Events/Eventos: ISLEńOS NEWSLETTER/PRESS RELEASES
LOS ISLEńOS HERITAGE & CULTURAL SOCIETY

JANUARY, 2012 NEWSLETTER 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The Christmas 2011 Event organized by the Christmas Committee was a wonderful success. More than 300 members and neighbors turned out to participate in the December 11th program, which featured beautifully decorated buildings and grounds, a bonfire and Christmas caroling. Special recognition is due Kathy Serpas Ziegler who chaired and coordinated the Christmas Committee; the Benge family who decorated Los Islenos Museum; Nicholas "Duke" and Lucy Collins who decorated Ducros Museum; Joann Messa Bonomo who decorated the Coconut Island Barroom; Cinda Rodriguez Melerine who decorated the Calvin A. Melerine Trapper’s Cabin; Donna Mumfrey-Martin and Lorraine B. Mc Daniel who decorated the Estopinal House; Kathy Serpas Ziegler and Catherine Ybarzabal Serpas who decorated the Esteves House and Melanie Ybarzabal Koons who decorated the Cresap-Caserta House. Droves of the extended Serpas-Ybarzabal family also made important contributions to the event, as did Paul and Jeanne Lagarde, Etienne Viator, Hugh and Beverly Pentney, Anthony A. "Tony" Fernandez, Ray Nehlig and many others. Jerry Estopinal built an impressive bonfire as he has for many years since the early 1990s. We expect great additions for Christmas 2012!

FIESTA 2012, scheduled for March 17 – 18, 2012, is just around the corner! Hugh Pentney and Rhonda Rodriguez Hannan will serve as co-chairmen of Fiesta 2012. We need volunteers for all facets of the operation of Fiesta 2012. Advance preparation of traditional food will begin shortly. More about the fiesta will follow in this communication.

Please mark your calendar for Los Islenos Fiesta, MARCH 17 – 18, 2012 and support to the maximum extent this celebration of the historic and cultural identity of the Islenos, colonists from the Canary Islands who founded St. Bernard Parish. We cannot succeed without your involvement! Thank you for your continuing support!

LLOYD "WIMPY" SERIGNE, President

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FIESTA 2012

Advance food preparation meetings are in the process of being organized. Volunteers will be needed to chop seasoning, fruit, roll croquetas, prepare empanadillas [meat pies], and prepare desserts. We will be using the kitchens at St. Bernard Middle School and the Isleno Center. Several Saturdays in January,

February and March will be designated for these activities. Please make contact with Fiesta 2012 Co-Chairperson Rhonda Rodriguez Hannan at (504) 615 – 9322 or rhondahannan@yahoo.com to volunteer service hours and/or desserts.

Hugh Pentney has been feverishly busy arranging entertainment and infrastructure improvements. Please call Hugh to volunteer for grounds improvements at (504) 251 – 2040 or hughbev1021@gmail.com. Hugh Pentney did a phenomenal job last year as fiesta chairman and we know he will do equally well in 2012.

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ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE SHOW

Justice of the Peace Bruce Jackson, a new member of Los Islenos Society, has volunteered to organize an antique automobile show on the grounds of Los Islenos Museum Complex. He will be assisted by Ricky and Roxanne Reagan. The show is scheduled for Saturday, April 28th, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Funds generated by the show will be utilized to support our annual fiesta.

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS

The historic wooden fence designed by Mike Martin is in the process of construction. Laborers from St. Bernard Parish Prison, Community Service court ordered workmen, equipment from St. Bernard Parish Government and employees to operate the equipment have worked with Hugh Pentney, Mike Martin and other Society volunteers to bring the work to its current stage of completion. More volunteers are needed from the Society. Work is scheduled during weekdays and Saturdays. For additional information about volunteering, please call Mike Martin at (504) 912 – 3859 or plaquemine123@ yahoo.com.

Mike Martin completed a beautiful cypress replica Louisiana vernacular style table to display the molino de gofio or gofio mill which Los Cabuqueros donated to Los Islenos Museum for our rededication in 2010. Donna Mumfrey-Martin has rearranged the exhibition in Los Islenos Museum, has mounted a new temporary Katrina photographic display in Ducros Museum and has worked, with Lorraine Mc Daniel to spruce up many of the Museum Complex structures in preparation for Fiesta 2012.

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2012 DUES ARE NOW PAYABLE

Please remit your 2012 dues at your earliest convenience to LOS ISLENOS HERITAGE AND CULTURAL SOCIETY, 1345 – 1357 Bayou Road, St. Bernard, LA 70085. Vested and associate membership dues are $10.00 annually. You may also call Mrs. Doris Serigne, Membership Chairman, at (504) 610 – 1423 or Los Islenos Museum, (504) 277 -4681.

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MEMBERSHIP LIST UPDATED

We have many new members, in addition to deaths and changes in our membership. The list needs to be revised to reflect new, accurate contact information. Consequently, please send correct names, physical addresses, office, home and cellular telephone numbers and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, E-MAIL ADDRESSES to Doris Serigne, Membership Chairman, at dorisserine@yahoo.com or losislenos2011@gmail.com. Conversion to use of e-mail will substantially reduce volunteer labor and cost to the Society.

                                                                                                 Sincerely, Lloyd (Wimpy) Serigne (President)
                                                                                                              Wimpy