This month signals the peak of the celebrations acknowledging Reserve’s 150 years of existence. Many events have already taken place and several more are happening in the next few days. In the hustle and bustle of modern America, it is important to remember and celebrate where we came from so that we can know where we are going. Reserve has been visited by a President, is home to the largest tonnage port in America and was the birthplace of the musician Kidd Ory.

Anyone who has visited Reserve will notice the town’s mixture of everything: people, businesses and vehicular travel choices. Reserve is a very diverse community that has deep roots from the sugar industry to its current status as the home of the Port of South Louisiana. In addition, Reserve boasts a technical college, a newly opened “diner/drive-in/dive,” a live theater, a veterans home and the National Guard Readiness Center and is the home to the St. John Airport. A lot of Reserve’s historic structures have been lost to fire or development but the sense of culture and historical perspective continues to run deep.           

Perhaps the greatest examples of Reserve’s development are the multiple forms of transportation offered in the small town of nearly 9,000. A resident of Reserve can travel by plane, train, ferry (if they ever restart it) and car. However, anyone who has been to the community knows the favorite method of getting around is … the golf cart! Hundreds of carts can be seen gathered at softball tournaments, house parties or drive in movies.

The Reserve150 group is hosting a premiere of the anniversary documentary this Thursday, Nov. 11, and a Family Day on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Regala Park where there will be a Jambalaya and Candy contest. Go to www.Reserve150.org for complete information.

Celebrate history, support our local businesses, and be proud of a River Parish community.

The last bite…

In the last week, I had my first experience with raw oysters and to sum it up in one word … PHENOMENAL! We were celebrating a friend leaving to work in Washington, D.C., for Congressman Steve Scalise, and celebrate we did! We had oysters on the half shell, oyster shooters (with and without liquor), sautéed oysters and grilled oysters! First we shucked some, then ate some, then shucked some more. All homemade … all fresh … all Louisiana! I give it 5 Crumbs! (out of 5)

Buddy Boe, a resident of LaPlace, is a former parish administrator and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. This new column will appear in this spot on Wednedsays in L’Observateur.