[StBernard] CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AT HISTORIC ST. BERNARD PARISH COURTHOUSE AND LOS ISLENOS MUSEUM COMPLEX DECEMBER 8th, 2013

[Westley Annis]

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AT HISTORIC ST. BERNARD PARISH COURTHOUSE AND LOS
ISLENOS MUSEUM COMPLEX DECEMBER 8th, 2013
 
CONTACT PERSONS:    Katie Tommaseo, Director, St. Bernard Parish Tourist    

                                              Commission – 504.278.4242;
ktommaseo @sbpg.net
 
                                               Kathy Serpas Ziegler,
Chairperson, Christmas Committee,
                                                Los Islenos Heritage Society
– 504.494.5848; 
                                                kziegler2012 at att.net
 
The beautifully restored Historic St. Bernard Parish Courthouse, 1201 Bayou
Road, and Los Islenos Museum Complex, 1345 – 1357 Bayou Road, both in St.
Bernard Village, will be festively decorated for the 2013 Holiday Season.  A
special holiday program will be held Sunday, December 8th, 2013 beginning at
4:30 p.m. at the Historic Courthouse.  Parish President David Peralta will
subsidize the decoration of the Historic Courthouse.  Los Islenos Society,
under the direction of Christmas Committee Chairperson Kathy Serpas Ziegler,
will decorate Los Islenos Museum Complex.
 
Toledano and Wogan architectural firm designed the Historic Courthouse in
1914.  Construction was completed in 1915 and the courthouse opened for
business just two months before the catastrophic 1915 Hurricane.  This
courthouse remained in use as the seat of St. Bernard Parish until 1939 when
it moved to Chalmette.  The facility reopened as a school in 1940 and
remained in use as St. Bernard School, St. Bernard High School, P.G.T.
Beauregard High School and, finally, P.G.T. Beauregard Middle School until
2005.  Almost $8,000,000 in FEMA funding was spent to restore the Historic
Courthouse following Hurricane Katrina.  “I am happy to support the
decoration of this important parish landmark for Christmas” said Parish
President Peralta.
 
A concert of Holiday music performed Chalmette High School Brass Band and
Jazz Ensemble will begin the Holiday celebration at the Historic Courthouse
at 4:30 p.m.  The Chalmette Jazz Ensemble will lead a second line procession
from the courthouse to Los Islenos Museum Complex about 5:00 p.m.  A concert
of holiday music will follow on the grounds of the museum complex performed
by the musical and vocal groups of St. Bernard Middle School, Lacoste
Elementary School, Gauthier Elementary School and Davies Elementary School. 
A traditional bonfire will be lit on the grounds of the Museum Complex
around 6:00 p.m.  Anthony A. Fernandez,Jr. will provide hay rides with Santa
Claus on the grounds.  Hot dogs, homemade chili, soft drinks and water will
be offered for sale after the program.  Los Islenos Society will provide hot
chocolate, hot apple cider and cookies free of charge. 
 
Museum Complex buildings will all be decorated for the December 8th
celebration.  Nicholas Ducros “Duke” Collins and his wife Lucy Collins will
decorate the Louis Alfred Ducros, M.D. Historical Museum and Research
Library; Dorothy L. Benge and Karen Dauterive will decorate Los Islenos
Museum; Clem and Paula Mackles will decorate Los Islenos Center;  Cinda
Melerine will decorate the Trapper’s Cabin; Joann Messa will decorate the
Coconut Island Barroom; Kathy Serpas Ziegler, Catherine Ybarzabal Serpas,
Amy Gonzales and Shannon Joachim will decorate the Estopinal and Esteves
Houses; Melanie Ybarzabal Koons will decorate the Cresap-Caserta House; the
picnic pavilions will be decorated by Rhonda Rodriguez Hannan and exterior
grounds lighting will be provided by Los Islenos Society President Lloyd
“Wimpy” Serigne and his wife Doris Serigne.
 
Please join in this wonderful public celebration!