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October 25, 1976-October 6, 2017
Celina Lipari Hull, 40, a resident of Patterson, passed away Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.
Celina was born Oct. 25, 1976, in Franklin, the daughter of Leon Lipari and Elizabeth LaCoste.
Celina was an engineer; she worked offshore and loved every minute of it. She loved to be on the water; as well as anything that involved being outdoors. Celina’s children meant the world to her.
Celina will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her parents, Leon Lipari and Elizabeth LaCoste; stepdad, Robert Whisente; life-long partner, Stormy Daigle Henry of Morgan City; one son, Dalton Lipari of Bayou Vista; two daughters, Jerico Lipari of Alexandria and Annika Lipari of Berwick; two stepchildren, Corrina Sutton and Damien Daigle, both of Morgan City; one brother, Leon Lipari and fiancé Ann Conscience of Patterson; one grandmother, Celina LaCoste; two nephews, Leon Lipari and Jace Lipari; three life-long best friends, Amber Yarbrough, Lisa Faughn and Scott Henry; a close friend who was like a sister, Tina Ware; and numerous aunt and uncles.
Celina was preceded in death by one grandmother, Virginia Lipari; and two grandfathers, Pete LaCoste and Luke Lipari.
A Memorial Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, at Twin City Funeral Home with a Memorial Service beginning at 7 p.m. with Pastor Mark Norwood officiating.
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PHS CLASS OF ’77
Patterson High School Class of 1977 40-year class reunion Saturday, Oct. 28, Petroleum Club of Morgan City. Classes of 1974-80 invited to participate. For info call 985-518-1261.
BERWICK — The Blessing of the Fleet, part of the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, will be back in Berwick — at least every other year.
“The board came to-gether and decided that we can share the blessings and flip-flop every year,” said Rodney Grow, a member of the festival’s board, at Tuesday’s Berwick Town Council meeting.
Grow said organizers would like to incorporate more of Berwick into the festival.
The Blessing of the Fleet was held on the Berwick waterfront in 2015 and 2016 because the Morgan City Wharf was being renovated. The blessing returned to Morgan City this year.
Also, the council adopted an emergency ordinance in which to accept the donation of the Jewish cemetery on the corner of Ceylon and Fourth streets so that the town can own the property.
“We cannot use public funds to maintain a private cemetery,” said Allen McElroy, Berwick’s attorney.
McElroy said the ordinance came at the request of Mayor Louis Ratcliff so that the cemetery can be maintained and not go into a state of disrepair.
The Hebrew Congregation of Morgan City purchased the land for the cemetery in 1878. The organization currently has only one living member.
In other council news:
—The council adopted the proclamation supporting Red Ribbon Week Oct. 20-29.
—Halloween trick-or-treating hours have been set at 6-9 p.m.
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana voters may not be paying much attention, but there’s a statewide election Saturday.
Top of the ballot are the selection of a new state treasurer and decisions on three constitutional changes.
Treasurer
The Louisiana treasurer’s job is vacant for the first time in 17 years. Republican John Kennedy left the position earlier this year after his election to the U.S. Senate. His top aide, Ron Henson, has been working as interim treasurer until someone is elected.
Six candidates are vying for the seat in the special election, which is expected to be decided in a Nov. 18 runoff.
The top three GOP contenders are: Angele Davis, a Baton Rouge business consultant who was a state budget administrator for Govs. Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal; Sen. Neil Riser, a funeral home owner and bank board member from Caldwell Parish; former Rep. John Schroder, a businessman and former law enforcement official from St. Tammany Parish.
New Orleans area lawyer Derrick Edwards has done little fundraising for the race but is expected to reach the runoff because he’s the only Democrat in the race. Also running are Terry Hughes, a Lafayette Republican, and Joseph Little, a Libertarian from Ponchatoula.
Tough draw
In St. Mary Parish, only 1,085 people voted early, counting both mailed and in-person ballots in Franklin and Morgan City, according to the Registrar of Voters Office.
This latest statewide competition comes after three years of intense election cycles for Louisiana, including the presidential race, hard-fought congressional races and a heated contest for governor.
Amendments
Voters statewide also will consider whether to add three new provisions to the Louisiana Constitution.
The first would create a property tax break for all property delivered to a construction site for use in building industrial plants, companies and houses.
The next amendment would expand a property tax exemption given to the surviving spouses of police officers and certain others who die in the line of duty so that the tax break covers surviving spouses of more first responders, such as paramedics.
The final amendment would direct money from any new tax levied on gasoline or other motor fuels into a protected fund, to be spent on direct costs associated with transportation projects and prohibited from paying for state employee salaries.
Utility players
In all or part of 13 parishes, voters will fill a seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission, a five-member panel that regulates utilities across the state.
Three Republicans are competing for the District 2 seat, which represents parts of the Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Houma areas. The position was vacated by Scott Angelle, who took a job leading the federal agency that regulates offshore oil and gas drilling. The election will fill the remaining portion of the term that runs through 2018.
Local races
Also on the ballot are several judgeships, two vacant state House seats, an array of municipal positions and local proposition elections.
The most high-profile local competitions are in New Orleans, where 18 candidates are vying to be the city’s next mayor since Democrat Mitch Landrieu is term-limited. The city also has contested city council seats.
Twelve of Louisiana’s 64 parishes only have the treasurer’s seat and the three amendments on their ballots. Voters seeking more details about local elections can find that online at the Secretary of State’s website or on the Geaux Vote mobile app.
Submitted Photo
The Kiwanis Club's recent guest speaker and member was Mayor Frank "Boo" Grizzaffi. Also pictured are Christopher Templet and Gavin Wisdom, Central Catholic High Key Club members, and Teresa Dillionkoffer, Kiwanis member.
New York, NY — Two Louisiana junior chefs, 12-year-old Audrey Brust of Zachary and 11-year-old Katelyn Rickert of New Orleans, will be part of Universal Kids world premiere of Top Chef Jr. at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13.
Produced by Magical Elves, the Emmy Award-winning team behind Bravo’s Top Chef, Top Chef Jr. will feature 12 chefs ages 11 to 14 from across the country. They will vie for the coveted Top Chef Jr. title and a $50,000 cash prize.
The remaining top 12 chef competitors are:
—Fernando, 11, Elmhurst, Illinois;
—Fuller, 13, Tuscaloosa, Alabama;
—Henry, 13, Naperville, Illinois;
—Kenzie, 12, Midlothian, Texas;
—Jasmine, 13, Charlotte, North Carolina;
—Max, 12, New York;
—Maxine, 14, Los Angeles;
—Milo, 13, St. Paul, Minnesota;
—Owen, 13, Baltimore;
—Rahanna, 13, Oakland, California.
Joining host Vanessa Lachey and head judge Curtis Stone in guiding the next generation of chefs through their culinary journey on Top Chef Jr. are three recurring judges: culinary expert and Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, chef and Top Chef judge Graham Elliot, and Top Chef alumna Tiffany Derry.
The 14 hour-long episodes — shot in Los Angeles — will also feature surprise celebrity guest judges weighing in on the contestant challenges throughout the season. In the inaugural season, the chefs will battle it out in some of Top Chef’s most iconic challenges including quickfires and “Restaurant Wars” as well as new, kid-friendly challenges exclusive to Top Chef Jr.
Cox Communication channel 218 and HD channel 1218 will air the show.
For more information visit www.universalkids.com.
Your first credit card served one important purpose: It helped you build credit.
Now, after years of making on-time payments, you’ve grown tired of your card’s puny limit and lackluster benefits — and your mailbox is overflowing with better offers. Is it time to move on?
Before you apply for that flashy new card, make sure it’s the right move for you.
WHEN TO MOVE ON
When Erin Lowry applied for her second credit card in 2013, six years after getting her first card in college, she knew exactly what she was looking for.
“The big reason I opened my second credit card was to get access to my credit score,” says Lowry, now 28 and the author of the book “Broke Millennial.” The card she picked offered a free FICO score, an uncommon credit card feature at the time, along with solid ongoing rewards.
Applying for a second credit card can be smart if you, like Lowry, know the benefits you want and have a credit score high enough to get them. Here are some good reasons for making the leap:
—You can qualify for better features, such as a more rewards or a lower interest rate. You’re more likely to be eligible for the best credit card offers once you’ve made a few years of on-time payments. Consider searching for a new card if you have a good or excellent score — that is, 690 or higher.
—You want a higher limit. If you’ve outgrown the $300 limit on your first credit card, your credit is in good shape and your income has increased, you’ll likely qualify for more purchasing power. This would make it easier to use less of your available limits, which could help your credit.
—Your spending has changed. If you now travel abroad frequently, for example, a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees could be a better deal.
When choosing your new card, prioritize features that fit your current reality, not a financial fantasy.
“Understand what your spending habits are,” says Paul Golden, spokesman of the National Endowment for Financial Education. “Are you anticipating carrying a balance month to month? Because that’s where the interest rate really starts to become a concern.”
Read the fine print , too. If you can redeem a card’s miles only with an airline you never use, it’s not a good deal. And a big sign-up bonus isn’t worth spending far more than you normally would.
WHEN TO HOLD OFF
Sometimes applying for a new credit card doesn’t make sense. Consider pumping the brakes on new credit card applications in these cases:
—You’re about to apply for a big loan. Signing up for a new credit card can knock a few points off your credit score temporarily. If you’re about to apply for a mortgage, that small difference could cost you thousands in interest.
—You’re having trouble sticking to a budget. A new card won’t help you stop overspending on credit. Instead of hunting for new offers, work on improving your credit card habits.
—You’re a one-card kind of person. Does the thought of managing another credit card seem overwhelming? Stick to your first one for now. You might be able to get a higher limit or better terms by asking your issuer.
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR FIRST CREDIT CARD
If you do decide to apply for a new card, you should still hold on to your old plastic — unless it charges an annual fee or is tied up with a security deposit.
“In a lot of cases, it’s smart to keep that (first) credit card open, especially if it’s providing you with years of credit card history,” says Lowry, who charges a few subscriptions to her first credit card every month to keep it active.
Length of credit history is a factor in your credit scores, and as the age of that first account grows, it can continue its original work of helping you build credit. When it’s time to consider upgrading your plastic again, you’ll be ready.
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Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255