SHARE:  
2022 Grand Isle Fall News
Message from the Mayor
Dear Friends,

It's been over a year since Hurricane Ida came ashore near Grand Isle, and we have made tremendous progress in our recovery. Although many of us are still recovering, we want to thank and welcome all our visitors to the island. Having you visit and stay here is helping make our recovery possible.

This summer we celebrated the recovery by hosting the first annual Island Strong Beach Fest. It was an amazing success and we look forward to many more in the future. I would like to thank all those who helped make it possible, especially Councilman Brian Barthelemy, his wife Dana Barthelemy and Matt Rivere who were instrumental in organizing this event to raise funds for the town’s recreational facilities.

While you are here, please visit our restaurants, marinas, charter fishing guides and stores. They are the backbone of our community. Your support of our local businesses is invaluable. Everything you buy on the island helps support our local economy and makes a difference in our recovery. Visit www.townofgrandisle.com for details on where to stay and what to do while visiting.

We have some exciting things happening on the island, from coastal restoration and building housing to tree and iris plantings. It's a group effort by so many. I would like to thank everyone for their help in rebuilding Grand Isle, Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island and first line of defense against storms.

Come on down and join the recovery!

Grand Isle Mayor,

David Camardelle

Restoration projects will plant trees and irises this fall
The Grand Isle Garden Club is excited to announce that the Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful has given them a $5,000 donation to plant trees on the island. "A large number of trees were lost in Hurricane Ida, so this will make a huge difference," said Ronnie Sampey, Grand Isle Garden Club President.

A total of 25 to 30, five-year-old live oaks will be planted near the Grand Isle Community Center and in other locations this fall. If you want to join the effort, you can call Ronnie Sampey at 985.226.3766 or visit https://www.townofgrandisle.com/grand-isle-garden-club/. Special thanks goes out to the Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful for this generous donation.
The Grand Isle Garden Club will again join with the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative (LICI) to plant Louisiana irises in the Lafitte Woods Preserve. The LICI has already begun the prep work by clearing out some overgrowth and invasive species around the boardwalk. Three years of previous iris plantings will be joined by an additional 600 new irises that will make a tremendous impact this spring as Grand Isle becomes home to one of the state's largest stands of native irises accessible to the public. This has become a must see on the island in late March and early April. We would like to thank the LICI and The Nature Conservancy for partnering with us on this project.
Grand Isle Ladies Fishing Rodeo Returns! October 7- 8, 2022
The Grand Isle Ladies Fishing Rodeo (LFR) returns for a great party for a great cause! The 14th Annual event will take place on Columbus Day Weekend October 7 - 8, 2022.

The rodeo will be held at Bridge Side Marina, located at the foot of the Grand Isle bridge overlooking Caminada Pass. Tickets are $25 and include the rodeo hats/visors, door prizes, raffles, live auction, dinner and dance on Saturday night. T-shirts and LFR retails items will again be available for sale. 

Sponsorship are being taken now if you would like to help the cause. Consider becoming a Platinum, Gold, Silver, Diamond or Bronze Sponsor, which includes hats/visors, name on sponsor board and ticket. Team Fishing Teams will again dress up in festive costumes to participate in the Fishing Fashion Award Competition. Make sure you enter the "Bra Competition" too. The winning bra will be auctioned off.

The rodeo’s goal is to raise awareness and support for breast cancer. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society's Patrick Taylor Hope Lodge in New Orleans, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC), Thibodeaux Regional Cancer Center, and the “Wig Room” at the Lady of the Sea General Hospital located in Galliano. We will also assist Grand Isle residents with gas money so they can make their cancer treatments and support several activities at the Grand Isle School. 

More information at https://grandisleevents.org/ladies-fishing-rodeo/
Plan your Trip to Grand Isle!
Fall weather is upon us, and as temperatures drop, so will the prices on lodging. This is a great time to go fishing, bird watching or just relax and enjoy being on the island with family and friends.

Calendar of events:
October
October 7-8 – Ladies Fishing Rodeo Sponsored by the GI Community Development Team, Bridge Side Marina grandisleevents.org

October 22 – Hargrove Foundation Fishing Rodeo, Grand Isle Marina, beginning at 6:00 a.m.


Join the Restore Grand Isle Nursery!
The Grand Isle Garden Club has cleaned its property and installed a fence and is now in the process of building a green house and staging area so they can continue to restore and beautify Grand Isle by planting trees and irises. They are also building raised beds for Grand Isle school children to use and will build a community garden. The mission of the Garden Club is to restore Grand Isle's natural environment and educate residents and visitors on the importance of saving Grand Isle for future generations.
Grand Isle, Louisiana