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Many St. Patrick’s Day traditions not from Ireland

Thu, 03/04/2021 - 9:05am

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is made special by various traditions. Everything from dyeing major cities’ rivers green to parades to enjoying green foods has become part of the pageantry of St. Patrick’s Day.
The next time you raise a green beer to your lips, you may wonder which traditions are authentically Irish and which ones were created by regions with an abundance of Irish emigrants. Surprisingly, many seemingly Irish traditions likely began elsewhere.
First parade
It would be accurate to assume that various elements associated with St. Patrick’s Day began where St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, once resided, including the first St. Patrick’s Day parade. However, some of the first parades held in St. Patrick’s honor took place in two North American cities, New York and Boston, that had high numbers of Irish immigrants.
But historians say the first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was actually held in St. Augustine, Florida in 1601, a year after gunfire blasts were used to honor the saint. The parade may have been at the request of an Irish priest living there at the time.
Corned beef and cabbage
What would St. Patrick’s Day be without an authentic meal of corned beef and cabbage? This dish is not so authentic after all, and actually is an American innovation. Ham and cabbage was widely eaten in Ireland, but corned beef was a cheaper alternative found in America by immigrants. Therefore, corned beef became a staple of poor Irish immigrants living in lower Manhattan. The salted meat was boiled three times to remove some of the brine and make it palatable.
Green beer
Green beer is not an Irish custom, but an American one. The most common beer consumed in Ireland is Guinness, which is dark brown to black in color, making green dye useless in Irish pubs since it would be largely invisible in the stout.
Golf tournaments
One would not associate golf with St. Patrick’s Day unless they reside in Nome, Alaska. Golf is a popular Irish pastime, and each year the Bering Sea Ice Classic Golf Tournament takes place right around St. Patrick’s Day. Bright green golf balls are used, and breaks are factored in between holes to warm up at local bars.
Wearing green
According to The Christian Science Monitor, individuals in the United States started wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the early 1700s. They believed it “made one invisible to leprechauns.” The official color for the holiday used to be a sky blue known as “St. Patrick’s Day Blue,” established during the reign of King George III.
In addition to these traditions, specialty items, such as shakes, also are very popular. However, most of these do not have origins on the Emerald Isle, either. Yet, no matter where traditions began, there’s no denying St. Patrick’s Day has long inspired celebration.
Irish coffee
Though it might not be as beloved as a pint of Guinness or as inviting as a shot of Jameson’s Irish whiskey after some cold hours spent marching in or viewing a parade, Irish coffee has a place all its own on St. Patrick’s Day.
The origins of Irish coffee are sometimes debated, though many historians trace the beverage to a stormy night in Ireland. One fateful night in 1943, Irishman Joe Sheridan was called back to work at the restaurant and coffee shop at the Foynes Airbase Flying Boat terminal in County Limerick.
A flight that had recently departed for Newfoundland was forced to return to the airport that night due to inclement weather. According to the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, Sheridan was asked to make something for the passengers to help them stay warm. Before serving some freshly made coffee, Sheridan decided to add a little Irish whiskey, and the rest is history.
The popularity of Irish coffee is undeniable, and some of that popularity likely stems from how easy it can be to make the drink at home. Though Irish coffee is a straightforward beverage, the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum offers the following tips for those who want to whip up a batch that would make Sheridan proud.
1. Preheat an Irish coffee glass by filling it with boiling water. Keep the water in the glass for 5 seconds, and then pour the water out.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and a good measure of Irish whiskey into the warmed glass.
3. Fill the glass to within 1 centimeter (a little less than half an inch) of the brim of the glass with hot and strong black coffee. Stir well so all of the brown sugar dissolves.
4. Carefully pour lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon. The goal is to ensure the cream floats on top of the coffee.
5. Do not stir after adding the cream. It’s important to avoid stirring because the Irish coffee will be most flavorful if you drink the coffee and whiskey through the cream.
A pint of Guinness might be a must for millions of St. Patrick’s Day celebrants across the globe. But those who want something a little warmer can try their hands at Irish coffee as they toast the patron saint of Ireland on Wednesday.

Two-year relationship seems to be off more often than on

Thu, 03/04/2021 - 8:59am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: I have been on and off with a man for two years. In all this time, he has never spent a holiday or Valentine’s Day with me, or introduced me to his family or friends. He told me to stay in the bathroom at his office when his friends showed up unexpectedly. When I objected, he said, “It’s only for 20 minutes.” I was horrified.
He accuses me of picking fights and says I will never be happy with anyone when I try to talk with him about it. He breaks up with me at holiday time, never calls when he’s on vacation and our dates are always last minute. I realize he is using me for sex, but he insists I am wrong and he is a decent man.
Two birthdays passed, and he didn’t even wish me a happy birthday, yet he buys presents and cards for every occasion for his friends and family. He blocks my number if I don’t “behave properly.” He calls me “Miss” in public, but calls waitresses “Sweetie” the few times we have gone out.
Narcissistic and emotionally abusive? Am I wrong? He tells me no one will stay with me once they know the type of woman I am. I’m not always at fault like he wants me to believe. He buys me nothing to drink or eat when we are together. I pay my own way. I regret the day he entered my life. How can I make him see what he does is wrong?
ALMOST DONE IN NEW YORK

DEAR ALMOST DONE: This shameless man may never view what he has been doing as wrong, so don’t try to “make” him see anything. End this sorry excuse for a relationship now, because it is degrading, a waste of your time, and it’s very likely that he is married and cheating on his wife.

DEAR ABBY: I am 62, very healthy and youthful, and work full time as an R.N. I recently started dating a 67-year-old man I met on a dating site. We go out, do various things together, laugh and seem to be compatible. My concern is, he has significant heart disease.
He has had stents put in and is on multiple meds. He also has moderate kidney failure. I’m realizing he’s actually very preoccupied with the state of his health because he talks about it often, and he sees physicians as well as a naturopath and myofascial release specialist.
We were taking my dogs for a walk recently and he said he didn’t feel well. He fell, and his defibrillator went off. Another time we were on a trip and he couldn’t walk far before saying he needed water, and he also wanted to be sure there was a bathroom close by. Another time we were attempting to have some intimacy and his defibrillator went off, which put a damper on the mood.
Should I stay with this guy when his general health is so poor? It is affecting me — and us. I do not want to be a caretaker, although at the same time, I do have compassion for him.
HEARTSTRINGS PULLED

DEAR HEARTSTRINGS: What a sad situation. It shouldn’t take a medical background to see what the future holds, at least for him.
This is a new relationship. Not once in your letter did you mention the depth of his feelings for you or yours for him.
He does — and probably will continue to — need looking after. Because you stated you are not prepared to do that, tell him NOW while he’s well enough to find someone who would be.
***
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

DA: Office will pursue cases from Patterson

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 4:52pm

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhé said Wednesday that his office has no problem pursuing criminal cases developed by the Patterson Police Department. But he said a case that raised questions about the DA’s Office pursuit of referrals from the Patterson police hasn’t been turned over to his office yet.

Speaking generally, “I’m not aware of any problem with cases in Patterson,” Duhé said in a phone interview Wednesday.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Red Cypress Road resident Carrie Kunschner said her home was burglarized in November 2019, resulting in the loss of property valued at more than $15,000.

Even though some of the property has been recovered, Kunschner said, she’s having trouble finding out what’s happening in the case. A possible suspect has been identified but no arrest has been made in the burglary investigation.

That raised questions at the meeting about whether the DA’s Office is responding to cases submitted by the Patterson Police Department.

“If the district attorney is reluctant to pursue crime in Patterson, we need to find out why,” City Attorney Russel Cremaldi said.

Cremaldi was to write a letter to Duhé’s office to ask whether there is some problem with Patterson cases.

Duhé said Wednesday that he talked to Cremaldi Wednesday morning. And his staff has talked with Kunschner recently about the case, he said.

“I understand Mrs. Kunschner’s frustration as the victim of a crime,” Duhé said.

But the normal procedure would be for the DA’s Office to become involved in the case after an arrest is made, Duhé said. That’s when prosecutors decide whether the evidence is strong enough to justify a bill of information formally charging the suspect with the crime or taking the case to a grand jury.

Police may seek legal advice from the office before an arrest, but the investigation itself isn’t part of the DA’s role, Duhé said.

“We don’t have a case in our office yet,” he said.

“We welcome any case coming in from Patterson …,” Duhé said. “They do their job.”

Seven new confirmed COVID cases, no fatalities in local parishes

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:53pm

Seven cases reported in St. Mary were the only confirmed COVID-19 positives in three local parishes for the 24 hours ending at noon Wednesday. No local fatalities were reported.

St. Mary's pandemic case count is now 3,350 confirmed with 812 probable cases.

St. Martin's confirmed case count stays at 4,442, with another 417 cases reported as probable.

Assumption's case count was adjusted downward by two to 1,533 confirmed with 560 probable.

The COVID death toll remains at 109 confirmed with 12 probable in St. Mary, 102 confirmed with 10 probable in St. Martin and 29 confirmed with five probable in Assumption.

Statewide:

--582 new cases raise the pandemic total to 371,100 confirmed cases with 60,671 probable.

--21 deaths raise the toll to 8,973 confirmed with 695 probable.

--41 fewer COVID-positive people are in hospitals for a total of 588.

--11 fewer people are on ventilators for a total of 78.

Handling of burglary questioned; Patterson council wants to hear from DA

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:23pm

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

PATTERSON — The Patterson City Council wants to ask the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office if it’s refusing to accept criminal cases developed by the Police Department.
The council asked City Attorney Russel Cremaldi to write a letter to District Attorney Bo Duhe after a resident said there has been little action on the burglary of her home in 2019.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted to accept a bid for more than $600,000 of improvements on 12 city streets. And it took the first step toward setting city property tax rates for 2021.
The decision to communicate with the DA’s Office came in response to comments by Red Cypress Road resident Carrie Kunschner, who said her home was burglarized in November 2019. The items stolen were worth more than $15,000.
The Patterson Police Department developed a suspect, and some of the stolen items turned up in area pawn shops. But Kunscher said she’s been unable to find out from the DA’s Office what is happening with the 17-month-old case.
Police Chief Garrett Grogan said the suspect made an admission about involvement in the burglary while in the custody of another agency. But the suspect hadn’t been advised of his rights, so the statement couldn’t be used against him.
At least two other residents who were victims of crime accompanied Kunschner to the meeting, and one of them spoke to the council about a similar experience.
“I’ve seen the brick wall in front of the Patterson Police Department,”Kunschner said.
“If the district attorney is reluctant to pursue crime in Patterson, we need to find out why,” Cremaldi said.
Also Tuesday:
—The council voted to accept Barriere Construction Co.’s bid of $608,777 for improvements on the 12 city streets. Barriere, based in Metairie, submitted the lowest bid, said consulting engineer Melanie Caillouet of Providence Engineering.
The streets set for improvement are J, K, L, M, N, O, Lawrence, Kemper, Rosario, Guyther, Live Oak and Railroad.
The project will be financed with $800,000 from the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant program, which directs federal funding toward low- and moderate-income areas. The bid must now be approved by CDBG officials.
Caillouet said she’s trying to find out if the leftover CDBG money can be used for other work in Patterson.
Barriere is also nearing completion on another set of street improvements, this one funded with revenue sharing proceeds from a St. Mary Parish government bond issue. Those streets were Hurst, Church, Wave-land, Pietro, Veterans, Hickory and Carmen.
—The council introduced ordinances setting city property tax rates for 2021. One ordinance keeps the current rate of 8.30 mills for general city operations. The second would keep the 14.0-mill rate for waterworks improvements.
If the ordinances follow the normal course, they’ll come up for a public hearing and passage votes at the April 6 council meeting.
The waterworks levy started out at 16 mills but has been reduced as the city repays the $5 million that financed its new water plant.
The plant is now producing 1.2 million gallons a day, Mayor Rodney Grogan said, and pressure was maintained during the recent hard freeze. Patterson residents weren’t asked to boil water before drinking or cooking because of interrupted service.
—The council also introduced an ordinance creating the Patterson Municipal Cemetery on three tracts on Williams Street in the area near Gary, Oddfellows, Gooch and Hickory streets.
—Another ordinance introduced Tuesday would set a minimum width of 20 feet for the pole portion of “flag pole” lots.
Those lots would be cut off from access to a street without a thin strip of land, which resembles a flag pole on maps, across another lot.
—The council decided not to approve a small mobile home park at 1130 Lia St., at least for now.
A potential buyer for the property sought the approval. Councilwoman Sandra K. Turner said the request was premature.

Vaccine's link to abortion troubles church leaders

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:20pm

Staff Report

Even as the new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine offers hope for a quicker end to the pandemic, it poses a moral dilemma for Catholics.
New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond has declared the new one-dose vaccine, which has been delivered to Louisiana for the first time this week, to be “morally compromised.” Development of the vaccine involved the use of cell lines resulting from two abortions.
Statements from bishops in the dioceses that cover St. Mary Parish say Catholics should choose to get the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which lack the connection to abortion, where those vaccines are available. But they say Catholics may take the Johnson & Johnson if they don’t have another option.
The statement last week from the Archdiocese of New Orleans said this:
“… The archdiocese must instruct Catholics that the latest vaccine from Janssen/Johnson & Johnson is morally compromised as it uses the abortion-derived cell line in development and production of the vaccine as well as the testing.”
The statement has been characterized as telling Catholics not to accept the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But at his press conference Tuesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said he doesn’t read it that way. The archdiocese statements also says:
“We maintain that the decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine remains one of individual conscience in consultation with one’s healthcare provider. We also maintain that in no way does the Church’s position diminish the wrongdoing of those who decided to use cell lines from abortions to make vaccines. In doing so, we advise that if the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine is available, Catholics should choose to receive either of those vaccines rather than to receive the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of its extensive use of abortion-derived cell line.”
Statements from Bishops Shelton Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and J. Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette steer Catholics away from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine but leave the decision to individual conscience.
“For those receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, those vaccines that are morally acceptable are clearly preferable and should be requested,” Fabre said. “However, one may not have a choice of vaccines without a lengthy delay, which may present serious health consequences. In this case, accepting a vaccination with a morally compromised vaccine is morally permissible because of the lack of alternatives and the serious risk to public health.”
Deshotel said this in a statement Tuesday:
“Given our present situation and the need to protect ourselves and one another from this virus, my guidance to the faithful of the Diocese of Lafayette is to accept as your first choices the vaccines created by Pfizer and Moderna, but if for any reasonable circumstance you are only able to receive the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, you should feel free to do so for your safety and for the common good.
“In addition, I have consulted with Catholic health care representatives, and I understand and appreciate their serious challenges as to the acquisition and equitable distribution of all three vaccines. I therefore support their policy of administering any of the vaccines as circumstances require.”

Central Catholic makes better use of turnovers in playoff victory

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:18pm

GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

Turnovers were a problem for No. 6 Central Catholic and No. 11 Sacred Heart during their Division IV regional round contest Monday in Morgan City.
However, Central Catholic (19-4) just simply made better use of the quality possessions they had in a 61-49 second-round victory.
“It’s just one of those games I think we both caused each other to play sloppy on offense, and we just made more shots down the stretch than they did,” Central Catholic coach Ree Case said.
Case noted that the Eagles had some solid offensive production from their bench.
Sacred Heart coach Jean-Paul Boullion said his team had 28 turnovers in the loss.
“We started the game 2-for-8 from the free-throw line,” he said. “That didn’t help either. Mentally, we were not in the game. That’s on me.”
Central Catholic jumped out to an 18-5 lead after a quarter. During the initial period, Sacred Heart (12-13) had a lengthy scoring drought that allowed Central Catholic to turn a 5-4 advantage into an 18-4 lead. The Trojans finally ended the drought when Austin Darbonne made the second of two free-throw attempts late in the first quarter to make the score 18-5.
The Trojans trimmed their second-quarter deficit to 24-17 in the second quarter after an offensive rebound by Darbonne and a basket, but Central Catholic closed the quarter with an 8-0 run for a 32-17 halftime lead.
Again, Sacred Heart came out in the third quarter and trimmed its deficit to eight points on two separate occasions, the last at 36-28 on Darbonne’s basket.
“We challenged them at halftime to come out for the first four minutes,” Bouillon said. “That was going to be the most important part of the game that we had left, and we came out and we responded. Yes, we extended our pressure. We went to a full-court press, and part of that was to try and get easy baskets.”
However, he said Sacred Heart only scored four points off Central Catholic turnovers.
The Trojans could not get any closer.
Vernon Singleton’s three-point play gave the Eagles a 39-28 advantage with five minutes left in the third quarter. On the play, Singleton was fouled but made a basket off an assist by Damon-drick Blackburn before converting the free throw.
From there on, the Eagles maintained at least a nine-point advantage for the remainder of the game, extending its lead to as much as 15 points on multiple occasions, the last on Singleton’s basket off an assist by Kye Morgel for a 61-46 lead.
Singleton led three Central Catholic scorers in double figures with 16 points. D.J. Lewis scored 13 points and Blackburn added 11. Other Central Catholic scorers were Morgel, eight; Gary Michael Nicar, six; Tyler Smith, four; and R.J. Bennett, three.
Darbonne led Sacred Heart with 19 points, while Chase Tate also reached double figures with 12 points.
Case said he thought Sacred Heart was a very good No. 11 seed who played a lot of quality teams and won many games this year.
“I’m glad we won,” Case said. “Didn’t play very well, but it’s the first time some of these guys have been in the playoffs, so any playoff win is a good win.”
The Eagles have no seniors this year and multiple new starters this season and others coming off the bench who didn’t play last year.
Central Catholic will continue postseason play Friday when it travels to face No. 3 Calvary Baptist in Shreveport in a 6 p.m. contest. Calvary Baptist advanced after defeating No. 14 St. Frederick 72-33 in other second-round action last week.
Patterson falls
in regional round
The Patterson Lumb-erjacks fell in the Class 3A regional round 50-29 to Booker T. Washington Tuesday in New Orleans.
Booker T. Washington led 18-8 after a quarter. Patterson outscored the home team 12-10 in the second period and trailed 28-20 at halftime. However, Booker T. Washington outscored Patterson 12-4 in the third period for a 40-24 lead. The Lions had a 9-5 scoring advantage in the fourth period.
Josiah Jennings had seven points and 17 rebounds to lead Patterson, while Louis Jones scored eight points and had four rebounds.
Other top Patterson contributors were Tylon Walton, seven points and two rebounds; Dillon Gunner, five points; Taij Tillman, two points and two rebounds; and Kendall Francois, three assists.
The Lumberjacks finished the season with a 23-9 record, while Booker T. Washington improves to 15-8. Booker T. Washington will advance to the Class 3A quarterfinals where it will meet top seed Madison Prep. Madison Prep advanced after defeating No. 16 Jennings 79-51 in other second-round action.

JANICE M. WILLOUGHBY

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:15pm

Janice M. Willoughby, 75, a native of Napoleonville and resident of Berwick, died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Morgan City. Burial will follow in Berwick Memorial Cemetery Mausoleum.
She is survived by two sons, Aaron Willoughby of Houston and Kevin Willoughby of Berwick; a daughter, Allison Willoughby of Berwick; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a brother.
Otis Mortuary of Franklin is in charge of arrangements.

State ready to spend $445M on La. 1 improvements

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:06pm

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

Louisiana officials plan to open bids in October for an La. 1 improvement project that is expected to cost more than $400 million, a legislative oversight committee heard Monday.
Louisiana lawmakers dedicated $700 million in Deepwater Horizon settlement proceeds in 2019 to transportation, including $150 million for La. 1. A $135 million federal grant, $95 million in general obligation bonds and $36.2 million in local and industry support also have been lined up to fund the work for a total of $416.2 million.
The project could cost $445 million, according to a previous estimate.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is in the process of replacing a major portion of existing La. 1 highway near Leeville with an 18-mile bridge. Phase 1 from Port Fourchon to Leeville opened in 2011.
Phase 2, which officials discussed Monday, would consist of 8.3 miles of elevated highway from the Leeville Bridge to Golden Meadow.
The work would elevate LA 1 to 22 feet above the surrounding water, eliminating the threat of flooding, according to a project summary associated with the federal grant.
“The project supports economic vitality by providing a faster, more direct route for vehicles accessing the energy production industries located at Port Fourchon,” according to the summary. “At present, LA 1 is inundated and subject to closure up to 10 days per year, and that is likely to increase in the coming years.”
A tentative timeline presented Monday aimed for completion in 2027. If construction does not begin by September 2024 and completed by the end of 2028, officials may have to forfeit the federal grant or return up to $10 million.
The tolls collected to pay for Phase 1 of the LA 1 project do not fully cover the debt service. For the 2019-2020 fiscal year, state government chipped in $2.9 million toward the $8 million debt payment.
Revenue is down this fiscal year, and state taxpayers will be on the hook for an estimated $4 million to supplement toll revenue, officials said.
DOTD officials said they might need to replace the tolling system on LA 1, which would be expensive. They said they are in talks with Plenary Group, the state’s private partner for the $165 million Belle Chasse bridge and tunnel replacement project, to possibly take over toll administration for LA 1.

Around Town for March 3

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:04pm

Happy birthday Sandy Jackson from family, friends and Ira.