THE LARGEST SELECTION OF IMPORTED OUTDOOR POTTERY ON THE NORTHSHORE
EACH PIECE IS HAND-SELECTED, LIMITED IN QUANTITY, AND ONLY AVAILABLE IN PERSON.
So I went and got myself engaged. Again.
The second time around feels very different. Not just because I’m older or wiser or more tired (though, yes to all of that), but also because I’m not trying to please anyone else. I’m not marrying for optics or to check the box on a milestone checklist. I’m marrying the person who gets us PJs every morning while we talk about managing companies, packing school lunches, and whether anyone fed the cat. (We occasionally forget. The cat’s fine. Thriving, actually.)
Planning a wedding later in life comes with its own very specific flavor of chaos. We have kids. Exes. Google calendars. Work schedules. And a kind of deep clarity that comes from having already thrown one wedding you barely remember because you spent most of it trying to make other people comfortable. This time? No. We are far too tired to waste time or money on things that don’t matter to us.
Our children had some predictably outrageous ideas. A bounce house reception. Getting married on horseback. Everyone in Halloween costumes. And for one fleeting second, I thought... maybe? And then we laughed, poured a drink, and got back to planning something that actually felt like us.
Here’s what’s not on the mood board: chair covers, buffet lines, matching monogrammed anything, or seating charts. Here’s what is: the people we love, real laughter, and the joy of knowing that love can actually get better when you’ve watched it fall apart. You know more. You appreciate more. You don’t take a single thing for granted.
Blending families isn’t always smooth. There are hard mornings and weird boundaries and awkward group texts and mismatched expectations. There’s figuring out how to be a “bonus” something to kids who didn’t ask for a single new thing in their life. But then there’s the magic of watching it work. You find them snuggled up in your bed watching a movie together. Hearing the nonstop cascade of laughter that bounces through your house when they’re home at the same time. That’s love too. Louder, definitely messier, occasionally sticky, and real.
So here’s to the next chapter. No theme. No performance. Just presence. The kind of love that comes after you’ve lived a little isn’t just about knowing what you want in a partner. It’s about knowing yourself. And when you know yourself, everything else gets stronger. Your relationship. Your rhythm. Your family. Your own sense of peace. And if you’re out there wondering if the good stuff comes back around… it does. Sometimes at the office. Sometimes over coffee. And sometimes in the middle of ordinary life, when you’re not even looking.
INSIDE NORTHSIDE
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | VOL. 41, NO. 5
PUBLISHER
DESIREE FORSYTH desiree@insidepub.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
SALES DIRECTOR
PEMMIE SHEASBY pemmie@insidepub.com
STEPHANIE ROBERTSON stephanie@insidepub.com
CASIE RUNG crung@insidepub.com
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR
MARGARET RIVERA margaret@insidepub.com
BUSINESS MANAGER
JANE QUILLIN jane@insidepub.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
JULIE NAQUIN
MEGHAN LABORDE
RACHEL KINCHEN
SOCIAL MEDIA
MAL NICHOLSON
CONTRIBUTORS
Our contributors give Inside Northside its voice, its personality and its feel. We are proud to highlight a few of them so that you can put a face with a name and get to know them.
ERIN COWSER
Erin M. Cowser is a triple threat on the Northshore, having lived and worked in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes with forays across the Causeway and to the State Capitol, too. With a professional career spanning from strategic communications and governmental affairs to public policy and media relations, Erin is at her best when curating relationships and forging collaborations. She and her daughter Eliza Kate share their downtown Hammond home with Priscilla Louise aka “Silly,” the sweetest and most exhaustingly energetic hybrid breed pup ever.
MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT
Mimi blinked and her four kids were grown. She and her husband, David, are emptynesting it on a hobby farm in Folsom where she’s attempting to teach herself gardening, beekeeping, chicken wrangling, foraging, canning, and most recently herbalism. Mimi is blessed to have thousands of articles, essays, and Christian devotionals in national and regional books and magazine.
EDITORAL CONTRIBUTORS
Bellus Photography by Paige Henderson, Sarah Early, Candra George, Sydney Johnson, Reagan Moeller, Visit the Northshore, and Northshore Community Foundation
Chaotic genius
By Erin M. Coswser
The Joneses have nothing on Mary Ann Haase. They would be hard-pressed to keep up with her artwork. In fact, rather than just keeping up, it can be said that her motion-laden artistry has set a completely new standard of aspiration worthy of reaching.
Her collages exude action, both mental acuity and physical activity. She defines them as a projection of the constant action that is life.
Photos by: Sydney Johnson
“Life is not a perfect line. You’ll go through all sorts of ups and downs. It’s always changing. No one lives without some difficulty. There will be moments of incredible beauty and moments of incredible pain,” she said. “But there’s beauty in that constant of change if you look for it.”
Neither a pessimist nor a Pollyanna, Haase said she simply feels compelled to create.
“I don’t start out planning to make it active,” she said of her art pieces. “It just naturally comes out that way. The most authentic framework for my work comes in the form of a non-linear abstract story.”
One might describe her pieces as a confluence of chaos, chaotic yet anchored with an image from which all the movement stretches forth. This is not surprising coming from a photographer by training and education.
“Within our complex, sometimes chaotic human experience, there also exists interconnectedness, balance and beauty if we choose to pay attention to it,” she said. “My work is about the ever-winding path between.”
Haase is a mixed-media artist and photographer with fine arts and liberal studies degrees who has taught art in the northeastern United States and Italy, as well as worked as a freelance photographer and in the Cleveland Museum of Art photo department.
“It’s true that I’m trained in photography, but I never quite behaved as one in the traditional sense,” she said with a laugh. “No matter the artistic assignment or project, I somehow incorporated photography into it, but it was rarely straightforward photography alone.”
A silkscreening class turned into a means by which she silkscreened photographs on huge pieces of fabric. She once took a paper-making class where she ended up putting transfer photographs on all the paper. Even when conducting clay work for her master’s thesis, she ended up with imagery all over the pieces.
“Photography holds a dominant place in my work. I value its ability to capture a direct experience. Most curious for me is how to create photographs that are ‘unbound’ from
COVER ARTIST
“But there’s beauty in that constant of change if you look for it.”
the confines of a viewfinder so that they can merge and integrate with new environments,” said the Mandeville resident, wife and mother of two. “I have always been drawn to photography and its ability to collect a direct experience and keep it. There are so many images that I know I will never use in my work, or anything else for that matter, but for me it is consoling to know that I have them. It’s like writing a visual history of your life, especially the beauty of it. Sometimes I make photographs that call to just be an image on its own, but more likely I find myself wanting to have more of the story. I see something that draws me in and I immediately start connecting, associating, remembering, and ultimately creating a bigger story.”
Photography is indeed the hinge pin of her collages.
“It starts with one image, one that just makes me flutter when I see it. It speaks to me,” she said. “I keep that spark in mind and the creation grows organically from there. The image reminds me of something. One image leads to others. I see them in something else I encounter. I recall a memory. I construct with the tools of balance and trust. I try to collect other elements that are true to the essence of the first images but also allow some organic growth. My visual language relies heavily on duality, metaphor, repetition, nostalgia, history, symbolism, movement and geometry.”
Such compositions often manifest upon 4-foot-by-4-foot cradled wooden panels. Sometimes they materialize on paper. There is variety in the medium just as there is in the content.
Guests at Covington’s Saladino Gallery during her upcoming show, “Everything All At Once,” may find a combination of her pieces to view. Scheduled to open in mid-September, her works will be displayed in the gallery’s atrium.
She describes the collages she intends to show as reflecting “a little bit of danger and a little bit of fun, such as a unicycle.” Titled “The Precarious Nature of Balance,” a unicycle photographed in Old Mandeville served as the impetus for her work featuring two figures of photo transfer, collage and acrylic on wood panels, reaching 30 by 40 inches each.
While much of her inspiration is local, her time spent studying and teaching in Italy is carried forward in her artistic expression as well. She speaks of her time there with a nostalgic tone.
“It was back when there weren’t a ton of tourists yet. I could grab a slice of pizza and walk around Florence,” she said. “To be surrounded
by art and actually live in it, not just visit it, is an experience I absolutely treasure.”
Her love and appreciation of art is a trait she has passed down to her adult children, Walker, who has special needs, and Caroline, who works as a behavioral specialist.
“Walker makes the best marks that always feature rapid movement,” she said with a smile. “When he was younger, he was into horses and cowboys, so he made the most fun wanted posters with outrageous rewards.”
CHAOTIC GENIUS: MARY ANN HAASE
COVER ARTIST
Her husband, Rick, contributes to her creativity in another way. She said he is the one she always complains to when she hasn’t quite got her work to a place she likes yet.
“I tell him, ‘I know I’ve said this before, but this one is really garbage!’” she said with a laugh. “He encourages me to keep working on it. And then an hour or so later I end up loving it.” She keeps a “bag of strange things” in her studio along with some items that “might come in handy one day.”
Some little wheels that may one day adorn the outer edge of a collage, a stack of old albums and a pile of old postcards are among the supplies awaiting possible addition to her work.
“Of course there’s always photography involved, but then I can add found objects, pieces of paper, little images, maybe old botanical drawings of trees, for example,” she said. “Words and letters represent communication. Other parts might show transportation. It’s definitely not random. Everything is incorporated for a reason.”
She adds that even the colors she utilizes reflect the certain uncertainty of living life with its forward motion.
“There may be washy blues and grays, soft and lovely, subtle colors. Mostly muted. But then there are also three blocks of screaming red,” she said with a chuckle.
Despite the ceaseless movement, there is a calming peace that her artwork exudes.
“My work and process rely heavily on the interaction of order and chaos. I continually see that circular pattern in life. Things come together, then they fall apart, and then they come together again. There is room for all of it,” she said.
SEPTEMBER
Katrina, Then and Now: A 20-Year Community
Commemorative Exhibition
September 2-26, Mondays through Fridays,10 a.m. to 2 p.m
The Northshore Cultural Economy
Coalition presents Katrina, Then and Now, a powerful visual exhibition hosted by the George Dunbar Gallery at Slidell City Hall. A closing reception takes place Friday, September 26, from 3 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
This family-friendly event features more than 20 food trucks serving a variety of delicious dishes alongside unique vendors offering everything from handcrafted goods to specialty items. Live music will fill the air throughout the day. Free to the public.
presented by
Abita Fall Fest
October 10-11, Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday,11 a.m.-7 p.m.
The 5th annual Abita Fall Fest will include beer, food, a photo booth, a wine garden, artisan crafts, entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides and more. Prices range from $75-$100 depending on purchase date. Single-day passes are, on Friday, $15-$25 (kids 10 and under, free) and on Saturday, $20-$35 for ages 11 and up, $10-20 for ages 3-10 and free for kids under 3.
22044 Main St., Abita Springs, (985) 773-8539, abitafallfest.com
100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, (985) 781-3650, harborcenter.org/louisiana_ food_truck_festival
Parks for Pollinators
BioBlitz with Wild Ones
Pontchartrain Basin
Saturday, September 6, 9 a.m.
This event is where community members work with park staff to create a snapshot of the variety of wildlife that can be found in Northlake Nature Center. A no-cost platform/app called iNaturalist is used to photograph plants, insects and animals to capture wildlife present in the park on this day and provide more information about pollinators. Free to the public.
Bonsai Bar is bringing the awesome art of bonsai out of the garden and into local bars, breweries, and pubs for a fun,
hands-on night of tiny tree-making you won’t want to miss. Friendly instructors will guide the group through potting, pruning, and designing a bonsai tree to take home. This workshop takes place at Chafunkta Brewing Company. Admission is $85.
From Britten’s sparkling melodies to a thrilling world premiere of New Orleans’ own Jay Weigel’s Violin Concerto showcasing LPO Associate Concertmaster Hannah Yim, Price’s vibrant celebration of African American musical heritage, and Miguel del Aguila’s passionate tango, this program is packed with excitement. A pre-concert talk will take place from 6:30pm to 7:00pm. This concert is currently available for subscription packages only.
128 W. 23rd Ave., Covington, (504) 523-6530, lpomusic.com/events/ ns01-fuhr-sep12
Mary Ann Haas Opening Reception at the Atrium Gallery
Saturday, September 13, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Mary Ann Haas (represented by Saladino Gallery, Covington) is known for her vibrant, evocative paintings that explore the interplay of light and landscape. Free and open to the public. The exhibit will run September 13 through October 31.
100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, (985) 898-0515
Never Forget 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, September 13, 8 a.m.
The Tunnels to Towers Foundation presents a 5K Run/Walk benefit race in support of families that experience the loss of a family member in the line of duty. Fire and police departments are encouraged to send members in fire and tactical gear to participate. A virtual race is also offered, providing those who cannot attend a chance to participate.
Registration fees: Run/Walk, $35; Virtual Race, $35; Ainsley’s Angels Runners, $35, and for Ainsley’s Angels Riders, free.
419 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, (985) 966-1112, runsignup.com/Race/LA/ Covington/NeverForget5kRunWalk
Butterfly and Insect Hike
Sunday, September 14, 9 a.m.
Join Pelican Park Nature Club at the Northlake Nature Center for another butterfly and insect hike with Linda Barber Auld, the NOLA Bug Lady! Please wear close-toed shoes. Long pants and sleeves are recommended but not required. Free to the public.
Wednesday, September 17; Tuesday, October 14, 7-9:30 p.m.
Join your friends at The Harbor Center in Slidell for the next “Up Close and Musical” concert featuring Adam Pearce & The Dreamers, Wednesday, September 17 and Mikayla Braun, Tuesday, October 14. The Lobby Lounge is a listening room venue
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inside The Harbor Center in Slidell. The concert series features nationally touring acts throughout the year, focusing on artists from the worlds of indie rock, folk, country, jazz, blues and more. Performances are acoustic or lightly amplified, in a Bohemian-style, smokefree, 124-seat venue. Tickets are $22 general admission, $54 for a table for 2, and $108 for a table for 4.
100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, (985) 781-3650, eventbrite.com/e/ adam-pearce-the-dreamers-live-at-thelobby-lounge-tickets-1047091929147
Sunset at the Landing Concert
September 19; October 17, 6-8 p.m.
The series features regional and touring artists performing jazz, bluegrass, folk, blues and more. All are encouraged to bring refreshments and chairs or blankets for lawn seating. Free to the public.
100 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-1873, facebook.com/ SunsetAtTheLanding
Lago Fest Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Sunday, September 21, 11 a.m.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Hola Northshore at the second annual Lago Fest at the Mandeville Trailhead. Lago Fest invites the community to a lively celebration of Hispanic culture featuring live music and dance performances, authentic cuisine from local Hispanicowned restaurants, and fun activities for all ages. Free to the public.
675 Lafitte St. Mandeville, (985) 302-7403, facebook.com/ HolaNorthshorela
Rockin’ the Rails Concerts
Thursdays, September 25-October 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Bring blankets, fest chairs and dancing shoes to the Covington Trailhead for the Fall 2025 Rockin’ the Rails concert series. The Lineup: Sep. 25 - Brass A Holics (at Rev. Peter Atkins Park), Oct. 2 - The Blenderz, Oct. 9 - Hard 8, Oct. 16 - Bobby Ohler, Oct. 23 - The PKW Band, Oct. 30The Yat Pack. The first concert of the season is held in Rev. Peter Atkins Park, 701 N. Tyler St., and all subsequent concerts
are held at Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St. Free to the public.
701 N. Tyler St., Covington, (985) 892-1873, covla.com
Columbia Street Final Friday
Block Party’s Friday, September 27; October 31, 6- 9 p.m.
This free family event features classic car enthusiasts displaying their “pride and joy” over four blocks in Covington’s historic St. John District. The last block party of the year is Halloween themed, with trunk-ortreating and various special events inside shops and on the street. Costumes encouraged! Free to the public.
200-500 Blocks of Columbia Street, Covington, (985) 892-1873, covla.com
Ultimate Tailgate Party
Saturday, September 27, 7 p.m.
The Exchange Club of West St. Tammany will host its 13th annual “Ultimate Tailgate Party” at the Covington Trailhead to kick off sports season with a BBQ contest, live music and live and silent auctions. This year’s event will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center - Hope House. General admission is $75* and includes beverages and food. Sponsorship levels are available.
419 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, (985) 630-6246, UltimateTailgateParty.org
Folsom
Fall Festival
Saturday, September 27, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Celebrate the season with a day of family fun at Folsom Town Hall and Moise Park. Enjoy a variety of activities including a chili cook-off, Homestead conference, antique tractor display, farmers market, educational booths, mechanical bull, food trucks, children’s activities and more. Free to the public.
82387 June St., Folsom, (985) 630-0715, villageoffolsom.com/events
Keep Covington Beautiful’s Bogue Falaya River Sweep
Ssturday, September 27, 9 a.m. Keep Covington Beautiful in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the City of Covington and Canoe and Trail
Adventures presents the Bogue Falaya River Sweep Litter Clean-up. Bring your own canoe or kayak! Sign up to paddle or to help with the event at the park by September 17. Canoes and kayaks may be available from Canoe and Trail Adventures. Paddlers with their own boats and event volunteers should meet at the Bogue Falaya Park Launch. Paddlers using Canoe and Trail’s boats should meet at The Chimes dock. A personal flotation device (life jacket) is required for all paddlers. Keep Covington Beautiful will provide litter grabbers, gloves and trash bags. Free to the public.
213 Park Dr., Covington, (985) 867-3652, keepcovingtonbeautiful.org
St. Tammany Parish Fair
October 1-5, Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 5 p.m-midnight, Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight, and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m
The St. Tammany Parish Fair is celebrating 115 years of St. Tammany culture in 2025! Kids of all ages will enjoy the thrilling carnival rides. Live music is featured on the Main Stage Thursday through Sunday, including Gospel Night (Thursday) featuring local church choirs. The rodeo on Friday and Saturday is the real thing, featuring bull riding, roping, bareback riding, trick riding and a calf scramble for the young ones. Thursday is also Kid’s Day! From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., kids can see special performances by JoJo the Magic Clown and Dark Matter Robotics Team. General Admission is free Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; on Friday and Saturday, admission is $5 for ages 12+, $3 for ages 11 and under.
1304 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-8421, sttammanyparishfair.info
PIG Invitational Golf Tournament
Friday, October 3, 10:30 a.m.
The PIG Invitational Charity presents its 45th annual fund raising golf tournament to benefit Northshore charities! A tournament after-party will feature live music by Four Unplugged, a silent auction,
clothing sales from Southern Tide, and a putting-for-booze contest for participants and guests over 21. Player fees, party and raffle tickets can be purchased online.
602 N. Beau Chene Dr., Mandeville, (504) 908-7630, pigcharity.org
Join the Community Christian Concern for their signature fundraising event of the year, The Wild Game, Seafood & BBQ Cook-off, hosted by Chief Randy Fandal. This annual food-lovers event promises a day filled with delicious eats, live music, friendly competition and a collection of local artisans and crafters selling their wares. All proceeds are used to provide food, clothing and housing to our neighbors in need. Pre-sale tickets are $5 for children and $30 for adults; at the gate, $10 per child, $35 per adult.
Northshore Humane Society will host its annual “Unleashed! Rescue Me” Gala at Covington Country Club. Sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union, Integra Healthcare and an anonymous feline friend. The funds raised from the gala will have a direct impact on the no-kill rescue and the programs and services it offers to the Northshore and surrounding areas. The yacht-themed gala will be fully catered by some of our area’s finest restaurants and guests will enjoy live music, silent and live auctions and the very popular cork pull. Since 1953, NHS has served the neglected and abandoned animals of the Northshore region and today stands as one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the state of Louisiana. $125 advance, $150 at door*
200 Country Club Drive, Covington, (985) 892-7387, northshorehumane.org
Bluesberry Music & Art Festival
Saturday, October 4, 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
The Bluesberry Festival returns for its 6th annual festival. Set in Downtown Covington’s riverside Bogue Falaya Park, Bluesberry Festival is a perfect place for music and art aficionados who want to experience the arts amid Southeast Louisiana’s lush natural landscape. There will be live art demonstrations, Interactive Painting Experiences, Children’s Village, Food Truck Roundup, Rejuvenation Station, Abita Beer Garden, and a Spirits Tent. Festival parking will be available at the St. Tammany Justice Center. Trolleys will be running throughout the day. $25-$100 for age 11+, free for age 10 and under.
213 Park Drive, Covington, (985) 789-7183, thebluesberryfest.com
Olde Towne Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, October 4, 11 a.m.
Celebrate all things pumpkin at the 12th annual Olde Towne
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Pumpkin Festival at First United Methodist Church. This family-friendly fall tradition is free to attend and cashless—just purchase tickets at the entrance to enjoy food, games, and activities. Expect plenty of fall fun with arts & crafts, a haystack hunt, pony rides, “punkin’ chunkin’,” inflatables, pumpkin decorating, sweet treats, a Youth Entrepreneur Village, a cupcake walk, Velcro wall and more.Tickets for food and activities are $1 each, with most attractions ranging from 1–10 tickets. Free admission.
October 10-11, Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday,11 a.m.-7 p.m.
The 5th annual Abita Fall Fest will include beer, food, a photo booth, a wine garden, artisan crafts, entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides and more. Prices range from $75-$100 depending on purchase date. Single-day passes are, on Friday,
$15-$25 (kids 10 and under, free) and on Saturday, $20-$35 for ages 11 and up, $10-20 for ages 3-10 and free for kids under 3.
22044 Main St., Abita Springs, (985) 773-8539, abitafallfest.com
Fall for Art
Saturday, October 11, 6 p.m.
Fall for Art is a celebration of music, art and performing arts. Fall for Art is held in the streets of the city’s historic downtown district. Shop a sprawling Art Market along Columbia Street, live music and art demonstrations. Produced by St. Tammany Art Association, the annual event draws hundreds of art lovers who come out to enjoy the live music, art demonstrations, performances and dining in numerous participating locations. Free to the public.
320 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-8650, sttammany.art
Wild Things
Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wild Things is a recreational and educational experience for the whole family, with dozens of guest exhibitors educating about wildlife conservation, live animals, boat and canoe tours, a youth wildlife art exhibition and live music. The event also features a Walk for the Wild Challenge 5K, on a refuge trail or on your own, and a local astronomy club will be on hand to explain the eclipse during the day. Food and drinks are provided by the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges. Admission is free.
Get ready to experience an array of craft beers from local breweries and a day filled with great brews, food trucks, and live music at the second annual Northshore Beer Festival at Mandeville Trailhead.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Miracle League Northshore. $10-200 + online fees
The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce presents the Explore Northshore Business & Community Expo at The Harbor Center. The Expo features nearly 100 businesses and organizations from across the parish offering visitors a one-stop shop for information about goods and services available to them. Attendees can view the exhibits, network, talk face-to-face with business and community representatives, register for door prizes and giveaways, enjoy special family friendly activities—and even help the community as blood drives, food drives
and other events are often held during the Expo. Admission is free.
100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, (985) 8273-3008, sttammanychamber.org/ annual-events/#1567531874000832de653-3a81
St. Tammany Master Gardener’s 2025 Fall Seminar
Friday, October 17, 8 a.m.
A full day of informative presentations & fun for your home, gardens, and planting areas. Plant Boutique furnished by local growers and Table Talks on five different horticultural topics. Morning snacks and lunch are included in this pleasant day with St. Tammany Master Gardeners. Admission fee $55.
17 Lake Forest Drive, Covington, (985) 789-8823, stmastergardener.org
The Big Bad Boot’s SPOOKY SPECTACULAR!
Friday, October 17, 7:30 - 10:30pm
Join us for a frightfully fun evening at The Mezzanine Event Hall. Get ready for a night of thrills, chills, and spooky surprises. Dress up in your most creative costume and compete in our costume contest for a chance to win spooktacular prizes! Enjoy delicious drinks, a fun photo booth, a hauntingly good time with friends and family, and MORE! Don’t miss out on this spooktacular event!
The Mezzanine Event Hall, 308 South Cate St., Hammond, LA 70403, eventbrite. com/e/the-big-bad-boots-spookyspectacular-tickets-1553285090519.
Nightmare on Columbia
Saturday, October 18, 5-7:30 p.m.
Halloween costumes and revelry will fill Columbia Street in Downtown Covington as strollers go from tent to tent to sample craft cocktails and craft beers at the annual Nightmare on Columbia, a sip-and-stroll, costume contest and free concert. From 8-10 p.m., head over to Covington Trailhead, for a costume contest and
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entertainment. All contest participants must be ticketed stroll patrons. Fee is $45 for sip-and-stroll, concert is free.
419 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, 504-439-2543, nightmareoncolumbia.org
Monster Mash presented by Metairie Bank Northshore
Saturday, October 18, 10 a.m.
Monster Mash celebrates 37 years this October as a community-beloved fall family festival for the Northshore community. A fundraiser in support of the STHS Parenting Center, Monster Mash features a fun and safe Halloween experience, complete with trick-or-treating, music, cookie decorating, crafts, carnival rides and much more. Admission is $5 for adults, $15 for children in advance, $20 at the gate
213 Park Dr., Covington, (985) 898-4435, www.DoTheMash.org
Field of Screams
Halloween
Trail
Saturday, October 18, sunset until 10 p.m.
The family fun event Field of Screams Halloween Trail returns to the Covington Recreation Complex. The Blue Swamp Creek Nature Trail will transform into spooky fun. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Eerie stage scenes created and manned by Covington Fire Department and Covington Police Department are certain to startle trail explorers. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult (parent or guardian). Free to the public.
4001 De Porres Road, Covington, (985) 892-1873, covla.com
Deo Gratias - Saint Joseph Abbey Gala & Auction
Saturday, October 18, 7 p.m
Saint Joseph Seminary College hosts its annual fundraising gala, Deo Gratias, (Latin for “thanks be to God”) on the grounds of the historic Saint Joseph Abbey in Covington, Louisiana. The evening begins with Vespers in the Abbey Church with the Benedictine monks and the Seminary Schola Cantorum. The outdoor gala begins at 7 p.m. featuring live music and dinner prepared by Bonnano’s Fine Catering.
75376 River Rd., St. Benedict, (985) 892-1800, saintjosephabbey.com/deo
Greater New Orleans Militaria Show
Friday, October 18, 9 a.m-5 p.m., Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
This 5th annual show will feature military antiques and collectibles, showcasing dealers from more than 20 states. The St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services, which will be onsite with pets for adoption on Saturday. All adoption fees will be covered by the show for active duty and retired military personnel, veterans, law enforcement officers and first responders. Donations of cash and pet-related items such as food, toys, beds, blankets, treats and potty pads will be accepted. Anyone who brings a donation will receive $2 off the cost of admission. General Admission: $10 ages 13+, free ages 12 & under, $15 2-Day Pass, $100 All Access Pass, $8 w/ Donation for Animal Shelter.
Saturday, October 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.: Sunday, October 19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Celebrating its 34th year and presented by the Madisonville Maritime Museum Louisiana, this fun family festival attracts over 100 classic boats as well as loads of activities for the whole family for this two-day celebration. Individuals and teams are invited to test their skills in creating and piloting their own seagoing vessels in a contest for bragging rights and an array of prizes. Your admission ticket also gives you free access to the Maritime Museum. Free off-site parking and shuttle service available at Sam’s Club parking lot. Tickets are $10 per day for ages 12+, free for kids 11 and under.
An Evening with the LPO Saturday, October 18, 4:30 p.m.
The City of Mandeville invites guests to experience the power and passion of live music performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) in Mandeville Lakefront Park. The program begins with a performance by the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra (GNOYO) and the LPO takes the stage at 6 p.m. Food trucks will offer food and drinks for purchase and attendees are welcome to bring their own food, drinks and chairs. Free to the public.
Step into Covington’s past at Whisperings, a living history tour set at Covington Cemetery No. 1. Led in 20-minute increments with groups of 20, guests will be guided through the city’s oldest cemetery at twilight. Along the way, costumed interpreters bring to life notable figures buried on the grounds, offering a moving glimpse into Covington’s 19th-century history, its founding families, and the stories etched into local tombstones dating back to the 1820s. Admission is $10 and available in advance.
608 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-1873, bontempstix.com/ organizations/covington-heritagefoundation
Festival of the Lake
Friday, October 24, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday October 25, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, October 26, 12-6 p.m.
Our Lady of the Lake in Mandeville presents its 43rd annual Festival of the Lake. Festival of the Lake has been drawing crowds from southern Louisiana since 1982. It’s a weekend of fun for kids of all ages.This year’s music lineup features, on Friday, Bag of Donuts; on Saturday, Cottonmouth, Christian Serpas and Four Unplugged; and on Sunday, Karen Waldrup, Top 5 Finalist NBC’s The Voice. A portion of the proceeds for this event will be donated to feed the hungry. Free Admission. Tickets for Games & Food/Beverages
The Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers & Collectors Guild presents its 46th annual Wildfowl Festival, Competition and Dinner at the Castine Center in Pelican Park featuring competitions in wildfowl carving, fine art and antique decoys. Demonstrations, food and fun for the family, including a decoy auction on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
Pumpkins in the Park brings together fall, festivity and fun. Kids of all ages will love the pumpkins, hayrides, crafts, face painting, marketplace and more. Food, beverage, and pumpkins available for purchase. Guests are also encouraged to bring non-perishable goods for donation to the Northshore Food Bank. Free to the public.
111 Terra Bella Blvd., Covington, (985) 871-7171, terrabellavillage. com/news-events
Olde Towne Slidell Fall Street Fair
Saturday, October 25; Sunday, October 26; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
A two-day event ranging over six blocks in Olde Towne Slidell including Griffith Park featuring vendor booths of antiques, collectibles and arts and crafts, as well as the town’s antique shops and great food and live music. To register as a vendor, contact Cindy Fisk at antiqueumbrellaalley@gmail.com. Admission is free.
Free fun for the whole family on Halloween night in downtown Covington at Rev. Peter Atkins Park. Face painting, candy, Halloween crafts, games, and prizes for best costume, so come dressed in your Halloween finest! Admission is free.
701 N. Tyler St., Covington, (985) 892-1873, covla.com
OZONE Artist Showcase and Songwriter Festival
Friday, October 31, 6-9 p.m.
Join the Ozone Music Education Foundation for its premier annual event that brings together top headlining artists for a soulful showcase of original songs and personal stories that inspire and connect. The festival features a weekend of live original music, educational workshops, and community events featuring more than 100 songwriters from across the region and beyond.
317 N. Jefferson St., Covington, ozonemusic.org
2025
On Sunday, Nov. 2, local “celebrity” cooks will partner with local restaurants to prepare tastings of their favorite dishes in a competitive cook-off. The goal is to win the coveted “People’s Choice” and “Judges Choice” awards, but more importantly, to raise the most money for Children’s Advocacy Center - Hope House, a nonprofit organization that provides hope, healing and justice for local child abuse victims.
Since its inception in 2014, Heroes Who Cook (formerly known as Men Who Cook) has become a popular and highly competitive showcase of the Northshore’s culinary scene. The event sold out in 2022 and saw its highest attendance ever in 2023. As its popularity has grown, so has the desire of community leaders to participate. For the first time ever, female community leaders were added to the 2023 celebrity roster, which led to a rebranding to “Heroes Who Cook” last year.
“These are incredible men and women in our community who are not only doing great things in business and government, but also standing with us in the local fight against child abuse and trafficking. To us and to the children we serve, they are heroes. Without them, Hope House would not be where it is today,” said Hope House Executive Director Thomas Mitchell.
Award winners are chosen in three categories. The “Most Money Raised” award is determined by an online fundraising campaign before the event. The “People’s Choice” award goes to the team who collects the most “tips” at the event. The “Judges Choice” award is determined by a blind tasting of each team’s featured dish at the event.
An exciting addition to this year’s event, all donations to team fundraising campaigns will be matched up to $100,000 thanks to a generous donation match provided by the IJN Foundation (In Jesus’ Name)!
Held on the top level of the St. Tammany Justice Center parking garage in downtown Covington from 4-7 p.m., this year’s event will include live music by Groovy 7; beer, wine and cocktails; and a silent auction featuring vacation packages, shopping experiences, event tickets, specialty dining experiences and more. Bidding will also be available online for those who cannot attend the event on Nov. 2.
For event tickets and more information, visit www.cachopehouse.org/events.
In the following pages, meet some of this year’s celebrity cooks and their partner restaurants.
Adam Acquistapace Owner
Acquistapace’s
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? My mom’s spaghetti sauce. My kids call it Mimi’s Magic Healing Sauce, It’s Sicilian with a New Orleans flair. I’m not sure why they call it healing, but they never leave any on the plate.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you?
Heroes Who Cook raises money for the Hope House which has the most needed and incredible mission of any organization. All children must be protected and deserve an army from the community to lead the charge.
Restaurant Partner:
Bellus Photography by Paige Henderson
Dr. Jason Patrick O’Rear Chiropractor
Limitless Chiropractic
What is your favorite family recipe? Why?
Crepes because I love to cook breakfast and I’ve never had crepes anywhere else as good as the recipe we have.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? What it means is community: friends, familiar and new, businesses known and undiscovered, coming together beyond fundraising. It’s giving voice to the voiceless. Child advocacy is close to our hearts, and this organization’s thoughtful work brings true hope for tomorrow.
Restaurant Partner:
Michael J. Cochran Attorney Law Office of Michael J. Cochran
What is your favorite family recipe? Why?
Enjoying a perfectly cooked ribeye with family never gets old. I work coarse kosher salt and cracked black pepper into the meat so it sizzles into a nice crust. Then I let the steak rest briefly, making every bite tender. A quick baste with a bit of butter completes this dish. What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you?
Supporting the Hope House gives children a path to healing and justice. For me, stepping behind the serving table is a reminder that the simplest act, sharing a meal, can mobilize an entire community to protect its most vulnerable members.
Restaurant Partner:
Gabriel “Gabe” Arnoult River Pilot Crescent River Port Pilots’ Association
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? My Mother's Red Beans & Rice.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? It's a wonderful philanthropic event that donates to worthy causes.
Restaurant Partner:
Dr. Matthew Bernard Chief Medical Officer Covington Trace ER & Hospital
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? Red beans and rice- so humble, SO good!
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you?
The chance to be a bad ass and help a kid in need. What is cooler than helping children?
Restaurant Partner:
Anthony M. Rutledge Director, Audit & Assurance Services
LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors
What is your favorite family recipe? Why?
My wife, Sarah, makes a braised country style pork rib dish in the Dutch oven that is so good! That, plus a breakfast sweet potato hash with chorizo and fried egg. She makes these for special events, like Father’s Day, so they are equally nostalgic and tasty.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you?
The Hope House team is a beacon in the community. Getting community leaders together to support their cause is a perfect way to shed light on such a difficult topic.
Restaurant Partner:
W. Connor Brown
Senior Manager, Tax Services
LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors
What is your favorite family recipe? Why?
Shrimp Creole. We break this out for our annual Christmas Eve family get together and when I taste it, it reminds me of friends, family and other loved ones that I’ve had the pleasure of sharing this meal with in the past. What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? It is a great opportunity to help an organization that does so much to help those that need it the most.
Restaurant Partner:
Rory Gallardo Co-Founder of Palette, Owner of Gallardo Signs
What is your favorite family recipe? Why?
Moros y Cristianos. It’s a simple dish, but it holds a special place in my heart because my Cuban grandmother made it for every family gathering. The smell and taste always bring me back to those moments together. What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you?
To me, Heroes Who Cook is becoming an Ambassador of Hope. It’s more than cooking, it’s standing with those on the front lines, using what we have to restore dignity, safety, and hope for children who need it most.
Restaurant Partner:
Bradley Cook Co-Founder Palette
What is your favorite family recipe? Why?
My Mom has made her own from scratch beignets for as long as I can remember. Every birthday and major holiday was enshrined with these perfectly browned and fluffy donuts. Still to this day all her seven children, and now 12 grandchildren, get to enjoy this secret recipe on those special occasions that bring the family together to celebrate.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? It’s not lost on me what this is about. As a survivor, I know CAC Hope House is a vital part of our community and this event ensures it stays relative and effective through the fund raising.
Restaurant Partner:
Scott Discon Attorney and Councilman-At-Large Mandeville
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? My grandfather from Yucatan’s Tamale Recipe.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? I am excited & honored to lend any awareness & support to the incredible work performed at Hope House.
Restaurant Partner:
Michele Moore Echols Tax Attorney Blue Williams, LLC.
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? Lebanese stuffed grape leaves are delicious and you cannot buy them anywhere. They are truly the best!!
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? I love having this opportunity to raise money and focus attention on Hope House and exactly what it does and how important it is for our community.
Restaurant Partner:
Joan M. Coffman President & CEO St. Tammany Health System
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? Sweet Potato Casserole because it reminds me of the holidays and family gathered together.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? Hope
Restaurant Partner:
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor, State of Louisiana
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? My mother’s red beans & rice.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? The opportunity to get together with good friends, in a wonderful community, for a good cause.
Restaurant Partner:
John Stephens Attorney Arena Collective
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? My mom’s fettuccini AlfredoI always loved it growing up and it still reminds me of our family dinners.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? It is an incredible cause for a very effective and meaningful organization.
Restaurant Partner:
Jared Miguez Attorney Arena Collective
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? Nothing is better than a seared steak from the grill.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? Supporting the future of our community is very important to me.
Restaurant Partner:
J. Collin Sims District Attorney, 22nd JDC District Attorney’ Office
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? My mother’s pot roast.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? Provides the core funding to help and protect the most vulnerable of our community, which are our children.
Restaurant Partner:
Jennifer Nolen Owner Northshore Men’s Salon
What is your favorite family recipe? Why? Stroganoff because my father loved it.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? An opportunity to give support and hope to the ones that need it most and to give back to a community that has given so much to me.
Restaurant Partner:
Brian Upshaw Owner The Shipping Post
What is your favorite family recipe? Why?
Spaghetti always brings the whole family together.
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? Helping the children that are in need when no one knows that they need help.
Restaurant Partner:
The Children’s Advocacy Center Hope House, an independent, nonprofit organization, is dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse in St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Proving a path to recovery and a bridge to justice for victims of child abuse, Hope House models, promotes and delivers excellence in child abuse response and prevention through forensic interviewing, specialized counseling, family advocacy and outreach.
Since inception in 1995, our specially trained forensic interviewers have given more than 8,000 children the opportunity to safely talk about their traumatic abuse experience. The CAC is the only agency to provide this crucial service.
Hope House depends on donations to continue providing critical services that protect our most vulnerable citizens—our children. For more information, visit cachopehouse.org.
Other cooks for this year’s event who aren’t pictured include:
Kevin Alario
New Orleans-Baton Rouge Pilots
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? Heroes Who Cook is a chance to give back. Joining other teams for fun while raising money for Hope House connects people to the community. Last year humbled us, seeing St. Tammany unite, and we’re excited to participate again.
Restaurant Partner:
Nick LaRocca
LaRocca Family Realtors
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? It’s our small chance to help out in a BIG way!
Restaurant Partner
Patrice LaRocca
LaRocca Family Realtors
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? It means supporting and standing up for those who can’t defend themselves. It’s about breaking cycles of trauma and hope for a future that might otherwise be stolen.
Restaurant Partner
Beth Mizell Senator, Louisiana Senate
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? Gratitude, Community Spirit and admiration.
Restaurant Partner:
Sheriff Randy Smith Sheriff, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office
What does Heroes Who Cook mean to you? It is an awesome fundraiser for the CAC and a really fun community event. Raising money for a great organization while having fun is always something I’m proud to participate in.
Restaurant Partner:
Pasture
Perfect
The Simple Pleasures of Regenerative Farming
By Mimi Greenwood Knight
Photos By: Reagan Moeller
When Hope Giovelli met her husband, Nick, she never dreamed they would end up living on a 60-acre farm while homeschooling their seven children.
“If someone had told me that, I think I’d have laughed at them,” Hope said.
But spending time on their Credo Farms in Amite, Louisiana, I met a couple completely content with their decisions and the contributions they are making to their community.
The first thing I saw when I visited their farm was the oldest child hard at work building a new portable chicken mobile. On a summer morning when many of his peers were zoned out in front of video games or bemoaning, “I’m booooooored,” he was wielding power tools with skill and confidence. The other kids were friendly, if a bit shy, and doing what kids should be doing
on a beautiful summer day: playing outside and making memories together. Even the farm dog and cats seemed content, sleeping alongside one another in the shade.
Six years ago, when the Giovellis bought their 60 acres, it was pastureland and much of it had been fallow for years. They set about building their homestead using nature as their blueprint. As the Credo Farms website explains:
> We believe that food should be clean, pure and raised with respect for the natural world. That is why we practice regenerative farming, focusing on restoring the soil, nurturing the ecosystem and producing food we can proudly put on our own table.
Regenerative farming is nothing new. In fact, it is the way farming was practiced for millennia before industrial agriculture and the idea of forcing food from the land, often to its detriment, rather than working in harmony with the land and leaving everyone, including the animals, the farmers, the local watershed and the soil itself, better for it.
The young couple toured environmentally friendly farms and read books by Joel Salatin and others who advocate a return to traditional farming practices. They started small, with Nick still working nonfarm jobs as Hope concentrated on raising the kids. Four cows turned into a herd. Six chickens turned into dozens. They practiced intensive management of the land, moving the animals daily, but otherwise allowing them to behave as nature intended.
Chickens on Credo Farms, for instance, are moved daily, which confuses predators such as owls that prefer a more stationary target.
“They live in what we call an egg mobile,” Nick explained. “We move the laying hens behind the cows. When the cows move onto fresh pasture, we move the chickens in behind them.”
The benefits of this pasture rotation are twofold. The chickens peck for the bugs they love in the cow droppings and, as they do, they distribute the manure around the field, which fertilizes the grass. That encourages a new, healthy crop for the cows to forage when they return to that pasture. Thanks to slats in
FEATURE
the egg mobile, layer droppings add their own nutrients to enrich and rebuild the soil.
“We began farming this way because it is what we want for our own children,” Hope said. “We were surprised to realize how many others want it as much as we do.”
Credo Farms’ cows are considered “salad bar beef” because the fields they graze contain not simply grass but a variety of plants that each contribute to the flavor of the beef. Movable fencing means they are offered a new salad bar each day.
Rotational grazing also minimizes the cows’ impact on the land, allowing the grass to rest and regenerate. The result is healthier soil, happier cows, more nutrient-dense beef, and, when the chickens are added to the mix, healthier meat chickens and eggs.
The day I visited the farm, I expected to see cows grazing on an expanse of grassland, but I did not see cows at all. We had to search for them and found them foraging within a shady stand of pines. In fact, Nick had to call to them, whistling and beating on a bucket, before they reluctantly lumbered out of the trees where we could see
them. Some had huge pregnant bellies and others had newborns peeping around their legs.
The 1,000-plus-pound animals appeared calm and gentle.
“They were pretty wild when we got them,” Nick said. “But with daily moving and interaction, they have grown sweet and friendly.”
Curious, too. With their heavily lidded eyes and Pepto-pink noses, they behaved like lapdogs waiting to be scratched behind the ears.
This is the first year the Giovellis consider themselves full-time farmers.
“It took us eight years,” Hope said. (They lived on a small farm north of Covington before purchasing the Amite property.) “Farming is really a full-time job, even if you have a second job. So for years, Nick was working two full-time jobs.”
When they struggled to find hay free of chemical fertilizers, they began baling their own during the summer bounty and storing it to help the cows through the winter months. Other than that, the
FEATURE
cows receive no supplemental feed, obtaining all their nutrients from the grass their manure nourishes. Aside from diatomaceous earth, a natural powder made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, and kelp, none of the animals receive medications, antibiotics, hormones or artificial byproducts.
They raise pigs on pasture as well, using the same movable fencing. During my visit, they glanced up at us, uninterested, from the contentment of a shady structure. When the Giovellis
struggled to find sausage seasoning that was nitrate- and MSG-free, they made their own and supplied it to the abattoir that processes their pork and beef.
“Most of what we do stems from our desire to change something in our own lives,” Hope said. “We cleaned all the chemicals and harmful ingredients from our home and started making our own soap. Then we made a batch for Christmas presents, sold the excess at the farmers market, and the business morphed into more and more and more.”
Now, Hope has her own side business on the farm. Within a metal building that is also used for chicken and egg processing, she makes handcrafted bar soaps, laundry soaps, vanilla extract and seasoning mixes featuring kelp and other beneficial minerals. All colors and scents in her soaps are derived from natural ingredients with no chemicals or synthetic constituents.
The Northshore community has responded enthusiastically to the idea of regenerative farming, snapping up Hope’s artisanal goods at the
Come t lit!
Covington farmers market, online at CredoFarms.com, and in specialty shops such as Pat’s Seafood and Clayton House, both in Covington. They also offer home delivery or farm pickup of their eggs, chicken, beef and pork, or drop-off at Springs of Life Health & Wellness Store in Covington. They are currently selling their eggs, frozen bone broth, pâté, lard and tallow at family-owned grocery stores such as Langenstein’s, Acquistapace’s at Claiborne Hill, and Dorignac’s, and sell their pastureraised chickens to restaurants.
As for homeschooling, on Credo Farms it happens as naturally as anything else.
“It is intertwined in everything we do,” Hope said. “The kids learn their letters and numbers as they help us process and price the chickens. They practice math as they count out change to customers at the farmers market.” All this hands-on application reinforces their more traditional lessons.
Also intertwined is their Christian faith. Even the name of the farm is a reflection of what the family believes.
“Credo is Latin for ‘I believe,’” Nick said. “‘Credo in unum Deum’ is our profession of faith, ‘I believe in one God.’”
“Our faith is the reason we do what we do,” Hope added. “We farm the way we feel God wants us to for our kids, our animals, our land and the customers He has given us.”
Find out more at CredoFarms.com.
CHRISTWOOD TURNS UP THE VOLUME ON COMMUNITY CULTURE
For nearly three decades, Christwood Retirement Community has been a place of enrichment and innovation. And not just for the people who live there. As a not-for-profit Life Plan Community, Christwood has always kept one eye on the community beyond its gates, fostering connection, creativity, and wellness throughout the Northshore region.
Over time, that mission has taken shape in new ways. The Christwood Community Center offers a state-of-the-art fitness facility for adults 55 and up and is open to the greater Northshore. The Atrium Gallery features rotating exhibits from local and regional artists. The community hosts public concerts and events that bring people together from all over the region. And this fall, two indoor pickleball courts and a high-definition sports simulation room will join the offerings.
The newest addition is WCWD 89.5 FM, a public radio station dedicated to classical music. In partnership with WWNO 89.9 FM, New Orleans’ NPR affiliate, Christwood now offers 24-hour classical programming to listeners across the Northshore. It is a meaningful milestone for a place that has always believed in enriching lives.
The idea began with Christwood Executive Director Rev. Stephen Holzhalb and WWNO General Manager Paul Maassen. Their longstanding collaboration, rooted in Holzhalb’s
tenure on WWNO’s board, sparked discussions about establishing a Northshore bureau to extend classical music broadcasting beyond New Orleans. When the FCC announced an upcoming window for new license applications, Maassen encouraged Christwood to step into the opportunity.
With guidance from WWNO’s Mark Balkin, Christwood submitted the application and received approval. The technical foundation for the station was laid by WWNO Engineer Robert Carrol, who located the transmission tower on Clear Creek Stud Thoroughbred Farm in Folsom. The tower was originally built by Christwood’s first executive director, John Lohman, adding a full-circle connection to the project. Christwood IT Director Ken Hamlin led the station’s development and launch.
WCWD 89.5 FM is more than a station. It is a reflection of Christwood’s values. The initiative underscores Christwood’s dedication to public service, the arts, and lifelong enrichment. From wellness programs to public art and now classical radio, Christwood continues to find new ways to invest in what makes life richer - for residents, for neighbors, and for the entire Northshore.
100 Christwood Blvd, Covington, LA 70433
(985) 898-0515• christwoodrc.com
Paul Myers
BANKING ON PEOPLE WITH A RELATIONSHIP-FIRST APPROACH
For Paul Myers, Northshore Market President at Metairie Bank, banking has never been just about numbers. It is about people. “When someone asks what sets Metairie Bank apart, the answer is simple: it’s the people. It’s the relationships,” he says.
A Louisiana native who spent his formative years on Pensacola Beach, Myers’ career path to banking was not traditional. Early on, he worked in outside sales and product management for an industrial manufacturing company, traveling extensively across the U.S., Canada, and Hawaii. But after 9/11, when interest rates dropped, an opportunity arose to train as a lender in Covington. In 2005, he joined Metairie Bank just weeks after Hurricane Katrina, launching a career that would intertwine deeply with the community he now calls home.
Today, Myers is the “face” of Metairie Bank on the Northshore, though he is quick to credit branch leaders and staff as the true front line of customer trust. His leadership style is rooted in empowerment rather than micromanagement, encouraging his team to be self-starters who focus on doing right by the customer. “Banking is competitive,” he notes, “but personal connection is still the ultimate differentiator.”
That connection extends to the bank’s role in the community. With nearly 80 years of history, nine branches, and assets exceeding $620 million, Metairie Bank serves both large-scale commercial real estate projects and mom-and-pop businesses with equal commitment. The bank’s locally engaged board ensures decisions are made with a deep understanding of the communities they serve, in St. Tammany and throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan area.
Beyond the office, Myers is a devoted family man navigating a new chapter as his children head to college and elite cheer programs. Whether in the duck blind with his son or cheering on his daughter, he finds joy in the same principles that guide his professional life: commitment, connection, and showing up for the people who matter.
“For me, it is about building something meaningful for my customers, my team, and my family,” Myers reflects. “If we are doing it right, we are not just managing transactions, we are helping shape a future where our kids want to live, work, and thrive.”
MEET DR. EDWARD “EJ” BURKHARDT
NEUROSURGEON EDWARD “EJ” BURKHARDT CARES JUST AS MUCH ABOUT YOUR SPINE AS HE DOES YOUR BRAIN.
North Oaks Health System introduced new robotic and imaging technologies to enhance neurosurgical spinal care in August 2024, when Dr. Burkhardt joined the North Oaks Neurosurgery Clinic in Hammond.
Dr. Burkhardt earned his medical degree from the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. During his residency there, he trained extensively with robotic spine surgery technology, performing more than 100 procedures.
Born in Metairie and raised in Springfield, Dr. Burkhardt is excited to introduce this cutting-edge technology and offer expert neurological care right here at home.
WHAT DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN?
I specialize in general neurosurgery, meaning essentially everything. Anything cranial - trauma, brain tumors, brain bleeds - and spine. This includes degenerative spine issues, meaning normal wear and tear on the cervical or lumbar spine, as well as spine trauma and tumors.
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF NEUROSURGERY, THEY GENERALLY THINK ABOUT BRAIN SURGERY. WHY IS SPINE SURGERY ALSO CONSIDERED NEUROSURGERY?
Our brain controls our whole body, from motor skills and movement to thoughts and memories. It sends that information down the spinal cord, allowing nerves to carry those signals to the rest of the body. As a neurosurgeon, I take care of essentially everything involving the nervous system, whether that’s the brain or the spine.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON SPINAL CONDITIONS YOU TREAT?
I treat spine conditions like degenerative neck and back issues or chronic neck and back pain. Often, these don’t require surgery. But sometimes, the problem lies within the spine itself and can be addressed surgically.
North Oaks Medical Center is a major trauma center. When it comes to traumatic spinal cord injuries like fractures, dislocations, or other injuries to the spinal cord, those usually require relatively urgent procedures.
WHEN DO YOU USE ROBOTIC SPINAL SURGERY TECHNIQUES? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC SPINAL SURGERY?
This is the next frontier of spinal instrumentation and navigation, where we use robotics to place screws and rods in the spine. Navigation means using a computer system to link a CT scan to a patient’s live anatomy, showing us exactly where we are during surgery.
Surgeries that require instrumentation, meaning screws and rods to stabilize the spine, combine this navigation system with a robotic arm that I guide. It allows me to safely place screws in precise alignment and increases accuracy tremendously compared to more conventional methods. Robotics also let us perform the procedure more efficiently, with less radiation exposure to the surgeon, patient, and operating room staff.
Using robotics, I can also plan screw placement to minimize the incision as much as possible. That makes the surgery less invasive, which usually leads to better outcomes, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT NEUROSURGERY AT NORTH OAKS HEALTH SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY ROBOTIC SPINE SURGERY?
It’s the leading technology emerging in spine surgery today - and we have it here at North Oaks. We can do it efficiently and successfully. Our goal is to take care of any neurosurgical issue you might have right here in Hammond, without you having to go anywhere else.
15790 Paul Vega MD Drive • Hammond, LA 70403 (985) 345-2700 • northoaks.org
Arena Collective
BUILDING BRANDS. STRENGTHENING BUSINESSES. SERVING COMMUNITY.
Arena Collective was established with a unified purpose: to create an environment where businesses can thrive in our community. Founded by four business leaders: Rebecca Norton Saucier, Jared Miguez, John Stephens, and Lauren Kaufmann Navarre, this firm exists to help business owners grow strong, resilient companies while staying focused on their core strengths.
What Businesses Need to Succeed
Arena Collective delivers essential services through its family of businesses:
• Strategic business structuring, advising, and consulting through Arena Law Firm
• Estate planning and succession services through Arena Law Firm
• Commercial and residential real estate and title services through Arena Title Company
• Escrow services through Arena Escrow
The launch of Arena Escrow offers major support to businesses in our community by transparently simplifying every step of private loan servicing, seller-finance servicing (real estate transactions), 1031 exchange qualified intermediary services, and general escrow services.
Beyond Legal and Real Estate
Arena Collective empowers entrepreneurs through more than just legal services. Additional ventures provide connection and momentum:
Lettuce Media – A content creation and video company spotlighting local business leaders through
event coverage and highlights, social media video creation, podcasting, business brand videos, website videos, and more.
Boss Move – A home-service concierge business that helps homeowners and business owners move into new properties efficiently, particularly regarding home services and utilities.
Posh Patch – A wellness brand and topical vitamin patch company that helps high-performing professionals stay energized and focused.
For entrepreneurs, success is rarely the result of one single decision. It is built over time, with the right strategies, the right partners, and the right opportunities. Arena Collective offers all three. The invitation is simple: step into the Arena and see how far your business can go.
With offices in Covington, Slidell, Metairie, Hammond, and Baton Rouge, Arena Collective serves businesses throughout southeast Louisiana.
Collin Sims
PROTECTING THE NORTHSHORE WITH PROVEN LEADERSHIP
In March 2024, Collin Sims was elected District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District, serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. A Mandeville native and graduate of Saint Paul’s High School, Sims has devoted more than 17 years to prosecuting the most serious criminal cases at both the state and federal levels.
After earning a political science degree with honors from Mississippi College and his Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, Sims began his career in 2006 as an Assistant District Attorney in Orleans Parish. By 2008, he was one of the youngest attorneys in the country to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting complex cases involving violent gangs, organized drug trafficking, child exploitation, and public corruption.
In 2015, Sims became Chief of the Criminal Division in the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, supervising more than 100 staff and continuing to try major cases. His work led to the conviction of former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain, now serving multiple life sentences. Throughout his career, Sims has built and led multi-agency task forces, trained prosecutors nationwide, and forged strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement.
As District Attorney, Sims has launched and expanded critical initiatives, including a Special Victims Unit with a 95.6% conviction rate in child exploitation cases, a coordinated domestic violence response team that has dramatically reduced dismissals, and an aggressive Opioid Task Force pursuing dealers whose drugs cause fatal overdoses and charging them with murder.
Sims’ leadership philosophy is grounded in example and accountability: “I have never asked my team to do something I wouldn’t do myself. I want passionate public servants committed to making an impact.” He cites his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children as his greatest motivation, and has a deep personal commitment shaped by family tragedy to protect the community from predators and dangerous drugs.
Active beyond the courtroom, Sims serves on multiple nonprofit boards and has been recognized with national and state awards for excellence in law enforcement. His goals for the DA’s office are clear: make the Special Victims and Opioid Task Forces models of collaboration for others in Louisiana to adopt, deliver justice for victims, and ensure the Northshore remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.
For Sims, public service is not about holding a title—it’s about results. “Do the work, be impactful, and use the opportunity you have to change lives for the better.”
Gather – Taste – Discover
A NEW CULINARY DESTINATION COMES TO MANDEVILLE
COURTYARD BISTRO & FOOD LOVERS MARKETPLACE OPENS THIS FALL
Soon, a new space for food, flavor, and connection will open its doors in Mandeville. Courtyard Bistro & Food Lovers Marketplace is more than just a restaurant or a gourmet shop. It’s a thoughtfully designed experience, where elevated meals and exceptional ingredients come together in one welcoming setting.
The concept began with a vision: create a place where people could slow down, enjoy a great meal, and explore flavors they might not find anywhere else. That vision belongs to Pemmie Sheasby, who partnered with her son Michael Sheasby to bring it to life. The result is a true family endeavor. It is warm, intentional, and built to serve both regulars and first-time guests with the same sense of hospitality.
The bistro will offer breakfast, lunch, and brunch with a fresh approach to classic comfort food. Diners can expect savory Dutch babies, crisp hashbrowns, seasonal salads, and signature sandwiches, crafted with care and high-quality ingredients. Behind the menu is Chef Brandie Wilcox, whose focus on consistency and creativity ensures each dish is approachable yet memorable.
Just steps away, the Food Lovers Marketplace invites guests to explore small-batch oils, vinegars, sauces, spices, and specialty items used in the kitchen. The idea is simple: if you love what you tasted, you can take it home. Many of the products will be familiar to longtime food lovers in the community.
Those who remember Oil & Vinegar Covington will recognize Rena Billiot and Sheri Sheasby, whose product knowledge and connection to customers helped build a loyal following. Now, those same globally inspired flavors are back, already available online and soon to be featured on the shelves once again.
While the bistro and market will open this fall, the vision is designed to grow. Plans are already in place for private events, catering, chef-led dinners, and seasonal gatherings. And with the holidays approaching, the marketplace will also offer custom gift baskets, gourmet stocking stuffers, and hard-to-find products perfect for home cooks and hosts.
From the food to the team, everything about Courtyard Bistro & Food Lovers Marketplace is rooted in a belief that great meals bring people together. Whether you’re stopping in for brunch with friends, shopping for a gift, or discovering a new ingredient, you’ll find more than just good food. You’ll find a place that feels like home.
A Hospital with a Heart
REDEFINING CARE IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
In an era when healthcare often feels rushed and impersonal, one local hospital is charting a different course. Built on the belief that patients deserve both world-class medical care and a thoughtful, welcoming environment, the facility has quickly become a model for what modern medicine can and should look like.
The vision was brought to life by physicians Matthew Bernard, Michael Christner, Brent Giuffre, Mark McInnis, and other ER doctors in the community. Together, this team of Board-Certified Emergency Physicians shared the conviction that their community deserved better. Starting a hospital from the ground up required courage, perseverance, and a team willing to push past countless obstacles. What emerged is more than a place to treat illness; it is a space designed to restore dignity, reduce stress, and meet the community’s needs with compassion at every level.
From the moment visitors arrive, the difference is clear. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, filled with details that feel far removed from the sterile environments many have come to expect. Freshly baked bread, often rosemary focaccia made with herbs grown in the hospital garden, perfumes the air. Bird feeders maintained by staff bring life to the outdoor spaces, while turtles drift lazily in a pond nearby. These touches are not superficial amenities but part of a deeper culture rooted in presence, joy, and respect for both patients and the team who care for them.
That culture has translated into exceptional patient experiences. Many describe their stay as more reminiscent of a boutique retreat than a traditional hospital visit. At the same time, the facility has earned attention for its advanced
approach to medicine. Alongside a full-service emergency department and inpatient care, it offers forward-thinking wellness and screening options. Whole-body MRI and groundbreaking cancer detection through liquid biopsy, capable of identifying over 50 types of cancer with a single blood draw, place the hospital on the cutting edge of preventive care.
The philosophy is simple yet transformative: anticipate needs, address concerns early, and provide an environment that heals in more ways than one. As the community’s response continues to grow, expansion may be on the horizon. Yet the commitment remains unchanged. The hospital belongs to the people it serves, and its future will evolve in step with their needs.
In Southeast Louisiana, where hospitality is a way of life, this hospital has embraced that tradition fully. It proves that medicine, at its best, is not only about curing illness but also about creating a space where patients and caregivers alike feel valued, respected, and at home. As part of that commitment, the hospital welcomes all major commercial insurance plans. While federal regulations prevent it from accepting Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare, staff work closely with patients to provide clarity and support in navigating coverage.
Brent Giuffre, Michael Christner, Mark McInnis, and Matthew Bernard
Inside Gabb Morrison LLP
PLANNING WITH PURPOSE
When longtime friends and colleagues Ronda M. Gabb and Ronald “Chip” Morrison, Jr. merged their practices, it was more than just a business decision. It was two teams with shared values coming together with the shared belief that families deserve better than complicated legal jargon, rushed decisions, and unnecessary litigation. Together they form Gabb Morrison LLP, a firm focused on helping Louisiana families plan with clarity and confidence.
With more than 50 years of combined experience, Gabb Morrison includes four attorneys, two of whom are board certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, and a skilled staff that includes four Louisiana notaries. Together, they guide families through both the legal complexities and the emotional weight of estate planning.
The firm is built around the belief that estate planning is not just about documents. It is about people, and it is deeply personal. Whether sitting with a family in crisis or helping parents of a child with special needs put a plan in place, the team shows up with both legal knowledge and emotional intelligence.
Much of their work is proactive, focused on preventing conflict and preserving peace of mind. Their mission is to help families protect the things they have worked their whole lives for -
homes, savings, family businesses - so those gifts aren’t lost to court battles, taxes, or confusion down the road. “One of our biggest challenges has been helping clients navigate planning during a crisis, after a diagnosis, a loss, or a legal emergency,” Ronda said. “These are highly emotional, time-sensitive situations that require more than legal knowledge. They require empathy, patience, and the ability to guide families through uncertainty with confidence.” Outside the office, the team shares the same joys and challenges as the families they serve. School events. Crawfish boils. Football Saturdays. They live the life stages their clients are planning for.
Success for them is no longer about achievement. “It is about the impact we are able to make on the lives of our clients,” Chip said. “That sense of purpose in the work we do has made all the difference.”
Steve Sperier and Lisa Babb
COUNSELORS ROOTED IN FAITH AND EMPATHY
Located on Holy Trinity Drive across from Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Covington, Louisiana, Grace Funeral Home & St. Lazarus of Bethany Memorial Garden provides modern, comforting services to families across St. Tammany Parish. Open 24/7 with fully accessible facilities, the home features a serene chapel for up to 150, private arrangement offices, a flexible refreshment space, and a landscaped memorial garden, all designed to ease the burden during life’s most sensitive moments.
As long-standing counselors at Grace Funeral Home, Steve Sperier and Lisa Babb anchor the practice with empathy, authenticity, and devotion.
Steve acknowledges that true leadership starts with selfawareness. He embraces his own limitations, continually improving and strategically surrounding himself with complementary strengths. For him, success isn’t measured by conventional metrics. It’s in his relationship with God, and reflected in the company one keeps. Outside of work, Steve finds joy in family life, cycling with friends, and serving as a Deacon. He credits these interests with informing his grounded leadership and caring professional presence. Lisa’s path into the profession was unmistakably personal. After experiencing profound family losses, she stepped into funeral arrangements to support her grieving family. It was
a moment that led to a meaningful calling rather than a job. Her dedication to empathy and detail was shaped by that early experience and further cultivated by her first mentor, Buddy Amedee, who taught her the importance of both efficient systems and personal connection. Today, Lisa remains devoted to ensuring every family feels understood, supported, and honored.
A Unified Approach to Service
Together, Steve and Lisa exemplify Grace Funeral Home’s mission to provide personalized, compassionate guidance during emotional times. They bring faith, humility, and a heartfelt desire to serve, ensuring each family is comforted and supported—whether through planning, ceremony, or beyond. At Grace Funeral Home, their dedication goes hand in hand with the facility’s promise: to craft meaningful tributes that honor each life with dignity, care, and exquisite attention to detail.
Josh Wilson
THE FIRE AND THE FUNDAMENTALS OF JW GLOBAL
Josh Wilson was never meant to sit in a classroom or punch a clock. Schools wanted him to be quiet. Jobs wanted him to be obedient. He couldn’t do either. They fired him. Again and again.
Most people would’ve folded. Wilson didn’t. He saw every firing as confirmation: he wasn’t meant to take orders. He was meant to write them.
He started in real estate, grinding deals together without a safety net. Then he expanded into transportation, and healthcare. Not because it was safe, but because that’s where the leverage was.
“Most people fold when it gets hard,” Wilson says. “Quitting was never on the table. The only question was: what’s the next move?”
That’s how he lives. That’s how he leads. High standards, no excuses, all execution. He pushes his teams the way he pushes himself: relentlessly forward.
Today, he’s in Mandeville, Louisiana, raising his family while building his empire. No fluff. No shortcuts. Just pressure, accountability, and results.
Everyone says they want freedom. Most don’t have the stomach for what it costs. Wilson paid the price. And now? He’s proof it was worth it.
If you’re ready to step into the world of business acquisitions, not to play, but to win, then reach out.
Elisa Smith
GRAZING IN STYLE
For the founder of KyElle Charcuterie, inspiration comes from a life well-traveled. As part of a military family, she has called eight duty stations home, from Washington D.C. and Savannah to New Orleans, with a few stops in between. “Our travels constantly feed my creativity and provide me with new ideas,” she says. “I take inspiration from colors, textures, and flavor profiles to incorporate into my work. Charcuterie is so much more than cheese and salami, it’s food for your eyes and your soul.”
What started as simple cheese and cracker platters for friends has grown into a business that brings beauty and flavor to every occasion. Today, KyElle Charcuterie creates everything from signature snack boxes to large boards for parties. For big celebrations, their grazing tables are showstoppers, brimming with sweet and savory combinations that are as pretty as they are delicious. Standing out in the world of charcuterie is not easy, but she has found her signature. “What truly makes us stand out is our signature styling and custom chocolate work,” she says. Each order is designed to match the theme or holiday, complete with dipped strawberries and homemade seasonal chocolates. Clients can even have edible images made from their own photos, logos, or designs. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece of food art.
Her definition of success has changed over time. “When I was younger the image of being successful was always associated with money. As an adult the reality of success translates to so many more aspects of life,” she says. “ Creating a trusted name that has brought repeat customers back through our doors is the ultimate definition of success for KyElle Charcuterie.”
In the kitchen, music keeps her company. “It is a very rare occurrence to catch me working without singing off key to my favorite Christian or country radio, with maybe a few random dance moves in between.” That joy and energy are part of every board, making KyElle Charcuterie as full of heart as it is full of flavor.
Banking is often defined by rigid rules and cookie-cutter solutions, but M C Bank has built its reputation in the space where opportunity, creativity, and personal connection thrive.
From the start, M C Bank was founded on the belief that banking should be about people first. They offer the full range of products and services you might expect from a national institution, delivered with the warmth, trust, and familiarity of a true community bank. This combination of big-bank capability with hometown spirit has made them a trusted partner for individuals and businesses alike.
The decision to expand into Covington was more than a geographic move. It was about aligning with a community whose values match their own. Personalized service, local decision-making, and long-standing relationships are at the heart of what they do. Their vision is simple yet powerful: to be “More than a bank, a place that helps you grow”. That commitment is reflected in every conversation, every loan decision made locally, and every partnership formed with Northshore families and entrepreneurs.
Switching banks can feel daunting, but M C Bank has perfected the process. Their team knows how to make the transition seamless so clients can move forward without disruption. “We know it’s a big decision,” says the Northshore
team. “But helping people make that change is what we do every day, and we do it well.”
What sets M C Bank apart is agility. While many financial institutions are slowed by layers of corporate procedure, M C Bank moves quickly and makes local decisions in real time. Whether tailoring a business loan, creating a custom deposit solution, or answering the phone when a client calls, they are focused on listening, adapting, and delivering results that work in everyday life.
For M C Bank, banking is not a take-it-or-leave-it transaction. It is a collaborative process that puts client goals at the center and finds solutions others might miss. On the Northshore and beyond, they are redefining what a bank can be: a partner, an advocate, and a trusted guide through every financial season.
DR. HANNAH SAMROW
STEPS INTO HER VETERINARY CAREER
Dr. Hannah Samrow didn’t always know she wanted to be a veterinarian. Growing up in Ponchatoula with three highachieving sisters, two in medicine and one in education, she felt the weight of expectation but needed time to figure out her own path.
Her parents, both professionals, emphasized stability, excellence, and following through. “They always pushed me to be my best,” she says. “That foundation grounded me, even when I didn’t know what I wanted yet.”
She found her direction in her senior year of high school while shadowing a local veterinarian. The spark was immediate, and from that moment, she was fully committed. She enrolled at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and dove into hands-on experiences through externships in Hammond and Northlake.
She graduated in May 2025 and joined Northlake Veterinary Hospital, where she had already found supportive mentors and a place that felt like home. She admits that at first, the learning curve was steep. “I definitely had moments of imposter syndrome,” she says. “But I’ve learned to trust what I know and keep learning.”
Working alongside Dr. Leonard, she is building confidence and finding joy in helping young pets get a healthy start. She hasn’t settled into one specialty just yet, and she is okay with that. The learning, she says, is the best part.
Her advice to others who are just starting out: show up, stay grounded, and give yourself room to grow. The rest will come.
Dr. Samrow is early in her career but already making an impact. With a strong foundation and the right people around her, she is exactly where she needs to be.
Dr. Jim Carlson: Leading with Purpose at NTCC
For Dr. Jim Carlson, the decision to pursue a career in higher education was shaped by his own experience as a student at the University of Southern Mississippi. It was there that faculty and staff mentors showed him the power of education to inspire, transform, and lift others up. That influence stayed with him, setting him on a path that has now spanned 27 years and a range of leadership roles, from faculty member to department chair, director, dean, vice chancellor, and now chancellor of Northshore Technical Community College.
“I didn’t set out to become a community college chancellor,” he says, “but I’m grateful for the opportunity to help other people achieve their dreams and goals.”
His leadership style is straightforward and effective: hire good people, empower them to lead, and step aside so they can do their work. It is a philosophy that has guided him through moments of growth and moments of challenge.
One of the most defining moments in his career came in 2020 when he was asked to serve as interim chancellor at River Parishes Community College. At the time, the region was navigating both a global pandemic and the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The experience, he says, was never part of his academic training, but it became one of the greatest teaching moments of his life. It also prepared him to take the helm at NTCC.
Carlson credits two mentors with shaping his leadership journey: Dr. Monty Sullivan, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, and Dr. William Wainwright, his predecessor at NTCC. Both, he says, gave him space to lead and bring ideas to life.
Today, NTCC is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state, serving over 6,000 students. Major expansions are underway at campuses in Hammond, Bogalusa, and Livingston Parish - investments that reflect both the momentum of the college and Carlson’s steady hand at the wheel.
With campus locations in Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes, NTCC is your community college of the Northshore.
Tiffany King
THE ORGANIZED SOCIAL
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO LAUNCH THE ORGANIZED SOCIAL?
While staying home with my kids, I was looking for a creative outlet and started my blog, We Five Kings, with encouragement from a freelance boss. Along the way, I built meaningful relationships and discovered a passion for helping businesses grow their online communities, especially during the pandemic. That passion has grown into helping small businesses strengthen their entire digital footprint through social media, websites, and more.
WHO HAS INFLUENCED YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE THE MOST, AND HOW?
My leadership style has been shaped most by the bad bosses I’ve had. I’ve worked under micromanagers, leaders who demeaned their staff, and bosses who lacked vision or planning. Those experiences gave me a clear sense of what not to do, and when Justin and I started our company, we made it a priority to lead with intentionality, respect, and trust.
IS THERE A BOOK, PODCAST, OR MENTOR THAT’S HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON YOUR GROWTH?
At the end of 2024, I hired a leadership coach, Kat Parker, and she’s been integral to my growth this year. I initially brought her on to help me navigate my husband Justin leaving his full-time job to join The Organized Social, but she’s also guided me through adding new team
members and setting my goals for 2025. Having someone in a neutral position—outside of my business—has helped me gain perspective, stay focused, and scale strategically. She’s been a huge part of helping me check off some big goals, and I always recommend her to others going through growth periods.
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR THE ORGANIZED SOCIAL?
We’re in an exciting growth phase right now. The response to our work has been incredible, and the increasing requests to collaborate with us confirm we’re on the right track. It’s definitely a busy season with some short-term sacrifices, but we’re focused on the long-term gains and building something sustainable for the future.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE ENTERING THIS CAREER TODAY?
Do not let anyone take credit for your ideas and your work. Stand up for yourself. Be loud. Take up space.
985-634-2462
Pelican Urgent Care
FAMILY-RUN, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED, AND NOW IN MANDEVILLE
For 25 years, Pelican Urgent Care has quietly built a reputation as one of the Northshore’s most trusted names in walk-in care. Founded in Slidell by emergency physician Dr. Kumar K. Amaraneni, Pelican was born from a simple idea: that urgent care could feel personal, not transactional.
Today, that vision is carried on by the next generation - Dr. Kumar’s children, Jenny and Johnny Amaraneni, and his nephew, Dr. Ujwal Meka, who help lead the business and patient engagement. Still family-owned and locally rooted, Pelican offers something that sets it apart from the chain clinics: real clinical depth and the ability to seamlessly coordinate care. Between Dr. Kumar, Dr. Meka, and longtime emergency physician Dr. Eddie Lirette, Pelican brings more than 80 years of combined Emergency Medicine experience to the exam room.
At Pelican, patients two and older are seen for everything from colds and flu to fractures, cuts, and occupational health needs. But it’s what happens behind the scenes that really distinguishes them. Thanks to their longstanding partnership with Slidell Memorial Hospital and Ochsner Health, Pelican providers can access medical records, coordinate with your primary care doctor, refer to specialists as needed, or facilitate a transfer to the ER when a situation calls for more than urgent care.
That level of seamless integration is rare and intentional. “We’re here to be part of your whole care journey, not just a quick stop,” Jenny says.
This fall, the Pelican team is expanding to Mandeville, with a new clinic opening September 4 at 804 Heavens Drive, Suite 102. Leading the Mandeville location is Dr. Eddie Lirette, who brings over 20 years of experience in Emergency Medicine and will serve as Medical Director.
A public ribbon cutting will take place September 9 at 11:30 a.m., a celebration not just of a new location, but of a local family’s commitment to community care.
From the front desk to the exam room, Pelican’s team treats every patient like a neighbor. It’s urgent care done the way it should be: quick, capable, and centered on connection.
2375 Gause Blvd | East Slidell, LA 70461
63025 West End Blvd | Slidell, LA 70461
1839 Cooper Rd, Ste 100 | Picayune, MS 39466
804 Heavens Drive, Ste 102 | Mandeville, LA 70471
STEPHANIE HENDRY MCDANIEL
CRAFTING A DREAM AND A COMMUNITY ONE SHOE AT A TIME
In 2004, fresh out of LSU with a merchandising degree and a lifelong dream of owning a business, Stephanie Hendry McDaniel was looking for her niche. She’d grown up watching her father pour his heart into his own company, learning early that hard work and family were inseparable. When she spotted a gap on the Northshore for women’s shoes and accessories, she decided to fill it, earning both her parents’ blessing in the process.
That leap of faith became Shoefflé. Twenty years later, Stephanie still loves what she does every single day. “When you truly love your work, it doesn’t feel like a job,” she says. Her motivation? Her husband, her three children, and the desire to pass down the same work ethic her parents gave her.
Running a business isn’t without its challenges. The pandemic brought months of shutdowns and uncertainty, but Stephanie credits her “energizer bunny” mom, a devoted staff, and fiercely loyal customers for helping Shoefflé pull through. “Our community is life-changing,” she says. “They could shop anywhere, but they choose to come here, have fun with us, and let us help them feel beautiful.”
Stephanie’s leadership style is rooted in equality. She calls her staff “coworkers” and treats them like family. “They’re my
rock at work,” she says. “When you respect and appreciate your team, they’ll help you grow, , and I would not be where I am today without my longtime manager Gretchen Goetz.
These days, her focus is on keeping Shoefflé fresh and fun, from scouting new trends at the Vegas shoe show to popping up at local holiday markets. Two downtown Covington locations feel just right - enough to keep her challenged, but balanced with family life.
For Stephanie, success is simple: loving what you do, working alongside people you enjoy, and creating an atmosphere where customers can laugh, sing, and leave a little happier than when they walked in.
“To our loyal clients, friends, family, and coworkers - thank you for 20 incredible years,” she says. “Shoefflé wouldn’t be here without your love and support.”
222 N Columbia Street l Covington, LA 70433 (985) 898-6465 l shoeffle.com
Photo credit:
Sarah Early
As a boy growing up in Covington, Greg Salter had no idea his grandfather was “kind of a big deal”. To him, Jack Salter wasn’t the winningest coach in Covington High School football history, an inductee into the High School Football Hall of Fame. He was just Grandpa. “I’d tag along with him on the weekend, as he washed uniforms in the fieldhouse and worked on scouting reports,” the younger Salter said. “And sometimes he’d take me to practices. Those high school players were like the Saints to me.”
His grandfather even surprised him by showing up to his tenth birthday party with a few star players in tow. “It might as well have been Bobby Hebert or Archie Manning,” Salter said. “I was also the worst ballboy ever. I don’t think I ever brought a ball onto the field. I just wanted to be on the sidelines with the team and with my grandpa.”
To the rest of the Northshore, Jack Salter was the once-in-a-lifetime coach who took his 1976 team to a state championship, landed Covington High in
Once a Lion
A Covington Football Legacy
By Mimi Greenwood Knight
the runner-up position three times, won 15 district titles, and 250 football games. But for Greg, the penny didn’t drop until he was on the team himself.
“I started to realize what a big deal he was when I’d overhear other coaches talk about him,” he said. “I saw how coaches from opposing teams wanted to pick his brain and talk strategy with him. His last year was my senior year and, each time we played a game on the road, the other school held ceremonies for him and organized
tributes.” He also saw how former players returned to show “Coach” pictures of their children or invited him to their weddings. Then in 2001, the Covington High football stadium, which had always been known as The Cow Palace, was renamed Jack Salter Stadium.
With such a formidable role model, how could Greg not try his hand at coaching? “I actually started working for the Covington Recreation Department when I was 13,” Salter said. “Then, I coached at Fontainebleau Junior High while I was still at Southeastern.” After graduation, he
accepted a coaching position at Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell.
Then in 2001, he landed an assistant coaching position at his alma mater and hung in there for twelve years before being named Covington High School’s head football coach in 2013, a year the Lions were one game away from the state finals in the Super Dome.
“It had been 12 or 13 years since we’d won a playoff game,” Salter said. “It was total beginner’s luck. But it gave me a taste for the way I remember Covington football, when I was a kid, when the whole town rallied around the team.”
In his first year as head coach, as the Covington High Lions advanced toward the finals, home games in Jack Salter Stadium were standing room only. The team won the all-important game against crosstown rival, St. Paul’s, taking home the coveted “Little Brown Jug”, for the first time in years.
Downtown Covington businesses painted their windows with blue and gold slogans celebrating their hometown team. And a week before the big game, Salter walked into his usual barbershop, only to have everyone inside launch into the Covington High fight song. “It was like stepping back into the Covington of my childhood,” he said.
Before that final playoff game, the elder Salter arranged a surprise for his grandson. He got word out to former CHS players to show up outside the fieldhouse. When the team ran onto the field that night it was through a tunnel of over 200 former Lion players, some who’d played as far back as the 60s and 70s and others who’d just graduated.
“That single moment will stay with me forever,” Salter said. “I thought, ‘They may fire me tomorrow, but I’ll take that moment with me.’ Jack had set the bar so high and cast such a long shadow. But that night showed me it could be done again.”
In the end, the Lions lost their shot at the state championship game by one point in the final seconds of the game. “My grandpa said, ‘Games like that you always have regret. What’s your regret?’ and he talked me through the disappointment,” Salter said.
Jack Salter attended every game his grandson coached, but he always sat discretely in the end zone, not wanting to distract from the players and the game. “He’d sit in his car and watch practices,” Salter said. “ I’d tell him, ‘You know you can come on the field.’ And he’d say, ‘I’m just a fan now.’
“But I was able to bend his ear about anything and everything that came up,” Salter said. “He’d experienced it all. The first piece of advice he gave me was to learn every kid’s first name and to make sure they know I see them as individuals, not just what they can contribute to the game. He told me to always make time for the media and, when you have years when things aren’t going your way, they’ll cut you some
slack. But the main thing he taught me was to treat every child the way I’d want someone to treat my child.”
The biggest surprise for the younger Salter is how little of his job is actually about coaching football. “My job is to manage the coaches while they handle the football stuff,” he said. “My main job is to be there for the kids and the things they’re going through. You wouldn’t believe what some kids go through.”
“A lot of kids today don’t know how to fail,” he said. “I don’t want to lose a game ever, but there are things we can learn when we lose. I hope I can teach kids to respect the officials and respect their opponent. I hope we’re preparing them not just to play football but to live in the real world.”
Salter has had some phenomenal years since taking over as head coach. In 2017, his Covington High Lions were undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1988 going 12 and 0. Last year, they were 9 and 3. “There are years when we don’t meet our potential and that’s frustrating,” he said. “But every year is fun because every year is different. This year for instance, we’ve lost some good leaders. So, we’re waiting to see who will step up. We have a lot of talent. This is a team that can go up against anyone.”
Salter is coaching sons of his former players now and sons of his former teammates. “Five or six of the guys on the staff were players I coached,” he said. “My skin had to get tough pretty fast in this job. You’re never going to be able to please everybody. But my grandpa taught me just keep doing what you think is right and hopefully it will be most of the time.”
Legendary coach, Jack Salter, passed away in 2017 at the age of 86. During his 33 years as Covington High football coach, he impacted hundreds of lives and left his grandson some big shoes to fill. Fill them he has. And he says he’ll keep on coaching until he can’t anymore.
“In this job, you’re expected to put a successful product on the field,” Salter said. “But my ‘scoreboard’ is in ten years when my players come back to me like they did to my grandpa. When I get on Facebook and see where this boy got his dream job or this kid is an awesome father, those are my wins and losses. Those are the ones that matter anyway.”
Northlake Performing Arts Society (NPAS) is excited to share with you our 2025-2026 concert schedule. This is our 31st season bringing choral music to the Northshore.
We will be performing 3 programs this season - 2 at Covington High School and one at Abita Springs Town Hall. Tickets for concerts are available through our website - NPASsingers.org. You will also be able to buy them from NPAS members and at Downtown Drugs in Covington and C&C Drugs on Hwy 59 in Mandeville. Tickets for all concerts are $15 for ages 13+
A discounted Season Ticket is now available - online purchase only.
NPAS 2025-2026 Season
“Double,
Double, Toil & Trouble”
Friday, October 3rd @ 7:30PM Sunday, October 5th @ 3:00PM
Covington High School Theater
73030 Lion Drive, Covington
“On Broadway”
Saturday, January 24th, 2026 @ 7:30PM Sunday, January 25th, 2026 @ 3:00PM Abita Springs Town Hall 72077 Live Oak St., Abita Springs
“Iko, Iko - Singing the Songs of Louisiana”
NPAS is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible up to IRS limits. Sponsorship opportunities available - www.NPASsingers.org Can’tattendbutwanttoNPASsupport?Becomean sponsor.Many levelstochoosefrom.
Friday, April 17th, 2026 @ 7:30PM Sunday, April 19th, 2026 @ 3:00PM
Covington High School Theater
73030 Lion Drive, Covington
Tickets for all concerts: www.NPASsingers.org
FLOURISHES
Jude Frances Lisse collection turquoise and diamond ring set in 18K brushed gold, $5,270. Boudreaux’s Fine Jewelers, Mandeville, (985) 626-1666.
LSU game tee, $52 and scarf, $34. Columbia Street Mercantile, (985) 809-1789.
Biltmore Aurora Contemporary Lantern in Gas or Electric. 4 Finishes available including Old Brass and 2 sizes. Gulf Coast Lanterns, (985) 900-2232.
Dramatic and refined, Reina captivates with its rhythmic flared fronds encircling a central drum and softly etched white glass diffuser. Finished in timeless Distressed Brass, it’s a luminous sculpture that elevates any space. Pine Grove Electrical Supply, (985) 893-4003.
With its flat base and fluid ribbon edges, this accent bowl exudes effortless elegance. Champagne gold outside and silver enamel inside, it complements any décor beautifully. V Home & Interiors, (985) 231-7411
Panthère de Cartier, size small. Pricing available upon request. Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, (504) 832-2000.
You will be game day ready in these western boots with Inside pocket for your money and ID $129. Shoeffle, (985) 898-6465.
GENEROUS HEARTS
Highlighting Philanthropy on the Northshore Northshare at 10 A Campus for Collective Good
Our partners at the Northshore Community Foundation exist to make it easy for each of us to make a difference in our own backyard. Now in their 18th year, the Foundation has touched over $94 million dollars in philanthropic fuel, focusing on simplifying, organizing and magnifying philanthropy at every turn.
The Foundation has reached those remarkable numbers in three primary ways. First, they engage hundreds of individuals, families, companies and nonprofits in a membership model that promotes active connections and charitable work. Second, they take the paperwork out of “doing good” by administering funds that act as charitable checkbooks for any purpose. Last, they step into big roles when the need is great — especially in times of disaster. Through these three unique and critical roles, the Foundation uses its expertise and resources to magnify the incredible charitable work so prevalent in our region.
Everyone is a philanthropist. To Learn how you can do more in your own backyard, reach out to the Foundation at northshorefoundation.org
Ten years ago, a bold idea took root in downtown Covington. What if nonprofits had a place to not only do their work, but to do it together? A place designed to foster connection, reduce barriers, and strengthen impact across the region?
That idea became Northshare.
Founded by the Northshore Community Foundation, Northshare was built on the belief that missiondriven work becomes more powerful when it happens side by side. Since opening its doors, it has become a hub for nonprofit collaboration across St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, and St. Helena parishes. Today, the campus offers affordable office space, educational opportunities, and a state-of-theart conference center, all designed to help nonprofits focus on what matters most.
From the start, every aspect of the space was intentional. Tucked next to the St. Tammany Justice Center, the campus was designed to feel like a bright spot against a backdrop of concrete. Its architecture creates a soft transition into nearby neighborhoods and reflects the Foundation’s commitment to thoughtful placemaking.
“The vision was to create a welcoming environment where nonprofits could work alongside each other with the Foundation as the convenor,” said Kelly Rabalais, who has been involved with Northshare since its earliest planning stages. “When you learn of the many different groups who meet, share ideas, and collaborate here, you understand the real impact of what the space has become.”
One of the most significant features of the campus is the Coatney Center, a conference room made possible by the generosity of Doyle Coatney. It serves as a central meeting place for board retreats,
planning sessions, and community-wide convenings. For many organizations, it removes one of the biggest obstacles to impact - access to functional, professional space.
That access matters. It allows nonprofits to invest more time and resources into their missions. It sparks the kind of informal connections that lead to big ideas. And it fosters a culture of collective good that strengthens the entire region.
Behind Northshare’s success is a unique alignment between philanthropy and public leadership. Parish President Mike Cooper has been a longtime supporter of initiatives like Northshare that strengthen the nonprofit sector and broaden community impact. This kind of public–private partnership ensures that good ideas have both the resources and the runway to take off.
For those who have been part of the journey from the beginning, the sense of pride is unmistakable. “We are proud to support initiatives like Northshare that give our local organizations the space and support they need to thrive,” says Cooper, “When our nonprofits succeed, our entire community benefits.”
As Northshare looks to celebrate its tenth anniversary, the Foundation is already looking ahead. Thanks to the generosity of so many supporters—honored on the donor wall affixed in the lobby—what once was only an idea has become a reality. With a proven track record and strong demand, leaders are focused on continuing this momentum in the years ahead. The goal is simple but ambitious: to welcome even more nonprofits into the fold and increase the region’s capacity to do good, together.
If you’re interested in learning more about Northshare, reach out to the Foundation at (985) 893-8757.
Building Dreams: Arian Chatman’s Journey to Homeownership
Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West celebrated a milestone this year with the dedication of its 2024 Women Build home. Thanks to the leadership of top sponsor Chevron, along with the support of many sponsors, volunteers, and committee members, Arian Chatman now has a place to call her own.
After months of putting in her required sweat equity hours, Arian received the keys to her new home, marking the 318th home built and sold by Habitat STW since 1981.
“Chevron is proud to be a Visionary Partner of Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West. We believe homeownership should be within reach for everyon, not just a dream, but a reality. Together, we are building more than homes; we are building hope, stability, and a stronger future for families across the Parish.”
For Habitat STW, each home is more than a construction project. It is an investment in generational wealth and long‑term stability. By creating affordable paths to homeownership, Habitat helps families like Arian’s break cycles of uncertainty and build brighter futures for the next generation.
To learn more about Women Build or to get involved, visit https://www.habitatstw. org/womenbuild
EAT & DRINK
TCHEFUNCTE’S
MADISONVILLE
Indulge in a culinary journey at Tchefuncte’s, where our chefs masterfully craft Louisiana and American cuisine with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. The upscale atmosphere, paired with the breathtaking scenic view of the Tchefuncte River, sets the perfect stage whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a long, leisurely meal, we’ve got you covered. To ensure that you have the best experience possible, we recommend making a reservation. For large parties and events, email us at EVENTS@TCHEFUNCTES.COM
THE ANCHOR
MADISONVILLE
Tuesday 11am-7pm
Wednesday-Thursday 11am-8pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-8:30pm Sunday 11am-8pm
407 SAINT TAMMANY ST., MADISONVILLE (985) 323-4800
THEANCHORLA.COM
527
MANDEVILLE
Tuesday-Friday: Lunch 11AM–2:30PM
Tuesday-Thursday: Dinner 5PM-9:30PM
Friday-Saturday: Dinner 5PM–10PM
527 N CAUSEWAY BLVD., MANDEVILLE (985) 778-2820
GALLAGHERS527.COM
TOASTED YOLK COVINGTON
The Toasted Yolk is the perfect place for French toast, mimosas, and chef-inspired dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. With everything prepared fresh daily, including scratch-made sauces and dressings, it’s a must-visit for a delicious and satisfying meal.
206 LAKE DR, COVINGTON, LA. (985) 377-5288
THETOASTEDYOLK.COM
DESI VEGA'S STEAKHOUSE
At Desi Vega's Steakhouse Northshore, our expertly seared, aged steaks promise indulgence in every bite. Alongside our signature steaks, we offer house-crafted desserts, specialty appetizers, and seafood options like jumbo lump scallops, market fish, and broiled lobster tail. For the best experience, reserve your table on OpenTable or call us. For large parties, email EVENTS@DESIVEGASNORTHSHORE.COM. We look forward to welcoming you to an elevated dining experience.
COVINGTON 1950 N. Highway 190, Covington, LA, (985) 276-4994
MANDEVILLE NOW OPEN! 4250 Hwy 22, Mandeville, LA 70471, (985) 221-7700
GALLAGHER’S
SLIDELL AND COVINGTON
Award-winning entrées featuring sizzling steaks, pork chops, and the best seafood Louisiana has to offer. Whether you’re looking for fine dining in a comfortable setting, or a lunch that’s a cut above the rest, we specialize in creating the perfect experience for your needs.
GALLAGHERSGRILL.COM
PARDOSAN AMERICAN BISTRO
MANDEVILLE
Pardo's Fine Dining offers European and American Cuisine in a flavorful and relaxing atmosphere with a variety of foods from handmade pasta to Prime steaks, from specialty beers to artfully hand-crafted cocktails; there is surely something to please every palate.
