St. Tammany Picayune 10-21-2026

COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE • MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • SLIDELL

ST. TAMMANY

N O L A.C O M

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W e d n e s d ay, O c t o b e r 21, 2026

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Slidell considers 160-home subdivision

City has already OK’d request for annexation of Kingspoint Soccer Fields area land BY JIM DERRY

ments continues to be a source of conflict. At Vallee’s request, the Slidell Real estate developer Jeff Vallee City Council approved annexing wants to construct a 160-home sub- the Kingspoint area property on division on land that includes the Oct. 13, a key step in the process Kingspoint Soccer Fields in Slidell. that moved the subdivision project It’s the latest effort to add more forward to city zoning officials. Vallee was next scheduled to housing in St. Tammany Parish, where resistance to new develop- pitch his plan to the Slidell Zoning Staff writer

Commission on Oct. 19. He and his HI & Associates are asking that 41 of the 55 just annexed acres be rezoned as R3 High Density Residential. The remaining 14 acres would be zoned for commercial use. Approval from zoning commissioners — which recommended city annexation of the property

this past August — would allow the subdivision plan to keep moving ahead through the parish regulatory process. The area of proposed development is on the south side of U.S. Hwy. 190 and bordered on the west by Brookter Street. It is about six blocks southwest of Northshore High School and on the other side

of I-10 from Fremaux Town Center. The land is owned by Soccer Field LLC, of Slidell, and a vast majority of it is wooded. The grassy Kingspoint Soccer Fields sits in the southwest corner of the acreage and would be demolished to become part of the new subdivision if the plan is approved. Vallee says his group has a con-

ä See SLIDELL, page 2A

Cooper forms task force on tax reforms BY JIM DERRY Staff writer

With a key vote on St. Tammany Parish taxes set for December, Parish President Mike Cooper is forming a task force to examine how the government spends taxpayer money and determine whether reforms are needed. The first meeting is expected on Oct. 28. The RESET Task Force, announced at an Oct. 14 news conference in front of the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington, will include members from across parish agencies. Cooper said the intent is to pinpoint the parish’s areas of greatest needs. It comes as elected officials across the parish are actively promoting the “Keep St. Tammany Safe” initiative to ensure adequate funding of public safety agencies through voter approval of a proposed ¼-cent sales tax on Dec. 12. “Ultimately, this is about being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and ensuring that St. Tammany Parish remains a place where families and businesses can thrive for generations to come,” Cooper said. St. Tammany leaders have stressed for years that the funding system in the parish needs major changes. Because many agencies have taxes that were approved for specific uses by voters over the years, it has created a landscape where some services lack adequate funding while others are arguably flush with cash.

PHOTOS BY GRANT THERKILDSEN

Cora Babin, of the Krewe Rush Green, kicks so hard her pink Nike shoe flies off as the Mandeville Soccer Club held its annual Midnight Madness Halloween Tournament at Pelican Park on Oct. 17.

MAD

Coral Jones paints granddaughter Isla Jones’ face.

KICKS

ä See TAX, page 2A

ä More photos. PAGE 3A

Picture-perfect breezy weather

finally touched by dropping

Early voting underway on big Nov. 3 ballot

Staff report

In-person early voting for the Nov. 3 primary in St. Tammany Parish is underway, having started on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and continuing through Tuesday, H H H H H H Oct. 27, except for Sunday, when there is no voting. In person early voting hours weekdays and Saturdays are 8:30 a.m. through 6 p.m. The locations for voters to go and vote early and in person include: n Covington, 601 N. Jefferson Ave., St. Tammany Justice Center Parking Garage (across from the Justice Center in downtown Covington) n Slidell, 520 Old Spanish Trail, The Towers Building (first floor conference training area) n Mandeville, 21490 Koop Drive, Council Chambers, first building on the left.

ELECTION

temperatures welcomed the

gear for a weekend of fun and

and boys’ team chosen by judges

Mandeville Soccer Club’s

great competition, both on and

Midnight Madness Halloween

off the playing fields. Teams that

as the best costumed, will each

Soccer Tournament to Pelican

chose to costume for Halloween

Park on Oct. 17 when players

were eligible to compete against

each win $300. The winners will

showed up in their Halloween

one another, and the girls’ team

be announced Oct. 23.

win $450. The two runners-up will

NAMI to break ground on ‘tiny village’ BY TAMMY NUNEZ

Contributing writer

As a teenager, Thomas Dudoussat Jr.’s life teemed with possibility. Full of vivacity, hope and potential, Dudoussat worked at Elmwood Plantation, the banquet hall, and later fabricated decorative copper pieces with his father. “He was talented, happy, and in love with a young woman he hoped to marry,” mother Ann recalled. That all stopped when he became ill at age 19.

“Thomas became paranoid, insisted on moving out, and over the years lived in three apartments in New Orleans and Metairie. None of them were safe for him,” his mother said. Living on his own, she said he was often victimized. Dudoussat eventually enrolled in NAMI residential housing, a lifeline that provided enhanced support to keep him independent and safe. “For the first time, Thomas had support all day,” Ann Dudoussat recalled. “He receives daily support from staff and is encouraged to stay as independent as possible.”

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Today, Thomas Dudoussat is 48 and still lives safely and independently with support from NAMI. “Just as important, he has a community of people who understand him,” his mother said. “Without them, I honestly don’t know what would have become of my son. Thomas knows he is loved and cared for, and I believe every resident does. That is why the Tiny Homes project means so much to me. It will give more of our most vulnerable men and women a safe home.”

ä See VILLAGE, page 2A

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2A ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ St. Tammany ✦

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Board readies second set of stipends to raise teacher pay BY JIM DERRY Staff writer

The St. Tammany Parish School Board has given preliminary approval to a pay stipend for all of its 6,000 employees, adding to an earlier stipend they handed out in the summer as they work to finalize contract negotiations with the local teachers’ union. The measure, which is expected to get final approval on Nov. 12, will pay $2,000 to all certificated employees, while other staff members

ST. TAMMANY PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

will receive $1,000 each. In July, the board approved stipends of $500 and $350, respectively. The stipends go beyond the mandate Gov. Jeff Landry issued to school boards in a recent executive order that tasked them with raising teacher pay, in which some school positions had been left out. The added stipends are expected to cost the district $1.8 million in addition to the $9 million

they already had factored into the budget, interim Superintendent Steve Alfonso said following the board’s Oct. 15 meeting in Covington. “We talked about the cost and the effect it would have on the budget, and we thought it was a good thing to do,” Alfonso said. The decision came after a one-hour executive session between the board and Alfonso at the CJ Schoen Ad-

SLIDELL

TAX

ditional agreement to buy the property, and he already has invested $200,000 in engineering, surveying and legal fees. If the subdivision proposal is approved, Vallee would then also have to pay for infrastructure studies that look as such issues and the impacts on drainage and traffic. “If this gets approved, I plan on setting up a town-hall type of meeting to allow local residents to come and voice their concerns and learn more about the project,” Vallee said. If all goes right for him, the developer says closing would come sometime in December or shortly after the start of 2027, with construction not starting until after the infrastructure studies are completed. St. Tammany is a parish negotiating mixed messages when it comes to housing developments. Earlier this year, consultants performing a housing study commissioned by the parish recommended adding up to 17,300 new homes in the next four years to keep pace with the projected growth of jobs and population. Yet two months ago, a plan by Vallee to build two subdivisions near Goodbee on the western side of St. Tammany was shot down by Parish President Mike Cooper, who vetoed the St. Tammany Parish Council’s approval of the projects, saying growth must be balanced with sufficient infrastructure and the needs of residents. “Over the past several years, we have made record investments in our infrastructure, overhauled our development practices to be more aligned with our citizens’ values, and worked to ensure that growth is managed responsibly,” Cooper said. “High-density developments in areas with planned, but not yet designed or funded infrastructure improvements, would have undermined the progress we have worked so hard to achieve.” The issue of how Vallee’s planned development at Kingspoint would impact local infrastructure also came up during the Slidell City Council’s discussion and vote on annexation. No critics of the subdivision proposal were present at the annexation meeting, and Council member Megan Haggerty cast the sole vote against the request by Valle’s development company. She proposed moving the request until November so that the council could “thoughtfully, strategically and responsibly” study it a bit longer. In the end, her request failed 5-4 and annexation passed 8-1. As a critic of the proposal of a new subdivision, she said, “Every new residential development affects our roads, our drainage, our infrastructure, emergency services, schools, traffic and housing market. We need to understand the collective impact.” Meanwhile, proponents called it a win-win for Slidell and local residents, as they would be able to extend city water and sewer utilities to an approximately half-mile area that currently has none. “There’s a development of new jobs at the Textron Center and some other places on Fremaux, and those new employees will need some place to live. And we need to provide that,” Slidell Council member Leslie Denham said in discussing annexation. “I did my homework. Maybe the same homework that Megan did, but I had a different outcome.” Vallee has said that the utility line extensions were “the main driver” to request annexation into the city.

Last year, District Attorney Collin Sims led the Transparency and Resources Accountability Committee to study funding directed to his office and courts and judges on the northshore. He also has begun to look into whether some agencies, such as the St. Tammany Mosquito Abatement District, should see whether its funding should be scaled back to aid other agencies. This comes as voters of the parish gave a thumbs up in June to a tax millage continuance for the Mosquito District. Cooper said the RESET task force — standing for revenue, efficiency, spending, education and transparency — is being created to review the tax structure, the spending, and to identify efficiencies and where consolidation might be possible. Alongside Cooper during his announcement were members of the parish council, including Council Chair Cheryl Tanner, and Interim St. Tammany Parish

THE ST. TAMMANY ADVOCATE

EDITOR

Online at theneworleansadvocate.com/ community/sttammany

wrap things up” at its next meeting with the district on Oct. 20. Alfonso said he also thought the new agreement would be completed in the coming week. “We have had great negotiations; it’s been very cordial, very collaborative, and we’ve come to the same conclusions,” he said. “I think (the stipends) are a win for everyone — for the school system and the employees. It’s a positive message for us all to be able to move forward.”

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ministrative Complex. Due to budget issues, the process of finalizing the annual contract has taken much longer than usual, as teachers and staff covered by the collective bargaining agreement with the Federation of Teachers continue to work under the previous contract. However, during the public portion of the meeting earlier in the evening, Federation President Brant Osborn said he was encouraged with recent talks and thought “we can probably

STAFF PHOTO BY JIM DERRY

Announcing establishment of the Reset Task Force on Oct. 14, St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper is flanked by, from left, Parish Council Chair Cheryl Tanner, Council member Martha Cazaubon, interim Sheriff Bret Ibert and Council member Pat Phillips. Sheriff Bret Ibert. Cooper will choose task force members, to number no more than 15, and he’s already sent invitations to Tanner, Ibert, elected officials of various boards and other community leaders. He expects to have a finalized membership list soon and to hold the first tax force meeting at the council chambers on Koop Drive in Mandeville Oct. 28. He did not issue a timeline on when propos-

als might be made. Public officials continue to stress if the proposed sales tax is not passed in Dec. 12, it would force major funding issues for upkeep of the jail and for paying deputy salaries. Estimates, according to the parish council, say the tax would raise about $18 million for the first year and as much as $90 million over the course of its five-year lifespan. “There are certain state-

VILLAGE

The Tiny Homes Village

Andrew Canulette editor@ sttammanyfarmer. net

Email Jim Derry at jderry@theadvocate.com.

mandated obligations when it comes to operating the jail and the keeping of the prisoners who are housed there pending trial,” Ibert said. “This year with the budget the way it stands, there are zero dollars.” At a recent public hearing before the St. Tammany Parish Council, Sims said his office received $6.2 million in parish funding, which dropped to $4.38 million for the 2026 fiscal year, and the proposal is to drop to $2.51 million for 2027. “I will have to either fire $2.2 million in salaries and benefits based upon current projected cash flows and current expenses,” Sims said. “Or I can elect to pay all of our lawyers no more than $77,000 per year, on average, and all of the rest of the 90-something other employees $10,638.29 per year. And that’s with me currently holding 16 vacancies.” Cooper said the task force will give similar public access to the Task Force meetings as is given to the parish council, with published agendas and all gatherings livestreamed on the council’s YouTube page.

division. This could have been appealed to the council but was not. I do not believe it would have mattered because they either would have adjusted their plans or built one less lot,” Impastato wrote in the post providing constituents with more information.

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NAMI Southeast Louisiana plans to break ground in Lacombe Oct. 22 on its new “Tiny Homes Village,” a small group of one- and two-bedroom homes designed to provide permanent, supportive, stable housing for an estimated 15 individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness — individuals facing many of the same difficulties living on their own as Thomas Dudoussat faced for years. Village residents will receive the needed care, support and “wrap around services” required — all delivered or overseen by NAMI staff working from an on-site administrative center — to be located in a slightly larger new house that will be built on the same fiveplus acres of land at 28534 Erwin Road. Local landowner Susan Johannsen donated the property for the project, and St. Tammany Parish Government allocated $500,000 worth of American Rescue Plan Act grant dollars to spearhead funding for it, although NAMI continues to fundraise for the rest of the money needed to build and develop Tiny Homes Village. Two businesses are also intimately involved in the project. DSLD Builders is doing the construction at a reduced cost, and MSH Architects has donated their time to the project. NAMI is already accepting applications from those who want to live there, and some of the village’s 10 or so homes will go to military veterans. “We are holding a section open for veterans, as well,” said Nick Richard, executive director of NAMI SELA. “We are working with the courts and the Veterans Administration. We recognize that (St. Tammany) also has a good portion of our veterans with mental health conditions that are

With the stipends, a firstyear teacher would now collect anywhere from $54,033 to $58,977, depending on the level of college education completed completed. Along with the stipends, the board had already approved added bereavement leave and an extra day of personal leave for all personnel. The contract was set to cover a period beginning in July and running through the end of the school year.

The people

PROVIDE IMAGES

A potential site plan for the village, basically alternating one- and twobedroom homes in pocket-type neighborhood. The first, larger home would house NAMI staff and serve multiple roles in the village.

not always receiving the services they need.” This project will help, Richard said.

The village homes Though NAMI SELA talks about “tiny homes” in their marketing, the larger homes for residents will be around 1,000 square feet and feature an open floor plan, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom layout with siding exterior, recessed lighting, a carport and small front porch. Two residents will live in each of those. On the same lot, a smaller, a one-bedroom efficiency unit will be built for a single resident. A main house built on the property will be used by NAMI staff for administrative functions and

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meetings with village residents; as a gathering space for meals and social events; and as a central location for transportation needs, which includes getting village residents to and from jobs, job interviews, medical appointments, training sessions and the like. This admin house will provide a continuing base of support and services for the village residents living around it. NAMI SELA said exteriors of the homes will vary in some respects in an effort to look and feel like any other small pocket neighborhood in the parish. St. Tammany Parish Councilman Joe Impastato, whose District 7 council territory includes the planned village, also lives near the Erwin site. He wrote in a September Facebook post that he has done some research into the project, talked with a number of constituents who questioned him about it and met with Richard and other NAMI staffers to discuss the plan and get his questions answered. He stressed in his post that the village is not a government project and that it complies with all St. Tammany zoning laws. In fact, the property was already properly zoned, and no rezoning was needed to develop the NAMI project. “It did require a minor resubdivision. The Planning Commission approved the minor resub-

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Richard and his team have met with Impastato, as well as with residents in the area to clarify the project and its purpose. “We’re not just putting up houses, and we’re also not warehousing people or doing some kind of institutionalized setting,” Richard said. “We’re giving people the space they need to be as independent as they can and the dignity that they deserve. It’s fantastic.” Impastato did not return recent messages to the newspaper but said in last month’s post that NAMI has complied with all regulations and is committed to working with the parish on what he called a “project that has many positives and will help people who need assistance.” “The good news is that NAMI is a respected organization, and I will be in regular contact with them and hold them to the commitments they have made.” NAMI SELA works in nine regional parishes, advocating in each of them for better lives for individuals with a mental illness. It offers multiple free services year-round, as well as providing online services that can be accessed at will. Their programs are designed for those with an illness, as well as for their families and all those who work to care for them. Additionally, in 2024, NAMI SELA offered a mix of housing services that provided 91,500 nights of safe shelter to 294 individuals. All NAMI services are geared toward helping people with mental illness get the stability, professional care and skills needed — from medical care and home management to personal budgeting and work opportunities — to achieve greater independence and, wherever possible, to work and live safely and independently in their communities. To learn more about the village project and review a project map, see namisela.org/resources/housing/tiny-homes-village.

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✦ St. Tammany ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ 3A

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MIDNIGHT MADNESS HALLOWEEN SOCCER TOURNAMENT

Layla Williams gets her face painted.

Despite the fun of some costuming, there was also a lot of serious play going on as teams battled it PHOTOS BY GRANT THERKILDSEN out during the Midnight Madness Halloween Soccer Tournament.

It must be the Halloween season at Pelican Park.

It’s a good thing that was a police officer on hand to keep an eye on this team. A big part of the camaraderie was among team members dressing up to come out to Pelican Park.

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J O I N T O DAY O N L I N E !

4A ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ St. Tammany ✦

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Few step up to oversee the Lakeshore Villages district

BY DAN LAWTON

Contributing writer

As Election Day approaches, candidates across St. Tammany Parish are battling for offices ranging from sheriff to town council. But one exception is the board of the Lakeshore Villages Community Development District, which collects about $4 million a year in assessments and oversees a neighborhood of thousands of homes. No one ran for two of its seats, and the other three will be filled by unopposed candidates, meaning homeowners won’t cast a single vote. The lack of interest doesn’t mean the neighbor-

hood is without issues. The development, located just outside Slidell city limits on the fringe of Lake Pontchartrain, has had squabbles over off-street parking and a controversy over some homes with mold. “There are constantly and consistently people who are complaining about this and that,” said Charlyn Flanagan, who is on the board. “I was really disappointed I was running unopposed,” she added. Flanagan moved into the neighborhood in 2022. A pharmacy technician, she said she and her husband, a military veteran, were drawn to the community for the storm protection its

private levee provides. The Community Development District, a special taxing district created by the parish in 2007, oversees the levee and other issues, such as parking, drainage, roads, lights and trash. Flanagan says the district currently has 2,600 homes. Its manager, Pete Williams, is a Florida-based consultant who manages community development districts across the Gulf South, according to his website. He did not respond to requests for comment. Flanagan said she was appointed to the board in 2024 after submitting a resume for a seat that had been open for a year and a half.

She said she was the only one to apply. “I chose to step forward because I wanted to contribute to the community where I live,” she said. Flanagan said that the board would seek applicants for the other two positions and encouraged residents to apply. She said that the board’s quorum is three, so it could still operate without additional members. Anthony Caruso, the board’s other returning incumbent, did not respond to a request for comment. Lawrence Dupré, who served on the board starting in 2022, moved to Lakeshore Villages in 2017 after

spending 40 years in California. A New Orleans native, he said he joined the board to help preserve the neighborhood’s character. He ran unopposed in 2022 and said that only one seat was contested that year. Dupré said he decided not to run again because he was tired of hearing the same gripes from a small, disproportionately vocal part of the community. The pay, which was only recently raised from $75 to $250, was also a factor. “It’s not enough for the headaches,” Dupré said. Robert Fecanin will begin his first term on the board in January. And Like Flanagan, Fecanin said he’s

disappointed that he didn’t have an opponent. He said he feels a contested election would spark more community dialogue about the issues facing the neighborhood, and there are problems. Fecanin said he’s faced problems with his own home, as it was constructed, as have some of his neighbors. Fecanin, who supervised weapons systems while in the military, said he hopes he can help move the board forward. “Honestly, I have plenty of other things going on in my life, but I feel strongly that if I want change, I need to be the one to do it myself,” Fecanin said.

“As far as running unopposed, I think it speaks to the trust that the community has built over the years.” LANCE WILLIE, mayor of Folsom

FILE PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN

Folsom Alderwoman Jill Mathies, Mayor Lance Willie, Alderman George Garrett and Alderman Shawn Dillon are all being returned to office without challengers this election season. With one exception, voters did the same thing in 2022.

Folsom returns all its incumbents, no harsh rhetoric here BY KIM CHATELAIN

Contributing writer

Hotly contested elections seem to be the norm these days, but not in the tiny village of Folsom. While candidates in other political jurisdictions are fighting for votes on the campaign trail leading up to the Nov. 3 election, office seekers in Folsom have already won their seats for the upcoming term. All four of the town’s incumbent elected officials were automatically reelected when no one qualified to oppose them. That means incumbent Mayor Lance Willie and the three members who currently make up the town government’s legislative branch — Alderman George Garrett, Alderman Shawn Dillon and Alderwoman Deanna Mingo — will serve four more years without having to mount campaigns. The perceived détente that exists in the village goes back beyond the current election cycle. Two of the three current alderman were unopposed in the 2022 election as well.

Willie said Folsom’s ability to maintain its political decorum at the hyper-local level is due in part to the open lines of communication that exist between the officials and their constituents in the close-knit, twosquare-mile village of about 900 residents. “As far as running unopposed, I think it speaks to the trust that the community has built over the years,” Willie said. Politically speaking, Folsom appears to be living up to its billing as a “quaint and cozy” community. Missing from the local political landscape in Folsom are the candidate-targeted barbs and harsh campaign rhetoric that echo in other communities on the north shore. “Folsom is family; that’s not just a slogan, it’s how we live,” said Willie, whose position as mayor is considered part-time. Margra Steele, who has served as Folsom’s municipal clerk since 2019, said what stands out to her as a government employee is the cordial nature of those involved in village business. “Everyone treats every-

“I love being mayor be- Willie said, “and I want to the place that shaped who one else like family,” she said. “From what I have cause this town raised me,” continue to give back to I am.” seen, Folsom is something special.” Getting reelected without opposition is nothing new for Folsom’s elected officials. Garrett, Dillon and Jill Mathies were elected without opposition in 2022. Mathies died in December 2024, and Mingo was appointed to fill her unexpired term and will serve four more years by virtue of being unopposed this cycle. Garrett, who was born and raised in Folsom, agreed with Steele’s assessment of the village’s character. “Folsom is home; Folsom is family,” he said. Dillon said the local government leaders at times disagree on issues but are usually able to resolve their differences amicably. “I’m very thankful and appreciative for the way we’re able to get along,” he said. Willie, whose father served as Folsom’s mayor from 1986 to 1992, said he understands the village’s character and cherishes the chance to be a part of its small government.

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Two sheriff Purple4Polio campaign candidates lead aims to help finish off polio fundraising race BY SUZIE HUNT

Contributing writer

BY JIM DERRY Staff writer

Two candidates in the race for St. Tammany Parish Sheriff are outrunning their competitors in fundraising with a month to go before the election, according to the first set of recently released campaign financial reports. H H H Robert Hodges and Daniel Seuzeneau combined for 88.2% of all money raised in the race as of Oct. 3. Hodges’ campaign had collected $585,113, as compared to Seuzeneau’s $435,055. The reporting periods were from the official starts of their campaigns — for Seuzeneau on July 27 and Hodges on Aug. 3 — through Oct. 3. Meanwhile, challengers Scott Illing had raised a total of $109,090 and David Maki was at $27,150. This race is shaping up to be the most closely watched on the northshore. It will fill the unexpired term of former sheriff Randy Smith, who resigned and pleaded guilty to second-degree battery in May. The term runs through June 30, 2028, and is currently being held by Interim Sheriff Bret Ibert. Greg Buisson, a local political consultant who ran Smith’s campaign for election in 2019, said the numbers for Hodges and Seuzeneau are significant at this early stage. “We did not really spend that kind of money until we actually hit the runoff (against former Covington police chief Tim Lentz),” Buisson said. “So for them to have that kind of money in the primary, it’s pretty significant.” Neither of the top two campaigns has spent more than 30% of its war chest to date. Seuzeneau’s largest expense thus far has been $44,000 to Velocity Agency LLC of Mandeville, a social media management company. Meanwhile, Hodges paid $39,110 to polling company Baselice and Associates and $20,000 to KLH Consulting of Metairie. Illing has dished out more than $28,000 of his funds to campaign consultants Karen Carvin and Eric McVicker. “The money I have raised is coming from friends — $100

here, $500 or so. Meanwhile, (Hodges and Seuzeneau) are getting $10,000, $12,000 at a time,” said Illing, who said that made him less beholden to special interests. “They are going to have lots of obligations to these highrollers, and I don’t want that.” Maki said “it’s just ridiculous” the amount of money raised thus far. His H H H largest expense has been $10,000 to the political consultant firm of James Hartman and Associates. He has collected 2.3% of all the money raised by the four campaigns — and that’s not counting PAC money, of which Maki has none. “The local humane society has been trying to raise money for years to build a new building,” he said. “Meanwhile, look at the money these guys have come up with in three months for a sheriff’s race. I have a problem with that.” Hodges says he is grateful for the support, and that the money his campaign has received is a testament to his long career. “Over three decades in law enforcement, I’ve been blessed to build strong relationships, and I’m grateful to everyone who believes in our campaign to bring integrity and professionalism to the Sheriff’s Office,” he said. “This level of support, and our lead in fundraising, shows how much people want a sheriff focused on law and order, not politics.” While Hodges leads the race in money gained, many other factors could be in play, Buisson said. The big advantage for Seuzeneau is his name recognition in the parish, especially on the east side, where he worked for the Slidell Police Department for two decades and was the unit’s interim chief for seven months when Randy Fandal became mayor last October. Both Hodges and Illing are known on the west side of the parish. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the runoff would be held Dec. 12.

ELECTION

Jim Derry covers St. Tammany Parish, and has been part of The Times-Picayune staff for much of the past 36 years. Jim can be reached via email at jderry@theadvocate.com.

Slidell will go so purple on Oct. 23 that anyone carefully watching might even see the water in a prominent public fountain will change colors for a very good cause. The Rotary Club of Slidell, as well as other District 6840 chapters, are painting things purple in their campaign raising awareness and funds to help eradicate polio worldwide, according to Pam Breaux, Rotary Club of Slidell president and the District Purple4Polio Campaign chair. “A major push was started by the World Health Organization and other groups in 1988 to rid the world of polio. However, it still remains endemic in two countries. Until vaccinations are available there, we still have to be vigilant in the fight,” Breaux said. The Purple4Polio campaign is encouraging individuals and groups to be aware of the importance of vaccination programs, and it’s raising funds to help Rotary support vaccination programs worldwide, Breaux said. “In remote locations, when a child receives their vaccine, their pinkie finger is dipped in purple dye to help keep track of which children have been vaccinated. Thanks to efforts over the past 40 years, the occurrence of wild polio infection is down more than 99% around the world,” she explained. Slidell events will be held on Oct. 23 in Olde Towne, although World Polio Day is Oct. 24. At 2 p.m., the

PROVIDED PHOTO BY PAM BREAUX

Slidell Rotarians Donna Bach, Monique Jackson and Pamela Breaux are all purpled up to push the Purple4Polio campaign. general public is welcome to gather at the City Hall garden fountain as the Rotarians dye the waters purple. “From there, we invite everyone to stroll with Rotary members through Antique Umbrella Alley and then gather at Triangle Square for a time of fellowship and celebration. Second-line umbrellas are welcome, and don’t forget to wear your best purple outfit!” Breaux said. The Rotary Club of Slidell has raised more than $1,000 for vaccination programs this fall and will be selling purple necklaces, trinkets and taking donations at the celebration. Donations can also be

made to the organization by making out a check to Rotary Club of Slidell, P.O. Box 888, Slidell, LA 70459 or by contacting Breaux at plbreaux@gmail.com. Donations will be matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation. The club is also working with Keep Slidell Beautiful to transform Pearl’s Garden in John Slidell Park into a heart-shaped space filled with purple blooms. The garden is dedicated to the late Slidell City Council member Pearl Williams. Breaux said the idea of using purple garden flowers to keep attention on the polio fight began with Rotary Clubs in Ireland, whose members planted purple crocus gardens.

Dancing for seniors with happy hearts and feet

PROVIDED PHOTO

Not every Happy Heart Dancer can make every weekly visit the group tries to make to visit those living in residential communities and nursing homes, but there are always enough volunteers to regularly show up to line dance and sing. Performing recently in their Halloween finery at SummerHouse Park Provence in Slidell were, from left, Ellyn Campbell, Dale Laborde, Pauline Gay Mintz, Donna Bruskotter, Karen Breath, Lou Landry, Sylvia Daily and Cathy Springer.

Voters near Slidell to decide $253 fee for drainage and levees BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

Voters in four neighborhoods east of Slidell will decide on Nov. 3 whether to renew a $253 parcel fee that pays for pumps H H H H H H and levees that help keep the neighborhoods dry. Drainage District No. 4 has been funded by a parcel fee since it was first established in 1978, and serves New Kings Point, Pinehurst, Spring Hill and Fox Hollow subdivisions, said district President Tim Asher. “It keeps the streets clear and prevents the homes from flooding,” he said. The district maintains the system of retention ponds and pumps that clear those neighborhood’s streets when heavy rains come down, Asher said. It

ELECTION

A retention pond maintained by Drainage District No. 4

PROVIDED PHOTO BY DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 4

also pays for grass cutting and other efforts to prevent erosion on the 5.5-mile levee system that surround the neighborhoods, he said. In 2025 and 2026, the drainage district used the money to clear out its two retention ponds and outflow canal, increasing the pond’s water capacity by “twofold,” Asher said. A toilet and a trampoline were among the items that were removed from the ponds, along with lots of vegetation, a drainage district flyer says. The parcel fee will pay to keep clearing the ponds, Asher said. If the five-year renewal is approved, it would generate $300,017 in total, according to the ballot language. Landowners would pay $253 per 10,000 square feet of parcel they own. Asher said that if voters don’t approve the parcel fee this year, the district will put it on the ballot again in 2027. The existing fee expires at the end of 2027.

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✦ St. Tammany ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ 7A

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St. Tammany Health Services to hold open house, recruitment fair

Staff report

St. Tammany Health Services will host an Oct. 22 open house and recruitment fair from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. for members of the public to explore career opportunities with this growing medical system in Covington. It will all take place in the St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s first floor conference center, 1202 S. Tyler St., in the Covington, Mandeville, Ponchatoula and Madisonville rooms. n Meet STHS recruiters and leaders from a variety of areas. n Explore current career opportunities. n Participate in on-site interviews for Environmental Services positions. n Learn about workforce development benefits and scholarships. n Learn about the Nurse Residency Program. n Take advantage of a free health screening. n Get answers to your questions about building a career at STHS.

FUNDRAISERS FIGHT: Complete the “Grace” at CrossFit Mandeville, 4240 La. 22, on Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to raise money for local breast cancer warriors. This is the gym’s annual Cleans for a Cure fundraiser when members and guests come together to battle breast cancer in the community. This year, CrossFit has teamed up with the nonprofit Pink With A Purpose with a special focus on supporting single mothers fighting cancer. All fitness levels welcome; coaches on site will provide modifications so you can participate in completing Grace, a “clean and jerk” exercise series. Pink ribbons will be displayed throughout the gym as a reminder of the stories behind the cause. Buy one for $5 to honor someone you’ve lost, someone still fighting, a survivor who has won, as a sign of encouragement. Get a raffle ticket for $5. Come to complete Grace, cheer on participants, make a donation or simply be part of something bigger than any of us alone. Go to Cleans for a Cure Mandeville Crossfit Facebook page for details and to sign up for a heat. CLAYS: The Clays for Kids Tournament in support of the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany is scheduled Oct. 23 at Covey Rise Lodge, 24009 Singing Waterfall Road, Husser. The course will be set up to be fun for all skill levels, but some stations will challenge even the expert marksman. Shooting clays begins at 9 a.m., with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and awards at 12:30 p.m. The museum contact is Marlo Christensen at mchistensen@ mchristsensen@cmstkids. org or calling (985) 8881555. Get more details, a rundown of costs and early registration at cmstkids. org/event/clays-for-kidsfundraiser. ART FEST: The 14th annual Lenda Dean Memorial Art Festival at St. Michael’s Church/School in scheduled in Mandeville Oct. 23-25. The fest originated to support local artists and raise money to help with needs at St. Michael’s and continues to do so. Local artists and makers will exhibit their creations for sale. Also, on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., the festival holds a wine and cheese reception with music director Allison Kenning’s talented piano students performing; a $5 donation is recommended. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., shop the bake sale & the food trucks starting at 11 a.m. And on closing Sunday, a continental breakfast starts at 9 a.m., with raffle drawings to win prizes donated by some of the exhibiting artists and makers. Bring in canned goods for the Samaritan Center and get free raffle tickets. Events in the church Parish Life Center at 4499 Sharp Road.

Boys & Girls Club gets game room makeover BY JOLIE LINDLEY Contributing writer

A $60,000 investment in the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Louisiana’s Slidell Clubhouse has just given its young members a reimagined gaming space that includes mostly all new everything, including plenty of new gaming consoles, that make this space the place to be. The makeover includes a bigger than life mural of WWE superstars — designed by WWE artists — new flooring, fresh paint, updated furniture and many of the gaming bells and whistles that club members most wanted, including PlayStation 5 and the NextGen gaming system. The new space, officially unveiled Oct. 8, also includes a pingpong table for some good, old fashioned play, as well as an air hockey table and even some traditional arcade-type games that peaked in the early 1980s and have since made a resurgence. It was thanks to a financial investment by the WWE, with additional support from Cricket Wireless, that the makeover and equipping of the game room at the 705 Dewey Ave. club came about. “This renovation will do much more than be a game room. Donors have invested in our kids, their happiness, their confidence and their futures,” said Angel Nelson, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Metro Louisiana. She said giving children a place to grow and dream provides a vital service to the community. “We don’t just transform spaces; we transform lives. We give children a place to believe that anything is possible. We’re opening the door to new possibilities and brighter futures for the young people who need us.” Club members were given input into the design of the

PROVIDE PHOTOS

Everything old becomes new again, and these arcade-type games have certainly grabbed the attention of these younger players in the reimagined and well-equipped game room.

WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green, one of the favorite VIPS visiting the club, autographs athletic shoes for some young fans.

renovated space so that it could be tailored to what they wanted. “We had three teens who actually assisted in the design,” Nelson said, noting that the results gives club members new opportunities to connect, play and build relationships in a space created specifically for them.” Nelson said she finds the investment in Slidell’s club

deeply personal. “I was once a single parent raising three children who grew up in Boys & Girls Clubs. I know firsthand that these clubs are so much more than buildings or places for kids to go after school. They are places where children feel safe, where dreams are nurtured, and where families find hope and support,” she said.

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ST. TAMMANY PARISH ASSESSOR’S OFFICE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

UNDERSTANDING THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

The November 3, 2026, ballot includes several proposed constitutional amendments related to Louisiana property tax laws. AMENDMENT NO. 1

DISABLED VETERAN EXEMPTION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES

A YES Vote Would: • Allow a qualifying surviving spouse to transfer the disabled veteran property tax exemption one time to a new primary residence that qualifies for homestead exemption. A NO Vote Would: • Keep current law, which does not allow the exemption to be transferred to a subsequent homestead.

AMENDMENT NO. 2

PRESERVING AUTHORIZED MILLAGE RATES

Allows a taxing authority to continue using a lower millage rate without permanently losing the ability to return to a previously higher authorized rate. A YES Vote Would: • Eliminate the current “use it or lose it” provision, allowing a taxing authority to keep a lower millage rate without permanently losing a previously authorized maximum rate. A NO Vote Would: • Keep current constitutional provisions in place, that a taxing authority can permanently lose access to a previously authorized maximum rate if it is not raised (rolled up) before the next reassessment.

AMENDMENT NO. 6

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS Authorizes an additional special exemption for homeowners age 65 and older who qualify for the Special Assessment Level, effective January 1, 2028.

A YES Vote Would: • Allow a parish or municipality to provide an additional property tax exemption for homeowners age 65 and older who qualify for the Special Assessment Level. Equivalent Fair Market Value: Ages 65–68: $60,000 Ages 69–72: $120,000 Ages 73–76: $180,000 Ages 77–80: $240,000 Age 81 and older: $300,000

AMENDMENT NO. 9

INCREASE THE INCOME LIMIT FOR THE ASSESSMENT FREEZE

A YES Vote Would: • Increase the annual adjusted gross income limit used to qualify for the Assessment Freeze from $102,700 to $150,000 beginning January 1, 2027, with annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments thereafter. A NO Vote Would: • Keep the current income limit in place, with annual CPI adjustments.

A NO Vote Would: • Keep the current law unchanged, with no additional exemption.

We are here to serve you. EARLY VOTING October 20–27, 2026 (excluding Sunday) ELECTION DAY November 3, 2026

ST. TAMMANY PARISH ASSESSOR

Louis Fitzmorris, CLA

8A ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ St. Tammany ✦

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A waterfront night under the stars

For a while, as would-be

evening in Covington. In addition

Hurricane Isaias decided what

to food and cork pulls and auctions,

path it would cut through the still-

the Gumbo Trio made conversation-

hot Gulf of Mexico, architects of

friendly music inside while the Four

the Northshore Humane Society’s

Unplugged band outside cut loose

biggest fundraiser of the year

for dancing beneath the stars and

were sweating the track. But Isaias

oaks alongside the Tchefuncte River.

went east to the beach and the

Proceeds from the gala should help

“Unleashed” gala came off without

complete the Humane Society’s new

a hitch Oct. 10 on a gorgeous fall

and bigger complex in Covington.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Tom Worrell

Jessica Karr, Alyson Alexander, Stacey Alexander

PHOTOS BY BOBBY GILBOY

Dew Drop Jazz Hall hosts the ‘Magic Gringo’ Oct. 24 BY SHEILA GRISSETT

Emily St. Martin, Corie Pagen, Eliska Juarez

Tonya Delaune, Missy Gessler, Debbie & Joe Buckhaults Susan Geoghegan, Ashley Geoghegan, Sydney Beaumont

Logan Adams, Ryleigh Aumann, Mikaela Martin

Marcia Gordon, Ashley Chugdon, Elizabeth Hackford

Staff writer

Powerhouse New Orleans piano man Tom Worrell, known in fan circles as the “Magic Gringo,” will take the Dew Drop Jazz Hall stage in Old Mandeville on Oct. 24 and do what a musical showman does. In Worrell’s case, he’s a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, vocalist and, as WWOZ puts it, “a pianist of the first degree.” Watch and listen to Worrell perform, and you’d never know that he isn’t as original to New Orleans as a 7th Ward native. Instead, it was the music of New Orleans that pulled Worrell into it from somewhere else, and he seems to have given himself over to it — heart, bones, fingers and all. Worrell says his music is “deeply rooted” in the classic traditions of four of the Crescent City’s greatest — Professor Longhair, James Booker, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint — so expect their spirits in the old shotgunstyle jazz hall when Worrell and an impressive trio of seasoned New Orleans musicians perform. Backing Worrell will be drummer Eddie Christmas, who plays with Jon Cleary, the supergroup New Orleans Suspects and others; bassist Eric Vogel, also a New Orleans Suspects member now doing lots of session work in Nashville; and guitarist John Fohl, who among his many gigs, played a decade or so with Dr. John and the Lower 911. The Mandeville show

DEW DROP JAZZ HALL SHOW WHO: Tom Worrell, with Eddie Christmas, Eric Vogel and John Fohl WHEN: Oct. 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m; doors open 5:30 p.m. WHERE: 430 Lamarque St., Mandeville HOW MUCH: Cost is $15/ adult (cash preferred) to enter the grounds; kids and students free. No advance tickets sold. WHAT ELSE: Beer, wine, sodas and water (cash only) at the bar. Hot plate dinners of fried chicken, fried fish and all the fixins’ sold next door by the women of The First Free Mission Baptist Church (cash preferred). SEATING: Inside is first come/ first serve for about 100, but most people sit outside, so bring a lawn chair. No smoking, ice chests, outside food/drinks or pets are allowed. PARKING: In the lot across the street or on neighborhood streets — but don’t block driveways.

will mix New Orleans’ piano classics and some of Worrell’s original music, including his “Magic Gringo” theme song; a soulful “Booker’s Blues” and a lively tribute to one of Worrell’s spiritual musical mentors, “Gimme Sum Mo’ Fess.” Whatever he plays, expect

to feel the Crescent City. It’s hard for those raised with New Orleans music to conceive, but Worrell never heard it until 1987 when a musician gave him a cassette tape with some numbers by the Rev. Cleveland & the Mighty Clouds of Joy, James Booker and Professor Longhair. At the time, Worrell was playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band and had toured some internationally with Solomon Burke, a bona fide pioneer of American soul music. But everything was about to change for Worrell, who was raking leaves in front of a studio when he popped the cassette tape into his Walkman and first heard the sounds of New Orleans. “I didn’t know! I had never heard of them,” he says, still sounding amazed that he ever had a Before N.O. Music life. “And then I heard them, and I was never the same. It blew all my circuits. All my contrived ideas of music, of what was possible, changed.” One thing led to another and, as if meant to be, Johnny Sansone hired Worrell to come on down to New Orleans and play a gig. And he’s still here. He’s also still touring and still loving the city, especially the haunts his fans have come to expect — organizing multiple Booker shows at the Maple Leaf Bar, playing at Tipitina’s to celebrate Fess birthdays, and organizing/playing in WWOZ events. Now he’ll be in Mandeville making music from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

✦ St. Tammany ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ 9A

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PROVIDED PHOTO

Addison Fitzmorris, as Toffee, and Liam Favre, as Jonny, get ready for ‘Zombie Prom.’

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON STAGE

IT’S A-LIVE: Are you ready for it? “Rocky Horror” is going to be live at Cutting Edge Center of the Arts in Slidell for three shows Oct. 23, 24 & 30, the only full live stage production of this classic Halloween season favorite on the north shore this year. No shadow cast. No movie screen. Just pure live energy, killer vocals and local talent will bring this oft’ told tale to life again. Narrator Tricia Kutz guides audience members through all the dark lore, the theatrical mischief and the outrageous fun that is “The Rocky Horror Show: 13.” Cutting Edge producers say this wonderfully wicked adult cult classic will be presented in a fully live theatrical production as it was written to be experienced — live, loud and up close. Follow sweethearts Brad and Janet as one unexpected night leads them to the mysterious castle of the unforgettable Dr. Frank-NFurter. What follows is a wild evening filled with unforgettable characters, outrageous comedy, rock ’n’ roll, and iconic songs including “Time Warp” and “Sweet Transvestite.” All shows at 8 p.m. at 767 Robert Blvd. You’ll know that your experience has begun when you hear Kutz say, “I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey ...” Tickets at cuttingedgetheater.com/event-tickets/. DRACULA: “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” is a must-see at Slidell Little Theatre one more weekend, Oct.23- 25. This campy, fast-paced reimagining of Bram Stoker’s classic gothic novel is lightning-fast, laugh-out-loud wit with cultural references. It’s PG 13, with some mature content. It’s what would happen if you took Stoker’s legendary vampire tale and put it into a blender with Mel Brooks, Monty Python and “The 39 Steps.” Witness the hunt for the dangerous and sexy Count Dracula. Five actors play multiple roles in this bloodcurdlingly hilarious send-up of the literary classic. Directed by Kylie Barnes. Curtains at 7:30 p.m.; matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets $25 adults, $20 students and seniors, at www.slidelllittletheatre.org/tickets. PG 13, with some mature content. ZOMBIES: Welcome to the “Zombie Prom” at 30 by Ninety Theatre, 880 Lafayette St., in Old Mandeville, for one more weekend, Oct. 23- 25. This 1950s-inspired tale filled with rock ’n’ roll and outrageous characters is shot through with sci-fi. Set in the atomic era at Enrico Fermi High, teenaged good girl Toffee falls for classic bad boy Jonny. After being forced apart, Jonny drives his motorcycle into a nuclear waste dump and returns from the dead as a glowing zombie to win Toffee back. Will he be allowed to take her to the prom at the school, or will the zany, tyrannical principal forbid it? And what happens if he is turned away? Plenty, and favorite rock ‘n roll tunes keep the action moving. Directed by John Wesley, with assistance from Lauren Price; musical direction by Jonathan Sturcken, with assistance from Lilly Vita. Leading the cast are Addison Fitzmorris as Toffee; Liam Favre as Jonny; Kristi-Anne Lyons as Miss Delilah Strict; and Nino Bonura Sr. as Eddie Flagrante. Curtains at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; tickets from $25-$32. Reserve at 30byNinety.com/. DEAD GIVEAWAY: For some more Halloween mischief, The Village Church Theater presents a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater play for one more weekend on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m., in Lacombe. See five elderly spinsters sharing the same house, despite all actively disliking one another, when Halloween night rolls around. OK. They aren’t friends, but is one of them guilty of murder? Is the doctor involved? What about the housemaid? What mayhem! Guests are invited to wear

FILE PHOTO BY BOBBY GILBOY

Jimmy Belew with Four Unplugged belts out his sax. their Halloween costumes and BYOB, if they choose, but the Village Church provides the show and an Italian meal of lasagna or pasta Alfredo and sides. For tickets, call Linda Villa at (985) 290-6692, and come to church for the show at 29180 U.S. 190 in Lacombe.

MUSIC

DANCE AT THE TRAILHEAD: The party band Four Unplugged will bring the party and the dancing to Mandeville Live on Oct. 23 for a free-admittance community concert in the Trailhead park. Four Unplugged plays it all, and they play it big. To be sure of seating, bring a fest chair or blanket; but outside food and drinks are not allowed. Support the concessions vendors on site to hep keep the shows free. PIANO IN THE PARK: The Sunday Bayou Jam Concert concert Oct. 25 in Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Lane, in Slidell, will feature Felix & Fingers Dueling Pianos from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The duo will bring a piano bar experience to Bayou Jam for the first time in concert series history. The interactive show combines the energy of a live concert with audience requests, comedy and plenty of surprises. Bring your lightweight folding chairs and blankets for seating, and a picnic basket or ice chest from home and enjoy the free show. IRISH IN THE LIBRARY: The Boston St. Céilí Band performs 90 minutes of Celtic and Irish folk tunes in an admission-free, indoor concert at the main Slidell Library at 555 Robert Blvd. Well-known northshore players affiliated with the group include guitarist Christopher Talley, founding president of the Northshore Traditional Music Society, and Madeline Hill, professional violinist/ fiddler and educator who helps organizes the popular fiddle camps and leads free workshops for fiddlers as part of the NTMS. Concert starts at 6 p.m. This is the fourth and final concert of the fall season sponsored by nonprofit The Friends of the Slidell Library.

FILE PHOTO

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra plays Oct. 24 on the lakefront in Mandeville.

SYMPHONY IN THE PARK: Another special fall tradition is set to play out alongside Lake Pontchartrain in Old Mandeville on Oct. 24 when the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra performs its annual Sunset Symphony. Weather permitting, it promises to be an enchanting evening of

music and nature. The LPO has promised a stunning repertoire of classical and contemporary symphonic music conducted by David Torns that should please listeners of all ages. Torns, resident conductor and principal pops conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, is a passionate proponent of music education and is education conductor for the LPO and music director of the Louisiana Youth Orchestras. The Oct. 24 event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a performance by the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestras, followed by the LPO at 6 p.m. JAZZ IN THE LOBBY: Abigail Flowers, voted Best Jazz Vocalist by the Nashville Industry Music Awards, will make her debut at the Lobby Lounge at the Harbor Center in Slidell on Oct. 21. The jazz vocalist-songwriterarranger will perform with New Orleans jazz musicians Amina Scott and Arnold Little III. Another monthly Up Close & Musical performance in this intimate listening venue where every seat is comfortable and situated near the stage. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; music at 7 p.m. Plenty of parking. Get advance tickets at www.tinyurl. com/mtpbk3n7/. Few tickets at the door. ROCKIN’ THE RAILS: Yeah, You Right, a high energy cover and party band that does it all, without backing tracks or laptops, will light up the Covington Trailhead Oct. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with pop, rock, hip hop, 90s grunge and more. Come out with dancing shoes, and a fest chair or blanket for seating. This is another fee-free community concert for residents and visitors at 419 N. New Hampshire St. in Covington.

COMMUNITY GUMBO

CANDY TIME: Northshore High School’s annual community Truck or Treat & Agricultural Fair takes place Oct. 24 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the baseball field parking lot at 100 Panther Drive in Slidell. Free fair admission. Goodies and games, costume contest, photo station, petting zoo and more. Sponsored by NHS Student Council & Ag Dept. PUMPKIN TIME: The annual Pumpkins in the Park event at TerraBella Village in Covington, takes place Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the square. Come in costume. Enter the contest for all ages up to 17. Get a pumpkin from the patch; visit the petting zoo; get your face painted. There will also be other crafts and games for the kids, as well as a deejay and food trucks. HALLOWEEN PARTY: The Widows’ Social Club of Slidell holds its Halloween party and general meeting on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the John Wesley Center at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 360 Robert Blvd. There will be a costume contest, live music, some games, door prizes and a light lunch, so get dressed up if you dare. All widows are welcome. Questions? Call Cindy Alberts at (985) 707-7676.

10A ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ St. Tammany ✦

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It’s that big orange time of year

Whatever the mind imagines as Halloween nears can be seen. FILE STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

FILE STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG MACCASH

Adding embellishments is a bit of lagniappe the lovers of Halloween can instinctively understand and appreciate.

PHOTOS BY MATT DOBBINS

Does it get better than this? Morgan Nabors, plays among so many Great Pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch at First United Methodist Church in Slidell. Sure enough, whether celebrating the arrival of fall, the hijinks of Halloween or the family, friends, food and gratitude of Thanksgiving, the Cucurbita pepo — or pumpkin — has pride of place. Sit it on the porch, paint a face on it, carve it up, or make it the centerpiece of a table or mantle reflecting your season of choice. Oh, and don’t forget to eat a few. Botanically, it’s a nutritious fruit, specifically classified as a “pepo” or type of berry with a thick outer rind. But culinarily, it’s generally considered a vegetable because it’s most often roasted, added to soups and stews or used in other savory dishes. So what then do you call it when pumpkin goes into a pastry with sugar and spices? You call it a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, and dig in.

What’s a little rain when so many pumpkins are just waiting for a home? Jace Shelby and mom, Kiara, keep loading their wagon despite a light shower at the Pumpkin Patch.

Enola Bauer seems awed by the treasure in front of her — a table of multicolored squash.

Jordyn Maryland finds the perfect pumpkin for his family.

The mind of an imaginative child as Halloween nears fashioned jack-oI was not exactly lantern in his hand ... an ordinary child. with more blood. I was fascinated I still do not underand thrilled by the intangibles. The stand why this was a less explainable, problem. Margaret the better, because My mother always Albert this provided fodthought that past years’ decorations der for my own interpretation of things like were adequate. But my wind, clouds, music, art and grandfather, who at the time managed what would spirits — from the elegant today be the deli departmuses to the terrifying ones that go boo and bump ment of the Gentilly Schwein the dark of night. gmann’s, would take me My first recollection of through the store while my delighting in all things Hal- mother was shopping and buy me whatever I wanted. loween was seeing decoraThis haul yielded a fine astions begin to pop up in early October. Traveling to sortment of Halloween esand from my grandmothsentials. And then there was ... the er’s house in uptown New Halloween tree. Orleans, I would beg my It was a red bud tree in mom to double back around our backyard, so easy to the block if I thought I had missed something. The frat climb, with a branch that grew straight out from the houses on Broadway were trunk and easily accomthe absolute best. The feelmodated my 10-year-old ings evoked by visuals of weight. And the leaves what I thought was spooky were gone by the time the were what I was after. pumpkins showed up. PerAt home, I taped pumpfect. kins and ghosts to our My Pop Pop provided my picture window. A vintage own little medieval colcardboard skeleton yellection of heads on spikes, lowed with age probably just sticks with the head came from a closet in my of a devil, a skeleton, and a grandmother’s house. Evpitchfork for good measure. ery year I would add emI placed them strategically bellishments like stitches throughout the sacred tree on the jack-o-lanterns and with thick cardboard jackteeth on those without any. o-lanterns and old sheets And blood. Lots of blood. painted with ghostly faces. At this time of year, my The finishing touch was grandmother would read Spanish moss pulled from Washington Irving’s “The the huge pecan tree hangLegend of Sleepy Hollow” to me as many times as I ing over the swing. would ask. Knowing right I claimed that branch as where my head was, she my throne. It was my place, followed with Edgar Allen my space, my fit, my spirit Poe. I may have even gotten house. And in it, as in my in trouble for decapitating meandering mind, I starred a plastic cowboy on horseas the conductor of my Halloween menagerie. back and placing a crudely

PUBLIC AUCTION Live & Online Bidding

THURSDAY | OCT 22ND | STARTS AT 9AM

City of Slidell & Covington, STP Sheriff, STP Hospital, STP Coroner, STP School Board, Town of Madisonville, US Bankruptcy Assets & Others 101 Magnolia St. | Slidell, LA

Preview: Wed 10/21 from 9AM-3PM | Cars, Trucks, SUV’s, Dump Trucks, Fuel Truck, Wrecker, Box Trucks, Trailers, Backhoes, School Buses, Golf Carts, Tractor & Bobcat Attachments, Woodchippers, Tractors, Welding Machines, Tools, Commercial Kitchen Equipment, Electronics, Office Furniture & Equipment, , (2) Stages, Woodworking Tools, Various Jewelry & Much More! Buyer’s Premium: 10% onsite & 16% online. $25 notary fee applies. Visit slidellauction.com for more details, terms & conditions. For online bidding visit: https://www.proxibid.com/servcorp

Danica Blake and Ta’Von WIlliams check out the Pumpkin Patch at First United Methodist Church in Slidell. Just because they are small doesn’t make the little pumpkins easier to select. There’s so much to consider.

Ingrid Harrington is awestruck by the little pumpkin squash she found.

Government surplus assets will not be sold for a price less than allowed by law. The sellers & auctioneer reserve the right to reject any & all bids & remove any property from auction. Some items will be subject to reserve. All items are sold “AS IS” without warranty & with all faults/defects. ServCorp Int’l, Inc. • 101 Magnolia St. • Slidell, LA 70460 (800) 340-2185 • slidellauction.com • Bradley Mutz, LA-1467

✦ St. Tammany ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ 11A

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Haunted house, concert-fest set at Coquille Park

BY JESSICA SAGGIO Contributing writer

For Covington’s Jeff Borne, dreams do come true. Just sometimes they are the nightmares he creates. The executive producer behind New Orleans’ popular Mortuary Haunted Mansion at the dead end of Canal Street, Borne is known to be a master at his craft. For decades, he has created immersive Halloween experiences, curated with meticulous attention to detail, artistic costuming and crews of talented individuals who bring the vision to life. The Mortuary, known for its thrills hidden behind each turn, has been a chilling seasonal tradition in the city for 20 years. And now the northshore is getting a big taste of that same experience, as Borne and his crew not only bring a new locally themed haunted house to St. Tammany, but a weekend Halloween festival and concert series to go with it, all in partnership with Covington Recreation District 14. The Sawmill Haunted House has already taken over the River Mill Center inside Covington’s Coquille Park and is open weekends and some weeknights through Nov. 1. Tickets begin at $25. The inaugural “Spirits in the Park” concert series and festival will take place adjacent to the haunted house on the Great Lawn of Coquille Park Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. The free event will feature live performances from The Class of ’98 Band and the Kings of Neon Glow Band on Oct. 30; Beaucoup Boogie, The Boogiemen and The Bucktown Allstars on Oct. 31; and Yacht Rock Park and Paper Champ on Nov. 1. The festival will also feature a children’s area, with trick or treating, pumpkin painting, robotics and inflatables, food and beverage vendors, and an arts and craft market. During the weekend festival, The Sawmill will also offer a “lights on” family tour for those who want a tamer version of the experience. “We’ve had concerts in the park before, but this is going to be a whole new level, and we’re hoping the community supports this free opportunity to come together and celebrate what is one of the top five holidays throughout the entire world,” said Richard BentleySmith, executive director of Recreation District 14 and Coquille Park.

SPIRITS IN THE PARK HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

WHAT: Weekend festival features live concerts all three days; trick or treating and other children’s activities; food and beverage vendors WHERE: Great Lawn at Coquille Park, 13505 La. 1085, Covington WHEN: Oct. 30, 6 p.m — 11 p.m.; Oct. 31, Noon — 11:30 p.m.; and Nov. 1, Noon — 10 p.m. HOW MUCH: Free admission WHAT TO BRING: Lawn chairs for seating, but no outside food or drink MORE INFO: spiritsinthepark.com

SAWMILL HAUNTED HOUSE WHAT: Professional haunted house featuring thrills that highlight the history of St. Tammany’s legends and lore. WHERE: Coquille Park, River Mill Center, 13505 La. 1085, Covington WHEN: Oct. 22-25 & Oct. 28-Nov. 1. See thesaw.net/hours for hours and ticket details. HOW MUCH: $25-$30 general admission, $55 VIP fast pass; save money on tickets by donating to The Blood Center MORE INFO: thesaw.net

PROVIDED PHOTOS BY C. BRIELMAIER

Characters like ‘The Captain’ loom around each turn of The Sawmill Haunted House at Coquille Park in Covington.

The greeters who meet all who enter the new Sawmill Haunted House — mythically set in Widow’s Landing — is located at Coquille Park. Widow’s Landing is loosely based on the city of Madisonville, one of the oldest permanent settlements in St Tammany Parish.

‘The Widow’ and others haunt The Sawmill Haunted House at Coquille drive them by Borne’s property Borne used to host a similar Park, based in spirit on local lore again and again. event at City Park in New Orleans, and legends. When Bentley-Smith realized but it fell by the wayside due to CO-

rates his property just down the road from Coquille Park. And it was those decorations that actually sparked the partnership that would create this year’s inaugural Where the haunting began Halloween and music festival. Bentley-Smith and his children Borne is known on the northshore for his work in New Orleans spotted the decorations, and the and how extravagantly he deco- children continued to ask him to

that it was Borne who owned the place, the recreation director reached out to persuade Borne to a bring a haunted house to the northshore. Bentley-Smith said he is always looking for new and interesting ways to get the community together at the park, and this seemed like a slam dunk opportunity.

FILE PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN

Tom Hassinger portrayed John Henry Warner Jr. in a previous ‘Whisperings, A Living History Tour,’ where attendees met the spirits of some of the cemetery’s historic residents in Covington Cemetery No. 1.

Whispers in the Covington night worth hearing

BY SUZIE HUNT

Contributing writer There’s something special about ghost stories, especially if they have local spirits behind them. Whisperings, Covington Heritage Foundation’s annual living history experience, will put just such a homegrown twist on its extra special cemetery tour on Oct. 25. “There’s nothing like having a ‘ghost’ greet you next to their tomb to get the inside scoop on local history,” said Whisperings Producer John Carambat. Each year, four or five individuals selected from Covington’s past, and interned in the local cemetery, are selected to have their lives highlighted during the program, according to Carambat. “We do research on their biographies and look at how their lives were a part of Covington’s community. There’s also a great book at the library called ‘Heroes of Cemetery #1’ that gives us great background,” he said. Once the biographies are compiled, actors are selected to play the individuals, and scripts are written. During the Whisperings tour, the actors play their part in period clothing next to the person’s actual tomb or gravestone, with the help of director Jehna Harageones.

“Depending on what they did in life, props are used to tell their story. We’ve had actors with farm implements and other items, depending on their profession. We once had an antique desk set up and the subject gave their talk sitting behind it. It’s a little macabre, but it’s also fun,” the producer said. During a previous year’s event, an actress portrayed Yvonne Haik, a member of the Haik Department Store family. Next to the tomb was a rack of vintage clothing and a table covered with store memorabilia. The actress gave an account of Yvonne’s history in the first person. “This experience is a great way to help remember people important to Covington’s history. Some of the people featured no longer have family in the area,” Carambat said. As guests walk through the cemetery at twilight, they will hear true stories about the people who had a part in Covington’s history, as well as enjoy seeing the costumed performers, said Sarada Bonnett, the city of Covington’s director of cultural arts and events. “It’s a really a great event and something unique to Covington,” she said. Whisperings is a ticketed event. Tickets are free to Covington Heritage Foundation members and $20 for nonmembers. They can be purchased online at https://www.covingtonheritagefoundation.com/covingtonheritage-foundation-events/whisperings.

VID. Borne said he had declined all requests from other towns to bring a haunted house and festival to them, but he said the partnership with Coquille Park just felt different. It was five minutes down the road from his headquarters, and with the boom in population, he said, “It just made sense.” It was then that the dream to

bring a “major production” to the northshore began. However, it would take two years to make the haunted house a reality, and several months to put together the festival. Now, midway through October, the haunted house is in full swing and already off to a positive start. Borne and his crew have used local lore to theme the attraction. It is set at “Widows Landing” (from lore in the Madisonville area) and features characters such as the Silk Lady of Madisonville and the Vampires of Lacombe. The Sawmill at Coquille Park is very different than The Mortuary, he said, and even better in many ways. With 30-feet-tall ceilings, there was much more room for sets and allowed for a lighthouse that is the centerpiece of the spooky sawmill. Guests also have the opportunity to get a free VIP ticket if they donate blood. Give at any Blood Center donation site and receive a free ticket that can be presented when visiting The Sawmill and have it upgraded to VIP free of charge. As for the festival, BentleySmith sees it as a chance to truly bring together the community. “We’ve gotten to the point where most of us put up fences so we don’t have to talk to our neighbors,” he said. “Events like this take down those fences for us to understand we have more in common with our neighbors than we have not in common.”

12A ✦ Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ✦ St. Tammany ✦

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