Dane Books & Gifts Ribbon Cutting

 The new bookstore in downtown Covington held its gala ribbon-cutting this morning, Friday, October 20, 2023, with Mayor Mark Johnson and City Councilman Rick Smith taking part in the festivities. 

The Dane Books & Gifts shop is located at 322 Courthouse Alley, behind Mattina Bella Restaurant which is on Gibson Street. 

Click on the images to make them larger. 

The store specializes in classics and gifts with local focus, with featured sections on local authors. Several of the walls showcase artwork from local artists. There is coffee and a reading room, along with a children's room. Special events are always being scheduled, from book signings and children's parties to game night and murder mystery party. 

Over 20 local artists with pieces on display include Melissa treuting, Kristen Clapper, Mary and Theresa Frank, Haydee and Anna Cullen, Keriann Langley, Naesha More, Debbie Rucker, Norbert Sithin III, Gretchen Template, Emily Judice, Tony Tribou, Jenn Hayes, Maha Buchholz, Stephanie Crow, Anne Dale, Sarah Hull, Trisha Molony,  and Margaret Mary Russell.

See also:

Dane Books & Gifts Now Open In Covington

Veterans Appreciation Day In Lacombe

 The second annual Veterans Appreciation Day was recently held north of Lacombe  with dozens of tents from a number of private organizations, state and federal agencies on hand giving out information for veterans of the Armed Forces. 

The event took place in the parking lot of the St. Tammany Parish Coroners Office. Coroner Charles Preston MD said they gathered up as many resources they could find to share with attendees, and it was done with the help of the Veterans Administration Health Care Task Force. Information ranged from how to increase benefits and health care awareness, and how to contact locally available support organizations as well as topics of interest to anyone who served in the military. Last year they were able to help several veterans find additional help and benefits, he said. 

Dr. Charles Preston, St. Tammany Parish Coroner

All of the food was donated and included Jambalaya, gumbo, ice cream and Texas Road House "Sliders." Some 40 vendors were signed up to take part in the event, Coroner Preston said. It was all done to show appreciation to the veterans in the area for their service to the country.

Here are some photographs of the event. Click on the images to make them larger. 

Refuge Center Visitors Center

 The Southeast Louisiana Refuges Center in Lacombe is a large complex of buildings and handles a wide variety of wildlife refuges. It is home to the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge which starts along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain midway between Lacombe and Mandeville, and spreads eastward to the area southeast of Slidell. Pockets of development are interspersed with the wildlife area.

Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge was formed in 1994. It is composed of 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) of pine flatwoods, oak rides and coastal marsh. 

Here is the visitors center at the headquarters complex, which features a large number of information panels, stuffed wildlife displays, a video theater, and a replica of an old trappers shack. 

The entrance display

The interior displays in the old Catholic Church, once part of Holy Redeemer College. 

The theater that showcases the several refuges 

The gift shop

The interior displays inside the trappers shack

The refuges include the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refugre, the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, and the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, Breton, Delta and Mandalay.

The headquarters is located in the buildings and on the grounds of the former Holy Redeemer College, which closed its doors in 1980.

Holy Redeemer College was originally Holy Redeemer Seminary, located on the grounds of Bayou Gardens, estate of former Governor Richard Leche. It was renowned for its camellias and azaleas, and its spring artesian water. It was the site of an old Choctaw Indian Village, according to its advertisements.

See also:

Refuges Center Hosts Family Event

The Rankin House on Cane Bayou