Where hope meets training and opportunity
West
Bank training program awarded $10,000 to support young culinary careers
BY CHELSEA SHANNON Staff writer
West Bank nonprofit Café Hope, which trains teens and young adults for restaurant careers, was recently awarded a $10,000 grant by the Jacques Pépin Foundation.
Founded in 2010, Café Hope provides paid, on-the-job restaurant training and life skills to young people between the ages 16 to 24, with the goal of helping them gain sustainable employment. The cafe operates a teaching kitchen, restaurant, coffee shop and catering program, with 750 participants to date.
The Café helps students who mostly live on the West Bank, are not engaged with school or a job, and would like to gain meaningful employment and work toward im-
Bringing home a kitten?
Here’s where to start
My sister recently rescued a tiny orange kitten as he darted across a busy highway Scooping him up and bringing him home was the easy part. Figuring out exactly what a tiny kitten needed was another story What should he eat? Was he old enough for solid food? Should she give him a bath? How does one safely get rid of fleas on such a tiny kitten? We even spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to figure out whether the kitten was male or female. As lifelong dog owners, we quickly realized there was a lot we didn’t know about kittens, including that most orange cats are male. Her experience comes during the height of kitten season, when animal shelters and rescue organizations see an influx of newborn and young cats. It’s the time of year when many first-time pet owners welcome a new kitten into their families through adoption, rescue or simply by being in the right place at the right time.
While friends, family and the internet can offer plenty of opinions on how to care for a new feline, the best place to get answers is a professional. One of the first stops for any new kitten should be the vet’s office. Ideally, that first visit should happen within a few days of bringing a new kitten home. It’s about much more than vaccinations. A vet will perform a complete physical exam, estimate the kitten’s age, recommend the proper diet, safely treat fleas and other parasites, begin a vaccination schedule and answer the many questions that come with caring for a young cat. They’ll also discuss the appropriate timing for spaying or neutering and recommend when to microchip the new feline friend.
Once those first appointments are done and that tiny kitten becomes a teenager, many people mistakenly assume that cats — especially indoor cats — no longer need regular veterinary care
This is simply not true. Cats should receive routine wellness exams throughout their lives, even if they never venture outside.
One reason is that cats are experts at hiding illness.
“Every day, we have the privilege of watching young people discover talents they didn’t know they had and confidence they didn’t think was possible.
This grant is more than financial support — it is an investment in our young people and in what’s possible when they’re given opportunity, encouragement, and someone who believes in them.”
LUIS
AROCHA, Café Hope executive director
proving their lives.
“Every day, we have the privilege of watching young people
discover talents they didn’t know they had and confidence they didn’t think was possible,” Café Hope Executive Director Luis Arocha said. “This grant is more than financial support — it is an investment in our young people and in what’s possible when they’re given opportunity, encouragement, and someone who believes in them.”Pépin is a renowned French chef, author and television personality known for elevating the culinary arts and popularizing French cuisine in America. His foundation started in 2016 because Pépin had a lifelong belief that teaching is impactful, food brings people together, and culinary education is transformational, Wessen said.
The summer heat brought many families out to the public spray park at Lafreniere Park in Metairie this Thursday. The watery playground offers kids ages 3 to 10 an escape from the heat this summer from noon to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Sunday, and is free to the public.
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY FRANKIE PRIJATEL
Chef Tim Harris, 37, right, shows Adam Paisley, 21 right, how to properly cut cheese as part of meal preparation at Café Hope’s Gretna location in Timberlane Country Club in 2017.
STAFF PHOTO BY ENAN CHEDIAK Volunteer Leah Cox cuddles a kitten up for adoption Saturday during the Louisiana Cat Fest at The Fleur De Lis Event Center in Mandeville.
STAFF PHOTOS BY ENAN CHEDIAK
Grant Toups runs through a mister recently at the Lafreniere Spray Park in Metairie. Jackson, who came with Lindsey Toups, plays with other kids at the park.
Another summer reading call-out and upcoming events
BY JANE LEGROS
Contributing writer
It’s not too late to sign up for the New Orleans Public Library’s Summer Fun & Reading Challenge. Participants have until Aug. 14 to read 800 minutes and complete four BINGO activities. Any reading or activities completed since June 1 count, and participants are welcome to backlog their challenge accomplishments. Once completed, readers will receive a completion prize: a limited-edition canvas tote bag featuring illustrations by artist Lionel Milton. Plus, everyone gets a free prize just for signing up. Kids get a book of their choosing to keep and add to their home library, and adults can choose from a magnetic bookmark, a ceramic mug, or a pair of sunglasses. Visit summerfun.nolalibrary.org or stop by any Library location to get started and help the New Orleans Public Library reach our goal of three million minutes read citywide Summer Writing Contest
Entries for the library’s summer writing contest are due July 31. This year’s theme is mystery, and submissions are open in two categories: poetry and fiction.
The top three in each category will receive Amazon gift cards of $25, $50, and $100. The top 10 submissions in each category will be published in the 4th edition of Renewed: A New Orleans Public Library Anthology in 2027. Visit nolalibrary.org/for-writers for details and entry instructions.
Programs
In addition to the reading challenge, summers at the New Orleans Public Library feature dozens of free events for people of all ages and interests at library locations across the city
See below for a sample of upcoming
programs, or visit events.nolalibrary.org to explore the library’s calendar and register for programs.
Drag Queen Storytime with Laveau Contraire
Join drag queen Laveau Contraire for a special family read- and sing-along at 10:30 a.m July 31 at the Cita Dennis Hubbell Library, 725 Pelican Ave.
Picture Book Palooza featuring Pete the Cat
Children ages 2—5 and their families can celebrate the groovy Pete the Cat series with themed activities and story time at the Mid-City Library, 4140 Canal St,, at 2 p.m. July 31.
Sewing class
Beginners are welcome to learn how to sew a portable pie carrier at 11 a.m. Aug. 4 at the Main Library, 219 Loyola Ave., though registration is required at events. nolalibrary.org.
Middle Grade Book Club
Kids ages 9 to 12 can hang out at the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library 5120 St. Charles Ave, at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 4 to chat about books, build their TBR lists, make crafts, and grab free swag.
Virtual Author Talk:
‘The Legacy of Julia Child’s Kitchen’
Tune in online at 1 p.m. Aug. 4 as Smithsonian curator Paula J. Johnson discusses her book Julia Child’s Kitchen; register and submit questions at nolalibrary.co/ julia-child.
Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the New Orleans Public Library
NOLA Public Schools hosts early learning enrollment event
Staff report
NOLA Public Schools’ Early Learning & Child Care will host in-person open enrollment events in the summer to provide families with hands-on assistance with signing up for Early Learning & Child Care programs, starting or completing applications, exploring available learning centers, checking application status and ad-
dressing any enrollment questions.
Families and caregivers interested in enrolling children ages birth through four in Early Learning & Child Care programs should attend and bring a parent/guardian photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, state ID, visa or passport); a birth certificate, visa, or passport for all minors in the household under 18; proof of residence (e.g., current
lease, light bill, cable bill); and proof of income for all members of the household contributing to household income (four recent check stubs and/or other documentation).
The August event will be held at ReNEW Moton Lakefront, 8550 Curran Blvd., on Aug 7, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Information and updates are available at EnrollNOLAPS.com.
Elenian Club honors past presidents
Villafranco;
Mary Lynn Roberts,
Staff report
The St. Bernard Community Volunteers, an organization that promotes volunteering to strengthen individuals, families, and communities through education, leadership, and action, has awarded four $1,500 scholarships for the 2026-2027 school year to residents of St. Bernard Parish. The scholarship criteria emphasize the student’s vol-
unteer activities. The funds for these scholarships were raised through the 2025 luncheon/fashion show and pirogue raffle. The recipients are Char-
The St. Bernard Parish Library celebrated the 2026 Plant a Seed, Read summer reading program with a prize drawing for readers. Through the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard-Arabi’s Read to Ride program and its partnership with the Methodist Health System Foundation, seven readers won the grand prize of brand-new bicycles. Pictured are winners in the readers below fifth grade category, along with members of the Kiwanis Club
PROVIDED PHOTO
The Elenian Club recently held its past presidents’ luncheon, honoring the dedication, leadership and commitment of the women who have guided the Elenian Club throughout its 92-year history. The presidents represented Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany parishes Seated from left to right are Leatrice Siegel, Carol Lama, Madelyn, Judith Miranti, Faith Peperone, LeeAnne Leopold, Virginia Eckholdt and Maria
standing are Frances Salvagio, Tricia Lincoln, Nancy Hamburger
Tricia Rome and Jo-Ann Testa.
lotte Hollier and Daniel Marchiafava from Chalmette High School, Matthew Prattini from Holy Cross High School, and Ian Acosta from Brother Martin High School.
Prattini Marchiafava Acosta Hollier
Pictured are winners in the readers of teens and tweens category, along with members of the Kiwanis Club
PROVIDED PHOTOS
