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 Chamber Voice Articles
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Team City conference
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| Debbie Peltier and Becky Katz are joined by President and CEO/Entergy Louisiana Renae Cotnley at the Chamber of Commerce Team City Booth highlighting our Bicentential. The booth was complete with birthday cake to share in the celebration. (Not pictured is David Herring.) |
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The Chamber of Commerce participated in Entergy’s Team City Conference June 7th and 8th in Baton Rouge. “Our most prominent feature is our city’s Bicentennial celebration taking place this year,” stated Becky Katz. “We decided to show off our history.”
Team City is held yearly by Entergy as an economic development tool. Donaldsonville is one of 40 Gold Team Cities in Louisiana. It is a time to show our pride in our community by volunteering, sharing, and networking with other cities participating at the conference.
Over 500 people attended this year’s event. “This is an opportunity for people who love their community to pull together to make it a great place to live,” stated Becky.
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Prevost Hospital health fair
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| The lines stayed long all morning as the Prevost Pink Ladies Auxiliary registered participants at the annual Health Fair. |
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Over 550 people participated in the Health fair at Prevost Hospital on June 9th. People waited patiently in long lines for over an hour for the popular SMAC test and the carotid artery test.
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| Hospital administrator Vince Cataldo takes a break to visit with the Capone sisters. |
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The Pink Ladies auxiliary registered participants in the lobby. Numerous booths and displays were set up in the halls of the hospitals including eye exams, blood pressure checks, organ donor information, hearing tests and skin cancer screening.
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| Nurse Becky Katz prepares C.J. Bellina for his bloodwork. The SMAC test is a major draw for the Prevost Memorial Health Fair. Looking on is trained professional Linda Cataldo. |
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Hospital administer Vince Cataldo said he did see some new faces due to the Katrina evacuees. He was happy to see them at the screening.
When asked about the overall impact of the health fair, Jerry Wagespack stated, “I’m going to live until I die.”
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Donaldsonville Bicentennial 1806 - 2006
Ascension Hook & Ladder Company #1
An editorial by Kirk P. Landry, Contributing Historian
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Ascension Hook and Ladder Fire Company #1 was organized on May 13, 1874 with Christian Kline as its first president.
They soon began raising funds to purchase a hook and ladder truck. They contracted with Joseph Schwartz of New Orleans for the building of a first class village truck to be completed within two and a half months for the sum of $900. Captain Jos.F. Aucoin of the steamer Henry Tete offered to bring the truck to Donaldsonville free of charge and it was delivered in September 1874. The truck was christened the “James Teller”.
The company was commonly referred to as the “hooks” and “blue-shirted hookers” in reference to their uniforms of blue shirts and white trimmings.
In the 1920s, the Fire Company leased its large hall to Phil D. Mayer & Company, manufacturer of El Cubo Cigars, wherein they located their factory. In addition to the large cigar factory building, the company owned its own home and fire fighting equipment.
In 1927 the Junior Ascension Hook and Ladder Fire Company shows the following boys enrolled: Lloyd and Floyd Rodrigue, Sidney A. Marchand Jr., Delmaine Mollere, Grannon and Dace Gisclard, I.C. Erickson, Edward Bent, Ralph Hilton Sims, Charles Earle Dill, Harry Lynch, and Eugene and Hughes Thomas Doran.
In the 1930s, the company boasted the only volunteer company in the south to have its own band, consisting of twenty pieces, and known as the Hook and Ladder Band, with O.D. Denson as director.
In 1930, the Hook and Ladder Company applied for full membership in the fire board, placing its organization and equipment at the service of the fire board, thus becoming a full-fledged unit of the local fire department.
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Father knows best
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| J.P. Tatman
“You raise your children for the world not for yourself”, he preached. He told us to raise our children so that they could go out into the world and be respected. Cute things that you allow them to do at home may not be cute to the teacher, their friends, their bosses, their spouse.
He taught us integrity. He taught us the importance of your word. He never went back on his word.
He taught us compassion. He would give you the shirt off his back. One Thanksgiving he asked us to pack up our dinner and bring it to a family who had nothing. He taught us with that one act the importance of giving to others in need. I must admit it was our best Thanksgiving.
And he taught us the importance of laughter. He was always doing something to make people laugh. On the week-end their camp was full of guest. They always loved going there not only for the wonderful food but they knew my Dad would make it fun. Sometimes it was singing his favorite gospel song “This World is Not My Home” or putting out a dance floor in the front yard because someone said they loved to dance, the week-ends were a good time. I miss the good times, however, I am thankful for the memories. I am thankful my Father taught by example. What a great gift to give to your children
Becky Katz
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Joseph Totora
My favorite memories of my father Joseph Totora, were endless summer afternoons filled with the pungent aroma of Cuban cigars and the comforting hum of attic fans while we watched his beloved Yankees on a black & white TV. Did he know that to me he was a bigger hero than Mantle or Arron?
On cold, clear winter nights he would bring me out and show me the stars in the constellations. Did he know that to me he hung the Moon?
I remember how he spoke so not to offend and listened so not to defend with everyone he encountered. His heart was of one of pure gold. Did he know that he held mine in the palm of his hand?
Jo Totora
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Robert Kocke
My Daddy always helped everyone. No one was a stranger to him.
Happy Father’s Day!
Mimi Kocke
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Welmon Morgan Comeaux, Jr
“Fishing with Father”
The things I truly cherish about my father were our fishing trips. My dad would say, “let’s go fishing tomorrow.” My brother, Welmon, and I would be so excited. I would help my mother, Cheralyn, make sandwiches for the trip, and my brother would help my Dad with the equipment. We would awaken before light and get in the truck. I had to sit next to daddy, of course. When we found a good fishing spot, we’d sit and await the curious opponents...the fish. My dad was so patient and he taught my brother and I everything about the bait and throwing a line and he always kept us safe. We would sit and wait and sit and wait longer. Then, any pull on my line proved to be a challenge to get my fish and to prove to my dad that he truly taught me well. The phrase, ”If I die today, I’d die... ...fishing with my dad,” would truly embody the essence of living life the way it should be lived; being able to express love with my dad, being able to learn all the wonderful things my dad wanted to share, and being able to be at peace. It was an understood silence out there on the water. It was beautiful, it was peace, it was perfect!
Monisha Comeaux
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Howell Landry
“Father’s Day Memories”
My daddy, Howell Landry, was a good guy. It seems whenever Nez and Daddy would go to a wedding reception Daddy would come home and let me drive the car. He would sit in the passenger seat and I was behind the wheel. I guess he was feeling no pain and was brave enough to let me drive the 1959 wide-track Pontiac Starchief.
Debbie Peltier
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Schneider Gallery opens on the avenue
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Southern landscape painter Steven Schneider has a new home on Railroad Avenue. The Schneider Gallery is now open and is located next to the Grapevine Café’ and Gallery. Schneider describes his creative process as a trinity of mind, body, and soul.
“My wife Cynthia and I have been warmly received and look forward to being a part of Donaldsonville’s future, a cultural Mecca with free exchange of ideas and opportunities for individual growth. I am very excited about all the possibilities here in Donaldsonville, “states Schneider. “I draw great inspiration from the teaming freight activity on the Mississippi River, the wide open farming vistas, and the depth of Donaldsonville’s historic significance.”
Schneider’s works are held in private and corporate collections such as Our Lady of Lourdes in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Belle Alliance Plantation. Numerous publications have appeared in print including Southern Accents magazine.
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Local chef makes splash in Big Apple
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Cynthia Schneider of the Grapevine Cafe’ and Gallery, along with a group of other South Louisiana chefs led by Chef John Folse, prepared a Louisiana-style meal for 260 journalists at the annual James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York May 7, 2006.
Louisiana food and its influence on the nation’s cuisine was the theme at both of the award ceremonies with a portion of the admission fee dedicated to the Gulf Coast Renaissance fund.
Schneider prepared her famous white chocolate bread pudding for the event and as no surprise to anyone who has tasted it, it was a huge hit.
“I recall a particular incident where after the event, I was winding down with family and friends in the lobby of the hotel and all of a sudden a group of reporters from the Los Angeles Times yelled out ‘there’s the bread pudding lady!’ They came over and talked on and on about it being the highlight of the evening. Needless to say, I was thrilled and in awe of the entire experience.”
The James Beard Foundation, named for the late food writer, is a not-for-profit foundation founded to preserve and celebrate America’s culinary heritage and serves as a resource center for the restaurant and food industry.
“The honor of being associated with such notable Louisiana chefs as Chef John Folse, Chef Emeril Lagasse, and Chef Susan Spicer to name a few, was personally and professionally a dream come true. It was an emotional and thrilling experience to be part of such a prestigious culinary team... and the media exposure was huge!”
THE CHAMBER VOICE and the Donaldsonville Chamber of Commerce congratulate Cynthia Schneider and The Grapevine Café and Gallery for the prestigious representation of our city.
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