Krewe stays ‘Young at Heart’ by getting down at annual ball

Tyrone Edwards and Hattie Sue St. Claire were honored with the titles of king and queen of the 14th Annual Krewe of Young at Heart Mardi Gras Ball, which will take place on Jan. 16. The two were also given plaques and keys to the parish at the January St.

The St. Charles Council on Aging and St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation will hold the 14th Annual Krewe of Young at Heart Ball on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Jerusalem Shrine Center in Destrehan.

With 16 Maids and Dukes and 18 Lords and Ladies, this year is the largest court that the Krewe has ever had, according to the ball chairperson, Stephanie Boudreaux.

Hattie Sue St. Claire and Tyrone Edwards were chosen as queen and king this year. They represent the Literary Circle of Friends and the St. Charles Council on Aging, respectively.

“I’m very excited. I can’t sleep at night,” St. Claire said of being named queen. She said she is most excited about second lining.

The two were honored at the January meeting of the St. Charles Parish Council and were awarded plaques and keys to the parish. They also have family coming in from Florida and Colorado to take part in the ball.

St. Claire and Edwards will have an opportunity to ride in the Krewe of Lul parade on Feb. 13.

The idea for the ball originally came from Council on Aging Executive Director Margaret Powe.

“It was a dream for several years that we have an event that would involve agencies other than the Council on Aging, so I talked to the recreation department and they agreed to co-sponsor the ball,” Powe said. “Clubs and organizations in the parish are invited each year to nominate members of their group who are 60 and older. The purpose was to get as many people involved as possible. It’s been successful.”

Tickets to the ball are complimentary to St. Charles Parish residents who are over 60 years old. Residents can reserve tickets by calling the council at (985) 783-6683 or they can pick up tickets at the door of the event.

Powe said that the council has currently distributed about 360 tickets, but that there are usually about 500 people in attendance.

“We have a little competition with the Saints this year,” Powe said. The Saints play-off game is the same night as the ball.

Powe is still confident that the turnout will be high, though.

“The entertainment should be really fantastic,” she said. “It’s kept a secret until the night of the event. That adds to the suspense.”

The krewe holds other events throughout the year, including a coronation tea in December, a tea with all of the past queens in late January and an appreciation breakfast in February.