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Slidell Regional Education Center reopens; hosts classes from LSU, UNO and NTCC

The City of Slidell, Louisiana State University (LSU), University of New Orleans (UNO), and Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC), announced the reopening of the Slidell Regional Education Center (SREC) on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Slidell Mayor Cromer was joined by representatives from LSU, UNO, NTCC and other public officials.

“We are fortunate to able to open the Slidell Regional Education Center again,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “SREC is important for our community as it educates our future work force and provides opportunities for our citizens to grow and enrich themselves.”

SREC originally opened in 2017 with LSU and UNO both offering professional development, continuing education courses, workshops, seminars and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) classes in Slidell. The facility closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and recently underwent a renovation.

“We are excited about reopening SREC with an expanded partnership, as NTCC joins LSU and UNO as the education providers,” said Mark Stahl, with Gulfcoast Regional Education and Training Consortium. “Also, we want to thank Mayor Cromer and the City of Slidell for their support and for remodeling the facility during the pandemic. The City of Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, and the regional business communities will all benefit.”

SREC is a collaborative partnership between LSU, UNO, and NTCC, with support from the City of Slidell and the Slidell Economic Development Alliance.

“The hope to grow and expand SREC in the future, so that our university partners can offer for-credit and master-level classes,” said Mayor Cromer. “I would like to thank Mark Stahl who has been instrumental in getting SREC started; our education partners LSU, UNO and NTCC; Slidell Economic Development Alliance for their support; and all of our Team Slidell members who had a role in making this project happen.”

LSU, UNO, NTCC and OLLI will begin offering classes this spring. Visit pace.uno.edu/srec/pace.uno.edu/srec/ to sign up and see the list of all the classes being offered.

The Slidell Regional Education Center is located at 1050 Gause Blvd. at the City of Slidell Business Campus across from Slidell Memorial Hospital.

For more information about City of Slidell news and events, please visit our website at MySlidell.com and our “City of Slidell, Louisiana” Facebook page.

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Tickets now available for Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast

The Pellegrine family

Purchase tickets here

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer is inviting the public to join him for the 11th annual Mayor’s Community Prayer Breakfast, presented by Community Christian Concern, on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Tickets are now available for $20.

This year’s guest speaker is Ryan Pellegrine, a musician with an inspirational story about faith, addiction, and redemption. 

“Ryan Pellegrine has an amazing testimony, and I can’t wait for him to share it with us,” said Mayor Cromer. “No matter what your faith is, all are welcome to attend this event. I know that we will all be inspired by Ryan’s story.”

To hear an inspirational song about his faith journey, listen to episode 61a of the Sweet Jesus podcast on Spotify.

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street. Doors will open at 7 a.m. and the event will begin at 7:30 a.m. Seating is limited.

Tickets to the community breakfast are now available online at www.eventbrite.com. If tickets are not sold out in advance, they will be available for purchase at the door.

Event sponsorships are available for $100 and include two tickets plus acknowledgment in the program. For more information, please contact Debbie at Community Christian Concern at (985) 646-0357. 

For information about the Community Prayer Breakfast, please call the Mayor’s Office at (985) 646-4333 or visit the Eventbrite ticket page.

For the latest city news updates and information about upcoming events, visit the City of Slidell’s website at MySlidell.com and follow the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.

Purchase tickets here

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Olde Towne Slidell Main Street Master Plan Public Meeting – Thursday, August 25

The City of Slidell and Olde Towne Slidell Main Street are hosting two public meetings to discuss the Olde Towne Slidell Main Street Master Plan.

The first meeting will be held on Thursday, August 25, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Philip Walker, with the Walker Collaborative, will be leading this interactive public workshop, also known as a charrette. In past Olde Towne Master Plan public meetings, issues such as parking, streetscape projects, lighting, events, and connecting Olde Towne Slidell to Heritage Park were discussed.

The second meeting will be held on Monday, August 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the auditorium. Walker and the consultant team will present the concept plan for Olde Towne which will be based on input from the public workshop.

Walker was hired as a consultant by the City of Slidell to help design a master plan for Olde Towne. Walker was an integral part of designing master plans for cities such as Covington, La.; Fairhope, Al.; and Natchez, Ms.

“Olde Towne Slidell is the heart of our city and is great place to live, work and play. It’s important that the public attend this meeting and tell us their thoughts on how the City and Main Street can improve and make Olde Towne Slidell an even better place for our community,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “I encourage all the Olde Towne organizations, residents, business owners and members of the public to attend this important meeting.”

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. The public is encouraged to attend both meetings.

For more information about these meetings, please contact the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For more information about city news and events, visit the city’s website at www.myslidell.com or the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.

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Public invited to attend City of Slidell’s 2022 Inauguration Ceremony on July 1

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer, the members of the Slidell City Council, and Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal invite the public to attend the City of Slidell’s 2022 Inaugural Ceremony on Friday, July 1, at 6 p.m. at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. The public is encouraged to attend.

All City of Slidell elected officials will be sworn in, including:

  • Greg Cromer – Mayor of the City of Slidell
  • Bill Borchert – Slidell City Council-at-Large
  • Jeffrey Burgoyne – Slidell City Council-at-Large
  • Leslie Denham – Slidell City Council District A
  • David Dunham – Slidell City Council District B
  • Megan Haggerty – Slidell City Council District C
  • Nicholas “Nick” DiSanti – Slidell City Council District D
  • Kenneth Tamborella – Slidell City Council District E
  • Thomas “Trey” Brownfield – Slidell City Council District F
  • Cynthia E. King – Slidell City Council District G
  • Randy Fandal – Chief of Police

The 2022 Inaugural Prayer Service will be held on the same day at 5 p.m. at Starlight Missionary Baptist Church. The public is also invited to attend.

For the latest city news updates and information about upcoming events, visit our website at MySlidell.com or follow the official “City of Slidell, Louisiana” pages on Facebook and Instagram.

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Slidell Public Art in Full Bloom: New Camellia Tree Sculpture Spruces Up Roundabout

Slidell’s newest piece of public art is now on display at the roundabout at Robert Blvd. and Brownswitch Road.

“Slidell’s Community Camellia Tree” is an eight foot tall iron and glass sculpture depicting a camellia tree in full bloom. It’s an artistic collaboration between welder Jamie Gomez, owner of JG Land and Marine, and artist Solange Ledwith of Swamp Girl Glass. Gomez constructed and welded the base, trunk and branches and Ledwith created the beautiful glass camellias that adorn the tree.

In addition to the sculpture, new landscaping will be added to spruce up the roundabout.

“I would like to thank the artists and everyone who worked so diligently on this project, said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “We are so fortunate to have a thriving art community in our city. This piece of art is a great addition to all the murals around our city. We are honored to support our art community and are looking forward to more public art in Slidell.”

In 2020, the City of Slidell commissioned several local artists to paint murals around the city as part of the “Celebrate Slidell Public Art Project.” The murals not only celebrated Slidell’s culture and community, but also recognized the bravery of first responders and health care heroes in the midst of a pandemic. The new camellia tree is the first sculpture in the public art series and is hopefully the first of many that will be installed around the city.

“Helping to beautify our city and encouraging public art in our community is important to me,” said Solange Ledwith, artist and owner of Swamp Girl Glass. “It was great collaborating with Jamie and I would like to thank the City of Slidell for allowing us to be a part of this project.”

Glass camellias are still being added to the tree and members of the community have a chance to be a part of this unique public art project. Individuals can sponsor a camellia for $100 and it will be added to the camellia tree. Proceeds from sponsorship will help fund future public art projects. Checks made out to the City of Slidell can be delivered to Swamp Girl Glass located at 1060 Front Street or mailed to the City of Slidell’s Department of Cultural & Public Affairs, PO Box 828, Slidell, LA, 70459.

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Lionel J. Washington Community Pool at Possum Hollow Park opens Memorial Day; COX donates $20k to help maintain the pool

On Tuesday, May 24, Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer and members of the Slidell City Council gathered at Possum Hollow Park to rename the city pool the Lionel J. Washington Community Pool. Mr. Washington’s family also joined city administrators for the dedication ceremony.

“Lionel wasa trailblazer and a pioneer in our community,” said Cromer, “He was the first African-American person on the Slidell City Council. He served on the council for 24 years and was as an educator with St. Tammany Parish Public School System for 35 years. He was instrumental in getting the CDBG money for this community pool back in the 1980s. Swimming and water safety education were important projects for Lionel and this pool that he helped bring to our city adds to his legacy in our community.”

COX Business also made a donation to the Slidell Boys and Girls Club to assist with the maintenance and upkeep of the community pool.

“We are dedicated to creating meaningful partnerships with the City of Slidell and the community. The Boys and Girls Club plays a vital role in providing safe and educational environments where students can connect with one another,” said Leigh King, Vice President of Cox Business Louisiana. “Some of the best memories for adults were created spending time at their community pools, and Cox is excited that we could invest in making summer fun for children.”

“We are grateful to COX for the investment they have made in Slidell,” said Cromer. “We look forward to a continuing partnership with COX for the benefit of our community.”

The Lionel J. Washington Community Pool opens at 12 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. The pool is open during the summer, Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 12 to 6 p.m. The cost is $1 per person.

Group swim lessons through Lakeside Swim Club are also available at the community pool  for $125 for six lessons. For more information, please call Nicole Beebe at (228) 363-2601.

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Mayor Cromer one of four Louisiana mayors invited to participate in Mayors’ Institute on City Design

The Honorable Greg Cromer, Mayor of the City of Slidell, will participate in the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD) at Tulane University’s School of Architecture from March 29-31, 2022. At the invitation of the National Endowment for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors, Mayor Cromer will have the opportunity to receive pragmatic recommendations on urban planning and design challenges from six of the nation’s renowned design and development experts.

“I am truly honored to be invited to participate in the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and learn from colleagues across the country as they share best practices for enriching the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors through thoughtful design and innovative practices,” said Greg Cromer, Mayor of the City of Slidell. “This will also be an opportunity for me to share how the City of Slidell is harnessing our strategic geographic proximity to markets across the Gulf South to attract businesses and residents and leveraging our Olde Towne area to bolster our creative arts, cultural, and recreational assets. Here in Slidell, we also understand the responsibility we bear for designing and maintaining infrastructure that protects our natural local ecosystem and has a focus on resilience to meet the current and future needs of our community.”

As cities emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with a renewed focus on equity, safety, and opportunity for all, this Mayors’ Institute session will provide actionable ideas for city leaders rising to meet this moment of change. MICD is the nation’s preeminent forum for mayors to address these issues through the lens of city design and development.

“The selection of Mayor Cromer to participate in the Mayor’s Institute on City Design is an honor and a testament to his commitment to innovation and creativity in generating economic opportunities in the city of Slidell,” said Chris Masingill, Chief Executive Officer of St. Tammany Corporation, the economic development organization for St. Tammany. “During Mayor Cromer’s tenure, the city has revamped its permitting process for consistency and ease of use, reaffirmed its commitment to planning for a sustainable future with its facilitation of its current strategic planning process, and demonstrated its willingness to partner with economic development to align business development and talent retention initiatives.”

Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities. MICD sessions bring together experts in the allied city design fields – architecture, planning, landscape architecture, equitable development, and more – to help mayors put their ideals into action in the built environment.

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City of Slidell breaks ground on city section of Tammany Trace

The City of Slidell broke ground on Thursday, March 24, on the Tammany Trace to Heritage Park project at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bayou Lane. Mayor Cromer, members of the Slidell City Council, and elected and city officials were present.

The project includes the installation of a ten-foot-wide recreational trail from Heritage Park to the east end of Strawberry Street. Upon completion of this project, St. Tammany Parish Government will complete the connection to the Trace to the existing path at Gause Blvd. W.

The City of Slidell is funding a portion of this project through a FHWA Recreational Program for Louisiana grant. The total cost of the project is approximately $681,000.

For more information about City of Slidell news and upcoming events, you can sign up for our email news list on our website at MySlidell.com or visit the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.

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Public WiFi now available in several Slidell parks

The City of Slidell is pleased to announce that there is now public WiFi in several public parks in the City of Slidell, Louisiana.

The City of Slidell hosted a Ribbon Cutting for the WiFi in Public Parks last week at Possum Hollow Park. Mayor Cromer, members of the Slidell City Council, and elected and city officials were in attendance.

The project included the installation of equipment that provides wireless internet at the following four parks: Veterans Memorial Park (including the tennis courts and baseball field), Ducksworth, Possum Hollow, and Griffith parks.

The City of Slidell funded this project through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program which provides annual grants to develop viable urban communities. The total cost of the project was approximately $112,000, and the work was completed by In-Telecom.

Public WiFi will eventually be added to all the city parks, including Heritage, John Slidell, and the neighborhood parks.

For more information about City of Slidell news and upcoming events, you can sign up for our email news list on our website at MySlidell.com or visit the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.
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A ‘Retrospective’ of the art of George Dunbar opens Friday, March 18, at Slidell Cultural Center

The City of Slidell, the Olde Towne Arts Commission (OTAC) and the City of Slidell’s Commission on the Arts are proud to announce the upcoming Arts Evening exhibition, “George Dunbar: A Retrospective” opening on Friday, March 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall.
This is the first solo exhibition for Mr. Dunbar, Slidell’s premiere artist. His work is in the collections of the British Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum, as well as prestigious galleries from New York to New Orleans. The Retrospective exhibit will include quintessential works from his private collection, including rare pieces from his early decades and recent figurative works.
“Mr. Dunbar is a world-renowned artist and we are honored that he is displaying his works here in his hometown of Slidell,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “George was an integral part of creating the Slidell Commission on the Arts and the city’s Cultural Affairs Department, designing the gallery for the original Slidell Cultural Center, and creating a rich cultural atmosphere here in Slidell. I know that our citizens are grateful for the numerous artistic contributions that he continues to make in our community.”
Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artist at the opening reception. The exhibit will also be open during Arts Evening from 5 to 9 p.m. on March 19.
The Slidell Cultural Center is located at 2055 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. The exhibit will remain on display through April 22. Gallery Hours are Mondays through Fridays, from 12 to 4 p.m. To view the exhibit during gallery hours, call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs to make an appointment at (985) 646-4375. Admission is free.
For more information about George Dunbar, please visit his website at GeorgeDunbar.com and his site at Callan Contemporary at callancontemporary.com/artists/george-dunbar/biography.
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