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By Don Dubuc on
5/1/2009 2:00 PM
“I want your job,” say people I meet all the time. “You can’t have it, I’m not ready to give it up,” I always reply.
After all, hunting, fishing, and then writing and talking about it on TV and radio certainly has appeal. And although that description of my job as an “outdoor writer” is a gross oversimplification it represents the dream of many. But the cemetery is full of wannabee writers. With newspapers on the ropes, TV shows plentiful as gnats on a calm day in Hopedale, and the internet headed who-knows-where, the future of aspiring young outdoor writers is shaky at best. But I guess there will always be places for those of us who love to make their living in and telling stories about the outdoors.
To create an interest in outdoor journalism and help prepare future writers, our Louisiana Outdoor Writer Association sponsors an annual Youth Journalism Contest. I’m encouraging parents and teachers to encourage students to participate in this event. It’s open to all students in two essay categories:...
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By Elizabeth Manshel on
5/1/2009 1:54 PM
The other night at one of my dinner groups the question was posed to us, “What is your simplest pleasure?” It only took me a moment to realize what gives me the greatest pleasure in life is to spend time with my family, especially my mother. Many people may claim their mother as their best friend, but I truly regard mine as my closest of confidants, the keeper of my fears and my dreams. She is the reason I watch the clock every morning with anticipation until the hands reach 9am. (I am not allowed to call and wake her before then, and trust me you do not want to call before then!), I can’t wait to talk to her every morning, even if I have absolutely nothing to say.
As an adult I now see just how much of a positive and profound influence my mother had on my life. She was always the one to stand up for my sisters or me, even if it was to the principle of our school. She would be the one organizing PTA groups, sitting on some board or committee, sewing all three of us matching Christmas outfits and...
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By Jeff Crouere on
5/1/2009 1:52 PM
Everyday millions of Americans watch the changes instituted by Barack Obama with stunned amazement. While in Europe, the President bowed to the Saudi King, apologized for this nation and called us “arrogant.” To top it off, he rejected the Judeo-Christian heritage of the United States by labeling America a “secular” nation similar to Turkey. At the Summit of the Americas, the President warmly embraced socialist strongman Hugo Chavez and talked about a new relationship with the communist thugs in Cuba.
His domestic agenda is even more radical. Several weeks ago, administration officials leaked their plan to create a path to citizenship for the 12 million illegal aliens in this country. Most Americans do not want to create a “path to citizenship” for illegal aliens, for that is amnesty for lawbreakers. Americans want our laws enforced and our borders secured, but Barack Obama has other plans.
Add immigration “reform” to the long list of policy initiatives that will be introduced by the Obama administration. There will be healthcare “reform,” energy “reform” and education “reform.” Each set of “reform” proposals will cost trillions and add to our ever-growing national debt. From the stimulus plan to the omnibus spending bill with 9,000 earmarks to the $3.6 trillion budget, the administration’s thirst for radical change seems unquenchable.
...
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By James Hartman on
5/1/2009 1:48 PM
Recession woes are everywhere and folks are cutting back on luxury spending, right? Wrong. An economic downturn, while having a negative impact on certain market sectors, is also having the ancillary effect of pumping some businesses in the upward direction. “Pumping,” in fact, may be a very suitable word, since swimming pool sales are brisk not in spite of but in response to fears of recession.
Huh?
Turns out that instead of spending money on expensive trips or big-ticket items that lose value (like cars and trucks), folks are investing in home improvement projects and taking “stay-cations” in their own backyards instead of vacations at exotic resorts. “I’ve been busy for a couple of months,” said Chris Tartamella, owner of Caribbean Pool and Patio in Hammond. “If you want your pool in for Memorial Day, you need to shop early.”
“The temperatures have been a bit low, but things are good,” said Evi Jeansonne, co-owner of Pools and Stuff in Slidell. “Busy season just started.” “Business...
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By James Hartman on
5/1/2009 1:46 PM
It’s no secret that the real estate market hereabouts has been through an upheaval-and-a-half in recent years. Once the bedrock of the northshore economy, homebuilding has become a struggling sector. The housing market, though, is more than just black or white.
Modular homes, built indoors and then trucked to a home site, became all the rage post-Katrina. Now, they’re barely a ripple in the local housing pond.
“Many people confuse manufactured housing, or trailers, with modular homes,” said Ben Kirk, director of government affairs for the St. Tammany and Washington Parish Homebuilders Association.
Modular homes don’t look like mobile homes, or trailer homes, or what are now called “manufactured homes” – at least not once they’re installed. They are built in factories so the materials are never exposed to the elements. Then they’re placed onto trucks in modules and assembled on the prepared home site.
When modular homes hit their peak after Katrina, it was largely due to the...
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By James Hartman on
5/1/2009 1:39 PM
Since voters decided that in odd-numbered years legislators could only tackle fiscal issues – that is, those dealing with taxes, appropriations, and other financial matters – the balance of things has shifted. Unlike even-numbered sessions such as last year’s when thousands of bills were filed, this year brings a modest 1,129 bills as of press time. Representatives have brought 857 legislative instruments, and Senators have initiated 322.
But here’s the kicker: Even in “fiscal-only” years, each legislator can still file five non-fiscal bills.
The race to encumber those bills is fierce, with special interests, constituents and others trying to lock down legislators early, seeking pledges to give a non-fiscal bill to this cause or that.
While money, money and money are the order of the day this year – particularly as Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a financial crisis requiring the trimming of billions from the state’s budget – there’s still plenty of non-fiscal drama to go around,...
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By Donna Plaia on
5/1/2009 1:26 PM
Just about anywhere one looked in the heart of Old Mandeville on April 4 there was a blur of the energy of activity and the eternal sunshine of laughter created by our hugely successful Art, Heart & Soul Festival.
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By Jim.Currie on
5/1/2009 1:23 PM
It is an interesting question: are we drawn to the land by our heritage as farmers? Is the idea of picking our own fruit simply a romantic notion… or just an easy means for local farmers to cut back on their labor costs? Perhaps it works both ways.
Many northshore families have begun to sojourn to the “parish” in search of perfect berries. A picking excursion is a sure-fire way to build family memories and encourage our children to experience the land. Oh, and fresh strawberries are pretty great as well.
Since the early 1990s, Americans have been slowly increasing our consumption of fruit with slightly more than half being processed fruit and approximately 45% being fresh fruit. USDA reports that half of all Americans eat a fruit serving every day; but that we generally get only about half the fruit volume recommended by the friendly food pyramid that our school counselors once taught us. Most fruit is consumed by those under 5 or over 70. Except of course if you happen...
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By Evans C. Spiceland on
5/1/2009 1:19 PM
You could see it in their eyes and you could sense the passion that this communal concourse of patriots had in their hearts. Their placards displayed both witticism and originality but it was their united voice that melded the message.
April 15th was “Tax Day” and we were gathered together to participate in a nationally held “Tea Party.” It was a day to remember. I’ll not soon forget the emotion of the crowd and the fever pitch the participants exuded. It was an honor to mingle among them and to address the concerns of this spirited group. The voice of the people was heard.
In recognition of this celebration of freedom I decided to present a synopsis of the thoughts I shared with the assembled group. It is not verbatim. I spoke from fragmented notes and from the heart, but it is an accurate expression of my comments. Here is what I had to say in my address:
“It is an honor to be with you today. This gathering reinforces my abiding faith in our great Nation...
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By Sandra Slifer on
5/1/2009 1:15 PM
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By James Hartman on
5/1/2009 1:11 PM
“When you mention chiropractors, people often think one of two things – ‘back’ or ‘quack,’” said Dr. Dale Rollette of the Rollette Chiropractic Center in Hammond.
And, indeed, the good doctor may be correct. Chiropractic care has only been legalized in Louisiana since the mid 1970s, long after many states adopted laws to regulate the practitioners of vertebral realignment long said to ease discomfort in the joints and promote better health. Lingering prejudices against the profession kept many insurance companies from compensating chiropractors for their services for many years, but times have changed.
“The nervous system controls every function of the body, and if there’s an interruption in the messages from the brain to other parts of the body due to misalignment, the patient will be more susceptible to disease or pain,” said Dr. Nancy Dominick-Gravel of Care Chiropractic in Mandeville.
The science behind chiropractic theory and treatment is relatively simple, as Dominick-Gravel...
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By Jean Champagne on
5/1/2009 1:08 PM
On Thursday, April 16, actress/comedienne/harridan Janeane Garofalo was interviewed on MSNBC by erstwhile newsman Keith Olbermann, who asked for her take on the April 15 “tea-bag” protests against high taxes and wasteful spending. In her inimitably gentle fashion, Garofalo stated of the peaceful protestors that “they have no idea what the Boston tea party was about, they don't know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of teabagging rednecks.” She went on to say that “the limbic brain inside a right-winger or Republican or conservative or your average white power activist, the limbic brain is much larger in their head space than in a reasonable person, and it's pushing against the frontal lobe.” Here we have it, straight from no less an authority than the former “Funniest Person in Rhode Island,” the apparent acme of whose career was her appearance on Comedy Central’s prophetically titled “Freak Show.” Nevertheless,...
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By Joe Luna on
5/1/2009 12:53 PM
The world wide economic crisis from which Tangipahoa has thus far been insulated, could soon be hitting the home front by way of a massive budget cut to Southeastern Louisiana University. This could seriously stall the economic engine of the parish.
Southeastern Louisiana University President Dr. John Crain put the proposed budget cuts in context by relating the brief history of what has brought about the current legislative debate that threatens to withhold major funding from the academic institution.
“We started the current fiscal year with a total operating budget of about $127.6 million, that includes the appropriation that we get from the State of Louisiana as well as the tuition and fees that we collect from our students,” Crain said.
In the middle of the fiscal year, the university suffered a $3.4 million cut in the funds provided through state appropriations as part of the mid-year budget cut to the University of Louisiana system. This cut was also...
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By Rhonda Landry on
5/1/2009 12:47 PM
Last year St. Tammany Parish residents received wonderful additions to the Tammany Trace with the completion of the Bayou Lacombe drawbridge and the opening of new trailheads in Covington and Abita Springs. The bridge at Bayou Lacombe makes it possible to utilize the entire 27 miles of this scenic corridor that connects five communities and numerous parks and is used by almost 200,000 people annually. Most communities would be content with such facilities, but Parish President Kevin Davis and many others in both the government and private sectors have a larger vision for the Tammany Trace and are working hard to bring it to fruition.
Extension of Trace to Heritage Park in Slidell
One part of that vision is extending the Trace to Heritage Park in Slidell. “This project started as a relatively simple request for park benches from senior citizens in Slidell,” said Parish Council member Gene Bellisario. That initial request resulted in six benches placed one-half mile apart in Slidell and a total of 14 benches added to the Trace.
...
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By David Smith on
5/1/2009 10:43 AM
Because of old age, mental or physical illness, or injury, some people find themselves in need of help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting or continence, and/or transferring (e.g. getting out of a chair or bed), or assistance due to cognitive impairment. These six things are called Activities of Daily Living sometimes referred to as ADL’s. In general, if you can’t do two or more of these activities, or if you have a cognitive impairment, you are said to need “long term care”.
Long-term care isn’t a very helpful name for this type of situation because it might not last for a long time. Some people who need ADL service may only need it for a few months or less.
Many people think that long-term care is provided exclusively in a nursing home. It can be, but it can also be provided in an adult day care, an assisted living facility, or at home. It also can be offered at a skilled care facility. The distinction between the skilled care facility and the others is important because Medicare and...
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By CT Williams III on
5/1/2009 10:05 AM
Louisiana summers don¹t let the cold season come easily. Winter fights its way into our state like a chain-smoker pedaling a one-speed bike up a steep hill. However, when the time comes for our return to the summer season, we generally experience something completely different.
Bounce would be a better term for our Spring season. We bounce from temperatures in the low 40s to the mid 80s. Barometric pressures are never steady, and a clear sky in the morning rarely guarantees it won’t rain by lunch. The careful observer might say, “Yes but what about the winds? Aren’t the winds constantly blowing in the spring?” Sure, the wind speed stays in the teens as we head into summer. However, choosing which direction they will come from can be like finding that certain something you put in a “safe” place so you won’t lose it.
For the avid angler, we bounce off walls with “spring” fever. We, who love the rod and reel, know that in April the fish are feeling Mother Nature’s urgings to breed and feed. We know the baitfish and shrimp that migrate to warm offshore waters in the winter are returning to the coast and bringing some fat fish behind them. We know the smaller Speckled Trout and Redfish that winter in the marsh for safety are now bravely traveling into open water to meet the incoming shrimp. We know all of these things would mean great fishing, if the weather would just stay consistent for a few days, but it doesn’t. It bounces from one extreme to another.
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By Katie-Bird Brupbacher on
5/1/2009 10:03 AM
Southern France has long been a draw for artists and the jet set. Vincent Van Gogh painted “Starry Night” there, Cezanne was stirred to paint the awe-inspiring “Mont Sainte-Victoire” and Brigitte Bardot hung out in Saint-Tropez, popularizing the French Riviera for males who maybe didn’t know anything about art, but did know what they liked. With its beautiful terrain coupled with the sunny weather – who wouldn’t want to be there? Today it is attracting wine lovers as well. Producers have moved beyond making over-produced, cheap Rosés to making serious wines with lots of character.
I recently had the privilege of being invited to a wine-tasting trip to Provence, focusing on Rose wines. My first thought was, “How can you put together a week-long trip focusing on only one type of wine?” I knew that Rosé wines were rapidly growing in popularity in the United States, but shouldn’t we be looking at some reds and whites on the trip too? Boy was I wrong. There was so much to see and learn … so much passion...
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By Nixon Adams on
5/1/2009 7:46 AM
For the last several issues, I’ve added a little blurb with my article asking for recommendations on subjects related to St. Tammany history to address in future articles. I’ve done this because I consider it the sacred duty of a public-spirited, community-minded, first-amendment-focused publication like the Conifer to provide such educational content for those who have nothing else to read with their five-dollar coffee. Also, I was running out of ideas and thought this might be an easy, painless way to get some new ones.
Much to my surprise, I have received some! Many of these actually seriously suggested future topics, while other suggestions, frankly, were offensive, and in some cases, I suspect, anatomically impossible.
One of the serious ones came from a Slidell reader named Charles Neuman, who was very interested in the subject of brick making in St. Tammany Parish. He asked a number of questions - both technical and historical - about this industry, and it would take someone with far more expertise than I have to answers the questions completely. I will, however, try to pass on a little general history about brick-making that addresses some of the subjects raised.
...
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By Nixon Adams on
5/1/2009 7:46 AM
For the last several issues, I’ve added a little blurb with my article asking for recommendations on subjects related to St. Tammany history to address in future articles. I’ve done this because I consider it the sacred duty of a public-spirited, community-minded, first-amendment-focused publication like the Conifer to provide such educational content for those who have nothing else to read with their five-dollar coffee. Also, I was running out of ideas and thought this might be an easy, painless way to get some new ones.
Much to my surprise, I have received some! Many of these actually seriously suggested future topics, while other suggestions, frankly, were offensive, and in some cases, I suspect, anatomically impossible.
One of the serious ones came from a Slidell reader named Charles Neuman, who was very interested in the subject of brick making in St. Tammany Parish. He asked a number of questions - both technical and historical - about this industry, and it would...
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By Donna Hellmers on
5/1/2009 6:40 AM
The Hammond Chamber of Commerce has challenged its Governmental Affairs Committee to become engaged and work towards the greater education and advocacy on behalf of members. In order to accomplish this mission, the group felt it necessary to poll our membership and determine a short list of priorities, which translated into the Hammond Chamber’s legislative focus for 2009. Our list includes:
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