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Cleco and Northshore Community Foundation add six EV charging stations in Slidell

A total of 17 charging stations installed in St. Tammany Parish through the Adopt a Charger initiative

Through their partnership with the non-profit, Adopt a Charger, Cleco and the Northshore Community Foundation installed six new EV charging stations in Slidell, bringing the total to 17 Level 2 EV charging stations in St. Tammany Parish.

The charging stations are located at three city parks – John Slidell Park, Fritchie Park and Heritage Park.  Each park is equipped with two Level 2 charging stations.  The stations use 240 volts of electricity, similar to household appliances like ovens, and provide approximately 25 miles of range per hour of charging.

“This is another investment in the communities we serve and aligns with our vision to support cleaner, all-electric technologies,” said Richard Biedenharn, Electric Vehicle Program Manager. “Our commitment to install up to 30 charging stations in high-traffic areas across St. Tammany Parish will expand Louisiana’s EV infrastructure and make it easier for EV owners to charge their vehicles.”

Adopt a Charger, established in 2011, works to accelerate the purchase of EVs by facilitating the installation of free public charging stations at popular locations, from parks to museums. Program representatives secure sponsors, like Cleco and the Northshore Community Foundation to cover installation costs; then they identify sites and recruit site owners to host charging stations.  Charging is free for the first three years.

“This project would not be possible without grant funds from Cleco Power and its partnership with the Northshore Community Foundation. Thanks to their support, we will be investing a total of $250,000 in the Northshore region,” said Kitty Adams, executive director for Adopt a Charger. “When people see an EV, they don’t automatically know it runs on electricity. The ‘aha’ moment happens when they see it plugged into a charging station. From there, they can talk to EV owners about their experience, which will help increase EV adoption.”

“These charging stations are part of our ongoing commitment to work side-by-side with people, companies and partners who share our mission to build healthy, safe and thriving communities,” said Leslie Landry, president and CEO of the Northshore Community Foundation.

In addition to the new Slidell locations, six charging stations have been installed at Pelican Park in Mandeville, two at the Maritime Museum in Madisonville and three across from the historic pavilion in Abita Springs.

“Through initiatives like Adopt a Charger, we hope to raise awareness about the benefits of electrification and encourage more residents and visitors to consider sustainable transportation options,” said Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert. “Investing in EV charging not only supports economic growth but also contributes to a cleaner, greener community for generations to come.”

“Adding these charging stations at popular local spots near three major interstates, I-10, I-12 and I-59, will attract more visitors and boost tourism,” said Donna O’Daniels, president and CEO of Visit The Northshore.

Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC is a regional energy holding company that conducts its business operations through Cleco Power LLC, a regulated electric utility company that owns eight generating units with a rated capacity of 2,676 MWs and serves approximately 295,000 customers in Louisiana through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana. For more information about Cleco, visit www.cleco.com.

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Slidell’s Bayou Jam Concerts Return on Sunday, March 23

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Inductees Witness to Open Spring Season

The City of Slidell announces the return of its popular Bayou Jam concert series with an expanded spring lineup, featuring Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductees Witness for the opening concert on Sunday, March 23, starting at 5 p.m. in Heritage Park.

“We’re excited to move the Bayou Jam concerts back to Sunday evenings and expand our lineup to provide even more opportunities for our community to enjoy great music in Slidell,” said Mayor Bill Borchert. “These free concerts have become a Slidell tradition, and we invite everyone to join us at Heritage Park for what promises to be a great concert season.”

The spring concert series features eight performances, running from March through June:

  • March 23 – Witness
  • March 30 – High School Band and Choir Concert
  • April 13 – Soul Revival
  • April 27 – Lauren Murphy and the Psychedelics
  • May 4 – Big Al and the Heavyweights
  • May 18 – Some Enchanted Evening with the Northshore Community Orchestra
  • June 1 – Bayou Stampede
  • June 8 – Tease Me Band

Witness, a local band who jumped into Slidell’s music scene in 1991, began as a side project between drummer Joey Spinosa and his vocalist wife Missi, alongside guitarist Raymond Ybos. Their first paid performance at the opening of Southside Café marked the beginning of what would become a three decade journey of musical excellence.

The band’s impressive career reached a new milestone in October 2024 when they were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Known for their versatile setlist of memorable cover songs and original music, Witness’ dedication to live entertainment, coupled with Missi Spinosa’s dynamic stage presence (which earned her the 2019 St. Tammany Parish President’s Arts Award for Musician of the Year), has cemented their status as one of the region’s most enduring and beloved musical acts.

All concerts will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be announced by noon on the day of the event through the city’s website and Facebook page.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For City of Slidell news and events, please visit MySlidell.com and follow us on the “City of Slidell” Facebook page.

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UPDATE: Boil Water Notice Lifted for parts of Monaco Drive and Michigan Ave.

UPDATE – 3/19/25, 12:45 pm: The Boil Water Advisory has been lifted.

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Water Shut Down Notice

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Bayou Jam Spring and Summer Concert Schedule

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Good News In Slidell – March 10, 2025

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City of Slidell and Keep Slidell Beautiful Launch Glass Recycling Program for Residents

The City of Slidell is excited to announce the launch of a glass recycling program for residents, which will start on April 12, 2025. 

“For more than five years, the citizens of Slidell have been asking for a glass recycling program,” said Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert. “City administration, city council members, and Keep Slidell Beautiful have worked together to create a plan to bring glass recycling back to Slidell. This exciting initiative reflects our commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation.”

The City of Slidell and Keep Slidell Beautiful have partnered with Coastal Environmental Services, Glass Half Full, and Lemon Tree Recycling to deliver this voluntary glass recycling drop-off service at no cost to our citizens. Starting April 12, and continuing every second Saturday of each month, Slidell residents can drop off their recyclable glass at the designated recycling site, located in the Heritage Park parking lot at the corner of Bayou Lane and Pennsylvania Avenue, between 9:00 a.m. and noon.

Recyclable glass collected will be transported to a new recycling facility in St. Bernard Parish, operated by Glass Half Full. This $6.5 million dollar state-of-the-art facility processes glass for coastal restoration projects, and produces glass cullet that can be remelted into new glass products. 

Glass Half Full and Lemon Tree Recycling will also provide subscription-based pickup services. More details about these services will be available soon on their websites.

“We’ve heard our citizens loud and clear! They want glass recycling. Now that this new facility has opened in our area, we’re proud to offer this service to our citizens,” said Mayor Borchert. “Our efforts are not only about reducing waste, but also about contributing to important initiatives like coastal restoration. This is a win for Slidell and for the environment.”

For more information about the program, please contact Keep Slidell Beautiful at (985) 646-4371 or info@keepslidellbeautiful.org.

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Olde Towne Krewe of Kidz parade still rolling on Mardi Gras Day – Block Party Cancelled

The Krewe of Kidz Wagon Parade is still scheduled to roll at 10 a.m. on Mardi Gras Day. The Block Party has been cancelled. The music scheduled for Cousin Street will be moved inside of Brass Monkey.

The bollards will be removed once the parade is over.

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