Covington Is Getting Ready for the Holidays

 Every year Old Covington has its Covington Heritage Foundation’s History and Holly Tour. Old historic homes will be decorated for Christmas and open their doors for patrons to tour them. The Heritage Foundation loves to keep this tradition going because it is a spirited way to get a look inside some of Covington’s most historic homes, and admire not only their charm, but their holiday extravagance.

“It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season, and it has become a signature event in Covington,” said Verret, who is also a council member for the city.

The Covington Heritage Foundation was founded in 2013 and created the History and Holly Tour as their biggest fundraiser. The foundation was created for Covington’s bicentennial and still is going strong today. They preserve the town’s history by hosting educational events throughout the year. These include a cemetery tour around Halloween, a mystery and history tour, a local farm-to-table dinner and historical talks.

The walking tour has four historic homes that Patrons can enjoy touring indoors and a fifth home that patrons can tour on the outside. During the tour, patrons will have areas where they can purchase drinks and socialize. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Kiwanis Club Christmas will provide carolers that will entertain along the way to the tours.

The tour will begin at the Covington Trailhead and will cover an area around S. America Street and Jahncke Avenue. The homes are decorated by their owners and the tours will be guided by the Heritage Foundation volunteers.

“We pick between three and five properties that have historical significance or where people would love to go into that home and see,” said Verret. “They are decorated for the holiday season, and homeowners welcome up to 700 guests.”

“We’re trying to make history come to life,” said Verret. “And the History and Holly Home Tour helps us do that throughout the year.”

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Know What To Spend On Housing

 Today’s mortgage rates are still rising and will remain high for the foreseeable future. It is harder these days to know how much to spend on housing. When there is such demand, it is easy to jump the gun which can hinder you financially. Here are some rules the professionals say to follow when it comes to buying or renting a home.

The 30% Rule

This is a popular and common rule that is followed to decide if a certain home is affordable for you. The 30% rule is easy to follow, just do not spend more than 30% of your gross income on housing. Housing expenses are more than just your rent or mortgage payment. When figuring out how much your housing expenses are, if you are a homeowner, you will need to factor in your utilities, mortgage interest rate, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes and HOA fees or if you are a renter, include renter’s insurance and other fees from your landlord.

The 28/36 Rule

This rule is just for homeowners only. You will be covered in two ways with this rule. Your housing expenses which include your mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance and utilities cannot be more than 28% of your gross monthly income. Your total debt which includes credit cards, student loans, and auto loans, cannot go over 36% of your gross monthly income.

Don’t get stuck with real estate regret. If you are looking for a new home either by purchasing one or renting one, you need to contact your local real estate agent. A local real estate agent can help you determine what is right for you.

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Home Upgrades For The Extreme Weather

 Weather can wreak havoc on a home which is a very important investment in our lives. In recent years we have seen unprecedented flooding, record-setting temperatures, and out-of-season storms. To prevent anything from happening to your home, do these five easy things to upgrade your home.

Install an Effective Home Generator

Not only will a home generator save you in a bind, but will also add value to your home’s resale price. “Standby generators are becoming more of a necessity than a luxury because of health issues that rely on powered devices, like CPAP or home dialysis machines,” says Woods. When choosing a generator, choose one that is commercial-grade for your home. Consider one with an automatic transfer switch and a corrosion-proof enclosure.

Invest in Modern Windows

Windows can help keep your environment warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If you have old single-paned windows, they can cost you as much as 30% of your heating and cooling monthly bill. Older windows do not let in the outdoor air, but will also let in water. If left leaking a while, there can be a lot of damage done to your home.

Add a Rain-Barrel System

Every house has a gutter system that runs the rainwater away from the home, but they can get backed up or not work very will during heavy rainfall. Gutter runoff can cause damage by allow water to seep into your home. Adding a rain barrel can help as backup for your gutter system. A rain barrel will collect gray water which you can use on your landscaping.

Repoint Your Chimney Mortar

If you live in the Northeast region of the country, this tip will come in handy. Fireplaces are perfect during those cold winter days, but if not maintained, they can actually backfire. Checking the structure of your chimney is very important. The brick used on your chimney will expand and shrink when there are temperature changes. This will cause some wear and tear allowing water to creep in. To ensure this does not happen, repoint your chimney so the gaps will be closed.

Go Big on Landscaping

Trees can help with shading which can help cut the cost of your energy bill during the warmer months. Their roots can also help with flooding as well and also serve as buffers to the harsh winds.

Remember to follow these tips to help keep your home ready for the harsh weather. Harsh weather can wreak havoc on your living space and your life.

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Holiday Library Fun

 This December, St. Tammany Parish Library will have its Annual Winter Bingo. Bingo is for all ages and will be a great way for residents to enjoy some holiday fun together.

The way it works is to sign up for Beanstack to play. Patrons have a chance to complete five badges in a row and win blackout (all badges on the card). Beanstack is available online or in the app store for phones. If you cannot do the game electronically, you can go to your local library and get a physical bingo sheet (you will still have to sign up for Beanstack.

Beanstack is a great way to get patrons motivated to read. It is a great way to hold a reading challenge by using this free online service. Started by a family who wanted to have a way to create love and passion for reading in communities around the world. Create an account then log in to the books you read for credit.

You can create an account at sttammanylibrary.beanstack.org and you will get your first prize for just registering for the Winter Reading Challenge! Bingo prizes this year include treasure chest goodies for children, library swag for teens and special edition coloring books for adults. If you win a blackout card, you will then have a chance to register for the big prize drawings. These include a Lego set for kids, a $25 gift card for teens and a Disney puzzle for adults.

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Smart Advice on Buying a Home During the Holidays

 The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. Everyone is in the holiday mode of the hustle and bustle so buying a house might not be the number one thing on their mind. If you are in the mindset of purchasing a home this holiday season, here are some tips on what to do.

Anticipate and Plan for Delays

A lot of people take time off during the holidays from work, so it might delay the process when it comes to the ins and outs of purchasing a home. This could include lenders, home inspectors, contractors, and moving companies. You will need to be a bit more flexible when it comes to your purchase.

Recognize the Seriousness of Holiday Buyers and Sellers

Most people will put off home buying until after the New Year. Some sellers do not want to show their home during the holiday season, so they might pull their listing for the holiday season. If you do find a seller that lists during the holidays, then this means they are serious about selling fast. This means that you can be more aggressive with negotiations.

Be Prepared for a Limited Housing Inventory

As mentioned earlier, sellers will pull their listings during the holidays. This means that there will be a short supply of listings to choose from. You will need to be a bit more proactive in your search. Obtaining a pre-approval letter will let sellers know you are a serious buyer.

Be Flexible with Your Schedule

During the busy holiday season, you might have a bit of leeway in your work and school schedule. Take advantage of this time to see listings and talk with real estate professionals. Remember those in the industry might also want to take some time off, so that can be an obstacle you face.

Delay Your Move if Needed

Even if you find your dream home during the holidays, this does not mean you have to close and move in on Christmas Day. Negotiate your move-in date, sellers will be willing to work with you.

Remember having a local real estate agent who knows the ins and outs of purchasing a home is very beneficial. Those experienced agents know what it takes to buy during the holiday season.

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Gotta Get Some Curb Appeal

 When it comes to curb appeal, your house will thank you-and so will your neighbors. The curb appeal of your home is the first impression that visitors get and there is only one chance for a first impression. That is why curb appeal is so important. “There are two primary emotive things that happen when you come across the kind of residence you appreciate. One is, Gosh, I would love to own that. That’s more ego-driven. The one I love the most is when I think, It must be wonderful in there,” says Bobby McAlpine, an Atlanta architect.

Curb appeal became very important, especially during the pandemic. Curb appeal is more than just window boxes and white picket fences nowadays. “Light and shadow are an architect’s most important tools when it comes to thinking about exteriors,” says architect Nicholas Potts. Another important factor is the greenery surrounding the exterior. You want to use the grass and plants that work best in your environment. For example, if you live in a desert environment you will want to use low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants.

Remember curb appeal is a must when it comes to the exterior appearance of your home and your property. “It gives itself over just like a person would. It’s going to be the light in their eyes,” states McAlpine. Your curb appeal must look in place in the area it is. “The facade needs to relate to where we are,” says designer Suzanne Kasler.

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New Residency Program for St. Tammany

 All over the US, there has been a doctor shortage and St. Tammany Health System and Ochsner Health are joining forces to help remedy this problem by creating a new family medicine residency program. The program will be on the Northshore in Covington and is already under construction.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the country might have a big shortage by 2034 of 50,000 primary care doctors. In the state, the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners reported in 2022 there were a little over 18,000 licensed doctors.

The 18,000-square-foot clinic is slated to begin in July 2024 with eight residences and then add twenty-four residents each year. Both health systems want to bring more doctors to South Louisiana. “Workforce has become all of our challenges. We’re always looking to create a pipeline,” says Joan Coffman, president and CEO of St. Tammany Health System. The program’s director will be Dr. Lisa Casey, who will work with all the residents. The clinic will offer x-rays, lab work and physical therapy.

This is just part of the healthcare expansion around St. Tammany. Currently, there is a $75 million outpatient surgery center that is planned to open in 2024 and a $50 million three-story addition to Slidell Memorial Hospital. “We are seeing healthcare change, so it is more important than ever that we adapt to families’ needs,” Dr. Timothy Riddell, CEO of Ochsner Northshore and Mississippi Gulf Coast Region said.

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