Steve Crovetto, Boutte (St. Charles Parish)

We are so excited about our cover this month celebrating the arts. As we all know, the arts are the very fabric that makes our city strong, diverse and vibrant! Thanks to Stephanie Burks, BRAVO President of the New Orleans Ballet Association; Literary Manager and lead actress of upcoming A Doll’s House, Part 2, Jessica Podewell of Southern Rep; Artistic Director Maxwell Williams and Sock of Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré; Associate Concertmaster Benjamin Hart of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra; and Emeritus Board Member Juan Barona of the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane for gracing our cover! Look to pg. 76 for the schedule of upcoming performances through the end of 2018 (including that of the New Orleans Opera, which wasn’t able to be on our photo) and add them all to your schedule!

Now that we’re in the middle of summer, we’re all looking forward to cheering on our favorite teams. Be sure to check out What’s Hot for Sports & Spirit for the best addition to your game, whether you’re watching or playing.

Check out what’s new and reacquaint yourself with perennial favorites along Metairie Road in our feature that shines a light on businesses and boutiques that supply residents with not only goods and services, but friendship and fellowship as well.

Be sure to check out Art Vue at the ACE. It is an inaugural fundraiser dedicated to supporting art and art education at Longue Vue House & Garden. Celebrate the arts with Longue Vue on Saturday, August 25, 7 to 11 p.m., at the ACE Hotel (600 Carondelet St.). Join the fun for fun, food, cocktails and music by Randi and the Lo-Fi Soul and, of course, art! Call 293-4725 for more information.

Fidelity Bank has an exciting new program to help women in business called P.O.W.E.R. [Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Realized]. The program is highlighted in our new “Ladies Who Launch” promotional section. This is how it works: All you have to do is open a checking account or any other account at Fidelity and you can be a P.O.W.E.R. member. There is a website that has a members-only directory with your photo, business information, contact information and more. You are encouraged to go to P.O.W.E.R. Hours, which are small events at the different branches where women collaborate and help each other. This sounds so great for someone just starting a business or one who’s established and looking to network. For more information, visit FidelityBankPower.com.

Be sure to check out my column on Fishing and picnics. I know it’s hot, but if you wait until late afternoon in between rain showers, it works!! It could also be for an early dinner. Of course you’ll have to do “catch and release”. Be sure to take a picture to document your fishing experience!

Have a great rest of the summer, and don’t forget to check me out on Instagram and Facebook!

Beverly Reese Church

Spencer Shilstone and Miles Mumford owners of MilesStone Pictures, a new film company that specializes in event and promotional videos, are Co-Chairing the next fundraiser for Latter Library! These two entrepreneurs who are in their 20s decided the library is important to them and their friends, and want to raise awareness of this local treasure!  Six years ago the grounds of Latter were in a sad state, but thanks to Landscape Images (who donated the master plan) and countless others including The New Orleans Town Gardeners, the city and many volunteers, the grounds are beautiful again. This fundraiser will help with maintenance and provide funds for completing the master plan.

I am so excited to see that these young New Orleanians and their friends are making a difference and are saving a New Orleans landmark that we all love. Show your support for Latter Library this fall!

Jennie Morton, Dr. Patrick Gannon, Dr. Mark Seton, James Blake and Bethany Bultman are pictured on July 1, when the Musicians’ Clinic’s Co-Founding Director, Bethany Bultman, presented a call to action about the growing suicide epidemic in the creative community at the annual international Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) symposium.

The panel, named after the You Got This mental health initiative, featured Dr. Mark Seton, one of the authors of the Australian study on creatives and mental health; Jennie Morton, the British author of numerous books on performance wellness; Dr. Patrick Gannon, San Francisco psychologist and You Got This advisor, and renowned musician and songwriter James Blake spoke out about this crisis.

The You Got This panel addressed what many studies suggest is an underreported epidemic of mental health issues among working musicians.

Learn more by visiting NOMAF.ORG/YGT.