city government

Danae Columbus: Local businessman Louis Gurvich seeking to lead state Republicans

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New Orleans business leader Louis Gurvich, a long-time member of the Orleans Parish Republican Executive Committee and the Republican State Central Committee, wants to be elected chairman of Louisiana’s Republican Party, now 900,000 members strong. If elected, Gurvich will succeed current state party chair Roger Villere, who is retiring after overseeing the Republicans’ rise to dominance in state politics over the last 14 years. Villere is the longest-serving state GOP chair in the U.S. and is vice chair of the Republican National Committee.

“When Roger first became chair, the Louisiana Republican Party was a much smaller, less powerful organization,” said Gurvich, who also previously served on the Orleans Parish Board of Election Supervisors. Secretary of State Fox McKeithen was the only Republican statewide elected official. Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards is the only statewide elected Democrat. The number of parish-level and regional Republican elected officials has also grown significantly.

arts, books and music

Trinity Artist Series honors French Independence through music & dance (photos)

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Dr. Courtney Bryan, left, and Calvin Johnson, right, perform a Sidney Bechet tune at the Trinity Church Bastille Day Celebration 2017. The celebration, which was part of Trinity’s Artist Series, featured local, national and international acts. (Zach Brien, UptownMessenger.com)

Trinity Episcopal Church celebrated Bastille Day 2017 during their Artist Series performance on Sunday, July 16. The celebration included local, national, and international acts performing music, all either in French, about France, or performed by French musicians.