Smiley Anders for June 20, 2012

Home-grown tomato season, when tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes, is one of my favorite times of year.

Thick slices of beefsteak tomatoes on white bread slathered with mayo; simple lettuce and tomato salads; the ever-popular BLT, plus scores of tomato dishes make this a memorable, if all too short, season.

So I perked up when Copper Alvarez told me about “Tomato Me Crazy” Saturday at Red Stick Farmers Market downtown.

Held in conjunction with “Fresh Fest 2012,” the event features award-winning local chef Don Bergeron demonstrating tomato recipes “the Creole way” at 10 a.m. with host chef Celeste Gill.

There will be face painting by Liz Lopes, tomato giveaways at the coffee booth, a kids art booth, “tomato stomping music” from Kevin Johnson and a “Guess How Many Tomatoes” contest.

Fresh Fest 2012 is presented by Louisiana 2 Step, which has a booth inside Main Street Market with ideas about “eating right and moving more for good health.”

Call [phone].

Walking billboards

Perry A. Snyder is delighted that three golfers with Louisiana connections — Tulane’s Michael Thompson and LSU’s David Toms and John Peterson — finished near the top of the U.S. Open.

Concerned that pro golfers are starting to resemble NASCAR drivers, Perry says the trio “are to be commended for limiting their endorsements.

“Toms’ sweater advertised Humana; Peterson wore the Oxford clothing logo on his garb; and Thompson championed (no pun intended) Ping Golf.

“Others wore more corporate logos than most Eagle Scouts have merit badges. They hawked everything from jet aircraft (Boeing) to computer software (SAP), from financial institutions (Royal Bank of Canada) to cable companies (Comcast).

“Son Scott and I, traditionalists both, agreed that 5-hour Energy drink logo on past champion Jim Furyk’s hat and shirt was in singular poor taste.

“What’s next? A golf hat or shirt promoting one or more of the products promising cures for an unnamed dysfunction?”

Robin’s fans

Annabelle Armstrong says the Southeastern Louisiana University family is rooting for former Lady Lions basketball star Robin Roberts, an anchorwoman on “Good Morning America.”

She says Robin’s latest health challenge is a blood disorder:

“Slated to receive a bone marrow transplant from her sister, Sally, Roberts is busy educating the public and urging organ donations.

“She remains tied to SLU and has always felt the love of the campus that has never lost touch with this lady with the courage of a Lion.”

Good Samaritans

An anonymous reader tells this story:

“Last month a nonagenarian driver, late to a meeting off Pecue Lane, couldn’t find the address.

“She stopped to ask a couple getting out of a pickup.

“The young lady whipped out a smart phone (or iPad, whatever) and after quickly locating the address, very kindly led the lady there.

“A really generous, kind deed. …”

Worthy causes

On Saturday a “Family Fun Benefit Day” raises funds to help with medical bills for the family of Lovie Daigle Smith, who died six months after being diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia).

The day-long event starts at 10 a.m. at St. Amant Recreational Park, and features four bands and a DJ, inflatables and face painting for the kids, food and drinks, a country store, silent auctions and a “washer board tournament.”

Contact Shannon Smith at [e-mail] or [phone].

Special People Dept.

• Chetta Cangelosi, of Ollie Steele Burden Manor, celebrates her 104th birthday Wednesday. Her sister, Josie Cangelosi, 102, also of Ollie Steele Burden Manor, is her “special guest of honor.”
• Roland and Alma Clouatre Jacob, of St. Amant, celebrate their 59th anniversary Wednesday.

Eat American

Darrell Davis says, “Recently, while dining at a local restaurant, we were provided with bamboo chopsticks.

“They came in a brightly colored package covered with all kinds of Chinese characters.

“Being the age I am, I studied the package carefully for the familiar label.

“In the fine print on the bottom, there it was — ‘Made In USA.’ ”

Picky eaters

Amy Drago says, “As per our Saturday tradition, I am in and out — putting things on the grill, turning them, basting and taking them off, etc.

“Every time I announce, ‘Let’s go get the hamburgers’ or ‘Let’s go turn the steak,’ the dogs hop up and run out with me.

“But this past week, when I said, ‘Let’s go turn the eggplant,’ they just looked at me and then put their heads back down.

“What’s up with that? (My husband said we have some smart dogs.)”

Write Smiley at [e-mail]. He can also be reached by fax at [phone] or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.