River parishes magazine spring 2016

c'est la vie

River Parishes Magazine

A special publication of L'OBSERVATEUR

www.lobservateur.com

Spring 2016 Edition

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Bienvenue!

It is my pleasure to present to you St. John the Baptist Parish, a community located in the heart of the River Parishes along the Mighty Mississippi River. St. John is home to nearly 45,000 residents living in Edgard, Garyville, Mount Airy, LaPlace, Lucy, Pleasure Bend, Reserve, and Wallace. This issue will highlight life in the River Parishes and the many organizations and businesses proudly located in this rich and diverse community.

In coordination with our partners, the Port of South Louisiana, the River Parishes Tourist Commission, GNO, Inc., Louisiana Economic Development and the River Region Chamber of Commerce, our efforts to promote and enhance our community are finally coming to fruition. It is a great time to live and work in St. John the Baptist Parish where billions of dollars of new investments are on the horizon and millions of dollars are being dedicated to improving our quality of life.

As Parish President, I am committed to continuing to move St. John the Baptist Parish forward beyond pre-Isaac and now, pre-tornado levels. For the second time in four years, residents and business owners in St. John the Baptist Parish are faced with unforeseen devastation and destruction. As we work toward a full recovery, our vulnerabilities continue to be exposed by the increases in the frequency and intensity of severe weather events. We are working tirelessly on securing funding for construction of a hurricane protection levee and after 42 years in the study phase, we are finally moving protection for our community forward.

St. John the Baptist Parish is located along a major corridor with various modes of transportation that make us an ideal location for new businesses, industrial developments, and a future depot along the Super Rail between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. However, the beauty and uniqueness of our communities along Historic River Road continue to draw tourists from around the world. Locations such as San Francisco Plantation, Evergreen Plantation, Cajun Swamp Tours, Historic Riverlands, Woodville Cemetery, and others deliver the story of St. John’s rich history and culture to tourists from near and far.

Please take time to read this special issue and share in the pride of our community and our people. We ask that you support our local newspaper, as it features important news and community events. Be a part of something great and help make St. John the Baptist Parish the best that it can be.

Please visit the parish website at www.sjbparish.com to view our latest news and upcoming events in the community. St. John the Baptist Parish is the best place to live, work, and raise a family, and we invite you to take part in all that we have to offer.

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– Natalie Robottom St. John the Baptist Parish President

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RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Table of Contents Editor’s welcome -------------------------------- 5 Mandi Sweeney enjoys life with a crown ----- 6 Ex-NFLer Dent tackles faith as preacher ---- 10 7 Questions with Logan Williams -------------- 14 Kerri Smith cooks up Strawberry Dessert ---- 18 7 Questions with Orlando Watkins ----------- 20 Gilbert Jr. builds unique baseball team ---- 24 How to keep kids safe this summer -------- 29 Scene it: Gem Drugs Easter Egg Hunt -------- 31 Parting Shots ------------------------------------ 35 Dining -------------------------------------------- 36

The River Parishes Magazine, C’EST LA VIE Publisher/Editor ~ Stephen Hemelt Advertising ~ Christine Browning • Corey Thomas • Constance Woods Contributing Writers ~ Raquel Derganz Baker • Lori Lyons • Courtney Griggs • Monique Roth Graphic Designer ~ Christine Browning • Candace Hemelt 116 Newspaper Dr., LaPlace, LA 70068 • 985-652-9545

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Discover more about our community St. John Alternative School, referred to by many in the School District as the redirection school, has an unflattering reputation compared to the rest of the public schools in St. John the Baptist Parish that form the foundation for the District’s B rating in the eyes of Louisiana public education.

If the Alternative School houses the students that couldn’t behave at other schools, some unfairly say, then it STEPHEN must be the bad school.

HEMELT Don’t tell that to Orlando Watkins, the school’s principal.

Publisher Watkins, the grandson of River Parishes education luminary Emily C. Watkins, has served our community and local children as a teacher, coach, disciplinarian, assistant principal and central office administrator.

“I thought I could really serve this system better by being in this capacity and I really welcomed the opportunity and embrace it,” he says in a profile that starts on page 20 of this edition of River Parishes Magazine. “I surrounded myself with people, and we changed the attitude of the school, the culture changed and the climate is a very different place.”

Hearing from Watkins sheds light on one of our misunderstood schools and serves as an example of what this issue of River Parishes Magazine set out to accomplish.

There are many wonderful, challenging and unique stories in the River Parishes that many lifetime residents are unaware of, and we hope the pages of this magazine offer a better understanding of those people and places.

With the help of more than 40 advertisers, a dozen team members in the production process and the appreciated access of numerous community sources, we’ve put together our Spring Edition.

Thank you to LaPlace’s Kerri Smith for sharing her “Strawberry Dessert” that is a must-have at her family functions and can be part of yours, as well.

Destrehan native Burnell Dent, Tulane football’s all-time leading tackler, engaged in a little memory lane fun reliving his college and professional football years before informing us about his second calling as a River Region pastor.

At 20 years old, Mandi Sweeney has already accumulated more than 40 crowns along with countless scepters, pins and ribbons. Just don’t pigeonhole one of the River Parishes most accomplished pageant participants before learning of all her passions. Her love of math has already placed her on a trajectory to a career in naval architecture and marine engineering.

There are so many amazing stories under the surface of our great community. I hope you have as much fun reading them as we did telling them.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE and L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Mandi Sweeney is holding her crown as Cut Off Youth Center Hurricane Festival Queen XLII.

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Crowning Achievement With more than 40 crowns, Mandi Sweeney has found a home on festival stages She’s so much more than just a pretty face. She’s extremely intelligent and an all-around good person.

Mandi Sweeney has been participating in pageants since she was 2 weeks old.

“My mom wanted to put me in pageants and when she did, I won,” Mandi said.

“When I was little, I used to hate wearing lipstick, so my mom wouldn’t put it on me until right before I went on stage. I would get so mad that I would break my crowns after winning them.”

That doesn’t seem to be a problem anymore.

The 20-year-old has more than 40 crowns in her possession, along with many scepters, pins and ribbons.

While her mom got her started in pageants, Sweeney has continued to compete for herself.

“Competing in pageants has instilled so many great qualities in me,” Mandi said. “I was a very shy child, and pageants were the thing that helped me get over my shyness. It made me feel beautiful and it made me feel self-confident.

“I feel like if I didn’t have pageants, I would still be that shy child. Pageants really gave me that edge to be myself, always feel beautiful and have that selfassurance.”

Mandi, a LaPlace native and Montz resident, is blessed by everything she has and gives back by helping out with charitable organizations, especially the Special Olympics.

“Mandi has had a full life,” said Michelle Sweeney, Mandi’s mom. “She has always done lots of community service. We are very proud of her. She juggles a lot. She has always been very involved with community service. She’s very involved with the Special Olympics and VFW. It’s not all about the crown. It’s about what you do with it.”

Mandi attended 96 events during her reign as Hurricane Festival Queen in 2015, including community service efforts with the annual VFW convention, Buddy Walk for Down syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, St. Jude and Children’s hospital.

Even with all of her pageant duties and charity functions, Sweeney finds time to play the role of full-time college student. She is an honor roll student, who graduated in the top 10 percent of her high school class.

She currently attends the University of New Orleans on a full scholarship for Naval Architecture Marine Engineering.

“My grandfather is a mechanical engineer,” Mandi said. “He is the vice president of the company he works for. He has always said that if you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life. He loves his job and has traveled all over the world. I find that absolutely amazing.”

Mandi has always been good at math and science and she figured she would

Mandi Sweeney, left, poses in a black dress during her photoshoot with Jonathan Carter.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Mandi Sweeney poses during a photoshoot with Fadil Berisha.

do something with the talents God gave her.

“I took advantage of that and went into engineering,” she said.

“UNO is one of only two schools in the United States that offers Naval Architecture Marine engineering and one of only three schools in the world that offer it. I think it is pretty cool that I get to live at home with my family and go to school for that.”

Sweeney’s love of math led to her tutoring mathematics to children of all ages.

“Mandi just loves math,” said Michelle. “She just has this way of explaining to kids who are failing that makes them understand it and start making As in school. I’m always teasing her for getting so excited talking about ‘Math Camp.’”

After college, Mandi wants to build luxury yachts or cruise ships.

“I want people to have fun on what I build,” she said.

Although she loves all things “girlie,” she also has a tomboy side.

“I love my momma, but I am a big daddy’s girl,” Mandi said. “I love to go hunting. I’ve shot a hog, a deer and pheasants. I love doing outdoor stuff with my daddy and I just love hunting. I don’t care what is in season. I like to hunt everything. I’m really good at skeet shooting. I’ve been shooting guns ever since I can remember.”

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“Mandi won the Gheens Bon Mange’ pageant Nov. 14,” Michelle said. “She won on a Saturday and was pheasant hunting with her daddy on Sunday.”

According to Mandi, Bon Mange’ means good eats, and “that’s exactly what you’ll find at our festival which is truly one of a kind.

On the first full weekend of June, down Highway 654, join me at the Gheens Bon Mange’ Festival, where there is much fun in store!”

The next Gheens Bon Mange’ Children’s Pageant is going to be held May 14 in the Gheens Community Center in Raceland. The community center, festival and pageant have Facebook pages: Gheens Bon Mange’ Festival & Community Center and Gheens Bon Mange’ Contestant Info.

Mandi said she couldn’t pick her favorite title or choose the one that means the most.

“People normally judge a pageant by the size of the crown or how big the title is,” she said. “They all hold a very special part for me.

I was VFW queen. Pretty much all of the men in my family have been in the military, so I was beyond honored to hold that title.

Each pageant is different and holds a special place in my heart.”

— By Courtney Griggs

Mandi Sweeney, sitting among her crowns, said she couldn’t pick her favorite title or choose the one that means the most.

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Burnell Dent, No. 56, goes for a tackle while playing for the Green Bay Packers. (Courtesy of Green Bay Packers)

Burnell Dent put up prolific numbers as a linebacker, finishing as the Green Wave’s all-time leader in career tackles (492) and tackles in a single season (172). (Courtesy of Tulane athletics)

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The Rev. Burnell Dent, right, gives Leroi Jackson a heartfelt hug following Jackson’s gift to help with Dent’s church effort to keep a local food pantry stocked.

Packer to Preacher Ex-NFLer tackles 2nd dream from LaPlace pulpit

Burnell Dent started New Foundation for Life Full Gospel Church in LaPlace in 1998.

At 53, Burnell Dent has already concluded a successful football career and is working on dream No. 2.

After being called into a different line of work, the Destrehan resident has planted roots in LaPlace as a Baptist church pastor to fulfill another dream.

Dent grew up in St. Rose and went to Destrehan High School. After graduation he attended Tulane University on an athletic scholarship from 1982-85.

Dent put up prolific numbers in New Orleans as a dominating linebacker, standing today as the Green Wave’s all-time leader in career tackles (492) and tackles in a single season (172).

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He was inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.

“God blessed me with tools like the size and the weight, and I tell people you need to play the hand you were given,” Dent said. “I was athletic all my life, loved sports all my life and idolized so many people that played football. It was also something that kept me out of trouble, kept me focused and gave me goals.”

Standing over six feet tall and weighing more than 200 pounds, it seemed as though God certainly did give him the tools to become a football player.

Dent’s superlative college career led to professional stardom, as the Green Bay Packers selected him in the sixth round of 1986 NFL Draft.

The middle linebacker played seven years for the Green Bay Packers and one year with the New York Giants before retiring after the 1993 season.

“The NFL is the elite,” he said. “If you are able to make it to that level, you know you’re in the elite category. The jump from college to the NFL is the ultimate leap. It’s hard. It takes the favor of God, I feel, and it takes the right individual.”

Dent said his whole NFL career was a dream come true.

“One thing that sticks out in my mind is during my first year I got a chance to play the New Orleans Saints,” he said. “I made an interception and ran it back for a touchdown against my home team.”

Another moment Dent will never forget is the day he played against the Chicago Bears in 1986.

The Bears would use “Refrigerator” Perry, who played defense, on offense near the goal line. “(Perry) was like 400 pounds, and they would just give him the ball,” Dent said. “He would boulder over anyone that was in his

way. I knew what was coming and I was able to take him out. I got a lot of praise for that.”

Dent said his mother was his inspiration. She had four children and Dent was the oldest.

“Many times, she was a single parent because my father was in and out,” he said. “She did her very best to raise all four of us. I wanted to make my mother proud of me and I also wanted to be able to give back. That was one of the first things I did when I made it to the NFL, I paid off her house.”

It was one less bill his mother had to worry about.

You can’t forget where you came from and you always have to give back, according to Dent.

“The Bible tells us to be generous in our giving,” he said. “That is one of the things that really brought a lot of joy to my heart to be able to bless my mother because she blessed me by bringing me into the world.”

Dent and his mother were very close and he admits it was a hard loss when she passed away in 1995.

It was time for a change in the 1990s after playing football approximately two decades.

Dent went from tackling opponents to preaching the good news of God. “I went from one calling to another calling,” he said.

“God had called me into the ministry, so for me, even though I missed football, it was a smooth transition. I had something to focus on and a place for my energy that satisfied and completed me.”

Dent started New Foundation for Life Full Gospel Church in LaPlace in 1998.

In between football and becoming a pastor, Dent attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for a few years, then was sent to LaPlace for an internship at Living Water Baptist Church.

Burnell Dent said plans for New Foundation for Life in LaPlace call for building a family life center to house outreach ministries, Sunday school classrooms and a banquet facility. (Raquel Derganz Baker/L’OBSERVATEUR)

Burnell Dent played four amazing years at Tulane from 1982-85, leading to an NFL career.

(Courtesy of Tulane athletics)

From that experience, Dent launched New Foundation for Life Full Gospel Baptist Church in LaPlace in 1998 and has been going strong ever since.

Marsha Dent, Burnell’s wife, said the transition from football to pastor’s wife was an adjustment because the couple was used to football and the atmosphere of traveling and playing for different teams.

“I didn’t want to move from Mandeville, I liked the lifestyle that we were living,” she said.

“Even though I love the Lord, it wasn’t something that I was ready for.”

At first Marsha said she felt some fear being outside of her comfort zone but now says she enjoys the life.

Marsha said she wishes, at times, her husband had a normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job and that the family, which includes five daughters, could go on real vacations instead of conferences. But after 28 years of marriage and working with her

husband and the Lord, Marsha and her husband are happy.

New Foundation of Life moved to its current location at 1061 Cambridge Drive 16 years ago.

“God led me to another passion and that is serving and being a pastor, a shepherd to the church,” Dent said. “It completes me and gives me that satisfaction that my life is meaningful and I’m being a blessing.”

New Foundation of Life is an outreach ministry, Dent said. During the summer, New Foundation offers a day camp for community youths and also feeds those in need twice a month through a Second Harvest-sponsored Food Pantry.

“Our immediate plans include a family life center,” he said. “We don’t have a concrete date for that.

In the family life center, we will be able to hold outreach ministries, and there will be Sunday school classrooms and a banquet facility.”

— By Raquel Derganz Baker

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

7 Questions With ....

Logan Williams Logan Williams, 18, said she really loves cooking and baking. The LaPlace resident started working her magic in the kitchen at a young age when her grandmother gave her a recipe and set her free. Since then her love of food has grown into a passion.

The young budding chef says cooking has always been in her family. Special occasions and holidays provide a great opportunity for Williams to share her skills with loved ones. Her favorite dish to prepare is spaghetti because of its

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different styles. To Williams, the most rewarding part about cooking is presenting her dish and seeing people’s reactions.

1) Who is the best cook or chef you know and why?

That’s kind of a hard question. I don’t know any chefs in the traditional sense that work in a restaurant or anything like that. The best chef I know would have to be my mom. She is very innovative with her cooking. She can look through the pantry, look at random ingredients that you wouldn’t think would go together, and she ends up pulling off a great dish. My mom always encouraged me to cook. I know she really loves it. I remember for our birthdays she would make our cakes, sculpted cakes that I would have never thought possible.

2) What is your go-to recipe?

When I first started out it was definitely peanut butter cookies, but as I’ve gotten older, I would say it’s my meringue cookies.

Logan Williams, seen in her home economics classroom at St. Charles Catholic, places a dessert she made at home. It’s her take on a Swiss roll that is tiramisu-flavored. She likes making the dessert, because there are so many ways to do it.

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Logan Williams said the success of local cooks on national television programs motivates her to pursue her passion.

Some people call them forgotten cookies, because you just put them in the oven and forget about them. It’s really easy and simple. Some things just stick with you. For example in the fourth grade my mom taught me how to make pumpkin pie and I’ve never forgotten that recipe.

3) What are your plans for the future?

I’m going to Nicholls to get my culinary degree. I plan on, hopefully, working in a restaurant or a bakery to gain some more experience. My main goal is to open my own restaurant or bakery, whichever I have the most time and passion for. I would like to work with things like breads and pastries. If I find in the future that I really want to cook avant-garde meals like a lot of the big chefs like Alex Guarnaschelli or Anne Burrell are very famous for, then, I think, I would find a lot of passion in that as well.

4) Do you feel like there is a lot of good food in this area?

Oh yes! Even though Reserve is like 15 minutes down the road, their

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taste for food, their take on a jambalaya is totally different than people in LaPlace. Because we’re in between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, you get a mixture of both. You get a really spicy creole New Orleans with the more Cajun Baton Rouge. I think it’s really neat and really cool the different stories you can tell from food.

5) Who do you feel is the worst cook in your family?

It would have to be my older sister.

When we were younger she took up sewing and I took up baking. Every time my sister bakes I wind up baking. She’ll go ‘Logan, help me I can’t do this” or “Logan, it won’t stir. Why won’t it stir?” So I end up doing it.

She’s still learning, she isn’t the best but she hasn’t ever made a serious meal. It’s not that she isn’t willing to learn, she’s more of the ‘I’m going to make brownies” person.

6) What is the best music to listen to when you’re cooking?

I’m personally a fan of Broadway show tunes. There is also a singer with a techno 20s sound. Her name is

Caro Emerald. She is very jazzy with a techno beat, so it’s very up-tempo but still very soothing and calming. I find that the best music to listen to is music that I can bop to the beat and keep my energy up. When I’m tired or when I’ve been whisking egg whites for 20 minutes trying to get them to full volume, I need something to lift my spirits and keep me energized and jazzed up. That way I don’t end up resenting what I’m doing.

7) Are you aware of the local chefs that have won national cooking competitions on TV? It was amazing finding out that Natasha Clement had won All-Star Academy. When people on shows say they are from Louisiana, I never think that they are from LaPlace. I was totally in awe when Natasha won the finale. I watched her on the show and she was amazing, she was quick and always had a recipe. She said she was a home cook but she’s so much more.

Watching her really locked in my confidence that I could do this for a living.

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Sweet Strawberry Dessert

Kerri Smith of LaPlace shows off her ‘Strawberry Dessert.’

(Monique Roth/ L’OBSERVATEUR)

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Years ago, Kerri Smith of LaPlace started bringing what’s now known as “Strawberry Dessert” to family functions. She got the recipe from her mother-in-law, Suzanne Smith, and it’s now become the item she’s always assigned to bring to the many functions on her mom’s side of the family.

Here, she shares the recipe.

INGREDIENTS: 2 32 oz. containers of fresh strawberries 1 angel food cake 1 14 oz. can of condensed milk 1 13.5 oz. container of strawberry glaze (normally found in the fresh fruit section of grocery stores) 1 cup of powdered sugar 2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened 1 container of whipped topping INSTRUCTIONS: Rinse and cut up strawberries into bite-sized pieces.

Mix container of strawberry glaze with fresh strawberries. Set mixture aside.

Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar and condensed milk. Combining with a handheld mixer may be the easiest and fastest way. Set mixture aside.

Break apart angel food cake into bitesized pieces.

In a large glass or trifle, create a layer of angel food cake.

Top the angel food cake layer with white cream mixture.

Top white cream mixture with strawberry mixture.

Continue layering until all ingredients are used.

Top with whipped topping.

TIPS AND NOTES: Kerri said she’s thawed out frozen strawberries to use for the dessert when fresh strawberries weren’t available.

Kerri said any fruit could be used to make the dessert, adding one time she made it with strawberries but topped the whipped cream layer with blueberries.

For large gatherings, Kerri makes the dessert in individual clear cups instead of one large bowl or trifle. In that case, each cup holds one of each layer of the dessert. Anyone wanting to make it in cups should purchase two containers of whipped topping.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Orlando Watkins serves as principal at the St. John the Baptist Parish Alternative School.

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7 Questions With .... Orlando Watkins An educator for nearly 30 years, Orlando Watkins has been a teacher, coach, disciplinarian, assistant principal, central office administrator and, now, serves as principal at the St. John the Baptist Parish Alternative School. For him, it’s a career in the family business.

His father was the late longtime school board member Charles “C.J.” Watkins. His grandmother was the late longtime educator Emily C. Watkins. He spent nine years as an assistant football and head baseball coach at West St. John High, where he also taught math. He is a 1981 graduate of East St. John and a 1985 graduate of Grambling State, where he also played baseball.

1) What does it mean to you that there is a school named after your grandmother?

It’s just wonderful. I could have never imagined it going to someone better, not being biased or prejudiced towards her. Just the work that she put into the community, the spirit with which she did it, just reaching out to a community of people (where) there was no formal education, setting the platform and doing the framework for this area, being one of the first AfricanAmerican persons involved in the formal educating of the people of St. John Parish.

She went up the ladder from teaching to administration, herself, spending 50-plus years in education.

There’s not a better person to honor with a school

named after her and then for me to continue her legacy, being her oldest grandson.

She nurtured me and pretty much willed me to be in education when I initially said I didn’t want to do what everybody else did. It’s wonderful being a part of that legacy and trying to keep her spirit alive by educating children, especially disadvantaged children that need second chances.

2) Do you miss being involved in athletics?

Yes I do. It was quite a bit of an adjustment for me but, at the same time, I knew I could be more of an intricate part of the education of children’s lives by going into more of the curriculum and the planning and being a school leader. I thought I could impact the community greater doing that than to be involved in athletics — although, it’s where my heart is. It helped to mold me to where I am. I just put it on the backburner and look forward to getting involved again during my retirement years and reliving some of those memories.

3) Who is the best athlete you ever coached?

Wow. I have to think about that one. As far as West Bank athletes, I think it would have to be Shawn Trench as one of the top athletes I’ve come across in my time at West St. John. He rivals anyone I’ve seen.

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Orlando Watkins, principal at St. John the Baptist Parish Alternative School, said every day is a new experience with who’s coming through the door, adding the students have potential and need a lot of special guidance and love.

4) All three of you played baseball. Who is the best athlete in the family, you, Juan or Nathaniel?

I’m going to say I was. I really do believe that I am. We all had success as athletes and as student athletes. I have to say that because that’s really what our family instilled in us — the student athlete — to continue to be eligible throughout our years of athletics and to go on to a higher level. We all were good athletes and we all were given an opportunity to play at higher levels. I went on to Grambling State University, Juan followed me there and Nathaniel went on to Delgado and later Southern University.

5) Why did you choose to take on the Alternative School?

First of all, I kind of give my direction to God. I don’t direct my path and my steps. It’s wherever God places me.

I try not to resist.

I’ve learned that over the years and I’ve faced some challenges in this system. So, when the opportunity came, I didn’t really think twice about it. I welcomed the opportunity because I knew I could make a difference through my mentoring, the way I model behavior

22 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

and inspire and motivate people, especially children, and just by the spirit I have and the will and the compassion.

I thought I could really serve this system better by being in this capacity and I really welcomed the opportunity and embrace it.

I surrounded myself with people, and we changed the attitude of the school, the culture changed and the climate is a very different place. We’re getting good results. We’re giving children an opportunity to continue, even after they’ve been expelled. Incarceration instead of education, that’s what these children are being faced with if they can’t find a way to continue their education. We provide a good service for this community by redirecting — that’s what we call the school, Redirect — and put them on the path to education instead of incarceration.

6) What’s the biggest misconception about the students at your school?

That they’re not deserving. That they don’t want to be in school or care anything about school. They do care and value school, it’s just that they haven’t had the opportunities or the nurturing part of it that they needed. They really

need the nurturing, a lot of one-on-one and a lot of special guidance and love.

Being part of a bigger system, a lot of kids get lost in the shuffle because they’re not self-motivated and they’re not truly inspired. To come across people that do value education, and we do this every day, it changes their mindset.

7) What’s the biggest challenge to you every day?

Every day is a pretty new experience with who’s coming through the door. I never know who the next child is, what they’re going to be, who the next parent is and what their needs are.

To just have a happy, helpful spirit continuously, even through the adversity that we face every day is a challenge. I’ve really been able to draw on my spirituality, and that has really eliminated completely any reservation about being here or what am I coming in to. I want to be here. There’s no major challenges here for me other than to be able to lead others with the same spirit to get them to change the attitude about this place.

— By Lori Lyons

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Robby Gilbert Jr. stands in his gym, a 6,000 square foot indoor hitting, pitching and other sports facility that he opens to just about any athlete and uses as a home base for his traveling baseball team, the Cubs.

If you B build it, they will grow

y his own admission, Robby Gilbert Jr. was never a great baseball player.

He played a little ball in high school, he says, but wasn’t anything special.

It wasn’t until his oldest son Robby started playing — and fell in love with the game — that he really got involved.

First, he built a little baseball field in the empty lot next to his house in Luling. Later, he added a building he calls “the gym,” a 6,000 square foot indoor hitting, pitching and other sports facility that he readily opens to just about any athlete who wants to use it.

He also formed the Cubs, a travelling baseball team he takes around the country to compete in baseball tournaments. The Cubs usually win, too, as evidenced by dozens of championship banners hanging from the rafters and the trophies stacked on shelves in the “parents’ lounge.”

24 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Son of water flow foot pedal inventor helps company expand; creates unique traveling team That’s because Gilbert said he hired the best of the best to coach his teams. Former Tulane University baseball coach Joe Brockhoff is the team’s hitting instructor. Former UNO Privateer and major league pitcher Luke Fortenberry is the team’s pitching instructor.

Oddly enough, though, Gilbert isn’t one of those dads trying to live vicariously through his sons. Robby, the son, is now a freshman at St. Charles Catholic, playing on the varsity team.

Kason, 11, also is a budding player.

Rather, Gilbert says he is using baseball to do God’s work.

“I was sitting in church one day when I felt like God was strongly telling me to get involved with kids’ lives through baseball,” he said. “God said, ‘This isn’t just for your kid. Get involved for a bunch of other kids, as well.’ I have spent a ton of time trying to figure out what’s the best way to do that.”

After much prayer and discussion with his wife, Kristen, Gilbert decided the travelling team was an appropriate tool for his mission. So in 2009 he formed the Cubs.

This isn’t just any old travel ball team, though.

Besides the fact that they are offered all-expenses paid trips around the country, players, who must try out, are asked to sign a contract. They are expected to maintain a C average in school.

They can’t get into trouble. They agree to certain behavior expectations and are expected to pray.

“We pray before every game,” Gilbert said.

“We go out to dinner before and between games, and each kid has to stand and say a prayer. They have to do Christian things, both in their lives and also in their schools. They have to carry themselves a certain way. They have to have good attitudes towards the umpires. As long as they fulfill their end of the bargain, I fulfill my end of the bargain on the Cubs side.”

Gilbert believes by taking a group of athletes and instilling such values in them, they will help spread a message to their peers.

“My thought was, if I taught those groups of athletes how to be that, typically your good athletes become leaders in school,” Gilbert said.

“They would then carry that over to the schools they go to that they have those kinds of morals, those kinds of ethics. They will know that this is what coaches appreciate. This is how to act out there. Not only will they be good role models, but it would help bring other guys around.”

With that in mind, Gilbert has become a sort of Willy Wonka of baseball. He has seen dozens of talented players come through his program, each of whom is provided with uniforms and a locker room locker — complete with name plate. He says an average of 100 kids, from youth to high school age and beyond, come to the gym every

Robby Gilbert Jr. stands with his family, which includes wife Kristen and sons Robby, left, and Kason.

Robby Gilbert Jr. and son Kason celebrate as 2015 USSSA Champions.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Robby Gilbert Jr.’s sports complex in St. Charles Parish includes banners, left, from numerous championships and plenty of room, above, for outdoor and indoor training and play.

week to hit, pitch and take ground balls. Coaches bring whole teams, he said.

“They see the banners on the wall and they ask how we won all these championships,” Gilbert said. “I tell them what we’re doing. I hope they see that, ‘If I do these kinds of things, then baseball will be good to me.’”

St. Charles Catholic baseball coach Wayne Stein has seen first-hand Gilbert’s mission in action. His current roster lists four former Cubs players.

“They’re great kids; they do well in the classrooms and in the hallways and they’re good ball players, but they’re still coachable,” Stein said.

26 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

“They don’t come in thinking they know all the answers. I think he gives them a lot of opportunities, but he also gives them a good concept of team. He makes it like a family.”

Stein said the Cubs are a unique club in today’s travel ball world.

“He’s not out to make a dollar,” Stein said. “He gives his dollars up to do it.”

Gilbert knows he is blessed to be able to carry out this mission. Not everyone can afford to fund a travelling baseball club, nor many of the trappings of his success — like a house with a baseball field.

He owes it all to his father, Robby “Pete” Gilbert Sr., a now-retired engineer and water conservationist who

invented and patented the pedal valve — a foot pedal that attaches to a sink to control water flow.

“He came up with the idea because my mom used to leave the water on while she was doing the dishes,” Gilbert said. “Drove him crazy.”

Today, Pedal Valves, Inc. is a nationwide company that employs 150 people and offers products and services related to water conservation, including municipalities looking to upgrade their water systems.

“I’m very, very blessed,” he said. “All these kids are very special to me.”

— Lori Lyons

The amenities at Robby Gilbert Jr.’s home and sports complex provide plenty of opportunity for family and team members to have fun.

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RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

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28 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

HOW TO ...

keep your kids safe in the sun, water this summer

With summer (almost) here, it’s time for children to break out their swimsuits and pool toys and time for parents to break out their sunscreen!

Because a change in activities for children often brings about a change in safety concerns for parents, what follows is a breakdown of how to make sure your family stays safe in the sun and water during the summer months.

SUN SAFETY The extreme heat in South Louisiana means there are many precautions caretakers must take to make sure children stay safe in the sweltering weather.

“The most important tip is to stay hydrated,” Dr. Wendi DeFrank of Rainbow Pediatrics in LaPlace said. “Even babies and toddlers need extra fluids in the heat.”

One of the most common precautions to practice in the fight for sun safety is to slather on sunscreen, but sunscreen use measures vary with age.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says for babies under 6 months old, the two main recommendations to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure and to dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn.

When adequate clothing and shade are not available, the AAP recommends parents apply a DR. WENDI minimal amount of sunscreen of at least 15 SPF to small areas, such as the baby’s face and the back of the hands.

DeFrank highly recommends testing a small patch of an infant’s skin before applying all over the body.

“Put a small amount on the arm or around the leg and check after 24 hours,” DeFrank said, adding parents should look for any rash or skin irritation the sunscreen may cause.

For children of all other ages, “sunscreen should be applied at least 30 minutes prior to outside time and reapplied every hour after that,” DeFrank said, adding caretakers should purchase a lotion with an SPF of at least 30.

“Reapplication is key,” she said. “If you do burn, as soon as you realize it, begin taking ibuprofen every six

hours to reduce inflammation. You can use baking soda or vinegar in bath water to reduce stinging and burning.”

DeFrank said applying a small amount of 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to burns can reduce inflammation and reduce blistering.

As far as when to venture outdoors for fun, DeFrank said “avoiding the hottest part of the day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is best.”

She added it’s important to be careful on cloudy or windy days, because the worst burns can happen when you don’t feel hot.

DEFRANK

WATER SAFETY Between boating, beach trips, swimming pools and splash pads, water seems to be a mainstay in many plans for summer fun.

Swimming lessons are a great idea, but that doesn’t mean any less attention should be given to children swimming or playing near water.

“Of course don’t stop watching your kids around water, even if they can swim,” DeFrank said, adding parents should be careful a swimming instructor isn’t pushing their child to swim in a way that will lead them to be afraid of the water.

AAP reports children over the age of 1 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction, but there is no evidence swimming lessons or water survival skills courses prevent drowning in babies younger than 1.

Because of that, extreme caution should be taken with young

children in the water.

The decision to enroll a child over age 1 in swimming lessons should be made by the parent based on the child’s developmental readiness and exposure to water, the AAP says.

As for boating safety, the AAP says children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats, docks or near bodies of water, and it is important to make sure the life jacket is the right size for the child.

No matter what summer plans bring for different families, DeFrank said it’s important for parents and caretakers to remember one key thing about the schoolfree months — “Play with your children! They won’t be little much longer!”

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

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30 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

SCENE IT: Randy Mire and his wife Kanoa Jo took over Gem Drugs in 2010.

That same year they started their annual Easter Egg Hunt and have been hosting it ever since, with hunts open to community children at Gem Drugs locations in Reserve and Gramercy.

“It’s just a way to give back to the community and thank them for supporting us and for shopping local,” Randy said.

“A lot of kids in our area don’t get to go see the Easter Bunny, so this was something we could do for them. We know some people can’t afford it, so we decided to hold this event for them with the snowballs and the bounce houses. It’s something for them to look forward to and a way for us to thank them for their support.”

Leisha Richard

Kanoa Jo, RJ and Randy Mire, along with the Easter Bunny, stand outside the Gem Drugs Easter Egg Hunt in Gramercy.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Shaiya Williams, owner, Darlene Williams and Tommy Williams of Frost Top Sweet Shop provide the treats.

Serenity Oubre

Mia Millet Drake Louque

32 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Dominick Hemelt, Cayden Francois, Alayah Berthelot and Mallory Hemelt enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt in Gramercy.

Trevor Davis sits behind Jade Ordeneaux and Sierra Ordeneaux.

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C’EST LA VIE: Parting Shots “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss Colt Vicknair of LaPlace passes time in the car with a book.

LaPlace siblings Bryson and Hannah St. Martin enjoy a book together at home.

Caraline Kugler, 3, of LaPlace enjoys a book before nap time.

Judah LeBlanc enjoys a book at his local St. Charles Parish library.

Send your parting shots to monique.roth@lobservateur.com Jaden House, 9, of LaPlace enjoys a book on his nanny’s hammock.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Dining St. John Parish Aloisio’s Bakery 504-430-1194 • 504-858-8432 Athena 1502 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-653-3336 Avis 3900 Hwy 51., LaPlace 985-651-8684

Dragon Garden 140 Belle Terre Blvd., Ste E., LaPlace 985-652-7250

Huddle House 4325 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-1800

PJ’s Coffee 1808 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-764-7573

Dunkin Donuts 1334 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-9244

IHop 220 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-4468

Pirougue’s Cafe 719 W. 10th St., Reserve 985-479-7800

Donut Hole 421 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-651-4001

Jacob’s Andouille 505 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9080

Popeye’s Fried Chicken 1603 W Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-3030

Kobe Japanese Steak and Sushi 506 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8880/652-8853

Raising Cane’s 123 West Airline Hwy, Laplace 985-652-4701

Baba’s Sports Bar & Grill 509 Main Street., LaPlace 985-359-5555

Krystal 143 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-651-1780

Bailey’s Andouille 513 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9090 Belle Terre Country Club 111 Fairway Drive, LaPlace 985-652-5000 Best Wok Chinese Restaurant 530 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-9989 Bombshells 1421 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-2654 Buddy B’s 2788 River Road, Garyville 985-535-3663

El Paso Mexican Grill 1900 Hwy 51, LaPlace 985-618-3313

LaCaretta 107 Carrollwood Dr, LaPlace 985-651-9991

Fatty’s Restaurant & Bar 186 Museum Street, Garyville 985-535-5555

Mabile Restaurant 1124 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-651-2893

Frenier Landing 113 Dottie Lane, LaPlace 985-224-2178

Madea’s Kitchen 975 Cambridge Dr., Ste. B, LaPlace 985-359-1929

Frisco Deli 1113 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-651-7745

Mama Jo’s 2917 Hwy 51, Ste A., LaPlace 985-224-2666 McDonalds •4297 U.S. Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-652-5171 •1608 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2600 •5387 W Airline, Hwy, Garyville

Cajun Grill 135 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-4745 Chili’s Grill & Bar 1820 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-1227 Chinese King 1036 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-651-7888

Fuji Japanese Express 1922 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-618-3186

Church’s Chicken 1601 W Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2089

Gator’s Den Old Highway 51 South, Manchac 985-386-7902

Chung’s Heavenly Sweets 607 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-7987 Connie’s Grill 1468 River Road, Reserve 985-536-3256

Hibachi Supreme Grill 1721 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace 985-652-5233

36 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co. 1338 W. Airline Hwy., Ste. 7A, LaPlace 985-653-6731 Napoleon’s Bakery 532 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-9549 Petra 10363 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-8888 Pier 51 Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar 3017 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-651-0300

Rotolo’s Pizzera •406 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-1032 •3503 W. Airline Hwy., Ste. B, Reserve 985-536-3503 Ruby Garden Chinese Restaurant 3101 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-653-8700 Sam’s Southern Eatery 1173 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-359-1677 Sam’s Southern Eatery 1173 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-359-1677 Sicily’s 214 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-7010 Subway •357 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8700 •1616 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-4822 •2701 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace •1900 Hwy. 51, Ste. B, LaPlace 985-479-7827 985-652-9699 Turn Arounds 1107 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-224-2818 Waffle House 4304 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-6111 Wayne Jacob’s Restaurant 769 W 5th St., LaPlace 985-652-9990

St. James Parish B&C Seafood 2155 Hwy 18, Vacherie 225-265-8356 Breon’s Frozen Yogurt 10850 Hwy. 3125, Ste. C, Gramercy 225-258-4448 Café Perique 234 East Main St., Gramercy 225-869-1774 China King 849 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-2000 Chuck Lee’s Chinese Kitchen 10560 Hwy. 70 W., St. James 225-473-3050 Creole House Cafe 3409 Hwy 3125, Paulina 225-859-3333 DJ’s Grille 21060 La. Hwy. 20, Vacherie 225-265-7600

Popeye’s 982 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060

Buster’s Grill 10405 Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-472-0771

Happy Gardens II 15264 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-3888

Sandwich World Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060

Cafe Ormond 1974 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-0741

Hong Kong 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. D, Destrehan 985-725-9099

Sonic Drive In 852 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-5666

Cajun Kitchen 13322 U.S. 90, Boutte, Ste. Q 985-785-2405

The Howling Pepper 109 St. Rose Ave., St. Rose 504-466-1944

Spectacular Tubers 1665 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-5600

Cashio’s Food Villa and Deli 13572 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-9389 Chow’s Garden 1974 Ormond Blvd., Ste. I, Destrehan 985-725-2469

IHOP 14099 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013 Iron Gate 13299 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013

Cucina Bon Creole At Cypress Lakes Country Club 10 Villere Dr., Destrehan 985-764-6868

Jas Café 307 Paul Maillard Rd., Luling 985-785-0200

Subway 10850 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy Spuddy’s 2644 Hwy 20, Vacherie 225-265-4013 Taylor’s Express Truck Stop 964 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-1734 Tod’s Catering 2180 S. Albert St., Lutcher 225-869-7000

Golden Grove Restaurant 935 La. Hwy. 641, Gramercy 225-869-1212

Jenny’s Overstuffed Poboy & Chicken Shop 114 N. Airline Hwy., Gramercy 225-869-0899 Nobile’s Restaurant & Bar 2082 W. Main , Lutcher 225-869-8900 Oak Alley Restaurant 3645 La. Hwy. 18, Vacherie 225-265-2151 Pizza Hut 1665 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6151

Little Tokyo 13371 U.S. 90, Ste. A, Boutte 985-331-0887

Destrehan Donuts 1974 Ormond, Ste. D, Destrehan 985-764-0050

Lovecchio’s Deli 29 Apple St., Norco 985-725-5683

Dot’s Diner 12179 U.S. Hwy. 90, Luling 985-785-6836

Grand Point Truck Stop & Casino 3415 La. Hwy. 3125, Paulina 225-869-6960 Hymel’s Seafood Restaurant 8740 La. Hwy. 44, Convent 225-562-7031

Julie’s Restaurant 15805 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6349

Daddy’s Fried Chicken 15683 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6743

St. Charles Parish Anita’s Smokin’ Steak Burgers 13145 U.S. 90 Ste. B, Boutte 985-785-2220

Mariano’s Italian Eatery 12371 Highway 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-785-7777

El Gato Negro 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. 1, Destrehan 985-307-0460 El Mexicano 12715 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. 140, Luling 985-785-7694

McDonalds 3009 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-1021 Mizu Japanese Restaurant 12715 Hwy. 90, Ste. 190, Luling 985-785-8168

Bamboo Garden 13491 U.S. 90, Ste. 6, Boutte 985-785-9929

El Paso Mexican Grill 12895 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-331-1984

Bei Jing 12895 U.S. 90, Ste. D, Boutte 985-331-8885

Frostop 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. H, Destrehan 985-725-1116

Breeze Cafe 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-8800

Grand Café 500 Willowdale Blvd., Luling 985-308-1640

Boulevard Bistro 1950 Ormond, Ste. B, Destrehan

Grumpy’s 14984 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-2083

Mrs. Snowman 110A Lakewood Dr., Luling 985-331-1411 Ormond Plantation Restaurant 13786 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-8544 Palmetto’s Restaurant 10405 Airline Hwy, St. Rose 504-472-0771

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Pam and Dale’s 14620 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-3112

Sub Express 26 Apple St., Norco 985-764-9922

Pizza Hut 12439 Hwy. 90, Luling 985-331-8380

Subway •613 Paul Maillard Road, Ste. 200, Luling 985-331-2257 •14130 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-785-9818 (located inside Walmart) •13001 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-331-1786 •12715 U.S. 90, Ste. 120, Luling 985-785-3999 •12609 Airline Drive, Destrehan 985-725-1108 •1955 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-9444 •15632 River Rd., Norco 504-469-8864

P.J.’s Coffee of New Orleans 150 Ormond Center Court, Ste. T, Destrehan 985-764-7573 Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken •116 Longivew Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1231 •13210 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-785-1377 Portside Restaurant 11698 River Road, St. Rose 504-5469-3111 Rotolo’s Pizzeria 150 Ormond Center Court, Destrehan 985-725-2411 Sailfish Food and Spirits 12287 U.S. 90, Luling 985-308-0712 14386 River Road Destrehan, LA TUES-WED: 10am-7pm THURS-SAT: 10am-9pm

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985-725-0053 Southern Latte Cafe 50 Wade St., Ste. 1, Luling 985-308-1472 Sonic Drive In 12557 U.S. 90, Luling 985-331-0099 Sports Pub & Grill 3001 Ormond Blvd, #B Destrehan 985-331-0099

River Parishes Magazine A Special Publication of L’OBSERVATEUR

Sushi Cafe 13899 River Road, Ste. A, Luling 985-308-1003 Take Away Donuts 13441 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-785-6499 Taste of Tokyo 1972 Ormond Blvd., Ste. E-2, Destrehan 985-764-1818 Trey Wah (Chinese) 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1147 Two Sisters Bakery 100 Melonie St., Ste. E, Boutte 985-308-0280 Voodoo Grill 100 James Drive East, St. Rose 504-464-1880 Waffle House 14173 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-758-6499 Waffle House 10384 E. Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-467-1522

St. Rose Driving Range & Sports Bar 10362 Airline Dr., St. Rose 504-466-0411

Wingzzz 613 Paul Maillard Road, Ste. 400, Luling 985-308-0743

St Rose Tavern 14466 River Rd, Destrehan 504-469-8864 /985-725-3133

Zydeco’s II 13228 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-308-1058

38 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Advertise in our Summer issue publishing June 29

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Councilman District V Michael Wright

Councilman District VI Larry Snyder

Councilman District VII Buddy Boe RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

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