Crawfish Reigns at Cookin’ in Central

Thousands Expected At Magnolia Square This Friday-Saturday For Annual Festival

CENTRAL — The 7th Annual Cookin’ in Central this weekend at the Village at Magnolia Square will help raise money for three worthwhile causes:

• All Central public, private, and parochial schools.

• Disabled veterans.

• Central Community Assistance Foundation, which helps low income children in Central.

The two-day festival begins at 5 p.m. Friday and ends at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The Annual Cookoff will provide lots of culinary excitement, as will the great meals Friday night and Saturday.

There will also be outstanding local entertainment, auctions, and entertainment for children.

Here is the schedule of activities provided by chairman Louis DeJohn:

• The fun will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday with the Navy Brass Ensemble Band.

• The entertainment continues with Carbon Copy Band from 7 to 9 p.m.  As always, Friday night will feature a giant Crawfish Boil, with plates going for $15 each.

Some of the contestants in the Annual Cookoff will begin cooking Friday and continue throughout the evening.

• On Saturday, Cookin’ in Central continues at 10 a.m.

• The Cook-Off will include competition for jambalaya, BBQ chicken, couchon-du-lait or pork roast, brisket, and fried turkey.

• Meal tickets will be $10.

• Live entertainment will continue throughout most of the day with many schools, cheerleaders, dance teams, and others performing.

• Special entertainment will be provided for children, including a rock climbing wall, dunking booth, blow ups, and more.

• After lunch, the program will include Live, Silent, and Progressive Auctions.

• In addition to meals, snowballs, ice cream, and yogurt will be offered, as well as beverages.

• Drive through dinners will be available Friday night and Saturday.

• The $10,000 Auction will draw lots of interest.  Tickets are $100.

Judge Richard Anderson and Ms. City of Central Keeley Le-Blanc will assist in the drawing Saturday afternoon.

• Tickets for the Crawfish Boil and lunch on Saturday can be purchased at all Central public, private, and parochial schools, Chamber of Commerce, Bank of Zachary, Fidelity Bank, Hancock Bank, Neighbor’s Federal Credit Union, People’s Bank, Ross Tire, and Whitney Bank.

Cookin’ in Central had its origins more than 10 years ago.  After the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001, Louis DeJohn and a group of contractors and union members wanted to do something to help the people of New York City.  They held a giant cookout and bought two brand-new fire engines for the New York City Fire Department.

Shortly after the founding of the City of Central in 2005, Katrina hit the Gulf coast, causing devastation.

The people of Central wanted to do something to help.  They founded Cookin’ for Our Neighbors and targeted the community of Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish.  That parish was virtually wiped out.

Almost all government buildings were destroyed, and the school system was eliminated.  Only two of the parish’s school buses survived.  Without buses or money, there was no way to transport students to the makeshift schools, which were being reconstructed.

In 2006, Central raised more than $190,000 to purchase three brand-new school buses for the St. Bernard School System.

It was a moment to remember when Louis DeJohn announced that a total of $190,000 had been raised.  Then-Rep. Nita Hutter of St. Bernard Parish was in Central to represent her parish.  He raised her hands with joy and cried.  So much had happened to the people of her parish, and this was some of the first tangible help to come.

Six years later, those buses are still rolling.  They are named, “The Spirit of Central.”  Last September, one of the buses was driven to Central for the ground-breaking of Cookin’s new site on Blackwater Road.  It was still in good condition.

Every year since 2006, Cookin’ has adopted a different worthwhile cause.  One year it was seed money to help pay up front expenses for the new Central Community School System.  Another year it was library books and technology equipment for Central schools.  Another year it was helping rebuild the library for the nearby St. Helena Parish School System.

This is the 7th Annual Cookin’ in Central.  It began as Cookin’ for Our Neighbors and then became Cookin’ for Our Kids before adopting its current title of Cookin’ in Central.

The community-wide event is a time for everyone in Central and surrounding areas to come together.  All differences are forgotten while the community celebrates its many blessings.