COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE • MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • SLIDELL
ST. TAMMANY
N O L A.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, au g u s t 28, 2024
1an
Harbor Center adds 9,000 square feet of meeting space Plans for an on-site hotel are being discussed
BY KADEE KRIEGER Contributing writer
The Harbor Center near Slidell unveiled its long-awaited expansion on Aug. 22, and the added meeting rooms have already caught the attention of people looking to host both large- and small-scale gatherings. “The best part about this new space is that it allows for such a diversity of events, from wedding receptions and baby showers to large corporate conferences needing meeting breakout rooms,” said Harbor Center General Manager Kathy Lowrey.
The Harbor Center opened in May 2005. The original building plans called for meeting space, but budget constraints prevented it from being built then, said Ron Blitch, of Blitch Knevel Architects. Blitch, who was architect for the original building and the 9,000-square-foot addition, said he’s proud of the seamless result. “This expansion is the look we always hoped for,” he said. “It is meant to look as if it has always been here.” Lowrey said the expansion is designed to draw more events to St. Tammany, but also allow more flexibility to existing users. The addition of a second entrance also means the Harbor Center now can host multiple events simultaneously. The highlight of the expansion is a 6,500-square-foot multipurpose room that can be portioned off into four sepa-
rate meeting rooms, each with Wi-Fi, adjustable lighting and a recessed projector screen. Without the dividers, the rooms are a bright and seamless space that can accommodate 420 guests for a banquet, 306 in a classroom setting and 650 in a theater-style layout. The grand opening event featured a brass band leading a second line around the perimeter of the fully-opened space, showcasing the banquet-style layout. The meeting space itself brings more options and flexibility to larger events such as corporate conventions and conferences, but it also attracts smaller events and individuals, said Harbor Center Sales and Marketing Manager Cody Bienvenu. “We are seeing birthday parties,
PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
An additional entrance to the Harbor Center was part of a 9,000-square-foot expansion to the Slidell-area facility unveiled on Aug. 22. The extra event space is expected to provide greater flexibility for gatherings both large and small, which local leaders said will have a positive economic ä See HARBOR, page 4A impact on the enitre parish.
GO TIME ON THE GRIDIRON
Council splits difference on mayoral pay raise MANDEVILLE
BY KIM CHATELAIN Contributing writer
The Mandeville City Council has approved a spending plan for the 2024-2025 fiscal year after an exhausting discussion highlighted by a debate over a proposal to give Mayor Clay Madden an almost 30% pay raise. At the Aug. 22 council meeting, the circuitous debate over Madden’s compensation resulted in a decision to give the mayor a smaller pay hike of about 11%, from
$105,880 to $118,000 a year. The budget, which takes effect Sept. 1, features roughly $21.8 million in operational expenses, which is about $900,000 more than what was approved for the current fiscal year, officials said. The council also approved $14.9 million in spending on capital projects, some of
ä See MANDEVILLE, page
BORN TO RUN Erica Casnave Faciane shined at Fontainebleau, Northwestern
BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer
Erica Casnave reached the top of the podium and thought life couldn’t get any better. But it did. Casnave, now Erica Faciane, was Fontainebleau High School’s first state track sprinting champion when she won the 200-meter dash as a sophomore in 1997. Of all the moments in her
PHOTO BY BOBBY GILBOY
Erica Casnave Faciane ä See RUN, page 2A relaxes at home in Lacombe.
PHOTO BY MATT DOBBINS
Northshore High School’s Brody Dukes, left, tackles Archbishop Hannan High wide receiver Tripp Arcement during a football scrimmage Aug. 21 in Slidell. There’s sure to be plenty of hard-hitting action throughout the next few months as high schools across the parish participate in jamborees this week and season openers next week.
SAVE $272 1 LB78
SAVE
SAVE
4
up $ to
When you buy 6
SAVE $ 02 3
Editor’s note: “Where are they now?” The St. Tammany Farmer asked that question about some of the best athletes in local sports history and then we went out and found them. Each edition this summer, we took a deep dive into the success stories that began in parish youth leagues, continued at local high schools and then colleges near and far. Many of these homegrown talents played professional sports, too, reaching the pinnacle of athletic achievement. This final week, we feature former Fontainebleau High and Northwestern State University track star Erica Casnave Faciane.
52
PREFERRED
PARTNER
up $ 38 to
5
When You Buy 2
LB
— ONLY —
Ground Fresh Several Times Daily by Our In-Store Butchers!
VALUE PACK
3 2
93% Lean Ground Beef 1 LB PACK
$ 97
$ 99
Butterball 93% Lean Fresh Ground Turkey
LB
— ONLY —
SWEET
Seedless Red or Green Grapes
1
$ 27 LB LB
Louisiana Local — ONLY —
10 - 12 CT SINGLE SERVE OR 12 OZ BAG
Community Coffee
4
$ 97
7 - 8 OZ PACK
— ONLY —
4
Kraft Chunk or 2/$ Shredded Cheese
visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!
Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores August 28th - September 4th, 2024.