TIMES ON WHEELS:
2011 Toyota Seinna
SPORTS:
Berwick; "You bet your life"
Dudek; "Not so Farve from oveF'
Page 2
REMINDER:
THE NEW8PAPER OF AMEI
Chamber After Hours Thursday 5:30 p.m.
Whitney National Bank
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B ANTIQUE CITY
www.ponchatoula.com/ptimes, THURSDAY,,,,,, SBPTEMBER 23, 2010 29th YEAR NUMBER 51 50 CENTS
"Home of Ireland's rest artist(s)"
Ulster is the touchstone
It was here the Irish epic
took place, here where the he-
roes performed their great
deeds, here where some of the
finest Irish art and poetry were
produced. And artist Dara Val-
lely continues that fine tradi-
tion today.
Dara Vallely is, I believe, Ire-
land's greatest living artist.
Vallely and his educator wife
Anne Hart welcomed me into
their home in Armagh, North-
ern Ireland, having arrived via
Bus Eireann from Dublin. Since
I last visited they had expand-
ed their home to include a new
gallery for Dara Vallely's paint-
ings.
Dara (which means "oak"
in the Irish language) has vis-
ited Ponchatoula, one time in
2006 as grand marshal of the
Krewe of Erin Ponchatoula St.
Patrick's Parade, when he also
graciously included his paint-
ings in a local art show hosted
by the krewe.
~. Vallely also performed con-
certs here with his longtime
friends Peter Shortall and
Brendan Bailey (who has since
passed away) as members of The
Armagh Rhymers, a desperate
collection of mummers, actors,
poets, musicians and, more re-
cently, storyteller Steve Lally
and musician Owen Kelly.
They are very much a part of
the peace and reconciliation ef-
fort to encourage the once war-
ring Christian% Protestant and
Catholic, to continue walking
the path of peace. They stage
theatrical events at schools,
inviting students from schools
of Protestants and Catholics,
blending them in casts of plays
whose themes are all about get-
ting along.
The late TerryAnn McMahon
especially relished that part of
the Rhymers' contribution to
Irish culture, as she thrilled
at the Rhymers' school perfor-
mances she attended with me
in 2003 when we represented
Gov. Kathleen Blanco on a mis-
sion to introduce Carnival to
Ulster, as yet another way to
bring Protestant and Catholic
schoolchildren together, and on
later trips where we publicized
the Rhymers' efforts at bridg-
ing the religious gap with the
youth.
These talented playwrights,
By BRYAN T. McMAHON
(Part Two in a Series)
for all things Irish.
actors, poets and musicians
speak to the artistic soul of Ire-
land in a language long familiar
to its people.
Certainly Dara Vallely's
paintings are another huge ad-
dition to the national cultural
PLEASE SEE PAGE 8
De
By BROOKS )'CONNOR
Times Reporter
This past Friday around
dusk, a good Samaritan who
wishes to remain anonymous
watched in horror as a broad-
shouldered hawk was blind-sid-
ed by a car on La. Hwy. 22.
The elegant bird was at-
tempting to take off from a
nearby field. Instead it was
knocked onto the shoulder of
the eastbound lane. The car
sped onward and the injured
raptor struggled gamely to re-
turn to the air, but only man-
aged to flop desperately into the
oncoming lane of traffic.
Our hero did not pass on the
other side. He took matters into
his own hands, literally. The
Samaritan stopped his car, got
out and grabbed the bird firmly,
clutching its wings to its body.
He put it on the back floorboard
Injured raptor now in hawk hospital of his car. The wildlife buff then
Memorializing a great fiddler drove the short distance to his
home, wondering all the while if
Ulster artist Dara Vallely is pictured in front of a series 4
of paintings he created in honor of the late fiddler Sean beginthe creatureflying aboutW°uldinreC°verhis vehicteand
d
Maguire of Belfast, credited with being Ireland's greatest Jl
fiddler. He died three years ago. (Times Photo) PLEASE SEE PAGE
Portrait of Anne Hart
A loving portrait of his
wife Anne Hart by Ulster's
Dara Vallely graces the
couple's home, the former
residence of the Bishop of
Armagh. (Times Photo)
Vallely paintings heading forNew Orleans
Dara Vallely is readying a special collection of his work
that uses a Japanese enameling style in preparation for a
New Orleans show featuring his paintings. (Times Photo)
Here they come!
Quarter Horses run a straight course for their events, so spectators get a clear view
of each horse's position throughout the race. Pictured here, in the seventh at the Fair-
grounds, Gasango, Number 7 (in orange), tries to make a move on leader Six Mountains
Away. Gasango lost, but anyone who had a chance for a fleeting instant to watch these
remarkable animals thunder by, was a winner. (Times photo Chris O'Connor)
By JAMES PERRIN
Educator and Historian
(Part Two)
The Michigan industrialist,
Edwin C. Nichols, purchased 37
acres of land on the east bank of
Ponchatoula Creek in 1890 and
had an impressive raised Creole
style home built on the site.
The house is believed by this
writer to have served as an el-
egant winter hunting lodge for
Nichols and his wealthy friends.
Nichols sold the home and land
in April 1895 to Oldham Bry-
som Wetmore.
The land and the improve-
ments thereon had been pur-
PLEASE SEE PAGE 5
City Hall gearing
up for October 6
bikeathon
Times Report
Bicycles will be the big wheels
in Ponchatoula on Wednesday,
October 6, "National Walk to
School Day."
It is all part of the Zabbia Ad-
PLEASE SEE PAGE 4
New round picnic
tables donated by
the Strawberry
Festival Board
Times Report
City workers this week
are deploying five new, mod-
ern coated-metal round picnic
tables (including one special
PLEASE SEE PAGE 4
Quarter Horse
Race Eyewitness
By BROOKS O'CONNOR
Times Reporter
"Crown on fire, RTM say
your prayers, meet in Merial
Distaff'
Now how can you not read
on when you see a racing form
headline like that? Race horse
owners make as bold a state-
ment as powerboat owners
when naming their speedsters.
The brash monikers aren't
just talk: The American Quarter
PLEASE SEE PAGE 4
By OLE HARDHIDE
The Alligator
Roz at Ponchatoula Feed and Seed had a grand ole birth-
day this week, made all the lovelier when a loyal customer
brought her red velvet ct~pcakes from the bakery across the
street in honor of the occasion. Go Roz!
One of the several talented people on the wait staff at Rock-
efellers, artist Angel Sepulvado, is painting my portrait as
part of her mural commissioned for one of the side buildings
at the CVS Pharmacy. Hank Van Den Akker, my page one of-
ficial portrait artist for The Ponchatoula Times will be soooooo
jealous, but probably also supportive, he is that kind of gentle-
man.
Also, look for downtown Ponchatoula artist Renee Bou-
dreaux to showcase her considerable talents on the Hotard-
Goode Building on the corner of Southwest Railroad Avenue
and West Pine Street, after it gets its Randy Tomeny redo,
now that the new balcony is in place and only the painting
awaits.
Longtime Ponchatoula sailor Ronnie Centanni of Millville
has retired and says he is "enjoying my life on land." No more
pitching decks, no more relying on mermaids for company.
Ronnie is now falling in love with his lawn, and the solid earth
beneath it.
The October 16 Party in the Pits is just around the corner.
Remember, this is all about beef and pork and has nothing,
absolutely nothing, to do with alligators. My question is, will
Tom Pittman put on his apron and compete? Tell me the an-
swer to that and I'll tell you if this is going to be a sincere
competition.
A great Cajun beauty from Ponchatoula was said to be seen
returning from the altar rail Sunday at St. Alberts. Could that
be the newly wed Morgan Dunn? The same lass who knows
her poetry and used to have the habit of walking on her toes,
Lucky Pat?
Julie Doherty is the defensive coach at Ponchatoula Ath-
letic Park, just her latest coaching gig in Our Ponchatoula.
Look for an impenetrable line. Go Big D!
The mega parties in Ponchatoula these days are being
PLEASE SEE PAGE 5
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