Chamber Members:

We would like to express a special thank you to all of our corporate
sponsors. The support of these businesses when combined
with all of our members allows your chamber to grow and continue
to give back to this community. Our Platinum Sponsors, 
Jackson-Vaughn Insurance and The Tangipahoa Parish Tourist Commission were the sponsors of the
first of our summer series seminars that was held at City Hall.
This presentation by Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Mike Strain
was very informative and well attended. Thanks to Dr. Carter and
Jamene Dahmer for chairing these events. Our second presentation
of the "Summer Series" on July 22 at City Hall will be the
"State of the City" with our own Mayor Robert Zabbia and Police
Chief Bry Layrisson who will bring us up to date with city
progress and concerns. Our final event of the Summer Series
will be on August 26 with guest speaker Jay Dardene,
Louisiana's own Secretary of State. We urge all of our members
and the community to come out for these seminars. We are honored
that we can bring these officials to you for an opportunity for
a chance for you to hear the news they have to offer and for you
to ask questions. These events are open to the public. A brown
bag lunch is provided by the Chamber of Commerce at no cost
to the attendees.

The final two summer events will be our "Christmas In July" celebration
on the weekend of July 19-20 and the "Business Expo"
scheduled for August 19. Both of the events will give you the
chance to “VOTE YES FOR LOCAL BUSINESS". Please join
me in making an effort to spend you dollars locally. In today's
economy, remember that every dollar that is spent locally multiplies
many times over in our own community. The "Christmas In
July Event" will feature many great bargains by our local shops
and give you a chance to shop early for Christmas. Ours shops
have many unique and great gifts for under $25. Please join
us, shop at home, and enjoy some patriotic music and a glass of
ice cold lemonade being offered by some of our local shop owners.
The Business Expo this year will be bigger and better than ever.
You can show case your business to our entire community. This
year's theme is "VOTE YES FOR LOCAL BUSINESS". Please
come out and participate and join us in this event. If you have
any questions, please call Miriam Summers chair of this event at
(985) 969-7720.
Thanks for your participation and continued support.
Tess Beckler
2008 President, Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce

May 2008

It was an impressive turnout for the May Chamber
After Hours hosted by Middendorf’s Restaurant. The
new owners of Middendorf’s, Horst and Karen Pfeifer
(pictured above), were thrilled to see as many as 170
turn out for the event that included both the
Ponchatoula and Hammond chamber members

 

June 2008

June’s Ponchatoula’s Chamber After Hours was held at
the Tangipahoa Parish Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
and proved to be a huge success With over 100 chamber
members in attendance. Food was provided by second
place Louisiana Seafood cook-off winner Phil O’Donnell of
O’Donnell’s Restaurant in Ponchatoula.

July 17th

Chamber After Hours

Held at Gabriel Building Supply * Joint with Hammond*

July’s Turnout at Gabriel’s best one so far

Close to 250 people showed up at Gabriel’s Building Supply for Ponchatoula’s Chamber After hours which was held on July 17th. This event was a joint after hours with the Hammond Chamber of Commerce. The evening kicked off around 5pm with music by the Domino’s. Door prizes were plentiful and were displayed on the stage for all to see. Owner Bob Gabriel addressed the crowd and thanked them for coming to their yearly event. Gabriel’s Building Supply has been hosting Chamber After Hours for over 15 years. Gabriel’s Building Supply has been a part of the Ponchatoula Community and continues to serve both the Ponchatoula and Hammond area communities for over 80 years. At the After hours the Chamber unveiled their “toula Cookbooks” which has 500 recipes and is over 200 pages from local residents.

2008 future Chamber After Hours

August 21 Senator Julie Quinn ~ Country Market
September 25 Parish National Bank
October 10 Breakfast B4 Business ~ Bootsy’s Deli
October 16 Seale & Ross *Joint with Hammond
November 20 First Guaranty Bank
December 18 Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank
Hosts and dates are subject to change. 

****Many thanks to these local businesses who help promote the City of Ponchatoula by
contributing to the Chamber’s Marketing fund. *****

Benson Dermatology, Berry Patch Cafe, Berryland Motors, Berrytown Produce, Bootsy’s Deli, Branch Real Estate, C.J.’s Antiques, City of Ponchatoula, Collinswood Museum, Drake & Beckler LLC, Edward Jones Investments, Fidelity & Homestead Savings Bank, First Guaranty Bank,  Heavenly Gifts, Jackson Vaughan Insurance, Jani King, Lisa’s Children’s Shop, Mary’s Antiques, Medi-Thrift Pharmacy Microtel Inn & Suites, North Oaks Medical Center, Oldies and Goodies, Parish National Bank, Paul’s Cafe, Ponchatoula Antiques, Ponchatoula Country Market, Rainbow’s Daiquiris, Roussel’s Specialty Shop, Tangipahoa Tourist Commission, Thomas Waterman

PONCHATOULA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BROWN BAG SERIES

Dr. Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, spoke to a large
crowd at City Hall on June 24 for the start of the
Chamber’s Summer Series. Dr. Strain spoke on current
and future issues affecting Louisiana’s agricultural businesses.
Topics included the lack of young people going
into the agriculture business, as well as food and fuel
costs. Dr. Strain emphasized that marketing is the key
ingredient to move products in the $20 billion dollar per
year business in Louisiana, the state’s biggest industry.

Ponchatoula Chamber Preisdent Tess Beckler, Board Member Dr. Karen Carter, Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Mike Strain, Ponchatoula's Mayor Bob Zabbia, and Event Co-ChairmanJamene Dahmer

July 22 at City Hall

“State of the City”
Mayor Robert Zabbia and Chief of Police
Bry Layrisson will be the guest speakers.
These events are free and open to the public.
A brown bag lunch is served on first come first served basis.

Q n A Medical Spa held its grand opening at 150 W.
Pine St. on June 25. Q n A is a division of Benson
Dermatology and offers skin care products and procedures.
Pictured from left to right are Marketing
Director Keri Bravo, Nurse Practitioner Sandy
Thornhill, Dr. Robert Benson and Cosmetics
Manager Joanie Degenhardt.

Aflac

Allen’s Podiatry

Ameriprise Financial Services

Century Financial Services
Coffee News

Coy Behler
Dream Jumpers LLC

Gator Graphics, LLC
Jeff Wright

Home Energy Solutions
Michael Betts, Attorney at Law
My Home is Your Home
Olde Nawlins Cookery

Orkin, Inc
Outstanding Maps
Parish Truck Sales 

Peridot Perle
Ponchatoula Family Pharmacy

Q n A (a medical spa)

Spun Sugar Cakes & Desserts
Stock Building Supply
Three Sisters Boutique

Avon/ Adrienne Dunn

Mona Via/ Scott Mosbey

Louisiana Treasure Museum
Total Home Maintenance Inc
McClenndon's Nursery

PONCHATOULA BUSINESS EXPO
The annual Business and Professional Expo is set for
Tuesday, August 19 from 6-9 p.m. at the Ponchatoula
Lions Club, located at 750 E. Pine St.
The success of this event was overwhelming last year.
Our participants are the reason for this success. Your
enthusiasm and generosity to the community have made
this an outstanding and enjoyable event. We are giving
you the first opportunity to join us again this year. Booth
fees will be $110.00 for Chamber members. Admission
will be $3.00.
For more information or to sign up, contact:
Miriam Summers at (985) 969-7722
or
Jamene Dahmer at (985) 634-0888

The Chamber office is located at 109 W. Pine Street between Xpression and Jackson Vaughan Insurance Agency. The Chamber office is run by Jan Ripberger. Hours of operations are from 10-3 pm Monday- Friday. The office phone is 386-2536
 

Change of Information
If you have a change in your
mailing address, phone number
or email address, please notify Jan at 386-2536.
Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 306
Ponchatoula, LA 70454

TOULA COOKS RECIPE BOOKS ARE HERE!
These hard cover, beautifully designed cookbooks make great gifts!
Available at CJ’s Antiques or contact Cathy Allen at 370-4027.

2008 Calendar of Events

July 19-20 Christmas in July
July 22 Brown Bag Seminar at City Hall
August 19 Business and Professional Expo
August 26 Brown Bag Seminar
October 11 Quilt Expo, Art Walk & Antique and Appraisal Fair
October 18 Ponchatoula’s Party in the Pits
November 1-2 Antique Trade Days
November 18 Texas Hold ‘Em
November 28-30 Christmas Open House
December 5 Christmas Lights
December 13 Christmas Parade

For more information on any of these events, please call Jan at the Chamber Office at 386-2536.