Northshore Edition

When I was little, I remember visiting my great-grandparents on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville. A highlight was their children’s playhouse, sitting demurely among the moss-filled oaks.

EDGE of the Lake magazine was created in 2016 with the vision of giving a voice to edgier Northshore stories from St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. Since its inception, EDGE has covered stories like a look at how to raise backyard chickens, the magical sport of Quidditch and a thrilling story of Lacombe’s JFK conspiracy connection.

Everyone faces seasons of uncertainty. There is a real, pervasive need for help for people in times of crisis because of acute or chronic behavioral health issues. St. Tammany recognized this and created Safe Haven, a network of professional behavioral health care programs, to be the answer.

In 2003, a group of women envisioned a community where play is encouraged, creativity is nurtured and learning is enjoyed. After fifteen years of fundraising, the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany opened its first location on Koop Drive in Mandeville.

The Southern Hotel has become a prominent fixture in historic downtown Covington, and Lisa Condrey Ward’s new labor of love, the Garden House, is making a splash on the Northshore for its preservation of history and enthusiasm for the 1930s era.

We try to keep our homes as healthy and clean as possible for our families, but most of us don’t think about the harm air pollutants can cause. Many breathing challenges can be caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.

Many of us are apprehensive when we travel. We worry about flights arriving on time, new and foreign experiences and whether our hotels will meet expectations.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness industry is a $3.7 trillion market, with $563 billion of that coming from wellness tourism. When you travel, you want to feel relaxed, pampered and well taken care of, and more people are seeking accommodations in line with their personal wellness goals.

Two brothers signed a contract for an imaginary broadcast acquisition more than sixty years ago. Both own broadcasting operations today. The younger brother, Morgan, is based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Wayne Dowdy, the older brother and writer of that contract, became an attorney, served in the U.S. Congress and owns Northshore Media Group.

You might not think that this would be the case, but a cocktail menu can be a polarizing topic of conversation. Everyone has their own opinions, perceptions, palates and tastes – and they aren’t afraid to tell you what they think.

Chris McMahon is an entrepreneur fueled by his inspiring story of addiction recovery. Seventeen years sober, Chris wanted to give back to his community by creating a cutting-edge addiction recovery center.

Everyone’s favorite feline friends will get their own festival this year. CatFest 2018 will be coming to Covington this August, featuring funny cat videos from the New York Cat Film Festival as well as a celebrity appearance from Boo the Deaf Kitty.

Once a resort destination for wealthy 19th century New Orleanians, the Northshore became renowned for the healing powers of its ozone waters. For decades, tourists flocked to bathe in “the cure,” as it was dubbed during one yellow fever outbreak.

Operation Angel is reshaping the war on drugs using a community-based approach. Now, those suffering from addiction (any addiction) can walk into any law enforcement agency in St. Tammany Parish and seek help. Within minutes, they will be in the back seat of a police car on their way to a treatment facility to start their road to recovery.

A NOLA girl, I recently moved to Covington and couldn’t be more excited for my historic home, the walkable community and the natural surroundings. Growing up, I always loved Covington because of its sense of history and the wonderful times I shared with my godparents, who lived on South America Street.

In November 2015, Gambel Communications opened its Northshore office. While we were resolute in retaining our Metairie office, ten women in 1,000 square feet is a bit cozy. Even though we are rarely here at the same time, the constant phone calls and chatter left little “think” time. We needed at least occasional access to peace and quiet.

Working as a team, Slidell Memorial Hospital and Ochsner provide patients a wider range of options for accessing high quality care.

Which private school on the Northshore has the most National Merit Finalists this year? Proudly, that honor goes to Christ Episcopal, with four NM Finalists in its graduating class of 25 seniors.

In December 2016, construction crews laid the final supporting beam for the upcoming expansion of the Ochsner Health Center Covington Clinic. This expansion has some impressive numbers attached to it: 43,000 additional square feet, a $19 million dollar investment made in the facility by Ochsner, and the addition of 30 new jobs once it opens in 2018.

Craig Brumfield is not only a painter, potter and scrimshaw carver in bone or ivory, but he is also a pioneer in gyotaku, the Japanese method of printing fish, which may have been used by fishermen since the 1800s. Gyotaku is now its own art form, preferred by some to mounting.

Years ago, travel agents were the ideal way to book vacations. Today, with online resources coupled with our ever-growing desire for personalized service, we need a new kind of partner to help with our holiday plans; we need a travel advisor.

With summer approaching, familiarize yourself with these air conditioning facts.

As addiction becomes more rampant on the Northshore, those needing treatment have limited choices. Much of the area’s addiction crisis is among professionals, who typically seek centers sensitive to their needs.

As the population of West St. Tammany grows, so does the partnership between St. Tammany Parish Hospital (STPH) and the Ochsner Health Network.

In Italy, dining (not merely eating) is an experience enjoyed daily, not something reserved only for special occasions. This notion of experiential dining is the fundamental idea behind Meribo, a new modern Italian restaurant in downtown Covington.

Since its inception in 2014, the Ochsner Health Network has been making a difference in the delivery of high-quality care through integrated efforts in expanding access, supporting optimal health outcomes, and helping drive results.

One of the most iconic advertising jingles for New Orleanians was “Miller the Killer … he kills them all.” There was even a bug mascot associated with the advertising campaign.

A new bed and breakfast near Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville is making waves in a way you might not expect. When natural health enthusiasts Steven and Sarah Federer opened Blue Heron last year, they knew they wanted to share their passion for natural healing with their guests in hope that they, too, may find relief from chronic health issues.

Qualified criminals sentenced to jail for nonviolent, nonsexual crimes are being offered a second chance to change their lives. St. Tammany Judge Rusty Knight spearheads a re-entry court program for the Northshore that focuses on reducing recidivism through moral rehabilitation and career training led by inmates.

In my last job, I commuted every day, so I am interested in learning how people pass the time while driving. Here are some ideas I discovered for the Causeway drive: