St. Tammany Parish Students Prepare for New Industry Jobs

Dual enrollment in both high school and college will be available to St. Tammany Parish students with the advent of joint enrollment programs with St. Tammany Parish high schools and Southeastern and Northshore Technical College.  Programs are being implemented in local high schools focused on getting students to think about their career goals, whether they want to attend a 4-year college, a 2-year college, or go to a technical school.  For those students who have no plans for additional education after high school, the program gives students direction on where they can get technical certifications in a field in which they are interested.

In addition to this early planning for St. Tammany Parish high school students, a new task is now

being considered by  a panel of experts who met Tuesday, October 10th to brainstorm about how to prepare upcoming graduating students to be able to join an ever-changing workforce.  One of the unique ideas being discussed is preparing students for jobs that do not yet exist.  The panel of experts include educators, members of the economic development foundation, and business associates.

St. Tammany Parish Schools’ Superintendent Trey Folse, as well as Assistant Superintendent Regina Sanford are members of this panel.  Representing Northshore Technical Community College is Chancellor William Wainwright and university president John Crain represents Southeastern Louisiana University.

Programs are being developed and will be developed based on a supply and demand basis, which is why these experts are constantly touching base with local businesses to see what demands will need to be met by the emerging workforce.

“If our school system fails, your business is not far behind,” Folse told the audience.
Wainwright, meanwhile, said educators are constantly consulting with industry and economic development leaders to determine what programs are needed to meet future demand. “The programs we offer are supply and demand driven,” he said.

One of the tools that will be used to assist high school students to reach the next level will be the $10 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics campus that has been built in Lacombe and opened in February of this year. The industries that will be offering programs through this campus are biological sciences, maritime, information technology and business preparation for students interested in moving forward to get a 4-year degree.

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New Home, Less Space? Here is Some Advice

If you have been able to purchase a new home, and you were able to afford a little less space than expected, there is no reason why your new home has to look or feel crowded, even if you have less square footage. Below are some tips to help you expand the look and feel of your newly purchased home.

1. Even if you like a lot of light, overhead lighting illuminates a room too much and actually emphasizes the size of the room. This means that if the room is smaller than you would like, excess lighting will reveal this. It is recommended that you use smaller lamps and focused lighting on the areas of the room in which you will occupy or spend the majority of your time. Table lamps and unique lighting selections can also make your decorating eclectic and inviting.

2. Color coordination – maybe a small palette of just a few colors – will make the house seem to “flow” together instead of using a different color in every room.  By using too drastically different of

colors, you are highlighting the fact that every room is separate, which may make the focus on the room size more stark. With a blended palette throughout, your room spaces may blend together more seamlessly.

3. Some people think that getting a shower enclosure is a good way to create more space in the bathroom. However, by installing a shower door, you only are creating two cramped spaces instead of a larger vanity area space. By installing a panel that can open, which only covers 1/3 to 1/2 of your shower space, you are creating a versatile space between your vanity area and your shower area.

4. When choosing your decor, think, small and delicate in order to utilize your cubic space instead of your square footage.  Oversized couches, beds, and bedroom furniture can take up all of your space and make the rooms seemed cramped and tight to move around. Have fun choosing decorative furniture that is simple in design and takes up less space.

5. If you have the ability, try to use all light colors in your kitchen, including your kitchen cabinets. Dark cabinets make a room seem much smaller, especially if your kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling. Even though the storage space is great, the cabinets will seem to “swallow” the room, and a lighter color may deflect this feeling. If your cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, and you have your heart set on dark cabinets, try using a sharply contrasting wall color (black and white) to set off the cabinets and give them a more aesthetic appeal.

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Historic District of Covington to Feature New Art Market Location

Located between N. Columbia Street and N. Florida Street is a slight street in Covington, Louisiana’s downtown district named Hotel Alley.  Streets in the historic district of Covington, formerly known as Division of St. John, are laid out in unique patterns of squares within squares called ox lots. This peculiar design is how the downtown district got placement on the National register of Historic Places in 1981.  The main streets, laid out horizontally, are accessed by alleyways.  That is how this particular street – Hotel Alley – came to be named.  Now, the St. Tammany Art Association is

planning on completely “renovating the street,” and renaming it: Art Alley.

Art Alley, currently a strip of asphalt, will be getting a new look, complete with cafe-style lighting overhead, connecting between the Art Association’s Art House and the H.J. Smith & Sons General Store and Museum; a lit-entry archway, a mural, and removable bollards to close off the street for special events. The special event, which will benefit from this street renovation is the Covington Art Market.  This year’s Covington Art Market will be held on October 7, 2017, from 9am – 1pm at the new Art Alley location.  Formerly located at the Covington Trailhead, the October Art Market will feature artists: Susan Carver, Wess Foreman, Julie Katich, Richard Lo Piccolo, Linda McNeely, Jeffrey Minzey, Ruth Ostarly, Allison Radtke, Jason Ronquillo, Kristy Ruffino, Robert Wagner and Chuck Wright.

“Throughout the United States, cities of all sizes are embracing what’s known as ‘Creative Placemaking,’ the art of transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary places that promote a sense of community, spark commerce and enhance areas by creating cultural hubs of activity,” said Kim Bergeron, STAA’s executive director.

The October Covington Art Market is also doing something a little different.  They are partnering with American Art Therapy Association and the South Texas Art Therapy Association to provide hurricane relief efforts to children affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.  The visitors of the Art Market can contribute to an art supply drive which will then be donated to those children in need. The effort is being spearheaded by Jaclyn Warren MS, ATR-BC, a STAA Artist Advisory Board member and president of the Louisiana Art Therapy Association. Colored pencils, crayons, cay-pas, unruled journals and sketchpads, and coloring books are just some of the supplies that can be donated.

“We hope the community sees the possibilities that Art Alley offers and embraces our efforts to bring that vision to reality,” Bergeron said. “And, of course, a visit to the art market is an opportunity to discover new talents and to celebrate our community’s artists.”

For more information, call 985.892.8650 or visit www.sttammanyartassociation.org.

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Walk-On’s Opens in New River Chase Commercial Development

The new community of River Club is located behind the new River Chase commercial development right down the Brewster Road extension near Sam’s club.  An enormous apartment complex is being built out in view of Interstate 12 one exit up from Highway 21 at the Pinnacle Parkway exit. Ron Lee Homes is selling a new, totally custom, unique home for sale in River club featuring 5,627 total square feet with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and a game room.  This southern farmhouse-style home is priced at $925,000 has 4,086 living square feet, complete with a 3-car garage, spacious outdoor living and entertainment areas with outdoor kitchen, and a durable metal roof.

In addition to the convenient location of being approximately 1 – 2 miles of shopping at the Pinnacle Nord du Lac shopping complex off of Highway 21, Walk-On’s, a sports bar and restaurant with a

rooftop bar is finishing construction in the River Chase commercial district.  The sports bar will be open Monday, September 25th at 11am at its location at 69796 Stirling Blvd.  This is the 12th location of Walk-On’s in Louisiana and the first and only one to have a rooftop bar.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is co-owner of this location with general manager Brandon Mier. He said everything patrons have come to love and expect from Walk-On’s — upscale bar food with a Louisiana twist, an excellent beer selection and a lively, family friendly atmosphere — can be found at the Covington location.

To maintain local loyalty and flair, Walk-On’s has an entire back wall mural with Louisiana legends, and it is using Duece McAlister’s waste management company, Waste Pro, as well as beer supplied by Zach Strief’s brewery, Port Orleans brewery.

“Walk-On’s is really a community driven restaurant,” Mier said. “I can’t tell you how proud and excited I am to introduce Walk-On’s to our city.”


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Residents of St. Tammany Parish to Miss Holiday of Lights

In the Greater New Orleans area, holiday celebrations abound and are also a very popular tourist attraction.  However, here locally in St. Tammany Parish, there are a few events that always draw a huge crowd and are anticipated by the residents of St. Tammany Parish every holiday season.
For those who call St. Tammany Parish home, they have always looked forward to the Holiday of

Lights celebration at the Tammany Trace Trailhead on Koop Drive in the city of Mandeville.  Unfortunately, this will not be the case come holiday season this year.  Pat Brister, President of St. Tammany Parish government, informed residents that the two-weekend holiday celebration will be cancelled due to the lack of funds.

This free annual event was enjoyed by residents for 17 years and featured entertainment by local schools, musical and theater performances, caroling, carnival rides, pictures with Santa and a tour of the holiday lights display in the Koop Drive campus. The St. Tammany Parish government was one of two sponsors which funded

the annual event that reportedly cost the parish $75,000 each season.

While this sad news might come as a surprise to the community, parish officials anticipated it as a cut to the St. Tammany Parish operating budget for 2018 which forecasts an $18 million-dollar revenue shortfall. The parish feels there is no way around the budget cut which stems from the failed attempt to renew sales taxes linked to the jail and courthouse.
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Increase in Private Residential Construction Spending

Private residential construction spending is spending on construction by private parties and homeowners.  Data about this construction spending is collected from retail and wholesale outlets nationally. It seems that homeowners and small builders have a positive outlook on the economy and are spening money on new home construction on their own land or lot, as well as additions and remodeling to existing homes that they own.  Many people buy land and hold it for awhile before they decide to build a new home.  By owning land, there is an opportunity for new home builders to be able to more easily qualify for a construction loan by utilizing the equity in the land.

In addition to new home construction, homeowners are improving their homes as well, by contracting popular remodeling projects, such as kitchen, master bath, and outdoor area remodels.  Additions of pool houses, mother-in-law suites, and over-the-garage apartments are also popular construction projects for existing homeowners, which contribute money to the total amount of private construction spending during the month of July.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) did an analysis of the Census Construction Spending, and the data showed an increase of private residential construction spending of .8% in July over June, 2017, to an amount of $523.1 billion.  This increase was also an 11.6% increase year-over-year compared to 2016, and it was the third consecutive monthly increase for private construction spending after it went down slightly in April, 2017.

The breakdown in construction spending between single-family home construction and home improvement of existing homes shows that new home construction went up by .8% compared to June to reach $264.1 billion, and $192.4 billion was spent on home remodeling or renovation, which was a 1.41% increase month-over-month.  Also remodeling / renovation spending was up a total of 16.5% year-over-year compared to July, 2016.

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NSA Index Is Reporting an Increase in Home Prices

The U.S. National Home Price NSA Index is reporting an increase of 4.3% over the peak of the same index in 2006, which was at its highest level right before the housing crash.  Home prices went up in June, 2017 5.8%, which was slightly higher than May’s 5.7% increase.  The index, which is formally called the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, was also up 43.7% above its lowest point in 2012 after the housing market crash.  Home prices have continually risen since the real estate market began its recovery, and they continue to climb. In fact, housing pricing reached another all time high in June.

“The trend of increasing home prices is continuing,” says David M. Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Price increases are supported by a tight housing market. Both the number of homes for sale and the number of days a house is on the market have declined for four to five years. Currently the months-supply of existing homes for sale is low, at 4.2 months. In addition, housing starts remain below their pre-financial crisis peak as new home sales have not recovered as fast as existing home sales.”

According to Blitzer, the housing market now has the “problem” of not having enough supply to meet the demand.  Even with the increase in home pricing, there is a reason that home buyers are still purchasing homes for sale despite the continuous price increases.  Unemployment rates continue to decline, and jobs are being added to the market at an average pace of 200,000 jobs per month.  Mortgage rates have flinched with increases from the Federal Reserve, but they are still holding steady at or below 4%, which is a historically low interest rate for home buying purchases.

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