COMPLIMENTARY

JANUARY 2018, VOL. 16 ISSUE 1

SEE PAGE 24
 Publisher / Editor
Mike Strong
Table of Contents
CHAMBER GOLF ......... ............. 4
Sales Manager
GONZALES GARDEN CLUB .... 8
Dottie Godberry
Staff Photographer SWEET EYES W/ TANYA...........12

Jimmy Dunkley FAMILY FEST.................................... .. 24 FOR MORE INFORMATION

225.622.3262
BILL DELAUNE.......................... 30 www.riverparishfoods.com

Contributing Writers
JAMMIN’ WITH GOOSIE........ 32
Bill Delaune
THOUGHTS FROM BULLY.....34
Linda Melancon
JFA CHRISTMAS PARTY ..........38
Calvin Bessonett
Bully SNO’S RECIPE...........................45

Goosie Guice
Orhan McMillan
Kellie Seymour
Tanya Stilley
Jimmy Dunkley

For Advertising
Information Please call:
225-622-1324

E-Mail Comments
to Stronggraphics1@cox.net
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
 The Ascension Chamber Enjoys a Day
on the Green at Golf Ascension 2017
On Monday, November 13th, the
Ascension Chamber hosted their annual
Golf Ascension Tournament presented
by R.J. Daigle & Sons Contractors, Inc.
Everyone enjoyed a beautiful day of golf
at Pelican Point benefiting a great
cause—Leadership Ascension! Such a
successful event can only be attributed to
the wonderful sponsors, volunteers,
participants and committee members
that consistently work together to help
the Chamber grow and prosper.
The Chamber would first like to thank
the Tournament’s Corporate Sponsors
for their donations and participation in
the tournament. The 2017 Gold
Sponsor was EATEL, Silver Sponsors
4
were BASF and Cox Communications and Flag Sponsor
was Pujol, Pryor & Irwin, Attorneys at Law. Each year
the tournament’s corporate sponsors not only help fund
the event, but also get involved by sponsoring teams,
putting up tents on the course and offering great
door prizes.

There were many additional sponsors who made this

tournament such a success. Potash Corp was the Gift
Sponsor and provided insulated cups for all of the
golfers and volunteers. All Star Ford Lincoln sponsored
a Hole In One Contest for the chance to win a new car.
Food and Drink Sponsors for the day were CarliCo
Cafe who provided lunch, L’Auberge Baton Rouge
who provided dinner, Baton Rouge Coca Cola and

5
Community Coffee. Beverage cart
sponsors were Bonfanti Investments,
Express Employment Professionals and
Waguespack & Associates Insurance.
Contributing to the many activities
throughout the tournament were United
Community Bank sponsoring the
Longest Drive contest and State Farm
Insurance-Adam McCarty sponsoring the
Closest-to-the-Hole Contest. In
addition, numerous tent sponsors
provided wonderful drinks and treats for
the golfers throughout the course.
These tent sponsors were BASF, Domain
Architecture, Essential Federal Credit
Union, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and
Steakburgers, GSA Consulting
Engineers, Inc., Industrial Municipal
Supply Co., Inc., Mary Bird Perkins,
Mike Anderson’s, Pelican State Credit
Union, Quality Engineering &
Surveying, Inc., Rouses, Red River Bank,
Stuart & Company General Contractors
and The Spa House Day Spa, LLC, who
also provided complimentary chair
massages for the golfers.
The Chamber would also like to thank all
hole sponsors, door prize donors, Pelican
Point Golf Club and this year’s Golf
6
Ascension Committee. Scott Banker,
EATEL, and Jobie Templet, Air Prod-
ucts & Chemicals, Inc. co-chair the
committee. Additional committee
members include: Bridget Hanna,
Ascension Clerk of Court; Amy
Lambert, Neighbors Federal Credit
Union; Rae Milano, Lofton Staffing &
Security Services, Jeremy Lee, Methanex
and Kenny Foster, Gulf Coast Aerial
Mapping Co. Funds from the annual
golf event are used to assist with
funding for the Chamber’s Leadership
Ascension Program. For more
information on Golf Ascension or
Leadership Ascension, please contact
the Ascension Chamber of Commerce
at 225.647.7487.

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Check out our Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter pages for more info on these and more exciting
events & specials at the Kilt! • 2828 S Outfitters Drive • 225-450-3496

7
Cultivate
Gardens for
Butterflies
The Gonzales Garden Club held its
January 10, 2018 meeting at the First
Baptist Church on Burnside Avenue.
The focus of the club’s resource
exhibit, educational program and
horticultural studies was the survival
of butterflies. Club President Jamie
Trisler began the meeting with a
quote from Little Prince author
Antoine De Saint-Exupery: “Well, I
must endure the presence of a few
caterpillars if I wish to become
acquainted with the butterflies.”
Each club member responded to
roll call with the name her
favorite butterfly.
EBR Master Gardner President Ken Bosso presented
a program on “Enticing Pollinators to Your Backyard
Garden”.
Interested gardeners learn that milkweed plants are essential for the survival of monarchs.
Hostesses for the GGC meeting were Ellen Richmond, Beth Beall, Loretta Ramirez, Cathy Venable, Janis D’Benedetto,
and (not pictured) Rita Bourque.
East Baton Rouge Master Gardener
President and Louisiana Master
Naturalist Ken Bosso presented a
program on “Enticing Pollinators to
Your Backyard Garden”. He narrated
his PowerPoint presentation by
addressing types of butterflies and
the necessary host and nectar plants
for their survival. For the greatest
success in attracting and breeding
butterflies, he advocated a natural,
pesticide-free habitat of abundant
April and October blooms that are
shielded from strong wind with a
small fresh water source nearby. The
25 attendees included garden club
members, master gardeners, a
landscape architect and a horticulture
instructor.
The horticultural hint for
January is to keep old spent
flowers of cool-season
bedding plants picked off
(deadheaded) to encourage
continued blooming; fertilize
if needed. The gardening tip
of the month came from
Member Gwen Heck. She
demonstrated how to save
milkweed seeds. Seedpods
should not be removed from
the plant until they are
brown and dry. The pods
should be cracked open into
a paper bag and shaken to
separate the fluff from the
seeds. The seeds need a
period of cold storage in a
refrigerator or chilly garage
8
before germination.
Member Mary Jo Pohlig devised
clever innovations to create a
crescent line floral design in a wet
foam oasis. She curved a young,
pliable sprig of eucalyptus by
wrapping thin wire around its stem
and staking it into the foam with a
pick. She inserted a cutting of jade
succulent as the filler plant and deep
purple violas set in tiny straws filled
with water as the accent flowers.
Her grandmother’s porcelain hand-
painted vase repeated the purple and
green hues of the plant material for a
perfectly coordinated display.
Hostesses Loretta Ramirez,
Beth Beall, Rita Bourque, Janis
D’Benedetto, Ellen Richmond and GGC Member Mary Jo Pohlig chose an
antique hand-painted vase to complement
Cathy Venable provided a buffet of the flowers and greenery of her floral design.
three chili recipes with shredded
cheese and Saltines followed by and red velvet cake with coffee.
bread pudding, carrot cake,
The Gonzales
Garden Club is
federated by the
Louisiana Garden
Club Federation
and the National
Garden Clubs, Inc.
Club Members Conchita Richey and Mary Jo Pohlig shared butterfly
plant seeds with program participants.
Plant citrus, dill and fennel for swallowtails and milkweed for monarchs.
A variety of butterflies like globe amaranth.
 Gonzales Garden Club President Jamie Trisler presents then Associate Member Elizabeth

Garden Club
Brandon with a flower arrangement in celebration of her induction as the very first Lifetime
Member of the Gonzales Garden Club.

impeccable hosting style and

Names First
gracious community service.
Gonzales Garden Club Member

Lifetime
Ellen Richmond commented,
“I will always remember the

Member
February meetings Mrs.
Brandon hosted because her
tables were stunningly set with
beautiful roses.”
The Gonzales Garden Club
recently established the title of
Club President Jamie Trisler
“Gonzales Garden Club
presented Mrs. Brandon with
Honorary Lifetime Member” to
a proclamation of lifetime
honor members who reach the
membership as well as a vase
milestone of 90 years of age.
of roses. When making the
On December 8, Mrs. Elizabeth
presentation to Mrs. Brandon,
Brandon, age 96, became the
Trisler said, “It is my hope that
first recipient of this title.
those who come behind you will
follow your example and the
Mrs. Brandon’s contribution to
club will continue to strive to
the club through the years has
educate, enhance and preserve
helped ensure its 56 years of
the landscape in our
continued service. Four current
community. Thank you so
members visited her residence
much for your dedication.”
to thank her for her legacy of
exquisite floral designs,

Gonzales Garden Club Members gather to honor Lifetime Member Elizabeth Brandon
(seated). Standing left to right are Members Cathy Venable, Myra Mire, Jamie Trisler
and Ellen Richmond.

9
 St. Amant Volunteer Firefighters attend
Firefighter Safety & Survival Training
Volunteer Firefighters trained to perform potentially jured, trapped or even low on following members of the St.
from the St. Amant life-saving actions if they air while inside of a burning Amant Volunteer Fire
Volunteer Fire become lost, disoriented, in- structure, stated LeBlanc. The Department completed the
Department recently
completed an 8-hours
training session in
Firefighter Safety &
Survival, stated
Chief Officers
James E. LeBlanc.

The purpose of the Firefighter

Safety & Survival Course was to
ensure that our Volunteer
Firefighters in Ascension Parish
understood the proper
MAYDAY operations between
all our Volunteer Firefighters,
Company Officers and Chief
Officers of the St. Amant
Volunteer Fire Department,
stated LeBlanc. Volunteer
Firefighters must continue to be

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Sun: Closed
8-hour training session held
here in Ascension Parish and
hosted by the Ascension Parish
Fire Dist. #1 – Firefighter Broc
Poche, Asst. Chief Josh
Wingerter, Firefighter Josh
Rushing, Sgt. Greg Swanson,
Asst. Chief Shane Rojas and
Firefighter Ryan Moran.
Not pictured is Lt. Eric
Hughes who also
completed the course.
the local family members for his
dedicated efforts, but also by his
Volunteer Firefighters that were
on the call with him that day,
stated Chief Officer James E.
LeBlanc. We are very proud of
the dedicated training hours and
response that Firefighter Grant
Harris continues to give our
community and Parish stated,
Chief LeBlanc. The St. Amant
Volunteer Fire Department has
continued to recognized a
“Firefighter of the Month” for
the past twenty years in our
community. Pictured left to
right is Captain Gary Germany,
Firefighter Broc Poche, Asst.
Chief Josh Wingerter, Fire-
fighter Josh Rushing, Firefighter
Grant Harris, Sgt. Greg
Swanson, Asst. Chief Shane
Rojas, Firefighters Ryan Moran
and Mytrail Whitehead.

Firefighter of the
Month recognized.

The St. Amant Volunteer

Fire Department also recog-
nized Firefighter Grant Har-
ris for the December 2017 –
“Firefighter of the Month”,
stated LeBlanc. Firefighter
Harris performed CPR on a
medical response in the
St. Amant Community that
gave a local resident the
chance to breathe a little
longer to be with family
members. Firefighter Harris
was recognized not only by

The Solid Choice in

Ascension Parish

It may be
Carnival Time,
but it’s also
Flu Season
Achoo! It’s kinda hard to get
in a Mardi Gras state of mind
since I’m on the mend from the
flu. Despite several rounds of
steroids and antibiotics, I’m not
sure if anything worked but
liquids, rest and time. Strangely
enough, this year’s flu didn’t
come wrapped in its normal
package; this year’s flu came
complete with a bad ass cough
and major chest congestion.
After speaking to so many
people with the flu, I decided to
do a little research on the flu,
how to prevent it, how to treat
it, and more.
So, What is the flu?
Influenza (flu) is a contagious
respiratory illness caused by the
influenza viruses. The flu
affects everyone differently and
can be mild to severe, and in
some rare cases, death. Scary, I
know. Older people, young
children, others with certain
health conditions are at high
risk of flu complications, so it’s
best to arm yourself with the
best defense, including a flu
shot and natural supplements
and lots of vitamins.
When is flu season?
According to the CDC
website, by year end 2017, all
but four states and the District
of Columbia have widespread
flu cases, with Louisiana being
one of the first states to hit
widespread status. The flu
season can last from as early as
October through, albeit rare,
May. Peak months for flu cases
are in the months of December
and February.
Will a flu shot help?
I’ve taken the flu shot, and
got sick eight hours later, so
I’ve shied away from taking it
since.
Flu shots are suggested for
anyone six months or older, and
the CDC states that if you do
receive a flu shot, on average it
will prevent the flu 40 to 60
percent.
There were rumors that this
year’s flu shot helped only
around 10 percent of the flu,
but this was one particular
12
strain, the H3N2 strain, most
prevalent and as reported in
Australia. In the US, this same
strain was combatted by the flu
shot and has an efficacy rate of
about 32%.
A friend of mine suggested a
natural defense called Black
Elderberry for overall immune
strength. One in liquid form
called Sambucol is available at
Walgreens, Amazon, or any
drug store. This natural
occurring antioxidant that has
been scientifically proven to
boost your immune system.
It can be taken year round for
immune support.
What if I get the flu?
Yes, the flu is a major
bummer, and remnants of the
flu can last upward four to six
weeks. (I’m going on three
weeks feeling bad and still have
a persistent cough and overall
malaise.) While symptoms
persist, rest, lots of liquids are
helpful, but I recently heard of
OTC medication called
Occillococinum. Occillo-
cocinum is a homeopathic
dissolvable pellet medication
that you can take with any other
medication that helps relieve
common flu symptoms.
Prevent Spreading the Flu
The flu is highly contagious,
even if there are no symptoms
present. You can actually infect
someone else one day before
symptoms develop and up to 5
to 7 days after becoming sick.
Children may pass the virus for
longer than 7 days. Symptoms
start 1 to 4 days after the virus
enters the body. That means
that you may be able to pass on
the flu to someone else before
you know you are sick, as well
as while you are sick.
It’s very important to stay
home until you feel better so
you don’t pass the virus to
those at your work or school.
Also be mindful to wash your
hands often, disinfect surface
areas with an antiviral cleaner, ie
– Clorox, Odoban, etc. and to
cover your mouth when you
sneeze or cough!
So, there are few hints to keep
you flu free in 2018. Wishing
you a happy and healthy Mardi
Gras Ascension!
XOXO – Sweet Eyes
Resources: www.cdc.gov
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13
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15

"Tips for
Successful Content
Marketing"
by Orhan Mc Millan
dezinsINTERACTIVE
Ready or not, 2018 is on its way.
As we enter a new year, we
prepare for a new surge of digital
content. The Internet becomes
ever-expanding, new trends begin
to emerge, and technology
continues to evolve exponentially.
As industries adjust and
consumer behaviors changes, we
must prepare to go in to what
might seem like the most chaotic,
electrified warzone there’s yet to
be. So much content is produced
and published worldwide, it
seems almost impossible to make
a ripple in the vast ocean that is
marketing.
Marketing is an essential part of
business, and a huge one at that.
We as businesses must promote
our products and services and
bring awareness to our brands,
amidst the over saturated pool
that all businesses are swimming,
and reach our target audience-
the consumers. Nowadays
everyone has a smartphone,
everyone is on the Internet, and
everyone is seeing every post and
advertisement. So how do we stay
on top of the game and reach our
target audience? Unfortunately,
there’s no 4-step-checkmate
move to reach that goal, but there
are some steps to take in
preparation to make our
marketing more efficient and
effective.
Understand what
truly matters to
your buyers
Creating buyer personas for an
organization is nothing new. But
that doesn’t make them any less
important. In fact, understanding
your buyers is more important
than ever in the digital age.
Industry trends change, and
buyers now have access to more
information before making a
purchase decision. Because of this,
you must be front and center for
your buyers at all times. By
creating, or refining, your buyer
personas, you’ll be able to create
a marketing mix that gains
traction and reaches your target
audience.
A buyer persona should
accurately identify your ideal
audience and reflect the specific
desires your prospects have when
it comes to your products or
services.Your organization will
likely have more than one buyer
persona to express the diversity
of your audience and that’s a
good thing.You’ll be able to
personalize their customer
journey and enable your market-
ing efforts to be more impactful.
Review and Rebuild
Your buyers are always changing.
New trends impact their day-to-
day lives and market dynamics
shift how they measure success.
While you may already have
personas in place, it’s always
necessary to check on what
16
challenges and pain points are top
of mind for your target audience
and what you can do to fix them.
Revisit your past year’s content
and see what worked and what
didn’t.You can find which type of
content was most effective in
communicating to your audience,
generating leads, shares, etc. and
build a more focused strategy
based around that type of
content.
Optimize for
different channels
With the rise of smartphones,
tablets, laptops, and many other
devices, people are searching for
content all over the place. It is
important to have your content
accessible to all types of
platforms to reach your largest
amount of target audience. A step
up from that includes the varying
social media platforms that are
being widely used. Facebook,
Instagram, LinkedIn, Google, are
all go-to platforms for customers
to research products and reviews
that influence buyer decisions.
Being active across the web not
only increases the likelihood of
customers finding your business,
but it builds a solid reputation for
your company and promotes your
online presence.
While you’ll be marketing
products and services alike, the
main goal in content marketing is
to build brand awareness for your
company throughout the web. To
do so effectively, you must under-
stand where your target audience
lies and optimize your online
marketing accordingly. For
instance, if your target
demographic primarily consists of
people age 50+, chances are you
aren’t going to find many of them
on Twitter or Instagram. Platforms
such as Facebook and Google
have made it increasingly easier to
target specific demographics and
reach more potential clients, so
becoming familiar with different
programs and utilizing them can
give you a step up in your
marketing strategy.
Build a calendar
If consistency is key, calendars are
the locksmiths. Using a calendar
to plan where and when you
want content posted will give a
more solid understanding your
overall content marketing
strategy. Instead of creating
content and blasting it across
different platforms and mediums,
you’ll be able to view a timeline
showing you when, where, and
what content your audience will
receive from you. It is important
to diversify your content, and im-
plementing a calendar can ensure
you’re not posting the same thing
repetitively.You will also be able
to plan for future marketing and
take advantage of special
occasions such as holiday
marketing, industry trends, and
other seasonal events.
Conclusion
Nowadays, content is everywhere.
The Internet is over-saturated
with special promotions, company
advertisements, the latest
technology gadgets, and so much
more. With nearly everyone
having access to the Internet at
their fingertips, marketers are
poised with the increasingly
difficult task of drawing con-
sumers through an over-saturated
pool of effective content
marketing.
Building your content strategy
keeping these tips in mind will
give you a better overall
understanding of your target
audience and how to reach them.
With times constantly changing, it
is important to build a content
strategy that is both flexible and
effective. Starting the new year off
on the right foot is an essential
part of having a great business
year. For help in developing your
content marketing and planning a
successful 2018 strategy, call (225)
615-8358 or visit http://dezinsin-
teractive.com/.
 "Proudly Sponsored by Dutchtown Physical Therapy"

Happy New Year from Holidays

the Eagle’s Nest! Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday January 15, 2018
Mardi Gras Holidays February 12 – 13, 2018
The second semester is upon us at Dutchtown
Easter Holidays March 30 – April 6, 2018
Primary and as always the school year seems to fly
by faster for eagles, after the holidays. We are
excited about the success we have experienced in
3rd-5th LEAP Testing Dates
(DO NOT MISS SCHOOL)
the fall semester and look forward to soaring to new
heights in the spring! Important dates for early
LEAP ELA and Math Wednesday-Friday
dismissals, testing and fun events that will be
April 18th, 19th, and 20th.
occurring for our eagles are below! #EaglesSoar
Social Studies LEAP test will be
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24-25th
**Early Dismissals**
Science LEAP test will be Pilot Tested
*Dates are subject to change*
and dates TBA
February 6, 2018– 1:30
Fun Events
Family Math Night: February 6, 2018
March 13, 2018 – 1:30
Alice In Wonderland: April 26-28, 2018
April 17, 2018 – 1:30
Field Days May 18 (K-2nd) May 21 (3rd-5th)
May 8, 2018 – 1:30
5th Grade Bash: May 23, 2018
May 22, 2018-2:30
May 23, 2018- 1:30
May 24, 2018- 12:30 (Student’s Last Day)!
Patricia Espinoza, Principal

"Your Community
Physical Therapy
Provider" for
10 years.

Stephen Jackson, PT, DPT

(225) 744-3631 • fax (225) 744-3647

DUTCHTOWN PHYSICAL THERAPY • 13053 HIGHWAY 73, SUITE B • GEISMAR, LOUISIANA 70734

17
 FINANCIAL FOCUS
How Can You
Improve Your
Financial
Fitness
This Year?
If one of your New Year’s
resolutions is to get healthier,
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Specifically, what can you do to
ensure your investment situation
is in good shape?
Here are a few “healthy living”
suggestions that may also apply
to your investment portfolio:
• Build endurance – Just as
exercise can help build your
endurance for the demands of a
long life, a vigorous investment
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toward your long-term goals, such
as a comfortable retirement. In
practical terms, this means
Hey Dr. Rob? you will need to own some invest-
Is there a age ments with the potential to pro-
limit for hunting vide long-term growth. These are
the investments that, ideally, you
dogs? can hold on to for decades and
eventually reap the benefits of
capital appreciation. Of course,
growth-oriented investments,
such as most types of stocks, will
rise and fall in value over the
short term, and there’s no
ASCENSION PA RISH
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18
guarantee of profits, or even
preserving principal. But if you
choose wisely, and you’ve got the
patience and discipline to hold on
to your investments through the
market’s ups and downs, you may
well be rewarded.
• Maintain an ideal “weight” –
You can help yourself stay
healthy by maintaining your ideal
weight. This can be challenging –
as you know from the recently
finished holiday season, it’s easy
to put on a few extra pounds.
And, just as inadvertently, your
portfolio can tack on some
unneeded weight, too, in the form
of redundant investments. Over
time, you may have picked up too
many similar investment vehicles,
resulting in an overconcentration,
or “flabbiness,” that can work
against you, especially when a
market downturn affects the asset
class in which you’re overloaded.
So, you might be better off
liquidating some of your duplicate,
or near-duplicate, investments,
and using the proceeds to help
broaden your investment mix.
• Get proper rest – Many studies
have shown that we need
adequate rest to stay alert and
healthy. In your life, you’ve
probably already found that if you
over-tax your body, you pay a
price in your overall well-being. If
you look at your investment
portfolio as a living entity – which,
in a way, it is, as it certainly
provides life to your goals and
aspirations – then you can see
that it, too, can be weakened by
stress. And one of the main stress
factors is excessive trading. If
you’re constantly buying and
selling investments in an attempt
to boost your returns, you may
rack up hefty fees, commissions
and taxes – and still not really get
the results you wanted. Plus, if
you’re frequently moving in and
out of different investments, you’ll
find it hard to follow a unified,
long-term strategy. So, confine
your trading to those moves that
are really essential – and give
your portfolio a rest.
To enjoy your life fully, you’ll want
to take care of your physical and
financial health – and, as it turns
out, you can make similar types
of moves to help yourself in
both areas.
 What is
Periodontal
Disease
By Calvin Bessonet, DDS,FAGD
Gum disease, or periodontal
disease is a chronic inflammation
and infection of the gums and
surrounding tissue. It is the major
cause of about 70 percent of adult
tooth loss, affecting three out of
four persons at some point in their
life. Periodontal diseases include
gingivitis and periodontitis.
What causes
gum disease?
Bacterial plaque – a sticky, colorless
film that constantly forms on the
teeth – is recognized as the
primary cause of gum disease. If
plaque isn't removed each day by
brushing and flossing, it hardens
into a rough, porous substance
called calculus (also known as
tartar).Toxins produced and
released by bacteria in plaque
irritate the gums. These toxins
cause the breakdown of the fibers
that hold the gums tightly to the
teeth, creating periodontal pockets
that fill with even more toxins and
bacteria. As the disease progresses,
pockets extend deeper, and the
bacteria moves down until the
13053 Hwy 73, Ste A Geismar, La 70734 • Call:
bone that holds the tooth in place
is destroyed. The tooth eventually
will fall out or require extraction.
Are there
other factors?
Yes. Genetics is also a factor, as are
lifestyle choices. A diet low in
nutrients can diminish the body's
ability to fight infection. Smokers
and spit tobacco users have more
irritation to gum tissues than
non-tobacco users, while stress can
also affect the ability to ward off
disease. Diseases that interfere with
the body's immune system, such as
leukemia and AIDS, may worsen
the condition of the gums. In
patients with uncontrolled
diabetes, where the body is more
prone to infection, gum disease is
more severe or harder to control.
Pregnant women experience ele-
vated levels of hormones that cause
the gums to react differently to the
bacteria found in plaque, and in
many cases can cause a condition
known as "pregnancy gingivitis."
What are the
warning signs of gum
disease?
Signs include red, swollen or
tender gums, bleeding while
brushing or flossing, gums that
pull away from teeth, loose or
separating teeth, pus between the
gum and tooth, persistent bad
PREMIER DENTAL
Calvin G. Bessonet, DDS, FAGD
19
breath, a change in the way teeth
fit together when the patient bites
and a change in the fit of dentures.
While patients are advised to check
for the warning signs, there might
not be any discomfort until the
disease has spread to a point where
the tooth is unsalvageable. That's
why patients are advised to get
frequent dental exams.
What does
periodontal
treatment involve?
In the early stages of gum disease,
most treatment involves a special
cleaning called scaling and root
planning, which removes plaque
and tartar around the tooth and
smoothing the root surfaces.
Antibiotics or antimicrobials may
be used to supplement the effects
of scaling and root planing. In
most cases of early gum disease,
called gingivitis, scaling and root
planing and proper daily cleaning
achieve a satisfactory result. More
advanced cases may require
surgical treatment, which involves
cutting the gums – sometimes with
the assistance of a laser – and
removing the hardened plaque
build-up and recontouring the
damaged bone. The procedure is
also designed to smooth root
surfaces and reposition the gum
tissue so it will be easier to
keep clean.
225.217.2688 • www. AscensionDentist.com
How do you prevent
gum disease?
Removing plaque through daily
brushing, flossing and professional
cleaning is the best way to
minimize your risk. Your dentist
can design a personalized
program of home oral care to meet
your needs.
How can I maintain
treatment at home?
Sticking to a regular oral hygiene
regimen is crucial for patients who
want to sustain the results of
periodontal therapy. Patients
should visit the dentist every three
to four months (or more,
depending on the patient) for spot
scaling and root planing and an
overall exam. In between visits,
they should brush at least twice a
day, floss daily and brush their
tongue. Manual soft nylon bristle
brushes are the most dependable
and least expensive. Electric
brushes are also a good option, but
don't reach any further into the
pocket than manual brushes. Proxy
brushes (small, narrow brushes)
and other interdental cleaners are
the best way to clean between the
recesses in the teeth and should be
used once a day. Wooden
toothpicks and rubber tips should
only be used if recommended by
your dentist.
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 YOUR ESTATE MATTERS
By Linda Melancon
New Year’s
Resolutions
The New Year gives us an
opportunity to start fresh, make
resolutions, and do some of the
things we’ve been procrastinat-
ing about. For myself, even as
an attorney, one of the things
that was on my new year’s
resolution list for several years
before I actually took the time
to do it, was writing a will and
other estate planning
Have a Merry Seafood Christmas
• Oysters By the Sack
• Fresh Shrimp
• A Wide Variety
of Fish and Seafood
• Snow Crabs
• Turtle Meat
Ask for Sally’s stuff crabs.
You’ll love them.
documents to let my family
know what I wanted in case of
disability or death and to ensure
my family was taken care of if I
was not able to do that myself.
So, I fully understand how it
can be very easy to procrastinate
on these issues; after all, no one
likes to contemplate their own
mortality. However, in my
situation and time after time in
meeting with clients, the thing I
hear most often when the
planning is complete and the
documents are signed is what a
tremendous relief it was to
finally have their plan in place.
So, what are the basic things
each of us should have to plan
for the time when we are unable
to take care of things ourselves?
First, everyone should have a
document authorizing their
family and loved ones to access
Doug & Sally
20
their health care information
under the HIPAA law that
prohibits healthcare providers
from releasing that information
to anyone without your written
consent. Many times these
HIPAA release documents are
signed at the doctor’s office, but
what if you are unable to sign
and your healthcare is not being
provided by your primary care
doctor? Without a HIPAA
authorization, those other
healthcare providers may not be
able to release information to
those you want to have that
information. Also in regard to
health care, everyone should
have a healthcare power of
attorney appointing the person
or persons they want to make
health care decisions if they
don’t have the capacity to make
those decisions on their own.
While there is a statute that
provides who has the right to
make those decisions, the
statute may not appoint the
person you would have chosen
had you given it any thought.
Also, a living will that expresses
beliefs with regard to end of life
decisions is a valuable
document. Most of us still
remember the Terri Schiavo case
that played out in the media
several years ago when there was
disagreement between the hus-
band and parents of a young
woman who was in a persistent
vegetative state. We had a
similar case in Louisiana just a
year before the Schiavo case but
it wasn’t publicized because the
lady involved had a living will.
Most people also need a will or
trust to ensure their property
passes to those they want it to
pass to at the time and in the
manner they want it to pass.
Again, if you don’t have a plan,
the state of Louisiana has one
for you but it might not have
been what you would have
chosen.
Perhaps the most important
thing you can do once you have
these documents completed is
to sit down with your loved
ones and explain to them your
wishes. Many problems and
family disputes could be
resolved if families
communicated about
these issues.
As you can see, estate planning
is not just for the very wealthy
and it is one of those New
Year’s resolutions that will truly
provide value to you and your
family if it is needed. One of
my favorite quotes says that it’s
not the number of things you
have to do that overwhelms
you, rather, it’s the number of
things you haven’t done that
brings you down. Therefore,
don’t let this year be another
one where failure to plan for
your family and loved ones
is something that you
procrastinate on. Instead, find
estate planning professionals
who are knowledgeable and
you are comfortable working
with and make this one of those
items you can check off of the
list this year.
The information provided is not
intended to be legal advice and
does not constitute an
attorney/client relationship. You
should consult with an attorney
for individual advice regarding
your own situation.
Ms. Melancon is an attorney with Legacy Estate
& Elder Law of Louisiana, LLC, with offices in
Baton Rouge, LA and Prairieville, LA. The pri-
mary focus of her practice is estate planning,
probate, special needs planning and elder law.
For more information or to attend an upcoming
estate planning seminar, call her office at (225)
744-0027.
21
23
St. Elizabeth to Host
2018 Family Fest
St. Elizabeth is gearing up for its
2018 Family Fest: a Day of
Health, Wellness, & Fun for the
Whole Family, presented by
EATEL. The free event will take
place on Saturday, January 20th,
at the Lamar-Dixon Expo
Center from 9:00am-1:00pm.
More than 40 vendors and
exhibitors are expected to
attend.
Dr. Tracy Wallace, Pediatrician with St. Elizabeth Physicians, teaches a young participant about
healthy eating habits during the 2016 St. Elizabeth Family Fest.
For over 17 years St.
Elizabeth has hosted a
community health fair,
offering free screenings and
health information to
residents of Greater
Ascension Parish. This year’s
event promises to be bigger
and better than ever,
boasting lots of hands-on
exhibits and fun activities
for the entire family. Four
unique areas (EAT Well,
GET Moving, STAY
Healthy, and GO Play) will
allow local businesses and
organizations to interact
with participants and
showcase valuable resources
available right here in our
community.
In addition to exhibitors,
kids and adults-alike will be
A young participant gets ready to run the “bungee-run” at the 2016 St. Elizabeth Family Fest.
This was one of many activities and inflatables offered as part of the free event.
The giant AmeriHeart inflatable display will be featured at the 2018 St. Elizabeth Family Fest.
The walk-around exhibit will allow participants to get up close and personal with the human heart.
27
all smiles as they traverse the
many interactive games, obstacle
courses, and inflatable
amusements. There will even be a
section reserved for children five
years of age and younger. New
this year – take a tour of our
giant, life-like inflatable heart and
brain. These unique walk-around
and walk-through exhibits offer
participants an exciting glimpse at
how the heart and brain work.
You do not want to miss it!
Skip the line and register now
at SteFamilyFest.com for a
chance to win a FitBit Blaze!*
*No purchase necessary. One e
ntry per person. Participants may
register at the door to be entered to
win. You do not have to be present
to win. Winner will be contacted
by email.

Bone & Joint Clinic Opens New Prairieville Location

The giant AmeriBrain inflatable display will be featured at the 2018 St. Elizabeth Family Fest.
The walk-through exhibit will allow participants to tour the outside and inside of the human brain.

Dr. Mazoch is accepting new patients and appointments by contacting Bone and Joint Clinic. He is a specialist
in arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery of the shoulder, knee, and hip.

Dr. Mazoch graduated Summa Cum Laude from LSU and top of his class in medical school receiving honors
in all clinical rotations and serving as president of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honors society. He completed his
orthopedic residency at the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences where he consistently performed
above the 98th percentile nationally. He has many peer-reviewed research publications and has presented his
work at both national and international meetings.

Dr. Mazoch completed fellowship training at Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center and Tulane
Institute of Sports Medicine where he received additional training from internationally renowned experts
in arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Mathew J. Mazoch, M.D.
surgeons,the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and the American Orthopaedic Society Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
for Sports Medicine.

To learn more visit or call: 225-766-0050

www.bjcbr.com
Hwy 73
Hwy 61 to BR

Located on the
Service Rd. X

Old Jefferson
Post Office Rd.

16158 Airline Hwy., Prairieville • 7301 Hennessy Blvd., Baton Rouge • 5000 O’Donovan Blvd., Walker

28
Conflicts Unseen in 2018
As children of the 60’s, we
actually believed that we could
change the world-especially
after the revolutionary musical
“Hair” hit Broadway in 1967.
One of the biggest hits from
that play promised an “Age of
Aquarius” where “peace will
guide the planets and love will
steer the stars”. The song also
predicted “Harmony and
understanding, sympathy and
trust abounding, No more
falsehoods or derisions…” for a
great time of awakening for all
mankind.
Well, boys and girls, here we
are 50 years later and I’m afraid
the Age of Pisces’s values of
money, power, conflict and
control still seem to be hanging
around.
I wish I could promise you a
2018 where “we’d all be drink-
ing that free bubble-ubb and
eating that rainbow stew” but
that’s not the vision I’m getting
from my Waterford Crystal
football right now. So as a
public service to you, my
faithful readers, I must tell the
truth about the coming year-
although I wish the news was
better.
And for my “old hippie”
friends still waiting for the “Age
of the Aquarius”, all I can say is
what has become a mantra for
us LSU fans-“Wait til next
year.”
The volatile 2018 is the
Chinese Year of the Dog and,
unfortunately, this one appears
to be rabid. The conflicts
begin in…
by Bill Delaune
January-
Alabama coach Nick Saban
blames President Donald
Trump’s appearance at the
National Championship game
for his team’s dismal showing
in the first half.
“He was quite a distraction-
trying to sing the National
Anthem and such,” fumed
Saban. “Doesn’t he have other
Presidential things to do like
opening a new casino or a golf
course or something?”
Trump tweets back that Saban
is “Nothing but a narcissist
bully who is not nearly as smart
as he thinks he is.”
February-
Not to be outdone, the pros get
combative as New England
quarterback Tom Brady
threatens to sit out the Super
Bowl unless Coach Bill
Bellichick reinstates his personal
trainer who keeps the 40-year
old Brady young with some
mysterious potion.
“He got it from some
fountain in Florida from a
Spanish dude named Ponce de
Leon and he won’t let me have
any,” grumbled Belichick.
“And I have this young blond
girlfriend-a” Beli-chick”, if you
will- to take care of. Anyway, I
can pick up a quarterback out of
the stands and beat the NFC.”
The old coach’s boast proves
accurate as pick-up Danny
Etling leads the Patriots to
another Super Bowl victory.
March-
Tragedy strikes locally as Mrs.
I. Miller is arrested for killing
her husband in a domestic
dispute over who was sicker
during the area’s epidemic-
filled winter.
“We’d been cooped up so
long with the weather and the
illness,” Miller sobbed,” and I
told him if he used that ‘We left
the door open and in-flu-enza’
line one more time…well, I
just snapped.”
A frozen icicle-left over from
the December snow storm- was
found in Mr. Miller’s congested
chest.
April-
Even the serene tranquility of
golf’s most revered tourna-
ment-the Master’s at Augusta-is
not immune from the violence
as a frustrated Tiger Woods goes
into the crowd after a heckler.
En route to another over-par
round, Woods finally cracks
after an endless barrage of
taunts about his stormy
relationship with his ex-wife,
Swedish model Elin Nordegren.
“I can take the jokes about
my wreck that night (“What did
the Florida State Police give
you? Tree Under?”)” said Tiger
later. “And the Confucius one
was somewhat clever (“He who
drives well in ‘fairway’ does not
always fare well in ‘driveway’.”)
But the one about being left off
the Ryder Cup team ‘because I
got beat by a European with a
9-iron’ was the last straw.”
May-
The owner of the Kentucky
Derby’s runner-up-a striking
filly named “Mimi Two”- file
sexual harassment charges
against the winner-a handsome
colt named “Slap and Tickle”.
“He kept bumping her
rump the entire race,” said
Mimi Two’s owner Anita
Richard. “Then, when she
finally turned her pretty head,
he stuck his nose in front at the
finish. Typical male.”
When asked about
“harassment”, the winner’s
trainer Jose Canuzee looked
puzzled and answered in broken
English, “Maybe her ass meant
a lot to Slap and Tickle.”
June-
After a bench-clearing brawl
on ABC’s morning show “The
View”, one shocked audience
member tries to explain the
political animosity that prevailed
upon the stage.
“Well, the one on the left was
on the right and the one in the
middle was on the left and the
one on the right was in the
middle and the guy as a guest
was a Communist…”
July-
The Independence Day
March for Equality takes a nasty
turn when a woman protestor
beats a counter protestor into
submission with her
“Tolerance” sign.
“Intolerance,” she declares,”
is a state that no tolerant person
can tolerate.”
31
August-
The old quote, “Music
soothes the savage beast,” fails
to hold true at the MTV awards
when country artist Tim
McGraw calls rapper Kendrick
Lamar’s halftime performance at
the College National Champi-
onships “the worst performance
since Roseanne Barr’s National
Anthem.”
The audience watches
deliriously as rappers and
country stars have a free-for-all
with British Led Zeppelin
legend Robert Plant doing the
play-by-play.
“Well, the rappers seem to be
a mouthy lot but the cowboys
seem to have a bit more fire
power,” announces Plant as
Faith Hill lands a guitar blow to
the head of Kanye West.
September-
An NFL player is badly beaten
by a group of irate fans after he
takes a knee during the playing
of “America the Beautiful” by
Ray Charles.
One of the leaders of the
mob-a disabled, African-
American male-told reporters
after the incident, “He can do
what he want during the
Anthem but don’t go dissin’ on
Brother Ray.”
Head of Security Steve
Wonder said that no charges
would be filed.
October-
What should have been a
memorable night in Tiger
Stadium honoring the 60th
anniversary of the 1958 national
championship team turns ugly
when ex-offensive coordinator
Matt Canada returns as a very
offensive Miss State assistant.
Coach Ed Orgeron proclaims
the game “Turn Cannons on
Canada Night” and arranges for
LSU’s Heisman Trophy Billy
Cannon to run over Canada on
the sideline during a reenact-
ment of his famous Halloween
run.
“See if he can shift outta
that,” Coach O. is heard to
mumble.
November-
Racial tensions reach a boiling
point at the Baton Rouge Zoo
where rival groups of protestors
clash over the number of black
and white stripes on the zebras.
The city hires an independent
expert Tarzan of the Apes to
settle the dispute and he goes
right to work painting black
stripes or white stripes where
needed to insure equality. But
after months of working-at the
taxpayer’s expense-Tarzan runs
up a hefty bill and some media
types begin to question the
length of his contract.
When approached about how
long it will take to finish the
project, the Ape Man replies,
“Tarzan stripes forever.”
December-
Could it really be? Could
this explosive year of constant
fighting end in peace before
Christmas? It appears a
possibility as President Trump
and North Korea’s Kim
Jong-un agree to meet in one of
Trump’s hotel to attempt to
reach an agreement on nuclear
weapons.
Unfortunately, when the two
leaders get into the elevator, a
physical altercation ensues
resulting in Trump’s hair
getting disheveled and Jong-
un’s hair getting-well, sheveled.
A spokesperson tells the press,
“The argument began over who
gets to push the button first to
go up.”
So there you have it, sports
fans-read ‘em and weep. And
I’m sorry if I added to your
winter doldrums. But just
remember-in only a few days
we’ll hear those uplifting words
that causes hope to spring
eternal no matter how bad
things are going in the real
world.
Pitchers and catchers report.
Please hurry, spring training.
We need you.
 Get Your
Mardi Gras Parade Throws
Jazz
My granddaughter got out of
CARNIVAL the car and ran across the vacant
lot that borders my yard to the
rental house next door. With a big
MART smile on her face she embraced a
young African American girl
standing in that yard. Upon her
returning she explained to me that
The Mardi Gras Parade Throws Center the young girls' family had moved
there and that the girl was a good
friend and classmate of hers. My
BEADS • THROWS • DECORATIONS grandkids and their mother were
www.carnivalmart.net living at our house at that time of
225.248.9720 • 800.229.6054 their life. The single mom's family
8986 Florline Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70815
next door and my family became
fairly close neighbors. It wasn't
e-mail: carnvlmart@aol.com uncommon to come home from
work and find Jazz, her brother or
one of their cousins at my house
playing in the yard with my
grandchildren.
One of my granddaughter's
favorite pastimes was shooting the
BB gun. The young girl next door
had never had the opportunity to
do so but soon discovered that she
enjoyed the challenge that the
small gun offered. Several of my
after work evenings were spent in
the back yard with those two
shooting at targets, cans etc. As
time moved on Jazz became more
It’s Tax Time
and more interested in firearms,
hunting, fishing and the cooking of
wild creatures. When we'd return
from hunting trips my grand-
daughter would tell her about
We Can Erase which gun she had used, along
with the safety aspects of that
Your Tax Worries. firearm. She'd watch closely as we
cut up game to consume and she
and Mikaylah would discuss
• Personal Loans • Auto Title Loans cooking and eating wild game. On
• Confidential Loans • Pay Day Loans one instance as we were cutting up
venison, Jazz made the statement
"I've never ate meat before." I
replied "What you mean you never
$50 - $300 ate meat before?" She then said, "I
mean meat that had to be cut up".
No Credit
I then told her "Baby it all gets cut
Check up by someone, but in this case we
cut it up on our own." Stunned,
she replied "Oh!"
For Loan Information Call 647-7422 Jazz learned how to shoot the
BB gun with accuracy. She'd had a
32
front seat view of what it's like to
properly clean and prepare game,
seafood and fish for the table. She
helped cook a few meals and
enjoyed the taste of each and every
critter that she ate at my house.
Hard times fell on the single
mom and they had to move to
another state. I often wonder if
Jazz will have the opportunity to
safely fire another firearm, see a
fish get cleaned, or get another
chance to help cut up deer
backstrap and fry it for supper.
Because of a small opportunity
the door was opened for a brand
new adventure in a young girls'
life. Jazz caught on quickly. She
could have become an outdoor
woman. Hopefully those days that
she and my granddaughter had
together aren't lost forever in her
life. I can only wish that someday
I'll be in my yard and this tall slim
African American girl stops by and
says, "Hey Mr. Guice, let me show
you a picture of this deer I shot."
That, or better yet "I just gradu-
ated with a degree in wildlife
management." That would be
quite a pleasure.
Fish and game agencies along
with many outdoor organizations
try to target this large group of
citizens in our world that would
become outdoorsmen and women
if given the chance. Every person
that I've ever introduced to
hunting and fishing have seemed
to truly enjoy those spectacular
adventures. In many cases if the
person does not continue to pursue
outdoor activities, they have a
better understanding of why those
of us that do it enjoy it so much....
Till Next Time,
Give Them The Opportunity,
(We Love You Jazz)
James "Goosie" Guice
 Beaucoup Boogie
Feb 16th • Enjoy the Big Horn Section
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33
 Thoughts from Bully
Fishing with
Old Friends
in Leeville
The day after Christmas I was
invited to take a 4 day fishing
trip in Leeville with my brother-
in-law Butch at his fishing camp.
Other camp members that I got
to visit and fish with was Sloan
and his brother Steve. Growing
up I knew Sloan as ‘Pig’ and
Steve as ‘Cue Ball’. I believe
Steve said Shelby Robert gave
him that nick name after his
Dad had givin him a summer
hair cut and his blonde/white
hair looked like a cue ball and
the nick name stuck. I don’t
know where ‘Pig’ came from
but I do know Sloan has a new
nickname, ‘Gibbs’. It seems that
his wife thinks he looks like
Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.
He’s a lucky man to have a wife
that sees the best features in
him. However I don’t see it.
I was really excited about
making the trip and like usual I
go lost on the way there going
down LA Hwy 3125. Eventually
getting on track I had to avoid
the speed traps and just be
patient on Hwy 1 and Hwy
308.
One thing about this trip I
found out is a fishing camp ain’t
much different than a hunting
camp. I heard stories of high
water and accidents throughout
the years. Just like our hunting
camp stories of falling on the
ground. Stories in Leeville
involve falling in the water.
This trip was a great and the
guys put m eon fish each and
every day we could get out. The
cold weather did hamper us.
When we did get on the fish
these guys were pros. The first
spot we came to they caught 13
specks before I even got a bite. I
eventually caught a few but en-
joyed every minute.
34
Oddities that
you learn at the
camp!
These guys have built this camp
from storm to storm. They fi-
nally have an enclosed outdoor
cooking and gathering area.
With the cold temps we hud-
dled out there quite a bit. We
cooked breakfast and supper.
There was a television and if you
know men a fight over the
remote and channel selection
was always an issue. Cueball and
Butch were constantly battling
for it. Butch wanted to watch
football, even if it is Classic
Football Bowl games. Cueball
wanted to watch stories about
Bigfoot and NCIS.
One afternoon Cueball took
the remote and put the station
on, ‘Searching for Bigfoot’.
After arguing for a while Butch
posed a question to Cueball that
would put the reality of Bigfoot
to rest. The question was,
“Cueball? If there is a real
Bigfoot, why is it they only find
1 left foot print?” After
pondering the question Cueball
responded with the most logical
answer. Giving Butch a small
smirk and a grin. “Ok Butch
this is why there is only a left
foot impression. Bigfoot is not a
dancer and has 2 left feet!”
Butch looked at me and
grabbed the remote and turned
the television back on
College Classic Bowl Games.
These guys were like Abott
and Costello. Back and forth.
Cueball would come up with
ideas to cook and then get
Butch to cook. One morning
Cueball figured the fan on the
vent hood was needed to be
turned on. When he turned it
on it was so quiet he didn’t
believe it was on so he stuck his
finger in the fan. A yell and a
look of astonishment told the
story. The fan works and hurts.
Pelican Razoo
I had a great time on the
fishing trip and heard many
stories and tales from long ago
in school growing up.
When I watched the pelicans
fight over the fish scraps I was
reminded of my first day at
school in Louisiana at morning
recess. As kids we played
marbles but I wasn’t aware what
the word ‘RAZOO’ meant until
the bell rang. Razoo was yelled
out and in 2 seconds flat I
didn’t have a marble left in
sight. I felt like one of these
pelicans in the back row.
No fish or marbles for me.
 Old Goat
Quiz.
Which of the following names
are you familiar with?

1. Monica Lewinsky
2. Spiro Agnew

Helping Rebuild Our Community

3. Benito Mussolini

from the Ground Up!

What’s 4. Adolf Hitler
5. Jorge Bergoglio
Trending on the
Johnson Cement Finishing
6. Alfonse Capone
Net with Macky
is locally owned, reliable
7. Vladimir Putin
I receive emails from Macky and insured. During these
tough times we can deliver
8. Linda Lovelace

your job and construct

Aldridge from time to time and 9. Saddam Hussein
what you need.
he makes me laugh. This past
10. Tiger Woods
week he sent me this Old Goat
Quiz. Immediatly it caught my You had trouble with #5,
didn't you?
attention. First, I am an Old

“No Job Too Big or Small”

Goat and second I thought I You know all the liars, criminals,
adulterers, murderers, thieves,
might know some of the sluts and cheaters, but you don't
answers, unlike my ability to know the Pope? 15985 Gunboat Landing Road, Maurepas, LA 70449

Contact: Lee Johnson 225.304.1983 or C. J. Johnson 225.380.8188

do cross word puzzles, so I
took the test.
Thanks Macky.
Keep them coming.

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35
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I know Santa is Real!
He’s my Paw Paw!
months Larry allowed me to call
Santa is Alive
him Randy and one day he spoke
and Well in up and said, “My name is
Ascension Parish Larry.” I’m glad we cleared that
up. I guess his philosphy was the
This spot on image of Santa
customer is always right.
(above) is Larry LeJeune. I saw
Now I learn that Larry is Santa
this photograph one day while
and he is real. He also likes to
checking-out at the store.
fish and wear camo. Santa is also
Larry’s wife Becky had it
a big LSU fan and wears purple
displayed and I was instantly
and gold proudly. Like me!
happy because not only was
Becky pointed out to me,
Santa was real I knew him
“The looks he gets from kids all
personally.
year long is in amazement that
Many years ago I shopped in
Santa is standing here like a
Larry’s store. Five times a week
Rock Star.”
I would visit the store and leave
Keep up the good work and
telling Randy good bye. That’s
don’t cut that beard. Also Santa
right I said Randy. For 18
never wears Alabama attire.
36
 Matassa Signs Employee Sick Leave Bank Ordinance
In a move to offer additional accumulated
assistance to Parish employees hours into a
suffering from long-term or pool. Full-time
catastrophic illness, Ascension employees who
Parish President Kenny Matassa have used all of
presented a change to the parish their sick time
personnel policy allowing em- may petition an
ployees to donate and receive employee
accumulated sick time. committee for
additional hours
“The Parish sick leave policy to supplement
cannot always address the needs their pay.
of some whose illnesses have a
longer recovery time than Matassa, who
others,” said Matassa. “This has made
new policy helps those people.” employee well-
being one of the
The policy addition, which was hallmarks of his
passed unanimously by the administration,
Council, establishes a sick leave pushed for the change when he “We have an employee with to do something to help that
donation bank, which allows learned of employees who were cancer who has used all of their employee and others in that
employees to donate any no longer paid for time missed. sick leave,” he said. “I wanted position.”

37
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40
 Happy New Year
2305 S. Purpera Avenue,
Gonzales, LA 70737

225.644.1028

41
It’s a Great Day for a Parade ...

42
It’s a Great Day for a Parade ...

43
It’s a Great Day for a Parade ...
 Ingredients:
Cooking Gourmet at Home
with SNO’S SEAFOOD & STEAKS
8 ounces fresh Jumbo Lump crabmeat
1 small loaf French bread
1 Granny Smith apple
4 ounces Smoked Gouda (whatever cheese you like)
8 cherry tomatoes
1 ounce fresh basil
2 ounces extra virgin olive oil
2 lemons
Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste

Method:

First thing you want to do is get those toast points cooked. Set your oven on
375 and allow it to preheat. Take your French bread and cut it into ½ inch slices then lay them out on a
sheet pan/cookie sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil and bake for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool and get nice and crispy.

Next, grab your crabmeat and put it into a small mixing bowl. Drizzle the crabmeat with a little olive oil,
the juice of the lemon (no seeds), and salt & pepper to taste.

Now get your cheese. Here we are using Smoked Gouda, but you can use any of your favorite cheeses.
Crab & Apple Bruschetta Shred the cheese and set aside until it’s time to use.
Take out your cherry tomatoes and cut them in ½ and add them to the bowl of crabmeat

Thinly slice the basil leaves

Yield:
The last ingredient to prepare is the apple. Remove the core of the apple either with an apple corer or simply
10-15 servings
by cutting off each side of the apple. Cut the apple into small cubes and put them into the small mixing bowl
Prep: with the crabmeat and tomatoes, then drizzle with the juice of the last lemon (no seeds). This will keep the
apple from t
15 minutes urning brown.
Cook:
LET’S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!!!
10 minutes
Serving: 4 Lay out your crispy French bread toast points and top them with the crabmeat, tomato, and apple mixture.
Sprinkle the shredded Smoked Gouda over the top then finish them off with the fresh basil.
Garrett- Executive Sous Chef • Sam- Executive Chef • Chevy- Sous Chef Serve immediately and enjoy this fresh and simple to make dish as an appetizer or accompaniment.

45
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