-~PATIO IPLANTfRS __ ~OF THE VIEUX CARRE

THE PUNCH

Vol. 59, No. 1

January - February, 2017

General Membership Meetings

Wednesday, January 4, Mary's Ace Hardware, 6:30 pm Guest Speaker: Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc Topic: Parade on January 6th

Wednesday, February 1, Mary's Ace Hardware, 6:30 pm Guest Speaker: TBA

Inside this Issue

From the President 2

2017 Board Nominations 2

Winners of the Halloween and Christmas Decoration Judging 3

Thank You from Crescent City Outreach 3

Photos from our White Elephant Sale 4

About our White Elephant Sale & Auction 5

About our Holiday Home Tour 7

Photos from our Christmas Brunch 8

Recipe to Share - Wisconsin Chile 9

Membership Application 2017 10

Board of Directors and Committee Chairs 2016 11

Mark Your Calendars 201 7 12

From the President . ..

Dear Patio Planters,

Just a short note to wish all Patio Planters and our friends a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! We had a very successful and fun year and this Punch is full of information about the White Elephant Sale and Auction, the Holiday Home Tour, Halloween and Christmas Judging and the proposed slate for your new board in 2017. In the next issue we will give you an accounting of our successful fundraisers and expenditures and our rained out Caroling in Jackson Square, which was moved to the cathedral. Nevertheless, we look forward to 2017 with great excitement and anticipation.

Don't forget to send back your renewal form! If you've already renewed, please review your contact information and send us back the form indicating any changes so that we can keep you up to date. If you have moved out of town and will not renew, please send back the form and let us know that you will not renew. We will miss you and hope you will continue to be a member, but we need to be informed and keep our records current.

Looking forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

Stephen M. Swain

2017 Board Nominations

Once again your Nominating Committee has done a commendable job of coming up with seven outstanding

members to serve on the Board for 2017. They are:

Doug Barden

Joey DiFatta

Susan Goss

Ott Howell

James Kitto

Leslie Perrin

Barbara Richmond

During the January general meeting, the committee shall announce the seven candidates. The chair shall also

call for nominations from the floor.

If there are NO nominations from the floor, these seven ladies and gentlemen will be 7 of the total of 9 Board

members for 2017. Steve Swain as past president will be the 8th Board member, and the 9th will be

appointed by the new president for 2017.

If there ARE nominations from the floor at the January general meeting, we will have an election requiring

ballots to be mailed to every member pronto. The top seven vote getters will be on the 2017 Board.

If any of this sounds confusing, please read the Constitution and By-Laws in the back of your directory.

The Nominating Committee this year consists of Tom McGinn, B.B. St. Roman and Ruby Tremont.

Winners of the Halloween and Christmas Decoration Judging

Halloween Decoration Winners for 2016 This is only our 5th year of judging Halloween decorations in the French Quarter. The word must have gotten out because the Quarter had more homes and businesses decorated than in past years. There were severa l amazing decorations which made it difficult to choose the winner in each category. Orange and black plaques were presented to the winners during the White Elephant Sale & Auction.

BEST COMMERCIAL BEST RESIDENTIAL BEST BALCONY BEST PORCH BEST DOOR BEST WINDOW BEST OVERALL

OZ, 800 Bourbon St. Joe & Marianne Palmer, 803 Burgundy St. Jason Hebert & Dustin Woehrmann, 810 Ursulines Michael Ray Conner, 720 Esplanade Avenue Mary Martin, 835 Ursulines Deanie's Seafood/Barbara Chifici, 841 Iberville St Tommye James & Don Webre, 832 St. Peter St.

Christmas Decoration Winners for 2016 The decorations in the French Quarter this Christmas Season were outstanding. Once again, it was almost impossible to pick just one winner in several categories. Patio Planters would like to thank Barbara Richmond and the Spring Fiesta House for allowing us to use the house to gather and vote on the winners after our ride through the Quarter. Plaques were presented by President Swain to the winners in each category during Caroling in the Square.

BEST HOTEL BEST COMMERCIAL BEST RESIDENTIAL BEST BALCONY /PORCH BEST DOOR BEST WINDOW BEST OVERALL PRESIDENT'S AWARD

Tom M cGinn Event Chairman

Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St. Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Place Chuck Ransdell & Leslie Perrin, 728 St. Philip St. Bobby & Karen Major, 914 Bourbon St. Robert & Samantha McRaney, 1012 Royal St. Deanie's Seafood, 541 Iberville St. Tommye James & Don Webre, 832 St. Peter St. David Erath - Santa's Quarters, 1025 Decatur St.

Thank You from Crescent City Outreach!

The generous donations of many Patio Planters members at the Christmas Brunch have once again succeeded in assuring that a valuable resource can continue to assist many of the most neglected and down trodden members of our community. This year the total given to Crescent City Outreach was an amazing $1645, which will go a very long way in acquiring items sorely needed by our homeless population, including state ID's, medical prescriptions, work clothes, bus fares, and shelter vouchers. So a big THANK YOU to all who contributed -- from B.B. St. Roman and the many people she is helping out there!

Photos from our White Elephant Sale . .. by Norman Many

About our White Elephant Sale & Auction ...

Thank you everyone for another successful White Elephant Sale & Auction. School Coordinator Aron Walker and KIPP McDonogh 15 School made the school yard as well as the cafeteria available to us. We thank him and KIPP for being such good neighbors and supporting our community events.

Thank you to all of our donors who made the Auction possible. Members: don't forget to patronize the donors to thank them for their generosity. We'd like to give a special shout out to Dee Lynott who was very successful in soliciting auction items. Of course, the great majority were obtained by Samara Poche, Ina Magee and Susan Goss. In addition to the many donations, this year we had "SUPER DONORS11 in the $500+ category: Harold's Plant Gallery, Tropical Isle, David Erath - Santa's Quarters, Bob & Samantha McRaney, Andrea DuPlessis, French Quarter Realty, Frames, Dickie Brennan & Co, Catherine Hill, Ina Magee, Gentry House Bed & Breakfast, New Orleans Athletic Club, Marc Bercier Artist, Pat O'Briens, Samara Poche, Gary Williams, Krewe of Cork, Joey and Sessy Manieri Real Estate, Michael Sibal Landscaping, Mitch Pendarvis Concierge, and Don Ayala Artist. BRAVO to them all! We also received auction items from the French Quarter Vet, Deanie's Seafood, The Columns Hotel, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, Muriel' s, Steamboat Natchez, Hemann-Grima House, Audubon Nature Institute, Downtown Fitness Center, Palm Court Jazz Cafe, The Court of the Two Sisters, Spa Isbell, Tujaque's Restaurant, Vacherie Restaurant, Fischer Gambino, Linda & Tom Maher, Razzle Dazzle, Queork, New Orleans Speech and Hearing, Bourbon Orleans Hotel. And Oceana Grill, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Tunnel Vision, Central Grocery, Phyllis Evans, Brittney R. Greene, Autowerkz Mobile Detailing, Judy Arcenaux, Royal Clip, Spa Aria, Jezebel's, California Drawstrings, Bethel Cleaning Service, Dee Lynott, Metairie Cemetery Tours, Moss Antiques, Robert Refrigeration, Molly's at the Market, Studio E, Stanley's and Barbara Bowen.

We also say bravo to our Ace Auctioneer, our own member and crowd favorite Norman Many. What fun he brought to the bidding! We must also thank the auctioneer team of Ina Magee, Susan Goss, John Parr, Drew Goss and Craig Schexnayder. The auction cashiers, Greg Pierce and Queen of Cork 2007 Gillian Pierce did a great job keeping pace with the sales, no matter how crazy it got. And it got CRAZY! Cathy Mayers staged the auction items on the table and her husband Bradley, their grandchildren and Ina's grandchildren helped transfer the items from the cafeteria to the stage. New members Tracy Treadaway and Quitman Gahagan threw themselves into the auction fray, helping showcase the items and identify the winning bids. Drew Goss and Craig kept up with the bidding frenzy and got the winning bid sheets to the correct people. Norman Many called the entire auction and never missed a beat. And Greg and Gillian somehow kept track of all the money!

We couldn't have done the Baskets of Cheer without the generosity of Bernie Jaffe. To keep Marlene's spirit alive, he offered their home yet again for creating the baskets. We missed Karen Allayaud, our Basket Chair, who stayed in the game until the very end, but was taken out on the one yard line due to health issues. Nancy Pomiechowski was also missed on event day, as she too is not up to her old self. Best wishes to both of them for good health and speedy recoveries. In addition to the team leader, Samara Poche, the team included Tracy Treadaway, Quitman Gahagan, Ruby Tremont, Debbie Mallernee, Dee Lynott, Pat McClusky, Carmen Carter, Marlene Kauppinen, John Ordoyne and Jennifer Saltaformaggio. We raffled 25 baskets and awarded 6 volunteer baskets this year. Donations from several members helped create baskets. Susan Revels, Kathy Whitcomb, Sandra Callender and Sam Poche took charge of minding the baskets and ticket sales on the day of the event. Many thanks are offered to all of you for your efforts.

Kate McDonough, John Burke and Theresa DeJarnette served the delicious treats at the Cake & Coffee booth. Home prepared goodies came from several members, including Ralph Ruder, Janice Foulks and Wanda McGinn.

Thanks to Barbara Richmond, Dee Lynott and the Sacks Thrift Avenue Sales Team for their effervescent efforts in being the spunkiest sales people ever! The sorting took place at the Spring Fiesta House again. A great team handled both pricing and selling of all the fun fashions. Pat McCluskey, Diane Smith, Darien Conlee, Samantha McRaney, Phyllis Evans, Carole Kulman, Rickie Maloney, Nina Tyler, Fran Twiford, Toni Causey and Maxime Clementin were all fashion experts for the day. The delivery team of Whitney Clementin and Whitney Johnson were right on time!

Trash & Treasures was beautifully priced, sorted and sold by Ralph Ruder, Rick Reiners, Ruby Tremont, Phyllis Bruscato, Doug Barden, Susan Goss, Dee Lynott, Carol Fleischman, Drew Goss, Ron Canedo, Ruby Tremont, Steve Swain, David & Susan Dupre, Susan Revels, Kate McDonough, Ott Howell, Debbie Mallernee, Leigh Jeanne & Greg Strain, Kim & Frank Hammant, Barbara Richmond, Jim & Marilyn Kitto and Tom McGinn.

Jewelry was sold by a bevy of sparkling volunteers, headed by Leslie Perrin and Fluffy Hegenberger, all of whom glittered like their treasures ! Adrienne Hartsock, Doug Barden and John Hartsock deserve a mountain of thanks for the piles of books they peddled. This team ticked like a clock.

Thanks again this year to the wonderful donation by Harold's Plant Gallery, and to Harold Applewhite and Kurt LeBlanc. The new Garden Thumb Club so ld almost everything! The presentation of plants was lovely and the lawn ornaments added to the charm. Thanks to Kim Hammant, Leigh Jeanne Strain, Susan Dupre, Joan Burmaster and Marie Ruppel for adding Miracle Grow to the event. These wonderful ladies were assisted by Frank Hammant, Greg Strain and David Dupre.

"Ron Canedo said to Celia Collins, 'My, what big shoes you have!' And fill them he did. Ron created a team that worked like a well-oiled (second hand) machine. What else would you expect??? He's got the moves !" {Sam Poche)

The men from Bethel Colony South Transformation moved t he goods to the school in the morning and came back at the end of the day to pick up the unsold items. They put those items to good use at the ministry's thrift store so our efforts were doubled: the sa le enriched our efforts to serve the French Quarter community and gave those less fortunate a boost as well.

Thanks to our indispensable volunteers in order of signing in the book! This is like the Book of Life for Patio Planters, because without our volunteers, Patio Planters would w ither and die on t he vine. So, THANK YOU, volunteers: Adrienne Hartsock, Quitman Gahagan, David & Susan Dupre, Susan Goss, Leslie Perrin, Chuck Ransdell, Ralph Ruder, Sam Poche, Eddie Selby, Kate McDonough, Greg and Gillian Pierce, Rick Reiner, Steve Swain, Marie Ruppel, Doug Barden, Rickie Maloney, Jim Kitto Phil Kurica, John Harsock, Maxine and Whitney Clementin, Joe Peter, Ashley Lewfory, Joyce Buland, Dee Lynott, Pat McCluskey, Craig Schexnayder, Michael Franklin, Tim Holmes, Celia Collins, Debbie Gagne, Marina Coustopolous, Mitch Pendarvis, Bradley Mire, C.W. Lartigue, Carole Kulman, P. Smith, Darien Conlee, Leigh Jeanne Strain, Kim Hammant, Joan Burmaster, John & Janice Parr, John Burke, Theresa DeJarnette, Marina Vasquez, Ruby Tremont, Cathy Mayers, Juliet Laughlin, Toni Causey, Ron Canedo, Michael Sibal, Phyllis Evans, Tom McGinn, Norman Manny, Gene Hidalgo, Bob & Sam McRaney, Bart Evans, Joey Maneri, Nina Tyler, Lynette Stillwell, Fran Twiford, Bill Hineman, Suzanne Dody, Ning Weidemeyer, Phyllis Bruscato, Susan Revels, Mary Adele Baus, Cynthia Frizzell, Dominique Frizzell, Sandra Callender, Kathy Whitcomb, Marilyn Kitto, Terry Smith, Jack Conlee, Drew Goss, Gunter & Evelyn Preuss and Tracy Treadaway.

And at the end of the day, what would it be without the hospitality of Bob & Samantha McRaney, who yea r after year open their home and serve the thirsty vo lunteers Bloody Marys, GTs on a si lver platter, and provide

the hungry volunteers a delicious spread? Taking the lead at the bar was our host Bob McRaney, followed up by Gene Hidalgo, Jack Conlee, Terry Smith and Gunter Preuss.

More thanks to behind the scenes workers goes to the publicity efforts of Mary Finney, who got the word to the right publications and handed out flyers and posters. During the week of the event, Mr. President Stephen Swain, Treasurer James Kitto, Board Member Doug Barden, and Ruby Tremont posted flyers all over the French Quarter. Thanks to B.B. St. Roman for preparing all of the auction flyers and stationery. Thanks to our Treasurer, James Kitto, who is always around for set up, back up and for counting the money at the end of a long, long day.

And last but not least, to Juliet Laughlin for signing in over 90 volunteers. It's like herding cats, but Juliet collected them all. When we opened the gates, early this year, the shoppers streamed in. Your efforts make this happen. If we left you out, it's not on purpose. We sincerely thank everyone who participated, no matter how little or much, you make this worth doing!

About our Holiday Home Tour . ..

The day was cold and rainy, but warmth and good cheer overflowed in the homes on our annual Holiday Home Tour. Thanks to super volunteer Jim Kitto we had six private residences, and the iconic Beauregard-Keyes House (thanks Ott Howell!) served as our hub home with refreshments and holiday goodies. That good cheer was most evident in the welcome Milk Punches and Bloody Marys delivered to our docents/volunteers by the undaunted John Conner on his handy dandy French Quarter friendly scooter! Tickets were available for purchase prior to the tour at Creole Delicacies, 533 St. Ann St. (at Jackson Square) thanks to Lisette Sutton, and at French Quarter Gem & Lapidary, 527 St. Philip St. (near Decatur) thanks to Alan Hobden. Please consider patronizing these establishments and let them know that you are a Patio Planter and appreciate their support. Of course, unless Patio Planters and our friends and neighbors donate their homes for the tour, we would have nothing to offer our visitors. So, a special thanks to the following supporters who not only opened their homes, but also decorated their rooms and fac;ades to create a festive and welcoming holiday environment: William & Denisa Means at 510 Esplanade Ave., Sonny Faggart at 716 Dumaine St., Joey DiFatta at 1113 Bourbon St., Guy Williams at 904 Dauphine St., Morris, Ann & Sylvie Kahn at 1000 N. Rampart St., realtors Robert Ripley and Samara Poche at the newly renovated 822 Barracks St. and Ann Masson at the Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden at 1113 Chartres St. We are most grateful to those who sacrificed some of their time to serve as docents on this very busy day: Frannie Conner, Donna Hamsher, Patti Rodriguez, James & Jenny Cole, Amanda & Frank Ingargiola, Judith & Melvyn Kossover, Tom McGinn, Carol Goodwin, Doug Barden, Janet Dales, Sandra Callender, Frances Cordell and Angela Carll. Also, we thank Bonnie & Walter Lee, Ruby Tremont, Jerry Zachary, B. Jean Wood, Dave & Maddie Jorgensen, Rickie Maloney, Phil & Renee Kurica, Cheryl Canavier & Patrick McNulty, Arlene Karcher, Lu Dalton, Susan & Drew Goss and Kate Simister. Many thanks to our volunteer ticket sellers, who endured the cold and rainy day at the Jackson Square store fronts: Frances Salvaggio, Lea Siegel and Susan & Albin Guillot. And thanks to Mary Finney, our PR operator extraordinaire! She made our magic work with all the news outlets. Thanks, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Holiday Home Tour Committee!

Srephen Swain.Nancv Pomiech01vski and James Xuro

Photos from our Christmas Brunch . .. by Norman Many

l

I made this chi le for a Board meeting and Barbara Richmond insisted I put it in the Punch for all to enjoy.

Wisconsin Chile

1 lb. lean ground beef

5 bratwurst sausages, casings removed

1 tsp garlic powder

1 onion, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

3 bell peppers, chopped

1 jalapefio pepper, seeded and minced

8 oz. sliced white mushrooms

1 29-oz. can tomato sauce

114.5-oz. can diced tomatos, undrained

112-oz. can tomato paste

116-oz. can red kidney beans, undrained

116-oz. can pinto beans, undrained

112-oz. bottle Abita amber beer

1 tsp salt, to taste

1 tsp pepper, to taste

2 tsp chil i pepper

Yi tsp cayenne pepper

~tsp white pepper

1 tsp each ground cumin, oregano, ground coriander

In a large skillet, combine the beef, bratwurst and garlic powder. Cook over medium heat until brown, stirring

frequently to break up lumps, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large stock pot.

Discard all but 1 tbls of drippings in the skillet. Add the onion, garlic, bell peppers, jalapef\o pepper and

mushrooms. Cook over medium heat until softened, stirring often, about 8-10 minutes.

Transfer to the strock pot.

Add all of the remaining ingredients to the stock pot, stir to combine and cook for 2-3 hours.

Optional: Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and chopped green onions.

Serves 12.

PATIO PLANTERS OF THE VIEUX CARRE

New/Renewal Membership Application 2017

Membership type: [ ] Individual $35 [ ] Household $60 [ ] Friend* $35 [ ] Friend* H'hold $60

Mailing address (if different) __________ ____ _____ _______ _

Home phone _ _________ _ Cell phone ___ _ _________ ___ _

E-mail address ----------- ------------- ---- - ----(very important.for us to be able to contact you efficiently)

If you are a new member, please include the fo llowing:

Sponsors I. _ ___ ___________ _ 2. --- - - - ---- - -----

Occupation (optional) ____________ __________ ____ ____ _

Resident of the Vieux Carre since (year) ______ _

Please make your check payable to Patio Planters and mail to:

Patio Planters

1000 Bourbon St. #270

New Orleans, LA 70116

New members who join in October, November, or December are paid members for the following year.

Questions? Contact our Membership Chairman at membership@patioplanters.org .

If using a credit card, visit www.patioplanters.org, click on the membership tab and follow the instructions.

* Friends of Patio Planters are new members who do not live in the French Quarter or own property there.

They are non-voting members, ineligible for office, but otherwise enjoy all benefits of membership.

PATIO PlANfJER§ OFTHEVIEUXCARRE

2016 Board of Directors

President

Vice-Pres

Secretary

Treasurer

Stephen Swain

Barbara Richmond

Albin Guillot

James Kitto

Additional Members

Douglas Barden

Susan Goss

Ott Howell

Ina Magee

Home phone 523-7047

586-8070

581-4516

304-5490

528-7664

581-1318

Nancy Pomiechowski 598-6060

Cell phone 330-3466

710-3547

671-1011

312-504-4499

601-862-4808

390-0830

Email steveswain@cox.net

1016hillary@gmail.com

albinguillot@aol.com

kittonola@cox.net

susandgoss@gmail.com

Ohowell49@aol.com

inamagee@yahoo.com

nancyval@bellsouth.net

2016 Committee Chairs

Membership Susan Goss

Program Ina Magee

Hospitality R.l.P. Ms. Shirl Cieutat

Cheer Douglas Barden, Barbara Richmond

Publicity Mary Finney (522-5143), Ruby Tremont (524-9379), Douglas Barden

Birthday Party Douglas Barden, Al & Susan Guillot, Adrienne Hartsock {366-5807)

Fall Fiesta Douglas Barden, Ott Howell, Barbara Richmond

Secret Garden Tours Nancy Pomiechowski (598-6060), Stephen Swain, James Kitto

Halloween Decoration Judging

White Elephant Sale & Auction

Thomas McGinn (529-9755), Stephen Swain

Sam Poche (319-6226), Ina Magee, Susan Goss

Christmas Brunch Douglas Barden, Celia Collins, Al & Susan Guillot, Barbara Richmond, Frances Salvaggio

Christmas Decoration Judging Thomas McGinn, Stephen Swain

Holiday Home Tour Nancy Pomiechowski, Stephen Swain, James Kitto

Caroling in Jackson Square Janice Foulks (593-9566), John Hartsock (723-3113), Robert Phelps (899-8328), Stephen Swain, Sandra Dartus (309-7744)

Historian Sam Poche

The Punch B.B. St. Roman (723-7332), Stephen Swain

$ Mark Your Calendars: 2017 $

GENERAL MEETINGS

lstWednesday ofeachmonth at 6:30 pm

Mary's Ace Hardware, 732 N. Rampart Street

January 4 February 1 March l April5 May3

Board meetings are held on the THIRD Monday of each month.

SOCIAL EVENTS

Birthday Party

Fall Fiesta

Secret Garden Tours

Halloween Decoration Judging

White Elephant Sale & Auction

Christmas Brunch

Christmas Decoration Judging

Holiday Home Tour

Caroling in Jackson Square

THE PUNCH Jan - Feb, 2017 Vol. 59, No. 1

Usually in May

Sunday, October 8 ?

Saturday & Sunday, October 21 & 22

Tuesday, October 24

Saturday, November 11

Sunday, December 3, 12 to 3 pm

Tuesday, December 12

Sunday, December 17, 1to 4 pm

Sunday, December 17, 7 pm

published bimonthly and usually mailed l 0 days before the monthly general meeting.

All information to be included in THE PUNCH should be sent to:

Stephen Swain Home: 523-7047 Cell: 330-3466 Email: steveswain@ cox.net

Patio Planters, 1000 Bourbon Street, #270, New Orleans, LA 7011 6 www.patioplanters.org

Patio Planters would like to thank

Harold's Plants for donating an orchid to every meeting

Visit Harold's Plants at 2900 St. Claude Avenue (at the RR tracks)

504-947-7554 - Open 7 days a week, 8 am-6 pm (summer hours)

Check out their beautiful website a t haroldsplants.com

Patio Planters would also like to thank

Mary's Ace Hardware for allowing us to hold our meetings

in their Barkus Room.

Mary's is your neighborhood hardware store featuring a premier house and kitchen ware store

on the second floor

Off street parking ~ 732 N. Rampart Street

504-529-4465