September 11, 2023 2113 Serpas Dr., St. Bernard.

Since at least 1847, bananas and plantains have been waving their large tropical leaves throughout the city and around home sites in southern Louisiana. The bananas growing about town these days are not the Cavandish type most found in the grocery produce aisle, but usually are starchy cultivars from Central America that rebound after a freeze. Bananas that grow here are treated as ornamental plants rather than production trees, but they do flower and produce edible fruits. The common plantain and the rose banana (Musa ornata) grow in moist, yet well-draining soils in the sun or partial sun. They grow large, watery trunks from a rhizome system in the ground. Removing them can be extremely difficult as they can regrow from small sections of root material left behind. They have naturalized over the years and thrive on neglect and tend to form dense clumps.

Talk about high-flying owls! Recently, two Chalmette High School seniors were recognized as National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists, Alex Jorns and Kenny Quach. This prestigious honor, granted to the nation’s most promising students, qualifies them for an opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28M. Offered next spring, Merit Scholars are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

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Gillis McCloskey is honored to announce his candidacy for Council at Large West in the upcoming election. Gillis is a lifelong resident of St.

The St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District was awarded $967,980 in grant money for its Maritime Security Operation Center (MSOC), the center that protects the port through physical security, cyber innovation and more.

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The St. Bernard Port, Harbor & Terminal District (SBPHTD) recently released its 2023 Annual Report, giving the port authority the opportunity to display how much cargo it was able to move over the last year, what community initiatives it took part in, and generally highlight the port’s operations.

At the September 19 St. Bernard Parish council meeting, it was revealed that there are additional obstacles the council must address in their fire departments. Specifically, council member at-large west Richie Lewis read an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office that stated the way the fire department is currently being run doesn’t adhere to the St. Bernard Parish Government’s (SBPG) home rule charter and state law.

College students looking to earn quick credits before the end of the fall semester have more than 40 options to choose from during Nunez Community College’s Mini-Session B. The ‘mini-mester’ begins Oct.