St Bernard Magazine Spring 2022

SPRING 2022 HOME & GARDEN VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1

Legacies Malus-Beauregard House & Indigo Cash Crop pg. 10 Remembering Fazendeville pg. 17

Family Farming For Generations pg. 40

Ponstein’s Turns 50: 1st Self-Serve Pumps pg. 28

Teachers Of The Year pg. 36

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What’s Inside

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Spring Issue 2022

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Publisher’s Pen:

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Park Service Writes

10

Display of Legacies:

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The Indigo Crop's

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Historic Impact

24

How to Create A

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Ponstein’s Celebrates

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Teacher of The Year

Man of Distinction

A Choice of History

Malus-Beauregard House

Colorful Backdrop

of Fazendeville

Brighter Bedroom

50, First in Self-Serve

Nurturing Growth

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The Caserta Family

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Fresh Recipes From

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Nunez Baseball Aims

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Plan Outdoor Play

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Ask the Doctor: Check

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Small Biz Profile:

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Farming for Decades

Chef's Home Garden

High in 5th Season

For All to Enjoy

Your Cholesterol

LePerie Events Space Faces of the Parish: Longtime Residents & Newcomers

NEW OPPORTUNITY HIGHER PAYING JOBS A SECURE FUTURE RIGHT HERE IN ST. BERNARD

Port NOLA is proud to invest in St. Bernard Parish with an international container terminal that will lead the way for Louisiana.

We are committed to working with you to deliver a project that benefits the Parish for generations to come.

Learn more at yourworkingriver.com or visit our Community Connection Office at 6201 A E. St. Bernard Highway.

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Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Charles D. Jackson, President JPR (Jackson Public Relations) Enterprises, LLC Office - 2429 Octavia Drive, Chalmette, LA Mail - P.O. Box 57801, New Orleans, LA 70157 Email - stbernardmagazine@yahoo.com Website - stbernardmagazine.com Phone - (504) 609-7509

Copy Editor

Cover Photo

Faith Dawson

Farrah Ross Appleman

Layout & Design

Cover Design

Brionna Palmer

Kevin Fellows

Contributing Writers

Artists

Kimberly Acker Jason Browne Ron Chapman Blythe P. Craft Erin Freeman Beth Frost William Marigny Hyland Charles D. Jackson Barry Lemoine Talesha Lewis Lisa Potts Anna Timmerman

Martin Pate Sabrina Schmidt

Consultants Tony Lawton Herbie Fisher

Ad Designer Sharon Hueschen

Photographers

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Farrah Ross Appleman Jason Browne Charles Jackson Brandon Knox Alexis Pritchard Talesha L. Suggs Devin Theobold

Vol. 4, Issue 1 - Spring 2022 St. Bernard Magazine, a subsidiary of JPR EnterprisesChalmette, is printed by Fox Press in Mandeville, LA. JPR Enterprises, LLC, Chalmette, registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State on 2/23/18, Charter No. 42965547K. In Good Standing. Annual Report Filed 3/5/21.

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Spring Issue 2022

© 2022 JPR Enterprises, LLC, New Orleans, LA. All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA. The information contained in St. Bernard Magazine is intended for educational purposes only. JPR Enterprises, LLC, publisher of St. Bernard Magazine, does not endorse or promote any of the products or services described in the pages of St. Bernard Magazine, and the publisher does not verify the accuracy of any claims made in advertisements contained.

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Publisher's Pen

by Charles D. Jackson

Homer Charles Built Distinguished Legacy In this issue of St. Bernard Magazine, Parish Historian Bill Hyland spotlights the historic Malus-Beauregard House, while Nunez Community College History Professor Ron Chapman sheds light on the demise of historic Fazendeville. Both are neighbors on the grounds of Chalmette Battlefield, site of the Battle of New Orleans.

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Another “historic” neighbor to highlight is Homer M. Charles, who owned prime riverfront property in Fazendeville at the turn of the century and built a life of “integrity.”

“Homer Charles, proprietor of the Chalmette Grocery Store at Fazendeville, and the Charles’ heirs, who own property adjoining, have sold to the Frisco Railroad,” reports the Times-Picayune (New Orleans), Friday, October 21, 1904, Page 4.

“The terms of the transaction are such that the present occupants will remain in possession until the Company will have immediate use for the land.

“The property is at the corner of Fazande Lane and the Levee, and fronts on the river. It is a good business site, and the present owner of the place, who is a respected colored man, has earned a comfortable livelihood there for many years. The purchase price could not be ascertained,” the newspaper concluded.

Charles was born on July 4, 1861, in St. Martin Parish. His family moved to St. Bernard Parish in 1863. As a teenager, he worked on a sugar farm, and later began truck farming with his father.

“In 1887, at age 26, Charles began a small produce store near the river in a 9-by-9-foot building,” writes Jari Honora of the Louisiana Creole Research Association. “He was determined to deliver as good a product, and as dependable service as his competitors. He grew the business, going houseto-house, and purchased two horses and a wagon to keep up with demand.’’

Charles invested in a great deal of rental property besides his store and home on North Peters Street in Arabi. He owned stock in Friscoville Realty, Coca-

Cola Bottling and St. Bernard Bank, Honora reports.

Given his interest in real estate, Charles may have contributed to the development of Homerville, a neighborhood on St. Bernard Highway, east of Paris Road near the railroad. A tract of land is still listed as “Homerville” on parish maps.

A member of the New Orleans Chapter of the National Negro Business League, Charles was honored by founder Booker T. Washington at annual conventions. He was chairman of the Fazendeville School, and active with fraternal, business and Catholic organizations.

Charles died Sunday, August 21, 1921, at age 60, thus bringing to an end a life spent building upon “such a reputation of integrity and honesty as to be considered the most responsible Negro citizen in his community by both his people and the white authorities,” according to the St. Bernard Voice.

The magazine highlights the rich history, people, progress, traditions, culture, resilience, diversity, civics, small business, schools, organizers, and the extraordinarily welcoming community atmosphere of St. Bernard Parish. This mixture makes ‘Da Parish “The Most Unique County (Parish) in the Country.”

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Commentary

by National Park Service

Choice To Preserve One History, Sacrificed Another What stories have value? Whose history will be preserved? What knowledge is sacrificed in making those choices?

Lyle K. Linch was the superintendent of the Chalmette Battlefield in 1961, as the National Park Service prepared to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the War of 1812. Located in the middle of the Battle of New Orleans battlefield, Fazendeville was an anachronism (something out of its time) for visitors learning about Chalmette Battlefield’s significance in the War of 1812.

Linch and others thought that the community should be demolished in order to enhance the sesquicentennial commemoration, and in 1960s Louisiana, people of color had few rights and the civil rights struggle the community was embroiled in was not yet considered history worth preserving.

What decision would we make today? How do you balance the needs of one community over another? What happens when a compromise cannot be reached?

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For the sake of the sesquicentennial, the government decided to tear down Fazendeville in 1963 and restore the battlefield to an approximate 1815 appearance.

When the sun rose on January 8, 1965, the 150th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, it revealed a field which would have been vaguely reminiscent to a soldier from 1815, but completely unrecognizable to a resident from the year before.

The choice to preserve one history sacrificed another. While we may be able to better visualize the experience of soldiers during the War of 1812 as a result of this choice, it leaves us less able to appreciate the struggles and triumphs of later generations, and less aware of the complex layers that make up our shared history.

Today, only a slight depression is visible in the battlefield where the street that ran through Fazendeville was laid. Yet, for those who know Fazendeville, imagination brings that dip to life with the bustle of residents heading to church, children playing stickball in the street, and the chatter of neighbors on front porch swings.

Fazendeville lives on as a memory.

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The Malus-Beauregard House Physical Display of Creole Cultural Legacy

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Iconic Structure Sits On Land That Grew Indigo, The First Major Cash Crop in Louisiana After the Battle of New Orleans, Property Owned

By Two Brothers - Free Men of Color

By William de Marigny Hyland, St. Bernard Parish Historian Photos by Farrah Ross Appleman

Chalmette Battlefield - U.S. Park Service Jean Lafitte Historical Park and Reserve, Louisiana

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O

ne of a handful of pre-Civil War structures in St. Bernard Parish, the Malus-Beauregard House stands atop a site that redefined the identity of an American citizen in the Battle of New Orleans It was a victory won for the United States

by Western European colonists and their descendants of French, Spanish, German, Scottish, Irish, Greek and Anglo origins; enslaved Africans; free people of color; and Native Americans. Having weathered catastrophic hurricanes and severe neglect, the house — built by enslaved people — is a physical manifestation of the Creole cultural legacy that sets Louisiana apart from every other state in the union.

In the early 1720s, almost a century before the Battle of New Orleans, the park property located at Pointe St. Antoine was granted to brothers Jean Marest Dupuy and Pierre Marest de La Tour. By 1723, both brothers were in possession of larger land grants, portions of which constitute the Chalmette Battlefield site currently administered by the National Park Service.

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Creole foodways, vernacular dialects, and architecture all reflect this unique cultural identity rooted in diversity.

A long list of prominent Louisiana colonists worked this land in various pursuits.

Marest de La Tour succeeded in producing the very first indigo dye at his Pointe St. Antoine plantation.

The Rodriguez Canal was a millrace, traced to the 1720s, when enslaved Africans manned a sawmill that produced lumber for buildings throughout the region while also working to produce indigo dye, a highly toxic process that compromised the health of all who were involved.

Indigo, a plant used to make dark blue dye, was the first major cash crop of Louisiana, until it was supplanted by sugar in the 1790s. The presence of African enslaved labor — introduced concurrently with indigo cultivation and dye production — set in motion the evolution of a distinct Creole identity celebrated today.

In the 1780s, Rene Beluche — one of Jean Lafitte’s lieutenants and a hero of Latin American independence from Spain — spent part of his childhood on the property while his father operated the lumber mill. In the 1790s, the firm of Espiritu Liotau, Fabrey, and Company operated the lumber mill and established a shipyard.

Creole culture is the result of the marriage of Native American, African, and Western European influences.

In the early 1800s, the Marest Dupuy property was subdivided, and the Rodriguez and Macarty houses

Spring Issue 2022

floor, turned colonettes on the second floor, and a hipped roof.

Various iterations of this basic structure have existed in Louisiana since the 18th century. It is a tangible, outward manifestation of the Creole-built environment. Subsequent owners added two-story Greek Revival colonnades (no longer standing) on the western/upriver side of the house and adjusted the roof to accommodate both colonnades.

In 1880, General P.G.T. Beauregard’s son Rene Toutant Beauregard, an appellate court judge and district attorney of St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, acquired the house and property.

The house was largely a summer/ weekend retreat. His wife and her family were part of prestigious private education efforts in the region, and a school for young ladies was operated in the Malus-Beauregard House. were located on tracts subdivided from the original concession. Ignace Francois Martin Delino de Chalmet (Chalmette) purchased Marest de La Tour’s property, which became part of his larger 22-arpent plantation fronting the Mississippi River. All of the Chalmet plantation houses and outbuildings were destroyed during the War of 1812.

In 1817, Louis and Hilaire St. Amant, brothers and free men of color, purchased the Chalmet plantation and, in 1832, sold six parcels of the upriver.

They sold most portions of the tract to several individuals, including Alexandre Baron.

That’s where the history of the MalusBeauregard House begins.

Baron constructed the house as a retirement dwelling for his mother-inlaw, Marie Madeleine Pantier. Identified as the Baron house by the Charles F. Zimpel map of 1834, the building was a classic Creole structure: two stories in height and one room deep, with galleries facing the Mississippi River and the opposite side, brick columns on the first

The New Orleans Terminal Company acquired the property in 1904 and retained possession until conveying it to the State of Louisiana in 1948 for ultimate inclusion in the Chalmette National Historical Park, established by an Act of Congress in 1939.

By the late 1940s, the Malus-Beauregard had fallen into an advanced state of disrepair. Cattle roamed the first floor, and in some places, visitors could look up from the first floor into the second floor and attic before it was converted into the park’s visitors center.

Today, the Malus-Beauregard House again requires significant repairs. Being in such close proximity to the Mississippi River, rising damp issues have caused water to almost cascade down the interior walls of the house at times.

The National Park Service has longdeveloped master plans to restore and preserve the house, but Congressional legislation has not been enacted to secure the funds necessary to protect this rare example of Creole architecture, in an evolved form, and the layered history of Creole culture it represents.

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Property’s Timeline Site of Malus-Beauregard House Dates Back to the Founding of New Orleans 1723 – Brothers Jean Marest Dupuy and Pierre

Marest de La Tour are in possession of two land grants from the French government. Indigo dye, the first major cash crop in Louisiana, is produced on their plantation. (Property is current site of Chalmette Battlefield, a unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve)

1805 – Ignace Francois Martin Delino de Chalmet (Chalmette), a planter and militia officer, acquires 7 arpents fronting the Mississippi River, the downriver portion of what would become the Chalmette Plantation 1813 – Ignace Delino de Chalmet acquires

the upriver plantation adjoining his property, 17 arpents fronting the Mississippi River; the uppermost portion of this tract was the Pierre Marest de La Tour land grant, dating to ca. 1723

1814 – British armed forces invade Louisiana in December and occupy a series of plantations, including Chalmet 1815 – American forces defeat the British in the

Painting By Sabrina Schmidt

1866 – Jose Antonio Fernandez y Lineros acquires the property from Caroline Fabre Cantrelle

1880 – Rene Toutant Beauregard, son of P.G.T.

Beauregard, acquires the property; changes to the original Creole structure are believed to have already taken place by now, between 1856 and 1880, during the period of Cantrelle’s and Fernandez y Lineros’ ownerships

1904 – Rene Beauregard sells the property to New Orleans Terminal Company

Battle of New Orleans on January 8; Chalmet’s plantation was the epicenter of fighting

1948 – New Orleans Terminal Company sells tract

1817 – Pierre Denis de La Ronde sells the ruined plantation of his half-brother Ignace Delino de Chalmet to a pair of free men of color, brothers Louis and Hilaire St. Amant

1957 – National Park Service restores Malus-

1832 – Louis and Hilaire St. Amant sell the tract upon which the Malus-Beauregard House stands to Alexandre Baron, who builds a house for Marie Madeleine Pantier, widow of Guillaume Malus 1835 – 1856 – Francois Malus acquires property

and continues his family’s ownership

1856 – Caroline Fabre, widow of Michel Bernard Cantrelle, acquires property

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to State of Louisiana for eventual inclusion in the Chalmette National Historical Park

Beauregard House for use as a visitors center

William de Marigny Hyland is the distinguished St. Bernard Parish Historian and Site Manager of Los Isleños Museum Complex, owned by St. Bernard Parish Government.

Colorful Background of Indigo

By Lisa Potts www.thesavvynative.com

last more than a day and smelled like rotting vegetation. This turned the water covering the plants blue.

Y

ou probably remember the color indigo from your crayon box as a child (or adult). Indigo is that lovely purplish blue. Think blue jeans.

Indigo dye used to be very rare. At one time only nobility had access to the dye. This earned Indigo a status similar to that of other rare goods such as silk and even gold.

Indigo is one of the world’s oldest dyes. It was used in India and Egypt as early as 1600 BC. Indigo grew wild throughout the Mississippi River Valley. Along with tobacco, it became one of Louisiana’s earliest cash crops, dating back to the early 1700s.

Indigo was first successfully produced at Pointe St. Antoine plantation (current site of Chalmette Battlefield). This1 was WOW Wingery_hlfpg.pdf 1/6/22

during the earliest days of the colony, long before sugar.

The French planters’ need for African labor and expertise to cultivate the indigo crop put Louisiana squarely on the path toward becoming a plantation society based on racial slavery.

Creating Indigo Dye The process of turning the leaves into blue dye was complex and smelly. The blue color comes from the green part of the plant, not the flowers.

First, slaves cut and steeped the plants in water until the leaves started to ferment. This step could

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Next, the water was drained into a new vat and stirred to add oxygen. The liquid was then again transferred, adding lime, which caused the indigo sediment to settle at the bottom of the tank.

After the water drained, the indigo was left behind. Finally, it was dried and cut into cubes or rolled into balls to sell.

The industry thrived in Louisiana until the end of the 1700s.

Competitors in other states and plant diseases caused the decline.

In 1897, a German scientist created a synthetic indigo dye, a version of which is still used today.

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For information on accommodations, attractions or other details go to www.sbpg.net or www.visitstbernard.com 16

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Fazendeville Historical Marker Dedicated

Families who lived in Fazendeville joined the April 19, 2021, dedication of a historical marker funded and presented by St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism and Film, and the St. Bernard Tourist Commission.

The marker is at the entrance of Chalmette Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service) on St. Bernard Highway.

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Fazendeville (1867-1965) “The Village” was its own little Eden, nestled on the Mississippi River, sandwiched between the Chalmette Monument and the National Cemetery … and therein lay the cause of its demise!

By Ron Chapman Sadly, too few people, even in St. Bernard Parish, remember the community of Fazendeville or, as residents referred to it, “The Village.”

The property dates back to the French founding of New Orleans, the site of the areas first cash crop – indigo. It later became part of the Chalmette Plantation, which was the site of the famous Battle of New Orleans.

T

he property was owned by Ignace de Chalmete. After his death following the battle, the property passed through a number of different owners until finally one arpent landed in the hands of Jean Pierre Fazende, a free man of color.

In 1854, the property was ceded to his son Jean Pierre Fazende II, who, in turn, immediately after the Civil War, subdivided it into 33 lots, each sized about 40 x 140 feet. The design was to provide housing for ex-slaves and other free people of color — thus began the small community of Fazendeville in 1867.

Within a short time, families occupied the lots and built houses. In 1868, the community established the Battle Ground Baptist Church, which remained there until Fazendeville’s demise. The D’Hemecourt property map shows that 22 lots had been sold by 1878.

Soon, a thriving community was established, one that supplied residents with nearly everything they needed. Fazendeville residents enjoyed

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the services of a one-room school that provided education from first through eighth grade, two general stores, two Benevolent Societies, The Battle Ground Baptist Church, one dance hall, and three barrooms.

Early maps indicate the “Town of Fazendeville” with its own zip code.

Households were close, many families were related, and community members held jobs in New Orleans or St. Bernard Parish. A good number of residents joined the armed services.

“The Village” was a wonderful place to live, and generations shared this unique experience for nearly 100 years.

They played baseball on the open field before their homes and collected pecans in the grove behind.

They even caught crawfish in the ditch along the side of Fazendeville Road, which ran before the houses.

“The Village,” in many ways, offered an idyllic life: not prosperous in money, but rich in personal relationships. It was a true community, in every sense of the word.

Many St. Bernard residents knew the people of Fazendeville and respected them. Some who provided services to the community often related stories of how wonderful and neighborly Fazendeville residents were.

“The Village” was its own little Eden, nestled on the Mississippi River, sandwiched between the Chalmette Monument and the National Cemetery … and therein lay the cause of its demise!

Beginning of the End As 1965 approached, the first stirrings of trouble arose.

1965 was the 150th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. Those desiring to “properly celebrate” this event sought to join the National Cemetery and Chalmette Monument, which required obtaining the land that separated the two parks.

the others having been bought out against their will. Their homes were either moved or bulldozed.

On November 27, 1964, in preparation for the celebration, Fazendeville Road was closed to all traffic.

On February 20, 1965, the last remaining home in Fazendeville was placed in auction and sold “Where is, as is.”

The process began with the donation of land to the National Park Service by Kaiser Aluminum and the railroad. Once that was achieved, the only obstacle to completion of the unification plan was Fazendeville.

After nearly 100 years of happy existence, suddenly the residents found themselves facing the insurmountable combined efforts of historical preservationists and the federal government.

When residents refused to sell, efforts turned to the federal government.

In 1962, the process began to expropriate their land.

In February of 1962, U.S. Senator Russell Long established a commission to plan for the 150th anniversary celebration. He was joined in his efforts

by Senator Allen Ellender and Congressman F. Edward Hebert, all powerful players in Washington, D.C. On January 11, 1963, President Kennedy appointed Martha Robinson to the Sesquicentennial Commission. A leader of the Daughters of 1812 as well as the Louisiana Landmarks Society, Robinson was responsible for the former land donations and was a driving force behind the effort to combine the national parks.

Marker on battlefield site where community once stood.

Painting by Martin Pate

Once that sale ended, nothing remained of Fazendeville but a grassless scar tracing where houses and families once flourished.

The Sesquicentennial Celebration, with its dinners, dances, speeches, and an endless array of costumes and presentations, proved to be a memorable event for many. But it was a sad one for others, as it required the demolition of their cherished community.

The remarkable community that occupied that small stretch of land had been forcibly removed.

Some stayed in St Bernard Parish while others moved into New Orleans. They relocated The Battle Ground Baptist Church to Flood Street in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward.

So ended the 100-year-old community of Fazendeville. While celebrants enjoyed the festivities of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, few even considered the tragedy visited on those displaced residents who had founded and occupied a little utopia for so many years.

Process of Removal In February of 1963, “The Village” properties were appraised at only $6,000 per home; the average market value of new houses in St. Bernard, during that time, was $16,000. The process of removal had begun.

Ron Chapman, professor of history at Nunez Community College, is author of “The Battle of New Orleans: But for a Piece of Wood.” He has been president of Ron Chapman-Shipwright, Inc. for 45 years.

In September of 1964, only six families remained,

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Daydreaming Peter Pierre’s Life in “The Village” Photo by Farrah Ross Appleman

Peter Pierre stands at the Chalmette National Cemetery wall where he sat as a child, watching the Memorial Day Parade.

I

was born in 1942, and lived in The Village until 1960. The earliest memory I have of Fazendeville was when I was 3 or 4 years old. I remember every year on Memorial Day, May 30, was a big deal. Fazendeville was located between Chalmette Battlefield Monument and the national cemetery. Cow pastures were on both sides of us.

cost was a nickel. On Saturdays, there would be chicken suppers and a fish fry. The second floor was the men’s Progressive Benevolent Association Hall. The Silver Star was the women’s benevolent association.

On Sundays, people would go there to pay their dues. Both associations owned Ellen Cemetery in Chalmette.

A military band would march from St. Bernard Highway all the way to the rear of the cemetery, near the river. As kids, we’d run across the cow pasture and sit on top of the cemetery wall, and watch as they marched to a stage where they gave speeches. During the day, Fazendeville residents had ball games, and after the games, they’d have dances at the bar; children could go inside with the grownups.

They had chairs and tables outside. It was a big party.

In those days, a lot of insurance companies wouldn’t insure blacks – except the black insurance companies in New Orleans – so those benevolent associations were important to families. They showed us how

All the buildings were located on one side of the road. There were homes with nice fences, three bars, a grocery store, a church (Battle Ground Baptist), and a benevolent association hall that housed a one-room school on weekdays.

On weekends, the hall was used for different activities. On Friday nights, a man would come to show movies at the school. The

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It was a flourishing community at one time.

we can work together to benefit everybody.

People had good jobs. Many of the men were longshoremen; and a bunch of men worked at Chalmette slip, and some worked for Southern Railroads. They would haul bananas and coconuts from the ships to the train on tracks near the village. Many men worked at Domino’s Sugar Refinery.

My grandfather, uncle and other family members worked as caretakers at the monument and cemetery.

After attending elementary school, we went to Violet Consolidated Colored School. The bus had several stops on the way: Walker’s Lane, Homerville, Hi-Land, and Violet. Other buses came from Verret, Sebastopol, and Goodwill. All communities of color went to Violet Consolidated. I left Violet Consolidated in 1958 to attend Joseph Clark High in New Orleans. I joined the military from 1960 to 1964.

After the government forced them out, many families and the church moved to the Lower 9th Ward. Many of the original residents of the Lower 9th Ward had moved there from Fazendeville many years before the rest of the families were forced out.

I always said, jokingly, if I ever won the Powerball, I would bring back Fazendeville the way it used to be. I’d be daydreaming.

(Peter Pierre, who now lives in Meraux, has been collecting and preserving historical artifacts of Fazendeville.)

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Access to MyOchsner, an online tool that lets you see medical records, schedule appointments online, message your pediatrician and more.

Same-day and next-day appointments available.

Access to the #1 Children’s Hospital in Louisiana (U.S. News & World Report ranking), featuring a kids-only emergency room with specially trained pediatric ER staff.

To schedule an appointment call 504-294-8926 or visit ochsner.org/forchildren

St. Bernard Parish Hospital 8050 West Judge Perez Drive Chalmette, LA 70043

23

Slip in a few sprinkles of sparkle with a wall mirror and silver-toned furniture.

Lots of Natural Light

Touches of White

Create a Brighter Bedroom

D

By Beth Frost

ark and dreary bedrooms don't evoke a feel-good, soothing ambiance. Give your bleak bedroom an uplifting makeover with the five bright bedroom ideas listed below. From touches of white to sprinkles of sparkle, create a cheerful, relaxing vibe in your bedroom today.

Touches of White Incorporate a few touches of white to instill a bright atmosphere in your lackluster bedroom. Because white radiates a feeling of cleanliness, new beginnings, clarity, hope and simplicity, it's a perfect choice for a brighter bedroom. For example, outfit your bed with

24 Spring Issue 2022

a plush white comforter, add white-painted furniture pieces, or lay a white shag area rug on top of your hard-surface floor.

Lots of Light Fill your bedroom space with lots of natural and artificial light to instantly brighten the look and feel. Replace dark-colored, heavy drapes with lightweight sheers or panels. Install chic fabric shades or wooden blinds, alone or behind your new curtains, for a modern layered appearance.

Add stylish table and floor lamps for targeted light where you need it. Wall lamp sconces on both sides of your bed provide task lighting for small bedroom areas.

Sprinkles of Sparkle Slip in a few sprinkles of sparkle to inject bits of brightness throughout your bedroom. Wall mirrors and silver-toned furniture pieces, such as nightstands and dressers, offer dazzling reflections from around the room or outdoors. Replace an ordinary ceiling light with a brilliant chandelier to add a touch of regally romantic glitter. Accessories, like silver candlesticks, glossy picture frames, shiny vases and polished bookends, help to distribute the sparkly effect throughout your bedroom.

Oodles of Neutrals Neutral colors, such as barely beige, smooth ivory, misty gray and creamy white, create a bright, upbeat vibe. Introduce lots of neutral tones in your bedroom through paint, furniture pieces, and decorative items. For example, paint your bedroom walls in a light neutral tone to establish a bright atmosphere. Furnish the space with neutral-hued items, such as a woven area rug, upholstered chairs, a fabric headboard and a tufted bench.

Pops of Color Pops of vibrant color, such as lime green, sunshine yellow, Caribbean blue, and lipstick red, can instantly promote a bright, cheery atmosphere.

However, use the vibrant colors sparingly or they can quickly overpower the room. Incorporate pops of color in decorative toss pillows, cozy furniture throws, an oversized canvas print, or a vase of fresh flowers. You can also sneak a few vibrant hues into your bedroom palette with fabric window shades, colored lampstands, or a painted furniture piece.

Pops of vibrant colors, such as lime green, sunshine yellow, Caribbean blue and lipstick red can instantly promote a bright, cheery atmosphere.

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Charlie and Claudette Ponstein with son Neil, his wife Lauren, and son Henry.

Neil is the second-generation owner of Ponstein’s.

50 28 Spring Issue 2022

Years of Service

Since opening the first self-serve gas station in the region, Ponstein’s Food Store still a major landmark for “convenience.”

By Charles D. Jackson Photos by Farrah Ross Appleman

F

ive months after earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from LSU-New Orleans in December 1971, Charlie Ponstein changed the way people buy gasoline in the Greater New Orleans region.

Ponstein, a native of St. Bernard Parish, opened the metro area’s first self-service fueling station on May 12, 1972, at Paris Road and Genie Street in Chalmette. He jumped on a growing do-ityourself trend driven by petroleum companies that was leaving regional-leader New Orleans stalled because of its restrictions on pumping gasoline.

“In February of 1972, I was approached by Murphy Oil (where I worked three summers while in college) to open a self-service station,” Ponstein said. “At that time no one else in the metro area had them. The people at Murphy knew we had built a store, so it was a natural fit.”

Charlie’s father, Henry, constructed the food store with three apartments on top. In addition to being longtime Chalmette postmaster for 26 years, Henry also had an architectural degree from Delgado Junior College.

The May 1972 grand opening of Ponstein’s “Family Owned & Operated” convenience store was a big

May 12, 1972 ribbon-cutting (from left) Henry Ponstein, Charlie Ponstein, Louis Munster, Maurice Vinsanau and Noemie Ponstein. deal, with top parish officials attending: Sheriff Jack Rowley, Clerk of Court Sidney Torres Jr., Assessor Maurice Vinsanau and President of Police Jury Louis Munster. In 1974, the store expanded, and leased the original store space to Leon’s Army Surplus, a fixture until Katrina.

Family Serving Families In the early days, Ponstein’s was more of a grocery store, selling such staple items as eggs, milk, flour, meats, vegetables, bread and toiletries. Today, it’s a true convenience store, stocking up on beer, cigarettes, drinks, snacks, liquor, ice and wine. In fact, it has one of the best wine selections in the parish.

When Charlie Ponstein was elected St. Bernard Parish president in 1996, he leased the business to Dave Gegenheimer, a longtime store manager, who declined to reopen after Katrina. In 2008, Charlie’s son, Neil, purchased the lease, rebuilt the store, and staged a "re-grand" opening.

“I think we’ve earned a good reputation over the years by treating people honestly and fairly,’’ Neil said. “Families have been shopping here for generations. When we reopened after Katrina I can’t tell you how many people would come in and get emotional. They would say that it felt more like home with Ponstein’s being back open.

“Dave’s Deli was here for a long time,” Neil said. “I still have people to this day asking, 'Ya’ll still selling hot sandwiches?' ” Growing up blocks behind Ponstein’s, Chad Roig said the store was “the place to go” for families in the 1980s.

“Every Sunday, my dad had to get a special edition of the Times-Picayune with coupons in it, and we’d go with him,” said Roig, owner of Crave restaurant in Meraux. “Me and my sister were allowed to pick one candy off the candy aisle. That candy aisle felt like it was a mile long.”

29

Legacy of Leadership For more than 45 years, Charlie Ponstein has been active in St. Bernard Parish’s civic, social, religious, education, business, economic development and government affairs. He’s also been active with port authorities and the regional planning commission.

Some have called him the father of the parish’s modern-day form of governance.

Location, Location, Location The property at Paris Road and Genie Street has been in the Ponstein family for a century. Charlie’s great-aunt, Eva Ponstein Rittner, purchased the land in the early 1920s and operated a cattle and chicken farm there until the Great Depression in 1930s. Rittner had no children, and reared Charlie’s father, Henry, as her own. Back then, Paris Road ended at the property.

Decades later, now located on a busy highway connecting to Interstate 10, the Ponstein property is a high-traffic, hot spot for business.

“This corner is one of the top three in the parish,” Charlie said. “The others are Judge Perez and Paris Road, and Judge Perez and Jean Lafitte Parkway.”

“Our sales transferred from staple grocery items to more of a convenience store, with many customers wanting more convenience items such as a cold 20-ounce Coke,” Neil said. “We sell a lot of beer, tobacco, liquor and wine. The beverage companies are always fighting for more space.”

30 Spring Issue 2022

Ponstein served as a member of the Police Jury from 1980-1988, council member at-large west from 1992-1996 and parish president from 19962004. He was the parish’s second president (and the first to serve two terms) under the new president-council form of government that replaced the century-old police jury system.

“Charlie instantly became an advocate of reform and pursued changing the ancient police jury form of local government with a centralized ‘homerule charter’ as other parishes in the New Orleans metropolitan area had adopted,” said St. Bernard Parish Historian William (Bill) Hyland.

“He is one of those visionary, tenacious St. Bernard natives and residents most responsible for forging the modern identity of St. Bernard Parish,” Hyland said. “Charlie has represented St. Bernard Parish with distinction as a member of regional public entities such as the Regional Planning Commission, and the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans.’’

Fifty years after opening his first business in 1972, Ponstein has not only changed the landscape of buying gasoline, but also the scenery of government and economic development in Metro New Orleans — leaving a legacy of leadership.

Start of Self-Service Fueling 1947 - Los Angeles station owner Frank Ulrich opened the first self-service filling station in the nation. These fuel pumps were run by a mechanical computer. The attendant manually turned the pump back to zero for each customer and would take the money and make change. The customer would pump his/her own gas.

1972 - The Los Angeles Fire

Leaders Run in The Family Charles Henry Ponstein was born into a family of St. Bernard leaders.

He is the son of the late Henry Ponstein and Noemie Suarez who is in her mid-90s. Henry was a World War II veteran, and longtime Chalmette Post Office postmaster.

Noemie was educated in St. Bernard Parish and descended from colonists from Spain’s Canary Islands who founded St. Bernard Parish in the 18th century.

“Noemie’s father, Dennison 'Bigger' Suarez, was an eminently successful businessman in St. Bernard Parish, as was her brother, Dennison (Buck) Suarez,” said William Hyland, parish historian.

“I have known Charlie and his wife, Claudette Staiger Ponstein, for more than 40 years,” Hyland said. “They were and are loving and very responsible parents. It was my pleasure to observe all the Ponstein children as they grew to maturity.”

Charlie and his wife, Claudette, have three children: Jeffrey, Neil and Sadie; and five grandchildren: Payton, Noelle, Roman, Seth and Henry.

Charlie Ponstein is one of those visionary, tenacious St. Bernard natives and residents most responsible for forging the modern identity of St. Bernard Parish.

— William “Bill” Hyland, Parish Historian

Department’s Fire Commission, with much controversy, recommended permitting self-serve at the city’s 7,000 stations. Estimates put self-serve operations at 7,500 of the 220,000 stations throughout the United States.

St. Bernard Parish’s Charlie Ponstein opened the first self-serve fueling station in the Greater New Orleans region at Paris Road and Genie Street in Chalmette.

Ponstein’s

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Parish Pride

by Barry Lemoine

Photos by Alexis Pritchard

District Elementary School Teacher of the Year

‘Paying It Forward’ hether it’s in the classroom or in the garden, Alecia Desselle nurtures growth.

The St. Bernard Parishwide Elementary Teacher of the Year, Desselle also sponsors her school’s garden club, 4-H program, and cheerleading squad.

W

be more in tune to what you are trying to teach them.”

As the mother of two active children, Desselle has seen firsthand the importance of teachers giving their time to create opportunities for children.

“A good teacher has the ability to recognize all students’ potential and has a natural desire to make all students feel valued and respected.

Someone who will love and support each child through the ups and downs of growing up.”

She said just as nature has its cycles, so too does education. She aims to create a cycle of giving.

“I will always be appreciative of the opportunities my own children have had because someone else was so willing to share their wisdom, talent, and time.”

She said “paying it forward” is her way of showing her gratitude.

“I want to give back to the community that has given so much to my own children.”

As a classroom teacher at Chalmette Elementary School, Desselle said she emphasizes building relationships with her students.

“When they feel more connected to you, they will 34 Spring Issue 2022

She said she was humbled to be named as the district’s teacher of the year and said that exemplary teachers all share common traits.

“For example, when my daughter was a cheerleader at Trist and then Chalmette High, some of the team would volunteer working with my team at Chalmette Elementary. My cheerleaders were able to have an invaluable experience learning from girls who they looked up to and the older cheerleaders were able to give back by being a wonderful influence on the younger generation. It is connections like those that mean so much to me. It creates a sense of responsibility and community within our students.”

the best professional development she has ever experienced.

Desselle said it’s all part of her love of learning.

“I am a big believer in constant growth and believe we should always be open to learning new things from ourselves, the people that have been placed in our lives, and from our experiences.”

She said the pandemic has allowed her to learn more about gardening and she looks forward to implementing those things into the school’s garden this year.

While I am far from an expert, I hope to instill love for and a knowledge of gardening within my students through the Garden Club.

— Alecia Deselle, Chalmette Elementary

Love of Learning When she is not in school, Desselle enjoys spending time and learning from her boyfriend, Blaise Pezold, the coastal and environmental program manager at The Meraux Foundation.

“Blaise has taught me so much about the importance of native plants, coastal restoration efforts, and knowledge of our history through food,” she said. “Watching him make connections with other teachers and groups, not only in our parish, but across the country is nothing short of amazing. He is a natural teacher and has the ability to instill in others a desire to learn more.”

She said his influence also got her involved in the Mississippi River Delta Institute, a field-based learning experience for teachers to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines through inquiry-based investigations at local watersheds. She considers the MRDI

“While I am far from an expert, I hope to instill love for and a knowledge of gardening within my students through the Garden Club,” she said.

Plans include adding trees and other edible plants into the garden, all to make the garden a welcoming space. “I would like to create a reading sanctuary for all of our students to enjoy.”

Teaching is in her heart, and she knows the best way to instill values in other people is to live them out.

“I place great value on learning kindness, patience with yourself and others, and the value of hard work,” she said. “I really hope my students see in me that no matter what hard times they may encounter in life — they can overcome them. They can always change and grow, and that loving themselves and others is the most important thing in life.”

She said one of the most memorable parts of her career happened several years ago.

“At the end of my second-year teaching, a student gave me a note that said she learned so many things that year, but the most important thing she learned was how to love. To this day, that has stayed with me and keeps me going every day.”

Barry Lemoine is an award-winning writer and educator. His commitment to and passion for the Parish and its performing arts have earned him the moniker of “The Bard of St. Bernard.”

35

Excellence in Education

By Barry Lemoine

St. Bernard Parish 2021-2022 Teachers of the Year Each year, 12 exceptional educators are named as Teachers of the Year by the St. Bernard Parish Public Schools. This honor, bestowed on one outstanding educator at each school and selected by their peers, celebrates excellence in classroom practices and school leadership. We salute these amazing teachers for their excellence in teaching and commitment to student learning.

What they say:

“I love my students. From the moment “It’s great to watch their little faces they walk into my classroom, they are light up when they learn something new.” Kelli Burgard, Lacoste mine, and I tell them so. I will help Elementary them — no matter what I need to do throughout the year.” Sarah Morales, J. F. Gauthier Elementary

“I love the opportunities our students have — whether it be going to Docville for AgMagic or going to the Maumus Center to do science labs.” Magen Arabie, Arlene Meraux Elementary

36 Spring Issue 2022

“Ultimately, you are there for your students, so you have to be an advocate for them.” Heidi Scharfenstein, St. Bernard Middle

“I hope my students become better individuals in their mathematical skills, and I’m hoping they take those skills and apply them to middle school and wherever their future or careers may take them.” Telya Lopez, W. Smith, Jr.

Elementary

“I had a few very good teachers in high school that fostered in me a love for learning — not just academic learning. I wanted to do that for my students.” Robert Borrello, C.F. Rowley Alternative

“I love being able to teach in the community where I live, where I grew up and where my kids are in school.

That’s been really special.’’

Meghan McMullin, Joseph Davies Elementary

“Whether it’s the teachers, my administrators, the custodians, or the cafeteria workers, I love every single one of them; and I love that we’re able to all work together to make the school a fun place to be.” Hena Jaber, Arabi Elementary

“It’s not just academics. We are a part of each other’s lives and we’re here to grow together.” Justin Templet, Chalmette High

“I think it’s really important that there is a lot of focus on the kids here.

Whether it’s events with the school, or the games at the ballpark; everything centers around the children, and I love that!” Alecia Desselle, Chalmette Elementary

“I’ve really enjoyed making connections and really building trust with my students.” Brooke Royce, N.P. Trist Middle

“I love the fact that such collaboration happens on a daily basis between such a diverse student population. It really brings me joy.” Daniel Munch, Andrew Jackson Middle

37

38 Spring Issue 2022

Plant The Parish V

alero Meraux Refinery and St. Bernard Parish Government are partnering with the NOLA Tree Project for another “Plant the Parish” trees and shrubs giveaway.

The event is scheduled for March 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during AgMagic on the River at Docville Farm, 5124 E. St. Bernard Highway, Violet.

Without local residents, NOLA Tree Project, and the support of the Meraux Foundation, events like this wouldn’t happen.

- Council Member Howard Luna

Plant the Parish was envisioned by a number of St. Bernard residents as an avenue to bring together the ideas and actions of people to improve, beautify and promote neighborhoods.

In December 2021, Council Member Howard Luna assisted residents at the fall tree giveaway sponsored by The Meraux Foundation at Sidney D. Torres Memorial Park. Luna says 500 plants were offered to local residents that day.

Anthony and Lydia Mastascuso take home cypress, magnolia and pecan trees.

39

Diggin’ in The Garden

by Anna Timmerman

Caserta Family Growing for Decades Photos by Devin Theobold

Rich Soil, Rich History

S

t. Bernard Parish has celebrated spring weather by planting vegetables into fertile alluvial soils for generations. The parish is still home to several truck farmers, who grow abundant, local produce.

Truck-Farming Legacy

Home gardening is also very popular, and now is an ideal time to get out into the garden and plant.

The soil in St. Bernard was created over many years by alluvial deposits from the river, resulting in rich, fertile soils. The local microclimate also makes for more mild winters, few freezes, and a longer growing season.

His son, Sal III, and grandson, Sal IV, also help in the family’s large garden, growing for the whole family.

The youngest Sal (sixth generation) won several gardening awards as a member of the 4-H Club while in middle school.

In March and April, it’s time to plant pole, snap and lima beans, a last round of beets, sweet corn, sweet and hot peppers, bell peppers, melons, summer squashes and zucchini, eggplant, Irish potatoes, sweet potato slips, tomato transplants, melons, and towards the end of April, okra. A literal cornucopia of garden produce can be successfully grown before the doldrums of summer.

40 Spring Issue 2022

Sal Caserta, Jr. has been growing vegetables at his home in Chalmette for his entire life, the fourth generation of Italian truck farmers in the parish.

St. Bernard Parish has a rich history, and the Caserta family has been actively growing for decades. Creole tomatoes, mirlitons, eggplant, broccoli, shallots, cauliflower, and bell peppers taste better when they are grown right at the home place.

Caserta remembers helping his uncles and father on the family’s land in Poydras, and further downriver on a plot of land in Plaquemines Parish.

Highlighting Horticultural History In this column I’ll be highlighting more St. Bernard horticultural history and will be sure to mention what we should be planting for the season. The rich soils and connection to the rich history of St. Bernard Parish are something to celebrate.

This spring, give gardening a go and reach out to me with any insect or pest issues, general horticulture questions, or to share what you are growing at atimmerman@agcenter.lsu.edu. I’m always happy to help!

Mirliton

Produce was sold by the family to Schwegmann’s, and at the French Market when it truly was still the produce distribution center for the entire region.

Anna Timmerman is an LSU AgCenter horticulture agent working in the Greater New Orleans area. Email her: atimmerman@agcenter.lsu.edu

Caserta has fond memories of the many truck farming families in the parish, and can recall when much of Chalmette was cow pastures and woodland.

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Health-Wise Recipes:

“Peace In The Garden” With Talesha Lewis Suggs

Growing up in Violet, my favorite place has always been in the kitchen – creating. My mother, Lahoma L. Brown, would often speak of her childhood in Sebastopol. She watched her grandmother, Gladys J. Major, grow her own vegetables and raise livestock to feed her family. Inspired, I sought pointers from my great-aunt, Gloria M. Claiborne, who led me to fresh-cut vegetables to create unique flavors and scratch baking.

Blackened Chicken and Strawberry Salad

Ingredients For Blackened Chicken and Strawberry Salad ◆ 2-3 oz of chicken breast with blackening seasoning to taste ◆ 1 oz of avocado or EVOO to fry chicken ◆ 8 cups of romaine lettuce (washe and dried)

Starting my own garden wasn’t my focus until I began my second culinary journey in 2018 under the leadership of Chef Ruth Varisco. I never knew that I could love anything more than cooking and baking until I planted my first seeds.

There’s no greater peace than being in the garden.

Not long after I decided that it would be beneficial (health wise) to grow my plants chemical free, so I started a compost that included organic matter to feed my plants. I also remove weeds by hand to avoid chemicals and pesticides.

Since starting my garden, I have prepared many dishes, stocks, and teas, including stuffed bell peppers, seafood and vegetable stock, peppermint tea, strawberry/blueberry coulis, etc. Here are a couple of recipes I’d like to share.

◆ 1/3 cup of feta cheese ◆ Hard boiled egg slices or wedges (optional) ◆ 8 oz of strawberries (sliced) ◆ 1/2 cup of red onion (sliced) ◆ 1/3 cup of toasted pecans (chopped) or almond slivers

Strawberry Vinaigrette ◆ 8 oz of fresh strawberry halves ◆ 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar ◆ 3 tablespoons of honey

◆ Pepper to taste

◆ 2 tablespoons of avocado (or EVOO) oil

Directions

◆ Pepper to taste

Heat the oil in the skillet over medium heat.

Cook chicken until golden brown on both sides (approximately 5 minutes each). Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before chopping. Place romaine onto a plate then arrange chopped chicken and other toppings onto salad. Serve with vinaigrette.

42 Spring Issue 2022

◆ Salt to taste ◆ Creole seasoning to taste

Directions Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

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Ready To Fly

Stronger Nunez Pelicans Baseball Team Aims To Ruffle Feathers in Fifth Year

By Jason Browne (Sponsored Content)

Y

outh is only an excuse for so long. Being a community college baseball team, the Nunez Pelicans will always rely on freshmen and sophomores to represent the school on the diamond. So time is always of the essence for Head Coach Glenn Powell, who gets two years with each recruit to communicate his philosophy, drill his priorities and translate those intangibles to success on the field.

a full-size college field can be built for the Pels to call home.

Now, heading into the spring schedule of year five of the fledgling Nunez program, Powell’s years of groundwork have begun to form a foundation, some elevation where the young Pelicans can jump off and spread their wings.

But the Pels have already begun to build their nest on Nunez’s Chalmette campus. A custom locker room and weight room were recently upgraded at the college’s Physical Activity Center. For the moment, the team shares The PAC with Nunez’s Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Program, which, as the only college program of its kind in the state, is another point of Pelican pride. But Aerospace is due to get its own state-of-the-art facility soon, which will vacate a huge area for Powell and the team to install indoor batting cages and more.

“Our vision for the team is to be a winning program. The goal right now is to get the best players we can and get some infrastructure built,” said Powell, whose team will continue to play at Chalmette High School’s Noel Suarez Stadium until

Each new piece and each subsequent year adds a layer of stability to the Pels’ foundation. After threeand-a-half years of struggling to compete with established programs, the flock is stronger than ever.

44 Spring Issue 2022

“Now we’re getting to the point where we can worry about wins and losses,” Powell said.

Energy in Locker Room The new weight room and a dedicated training program are paying off. Second-year Pelican catcher and .500 hitter Landon Manson, a Dutchtown High School product and process technology major, sees his teammates taking their conditioning seriously, from the returning secondyear fielders to the fresh first-year pitching staff.

“There’s a bunch of energy in the locker room.

Everybody’s more involved and ready for the season to start,” Manson said. “We’ve got a lot of younger guys ready to get at it. We’re going to be better than last season. We should easily be over 500.”

Chalmette High School grad and biological sciences major Alex Crews, who returns at second base for the Pels, is another leader expecting big things from his teammates this year. Following a

fall schedule where the Pels experimented with players at various positions, to the detriment of their winning percentage, he believes Coach Powell has landed on the right configuration to make the Pels dangerous this spring.

“The goal for our team is to win the conference,” Crews said. “We have teams like Delgado and BRCC in our conference, great teams, but we’re a great team, too. We worked really hard in the fall.

And over the winter I saw our guys on social media working hard in the weight room.”

The Pels also developed their chemistry over the fall, bonding during team-building outings and friendly competitions, participating in every oncampus event they could at Nunez, and traveling to Larose in the wake of Hurricane Ida to clear a damaged park.

“This team is made of a lot of great people that really care about each other,” Crews said. “We’re known as underdogs. So it’s going to be fun to see the underdogs beat everyone’s stereotypical view of Nunez.”

45

4Play Outdoor Areas

for All Ages

By Liz Genest Smith

Who says aesthetics have to suffer when creating backyard recreational areas?

And why should kids have all the fun?

G

one are the days when your only options for creating a functional backyard space limited you to ugly plastic playground equipment or an outdoor kitchen and/or lounge area.

For adults who want to enjoy some outdoor recreation, it’s time to break some barriers.

Many landscape designers are recognizing this new trend, as their clients are making some unusual requests.

Giant Chessboard

Like a stylish pair of glasses, this feature will make you look hip and intelligent! Whether you repurpose an existing patio or create a board using pavers, what a fabulous, whimsical focal point this will create in your backyard.

Amazon.com and many other online retailers offer giant chess pieces, with and without rollout mats.

46 Spring Issue 2022

Cornhole

Sort of like horseshoes 2.0, this bean-bagthrowing hobby has taken a generation by storm, and its court can easily fit into any long corridor of grass you have on your property.

The portability of the boards -- which people have taken to building and personalizing on their own -- makes it easy to store them away when not in use. This protects them from the elements, and restores your yard to a more pastoral setting.

Mini Golf

While the concept of a backyard putting green is nothing new, mini golf adds a fun new spin to the old idea. The size and scope of the green or greens depends on individual taste, space, and budget, but it retains one of the best benefits of a putting green -- use of artificial grass creates a no-mow, no-weed zone!

Outdoor Screening Area

Okay, so this isn’t really an active activity, but it’s hard to find fault with the entertainment and overall coolness factors that come with creating an

outdoor theater.

Whether you’re watching movies or sporting events while surrounded by nature, it certainly beats being cooped up indoors.

ZFarm_qtrpg_2022.pdf

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Ask a Doctor

by Blythe P. Craft, DNP

Check Your Cholesterol There are no known symptoms of high cholesterol, so you won’t know if your levels are too high if you don’t get checked. A simple blood test (called a fasting lipid panel) checks your overall cholesterol levels and types of cholesterol:

• • •

Low Density Lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) High Density Lipoprotein (good cholesterol) Triglycerides or fat in the blood

Desired cholesterol levels depend on age and preexisting medical conditions. Typically, the lower the LDL and triglyceride levels and the higher the HDL level, the better. Exact ranges can be discussed with your provider. Depending on your results, you will need to get rechecked every four to six years.

If you have diabetes or heart disease, they may be checked once a year.

Elevated cholesterol is a risk factor for developing coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis, a chronic disease where cholesterol plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries, leading to an obstruction of blood flow which can cause heart attacks and even death.

Bee Removal Services

Reasonable Prices

Eddie Cortez

504-717-8790

(8am-6pm weekdays)

Tara Sanchez

504-579-4127

(after 4pm weekdays and weekends) zfarmandorchard@gmail.com

CONVENIENCE STORES

According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention Control, people with high cholesterol have about twice the risk of developing heart disease, the leading cause of death in Louisiana.

Once you know your cholesterol levels, it’s important to maintain or improve them. If diagnosed with high cholesterol, there are some medications that can help, along with recommended lifestyle changes:

• • • •

We care about the bees AND you!

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1985

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ST. BERNARD PARISH

Eat a heart-healthy diet low in fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits Limit alcohol consumption Stop smoking Exercise regularly – this can raise your HDL cholesterol!

Blythe P. Craft, DNP, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from Loyola University New Orleans. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as a family nurse practitioner. To schedule an appointment with Craft at Ochsner Health Center – St. Bernard, call 504-463-2200 or visit

617 Bayou Rd. Saint Bernard, LA 70085 (504) 272-0661 2004 Paris Rd. Chalmette, LA 70043 (504) 277-5573

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47

Small Business Profile

Owner of LePerie’ Events Space

Picks Up Pieces, Returns Stronger

By Erin Freeman

E

(Sponsored Content)

vent planning is bringing people’s vision to life while creating a memorable occasion.

But for LePerie’ Event Space owner Christy “Cece” Chapman, event planning takes a more personal showcase, utilizing her own life experiences to enhance the lives of others.

Being in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, Cece’s skills have stretched as far as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, while contributing to an array of clients in the entertainment industry such as Fantasia, and Golden Nugget Casino-Lake Charles.

Cece was born and reared in New Orleans' Upper 9th Ward. As a child, she accompanied her parents who often shopped and dined in St. Bernard Parish.

At age 21, she was eager to start an event planning business and believed St. Bernard Parish would be a great location.

But her vision was placed on hold when she became pregnant with her daughter, Wylloe, in 2006. Four years later, while working for the U.S. Postal Service, Cece’s dream became a reality when she opened Divatenders Public Relations/ Event Planning & Staffing in 2010.

Empowering Young Ladies While maintaining motherhood and Divatenders from 2012-2017, Cece took on a career in education with The Friends of King School District in Orleans Parish.

It was then thather love for inner-city youth was nourished.

48 Spring Issue 2022

“Some kids just needed love, some direction, and some needed someone they could trust,’’ Cece said. “I wanted to be to the kids what my mother was to me, a person with character, a person who respects all regardless of color or background, and be successful regardless of where you came from or obstacles thrown in your path.”

That love in 2014 prompted the founding of Pink Pearls Mentoring & Book Organization, geared to young ladies ages 13-18, to empower each individual to reach her highest plateau while embracing self with tenacity.

Having a passion for feminine empowerment, in 2015 Cece formed “Diva Talk Power,” which is an organization to empower, educate and elevate women by hosting yearly events, seminars and workshops.

“I always felt women gave me platforms and helped me reach heights, so I am that woman, now that I am able to,” she said.

In order to stay close to her parents and provide a diverse environment for her daughter Wylloe’, Cece became a resident of St. Bernard Parish in 2016.

Cece’s goal became a reality in 2018 by opening LePerie’ Event Space in Arabi.

The following year is when she learned with success comes pain.

On July 2, 2019, Cece’s world changed forever when her longtime partner was brutally murdered on New Orleans

streets. “I was devastated,” she said. “I was confused. We matured together as many other couples do. We always got through any and everything and the moment when we seemed to have finally arrived, he was snatched away.

“That is when I learned emotional pain through physical feelings.

I knew that was the biggest loss I could take. From that very moment I said I will NOT lose on anything else,’’ she said.

Rebuilding from heartbreak, Cece faced another shocker three months later when mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2019. Cece took it on head first, immediately assisting her father with her mom’s doctor appointments, consultations and surgeries.

Changing During Pandemic When Covid-19 hit in 2020, the hospitality industry took a huge hit, which meant Divatenders did as well. One thing Cece has always been known for is innovation and creativity.

In the midst of the pandemic, Divatenders went from decorating venues to decorating front yards with motivational and congratulatory “Divatenders Signs.”

They traveled across Louisiana and Texas to bring cheer to families and friends.

President Guy McInnis, local officials and other parish business owners in attendance.

LePerie’ specializes in all event types, and has become a premier venue to create lifelong memories.

“I am grateful that I moved to the parish,’’ Cece said. “I have met people that have become like family. I appreciate everyone who embraced me, especially being a woman in business.’’

After all the hardships, trials and obstacles that have been put in her path, Cece still manages to run a business, be a mother to Chalmette High School sophomore Wylloe’, motivate women like herself, be a daughter to her parents, and do it effortlessly.

“We may not understand things that happen in our life but all shoestrings will eventually tie,’’ Cece said. “Hold on to genuine good people. Always tell your story and stand on it. Be good to people.’’

To plan your event, call LePerie’ Event Space (504) 515-3418 1310 E. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA

”The yard signs were a hit,” Cece said. “It was very rewarding to me because it was a way for people to express love to other people.”

As things started to open back up, Cece decided it was time to continue her event-planning journey. In January 2021, she hosted a grand opening of LePerie’ Event Space on East Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette with Parish

49

In r u o Y x o b l i a M INE

MAGAZ

R A E Y A 5 $2 ) S E U S (4 IS

Stbernardmagazine.com/subscriptions P.O. Box 57801, New Orleans, LA, 70157 Stbernardmagazine@yahoo.com

CALL CHARLES JACKSON

504-609-7509

50 Spring Issue 2022

Your Local St. Bernard Home Loans Lender Purchase, refinance, renovation & construction Pat Callaghan

Pam McLaurin Lee

Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS# 129310

Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS# 624456

O: 504.544.6302 1801 E. Judge Perez Dr Chalmette, LA 70043

O: 504.561.1307 8216 W. Judge Perez Dr Chalmette, LA 70043

E: PatCallaghan@gulfbank.com

E: PamMcLaurinLee@gulfbank.com

Contact a lender today to discuss your options: Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, FHA 203K, Bond Programs, First Time Homebuyer, Jumbo, Investment Property, One-Time Close Construction, & Renovation.

Normal credit qualifications and other terms & conditions apply. See lender for complete details.

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Sheds

Phone: (504) 372-3537 51

Faces of the Parish

Newcomers and Longtime Residents

1.

Lifelong residents A.J. Duvio, Martin Ludwig, Ronnie Servary, and Rodney Moorman enjoy almost-daily camaraderie at Aaron’s Donuts in Chalmette.

2. Bonnie Bergeron, a lifelong resident of St. Bernard, enjoys her grandchild, Maverick, while having dinner at CRAVE! 3. New Orleans Police Officer A. Taylor moved from the city to St. Bernard Parish, and joined a local fitness center to stay in shape.

4. Davida Harris moved to Chalmette seven years ago from New Orleans East. “I feel very safe here. The police presence is superb.”

5.

1

The Davis Brothers — Tim (with wife Brandi), Brandon, and Johnny — grew up on Coffee Drive in Chalmette.

2

4 52 Spring Issue 2022

5

3

Faces of the Parish

Newcomers and Longtime Residents

6

6. First generation shrimper/crabber/ trapper Dylan Spadoni points out a fishing hole in the Gulf of Mexico.

7. Daphne Hilton (right) and daughter Shellie Monk follow Daphne’s mom’s footsteps as teachers in St. Bernard Parish. Joining them are Shellie’s husband, Darrall, children Brennan and Avery, and her father Ray Hilton.

8. Kayden (left rear) celebrates her birthday with Aubree, Olivia, Kinsley, and Kevin 9. Ally Robertson and her brother Allen are honor-roll students at Chalmette Elementary. The family moved to Chalmette from Atlanta four years ago.

7

8

9 53

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54 Spring Issue 2022

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Is a New Washing Machine a top priority on your Spring Cleaning list?

Come visit our Showroom DTS Direct Appliance om o r w o h S k a and spe 3240 Paris Rd. 70043 A L r , u e o tt e f lm o a e h n C o to 10 AM – 3 PM y a d ri -F y a d n o M n Ope s t n a lt u s n Co 5 0 4 - 7 6 6 - 0 7.c3o8m sales@dts-direct ! n a le of C tment Call for an Appoin

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St. Bernard is my home.

Let’s make it yours too!

S T. B E R N A R D R E A LT Y

504-273-2292

Jacques Alfonso 504-228-3803 56 Spring Issue 2022