Edge of the Lake Magazine December 2020 | January 2021

DECEMBER 2020 | JANUARY 2021

HAPPY.

HEALTHY. HOLIDAYS. Our Gift to You!

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We are so excited to share our inaugural Northshore’s Forty under 40 with our readers. When we first were approached to do this, I wasn’t sure what the response would be – would we have enough nominees? The answer was clearly yes! We had over 200 nominations; it was a very difficult job to cut that list down to 40. If you don’t see your nomination or your name on the list don’t be disheartened, we will be doing this again next year, and I know the group will once again be as impressive.

I couldn’t have done this without the help and talents of our photographer, Joel Treadwell, and the Southern Hotel for allowing us access to the hotel and Garden House to take our Forty Under 40’s pictures. It was a fun filled few days getting to meet the dynamic group. Unfortunately we couldn’t do a group picture due to COVID restrictions and safety, but hopefully we can get the group together soon. Congratulations to each one of you and thank you for helping to make the Northshore such a great place to live and work.

Just in time for the holidays we hear about two people who take the art of an invite to a whole new level, share our holiday gift guide and get some beauty tips form our Beauty Editor, Caitlin Picou.

I hope you enjoy the issue, wishing our readers a wonderful holiday season and the happiest and healthy New Year.

PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER Sarah Cottrell EDITOR Scut Farkus ART DIRECTOR Erich Belk STYLE DIRECTOR Patty Beal BEAUTY EDITOR Caitlin Picou COPY EDITOR Mary-Brent Brown CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ron Barthet Mimi Greenwood Chris Masingill Caitlin Picou Liz Smith Dr. Katherine Williams STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jerry Cottrell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Bourgeois Joel Treadwell SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVES Eloise Cottrell ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca Blossman-Ferran Erin Bolton Jamie Dakin Debi Menasco Cathy Potts Stephanie Miller INTERN Julia Watson

Cover photo Joel Treadwell

The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted

by EDGE Publishing. @ 2021 with all rights reserved.

Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Please email comments or story ideas to edgepublisher@yahoo.com.

EDGE PUBLISHING • 69170 HWY 190 SERVICE RD. SUITE 1 COVINGTON, LA 70433 • 985.867.5990

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PEOPLE

FORTY UNDER 40

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ST. TAMMANY NOW

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HISTORY

PINE KNOT HOUSE

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ETTIQUIRE INVITES

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GIFT GUIDE HOLIDAY

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HEALTH HEMP OIL

Page 34 Making Spirits Bright on the Northshore Photo David Bourgeois

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BEAUTY MASK SKIN

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BACKYARD CHICKENS

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AROUND THE LAKE SOCIAL

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

MY TURN BY CHEF JEREMY REILLY

Happy Holidays

The Perfect Gift Receive a $25 Bonus Card with the Purchase of $100 in Gift Cards.

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COMMUNITY LEADERS

Mike Cooper St. Tammany Parish President

Randy Smith St. Tammany Sheriff

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Good Riddance 2020 — Welcome in 2021 I bid 2020 good riddance and welcome 2021, while retaining the most important takeaways this year had to offer.

We are resilient. St. Tammany Parish is a strong, formidable, tenacious and innovative community. We rely on one another and we gain strength from one another. Together, in 2020, we’ve faced a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, flooding threats, actual floods, a 500-plus year rain event, storm threats, a hurricane landfall, a school year like no other, and yet we remain strong, committed and determined. We’ve learned how to sacrifice, how to put the needs of our most vulnerable before our own, how to disagree and still come together to stand against a common threat, how to employ personal responsibility and how to gracefully exercise patience.

We find a way no matter what. In 2020 my administration moved forward. In addition to our multiple emergency responses, we installed a cutting-edge flood protection tool in the Slidell area: the FloodBreak Automatic Floodgate Mitigation System, the first of its kind in Louisiana to be installed in a residential area. We began the update to our comprehensive plan. Safe Haven made tremendous strides and is set to fully open in 2021. New leadership at the St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services reduced the population of our shelter to one-fourth of what it once was. Over 1600 animals have been placed through adoption, rescue groups or reunification with their owners since the start of 2020. We have completed millions of dollars in infrastructure projects. The Tammany Trace extension onto Camp Salmen is complete. Two phases of the widening of I-12 are underway.

The Tammany Trace tunnel at Highway 59 is in the works. We are working through, and finding solutions for, an upcoming fiscal challenge.

We are in this together. We witnessed the unity and diligent effort of public agencies at all levels working with the private sector and our citizens to provide for the needs of our community. We are determined to carry this same spirit into the New Year. I am proud to be leading the way. Welcome 2021. We are ready!

As we wrap up what has been a very unique year here in St. Tammany and around the world, I want to wish each of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year. May 2021 bring an end to the pandemic and a time of peace and cooperation among all.

On that positive note, I want to remind everyone to be safe while celebrating the upcoming holidays. I know it has been said time and time again, but please, if you drink, don’t drive. If you drive while impaired you could get arrested or worse – be involved in a traffic crash that causes serious injury or death. If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 immediately. Doing so could save the life of the driver, passenger and others on the road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than a quarter of all traffic-related deaths are the direct result of alcohol impairment, and approximately 800 people per day are injured in a drunk driving crash and 30 people are killed. Drunk driving is a problem on our nation’s roads every day, but it’s more prevalent during the holidays.

If you have holiday parties or festive gatherings on your calendar this holiday season, make smart choices and plan out how you’re going to get home safely once the celebration ends. Designate a sober driver, or plan to use public transportation or a ride-hailing service, and encourage your friends to do the same. If you are the designated driver, make a commitment to be 100% sober to keep you and your friends safe.

And, if you have a friend or family member who is about to drive impaired, take away their keys and help them make arrangements to get home safely – it will be the greatest gift you ever give them.

The holidays should be a festive and happy time spent with loved ones, but drinking and driving can put a damper on the merriment.

Please don’t ruin your holiday or someone else’s by driving drunk.

EDGE December 2020 | January 2021

Congratulations to Washington Parish’s

Forty under 40 AWARD WINNERS! Alisia Thomas / Kyra Spikes / Sunni Killingsworth

985-839-5822

visitfranklinton.org

EDGE December 2020 | January 2021

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YOU ARE AMAZING!

NORTHSHORE FORTY UNDER 40

NORTHSHORE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CONGRATULATES YOU

The Northshore Young Professionals is a dynamic and diverse group of peers under age 40 with a passion for making a difference and the energy to get involved with their business community. We strive to engage young professionals with their peers and with business, political and community leaders to improve the St. Tammany community and provide a voice for young professionals.

Follow us on Facebook or sign up for Chamber newsletters to stay tuned for what the Northshore Young Professionals are accomplishing in 2021. www.StTammanyChamber.org

NORTHSHORE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Photos Joel Treadwell

These business and professional leaders have achieved success and excellence in their field or are showing amazing potential at an early stage of their career. The future of the Northshore is bright under their vision and guidence. Congratulations to our 2020 Northshore Forty under 40!

DR. TREVA T. BROWN - 32 Physical Scientist U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

ASHLEY ANDERSON-TRAYLOR - 38 Partner Anderson Traylor Edwards

“Leave each place cleaner than when you arrived and people feeling better than when you found them.”

Born and raised in Tangipahoa Parish, I am proud to be part of the local business community. As a partner at Anderson Traylor Edwards in Hammond, I work hard advocating for my clients. When I turned 30, I knew I wanted to do more for those who could not fight for themselves. Pregnant with my daughter, I went back to school to obtain my law degree and now as a litigator focusing on protecting the rights of injured victims, I appreciate the responsiblity I have in seeking justice.

Growing up in South Louisiana, my love for the outdoors comes naturally. I enjoy spending time on the water with my family and friends, whether it’s boating and fishing or catching a sunset over the lake. My faith and family motivate me in everything I do. You can find me cheering for my kids on the sidelines or teaching Sunday School for the little ones.

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Treva T. Brown, Ph.D., a physical scientist in the Ocean Sciences Division at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory at NASA Stennis Space Center, earned her doctoral degree in Chemistry at the University of New Orleans in 2017. With a passion for microscopy, she helps the Navy gain a better understanding of organisms that cause corrosion on metal materials.

Dr. Brown is active in outreach and mentorship activities, and advocates for STEM outreach in the local community where she spearheads initiatives aimed to improve diversity and inclusion within the scientific community. Furthermore, she is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she co-leads the global impact initiatives committee and serves on professional boards for the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, the Louisiana local section of the American Chemical Society, and the Microscopy Society of America.

Outside the realm of science, Brown has a passion for dance, travel, unique cuisines, and holds a special place in her heart for mentoring youth. On a unique note, she holds the 2020 title of Ms. Black Louisianan International Ambassador, advocating her platform, “Yes You Can,” aimed at encouraging youth and young adults to attain their goals no matter the obstacles encountered along the way. Lastly, she was recently awarded “2020 Best Woman in S.T.E.M.,” a part of a series of awards recognizing female leaders making an impact on New Orleans and the surrounding areas in their respective areas of expertise as well as the “Empowered Diva” Award for female community activists in Louisiana.

RACHAEL P. CATALANOTTO - 39 Attorney Talley, Anthony, Hughes, & Knight CARI CARAMONTA - 36 Co-Founder Gnarly Barley Brewing

Most recently, Gnarly Barley Brewing received a Silver medal for Korova Milk Porter at The 2020 Great American Beer Festival. Other awards include Top 50 fastest growing brewery in 2017 and 2018 and The Governer’s Lantern Award in 2017.

My husband, Zac and I were also recognized as Southeastern’s Young Alumi Of The Year in 2016. I’m a Cicerone Certified Beer Server and graduated with Honors from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor’s degree in Family & Consumer Sciences and a minor in Marketing.

“Owning a craft brewery has got to be the best ‘job’ there is.”

I enjoy listening to podcasts and decorating when I get a free moment. However, most of my free time is spent hanging out with my amazing husband Zac and our two sweet daughters Stevie Rose and Maxine Lily. We enjoy good food, dance parties, swimming, crafts, and adventures.

“Never regret anything that made you smile.”

Mark Twain I am a Northshore native. After attending LSU undergrad and graduating Loyola College of Law in 2007, I naturally gravitated towards practicing law in my hometown. I have been a Partner at Talley, Anthony, Hughes & Knight since 2013. My practice is diverse and includes family law, defense of public entities, general civil litigation and personal injury.

I am the current President of the 22nd JDC Bar Association after serving in multiple leadership roles within the bar. I have been annually recognized as a Rising Star by SuperLawyer’s Magazine since 2014. I am a member of the 22nd JDC Inn of Court. Lastly, I serve as a Hearing Committee Member for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board. My greatest personal achievements are my children. I married my college sweetheart and we currently reside in Madisonville, Louisiana.

I enjoy being active in the community. I am an member of the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and serve as a board member on the St. Tammany ChamberPac. I actively participate in fundraising and awareness efforts for local nonprofits, including NAMI-St. Tammany, the Youth Service Bureau and Savannah Smiles. I am also a founding board member of the Safe Haven Foundation. My community involvement is a reflection of my commitment to the parish in which I was born and raised.

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KENNETHA JOHNSON - 35 Realtor RE/MAX Alliance

EMILY COUVILLON - 38 Deputy Chief/Assistant District Attorney 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office Civil Division

“To add value to anyone in my sphere of influence in whatever I can.”

I created and organized the West 30’s Annual Block Party.

Its primary goal is to build relationships between the residents of the West 30’s with leaders and people of different races and backgrounds within the Covington community. We also provided the community with resourceful information and organizations to help enhance their lives.

I am a Graduate of Leadership St. Tammany Class of 2019.

I am a member of and operate as an advisory director with the West 30’s Redemption Company, a non-profit organization providing affordable housing to the West 30’s community in Covington, LA.

I love serving on the welcome team at my local church.

Upon graduating magna cum laude from LSU undergrad and LSU law, I was in private legal practice before joining the 22nd JDC District Attorney’s Office in 2015. After working as a prosecutor in the misdemeanor and juvenile divisions, I was named Deputy Chief of the Civil Division in 2018. In that role, I represent the D.A. in civil matters in federal and state court. Additionally, I advise St. Tammany and Washington Parish Governments, including the Parish Council, Planning and Zoning Commissions, and many other boards and commissions, in a wide range of legal matters. During my tenure at the D.A.’s office, I helped establish a traffic court program, assisted in felony jury trials, and served as liaison to the behavioral health and family preservation specialty courts. I helped create and chaired the Charity Committee of the D.A.’s office, which supports employees through difficult times and partners with local non-profits to serve our community.

“Do ordinary things with extraordinary love.”

Mother Theresa

I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

I enjoy laughing, dancing, and, of course, red wine.

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Outside of the office, I serve on the board of directors for the River Forest Civic Association and was appointed to the Covington Tree Board, which has created a landmark tree program and expanded the live oak preservation project to protect Covington’s historic oaks and overall tree canopy. Most of my free time is spent keeping up with daughters Lillian, 4, and Maggie, 1. If I find any extra time, I enjoy running, cooking, and cheering for the Tigers with my husband, Dean.

DAVID DYKES - 34 Owner GreenLight Urgent Care

David earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, and earned his Master of Science degree from the University of South Alabama in Fairhope, Alabama with a specialty in family. He is Board Certified from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

He is an active member of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. He has several years experience in surgical and trauma critical care nursing. David is a native of Livingston Parish and grew up enjoying the enriched culture of South Louisiana. David has been with Advanced Pain Institute since 2013 and opened up his first Green Light Urgent Care location in 2020.

David is a Board Member of the Following Organizations: United By BBQ Rotary Club TARC

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

DAKOTAH EASON - 34 Business Services Representative Tri-Parish Works

“Try to be a little bit better today than you were yesterday.”

As Business Services Representative with Tri-Parish Works, she organizes and hosts two of the largest free public jobs fairs in Southeast Louisiana yearly. These events have grown in size since 2017 from having 56 companies to over 123 companies in 2019, connecting over 2,200 job seekers to careers in that time. She has worked to invest over $400,000 directly into St. Tammany parish businesses through employer-based training programs. Dakotah has served on Northshore Society of Human Resource Managers as Workforce Readiness Director for the past 2 years. She has worked to increase awareness of various workforce programs available to employers in St. Tammany Parish. She hopes to continue strengthening her community by connecting individuals from all education and socio-economic backgrounds including those re-entering the workforce to opportunities.

In her spare time, Dakotah works as Assistant Director of the Young Women’s Ministry with her church New Home Ministry in New Orleans, LA. The group hosts live bible study on Facebook and YouTube each Saturday. Before the pandemic, they would visit nursing homes and community living centers, doing art projects and reading with the residents, and she hopes to resume that activity soon. She also enjoys hiking, gardening, and painting.

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CONGRATULATIONS to our Tangipahoa Parish under 40…

Lindsey Palmer, 2021 Chamber Board Chairman Dr. Gabe Willis, Chamber Board Member Jonathan Wong, Chamber Board Member

Ashley Anderson-Traylor

Casey Lambert

Cari Caramonta

Lane Spears

David Dykes

Paul Titus

Tyler Kinchen

Jason Wilson

Over 600 businesses strong, representing over 20,000 employees, we are the leader of and catalyst for strategies and services which promote economic vitality in the greater Hammond community and throughout Tangipahoa Parish. If you are doing business in Tangipahoa Parish, or want to do business in Tangipahoa Parish, you should be a member of the Greater Hammond Chamber.

www.greaterhammondchamber.org • 985-345-4457 • 400 NW Railroad Ave., Hammond, LA 70401

Call Melissa Bordelon, President and CEO, to learn more.

Give your loved ones, or yourself, the gift of well-being for the New Year.

With our wide-open fitness spaces, acres of outdoor recreation options, the tranquility of our award-winning Spa and unparalleled service, achieving your health and wellness goals safely is easy at Stone Creek. Recharge for the New Year and take a moment away from it all.

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SARAH FEDERER - 31 Blue Heron B&B Synergy Events

MIMI GAUDET - 32 Senior Executive Assistant STHS

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” In 2016, Sarah Federer, alongside her husband Steven, opened Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast in Old Mandeville. Sarah, a PR/marketing strategist with a passion for natural health and wellness, used her skills and passions to develop a unique B&B experience unlike any on the Northshore. Since opening, Blue Heron has garnered multiple awards and accolades including annual Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor, multiple Readers Choice Awards from EDGE magazine, and more. In 2019, Blue Heron was named Louisiana’s B&B of the Year by the Louisiana Travel Association. In addition to operating Blue Heron, Sarah also co-founded Synergy Events & Marketing in 2018 alongside her longtime friend Sarada Bonnett. Together, they coordinate some of the Northshore’s most popular events and festivals, including the Covington Three Rivers Art Festival, Bluesberry Festival, Kokomo Stroll, Christmas Past Festival, Hope House’s Men Who Cook, and more.

Sarah serves on the board of the Covington Business Association, and donates her time and talents to various nonprofits and causes on the Northshore. She is also an independent distributor for Young Living Essential Oils and teaches classes on natural health and wellness. Despite her busy schedule, Sarah homeschools her two young children and loves to travel with her family every chance she gets.

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A native of Covington, LA and Graduate of University of New Orleans, I joined St. Tammany Health System two years ago and serve as Senior Executive Assistant to Joan M. Coffman, President & CEO. In addition to supporting the CEO and the hospital Board of Commissioners, I’ve also had the pleasure of chairing the STHS Culture Committee this year, supporting events and initiatives intended to inspire and engage all of our healthcare heroes for their extraordinary work and service. I also enjoy volunteering at hospital events such as Monster Mash and the Cancer Survivorship Car Show.

“Work hard, stay humble, be kind.”

In my spare time I enjoy running, reading, cooking and traveling.

CAITLIN HUNTER - 38 Community Engagement Specialist Chevron

With more than a decade of Chevron corporate affairs experience, including public affairs, employee engagement, media relations, internal and external communications, social investment contract negotiation, and change management, Caitlin is a seasoned Gulf of Mexico Business Unit spokesperson with more than 15 years of industry experience and a strong background in emergency response, project management, event execution and sports sponsorships.

She brings a versatile and innovative perspective to existing community programs and is able to right-size them for the Gulf of Mexico portfolio — growing Chevron’s relevance, reverence, and reputation in Gulf South communities.

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Wife to Nathan, mom to Brooke

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2019 Site Lead – Covington Women’s Employee Network

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2017 St. Tammany Professional Woman of the Year

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2017 Leadership St. Tammany Graduate

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Boards: What You Give Will Grow, Sideline Pass

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Hobbies: Lover of any and all things Disney, Orangetheory Mandeville,

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Dream: To one day portray Lady Tremaine at Walt Disney World in Florida

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Walt Disney

JORDAN JOHNSON - 32 Executive Director Lacombe Recreation District #4

“Faith whispers to the Warrior ‘A storm is coming’...and the Warrior whispers back, ‘I AM THE STORM!’” Jordan wants to leave a positive impact on this world. He was awarded the Outstanding African American Male for 2019 Black History Month Program at his old alma mater ChahtaIma Elementary. He also won the 2019 Young Professional of the Year award for Louisiana Recreation and Parks Association (LRPA). He is currently on the board as Treasurer & Auction Chair & in his first year he raised over $2,500 that goes to the “Pay it Forward” campaign of park renovations across the state. He was recently inducted into the 2021 Leadership St. Tammany Class & also traveled to Lake Charles to help in the relief efforts of Hurricane Laura. He still volunteers in various communities with his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. in addition to mentoring 6 young men throughout the state.

His greatest accomplishment was organizing an appreciation dinner for Custodians & Cafeteria employees his senior year of college at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

Jordan only loves one sport, basketball, & he enjoys playing it in his spare time as well should anyone want to test him on the court. He enjoys family time, working out, listening to music, and watching movies & TV shows when time allows. He enjoys learning the true history of his culture while educating himself on various subjects he is not well versed on. Jordan loves traveling & also enjoys motivational videos such as Eric Thomas, Les Brown, & Kobe Bryant to name a few.

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SUNNI KILLINGSWORTH - 38 Safety Manager International Paper

KENTRELL JONES - 38 Executive Director, CEO East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity

“When opportunity knocks, open the door and let it in!”

Helped launch East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity’s Rosie Program, an empowerment build week for local women to help raise money while building homes with East St. Tammany Habitat. A program that raises 50k-80k per year for the organization.

Organized over 24 volunteer projects with the non-profit Mission Continues, New Orleans with upwards of 50 volunteers per project.

Launched Donate Tammany a social media hub for local non-profits to collaborate and market each others’ events and accomplishments.

Crafting! I love helping friends and family with designs for their weddings, parties, or home decor. I make everything from the personalized hanger to hang the bride’ s wedding dress to the center pieces for an event.

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“Effort plus excuses does not equal results.”

Graduated from LSU with a Biological Engineering degree.

Worked as an environmental consultant for several years then joined International Paper. At IP I have had many different roles, Environmental Engineer, Manufacturing Excellence Leader, Pulpmill Foreman, and now Health & Safety Manger.

I am also a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

When not working I am my Kids’ taxi and #1 fan, brining them to dance, gymnastics, basketball, football, and baseball.

In the rare days we are not doing one of the above, I enjoy being on the water at the river or beach.

ALISHA THOMAS - 32 Teacher Enon Elementary School TYLER KINCHEN - 30 Bandleader, Vocalist, Songwriter Tyler Kinchen & The Right Pieces

“Dream for me, Dreamer, and you’ll see it all true” I view my actions and their rewards as stepping stones to an end rather than being the end itself. But thinking on what I have done and what has brought me fulfillment, it has been wonderful for my music and my individual growth to be received by so many wonderful people: an internationally acclaimed album, being able to perform throughout the United States, seeing songs chart in Europe and South America. But the most valuable in all of this has been the people: the family and friends I perform music with, the folks that come to my shows, the people that know my songs better than I know them myself. Rather than me being recognized, these experiences have helped me recognize what the best goals are for me: being a better man, honoring my family, loving the woman of my dreams, sowing, reaping, and sharing. These things can never be accomplished finitely, but I am always grateful to be working for them.

With the pandemic halting much of my live performance schedule, “extracurricular” has taken on a whole new role. I am pursuing an M.A. in English at Southeastern Louisiana University, enjoying the exposure to thought and fellowship there. Of course, I love spending time with my wife and family, my friends, my dogs... always staying busy and keeping it fun.

After high school, Alisha Thomas focused on a career that she felt would make a difference in the world. She knew she was born to work with children where each day offers a new learning experience. While in college, she worked in her church nursery where she taught Sunday School and helped organize children’s programs. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood from Southeastern Louisiana University. After graduation, she decided to return home to teach in the parish where she grew up. She feels strongly about making a difference and providing support for her community.

She was awarded Teacher of the Year twice before receiving Elementary Teacher of the Year for the district in 2019. She is currently working on her Ancillary Certification, so she can help mentor others.

“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.”

Rita Pierson In the past, Alisha has worked with the Washington Parish Reading Council where she helped get books in the hands of children in the community. She also served two years as Washington Parish Reading Council president. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

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LESLIE LANDRY - 34 Vice President Northshore Community Foundation

CASEY E. LAMBERT - 38 CAO Jani-King Gulf Coast

I am proud of the work I have achieved in Jani-King Gulf Coast. My father built an incredible organization that my brother and I have the opportunity to lead. I watched my father work hard his entire life, so I do not know any other way! We are engaged 2nd generation owners, looking to bring the organization to the 3rd generation. We believe in building successful franchisees and employees. The franchisees on the Gulf Coast are amongst the very best in the country. Our employees are incredible and we strive to create a workplace that people can thrive in. Employee retention is a key focus.

We have just over 100 employees, but we are a close knit organization and feels like family. Our teams work hard together and we play hard together! Community is important, I have served on the Courtney Christian School PTO, Greater Hammond Chamber Board & North Oaks Subcommittee to the Board.

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson I love spending time with my family. My husband Jason and I have 4 children between us, so we stay pretty busy. When we get the opportunity we love to travel as a family. Whether it’s getting on a plane to go somewhere or going to our family camp in Manchac; just taking a break and spending time together makes all the hard work worth it.

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Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of my career thus far is that I have had the privilege of investing all my professional energy in the causes, people and places that mean the most to me. From my Development Director role at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center to serving as Vice President of the Northshore Community Foundation, I spend my days spreading a message of service and the importance of giving back. After my grandmother’s cancer treatment at Mary Bird, to have the opportunity to avail others to the same critical services pushed me to be successful every day. Now, while raising two young boys in the same place that I was raised, my role at the Northshore Community Foundation allows me to ensure that they too will grow up in a safe, thriving, and beautiful place.

The coupling of that personal and professional fulfillment seems rare in today’s world and it is not lost on me how lucky I am. To me, that is my greatest professional accomplish, and one I hope to always continue.

As a working mother of two young boys, my time is filled at soccer fields and baseball diamonds, birthday parties and doctor appointments. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But if I did, I would spend more time volunteering and occasionally have a date night with my husband.

“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

Ruth Bader Ginsberg

VICTORIA LANGLINAIS - 34 Director of Sales and Marketing Silver Slipper Casino NICK LAROCCA - 36 The LaRocca Team, Keller Williams Realty Services

I am a proud graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Industrial Design. In 2009, I moved to Bay St. Louis, MS and began working at Silver Slipper Casino as a Retail Clerk and Promotions Coordinator.

A few months later, I transferred to the Marketing Department as the Marketing Administrator and had the opportunity to cross-train with all Marketing Managers and learn about the dynamics of casino marketing. Just over a year later, I was promoted to Advertising Manager and held that position for nine years. During that time, I moved to Slidell after becoming involved with various community organizations within St. Tammany Parish. In May 2019, I was promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing for the casino. I am fortunate to work with a company that encourages staff members to become involved and give back to the community, which I have had the pleasure of doing since 2011.

My involvement with community organizations in St. Tammany Parish began in 2010 as a board member for the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. I am a graduate of Leadership Northshore Class of 2014, a former board member for Hospice House, a former board member of Emerging Young Professionals, a founding and current board member for Bring It Home Northshore, and founding and former member of Steel Mimosas. When I’m not working or serving my community, I enjoy time at home with my family!

Nick considers his two children, Jolie(7) and Roman (4), his greatest accomplishments. He and his wife Patrice have worked together building a multi-million dollar real estate team for the past fifteen years. Nick served on the board of directors of Keller Williams for ten years and, in 2019, was named General Manager for Keller Williams Realty Services.

In his spare time, Nick volunteers for many charitable organizations like KW Cares, which has helped 180,000 associates and donated 48 Million in grants nationally. Just recently, his office put on a chili cook-off to help support local frontline workers.

Nick is passionate about helping children in need, so Hope House was a perfect fit. He has been a “Celebrity” Chef for two years. This year he raised over eighteen thousand dollars for Men Who Cook, and last year, he won “Most money raised.”

“No pressure, no diamonds.”

Nick is an avid outdoorsman; he loves anything on the water, fishing, hunting, boating, and videography.

“Your future is created by what you do today - not tomorrow.”

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PATRICK MCMATH - 36 Senator Louisiana Senate District 11 ASHLEY LLEWELLYN - 34 Director of Strategic Initiatives St. Tammany Corporation

“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”

Maya Angelou I have worked as an economic development practitioner in St. Tammany since June 2013. In my current role, I lead various initiatives, programs and projects under the banner of THRIVE2020 – St. Tammany’s 5-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan, including creating programs focused on workforce development and talent retention, and increasing stakeholder engagement. In 2017, I was selected to deliver an “ED Talk” during the inaugural session at the IEDC Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario titled, “Find the Doers: Expanding Workforce Capacity through Coalition” – focused on collaborative workforce development strategies. In 2018, I was honored as the Outstanding Millennial in Economic Development at the Millennial Awards.

I earned a graduate degree in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011, am a Certified Louisiana Economic Developer, and a graduate of University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.

• International Economic Development Council, Membership Committee • Southern Economic Development Council, Education Committee • Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association | Professional Development Committee, Chair • INIFINITY Science Center, Board of Directors • Chi Omega Fraternity | National Ritual Education Team Member and Ritual Advisor at the University of Southern Mississippi

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The Senator has enjoyed the first year of his term, even facing the complexities that 2020 has offered. He sits on four committees including Health and Welfare, Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, and Judiciary A. He has been a fierce advocate for our children and special populations.

Outside of the Senate, Patrick is the Executive Vice President of Business Development at McMath Construction and the owner of several Northshore small businesses.

Prior to being elected Senator, he served the City of Covington as Councilman-at-Large from 2017-2019 and as Council president from 2018-2019. During his time on the Council, Senator McMath focused on economic development, crafting a balanced budget and prioritizing spending on infrastructure improvements, flood mitigation, and public safety.

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

Abraham Lincoln

Patrick serves on the board of several local community organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Covington, Leadership St. Tammany, and the Kelly Gibson Foundation.

His work to combat domestic violence in the community led him to being named the 2019 Real Man of St. Tammany by Safe Harbor.

Patrick’s greatest joy is being a husband to his wife Jayne and a father to his four children - Mary Michael, Margaux, George, and Mae.

THOMAS MITCHELL - 35 Executive Director Children’s Advocacy Center - Hope House RIO OLEND - 25 Political Consultant Hartman Association

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”

Stanley Milgram Thomas Mitchell serves as Executive Director of Children’s Advocacy Center – Hope House in Covington, where he leads the organization’s identification, response, and treatment programming for collaborative child abuse investigations in the 22nd Judicial District. Hope House is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse in our community. Mitchell previously served as Director of Clinical Services at the Carl Perkins Center in Tennessee.

In this role, he developed a passion for understanding the unique needs of trauma victims, which led him to acquire board certification in a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trust-Based Relational Interventions® Educator Certification from TCU. Thomas has been recognized for excellence in leadership as he was awarded the Guardian Award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision by Union University and the Agape Angels in Adoption Clinical Award.

Every campaign I have been a part of, win or lose, to me feels like an accomplishment in many different ways. Just in the last year alone we have won races everywhere on the the Northshore including a few big ones like Parish President Mike Cooper and for the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Beth Wolfe. For the last three years I have been married to my highschool sweetheart, Allison, who is a teacher at Abita Springs Elementary. Every day we go to work to make our home here on the Northshore a better place for our friends and family.

In my free time I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, reading and running.

“Far and away, the best prize life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Thomas is currently on the board of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and previously served as Board President of the Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers. He has been in the role of Board Treasurer for the Exchange Club of West St. Tammany since 2019.

Thomas resides in Covington with his beautiful wife Sayuri and three amazing kids Zoe, Emma, and Owen. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, and sailing.

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MIRANDA PARKER - 39 Executive Director Hospice House

LINDSEY PALMER - 35 Director of Property Services Stirling Properties

My dad was a local developer, so I grew up on job sites learning about opportunities, like property management, where I could be involved in real estate projects. I found my home managing commercial property at Stirling Properties, garnering over 14 years of experience. I manage many levels of support for our Property & Asset Management Divisions and the daily operations of retail, office and storage facilities across the Gulf South. The best part of this job is that no two days are ever the same, though it would be nice sometimes! My job is a great mix of meeting new people and experiencing new challenges. No task is too complex for our incredible Property Services team, for which I am so proud. We have bumps along the way, but we have the best team ever. I am also honored to have played a role in the development of some local projects, including Hammond Square and Fremaux Town Center.

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”

Milton Berle Born and raised in Tangipahoa Parish, I’ve been blessed with incredible mentors throughout my personal and professional journey. I’m actively involved in and support several area organizations and educational programs, including the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce, where I am the incoming Chairwoman. Outside of work, I cherish time with my husband and 2 year old daughter. We enjoy days playing in the yard, time down the river and catching rays at the beach!

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Miranda Parker is a woman of various accomplishments. She remained on the Dean’s List while obtaining her first degree from Pearl River Community College in 2017 and then went on to recieve a second degree from Mississippi State University in 2020. In the meantime, she became the Leadership Northshore social chair. On top of that, in 2019 she landed the position as president of the Camellia City Kiwanis Club. She was also named as the St. Tammany Young Athena Award Winner in 2019. Amidst graduating college and maintaining different leadership positions, she co-founded LOSS Love, a project that supplies care packages for child survivors of suicide in St. Tammany Parish.

Parker is an active participant in community outreach.

She is a member of Women of Infinite Possibilities and the Louisiana Professional Women’s Association as well as a Steele Mimosas board member. She is also a class of 2017 Leadership Northshore graduate. Additionally, she actively volunteers for Team Gleason and works with What You Give Will Grow.

“Sprinkle some Elsa on it.”

“Live and let live.”

HIRAL PATEL - 36 CEO Lakeview Regional Medical Center

“Be present where you are.”

Hiral is a graduate of Tulane University’s Master in Healthcare Administration Program. Her career in healthcare has been noted by several key leadership positions and recognition by her local community. In 2017, she was selected by New Orleans City Business as “One to Watch in Healthcare” and in 2018 was awarded “Distinguished Alumnus” by the Tulane Healthcare Management Student Leadership Association. Most recently she was selected as the only New Orleans Times Picayune Top Workplaces large employer “Leadership” honoree.

Hiral has been part of the Youth Service Bureau’s Board since she moved to the Northshore just over four years ago. She served as Board Chair from 2018-2019. Hiral has also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)—in this role, she is appointed by a Judge to advocate for children that are in the state foster system. She considers it an honor to partner with others in the community that are just as passionate about taking care of children in our community.

AMANDA PAXTON - 30 Sr. Marketing Specialist Northshore Ochsner Health

“I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.”

Michael Scott Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to work for two health systems that serve the Northshore community.

Previously working at St. Tammany Health System and currently at Ochsner Health has given me the opportunity to communicate and increase awareness of these incredible organizations and connect people with the healthcare they need for a healthier community.

In my two years as chairman of the Northshore Young Professionals, we organized and collected supplies for multiple local organizations in need throughout the year.

As a member of the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Healing Arts Committee, I was honored to be a part of the first rotating gallery exhibit at St. Tammany Health System and many more in my years serving on the committee. These exhibits provide an opportunity to showcase the local talent we are lucky to have here on the Northshore and add to the healing environment for patients and loved ones at St. Tammany Health System.

• St. Tammany Hospital Foundation - Volunteer (2015-present) • Healing Arts Committee (2014-19) • THE Gala Committee (2020) • Miracle League - volunteer (2017-present) • Habitat for Humanity - Volunteer (2013-present), including table captain for Community Partners Breakfast • St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce - Northshore Young Professionals (2013-present) • Chairman (2018-19); Ambassador (2016-18) • Leadership St. Tammany Graduate (class of 2014)

Proud to recognize the incredible employees of Ochsner Health.

Ochsner Health is proud to recognize Amanda Paxton for being named to the Northshore’s list of 40 Under 40. This designation reflects her devotion to the community and continued dedication to excellence. Today, and every day, we are grateful for her unwavering spirit and being committed to lead by example.

ochsner.org/relentless

Congratulations!!

Amanda Paxton

Ochsner Health

Shawn Torres, CEO

for making the 2020 Northshore’s 40 Under 40 list!

As a founder of In-Telecom at the age of 25, Shawn has turned his vision of developing innovative communication strategies into a thriving enterprise. With his founding partner Jimmy Burns, Chief Operating Officer, this dynamic team has yet to meet a challenge they were unwilling to conquer together. Over the past 12 years, In-Telecom has evolved from a telecommunication consulting business into a team of technology experts excelling across a variety of service lines.

Today, In-Telecom employs over 35 full-time staff members across 2 locations and holds recognition from Inc. 5000 as one of 2020’s top fastest growing companies in America.

Outside of the office, Shawn is a father of three beautiful girls, married to his college sweetheart and enjoys building relationships and supporting local charities.

We at In-Telecom are extremely proud of his accomplishments and ability to operate a successful, growing company at such an early age. Congratulations Shawn from your In-Telecom family!

www.in-telecom.com www.itccloud.com EDGE December 2020 | January 2021

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CAITLIN PICOU - 35 Owner, CEO Kismet Cosmetics

In 2019, Kismet Cosmetics landed on LSU Top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses. Caitlin started this all-natural beauty brand back in the summer of 2013 with one single product that promised to change the standard of beauty products. Since that day, she has created over 100 additional products along with being featured on two seasons of CNBC’s Billion Dollar Buyer, securing a $50,000 and a $100,000 deal. Caitlin now has opened her flagship store in downtown Covington, with plans on expansion. Caitlin has a background in beauty, beginning her career working in the haircare industry in both Dallas and New York City. But the single biggest accomplishment in her life is her three beautiful children, Ruby James (3), Henry Nash (2) and Eliza Jane (6 months). She enjoys being a busy mom along with showing her kids a strong work ethic and a drive to live your dream.

In addition to running her own business, Caitlin is also the St. Scholastica Academy’s Alumnae Relations Coordinator. She helps organize events, community outreach and bringing the Alumnae community together. Caitlin is also the Beauty Editor for Edge of the Lake Magazine. When Caitlin isn’t working or volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her family. You can find them spending most of their free time outside at the park or on the river.

“Don’t wish for it. Work for it.”

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MELANIE RUDOLPH - 31 Foundation Specialist St. Tammany Hospital Foundation

“It is not so much what we have in this life that matters. It’s what we do with what we have.”

Over the last five years, I have had the privilege of raising more than $1.2 million in support of the vital programs and services of St. Tammany Health System.

As Foundation Specialist, I spearhead all major special events and corporate giving opportunities, including the Foundation’s annual Get Lucky! Golf Tournament, THE Gala benefiting the patients and families at St. Tammany Cancer Center, Monster Mash in support of the STHS Parenting Center and the St. Tammany Hospital Hospice Angels of Light holiday tree lighting ceremony.

My greatest accomplishment since joining the Foundation has been the creation of THE Gala held annually in October at the Southern Hotel. In it’s three years, the event has raised nearly half a million dollars in support of the lifesaving work of the physicians and staff at St. Tammany Cancer Center.

Currently, when not raising vital funds in support of our community hospital, I can be found living the “mom life” with my precious 19-month old son, William, visiting our family’s camp in Washington Parish with my husband and snuggling with my three dogs.

I am also proud to run a small online business with my sister, Zurie and Company, that allows me to express my creative side while spending time with family.

LANE SPEARS - 30 Co-Owner Revival Art House

AMBER SHEPPARD - 32 Attorney, Owner Sheppard Law

Amber has always marched to the beat of her own drum & her approach to law is no different. She set out to prove you can be a good lawyer while still maintaining your humanity, humility, and humor. Guess it worked- Edge readers named her Best Attorney in East St. Tammany.

Since opening her doors, Amber launched a free small business webinar series infusing humor into legal topics beneficial to start ups and large brands. She is on the Board of EST Habitat for Humanity.

Rather than hide behind her PTSD diagnosis, Amber has used it and her dog Tubbs as a platform to educate businesses and Northshore residents on service dog laws. In fact, she was published twice on the topic last year in legal magazines & hosts educational events.

While her main practice areas are family & business law, Amber’s passion is writing. She has been published nationally 20 times in legal and sport publications all while working at Sheppard Law and as of counsel at Stanley-Wallace Law.

“Be fierce and kind.”

Amber utilizes her 16 years in strength sports as an assistant coach for Pope John Paul girls’ powerlifting team and head coach for Mississippi Barbell, a 501(c)(3) she founded while in law school. She directed the first olympic weightlifting meets in Mississippi & is the highest ranked female coach there. She had 9 state records as a powerlifter and has coached national medalists and American record holders. Amber loves dressing up Tubbs in costumes and attending WWE events.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

Pablo Picasso.”

Co-Owner of Revival Art House in Ponchatoula. We house over 150 local artists (including myself and many other talented makers). RAH was established in 2019 where we started with 25 artists to showcase and have since grown over 150 different artisans and makers. Our vision is to connect guests to local artists and vice versa. We are also working on “Revival on Wheels” which will offer classes, events, & much more. It truly is a wonderful Louisiana gallery unlike any other to get lost in the magic of art!

Along with showcasing my artwork at Revival & on Social Media, I also offer “Live Paintings” for weddings and events.

The goal is to capture the essence of the event while it’s going on so guests can enjoy the process. Once it’s finished, the painting is a wonderful masterpiece to cherish forever.

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KYRA J. SPIKES - 39 Co-Owner Riverstone Gallery

DAWN SZELTNER - 31 Research Specialist TNPRC

“No matter how far a person can go, the horizon is still way beyond you.”

Zora Neale Hurston Kyra Spikes is a well-established graduate of Southern University’s honor college. She actively co-owns the Riverstone Gallery of Bogalusa, Louisiana. She was honored to be chosen as a Regent Scholar and Rhodes Scholar. Along with multiple scholarships, she participated in Who’s Who Among College Students, a leadership and community servicebased student program.

Spikes enjoys a plethora of community service including volunteering for Bogalusa Citizens for Art and Culture and Museums of City Park Native American Museum.

She is also credited for her large wall mural which can be found at the YMCA’s Bogalusa location. The mural was painted for the Greater New Orleans Area’s Cancer Association.

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I have loved the scientific method for as long as I can remember. Through high school and college, I pursued knowledge and my love for the sciences grew exponentially.

After completing graduate school in 2013, I have had an active career in research. I began working at Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) in 2016 and earned an award for Global Environmental Health Sciences in 2019. Working at TNPRC has been a privilege, as I have had the opportunity to contribute to teams researching vaccines and therapeutics for several long-standing diseases, and emerging infectious diseases, most recently Covid-19. I think that TNPRC is a prized possession of the Northshore and I’m proud to be involved in an organization that considers the interests of its local community and works so hard to make strides in the scientific community.

“The way of progress is neither swift nor easy.”

Marie Curie When I’m not working, I am with my family or spending times with friends. My family and I have been involved with the foster community on the Northshore since 2016 and still currently serve as a foster family for children waiting to be reunited with their families. We are members of The Field Church in Mandeville, where we are active in youth and adult ministry.

PAUL TITUS III - 38 Director of Sales Cretin Townsend Homes

At CT Homes, the team I work with has helped hundreds of families in our local area realize the dream of building their very own home. To me, there is no greater sense of accomplishment than knowing I helped so many people in one of the greatest life changing events a family could undertake. It also brings me great satisfaction to serve not just my customers, but also all the wonderful employees that work with me. I get to share my skills and passion, to train, lead and provide opportunities so each one of them can have a meaningful and successful career.

I am also honored to serve on the board of directors for Options and starting next year, CAS. Along side of Anthony Donze and Matt Sandifer, I am also a Co-Owner of the Blackened Brew and Pour House Pizza restaurants in Hammond.

Traveling is a favorite for my family. My wife, Marjie, and I find that getting out of the daily grind and exposing our three daughters to the world is where we find joy.

When not working or on a trip you can typically find me tinkering around on my old cars, an ‘88 Jeep and a ‘65 GTO, or just enjoying time with friends.

“You can have everything in life you want, if you help other people get what they want.”

Zig Ziglar

SHAWN TORRES - 37 CEO, Visionary In-Telecom

“Customer wins, company wins, community wins.”

I graduated from Southeastern University with a Marketing degree in 2007. While attending Southeastern, I was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity where I held numerous board positions. Shortly after graduating, I married, later had 3 beautiful daughters, and opened a very successful Anytime Fitness. I was inspired for more which led me to In-Telecom in 2009. Our passion has always been the customer winning which is what our company is still based on today. I have led a team of 2 employees to now what is a 40 member operation, supporting 900+ customers, a multi-location operation that not only provides a career for many but supports and advances our customers’ business needs. I believe that when our customers win, we win. We are an EOS company that has strong morals, values, and integrity in everything we do. I am currently a member of EO, soccer coach, mentor for other professionals, a husband and father.

I work hard and play hard. I enjoy living a healthy lifestyle.

I have competed in NPC bodybuilding competitions and still enjoy my gym time. I also have my own podcast. As a family we enjoy swimming, bike rides and movie night. I am a soccer coach for the first time and love every minute of it. I have strong family values and firmly believe in instilling those values to my children. My passion is helping others crush their challenges!

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Art That Tugs At Your Heart CUSTOM PORTRAITS

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Go to northshoremedia.net or contact one of these local marketing representatives to learn how Northshore Media can help you.

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JASON WILSON - 35 Credit Card Sales Manager First Guaranty Bank

DR. GABE WILLIS - 35 Dean of Students Southeastern Louisiana University

At Southeastern, Dr. Willis has spearheaded the University’s early alert system, The Lion Intervention Network or LINK. He has also lead and served on a number of committees. Dr. Willis was also appointed Deputy Title IX Coordinator. In the Fall 2018 semester, Dr. Willis was appointed to Interim Dean of Students. He earned the full time position in the Spring of 2019.

As Dean of Students, Willis works to engage the campus community in strategic and innovative ways. You can find him on platforms such as Twitter (@drgabewillis) and Instagram (@dr_gabewillis) consistently communicating with students, family, and alum. This social media presence afforded Dr. Willis the opportunity to deliver a keynote presentation at the Annual HighEdWeb 2020 Annual Conference.

Dr. Willis is a native of Waveland, MS. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from the University of Southern Mississippi. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from California University of Pennsylvania.

Willis continued his educational journey at William Carey University where he completed degree requirements for a Specialist in Education in 2012 and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration in 2015. He is married to Miranda Willis - a Nurse Practitioner in the New Orleans East area. They have two children, Madison (9) and Noah (8) - and one on the way!

“Your name will go further than you can ever imagine.”

Grady Willis • • • •

Lots of exercise Spending time with family Reading Losing on Call of Duty

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Jason Wilson began his road to success with earning his bachelor’s degree from SELU. He worked as a process technician for five years and proceeded to establish a career at First Guaranty Bank. Besides specializing in financial banking products, Wilson is licsensed in property, casualty, life and health insurance. He also owns Jea Properties where he purchases, renovates and leases houses in the Hammond area. In 2019, he was listed under the Future 40 Under 40 Daily Newspaper.

On top of prospering in his career, he is a family-oriented father of three, Annabel, Myers and Maxwell.

“I can accept failure, but i can’t accept not trying.”

Michael Jordan Wilson partakes in community service in a variety of ways. He is a current member of Kiwanis and has earned multiple awards throughout his membership including the 2018 New Kiwanian of the year and the 2019 Kiwanian of the year. He is also the secretary of the Local Rotary Club, a member of the Hammond Young Professionals, an ambassador for the Hammond Chamber and passed the Series 65 exam. He enjoys playing with his children, basketball, guitar and home improvement projects.

JONATHAN WONG - 40 Co-Founder, Team Leader Cate Street Seafood Station, The Boston Restaurant

“Consistency defines commitment. Commitment builds trust. And trust equals love.”

Loving husband and father Jonathan Wong has many achievements under his belt. Upon graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University, he assisted in cofounding two successful restaurants, Cate Street Seafood Station and the Boston Restaurant. He was named as SELU’s 2020 Young Alumnus of the Year in addition to the Daily Star Future 40 Under 40 of 2018. He is also a current member of Southeastern’s Foundation Board.

Wong spends his time outside of the restaurants participating in FitFam, a free community fitness group, and Crewe of Five, a local men’s group. He is also the local advisor on behalf of his community for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. He often enjoys spending time outside with family and friends, djing and meditation.

NOBLE-BATES YOUNG - 32 Manager Miracle League Northshore

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me.”

Erma Bombeck Noble-Bates was the team leader for the Miracle League Northshore spearheading the Capital Campaign of $950,000 and construction of the Children’s Hospital and Brees Family Field. This one-of-a-kind facility on the Northshore removes barriers to inclusion for athletes with different abilities, fulfilling lifelong dreams of athletes and parents to just “play ball!”

Noble-Bates recognizes that being a part of this organization is the opportunity of a lifetime and something she will carry with her forever.

In 2017, Noble-Bates was awarded the LSU Public Administration Institute and E.J. Ourso’s College of Business “Astrid Merget Award for Commitment to Public Service and Citizenship.”

Noble-Bates plays an active role in the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, she joined as an Advisory Board Member through her seat as the Chairman of the Northshore Young Professionals, after serving on the committee since 2018.

Noble-Bates is a proud graduate of the Leadership St Tammany, Class of 2018. After completion of the program, she joined the Leadership St Tammany Alumni Foundation as Board Member through 2021.

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COMMUNITY LEADERS

Clay Madden City of Mandeville Mayor

After serving two months as Mayor, things are going great in Mandeville. Here is a quick update: I have been busy building my new administration. We have both a new city attorney, Elizabeth Sconzert of the Blue Williams law firm, and a new finance director, Kathleen Sides, who previously served as senior accountant for our City. Our Operational and Efficiency Audit is underway with a final report expected in late January. I feel this is a healthy exercise for the City to do every ten years. The audit will look at operations, policies and procedures, and ensure we are doing the most efficient job for our citizens. I look forward to suggestions the audit may yield on how we can best serve the citizens of Mandeville. I have also set weekly standing meetings with City Council members to discuss the business of the city. I am certain these meetings are fostering positive communication between the Mayor’s office and the City Council.

The Mandeville Trailhead Market is buzzing every Saturday morning. Going into the holiday season, I would encourage you to visit our diverse group of vendors for holiday treats.

I cannot say enough about how proud I am of Chief Gerald Sticker and the Mandeville Police Department and Acting Public Works Director Cliff Siverd and the Mandeville Public Works employees for how well they performed before, during and after Hurricane Zeta. The most impactful of the five hurricanes that have threatened Mandeville in the past two months, Hurricane Zeta came and went fast. We drove every street in Mandeville on Thursday, October 29th and while there was some debris on public and private property, damage was minimal. Electricity outages were the main issue with Zeta. I want to thank our citizens for their patience with both the restoration of electricity and our ongoing debris pickup. I would like to conclude by thanking both CLECO and Coastal Environmental Services for the hustle and the communications both provided during and after Hurricane Zeta.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. My cell is 985-630-8578 and email address is cmadden@cityofmandeville.com.

“End every day with a thankful heart.” It’s a motto we’ve shared so many times over the years, and now, as 2020 comes to a close, it seems even more appropriate as we head into the new year.

A common theme I’ve heard visiting with residents throughout our parish over these last few weeks is not a desire to return to “normal.” Instead, I’ve heard time and time again how much we miss simple things. A handshake. Hugging an old friend. Being able to visit a loved one without masks and plexiglass and other obstacles. A personal touch. That human connection.

Of course, COVID-19 and all the other obstacles we have faced this year have also brought us new simple pleasures. I don’t know about you, but this year I’m spending more Robby Miller Tangipahoa Parish President time closer to home. My once frantic pace has slowed, and in the stillness, I’ve had time to recharge. I’ve had precious moments with my family and children that I probably would not have had without the lockdown. I’ve had time to consider what I value most.

As we gather for what will likely be a holiday season unlike any before it, I hope we can all pause for a moment and consider the blessings we’ve had even in these trying times.

They are our silver lining to a year that few of us will ever forget. And for that, we are truly thankful.

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EDGE December 2020 | January 2021

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Are You Experiencing the First Signs of a Hearing Loss?

We often have our teeth checked, our eyes checked and our blood-pressure tested, but when was the last time you had a hearing test?

Hearing loss doesn’t happen overnight. It is a gradual process over the years, so it isn’t noticeable at first. But at some point, things will start to change. A few common signs of hearing loss include finding conversations hard to follow, turning the TV’s volume up louder than usual, and asking people to repeat themselves.

Dr. JJ Martinez, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA Doctor of Audiology, Board Certified Audiologist

You might not think too much of it at first, or, despite any frustrations it is causing you, you might decide to put treatment off for “another day.” Often friends and family are the first to notice one’s hearing loss before it becomes a real challenge for the sufferer.

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If so, then SLENT Hearing & Balance Center encourages you to visit one of our hearing centers in Hammond, Slidell or Mandeville, LA for a hearing test. We’ll test your hearing, and identify if a hearing loss is at play, and if so, provide you with some treatment options.

A recent worldwide study* confirmed that eight out of ten hearing aid users reported they had a profound positive impact on their quality of life, including improved relationships at home and work and a better sense of safety and independence.

Download Our Free Guide “The Early Symptoms of a Hearing Loss to Look Out For” Written by Dr. JJ Martinez Visit slenthearing.com/free-guide *Source: Findings of EuroTrak 2015 (ET 2015) and MarkeTrak 9 (MT9) worldwide studies about hearing loss and hearing aids.

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St. Tammany NOW

W

elcome back to St. Tammany NOW, a curated collection of the latest economic development information and business and industry insights in our community. St. Tammany Corporation is proud to partner with EDGE of the Lake on this feature section.

This issue focuses on The AnalyST, our digital economic research publication, and StTammanyStats.com, an online hub focused specifically on telling the story of St. Tammany through analysis of its economic characteristics.

In a 2009 interview, Hal Varian, Chief Economist at Google, predicted “The ability to take data—to be able to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualize it, to communicate it—that’s going to be a hugely important skill in the next decades.” Varian went on: “Because now we really do have essentially free and ubiquitous data. So the complementary scarce factor is the ability to understand that data and extract value from it.”

In fact, nearly all decisions made in the modern world are based on data. As Varian said, it is ubiquitous, which is why in our profession as economic developers, we have a responsibility to the community that we serve to collect

data, organize it, analyze it, and use it to make fact-based and data-driven decisions for the benefit of the businesses, workers, and residents that call our community home.

Our organization takes that responsibility a step further by breaking down the numbers, giving them context, visualizing trends, and communicating clearly what they mean and why they are important.

As economic developers, we like to consider ourselves “data storytellers” or “economic truth-tellers.”

We are data storytellers because we bring the numbers to life by giving them context and a narrative. This part of our work is important as we share St. Tammany’s story as a marketing tool to recruit new businesses, high-quality jobs, and talented workers to our parish. Data deep-dives and strategic consideration of our community and region’s assets help us determine which types of businesses and industries to target to create and maintain a balanced, thriving economy.

We are economic truth-tellers because we aim to always present the facts without ulterior motive. In fact, our sole agenda is to position St. Tammany to be the premier place in the Gulf South for businesses, talent, and

AGE IN ST. TAMMANY

St. Tammany’s age distribution shows that most residents are families with children, with a significant senior population.

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families to thrive. That requires an honest assessment of where we are economically and a strategic plan of action to fulfill that goal.

Chris Masingill Our job is to take stock of our community’s economic and Chief Executive Officer demographic characteristics, determine our strong suits, challenges, St. Tammany Corporation and opportunities, and use that information to market and attract the right businesses and talent to complement our landscape.

Of the types of information that we collect, demographic data answers questions about the personality and characteristics that make the people of a community unique: how diverse is the community? Are there more young professionals, families with young children, or retirees?

Does the average person have a high school diploma or a PhD? Is the overall population growing or shrinking? When people move here, where do they come from? When people move away, where do they go?

Economic data can help answer questions about the financial health of the community: Does the average

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT IN ST. TAMMANY

St. Tammany has a highly-educated population, with nearly 40% of adults over 25 holding a college degree.

family live comfortably, or do they struggle with bills each month? Are there enough high-quality, well-paying jobs? Are small businesses and entrepreneurs getting enough support to be successful? How much is a gallon of gas, a loaf of bread, or a month of rent in a two-bedroom apartment?

Each of these data points is an important piece of the overarching story we tell about St. Tammany, which is why we created StTammanyStats.com, a website dedicated to our economic research and in-house data analysis. This online platform is designed to be a one-stop shop for learning about St. Tammany’s economy, businesses, industries, and workforce.

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POPULATION GROWTH

St. Tammany’s population grew by 14,537 over the last five years and is projected to grow by an additional 10,588 over the next five years.

Another exciting platform recently added to support these efforts is The AnalyST, a digital data periodical that is a home for all reports, publications, studies, and research produced by St. Tammany Corporation.

As a product of The AnalyST, four times a year, we will publish an economic trends report that takes the pulse of our local economy by tracking key indicators such as new business formations, sales tax collections, consumer spending, housing and residential real estate costs, industry-specific data, and more. This quarterly report also gives context to St. Tammany’s economic characteristics by comparing them against the metro, state, and national numbers, with standard economic information like gross domestic product growth, consumer price index, and personal income. What are the trends telling us, and equally as important, what can we do to shape those trends for a better future?

As we navigated the pandemic this past spring, a time when in many ways normal life seemed to have come to a screeching halt, we knew we had to fulfill our duty as economic truth-tellers in a new way. As the national economy fell into a recession, we began and continue the practice of tracking key indicators to provide timely, relevant, easy-to-understand data in the form of monthly reports designed for the use of local business professionals, policy makers, and the general public. Each month, “Snapshot: Impacts of COVID-19 on St. Tammany” examines the current status of an array of relevant indicators, including the public health landscape, weekly unemployment claims, jobs, community risk factors, and more, all within the context of the metro, state, and national scope. Understanding where we were before the pandemic affected our economy, and tracking our

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Source: EMSI, Bureau of Labor Statistics recovery progress as we gradually and safely reopened our economy, was an effort that we believed to be enormously important both to the function of our organization and as a service to the community as a whole.

Our data publications and research products are all available StTammanyStats.com for our community and regional partners, elected officials, local and non-local businesses, and other interested residents of St. Tammany.

We also have a research request feature on the site that

allows you to directly request more in-depth, specific information—we are always happy to help.

Stay connected with St. Tammany Corporation on Facebook at @StTammanyCorporation, Twitter at @StTammanyCorp, our website at StTammanyCorp.org, or the all-new StTammanyStats.com.

Elizabeth Lee is the lead staff contributor to this article.

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THE COVINGTON

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STORY RON BARTHET PHOTO JERRY COTTRELL

O

ver the years, it has been the subject of many an artistic photograph, painting and even postcard. Bridal photographers have used it as a background. Motorists along U.S. 190 in Covington marvel at its roadside mystery every day.

It is the 100-year-old pine knot sanctuary-haven that sits just off the highway on the old Warner home property in west Covington. The shed, about 16 feet by 16 feet, features walls of intertwined heart pine knots, a tin roof and a dirt floor, with gates leading out of the front and back. It is surrounded by vegetation, at times obscured from view, with a scenic background of beautiful trees.

According to Warner family members, the shed was made with fat pine knots from the Mackie Pine Products Company sometime in the early 1920’s. Richard Warner explains that it was used by his dad’s wife to raise ferns.

“This was back when 21st Avenue was a dirt road and a lot of people walked where they were going,” said Richard Warner on the Remember Covington Facebook page. “It used to have a wood shingle roof, but it finally rotted away and was replaced with tin.”

“Over the years people passing by have speculated why it was built, and there were a lot of false rumors regarding its original purpose,” Warner noted.

Many older Covington residents today have it indelibly etched in their memories because of their daily trips past the structure as students on their way to Covington High.

The Pine Knot House Becomes Legendary Artists and photographers continued to find it enchanting, especially when the sun and shadows are just right.

Being made of intricately intertwined knots of heart pine, it has a special place in many people’s hearts as a unique reminder of the Covington area’s timber and pine products history.

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on the Northshore

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STORY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT PHOTOS DAVID BOURGEOIS

T

here was a time, not long ago, when social mores and niceties counted for something, a gentile era when a Sunday-afternoon visit might be followed by a hand-written note and newcomers to the community meant dinner invitations from all the neighbors. Two Covington men have never forgotten those more convivial days. David Bourgeois and James Briggs had no sooner built their three-story Georgian home than it was filled with a constant flow of family and friends. They designed outdoor spaces around the home that invite lazy conversations and lingering visits. In this time of social disconnectedness, life for them is still about connecting and fostering community.

Their annual Easter egg hunt began in the early 90s with a few dozen guests and, by 2012, topped out at 500 friends and family members. A highlight of each year’s party was a hand-crafted invitation created by Bourgeois, an elaborate memento many guests retained as Easter decorations, years after receiving them. Briggs and Bourgeois’ intimate Christmas party grew as well, soon outgrowing the egg hunt. Bourgeois’ invitations – now for the Christmas party – took on a life of their own. Often three dimensional and always impeccably detailed, the Christmas party invitations found their way onto mantelpieces, tabletops and into holiday arrangements and one complete collection is even housed in a museum. “Several of our guests still have every invitation they’ve received,” Bourgeois said.

Each invitation arrives in a presentation box, weeks before the party. Some years they’ve included batteryoperated tea lights to illuminate the design from within and other years a keepsake ornament. Bourgeois designs, builds and mails 100 to 150 invitations each year, often beginning the design process in January for the following December and rejecting three or four prototypes along the way. Throughout the year, he constructs other cards for birthdays and holidays, but the Christmas invitation takes center stage. The actual assembly begins with a design on the computer (Bourgeois is a software developer by trade.), and then it is cut out in layers on an electronic dyecut machine. The invitations take Bourgeois a month to assemble, usually working in batches of 20. Annual guests anticipate the next invitation design all year long.

“This year especially has been a strain on everyone because of the storms, COVID, social distancing, political unrest, etc.,” Briggs said. “We all need to remember that the most important things we have in our lives are our relationships with others. The Christmas party celebrates these relationships and allows our friends to meet our other friends who each play such great parts in our lives. It’s a token – a reminder – to everyone of the true value of love and friendship which is the basis for all Christmas celebrations.”

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HOLIDAY

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DOLLY PARTON ORNAMENT The Villa 1281 N Causeway Blvd #1 Mandeville

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TIERED CAKE Giovanna’s Bakery 100 S. Tyler St. Covington 985.888.6884

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HAND MADE CRYSTAL FROM CZECH REPUBLIC Southern Hotel 428 East Boston Street Covington 844.866.1907

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GIFT CARDS Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar 2891 Hwy 190 Mandeville 985.778.2176

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GIFT CARD Restaurant Coté 2219 Carey St. Slidell 985.288.5440

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MADMAN DRY GEAR TACTICAL BACKPACK Franco’s 100 Bon Temps Roule Mandeville 985.792.0270

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CHARCUTERIE BOARD That Cheese Chick Slidell 985.503.4718

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Holiday Big SantaLights • Holiday • Festive Lights Decorations • Festive Decorations • Big Santa • Santa’s Magical Mailbox Life-size Christmas Cottages • Frozen Ice Castle • Slidell’s Nativity * Because 2020, Santa and Mrs. Claus at thetoNorth and are this unable takewill pictures at this year’s event ** it’sit’s 2020, Santa and Mrs. Claus areare unable travel Pole to this event yeartoand be staying at the North Pole * Because

2nd Annual Olde Towne Slidell Comunity Christmas Parade Saturday, December 5 • Parade starts at 4:30 pm • Olde Towne Slidell Weask ask that that all all participants participants and and attendees attendees follow safety protocols, wear masks masks and and practice practice social social distancing distancing** **We

6th Annual Spirit of the Season Olde Towne Lights Contest December 4, 2020 - January 3, 2021 • Olde Towne Slidell

Thisdecoration festive decoration competition between Olde Towne residents and businesses thatTowne Olde Towne Slidell This competition between Olde Towne residents and businesses means means that Olde Slidell will be will be out decked withlights lightsand anddecorations. decorations.You Sponsored City of Slidell and Olde Towne Slidell Main Street. decked with out festive can vote by forthe your favorite location for the People’s Choice Award.

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Baroque • $2,500 Sponsors:Acadian Acadian Ambulance Ambulance ••C.C.RayRay Murry, Attorney At Law Baroque • $2,500 Sponsors: Murry, Attorney At Law Jazz on the Bayou/Ronnie Kole Foundation • Silver Slipper Casino Jazz on the Bayou/Ronnie Kole Foundation • Silver Slipper Casino Neoclassical • $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert • Lori Gomez Art

• Purple Armadillo Again Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Agency Neoclassical • $1,000 Sponsors: Councilman Bill & Laura Borchert • Lori Gomez Art Impressionism • $500 Sponsors: Chateau Bleu • Agency CiCi’s Pizza••Purple Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien Insurance Armadillo Again

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In The Weeds THE MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS OF CBD OIL

STORY LIZ GENEST SMITH PHOTOS MICHAEL MAUTI

I

t’s no secret that the mind/body/spirit approach to healthcare has been gaining in popularity in recent years. Yoga studios, meditation centers, spas and wellness facilities are everywhere. And according to recent reports, global complementary and alternative medicine markets raked in about $70 billion in 2019, and are projected to skyrocket up to about $300 billion by 2027.

As both the general population and medical establishment grow more amenable to holistic options, natural supplements and remedies are becoming more in vogue than ever. CBD oil, in particular, seems to be taking center stage, with products appearing in even the most mainstream retail outlets and individual vendors becoming about as ubiquitous as Starbucks. But just because it’s becoming mainstream, doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of myths and misconceptions swirling out there.

Is hemp just another word for marijuana? Can you get high on CBD oil? Were the Founding Fathers really pot-smoking stoners?!

For someone who has used CBD oil daily for five years as part of my treatment for an autoimmune disease, I truly had no idea how much I didn’t know about the topic until I started researching it for this piece. I understood that its chemical components have been effective in fighting inflammation, and that its measly .03 percent THC means I don’t get to enjoy any buzzy bonus side effects, but beyond that, I was embarrassingly ignorant. So, let’s review some basics, shall we?

Hemp & CBD Oil 101

First and foremost, hemp and marijuana are not the same thing. While they are both varieties of the cannabis plant, and both contain compounds called cannabinoids that have therapeutic value, they have different chemistry and characteristics. One main difference is that marijuana has a much higher content of the high-inducing element tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hemp has only a trace of THC, but is rich in a non-intoxicating substance called cannabidiol (CBD).

People typically use CBD for anxiety, seizures, inflammation, relaxationSTORY and sleep.

Beyond SMITH recreational LIZ GENEST PHOTOS use, people usually look to medical marijuana/THC to alleviate chronic pain and anxiety,???? reduce muscle discomfort associated with multiple sclerosis, and to mitigate nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite due to EDGE December 2020 | January 2021

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chemotherapy. There’s also a ton of ongoing research to identify all the diseases and conditions that could benefit from the use of medical marijuana, like Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s, glaucoma, cancer and various mental health conditions. But because those results are still pending, and because higher levels of THC deliver varying degrees of hallucinogenic effects, in a nutshell, most current laws and regulations tend to treat hemp/CBD as therapeutic and marijuana as illicit and recreational.

Now that we’ve covered the most basic of basics, let’s hop in the way-back machine for a little historical context.

Hemp’s History

With its long history of being harvested for its fibers, seeds and oil, hemp is thought to be humanity’s oldest industry. Archaeologists have recovered scraps of ancient hemp cloth in the Middle East dating back as far as 8-9,000 years, and historians believe hemp has been cultivated in China for over 6,000 years,

seed2system.com

eventually finding its way to Europe and the rest of the ancient world around 1200 B.C. Fast forward to early America. Hemp was a huge cash crop in the colonies, used in making a variety of valuable products, including cloth, paper and rope.

Naturally, many Founding Fathers grew it, but – to answer one of the previous questions – there’s no evidence to support the popular and amusing theory that they grew their own marijuana and blazed up while signing the Declaration of Independence. But, never fear – they had plenty of questionable habits to make up for that. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were among those who were said to regularly treat chronic ailments with laudanum, a highly addictive mixture of alcohol and opium, and they weren’t alone. Some sources estimate that by the late 1800s, 1 in 200 Americans suffered from opiate addiction, so this is not a new issue for our country. This would dovetail nicely into a discussion of the ongoing medicinal marijuana vs. opiates debate, but we’ll save that for another day.

By the end of the Civil War, cotton basically pushed hemp off the market, but a different version of the plant started to emerge. Marijuana became a popular ingredient in medicines and tinctures, which were widely available in pharmacies and general stores. By the 1930s, recreational marijuana became popular among the hipsters of the jazz community, just as prohibition was getting repealed. Anti-vice bureaucrats shifted their focus from booze to weed, and basically wound up outlawing the plant and criminalizing its cultivation and use in the U.S. The countercultural beatniks of the Beat Generation made it popular again in the 1950s; it made its way to middle-class white America in the 1960s; and the public and lawmakers have been engaged in a legal tug of war ever since.

So, that brings us up to today.

What are the current laws regarding medical cannabis?

Well, it’s a little murky. While the Food & Drug Administration has not approved the use of medicinal cannabis, they’ve allowed large pharmaceutical companies to include CBD and THC in medications for treatment of maladies like seizures, nausea, and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, and loss of appetite and weight in people with HIV/AIDS. State and federal laws are clear as mud, too.

Marijuana-derived recreational and therapeutic

products are illegal on the federal level, but legal in some states. Hemp-derived CBD products (containing up to .03% THC) are legal on the federal level, but still illegal in some states. Here in Louisiana, only those low-THC, hemp-derived CBD products are legal, but it’s still illegal to grow your own hemp in-state. This is confounding and disappointing for many, but it works just fine for some local entrepreneurs.

Northshore Connection

Given that you can now buy CBD oil at rural roadside vegetable stands and gas stations, it seems pretty obvious that probably not all of these products are created equal. It’s important to educate yourself a bit, talk to your doctor, of course, and perhaps most importantly, identify a reliable source.

Fortunately, there’s a Covington-based company that provides documented proof to support the quality of their products, as well as local name recognition to lend a little credibility. Ever heard of Doerr Furniture and the New Orleans Saints? Let me explain...

Before launching Seed2System, Shane Mutter was serving as president and CEO of his family’s regionally respected company, the aforementioned Doerr Furniture. After his father purchased some land in Colorado and started farming hemp, they decided to produce their own products instead of selling to manufacturers, and Shane became intrigued by the prospects.

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“I started using the product and I experienced for myself the change in my demeanor,” he explains. “I felt calmer, more level-headed, and I started sleeping like a king. I wanted to learn everything about the business. And I liked that it was something that could make a difference in people’s lives.”

Convinced he wanted to fully commit to this venture, Shane orchestrated an exit strategy from the furniture business, and started commuting to Colorado 10 days a month, but never considered leaving Covington.

“There were no guarantees and no money – just an opportunity,” Shane admits. “I dropped everything and took a leap of faith. My wife and I are very community focused and involved with so many local organizations, like Kiwanis, Hope House, and St. Paul’s School. Plus, our kids were pre-teens, and we didn’t want to uproot them.”

The Partnership

In his years-long battle to heal from a multitude of injuries, surgeries, and stress related to football and his battle with ulcerative colitis, Mandeville native and former New Orleans Saints special teams player Michael Mauti went to the ends of the Earth to find alternative treatments.

Candid about his struggles, Mike reveals, “I was forced to find a new pain relieving method, an alternative to ibuprofen. I researched out-of-the-box options for two years because I’d dropped 50 pounds, developed an increased pain threshold, and experienced decreased movement.”

As luck would have it, Shane knew Mike’s dad and passed along a sample of their product last July. Mike’s

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results were profound.

“CBD helped with nutrient absorption, and strengthened the gut-brain connection. It rebalanced my gut, and I just felt better. By September, I was on a plane. I told Shane, ‘I’m in, man!’”

Mike now serves as the company’s director of business development and brand ambassador.

The Product

Over the years, I’ve developed my own special way to discern good CBD products from bad. Are you ready? It has to taste the way marijuana smells. I’ve never personally drunk bong water, but I imagine this is exactly what it would taste like.

Clearly, this is not a scientific method, but it’s worked for me, based on personal experience. I was ordering good stuff from Colorado, but accidentally ran out one time, so I dashed into a seemingly legitimate local strip mall establishment and grabbed what the proprietor said was their top of the line oil. It was only slightly cheaper, had a weird fruity taste, and within a couple of days, my old lady joints were back to moaning and groaning. No good.

While I stand by my very sophisticated taste test method, Shane offers a much better way to judge a CBD product.

“Turn the label around. How many ingredients do you see? If you turn our bottle around, all you’ll see is fullspectrum hemp extract and MCT oil.”

When you learn more about their ingredients and oil extraction process, the reason for naming the business Seed2System becomes crystal clear. First of all, not only do

they use their own organically grown hemp, but that crop starts with carefully sourced seeds from HGH Seed. CEO Bodhi Urban developed his own special strain of CBD hemp seeds almost a decade ago, and has since become a leading advocate for quality and consistency from all suppliers and manufacturers, in order to build trust in and maintain the integrity of the entire CBD industry.

As for their system for extracting the oil from the plant, Seed2Sytem specifically chose to deviate from the more commonly used methods. Their use of a thermal extraction technology involves minimal processing to create a cleaner product.

“The method we use was developed by a guy from Covington who went to MIT,” Shane says. “It’s vapor distilled, which means we extract oil using a method that doesn’t require chemicals or solvents. We flash the flowers through the machine quickly – less than 2 seconds. This vaporizes the flower, and the contents are captured, cooled, and turned back into a liquid, keeping it in its purest form.”

Seed2System’s inventory includes a signature line of tinctures, gummies, and gel caps, as well as a bath line that includes topical CBD products, like deodorant, salves, and lip balms. While they have no brick and mortar retail location, their website not only provides the opportunity to peruse and purchase their products, but also displays official certificates of analysis and detailed profiles provided by a widely respected CBD testing laboratory.

According to Shane and Mike, the top ailments their customers tend to suffer from are pain, inflammation, anxiety, and sleep issues – all of which fit my personal

profile, but with uneven results. I’ve had a lot of success with calming my guts and my joints, but my decades-long struggles with anxiety and insomnia don’t typically respond to CBD oil. Hearing this, the guys generously allowed me to sample their gel caps for a few weeks.

I’m neither a peddler of fake news, nor a trasher of local businesses, so I made a deal with myself that I’d only mention sampling their product if I had decent results.

Happily, I can report that while I still occasionally wake up for my usual 2 a.m. witching hour, I’m finding it happens less frequently, and that it’s easier to go back to sleep within 30 minutes or so, as opposed to lying wide awake, tossing and turning for several tortuous hours. Progress!

With all the tricky legal issues surrounding CBD oil, Shane and Mike have to tread lightly where specific recommendations are concerned. However, they’re happy to cite studies and clinical trials, and their director of education & partner relations, Christy Thiel, who is also a nutrition therapist, can offer one-on-one discussions and guidance.

As Mike points out, “Everyone’s a little different.

Different people respond differently.”

True enough. So, it’s important to do your homework, set reasonable expectations, have a little patience as you try different products and dosages, and definitely find a reliable source. And maybe save the roadside vegetable stands for – y’know – vegetables.

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STORY CAITLIN PICOU PHOTOS JOEL TREADWELL

/mask•knee/ noun 1. acne or other skin irritation that results from wearing a mask, especially a medical, N95 or cloth face mask.

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LE MEIUX O2 CALMING GEL If you notice increased redness on parts of your skin, apply a calming gel to soothe and hydrate the problem areas. This will calm your angry skin, making any irritation instantly cool.

SKIN SCRIPT’S BLEMISH SPOT TREATMENT Zits just happen, so having a spot treatment on hand is always a good idea to help reduce the size quickly. Next time a pesky blemish shows up, grab a treatment with Salicylic Acid.

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KISMET’S PURE VITAMIN C PRIMER One of the biggest causes of maskne is the friction between the mask and your face.

Using a primer that is silicone-based, like Pure, creates a barrier, reducing the irritation. Less irritation means less redness and breakouts.

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KISMET’S UNBLURRED CALMING & CLEARING BEAUTY SERUM If you find yourself already breaking out with redness all over your face, a beauty serum will help tremendously. Unblurred contains a blend of Vitamin C along with witch hazel to not only boost your skin’s complexion, but also clear it naturally from breakouts.

SKIN SCRIPT’S CLARIFYING TONER PADS If you find yourself needing a stronger face cleanser, don’t toss your daily face wash just yet. Try a clarifying toner to up the effectiveness. Toners, like Skin Script’s, helps draw out excess dirt and oil to improve the clarity and quality of your skin.

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COMMUNITY LEADERS

Mark Johnson City of Covington Mayor

On the third Friday eve of each month (from March till December) Covingtonians gather at the historic Columbia Street Landing for the Sunset at the Landing Concert Series presented

by Heritage Bank. Each month Jan Biggs of the Covington Farmer’s Market arranges for wonderful, talented and eclectic artists from across the region to perform. Family and friends bring their chairs and their “refreshments” and enjoy the night sky, the chit-chat of old friends and the scenic beauty of the Bogue Falaya River. Others arrive by boat, quietly docking at the same spot trade vessels loaded and unloaded throughout the 19th century when Covington was primarily a port city.

Recently a gentleman called me over to his seating area in the meadow: “Mayor, I just wanted to tell you … there is no better place to be in all of the world than right here, right now.” In some ways he was talking about that very moment on the river, but in other ways he was referring to the Big Picture. Perhaps, from time to time, each of us should take a step back, assess the Big Picture and realize how fortunate we are to live in the year 2020 on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. Perhaps there is no better place to be in all of the world than right here, right now.

Dear Citizens, As the holiday season approaches, I am asking everyone to Shop Slidell and support your local businesses. They need your support now more than ever.

I am inviting you to join the City of Slidell for these holiday events in Olde Towne Slidell:

Greg Cromer City of Slidell Mayor

• Christmas Under the Stars – This annual celebration features holiday lights and decorations, Santa’s Magical Mailbox, the life-size Christmas Cottages and Slidell’s Nativity created by artist Lori Gomez. On display Dec. 4 - January 3 in Griffith Park.

• Christmas on Front – This new light display sponsored by the City of Slidell, Keep Slidell Beautiful and local businesses and organizations will feature animated holiday light scenes along Front Street. On display Dec. 4 - January 3.

• Olde Towne Community Christmas Parade – The second annual parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. in Olde Towne Slidell.

• Olde Towne Slidell will be decked out in lights and decorations for the 6th annual Spirit of the Season competition. On display Dec. 4 through Jan. 3.

All events offer free admission. For more information, please visit MySlidell.com or call the Dept. of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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STORY DR. CATHERINE WILBERT PHOTOS JERRY COTTRELL

During the shutdown our habitats changed. A lot of us worked from home, some juggling the challenge of homeschooling at the same time, no easy feat. There was no more dining out, and picking up food wasn’t as easy as it used to be. Visits to the grocery stores were less frequent. I noticed trends of cooking more as a family and taking to social media to share experiences.

Bread was the big baking challenge for me; it was hard to find yeast but once a kind family member in Vegas offered to send me some I was on my way. I didn’t tackle growing my own food as in the past I seem to

have luck with one crop and have an abundance of that one random crop while all the other plants die. I have no idea what I am doing wrong so I leave the produce growing to those who have green thumbs.

Raising chickens was not on my radar or even allowed where I live, but I know many that have taken to this activity. We are sharing some advice on raising chickens from Dr. Catherine Wilbert, founder and CEO of Big Sky Ranch who, along with rescuing neglected and indigent pets, also successfully raises chickens at her property in Folsom.

Sara Cottrell

Fresh eggs, farm-to-table enthusiasm and a rapidly growing interest in local and organic foods have certainly made this once “country bumpkin” activity now “city chic.” What better way to know where your breakfast comes from than collecting it from your own backyard?! It doesn’t get much fresher and more wholesome than that.

Eggs from backyard and free-ranged chickens have a lower fat content and a much higher nutrient content than those of battery hens, not to mention – provided you feed them “the good stuff” (more on this later) – they are free of harmful chemicals and antibiotics, and they just taste better! Ask any backyard chicken farmer and they will tell you that once you delight in your own fresh eggs, you will never go back to store-bought!

These highly intelligent and social animals, however, are much more than a food source. Chickens make great pets that are relatively easy and inexpensive to keep.

Many backyard chicken keepers have been known to sit and watch their flock, “chicken TV,” for hours and enjoy the company of their fowl friends as much as their cat or dog, or more. Chickens are full of personality

and can be quite affectionate and loyal, and because they have full-color vision just like we do chickens can recognize their caregivers as well as distinguish among more than 100 faces of members of their species! Who knew that their memories rival those of elephants?

And if that’s not smart enough for you, chickens actually tell each other about what they see. Chickens communicate with more than 24 vocalizations, each with a distinct meaning, including warning their friends about different types of predators and where they are coming from. Chicks let their mothers know when they’re scared and even “talk” to them through their shells before they hatch.

Anyone who has ever called you “chicken” as an insult has never seen a mother hen defend her young from a predator!

Chickens are, by far, your most economical backyard workers and organic exterminators.

Chickens love to eat protein-packed insects and will happily take care of crickets, grasshoppers, snails and other pests in the garden as well as any ticks on your property.

They also love to eat weeds, and their natural scratching and digging tendencies serve them well as they can help you create top-notch

garden beds. Once you’ve harvested everything you want from your vegetable garden, your chickens will happily clear the beds, scratching out and eating unwanted weeds, slugs and seeds, acting as little gasoline-free tillers, mixing the top layers of soil with compost or other mulches and fertilizing the soil while they’re at it. Chicken manure contains high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and is more economically valuable than synthetic fertilizers. If your farm-to-table dream includes organic gardening, your backyard flock will certainly make your work as a gardener much easier. In fact, using your hens to recycle food and yard waste, thus keeping it out of landfills, makes a huge contribution to the environment as a whole. Amazingly, a single chicken can biorecycle about seven pounds of food scrap in just one month!

So now that you are convinced (yes?) that backyard chicken keeping is definitely on your “must do” list, what’s next? Once we fully understand WHY we want backyard chickens, we need to know HOW to start our urban farm.

Before you run out to your local feed store to buy chicks and a coop, I would encourage you to do your homework.

Like anything, to be successful at backyard chicken keeping you will need to spend some time researching and planning to ensure successful implementation.

The first and most important step in your research is to determine IF you can keep a flock at your urban or suburban dwelling. Because there has been a lot of urban chicken advocacy with the local food movement, many cities and towns are relaxing rules and ordinances and becoming more

BigSkyRanch.org facebook.com/BigSkyRanch 985.276.0270

accepting of chickens within city limits, but it’s important to check the laws before you get too far down the chicken road. Many homeowners’ associations ban roosters because of the noise, although this is not a deal breaker as hens will still lay without them. And some municipalities limit the number of backyard chickens you can keep or the size, type and location of the structures you keep them in.

Next you will want to choose your breed. You will be surprised at how many variables come in to play when choosing your chickens. Just like dogs, cats and other animals, different breeds of chickens have different qualities.

You will want to build your flock based on the characteristics best suited to your family and the environment in which you are raising them. Size, temperament, climate and egg production and color can all affect your choice of the best bird for you.

Where you get your chicks is an important consideration as well. Most folks get their chicks from a farm store in the spring; however, your selection will often be limited, and most only sell “straight run” chicks, meaning you get what you get – a 50/50 shot at getting a rooster. If you want to ensure you’re getting hens, a hatchery might be your best choice.

Online hatcheries, just like everything in life, have their pros and cons. While you get to choose your exact breeds, choose only hens and the chicks are normally in really good health, there is a lot of stress in the shipping process, for both you and the chicks! It is not uncommon to lose some chicks if the weather gets cold or there are shipping delays.

The best of both worlds is finding a local hatchery where you can actually choose your chicks. They normally have a better selection and better sexing than the farm or feed stores, and you don’t have to deal with the hassle and worry of shipping. You’d be amazed at how many different sized hatcheries there are, especially in rural areas. Social media, farmers’ markets and local “chicken swaps” can all be good resources to find the best source for choosing your perfect chicks. I also recommend starting with just a few chicks, perhaps 3 to 5, so you can really give your chicks the attention they need and give them friends with whom to interact. With a flock this size, once they are laying you will get 4 to 5 eggs per day, which is more than enough for an average size family: a chicken lays one egg about every 24 hours. It can be really tempting to pick up “extra” chicks as they are so tiny and cute, but remember, each fluffy baby chick becomes a big eating, pooping, adult chicken requiring extra space and food!

Speaking of food, since you are going to all this trouble to have a sustainable source for good, healthy, farm fresh eggs, just remember that what you feed your chickens will determine the quality of those eggs. The foundation of their nutrition is the daily feed. This is where you can make or break the health of your birds AND the quality of your eggs. Avoid cheap feeds produced with genetically modified corn and soy and distillers’ grain fillers.

It is worth spending a few extra dollars to provide your birds, and your family, with food that is free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), antibiotics and hormones. If you choose Certified Organic feed, you can be certain all ingredients are non-GMO and that antibiotics and other harmful chemicals aren’t snuck in as a component of the grain or pellet, even though they may not be on the label. While these feeds are slightly more expensive, they are packed with nutrition and your chickens will be healthier and satisfied with less feed, and more importantly, you won’t be eating Roundup for breakfast!!

Supplements are also very beneficial for the overall health of your flock. Flax meal to raise the Omega 3 production in their eggs, kelp for healthy metabolism, probiotics for healthy gut and general vitality, and diatomaceous earth for fewer worms and parasites can all be added to their daily feed. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar added to your chickens’ water will also help keep their pH balanced and healthy.

If you free range your flock, they will get a lot of their nutrition from the bugs and plants they pick out of the ground, as well as the compost they “turn.” Organic kitchen scraps are a wonderful supplement to their diet as well. Free ranging your chickens will definitely give you the happiest chickens, the healthiest eggs and reduce your feed bill, but just remember chickens are pretty much everyone’s favorite food. It is important to make certain they are safe from becoming prey to other animals, even smaller animals like opossums and raccoons. And even in your own suburban backyard, Fido and Fluffy can be of equal threat.

There are literally hundreds of ways to design coops and runs to best suit your birds and their environment. Remember, when it comes to coop size, bigger really is better. You will have happier and healthier birds, and you can always put fewer chickens into a bigger space, but you can’t put more into a smaller space. Building your own coop or having someone build it is almost always the most economical option and gives you the opportunity to use structures or materials you might already have. The one place you won’t want to skimp in your coop building is with the wire. Always choose hardware cloth or .25” welded wire. Chicken wire isn’t good for anything. It doesn’t last, and a raccoon can tear it open easily to have your chickens for a late night snack. Pinterest, Google and books at your local feed store can provide inspiration as well as clever ideas on new and “upcycled” coops, nest boxes and innovative feeders. Hay or straw provide the best nesting materials and are easier to replace and compost. Sand is by far the best material to use in the run, as it is economical, is super easy to clean, can be raked and basically scooped like cat litter and keeps your coop cooler in hot weather.

If you are now excited and ready to join the ranks of the chic chicken keeping culture and want to learn more to get started, there are a lot of good books and articles on backyard chicken keeping and urban farming.

Big Sky Ranch in Folsom also offers seminars and workshops as well as Family Farm Days and Farm Camps for children and adults. These programs provide fun and interactive hands-on opportunities for families to learn while enjoying quality time together in nature and with animals.

All proceeds go to fund CATNIP Foundation at Big Sky Ranch, our 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare and rescue organization. Big Sky Ranch and Retreat is a ten acre retreat and sanctuary in Folsom, LA, dedicated to conscious living for people, pets and planet.

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Shop

Slidell

Attached is a proof of your ad that will run in the June/July issue of EDGE of the Lake magazin run as is unless we receive changes by ( 1 1 . 1 . 2 0 2 0 ) a t 5 : 0 0 P M . Please make any changes or a

Slidell Art League’s

Artists of the Year Master Laird Willis Apprentice Esther Trosclair Inspirational Cheryl Harrison November 13-December 18, 2020 Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall Wednesday-Friday, 12-4 pm Gallery hours are by appointment only.

Call (985) 646-4375 to make a reservation.

Together Lairdof Willis Attached is a proof your ad that will run in the June/July issue of EDGE of the Lake magazin run as is unless we receive changes by ( 1 1 . 1 . 2 0 2 0 ) a t 5 : 0 0 P M . Please make any changes or a

3154 Pontchartrain Dr. Slidell, LA 70458

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“So much more than just great bagels”

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My turn:

by Chef Jeremy Reilly

ABOUT JEREMY REILLY In every issue, EDGE of the Lake invites a local chef or restauranteur to visit another eatery on the Northshore. Jeremy Reilly inherited a passion for cooking from his great grandmother that he carried with him from pizza joints to seafood, from Los Angeles to north Louisiana.

He’s worked in the restaurant industry since he was thirteen and says he considers himself a good listener who is always willing to learn more. After college, a short stint in the front of the house convinced Jeremy that he belonged in the kitchen: in his words, “I realized didn’t like humans as much as I hoped I did.”

At Jeremy Reilly’s Restaurant Cote in Old Town Slidell, he said his mission is to create a comfortable, relaxing environment. The Creole definition for Cote is “at the home of” and he wants everyone to relax, in the business lounge or the upscale dining room. Using fresh grown ingredients from his garden in the back, and local wild game, Jeremy says his recipes are unique to southern creole cuisine. Restaurant Cote is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday 11-3, and dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5-9, Friday and Saturday 5-10. There are separate dining hours in the Maple Room.

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Tchefuncte’s 407 St Tammany St., Madisonville 985.323.4800

I had heard good things about Tchefuncte’s so I wanted to go check it out.

I had been in the building before and I was extremely impressed by the amount of buildout they did in that place. The carpet, the floors, the ceilings . . . it all looked like you were somewhere else. I know it seems hard to believe, but you really felt like you were at the top of a nice building in Chicago or Los Angeles.

I met my wife and father there for dinner.

We’re the type of people who all order different things and then eat our way through the menu off each other’s plates. For appetizers we got the bone marrow and the barbeque shrimp.

The marrow was rich and exactly what you want out of a well-seasoned bone marrow. The barbeque shrimp was a drier barbeque shrimp and wasn’t soaked in a bunch of juice and stuff and it was delicious, just fantastic. For entrees we got the scallops, the bone-in panned veal and the Delmonico with fresh shaved truffles.

You don’t really find a lot of fresh tuffles around here, most people use truffle oil, but these were incredibly fresh truffles on top of the steak. Everything was good. The portions were much larger than you would expect. Honestly, I was expecting much smaller plates. I also got a side of their pesto gnocchi, which was delicious. As were the Tchefuncte Potatoes.

For drinks we had a Sazerac, and a Pimm’s Cup, both of which were fantastic. We had a really good Malbec with our meal.

We sat right by the kitchen. Being a kitchen guy, I watch everything. Their staff was like clockwork. I love watching a good process happen and their process was incredible to watch. Everybody was constantly wiping things down, no one was standing still. The kitchen flowed. Everything was presented and brought out efficiently. Every little detail was tended to.

I’ve got to say Tchefuncte’s is a great place to get a meal.

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The St. John’s Fools of Misrule held their annual Cochon de Lait.

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The Blood Center held a blood drive for Baby Asher who had emergency heart surgery.

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Mrs. Carol Pool retired from Saint Scholastica Academy after 46 years

Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West held their annual Women Build.

Lee Road students enjoyed STEM activities.

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St Paul’s School collected and sorted 10,720 pounds of food for their annual food drive for the Northshore Food Bank.

The Exchange Club of St. Tammany awarded the funds raised at their Ultimate Tailgate Party to the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House, the Youth Services Bureau’s CASA Program and the Miracle League Northshore.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper, officials from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Friends of Camp Salmen Nature Park and the Bayou Liberty Association officially marked the opening of the Tammany Trace into Camp Salmen Nature Park.

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Congratulations to Kelly and Ryan McNulty on their wedding.

Saint Scholastica Academy Key Club officers show off some of the stuffed animals their Teddy Bear Drive collected for the Covington Police Department.

KW Cares held their inaugural Chilli CookOff. Proceeds went to KW Cares and local first responders.

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The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce’s Swinging for Scholarships Golf Tournament held at Oak Harbor Golf Club in Slidell raised money for the Chamber’s Scholarship Fund.

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St Tammany Hospital Foundation held their annual gala at the Southern Hotel.

They raised over $155,000 to support local cancer care.

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