DECEMBER 2014, VOL. 12 ISSUE 10

Complimentary

Publisher / Editor

Mike Strong

Sales Manager

Dottie Godberry

Staff Photographer

Jimmy Dunkley

Contributing Writers

Bill Delaune

Marilyn Bowman

Linda Melancon

Calvin Bessonett

Bully

Goosie Guice

Orhan McMillan

Kellie Seymour

Tanya Stilley

Roland Doucet

Jimmy Dunkley

Meredith Conger

Tracy McKee

For Advertising

Information Please call:

225-622-1324

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to Stronggraphics1@cox.net

www.ascensionmagazine.net

Note: Features in this

publication labeled

“advertorial”

are paid for editorials.

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Opinions expressed are not

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publisher, editor or staff of

Ascension Magazine

18386 Little Prairie Rd.Prairieville, LA 70769

KIDZ KOVE .............................. 4

SWEET EYES W/ TANYA..........10

LAYNE’S JEWELRY...............................22

BILL DELAUNE........................26

THOUGHTS FROM BULLY ....28

USELESS RANDOM FACTS .....29

JAMMIN’ WITH GOOSIE.........30

TREE LIGHTING......................32

Table of Contents

FOR MORE INFORMATION

225.622.3262www.riverparishfoods.com

4

Four years ago, in the spring of 2010, afew residents from Ascension Parish visited a "universally accessible" playground in Mandeville called KidzKonnection. For some children in thisgroup, it was the first time they were able

to swing or play alongside their friends.

This sparked the inspiration for Kidz KoveDiscovery Park, a universally accessiblepark right here in our back yard. Whatwas a dream then, after four years of

Kidz Kove Makes aGrand Opening

5

fundraising and collaboratingwith the City of Gonzales, isnow a reality.

The board members of ProjectKidz Kove are to be commended for their steadfastcommitment to raising fundsand awareness for this park.They would like to thank thecommunity, sponsors, volunteersand all of those who had a handin making this endeavor a

6WHAT EVER YOU NEED • WE CAN HELP

Jamie Frederic–Braud PTA/Notary

TAGS & TITLES, LLC 644-151211296 HWY. 431, ST. AMANT, LA 70774

success. Special thanks to theCity of Gonzales, BASF, theBobby Giles Family and PCSNitrogen.

Please come out and enjoy thispark that is intended for everyone, of any age or abilitylevel. It is located at 712 N.Francois Ave., across from thenew Gonzales Police station.Park hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Play is Universal!!!

To All Our Friends, Family & Customers. We Wish You a Very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I’m checking your titles once and checking them twice

The Tags & Titles Crew

7

THE ART AT KIDZ KOVEMany months ago when I first heard about the Kidz Kove

Discovery Park I offered to donate an art mural to help theproject. I had no idea the real importance of this project andthe profound affect it has had on my life. I also didn’t realizethe wall was 125 ft wide.

Wow, what a project. It was labor intensive and therewere times I thought this project was wearing me out. Then Iwould think of my new friend Anna and the struggles sheand all the special kids that can now have a park where theycan play and be proud of. My pains and struggles wouldimmediatley subside.

I invite the community to visit and enjoy the park and seethe art. It has been an honor to support such a worthycause and I am proud of our community for its efforts toachieve this magnificent landmark for humanity.

May God Bless these Kids. Sincerely Mike Strong

1500 Hwy. 30, Gonzales • 225.743.MIKE • awesomefood.com

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Cookbooks, Gumbos & Soups

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8

This Year We Raised Over $28,000

9

Biology: Mistletoe is a partial parasite or hemiparasite. As a parasitic plant, it grows on thebranches or trunk of a tree, sending out roots thatpenetrate into the tree and take up nutrients.However, mistletoe is also capable of growing on itsown. Like other plants it can produce its own foodby photosynthesis. Mistletoe, however, is morecommonly found growing as a parasitic plant.

There are two types of mistletoe. The mistletoe thatis commonly used as a Christmas decoration,Phoradendron flavescens, is native to NorthAmerica. It grows as a parasite on trees in the westand down the east from New Jersey to Florida. Theother type of mistletoe, Viscum album, is ofEuropean origin. The European mistletoe is a greenshrub with small, yellow flowers and white, sticky

berries which are considered poisonous.So, how does mistletoe spread from tree-to-tree?Mistletoe berries are attractive to birds, which usethem as a food supply. The whitish berries are covered by a sticky outer layer. After birds feed onthe berries and digest the pulp which covers theberries, the living seeds which remain are excretedand stick tightly to any branch onto which they aredeposited. After a short period, the mistletoe seedsgerminate, and the parasite grows through the barkand into the tree's water-conducting tissues, whereroot-like structures develop. These roots graduallyextend up and down within the branch as themistletoe grows.

Birds might be able to eat mistletoe berries withoutgetting sick, but people can’t do the same. There

are chemicals within the berries that negativelyaffect the body. In the Phoradendron (American)mistletoe plant, there is a toxin called phoratoxin. If ingested, it can cause blurred vision, abdominalpain, nausea, diarrhea, changes in blood pressure,and even death.

Folklore: From the earliest time mistletoe wasconsidered a magical, mysterious, and sacred plantof European folklore. It was thought to bestow lifeand fertility, to protect against poison, and to be an aphrodisiac.

The mistletoe of the sacred oak was especiallysacred to the ancient Celtic Druids. On the sixthnight of the moon, white-robed Druid priests wouldcut the oak mistletoe with a golden sickle. Twowhite bulls would be sacrificed amid prayers andthe recipients of the mistletoe would prosper. Later,the ritual of cutting the mistletoe from the oakcame to symbolize the emasculation of the old King by his successor.

Mistletoe was long regarded as both a sexual symbol and the soul of the oak. It was gathered atboth mid-summer and winter solstices, and the custom of using mistletoe to decorate houses atChristmas has survived as Druid and other pre-Christian traditions.

Greeks also thought that mistletoe had mysticalpowers and down through the centuries it becameassociated with many folklore customs. In theMiddle Ages and later, branches of mistletoe werehung from ceilings to ward off evil spirits. In Europethey were placed over house and stable doors toprevent the entrance of witches. It was alsobelieved that the oak mistletoe could extinguish

fire. Traditions which began with European mistletoewere transferred to the similar American plant withimmigration and settlement of the new world.Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associatedwith the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later withprimitive marriage rites. They probably originatedfrom two beliefs. One credits mistletoe with thepower to bestow fertility, while another with havinglife-giving power.

In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant ofpeace, under which enemies could declare a truce.Or warring spouses would kiss and make-up.Victorian English credited mistletoe as having magical appeal as a kissing ball. At Christmas timea young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe,brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, andornaments, could not refuse to be kissed. Such akiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendshipand goodwill. However, if the girl refused the kisswhile standing under mistletoe, it was said that shewouldn’t receive any marriage proposals during thefollowing year. Worse, it seems that many peoplewould avoid her since they believed she would probably end up an old maid.

Today, kisses can be exchanged under the mistletoeany time during the holiday season. However, somebelieve if a couple that is in love exchange a kissunder the mistletoe, it is a promise to marry, aswell as a prediction of happiness and long life.

Note: Information for this article were gleanedfrom several sources on the internet, including,theholidayspot.com, chem.answers.com/tdefinitions/mistletoe-berries-a-poisonous-tradition,msucares.com, and wikipedia

By Jimmy Dunkley

10

MerryChristmasAscensionIn the past couple of years, Ialways talk about Christmas. Ofcourse, my first article was allabout the reason of the Season,Jesus. The second year I wroteabout how difficult this time ofyear is for lots of people and howto be sensitive to their needs. This year as I was thinking aboutthe topic of Christmas, holidayshopping came to mind. Ithought about gifts I’ve given andreceived and the ones that meanthe most. I realized the best giftsare not the most expensive gifts,but they are the ones that are themost thoughtful and creative.

Here are a few ideas of creativegifts that I’ve both received and given!

Framed picture collages of youwith family and friends! There isnothing better, especially in this

digital age where most people juststore digital images on their smartphones. When is the last timeyou’ve actually had photos printedoff your phone? This is especiallyfun, because it means you have togo through old photos to pick thebest ones to share. Also, picking aperfect frame to compliment thepictures and your loved one isalways good.

Another idea is a framed letter ornote written by a loved one. Aftermy Paw Paw passed, my family

framed someof his love letters to myMaw Maw andframed them.Those framedletters are jewels ofsweetness inthe family.

A one yeardevotional.My favorite isby LarryStockstill,“The One YearBible, WalkingDaily through

the Bible”. This devotional takesyou through the entire Bible inone year and it includes wiselessons each day by the wonderfulpastor Larry Stockstill. It’s greatbook for anyone, but certainly forsomeone that reads The Worddaily - great and meaningful gift indeed.

Growing up, I made homemadechocolates, breads and sweet treatswithAaunts and my Maw Maw.We’d make things like MarthaWashingtons, (which similar to anAlmond Joy but in a small roundball shape),rum balls, andeven a home-made pecanbread to put indecorativeChristmasboxes and givethem away forgifts. Everyonealways lookedforward tothese boxes ofgoodness.

These days,I’ve added different recipes to myChristmas sweets repertoire, andhere are a couple of my favorites!

Martha Washington Candy

1 cup margarine, 4 cups confectioners sugar, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 cupsshredded coconut, 2 cups pecanschopped, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2cups semi sweet chocolate chips. Line 2 cookie sheets with waxpaper. Set aside. Mix margarine,sugar and sweetened condensedmilk in large mixing bowl. Addcoconut, pecans, and vanilla; mixwell, using a sturdy large spoon.Chill until firm enough to handle.

Form into small balls and place onprepared cookie sheets. Chill untilvery firm. Melt chocolate chips intop pot of double boiler over simmering water. Using a toothpick, dip balls into meltedchocolate. Let cool on wax paper.Quaker Oats Praline Snack Mix8 cups Quaker Oatmeal SquaresCereal (1 whole box) , 2 cupspecans, coarsely chopped, 1/2 cupbrown sugar, firmly packed, 1/2cup light corn syrup , 4 table-spoons butter (margarine ok) , 1teaspoon vanilla , 1/2 teaspoonbaking soda , 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat oven to 250ºF. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Combine cereal andpecans in pan; mix well. In largemicrowaveable bowl, combinesugar, corn syrup and margarine.Microwave on HIGH 1 minute 30seconds; stir. Microwave an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute30 seconds or until boiling. Stirvanilla and baking soda andoptional salt into sugar mixture.Pour over cereal mixture; stir tocoat evenly. Bake 1 hour, stirringevery 15 minutes. Transfer to

baking sheet, spreading mixture ineven layer. Cool completely; breakinto pieces. Store tightly coveredat room temperature.

So, this year, remember first of allthe Christ was born to set the sin-ner free. Keep in mind that thistime of year can be quite difficultfor people going through any separation or loss of a loved one,so be sensitive to that. Finally ifyou give a gift, make it a thoughtful one. And hey, if allelse fails, bake a sweet treat.Everyone loves that!

11

Would Like to Announce theOpening of their Satellite Office in Gonzales

2306 S. Burnside, Suite BGonzales, LA 70737

(Previous Dr. Geoffrey Fraiche's Office)

12

Z Aesthetic Dermatology Prairieville Ribbon Cutting

A ribbon-cutting was held onNovember 20, 2014 from 4:00 to6:00 p.m., attended by Dr. Z,staff, guests, dignitaries, andAscension Chamber membersincluding Bridgette Hanna, MattPryor, Donna Villar, Mert Smiley, and Polly Whitfield to name a few.

Ann Zedlitz, MD, also known as“Dr. Z”, is set to make Ascensioneven more beautiful with a newlocation of Z AestheticDermatology now open at 17497Old Jefferson Highway,Prairieville. “I’m so excited toserve friends - old and new - righthere in Prairieville,” said Dr. Z.“This was the right time toexpand my practice, andAscension is an excellent place

for Z AestheticDermatology to help everyone look andfeel their best.”

Dr. Z offers an array ofservices and cutting-edgetreatments designed topreserve and enhance eachaspect of her patients’ ownattractiveness. Her newapproach – called “The Z

Lift” – beginswith a consulta-tion to identifythe patient’s aesthetic goals. A custom package featuring themost advanced procedures available forwrinkle reduction, skintightening, ttoning and

lifting, and spot reduction.

Z Aesthetic Dermatology is astate-of-the-art facility equippedwith the latest in advanced technology and offers an array ofcosmetic and laser proceduressuch as wrinkle reduction, skintightening, skin tone & texture,makeup applications & lessons,scar treatments, body sculpting,and laser hair removal,

Dr. “Z” - Ann Zedlitz, M.D., aboard certified dermatologist, andher “Z Team” are dedicated tohelping every woman and manlook and feel their very best.Contact the Z Team today to seehow they can help you.Confidence is Key. Trust theExperts at Z! 225.778.7540

13

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14

DRAMAFeb. 26 - March 1 • March 5 - March 8A DOLL'S HOUSEThis turn-of-the-century classic, written byHenrik Ibsen, centers around Nora, a seemingly typical housewife who becomes disillusioned and dissatisfied with her

condescending husband and their life together, Controversial for examining social mores of its time, A Doll's House remains relevant and thought- provoking.

MUSICALJune 18 - June 21 • June 25- 28

Jekyl and HydeThe epic struggle between good andevil comes to life on stage in the musical phenomenon, Jekyll & Hyde. Based on the classic story by RobertLouis Stevenson and featuring a thrilling score of pop rock hits Frank Wildhorn & double Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse,Jekyll & Hyde has mesmerized audiences the world over.

COMEDYOct 22 - Oct 25 • Oct 28 - 31

ADDAMS FAMILY:THE MUSICAL

Those creepy kooks, the AddamsFamily, are living in their spooky

mansion amid domestic turmoil. Daughter Wednesday,now 18, finds herself falling in love—a sensation that isunsettling for everyone! When her boyfriend arrives withhis “normal” family to meet the Addams, comic chaosensues! THE ADDAMS FAMILY features a book byMarshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Sure to please the whole family!

ANNOUNCING THE 2015 SEASON of SECRETS

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

Dec 1, 2014- Feb 12, 2015 and then closed from Dec 22, 2014-Jan 3, 2015

15

That FirstGuitar Feeling

If you ask any guitarist, from thehobbyist to the most famous, they aresure to be able to tell you the story oftheir first guitar. Some may be storiesof horror and some may be stories of atrue blessing, but none-the-less theyare memories that will stay with the

player forever. Here is my insight andmy opinions on selecting the perfectfirst instrument. Although this articleis directed more towards guitar, otherinstrument purchases can follow a similar form.

There are three main areas to look atwhen selecting a new instrument:sound, look, and feel. To theadvanced player, sound may be themost important area. Their selectioncan be driven by trying to fill a specificneed or situation, live or in the studio.For the beginner, this should be oneof the last areas to weigh in on yourdecision making. As you advance as aplayer, you will learn what you like and

what you don’t like. Sound is a verysubjective medium, and not everyonewill agree on what a good soundingguitar is. Some people like the soundof a Fender, while others favor aTaylor...like myself.

Looks is another area that is completely driven by our personaltaste. While most people may thinkthis is one of the least importantaspects of guitar buying, I believe that

it's nearly the top of the list. The waythings look can fuel our attitude andemotions. We make decisions basedon looks everyday. Think about yourlast car purchase. (Was it made strictlyon functionality? or Did looks play alarger role?) In the same way, selecting a guitar that is asceticallypleasing is very important. We tend to want to interact more often withthings that stimulate us visually. I’dbet that Steve Jobs would attribute alarge amount of Apple’s success totheir visually stunning and against thegraindesigns. Aguitar that is attractive toyou willmake youwant topractice andplay it moreoften.

Mostbeginnersthat give upearly ontheir dreamof playing aninstrumentdo sobecause of how hard it can be to physically play as they are getting started. But it doesn’t have to be thatway. Selecting the right instrument foryour hands is extremely important

because the shapeand size of each guitar neck canvary. Finding aguitar the is com-fortable to holdwill bring youhours of fun andenjoyment,instead of it feeling like work.Look for a guitar

with low "action", the height that thestrings sit off of the fingerboard orplaying surface. High action willresult in a very uncomfortable playingguitar and will hinder you or yourchild's ability to learn. Playability issomething that cannot be accountedfor when making an online purchase.

Your local retailer should be able tofit you to the perfect instrument. Goin and see them, ask questions and"pet the animals"! (Try out a fewinstruments). Remember, the firstinstrument is a big part of your playing career. It will set you on thepath to success with plenty of fun andenjoyment, or it could cause your

dream to fade reallyquickly. As always, weinvite you to stop byMusic Inc and say hello!We are coming to an endto 2014, which means wewill be finishing up our45th year of helping customers find their perfect first instrument!

By Brandt Bourque

DavisPlumbing Repair LLC

For Quotes Call 225.259.0569 • 225.259.0461or email daviss5450@yahoo.com LPM1610

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• All tires from ATV to Commercial Machinery

• All brands to fit autos, trucks and 18 wheelers, including tractor/construction equipment tires

• Emergency road service assistance-Commercial Only

• Locally owned and operated since 2004• New used and retreads• Great prices!

Breaking Ground to Better Serve Ascension Parish

24 Hr. Emergency Roadside Service

Locally Owned & Operated by Oscar, Linda, Dean & Neal Mire

Call for Appointment • 225.445.3635

16

Choosing and Caring for YourToothbrushBy Calvin Bessonet, DDS,FAGDAscension Premier Dental

Your toothbrush is the mostimportant item in your oralhealth toolkit. But with such awide variety of toothbrushesavailable, how do you choosethe brush that’s best for you?And once you’ve made yourselection, how do you care forand clean your toothbrush?Learn how to improve youroral health care habits by properly selecting and caringfor your toothbrush.

What should Ilook for whenchoosing a toothbrush?The best toothbrushes have a long, wide handle that facilitates a firm grip. Thetoothbrush head should besmall enough to reach all areasof the mouth, with soft nylon

bristles that won’t hurt the gums.

Should I use an electric toothbrush?Electric toothbrushes, whichuse an oscillating or rotarymotion to clean the teeth, arebeneficial because they cancover a larger area of themouth faster than a manualtoothbrush. They’re especiallywell-suited for those withbraces, those who need extramotivation to brush, andthose who have difficulty operating a manual toothbrushdue to age, disability, or other factors.

If you use an electric toothbrush, avoid pressingdown too hard; instead, uselight force and slow move-ments, letting the brush do thework for you. Those using anelectric toothbrush for the firsttime may experience slightbleeding from the gums, whichwill subside over time. Childrenage 10 and younger should be supervised while using anelectrictoothbrush.

How often should I changemy toothbrush?Old toothbrushes with wornand frayed bristles will notclean your teeth effectively, andthey also may harbor harmfulbacteria. You should changeyour toothbrush—or brushhead, in the case of an electrictoothbrush—every three tofour months. However, if youget sick with a cold or the flu,you will need to change yourtoothbrush as soon as the illness begins and again oncethe illness has subsided. Thiswill help to get rid of anygerms and bacteria onyour toothbrush.

How can I keepmy toothbrushclean?Wash your hands both beforeand after brushing to avoidtransferring bacteria and foodparticles to your toothbrush.After brushing, rinse yourtoothbrush thoroughly toremove excess toothpasteand other debris, and soak thebrush in antiseptic mouthrinse

to eliminate any lingeringbacteria. Remember: Nevershare toothbrushes, as thishabit can lead to the transmis-sion of colds and/or bacteria.

How should Istore mytoothbrush?Store your toothbrush uprightand let it air dry before using itagain. Microorganisms aremore likely to grow in a moistenvironment, so don’t coveryour toothbrush or store it in aclosed container. Because bacteria can travel easily frombrush to brush, don’t storeyour toothbrush in the samecontainer as someone else’s.Finally, keep your toothbrush asfar away from the toilet as possible to avoid contaminationfrom the airborne bacteriathat are released with eachflush.

Talk to your dentist if you havequestions about choosing orcaring for your toothbrush. Nomatter which kind oftoothbrush you have, makesure to brush your teeth fortwo minutes twice a day andvisit the dentist regularly tomaintain good oral health.

FREE Teeth Bleaching**( with New Patient Exam, X-ray and cleaning )

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• Implants

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AscensionPREMIER DENTAL

Calvin G. Bessonet, DDS, FAGD

13375 Hwy 73, Suite 1 • Geismar, LA 70734 • Call: 225.673.6910 • www. AscensionDentist.com

17

The Benefits of Louisiana’s Long-Term CarePartnership ProgramMost people spend their entireworking lives saving for retire-ment but give little thought tohow the high costs of long-termcare can devastate their retirementplan. Long-term care services mayinclude nursing homes, assistedliving facilities, adult day care orin-home care, among many otherthings. The potential costs of thiscare in Louisiana can range fromhundreds of dollars a month for afew hours of in-home care toalmost $10,000 per month forcare in a memory unit at an

assisted living facility. Healthinsurance plans and Medicare donot cover these costs. Rather,families have to pay these costsfrom their own income and sav-ings unless they have a long-termcare insurance policy or qualify forMedicaid.

To qualify for Medicaid, a singleperson cannot have more than$2,000 in countable assets and amarried couple cannot have more$119,920 in countable assets.Those in the middle class willoften have to deplete their assetsto reach these maximum amountsbefore they qualify for Medicaidto pay for nursing home costs.Fortunately, the Louisiana Long-Term Care Partnership Programoffers Louisiana citizens a way toqualify for Medicaid and protecttheir assets.

According to the LouisianaDepartment of Health andHospitals’ Office of Aging andAdult Services, the mission of thePartnership Program is to moti-vate individuals to plan for thehigh costs of long-term care. ThePlan does this by establishingrules for what constitutes a quali-fied long-term care policy underthe plan that can be purchased

from a private insurer. The policies are only available fromlicensed insurance professionalsand must meet the state and federal Partnership requirements.The names of companies that sellthe policies can be found by contacting the LouisianaDepartment of Insurance.

If you purchase a Partnershipqualified long-term care policyand you exhaust your policy benefits, you will be able to qualify for Medicaid to pay fornursing home costs without having to deplete your resourcesto the Medicaid maximums.Instead, for every dollar the policypaid out in benefits, you will beallowed to keep a dollar of yourassets and still qualify forMedicaid. In other words, theseassets will be disregarded whenyou are evaluated for Medicaideligibility.

For example, consider Frank andLouise, an elderly couple whohave worked hard all of their livesand have $500,000 in retirementsavings. If Frank has a stroke andneeds nursing home care, theywill have to deplete over$380,000 of their savings beforeFrank will qualify for Medicaid.However, if Frank purchased aPartnership qualified plan thatpaid $250,000 in benefits, thefirst $250,000 of nursing homecosts would be paid for by the

insurance company. If Frank stillneeded nursing home care afterthose benefits were exhausted, heand Louise could keep $119,920(the amount Medicaid allows amarried couple to own and qualifyfor long-term care payments) plus$250,000 (the amount of thelong-term care benefits paid bythe private insurer) for a total of$369,920. This means that Frankand Louise would only need todeplete a little over $130,000 oftheir retirement savings instead of$380,000. As you can see, thiscan provide substantial savings tothem. These savings can be usedfor Louise’s needs or left to theirchildren after they have bothpassed away.h As you can see, the LouisianaLong Term Partnership Programprovides an excellent way forthose in need of long-term care toprotect their assets and providefor their or their family member’slong-term care needs. To learnmore about the LouisianaPartnership program, you can visitwww.ldi.state.la.us or contact aprofessional who regularly assistsfamilies in planning for their long-term care needs.

Mrs. Melancon has engaged in the practice oflaw in Louisiana for the past 17 years. The pri-mary focus of her practice is estate planning, spe-cial needs planning, elder law and probate. Sheis also accredited by the VA to give adviceregarding veterans’ benefits. For more informa-tion, please contact her at 222-744-0027 .Youmay also visit her website atwww.LegacyCenterLa.com.

YOUR ESTATE MATTERSBy Linda Melancon

®

18

EATEL AwardsAscension

Teachers with$5,000 in

“Reach a Kid,Teach a Kid”

GrantsTen Ascension Parish teachers havereceived $500 each in grantmoney from EATEL to supportinnovative teaching methods thatare designed to engage students intheir classrooms. EATEL’s annual“Reach a Kid, Teach a Kid” grantswere judged this year by a com-mittee comprised of EATEL’s ownBeryl Smith and Lyman Abadie,along with Angelle Deshautelles,Executive Director for AscensionParish Libraries, and Sherry Denig,Executive Director for VolunteerAscension.

For over 17 years, the EATELReach a Kid, Teach a Kid grantprogram has helped fund uniqueprojects in local schools, impactinghundreds of primary, middle andhigh school students every year.To date, EATEL has awardedmore than $85,000 in teachergrants.

“EATEL is proud to be able to

help one of the most valuableresources in our community: ourteachers,” said Toby DuBois,EATEL Chief Marketing Officer.“We’re glad that our ‘Reach a Kid,Teach a Kid’ grants are able tofund creative thinking in localclassrooms which supportsAscension Parish schools’ ability toshine.”

EATEL hosted a ceremony onWednesday, October 22, 2014, intheir lobby to honor this year’sgrantees. Attending in support ofthese winning teachers were theirschool principals, friends and family members as well asAscension Superintendent ofSchools Patrice Pujol, AssistantSuperintendent of Schools SteveWestbrook, Director of SecondarySchools David Alexander,�Supervisor of SecondaryEducation Lisa Bacala, andSupervisor of Career & TechnicalEducation Ronda Mathews.

“It’s just so exciting to have someof our very best teachers, withtheir creative ideas and passion forour kids, show their willingness togo that extra mile,” said Dr.Patrice Pujol, Ed.D.,Superintendent of AscensionParish Schools. “And we can’tthank EATEL enough for theircommitment to continuing thefunding of these teacher grantsbecause our students are the oneswho profit.”

2014 EATEL grant winners include (in alphabetical order):

Janis Ament, St. Theresa Middle SchoolProject: ““Service with a Smilefrom the Heart”

St. John Primary first throughthird graders will adopt nursingand assisted living homes inGonzales to reach out and connectwith elderly members of our community. Students will writeand mail letters once a month andthen, in a class field trip, will present the seniors with charmingpieces of art and treat them to amusical performance. Prior to thefield trip to area nursing and assist-ed living homes, students will dis-cuss in class the importance ofcommunity service and how theycan continue to help as they growolder. Students will also be given alist of questions so they can interview the residents. This grant will impact 240 students and approximately 290 seniors.

Alice Bourque, St. Amant High SchoolProject: “Real World Success”

Technology is an integral part ofour world and, as such, the waysof teaching Real World computerapplications needs to engagetoday's interactive, visual learnersappropriately. Ms. Bourque teachesIntroduction to Business

Computer Applications andBusiness Computer Applications.These classes encompass lessons informatting professional businessdocuments, e-mails, memos,newsletters, spreadsheets, anddatabases that students will use intheir post-secondary educationand/or careers. This grant willpoise these students for success byallowing them to become "in-house Microsoft Office specialists"with 5 clients to service. The format of the lessons simulates real business world work-ordersand challenges students to use critical thinking and decision-making skills while applying theMicrosoft Office skills they learn in class.

Rae Broussard, St. Amant High SchoolProject: “Behind the Scenes”

Through this grant, students in G-C-E, Marketing, Entrepreneurship,Pro-Start, & B-C-A will collabo-rate on one large project. Studentswill create & host a “Dine inMovie Night” at St. Amant HighSchool. Each class will focus onspecific tasks that enhance theircourses learning objectives.Students will be excited to learnthe skills needed for a hands-onbusiness that they create. They willhave chances to make their owndecisions, be creative, learn fromtheir mistakes, and find their nichewhether it be server, chef, businessowner, manager, accountant,

Top row, left to right: Mae Stevens, Shondra James, Carla Duplechin, Rebecca Muskat, and Rebecca Stewart. Bottom row, left to right: Rae Broussard, Kadee Dupuis, Janis Ament, and Pam Gautreau. Not pictured: Alice Bourque.

graphic designer, kitchen manager,entrepreneur, decorator, or coordinator. Students will learnhow much hard work goes on"behind the scenes" to effectivelyrun a business and put on a suc-cessful event. If successful, stu-dents will continue to host thisevent in the future as a learningexperience and fundraiser forGator Mania, the school-basedenterprise.

Carla Duplechin, Gonzales Middle School, 6th gradeProject: “Crossing Borders WhileTouching Hearts”

This grant will involve ten specialeducation students. Some of thesestudents are unable to write andlisten at the same time, some havedifficulty remaining focused oninstruction, and some have difficulty understanding materialwhen it is presented within thefour walls of a classroom. They alllearn best when they are able tosee, hear, touch and become anactive part of what is being taught.This grant will provide opportuni-ties for engaging ALL learners.Students will choose various landscape border bricks, select patterns or create their own patterns and decorate their pieces.The students will acquire function-al reading and mathematics skillsthrough the use of developmentalhands-on activities, and will beable to re-tell and sequence theevents that occurred along theprocess. They will enjoy a sense ofpride and accomplishment uponseeing their finished products andgifting them to their families.

Kadee Dupuis, St. Amant High SchoolProject: “Big Fun with Big Books”

This grant is geared towards highschool seniors who will to pursue aprofession in the field of educa-tion. One of the major require-ments for course completion is anextended field experience wherestudents intern in a classroom atone of our feeder schools. Duringtheir internships, they must teach alesson, help students one-on-one,and learn classroom skills. One ofthe units in the STAR curriculumprovides students with the oppor-tunity to read a classic children'sbook to a classroom of childrenafter practicing first with theirpeers and STAR class. Readingaloud is an essential skill for anyclassroom teacher, and this activityneeds to be as fun and interactiveas possible. This grant will make itpossible to purchase several "bigbooks" of classic children's storiesto use for this unit. These bookswill benefit the students byenhancing the experience of read-ing in front of their peers as they

get to know each other in class,and then again as an introductoryactivity in their field experienceclassrooms.

Pam Gautreau, The Church AcademyProject: “Just What the Doctors Ordered”

This grant recognizes that writingis an essential life skill. Studentswill learn about empathy throughvarious genres of books: poems,fiction, nonfiction, riddles/jokes,and fables. Students will thenbuild on prior knowledge of writing skills taught last year.Students will then be instructed towrite their own stories with a focuson making a difference in the lifeof another through compassion.They will review all components ofthe writing stages: brainstorming,rough copy, editing, final copy,and publishing. Once studentsbegin to write, children will workin groups to encourage peer revi-sion and cooperation. The writingproject will be published as a collaborative piece of the entireclass. Once the books are published, each student will takehome a copy, and several copieswill be donated to local nursinghomes, widow’s outreach, and tothe children’s hospital. These students will become publishedauthors with empathetic hearts.

Shondra James, Donaldsonville Primary SchoolProject: “All I Want To Do Is Read”

Many of the children atDonaldsonville Primary have limit-ed exposure to quality literature.Many of the books available to theteacher are dated and do notinclude many of the characters thatthey are familiar with in their dailylives. The classroom that I teach isa magnet classroom, and each stu-dent has an iPad to use within theclassroom. This grant will alloweach student to access hundreds ofstories right at their fingertips.Students will engage with the stories for guided reading groups,independent reading, and bookclubs. Students will increase their reading fluency and comprehension.

Rebecca Muscat, Dutchtown High SchoolProject: “Photography Can Reacha Kid, Videography Can Teach aKid”

Through this grant, students willbe able to utilize digital cameratechnology during lab activities.For example, the students will takephotographs during experiments ofobserved reactions, record peer-narrated videos to summarizeexperiments, and will be able toshare those photos and videos with

the class – especially any studentswho are absent, so they will beable to participate in subsequentclass discussions. Students will beable to print the images of theirwork using a portable photo print-er. This way, photos will be avail-able to students not only duringgroup discussions for reference andclarity but also as an additionalsource of data within a formal labreport. Visual data collection willincrease the students' engagementand thus enhance the pride thatstudents will take in their work.There may also be an opportunityto expand and connect their use ofphotography and videography intoother classes such as, advertising,digital media, and other businessand art classes. This technologycan be utilized for subsequentyears and shared within the biology department, thus benefit-ting thousands of students.

Mae Stevens, Prairieville Primary SchoolProject: “Reading Closely”

Students will be reading severalnovels within the modules of theExpeditionary LearningCurriculum this year. If studentshad their own copies of a novel,they could write and annotate intheir book. Students would havethe opportunity take the novelhome, re-read for understandingand share new learning with their

families. Students will learn how toannotate for a variety of purposeswhen reading. Close Reading is alifelong learning strategy. If students are able to have their own copy of the novel, they canuse it as a reference for the rest of their lives.

Rebecca Stewart, Oak Grove Primary SchoolProject: “Number Fun withRekenreks”

This grant will furnish a 6-year-oldmathematicians with manipulativesto keep them engaged. With thisgrant, a classroom set of individualRekenreks as well as a 100 countRekenrek for demonstration purposes will be able to be purchased. Rekenreks are speciallydesigned number racks that helpchildren decompose and composenumbers. Using a Rekenrek, children can manipulate the counting beads to learn, for example, that 8 is really 4 and 4, 2and 6, or 5 and 3. Children learnnumerals by exploring the combinations that compose thosenumbers. Learning numbers thisway ensures that children form astrong numeracy foundation whichthen directly leads to and supportscomputation. Using Rekenrekswill help ensure that the studentshave the necessary foundation fortheir entire math career.

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“Oh the games people play now,every night and every day now,Never meaning what they say now,never saying what they mean…

Joe South.

Scene- A South Louisiana livingroom on Christmas Eve.

Characters- The Kids-all agesfrom 1-92, in all shapes and sizes.

Uncle Bill- a disillusioned dreamer who recently unfriendedhimself on Facebook after one ofhis incoherent rants.

Act IKids (excitedly)-Uncle Bill’s here!Uncle Bill’s here! Come tell usone of your famous Christmas stories, Uncle Bill!Kid 1-But how did you get here,Uncle Bill? I didn’t see your truckpull up.Bill- No truck this year. In thespirit of the season, I decided tocome by sled this year. A niceman named Sean Payton droveme. Said he had lots of experienceat leading a dog team.Kid 2- Are you going to tell usabout the time you and AuntDiane and Liz took the family carto Moonlight Inn on ChristmasEve and didn’t get home until thenext morning and all the youngersiblings’ gifts were in the trunk?Kid 3- No, tell us about the GreatBottle Rocket War when y’all setthe pasture on fire and the firedepartment had to come onChristmas Day.Kid 4- I want to hear the onewhen you fell into the Christmastree…Bill- Now, now, boys and girls.Those are some oldies but goodiesto be sure but wouldn’t you likesomething a bit more current?Kid 1- I don’t know Uncle Bill.The only things on TV these daysare murders and war and lots ofdoom and gloom. Did you knowCarolina Panther quarterback gotin a wreck with two transvestites?Bill- Well, Will, I believe he hadtwo transverse process fractures in his back. But he was on themain drag.Kid 2- Someone said he got hit twice.Bill- Which was twice more thanthe Saints hit him on the previousSunday but I digress. So let UncleBill help out international relationships by combining someof this Cajun sugar cane whiskeywith some Pennsylvania Dutch eggnog and let’s pile up under the mistletoe-just in case some ofthose cuties from Sammy’s Grilldrop by-and…Kid 3- Uncle Bill, how do youremember all their names whenyour memory is growing weakerthan the NFC South?Bill- I just use the same techniqueSanta used on his reindeer when Icall them by name-“On Lauren

and Morgan, Christina and Shana!On Emily, Tiara, Natia andAmanda…”

Then if we can get one of thetaller ones like Carle to help putour littlest angel Heather on topof the tree, I’ll tell you a story ofpolls and bowls and Christmastrolls…

Once upon a time there was anevil organization called the BCSwhich tried to ruin college foot-ball…

Kid 2- Excuse me, Uncle Bill, butwe don’t have the BCS to kickaround anymore. A selectioncommittee chose the final fourplayoff teams this year and theexperts’ consensus is that they dida pretty good job.Bill- Except in Waco, Texas,where there are more burningbutts than the Great David Koreshbonfire of 1993. Even countrysinger Billy Joe Shaver who chronicled his shooting of adrunken Texan in the song“Wacko from Waco” has threatened to take action.

And in Fort Worth, the cowboysout at the stockyards have calledout committee members to a duelat the Not O.K. Corral in termsthat were Texas but not veryChristian.

Anyway, with five so-calledPower Conferences, somebody wasbound to be left out of a FinalFour. Perhaps the next step is anexpansion to a Great Eight withfive Power teams and three wildcards and listen to the numbernine whine. (That would be OleMiss this year screaming, “Hey, webeat Miss State head to head.”)

But this story is about bowlgames, power (not rankings) and ego trips. You see, somepoliticians and other celebritiesdecided they wanted to add somemore bowl games and attach theirnames to them.Kid 1- But don’t we have enough

bowl games already, Uncle Bill?And all those sponsors’ names inthe titles really confuse me.Bill- Truer words were never spoken, lad, but money talks. Asthat late, great New Orleans promoter Dave Dixon used to say,“Give me a corporate sponsor, aTV contract and a betting line andI’ll sell out the Superdome for amarble contest.”

So it came to pass that somepoliticians decided it might be

good for name recognition-not tomention fund raising-if they had abowl named in their honor-especially one that reflected theirbeliefs.

For example, our next governorSenator David Vitter (“TheWorking Girl’s Best Friend”)attempted to put together a gamebetween Tulane-to show his support of private, elitist educationand a little-known branch ofSoutheastern Louisiana Universityat Tickfaw ( known as SLUT) toshow his compassion for the average man.

It would be called “CommonCore vs. Common Whores” andthe New Orleans Madame of his choice could turn the first trick play.Kid 2- What about our currentgovernor? Wasn’t “Piyush of theBayous” jealous?Bill- Of course, he was. But notto be outdone, Piyush decided torevive the “Little Caesar’s Bowl”since the Pizza Company thatonce had it lost all the cheese itcould afford.

“Since I am an emperor,” Piyushproclaimed, “I have decided thepreside over a battle-to-the-deathbetween representatives of highereducation and health care-sort ofthe “Old College Try” against“Just Let Them Die”, if you will-and give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to the victors as to whosebudget gets cut the least.”

The game will be played inPiyush’s home state of Iowa-sightof the first Presidential caucus.Kid 3- What would the realCaesar think of Piyush?Bill- Considering the headRoman’s reign was once describedas “unabashed self-interest dis-guised as representation of thepublic interest”, I think Piyushwould get a big thumbs-up fromJulius.Kid 1- What about our newestsenator, Uncle Bill? He wouldn’twant to be left out of the bowlparade?Bill- You mean “Double Bill”Cassidy”? He really intended tohave one but he took 97% of themoney and didn’t provide anyservices, teams or tickets so hisgame got vetoed.Kid 2- And what about poorMary Landrieu? Did she get agame of any kind?Bill- Since even her own partywithdrew all support, Mary had totake the cheap route this year.The best she could come up withwas a basketball game betweenGeorgetown of Washington D.C.and the University of New Orleansto determine where she will liveout her civilian years.Kid 3- What about the guys onthe local scene? Seems they’realways looking for publicity.Bill- You’re exactly correct, Nate,but they couldn’t afford the entirebowl package either. So they cameout with their own variation. If Imay… (In best Michael Buffervoice) “Ladies and Gentlemen,let’s get ready to rumble. For theTown of Gonzales Blockbuster (orBust the Block) Tag TeamChampionship, this is tonight’smain event.

“In this corner-the CouncilKillers led by Gary “Police Car”Lecombe and Timothy “Call MeMayor” Vessel. And in the opposite corner, the CitizenAssassins led by Chuck ‘TheMouth of South Sandra’ andGordon C. Kernan-master of the‘Fish-n-Pic-n-Roll’ sleeper hold.

“Our referee tonight is Creolecolumnist Wade Petite, who usually pens things that count, buttonight will be counting thingsthat pin. This is a no-holds-barredmatch, the first I can recall in along time.”

I guarantee a sellout at LamarDixon and then we could use theproceeds to build you kids somebaseball and soccer fields withouttaxing anyone.Kid 2- Uncle Bill, have you beenskirting the Les Miles rumors onpurpose?Bill- No, I was getting to that.I’m thinking Les-with all hismoney- buys Notre Dame out ofthe Music City Bowl-thoseCatholics are always partial tomoney-and replaces them withMichigan.

Then we let Les coach both

26

Reindeer Games People Playby Bill Delaune

27

teams-and run the clock-and thewinners get to keep him or shiphim. Sort of a “Deal or No Deal”or-for my feminine readers-a “LoveLes or List Les” proposition.Kid 3- What about your old gambling buddy Edwin Edwards?Bill- That’s an easy one. Guardsagainst the cons in his old prisonyard-another remake of “TheLongest Yard”.Kid 1- Those are pretty funny,Uncle Bill, but are there any realbowl games you’re looking forward to?Bill- I like the Sun Bowl’s clevermatchup out in El Paso where theDuke Blue Devils will take on theArizona State Sun Devils. Shouldbe one hell of a game.Kid 2- Have you ever been to El Paso, Uncle Bill?Bill- Yeah, one time, Cade. But Iended up across the border inJuarez and I didn’t need any devilsto tell me that was close enough tohell for me.Kid 3- Uncle Bill, this is supposedto be a Christmas story. Haven’tyou seen anyone in your travelsthat has the real holiday spirit?Bill- Of course, pards. Why justthe other day, Bama and his bunchraised over $20,000 with a jambalaya fund raiser to Feed theNeedy. And Pete and Gloria’sgroup always provides aThanksgiving feast for the BatteredWomen’s Shelter. And there’s hun-dreds of others doing similar gooddeeds throughout the area to helpout the less fortunate.Kid 1- What are you going to do

for the poor this Christmas, Uncle Bill?Bill- I’m going to donate a percentage of the money I win onbowl games to the “Coats forKids” charity.Kid 2- Man, I hope those poorpeople don’t freeze to death thiswinter.Bill- But I will leave you kids witha few classical references toremember when this big, badworld seems ready to blow.

Romeo and Juliet showed usthat love is more powerful thanhate. Harry Potter taught us thatgood will always overcome evil.And Luke Skywalker proved thatthe Light of the Force will overcome the Dark Side.

And this Jesus fellow whosebirthday we celebrate, he neverwon any political races but he hada pretty good platform. Likemaybe we should all be a littlenicer to one another and a lotmore forgiving and help out thosewho don’t have as much as we do.

Cause c’mon man, it’sChristmas-and we’re going to be alright.Kid 3- Gee, Uncle Bill. I didn’tknow you were a hopeless romantic.Bill- And you probably didn’tknow I could quote Scriptureeither. But if young Reece willstart our Christmas cheer (Isaiah11:6-“And a little child shall leadthem”...), we will wish all ourfaithful readers…A Very MerryChristmas and a Happy New Year!

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Top 10 thingsyou don’t giveyour wife forChristmas

10. No Bargain Items

Never listen to the televisionand buy her something fromRonco. If you buy her something that is plastic toassist her in the kitchen, youwill suffer for month as she tellseveryone you meet about yourthoughtfulness.

9. Is Beer a Good Gift

Don’t by her a case beer. If youdo you should at least buy thebrand she likes. If you buy heryour favorite brand you shouldgive her 2 cases so you’ll havesomething to do and drinkwhile you are in the dog house.

8. Think About HerHobbies

Free Golf Passes are never agood idea unless she plays. Ifshe does play make sure thepasses are good during a timewhen she is off work.

7. Do These Pants Make Me Look Fat?

Never Ever in Any way Shapeor Form Give her a 3 MonthMembership toa Weight LossCompany. Ifyou do, youneed to makesure you haveDentalInsurance. You’re Gonna Need It!

6. Does She Like Dancing

Never give her a Free Lunch at The Gold Club. Especially ifyou received it as a reward forfrequent visits

5. Does She Like Cooking

Unless she cooks in a 40 quartBlack Iron Jambalaya Pot, it isnot a good idea to give that toher. You’ll never convince her itwas for her.

4. A New Vehicle Can be a Great Gift

Did you think she would reallylike that new truck in herfavorite color that you drivenow. Each month when shedoes the bills and pays the noteit will be a constant reminder.

3. Are Guns a Good Idea?

If by chance you guys out therehave givin any of the itemsmentioned in the first 7 parts ofthis article I recommend no firearms. You see if you have considered any of the aforementioned items I am sure youwill mess up bad one day andwished she didn’t have thatgun, you gave her, in her hand.For God’s sake don’t give herone with a scope. Also don’tgive her ammo. Maybe she will procrastinate and never purchase any.

2. What about a pocket knife?

Not no but HELL NO! Knivesare strictly off limits. Pocketknives, skinning knives, boxcutters or razors. Why you ask?Just 2 words Lorena Bobbitt.Enough said.

1. How about photographs?

I am a big fan of photographs.This is the gift that keeps ongiving. All year long.Anniversary photos in a nice

frame. Family photos mattedmake great gifts. Date nightspecial moments.

However sending her a photofrom the view of your deerstand is not a good idea. Evenif you sweeten the pot with alove letter reading: “My DearSweet Wife. I know me goingdeer hunting duringThanksgiving and now againduring the Christmas Seasondoes not set well with you. Ithurts me also to be away fromyou but I thought if I sent youthis photo of what I am seeingat this moment, you may canalmost feel as if your are herewith me. And we are together.Merry Christmas.”

Let me give you a tip. It ain’tworking and you’re toast. Isuggest you go straight toLayne’s Jewelers on your wayhome and pick up anythingwith a diamond. Especially ifyou are hunting on yourFather-in-Law’s property.

Thoughts from Bully

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Useless Random Factswith Kellie

•

Ketchup was sold in the 1830s as medicine.

•

A pound of house flies contains more protein the a pound of beef.

•

Per the results of a three-year Christmas study performed by the

Center for Lifestyle Management, an average of 10 hours are spent

the last week of December arguing and bickering with family

members about holiday-related activities.

•

St. Nicholas was bishop of the Turkish town of Myra in the early

fourth century. It was the Dutch who first made him into a

Christmas gift-giver, and Dutch settlers brought him to America

where his name eventually became the familiar Santa Claus.

•

The classic animal crackers box is designed with a string handle

because the animal-shaped cookie treats, introduced in 1902 as a

Christmas novelty, were packaged so they could be

hung from Christmas tree limbs.

•

Each year there are approximately 20,000 “rent-a-Santas” across the

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how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public.

They also receive practical advice, such as not accepting money from

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Its illegal to spit on sidewalk in Norfolk, Viginia.

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The average secretary's left hand does 65% of the typing.

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There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

OPEN CHRISTMAS NIGHT!******ALL STAR JAM******

30

Thanks feet. There were timesyears ago where I struggled to keepyou warm and dry. Part of the reasonwas that I just didn't know what todo to help with the problem. After Ilearned what to do I just couldn'tafford the necessary footware. Butthings have changed these days and Ireally appreciate your ability to givemy body a solid platform to stand on. Thanks legs. You have taken me

up and down hills, through thousandsof miles of forests, in and out of themost productive marsh and swampsthroughout our southern states.You've been unstoppable. There's notelling how many ducks, squirrels,deer, turkeys, fish etc that I've taken from the outdoors because ofyour sheer strength. On your gentleside you've offered me your ruggedknees to kneel upon at times for ashort prayer of respect for my victimof prey at that time.Thanks back. You've carried

quite a load at times, the weight ofdecoys, deer stands, large animals,lanyards of ducks and most everythingelse imaginable. Because of you I cansit, bend, lay down, squat, lean, standstraight and carry heavy loads. I don'thave two of you. You're a one andonly. Without you I'm pretty muchdone. Hundreds of times you'veached with pain and soreness sometimes to the point of severe, butsomehow you've managed to bendand not break.Thanks arms and hands. What

can I say? You've held rifles steady,made perfect casts, cleaned everycreature that I've ever harvested inmy entire life. Your ability to hold,grab, push, pull, carry or throw hasbeen phenomenal and you seem to never let me down.Thanks head. You've controlled

my senses of sight, hearing, taste andsmell. Your control center (my brain)for the most part, has led me in theright direction for years. There's beenthousands of decisions made by youthat controlled the life and safety ofmyself and others. You've also givenme the ability to learn right fromwrong, which leads me to thankanother important part of my body.Thanks eyes. Through you I've

observed all the sights and colors thatnature has to offer. You have helpedme detect my prey and protect mefrom harmful situations. There's beenbeautiful sunrises and sunsets, andsome that weren't so beautiful. I'veseen branches shake, ears flick, flocksof waterfowl flying overhead, turkeysstrut, just to name a few of your precious gifts. Together we've viewed

nature in its most lovable moments.We've also seen its crueler sides.Thanks ears. Yeah. Like all the

other parts, you aren't as effective asyou once were. I've heard soundssuch as squirrel cuttings hitting theforest floor, a twig breaking nearby,turkey talk from a distance, geesemigrating in the fall, and a largemouth strike on a quiet bayou, to name a few. It was also apleasure to hear my daughter saying"I got him dad!" after killing her firstbuck. What more can I ask for, it'sbeen a pleasure.Thanks mouth. Although I let

you ramble sometimes more than Ishould, it's because of you that I'vebeen able to enjoy my bounty of fishand game. The delicious flavors andaroma of my bounty being cookedhas been a gift that some folks willnever know.Thanks heart. Yes you've pumped

all necessary blood and oxygen to allof these parts to make them work correctly. Somewhere deep downyou've given me the sense of caring.Because of you I've learned to be anethical and responsible user of all ofnatures' creatures. I've also learned togive back to the sport and the outdoor world that has been so good to me.Thanks Mom and Dad. Thanks

Dad, for teaching me to use all thosewonderful parts in the correct manner. Thanks Mom, for cooking all my kills and catches from myyounger years. Without your guidanceI would not have continued to be ahunter or fisherman. Thanks God. Thank you for

giving me such a wonderful body and life along with all of natures wonderful creatures to use, respect,and enjoy. I will continue to enjoynature's bounty until she herself nolonger allows me to do so.

Until Next Time,Thanks to all of you for your interest in my articles and Happy Holidays to youand your families,

James "Goosie" Guice

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Saturday, December 6th, theJambalaya Festival Associationhosted their annual ChristmasParty at the St. Amant RecreationalCenter. The celebration saw it’slargest attendance in years including several dignitaries present. Parish President TommyMartinez, State RepresentativeJohnny Berthelot, and JFAFounder Steve Juneau were onhand along with many volunteersand Association Members to kickoff the holiday season.

After partygoers mingled andserved plates of fried fish andshrimp, potato salad, gumbo,brisket and much more, the awardsceremony began.

Two awards were given to outstanding Association membersand friends of the Festival for theirvolunteerism and dedication to theJambalaya Festival and its causes.JFA Vice President, TammyGuillory, welcomed the attendees,noting the great turnout, and

This month with

A monthly News Report from the Jambalaya Festival Association

JFA Hosts Annual Christmas Party; Names Nora Lee Ricca Award Recipient

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thanking everyone for being apartof the JFA before handing over themicrophone to JFA Secretary,Meredith Conger, who presentedthe awards.

Conger also welcomed attendeesand thanked Parish PresidentMartinez for attending andremaining a huge supporter theJFA.

The first award of the night wasgiven to Mr. Jimmy Berthelot forhis support of the JFA throughoutthe years. As the Association con-tinues with plans to build its newhome, monthly meetings havebeen held at Berthelot’s Hall in St.Amant since the demolition of theJFA’s previous festival building.The Association is grateful for theuse of Mr. Berthelot’s facilities andrecognized him for his continuedsupport of the Festival.

The second award of the night isone given each year at theChristmas Party, the Nora LeeRicca Award. Nora Lee Riccaserved as the Treasurer of the JFAfor many years before serving asPresident 1980. While serving inoffice as President, Mrs. Ricca sud-denly passed away. Each year sinceher passing an award has beengiven in her honor to theAssociation member who has mostexemplified the call of volun-teerism and service to theJambalaya Festival and who hasshown a great dedication to it’smission. The 2014 Nora Lee Ricca

Award was presented to Mrs.Brenda Taillon.

Taillon has been involved with festival for over 15 years servingon numerous committees andworking nearly every booth at thefestival. She serves on theChristmas Parade Committee,works alongside husband, GilbertTaillon, in the Daiquiri booth atthe Swamp Pop Festival each yearand is always willing to do any taskneeded to help the Festival. Taillonis a dedicated Association memberand displays a deep commitmentfor service not only to theJambalaya Festival but also to theAscension Parish community. TheAssociation Board of Directorswould like to congratulate Mrs.Brenda on her award and thank her for her many years of dedication.

Following the presentation ofawards, Mike Broussard, SteveBroussard and the All Star Bandhad the dance floor packed withtheir classic Swamp Pop tunes.

The JFA would like to especiallythank the Ascension ParishSheriff ’s Office for providing security for the event, the All StarBand, Tammy Guillory, VanessaBlair, Todd Blair, Mike Berthelot,Rodney Savoy, Blue Forstythe andall volunteers who made the eventa great success.

Below is a list of the Nora LeeRicca Award Recipients since it’sfirst year: • 1981 Pie Lanoux• 1982 Dalton Marchand• 1983 Mary Ann Keller• 1984 Elsie Walker• 1985 Mac Daigle• 1986 Cobby Walker• 1987 Darlene Reulet• 1988 Ernest “Beaver”

Cubbage• 1989 Frank Frederic• 1990 Anita Young• 1991 Pat Austin• 1992 Carol Frederic• 1993 Ed “Mike” Daigle• 1994 Eladee Chauvin• 1995 Robert A. Pitre, Jr.• 1996 Pearl Reed• 1997 Wally Taillon• 1998 Estelle Carpenter• 1999 Ruby Corrent• 2000 Frank Corrent• 2001 Solly Boudreaux• 2002 Lucia Smithey• 2003 Freddie Hurst• 2004 Mike Daigle• 2005 Carlos Braud• 2006 Gilbert Taillon• 2007 Carbett Bercegeay• 2008 Valmon & Rita

Bercegeay• 2009 Tammy Guillory• 2010 Robert Jackson• 2011 Mike Gonzales, Sr.• 2012 Mike Berthelot• 2013 Shane Martinez• 2014 Brenda Taillon

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At 50 the youthful features I oncepossessed have faded. Many areonly a memory as their evidence islong gone. And let’s not even talkabout the cruelty of gravity.But there is a bright side to aging,one that is worth the trade-off forthe appearance of youth. It is thewisdom and confidence one gainsfrom a lifetime of experiences andboy have I experienced a lot!From it I have been granted whatI call a true gift. It is an earnedconfidence that needs no pretend-ing. It doesn’t boast or brag, nordoes it make apology. It is trueacceptance of self- both thestrengths and the weaknesses.Talk about liberating!!

My youth was that in which novelsare based, but rather than deemmy story sad, I celebrate it. Ilearned so much because of it. I was raised by a mother withschizophrenia. She was in and outof hospitals my whole life. Despite what some would callshortcomings, my mother hadmore grace and class about herthan any female I’d ever met andshe insisted I have class, too.Seeing her struggle with thedemons inside her head taught methat one’s own body can becometheir worst enemy and that what isshown outwardly isn’t always thetruth inwardly. I learned toobserve people closely and how topair behavior with emotion.

At age 11 my baby sister was born.She was given to me to care for asmy mother was recommitted. Ialready cared for my two youngersisters and now I have an infant. Iwoke to cook breakfast, bathe myinfant sister, prepare the strollerand a diaper bag and head out toskate. It taught me responsibilityfor a life other than my own, how

to later care for my own children, maturity and that noteveryone is dealt the same cards.

A few years later the state steppedin to remove my mother’s childrenfrom her and place us into fostercare. Her cries to her childrenremain in my head today. Ittaught me the best one can do isnot always enough, it taught methe value of a family together. Italso taught me loneliness, fear,insecurity, defense and independence.

I married and had three childrenof my own. I stayed at home withmy children until they went toschool to ensure they learned ourfamily values rather than those of astranger. I took my job very seriously; giving my family everything they needed to betterthemselves for their later years.The work was hard and the hourswere long, but I truly loved it. Itwas so much fun. It taught mehow to stretch a dollar and createsomething from nothing. It taughtme patience, how to disciplinewith love, routine, fairness and

that the sound of a child laughingwas the most wonderful sound inthe world to me.

My children grew and left ourhome to care for themselves. Theymarried and had children of theirown. They are successful in theirlives and in their work. As I watchtheir love and patience with theirown children I’m filled with pride.It taught me the next generationwill follow the first and the lessonsI insisted on mattered. It taughtme my lap can hold 5-6 small

children at onceand that I’m willingto endure the discomfort of mylegs going numb.

When I lost myyoungest son tosuicide by hangingI died. I left mymarriage of 26years and ran tosolitude like awounded animal. Ilearned a greaterpain than I’d everfelt before. Ilearned rage andhate. I learned

defeat and I learned my limit. Ittaught me how fragile and precious is a life and that eventhough we create a child they arenot ours. We don’t own them. Weare only responsible for theirupbringing and that they can leaveus at any time.

I learned why it was necessary tohave endured a life like mine. Ibelieve if I had not experiencedthe aforementioned I would nothave been able to survive the ultimate loss of my son. And as areward for surviving I was givenanother gift, the gift of true love.

I met an amazing man with whomI will spend the rest of my life.His love for me is ultimate. It’srespectful, patient and kind. Hemakes me laugh when I thought Inever would. Slowly I learnedthere is life after death and I’malive. It taught me resilience,appreciation and tenacity. I fearvery little in this life. I celebrate itand for the first time in my life, Icelebrate me. I have learned somuch and I’m proud to be 50!

By Tracy

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"WELL, IT'SCHRISTMAS"© Copyright Tad Hardy 2014

There are lights. There is music.And the ringing of bells.In the streets perfect strangers arewishing you well.

Well, it's Christmas! That explains it. The most joyous of seasons – When we rush to relax,Piling presents in stacks, Then we shop till we drop...But for all the right reasons?

Buying gifts for our kinAnd for those we've befriended,By the time Christmas gets hereWe're relieved that it's ended!

The simpler Christmases we used to knowSeem to have vanished, like the melting of snow.Back when Christmas was baby and manger and star,

We gathered togetherIn cold rainy weather,Sharing food and grand stories thatdefine who we are.

Nana cooked turkey. Papa would carve.The grandkids stood watching as ifthey would starve.

But they didn't. They made it. Then each bowed his head,And peeked out at Papa when theblessing was said.He wasn't exactly a jolly old elf;He was tall, lean and lanky and justlooked like... himself.

His prayer? True and simple,But it rose to the sky.The blessings swirled ‘roundAnd the joy that we foundWas as sweet and as fillingAs the big pecan pie.

Then once we were blessed thewhole kitchen grew merry,And the sound at the table was justdownright scary!Clanking silverware... laughing... and carrying on;After all, it was Christmas!

And it soon would be gone.The few gift-wrapped presents wouldjust have to wait;

For now, friends and loved oneswould all celebrate.

Some babies were naked – We knew that was fine,The love at that tableCovered all their behinds.

After lunch all the cousins wouldroughhouse and play,Chasing each other, enjoying the day.And I wonder as now I look back onthose yearsIf we've changed somehow... shifted,stripped some of our gears.

We've got Papa Noel sitting there in the store,And he's red... and he's jolly... butthere's got to be more.There's got to be more than the presents and treeAnd the garland and stockings andads on T.V.

"Buy an X-Box! An iPhone! Buy a 'Baby Alive!'Make this Christmas your happiest,$99.95!"

Sure, it's busy and rushed, you feelhurried and tired;Like the lights on the tree, you areblinking and wired.

But slow down. Take a walk. Tell your children, “Come see.”Share a song, give a smile,Hold them close for awhile,And remind them of how Christmaspast used to be.

Light up the bonfires! We'll warm by their glow;The warmth that is Christmas runs deeper, we know.Let's reflect and be thankful, maybe turn back the clocks;Let's keep Christmas alive, notwrapped up in a box.

Yes, it's Christmas! But why keep it one day a year?Let's remember true Christmas, every day, while we're here.

This poem is written by Tad Hardy and is protected underthe "First North American Serial Rights" It can not be

re-printed without permission of Tad Hardy

Christmas season in South Louisiana is a special time spent withfamily and friends around a Christmas tree, sharing a Christmasmeal, or in observance of a Christmas tradition. In St. Jamesparish the tradition begins in preparation for the construction ofthe many bonfires that line the top of the levee. This year I sawjust over 100 permitted sites for bonfire construction.

Old World French and German settlers established colonies in theriver parishes of St. James, St. John the Baptist, and St. Charlesin the 1700s. These early colonists brought with them the knowledge of bonfire customs and traditions from their Europeanhomes. By sharing this knowledge with their descendants, theyprovide the inspiration for a practice which has evolved into onegiant celebration known as the Christmas Eve bonfires. Once aneighborhood or family activity, the bonfires now line the eastbank of the Mississippi River, between the communities ofGramercy, Lutcher, and Paulina, attracting thousands of visitors.

In the weeks that follow Thanksgiving, the levee is alive withactivity as young people work together, contributing labor andmaterials to create the beacons that will be simultaneouslytorched, weather permitting, at 7:00 PM on Christmas Eve.

A popular belief is that the bonfires are used to light the way forPapa Noel who brings gifts to all the children along the river onChristmas Eve. The sleigh and reindeer are replaced by PapaNoel with a pirogue, pulled by eight alligators named Gaston,TiBoy, Pierre, Alcee, Ninette, Suzette, Celeste, and Renee. Theywere lead by a snow white gator by the name of Nicolette, whohad glowing green eyes.

The truth is that rural families in the 1800’s lived far apart, hadtransportation limited to horse and buggy, and rarely left home atnight. With this in mind bonfires would have probably been started by the more affluent families and plantation owners alongthe river to celebrate the Christmas season.

During World War II bonfire building ceased, but was resumedwith increased enthusiasm in the post war years. Slowly thestructures became more standardized in size, shape, and materials. Willows, growing in profusion along the river bank,became the wood of choice use to erect the bonfires. Equippedwith axes, hatchets, and hand saws, boys of the “bonfire clubs”cut the willow trees, stripped them of their branches, and hauledthem to the top of the levee. A center pole was selected andburied to a certain depth, then surrounded by four or more sidepoles. Materials were placed within the willow structure, and several days before the burning, freshly cut cane reeds wereplaces within and around the bonfire. As the cane reeds burnedthey emitted a popping, firecracker like sound.

As time passed the tepee structures became more uniform inconstruction and in materials used for burning. Accidentsoccurred on occasion during bonfire construction and safetybecame a major concern. For safety reasons permits must now beobtained and the structures have been limited to 20 feet in heightand to a maximum width and length of 12 feet by 12 feet. Tires,creosote timbers, plastics, or any other hazardous materials canno longer be used and explosive materials are prohibited aroundthe bonfires, except for firecrackers placed on the structure.Additional fireworks must be permitted and are restricted to theBatture (area between the back of the levee and the river).

On this Christmas Eve if you are looking to find somethinguniquely Louisiana, join the masses for the street party and fire-works in St. James parish for the burning of the bonfires alongthe levee. You won’t be disappointed!Footnote: Information for this article was provided by the St.James Parish Tourist Information Center, Gramercy, LA

BONFIRES ALONG THE LEVEE

By Jimmy Dunkley

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Call now to reserve your Holiday Gathering.

Tues.-Thurs. & Sunday 11am - 9pmFriday 11am - 10pm • Sat. 5pm - 10pm

Yield:8 servings

Prep Time:40 minutes

Cook Time:25 minutes

Ingredients:6 mirlitons1 ½ lbs baby shrimp2 cups finely chopped onion1 cup finely chopped celery1 cup finely chopped bell pepper2 tbls minced garlic½ cup thinly sliced green onions¼ cup creole mustard1 ½ cups bread crumbs (more or less depending on your preference)

Salt, black pepper and red pepper to taste. (2 tsp salt, 1 tspblack pepper, ½ tsp red pepper)

Method:Place the miriltons in a large pot and cover with water. Bringthe water to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes or until tender. Drain in a colander and cool. When cool enough tohandle, half the mirlitons, peel, then remove the seeds and cut into cubes.

While the militons are cooking, cook your onions, celery, bellpepper and garlic in a little olive oil until tender. Add the mirlitons and shrimp and cook until shrimp are done (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat, then add the creole mustard,green onions, bread crumbs and seasoning. Mix well.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a greased baking dish, evenlyspread your stuffing and bake for 20-25 minutes or untilbrown. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and serve.

** Great stuffing for chicken, turkey, or pork**

Shrimp & Mirliton Stuffing (Chayote)

Cooking Gourmet at Homewith SNO’S SEAFOOD & STEAKS

A great dish for this Holiday Season

Executive Chef Ben Jarreau

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