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PEG LEGS TROPHY
Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate was pleased to have men and women join them, representing the Army, Navy and Marine Corps and had fought in WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Participants included: James Daniels, Fred Whitman, Gail Taylor, James Merrigan, Roger Taylor, Whiliam Chisholm, Louis Bixby, Robert Silverberg, Kim Kemp-Robinson, Ramona Hill, Bob Silverberg, Earl Williams, Don Reiter, and Tony Zipperer. The float was decorated patriotically with military service and unit flags that had been donated by Krewe member, Fran Reiter. Founded in 2004, Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate, Inc., fulfills wishes, provides prosthetic devices, offers financial support, and volunteer time to local amputees, their families, and organizations that work with amputees. The Krewe is an IRS 501(c)(3) recognized Non-Profit Corporation. The Krewe also helps heroes and veterans that have returned from war and have experienced the loss of their limb(s). Last year a scholarship fund was established to assist those amputees who wish to continue their education at either an accredited college/university or through programs at a technical/training school. To date the Krewe has awarded more than $160,000 in scholarships to amputees. The Krewe proudly uses donations and contributions for the direct benefit of amputee and their families. The mission of the Krewe, is to offer community support to local children and adults that have had the unfortunate fate of losing a limb. For additional information about Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate, pictures, or to make a donation, please visit the website at www.peglegpirate.org. You may also contact the Krewe through e-mail at peglegpiratekrewe@gmail.com. |
Celebrating Carnival all year long
Family-run Mardi Gras World has made mega-floats for six decadesNEW ORLEANS — It's always carnival time at Mardi Gras World. The family-run business has been making mega-floats for some of the biggest and best Mardi Gras parades for more than 60 years. The company is now showing off its innovative designs in a 300,000-square-foot warehouse, a fantasy world of paper mache, fiberglass, plaster and millions of twinkling lights populated by pharaohs, superheroes, fairies, gorillas and many other creations. The facility is a popular attraction with tourists and locals alike. "I'm amazed at how big they are and how elaborate they are," Serena Skews, 22, from England, who was touring the place, said of the floats. "I can't be here for the real Mardi Gras, but this gives me an idea of what it's like." Other visitors included dozens of students from St. Stanislaus High School in Baton Rouge. They marched in, mouths hanging open, cell phones held aloft to record the wonders stretching before them. "Oh, look, look," girls' high-pitched voices called out. Even the more sedate boys elbowed each other as they strolled past well-endowed replicas of Marilyn Monroe, Wonder Woman, and assorted harem girls. Tours of Mardi Gras World cost $18.50, including a 12-minute movie and a chance to dress in various Mardi Gras costumes and take pictures. Guides show visitors the floats, the workshop where decorations are made, and discuss Mardi Gras history and customs. Visitors finish up with king cake, the traditional cinnamon-and-sugar-covered Mardi Gras confection, and coffee. The Kern family is the creative force behind Mardi Gras World. Blaine Kern, the son of a sign painter, started building and decorating floats when he returned from World War II. Over the years, he and his family became known for their extraordinary designs — including some of the mega-floats for the so-called super krewes. "I say we don't do floats for all the parades. We do them for the best parades," said Kern's son Barry, 47, who now heads Mardi Gras World. The business had been housed in a 70,000-square-foot warehouse on New Orleans Westbank, but last year moved to the larger new facility where visitors can watch workers creating new additions and see the floats that will be rolling this year. Mardi Gras takes place Feb. 16, but the parades begin the weekend of Jan. 30. Mardi Gras World is providing floats for 18 parades this year, including Rex, known as the King of Carnival, Zulu, Bacchus, Endymion and Orpheus. All will roll the final weekend of Carnival and will be viewed by upward of 1 million people. The parades' themes change each year. Even parades that use the same named mega-floats over and over update and reinvent their floats depending on the new parade themes. Mardi Gras World not only creates floats for local parades, but also does Mardi Gras-type parades for theme parks around the world, including Japan, Korea, Singapore and Paris. "Every day our company is part of a parade somewhere in the world," Kern said. © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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