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OMPLIMENT RY

DECEMBER 2015, VOL. 13 ISSUE 11



Publisher / Editor

Mike Strong

Sales Manager

Dottie Godberry

Staff Photographer

Jimmy Dunkley

Contributing Writers

Bill DelauneLinda Melancon

Calvin Bessonett

Bully

Goosie Guice

Orhan McMillan

Kellie Seymour

Tanya Stilley

Roland Doucet

Jimmy Dunkley

For Advertising

Information Please call:

225-622-1324

E-Mail Comments

to [email protected]

www.ascensionmagazine.net

Note: Features in this

publication labeled

“advertorial”

are paid for editorials.

All Rights Reserved.

Opinions expressed are not

necessarily those of the

publisher, editor or staff of

Ascension Magazine

18386 Little Prairie Rd.Prairieville, LA 70769

CENTER STAGE.........................4

JFA CHRISTMAS PARTY .........10

SW EET EYES W/ TA NYA .... ....12

LAYNE’S...................................................24

JAMMIN’ WITH GOOSIE........ 29

BILL DEL AUNE........................ 30

THOUGHTS FROM BULLY.....34

CHRISTMAS PARADE...............36

Table of Contents

FOR MORE INFORMATION

225.622.3262www.riverparishfoods.com



Center Stage PerformingArts Academy descendedupon the Gonzales CivicCenter on December 1,

2015 for the annualChristmas Tree Lightingevent. While hundreds ofeager kids waited in line forSanta, the academy’sJunior and Senior MusicalTheatre Elite groupsperformed their brand new

Christmas show – “TheMost Popular ChristmasDoll Contest.” The originalshow, written by Center

Stage’s owner, LarrySchexnaydre, featured acolorful cast of dolls –Belle, Jesse, Barbie,Cinderella, Snow White,Tiana, Elsa and Anna -competing for the title of“Most Popular” while being

“The Most Popular Christmas

Doll Contest” Performed by

Center Stage at the Christmas

Tree Lighting Ceremony



judged by past winners,Pocahontas, American GirlDoll and Raggedy Ann and the

North Pole’s own Mrs. Claus,Buddy the Elf and Rosiethe Elf.

Each character had to explainto the judges why they shouldwin the ultimate award andsing a song that bestexemplified their Christmas

Spirit. The Junior MusicalTheatre Elite Group, who filledthe stage as “Santa’s helpers”,

accompanied each numberwith a spirited chorus andenergy. With LindaSchexnaydre’s livelychoreography and themagnificent voices of theentire cast, the show was ahilarious musical romp thathighlighted the many aspects



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of the Christmas season and got thecrowd in a holiday spirit. After the show,the characters mingled with the youngchildren in the audience, posed forpictures and even signed autographsfor their eager fans – a truly festiveatmosphere.

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Belle – Nicole CrochetRaggedy Ann – Grace

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Jambalaya Festival Associationhosted their annual ChristmasParty at the St. Amant RecreationalCenter. The celebration saw it’slargest attendance in years.

many volunteers and AssociationMembers to kick off the holiday season.

Many partygoers mingled and

served plates of fried fish andshrimp, potato salad, gumbo,brisket and much more.

Congratulations to the 2015recipients of our Nora Lee Riccaaward, first ever husband and wiferecipients - Todd and VanessaBlair! We are so thankful for yourservice to the JFA.

Jambalaya Festival Associationhosted their Annual Christmas Party



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Happy Holidays

Nora Lee Ricca AwardRecipients since it’s first year:

• 1981Pie Lanoux• 1982Dalton Marchand• 1983Mary Ann Keller• 1984Elsie Walker• 1985Mac Daigle• 1986Cobby Walker• 1987Darlene Reulet• 1988Ernest “Beaver” Cubbage• 1989Frank Frederic• 1990Anita Young• 1991Pat Austin• 1992Carol Frederic• 1993Ed “Mike” Daigle• 1994Eladee Chauvin• 1995Robert A. Pitre, Jr.• 1996Pearl Reed

• 1997Wally Taillon• 1998Estelle Carpenter• 1999Ruby Corrent• 2000Frank Corrent• 2001Solly Boudreaux• 2002Lucia Smithey • 2003Freddie Hurst• 2004Mike Daigle• 2005Carlos Braud• 2006Gilbert Taillon• 2007Carbett Bercegeay • 2008Valmon & Rita Bercegeay • 2009Tammy Guillory • 2010Robert Jackson• 2011Mike Gonzales, Sr.• 2012Mike Berthelot• 2013Shane Martinez• 2014Brenda Taillon• Todd and Vanessa Blair



DearAscension Parish, Merry Christmas to you! I amso very proud to call you home.

We’ve been together for aboutsix years now, and each year Iget to know you more and

more. I’ve seen so many spiritfilled gatherings over the years,and this month is no exception.It warms my heart to see thelove and generosity of thepeople that live in this parish.

First there was the GonzalesChristmas Tree Lighting andChristmas with Santa event puton by the City of Gonzales.The Gonzales Civic Center wasadorned with candy canes,

Christmas trees and elves werespreading Christmas cheer.

What a fun event open toeveryone in the community.Santa came to visit and took apicture with all the little ones inthe community. The locally known dance company CenterStage performed a whimsicalmuscial! It was Ascension’s

version of a ChristmasBroadway.

Secondly, the Ascension ParishSheriffs Office hosted theannual Christmas Crusade.The Sheriff’s office acceptsChristmas gift donations forthe needy children in ourcommunity that otherwise may not have anything under theChristmas tree. They host anight where the localcommunity can meet at

Wal Mart and purchase gifts todonate as well. The APSOgives so much more to

Ascension Parishthan their serviceand protection;they give theirtime and energy to care for thoseless fortunate.

Then, the Feedthe Needy eventhosted by, yes,

Ascension’s wellknown and loved,Thomsas “Bama”

Aldridge. Every year beforeChristmas themale“Ascensionites”gather at theGonzales Country Club to have afew cool ones, butmore importantly cook jambalaya to help thoseless fortunate in the communi-ty! This event started back in2006 with one pot of jambalayathat raised around $800. This

year Feed the Needy raised over$24,000 for local families in

need.Geaux Bama!

Finally, there was the GeismarSenior Citizens Luncheon atthe Geismar Community Center. This annual event isfull of food and fellowship,even a friendly sing offcompetition! This is event issupported by local businessesand community members thatprovide lunch, fruit baskets andgiveaways for Geismar’s seniorcommunity. What a blessing togive back to those who havegiven so much.

These events were only a few of many events supported by you,

Ascension Parish. Because of this and so much more, Iapplaud you. Your love andkindness reach to the hearts of those in this parish and for thatI am forever grateful.

Love and Blessings for 2016 Ascension Parish,

XOXO - Sweet Eyes

FEED THE NEEDY

GONZALES CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHRISTMAS CRUSADE



Laser Tattoo Removal Q & A How does lasertattoo removal work?

Medical lasers use anintense beam of light toremove the tattoo ink whileminimizing damage to thesurrounding healthy skin.The light energy isdelivered in very shortpulses of light that are

absorbed by the inkparticles of the tattoo.This energy breaks theink particles into tinyfragments which are thenabsorbed through thebody’s natural cleansingsystem.

Can laser tattooremoval treat allcolors?

Certain colors respondquicker to laser tattooremoval. For example,black, red, dark orange,and dark blue are theeasiest and fastest toremove. Green, purple,brown, light orange andlight blue may requiremore visits. The depth of the tattoo will alsodetermine how many

treatments are needed, as well as the type of ink used.Lastly, your skin tone willplay a part in how fast yourtattoo responds to laser.Lighter skin tones typically have a higher success rate.

Will the tattoocompletely disappear?

In many cases, yes.

Greater than 90% fading of the tattoo may be

accomplished. However, itis very important to know that over 100 tattoo inksare in use worldwide today,none of which are regulat-ed by the FDA. Notknowing which tattoo ink,how deep, or how much

was used makes itimpossible to predict thedegree of removal on any given tattoo.

How manytreatments areneeded for tattooremoval and how often can treatmentsbe done?

The number of treatmentsrequired for maximum

improvement dependsupon the size, location,depth, and color of thetattoo. On the average,professional tattoos require6-10 treatments whileamateur tattoos require 2-4treatments. Treatments aredone 6-8 weeks apart.

Is laser tattoo

removal painful?Injectable numbing med-ication can be used beforethe procedure to minimizediscomfort. Most patientsare completely numbduring the treatment andfeel no discomfort. Afterthe numbing medication

wears off patients may havemild irritation or itchingfor 1-3 days.

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The fundraider designed to raise money to help needy families during theholiday season went off without a hitch. This event has not only helpedfamilies it has brought a community together and set and example for our

youth. This year Stevie Dugas returned to help stir the pots and serve thefood. There is no better feeling than to seea young person learn and experi-ence life long values.

In December 2006, Uncle Perry and Aunt Susan Aldridge casuallymentioned to BAMA that there were three needy families in the Gonzales

FEED THE NEEDY 2015

Stevie Dugas



area who were in danger of going without the

necessities for Christmas.That was all it took for the idea of “Feed

the Needy” to be born in the big heart of theCEO, Thomas “BAMA” Aldridge.

It was a humble beginning that year asBAMA asked Sheriff Wiley if he wouldsponsor a pot of food to use as a fund raiser inorder to try to help these families. The Sheriff obliged and BAMA and his Souse Chef,“Bones” Sheets cooked a hen and andouillesauce piquante which was sold for the regularSaturday lunch at Gonzales Country Club.The process raised $800.00 and in turn, thosethree families had an unexpectedly greatChristmas.



Since the beginning the event has grownlarger with finacial support and voluteers.Last year the event raised in excess of $30,000. This year is no different withdollars still coming in the total exceeds

$25,000.The volunteer crew was the largest,hardest working, and most efficient I haveever seen. The response by the people of

Ascension Parish in terms of its donations as well as the jambalaya dinner purchases wasincredible. The most heart warming fact inall this process is that there was not onecent of expenses and all of the money raised

will be dispersed to needy families righthere in our communities. There are noadministrative cost retained.

Once again, the residents of this area haveshown why it is such a blessing to live in

Ascension Parish.



Allison HudsonReceivesPrestigiousXavier UniversityAlumni Award

Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office

Public Information Officer, Allison B.Hudson, was recently selected as oneof Xavier University of Louisiana’s Top40 under 40 Young Alumni Awardsfor her accomplishments in theAscension Parish community.Xavier University’s Top 40 under 40Awards recognize outstandingprofessionals under the age of 40 fortheir contributions to theirorganizations and to the community.As a young, professional womandominating the historically proverbial“boy’s club” known as journalism,Hudson has made her mark in theprofessional world both in journalism

and law enforcement.Hudson currently serves as thePublic Information Officer under theleadership of Sheriff Jeff Wiley inAscension Parish where she servesas theliaison between the sheriff’s officeand the local, state, and nationalmedia.

Her professional life is exceedinglybusy and seemingly unstoppable; shestill finds time to serve her communi-ty. She volunteers in the communityat large as well as in the communityin which she is a professional.Hudson served as president of the

Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce from 2011-2013 and thefirst person to ever be re-electedpresident for two consecutive terms.

She was re-elected for a third termto serve as President in 2015. Shealso served as Vice-President of theChamber for two terms and was aboard of director of the chamberfrom 2008-2015.

She currently serves on the Arc of East Ascension CommunityOpportunities (COEA) board of direc-tors where she holds the position asvice-president.

In 2011, she was elected presi-

dent of the Donaldsonville RotaryClub, where she served for one term.Prior to her current position, Hudsonwas the editor-in-chief of theDonaldsonville Chief Newspaper inDonaldsonville, Louisiana. She wasthe first African-American woman toserve as editor-in-chief since theexistence of the newspaper in 1871.During her tenure at the newspaper,she was chosen as “The top 25 under35” for Editor and PublisherMagazine in 2011 at the age of 25,being the youngest on the list, fortaking the Donaldsonville Chief tonumerous heights. Under her leader-

ship, the paper garnered over 100awards from the Louisiana PressAssociation.

Hudson was a nominee for theWoman of Excellence Award from theLouisiana Legislative Women’sCaucus for 2011. Not only hasAllison been an active and viable forcein print journalism, but she has diver-sified her professional portfolio andhas blazed a trail in public relationsas well.

She has volunteered as a coach forthe Donaldsonville High School VarsityCheerleaders, as a teacher and coor-dinator for the DonaldsonvilleAMIKids School and board member,volunteer for Rape Victims forAscension Parish, Life Planning withPersons with Disabilities committee,

Juneteenth Festival Co-Coordinator,Donaldsonville Louisiana ReadyCommunity Committee, and as aSpanish and Salsa instructor for thecity of Donaldsonville Bright FuturesProgram. She understands theimportance of service coupled witheducation as a means of changingand creating new and future leaders.In 2012, she was selected to partici-pate in COEA’s Dancing for a CauseFundraiser. Allison rose over$10,000 for persons with disabili-ties. In 2013, Allison spearheaded a“Toy and Coat Drive” in Donaldsonvillewhich brought in over $10,000 andwith the help of volunteers, were ableto purchase over 300 coats and toysfor children and adults. Continuing inher fundraising efforts, Hudson hasmanaged to help raise over $7,000for the Mary Bird Perkins BreastCancer Foundation to help assistthose who our battling breast cancer.She is a 2003 graduate of Edna KarrMagnet School in New Orleans,Louisiana and a 2008 graduate of Xavier University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a

concentration in print journalism anda minor in speech/communicationstudies.

Allison attributes her success andpassion for education from her momBrenda Neely, her dad Al Hudson, herstep father Dr. George Neely, her godfather Fred Tombar, and her cousinNadia Clark for always encouragingher to be the greatest in school andfor instilling the importance of keep-

ing God first. She also credits herbest friend and colleague, MichaelSanders, who has also served as abig supporter of my dreams and viceversa.

“I am forever grateful for my expe-rience while at Xavier and those whoI have met along the way,” Hudsonsaid.

“Xavier is a small, close-knit family,but it’s also a powerhouse of reallygreat professionals. Dr. Larry Strout,Dr. Dave Park, Arnold Crump, andMelinda Shelton are just a few pro-fessors who are partly responsiblefor my success because they servedand continue to serve as role modelsin my profession,” she added.Lastly, Hudson attributes much of hersuccess while serving as editor of theDonaldsonville Chief.

“The experiences I learned and thenetworking opportunities I was afford-ed as a young professional straightout of college were amazing; I willforever be thankful to the communityof Donaldsonville because it openedso many doors for me,” she added. “Iam also thankful to work for such a

great and notable leader, Sheriff Wiley, because I truly admire him forhis leadership skills and his knowl-edge.”

18

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Developing Your

Strategy:

Implementation

Last month, we introduced ourarticle series on developing your

business strategy. We outlined anoverall strategy development plan

for your business. From your

elevator pitch to your executivesummary, you should have a good

indication of what you whatto accomplish.

In the second installment of “Developing Your Strategy,” we

will focus on the concept on

strategy implementation.

Simply stated, strategy

implementation can be defined as

the process of putting plansand strategies into action to

ultimately attain strategic goalsand objectives. By now, you have

developed a strategic plan. Theseplans often sit and are not put

into use. Implementation turns

strategies into reality. Without it,strategy is nothing.

Here are some statistics:• 95% of a typical workforcedoesn’t understand their

organization’s strategy.

• 60% of organizations don’tcorrelate strategy to budgeting.

• 86% of business owners andmanagers spend less than one

hour per month discussing

strategy.

Bottom line, strategicimplementation is crucial to a

company’s accomplishments. It is

an administrative task andon-going process. In order to see

your strategic plan through,

implementation will involveassigning tasks to individuals and

developing timelines.

Delegation

Any successful implementation

will have a clear leader, whetherit is the owner of a business or

the CEO of a company. Strategyimplementation is simply

impossible without a strong

organizational structure. Thisperson will communicate the

vision and goals necessary forsuccess. All organization

personnel should be fullyengaged in the plan.

The leader will delegate tasks androles to individual employees.

Performance measurement tools

provide motivation and allow

progress discussion to occur.Implementation should also

include a strategic map. This mapidentifies the main factors that

will guide performance.

Typical Issues

Two major mistakes in strategic

implementation are a lack of communication and a plan that

contains too many goals. Plansare often overwhelming and have

ideas that are not concrete.Therefore, the progress of

implementation is hard to track.

Instead of tracking development

annually, do so bi-weekly or evenmonthly. This will prevent

employees from neglecting your

goals and getting caught up inday-to-day tasks.

You should also make youremployees accountable for imple-menting their parts of the strate-

gic plan. If not enforced, your plan

will never be fully or correctlyexecuted.

What You Need

Ask yourself, what is it that you

need to accomplish your plan?Most often, there are several

things that need to be in place.You have to have the right set of

employees on board to help you.

Resources are vital. You will also

need sufficient funds to supportyour implementation. In addition

to enough money, you have toconsider the time it will take

your team to achieve your goals.

Communication must be open

and collaborative. The managermust schedule meetings to

address plan updates and

progress. Technologies shouldalso be set-up to track the

implementation.

Step-By-Step1. Assign Personnel

a. Who Will Be Responsiblefor What Portion of the Plan

2. Decide the Budget and

Finances

3. Create a Definitive Timeline

4. Establish a Tracking System

5. Schedule Meetings for Progress

and Updates

6. Make Changes When

Necessary

We hope these ideas will guideyou to implement your business

strategies. Stay tuned for next

month’s strategy seriesfinale article.

19

DevelopingYour Strategy:Overall Formula by Orhan Mc MillandezinsINTERACTIVE



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How SweetIt Is

By Calvin Bessonet, DDS,FAGD

With an increasing number of people trying to avoid sugary foods and drinks in order tomaintain good oral health,natural sugar substitutes have

become more widely available.One such natural sweetener,xylitol, is added to foods anddrinks, as well as toothpastesand mouthrinses. While it haspositive benefits, there are someside effects associated with thissweetener. Read on for moreinformation about xylitol.

What is xylitol?

Xylitol is a naturally occurringalcohol found in most plantmaterial that is often extracted

from birchwood. As a sugarsubstitute in foods like candy and gum, as well as toothpastesand mouth rinses, xylitol aids incavity prevention.

How does it work?

When you eat or drink sugary foods, the sugar interacts withbacteria in your mouth. Thebacteria “feed” off the sugarand multiply..... Once the

bacteria grow, they make acidsthat can eat away the enamel on

your teeth. The acid thencauses tooth decay, and cavitiesbegin to form. However, xylitoldoes not break down like sugar,and it can help neutralize theacid level in your mouth, whichmay prevent tooth decay fromoccurring. Xylitol also preventsbacteria from sticking to your

teeth. It is added to somechewing gums, candies, andother oral health products liketoothpastes and mouthrinses toprevent tooth decay. Adults andchildren who use productscontaining xylitol cansignificantly reduce cavityformation.

How much xylitolshould I have?

Some brands of chewing gum

contain very small amounts of xylitol are mostly ineffective inpreventing tooth decay. Be sureto look for products thatcontain 100 percent xylitol andtry for at least four or fiveexposures with your teethspread throughout the day.Using xylitol five times every day provides the most effectiveoral health benefits.

Are there anyside effects?

If consumed at the recom-mended levels, xyletol is safe forchildren and adults. Xylitol issafe in the amounts found infoods, gum, and oral healthproducts. Some of the initialphysical side effects ofconsuming products withxylitol include diarrhea andintestinal gas, which usually

will subside over time.

Are there sideeffects for pets?

The U.S. Foodand Drug

Administrationreports thatxylitol-even insmall amountsfound incandies andother products-is extremely toxic in bothdogs andferrets. Thephysical effectsof xylitol onpets include asudden drop inblood sugar,seizures, liver

failure. and even death. Youcan see your pet vomit,become depressed, and losecoordination. These signs may appear immediately after con-suming xylitol or may occur upto a few days after. If youringest a product that containsxylitol, it is important to seek

veterinary help immediately.

When used correctly, xylitolis a great addition to your oralhealth regimen. If you areinterested in learning moreabout xylitol, talk with yourdentist about which productsare most effective and howthey should be used.



With Many Thanks to the Dutchtown and GeismarCommunity for allowing us to be Your Community Physical Therapy Provider for over 8 years.

AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THEDUTCHTOWN COMMUNITY REMAINSTHE SAME...

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Stephen Jackson, PT, DPT

Your Community Physical Therapy Provider

• Provide a combination of quality, convenience and experience forphysical therapy services.

• Trusted provider for physical therapy services by physicians andpatients for over eight years.

• Dedicated staff that patients can rely on to be there, every visit,every step of the way.

• Accepting most insurances for patients.• Giving back to the community through academic and sports

sponsorships for area schools.• Continuing to provide the community with the highest level of care

in a state of the art facility.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GROW WITH

THE DUTCHTOWN COMMUNITY IN THE COMING YEARIN A NEW FACILITY ON HIGHWAY 73.

WE WISH THE DUTCHTOWN AND

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Thank You Dutchtown



Before YouShop Till YouDropBefore You Shop Till You Drop

With the holidays upon us, many people are making their lists and

checking them twice for the bestdeals of the season. Technology isexponentially changing the way that consumers do theirChristmas shopping, andBlack Friday has quickly lost itsholiday-deal dominance to CyberMonday due to the onlineconvenience of sleeping in andskipping the traffic. This yearalone, shoppers spent more than$5.1 billion online during theThanksgiving holiday, whilein-store sales were down morethan $1 billion from 2014,

according to numbers from theShopperTrak research firm.

It’s no surprise to us, then, to seean increase in online sales forother consumer products as well– including estate planning serv-ices. Companies like

LegalZoom.com andRocketLawyer.com offereverything from wills to divorcepapers in a convenient andrelatively inexpensive manner.

But just because online optionsare available and generallycheaper than a local lawyer’sfees, does that mean you shoulduse them?

Online estate planningdocuments come with a highelement of risk for users in allstates. Because online legal formsare commonly of the “one sizefits all” variety, users mayoverlook the legal nuances of

each individual’s uniquesituation. While a client believesthey’ve made all the necessary arrangements for their family’sfuture, a crisis may then arise andtheir documents be foundincomplete, inaccurate, or evencompletely useless in theirhour of need.

In addition to the risks all usersface, Louisiana residents faceadditional risks with online legalservices. Louisiana is a state

notorious for its unique estateplanning and administrationrequirements. For example,Louisiana has forced heirship anda usufruct form of ownershipoften used in estate planning.

Additionally, Louisiana’s trust law is very different than the other49 states. These differences areoften overlooked or treatedincorrectly in documents createdfor mass use.

Most legal sites have disclaimers

to the effect that they don’tguarantee their documents willmeet a client’s specific needs.One even states that“information and opinionsreceived via the website shouldnot be relied upon for personal,medical, legal, or financialdecisions.” Why would you trust

your family’s or loved one’sfuture to a website that disclaimsits ability to actually provide you

with what you need?

When considering how to planfor you or your family’s future,the best thing that you can do is

find a local legal professional youtrust. Look for a lawyer whotakes the time to learn about

your individual situation, offersoptions that you may have neverotherwise considered, and takessteps to ensure that eachdocument is properly handledto suit your needs.

For those who think they couldnever afford a lawyer’s fees,remember that the peace of mindthat comes with settling yourestate is worth the investment.

Additionally, you and your family will develop a relationship withsomeone who can be there toguide you through difficult timesthat often accompany disability and death.

Commercial holiday shoppingmay continue to highlight thesearch for the best and mostconvenient deal available, but

when it comes to estate planning,the old adage remains true: youtypically get what you pay for.

While online shoppers for holiday deals may risk their purchasesbeing a different color than they had imagined, not fitting right,including additional shippingexpenses or coming in the mailafter Christmas, clients of onlineestate planning services riskleaving their family withunnecessary financial burdens orreaching the end of their livesonly to find out that they do notqualify for the benefits they need.So, continue to enjoy onlineshopping for your holidaypresents, but when the new yearcomes and you resolve to protect

your family and loved ones by completing your estate planning,turn to local professionals whoare knowledgeable about estateplanning and can ensure youof the right solution to fit

your needs.

Mrs. Melancon has engaged in the practice of law in Louisiana for the past 17 years. The pri- mary focus of her practice is estate planning,special needs planning, elder law and probate.She is also accredited by the VA to give advice regarding veterans’ benefits. For more information, please contact her at 225-744-0027.You may also visit her website at www.LegacyCenterLa.com

YOUR ESTATE MATTERSBy Linda Melancon

22



Roy’s Daiquiris hosted a

benefit for Brave Heart

Children in Need on Sunday,

Dec. 6 to collect items to help

comfort children who are

experiencing the trauma of

being removed from their

homes due to abuse and/or

neglect. Brave Heart provides

age-appropriate backpacks that

include hygiene items and a

Teddy Bear to hug.

More than 500 Teddy Bears

were gathered at the event, with

200 generously supplied by

Krispy Krunchy Chicken.

Drawings for various door

prizes raised an additional

$175!

Roy and Mary Robbins, along

Local Event Held to Benefit Brave Heart Children in Need



with DeEtte Abshire, hosted

the successful event, featuring a

jambalaya lunch, sponsored by

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of

Louisiana and entertainment

from Norma Landry and The

River Rats Band.

Founded by Dee Robinson in

2004, Brave Heart Children in

Need serves 37 parishes across

Louisiana. It offers foster chil-

dren hope and encouragement.



When children are removed

from their homes, sometimes

in the middle of the night,

they are only able to take theclothes on their backs.

Brave Heart Children in

Need strives to give each

child the tools to build

self-confidence, tools to teach

them accountability by

ownership, and items for

comfort.

For more information about

how you can help these

children, visit

www.braveheartchildren.org.



The idea was actually born at theend of my annual Thanksgiving week-end lottery hunt on the Tensas RiverNational Wildlife Refuge. As my part-ner and I were saying goodbye to theowners of the Hunters BendCampground, Ms. Wanda Wallacementioned to me that I should cometo the refuges' National Hunting and

Fishing Day which was being heldnext September. I've attendedHunting and Fishing events on andoff since they were first established in1972. The Tensas event provides anopportunity that the others do notoffer. It allows all children under theage of 16 that attend the event toregister for a chance to be drawn forone of the two youth lottery deerhunts on the restricted access sectionof the refuge. As I left Tensas thatday, the thought of bringing my granddaughter and grandson to theevent lingered in my mind through-out the following months.

The days of summer slowly passed

by and time to make a decision to goto the outing came quickly after themention of the trip up north to the young kids. The young boy was excit-ed about the trip, but did not careabout the chance of the deer lottery hunt. The girl, however was all aboutthe opportunity for the hunt and now there was no backing out for me.Now, the Tensas hunt was a long way off and before I would make the tripthe girl would have to prove herself.She would have to prove to me thatshe could accurately shoot a highpowered rifle. A trip to the firingrange in August proved her shootingskills were on target and that she hadno fear of the big gun.

The day of the event finally camearound and even though I'd had alate night playing music with the Wildlife Band, I loaded the gang upthat morning and headed north.These events are totally focused onthe youngsters and it was spectacular. You have to to sign up for the lottery hunts and be there at the time of thedrawing which comes at the end of the outing. As names were beingcalled the young girl paced nervously back and forth and all of a suddenMikaylah Bordelon's name was called.Her name was drawn for theDecember 23rd lottery hunt date. Wefished on the river that evening andspent the night at the camp celebrat-ing in the light of a camp fire.

During the fall we made squirrelhunts and made another trip to the

firing range. About five days beforethe hunt date, she entered my houseand I asked "What's up"? She quickly replied "Killing a deer, that's what'sup". The day to leave finally came and we loaded the car and my pickup andthe three day journey began. Afterarriving that evening the kids caught abeautiful stringer of catfish for supper.

The next day was about a squirrelhunt and a trip from the campgroundto the refuge visitor center. The firethat night was warm and theMawmaw had set the camp up with asmall Christmas tree. It was fromthose lights that I saw that little headbobbing and looking my way as soonas the alarm sounded.

The weather forecast that day washorrible and flashes of lightningreminded us of that as we headed forthe meeting area.

It was about an hour after daylight when our instructor whispered,there's a yearling in that water aboutfifty yards from us. His horns are just

breaking the skin. Why don't youhold off on this one. The young buck,approximately 80lbs, walked out intothe shooting lane and offered abroadside shot. As he walked off,knowing the weather forecast for thatday, I wondered if that might havebeen our only chance. The morninghunt ended at 10:00 and we headedback to the visitor center after pickingup several other participants. Severalof the youngsters had killed, othershad missed and some had not beenoffered a shot.

After lunch and several hours of lightning rain, hail, wind and a tor-rential downpour, the hunters wereloaded into the trucks for the ride to

the evening hunt locations. As weapproached our location we noticed anice buck standing in the shootinglane. He saw us and that was the endof that. We had changed instructorsfrom that morning, from a refugemanager to a young lady that volun-teers each year for the event. We wereall getting to know each other whentwo mature does walked out a mere25yds in front of us. The deer saw usbefore we saw them. The largest deerhad a tag in her ear and was wearing atracking device around her neck. About the time the young girl wasabout to squeeze the trigger, the deerspooked and that opportunity hadslipped away. We all kicked our buttsfor not paying better attention to thereason we were there. Time was slip-ping away. Around four o'clock we

were all in some kind of a daze whenI noticed a beautiful buck broadsidein the middle of the lane to our left.It was total chaos for a moment. Thebuck started to walk across when theinstructor muttered the word "meh".He stopped, the rifle fired and he leftthe scene immediately. He left so fastthat I figured something had touchedhim. There was so much mud and water everywhere that i t was hard forme to find where he had stood at thetime of the shot. My first attempt tofind any sign of a hit was unsuccessful.

I returned back to the shooting blindand we reaffirmed the event. My sec-ond trip down range verified big buck tracks in the mud 105yds away fromthe stand. I carefully followed thetracks to where they entered the for-est and found what I hoped to see. A piece of lung was hanging on a smallbranch and not far from that was theblood trail. We had all been instructednot to go looking for deer that hadbeen shot for safety reasons and so we wouldn't mess up any signs that the wildlife officials may need to track thedeer. I'm not very good at breakingrules, but it was very hard not to gofind that buck knowing that darkness was not far away. To make matters worse it had started to rain again. Isat there as I was instructed to dountil dark. When the wardensapproached, I brought them to theblood trail that I had marked and they took us back to the refuge center. Therefuge employees assured me that if adeer was dead that they would find it.They explained that they had ways of tracking that most of us would neverknow. After all, they use these skills tosolve illegal cases. They grabbed atracking dog and several of them set

out to different locations to find deerthat had been shot by a couple of the young hunters.

Time seemed to pass ever so slow as we waited for some good news. After what seemed like an eternity my granddaughter said, "Pawpaw they have been gone a long time, I don'tthink they are going to find him". Ipulled that piece of lung from my shirt pocket and told her, "They might not, but that deer is dead and Icould have found him". Well, it ain'tover till it's over and shortly after we

had that conversation, our instructorreceived a phone call with the newsthat we were waiting for. She smiledat Mikaylah and said "they found yourdeer!" After a short celebration andan attitude change, she filled out herbuck tag and applied it to a 157lb fivepoint Tensas buck as soon as the truck came to the check point.

First deer are first deer. They'llnever be another one like that for her.This experience required a lot of timeand effort for everyone involved. That was an adventure that we both willnever forget...

Till Next Time,Start Em Young,James "Goosie" Guice

Mikaylah’s Tensas Adventure

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Scene- A South Louisiana livingroom on Christmas Eve.Characters-The Kids-all ages from1-92, in all shapes and sizesUncle Bill- A disillusioned dreamer who is so lost in the past that heheld up a “Help Mac Pack” sign at

the last LSU football game.

Act 1Kids (excitedly)-Uncle Bill’s

here! Uncle Bill’s here!Kid 1-But how did you get

here, Uncle Bill? I didn’t see yourtruck drive up.

Uncle Bill- Well, in keeping withthe spirit of the season, I came by sled this year. Two nice mennamed Sean Payton and AlvinGentry drove me-both of themhaving experience in leadingdog teams.

Kid 2-Tell us one of your

famous Christmas stories, UncleBill-maybe the one about the greatreindeer heist of 2012 when youand your siblings stole all the wooden reindeer in theneighborhood and put them incompromising positions out by Highway 73.

Bill-Oh, that’s a good one allright. But some people didn’t seethe humor in the positions they found the ornamental deer in thenext morning-especially the guy who got rear-ended by rubber-neckers in the plant traffic. Hegot so mad he wanted to cut the

male deer’s Rudolph!But this year’s story involves

some lost souls in need of a littleholiday spirit. And speaking of spirits, let Uncle Bill do his partfor international relationships by mixing a little French cognac andsome Cajun sugar cane whiskey with this Pennsylvania DutchEggnog and we’ll get started…

Once upon a time there werethree so-called Wise Men-all of whom held positions of greatpower in the kingdom. One wasnamed Jingle Bobby because hisfavorite TV show was the “Brady Bunch Christmas Special”.

The second was called Aleve Joebecause he claimed his stressful jobcaused lots of headaches althoughsome say it was because he was apain in the as-pirin. The third wassimply called Bitter Dave.

Kid 3- Why was Dave so bitter,Uncle Bill?

Bill- Well, some folks believed it was because some of his party playmates had dropped him fasterthan a Ben Simmons breakaway when he tried to take control of the kingdom. Others say his

mood worsened when he wasdefeated by a man whose middlename was “Bel”.

Kid 1-Hey, that could be our

state Christmas song-“Jindal, Bel,Jindal, Bel, Vitter’s gone away…”

Bill-Clever, Will, but that’s notthe song this trio was singing dur-ing this holiday season. It wasmore like, “Lost in the Wilderness”. You see these three

unhappy men were on a quest tofind the great Force in theUniverse that would make thempopular with the public again. Butin order to do so, they wereinstructed to first seek out a great Wizard who lived in McElroy Swamp.

Kid 2-Begging your pardon,Uncle Bill, but I believe yourmind- which is as antiquated asLSU’s power-I offense- has mixedup about three different stories. Iknow that Luke Skywalker foundthe Jedi Master Yoda in a swampand embraced his inverted words

of wisdom but…Bill-And so would ourtrio find one who spoke inconfusingparables morelike Yogi than Yoda but thepath wouldnot be easy aseverything was not“okey-dokey in theOkefenokee”

and ourtravelers soonlost their way.

Kid 3-Isn’tthe Okefenokee Swamp in Florida?I’m getting very confused.

Bill-True, but I couldn’t think of any clever rhymes with“McElroy”. But if you think you’re confused, listen to theconversation our pilgrims werehaving.

“I think we should go in a dif-ferent direction,” said Aleve Joe.“No, let’s just stay the course andkeep what we got. No, I think we should change. No, scratchthat idea.”

“Do you ever make up yourmind on anything and stick to it?”chastised Bitter Dave. “We’llnever get anywhere with your wishy-washy ideas. Just follow me-I’m a natural leader. I’ll justuse my moral compass to find the way. I’ll show them who wouldn’thave lasted a day at West Point.”

Jingle Bobby plopped downunder a cypress tree. “Maybe I’ll just go back to med school and bea doctor. Then all the people

would like the friendly country physician.”“That sounds great,” snapped

Joe. But you cut LSU’s budget so

much we had to close the medschool. And then you closed allthe hospitals so you wouldn’t havea place to work anyway.”

Suddenly, from out of that very tree, the Wizard they were seekingappeared. Grinning like a

Cheshire Cat, wearing a white capfrom the Mad Hatter collection,there could be no doubt this wasthe Legendary Lucky Les.

“Greetings, gentlemen. Wouldhave been here sooner but I was ata Time Management seminar thatteaches you how not to be late fora very important date,” smiledLes. “What can I do for you?”

Jingle Bobby wasted no time.“How did you swing publicopinion to your side in just a week when it looked like you were agone pecan? I mean, I comehome from Iowa expecting a

hero’s welcome-not unlike Julius

Caesar- and the peasants arecircling my castle with torches andpitchforks like the last scene froma Frankenstein movie.”

“And why are you always sohappy?” chimed in Bitter Dave who hadn’t smiled since leaving aBourbon Street establishment in2007.

“And how did I get cast in therole of the villain,” whined AleveJoe. “I’d go back to Duke butthey’d probably hit me with alacrosse stick.”

Lucky Les listened patiently tothe threesome and then replied insome sort of idiosyncratic babblethat Shakespeare might havereferred to as “chop logic”.

“Against the underlyingbackdrop of the recent situation,the want to remain in my currentposition forced me to, like aStradivarius violin, play the pressand administration to myadvantage.

“Then, to sing the Alma Mater

off key in front of a Nationalaudience with emphasis on thefinal ‘…forever LSU’…

“Well, a stroke of genius that

was- a gimmick you guys may want to borrow from time totime.”

The Three Wise Men looked ateach other very confused.

“Hell, my botched response tothe State of the Union Address in

2009, when I got compared to theincoherent Kenneth the Page of the comedy ‘30 Rock’ made moresense than that,” grumbled JingleBobby.

“Look, Lucky Les, let’s stop thisinsane rambling and get to thepoint,” said Dave who had onceled a 2-week filibuster. “How do we find this Force? Do we follow a star in the East? Do we blow upa Death Star?”

“I’d rather the former,” Joestated. “No, the latter. No,either, neither or both.”

“Close you are with your last

statement,” lectured Les. “Tofollow your dream, you must seek a Dead Star from the South whoresides in the Great ThunderDome. There you will find one whose blue suede shoes I am notfit to knock the artificial turfoff of.”

Kid 1-Okay, Uncle Bill, let meattempt to get this straight. I may be more off target than aBrandon Harris aerial but is thiscombination of a Biblical story,“Star Wars”, “Wizard of Oz”,“Alice in Wonderland” and “MadMax” going to conclude in the

Superdome?Bill-You’re quite astute, my lad,

because that’s exactly where theThree Wise Men ended up.Thanks to Bitter Dave who knew every nookie and cranny of theCrescent City, the trio made their way to the floor of the GreatDome.

“Now what do we do?” askedJoe who was not the best atmaking command decisions.

“We wait,” said Jingle Bobby who had waited for months to getout of a junior varsity debate. The wait was not that long.

From out of the Poydras Streetend of the Dome came an elderly gent with an umbrella doing apassable version of a New Orleansdance called “Second Line”.Bitter Dave was not impressed.

“We risked life and limb tocome see an antique ArchieBunker boogie around a footballfield?”

“Watch your mouth, loser,”spouted the ancient one. “Noteven the Saints could blow a leadlike the one you had in the pollssix months ago.”

“Are you the keeper of theForce? Can you make people loveus again?” sucked up Aleve Joe.

“I am Obenson-Gone-

The Farce Awakens or Don’t Put My Love on No Elf by Bill Delaune



y

Dr. Rob?Is there a agelimit for hunting

dogs?

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31

Kookooie, but I just dance here.The one you seek is much smallerbut much greater than I.”

“That’s it,” snapped Joe in arare show of emotion. “I’m donelistening to a senile old man whocan’t even fire a coach without his wife’s permission.”

“Listen who’s talking, you tes-ticular-challenged wimp of a …”

“Guys, guys, calm down. It’sChristmas.” The voice came from

a small creature on a stage thathad been erected for an AaronNeville concert since the Saints were mercifully out of town.“I’m the one you’re looking for.”

The Three Wise Men drewcloser to the stage as Obensonboogied off into oblivion tobehold an elfish being with aPompadour haircut clad in a red jumpsuit unbuttoned to the naveland three scarfs wrapped aroundhis neck.

“I’m Elfis,” he began. “I know who you are and why you’re hereso let’s get right to it. Look,

fellows, if you don’t want to havea ‘Blue Christmas’, you have to‘Follow Your Dream’ and drop allthis political nonsense.”

“For instance, Bitter Dave, youstill have a job to do in Washington. ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ therest of your term. Forget about all your rich lobbyist buddies and dosomething for the working peopleof your state. Like fix the roadsand get the old folks some

affordable medicine. And stay outof those ‘Heartbreak Hotels’.

“And Jingle Bobby, find somemoney for education and healthservices so people don’t think youhave a ‘Wooden Heart’. Youcertainly had no trouble raisingmoney when you were running forPresident.

“And as for you, Aleve Joe,grow some cahoonies. Don’t be a“Teddy Bear” your entire life. “

He handed each a scarf as hespoke. “These will help you wipeaway any negative thoughts any-time you get ‘Suspicious Minds’.Now come over here and help yourself to my Christmas buffet of peanut butter and banana sand- wiches and jelly doughnuts beforeI leave the building. I have to getback to the North Pole beforeDonald Trump finds out I’m inthe country.”

Kid 2-That story started out very strange but I sorta liked theending. Hey, Uncle Bill, didn’tElfis have a song about wise men.

I think it started, “Wise men say,‘Only fools rush in…’”

Bill- And I can’t help falling inlove with all of you and especially my faithful readers who put up with me all year long!

Merry Christmas andHappy New Year!

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Ascension Catholic Girls Cross Country Team Recognized at Parish Council MeetingAscension Parish President Tommy Martinez presented parish certificates of recognition to members of the Ascension Catholic High School

Girls Cross Country Team at the Dec. 3 Parish Council meeting in Donaldsonville. The Lady Bulldogs are Class 1A State Champions. Theteam, coached by Head Coach Rocky Capello and Assistant Coaches Janet Daigle, A.J. Thibodeaux and Kiley Spano took first place teamhonors at the Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA State Cross Country Championship held on Nov. 16 at Northwestern State University inNatchitoches. Stephanie Breaux was individual state champion while Sophie Daigle was an individual bronze medalist. Shown from left toright, front row: Mariana Cuervo, Breanna Bernard, Danielle Brou, Sophie Daigle, Stephanie Breaux, Whitney Eure, Ashleigh LeBlanc, HaleyDupre, Marie Landry, Victoria Eure, Meredith Daigle and Catherine Eure. Second row: Councilman Oliver Joseph, Parish President TommyMartinez and Head Coach Rocky Capello. Third row: Councilman Travis Turner, Councilman Daniel “Doc” Satterlee, Councilman DempseyLambert, Council Chairman Randy Clouatre, Councilman Todd Lambert, Councilman Chris Loar and Councilwoman Teri Casso. Not shown:

Danielle Giroir and Bailey LeBlanc.



That FirstGuitar Feeling

If you ask any guitarist, from the

hobbyist to the most famous, they aresure to be able to tell you the story of their first guitar. Some may be storiesof horror and some may be stories of atrue blessing, but none-the-less they are 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 asimilar form.

There are three main areas to look at when 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 very subjective medium, and not everyone will 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 think this is one of the least importantaspects of guitar buying, I believe that

it's nearly the top of the list. The way things look can fuel our attitude andemotions. We make decisions basedon looks everyday. Think about yourlast car purchase. (Was it made strictly on functionality? or Did looks play alarger role?) In the same way,selecting a guitar that is ascetically pleasing is very important. We tendto 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 the

graindesigns. A guitar that isattractive to you willmake you want topractice andplay it moreoften.

Mostbeginnersthat give upearly ontheir dreamof playing aninstrument

do sobecause of how hard it can be tophysically play as they are gettingstarted. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Selecting the right instrument for your hands is extremely important

because the shapeand size of eachguitar neck can vary. Finding aguitar the is com-fortable to hold will bring youhours of fun andenjoyment,instead of itfeeling 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 few instruments). Remember, the firstinstrument is a big part of yourplaying career. It will set you on thepath to success with plenty of fun andenjoyment, or it could cause your

dream to fade really quickly. As always, weinvite you to stop by Music Inc and say hello! We are coming to an endto 2014, which means we will be finishing up our45th year of helpingcustomers find theirperfect first instrument!

By Brandt Bourque



My Sonand I Have

Proof ThatSanta ClausReally Exist.

Oh wow! Santa Claus is comingto town. Those words used toexcite me to no end and manipu-late me to make all the rightdecisions and not to do anything wrong. Even a young 9 year old

has the brain capacity to realize noone wants switches and ashes onChristmas morning and I believethat still today.

As exciting as Christmas was forme as a kid it got even better as afather and an adult.

As much fun as it was to havemy son to enjoy Christmas in his very young years I couldn’t waittill he was old enough to mess with and seal the deal that Santa was truly real.

We had many fun episodes andexcitement and I’d like to share afew of those.

When Michael was old enoughto realize and understand that wecould play a trick on Santa andtrick him into falling for our trap,

I was really setting the trap formy son. At a young age he and I were

living in a house without achimney. The natural questionfrom him was, “How is Santagoing to get in the house?”I simply responded he must beusing the front door. “What aboutit being locked?”he exclaimed.Simple, Santa is magic!

After pondering the entrance of the front door I suggested that weput a big pile of Baby Powder atthe base of the front door. “What would that do Dad?” When heenters he will step in it and will seehis foot prints every where he walked. Immediately, he looked atme with a smile that would lightup a room. I think he ran so fastto the bathroom to get thepowder he fell down shouting

back at me,”I’m alright!” Then hereturned and we set the trap. A giant pile of white powder coveredthe entrance of the front door. Hethen ran to the back door of thehouse. I asked, “What are youdoing?” He replied, “Headed tothe back door. He’s not gettingpast me!”

The trap was set for both Santaand Michael and what a trap it was. The next morning after a tiny nudge while he slept like a baby.He opened his eyes and before Icould tell him Merry Christmas he jumped up and ran to the livingroom. Unlike most kids he didn’teven look at the tree to see whatgifts he had. He ran straight to thefront door and then the back door. With a giant grin on his face hesaid, “Santa is a front door mannot a back door man.” There were white powder foot prints that allover the living room going back and forth from the front door witha pile of presents all around thetree. He was so thrilled to know we caught him in the act and thenit hit him to look outside to see if where the foot prints lead. Sureenough there were prints leadingdown the side walk and a plastictrash can at the corner of thehouse had its lid crushed in. Helooked at the white prints on thelid and then looked to the roof.He ran into the front yard to get abetter look at the roof and what tohis wondering eyes should appear.There were white baby powderfoot prints on the roof. He lookedat me, smiled and started spinningin the yard with hands held highscreaming, “He was here, he washere!” It was a magical morningand you can never tell that boy tothis day that Santa isn’t real. He’s28 years old now.

The next year Christmas camealong and Michael had learned afew things from me while huntingdeer with putting corn out on ourstands. He asked, “Dad, doreindeer eat corn?” Seizing theopportunity to educate him moreabout catching Santa I informedhim rein deer like Fruitloops andChex trail mix and Rudolph goescrazy over popcorn.

Since we caught Santa the yearbefore I suggested we set a trap forthe reindeer and Santa’s sleigh.

We started by painting signs toplace in the yard as a directional,

‘Santa Land Here’ with an arrow pointing the way. Then we strungChristmas light creating a landingstrip for Santa to land. The landing

strip included colorful pin wheelsat each corner to help Santa with wind direction and wind speed.The landing strip was about 20ft.long and 4 ft. wide but hadto be placed in the yard to accom-modate an easy landing around thebig pecan tree. Of course I had todescribe to Michael that Santa would circle around the treesacross the street and swoop in andland at the perfect angle we had

laid the lighted landing strip. After the lights were set it wastime to bait the trap. Fruitloopsand Chex mix were ready to beplaced on the ground in thepositions of all the deer. I mustadmit when he ask, “Do all thereindeer like the same thing?” itcaught me off guard. However Iseized the moment to add a littlespice to our adventure. I told himDasher, Prancer and Cupid likedmore mix than Fruitloops andDancer, Vixen and Cometpreferred more Fruitloops and afewer Chex mix. Donder andBlitzen were straight Fruitloops.His next question sent us to theinternet. “How do we know whichdeer are in which positions?” Amazing enough the internet haseverything.

I then poured out someunpopped popcorn on the groundat the front and head position.Michael looked at me asking why the kernels and not poppedpopcorn. It was a simple answer.Rudolph likes fresh popped popcorn and when Rudolph places hismagic nose to the ground thepopcorn will pop and it will be hotand fresh for him. With a giantsmile he poured the entire jar atthe end of the landing strip.

We went inside and enjoyed allthe Christmas traditions and finally I got him in bed. While sleepingSanta came again on ChristmasEve and the next morning healmost head butted me jumpingout of his bed to check thelanding strip.

Sure enough Santa had landed.There were skid marks in theground where the sled had landed.The mixtures for all the deer werecrunched on and munched up.The most magical thing was there

was popped popcorn everywhere. Apparently when his nose touchesit not only pops its spreads out atleast 5 feet. There were deer hoof prints in the ground and a notethanking Michael for thinking of the deer and thanks for the cookieand milk for him. He immediately began to spin and yelling, “He washere. He was here!”

I miss those days of bringingmagic to my son but the magicis set and will pass on fromgeneration to generation.

Years later Michael and I werehunting around Christmas Day

and he said, “Dad, Thanks forbeing the best Santa Ever.”

This is proof Santa is real andChristmas dreams do come true.

34

Thoughts from Bully

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Prairieville, La 70769 • 225.715.4594

PROFESSIONAL • RELIABLE • EXPERIENCED

It’s time to clean the rough andtangled summertime beds and

prepare them for the fall season.

LLC

BEFORE

AFTER



DJ MUSIC & KARAOKE ... $2.75 Domestics!!

" B E S T H A P P Y H O U R I N T H E A R E A !$ 2 . 7 5 D O M E S T I C L O N G N E C K S ! "

1711 S. BURNSIDE • GONZALES • 644-8901

V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e : w w w . p a r k p l a c e o f g o n z a l e s . c o m “ L I K E ” U S O N F A C E B O O K

EVERY DAY AT HAPPY HOUR ,

TRY YOUR LUCK AT ROLL-A-DAY!

DJ MUSIC & KARAOKE$4 Naked Ladies

$2.50 Blue Moon Drafts

DJ MUSIC/KARAOKE$5 Double Wells! 2 for 1 Bomb Shots

Monday Night

Wednesday Tuesday

Friday Friday

Saturday Saturday

Every Sunday Every Sunday

DJ MUSIC / KARAOKE Sp ecial $5 Bombs Coors Draft Combos

12/18 .. Chris LeBlanc12/25 ... D.J. Dance Musicy1/1 New Years Day

1/8 .. Hi Maintenance1/15 .. Debbie Landry

Rock Band

12/19. Nashville South12/26 Mojeaux1/2 Titanium Rain

1/9. Matt Kayda Band1/16. Contraflow

MEGATOUCH, AND POOL TABLES.

Come Enjoy Golden Tee and Ms. Packman

"Thirsty Thursday" Your Choice • Beer, Wine, Cocktails!!!

$3 from 8-11pm!!! K A R A O K E & D J M U S I C

SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT 2 FOR 1

Useless Random Facts with Kellie

•

Most of Santa’s reindeer have male-sounding names, such asBlitzer, Comet, and Cupid. However, male reindeers shed

their antlers around Christmas, so the reindeer pullingSanta’s sleigh are likely not male, but female or castratid

•

Studies show that cows produce more milk whenlistening to relaxing music

•

Chickens can see daylight 45 minutes before humans can.•

The Germans made the first artificial Christmas treesout of dyed goose feathers

•

All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts.

•

According to the Guinness world records, the tallestChristmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was

displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center inSeattle, Washington•

The world’s largest Christmas stocking measured 106 feetand 9 inches (32.56 m) long and 49 feet and 1 inch (14.97

m) wide. It weighed as much as five reindeer and heldalmost 1,000 presents. It was made by the Children’s

Society in London on December 14, 2007•

Oklahoma was the last U.S. state to declare Christmas alegal holiday, in 1907

•

Giraffes have the highest blood pressure of any mammal.•

Libra is the only zodiac sign represented byan inanimate object

•

In 1878, the first telephone book issued only had 50 names•

Chinese judges in the 15th century used glasses with dark-ened lenses to hide their facial expressions in court.

•

Until coffee gained popularity, beer was the beverageof choice for breakfast in most urban areas

of the United States.•

Scraps of Christmas can make problems for you many times.The Christmas scraps are responsible for 400,000 cases of

disease and sickness after the Christmas time•

According to an old wives’ tale if you bake bread on the

Christmas Eve then it will be fresh forever. It’s yet to beknown that how many people actually believe in this story

and how many of them have ever tried it.

Friday Jan. 22 • Foret Tradition

FREE WIFI

Saturday Dec. 26 ... Mojeaux



Grand Marshall

Mayor

Barney Arceneaux



• Fried andSmoked Turkeys

• Spiral Honey

Hams• Briskets &

Pork Roasts

BreakfastLunch & Dinner

BreakfastLunch & Dinner

Starting to take orders for

Holiday Feast

FRANK II FRANK III

622.5085 44253 Hwy. 42 ( 1 m i l e f r o m P o r t V i n c e n t )



AbrasivesAdhesives, Sealants & TapesChemicals, Lubricants & PaintsDisplay UnitsElectrical & LightingElectrical ToolsFasteners, Clamps & StrapsHand ToolsOilfieldHVACJanitorial Equipment

Marking ToolsMaterial HandlingMeasuring & Leveling ToolsMRO SuppliesPlumbing EquipmentPneumaticsPumpsPower ToolsSafety & SecurityWelding Supplies

30 Years of Top Notch ServicesBraud Company Welding & Industrial Supplieshas been providing material to industries for overthirty years. Our emphasis is on service.We take pride in same day delivery andcustomer service is always our number onepriority and we deliver ontime, everytime.We have a well stocked walk-in sales counterwhere you can purchase any quantity of an item.

225.673.3370 • Toll Free 888.269.4315 • www.braudco.com



Locally Owned & Operated byOscar and Linda Mire and sonsCall for Appointment • 225.644.8473

24 Hr. Emergency Roadside Service

State-of-the-ArtEquipment

BIGGEAUX’S TIRES NOW OPEN1 3 0 5 3 H W Y . 4 3 1 • S T . A M A N T

• All tires from ATV to Commercial Machinery

• All brands to fit autos, trucks and18 wheelers, including tractor/construction equipment tires

• Emergency road service

assistance-Commercial Only• Locally owned and operated since 2004• New used and retreads

• Great prices!



The only thing better than Skid Marks Tire Pros

and their Five locations is a solid community.

These Kids Rock!

MAKING HIS LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE

1312 WEST HWY. 30, GONZALES 225-647-9631 • 11209 COURSEY BLVD., BATON ROUGE 225-368-1234 • 1015 WEST LEE DRIVE, BATON ROUGE 225-767-5008 • 1800 SOUTH RANGE AVE. DENHAM SPRINGS 225-664-8103

18562 HIGHLAND DRIVE, BATON ROUGE, 225-751-8473






These Kids Rock!1312 WEST HWY. 30, GONZALES 225-647-9631 • 11209 COURSEY BLVD., BATON ROUGE 225-368-1234 • 1015 WEST LEE DRIVE, BATON ROUGE 225-767-5008 • 1800 SOUTH RANGE AVE. DENHAM SPRINGS 225-664-8103




Cooking Gourmet at Homewith SNO’S SEAFOOD & STEAKS

Executive Chef

Ben Jarreau

Yield:8 servingsPrep Time:40 minutesCook Time:25 minutes

Ingredients:

6 mirlitons

1 ½ lbs baby shrimp

2 cups finely chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped celery

1 cup finely chopped bell pepper

2 tbls minced garlic

½ cup thinly sliced green onions

¼ cup creole mustard

1 ½ cups bread crumbs (more or less depending on your preference)

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

black 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 untiltender. Drain in a colander and cool. When cool enough tohandle, half the mirlitons, peel, then remove the seeds andcut into cubes.

While the militons are cooking, cook your onions, celery, bell

pepper and garlic in a little olive oil until tender. Add themirlitons and shrimp and cook until shrimp are done (about15 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, evenly spread 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)

A great dish for this Holiday Season



The Inn at Houmas HousePlantation and Gardens"The Great River Roads" newest and most elegant

bed and breakfast.Our cottages are nestled along an alley of ancient oak trees, where you

will have full access to our world famous gardens to watch the sunset orrelax in a cozy spot and enjoy the gentle breeze from the Mississippi River.

The cottages depict historic structures that once graced Uncle Sam Plantation, which was located downriver from Houmas House. Each room is complete

with a single king or queen size bed or double queen beds,marble bathrooms, and a porch to enjoy the view.

Luxurious and romantic, each room is decorated with old world furnishingsallowing you to experience the lavish lifestyle of the wealthy Sugar Barons of

the early 1800's. With all the amenities world class travelers expect today.

Breakfast and a tour of the mansion are included.Check In: 4pm Check Out: 11am.

Book Now Online www.houmashouse.comor call (225) 473-9380.

40136 Hwy 942, River Road, Darrow, LA 70725225.473.9380 • kk@houmashouse .com

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