New Toulouse

On Sunday, June 12, New Toulouse Tinies and Team ACTS welcomed Tinies (and Biggies) from near and far to the Tiny Dance in Aid of Relay for Life. This popular annual event was instigated by our own Eilidh McCullough six years ago and was first held at le Vieux Canal in Algiers. Older residents will have fond memories of this establishment and remember the terrible storms of December 1913 that swept away the entire Algiers region. The Green-Eyed Fairy in New Toulouse hosted the event thereafter.

This year, the venue changed. Thanks to the generosity of Miz Niki and the untiring efforts of New Toulouse’s feistiest Tiny, Miss Gigi Lapin, New Toulouse Tinies finally acquired their own club: the Tiny Social Aid & Pleasure Club in Red Drum Place.

Manfred “Owlbear” Hancroft once again provided the music, and we all enjoyed his “Totally Legit” songs. Team ACTS captain Olde Eldemar displayed an unexpected talent as the city’s newest self-appointed “professor” and tickled the ivories to great effect.

Mayor Henri was there, doubtless relieved that he could still attend the dance in his official capacity.

The good times certainly rolled, and our Tiny contribution was a huge L$25,000.

More pictures by our own Miss Pie can be seen on page 7.

Miss Frances Lava lives in Basin Street and is founder and president of the newly formed Raccoons Out of New Toulouse campaign.

The Gumbo Society of New Toulouse is holding a bake sale to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. Proceeds from the sale, along with donations to the kiosks around the parish, will be sent to the Society’s holiday fund drive, to which direct donations may also be made. Persons wishing to donate baked goods should box (no-copy) items and address them to Yvonne Follet.

The bake sale will continue throughout December, with new items being added periodically. Stop by the west entrance to the Spiegel Hall garage to peruse the current selection of tasty treats!

Gigi Lapin lives in New Toulouse Bayou. Her pet crawfish, Jimbo, has a new and important position as the “watchdog” for the Tiny Social Aid and Pleasure Club on Basin Street at Frog Alley. (Photo credit: Kristine Jinx-Kristan.)

Mayor Godenot sent the money gathered from the Gumbo Society kiosks to the Second Harvest Food Bank in our sister city, New Orleans, from “the Virtual Community of New Toulouse.” He received the following letter in response:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
700 Edwards Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123
(504) 734-1322
March 14, 2014
(RL Address)

Dear (RL Name):
Thank you for your gift of $130.00 made on your Visa to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. With your help, we can end hunger in our community.

One in eight people in Louisiana is struggling with hunger. We are seeing more and more families that have to make impossible choices—choosing between paying the rent, mortgage or utilities, purchasing medication or putting food on the table.

As the largest hunger relief organization in Louisiana, Second Harvest serves approximately 263,000 people (including 82,000 children and 40,000 seniors) each year, providing nearly 22 million meals to those in need. Second Harvest works hard to make your contribution reach as many people as possible. Each dollar donated to Second Harvest provides a meal to feed an entire family of four.

We are grateful for your partnership in fighting hunger and feeding hope to hungry children, families and seniors in south Louisiana.

Once again, thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Natalie Jayroe
President & CEO

Visit the Second Harvest Food Bank site to learn more about its work and its mission.

Dear Madam,

Doubtless many of our citizens will have noticed the modest soup kitchen nestling alongside the Tarantula Arms and providing food for the destitute of New Toulouse. The more observant among them will have seen that is is run by the Gumbo Queen Relief Society and perhaps wondered briefly about this body before returning to their usual business.

I should like to draw your readers’ attention to the Society, and in particular dispel the scurrilous rumour that it is nothing more than an excuse for clowning around and wearing silly hats. Society members are compiling a cookbook with recipes contributed by Taloosters and their friends. These will be accompanied by anecdotes and stories of life in New Toulouse. It is our intention to sell the book both in SL and on the Aethernet, first in aetheric form; then, if there is sufficient interest, as a printed book. The money thus raised will go to a charity in our Real Life mother city of New Orleans: Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. New Orleans was our Founder’s inspiration, it is our inspiration, and our aim is to give something back.

There is no charge to join the Gumbo Queen Relief Society. While you need not be much of a cook, we do require interest and enthusiasm; a certain amount of clowning around is permitted, and silly hats, while not compulsory, are strongly encouraged.

Yours, etc

Francesca Alva, Gumbo Queen and Queen of Silly Hats