St. Tammany Picayune 05-06-2026

Parish looks at vote on new sales tax

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

St Tammany Parish voters will likely be asked to approve a sales tax this fall to pay for big parts of the criminal justice system

The Parish Council voted unanimously on April 30 to move forward with a plan to ask voters across the parish to approve a .3% sales tax that officials say would fill a looming $22 million gap in the

parish’s general fund.

The sales tax plan was selected over two other options discussed at the meeting: a property tax and a new franchise fee — which the parish can charge to private utilities like Cleco for its use of public streets, sidewalks, alleys.

The decision to move forward with a sales tax came after three hours of presentations, remarks by council members and law enforcement officials, and comments

School Board’s Harrell apologizes for cursing over union contract vote

BY WILLIE SWETT

Staff writer

St. Tammany Parish School Board member

Brandon Harrell apologized on April 28 for a “hot mic” moment when he used an expletive last month following a vote over a union contract. Harrell, who represents District 5 covering Abita Springs and nearby areas, said the language he used in response to the contract extension was inappropriate and that he took responsibility for his words, which he said weren’t directed at school employees.

“I should not have allowed my emotions to get the best of me and make the comment that I made,” Harrell said The apology came as school board members were poised to vote on whether to formally admonish him for his comments But following the apology, School Board President Amanda R Martin decided against bringing the question to a vote during the special meeting on April 28 in Covington.

During the April 16 school board meeting, the school board had been considering whether to approve a one-year extension of a labor union agreement with the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees. School Superintendent Frank Jabbia and Brant Osborn, the head of the federation, told the board that although some of the details of the contract were still being worked out, the board needed to approve the one-year extension to keep the contract from expiring altogether Harrell argued the one-year extension should have been brought to the board’s attention earlier He ultimately joined the rest of the school board to unanimously approve the extension, but after the crowd erupted in applause, Harrell could be heard saying go f- — yourselves,” according to a recording of the incident obtained by the Times-Picayune

Martin said that had she known Harrell was going to apologize, the April 28 special meeting wouldn’t have been necessary. Still, she encouraged members of the public to share their thoughts about Harrell’s comments. More than a dozen people spoke, including teachers and union representatives, with many saying Harrell’s language was disrespectful.

from residents. The council vote isn’t final and only indicated a preference to continue reviewing the sales tax plan ahead of voting for a ballot measure that would be needed to enact it. If the council wants to put the tax on the November ballot, it will need to vote to do so by June, according to council administrator Mary Burckell.

Many details about the tax have yet to be worked out, including

whether the funds it generates, expected to be roughly $22 million, would be dedicated specifically to criminal justice or would go to the parish’s general fund, which can be used for anything. Council member Joe Impastato, who introduced the motion to move forward with the sales tax, said it must “include an offset that would be tax-neutral or better” from other taxing bodies in the parish. As an example of reductions they’ve secured, officials have pointed to Mosquito Abatement

AIR

District’s plan to ask voters to approve a 2.95-mil tax in June, which they say is $4 million less than the 4.2-mills voters approved in 2016, though the district

Johnson says goal includes multi-use site

BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer

Seeking to possibly build a senior center and multipurpose events center, Covington Mayor Mark Johnson is leading a group of residents interested in resurrecting, and financing, St. Tammany Parish Recreation District No. 10.

Johnson

Though Covington has a traditional municipal recreation department that largely oversees youth sports and recreation activities in the city, a recreation district creates a distinct tax base with funds allocated for maintaining and operating parks, playgrounds and community centers. It also reaches beyond a municipality’s borders. As it is drawn currently, Parish Recreation District 10 includes the city of Covington but also incorporates areas around state highways 1078, 437, 1081, 21 and 36.

The idea is to consolidate a tax base, one that would provide services and facilities to people who live in much broader area of the parish.

“The first step is reconstituting the (recreation district) board and then the board will be tasked with what we are trying to accomplish,” Johnson said. “Once you have done that and gone through the site-selection process then you ask the city to draw up plans for the concept to find out the cost. Then you go to the assessor and divide that between the millage of Recreation District 10 to come up with a price tag.”

When asked what that final price tag would be, Johnson said it’s too early to tell.

“I don’t want to start meeting with people and throw out a number,” Johnson said. “As a builder I know it’s always better to come back with numbers after you’ve done the research.”

Various communities on the northshore have different concepts for funding parks and recreational activities. Covington and Slidell are the only two cities in the parish without active recreational districts.

“I always say that Covington has the best recreation department on the west side of the parish,” Johnson Covington-area leaders eye reorganizing local rec district

Continued from page 1A

taxes per capita than fire departments in economically comparable parishes

Revenue issues

The District Attorney’s

Office, courthouse and jail all rely on the parish’s $16 million general fund because voters have rejected attempts to pass taxes for those agencies numerous times in the last 10 years. But officials argue that the parish’s general fund does not have enough recurring revenue to cover the budget requests of the agencies, and the one-time funds the parish has been using to make up for the funding gap have dried up.

As a result, the jail, courthouse and district attorney

COVINGTON

Continued from page 1A

said. “(That’s because) we have the only recreation department on this side of the parish. Our district has been served so well by the city of Covington, it made it hard for the city to vote on the tax.”

Johnson said one of his campaign promises, after better water drainage and traffic flow, was to improve the quality of life of Covington residents. He points to Pelican Park in the Mandeville area and Magnolia Park in the Folsom area as examples where a recreation district – and corresponding taxes — have boosted opportunities for people living in those municipalities and nearby unincorporated areas.

“From my perspective, I was a coach when Coquille Park passed (and was built) and I have coached in all these other places,” Johnson said. “I am a firm believer that the better activities you have available for your community, the better quality of life.”

Coquille Parks and Recreation is another instance of when a local municipality

HARRELL

Continued from page 1A

Stephanie Underwood, a leader in the teacher’s union, argued that school employees who lose their cool, as Harrell did, rarely enjoy similar leniency.

“Our employees are held accountable every day It’s time that y’all are, too,” she said.

Michelle Hirstius, who represents District 12 in Slidell, asked to bring the

faced 30% cuts in funding from the parish in 2026 compared to 2025 and fear that without more revenue, they will experience nearly 60% cuts in 2027 compared to 2025.

and people who live in the area outside the town decide to self-tax. Coquille is the hub of St Tammany Parish Recreation District No. 14 which serves the southwest portion of the parish. The park is located in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, between Madisonville and Covington Johnson said youth sports in Covington have relied on area schools for facilities, in large part. Over time, those facilities become crowded, however, and scheduling becomes difficult.

St. Tammany Parish voters have not been very interested in adding or increasing any new taxes lately and the concept of bringing back the recreational district for Covington has failed before.

“In my estimation, we need a facility for our seniors and a place where we can have large community events — there’s no real place for our gospel choirs to perform or our community band and we can use that space for youth volleyball and basketball,” Johnson said Johnson feels he’s properly equipped to see the recreation district come to fruition, quipping that not only is he a long-time youth sports coach and builder, but he’s “also a senior citizen.”

censure to a vote at the April 28 meeting, but the motion failed, with five members

District Attorney Collin

Sims and Chief Judge Alan Zaunbrecher said last week that layoffs are possible if the cuts occur The money for the courthouse pays for court reporters, staff attorneys and other staff.

“In five months, if nothing changes, I’m going to start terminating people,” Sims said at a meeting about the tax plan at the council chambers earlier in the afternoon on April 30.

Sims’ office could see some additional revenue from the state, depending on the outcome of a bill brought this legislative session by state Rep. Peter Egan, R-Covington, though it is not expected to be enough to make up for the 60% cuts.

Zaunbrecher said that specialty courts, such as drug courts and veterans courts, would likely be

He said Covington facilities and neighboring have, but said reation District “fill in the blanks.”

“We don’t a new Pelican quille,” he said. ready) have things in place.”

Covington operates acre recreation Ronald Reagan (U.S. 190) th baseball fields tice football/soccer Johnson has previously those facilities hub of a future District 10, bu city won’t just any of its assets. There is no public timeframe nize a district rectors, though began again when Parish Counci Martha Cazaubon the idea, in detail, ington City Counc Public meeting uled last month feedback rega area residents effort and also kind of services ties they’d most the recreation Andrew Canulette uted to this report.

voting yes, sev and two members ing.

threatened by the cuts, as would civil jury trials. The priority, he said, would have to be criminal jury trials.

tax

Sales

Though three options were presented at the April 30 meeting, St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper and others focused on the sales tax as the only option that would be able to fully fund the looming gap.

Ricardo H. Callender, a director at PFM Financial Advisories, a consultant hired by the parish to study the options, said the average household monthly cost for the sales tax would be $6.75, versus $10.08 for

franchise fee and $12.25 for property tax.

St. Tammany Parish currently has an average sales tax of 9.68%, Callender said.

Challenges

Some residents who attended the meeting were skeptical that voters would pass a tax to fund the criminal justice system.

Eileen deHaro, president of the League of Women Voters St. Tammany, said she thinks people are fed up with paying too much in taxes and said she thought the sales tax would especially affect lower-income people, who tend to spend a larger share of their in-

come on basic necessities.

“I understand the need,” she said, “but I’m thinking about the people who can barely afford food.”

Others suggested the DA’s office budget should be subject to greater scrutiny or that the parish should consider allowing further budget reductions for the agencies.

Sims said his budget is annually reviewed by a certified auditor approved by the state legislative auditor’s office. In past years, his office has been audited by the accountant Robert A. Neilson, audits show Sims said his current auditor is Becky Hammond of Carr, Riggs & Ingram.

Mandeville Mustangs volleyball faces crossroads

BY DARREN COOPER

Contributing writer

The popular Mandeville Mustangs volleyball program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is at a crossroads.

Due to multiple factors, including changes to the Special Olympics slate, the organization, which started with five players and has grown to more than 70 from all over the northshore, have put the volleyballs in storage.

“The ideal situation would be a local organization in maybe St. Tammany Parish or New Orleans, picking us up, and they sponsor us under their own nonprofit, and whatever we do would we would donate to them,” said Shawn Ledig, the founder and coach of the Mustangs.

“That way we could facilitate costs for our jerseys and gym time.”

Buoyed by support from area high school volleyball teams and coaches, the Mustangs fielded multiple teams of different ages and different skill levels and had success in the Louisiana Special Olympics. The program was

Visit The Northshore supporting colleague in treatment

BY KADEE KRIEGER

Contributing writer

Visit The Northshore President and CEO Donna O’Daniels along with other organization staff members are rallying around a colleague with moral support and prayers as she completes treatment and recovery from leukemia.

Leader

Tanya Leader, Visit The Northshore’s vice president of sales and services, began treatment April 15. Sheandherhusband,Jason, announced her diagnosis earlier this month on social media platforms, where they asked for prayers and thanked the community for their support. He also asked that his wife be added “to your daily prayers or send positive energy and good vibes into the universe to cheer her on” during the battle.

“The more people who can lift her up in prayer and support during what is going to be a difficult time, the better,” O’Daniels said. “She has always been a beacon of positivity and a rock for our team. We are operating under the most optimistic scenario that she will be back, and we appreciate any and all prayers and know that she does, too.” O’Daniels said the Visit The Northshore team will absorb Leader’s duties while she undergoes treatment.

Several members of Visit the Northshore responded to Jason Leader’s call via Facebook for the community to add Tanya “to your daily prayers or send positive energy and good vibes into the universe to cheer her on during this battle.”

Chief Marketing Officer Katie Guasco and multimedia content manager Roberta Carrow Jackson each echoed O’Daniels’ vow to support Tanya daily

“Tanya’s a fighter and so are you, and that makes a big difference,” Carrow Jackson told Jason Leader Leader is well known and respected among the regional tourism community, and the news of her diagnosis drew immediate reactions from organizations across the industry

The Midsouth Women in Tourism, where she is immediate past president, posted on Facebook their pledge of support.

Leader has been a part of the tourism organization for 26 years, starting as visitor services manager before leading the sales and services team.

recently honored with an official proclamation from St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper and medals were given to the coaches.

The Special Olympics tweaked its sports offerings for 2026, removing volleyball from its listings, giving the Mustangs a lack of a competition to prepare for The group has met occasionally for practice, but it’s no longer consistent

Ledig believes the best option is to become a private nonprofit to give the group freedom. He’s toyed with the idea of creating one himself for the Mustangs, but doesn’t feel he has enough time to do so. Nonprofits need a board with regular administrators.

Ledig isn’t against that type of organization, but the ethos of the Mustangs was always so much simpler The invitation was open to anyone with different abilities to come and play Even if you’ve never hit a volleyball in your life, come and play

“Our ultimate goal is to have a place where our athletes, all athletes, feel welcome to come and participate in learning whatever

PROVIDED

sport we are teaching at the moment,” said Mustangs coach Melissa O’Mally

“Allowing them to feel accepted. The greatest thing as a coach is seeing not the athlete who already excels at the sport, but it’s the one

who has never played and has learned a skill.” In addition to the success the Mustangs had on the court, the bigger accomplishment was the relationships formed between the players. Some of them have

limited social interactions and the Mustangs provided an outlet to connect with their peers. There were preliminary conversations with Miracle League about picking up the Mustangs, a group of Baton

Rouge, and Ledig said he’s had talks with an organization in New Jersey, Heavenly Outdoors Adventures, that does similar type of activities exposing special adults to the outdoors. Ledig also said there have been discussions about volleyball returning to the Special Olympics in 2027. “This group means so much to me, I know it sounds like hyperbole, but to me it’s the whole thing about what God has ordained, let no man put asunder,” Ledig said “I don’t want to let this go, ever This is a calling for me. I still get calls from people; they say my daughter has autism or my son has Downs and I say ‘bring them.’ We want to pack that gym.” “It can be simply just being able to put their hands together to hit the ball. To me that is the greatest achievement as a coach,” said O’Mally “Seeing an athlete who has never socialized with anyone, one who has basically be a hermit most of their life actually make a friend and look forward to coming to a practice. That is what the Mustangs have done for so many athletes.”

Fifth public art mural will be painted in Madisonville

BY KADEE KRIEGER Contributing writer

Madisonville artist Sarah Duncan-Jenkins plans to incorporate live oaks, purple irises and the town’s iconic lighthouse into the fifth mural — this one in her community as part of Visit the Northshore’s series highlighting towns across St. Tammany

“I’m so excited, it’s a huge honor,” said Duncan-Jenkins, who said she will weave “hidden gems” into the mural she creates. “There might be the words, ‘I love Madisonville’ hidden in an iris, or something else unique to find,” she said.

Duncan-Jenkins’ mural is the final installment in a project that Visit The Northshore created in partnership with officials in Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Abita Springs and Madisonville. The idea is to promote the region, enhance the visitor experience and celebrate local artists, Katie Guasco, chief marketing officer for Visit the Northshore, said.

“We want each mural to celebrate the personality and character of each town on whatever wall or site they choose, so that the images inspire everyone to fall in love what that place,” Guasco said “Each one brings our community’s story to life in a new way We’re proud to keep investing in public art that celebrates the northshore, with more to come.”

Each artist includes in the mural design a QR code linking to Visit The Northshore’s website.

Duncan-Jenkins said the Town of Madisonville is still working on finalizing the mural’s location. “As soon as they have the spot, I’m ready to go,” she said.

The Oxford, Miss., native has lived in Madisonville for 10 years but moved to Louisiana in 2011 with her husband, Joshua Duncan, who is from Slidell. They are both both full-time artists and operate

the Duncan Jenkins Gallery/ Studio producing fine art, paintings and ceramics. They create art both independently and as collaborators.

Duncan-Jenkins said she uses the Louisiana landscape as the focus of most of her work, which features swamp and water landscapes. She also travels to other areas on the water’s edge all along the Gulf Coast and occasionally to inland areas for mountain and desert landscapes.

“But the water is a huge influence for me, and most of my work centers on Madisonville,” she said.

Along with the progress on the Madisonville Mural, Guasco said the Marketing Team at Visit the Northshore promoted the arrival of the Seward Johnson statues in partnership with the Covington Public Art Fund and partnered with the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany for their new exhibit “Get Local.” In addition, she congratulated Communications Manager Nicole Davis on being selected as a 2026 eTourism Summit Emerging Tourism Star. As part of that, Davis attended the eTourism Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, in April to get her award and participate in discussions with other winners in the tourism industry

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Article7,Section 23(C)ofthe Louisiana Constitution andLaR.S. 47:1705(B) that apublichearing ofthe Assessment District in St Tammany Parish will be held at its regularmeeting placeinRoom 1110ofthe St.Tammany Parish JusticeCenter, locatedat701 N. ColumbiaStreet, Covington, LA on Thursday, June 18th,2026at11:00 a.m.toconsiderlevying additional orincreased millagerates without further voterapprovaloradopting the adjusted millagerates after reassessment androlling forwardto rates nottoexceedthe prioryear’s maximum.The estimatedamountof tax revenuestobecollected in the nextyearfromthe increased millage is $7,879,420.37, andthe amountof increaseintaxes attributable to the millage increase is $1,551,110.28.

embraces public art and is a regular and welcome sight around Madisonville schools, where she paints encouraging murals and inviting figures, often creating educational tools on walls and windows in bright colors.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Susan Trombatore and other warriors walk with NAMI on May 6

BY DARREN COOPER

Contributing writer

Susan Trombatore takes great pride in being a Sole Survivor and a Soul Survivor

Those are the interchangeable names for Trombatore’s NAMI Walk team that will participate in the NAMI Southeast Louisiana walk to raise awareness and funds for mental illness services May 16 at the Safe Haven Campus in Mandeville.

Trombatore has experienced the devastating lows of depression and despair in her life, but she found a guiding light when she started working at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, first as a NAMI facilitator and now as a peer support specialist.

Walking is another tangible way Trombatore helps those fighting the same struggles that she fought — and something that she still does.

“Being a peer support specialist and helping others with their mental health conditions gives purpose to my own past struggles,” Trombatore said “It made me see why I went through what I did, and it makes me a more compassionate, loving person. I feel like I receive more than I give. I know that’s a cliché, but I mean it.”

Trombatore grew up in the small town of Saucier, Mis-

sissippi, and had her first struggles with depression as a teenager “I would cry myself to sleep, but I didn’t know what was wrong,” she said.

Unfortunately, that first mental illness episode repeated itself. Trombatore was hospitalized — at one point doctors wanted to institutionalize her but she

kept fighting back.

“We have come a long way since the ‘80s — not even having a word for depression back then,” she said. “But we still have a long way to go. There are still people embarrassed to go to a psychiatrist. I used to be one of those people, now I don’t care who knows. If somebody holds that against me, then I really don’t want them in my life.”

Trombatore kept looking for steadier ground. An early marriage produced a daughter, Caroline, but the marriage eventually failed. She worked as a speech therapist and then went back to college to get her degree working with children with disabilities. But nothing seemed to fit, and the pressures and demands of life became too much.

“It all fell apart in 2011,” Trombatore said.

She was hospitalized again, lost her home and her car, and her relationship with Caroline became strained.

Slowly, things started to come back together She met her current husband, Kirk, on an internet dating site and cautiously moved to Mandeville with him in 2014.

She had done some work at the NAMI chapter in Mississippi, but it wasn’t as organized as the one in southeast Louisiana, she said. Still,

NAMI WALK NORTHSHORE

WHAT: A 5K walk raising awareness and money for NAMI on the northshore.

WHEN: May 16

WHAT TIME: 8:30 a.m.-noon; registration 8 a.m.; warm up, 8:30 a.m.; opening ceremony

8:45 a.m.

WHERE: Safe Haven Campus, 23577 Martin Way, Mandeville

MORE: www.namiwalks.org/ selanorthshore

when she got to Mandeville, she started attending NAMI support groups, then became a connection facilitator

“As soon as I did this, my self-esteem and confidence returned,” Trombatore said.

In March of 2015, she went to peer support specialist training and became a fulltime NAMI employee in 2017.

Trombatore is a captain of the Soul Survivors team that includes other peer support specialists, their families and friends. Caroline, who lives in Covington and works at Caravelle Care as a social worker, walks when she can. And Trombatore is delighted to have rebuilt a better relationship with her daughter Life is busy She and Kirk

have a blended family with four kids, five grandkids and another one due in June.

“I feel great. I feel blessed,” Trombatore said. “I know I have bipolar disorder and general anxiety, and I have to monitor my sleep and my medication, and I have to be aware of my mood changes, but my life is full now I am working with people at NAMI and helping them on their road to recovery, however they want that to look like.”

Trombatore is always looking for ways to heal and grow She helps out with the NAMI Angels project for people hospitalized during the holidays; she volunteers at her church, Mary, Queen of Peace in Mandeville; and wants to get a degree in Christian counseling.

“I would remind everyone, whether they are a family member or a friend, there is always hope, no matter how ill somebody is or how addicted they are, miracles happen every day,” she said.

“One in five people struggle with mental health issues, we all know somebody, or we are somebody,” Trombatore said. “People who come to the walk get to be part of a big party. You don’t have to raise money to be part of the movement and help get rid of the stigma and bias.”

A park relocation adjacent to SMH draws neighborhood concerns

BY JIM DERRY Contributing writer

The Slidell City Council has temporarily postponed a decision on whether to relocate a park next to Slidell Memorial Hospital, a move in location that could help pave the way for the hospital to build a parking lot where the park is now located. The unanimous vote to delay came during the council’s April 28 meeting, a session attended by dozens of the hospital’s residential neighbors who showed up to voice concerns and complaints about replacing the park with a parking lot.

The relocation will be reconsidered by the council on June 9. Residents who spoke dur-

ing the recent council meeting said the issue is not so much about moving the fitness park a couple of blocks east of its present location, just off 11th Street and Florida Avenue, to Broadmoor Street. Rather they said the issue is developing a parking lot in its place. “I don’t feel as if anyone is representing us,” said local resident Greta Abadie. “ If (the hospital) wants another parking lot, then let them do it around the area they cleared on 11th Street and build it up three stories. It won’t be in anyone’s backyard, and we won’t have to hear the honking and have the lights at 10 or 11 o’clock at night.”

The hospital’s chief operating officer, Jason Wilson,

told the council and the residents that SMH had grown immensely over the past three or four years and that “parking is paramount.” He also said building garages were unfavorable and promised that they will continue being “good stewards and good neighbors.”

That wasn’t good enough for those in attendance, some of whom said they were never notified by either Slidell Memorial or the Slidell City Council of potential plans for a parking lot.

As a result, council member Megan Haggerty, who represents the people living around SMH, proposed postponing the vote to June 9.

“I do support the move but moving forward, I would like to postpone and set up a

FROM THE FILES OF THE FARMER

25 years ago

Covington will soon be advertising for bids on two pedestrian paths, including paving and striping for the Tammany Trace throughout the city. The city will pave and stripe the trace from the Bogue Falaya bridge to a point near the old depot building at Theard and New Hampshire streets. The other project calls for a sidewalk along Columbia Street from Tyler Street to the new post office building. Adrienne Stroble, director of administration, said the trace project is expected to cost the city about $55,000 with $20,000 coming from a Rural Development grant from the Governor’s office.

50 years ago

The cancellation of theAbita SpringsTourist Park bulkhead project has shocked town officials there.

It was thought that the Resource Conservation and Development agency project was moving smoothly ahead when the town learned that an official in Alexandria had vetoed the project. Hopefully, the project would have restored a collapsed bulkhead fending off the Abita River Now, without a new bulkhead, the river is trying to force itself straight across the park, endangering the historic two-story pavilion.

That 100-year-old structure was recently put on the National Registrar of Historic Sites.

The project would have cost $32,000 for the installation of new creosote posts, but the state agency felt that sheet piling would be sturdier and suggested the two try that. Mayor Ed Peters said it was almost out of the question, since sheet piling would cost around $100,000.

The town may follow through on its other alternative, that of going to the state department of public works again to get help with the problem.

75 years ago

Work has started on the $150,000 science and physical culture building at St. Joseph’s Abbey at St. Benedict, it was announced this week It is hoped that the structure will be completed in time to open in September This is a new addition on the seminary grounds, and will embody two basketball courts, two recreational halls, one physics and chemistry laboratory, journalism room and two utility rooms. Architects for the building is a New Or-

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

Early morning runners jog over the Bogue Falaya River on the Tammany Trace in Covington.

leans firm, Wogan & Bernard, while the contractor is Cuchiara Bros., of Hammond. Also being erected on the grounds is a small store building by the student body itself. Other improvements by the seminary include the doubling in size of the studio by Rev Gregory de Wit, celebrated artist This phase of the program is in preparation for the work necessary to decorate the Abbey it was announced. Arriving to assist Father Gregory in this work is Artist Pinz, of Switzerland, who has studied at the leading art schools of Europe.

100 years ago

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125 years ago

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town hall to give everyone a chance to speak,” Haggerty said.

Fo rm er City Council member Buddy Lloyd took the podium to say that he was part of the original legislation creating the park. He said when legislation was created in 2010 and passed in January 2011, it created in an area that was designated for parks and recreation, and if the hospital wants to put a parking lot there now, Lloyd said the property will have to be rezoned.

“This property presents a buffer” between SMH and residents that live in the

area, Lloyd said. “Standalone parking lots and structures are not allowed The city has been accommodating to the hospital. They need the space, and I get that. But we need particulars on how our neighborhood is going to continue to be protected from the encroachment of the hospital.”

In other business, the council also delayed talks on the upcoming 2026-27 budget until the May 26 meeting.

Councilman Trey Brownfield said that waiting a month to discuss the budget, which would have to be approved before the new fiscal year begins on July 1, will give constituents “an opportunity to go through it all. We are doing our due diligence.”

Slidell mayor Randy Fandal expects everything to go smoothly and said that waiting to discuss the potential $63.5 million budget — his first as mayor — is a good thing.

“I have participated the last 10 years in the budget process (as police chief),” Fandal said. “This one has gone pretty smooth to date. What they have done tonight is pretty standard, and I have seen it done that way every year since I have been here.

“I am looking forward to the process, getting it done and across the finish line.”

Monique Basse blooms in Folsom where she was planted

BY JESSICA SAGGIO

Contributing writer

Monique Basse really loves her Folsom.

It’s where she grew up. It’s where she went to school. It’s where she lives on her family’s generational land. And now, it’s where she serves her community planning events such as the upcoming Folsom Scenic Rivers Art Festival.

“Folsom is not a town; it’s a village, and it’s super small, and I love it,” Basse said. “Everybody knows everybody, and some people say that’s a bad thing, but I think it’s a good thing.”

Basse is the events coordinator for the Giddyup Folsom business district and Far Horizons Art Gallery, and being able to give back to the community that raised her is something special, she said. From overseeing the local farmer’s market, to juggling all the details of nearly every event in the district, she is the dedicated face behind the scenes helping Folsom grow with grace, as she sees her hometown over the years.

Lately, she’s been hard at work fine tuning details of this year’s sixth annual Scenic Rivers Art Festival.

From arranging logistics for artist submissions and selections, to booking vendors, lining up food trucks and taking on the workload of marketing the event, Basse has her hand in just about every component of the event. The free festival, an event that welcomes children and friendly dogs, will take place May 9 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Giddyup Folsom “grounds” on La. 25

It will feature a curated art show of local pieces around the theme of Louisiana’s scenic rivers. This

is a volunteer and a planning guru who helps execute special events and community causes in the village.

The St. Tammany Parish social calendar is filled with important events throughout the year. We’ve asked organizers to help us highlight people who work behind the scenes to quietly make our most beloved events successful. Andrew Canulette, editor, St. Tammany Farmer FROM SHADOWS

year will also include art that highlights rivers from across the country in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday Basse said between 45 and 50 local submissions will be on display In addition to art, there will also be live music, food trucks and adult beverages.

For Basse, events like this are part of what make the St. Tammany village so special. Not only will it feature the art of locals, but it will be a gathering place to bump into neighbors, catch up with old friends and enjoy the simplicity of smalltown living. It’s really all about connections.

“This event is one of my favorites just because of getting to see all the local artists. I did not realize the northshore had such a broad culture of art,” said Basse, noting that her involvement with Far Hori-

FOLSOM SCENIC RIVERS ART FESTIVAL

WHAT: Art festival featuring a curated selection of local artists, all creating art to the theme of scenic rivers.

WHAT ELSE: Festival will also feature live music, food trucks and adult beverages. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs for the live musical performances.

WHEN: May 9, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.

WHERE: Far Horizons Art Gallery & Giddyup Folsom grounds, 82286 La. 25, Folsom HOW MUCH: Free admission

zons has really opened her eyes to the art scene. “Seeing the different medium, the ways people incorporate their story and how they feel in their art, it’s amazing.”

However, the art festival is only one thing Basse has imprinted. She’s also the behind-the-scenes marketing guru promoting various Giddyup efforts, creating graphics, organizing logistics and working closely with its co-founders, the father-daughter duo of Frank and Ashley Richerand.

Ashey Richarand said they are excited to have Basse’s help because she is a great events manager and so deeply rooted in the community

“We feel like we picked the person-person,” she said.

Outside of event planning, Basse is a dancer and coach for the Louisiana Ladies Dance Team and loves working on her 2011 Dodge Charger It even has its own Instagram, she said. Otherwise, you’ll find the selfproclaimed “daddy’s girl” working on cars with her father, enjoying a busy life alongside her husband and sharing memories with her extended family — many of whom live within walking distance.

That’s just the way it is in a village like Folsom.

Old Mandeville tour ready for Mother’s Day

BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer

The raised blue house at 212 Lafitte St. in Mandeville has never looked better

Formerly a bed and breakfast called Pollyanna — and site of what is believed to be the oldest surviving well in Mandeville — it is one of the featured homes on the annual Old Mandeville Historic Association’s Mother’s Day Home Tour on May 10.

This year’s “Timeless and Today” tour runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and comes complete with local artists displaying and selling original artwork, prints and pottery on the front porch of each featured home.

The house on Lafitte Street has undergone a dramatic restoration. It has been raised several feet; 500 square feet of living space has been added to the back of the house; and the signature bright blue paint job has freshened.

Current owner Doug Cresap hopes to put the home on the market when renovations are done.

Research on the house shows that the original structure dates back to the 1800s and included an owner who wrote a letter to John Slidell asking for a French passport looking to get out of town before the Civil War.

Cresap said that during the renovation process, they found multiple artifacts, including old glass bottles, a pewter dish, layers of antique wallpaper and paint, and even an unused ticket to the Slidell Tiger Drive-In movie theatre.

“The ticket wasn’t even torn,” said Cresap “It was just sitting there.”

The Victorian-style home, currently with five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, was ahead of its time with air flow along a center hall.

Among the upgrades were restoration of the center hall to its original size; keeping original wainscoting; and repurposing the outdoor stairs for interior use. A skylight

PROVIDED IMAGE

The raised blue house at 212 Lafitte St. in Mandeville has never looked better and it is expected to be a star on the Mother’s Day Home Tour sponsored by the Old Mandeville Historic Association. Final renovations should be complete in time for the traditional walking tour

was also added to provide natural light.

“We want to leave it the same blue color,” Cresap said. “We don’t want to mess with that. We have tried to keep a lot of the historic nature to it and modernized it.”

Discovering the well was a delight.

“The well was like a treasure,” said Covington resident Patrick Anderson, a part of the design and development team.

“We didn’t know we had the oldest surviving well in Mandeville, and we wanted to keep it as an asset of the property and encourage any homeowners to keep it. We leveled it and plan to turn it into a fountain. We also added space downstairs adjacent to it.”

The shallow well is now dry, but with recent changes to the water table, Anderson said it’s possible that it could be restored. The finishing work continues, with cabinetry, counter tops and electrical work being completed.

“We’ve been using the date of the tour as our date to be ready,” Cresap said. “We knew the house had a lot of history, and we want to try

MOTHER’S DAY HOME TOUR

WHAT: An inside/outside tour of historic homes in Mandeville on

to capture that in making the house what it is now. I think there is a lot of value there. You can’t duplicate that just anywhere.”

City of Slidell to open Mixed Media 2026

BY SARAH G. BONNETTE Contributing writer

Mixed media artworks have a gravitational pull for nonprofit executive, fundraiser and arts advocate Nina Dunbar.

Only daughter of the late artist George Dunbar, she and her brothers grew up seeing their late father deftly experiment with “a diverse range of materials, from cloth and dental stone to manila file folders and gold leaf,” she says “His pleasure in layering and arranging different materials on canvases and sculpting forms into dynamic compositions feels like it is a part of my DNA.”

The siblings also spent their childhood going to gallery openings, visiting museums, and creating their own art alongside him in his first studio, a converted barn on the family’s property on Bayou Bonfouca.

“Talking about art was given equal time at our dinner table, along with sports, politics and hunting,” Dunbar says. “My father was a deeply visual person, and his aesthetics extended beyond the arts into his surroundings. As a land developer, he cared about the look and feel of the subdivisions and waterways he created, as well as how Slidell planted around its streetscapes.” His quest for beauty profoundly impacted her She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and art education from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, the same school her father attended. She envisioned becoming an art teacher but took an interest in art in public places, and earned a Master of Arts in arts management from the University of New Orleans. During her more than 30-year career, she has contributed to numerous public art initiatives, sat on selection panels for art projects and managed juried competitions for large-scale sculpture and design projects across the United States and internationally

She’ll bring those experiences to her role as juror for the city of Slidell’s “Mixed Media 2026,” the annual juried exhibition that seeks to highlight this distinct art form It will open May 8 in the Slidell Cultural Center’s George Dunbar Gallery Mixed media broadly describes the use of different mediums watercolors with ink, acrylic or oil paints with graphite, or even a combination of found objects — in the creation of a single piece of two- or three-dimensional artwork.

While the art form began in the 1910s with the cubist collages and constructions of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, it is now widely practiced by emerging and professional artists. “Mixed media is an exciting genre because it presents endless possibilities in combining different materials to create something new that is greater than the sum of its parts,” Dunbar says. Slidell’s Mixed Media 2026 is open to artists from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas who could submit up to three pieces each.

“It’s one of the few mixed media shows that’s still around,” said Alex Carollo, director of the City of Slidell’s Department of Cultural and Public Affairs. “We’ve had a good response not just from local artists, but from regional artists as well.

“We get traditional art We get sculptures. We get a few installations pieces, but we’re limited on what we can display We get 3D artwork that hangs. It’s definitely a unique show,” he adds. Dunbar’s jurying criteria for the show is “the same that I apply to all artwork does it depict a story that I want to return to again and again? Whether it is representational or abstract, I am looking for artwork that visually draws me in–through materials, color, texture, design, and or subject matter,” she says. “For mixed media in particular, each material or media should uniquely contribute to the visual story that is the artwork.”

Dunbar, who lives in Santa Barbara, California, will juror the displayed pieces digitally but will travel to Slidell to choose the first, second, and third place winners. They will receive a total of $600 in awards during the opening reception.

“There is always a personal aspect to experiencing art. The artworks I select for this show will be technically competent, but they won’t speak to everyone in the same the ways they speak to me. Nor should they,” she says, adding that she encourages “anyone curious about mixed media art to come see this exhibition — ideally on its opening night — so we can talk more about why I made the decisions I did, and you can tell me what you think.”

MIXED MEDIA 2026

WHAT: A mixed media juried exhibition of art presented by the City of Slidell WHEN: May 8 to June 26, with a public reception and awards presentation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on opening night WHERE: George Dunbar Gallery in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall, 2055 Second St., Olde Towne Slidell MORE: Gallery hours are MondaysThursdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., by appointment only Same-day appointments are available by calling (985) 646-4375. FOR MORE INFO: visit www.myslidell. com or follow the city of Slidell on Facebook

PROVIDED PHOTO

“There

is always a personal aspect to experiencing art. The artworks I select for this show will be technically competent, but they won’t speak to everyone in the same the ways they speak to me. Nor should they.”

NINA DUNBAR, Mixed Media 2026 juror

Covington twins in national arts spotlight

BY JOLIE LINDLEY Contributing writer

Two Covington High School seniors showcased their performing arts talents in national spotlights recently, a feat made even more impressive by the fact they’re twins. Sisters Madison and Mallory Lott took their theatrical talents to the stage in New York and Washington, D.C., respectively, both finishing as finalists in their national competitions.

Madison Lott competed April 27 in the national finals of The English-Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition at New York’s Lincoln Center, earning a spot in the final top 10 competitors. She earned her trip by winning first place in the New Orleans Branch regional contest and chose to perform a monologue from William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and also his Sonnet 115 at the national level. “I chose the Hamlet monologue from one of Hamlet’s soliloquies. I like the big idea of it; he’s finding his why and how in it. It’s the same feeling I have preparing, and I see how I can relate to something written hundreds of years ago,” she said.

She said taking on a traditionally male role allowed her to explore the character in a different way “I refuse to wear heels; I wear pants. It’s a powerful piece. I try to portray it less about the gender and more from the angle of the power the character is exhibiting in that moment.” She said she took the same approach to performing the sonnet, calling it “poetry with a character.”

Madison Lott has competed in the regional Shakespeare competition for three years but said her biggest accomplishment was making it to the national level.

She said she was most excited for the connections she would make and being in the room with her peer competitors.

While Mallory Lott was able to join her sister Madison for a day of sightseeing in New York, she was soon off to Washington for her own national competition, the Poetry Out Loud National Finals held at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium April 28 and 29. She earned her trip by winning the state competition in February Only one winner from each state advances to the national event, and Lott placed as a top-nine finalist by the end of the national competition.

Mallory Lott chose her three competition poems from a list provided by the Poetry Out Loud organization. “They chose poems

this year related to themes of the America 250 celebration,” she said. Lott chose “Tea at the Palaz of Hoon,” by Wallace Stevens; “Poetry,” by Marianne Moore; and “Suppose,” by Phoebe Cary

“My goal is to speak to the audience about something that resonates with me,” Mallory Lott said, who identifies as a primarily comedic actress in theater productions. She said people forget that poetry can be humorous.

“I picked ‘Poetry’ as one of my selections because it’s satirical and funny and snarky,” she said.

Mallory Lott said she also identifies with the themes in the poem “Suppose.” “At the end, it speaks that even if we don’t win it’s OK if we do our best,” she said.

Connecting with her audience is the most important thing to Mallory Lott when she performs poetry She said, “I’m just an English brain. I’ve always been drawn to poetry and creative writing. Having the opportunity to browse so many poems for these competitions over the years sparked it.”

Ironically, each sister had to compete against the other in their respective state and regional competitions to make it to their national events, but they claim no sibling rivalry “We’re lucky enough to have a healthy competition,” Mallory Lott said.

“She made it to state with me for Shakespeare There was some tension there, but we both won the competitions we’re most passionate about,” Madison Lott said. They will be able to continue pushing each other to succeed when they matriculate as theater majors in the fall.

Gary Mendoza, theater director at Covington High School, helped prepare the Lotts for their competitions. “Directing them and prepping them is more of a partnership than me telling them what to do Working with students who want to succeed and thrive on stage is what makes the job worth it. When two of those students are twin sisters, it makes it even more special,” he said.

The girls’ mother, Elizabeth Lott, said it’s been a thrill to see her daughters achieve national ranking in the performing arts. “They’re both passionate about musical theater, too, and their amazing director Gary pushed them to achieve in all areas. Their dad and I can’t believe these are our little girls. We’re very blessed,” she said.

Air Conditioning, Heating and Electric celebrating 50 years in

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS

ON STAGE

SIZE: “The Irish Curse,” a wicked new comedy with adult themes and blistering language — for audiences 18 years and older only — will be presented at Cutting Edge Theater for two weekends, May 8-9 & 15-16, at 767 Robert Blvd., Slidell. A revealing and hilarious portrait of how men and society define masculinity. In doing so, the play uses humor to pose the fundamental question on the minds of many men: Does size matter, or doesn’t it? Set in a church basement during a weekly support group meeting, a group of professionally successful New Yorkers gather to discuss their shared insecurities and how their perceived shortcomings have impacted their lives. When a new member joins the group and challenges their perspectives, it unmasks comical and truthful questions about identity body image, and the relationships men face every day. The all-male cast includes veteran actor Martin Booda, who has appeared in almost 150 mostly comedic roles in the last 40 years. Shows $30 and $50; tickets at cuttingedgetheater.com.

SAY AGAIN: The North Star Theatre and Moonlight Productions in Mandeville present “Pygmalion” with a Southern twist. Based on the George Bernard Shaw comedy about Henry Higgins, the phonetician who bets he can use speech lessons to transform Elizabeth Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, into a high-society lady. May 29 at 7 p.m.; May 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and May 31 at 2 p.m. in the theater at 347 Girod St. Adult tickets $25; students, $20, at Northstartheatre.org.

SIMON: Playmakers Theater features Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two” evenings and afternoons through May 17. Directed by Joan Soboloff at 19106 Playmakers Road, near Covington, it’s the story of recent widower and writer George Schneider, who is encouraged by younger brother Leo to start dating again. George is even more depressed after a series of bad matches. Then Leo comes up with Jennie Malone — and the angels sing. Still, it’s a bumpy ride for these two not-soyoung lovers. Tickets from $17.59 to $28.29 by calling (985) 263-0055 or emailing tickets@ playmakersinc.com.

MUSIC LISTEN: New Orleans vocalist, songwriter and storyteller Shawan Rice will perform the next monthly “Up Close & Musical” performance May 8 in the Lobby Lounge, the intimate bohemian-styled listening room of the Harbor Center near Slidell. Rice packs a soulful voice and distinctly personal vision and style to every number. Her music weaves together traces of blues, R&B, and folk, laced with deeply autobiographical lyrics that invite audiences into her world. Show from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 100 Harbor Center Drive; doors open 6:30 p.m. Get advance tickets at eventbrite.com; $22 plus fees, plus two- and four-tops. This series features nationally touring acts performing acoustic or lightly amplified music monthly in this smoke-free, 124-seat venue.

SOUL: The Soul Revival will bring its high-energy show to the Mandeville Trailhead May 8 to close out Mandeville Live’s spring season of free Friday night concerts. This sevenpiece party band plays Motown, R&B, funk and Top 40 dance tunes. Bring a fest chair or blanket for seating. No outside food, drinks or ice chests allowed in the park; vendors on site. This 6:30-8:30 p.m. show was originally scheduled for May 1 but was moved due to weather.

BEGINNER’S BLUEGRASS: Free Slow Jam on May 11 (every second Monday) from 3-5 p.m. at the Pavilion in Abita Springs at 22049 Main St. Please bring a chair for yourself. This free session welcomes musicians new to jamming and playing with others, as well as those who want to practice playing at a slower tempo. To enjoy this jam, it is helpful to know major chords, especially C, G D, A and E, on your acoustic bluegrass instruments. Get more

at the door. Advance online registration is essential at fbccov.org/adults-55 by noon on May 14.

ART

DEADLINE: The deadline for artists to apply for acceptance into the “Summer Show” in the St. Tammany Art Association’s main gallery is May 16. Selection results will be announced by June 3, and the exhibit will open July 11 with a 6 p.m.-9 p.m. reception. Online entry and payment will be accepted only through www.callforentry.org

LOVE: An exhibition by photographer Rusty Costanza, “Love in the Face of ALS: A Photographic Journey,” continues in the Miriam Barranger Gallery, in the Art House, 320 N. Columbia St., Covington, through May 27.

ATRIUM: An exhibition of work by longtime northshore artist and arts educator Gail Hood is on display in the Atrium Gallery on the Christwood residential complex campus through May 30.

HEALING: The next exhibition of St. Tammany Hospital Foundation’s Healing Arts Rotating Gallery Series will hang May 18-Aug. 17 on the first floor of the Covington hospital.

COMMUNITY GUMBO

SUPPORT: Northshore Parkinson’s Support Group will meet May 6 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 57210 Allen Road, Slidell. Dr. Brian Copeland is a neurologist and movement disorder specialist, a board certified psychiatrist and an associate professor a LSU who will lead the night’s discussion topic, “Mental Health Challenges with Parkinson’s.” He will discuss how to recognize and cope with issues such as apathy, anxiety, depression, mood changes, delusions and more. The open discussion format allows for the doctor to directly answer questions from those present. As always, the meeting is free and open to everyone living with Parkinson’s Disease, their care partners, medical professionals and anyone interested in learning more about living well with Parkinson’s Disease.

FOOD: The fifth annual Mandeville Food Truck Festival is set May 9 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Mandeville Lions Club, 720 Lafitte St. Enjoy an expanded lineup of gourmet food trucks to help support local vendors and the Lions Club mission of serving those in need. Some 20 food vendors will be joined by several craft vendors, providing last-minute Mother’s Day shopping and bounce houses for kids while parents relax and enjoy their food in the air-conditioned Lions Hall. No admission fee.

FEDERALS: Slidell Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will meet May 8 at 1 p.m. in Aldersgate Church, 360 Robert Blvd, in the Cokesbury Building. May speaker Jessica Brewster, the St. Tammany Clerk of Court, will discuss new changes in her office and recommend protections against property fraud. The Lunch Bunch will meet and eat at KY’s Olde Towne Bicycle Shop, 2267 Carey St., at 11:15 a.m. To attend lunch, notify Lynn Brooks at (504) 4959764 or Chapter President Cindy Arsenaux at (985) 646-2296 or email carsen01@hotmail. com.

NEIGHBORS: The Hermadel/Carolyn Park/ Bayou Cache Residents’ Association plans a May 14 neighborhood meeting that features a meet and greet with candidates running for Slidell chief of police and council members at large to hear their plans and priorities if elected. Meet at the American Legion Post, 1680 St. Ann Place. Pot luck at 6 p.m.; meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Bring a dish if possible, but no alcohol. Questions? Call group President Jill Dalier at (504) 307-7715.

WIDOWS: The next general meeting of the Widows’ Social Club of Slidell is scheduled May 23 at 10 a.m. in the John Wesley Center at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 360 Robert Blvd. A speaker from the Red Cross will talk about disaster relief, free smoke alarms and administering CPR. All widows welcome. Call Cindy Alberts at (985) 707-7676 with questions.

DEW DROP JAZZ HALL SHOW

WHO: Bluesman Jerry Dugger WHEN: May 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m; doors open 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: 430 Lamarque St., Mandeville

HOW MUCH: Cost is $15/ adult (cash preferred) to enter the grounds; kids and students free. No advance tickets sold. WHAT ELSE: Beer, wine, sodas and water (cash only) at the bar Hot plate dinners of fried chicken, fried fish and all the fixins’ sold next door by members of The First Free Mission Baptist Church (cash preferred). SEATING: Inside is first come/ first served for about 100, but most people sit outside, so bring a lawn chair No smoking, ice chests, outside food/drinks or pets are allowed.

PARKING: In the lot across the street or on neighborhood streets — but don’t block driveways.

Playing with NYC blues roots and a love of New Orleans

Seasoned bluesman Jerry Dugger, a longtime member of the New York blues community now living in New Orleans, will perform May 9 on the Dew Drop Jazz Hall & Social Club stage during what is the historic Old Mandeville building’s 131st anniversary

The music of Dugger, a member of the New York Blues Hall of Fame, is rooted in the grit of living. His guitar playing speaks as distinctly as his lyrics, delivering songs that feel as honest and fully human.

Dugger says he blends slow-burn blues, driving shuffles and ballads of the human heart, drawing inspiration from classic blues storytellers while forging his own unmistakable sound.

The blues still matter, according to the musician, “Because truth, struggle and soul never go out of style.”

Born in The Bronx and raised in Harlem, Dugger grew up listening to his parents sing around the house, singing with them

in church, and listening to their collection of 78 rpm records. But during a serendipitous late night walk through Washington Square Park and an encounter with a busking Matteus Mederer, Dugger was introduced to the New York City Blues scene and the Dan Lynch Blues Bar, a small place that grew into the hub of the city’s blues scene.

Dugger’s bass baritone and musicianship have since taken him throughout America and Europe. His latest release, “Don’t Crow, Don’t Cry” on Third Street Cigar Records, is said to be recorded in the style of the great Muddy Waters record “The Blues Singer,” all in one room with one vocal mic, acoustic guitars, bass drums and keyboard. The album is said to be a letter of love for his good friend and band mate “Homeboy Steve Antonakos” — lost at the start of the COVID pandemic — and also highlights the songwriting of long time friends and band mates Joe Flood and Neil Thomas. Dugger will perform at the Dew Drop from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.