|
|
|
|
By Rhonda Landry on
10/7/2009 3:41 AM
Not everyone is a fan of polka music and the chicken dance, so if you choose to skip that part of the annual Oktoberfest celebration, we’ll let you slide. You may not want to skip the beer part though. With two local craft breweries and plenty of seasonal brews from which to choose, there’s never been a better time to raise your mug.
Trends in Craft Brewing
Although the surging popularity of wine, wine bars, designer drinks, and alternative malt beverages, not to mention the economy, have been hitting the beer industry from all sides in recent years, there is one segment of the beer market that is holding its own: craft brewing.
Craft brewers are typically small, independent brewers that use traditional ingredients and brewing styles. Craft brewers may interpret historic styles of brewing with unique twists or develop new styles that have no precedent. Craft beer is usually defined by four distinct markets: brewpubs, microbreweries,...
Read More »
|
By Katie-Bird Brupbacher on
10/7/2009 2:41 AM
When people find out that I’m in the wine business, I am usually peppered with questions ranging from the very basic to the very obscure. Also, I do wine tastings and seminars for wait staff and consumers, and I encourage questions at these. Most of these questions have fairly simple, understandable answers. After all, wine is just grape juice, with a twist - no ostentatious mysterious hoopla, just juice. Some of these questions are asked more frequently than others, so I thought repeating a few of these with brief answers might make for interesting reading.
There is so much information out there about wine; where do I start?
There’s a ton of information about wine available, from the ABC’s to the trivial details. The internet is a great place to start your search. There are videos and pictures from different regions, grapes and wineries that are available right at our fingertips. I am such a “Google nerd” that when I type in any question, wine-related...
Read More »
|
By Mary.Gilliam on
10/7/2009 2:39 AM
The fierce debate on health care and its eventual outcome may affect charitable giving by Americans. The Association of Fundraising Professionals, in late June, issued a warning to its members and to the general public asking them to advocate against two proposed tax approaches that the Obama Administration has proposed in order to pay for health care.
Two forms of a limitation on charitable deductions have been touted as a means of paying for health care reforms:
The Obama Proposal: For those individuals who earn more than $200,000 (and those couples and families who earn more than $250,000), this proposal would limit the federal tax deduction they may take for their generosity to 28 percent (starting in 2011). Currently, they may claim up to a 35 percent deduction. This tax policy change would effectively devalue charitable gifts made by the very people who are in a position to make substantial donations at a time when they are sorely needed.
The Alternative Proposal: When...
Read More »
|
By Don Dubuc on
10/7/2009 2:35 AM
This latest generation of hunters, not surprisingly, might ask, “Were there ever any quail and quail hunters in Louisiana?” They read the hunting regulation pamphlet and see where we have a lengthy 14-week open season (Nov 21-Feb 28) with generous 10-bird daily and 20-bird possession limits. Yet no, or very few, hunters they know actually hunt quail.
Not that Louisiana ever has had the long-standing upland bird hunting traditions found in neighboring Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, but there’s no escaping reality. Louisiana quail hunters are at an all-time low. From the heyday of quail hunting in the mid 1970s, when there were 25-30,000 of us. Our ranks have dwindled to a fewer than 3,000. Sure, here in the sportsman’s paradise, our hunting roots are deeply planted in squirrel, duck and deer traditions, but that’s never stopped us from finding time to stalk less popular game species.
For those of us who have had the pleasure of participating in the “gentlemanly...
Read More »
|
By Rhonda Landry on
10/7/2009 2:33 AM
For those of us old enough to remember life before cell phones and the internet, the speed at which technology changes today is sometimes bewildering. We used to make calls from a phone, watch TV through our cable provider (or maybe even over the air waves), and work at our desktop computer through a hard-wired internet connection. Now the lines are so blurred between phone companies, internet service providers, cable providers, satellite companies, and cellular providers, we should probably just call them technology providers.
In the past few years, technology companies have been attempting to gain market share and maximize profits by “bundling” services, or offering as many of these technologies as possible to their customers. Regulatory and technological changes over the last decade have made this possible and it has proven to be a fairly competitive weapon. “The goal is to get people into the bundle. That’s where they realize the savings,” said Nick...
Read More »
|
By Christina on
10/7/2009 2:30 AM
Four days of ribbon-cutting and grand-opening festivities have put “the last big exclamation point” on the ambitious $100 million redevelopment of Hammond Square.
And “Hammond is getting, without a doubt, one of the newest concepts in retail that has evolved over the last 10 years,” James E. “Jimmy” Maurin says proudly.
The board chairman of Stirling Properties makes that statement with evident professional and personal satisfaction. Although Stirling has been developing shopping centers for more than three decades, Hammond Square is obviously a special project for Maurin. The estimated 850,000-square foot melding of a “power” (big anchor stores) and “lifestyle” (smaller retailers) shopping concepts that has risen from rubble of a smaller, less than successful regional mall, is located in his own home town.
As Maurin did the ribbon-snipping honors on October 1 – which included laudatory speeches from area dignitaries, a second-line down Palace Drive where new retailers were opening their...
Read More »
|
By Elizabeth Manshel on
10/7/2009 2:26 AM
I hope you don’t mind that I am going to climb on my soap box this month and talk to you about supporting our local independent restaurants. Please do not misunderstand me and think I am going to bash our ever-growing number of national chain restaurants that are popping up in strip malls all over the northshore. Instead, I would prefer to focus on the benefits to you and our community when we support our local restaurants.
A domino effect occurs when you patronize one of our fine neighborhood eateries. An effect that I am sure you have never even taken the time to ponder. The truth is, when you spend your money in local establishments, or “keep it local”, you are helping to promote positive community development through the recirculation of local dollars. Civic Economics, an economic analysis and strategic planning firm, released a study on the economic impact of local business vs. chains in the West Michigan economy in September of 2008 and they concluded that” local restaurants...
Read More »
|
By Jeff Crouere on
10/7/2009 2:24 AM
Barack Obama is constantly overloading our airwaves, the Internet, print and every form of broadcast media. By a large margin, Obama is the most overexposed President in our nation’s history, making it almost impossible to hide from the image and voice of our new Commander-in-Chief.
He has been featured on the cover of magazines such as Time and Newsweek dozens of times. At this point in his term, he has conducted more television interviews and news conferences than any other President. A study by Towson University professor Martha Joynt Kumar showed that Obama had done 114 media interviews during his first seven months in office, about three times more than George W. Bush and Bill Clinton at the same point in their tenures.
Recently, in the span of just over a week, the President was interviewed on 60 Minutes, five Sunday news programs, and the Late Night Show with David Letterman. It seems that the President has a media appearance each day. The format...
Read More »
|
By James Hartman on
10/7/2009 2:21 AM
Before the 2009 Hurricane Season ends, another “H” time – Hunting Season – is kicking off. And while the former is clearly the more dangerous, the same rules apply: Preparation is a far better option than recovery.
Bow-Hunting, or Archery Season opened Oct. 1, and Small Game Season opened two days later, launching what is among the busiest times of year for agents of the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
“Our primary function is to protect the natural resources of the state,” said Sgt. Darryl Galloway, a Wildlife Enforcement Agent with the Wildlife and Fisheries agency. “But we don’t just enforce the law; we try to educate people.”
That education includes passing on knowledge of basic hunting safety to hunters of all ages. To that end, Galloway and his colleagues work to ensure that hunters are properly trained – not only in the use of firearms and other hunting weaponry but in personal safety, as well. The state offers a hunter safety course that is, in fact, mandatory for most sportsmen (and women, of course). “Any person born after Sept. 1, 1969, has to complete the course,” Galloway said. “All 50 states now require some form of mandatory hunter education.”
...
Read More »
|
By Bryan Gowland on
10/7/2009 2:19 AM
It is interesting to observe that, at times, a seemingly unrelated series of elements comes together to gel into something really good. Call it divine intervention, serendipity, good karma, or whatever term you wish to describe that type of metamorphosis, but it happens, and that is what happened to develop the, now famous, Abita Springs Opry.
Around 1990, there was a coffee shop in a quaint house on Maple Street in Abita Springs named the Evening Star Coffee House. On occasional Saturday nights a group of musicians would gather and perform old-time country, bluegrass and traditional Southern gospel music. It was a treat to visit and hear the authentic music played on acoustic stringed instruments and hear the rich vocals provided by people like Bob Lambert and Bill Lilly who were advancing in years and had been performing the music all their lives.
Around the same time, a group of volunteer citizens constructed a gazebo and formed a pocket park in the center of Town at the location...
Read More »
|
By Nixon Adams on
10/7/2009 2:17 AM
There was change in the air last week … at least in the early morning hours, when the temperatures dropped briefly into the 50s. That’s good news in this part of the country because it means that the many months of hot, humid penance we annually pay for living in a culinary and recreational paradise are just about over. October is the favorite time of the year for many people, because in addition to being one of the nicest months for weather, it is also the beginning of the brief southeastern Louisiana holiday season that ends (grudgingly) some time around Jazz Fest. October is the month that we celebrate Mother-in-Law’s Day, Boss’s Day, Moldy Cheese Day, National Grouch Day, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Birthday … I’m seeing a troubling pattern here … as well as Columbus Day and Halloween.
And, as every school boy knows, October 28, 1785 was the birthday of Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville, or “Stinky” as his little playmates called him. Actually, they probably...
Read More »
|
By Sheri.Sable.Campbell on
10/7/2009 2:15 AM
Fall is finally officially here. With the warm welcome of cooler temperatures and overall beautiful weather to look forward to, I am also anticipating some fantastic opportunities to hear live, local music in October.
Whether your tastes are classic, Cajun, funky New Orleans brass or soulful blues, the northshore has it all this month. With On The Seen, I’ll be jamming and jiving to some top-notch talent across the area.
For a unique experience here on the northshore, check out Opera On Tap. On October 28, members of the New Orleans Opera will be participating in a casual performance at the Abita Brew Pub. I attended the opera’s first performance there last month and it was just a fantastic experience. The amount of talent represented, of course, was astounding. Their voices resounded through the Brew Pub and filled every inch of the place with bold, beautiful music. But equally enchanting was the venue itself. Something about seeing and hearing these musicians...
Read More »
|
By Donna Plaia on
10/7/2009 2:13 AM
The inspirational Mother Teresa, who died in 1988, left us all with many challenges as human beings who interact in a sometimes confusing world with other human beings.
One thing she said will likely resonate for generations to come: "You must come to know the poor."
Of course those seven powerful words spoken by a remarkable woman who spent a lifetime tending to the poor challenge many of us even now. Virtue tells us we should know the poor; pragmatism questions how.
For six years, the Old Mandeville Business Association has provided one unique outlet by which caring citizens can experience the superb culinary artistry of our splendid Old Mandeville restaurants, while at the same time providing for help for an organization that helps the poor. And, at the end of the evening, the participant can go home with a treasured potter's wheel bowl.
It is the Empty Bowl Project and the seventh edition will unfold from 5:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. on November 8th at the Mandeville Trailhead Cultural Interpretive Center.
...
Read More »
|
By Evans C. Spiceland on
10/7/2009 2:11 AM
“On the good ship lollipop, it’s a trip to the candy shop.” While Shirley Temple’s famous lyrics were never adopted as our official state song, if you listen carefully its rhythmic echo can still be heard in the chambers and halls of our state capitol building. “Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end,” but they did. For decades on end the state bureaucracy, entitlement programs and special dedicated funds have been allowed to burgeon unbridled and unchecked. “The good ship lollipop” our “ship of state” has now found itself in uncharted waters facing unprecedented navigational hazards. Those select few who once dined at the captain’s table are being replaced by a new generation of public servants focused on the well being of our citizens and the reinventing of state government. It is left to a new captain and crew to right our “ship of state” in the middle of a “perfect storm.”
Louisiana and its people are confronted with a set of economic circumstances unique in our history. ...
Read More »
|
By Sandra Slifer on
10/7/2009 2:09 AM
Voters scattered about all over St. Tammany Parish will be asked to make decisions about new taxes, tax renewals, bond issues, and a new School Board Member in District Nine on Saturday, October 17. These elections typically have very low voter participation. The League is taking this opportunity to identify which voters will have the opportunity to participate in this election and what is on their ballot. It doesn’t help that some of the voters in certain precincts are in the voting districts and some are not. Get out your Voter Registration Card, call the Registrar of Voters, or use the Secretary of State’s web site to verify if you’re in the district or not.
School Board Member District Nine
Voters living in the Slidell area will be voting for a new School Board Member to complete the unexpired term of Carmen Johnson who resigned the seat earlier this year due to new job responsibilities. Appointed board member Mike Gambrell chose not to seek this...
Read More »
|
By Denis Bechac on
10/7/2009 2:06 AM
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...
Read More »
|
By Jean Champagne on
10/7/2009 2:03 AM
The Center for Planning Excellence recently hosted the fourth annual Smart Growth Summit in Baton Rouge. After receiving a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smart Growth grant, secured by Senator Mary Landrieu, the Center for Planning Excellence initiated the Louisiana Community Planning Program in the fall of 2006. The program's mission is to build local capacity in community planning throughout southern Louisiana using Smart Growth best practices. In four short years, the Summit has become the premier event for promoting quality planning and design in Louisiana.
At its core, Smart Growth seeks to create quality places to live, work and recreate. It does so by seeking a return to the way communities were once built, with the walkability, safety and convenience that flow naturally from common sense planning decisions. The tenets of Smart Growth include the following:
(1) Mix land uses (residential, commercial, retail);
...
Read More »
|
By Lacey Toledano on
10/7/2009
The St. Tammany West Chamber’s board of directors is made up of local business professionals who are passionate about the chamber and its mission. Board members serve a three-year term. At the end of every year, six members rotate off and six new members take their place.
We are pleased to announce our newest board members for the 2010-2012 term, each of whom has committed his time and talent to advancing the goals and objectives of the chamber: Mark Benfatti, N'tini's; Scott Delacroix, Adams and Reese LLP; Mike Dugger, Runners Choice & City Soccer; Kirk Landry, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc.; Craig Marinello, Next Step Resources; and Kieran Weldon, Fauntleroy & Latham, Inc.
In addition, advisory board members were also selected. These were chosen as a result of recommendations made by the nominating committee and specific appointments by the incoming chairman, all of whom will serve a one-year term. The advisory board members for 2010 include: Janet Fabre-Smith, Fabre Smith & Company; Sally Kingston, Merrill Lynch; Laurie McCants, Honda of Covington; James Stewart, Charter Business; Catherine Wilbert, Nutrition Company/Vitality, LLC; and Donald Villere, St. Tammany Parish School System.
...
Read More »
|
By Donna Hellmers on
10/7/2009 1:56 AM
Volunteers deliver CHOICES workshops to 8th graders parish-wide
Every school day 7,000 students become dropouts nationwide. The Hammond Chamber of Commerce, along with 13 other local businesses and organizations, wants to help with this crisis within its own community. With the help of eager volunteers, the chamber and its sponsors deliver CHOICES, an interactive decision-making workshop that empowers teens to achieve academic success in pursuit of their career and life aspirations, to local 8th graders through volunteer presenters from the business community.
WHAT: In two hour-long sessions, business and community volunteers take students through real-world exercises on academic self-discipline, time and money management and goal setting.
WHERE: Every junior high school in Tangipahoa Parish
WHO: The Hammond Chamber of Commerce, Hammond Rotary, Ponchatoula Rotary, Emery & James, JC Penney, Leaders Impacting Tomorrow’s Tangipahoa,...
Read More »
|
By Dawn Sharpe on
10/7/2009 1:54 AM
Learning opportunities around St. Tammany Parish begin with preschoolers and extend through continuing education for adults. The area is home to several church-sponsored Mothers’ Day Out programs, as well as exceptional academics-oriented preschool and kindergarten programs. The Head Start program (for children ages 3-5) and Early Head Start program (for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers) promote school readiness for children in low-income families by providing comprehensive educational, health, nutritional, and social services, has just opened a grand new facility in Pearl River.
The St. Tammany Parish Public School System consists of fifty-six schools. Each location provides a caring environment for learning, a challenging and relevant curriculum, innovative instruction and solid student achievement. Our administrative and teachers demonstrate a commitment to improvement and to high performance has made the St. Tammany Parish Public School System a leader in the State of Louisiana,...
Read More »
|
|
| |
|
|