The Ponchatoula Podcast

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that the goal of education is intelligence plus character.  If you agree that our community should teach young people to think creatively and act morally, then you will enjoy the story of Dr. Danny Williams.  Danny is a retired educator who has molded Ponchatoula children in every capacity imaginable: teacher, principal, parish-wide curriculum director, college professor, Key Club sponsor, First Baptist Church Deacon and Music Minister, foreign exchange student sponsor, and much more.  He has shaped our little town through countless hours of community service, generous and genuine guidance, and peerless personal friendship.  In his interview, Danny shares his rich family history, impressive career achievements, and inspiring outlook on life.  You won't want to miss it.   In Taste of Tangi, Parker recommends Paul's Cafe.  For over four decades, its been a cherished gathering place for local Ponchatoula where you can enjoy a home-cooked breakfast, hearty lunch, or frozen strawberry daiquiri.  Paul's offers more than hot meals and cold drinks... it's a place to visit with your neighbors and catch up on local new (and gossip).  https://paulscafe.net/   For Parker's Pick, we endorse Xpress Printing, a full service retail printer owned and operated by Tommy Cooper.  This is a great business owned by a truly great man.  Call Xpress to get business cards, letterhead, envelopes, brochures, invitations, labels, etc.  985-386-7830   Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).

“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” — Mahatma Gandhi

  If you agree that our community only does well when we take care of our disabled neighbors, then you will love this interview with TARC CEO Kathleen Abels.     TARC is as local nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to realize their full potential, and to become self-directed and contributing citizens.  They are working to promote the general welfare of children and adults in the Florida Parishes, fostering and developing programs and services for individuals with special needs, serving as an advocate for families, gathering and dispersing information, cooperating with all public and private providers in furtherance of these goals, aiding parents as it relates to individual challenges, and providing support and education while encouraging maximum growth through quality services. Kathleen is a local woman who has "walked the walk."  She shares her story of how successfully raised a son with special needs.  She gives hopes to others with similar stories.  She invites you to help Ponchatoula people with disabilities realize their potential by supporting TARC. (https://www.tarc-hammond.com/) In Taste of Tangi, Parker raves about the authentic Hong Kong cooking available at China Lotus.  Owner Juliana Chan and Chef Chef An Lam (Andrew) share devoted work ethic and extraordinary cooking with the Ponchatoula / Hammond Community.  It is a unique concept in Chinese dining that broke away from the typical Chinese restaurant that America was use to. It employs a softer color scheme that provided a sense of calm and comfort - a sharp contrast to the harsh red and gold decor of most "Americanized" Chinese restaurants . Another stereotype that China Lotus seeks to change is that a Chinese restaurant has to serve their entrees on a buffet to succeed . You won't find a buffet there! The reason - Juliana has a firm belief that truly good food must be prepared only when the customer orders it.  Ms. Juliana is also an accomplished artist. You will notice her pottery and watercolor paintings adorning the shelves and walls of the restaurant. China Lotus - "Where cooking becomes art!"  (http://www.chinalotus-hammond.com/menu.htm) For Parker's Pick, we recommend Kali Norton Photography.  Kali is a supremely talented local photographer and photojournalist who documents and curates "the perfectly imperfect stories of love and life."  Kali (pronounced "kale-ee,” like the veggie) works with clients whose stories of the things they’ve endured with their loved ones paint an incredibly moving picture and teach me every day about what it means to LIVE, embrace, and document this one chance we get at these years on this planet.  "Photographing, loving on, and connecting with warm humans is the most fulfilling thing to me--capturing a little piece of their heart and world," says Kali.  Parker and his wife Brandie have entrusted Kali to photograph their family numerous times and they are ALWAYS blown away by the beautiful results.  (https://www.kalinorton.com/)   Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).

If you want to know what Ponchatoula was like in the 1950s, and you'd like to hear about it from a community icon, you're gonna love this episode! Eddie Layrisson is best known as the most successful and longest serving Sheriff in Tangipahoa Parish history. But before that he was a kid on his bike, a St. Joseph School student, and the starting quarterback for the PHS Green Wave. His interview includes:

• Adoption from the New Orleans Orphanage
• Playing with Fire and the Dufreche Boys in the 1940s
• PHS vs. HHS Football Rivalry in the 1950s
• Lifeguarding and Skiing at Ponchatoula Beach
• Richardson's Hardware Store and Much More

You won't want to miss Eddie share his story about growing up in old time Ponchatoula.  His tales are full of "the Ponchatoula Magic." In Taste of Tangi, we discuss Tangipahoa's most famous restaurant: Middendorf's -- the Home of Thin Fried Catfish! (http://middendorfsrestaurant.com/)  Middendorf's is also known for comfort, consistency, and 75 years of Mama Josie's recipes.  Owner's Horst and Karen Pfeifer are committed to providing a place for guests that they would want to visit with their families, and it shows. Parker's Pick is Especially for You Florist, a locally owned and operated full service florist specializing in weddings, sympathy, corporate events, and everyday florals. (https://efyfloral.com/).  Especially for You is owned by Samantha Bates, AIFD CFD, the 2014 Louisiana State Designer of the Year and winner of the coveted Jim Johnson Cup. She specializes in transforming traditional arrangements into breathtaking designs. Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).

Business leaders lead lives of impact and influence.  They create jobs, training, and other opportunities for our community.  They help us pay our bills and provide for our families.  Sometimes, they make our dreams come true. Most folks underestimate the work, vision, and financial risk it takes to build a business worth millions. Not Chance Enmon!  As the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Jani-King Gulf Coast Region (and son of CEO Tom Enmon), Chance knows exactly how much his family has put on the line to help big business thrive in Ponchatoula. In this episode, you'll learn about Chance's business adventures:

• Grinding it out as a telemarketer
• Deciding to stay (and expand) in Ponchatoula
• Creating job opportunities for our neighbors
• Building a brighter future by educating our children
• Volunteering in business development

You will also hear how Chance and his family enjoy the ballparks of Ponchatoula and the swamps of Manchac.   In Taste of Tangi, we explore Saul Rubio's BBQ sensation: Salty Joes!  (http://saltyjoesbbq.com/)  Salty Joe’s is a one-of-a-kind dining destination. Its dishes are made with the best local ingredients from the land to the sea.  The pecan-wood smoker gives their slow-smoked meats the intricate flavors of BBQ that you love. If it’s fire-touched flavors you crave, enjoy the grilled meats, burgers, and fresh seafood!   For Parker's Pick, we recommend Brian Steib, Brenda Wolfe, and the entire team at the Ponchatoula Branch of Florida Parishes Bank (https://www.bankfpb.com/). These are bankers you can trust to give you personal attention in an age of impersonal automation.     Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).

If you like church, family, and Ponchatoula schools, you're gonna love Mary Beth Crovetto.  Mary Beth serves as Principal of Ponchatoula Jr. High School, but that's just a small part of who she is. (https://www.tangischools.org/domain/473) She is -- first and foremost -- a devoted Christian.  Her faith defines her.  She is also a supportive wife and a nurturing mother.  Her family enriches her life.  She is an educator (like her mother) and an administrator (like her father).  Her students love her.  She is a performer... a cheerleader... a friend... and so much more. Mary Beth's interview is stacked with sensational stories:

• focusing on faith
• growing up in Hammond 
• dreaming of Broadway
• serving our schools 
• raising a family

In this episode, you will hear the very best Ponchatoula has to offer from the very best spokesperson we can imagine. In Taste of Tangi, we discover Chef Bryan Poche and Fine Thyme Catering.  Fine Thyme Catering is an "All Occasions Catering Company". We offer full service off site catering to the Louisiana Gulf Coast for: Weddings, Corporate Events, Social Events, Cocktail Receptions, Outdoor BBQ's, Boils and more.  (http://www.finethymecatering.com/)   For Parker's Pick, we recommend Branch Real Estate, family owned and operated for over 60 years. There, Charlene Branch Daniels, her son Wesley Daniels, and their team focus on providing caring and professional service for all of their clients. Their intimate knowledge of the area and experience will ensure that you are well informed when making such an important decision as buying or selling property. (http://www.branch.la/)   Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).

Don't you just love fall weather?   In Ponchatoula, that crisp autumn air means it's time for the "Friday Night Lights" of Ponchatoula High School football in "The Swamp."  The only better time and place to watch a game is Saturday night in Death Valley! Jonathan Rucker excelled as a leader and linebacker at PHS and LSU.  Now, as a husband, father, businessman, and community volunteer, he is giving back to the Ponchatoula community that raised him.  In this interview, you'll see just how great and genuine Jonathan is.  He comes from a great family that has been integral to Ponchatoula for generations.  His mother, Connie Dotey, is a local legend.  She was the first female state trooper in Louisiana, Chief Deputy of the TPSO Juvenile Division, a successful businesswoman, and a dedicated mother.  Jonathan took her teaching to heart, and it paid off.  He also applied the lessons her learned on the field from coaches like Brandon Bennett, Hank Tierney, and Les Miles.  And now he is sharing them with other young men through, Rucker's House, a local non-profit he founded with the goal of giving young men ages 16-17 who are in foster care an opportunity to gain their independence and to earn an education.(https://www.facebook.com/Strike2MinistriesRuckersHouse/) In Taste of Tangi, Parker describes the amazing BBQ, burgers, root beer, and good times of his youth by recommending Hi Ho #1 Barbecue (where he worked for 4 years during high school).  This is a great, family-owned place that serves a variety of dishes you can enjoy -- all of which will be served up with quick, top-notch customer service.  The specialty is BBQ beef and pork sandwiches.  (https://www.hihobbq.com/) Finally, in Parker's Pick, you discover Strawberry Castle Preschool.  "My son loves Strawberry Castle Preschool! It is a wonderful, uplifting school for little ones. The teachers and administrators are awesome. If you are looking for a place to trust with your precious little boy or girl, look no further than SCP," said Parker. (https://www.facebook.com/Strawberry-Castle-Preschool-146698988738310/)

Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).

 

Many people wonder whether moving to Ponchatoula will be worth it.  Although each trip here reveals a Mayberry-esque magic, visitors are curious about whether that small town charm lasts long into residency.   In this interview, Ponchatoula Times Publisher Bryan T. McMahon, a Michigan native who moved to Ponchatoula in the 1970s, solves the mystery.  In a gripping tale that begins on the "mean streets of Detroit" and ends happily ever after on Ponchatoula's 7th Street, Bryan describes Ponchatoula's allure with a zeal worthy of Mark Twain.  If you're thinking of settling in the Strawberry Capital of the World, check out Bryan's message on why moving 1,000 miles to Ponchatoula was worth it. (For more info on The Ponchatoula Times: https://www.ponchatoula.com/ptimes/)   In our inaugural Taste of Tangi segment, The Ponchatoula Podcast's host, Parker Layrisson, reveals that the best Italian food you can buy in Tangipahoa Parish is available at Ristorante Foodies (https://www.ristorantefoodies.com/).  Nestled within historic Downtown Ponchatoula, Ristorante Foodies is an authentic, fine dining Italian restaurant inspired by Chef Paolo Cenni.  His dishes are simple cuisine prepared on the principle that the flavor of the main ingredient is enhanced, but never overpowered, by seasonings and spices and garnishments.  The freshness of the New Orleans-supplied ingredients is also key.   Finally, if you need a talented and trustworthy auto mechanic, you will love Parker's Pick, where he introduces you to Marshall Graves (Sr.) and Graves Automotive (https://www.facebook.com/gravesautomotive/).  "Graves Automotive has earned my highest review through great work, reasonable prices, and honest dealing. Three generations of my family have relied on Marshall Graves to keep our vehicles on the road. He's a great mechanic and better man," said Parker.   Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).

The Ponchatoula Podcast with Parker Layrisson features local news and community interviews from the Ponchatoula Hammond area, located at the crossroads of I-12 and I-55, deep in the bayous of South Louisiana. Parker is a husband, father, personal injury attorney, author, and community volunteer who is on a mission to share the unique food, culture, events, and people of Ponchatoula with the world.

Finally, The Ponchatoula Podcast is sponsored by the Parker Layrisson Law Firm, Ponchatoula personal injury attorneys who help busy people get paid after car accidents (https://layrisson.com/).