasponthe back,ormakeanecklace by stringingtogethera fewalphabetlettershapesorsmaller charms.Tie a string throughthe hole forornaments. Forgift decorations, make shapes of objects that areacluetowhatisinside thepackage.For example,ifyou are giving Uncle Jimawindbreaker for sailing, make asailboatshape.Tie it to theribbononthe gift,and it will be like giving twopresentsinone.

When complete, place them on a coolingrackand allow them to air-dry forabout 24 hoursormoreuntil they arenice andhard. Or,anadult mayset them on abakingsheet andplace in a 200 Fovenfor abouttwo hoursoruntil hard.

Aromatic Apple Cinnamon Dough

Memory in aBottle

Shake Up aSnow Globe with Memories of YourYear

By DonnaErickson

There’s somethingmagical aboutasnowglobe. Whocan resist shakingaliquid-filled decoration to watch it “snow”?Iknowfamilies that collect them on their summer vacations, andonoccasionthey give them agood shake, turn them upright andthensmile with thememories. Nowyou canmakeyourown to commemorate somethingspecial youdid in this year. Reminiscewithyourkidsabout activities your family enjoyedthispastyear, andthenmakeamemorysnow globeusingasmall waterproof objecttorepresent the activity or event. Here’s how:

First,you want to have avisionfor your sceneand how it will be contained. Will youneed alittlejar,afat jarora skinnyjar?Atall jamjar mightaccommodatethatplastic bear figureasareminder of acamping trip at anational park.Ababy-food jarwould make aperfect home fora little rubber starfish to representthe sealifeyou observed at an aquarium.It’sall up to youand your imagination.

Step 1: Fill thejar with waterand shaketotestthe lid fortightness.Pour thewater out, remove thepaper label andlet it drycompletely.

Step 2: Choose aclean,waterprooftoy,gamepiece,travelsouvenir or trinkettoinhabit theimaginary world. Place it temporarilyinside thelid and lowerthe jardownoverit, just to make sure it fits andallowsenoughspace for the“snow”tofall when complete. An adultshouldgluethe objectonthe inside of thelid with water-resistantglue, such as aquarium sealantfromyour localpet store. Letdry 24 hours.

Step 3: Fill thejar almost to the topwithbabyoil,oruse distilled water with afew dropsofglycerin added. Sprinkle glitterorwaterproofconfetti into theliquid.Anadult shouldapplywater-resistantgluetothe outside groovesofthe jarrim andcarefully screwonthe lid.Stand thejar with lid enduptodry for24hours.

Hot Cocoa Mix

•2 tablespoons or single-serving packageofyourfavoriteinstant hotcocoa mix

•1 teaspoonmini chocolatechips

•chopped peppermintfromacandy cane (optional)

•10-12 minimarshmallows

Usingafunnel, add ingredientsone by oneinorder,beginningwiththe hot cocoamix. Replace capand tieontag with aribbon.

Directionsontag:

Single-Serve HotCocoa.Justadd to a mugofhot waterand stir.

Create Ornaments With DipMix and Hot Cocoa Mix Inside

‘Tis theseasonoffestive parties, carolingchoirs, bakingand shopping. Andoh, what funitistoshopwhenstrolling throughoutdoor European-style markets, sippinghot cider whilepurchasinglocallysourced andhomemade goodslike maplesyrup,seasonednutsand tangyjamsand jellies.

Ialsofeelthe holiday spirit when Ipop in at acraft fair whereI can chat with localvendors,like9-year-oldAidan Bispala, whoset up shopwithhis sister andfriends in aneighborhood craft boutique to benefitthe music department at hispublic school.A topseller of the kid-crafted goodswas thehot cocoamix andthe dipmix ornaments trimmingapinetreebyhis cashbox.

He methodicallyexplained howheusedafunneland spooned cocoamix, topped off with severalmini marshmallowsintoaclear, cleanornament, andhow he carefullymeasuredherbs andspicesto create hisveggiedip mix ornament.Hereplaced themetal caps (“the toughest part,” he said) andtiedontagswith“how-to-use”recipe directionshis momdesignedontheir computer.Healsomade extras, aclevergift to delivertofriends andneighbors this week.

Here aretwo ideasfor creating theseornaments in your kitchen with school-age kids.Start with clean, food-safeclear ornamentswith capoff,thenset outingredients, measuringutensils, ribbonsand recipe tags, assembly-linefashion.

Dill Dip Mix

•1 teaspoondried dill weed

•1/4 teaspoonsalt

•1 teaspoononion flakes

•1 teaspoonparsley flakes

Mixinasmall bowl with spout. Pour throughafunnel into theornament. Replace capand tieontag with aribbon.

Directionsontag:

Addmix to 1/2 cupsourcream and1/2 cupmayonnaise. Stir until blended. Refrigerate twohours.Serve with crisp veggies or chips.

OFFLINEFUN Create aholiday zine for creative gifting

By AmyAnderson

If youare lookingfor an activity that requires no specializedskill,isengagingfor all ages andendswith acharmingtakeawaythatisquirky, deeply personal andmaybe aperfect handmade gift,looknofurther than zines —tinyhandmademagazines that tell a zinemaker’s storyinsix to eight pages.

Zinesare small,foldedpaper booklets decorated with drawingsand glued-oncutouts, andmarkedup with wordsand doodles, many communicatinginformationabout acause or promotingmusic, writing andart. These“fanzines”are funtocreateand don’t requireany artistic talentor creative writingskills— they canbeaselaborate or as simpleasyou like,with no points off forimperfection. It’s allabout your personalviewpoint,and DIYis definitely part of thevibe. Here’s howtocreateone of your own:

Supplies Needed:

Onesheet of standard printerpaper (8.5x11orA4)

Scissors

Glue stick

Pens,markers, or otherart supplies

Cutoutsfromprinted pages, magazinesorother materialstocreatecollages

Winter Wishes

Folding Instruction:

1.

Fold thepaper in half lengthwise(hotdog style), then unfold.

2.

Fold in half widthwise(hamburgerstyle), then fold each short endtothe centertomake eightsmall panels.

3.

Cutthe centercreasehalfway throughthe page from thefoldededge.

4.

Turn bottom flapsout to aT shape, then fold into aplusshape.

5.

Pinchtogethersothe paperforms abooklet with pagesthatturn.

6.

Crease edges firmly so thezineholds its shape.

7.

Unfold to decorate each page within its square.See imagefor howpages will display. Decorate thebackside as ahidden poster!

Winter Wishes

A Christmas Timeline

Telesphorus,the second Bishopof Rome,declared in the 2nd centuryAD that public Church services shouldbe heldtocelebrate “TheNativityofour Lord andSavior.”

In 320 AD, Pope Julius Iand otherreligiousleadersspecified Dec. 25 as the official date of thebirth of JesusChrist.

In the 13th century, St.Francis of Assisi introducedChristmas carols into formal church services.

In1531, in Germany, the firstprinted referencetoChristmas treesappeared. TheChristmas tree was firstdecorated with lightsinthe 16thcentury.Accordingtolegend, Martin Luther,the Protestant reformer,was so takenwith theChristmas night skythatheadded lighted candles to thetreetobring “the lightsofthe stars” into thehomeofhis family

A goose wascustomary Christmas fare untilthe early1600s, when King Henry VIII of Englandtookituponhimself to tuck into aturkey.

The firstAmericanChristmas carolwas written in 1649 by aminister named John de Brebeur.Itiscalled“JesusIs Born.”

Between1649 and1660, Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas carols in England. Cromwell thoughtChristmas shouldbeaverysolemn day, so the only celebrationallowed wasa sermon andprayerservice.

In 1818, “SilentNight”was writtenby Austrian priest Joseph Mohr.Legend has it that hischurch’sorgan broke on theday before Christmas.Mohr couldnot imagineChristmas without music, so he satdowntowrite acarol that couldbesungbyachoir to guitar music. Laterthatnight,the people in thelittleAustrianchurchsang“Stille Nacht” forthe firsttime. Photocredits: SantaMaria Gloriosadei Frari, CC BY-SA 4.0 via

In 1643, theBritish Parliament officially abolishedthe celebrationofChristmas.

In 1834, QueenVictoria’shusband,PrinceAlbert, brought the firstChristmas tree to WindsorCastlefor theRoyal family.

In 1836, Alabama became the firststate to declareChristmas alegalholiday

The firstcommercialChristmas card,produced in 1846, featured adrawing of family membershappily toasting each otherwithglasses of wine —ashockinglydecadentportrait that wasimmediately condemned by temperanceadvocates.

In 1856, President Franklin Pierce decoratedthe firstWhite HouseChristmas tree.

In1937, the firstpostage stamptocommemorate Christmas wasissued in Austria.

In 1945, a phonograph album containingBingCrosby’ssignature song,“WhiteChristmas,” wasreleased. Therecording wouldgoontobecomethe best-sellingsingleever, with sales of more than 50 millioncopies worldwide.

In 1955, NORAD“Tracks Santa”begins. Amisprinted Searsadled kids to call theCONAD opscenter; thetradition became NORAD’sannualSanta Tracker.

In 1964, Rankin/Bassstop-motionclassic “Rudolphthe Red-Nosed Reindeer”TVspecial premiered,followedayear laterby“ACharlie BrownChristmas.”

In 1983, Disney ParksChristmas DayParade —ABC’s annual Christmas morningbroadcast from theparks became holiday viewingfor many families.

In 1907, Oklahoma became thelaststate to declareChristmas alegalholiday

In 1994, Mariah Carey’smodernclassic “All IWantfor Christmas Is You” was firstreleased, issued as theleadsingle from “Merry Christmas.” Sincethen, it has since become a U.S. holiday standard andrecurring No.1.

Photocredits: United States. GeneralLandOffice,Publicdomain, via WikimediaCommons;adobe.stock Archivist; Bing_Crosby_Creative Commons; adobe.stock AlphaSpirit

Getready foragreat newbeginning to 2026 with a NewYear’sEve celebrationthatinvolves thewhole family. Startthe eveningoutside with ice-skating,hiking, sledding, flag football,capture the flag or anotheractive game that is funfor allages. Then move indoorsfor a meal of soup,steworchili,along with saladand bread. Foraspecial surprise before or after themeal, open homemade NewYear’scrackers. They areaneasy-tocreate variationonEnglish Christmas crackers —party favors that make acracking soundwhenyou open them. Theseare asilentversion, butjustasfun. Make them aheadoftime, andthey’ll be readytodelight everyone at theparty.

Gather recycled cardboardtubes from papertowels or your holiday gift wrap andcut to 6-inchlengths. Fill each small tube with small, inexpensive itemssuch as folded-paperparty hats, whistles, wrappedcandy,a luckypenny, tiny Post-it notes, afun pencil with snow-

Countdown to the New Year, family style

men printedonit, flavored Chapstickorcolorfulstring anddirectionstomakeacat’s cradle.For aspecial thought, tuck in astrip of paperwithameaningful or funnyquote from awell-known person your kids love or admire. It mightbea quotefromMr. Rogers anda memorablelinefromKermitthe Frog.Add funnylittle fortunes basedonthe interestsand activities of the person receiving it.

Wrap each filled tube with festivepaper.Large,colorfulpaper dinner napkinsare already“cuttosize”and work perfectly. Twistthe twoendsand tiewithribbon. Insteadofusingribbon, school-age children might prefer threadingsomeplastic beadsonpliable floral or bright-copper wire.

Addstickersand nametags on theoutside,and then place them in abig basket or at each person’s place setting at thetable.Let everyone open thecrackers at the same time andreadtheir fortunes aloud.

ACelebrationofCarnival is on sale now and is agreat gift foranyonewho lovesMardiGras. This 120-page, heirloom-quality hardcover book from The Times-Picayune features Arthur Hardy’sintimate stories behind five decades of purple, gold,and green.Whether youremember saving throws from the’80s, bringing your children to their first parade in the’90s,or celebrating our resilience in recent years, this book honorsyour memories andthe traditionsyou’vepassed down.Arthur Hardy has preserved the soul of what makes us NewOrleanians, making this theperfect holiday gift foranyone whoholds Carnival closetotheir heart.

FRIDAY

In1955,PeteAlimiastartedacareerin applianceserviceservingtheWestbank community.Hebroughthisson,Garey Alimiaalongasateenagerandhejoined thebusinessaswell.Afterworkingin theservicebusiness forsometime,Garey decidedtoopenhisown retailstorespecializing inMaytagappliancesin 1974.Tenyearslaterin 1984hedecidedtotake onotherbrands,and thestorewasnamed A-1Appliance.Around thesametime,Garey’s sonKentAlimiajoined thebusinessaswellwhereheworked deliveriesforthecompanyandeventually movedtosales.In1998A-1Appliance acquiredsomeoftheformerCampo storesoutofbankruptcywhichintroduced A-1intotheelectronicsbusiness,and thenamewaschangedtoA-1Appliance &Electronics.GareyandKentworked sidebysideforyearsasafatherandson teamtobringA-1Appliancetothelargest independentapplianceretailerintheNew OrleansArea.In2020,Kentacquiredthe businessfromhisfatherGareyandnow runsthebusinesswithhiswife,Doris Alimia.Throughouttheyears,A-1has continuedtoaddnumerousbrandsand departmentstotheirvastselectionof merchandiseandnowsellsappliances, electronics,beddingandfurniture.

After fifty years in business, A-1 Appliance,Bedding &Furniture continuesas the largest Independent Appliance Retailer in the New Orleans area and has the largest selection of major brands in the industrywith Guaranteed Lowest Prices!

Pete and Garey Alimia circa 1969

Kent and G circa

Garey Alimia a 2010

FIVE PAGESOF EVENTS THROUGHTHE ENDOFTHE YEAR

FIVE PAGES OF EVENTS THROUGHTHE END OFTHE YEAR

don’t don’t m don’t

thanksgiving day parade

A highlight of the annual Bayou Classic classic between Southern and Gramblin State universities is the parade featuring marching bands, starting at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Caesars Superdome. The parade goes down Poydras Street to South Peters Street, tu onto Canal Street, left onto St. Charles A then back to Poydras. mybayouclassic.com.

second line in the sky

An installation of more than 800 prayer flags suspended across 21 buildings will honor the victims of the Jan. 1 attack in the French Quarter, lighted at 5 p.m. Monday in the 100 to 300 blocks of Bourbon Street. Spearheaded by Katy Casbarian and produced by Jennie West and Jason Richards, the flags will feature photographs, survivor messages and family notes. secondline inthesky.com.

greek show & battle of the bands

Southern’s Human Jukebox Marching Band and Grambling’s Famed Tiger Marching Band will face off in the end zones of the Caesars Superdome at 6 p.m. Friday with Kool DJ Supamike for the collegiate action. Wild Wayne will be the host for the step show and high school battle as bands and fraternity and sorority groups dazzle and entertain. Tickets start at $40. mybayouclassic.com.

celebration in the oaks

Starting Friday, the annual illumination extravaganza around the oaks of City Park can be seen nightly Tuesdays through Sundays, except on the eves of Christmas and New Year’s Day, either by foot or by car. Drivers start at 4 Friederichs Ave. on the eastern side of the park. Walking tour tickets include entrance to the Carousel Gardens, Storyland and the Botanical Gardens. Prices start at $20. neworleanscitypark.org.

warehouse book sale

ABOUT LAGNIAPPE

Friends of the Jefferson Public Library will sell books the box for $5 each from 0 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey. For information, call (504) 455-2665.

The Lagniappe section is published each Thursday by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe should be directed to the editor.

LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Lauren Walck, lauren. walck@theadvocate. com

COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel

CONTRIBUTING WRIT-

ERS: Valerie Andrews, Victor Andrews, Keith Spera

GET LISTED IN LAGNIAPPE

Submit events to Lagniappe at least two weeks in advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate. com.

ON THE COVER

Family Children’s Hospital Holiday Parade passes in front of Jackson Square.

by David Grunfeld. Valerie Andrews compiled a very large list of upcoming holiday events on Page 6.

The 2024 Manning

Photo

stages stages stages

misfits No here

Rudolphand hisnose save Christmas in JPAproduction

There may not be any snow flurries headed this way (yet ...), but holiday favorites and live entertainment packed with fun will be hitting the stages of thegreater metropolitan area.

PROVIDED PHOTO/SASHAMUNCHAK

From classic talesof yuletide magic to magical tales that include acool yule, there’smuch to be seen on the scene.

The question is, which one to go to first?

Burl Ives and company brought the story of anasally enhanced reindeer to television life in 1964, but the story goes back to the 1930s and even included a song by “The Singing Cowboy” Gene Autry that made it to No.1onthe Billboard charts.

But Robert L. May’stimeless talecontinues to delight and comes to life when “Rudolph the Red-NosedReindeer” soars onto the stageatJeffersonPerforming ArtsCenter openingDec. 5.

The songs and characters from the Rankin/Bass stopmotion TV showare all there, from Rudolph andHermey (the elfwho wants to be adentist)toSanta, Yukon Cornelius, Clarice,Bumble (theabominable snowman) and all the elves andmisfit toys.

“Holly JollyChristmas,” “There’sAlwaysTomorrow” and“Silver andGold” are also there, plus more of the original tunes and acouple of newonesfor the stage show

Ostracizedand belittled, Rudolph overcomesadversity to save the day with his olfactory opulenceand a keen sense of direction.

With direction by Kris Shaw,Parker Portera-Dufrene takes the titlerole, with JimmyMurphy as Samthe Snowman. Avery Gerose is Hermey,AleePeck is Yukon and Gabe Bello is Bumble. Louis Dudoussatand Brittany Milliganare the Claus duo andJaneAlbright is Clarice. Also appearing in the show are JeviJoseph, Kendall Berry,Donnie Lawson, PaulBello,Hayley Duhe, Benjamin Benigno, Rebecca Wren, Justice McKnight, Kelly Amstutz, Kristy Webb, Addy Bradford,EvieBradshaw,Madison Kelly,EmmaGonzales, JayceeHolmes, Kayln HeptingStephens andAbbey Murrell.

The other reindeer won’t let Rudolph playinthe reindeer games in the upcoming Jefferson Performing Arts production of ‘Rudolphthe Red-Nosed Reindeer.’

Gary Rucker,left, plays GeorgeBaileyand David W. Hooveristhe angel-in-training Clarence in Ricky Graham’s ‘It’sa Wonderful Life y’all’ at Rivertown Theaters for the PerformingArtsinKenner

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and at 2p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 14 at 6400 Airline Drive in Metairie. Ticketsstart at $28. ‘You’lltaste thedifference’

New Orleans has its own way of doing things, and nothing highlights thatlocal flavor like aRicky Graham show,especially one for the holidays.

The local entertainment icon has turnedhis focus to melding Crescent City character with aholiday hallmark in “It’sAWonderful LifeY’all” opening Dec. 5atRivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts in Kenner.

The 1946 Jimmy Stewart-starring film, about aman who getstosee what life in his hometownwould be

like without him, hasbecome standard fare forholiday watching. In this version, the story gets “Rickyed” with New Orleanstouches that will appeal to allages.

“New Orleanspeoplelovetosee themselvesportrayed on stage,” saidGraham, who also directs.“I’ve foundthis out over many, many years. In particular, this show has the added nostalgic touch of Christmas ‘back when.’ Remindingeveryoneofthe love andfamily ties that make this time of year so special in aNew Orleans framework is thebest of allworlds.”

Graham certainlydoesn’t forget what adds flavor, either

“And McKenzies is heavily featured in theshow,”he said.

Taking part in thetaleare Christina Cross, Lauren Wells, Vatican Lokey,David Hoover,RyanNocito and Gary Rucker

Twoadditional holiday shows are also on tap at Rivertown and will be featured in coming Lagniappe columns.

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Dec. 18, and2 p.m. on Sundays through Dec. 21 at 325 Minor St. Tickets start at $43. Visitrivertowntheaters.com.

‘New Deal forChristmas?’

Christmas gets things rolling in this classic Broadway show as “Annie”gets tappedtospend theholiday withDaddy Warbucks, setting in motionone of the classictheatrical juggernauts that continuestobea popular show forboth professionalsand community companies.

Slidell LittleTheatre puts thelovable orphans, megarich Warbucks and even thepresident to work in this show openingDec. 5.

From “Tomorrow” to “Easy Street” and“You’re Never Fully Dressed Without aSmile,” “Annie”isthe stage version of the classiccomicstripabout ayoung opti-

PROVIDED PHOTO

Victor Andrews

mistic orphan who gets adopted by the hardened industrialist who finds a spot in his heart for the curly-topped tyke

Katie Harrison directs the show, which runs 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, plus 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21. Tickets start at $25 for the show at 2024 Nellie Drive in Slidell Visit slidelllittletheatre.org

‘A stake of holly’

The NOLA Project takes a stab at Dickens “just in time to ruin Christmas,” according to the press materials.

In keeping with its established place in the theatrical outer banks of the local scene, the company continues its free play-reading series with a staged reading of “A Rated-R Christmas Carol” at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Broadside, 600 N. Broad St.

The Rough Drafts series focuses on bringing new materials and thespians to audiences.

The spin on the classic tale of holiday salvation by A.J. Allegra, the former artistic director for the company, is a comedic spin on the story of Ebenezer Scrooge

“The holidays can be heavy, so sometimes people need permission to laugh,” said Artistic Director Tenaj Wallace. “This script is both irreverent and ridiculous, but it still lands on the truth of what Dickens wrote — community, generosity and showing up for each other.”

Taking part in the readings will be Khiry Armstead, Natalie Boyd, Keith Claverie, Leslie Claverie, Wayland Cooper, Torey Hayward, Alex Pomes, Matthew Thompson, Anna Toujas, Alex Martinez Wallace, Megan Whittle and Kristin Witt.

In production

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: 6 p.m. Dec. 11; The Josephine, 2400 Napoleon Ave. Crescent City Stage’s one-night-only reading of the popular adaptation by Patrick Barlow with Michael A. Newcomer as Scrooge and four actors taking on the rest of the characters. Tickets will help fund Crescent City’s season and studio programming, start at $54. crescentcitystage.com.

“’TWASTHE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS”: Opening 7:30 p.m. Saturday, running Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 14; Playmakers Theater, 19106 Playmakers Road, Covington. Holiday show about a mouse, elf and little girl who won’t take no for an answer Tickets start at $23. playmakersinc.com.

music music music

Black Keys brings Record Hang

DJ show to Saturn Bar

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

Guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, of The Black Keys, are responsible for an extensive catalog of recorded music, the latest example being this past summer’s “No Rain, No Flowers” album.

But they are also huge music fans who seem to enjoy showcasing other musicians’ songs as much as their own. Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound record label has a roster of nearly three dozen artists, many from the rootsier side of the music spectrum.

And in an example of taking the music directly to the people, Auerbach and Carney have for at least the past couple years hosted occasional Record Hang shows at clubs in various cities in the United States and abroad. These “hangs” are marathon DJ sets, during which Auerbach and Carney take turns spinning vinyl 45s. The latenight events are billed as an evening of “dancing, drinks and vinyl.”

On Thursday, Dec. 4, Auerbach and Carney plan to host a “Record Hang” in New Orleans at the Saturn Bar, 3067 St. Claude Ave. They’ll be joined, as they often are, by DJ El Michels, an alumnus of Sharon Jones & the DapKings who is a member of the Black Keys’ touring band.

No advance tickets will be sold for the Record Hang at the Saturn Bar Tickets will be available that night on a first-come, first-served basis at $20 apiece. Showtime is 10 p.m.; expect the evening to go very late.

claimed 2012 album “Locked Down.” Auerbach persuaded the good doctor to play electric keyboards instead of piano on the album. He also reconnected Dr John with his hoodoo past, conjuring the coolest, most memorable and most widely praised Dr John album in years. Maybe Auerbach or Carney will spin a song or two from “Locked Down” at the Saturn Bar

Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.

va va voooom

Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com. shop @gaetanasnola

The Black Keys haven’t performed a proper rock ’n’ roll band show in New Orleans in years. But the duo is connected to the city in one important way: Auerbach produced Dr. John’s ac-

Dan Auerbach, right, and Patrick Carney, of The Black Keys, are headed to New Orleans for a Record Hang at The Saturn Bar STAFF FILE

PHOTO

By CHRIS GRANGER

events events events

GLOW READYTO

SOPHIAGERMER

Visitors play in the fog bubbles at CityPark’s2024 Celebration in the Oaks.

TRADITIONS

CELEBRATION IN THEOAKS: City Park’s largest annual fundraiser featuring morethan amillion lights runs Friday to Jan. 1. The 2-mile driving tour, starting at 4Friederichs Ave., or the walking tour, starting at 7Victory Ave., includes unlimited Amusement Park rides as well as access to the Botanical Garden. Tickets start at $7. celebrationintheoaks.com.

CAROLING IN JACKSON SQUARE: Patio Planters of the Vieux Carrewill presentits annual holidaysing-along Dec.21 from 7p.m. to 8p.m. Gates open at 6:30. Songbooks and candles will be provided. Mark Romig will serveas

PARADES, BONFIRES, PERFORMANCES, TEAS —THERE’S TONS TO DO

TONS

AROUND NEWORLEANS FORTHE HOLIDAyS

BY VALERIE ANDREWS

Contributing writer

“The sun is shining, thegreen is green.”

Irving Berlin could’ve been talking about Christmas in the Crescent City when he wrote the introductory lyrics to one of the world’smost favorite holiday songs. Buthewas actually talking about theother L.A. —Los Angeles.

While chances of awhiteChristmas in south Louisianaare slim —it’ssnowed on Christmas only twice in the past 150 years —there’snolack of opportunities to celebrate the season the way we celebrate all things: with food, fun, fellowship and festivities.

master of ceremonies, with local musicians Harry Mayronne,Chris Wecklein and AmyAlvarez leading carols. patioplanters.net.

CHRISTMASWITHOUT TEARS: Harry Shearer and JudithOwen celebratethe 20th anniversary of theirholidayevent benefiting Innocence& Justice Louisiana (formerly Innocence ProjectNew Orleans)at8p.m. Dec. 16 at theOrpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, with music,special guests and therelease of “JudithOwen Swings Christmas.” Tickets start at $47.45 viaTicketmaster. orpheumnola.com.

KENNER’S MAGICALCHRISTMAS VILLAGE: The free holiday

Even put Christm starts will the off In lions events budget. restaurants mor and

experienceatHeritage Park in Rivertown, 2015 Fourth St., Kenner,will runfrom 5:30 p.m.to8:30 p.m.Sunday to Dec. 31. Activities include lights, snow, music, food, arts andcrafts, weekend vendors,liveentertainment andaspecial appearance from Santa Claus. kenner. la.us.

LOBBY LIGHTING CEREMONY: The Roosevelt New Orleans celebrates the startof the holidays with the 2025 ceremonyturning on 112,000 lights in the block-longlobby at 130 Roosevelt Way. The event will be held at 5p.m. Tuesdaywith complimentary Champagne. theroosevelt neworleans.com.

CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestrawill perform George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” andother classical Christmas music at 7:30 p.m.Dec. 5atthe Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way. TheLPO will be led by conductorMatthew Kraemer, with chorus conductorMeg Frazier Tickets startat$13. lpomusic.com.

HOLIDAYSATAUDUBON: New Orleans’ AudubonAquarium andAudubonZoo will offer special holidayactivities FridaytoJan.4.The aquarium, 1Canal St., will feature Santa photos, asnowflake lobby, ScubaSanta andstory time. Activities at the zoo, 6500 Magazine St., will include

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SCOTTTHRELKELD

Acostumed Santaand Mrs. Claus join the 2024 Caroling in Jackson Square.

Judith Owen and her husband, actor Harry Shearer,will hosttheir 20th annual Christmas Without Tears variety showbenefiting Innocence &Justice Louisiana on Dec. 16 at the Orpheum Theater in NewOrleans.

Papa Noel, animal enrichments, kid craftsand holiday beverages. Admission starts at $25. audubonnatureinstitute.org/holidays

TEDDYBEAR PROGRAM: Arnaud’s Restaurant will hold its 12th annual program in partnership with the NewOrleans Police and Justice Foundation. Until Dec. 31, Arnaud’s and collection sites throughout the city will accept donations of new teddybears in designated bins. At the end of the collectionperiod, the teddy bears will be delivered to the New Orleans Police Department for officers to carry in their vehicles and distribute to children who have experienced trauma, tragedy or victimization. Find

collection binsatArnaud’s Restaurant, 813 BienvilleSt.; Energy Centre, 1100 Poydras St.; New Orleans &Co., 2020 St. Charles Ave.; Justice foundation headquarters, 320 Metairie-Hammond Highway, Suite 500; and NOPD Headquarters, 1615 PoydrasSt. arnaudsrestaurant.com.

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK: The 39th annual light exhibitkicks off Mondaywith alighting ceremonyat5:30 p.m. in LafrenierePark’s South Mall parking lot, 3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie, located closest to the West Napoleon Avenue entrance. The lights will remainopen from 5:30 p.m. to 9p.m. weeknights and5:30 p.m. to

10 p.m. weekends through Dec. 30. In addition to more than 40 newdisplayswith morethan 10 million LED lights, therewill be Santa’s Express Mail Center, where childrencan view Santa’s elvesbuilding toys.There will be special appearances from Santa, Rudolph,Frosty and theGrinchonFridays through Sundays.Driving and walking tours areavailable.Admission is $20 per vehicle in advance and $25 at thegate. lafrenierepark. org.

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD WORKSHOP: RedFishGrill, 115 Bourbon St., will host its annual gingerbreadhouse building workshop on Dec.6,7,13and 20, withseatings at 9:30 a.m.

The Windsor Court hotel has seatings for it holiday tea service inside Le Salon Nov. 29 to Dec.31.

PROVIDED PHOTO

The ice skating rink is among the highlights at NOLA ChristmasFest at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Dec.20-29.

and 1p.m. Attendees can decoratepre-assembled gingerbreadhouses with handfuls of holiday candy, royal icing and celebratory sprinkles. General admission to theworkshop is $20. Materials forthe gingerbread house, including decorations and akid’s apron, are$70. Additional food and beverageitems can be purchased. redfishgrill.com.

MEOWYCATMAS2025: The Amazing Acro-Catswill present theirannual holidayspecial Dec. 4-21 at theAllWays Lounge &Cabaret, 2240 St. ClaudeAve.Inaddition to thecatsperforming tricks, therewill be an appearance by The Rock Cats, the only cat band in theworld,

playing seasonal holiday selections. Performances start at 7p.m., with weekend matinees at 2p.m. Tickets start at $48.74. Aportionof ticket sales will go to local rescue partner Big Easy Animal Rescue (B.E.A.R.). theallwayslounge.net.

HOLIDAYSINHARMONY: TheVictory Belles bring the sounds of theseasontolifeina musical review for the whole family Dec. 10-23 at BB’s Stage Door Canteen inside The National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine St. Abuffetstyle lunch is included with theshowinthe matinee luncheon ticket. Tickets for theshowstartat$22, with luncheon andshowtickets starting at $65. nationalww-

2museum.org.

NOLA CHRISTMASFEST: TheErnest N. Morial ConventionCenter, 900 ConventionCenter Blvd., will host the 12th holiday wonderland from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.and 4:30 p.m.to 9p.m. Dec. 20-29 (with other hoursDec. 24-25). Activities include livemusic,visits with Santa andattractions including the Big Blizzard Blast, the Kringle Carousel andanew giantGingerbread House. TheBig Freezy,the city’s only ice-skating rink with real ice, returns this year alongside icebumper cars. Skating with Santa is from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec.

ä See HOLIDAY, page 8

STAFF FILE PHOTOBy

SOPHIA GERMER

STAFF FILE PHOTO By

SOPHIA GERMER

events events events

HOLIDAY

Continued from page 7

21; special tickets are required. Tickets are $25 for weekdays and $30 for Saturdays and Sundays. Each ticket is valid for a 4.5-hour session on a specific day. Guests under 18 need a parent or guardian for admission. nolachristmasfest.com.

PARADES

MANNING FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARADE: The fourth annual family-centered holiday parade at 11 a.m. Dec. 6 will feature local and national television coverage, 30 holiday-themed floats, helium balloons and more than a dozen dancing groups and marching bands making their way from the French Market through the French Quarter and ending downtown. nolaholidayparade.com.

KRAMPUS NOLAUF: The Krewe of Krampus is returning to a walking parade after two years of parading in place. The largest Krampus parade in America starts at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Parleaux Beer Lab, 634 Lesseps St., in the Bywater and makes its way to Brats Y’all, 617-B Piety St. The krewe will also accept new, unwrapped toys for the Marines’ Toys for Tots drive. Donations can be placed on the toy float or hand it to a Marine as they pass by. kreweofkrampus.com.

TWINKLE ON THE TECHEFUNCTE: The lighted boat parade and holiday decorating contest is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 on the Tchefuncte riverfront. The family-friendly event includes Market Munchkins all-kids market, photo ops, carolers and eats and treat specials at participating restaurants. The parade along the Tchefuncte begins at 6 p.m., traveling downriver from the Maritime Museum to Marina Del Ray, then circling back through the bridge and flotilla on the north side until Santa arrives by boat to lead the procession to the wall. Guests can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus after the parade. visitthenorthshore.com.

COMMUNITY GATHERINGS

HOLIDAY ORNAMENT AND RECIPE CARD

SWAP: The Tchoup Swap Club will swap ornaments and recipe cards on from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at Miel Brewery Taproom, 405 Sixth St. The event is free. Participants can bring handmade or store-bought holiday ornaments in good condition and copies of recipe cards or family recipes. No selling is allowed. Food will be available from Hatch and Harvest

Lights twinkle in the lobby at the Roosevelt New Orleans. This year’s lighting ceremony is Tuesday.

food truck. mielbrewery.com.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS IN THE FRENCH QUARTER: The Historic BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St., will host a pre-Christmas party for ages 2-11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 6. Activities include gingerbread house making, story time with Mrs. Noel and a visit from Santa. Children and their chaperones will be treated to snacks and sweets as well as beverages for all ages. Tickets start at $10 for caregivers, $35 for children 2-12; siblings under 2 admitted free. bkhouse.org.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AT THE POINTE: Holy Name of Mary Church, 5000 Eliza St., will have live music, food, treats, petting zoo, crafts, inflatables and family entertainment from noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 6. holynameofmarynola.org.

CHRISTMAS AT JACKSON BARRACKS: The annual family-friendly celebration will be from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7 at Jackson Barracks, 6541 St. Claude Ave., with holiday performances by local high school bands and choirs, a hot cocoa and cookie station, a Christmas village with children’s activities and a marketplace. Guests can stroll down Beauregard Street under the lighted oaks with exterior views of Jackson Barracks’ antebellum homes. Tickets start at $10. All proceeds benefit the Louisiana National Guard Foundation. jbchristmas.com.

SANTA’S CHAMPAGNE STROLL: The Magazine Street Merchants Association will host after-hours shopping from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 6. Participating businesses from Henry Clay to Jackson Avenue will offer sparkling wine, bites, sales and holiday cheer. Santa and Mrs. Claus will hand out goodies all along the street. All ages are welcome, but participants must be 21

or over to enjoy wine. magazine street.com.

CAJUN CHRISTMAS WITH T MARIE & BAYOU

JUJU: Urban South Brewery, 1645 Tchoupitoulas St., will celebrate the holiday season Cajun-style with food and drinks, a small local Southern market, live music and Cajun two-step lessons from T Marie & Bayou Juju starting at 1 p.m. Dec. 13. Admission is free. urbansouth.com.

SANTA ON THE BAYOU: Starting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13 along La. 46 near the Los Isleños Museum, 1357 Bayou Road, St. Bernard, families can line up to drive through the lights and decorated historic Isleño cottages. At the end of the line, each child age 13 and under will receive a gift. Santa will be giving away hamburgers and hot dogs, while supplies last. santaonthebayou.org.

LIGHTS ON THE LAKE: The Pontchartrain Conservancy, 8001 Lakeshore Drive, will host its 11th annual holiday celebration from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 13. The event promises the best view of the annual West End Boat Parade, a display of decorated boats lighting up the lake. Choirs and dance performances will take place at the New Canal Lighthouse. There will be hands-on STEM activities and sustainable crafts for the kids and food for sale from area food trucks. Admission is $10 and free for children 5 and under. Tickets will be sold at the door and online. No pets or chairs are allowed. All proceeds will benefit Pontchartrain Conservancy. scienceforourcoast.org.

CONCERTS

HOLIDAY CONCERTS: French Quarter Festivals Inc. and St. Louis Cathedral will host two free holiday concerts at 615 Pere Antoine

Alley. Leroy Jones & New Orleans’ Finest performs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. The St. Louis Cathedral Christmas Concert is from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21. holiday.neworleans.com.

MARINE CORPS RESERVE BAND HOLIDAY CONCERT: Friends of the Harbor Center will host the show at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Grand Hall at The Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell. Doors open at 6 p.m. for visits and photos with Santa. Admission is one new, unwrapped toy or a monetary donation for Toys for Tots. harborcenter.org.

MOUNT CARMEL ACADEMY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Chorale, Encore, Celebration, Beginning Choir, the String Orchestra and the eighth grade Fine Arts Survey classes will be featured starting at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Mount Carmel Academy Assembly Center, 7027 Milne Blvd. Before the concert, members of the String Orchestra and Chorale will host several fundraising activities. A Christmas photo spot will also be available. Funds raised will help support travel to Florida for special performances this spring. Tickets are $5 at the door. Mount Carmel students receive free admission with school ID. mcacubs.com.

CHRISTMAS AT LOYOLA: Loyola University choirs and a variety of instrumental ensembles will perform Christmas music at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Ave. The event is free and open to the public. loyno. edu.

HOLIDAY SHOW: Jazz vocalist Jane Monheit will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. Tickets start at $57.25 via Ticketmaster. jazzandblues market.com.

“JOYEAUX NOEL”: The Jefferson Chorale, a Jefferson Performing Arts affiliate directed by Louise LaBruyére, will present two free holiday concerts featuring “Messe de Minuit pour Noel,” a

featuring The Amazing Acro-Cats, is Dec. 4-21 at the AllWays Lounge & Cabaret.

mass for four voices, by MarcAntoine Charpentier. The Dec. 11 concert will be at Good Shepherd Church, 5122 W. Esplanade, starting at 7:30 p.m. The Dec. 14 concert will be at St. Agnes Church, 3310 Jefferson Highway, starting at 2 p.m. facebook.com/TheJeffersonChorale.

“THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL”: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Evan Roider, will perform live-to-picture the Paul Williams score for the 1992 Christmas musical at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St. Tickets start at $13. lpomusic.com.

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE — THE BEST OF TSO & MORE: Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform its holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec 17 at the Smoothie King Center, 1501 Dave Dixon Drive. Tickets start at $54.70 via Ticketmaster. smoothiekingcenter.com.

LESLIE ODOM JR.THE CHRISTMAS TOUR: The Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor-singer from the Broadway cast of “Hamilton” will perform holiday songs 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way. Tickets start at $62.40 via Ticketmaster. orpheumnola. com.

BIG EASY BOYS HOLIDAY SHOW: The New Orleans-based quartet presents a holiday concert with their unique take on seasonal classics from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at the His-

ä See HOLIDAY, page 10

Meowy Catmas,

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STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

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events events events

HOLIDAY

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toric BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets start at $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers. bkhouse.org.

HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Peter Rubhardt, will perform holiday favorites like “March of the Toys” from “Babes in Toyland” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way. Special guest appearances include vocalist Alexis Marceaux on “Merry Christmas, Darling” and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins on “Let It Snow.” Tickets start at $13. lpomusic.com.

DANNY AND PATRICK O’FLAHERTY’S

CELTIC CHRISTMAS: Patrick and Danny O’Flaherty will perform their first concert of Celtic Christmas music together since 1995 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St. Tickets are $20 for Deutsches Haus members and $25 for nonmembers. dannyoflaherty.com.

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS: The classical-rock fusion group known for four decades of holiday music will perform 8 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal Blvd. Tickets start at $113. mannheimsteamroller.com

HOLIDAYS IN GILDED AGE STYLE: The Historic New Orleans Collection will offer a short program exploring the history of the restored Aeolian residential player pipe organ, along with selections including “Sleigh Ride,” “March of the Toys” and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays-Sundays through Jan. 4 at its Seignouret-Brulatour Building in the Barbara S. Beckman Music Room, 520 Royal St. Admission is included with museum admission. No registration is required. hnoc.org.

BONFIRES

ALGIERS HOLIDAY BONFIRE & CONCERT: The Algiers Economic Development Foundation hosts its annual holiday celebration from 4:30 p.m. 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Algiers Batture, 200 Morgan St. Festivities include live entertainment and local food and crafts vendors at the only holiday bonfire in New Orleans. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are accepted via Eventbrite. algierseconomic.com.

LOS ISLEÑOS CHRISTMAS AND BONFIRE: Los Isleños Fiesta will host holiday events from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will perform Dec 28 at the Saenger Theater

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The annual Algiers Holiday Bonfire & Concert is Dec. 6.

Dec. 6 at St. Bernard Parish Government Museums, 1357 Bayou Road, St. Bernard. Local schools will perform Christmas songs, followed by a bonfire. Food will be for sale, and there will be free cookies, hot chocolate and apple cider. losislenos.org.

HOLIDAY TEAS

TEDDY BEAR TEA: The Roosevelt New Orleans, 130 Roosevelt Way, various seatings Sunday to Dec. 27. Festivities include singing, dancing, storytelling, pastries and hot chocolate, Champagne and appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus. During the tea, each child will be given a commemorative teddy bear. Tickets start at $114.58. therooseveltneworleans. com.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS TEA: Historic BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St., 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 21. Tickets are $35 for ages 2-12, with siblings under 2 free. Caregivers are $20. bkhouse.org.

HOLIDAY AFTERNOON TEA: The Windsor Court Hotel in Le Salon,

300 Gravier St., with seatings Saturday to Dec. 31. Tickets start at $50. Reservations are required. thewindsorcourt.com.

PAPA NOEL TEA: The Ritz-Carlton in the Davenport Lounge, 921 Canal St. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6-30. Papa Noel makes an appearance, and children will enjoy cookie decorating and holiday surprises. Reservations are required. Tickets start at $99. event.marriott.com.

STAGE DOOR TEDDY BEAR TEA: The National WWII Museum at BB’s Stage Door Canteen, 945 Magazine St., Saturdays and Sundays Dec. 6-21. The festivities include food, music from the Victory Belles and a visit with Santa. Young guests will leave with a teddy bear. Admission starts at $77, with children 2 and under $7. nationalww2museum.org.

CULINARY EXPERIENCES

PANCAKES WITH SANTA: Urban South Brewery, 1645 Tchoupitoulas St., will host breakfast and photos for all ages Dec. 6, with seatings at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and

of Two Sisters, 613 Royal St., will host a brunch buffet, live holiday jazz, a visit with Santa and a gift for every child for parties of two to 14 Dec. 19, 22 and 23. Various seatings are available. Tickets start at $36. Prepaid registration is required. courtoftwosisters. com.

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH: The Roosevelt New Orleans, 130 Roosevelt Way, will host a brunch featuring seasonal holiday dishes, bottomless mimosas and live music at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 25. Tickets start at $139 for adults (ages 13 and older) and $49 for children 3-12, with children 2 and under free. therooseveltneworleans.com.

FILMS & MOVIES

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets include breakfast, a juice or milk for the kids and a complimentary grown-up drink for adults. Tickets are $20 for kids and $30 for adults. urbansouth.com.

CAJUN HOLIDAY TEA WITH PAPA NOEL: The Paddlewheeler Creole Queen with Papa Noel, Mrs. Noel, Gaston the Gator and other Cajun characters will present a classic holiday event Dec. 13 with treats, storytelling, face painting, magic tricks and children’s activities while cruising the Mississippi River. Boarding is at 10 a.m. at Spanish Plaza, 1 Poydras St. Tickets start at $19. Advanced prepaid reservations are required. For adults, $25 bottomless mimosas are available on board. bigeasy.com.

BREAKFAST WITH BABY JESUS: St. Mary’s Dominican High School’s 25th holiday event will be from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 in Alumnae Hall, 7701 Walmsley Ave. Featured activities will include a Living Nativity presented by the Dominican Drama Club, craft stations for children of all ages, visits with Santa for photos, storytelling with Mrs. Claus, holiday songs with the Dominican Choir and birthday cake. Nonperishable food item donations are requested and will be distributed to a food bank. Registration is $35 per family (includes up to four attendees; each additional attendee is $5) online through Dec. 10. stmarysdominican.org.

NUTCRACKER BRUNCH: Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St., will hold a traditional German breakfast with a visit with St. Nicholas and Christkind from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 14. Children 12 and under receive a nutcracker keepsake. Tickets are $35 per person. deutscheshaus.org.

JAZZ BRUNCH WITH SANTA: The Court

MOVIES UNDER THE STARS ON SPANISH PLAZA: Riverwalk Outlets, 500 Port of New Orleans Place, will host an outdoors screening of a holiday favorite at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Guests can bring a blanket. riverwalkneworleans.com.

“POLAR EXPRESS”: Westwego Library, 635 Fourth St., Westwego, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 15. Enjoy movie-themed crafts while watching the 2004 animated film starring Tom Hanks, who voices several characters. Children under the age of 12 require adult supervision. jplibrary.net.

“THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS”: East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Tim Burton’s animated holiday film will be shown for teens 12-18. jplibrary.net.

“THE GRINCH”: Westwego Library, 635 Fourth St., Westwego, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 22. Enjoy movie-themed crafts while watching the 2018 update of the Dr. Seuss classic. Children under the age of 12 require adult supervision. jplibrary.net.

FUNDRAISERS & GALAS

SIPPING WITH SANTA: Chateau Country Club, Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser, Police Chief Keith Conley, Visit Kenner and Friends of Rivertown will host the annual cocktail party fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at 3600 Chateau Blvd., Kenner. The event includes holiday martinis, cocktails, wines, hors d’oeuvres, photos with Santa and Santa’s Secret Shopping Village. Tickets start at $65. The event benefits Kenner Food Bank. kenner.la.us.

SANTA IN THE SAND AT COCONUT BEACH: The fourth annual 4x4 coed beach volleyball tournament starts at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at Coconut Beach, 100 Coconut Beach Court, Kenner. The event includes pool play, elimination rounds, prizes, live

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events events events

music, auctions, and food and drinks. Proceeds benefit TKN’s 656 Foundation. Team entry fee is $200. volleyballlife.com.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: The NOCCA Foundation’s annual fundraiser starts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at House of Blues New Orleans, 225 Decatur St., and features music from Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, The Soul Rebels, Big Freedia and emcee Gralen Banks. Proceeds support the Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists. Tickets start at $55. homefortheholidaysnola. com.

JINGLE BELL RUN: The annual run benefiting the Arthritis Foundation is Dec. 13 at Audubon Park, 6500 Magazine St. Packet pickup begins at 9 a.m., with the program starting at 10 a.m., the 5K starting at 10:30 a.m. and the awards ceremony at 11 a.m. Registration through Dec. 11 is $50. events. arthritis.org/jbrneworleans.

HANUKKAH EVENTS

CHANUKAH WONDERLAND: The Goldring Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus, 3747 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, will host a Hanukkah event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 7 with face painting, a dreidel bounce house, Hanukkah theater, Jewish dance dance revolution, gift shop, candle making and others. Tickets are $10 per child. jewishlouisiana.com.

HANUKKAH FAMILY DAY: Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, 818 Howard Ave., will hold a free Family Day on Dec. 7. From 10 a.m. to noon, programming is aimed at 4 and younger. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., programming is aimed at 4 and older. There will be crafts, music and storytelling scheduled throughout the day until 5 p.m., with Hanukkah-themed snacks and a range of kid-friendly programming. This event is open to the public. msje.org.

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Enjoy a latkes bar at Latkes with a Twist on Dec. 7.

LATKES WITH A TWIST: Jewish Children’s Regional Service hosts the 11th annual Hanukkah event celebrating the Festival of Lights on Dec. 7, featuring chef Susan Spicer and Rosedale, as well as a latke bar

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CARTER SIMON

The Victory Belles are back with a holiday Christmas stage presentation in the spirit of the 1940s thorughoutout the holidays at The National WWII Museum. From left, Jessica Mixon, Haley Taylor and Kate Gulotta perform a festive number

with all the toppings, live music and complimentary open bar with holiday cocktails. A patron pre-party starts at 6 p.m., with general admission at 6:30 p.m. at Press Street Station at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, 5 Homer Plessy Way. Tickets start at $54. jcrs.org

LIGHT THE NIGHT: Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation and Jewish Community Day School, 3737 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, will host a Hanukkah kick-off from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 with Havdalah, pizza, crafts, cookie decorating and Hanukkah songs and stories. RSVP is required. shirchadash.org

CHANUKAH PARTY: New Orleans Jewish Community Center, 5342 St. Charles Ave., will host a luncheon with traditional Hanukkah foods, including latkes and sufganiyot (doughnuts), from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 18. The event includes dreidel games and live music, sponsored by the Jewish Endowment Foundation. Tickets start at $5. RSVP by Dec. 15. nojcc.org.

OUTDOOR MENORAH LIGHTING: Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Ave., at 6 p.m. Dec. 19. templesinainola.com.

HOME TOURS

50TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOME TOUR: The Preservation Resource Center will host its annual Garden District home tour Dec. 13-14, starting at Louise S. McGehee School, 2343 Prytania St. The self-guided walking tour allows participants to explore interiors, gardens and classic New Orleans’ architecture at their own pace, with live music performances, local shopping and seasonal cheer. Tickets start at $35. prcno.org.

FRENCH QUARTER

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR: The

Patio Planters holiday tour of the French Quarter will be from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 21 starting at Jackson Square, 700 Decatur St. The self-guided walking tour features private residences with varying architectural styles and home furnishings, decorated for the season. Tickets to the tour, which supports the annual Caroling in Jackson Square, are $35 each if preordered online and $40 the day of the event. Children 12 and under are free. patioplanters.net.

2025 CREOLE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY HOME TOUR: The Friends of the Cabildo will host its annual home tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 27-28. Historic buildings include the BK House, Gallier House, HermannGrima House, 1850 House, Historic New Orleans Collection and Spring Fiesta. All houses will have their courtyards open to enjoy on the tour as well. Tickets will be daily limited. Tickets start at $44.52 via Eventbrite. friendsofthecabildo.org.

MARKETS & SALES

BLACK FRIDAY MARKET: Urban South Brewery, 1645 Tchoupitoulas St., will host a holiday market at 11 a.m. Friday featuring local makers, artists and crafters with one-of-a-kind, handcrafted goods. urbansouth.com.

DEUTSCHES HAUS CHRISTKINDLMARKT: Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St., will hold its seventh annual Christmas market from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 5, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. Peruse open-air stalls offering food, drink, seasonal items and handmade gifts and crafts while listening to live traditional Christmas music and singing. There is no entrance fee for shoppers

deutscheshaus.org.

NEW ORLEANS EAST KALEIDOSCOPE HOLIDAY POP-UP SHOPPING: Vendors will be selling holiday decorations, handcrafted jewelry and treats from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 5-7 in the Old Save Mart parking lot on the corner of Read and Lake Forest boulevards, 9999 Lake Forest Blvd. eventbrite.com.

MERRY MARKET: Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, will host local vendors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. The event coincides with Longue Vue’s monthly Free Family Sunday. Gardens admission is free for Louisiana residents and $15 for out-of-state visitors. longuevue.com.

HOLIDAY MARKET & MELODIES: Pitot House, 1440 Moss St., the 1799 West Indies-style house and gardens, will hold a market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7. pitothouse.org.

MISTLETOE MARKET: The Rusty Nail and Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar, 1114 Constance St., will hold a market on the patio from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13. Vendors will include small and local businesses selling art, vintage and handmade clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decor and holiday gifts. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. sidecarnola.com.

VISITS WITH SANTA

SAILING WITH SANTA: Take a cruise on the Steamboat Natchez,

Get a peek inside French Quarter homes during the Patio Planters Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 21.

boarding at 2 p.m. Saturday at 400 Toulouse St. All participants, regardless of age, must bring a new toy to be donated to Toys for Tots New Orleans. Enjoy live holiday entertainment, photo ops with Santa Claus, and indoor and outdoor seating. An optional lunch buffet is available, and cocktails and beer and wine are available for purchase. Tickets start at $5 for sightseeing and $20 for lunch. Reservations are required. steamboatnatchez. com.

SANTA PHOTOS WITH MR. BINGLE: Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, will host opportunities to take photos with New Orleans’ holiday icon from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 and 17. Photo packages start at $29.95. Time slots can be reserved. Walk-ups are also available. lakesideshopping.com.

SANTA PICS: The 610 Stompers — ordinary men, extraordinary moves — and Santa are at Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St., from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 13. Visitors will get a digital, downloadable photo with Santa and a photo with Santa and the Stompers for $25. Pictures will be on a first come, first served basis. Light snacks will be available for the kids. 610stompers.com.

Don’t see your event? Email information to neworleans@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

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Saturday, December 6, 2025 at