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OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2026
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EXPERTS IN BREAST CANCER CARE Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center offers comprehensive breast cancer services on the Northshore. Our expert team of breast surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists and radiologists work together to develop a personalized care plan that’s right for you. For high-risk monitoring or leading-edge breast cancer treatment, trust your local experts who put you first.
Dr. Genevieve Maronge Medical Oncologist
Visit marybird.org/Covington or scan the QR Code to schedule an appointment.
As we look forward to fall, football is in full swing, cooler weather is on the way, and fall festivals are happening nearly every weekend around the Northshore. Festivals, galas, and even polo are all part of the season’s fun. One of my favorites is the Covington Three Rivers Art Festival. Held over a weekend in November, the festival brings 200 juried artists to downtown Covington. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover art from around the region and across the country, all in one place. Add in delicious food, a children’s area, and the beautiful downtown setting, and it makes for a perfect day out. We have the full guide to the Three Rivers Art Festival in this issue, so you can plan your visit and make the most of this wonderful Northshore tradition. My husband and I have even made a tradition of buying our anniversary gift at the festival. Each year, we enjoy wandering through the booths together, discovering something special and bringing home a piece that reminds us of the day—and of another year together. In this issue, we also introduce you to local artist Bernard Mattox and celebrate an important milestone in his journey. We meet local restaurateur Kim DeBrock, who courageously shares her personal battle with cancer and the strength she has found along the way. From art and food to inspiring people and stories, this issue celebrates the creativity, resilience, and community that make the Northshore such a special place to call home. We hope you enjoy it—and all that this beautiful fall season has to offer.
PUBLISHER Sarah Cottrell EDITOR Kurt Barlow ART DIRECTOR Erich Belk STYLE DIRECTOR Patty Beal BEAUTY EDITOR Caitlin Picou CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sarah Barrett Liz Smith STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jerry Cottrell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joel Tredwell KEY ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE Eloise Cottrell SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Erin Bolton ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Rebecca Blossman Jennifer Minor Debbie Menasco Angie Taylor
PUBLISHER
Cover: Four Horsemen By: Jonah Ballard
The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted by EDGE Publishing. @ 2026 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
WINNER OF THREE 2025 WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARDS AN AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE BREAST IMAGING CENTER AND NATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR BREAST CENTERS (NAPBC)
At the St. Tammany Health System Women’s Pavilion, pink is the color of the empowered, the bold, the courageous. Women who choose to be not afraid by harnessing the power of prevention through early detection. From initial screening and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship, our devoted, multi-disciplinary team which includes breast surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, nurse navigators and the Northshore’s only breast fellowshiptrained radiologists, is breaking new ground in an innovative yet spalike environment.
What’s more, our Be Well Bus extends mammogram services out in the community with the same state-of-the-art technology and compassionate, expert team. The comprehensive breast care program at the St. Tammany Health System Women’s Pavilion is proud to be the only imaging program of its kind on the Northshore — and one of just five in the entire state of Louisiana — to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). LEARN MORE AND SCHEDULE A MAMMOGRAM TODAY.
Women’s Pavilion 301 N. Hwy 190, Suite C-2, Covington, LA 70433 (985) 773-1500
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THREE RIVES ART FESTIVAL
KIM DEBROCK
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ART
WARRIOR
COMMUNITY
PHILANTHROPIC
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MEDICAL DIPENSARY
BROOK’S PLACE
SUMMER OF GIVING
WILLOW
NEW HEIGHTS
HOPE HOUSE
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BERNARD MATTOX
MY TURN BY KATIE WEAVER
RETROSPECTIVE
47
CANCER PREHAB
Page 36: Artist Bernard Mattox Photo By: Jerry Cottrell
RESTAURANT REVIEW
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SOCIAL
AROUND THE LAKE
VOTE For your
FAVORITE It’s time to let us know what you LOVE about living on the Northshore from Artists to Restaurants to Yoga.... Go to EDGEOFTHELAKE.COM to vote and we will announce the winners in our February/March issue.
VOTING TAKES PLACE October 1st - November 15th For our readers in Tangipahoa Parish please go to our sister publication, Tangi Lifestyles and vote at Tangilifestyles.com.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Mike Cooper St. Tammany Parish President
The Season of Thanksgiving will soon be welcomed into our homes and in our hearts. As we embrace our loved ones and prepare age old family traditions, I encourage you to reflect upon and embrace those you cherish most. I am particularly grateful for my family, our employees and to call St. Tammany Parish home. This December, the future of our safety and quality of life will be on the ballot. On the December 12 ballot, voters will consider Keep St. Tammany Safe, a ¼ of one-penny sales tax initiative dedicated to the District Attorney’s office, the court system, correctional facility, the DNA Lab and public safety in St. Tammany for a five-year period. This is not a perfect solution, but I am not certain that a perfect solution exists. The need is urgent as 60% of our public safety agencies will be cut in 2027 if there is no solution. The reason for this problem is dedicated funding. We all know why dedicated taxes are desired: you know where your money goes. The issue is that dedicated taxes do not allow for sharing of public funds. One fire district cannot share funds with another fire district. Mosquito abatement or library funds cannot legally be shared to protect these services. Keep St. Tammany Safe also proposes a five-year plan, including the lowering of property taxes, some of which has already taken place, saving millions of tax dollars. We are also exploring the feasibility of shared services, reducing duplication, which could save more tax dollars. This initiative is about investing in the men and women who protect our families, neighborhoods and communities every day. Before you vote in the December 12 election, I invite you to visit sttammany.gov/ KeepStTammanySafe, a guide explaining where your taxes go, how you and our public safety agencies could benefit, as well as fact-checking misinformation. Thank you for your willingness to learn more! Serving as your Parish President remains one of my greatest honors!
We survived another record-breaking hot summer, and as I write this letter, we have enjoyed an uneventful storm season. I want to assure you that Team Slidell was fully prepared to protect our city and residents. We continuously evaluate and update our emergency response plans so we are ready to respond when needed. With the return of cooler fall weather, Slidell is also entering one of the busiest and most fun times of the year. Our community is in full festival mode, with plenty of opportunities to get outside, enjoy live music, and spend time with family and friends. The Bayou Jam Concert Series is celebrating its 24th season with four free performances this fall. The series kicks off October 4 with Flow Tribe at Heritage Park, followed by Amanda Shaw Randy Fandal City of Slidell Mayor and the Cute Guys on October 11 and Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos on October 25. The season concludes with a special Veterans Day Concert featuring the Northshore Community Orchestra on November 8. The Bayou Jam concerts are held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Heritage Park. The Veterans Day Concert will be held at 4 p.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Admission is free, and concessions will be available for purchase. There are plenty of other fall events to enjoy throughout our community, including the Olde Towne Pumpkin Fest on October 3; the St. Margaret Mary Food & Fun Fest October 16-18; the Olde Towne Merchant Association’s Zombie Crawl on October 23; and the Olde Towne Historic Antique Association’s Fall Street Fair October 24-25. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful cultural events that help make Slidell a special place to live. I encourage you to get out, enjoy the cooler weather, support local businesses, and take advantage of everything Slidell has to offer this fall.
08 EDGE October | November 2026
Can a lot be considered “stunning?” Maybe not...
TCHEFUNCTE CLUB ESTATES 47 Hummingbird Road $325,000
Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemedreliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to theaccuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actua lproperty conditions.
BUT THE BEAUTIFUL HOME YOU BUILD ON IT COULD BE! Cheryl Bush 1151 North Causeway Boulevard Mandeville, LA 70471 Licensed in the State of Louisiana
REALTOR® M: 504.452.9915 O: 985.626.5695 cheryl.bush@compass.com
printed August, 1, 2025
EDGE October | November 2026
09
Caring for our community, together
Sumathi Smith, MD Hematology/Oncology
At Ochsner Health and Slidell Memorial Hospital, your health is our priority. From primary care to complex procedures and emergency services to long-term wellness, we deliver high-quality care that’s easy to access and centered around you. With expert physicians, leading technology and a compassionate care team, we work together to treat not just the condition, but the whole person. Here, healing is guided by skill, compassion and a deep commitment to our community. To schedule an appointment, visit ochsner.org.
2026 COVINGTON THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL
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POSTER ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
JONAH BALLARD
J
pink from wall to wall
onah Ballard is a self-taught acrylic painter known for his signature pink palette and dreamlike compositions. His work explores themes of transformation, inner awakening, and the quiet power of imagination. Each painting invites personal interpretation—meant to be felt as much as viewed.
Born and raised in Arizona, Ballard began painting at fifteen while helping his parents with their hand-painted home decor business, The Painted Ladies. What started as lettering signs gradually evolved into a deeper creative practice. Today, Jonah continues to work under the same name, a continuation of the family business that first introduced him to painting. Over the years, he’s developed a distinct style shaped by the desert landscape, vivid dreams, and a deep conviction that imagination does shape reality. After leaving Arizona to travel full-time with his family, he now shares his work with new audiences every weekend at art shows across the country. Ballard considers himself a vessel—a channel for the voice within, the quiet but powerful I AM that speaks through creation. He rarely explains his work, allowing viewers the space to discover meaning for themselves.
@the_paintedladies | thepaintedladies.org
14 & 15 NOVEMBER SAT. & SUN. 10AM - 5PM
ART • COMMUNITY• MUSIC • CULTURE
ARTS ALIVE! ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
GARY NUNEZ CARVING TRADITION. HONORING HERITAGE .
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ARTS ALIVE! LOCATIONS GIBSON & COLUMBIA LOCKWOOD & COLUMBIA
From childhood inspiration to a lifelong commitment to craft and community.
F
or lifelong St. Tammany Parish resident Gary Nunez, carving duck decoys is more than an art form, it's a way of preserving Louisiana's rich waterfowl heritage and honoring the generations who came before him. As a child, Gary watched his father carve duck decoys and build a treasured collection,unknowingly planting the seeds for a passion that would emerge years later.
By day, Gary serves as a Captain with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, where he has dedicated 29 years to serving his community. He and his wife, Noble-Bates, live in Covington and are proud parents of two adult children, Lynn and Hunter, along with two spoiled dogs.
It wasn't until adulthood that Gary decided to pick up the craft himself. A number of accomplished carvers generously shared their time, knowledge, and encouragement, helping Gary refine his skills and continue a tradition that has long been woven into Louisiana's sporting culture. Through every hand-carved decoy, Gary honors his father's legacy, celebrates the mentors who invested in his journey, and helps ensure Louisiana's rich tradition of decoy carving and waterfowl heritage endures for generations to come. Today, Gary's work reflects both the beauty of Louisiana's wetlands and the enduring spirit of mentorship that has shaped his journey. Each hand-carved decoy is a tribute, not only to the birds and landscapes that define the state's waterfowl heritage, but also to the craftsmen who ensure these traditions are passed from one generation to the next.
COVINGTONTHREERIVERSARTFESTIVAL.COM
s t r e b o Joey R STOP OVER & SEE
14 & 15 NOVEMBER S AT. & S U N . 1 0 A M - 5 PM ART • COMMUNITY• MUSIC • CULTURE
Two
ARTS ALIVE!
JOEY ROBERTS has dedicated his life to serving the Covington community through leadership, education, and compassion. As a longtime educator, former Executive Director of the West St. Tammany YMCA, accomplished artist, and Covington City Councilman representing District C, Joey brings a unique blend of creativity, integrity, and servant leadership to every endeavor. His passion for strengthening community relationships and improving the quality of life for others has made him a respected voice through Covington.
LOCATIONS GIBSON & COLUMBIA LOCKWOOD & COLUMBIA
CREATIVE VISION. LOCAL ROOTS.
Whether serving at City Hall, creating inspiring artworks of art, or volunteering throughout the community, Joey leads with the belief that lasting change begins by investing in people.
ORION VANTOL is the founder of Digital Neauxmad, a Covington-based creative design studio established in 2018, delivering full service marketing and creative solutions to clients ranging from national brands to local nonprofits. Orion serves as the President of the Covington Business Association, firmly believing that strong communities are built through active participation. Digital Neauxmad’s creative footprint can be seen and felt across the city, bringing a distinctive visual identity to Covington's local events and community gatherings.
PROUD CREATIVE PARTNER OF BRANDING
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DIGITALNEAUXMAD.COM
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EDGE October | November 2026
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PROFESSIONAL LOOKS FOR PROFESSIONALS
joeltreadwell.com
022 EDGE October | November 2026
NM
NORTHSHORE MEDIA GROUP
It
started with a simple idea: find a meaningful way to give back to the communities we call home.
Carrie Northam, Northshore Media Group’s Mississippi market manager, introduced the idea, which quickly spread throughout the company. In Tangipahoa Parish, the team partnered with a local animal shelter to collect much-needed food for dogs and cats. Here in St. Tammany Parish, Northshore Media Group partnered with the Northshore Food Bank and invited local clients to place donation boxes inside their businesses. The need at the food bank is especially high during the summer. With children home from school, parents become responsible for providing all of their children’s daily meals. The added cost can place a significant strain on already-stretched family budgets. At the same time, donations to food banks often slow during the summer months, making it more difficult to keep shelves stocked. Our goal was to help the Northshore Food Bank meet that increased need and replenish its supplies before the new school year began. We are grateful to every client who stepped up, displayed a donation box and encouraged customers, employees and community members to contribute. Each donated item represented a neighbor helping another neighbor. A special shout-out goes to Bon Sake, which not only hosted a donation box but also offered to provide two pallets of canned vegetables for the Thanksgiving season. With reductions in grant funding creating additional challenges for community organizations, generous commitments like this will make an important difference. Northshore Media Group’s Summer of Giving showed what can happen when local businesses and residents work together. What began as one person’s idea grew into a companywide effort to support families and animals across the communities we proudly serve. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED TURN A SIMPLE IDEA INTO A SUMMER FILLED WITH GENEROSITY.
ABITA LUMBER COMPANY 21459 La-36, Abita Springs 985-892-6530 abitalumber.com
AVENA COMPREHENSIVE CARE 2900 E. Causeway Approach, Ste E. Mandeville 985-231-2515 avenacomprehensivecare.com
BON SAKE 528 N Columbia St., Covington 985-400-5021 bonsakesushi.com
COURTYARD BISTRO 1291 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville 985- 231-7181 courtyardbistro.com
PIT STOP AND OUTDOORS 2190 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville 985-231-7278 pitstopandoutdoors.com
THE HAMPSHIRE 401 N. New Hampshire St., Covington 985-234-9410 401thehampshire.com
THE HARBOR CENTER 100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell 985-781-3650 harborcenter.org
TIMELESS TOUCH MEDICAL AESTHETICS 317 N. Columbia St. Covington 985-234-9528 timelesstouchmedicalaesthetics.com
EDGEatorial
MEDICAL CANNABIS MADE EASY: T WILLOW M EE
MEDICAL DISPENSARY ON LOUISIANA’S NORTHSHORE 028 EDGE October | November 2026
F
PHOTOS WILLOW DISPENSARY
or Louisiana residents interested in medical cannabis, getting started may be much easier than you think. From obtaining your medical cannabis recommendation to finding the right product, Willow is helping make the process simple and approachable for patients across the Northshore.
With convenient locations in Covington, Hammond and Slidell, Willow provides patients with access to a wide selection of medical cannabis products, knowledgeable staff and an easy path to becoming a patient. And thanks to GoodCannaNow, qualified Louisiana residents can get their medical cannabis recommendation for FREE, often completing the process in 10 minutes or less. THREE CONVENIENT WILLOW MEDICAL DISPENSARY LOCATIONS COVINGTON 69090 Hwy 190 Service Rd Suite 101, Covington, LA 70433 HAMMOND 1410 SW Railroad Ave, Hammond, LA 70403 SLIDELL 796 East I-10 Service Rd , Suite 190 Slidell, LA 70461
All three locations are licensed medical cannabis dispensaries serving Louisiana patients. Whether you live in St. Tammany Parish, Tangipahoa Parish or elsewhere in the region, Willow offers a convenient option close to home. But Willow is about more than convenience. The goal is to make shopping for medical cannabis feel comfortable, straightforward and personalized, especially for patients who may be visiting a medical dispensary for the first time. A WIDE SELECTION OF MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS Every patient is different, which is why having choices matters. Willow offers a broad selection of medical cannabis products across a variety of formats. Explore options including cannabis flower, pre-rolls, infused pre-rolls, gummies, beverages, concentrates and vape pens. Rather than expecting patients to understand everything before they walk through the door, Willow’s knowledgeable team can help answer questions and explain the differences between products, cannabinoids and consumption methods. For experienced patients, that means having the ability to explore different strains, formats and options. For someone completely new to medical cannabis, it means having a team available to make the experience less intimidating. Product availability can vary by location and over time, so patients can also check Willow’s current menu before shopping. THE EASIEST PART? GETTING YOUR MEDICAL RECOMMENDATION One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding medical cannabis in Louisiana is that becoming a patient requires a complicated application process, multiple doctor appointments or expensive fees. It doesn’t have to.
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GoodCannaNow makes getting a medical cannabis recommendation remarkably simple. For qualified patients age 21 and older, GoodCannaNow offers FREE medical cannabis evaluations for both new patients and renewals. There’s no traditional doctor’s office visit required, and the entire process can be completed remotely. In many cases, patients can complete the process in 10 minutes or less. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS Step 1: Sign up online Visit GoodCannaNow and enter your basic patient information. During registration, you’ll also select the Louisiana medical dispensary where you would like your recommendation sent. Step 2: Speak with a licensed provider A licensed Louisiana provider will contact you to complete a brief evaluation. There’s no need to schedule a traditional in-person appointment. Step 3: Get approved and start shopping If approved, your medical cannabis recommendation is securely sent directly to your selected medical dispensary. Once the dispensary receives and processes the recommendation, you can begin shopping. That’s it. There is also no fee through GoodCannaNow for qualified new or renewing patients. WAIT, LOUISIANA DOESN’T ACTUALLY HAVE A MEDICAL CANNABIS ‘CARD’? Here’s another important detail that surprises many firsttime patients: Louisiana does not require patients to carry a physical medical marijuana card. Instead, an authorized healthcare provider issues a medical cannabis recommendation or certification. Once approved, that information is sent directly to the licensed Louisiana medical cannabis dispensary selected by the patient. When visiting Willow, patients should bring a valid government-issued photo ID so the dispensary can verify their identity and recommendation.
Rather than limiting access to only a short list of specific diagnoses, Louisiana allows an authorized healthcare provider to determine whether medical cannabis is appropriate for a patient’s condition based on their professional medical judgment. Conditions commonly associated with medical cannabis recommendations can include chronic pain, anxiety-related symptoms, PTSD, insomnia, cancer, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy and other chronic or debilitating conditions. Ultimately, eligibility is determined by the licensed healthcare provider completing the evaluation. For someone wondering whether they qualify, completing the GoodCannaNow evaluation is an easy place to start. FROM ‘HOW DO I GET STARTED?’ TO WILLOW IN MINUTES Medical cannabis can feel complicated from the outside. There are questions about qualifying, finding a provider, choosing a medical dispensary and figuring out which products might be right for you. Willow and GoodCannaNow are working to remove those barriers. Instead of spending days trying to schedule appointments or figure out Louisiana’s medical cannabis system on your own, eligible adults can begin the process online, speak with a licensed provider and potentially receive approval within minutes. Once your recommendation reaches your selected medical dispensary, you can explore a wide range of medical cannabis products. Patients who select Willow can also get help from a knowledgeable team at the Covington, Hammond or Slidell location. For Northshore residents who have been curious about medical cannabis but haven’t known where to begin, the first step may be much easier than expected. Get started with GoodCannaNow today and see if you qualify for a FREE medical cannabis recommendation in 10 minutes or less. Eligible patients can select the Louisiana dispensary that works best for them, including a convenient Willow location on the Northshore.
WHO CAN QUALIFY?
Must be 21+. Medical cannabis recommendations are subject to evaluation and approval by a licensed healthcare provider. Eligible patients 21+ can have their recommendation sent to any Louisiana dispensary. Product availability varies by location.
Louisiana’s medical cannabis program is also broader than many patients realize.
Evaluations provided by GoodCannaNow.
The result is a process that is significantly simpler than many people expect.
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2026 SILVERADO 1500 CUSTOM
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COMMUNITY LEADERS
Bret Ibert St. Tammany Parish Interim Sheriff
Robby Miller Tangipahoa Parish President
I have always believed public safety works best when we work together. That means working across jurisdictional lines with our municipal police departments and other law enforcement partners. Just as importantly, it means working alongside our residents, building relationships based on trust and transparency. National Night Out on October 6 is a great example of that philosophy in action. This year, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is partnering with municipal police departments for events in Mandeville, Covington and Slidell. We will also host an event at our 4th District Station in Bush, and deputies will visit neighborhood gatherings throughout the parish. These events are about more than food, games and activities for children. They give residents an opportunity to meet the deputies who serve their communities, ask questions and get to know the people behind the badge. Those relationships matter to me. I want the people of St. Tammany to know what their Sheriff’s Office is doing and why we are doing it. Just as importantly, I want to hear from you. I want to know your concerns, hear your ideas and listen to how we can do our job better. Transparency and open communication are essential to maintaining the public’s trust. The reality is we won’t always meet under the best circumstances. Often, when someone calls us, they are having a bad day. Events like National Night Out allow us to build relationships before an emergency happens. Criminals don’t pay attention to jurisdictional lines, and neither can we. Working with our local, state and federal partners and sharing information and resources makes all of us more effective. Our residents are also some of our most important partners. You know your neighborhoods and recognize when something doesn’t look right. The information you provide can help us prevent crimes and solve cases. I encourage you to come out to National Night Out, meet us and talk with us. When you see something suspicious, call us or submit a tip through our website. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and working together makes St. Tammany Parish safer for everyone. Get ready for a fun and active fall here in Tangipahoa Parish! While our parish is well-known for its spring festival season, fall is a great time for outdoor fun in Tangipahoa. The season kicks off with the Tangipahoa Parish Fair, which runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, in Amite. Did you know that our fair is the oldest in the state? “Rooted in Tradition,” the Tangipahoa Parish Fair dates back to 1888, and as always, it will be a blending of old-fashioned family fun and modern-day entertainment. After the fair, there will be something happening every weekend from now until Christmas in Tangipahoa. We have Vintage Market Days in Amite, Old Farmer’s Day in Loranger, Toula Que and Fall Fest in Ponchatoula, the Louisiana Renaissance Festival in Hammond, and a lot more! One of our more recent additions to the fall calendar is our annual Veterans Day celebration. This year’s event will be held Saturday, October 31, in downtown Ponchatoula and will feature a host of great displays, a veterans parade, and a performance by the Victory Belles from the WWII Museum. You can find out more about these and our entire calendar of upcoming events at http:// www.tangitourism.com/Events/Community-Calendar. Autumn is a great time to fall in love with Tangipahoa! Make plans to join us at one (or more) of these great events. We know that once you experience it, you will want to MOVE HERE, too!
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COMMUNITY LEADERS
Mark Johnson City of Covington Mayor
On the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain we enjoy a wonderful quality of life. Of course we do, but what does quality of life really mean? There are several components that come to mind: Natural beauty, scenic beauty, architecture, cleanliness, safety, security, education, heritage, visual arts and performing arts. Often we take them for granted … until they’re not there. In Covington we have massive live oaks, a lovely tree canopy and color a-blooming all about. The bucolic scenes of the Bogue Falaya Park and Columbia Street Landing invite you to the Bogue Falaya River. Nose Park offers a view of the little Tchefuncte. Ease down many a side street to see historic homes and architecture dating back over a century. Thanks to our first responders and public works folks, we’re clean, safe and secure. That’s a good thing. Our school administrations provide some of the best public and private educations in the State. Family and business histories weave through our streets for over 200 years. Authors write, painters paint and actors act. However, in south Louisiana much of our joi de vivre is found in the food, the music and the drink. To be a successful restauranteur on the north shore is to be good – really, really good. Musicially, Covington provides over 100 free performances each year. Bars and clubs fill in with more acts, meaning one can usually find a place to tap your feet or dance your dance. Whether you live here or are just visiting, get out and about. Slow your roll, slow you pace. Enjoy your time in our wonderful place. (see, I made rhyme). Fall brings football, beautiful weather, and lots of community events such as, MANDEVILLE LIVE! Free Concerts at the Trailhead on Friday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. LIVE MUSIC LINE-UP: October 2 – Soul Revival October 23 – Four Unplugged October 30 – Amanda Shaw November 6 – Red Hot Gentilly Peppers If you cannot get enough of LIVE Music, drop by one of the Dew Drop Concerts held on Saturdays at the Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall. Doors open at 5:30pm and Live Music from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.
Clay Madden City of Mandeville Mayor
Other GREAT Events in the City of Mandeville this Fall: October 6 – Night Out Against Crime – 5pm to 8:30pm at the Mandeville Trailhead October 9-11 – Festival of the Lake – 312 Lafitte Street in Old Mandeville October 11 – Northshore Beer Festival – 11am to 3pm at the Mandeville Trailhead October 31 – WideWater Music & Art Festival – 11am to 8pm at the Mandeville Lakefront November 7 – Veterans Day Parade – beginning at 11am at the Mandeville Lakefront Please mark your calendars now for the largest event that the City of Mandeville puts on in the Fall, Sunset Symphony: An Evening with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Sunset Symphony will be on Saturday, October 24th from 4:30pm to 8:00pm at the Mandeville Lakefront. Mandeville is an extremely inviting place to dine, shop, play and stay! We welcome you to check out Mandeville at www.experiencemandeville.org and plan your next visit.
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YEARS
IN THE STUDIO
Bernard Mattox celebrates a lifetime of artistic discovery
STORY SARAH BARRETT PHOTOS JERRY COTTRELL
F
or Bernard Mattox, walking into a pottery studio in 1976 was more than the beginning of a career. It was the beginning of a life devoted to making art.
Exactly 50 years later, that journey will be celebrated with Bernard Mattox: Retrospective at the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe. Opening November 19, the exhibition will bring together paintings, sculptures and mixed-media works representing the many stages of Mattox’s creative life. “It’s literally 50 years to the day that I walked into my first studio,” Mattox said. “It’s a major thing.” The exhibition came about through a relationship Mattox formed with Monroe arts patron and gallery owner Kathy Biedenharn. A member of one of northeast Louisiana’s most prominent philanthropic families, Biedenharn discovered Mattox’s work and contacted him about visiting the S A L A D I N O gallery in Covington where they were holding a show of his work. “She loved my work and wanted to come see it,” Mattox recalled. “That started a really great chain.” Monroe became an especially strong market for him. “For some reason that I can’t explain, I sold a lot of work in Monroe,” he said. “They were collectors.” About a year ago, without Mattox’s knowledge, Biedenharn approached the Masur Museum’s board and introduced its members to his work. She suggested that the museum consider presenting an exhibition devoted to his career. Kait Morrison, curator of collections and exhibitions at the Masur Museum of Art, believes Mattox’s work creates an important connection between two regions of the state. “Bernard’s work feels to me like a bridge between the culture and artwork of northeastern Louisiana and south Louisiana,” Morrison said. “His relationships with collectors here, including Kathy Biedenharn of the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, who first introduced us to his work, speak to how deeply he is already woven into this community. Bringing his retrospective to the Masur lets us make that connection visible to a wider audience.” Museum exhibitions require extensive planning, but the proposal eventually resulted in an invitation. For Mattox, who is 72, the retrospective represents a longheld dream.
with a retrospective at the Masur Museum of Art.
“It’s just a bucket-list thing for me,” he said. Mattox expects the exhibition to include as many as 50 works, although the final number will depend on the museum’s available space and the curatorial process. The show will include pieces from his own studio as well as works borrowed from private collections. Unlike a commercial gallery exhibition that may concentrate on an artist’s newest work, a retrospective looks back across an entire career. For Mattox, that means returning to his beginnings as a potter and sculptor as well as presenting the paintings for which he has become widely known. “I was a sculptor before I was anything else,” he said. “It’s kind of my first love.” Mattox began as a ceramicist and continues to teach and work with clay. When his attention shifted toward painting, sculpture temporarily moved into the background. Eventually, however, the two disciplines began finding their way back to one another. He started creating works that combined painted surfaces with sculptural forms, allowing the materials and images to share the same visual story. “I kind of put the sculpture down and then eventually started doing them together,” he said. Those mixed-media pieces reveal something essential about Mattox’s approach. His work is layered, both physically and symbolically. What appears at first to be a collection of shapes, figures and colors gradually reveals references to memory, history, mythology and place.
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Mattox has described his creative process as a form of archaeological excavation. Rather than working primarily from direct observation, he searches through memories, dreams and images buried within the mind. The finished work invites the viewer to conduct an excavation of their own. “You have to spend time with it,” Mattox said. “There’s a lot going on.” Covington and the surrounding area remain deeply connected to that visual language. Mattox lived in Covington as a child, when the community was far smaller and less developed. His family built a home on the river, but his father’s sudden death forced the family to leave. After traveling and living elsewhere for many years, Mattox returned to the Northshore three decades ago. His memories of the area’s natural beauty, along with the changes he discovered upon returning, have influenced work exploring paradise, innocence and what is lost over time. “I loved it here,” he said. “We had to leave paradise, and I came back 30 years ago. I love it here.” The retrospective will also demonstrate how Mattox’s work has evolved through different periods. Although shifts in palette, materials and subject matter may surprise viewers, the underlying ideas connect the work across the decades. Mattox will play an important role in selecting pieces for the exhibition. After producing approximately 1000 works during his career, he understands how individual
Photo By: LeMieux Galleries
paintings and sculptures relate to one another in ways no one else can. “No one else knows these over 1000 pieces of paintings and sculptures, “ he said. Some works may be familiar to longtime followers. Others will offer an unexpected look at earlier periods in his development. Together, they will tell the story of an artist who has continued to explore, change and work with discipline for half a century. Even after all those years and hundreds of pieces, Mattox still goes to the studio regularly. Inspiration may begin the process, but discipline sustains it. “Go when you want to go and go when you don’t want to go,” he said. Mattox admits that motivating himself can sometimes be more difficult than it once was. What has not changed is his love for the work. “I still love it,” he said. “It’s a little harder to motivate myself after 500 paintings, but I do.” As the opening approaches, Mattox is entering what he calls “showtime,” the demanding final months when works must be selected, completed, prepared and organized. The scale of the exhibition makes the process both daunting and exciting.
For an artist who began with clay, moved into painting and ultimately found a way to bring those worlds together, the retrospective is more than a look backward. It is a portrait of a life built through curiosity, memory and the daily decision to return to the studio.
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Photo By: LeMieux Galleries
The museum will collect the work, install it and present it for nearly three months, giving visitors time to experience the full scope of Mattox’s career.
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BERNARD MATTOX: IN HIS OWN WORDS Shortly after completing my MFA at the Newcomb Art School, I was invited to have my first solo exhibition at the Delgado Fine Arts Gallery in 1984. It was an astonishing, voluminous space with 20-foot arched windows. The show was composed of mixedmedia sculpture, mostly clay, and large drawings. There were no paintings then. That medium arrived via an epiphany in 1996 while working in my studio in the woods near Covington. The title of the exhibition was Altars and Alleys. Fast, really fast, forward 42 years and some 1,000 sculptures and 600 paintings later to this: a continuum of similar themes and evolving imagery. This year is a milestone as it marks my 50th anniversary of studio life. As I always have, I continue to explore multiple themes: Catholic mysticism, archetypal symbols, eroticism, a love of objects including plants, animals and furniture, the light-and-dark waltz with solitude and the archaeology of memory. SALADINO gallery saladinogallery.com LeMieux Galleries lemieuxgalleries.com Masur Museum masurmuesum.org
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I hope to convey a rather playful innocence. It is a kind of undeserved grace to still be uncovering all of this imagery. I would describe it as archaeology and excavation. —Bernard Mattox
DEOGratias Under the Stars October 24, 2026
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AUTUMN
POLO CLASSIC OCTOBER 18 2026 PRESENTING SPONSORS
SCAN FOR TICKETS & TABLES
GETTING STRONGER BEFORE SURGERY: HOW PREHAB CAN HELP!
STORY GIN CALLAIS PHOTOS JOEL TREADWELL
IF
you’ve just been scheduled for cancer surgery, your calendar probably filled up fast with pre-op appointments, imaging and maybe a meeting with a surgeon you’re still getting to know. Physical therapy may not be on that list at all. But if no one has mentioned it to you yet, it’s worth asking about, because starting therapy before surgery, not just after, can make a real difference in how you move through recovery. Prehabilitation, or “prehab” for short, is simply physical therapy that happens in the weeks before surgery instead of only afterward.
THE IDEA IS STRAIGHTFORWARD: the stronger, more mobile and more confident you are walking into an operation, the more reserve you have to draw on while your body heals. Think of it less like training for an athletic event and more like tuning up a car before a long drive. You’re not trying to become a different person in a few weeks. You’re making sure the systems you already have are working as well as they can. For cancer surgery specifically, prehab sessions usually focus on building or maintaining strength in the muscle groups near the surgical site, keeping your lungs and cardiovascular system conditioned, working on balance if your surgery or upcoming treatment might affect it and learning early mobility and breathing strategies you’ll use in the hospital and during the first days at home.
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If you’re facing breast or axillary surgery, that might mean gentle shoulder and chest wall work ahead of time. If it’s a head and neck procedure, it might mean baseline exercises for swallowing and neck mobility. Your therapist will tailor it to your specific surgery and your specific body, not hand you a generic packet. A lot of what makes cancer surgery hard on the body isn’t just the procedure itself. It’s also the deconditioning that can follow it. Pain, fatigue and simply being less active for a stretch of weeks can chip away at strength and stamina, sometimes faster than people expect. If you go into surgery already a little depleted, that dip can be steeper. If you go in with some extra strength and lung capacity banked, you tend to have more to work with on the other side. There’s also a practical, hands-on benefit that doesn’t get talked about as much. Prehab visits are a low-pressure time to actually learn things.
Before surgery, you’re not sore, you’re not on new medications yet and you’re not trying to absorb discharge instructions while exhausted. That’s a good time to practice how you’ll get in and out of bed without straining a fresh incision, how to breathe deeply to keep your lungs clear afterward or how to move your arm or shoulder safely during those first tender days. Learning it once, calmly, ahead of time means it’s already familiar when you actually need it. For some patients, prehab is simply reassuring. Surgery brings up a lot of unknowns and having a plan for movement and recovery, something concrete you’re actively doing to prepare, can ease some of that uncertainty. You’re not just waiting for a date on the calendar. You’re doing something useful with the time before it. Prehab tends to be most useful when there’s a decent window before surgery. A few weeks is ideal, though even a shorter runway can still be worthwhile. It’s a good fit whether you’re facing a first cancer diagnosis or a repeat surgery and it’s relevant across cancer types, not just breast or head and neck cases. If you’re not sure whether it applies to your situation, that’s a completely reasonable question to bring to your surgeon, oncology team or a physical therapist directly. You don’t need a referral in hand before you ask. Most of the time, that’s how the referral gets started. If your surgery date is close and there wasn’t time for a formal prehab program, don’t worry. That’s genuinely common and it doesn’t mean you’ve missed your window for physical therapy to help. It just means your therapist will meet you where you are, whether that’s before surgery, right after or further along in recovery. This kind of care, sometimes called exercise oncology, is built around adjusting to wherever you’re starting from rather than following a fixed timeline. Physical therapy for cancer patients isn’t only something that starts after treatment ends. It can be part of the plan from the very beginning, including before you’re even in the operating room.
For blogs and information geauxfight.com
If your surgery is coming up and this is the first you’re hearing about prehab, it’s not too late to ask your surgeon or oncology team whether it could be right for you.
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Pa re nt ing Ce nt er
Pa re nt in g Ce nt er
38th Annual
38th Annual
Presented by
Presented by
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FEROCIOUS STORY LIZ GENEST SMITH PHOTOS JOEL TREADWELL
faith
HOW TO BATTLE CANCER LIKE A WARRIOR
H
ave you ever wondered how you’d react to a devastating health diagnosis? It certainly has the potential to be a defining moment. But would you fall to pieces, stay in a cycle of overwhelm and wonder, why me? Or would you absorb the initial shock of it, then armor up and go into battle? It’s impossible to truly know what you’d do until you’ve personally faced it, but for local interior designer Kim DeBrock, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2023, the former was never an option. According to the owner of K.D. Designs and coowner of Odelia Brasserie in Mandeville, “When I see an obstacle, I push through it. I won’t let it take me down. My mother’s like that, and I’m exactly like her. Everybody’s going to have bad times. It’s all about how you react in the bad times.” Those bad times descended with a vengeance three years ago, and the timeline of events conjures up words like “whirlwind” and “rollercoaster” to describe the multitude of ups and downs, twists and turns that were packed into a relatively short period of time. Multiple myeloma is a complex blood cancer with no universally accepted cure. Established treatments are focused on controlling the disease, easing symptoms and prolonging patients’ lives. Unfortunately, it’s often undetectable in its early stages, and when symptoms begin to develop, they can mimic many common, less serious conditions. Kim found this out the hard way.
to go directly to the St. Tammany Hospital emergency room. Kim was admitted when they discovered her kidneys were failing, and four days later came the official diagnosis: kappa light chain multiple myeloma. Kim was transferred to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Covington where Dr. Faizan Malik immediately started her on a six-month regimen of immune therapy. “By September, I’d responded really well and the myeloma had been knocked down quite a bit. So, I went to Ochsner in New Orleans for a stem cell transplant, which required harsh chemotherapy, then the stem cell infusion the following day. By December, I was in complete remission. They told me I just had to stay on one drug for another year and I should be fine.” But multiple myeloma is tricky. Most of the current treatments can bring about remission, but the disease typically comes back. As it did for Kim. “All of 2024 was great. It took about 100 days to recover because the treatment is pretty toxic to your body and you lose all your hair in about three days. But by mid 2025, I started to feel like something was not right again.” Testing showed that her kappa light chains were creeping up a bit, so they kept a close eye on them. By July, she was officially out of remission and the disease was ramping up.
“When my son and I opened Odelia in November of 2022, we were going 100 miles per hour, so when I started feeling bad, I just figured it was from working so hard. Between my interior design business and trying to open the restaurant, I was just working 24/7 and not paying attention to my body.” The symptoms began to accumulate and escalate over the next several months. It started with back pain and dizziness, then by January of 2023, she lost her appetite, became extremely thin and started bruising easily. It wasn’t until the beginning of March, when she had trouble getting out of bed, that Kim’s mother insisted on taking her to the doctor. A friend of the family, that doctor fast-tracked her lab work, then immediately ordered a follow-up set when those troubling results came back. These were even worse, showing dangerously low platelets, so she was instructed
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“They wanted to start me on chemo, but I asked if we could please try something less aggressive. So, we did. But immunotherapy didn’t work and neither did drug number two. I kept getting worse.” In the midst of all this, her husband Tommy suffered a minor stroke and her daughter discovered that her unborn baby had a rare lung condition. Kim soldiered on as best she could, but by the time her grandbaby was born in late December, she was experiencing severe back pain and numbness in her face and lower body.
seven feet tall with wings said, ‘Go back. We’re not ready for you, yet.’ And it was Raphael, the angel of healing. I woke up immobilized, with a feeding tube and sepsis from an infected I.V. site, but I knew I was going to be okay.” Both the leukemia and myeloma were gone as a result of that brutal round of chemo, and as a bonus miracle, a lung surgery that was performed on her grandbaby around that same time wound up being incredibly successful, as well.
The plan was to manage her condition with pain pills and steroids while they prepared her for Chimeric Antigen Receptor, or “CAR” T-cell therapy. This is a type of immunotherapy that re-engineers a patient’s own white blood cells, including a type of immune cell called a T cell, in a laboratory so it can find and destroy cancer cells. Doctors explained to Kim that this typically gives patients five or more years of remission, but in late January of this year, just days before the scheduled treatment, Kim took a turn for the worse, making that plan impossible.
This was all great news, of course, but Kim endured yet another relapse in April. Though it caused another delay in receiving the CAR T-cell treatment, it made her eligible to be treated with Talquetamab, or Talvey, one of the latest drugs to emerge in the fight against multiple myeloma. This required a 10-day hospital stay to administer all the shots, then another two weeks of close observation to watch for side effects. Thankfully, it all went well, paving the way for the long-awaited CAR T-cell treatment in late May. That’s when an old friend returned.
Kim has no recollection of the first two-and-a-half weeks she spent at Ochsner in New Orleans where her family was given the terrible diagnosis. Not only had the myeloma shown up in multiple organs and her skull, but she now had B-cell leukemia. For 96 hours, her care team administered VD-PACE, one of the harshest chemo regimens around, but the prognosis was grim and it was suggested that the family call hospice. It would be a miracle if she survived.
“They sedate you a little bit for the procedure, and while I was on the table waiting for the doctor to come in, this guy walked in. He was about six-and-a-half-feet tall, very good looking, and he told me, ‘My name is Raphael and I’m going to be your aid today.’ I said, ‘You’re joking!’ And he said, ‘God sent me here today.’ He was nowhere to be found afterwards!”
But luckily, Kim believes in miracles. And she’s experienced a few lately. “While I was unconscious in the hospital, I had this vision that I was walking down this long hall,” she said, taking a minute to collect herself after getting a bit emotional. “And this beautiful man, who was about
Following this special encore visit, Kim experienced incredible success with the CAR T-cell treatment. Doctors continue to track her numbers, of course, but everything has looked great since May. “God is good. The myeloma is completely gone and I was the only patient at that time with zero neurological side effects.”
While doctors won’t use the word “cure” in reference to these treatments, it’s hoped that patients with this typically incurable cancer will experience a “functional cure,” where the disease becomes undetectable for an extended period of time. After hearing all about the barrage of challenges and setbacks Kim endured throughout this journey, I asked if the mental or physical aspect were tougher to handle. “Physical!” she said without hesitation. A lot of patients struggle with the mental anguish of having to do battle on two fronts. There’s the fighting of the actual disease, and then there’s the fighting with insurance companies and billing departments. But Kim credits her husband Tommy with dealing with the maddening, complicated business side of healthcare. Add to that the unwavering, vigilant support of her family and friends, who made sure she was never alone and there were always meals delivered to the house, and it’s no wonder she was able to focus on the business of healing. “The only thing I was worried about was whether I was going to make it and when God told me I was, everything else went away.” Kim also made it a point to give a special shout-out to the medical teams who’ve supported her along the way. “The best care in Louisiana is on the oncology floor at St. Tammany Hospital. They became my family while I was there for three months. I’d push a button and someone was there in two seconds with anything I needed. I felt like I was their mother that they were taking care of. Same with Dr. Malik at Mary Bird. He came everyday , like I was a family member. Having the right team makes a huge difference.”
had challenging moments, like not being able to be there for her daughter during her baby’s medical crisis. It’s also been difficult knowing the emotional toll it’s taken on her husband and family. But as she continues to regain her strength, she says her biggest current challenge is patience. In total, Kim spent about four months in three different hospitals. Between the extended periods confined to bed and having the cancer press on her spine and nerves for so long, it’s taking a while to recover from the resulting temporary paralysis of her legs that’s forced her to rely on a wheelchair. “I get frustrated at times because I can’t work and I love to work! I had a little breakdown last week because I was feeling like, why am I not walking on my own? But I’m making amazing progress considering what I’ve been through. I am walking with a walker at PT, but I’m not sturdy enough to stand alone quite yet. But I know I’ll get there. Gin Callais and the Geaux Fight Physical Therapy team are amazing.” In addition to getting back to work, once Kim regains her mobility, she intends to lend a hand to one of the facilities that served her so well. She’s already putting her interior design skills to good use by helping to redesign the infusion room at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center with soothing, uplifting colors and lots of local art. And she hopes to be volunteering on the unit to offer support to others battling cancer, as well. Sharing her talents and her perspective is Kim’s way of paying back and paying forward the care and assistance she was given along the way. “To others going through this, I would say, work on your faith and your relationship with God because you have to believe in miracles. You have to have hope.”
As strong as she is, Kim admits that she’s certainly Photo By: Jo
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Healing and Hope Hope House opens Brooke’s Place, expanding critical services for child abuse victims across the Northshore
064 EDGE October | November 2026
PHOTOS STUDIO 7
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hen a child finds the courage to speak about abuse, the response should be immediate, compassionate and centered on that child’s safety.
Children’s Advocacy Center Hope House recently strengthened that response with the opening of Brooke’s Place at the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Campus. The new facility, located next door to Hope House’s Covington headquarters, expands the organization’s ability to serve child abuse victims and their families across St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Community supporters, donors and local leaders gathered August 20 for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the 2,200-square-foot facility. The $800,000 expansion provides additional privacy, comfort and access to services during what can be an overwhelming time for children and their families. “When a child finds the courage to speak about abuse, that child should not have to wait for a room to become available or sacrifice privacy because several agencies need the same space at once,” Hope House Executive Director Thomas Mitchell said. “Brooke’s Place gives us room to respond more quickly and more thoughtfully, with simultaneous forensic interviews, additional therapy space and more opportunities to equip our community to recognize and prevent abuse.” EDGE October | November 2026
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A dedicated training room will support child abuse prevention and education programs for parents, educators, professionals and other adults who work with children. The facility will also provide space for Hope House’s new junior advisory board, made up of local high school students who will offer insight and feedback to help the organization better understand and serve young people.
Brooke’s Place includes three dedicated therapy rooms, a forensic evidence collection suite and a training room. The additional space allows Hope House to conduct multiple forensic interviews and related casework at the same time while protecting the privacy and confidentiality of each child. Hope House works alongside local law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services as part of a multidisciplinary response to allegations of child abuse. Before the expansion, families and representatives from multiple agencies sometimes had to wait when interviews were scheduled simultaneously. The new building will also allow Hope House to immediately increase the number of therapy sessions available to children. In 2025, the organization served 643 children and provided 3,060 free counseling sessions to children and their non-offending caregivers.
The building’s name carries a deeply personal meaning.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT cachopehouse.org
Brooke’s Place honors the memory of Brooke E. Posey, the late daughter of Brooke It Forward Foundation founder Marie Gregory and her husband Todd Gregory, and of Ernest M. Posey and his partner Melissa Corass.
Brooke loved children and celebrations. She was known for remembering birthdays and making others feel special. After her death, that caring spirit became the inspiration for the Brooke It Forward Foundation, which creates colorful Birthday Boxes for children who have experienced abuse or foster care. The foundation delivered its first 20 Birthday Boxes to Hope House on June 12, 2019, which would have been Brooke’s 20th birthday. Since then, the two organizations have developed a close partnership built around restoring happiness, dignity and hope to children facing difficult circumstances. “Brooke loved children, and she loved making people feel special,” Gregory said. “To know that her name will now welcome children into a place created for safety, healing and hope is deeply meaningful to our family. Brooke’s Place is a beautiful reflection of her heart, and we are grateful that her legacy will continue to touch children and families for years to come.” Hope House launched the expansion campaign in 2024 as the organization marked its 30th year of serving local children and families. The project was supported by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, the IJN Foundation, Senator Patrick McMath, the Brooke It Forward Foundation and numerous foundations, businesses, families and individual donors. MSH Architects designed the facility. CM Combs served as contractor under the leadership of Chris Combs and Elizabeth Menville Design created the child-centered interior. Brooke’s Place began serving children and families immediately following its opening. Like all Hope House programs, its services are provided free of charge. Through additional space, expanded services and a legacy rooted in kindness, Brooke’s Place offers children something every victim deserves: a safe place to be heard, supported and reminded that hope is possible. EDGE October | November 2026
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068 EDGE October | November 2026
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Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser
Dr. Matthew Bernard
DA Collin Sims
Dr. Jason O’Rear
Chris Combs
George Gomez
Col. Robert Hodges
Frank Jabbia
Mayor Clay Madden
Paige Marler
Senator Patrick McMath & Rep. Kim Carver
Anthony Rutledge & Connor Brown
Gabe Arnoult & Kevin Alario
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18 celebrity + restaurant teams
Donate to your favorites online to help them win!
Gourmet small plate tastings Beer, wine & cocktails Live music by Groovy 7 An online auction & more!
Fire Chief Steven Michell
Dr. Jack Saux
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SCAN FOR EVENT TICKETS OR TO DONATE TOWARD YOUR FAVORITE TEAM! CACHopeHouse.org
our turn:
by Katie Weaver
ABOUT KATIE WEAVER In every issue, EDGE of the Lake invites a local chef or restaurateur to visit another eatery on the Northshore. Katie Weaver is the Director of Marketing for the Abita Roasting Co. restaurant group, which opened Iceburg Charlie’s Grill & Chill last year. Located in the heart of Old Mandeville, directly adjacent to the Tammany Trace Mandeville Trailhead Park, it specializes in cool drinks and fun food in a friendly atmosphere. Their tasty menu offers everything from craft sodas, old school floats and shakes, slushes, frozen custards and Italian ices to wings, burgers, chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks, cold sammies, salads and wraps.With both indoor and outdoor seating, it’s the ideal spot to hang out with friends of both the human and furry variety in any kind of weather from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Leonardo’s Trattoria & Pizzeria leonardostrattoria.com 985.778.2550
Although I’d never eaten at Leonardo’s Trattoria & Pizzeria in Mandeville until recently, I’d certainly heard of it from neighbors and friends who love it and rave about their food. My sister and I decided to visit on a Tuesday night at 6:30 and we were surprised at how busy it was. Luckily, it wasn’t too busy for us to get seated right away. The interior is divided into three dining areas. The middle section has a classic Italian decor and includes some larger, six and eight-top tables where we saw some families dining. The section on one side is open to where they’re prepping and making the pizzas, and the bar area is on the opposite side, where we sat at a high-top table. It had a fun, kind of funky vibe with a cool motorcycle theme, which seemed to tie-in with the bike shop next door and the classic Vespa moped on display out front. They were playing 80s rock, which was perfect for the setting. The menu gave us plenty to choose from without being overwhelming, which I appreciated. It had mostly traditional Italian dishes and pizza with just enough variation to keep it interesting and appealing to any palate. To start, I ordered a Moto 75 from their drink menu. It’s made with gin, elderflower liqueur, basil-infused simple syrup, lemon juice and prosecco. I love a basil infusion, so that’s what made me try it, and it didn’t disappoint. It put a great twist on a classic cocktail. We liked that the appetizer selections included some fresh options, instead of being all fried and heavy dishes. The burrata, which is an Italian cheese with a solid mozzarella outer shell and creamy center, was fresh tasting and had a nice consistency. It was served on a bed of lettuce with a drizzle of olive oil, and we really enjoyed it. They also brought us a complimentary basket of fresh baked bread with olive oil, herbs, and parmesan, which was a nice touch. For our entrees, my sister chose the Spaghetti Carbonara, which had a creamy sauce made with cheese, eggs, onions and black pepper, and it was topped with sauteed pancetta, which gave it a good texture. It was a hefty portion, definitely large enough for sharing, and my sister said it was the best she’s had in a long time. I ordered the Pecuri Pizza, which was topped with plum tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula and goat cheese. It had a good mix of all the toppings so that every bite was as delicious as the last. And it had a thin crust that was just the right amount of crispiness. Their dessert menu includes Italian classics like cheesecake, tiramisu and cannolis, but we decided to keep it lighter with some gelato. My sister had the hazelnut, which she thoroughly enjoyed, and I chose lemon, which I found to have a fresh, natural citrus flavor and a creamy texture. I’d definitely recommend Leonardo’s to others for anything from date nights to special occasions like birthdays, graduations, or just family dinners. The food was great and so was the service. Our server was the bartender and she was the right amount of attentive. We never felt forgotten, but we also didn’t feel rushed to make decisions. This allowed us to take our time and enjoy a leisurely two-hour dinner. I also have a coworker who loves to grab dinner to-go from Leonardo’s on her way home in the evenings, so they can certainly accommodate a variety of dining preferences.
The energy of Olde Towne to the art, style, music, and moments in between, White Linen & Lagniappe brought Slidell together for a night to remember.
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An evening at Southern Nights, hosted by the St. Tammany Chamber. Celebrating connection, community, and the best of St. Tammany!
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Northshore Media Group was proud to join fellow sponsors and community leaders at the Northshore Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sponsor Kick-Off Brunch, in support of the Alzheimer’s Association and the fight to end Alzheimer’s.
EDGE took an exciting trip to Fort Irwin
RIBBON CUTTINGS Cypress Physical Therapy
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074 EDGE October | November 2026
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076 EDGE October | November 2026