ALGIERS • GRETNA • TERRYTOWN • HARVEY • WESTWEGO • WAGGAMAN • MARRERO • BRIDGE CITY • AVONDALE
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W e d n e s d ay, O c t O b e r 16, 2024
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Animal rescues need help in wake of hurricanes
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Ariya Smith works on making slime as a part of the STEM NOLA activities at last year’s Boo!Dat504 Halloween Extravaganza.
FUN AND FUNCTION Gert Town’s Boo!Dat fest benefits domestic violence victims
BOO!DAT 504 HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA
BY EVA JACOB BARKOFF Contributing writer
For more than a century, Percy Marchand’s family has resided in the New Orleans neighborhood known as Gert Town. It was about four years ago, however, that Marchand said he noticed a lack of interaction among neighbors. “I decided to take action,” Marchand said. “Inspired by my brother, George, and his past Halloween events, I decided to have an event to bring the community of Gert Town together.” And so on Oct. 26 beginning at 1 p.m., the fourth annual Boo!Dat504 Halloween Extravaganza will be held in the 2900 block of Audubon Street. The free event will include a haunted house, a costume contest, food and music as well as STEM activities for kids, an interdisciplinary approach to learning that combines science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “Last year, we had approximately 300
PROVIDED PHOTO
Christian Bolden, holding his son, Julian, looks over the treats Julian received at the 2023 Boo!Dat504 event. Julian costumed as a firefighter for the Halloween event party.
WHAT: A daylong celebration with trunk-ortreating, costume contests, a haunted house, a voter registration drive, STEM activities, carnival games, food and music. Proceeds benefit domestic violence support groups. WHEN: Oct. 26, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. See boodat.com for schedule. WHERE: 2900 block of Audubon Street, New Orleans.
last year, we raised more than $2,000. Our event helps to connect individuals affected by domestic violence, and survivors will be people attend the event, and this year, I on hand to share their stories to spread the hope the number grows to 500,” Marchand messages of hope and victory.” This year, proceeds will be shared besaid. There is a serious component to the Oct. tween The New Orleans Family Justice 26 celebration — the issue of domestic vio- Center and Help A Sister Out, two organizations helping victims of domestic violence. “I want to emphasize the importance lence. of community and proactive solutions to Misty Frye is the associate director of domestic violence,” Marchand explained. programs and services for the New Or“Financial donations, goods and a 50/50 ä See BOO!DAT, page 2G raffle go to domestic violence shelters, and
FEAR FACTOR
Some very scaaary things are going on across the metro area for Halloween Here are some of the freaky, frightening spots in the metro area to get in touch with your inner ghoul — and some fun and family-friendly ones, as well.
THE MORTUARY: 4800 Canal St., New Orleans. Set in a former funeral home near some of the city’s largest cemeteries, “HELLection 2024: Choose Thy Fate” is the current frightful configuration of the 1872 domicile. In addition to the house, there are Mystere Escape Rooms and more. Open most weekends through Nov. 3. Timed tickets start at $25. themortuary. net. NEW ORLEANS NIGHTMARE: 319 Butterworth St., Jefferson. This perennial favorite by 13th Floor Haunted House features “Dead Again,” “Dead Hour” and “Craft of the Midnight.” There’s also two horror-
themed secret bars. Open most weekends through Halloween, tickets start at $19.99. neworleansnightmare.com. SKELETON HOUSE: St. Charles Avenue at State Street. Over the past 20 years, Louellen Berger’s front yard boneyard has become a Halloween landmark, meant to amuse, not horrify, the thousands who crowd the fence to inspect the spectacle. She has a stockpile of more than 80 full-size assemblages of plastic skeletons. Not to be missed. ZOMBIE PAINTBALL: NOLA Motorsports Park, 11075 Nicolle Blvd., Avondale. The raceway gets spooky with an interactive Zombie Apocalypse, go-karting, ax throwing, vendors and more. Get ammo and board the bus to “kill” as many of the undead as possible. Tickets start at $22.
STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD
Mr. Floats, right, greet paradegoers at last year’s Krewe of Boo! Catch it this year on Oct.19.
ä See HALLOWEEN, page 2G
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The recent hurricanes have had a devastating impact on communities, families and animals, especially in North Carolina and Florida. All will need help from far and wide as they face unprecedented challenges for the foreseeable future. Animal shelters and rescues in the impacted areas are in dire need of assistance. Monetary donations are urgently needed to provide medical care, food, and shelter to displaced animals. Those interested in donating to animal groups in the hardest hit areas should Traci choose reputable Howerton and verified organiANIMAL zations. RESCUE Donating directly to a shelter or rescue is best and not to an individual collecting on an organization’s behalf. Do some research and make sure that anyone soliciting donations is legit and that those donations will in fact go to animal relief efforts. One great organization to consider in the wake of Hurricane Helene is Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, based in Asheville, North Carolina. It is a sister rescue organization of Animal Rescue New Orleans. All 137 of the animals in its care were moved to safety, but the shelter was decimated. The animals are currently in foster care, but supplies are running scarce, and the organization’s leadership is working to secure a building for emergency housing and operations. Brother Wolf officials are determined to rebuild, as the shelter is a lifeline for thousands of animals each year. Over the coming months, Brother Wolf and countless other shelters will need our help. See more at www.bwar.org. In Florida, Hurricane Milton has had catastrophic impacts. There are many shelters and rescues in the Tampa Bay area and beyond that are assessing damages and starting the recovery process. Two great organizations to help in that area are the Humane Society of Tampa Bay (www.humanesocietytampa.org) and Friends of Strays Animal Shelter in St. Petersburg (www.friendsofstrays.org). Both are great, well-respected organizations that are doing wonderful things for the animals in Florida. These groups need our assistance now. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, we received help from all over the country. In fact, ARNO was founded by out-of-town folks who came to help and were on the scene at rescue headquarters located at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. Hundreds of volunteers came in and rescued thousands of animals while also urgently working to assist displaced pets and their families. Those same efforts are happening now in the southeast. If able, please consider donating to these rescues or others. Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer manager for Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), a nonprofit, volunteer-based, no-kill shelter. For more information on ARNO, visit www.animalrescueneworleans.org.
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