By DAVID VITRANO

News Editor

LULING—Unlike most of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the celebrations in the River Parishes tend more toward family and neighborhood. The same rules also apply to local krewes.

This axiom was clear as the officers from St. Charles’ Krewe of Lul met recently at the Ramada on Highway 18.

The krewe is in its 32nd year, and this year’s king and queen Ray and Cyl Landeche have been involved with the organization, though unofficially, for pretty much that entire time.

“We live on the parade route, so we’ve always supported it in that way,” said the royal couple.

From mere spectators, the pair moved on to judging floats and now, finally, into the upper echelons of the krewe’s hierarchy, such as it is.

Life-long residents of the parish, the two say they enjoy gardening, reading, and attending movies and plays, but their greatest joy is spending time with their family, especially their three grandchildren.

And on Saturday, Feb. 21, the day that Lul rolls, the Landeches will have plenty of time to spend with the grandkids—Lucia, 13, Claire, 9, and Thomas, 6—as they’ll be riding on the float waving to the crowds and tossing beads and doubloons along with their grandparents.

So, after so many years, have the Landeches grown bored with the revelry? The answer to that question would have to be a resounding,”No!”

“We have always supported and enjoyed the parade at our home with family and friends, but this year we are looking forward to the parade with the greatest anticipation ever,” they said.

Though not a native of St. Charles, Grand Marshall Maddie Fabre’s 43 years as a resident of Luling qualifies her as a lifer.

When her husband, the late Leon Fabre, was hired by Union Carbide, the couple moved to the parish, where they laid down roots.

Three of her four children, along with their six children, call Luling home. But as a 25-year veteran of the St. Charles Parish school system, Fabre’s local family is much bigger than that.

When Fabre climbs aboard that float on Feb. 21, she will be in good company, as five other locals, Debbie Dufresne Vial, Wanda Love, Jay Gomez, Charles Oubre III and Russell Love round out the group of officers as krewe captains.

Although the faces of krewe royalty may have changed this year, most other aspects of the parade will remain unchanged.

The staging area may have changed to allow for expanded public viewing area, but the route is the same as in years past. Additionally, the economic downturn that has left many krewes struggling this year has not affected the Krewe of Lul. In fact, this year’s parade may be bigger than ever. See for yourself on Saturday, Feb. 21, when the parade takes to the streets of St. Charles.