I have noticed a lot of trends recently in the wine & spirits industry.  One trend is how cocktails are making a big comeback.  With our economy at a slowed state, many are looking for different libations.  Looking for a difference in flavor, difference in price and a difference in style.  Wine has been the hip and status choice for the public that was enjoying economic freedom.  Now, for some, the game has changed.  Everyone knows that wine can be expensive.  Everyday wines which are around ten dollars or less can add up, whereas a bottle of your favorite spirit can last weeks at lower cost.  With increased consumption comes the search and demand for better ingredients.  On their own, or used as a mixer, interesting liqueurs can be the difference in what people are looking for.

A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar.  The word liqueur comes from the Latin liquifacere (“to liquefy”).

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               A new state-of-the-art indoor sports arena is set to open for business on June 1st in the Northpointe Business Park at the intersection of highways 1077 and 1085. Playmakers Indoor Sports, LLC will operate the facility which is being constructed by Voelkel McWilliams for the developers, Indoor Sports, LLC. 

The facility will boast a 175 x 80 foot field outfitted with boards and glass, similar to a hockey arena, and premium artificial turf as the playing surface, along with a 45 x 90 foot turf-covered mezzanine for additional play. Primary offerings will be adult and youth leagues for soccer, lacrosse and flag football as well as team play in “Reball” – an indoor version of paintball. Other offerings will include clinics, private coaching, camps and sports-themed parties.  

Playmakers will bring to reality a vision conceived by their principals and St. Tammany residents Ryan Enk, Todd Giustiniano and Rick Honsberger, nearly three years ago. Enk is the local franchisee and operator...

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Business and conservation partner to restore a key part of the Talisheek Pine Wetlands  Complex 

The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana and Ecosystem Investment Partners announced today the permanent protection and restoration of 2,263 acres of wet longleaf pine savanna and associated habitats, which comprise one of the country’s most threatened ecosystems.  Less than 5% of the original savanna habitat remains in Louisiana today, having once dominated the Gulf Coastal Plain and covered more than 2 million acres in Louisiana alone.   

“This property is one of the largest restorable wet longleaf pine savannas in the region,” said Latimore Smith, Director of Science and Stewardship for Louisiana office of The Nature Conservancy.  “It represents a rare chance to turn back the ecological...

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In Slidell, we observed a very contentious election between the two top vote getters for Chief of Police and in Mandeville; the mayoral race has come down to a photo finish and a recount of the votes. It brought back memories and similarities of the 2000 presidential election with “swift-boating” and “hanging chads”. 

Slidell Chief of Police 

Candidates for Slidell Chief of Police has now pitted political newcomer Randy Smith, who garnered 48% of the vote in the general election while former Slidell Police Chief and current Mayor Ben Morris pulled in 41% of the vote. The two candidates are now pitted once again for the May 1st run-off election. J.J. Jennings and Jason Zar garnered 10% and 1% of the vote respectively. 

The City of Slidell is the only municipality on the northshore that elects a chief of police. With exactly 48.7% of the vote on election night, Randy Smith said, “The strategy we have at this point is to get the voters back to the polls. That’s the key and we can’t say we have...

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For those interested in tasting French reds, or those looking for good red wines for the tight pocket book, look out for Grenache. In fact, shouldn’t everyone know that this red grape varietal is the most widely planted red grape in the world. Grenache is the backbone of most Southern Rhône wines, especially in Châteauneuf-du-Pape where it is typically over 80% of the blend. In Australia it is typically blended in "GSM" blends with Syrah and Mourvèdre. Grenache is also used to make rosé wines in France and Spain, notably those of the Tavel district in the Côtes du Rhône. And the high sugar levels of Grenache have led to its use in fortified desert wines such as Banyuls, and as the basis of most Australian port.

So, why don’t we talk about it? First of all, as Americans, if we are not drinking one of the big three, (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Pinot Noir) we must not be drinking wine at all. For the most part, there are many of us that stick strictly with...

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Employers who have weathered the recession are preparing to rebuild their businesses, both small and large alike. In a growing trend, companies are choosing to restore their companies to pre-recession measures through contingent hiring.  

Contingent workers are individual workers who work part-time, under a contract for a fixed period of time or on a specific project. They go by various terms, including temporary, leased, on-call, contract workers or contract professionals. Although the initial concept for hiring temporary employees was to fill in for absent full-time workers due to illness or time off during a vacation, today, nearly 90 percent of employers use some form of temporary or contract staffing in their workforce.  

According to Staffing Industry Analysts, an advisory board on contingent workforce, contract staffing is a $70 billion market with nearly 60 percent spent in professional and technical areas, creating high demands for temporary or contract workers in all industries. Experts...

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With congressional elections looming in the fall of this year, the 2010 election cycle begins with the City of Slidell and the City of Mandeville featuring municipal elections on Saturday March 27th.  While Slidell will hold elections for Mayor, Chief of Police and Council Districts B, C and F, the City of Mandeville will hold a special election to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Eddie Price. 

In Slidell, Incumbent Council Members At-Large Landon Cusimano and Kim Harbison were re-elected without opposition. Incumbent Council Members from District A - Lionel Hicks, District D - Joe Fraught, and District G - Bill Borchert, Jr. were re-elected without opposition as well.  The new Council Member from District E, former Mayor Sam Caruso, was elected without opposition. 

While the candidates take to the stump, don’t forget about the Charter amendments proposed in Slidell. There are nine proposed charter amendments in all, ranging from the mundane deletions of obsolete sections to more contentious...

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      Southern Living has selected TerraBella Village, a Traditional Neighborhood Development in Covington as the location for one of two 2010 Idea Houses. Official announcement of the Louisiana Southern Living Idea House was made Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by Southern Living magazine at TerraBella Village. St. Tammany dignitaries, Parish President, Kevin Davis and Covington Mayor, Candace Watkins, as well as the developers of Terrabella Village, joined Frank Craige of Southern Living Homes Group in making the announcement.

      Randy Meyer, one of the managing partners of TerraBella Village says, “We are very proud, excited and grateful to be selected as the location for one of two Southern Living’s 2010 Idea Houses. It’s going to be the vehicle to tell the TerraBella story. What better way to tell your story than through Southern Living, the fifth largest consumer publication in the United States? Honestly, it has been somewhat of a struggle to get the word out on what’s happening here in West St. Tammany, but now millions of people will see the excitement of this unique development and all the special amenities we will provide to its residents.”

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            With cold spells still coming, the groundhog might have something to say about the end of winter.  As with most people, I am pretty seasonal with my wine preferences. Summertime makes me thirst for cool and refreshing white wines, while fall and winter turns the focus toward red.  So what do we do with port?  Because of its many styles and uses, Port has no season. Port or Porto is named after Portugal, the country it was created in, but most have English names like: Warres, Dow, Taylor, Croft, Graham & Sandeman.  How did it get there? 

            Port is a study of History. Established in 1756, the Port wine-producing region of the Douro is the third oldest protected wine region in the world after the Tokaj region in Hungary (1730) and Chianti in Italy (1716). It had to be protected because of England and its need for wine. In this moment in history, England and France would go to war periodically and when this happened, where would England go? Portugal. The wines discovered were put into...

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The 2009 Saints season has been a ride for the ages. The Divisional and NFC Championship games have been over the top, just like the tidal storm surge that breached the levees in New Orleans. This time, however, it’s been a surge of the happiest of times the City of New Orleans and the Southeast Louisiana area has needed for the past five years. It’s amazing what winning can do to a region. 

            Everywhere you turn, the “Who Dat” fever has been spreading faster than the swine flu. People answer their phones with a “Who Dat”, instead of hello. The causeway toll-takers are into it as well, as they wave and say “Who Dat”! Even the local priests in area churches give the Saints a big “Go Saints!”, with applause from the congregation as daily masses conclude. It’s the happiness we have all been looking for since Katrina. It’s the happiness that has been locked-up inside each of us as we forged our way through hurricane recovery in search of normalcy. 

            Social media, like Facebook and...

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            Nearly seven out of 10 respondents to a survey conducted in five northshore parishes indicate they are satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of life in the area, according to a report released by Southeastern Louisiana University. 

            However, the results differ widely when examined on a parish-by-parish level, with Livingston Parish respondents registering the highest levels of satisfaction (74.5 percent) compared to Washington Parish, where less than half -- approximately 44 percent -- say they are satisfied or very satisfied. About 71 percent of St. Tammany respondents and 68.5 percent in Tangipahoa expressed satisfaction with their quality of life. Responses from St. Helena Parish were too small to be compared individually, but were included in overall totals.

            The quality of life survey was conducted by the Southeastern Social Science Research Center (SSSRC). Responses were solicited from 5,000 randomly selected residents in the five northshore...

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                 They say children are our future.  That said, our community needs to be aware of our local Boys and Girls Club.  This valuable resource relies solely on our  financial support. As part of the United Way, they receive some aide  – but it’s not enough.  After Hurricane Katrina, the Southeast Louisiana Region of the Boys and Girls Clubs received grant money to sustain local clubs, including Covington. As that money runs out, the club is looking to the community for ongoing sustenance.  It is important at a national level that our local club is able to thrive.  Mayor Candace Watkins stated, "The Boys and Girls Club is hitting its stride and needs the support of the community more than ever to provide our kids with opportunities for safe and fun activities, tutoring and mentoring that they may not get elsewhere."

                  Most have heard of the Boys and Girls Club nationally, but many are unaware that we have a club in Covington.  It is located at 801 N. Tyler Street and managed by...

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         C and C Drugs has permanently opened shop with a brand-new drugstore in West St. Tammany. Specifically, it’s on the corner of Lonesome Road and Louisiana Highway 59 near Mandeville. It’s a beautiful location that sits on four acres surrounded by lovely oak trees. 

Jim and Scott Vallee, natives of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish, continues to provide the high level of service C and C Drugs has been known for four decades. It was over forty years ago when C and C Drugs first opened its doors in Arabi. The Cuchera brothers opened the drugstore in February of 1965, but were flooded by Hurricane Betsy in September of that same year. 

            After Betsy, the Cuchera Brothers split and Jim Vallee began working for the remaining Cuchera brother at C and C Drugs. In 1984, Jim bought the business from Cuchera and then Cuchera worked for him until his retirement. The Arabi location is still in operation today. 

            Ironically, it took another hurricane (Katrina) for the Vallee’s to...

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While national headlines scream bad tidings of great trepidation, the local picture is much brighter.  In St. Tammany Parish, our unemployment rate is about half the national average and is about two-thirds of Louisiana’s rate.  While retail sales and, thus, tax collections are down from the last two years, the data show a significant spike from pre-Katrina days, before the false economy of storm recovery sent sales rates and taxes into the stratosphere.  And in the midst of all of these things, there have been many bright spots in the economy over the last year.

Major corporations continue to consider St. Tammany a prime location for expansion and relocation.  Last spring, 3001, Inc., expanded its operations in Slidell.  The Rooms To Go warehouse and retail center in Pearl River opens this month.  And we have been visited by countless site-selectors from national and international corporations who are looking at the northshore as the place to be for operations along the Gulf Coast.  Indeed, we can hardly...

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             Robin Roberts, accomplished student-athlete, media personality, author, and breast-cancer survivor, is the 2009 recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation “Distinguished American” Award. 

            The Walter Camp “Distinguished American” award is presented each year to an individual who has utilized his or her talents to attain great success in business, private life or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done.  He or she may have a record of dedication to mankind that should not pass unrecognized and a life that has been dedicated to the preservation of the American ideal.   The recipient need not have participated in football but must be one who understands its lesson of self-denial, cooperation and teamwork, and one who is a person of honesty, integrity and dedication.  He or she must be a leader, an innovator, even a pioneer, who has reached a degree of excellence that distinguishes him or her from contemporaries, as well as someone who lives within the principles of Walter Camp. 

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                 If you are looking for that perfect location to host your wedding, business meeting, company picnic or special event, look no further than LynHaven. The best part is that it is located right here on the northshore. Providing picturesque views, LynHaven is nestled on 18-acres of beautiful “Park-Like” grounds with a three-acre lake and every amenity imaginable. LynHaven can host up to 2,000 guests for a picnic or 500 guests for a wedding.

 “LynHaven has been family owned for over 23 years,” said Bill Kingsmill, LynHaven’s current proprietor.  In the fall of 2006, Kingsmill purchased the business and has upgraded many aspects to the 10,000 SF facilities. Once you step onto the grounds at LynHaven, you instantly know you have found the best place on the northshore to host your special event. The grand entrance is a beautiful stucco front that looks similar to the entrance of Bellingrath Gardens.

 While the economy has forced some wedding couples to scale down the number of guests to...

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            Southeastern Louisiana University historian Samuel C. Hyde knows the history and background of the Florida Parishes like few others.  So it seemed natural for the Discovery Channel to tap Hyde’s expertise when it set out to do a segment for the new television series “Ghost Lab” that focused on the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville.

            Hyde, holder of Southeastern’s Leon C. Ford Endowed Chair in History and director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, was interviewed for the first episode of “Ghost Lab,” which premiered October 6th on the Discovery Channel. The episode will be replayed over the year on the cable channel.

            “I was asked to provide the historical context of events occurring in the region and that are alleged to have contributed to the Myrtles Plantation reputation as a haunted site,” Hyde said.

            Built around 1792, the Myrtles is one of Louisiana’s oldest antebellum plantations, explained Hyde, a resident of Denham Springs....

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          When Girl Scout Camp Covington lost 90 percent of its trees and camp facilities in 2005, it was hard to imagine one of the oldest Girl Scout camps in the United States might not survive. But after three years of planning for its redevelopment and the funding needed to make it happen, Camp Covington has begun the difficult journey to re-open.          

“We are very excited to see our plans for Camp Covington’s redevelopment taking shape since the receipt of initial funding,” said Allison Pastor, vice president of properties for Girl Scouts Louisiana East. “We’ve been able to re-open the camp for day use and weekend camping with plans to offer resident camping next summer.” Pastor said contributions both large and small are helping the council rebuild the camp, with funding primarily coming from the William Edwin Montan Charitable Trust managed by Capital One in Baton Rouge and The McClure Fund through the Greater New Orleans Foundation, with in-kind contributions from David Guidry of Artesian,...

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        Anyone who is a fan of college football held his or her collective breath the Saturday night when the University of Florida’s quarterback Tim Tebow was sacked by an unblocked University of Kentucky defensive end. It was a clean hit. His head had been jarred forward on the knee of one of his teammates. He lay motionless for several minutes. He was knocked unconscious and athletic trainers rushed to him on the field to assess his injury.

        It was that moment in time, when the Heisman trophy winning quarterback had suffered a severe concussion and it caught the attention of every high school and college coach in America. According to media reports, Florida’s Head Coach Urban Meyer said several days after Tebow suffered the concussion, he still suffered from a headache. Although he was able to attend team meetings, he hasn’t been allowed to watch television or read, and didn’t attend practice.

        Dr. Aaron Karlin, Director of Ochsner’s Pediatric and Adolescent Concussion Management...

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In celebrating N’Tini’s second anniversary on the northshore, Mark and Donna Benfatti have many reasons to celebrate and thank the community. N’Tini’s has been a tremendous success. 

As recent transplants from St. Bernard Parish, courtesy of Hurricane Katrina, the Benfatti’s have entrenched themselves into the northshore community these past two years. They have won several awards, received numerous accolades and just recently, Mark has been elected to serve on the West St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Board. “It is a personal honor to have the opportunity to serve on the Executive Board of such a dynamic organization,” said Mark Benfatti.

To further meet the needs and expectations of the northshore residents and businesses, N’Tini’s continues to offer a unique venue for special occasions to satisfy a very diverse market. “Our customers have been very loyal. They love to have fun at N’Tini’s. Although we have a solid following from existing customers, we are constantly seeing new faces...

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