Vol. 30, No. 1 Kenner’s Community Newspaper Since 1991 JANUARY 2021 Kenner resident Ice House owner says despite all the problems, has much to be grateful for input requested By Allan Katz normal. Then, of course, there is the terrible COVID-19 as other essentials. Ricca says what has changed is the pandemic. So many good people have died. Naturally, way folks shop at the Ice House. for revitalization of It has been 38 years since Joe Ricca opened the our business has been hit by this. Yet, I feel we still Instead of coming into the store, many of Ricca’s Rivertown and The first Ice House. And it has been 18 years since he took have much to be grateful for. Most of our customers customers now park in the parking lot and call the store over the Ice House in its current location at 2151 Wil- have stayed with us. We’ve been able to keep our 20 at 469-3503 with their order. In moments, one of Ricca’s Esplanade mall. liams Boulevard in Kenner. And in all that time he has employees on the payroll. Our team is intact, thank good- team members rushes out the door with the order and never seen a year filled with so many difficulties as 2020. ness.” brings it to the vehicle. The employee always wears a January 20 online Zoom meeting “There has never been a year in my lifetime The Ice House is the largest provider of ice, dry mask for safety’s sake. It is contactless service of the details and registration info on where we have so many hurricanes hit the Gulf ice and propane for Kenner and nearby communities. highest order. “We’re a lot faster than the big stores,” Coast,” says Ricca. “I pray to God this is not the new It is also a major seller of beer and soft drinks, as well page 2 & 6. page 11 An update on the Duncan Canal/West Esplanade Super clinic and micro-hospital development at improvements near The Esplanade mall Clearview City Center announced by Ochsner The $13.5 million project to replace the two Health and Clearview timber bridges at the Duncan Canal and other im- provements is about 55 percent completed, accord- On December 3, 2020, Ochsner Health and ing to the contractor, Hard Rock Construction. Clearview leaders announced the development of a The work is now expected to be finished by the comprehensive healthcare destination at Clearview fall of 2021, assuming no unexpected delays. City Center. Known as a “super clinic” because of the Hard Rock has completed building a box cul- breadth of healthcare services offered under one vert in Canal No. 2 and the westbound timber pile roof, the facility will feature primary and specialty bridge has been removed. Westbound traffic on West patience with this project,” Kenner Mayor Ben care clinics, outpatient surgery, physical therapy, a will also feature a 10-bed micro-hospital to accommo- Esplanade is being diverted to the eastbound side Zahn said. “This will be a great improvement for drive-thru pharmacy, endoscopy suites, Medi-Spa date overnight stays and be equipped with technology where there is currently two-way traffic. the city, but there’s no doubt this will involve and more. The 185,000 square foot facility, located for telemedicine. Expected to open in late 2022, the “I want to thank residents for their continued in the space formerly occupied by Sears retail store, page 19 page 18 Ochsner Health announces new multi-specialty Airport achieved GBAC STAR facility accreditation clinic with LSU Health at Ochsner Health Louis Armstrong New Orleans International the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the Airport (MSY) has recently achieved Global Bior- guidance of GBAC, a division of ISSA, the world- Center-Kenner a great opportunity for both patients and medi- isk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation, wide cleaning industry association, MSY has imple- cal residents.” mented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, In December 2020, Ochsner Health expanded Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner will now disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its continued academic partnership with LSU offer access to more providers in seven special- its facility/facilities. Health with the opening of a new multi-specialty ties – allergy, cardiology, infectious disease, ne- To achieve GBAC STAR accreditation, MSY clinic as part of Ochsner Health Center-Kenner, phrology, neurology, orthopedics and pulmonol- was required to demonstrate compliance with that will provide even more access to care and ser- ogy. The clinic will be staffed by full-time, board- the program’s 20 core elements, which range vices to patients in the area. certified LSU physicians for each specialty, as from standard operating procedures and risk as- “With Ochsner’s expertise and LSU’s skilled well as LSU residents and medical students. sessment strategies to personal protective equip- faculty, residents and fellows in highly requested Conveniently located on the campus of ment and emergency preparedness and response specialties, while our patients receive the standard Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner, the facility al- measures. To learn more about GBAC STAR of care they know and expect from an Ochsner clin- ready offers a broad range of specialty services, accreditation visit www.gbac.org. ic,” said OMC-Kenner CEO Stephen Robinson. “It’s page 19 page 19 Kenner Progress See 4-page center pull out section Ben Zahn 2 JANUARY 2021 H KENNER STHR MASKS AND Required! Join Us For An 2020 Fourth Street • Kenner, LA 70062 CLOSED Experience That’s MASKS12/26 & 1/2 PUBLIC MEETING REQUIRED! OUT OF THIS WORLD! JANUARY 2021 – CLOSED JAN. 2 Big Bird’s Louis J. Roussel, Jr. Laser Planetariumone world one sky: Rivertown Saturdays - 11 a.m. ★ Running time: 27 minutes Adventure OneJoin World, Big Bird, One Elmo,Sky: Big and their friend from China, Hu Hu ZhuRusty as they Rocket’s locate Last the BlastBig Dipper, the Bird’sNorth Adventure Star, and the Moon in the night sky. Take an imaginary trip to the moon and discover how different it is from Earth. Audiences will see that even Rustythough Rocket friends has may one livefinal in different & Join Big Bird, Elmo, and their mission to command: an friendcountries, from China, we all Hu share Hu Zhu the same sky! introductory tour of the solar as they locate the Big Dipper, system for a new class of rocket the North Star, and the Moon rookies. Along the way, Rusty in the night sky. Take an highlights the wide variety of Esplanade Mall Dream toimaginary tripFly to the moon Saturdays and - 12 p.m. & 2 p.m ★environmentsRunning time:in the solar 35 minutes system, Since the beginning ofdiscover history, how people different have it isdreamed of fl ying. Tales of mythicalthe dragon great distances between the from Earth. Audiences will planets, and the spacecraft that fl ights thrilled ancient dreamers. Storytellers wove airy fantasies of magic carpet rides. see that even though friends explore them. Leonardo Presented da Vinci by: stoked the dreams of fl ight with his fantastic drawings and through his Revitalization Plans eyes, we learned to lookmay at live nature in different for the countries, secrets of fl ight. Open your audience’s hearts we all share the same sky! and minds to new ideas about fl ight, and learn how generations of dreamers pursuedRunning the time: 35 minutes ancient impulse that hasRunning taken ustime: from 27 theminutes ground to the stars. Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Rusty Rocket’sDream to Fly Last Blast ★ Since the beginning of history, people have dreamed of flying. Tales of mythical Saturdays - 1 p.m. Runningdragon flights time: thrilled 35 ancientminutes dreamers. Storytellers wove airy fantasies of magic 6:00 PM via ZOOM Rusty Rocket has one fi nal missioncarpet to rides. command: Leonardo an da introductory Vinci stoked the tour dreams of theof flight solar with his fantastic drawings system for a new class of rocketand rookies. through Along his eyes, the we way, learned Rusty to look highlights at nature forthe the wide secrets of flight. Open your variety of environments in thehearts solar and system, minds to newthe ideasgreat about distances flight, and between learn how thegenerations of dreamers planets, and the spacecraft thatpursued explore the them. ancient impulse that has taken us from the ground to the stars. Running time: 35 minutes Register here: https://bit.ly/3oJboQF SaturdaysDo you love the - 80’s?3 p.m Well,. ★ dust Running off your Moontime: Boots 45 andminutes Parachute Pants and travel back in time to Dowhen you artists love thelike 80’s?Duran Well,Duran, dust Tears off for your Fears, Moon and Bootsthe Eurythmics and Parachute ruled the Pants pop andworld! travel Selections back in time to when artistsinclude like Lunatic Duran Fringe Duran,, Rio Tears, Sweet for DreamsFears, and, and the She Eurythmics Blinded Me ruled With theScience pop amongworld! many Selections others! include Lunatic Fringe, Rio, Sweet Dreams, and SheRunning Blinded time: Me With 45 minutes Science among many others! Admission: Schedule: E-mail [email protected] or call Appointment Only: Tues-Fri Schools/Camps/Groups 504-468-7231 for informationTuesday and- Friday group rates. by appointment only,Call for 504 -schools/camps/groups468-7231 for reservations. E-mail [email protected] or call 468-7231 for reservations, group rates or info. Adults $6.00 per show ★ Children/Seniors GENERAL$5.00 perPUBLIC show - SATURDAYSGeneral ONLY Public: Box OfficeSaturdays opens Only at 10:45 a.m. Box Office opens at 10:45 am Admission: Adults, $6 per show ★ Children/Seniors, $5 per show ★ Multi-show packages available Multi-show packages available www.kenner.la.usOne World, Oneshow Sky: schedule11:00 subject am to change *Children 2-12 years Dream to Fly: 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm *Seniors 60 and over Rusty Rocket’s Last Blast: 1:00 pm SHOW SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Laser Retro: 3:00 pm Kenner Planetarium 2020 Fourth Street Kenner, Louisiana 70062 www.kenner.la.us 504-468-7231 KENNER STHR H JANUARY 2021 3 MSY is a GBAC STAR accredited facility Enhanced cleaning and sanitization measures that protect passengers and prevent the spread of germs.