St. Tammany Parish officials announced that the opening night of the 26th Annual Holiday of Lights, originally scheduled for December 5 on Koop Drive in Mandeville, has been canceled due to inclement weather. The event will now open December 6 and continue December 12 and 13 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with thousands of twinkling lights, live entertainment, and family activities. Presented by St. Tammany Health System, the celebration is supported by a full slate of community partners, including Champagne Beverage Company, Northshore Media Group, the Tammany Trace Foundation, and additional local sponsors. Organizers encourage families to join the remaining nights of this cherished Northshore holiday tradition.
–Boudreaux’s Jewelers announced plans to invest $4 million to expand and modernize its flagship Mandeville location, a project that will more than double the store’s size and create one of Louisiana’s largest on-site jewelry manufacturing studios. The fourth-generation family business expects to add two high-wage jobs while retaining 19 positions, with Louisiana Economic Development projecting six additional indirect jobs in the region. State and local leaders praised the expansion as a model of homegrown economic investment, noting that the renovation—supported by incentives through the High Impact Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs—will enhance the company’s showroom, manufacturing capabilities and long-term presence in St. Tammany Parish. Construction begins in January 2026 with completion anticipated by October.
–North Oaks Health System announced that its President and CEO, Michele Kidd Sutton, FACHE, has received the Louisiana Hospital Association’s 2025 Golden Pelican President’s Award, an honor recognizing exceptional leadership in healthcare communications, marketing and public relations. The association noted that Sutton’s nearly 40-year career—including her distinction as the first recipient of LHA’s Marketer of the Year Award in 2003—highlights her commitment to transparency, connection and community trust in patient care. The health system celebrated the award as a significant acknowledgment of her longstanding contributions to the field.
–Christ Episcopal School announced that the Rev. Charles Latour has been appointed its next Head of School, effective July 1, 2026, following a comprehensive search that resulted in his unanimous selection by the Board of Trustees, the Head of School Search Committee, and the Covington church vestry. Latour, currently Head of the Upper School at St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie and former longtime leader of Archbishop Hannan High School, brings more than 25 years of experience and advanced degrees in education, law, and theology. School and church leaders said his vision and values align closely with CES’s mission as he prepares to guide the community into a new era of academic and spiritual growth.
–Richard Meek of AN17 writes that Assistant District Attorney Brad Cascio told the Hammond Rotary Club on Wednesday that while Tangipahoa Parish faces gang activity in isolated rural areas such as Natalbany, Independence and Kentwood, the parish as a whole — including Hammond — remains a safe place to live. Cascio said most violent crime is concentrated among individuals involved in narcotics, noting that Hammond is largely insulated from the more serious violence seen in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. He cautioned that post-Katrina population growth has brought some increases in crime but maintained that Hammond is not a dangerous city, describing it as “access without exposure.” Cascio also discussed challenges facing the district attorney’s office, including limited trial dates that contribute to backlogs, and shared personal experiences that have shaped his approach to public safety.
–The Town of Kentwood announced that its 2025 Christmas Festival has been canceled due to expected rain on Saturday, though the annual Christmas Parade will still roll downtown at 6 p.m. Officials said Santa will continue his planned visit at the Kentwood Community Center, where he will greet children and hand out surprise toys from noon to 3 p.m. The town thanked vendors, the Christmas Committee, and residents for their support and encouraged families to stop by the community center to enjoy the holiday festivities despite the festival’s cancellation.
–The Amite Oyster Festival will host its Christmas Tour of Homes on Sunday, Dec. 7, inviting residents to enjoy a festive afternoon from 2–5 p.m. beginning at The Oyster House. Tickets are $25 per person and will be available for purchase at The Oyster House starting at 1:15 p.m. the day of the event. Organizers say they’re excited to welcome the community for a holiday celebration.
–The St. Tammany Parish Public School System is seeking feedback from families through a new survey aimed at improving how schools communicate with parents. Officials say clear and consistent communication is essential to student success and hope to learn what practices are working well and where improvements can be made. Parents and guardians with children enrolled in STPPS are encouraged to visit www.stpsb.org/SchoolCommsSurvey to share their input.
–STartUP Northshore has opened registration for the 2026 NSpire Startup Slam, the region’s signature live pitch competition set for Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond. The event, presented by Chevron with Capital One providing the $50,000 grand prize grant, will begin with a 4:30 p.m. networking reception featuring food, drinks, and live music before three selected startups take the stage at 6 p.m. to compete for a prize package valued at more than $100,000 in cash and in-kind professional services. A five-judge panel will evaluate the founders on presentation, scalability, and investment readiness in a high-energy, Shark Tank–style showdown. Previous winners include Kinkz, a Slidell-based natural hair care brand, and Cantaloupe AI, a hospitality hiring platform. Organizers say the in-kind support—ranging from legal and IP consulting to marketing strategy and coworking memberships—is designed to break down financial barriers and accelerate growth for emerging ventures. Admission is free, but space is limited; attendees can learn more and register at www.startupnorthshore.com/nspire.
