Every summer our family of five likes to travel we wanted to venture to Paris but between the high cost of airfare and the Summer Olympics we opted to go to the Caribbean Island of St Martin on a direct flight from Boston Logan International Airport.  This unique island comprises two countries with open borders, so there are no checkpoints when crossing over into each one. Saint-Martin is an overseas collectivity of France while Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the kingdom of the Netherlands No matter which side of the island you’re on you feel like you are in Europe with a Caribbean twist We stayed at the new JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort and Spa for a week on the Dutch side of the island but it was only a five-minute drive to the French side The plunge pool outside our room was our favorite feature of our stay we appreciated the ocean views of two islands reminiscent of the landscapes you’d see in Italy or Greece I could walk just a few steps to take a dip in the ocean—by far the closest my hotel room has ever been to the water While we were there, we rented a car so that we could experience both sides of the island. Driving was a bit tricky with all the speed bumps and winding roads, but it was definitely worth it. Typically we use public transportation or walk when we travel but neither was an option due to the lack of public transit We couldn’t even walk to the resort next door and a cab ride would’ve cost $50 round trip We were able to explore the entire island (both countries)—beaches historic forts and more—which wouldn’t have been possible without a car One of the most French experiences we had—and my favorite experience overall—was eating breakfast at an outdoor café located in the Saint-Martin capital Marigot. My daughter loves crepes so I researched the best crepes in Saint-Martin and found Ti Breizh warmly greeted us with a “Bonjour.” She seemed to know the other customers chatting with them in French as they read the newspaper while eating their crepes We ate our délicieux meal while people-watching the passersby On the Dutch side, Dutch is the official language but most people spoke English we heard more French than Dutch spoken mostly due to people speaking English on the Dutch side The official currency is the Netherlands Antillean guilder Next to our hotel was the Oyster Bay Beach Resort. We ate dinner there one night and then ventured over to the bar area to watch other guests perform karaoke. The whole experience—the singing, the ocean views and the cobblestone patio—reminded us of the musical theater production of Mama Mia but there was definitely a Greek vibe to our adventures that night our trip to Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin was incredible and allowed us to experience a variety of European-like countries in addition to the Caribbean so bon voyage or fijne reis—depending on which side of the island you’re on Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree Her writing has been published in The New York Times She is married and the mother of twins and a daughter 5473 Blair Road, Suite 100PMB 30053Dallas Unlock the Latest Knowledge that Can You Help You Achieve More in Life with More Confidence You’ve reached your limit of free articles for this month (plus get access to hundreds of resources designed to help you excel in life and business) Please enter your username or email address You will receive an email message to log in By signing up you are also added to SUCCESS® emails you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Get unlimited access to SUCCESS®(+ a bunch of extras) The exclusive article you’re trying to view is for subscribers only Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 3/8/2025 10:21:00 PM | Nate Sagan - Associate Media Relations Director Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInJACKSON COUNTY (WLOX) - The shooting that killed a man and injured his mother began with a domestic fight according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office WLOX News spoke to the Chief Deputy and obtained Ring doorbell video from neighbors that shows the scene before deputies arrived RELATED: Missing Jackson County children found safe after father arrested for murder, officials say a desperate scream can be heard at 10:15 p.m That’s around the same time Jackson County dispatch was called: shots were fired on Santa Fe Avenue in St “Deputies were on the scene within a matter of minutes,” Chief Deputy Sheriff Randy Muffley told WLOX News 20-year-old Devon McDaniel was found shot to death Ring doorbell video shows her being loaded into an ambulance by paramedics around 10:26 p.m She was later airlifted to a New Orleans hospital with life-threatening injuries Sheriff investigators identified Karis Hamilton as the suspected shooter His dark grey Chrysler 300 was still parked in the driveway “Our deputies canvassed the area and they set up a perimeter,” Muffley explained While K9 units tracked scents through the woods around Mallett Road Jackson County Fire District launched drones in an effort to find the murder suspect “We learned that four children were missing from the residence,” Muffley said Those four children were all under the age of seven Investigators said they believed that Hamilton may have taken them with him when he fled the scene “We had more personnel come out and start working the scene and searching for the kids and the suspect.” The search continued into the morning hours and while deputies were executing search warrants in the neighborhood to find Hamilton he suddenly showed up at a relative’s home nearby Hamilton was charged with murder and domestic violence aggravated assault “Do you have any idea of what the motive may be for this?” reporter Noah Noble asked the Chief Deputy Sheriff “All we know from witnesses and neighbors’ statements is it started off as a domestic fight and went very bad from there.” The four children reported missing were found at a family member’s home in Gautier It is unclear when the children got to the home or who took them there Investigators have not shared how the children are related to the victims See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE Martin Parish officials are taking action this week as the Atchafalaya River continues to rise with Stephensville marked as the most vulnerable area due to its flat terrain and limited levee protection A previous article detailing the cause of the river levels rising for more background information is here Parish President Pete Delcambre says 6,000 sandbags have already been prepared and crews are beginning to stage equipment in case water levels continue to rise as predicted by the National Weather Service While sandbags are not being distributed to the public yet "As of tomorrow we will be loading them up on a low boy and bringing them down to Stephensville." “We want to prepare ourselves to be sure if something does occur the Bayou Chêne flood control structure—an old sunken barge—was being closed to reduce backflow from the Gulf Delcambre says the measure is part of a broader strategy to protect low-lying areas in Lower St Residents are encouraged to stay informed through the parish’s website or by calling emergency contacts listed there Martin Parish government website or call us directly If the website doesn’t have what they need we’ll make sure they get answers,” he said river levels in this region follow patterns that emergency officials recognize well Delcambre says daily coordination with Emergency Preparedness Director Terry Guidry keeps the parish ahead of the curve Pumps already on site and others on standby from local vendors give the parish flexibility if water begins encroaching To contact the St. Martin Parish Government for more information you can go here are geographically cut off from the rest of the parish and vital government services Mary Parish President Sam Jones is asking people in St Martin Parish to consider this: Should Lower St which has been geographically separated from the rest of the parish for more than 150 years due to a surveying error Jones at a recent Parish Council meeting said there have been discussions about Lower St "We talked about it the last few months," Jones said on Friday are closer to and have easier access to Morgan City parish workers have to travel an hour to reach them while St Louisiana's parishes, Jones said, were created after the Civil War. A surveying error is supposedly how St. Martin Parish got divided, Michael Martin, professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said in a June 2024 news article and the story is that there was a survey error — although I'm not really finding any definitive evidence of that," he said but I'm just saying it just seems like people have just passed this story off for generations about why it happened." The access issue was exacerbated in the 1940s when the Corps of Engineers built the Wax Lake Outlet in the wake of the 1927 Mississippi River flood to help control water levels in the Morgan City area Martin Parish President Pierre “Pete” Delcambre the possibility of redrawing the parish lines so that Lower St Delcambre did not respond to messages for comment on this story Some residents like being isolated from the main part of their parish Others feel closer ties to the Morgan City area where residents and business owners do business Jones said he is making the idea public so residents can start discussing it There are 1,200-1,500 residents in Lower St Louisiana Statue Title 33:141 states that in order to change parish boundaries the police jury of one of the parishes must pass an ordinance and serve that ordinance to the police jury president of the other parish they shall each pass an ordinance calling for a special election in both parishes to be held within 60 days of the ordinances' passage If two-thirds of the people who vote in the election agree to change the parish boundary "All I did was tell the people to think about it," Jones said Email Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com Email notifications are only sent once a day News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/22/2025 10:01:00 PM Thanks for visiting Fla.– Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zitoannounced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Hunter St “Hunter is a skilled skater who has shown a tremendous amount of maturity and adaptability at a young age,” said Zito “We are excited for him to take the next step in his career with our organization.” has skated in eight Western Hockey League (WHL) games with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2024-25 leading the team with seven goals (7-1-8) while serving as an alternate captain Alberta has appeared in 152 career WHL games over four seasons with Medicine Hat (2021-22 to 2024-25) amassing 82 points (39-43-82) and a plus-15 rating He has appeared in nine career playoff games with Medicine Hat Martin was originally selected by Florida in the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft Catch your Florida Panthers in action this season 2024-25 single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at SeatGeek.com or at Amerant Bank Arena Box Office (Monday-Friday from 9 a.m Fans can learn more about ticketing options and join the waitlist for future Florida Panthers Territory Memberships by visiting FloridaPanthers.com/tickets or by calling the PUCK line (954.835.PUCK) MARTIN PARISH — A potential annexation of a section of Lower St Martin Parish has sparked conversations and raised questions among local residents This topic was up for discussion at Tuesday's St where the impact of such a move was considered The conversation first gained momentum at last Wednesday’s St Mary Parish President Sam Jones shared that he was approached by St Martin Parish President Pete Delcambre about the idea of annexing Lower St While uncertain about the full annexation process “I asked our attorney to check this out for the future I believe it takes a two-thirds vote of each parish to make this happen Mary would have to vote by two-thirds to accept it,” Jones explained Jones emphasized the importance of engaging the public in the discussion before moving forward with any decision He suggested holding informational meetings to gather feedback the next steps in the process would be considered we need to have the people informed about this as a possibility If we find out that they don’t want to do it But we talked about this a couple of times and I feel like this is the best time to go forward,” Jones added Martin Parish Council meeting served as an opportunity for residents to voice their opinions about the proposed annexation expressed his disagreement with the idea of joining St Our little town is perfect where it’s at,” Anglle said Anglle offered further insight into his objections stating that he believes the annexation would be motivated by financial reasons Mary would like us to be there because of all the revenue we get and all the taxes and everything and that means that we’d have to change schools and all that Martin Parish has remained separated from Upper St This longstanding division means that when Lower St workers must travel up to an hour to reach them Martin Parish and would not be directly impacted by the decision expressed concern for the residents of Lower St Martin Parish.“Something of that nature would need to be put on a ballot or email; that would need to be on a ballot,” Babineaux said While Babineaux acknowledges that the decision will not affect him personally Martin Parish deserve to be involved in the decision-making process “They need to be able to be involved and be on the ballot and vote for it because they’re the ones that’s gonna feel the impact any way it goes,” Babineaux added Although a decision on the annexation was not made at the meeting the council's efforts to engage the public serve as a key step in educating residents about the potential change MARTIN PARISH — Three people were left injured after a shooting near Cade Saturday night a shooting occurred in the 1600 block of Smede Highway in St Three people were left with gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals the suspect left the scene in a vehicle and was involved in a traffic crash Martin Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating the incidents and said they will be releasing more information once the initial investigation is complete KATC will provide an update as those further details are made available ESCANABA — Louise “Lou” Henrietta (St 2025 at the age of 102 with loved ones by her side She strived to live in her own home and remained there until a very short stay at Cedar Hill Assisted Living where she was supported by the most attentive and caring staff until the end the daughter of Elmer and Henrietta (VandeWiele) St Lou began her employment with Michigan Bell Telephone Company as an operator in 1941 she was promoted to the Head of Operator Services in Escanaba and retired after 40 years with the company Together they enjoyed their cabin in Ford River and spending time with their many friends and family Their adoration for each other was unmatched Patrick’s Catholic Church until its closure and became a member of St Patrick’s church for weekend services Lou’s deep faith guided her throughout her life and knit (especially hats to donate to local children and scarves for her family and friends) Her support and love transformed the lives of everyone who knew her She had a remarkable ability to connect with people Her family knew her as “Aunt Sis” and she made many special memories with her nieces and nephews and their children She brightened every room with her contagious smile and ability to find fun in all she did She will be remembered with fondness by those who were closest to her when they see a smiley face Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan | https://www.dailypress.net | 600 Ludington St. Catholic Charities of Philadelphia Returns to Roots Catholic Charismatic Renewal Hosts Day of Prayer With Holy Spirit May 10 Honest Conversations Reflect on Vision for the Future of Philadelphia’s Church Papal Foundation Stays Close to Pope Francis Martin of Tours Parish along Oxford Circle in Northeast Philadelphia on a Sunday morning you’ll find it packed — even when the first Mass ended a half-hour earlier and the second Mass is 90 minutes from starting and you’ll see a group of about 10 babies being baptized Head to the lower church and you’ll hear “I Am the Bread of Life” rehearsed in multiple languages you’ll notice flags representing 28 countries later to be carried during the opening procession The liturgy begins with the ministry team sharing a trilingual reminder that for all those sitting in nearly full pews Martin of Tours is “su casa” – “your house.” and various liturgical ministers adeptly pivoting between English then (in) whatever language we have the Mass … I could still partake in it because it’s all the same,” said Zoraida Figueroa the parish’s director of religious education and scouting chairperson Dominicans … it’s been a blessing because we all seem to be one family and one church,” said her husband Jose Figueroa of the parish’s Knights of Columbus council But while the experience uniquely meets churchgoers where they are the liturgy never loses sight of the timeless: The truth of the Gospel and the power of after the Eucharist in holy Communion Not a bad way to mark the parish’s second century by celebrating the Feast of St as the vibrant parish community did Sunday 10 to showcase resilience and growth over 101 years of changing times and a changing neighborhood Paul gives us those words in the Word of God we have to be willing and ready to adapt,” said Father Lane “The call for us as Christians is to preach the Gospel in season and out of season there is so much need to witness to our Lord and really just to empower people to do it themselves.” and to announce the gospel of Jesus to others That life is evident in  people like the Figueroas from cooking food for the parish celebration banquet to fixing something within the church building or welcoming newcomers to the parish and to Philadelphia “We’re willing to help,” Zoraida Figueroa said “If someone sees something that needs to be done ‘Can you help?’ And everybody’s willing to help.” your feel it in the air,” added Gustavo Cordova “We are willing to drop what we’re doing and come over to help … what Jesus did when he was walking down here with us He was leaving whatever he was doing to help with the person who was in need.” Responding to Christ’s call to service  at the parish extends to a list of outreach ministries that’s almost too long to mention “We are the busiest parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.” Portuguese and Spanish – a language that Jose Figueroa said was the spawn of an unlikely result in their first attempt at such a Mass parish leadership offered a permanent Spanish liturgy if 35 people came “The first Mass was six inches of snow outside and we had 460 people come to that Mass,” Jose said That growth reflects a parish that has seen incredible change in the demographics of the neighborhood but not in the quantity of churchgoers or the devotion to their faith in worship or in action – something Father Lane suggests that former parish members who relocated should come back and check out “So many people have the experience of moving away from the city … and then looking back and seeing their parish get closed (or) just dwindle to maybe just one or two weekend Masses I just would love for people to be able to see and hear that St Martin’s is alive,” said Father Lane Jesus is the only one that can make all this happen.” CatholicPhilly.com works to strengthen the connections between people families and communities every day by delivering the news people need to know about the Catholic Church you and hundreds of other people become part of our mission to inform form in the Catholic faith and inspire the thousands of readers who visit every month Please join in the church's vital mission of communications by offering a gift in whatever amount that you can ― a single gift of $40 Your gift will strengthen the fabric of our entire Catholic community and sustain CatholicPhilly.com as your trusted news source Lay Writers Pen Weekly Commentaries on Sunday Gospels USCCB: Statement of USCCB on Vatican’s Document Addressing Pastoral Blessings Pope Francis’ May 2023 Prayer Intention | Watch Video Dan Tarrant Brings God to the World Through Catholic Filmmaking Some parts of this site work best with JavaScript enabled Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Start planning your trip now with our first-timer's guide to St-Martin Unlike its more populated and glitzy Dutch counterpart, there are no casinos or big nightclubs on St-Martin but that doesn't mean there's any shortage of delightful things to see and do the longest beaches on the whole island and a delicious French-Caribbean fusion food scene.  this French enclave’s food offerings contribute heavily to the dual-nation island being called the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean Savor the flavor and fun with our first-timer's guide to St-Martin That all depends on what you want to do and your budget The island has a pleasant average temperature of 27℃ (80.6℉) and the sea water hovers around 26-28℃ (80-82℉) year-round December to April are the most popular months to visit but those looking for good deals who don't mind high humidity should travel from May to August Hurricane season runs from June through November and many businesses close for September and October The year’s top events in St-Martin are the colorful carnival in February through to early March, and The Gastronomy Festival in November.  You can fly from most major US cities into the Dutch side’s Princess Juliana International Airport The French side’s tiny Grand Case-Espérance Airport only serves the islands of Guadeloupe and St Barthélemy St-Martin’s capital Marigot is a fairly popular cruise ship port though smaller in capacity than Philipsburg on the Dutch side Marigot also has regular boats to Anguilla and St Barthélemy.  Bus connections within St-Martin are quite unpredictable Rental prices range from €40-60 per day in the high season and the roads are generally in good condition it’s around a 20-minute car ride over to Marigot There’s no border – just a white obelisk commemorating the 1648 treaty that divided the island into two While St-Martin has several gorgeous beaches you absolutely can't miss the blindingly white sands and turquoise waters of Baie Orientale The 1.3-mile-long beach is the second longest in all of SXM – the longest is the 1.5-mile Baie Longue (Long Bay) Orient Bay is dotted with trendy open-air beach bars and their sun loungers Check out the Peruvian-influenced driftwood-themed Kkô Beach Bar & Restaurant and Kontiki Beach Topless sunbathing is allowed everywhere but Orient Bay’s Southern end is reserved for being fully au naturel.  Access to the beach is via the pastel-colored gated community of Parc de la Baie Orientale (Orient Bay Park). This maze-like neighborhood has a little town square called La Place du Village that’s perfect for dinner with eight restaurants on site.  Start your tour of the French side’s capital by taking a stroll along the town’s main street where you will see 19th-century houses with stone foundations Then walk to the waterfront’s popular open-air market where you can buy clothing Look for rainbow-colored stairs nearby to hike up to the ruins of Fort Louis While the steep 10-minute climb takes your breath away the 360-degree island views are well worth the effort.  Afterward, head to the cozy wood-walled artisanal bakery Chez Fernand for a tuna baguette Another yummy lunch option is the traditional French bistro O Plongeoir in the Marina Fort Louis.  In the afternoon, drive over to Loterie Farm This rainforest retreat is just 10 minutes away from Marigot and has a lagoon-style spring water pool that costs €25 to access House music plays in the background as guests sip champagne on the sun beds among the greenery.  a kids’ adventure park and hiking trails (the hike to SXM’s highest hill Party vibes run highest on the last Saturday of each month at Loterie Farm’s adults-only Jungle Pool Party.  A speed boat whisks passengers across the turquoise bay to this protected marine reserve islet in just five minutes A white sand beach with swaying palm trees and gin-clear water greets visitors as striped-tailed green iguanas scurry off into the bushes.   There are two restaurants on Pinel Island: Le Karibuni with gourmet seafood dishes and the more casual Yellow Beach serving thin crust pizzas Both restaurants sell lobsters fresh out of a seawater cage.   while Le Karibuni is closed from July to mid-October Both feature thatched roof wood gazebos where guests dine on wooden tables The restaurants rent out cushioned beach chairs and parasols.  You can take a short hike to the grassy island’s highest point to see Pinel’s two other beaches (rocky but with great snorkeling) and the nearby islands of Anguilla and St Barths as well as the nature reserve island of Tintamarre The cash-only boat (€10) to Pinel Island runs daily from French Cul de Sac every 30 minutes from 10am to 5pm. You can also rent a kayak from Caribbean Paddling and cross the bay in about 20 minutes.  The former fishing town of Grand Case is basically a one-street beach town but what a street that is - it features tens of restaurants ranging from French Caribbean fine dining to cheap and cheerful lolos (street stands with grilled delights).  The latter are traditional Caribbean barbecue joints specializing in smoked ribs, grilled lobster and Johnny Cakes. Cynthia’s Talk of the Town and Sky Is The Limit gather the crowds. For lighter fare, try the colorful acai and poke bowls of nearby MOOD SXM Grand Case has been dubbed the Gourmet Capital of SXM and for a good reason. Le Pressoir, Bistrot Caraibe and La Villa are only some of the must-visit high-end restaurants along Restaurant Row.  After eating make sure to cool down with a swim at the town’s long narrow beach. Better yet, make a lunch reservation at Balalou a floating solar-powered restaurant where you can eat pizza and bokits (stuffed Johnny Cakes) on U-shaped pontoons.  Those coming to Grand Case for dinner will enjoy the lively nighttime atmosphere on the boulevard and the occasional live music of Calmos Cafe and Le Temps des Cerises.  Local boutique hotels like L’Esplanade and Grand Case Beach Club are ideal places to stay for those wanting to sample area restaurants but not drive after having one Ti’ Punch too many L’Esplanade even offers a free restaurant shuttle and have enjoyed seeing the contrast between what the Dutch and the French sides have to offer While Sint Maarten has several big mid-range resorts St-Martin is all about cute boutique operations I really appreciate the versatility of the French side’s hotels.  There is the itzy-bitzy 12-room Le Petit Hotel with blue Mediterranean tiling and the ultra-luxurious Greek-village lookalike La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel The art-and sculpture-filled Hommage Hotel & Residences features a 200-meter brightly painted wall mural. La Playa Orient Bay has its chill feet-in-sand beach restaurant, and the romantic Domaine Anse Marcel Beach Resort appeals to couples. I definitely recommend giving this slice of tropical France a try and reveling in its serenity. Plus you can still easily drive over to Maho Beach to watch the planes land! St-Martin is quite an average Caribbean vacation island in terms of prices. When comparing St-Martin with Sint Maarten, the French side is a bit more expensive for accommodation but slightly cheaper for food. Tipping is not mandatory, but most patrons round up their bill. Credit cards and Apple Pay are generally well accepted (though not in taxis) but some small businesses – like the lolos – may charge a fee when paying by card. It's good to carry some cash. Euros and dollars are often used interchangeably. Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): €80-500 Fixed-price 3-course dinner: €55-180  Taxi from Maho Beach to Marigot: €25  It is helpful to know at least some basic pleasantries in French and to keep a translation app handy. However, English is quite widely spoken. St-Martin has European round-prong electric plugs. Bring an adapter and also a converter if your appliances are not designed for 220V (most phone chargers are dual-voltage). The element requested is either not valid or does not exist. HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to Germany Get your portion of family warmth sitting by the Martinsfeuer Martin's Day is akin to Halloween in its festive spirit a revered Catholic saint who was once a Roman soldier and later became a monk Known as Martinsumzug in German-speaking countries this day is marked by bonfires and lantern processions particularly in the predominantly Catholic regions of the Rhineland and Southern Germany Martin's Eve is to light bonfires known as Martinsfeuer these fires have been accompanied by processions that extend over nearly two weeks leading up to Martinmas (Martinstag) the Rhine River valley would be lined with fires on the eve of Martinmas Martin's Day is traditionally celebrated with a feast of goose but it is also common for people to gather around a fire and share a roasted suckling pig with their neighbors One of the largest bonfires takes place at Marktplatz in Bonn on November 10 Martin's Day parades and children's lantern processions Children make colorful lanterns at school and sing songs as they parade from a church to a public square where Martin's pretzels are handed out and a bonfire is lit Authentic parades can be seen in Riedlingen and the largest procession takes place in Kempen with about 4,000 people marching behind a Roman soldier on a white horse children go door-to-door singing for candy and treats are now popular in Protestant regions of Germany as well Martin's Day is also a culinary celebration Martin was discovered hiding among geese due to their loud noise This might explain why goose is featured on this day or perhaps because it marks the start of the fasting season making it a final opportunity to enjoy rich meat A traditional sweet for Martinmas in the Rhineland is Martinshörnchen a pastry shaped like a croissant to represent the hooves of St Martin's horse and the parting of his mantle these pastries are shaped like men (Stutenkerl or Weckmänner) began his career as a Roman soldier before converting to Christianity and becoming a monk though he was reluctant to accept the position His Saint's Day is particularly beloved by children partly due to the many legends associated with him The most famous story recounts how he cut his cloak in half to share it with a beggar who was freezing In the Middle Ages and early modern period Martin's Day was a significant festival in many parts of Europe It marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter Bonn Marktplatz RiedlingenBonn Marktplatz RiedlingenLast updated: September 5, 2024Authors: People interested A New Iberia man was killed early Tuesday in St Comeaux sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene The other two drivers were properly restrained and uninjured A routine toxicology sample was obtained from Comeaux and submitted for analysis The driver of the Dodge Ram was not suspected of being impaired and voluntarily provided a breath sample which revealed no alcohol detected "Troopers wish to remind pedestrians that Louisiana law requires them to use a sidewalk when one is available pedestrians should walk facing oncoming traffic when practical Walking against the flow of traffic allows pedestrians to better anticipate approaching vehicles and react promptly never assume that a motorist can see you and stay visible by wearing bright or reflective clothing in low-light or reduced visibility conditions For additional information on pedestrian safety, visit the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s website at: https://www.lahighwaysafety.org/our-programs/bicycle-pedestrian-safety/ Early voting for the November election starts on October 18th and KATC TV-3 is giving you the information you need to cast your ballot in local races we're giving you some details about a roads and bridges tax renewal in St you'll hear about a drainage tax renewal in that parish We'll have election stories like this for you every day through the 17th. If you want details and links about voting and registration, click here Here is the video of our interview with Parish President Pete Delcambre who talked with KATC TV3's Paris Flannigan about the roads and bridges property tax that's up for renewal So you have seven tax propositions on the ballot plus an extra one what do people need to know about the roads and bridges tax come the November election Let's start with the roads and bridges tax it's on the November 5th election ballot; with roads and bridge people normally don't realize the the volume of roads parish roads that we have in St how far this actually is and what we actually have in roads and of course roads in South Louisiana with anything comes maintenance. so this millage is for the maintenance of these roads we also have 45 bridges in Saint Martin Parish we have an engineer come in and take a look at the bridges and we would have to fix it before they reopen it three bridges were out within the last two years at approximately about $300,000 per bridge So you can see that these are very costly items that must be taken care of so this is where the these milleage and I don't want to call them a millage I want to call it a service to where the people realize that but it's actually a service being provided to you It's money well spent and money that without this service and the millage is passed the actual service provider would be greatly curtailed or even cut out some of which are still state roads are taken care of by the state Department of Transportation Parish roads are taken care of by the parish we either have internal monies available or take from the tax or sales tax district to construct roads.The millage that we're talking about is just the actual servicing and maintenance of these roads the taxes aren't necessarily going to be the projects We have a separate tax that we actually do a construction match for Tell people why you're decreasing the mileage I sat down with my CFO when this mileage came up and I went to him about the state of the economy We sat down and took a look at the money we're making and the services we provide I did not want to increase the mileage or the taxes going out to the people what occurred was we had to present this toBaton Rouge in the month of May and the tax assessor came out with the reassessment of tax of property values in June with the reassessment of real estate values and I decreased the rollback for each and every mileage that's on the ballot for St Roll them back to where you are not paying not a dollar more than what you paid from before and again I want to reemphasize these are all renewals of mileage Delcambre The taxes you're paying are exactly what you would have paid before but how much the original tax renewal was compared to this one I can get a list of those numbers later on So if I had not rolled back or decreased the mileage it would have been probably 1.8 or 1.9 million and the people would have had to pay a substantial amount more regarding their taxes Martin Parish Government Council meeting last week councilman Chris Tauzan proposed a plan for the renewal of a millage on this year's ballot 70% of an existing millage would go towards the parish to build a new jail facility and 30% to the libraries “We have an opportunity to get money from the state to captial outlay our jail,” Tauzan said “But the problem is it’s gonna be $40 million for a jail and we need to come up with a 25% match that would be $10 million.” Tauzan said four years ago the library board was collecting two tax millages and it was cut in half due to a surplus of funds “So what we did was we cut the millage in half to be able to accommodate for us to be able to use the money for the DA’s and for the courthouse and other areas that had concerns without having to raise people’s taxes,” Tauzan said Tauzan’s proposition for the millage renewal won a majority of votes from the council “So with the money they have in the bank there’s $13 million,” Tauzan said “So we can’t use that money anywhere else cause it was collected for the libraries So we looked at the millage and with a 70/30 split we would fund the cost of a new jail It would totally fund everything we need.” Martin Parish Government President Pete Delcambre had proposed a 50/50 millage plan “Yes I did and I’m moving forward with 70/30,” Delcambre said “You know the democratic process the council has decided and I’m good with it.” Delcambre feels the libraries will stay afloat even if funding has decreased “The libraries are here you know they are being funded we will do whatever is necessary and needed to facilitate these you know we need the libraries,” Delcambre said Delcambre said seven other millages will be on the ballot “The parish government needs these monies to be able to facilitate these services the health unit to name a few," Delcambre said Martin Parish Library Director Charlar Brew Martin Parish Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of former correctional officer Caliyah Joseph following an investigation into malfeasance and her alleged involvement in a narcotics distribution conspiracy Investigation DetailsThe investigation began in September 2024 after the St Martin Parish Sheriff's Office Violent Crimes Task Force received information that Joseph had been divulging confidential information Deputies later discovered that she had used her position as a correctional officer to unlawfully release sensitive information and was involved in facilitating the sale of illegal narcotics deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Joseph She was taken into custody the following day and booked into the Iberia Parish Jail Joseph faces charges of malfeasance in office and criminal conspiracy to distribute Schedule I and/or Schedule V controlled dangerous substances Authorities are asking anyone with additional information regarding this case to contact the St Making his preseason debut with the Florida Panthers the 2024 sixth-round pick lit the lamp in the second period of a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators at Amerant Bank Arena on Sunday he pounced on a turnover and beat goaltender Matt Murray with a high short-side shot “It’s pretty exciting,” Martin said of making his mark in the exhibition there was more than I thought and just the atmosphere the 19-year-old forward logged 12:47 of time in the win "He had a very good rookie tournament," said head coach Paul Maurice on St "What I liked about him and and (Gracyn) Sawychn both junior eligible and for the cost physically I thought those guys were able to get through those three days of camp and then come out and play with some energy That's a good sign and they've done some good work at a young age to be able to survive our camp." Hunter St. Martin everybody 👏 pic.twitter.com/8oDxJEOlg1 Martin’s goal scoring ability should be to no surprise the Edmonton native scored in all three games “He’s a good player,” said defenseman Aaron Ekblad “I remember in camp he chased me down and got the puck off me in the corner those kinds of guys get the attention of the staff.” Playing on a line with Matt Luff and fellow Rookie Showcase attendee Gracyn Sawchyn Martin looked to have plenty of chemistry with his linemates “I’ve known Sawch (Sawchyn) for a long time,” St and it’s good to have a guy your own age battling for the same thing.” Coming off a breakout year for the Medicine Hat Tigers 28 assists) in 68 games in his second full WHL season in 2023-24 an improvement from the 22 points (eight goals 14 assists) he recorded in 61 games the year before the learning off the ice has been just as beneficial as the knowledge he’s gained on it “I think it's just a lot of the things that I'm learning are actually off the ice,” he said and obviously learning from all the pro coaches as well just showing up and being your best every day.” With a strong start to his first professional preseason playing against NHL-caliber players Martin should plenty of confidence and momentum to have a big year in juniors this season “It gives me a little bit of confidence,” he said it’s just continuing to learn and get a little better every day and it’ll only continue to build off that.” 86-year-old Charles "Charlie" LeBlanc was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash in Breaux Bridge during a period of heavy rain and thunderstorms that could have impacted visibility for drivers Martin Parish deputies responded to a 911 call and arrived at the scene to find LeBlanc lying on the side of the road Authorities confirmed that he had been struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run The driver responsible for the incident has not yet been identified says her brother regularly crossed the street to check his mail She also shared that his death occurred about a week after the passing of his wife LeBlanc’s sister mentioned a prior hit-and-run incident involving a family member The daughter of her cousin was killed in a similar crash a few years ago in a nearby area along Poydras Highway Residents of the area have raised concerns about speeding on Doyle Melancon Road stating that high-speed driving poses a safety risk and could lead to more accidents or fatalities and authorities are asking anyone with information regarding a suspect or a suspect vehicle to call the St Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-394-3071 Martin Crime Stoppers by calling 337-441-3030 or through the free P3 Tips App the caller could be eligible for a cash reward Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Lexington residents of one the city’s first African American subdivisions are pushing back on proposed development near the historical area family and historical roots are embedded in the small community.  it’s one of the first African American subdivisions formed in Lexington Davis was raised and still lives in the neighborhood today “The only neighborhood where my parents could purchase a house There was no other place else in Lexington at that time We could not go to the north or the south end of town She was surprised in June when several of her neighbors were notified about potential changes to land beside their homes Davis says she was one of the many who were not notified Property owners and flagship communities are looking to rezone the land between the current mobile homes and their neighborhood area from zoning for single residential homes to zoning for mobile home use That would include 52 dwelling units with a minimum of 4,000-square-feet required and changes to sub-streets.  “They had met twice before they had notified St Martin’s Village of their intent of trying to rezone that area,” she says about the property owner’s discussion with the planning commission before August Now Davis and others are speaking out and working with attorney Bruce Simpson He’s a civil attorney with 40 years in the field and says this community has stood apart from many as their community has maintained organized and thrived for almost 70 years.  “Back when those folks were not able to live elsewhere in Lexington because of deed restrictions that precluded African Americans from owning or renting houses elsewhere in Lexington Simpson says this is one of the first mobile home expansions in nearly 50 years and that other Black neighborhoods have experienced similar concerns and unrest our planning and development policies have not protected African American neighborhoods They have been subject to incremental takeover by other folks which has harmed their future integrity,” Simpson explained.  Davis says her home is one of the first on her street and my house will be passed down to my daughter and to my daughter’s daughter — my granddaughter Developers say their plans include affordable homes to rent or own and more efficiency toward mobility they say aligns with the urban service boundary That urban development plan requires consideration and resident’s input Read this week's magazine A long-simmering dispute between St. Martin’s Press and a group of influencers called Readers for Accountability has heated up after the publisher reportedly sent an unsolicited PR box for Casey McQuiston’s The Pairing that contained a sex toy A representative for the group said many of the influencers did not know they would be receiving a box or what would be in it The McQuiston controversy comes months after Readers for Accountability began a "marketing boycott" of SMP titles to protest what the group called racist and anti-Palestinian sentiments sent by an SMP marketing department employee The group said it first raised concerns to SMP in December 2023 but was not satisfied with the publisher’s response and launched the #SpeakUpSMP marketing boycott through which the group is refusing to support SMP titles until their concerns are addressed In addition to more forcefully denouncing the marketing employee’s comments the group also wants SMP to take steps to ensure the safety of influencers An online petition has generated nearly 10,000 signatures so far On Friday, SMP posted a comment to its “publishing community,” though it did not specifically cite the comments it was responding to Martin’s Publishing Group is committed to publishing a wide variety of books from many viewpoints and perspectives and one that we hold ourselves accountable to every day.” The statement continued: “We want authors and in particular to have their privacy protected Some have questioned our values and made allegations about our data privacy practices We have responded to emails sent to us directly and answered the questions to the best of our ability We took the claims and concerns seriously and thoroughly investigated all of them Our investigation did not find anything to support the claims.”