EDITORIAL: A friend indeed Jan 2, 2008
Mr. Luchsinger, a native New Yorker, took over as superintendent of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve last year and has fallen in love with his new home. "This place is so rich: the culture, the history, the natural resources and human resources, most importantly. This place is amazing and unique," he says. (Nola.com -- Sports)
Marsh project needs volunteers Dec 27, 2007
The recycled trees will be placed in pre-constructed shoreline fences in Goose Bayou, east of the town of Jean Lafitte. Trees should be stripped of all tinsel, garland, lights, ornamentation, plastic bags and tree stands. (WWLTV.com, LA)
[From The Times-Picayune] Dec 17, 2007
Hunting permits for the Barataria Preserve in the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park are now available. Limited hunting is allowed for waterfowl, nutria, squirrel, rabbit and deer. (Nola.com -- Sports)
Jazz & Blues countdown and more (9/27) Sep 28, 2007
Proceeds from those will help fund the azz in the Schools" program begun by Miller, with initial funding from the Jazz Foundation of America.Spirits will no doubt be high enough to carry over to Saturday's free Columbus Jazz Fest at the downtown Riverwalk. The day-long music event, sponsored in part by the Columbus Convention ors Bureau, will host over 65 musicians from New Orleans, St. Louis, Ohio and points between on the WCBI Jazz Stage and The Commercial Dispatch Blues Stage from 10 a.m. to... (Columbus Commercial Dispatch, MS)
Imagine navigating America's coastal cities after the deluge Sep 23, 2007
Galveston Island has been the home base for pirate Jean Lafitte and mobsters in its colorful past. Now it offers nothing more terrifying than beachgoers looking to escape Houston's brutal summers. (Boston Globe)
South Louisiana parks closing due to weather Sep 22, 2007
In response to the potential for inclement weather in southeast Louisiana, the National Park Service office in New Orleans announced Friday it would close all six sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, as well as the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park ... The release stipulated the following areas would be closed: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve Headquarters and French Quarter Visitor Center; the Barataria Preserve in Marrero; Chalmette Battlefield... (WWLTV.com, LA)
TD10 lands in Florida Sep 22, 2007
New Orleans-area national park sites - Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park - planned to remain closed Saturday. The city's NBA team, which moved back to New Orleans full-time this summer for the first time since being temporarily displaced by Katrina to Oklahoma City, called off ticket sales open house event at New Orleans Arena that had been slated for Saturday. (The Advocate -- News)
Recovering from disaster, New Orleans welcomes back tourists Aug 26, 2007
Ted shared some of his favorite Cajun recipes, talked about the swamps' plants and wildlife, gave a history lesson about how the pirate Jean Lafitte lured the French into a trap on the waters during the Battle of New Orleans, and told us a creepy story about the time he had novelist Anne Rice in his boat. Finally, of course, there are the night life, the music and the food of New Orleans. (North County Times)
Heavy rains, fewer mosquitoes, no West Nile Aug 7, 2007
You expect to go out there and get bit by mosquitoes, and you don't,'' said Earl Higgins, whose job as a ranger at the Jean Lafitte National Park and Historic Preserve near Marrero includes walking miles of trails along swamp and marshland. Usually, he said, he'd be spraying repellent on himself and selling it to visitors. (Leesville Daily Leader, LA)
Heavy rains hold off West Nile cases in Louisiana Aug 4, 2007
Autos HomeCenter Zero In On Your Next Home Free Classifieds. 04:13 PM CDT on Friday, August 3, 2007. (WWLTV.com, LA)
Good life not so 'easy' in The Big Easy anymore Jul 15, 2007
This is where the pirate Jean Lafitte and Mayor Nicholas Girod plotted to bring the French emperor after his fall from power. Napoleon's death in 1821 put an end to their plans, however. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Make the most of Fiesta with the kids Jun 1, 2007
The parade will be highlighted with appearances by Jean Lafitte LVII (Tommy Brown) and his queen (Donna Fassett-Merritt) and court as well as Don Tristan DeLuna LVII and his queen and court. If Friday's parade isn't enough for you, and you need more parade -- repack the parade bag, reload the car and repeat. (Pensacola News Journal)
Fiesta of Five Flags Jun 1, 2007
Jean Lafitte 52nd, Tommy Brown, and his queen, Ms. Donna Fassett-Merritt, will lead the Krewe's part of the parade in convertibles provided by Warren Culberson of Astro Lincoln Mercury and Bill Curry. In addition, many local and state krewes will send their royalty to join in the merriment. (Pensacola News Journal)
Buried treasure: 12 pirate flicks to dig up May 24, 2007
But when we think of the quintessential pirate, the image that springs to mind is the 18th-century buccaneer: People like Edward Blackbeard Teach, Jean Lafitte and William Kidd all thrived in the Caribbean waters in the early days of America, and inspired a wealth of literature and film in the decades that followed. In the early days of moviemaking through (roughly) the 1950s, pirate movies were reliably common not as ubiquitous as the western, but the scurvy sea dogs held their own. (MSNBC -- News)
Enjoy the City of Five Flags' heritage May 23, 2007
Jean Lafitte 52nd Tommy Brown and his queen, Donna Fassett-Merritt, will lead the Krewe's part of the parade in convertibles provided by Warren Culberson of Astro Lincoln Mercury and Bill Curry. The masked Jean Lafitte 53rd and his Court Knights will be on the No. 1 Krewe float ... Jean Lafitte 53rd and his court will be introduced to Krewe members and their guests at the coronation ball immediately following the parade at the Pensacola Civic Center. (Pensacola News Journal)
Meet Your Neighbor ... Bowers announces candidacy for Police Jury ... Calcasieu schools closed on Wednesday due to B.R. rally ... SPD Reports ... Special City Council meeting slated ... ';var marqueewidth="350px";var marqueeheight="20px";var marqueebgcolor="#FFFFFF";////NO NEED TO EDIT BELOW THIS LINE////////////var pauseit=1;var marqueespeed=1 //slow speed down by 1 for NSvar copyspeed=marqueespeedvar pausespeed=(pauseit==0)? copyspeed: 0var iedom=document.all||document.getElementByIdif (iedom)document.write(''+marqueecontent+'')var actualwidth=''var cross_marquee, ns_marqueefunction populate(){if (iedom){cross_marquee=document.getElementById? document.getElementById("iemarquee") : document.all.iemarqueecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"cross_marquee.innerHTML=marqueecontentactualwidth=document.all? temp.offsetWidth : document.getElementById("temp").offsetWidth}else if (document.layers){ns_marquee=document.ns_marquee.document.ns_marquee2ns_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8ns_marquee.document.write(marqueecontent)ns_marquee.document.close()actualwidth=ns_marquee.document.width}lefttime=setInterval("scrollmarquee()",20)}window.onload=populate;function scrollmarquee(){if (iedom){if (parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))cross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)-copyspeed+"px"elsecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"}else if (document.layers){if (ns_marquee.left>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))ns_marquee.left-=copyspeedelsens_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8}}if (iedom||document.layers){with (document){document.write('')if (iedom){write('')write('')write('')write('')}else if (document.layers){write('')write('')write('')}document.write('')}}Sunday, April 29, 2007 OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Meet Your Neighbor Apr 29, 2007
They celebrate the adventures of pirate Jean Lafitte and annually storm the Lake Charles Civic Center seawall and capture the mayor. Peloquin was chosen to serve as Jean Lafitte 2007 and has been touring with Megan Monsour of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote the festival ... You might just meet up with your neighbor Bob Peloquin posing as Jean Lafitte. (Sulphur Southwest Daily News, LA)
History & Culture News Apr 27, 2007
The treasure hunters are only the latest to search for a cache of gold said to have been buried near Florida's Suwannee River by 19th century pirate Jean LaFitte. The earliest known human with a long childhood has been found, a new study says, and it may push back the advent of modern humans by 100,000-plus years. (National Geographic)
Pirates swashbuckle into New Orleans Apr 22, 2007
The books ranged from a picture book titled "Pirate Girl" to a biography of Pierre and Jean Lafitte, who sold slaves from captured ships in the Barataria swamps near New Orleans. George Choundas, a corporate attorney and former FBI agent in New York, said he used 20 films, 13 television episodes, an amusement park attraction and 41 books to glean the words and phrases he incorporated into his new book, "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers & Rogues.". (CNN -- US)
'Pyratecon' leaves New Orleans awash in swashbucklers ... Yarrrr Apr 22, 2007
The books ranged from a picture book titled Pirate Girl to a biography of Pierre and Jean Lafitte, who sold slaves from captured ships in the Barataria swamps near New Orleans. George Choundas (KOON-dahs), a corporate attorney and former FBI agent in New York, said he used 20 films, 13 television episodes, an amusement park attraction and 41 books to glean the words and phrases he incorporated into his new book, The Pirate Primer. (KHOU.com, TX)
Contraband Days honored as top event ... Council sets special election ... SPD Reports ... Trash Bash is Saturday ... Water outage in Carlyss ... The 2007 Sulphur High Seniors would like to thank the following businesses for their support throughout the year: ... ';var marqueewidth="350px";var marqueeheight="20px";var marqueebgcolor="#FFFFFF";////NO NEED TO EDIT BELOW THIS LINE////////////var pauseit=1;var marqueespeed=1 //slow speed down by 1 for NSvar copyspeed=marqueespeedvar pausespeed=(pauseit==0)? copyspeed: 0var iedom=document.all||document.getElementByIdif (iedom)document.write(''+marqueecontent+'')var actualwidth=''var cross_marquee, ns_marqueefunction populate(){if (iedom){cross_marquee=document.getElementById? document.getElementById("iemarquee") : document.all.iemarqueecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"cross_marquee.innerHTML=marqueecontentactualwidth=document.all? temp.offsetWidth : document.getElementById("temp").offsetWidth}else if (document.layers){ns_marquee=document.ns_marquee.document.ns_marquee2ns_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8ns_marquee.document.write(marqueecontent)ns_marquee.document.close()actualwidth=ns_marquee.document.width}lefttime=setInterval("scrollmarquee()",20)}window.onload=populate;function scrollmarquee(){if (iedom){if (parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))cross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(cross_marquee.style.left)-copyspeed+"px"elsecross_marquee.style.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8+"px"}else if (document.layers){if (ns_marquee.left>(actualwidth*(-1)+8))ns_marquee.left-=copyspeedelsens_marquee.left=parseInt(marqueewidth)+8}}if (iedom||document.layers){with (document){document.write('')if (iedom){write('')write('')write('')write('')}else if (document.layers){write('')write('')write('')}document.write('')}}Wednesday, April 18, 2007 OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Contraband Days honored as top event Apr 18, 2007
"Jean Lafitte and the Buccaneers will travel next week throughout southeast Texas and all over Louisiana as part of a media caravan to promote the festival," said Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau Media Manager Megan Monsour ... The festival is based on the legend of pirate Jean Lafitte ... Other returning events include the Boat Parade, Jean Lafitte and the Buccaneers Pirate Parade, Egg Drop, Blazin' Bikes Motorcycle Rally, O'Reilly's Auto Parts 9th Annual Contraband Classic... (Sulphur Southwest Daily News, LA)
Corps to remove debris from untended JP properties Mar 17, 2007
The cities of Gretna, Harahan, Kenner and Westwego and the towns of Jean Lafitte and Grand Isle have also authorized this program. The Corps of Engineers will sweep through the back, front and side yards of all of unincorporated Jefferson Parish and all municipalities entering private properties identifying all eligible storm generated debris, such as dead trees. (WWLTV.com, LA)
Clues to Pirate Gold Unearthed in Florida, Treasure Hunters Claim Mar 16, 2007
Todd and his partners, whom he declined to name, may be closing in on a treasure that according to local lore was buried in the area some 200 years ago by Jean LaFitte. LaFitte roamed the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century as a smuggler and privateer, though he reportedly described himself an entrepreneur and defender of American freedom. (National Geographic)
Search ends for missing boater Mar 8, 2007
Authorities say Adams left the camp, accessible only by water, in his 15-foot flatboat Thursday morning to go to Jean Lafitte to buy supplies for what should have been a two-hour trip. His girlfriend reported him missing after he never returned. (KSLA.com, LA)
Large part of Mardi Gras' economy flies below radar Feb 12, 2007
Then, there are the popular doubloons, coins -- usually made of aluminum -- that are named in tribute to the Spanish colonial coinage that was so sought after by the pirate culture that also turned out buccaneer Jean Lafitte. The first were minted for the 1960 Rex parade. (WWLTV.com, LA)
History conference starts Wednesday Feb 4, 2007
She worked with personnel from Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve when artifacts had to be removed from south Louisiana for safe keeping in Natchez following the storm. Jenkins found funding for the conference and lined up the speakers. (Natchez Democrat, MS)
Bad Precedent Jan 22, 2007
Forty miles to the south, in the bay of Barataria, there were privateers, led by Jean Lafitte, a former blacksmith, and it was unclear which side they would take. To reduce the uncertainties, Jackson recruited two battalions of free blacks. (New Yorker)
News in brief Jan 21, 2007
The Woman's Club of Fernandina Beach, 201 Jean Lafitte Blvd., will have a spaghetti dinner 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. The menu will include spaghetti, salad, dessert and tea for $7. (Florida Times-Union)
'Unpolished' Galveston hopes to brighten tourist image Dec 12, 2006
It was first used by the pirate Jean Lafitte and others as an out-of-the-way place to dump loot while cruising the Spanish Main. A major metropolis before Houston was on any map, Galveston was largely wiped out by a hurricane in 1900 that killed thousands and ended the city's golden dreams. (USA Today -- Travel)
Galveston tries to clean up its image Dec 11, 2006
It was first used by the pirate Jean Lafitte and others as an out-of-the-way place to dump loot while cruising the Spanish Main. A major metropolis before Houston was on any map, Galveston was largely wiped out by a hurricane in 1900 that killed thousands and ended the city s golden dreams. (KHOU.com, TX)
DRF: Delta Jackpot draws from all corners Dec 1, 2006
Tracy Hebert has the mount, while Jamie Theriot will ride Go Poppa Fooze, who earned a 98 Beyer for his nine-length win in the $150,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta. He wired the field in what was his two-turn debut. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Nassau Notes Nov 14, 2006
The Amelia Island Quilt Guild will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Woman's Club of Fernandina Beach, 201 Jean Lafitte Blvd.. Teddy Pruett will speak on "Quilts of the Deep South.". (Florida Times-Union)
Things to do Nov 14, 2006
The Woman's Club of Fernandina Beach and Stein Mart will present A Holiday Fashion Show Thursday, at the Woman's Club, 201 Jean Lafitte Blvd.. Shop and Greet begins at 11 a.m., the fashion show at 11:30 and lunch at noon. (Florida Times-Union)
Things to do in Nassau Nov 4, 2006
The Woman's Club of Fernandina Beach and Stein Mart will present A Holiday Fashion Show Nov. 16 at the Woman's Club, 201 Jean Lafitte Blvd.. Shop and Greet begins at 11 a.m., the fashion show at 11:30 and lunch at noon. (Florida Times-Union)
Yes, Saints fans, enjoy these good ol' days ... Oct 18, 2006
But Saints supporters could only speak of Professor Longhair, Louis Armstrong, muffulettas at the Central Grocery, barbecued shrimp at Mosca's, Jean Lafitte, jazz brunch at Commander's, the thin fish at Middendorf's in Manchac, the white tigers at the zoo, the Neville Brothers. If the Saints came up at all in dinner conversation, it was to bemoan the lousy luck ol' Archie had all those years, not getting to play on a team that could take advantage of his sublime talents. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Strange curiosity: Storm tours of New Orleans Oct 16, 2006
The Quarter has a National Historical Park, the tiny Jean Lafitte park, and one of its rangers, Danny Forbis, led 15 of us around. When we stood under a gazebo at the Mississippi River bank and Forbis talked about our being on the city's highest land--about 25 feet above sea level--I looked along the downward sweep of St. Louis Street, and for the first time I understood how New Orleans is built in a big bowl. (Chicago Tribune)
Les DeMerle bringing jazz fest back to island Oct 4, 2006
11 a.m. to 3 p.m., New Orleans Dixieland Jazz Champagne Brunch, Woman's Club of Fernandina Beach, 201 Jean Lafitte Ave. The Spare Rib Six Dixieland All-Stars will perform, and a Cajun and low-country brunch buffet will be served. $35. (Florida Times-Union)
Sober in the Big Easy Aug 28, 2006
As in Old City Philadelphia, part of New Orleans' French Quarter has a National Historical Park, the tiny Jean Lafitte park, and one of its rangers, Danny Forbis, led 15 of us around. When we stood under a gazebo at the Mississippi River bank and Forbis talked about our being on the city's highest land - about 25 feet above sea level - I looked along the downward sweep of St. Louis Street, and for the first time I understood how New Orleans is built in a big bowl. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Crime down, but murder rate up 70 percent in Jefferson Aug 13, 2006
The report, released Friday, doesn't cover the cities of Gretna, Westwego, Harahan and Kenner or the towns of Grand Isle and Jean Lafitte. Crime was down in four of the seven major categories that must be reported to the FBI, including rape, robbery, theft and auto theft. (WWLTV.com, LA)
SHIVER YOUR FILM TIMBERS Aug 4, 2006
" Swashbucklers are more deliberately sent up in the hilarious "The Court Jester" with Danny Kaye, paired with a lively musical version of "The Three Musketeers" starring Don Ameche and the Ritz Brothers. Among the lesser-known films in the series, Fredric March makes a dandy Jean Lafitte in Cecil B. DeMille's underrated, quasi-historical adventure "The Buccaneer. " And then there's the vintage classic quoted in "V for Vendetta" - the splendid "The Count of Monte Cristo," starring Robert Donat.... (New York Post -- Entertainment)
The piracy debate Jul 11, 2006
He's now up there with Captain Kidd , Blackbeard , Jean Lafitte , Long John Silver , Captain Hook , and ``The Pirates of Penzance. "Pop! has its own pirate favorites. None sailed the Spanish Main, but all wielded a pretty mean cutlass -- or baseball bat, as the case might be.No one has ever buckled a swash quite so well as Errol Flynn in 1935's ``Captain Blood" (above) and ``The Sea Hawk" (1940). Burt Lancaster , in ``The Crimson Pirate " (1952), is a distant second (inset left). (Boston Globe -- Living)
Hot mateys set to shiver your timbers Jul 10, 2006
To the actual, colorful facts of pirate history -- the period from about the 1500s to the 1700s when figures like Capt. Henry Morgan, Edward "Blackbeard" Teach and Jean Lafitte cruised the Caribbean in search of trade ships to plunder -- the pop culture of the 19th century added further refinements. From "Treasure Island," the 1883 children's classic by Robert Louis Stevenson, kids learned that pirates sang "yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum," stumped about on peg legs and perched parrots on their... (Seacoast New Hampshire)
Stax Report: Pirate Flicks Jul 7, 2006
Yul Brynner portrays swashbuckling French pirate Jean Lafitte who became an American hero during the War of 1812 by aiding Gen. Andrew Jackson (Charlton Heston) during the Battle of New Orleans. Quinn's Buccaneer is most notable now for showing Brynner with a full head of hair. (IGN FilmForce)
The pirate's seduction Jul 7, 2006
Home of Jean Lafitte. We take an amazing airboat ride into primordial swamps filled with mangrove trees, alligators and long-legged birds. (Kentucky.com)
Nassau Calendar Jun 20, 2006
Amelia Island Quilters Guild: Meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month from September through June, at the Fernandina Woman's Club, 201 Jean Lafitte Blvd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 277-8360, 277-2055 or. Nassau County Group of the Sierra Club: Meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Nassau County Council on Aging, 1367 S. 18th St., in Fernandina Beach. (Florida Times-Union)
More than 1,000 brave heat for Fiesta parade Jun 3, 2006
More than 1,000 people took part in the downtown party as Don Tristan DeLuna LVII and Jean Lafitte stole the scene with their queens and courts. A group of teens shouted in unison, "Here they come! Here they come!". (Pensacola News Journal)
Fiesta fun beckons this week Jun 2, 2006
The parade will feature brightly colored floats, cheerful clowns, mischevious pirates and appearances by Don Tristan DeLuna LVII and his court, as well as Jean Lafitte and his queen and court. pcal krewes and krewes from throughout the state will send their royalty to join in the merriment. (Pensacola News Journal)
'Patriotic Fire' Rages in the Battle of New Orleans Jun 1, 2006
Jean Lafitte, who was under a warrant of arrest by the U.S. government, could have taken the money and retired a wealthy man ... Jean Lafitte never got his property back or was compensated by the U.S. government. (Newsmax)
Who Was Jean Lafitte? Mar 31, 2006
Who Was Jean Lafitte ... Who Was Jean Lafitte ... Some say he lost his life in a hurricane around 1826, while a controversial manuscript known as the Journal of Jean Lafitte claims that he lived on until the 1840s, raising a family in St. Louis. (Suite101.com)
RICK'S RAMBLES Feb 25, 2006
Shopping centers and strip malls and fast food restaurants flooded during the storm, still sit empty and exposed on Jean Lafitte Parkway. Windows are blown out, roofs are damaged or gone, signs are broken, parking lots are still littered with debris. (Fox News -- Headlines)
Cops investigate destruction of eagle nest Jan 13, 2006
The nest was located just south of Jean LaFitte Boulevard in an area where the Sifrits own a dozen residential lots ... Clyde Hoff, of Jean LaFitte Boulevard, said he also watched the eagles flying overhead in the area. (Charlotte Sun Herald)
