Upper Lafayett e On T he Move
www.upperlafayette.com December 2014 Volume 72
Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Published by
Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation
Printed by
Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Board of Directors
David Welch, President Cherie Hebert, Vice President Todd Citron, Secretary/ Treasurer Adrian Baudoin Julie Dronet Brenda Foulcard Donna Landry Kirk LaCour Beau Phares Bryan Tabor Jerry Vascocu Monty Warren
Honorary Advisory Board Don Dupuis Ed Krampe Dwight “Bo” Ramsay Herbert Schilling
Staff
Jan Swift, Executive Director Elsa Dimitriadis, Communications Director/ Executive Assistant
Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation is an association of proactive individuals and business leaders joined together to be a catalyst for change. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance and direct the positive, planned growth of Upper Lafayette, focusing on quality of life, while participating in the overall development of the Greater Lafayette Metropolitan Area.
Mailing Address P.O. Box 53107 Lafayette, LA 70505
On the Web
www.upperlafayette.com
For membership information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Jan Swift at jan@upperlafayette.com or 337-769-7649
Volume 72 • December 2014 • www.upperlafayette.com
A Letter from the Executive Director Okay, I have to admit it: I love Reader’s Digest! My Aunt Elise gave me a subscription to Readers Digest every Christmas as I grew up. She even kept up the subscription when I attended college at LSU and beyond when I was miraculously accepted into LSU Law School. Not only did I get the monthly magazine, but I also got the Condensed Book collections! And I have now renewed this subscription as a gift to myself, and continue to be inspired by its collection of thought provoking articles, jokes and commentary, even as I write this article. Being a bookworm as a child (and still to this day a closet nerd on the hunt for all intriguing non-fiction tomes), Reader’s Digest exposed me to the great thoughts of Pearl S. Buck, as well as the ruminations of Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower and many others. This is where I learned about Humor in Uniform that helped me appreciate my dad and uncle, as well as the other veterans in my family, Life in These United States (which has always been truly funny in its own right!), and Word Power (which brought home the message that I may not always be the winner of the top Vocabulary Rating but I am sure going to learn the definitions of words before anyone knows I am clueless as to their meaning!). In our work on behalf of Upper Lafayette, we focus on education. And with the rush of memories that come up during the holiday season, I realize how much my family, whether they were close or extended, played an important role in the intellectual growth I experienced as a young girl. Even though my family sit-down dinners could be tough to survive with a grin on my face, I must say that my Dad’s side of the family really challenged me intellectually. As a young student, and as a young professional woman, I knew that my ability to communicate, excel in school, and just plain show
Jan Swift Executive Director up would enable me to survive and thrive in a meaningful way. My holiday wish is that this knowledge could be understood by all young people so that their lives will have meaning and be fruitful. How many of our community’s children are challenged to grow and expand their immediate circle of awareness? How many young people are exposed to the thoughts of former presidents or beloved craftsman such as Mark Twain, at their dinner tables? Why don’t we, as a group of caring people, encourage this? Merry Christmas! And if you have $12, why don’t you share Reader’s Digest with a young family member or friend? I promise, it will be a lasting gift..
2
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
Paul Hilliard Discusses WWII at Hilliard Art Museum
Left to right: UL-Lafayette Pres. Joe Savoie, Paul Hilliard, Museum Director Louanne Greenwald, Madlyn Hilliard and Congressman Charles Boustany The Hilliard University Art Museum on UL – Lafayette’s campus celebrated its tenth anniversary on November 9, 2014 by welcoming WW II veteran Paul Hilliard to discuss war memories with Curator Keith Huxen from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The event was held in conjunction with the current museum exhibitions of Russian art and photography composed during and after the war. Newly appointed Director LouAnne Greenwald graciously welcomed the overflowing crowd who filled the museum to hear Hilliard speak. The discussion between Hilliard and Huxen was filmed for all to enjoy and may be watched at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=yuoGaOAiulE#t=142. Guests thoroughly enjoyed the enlightening look back at what led to the war, Hilliard’s experiences as a young soldier who served as a gunner in two-seat dive bombers, flying more than 50 missions in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines, and a sobering realization that it is important to know history so as to prevent another tragedy of this magnitude from occurring again. Perfectly coordinated with the celebration of Veterans Day, the guests also enjoyed Reve Roasters coffee and a beautiful cake in a celebratory feast. Upper Lafayette is so proud to be able to acknowledge Paul Hilliard for his many wonderful accomplishments during his life, and to honor this beloved foundation member as a celebrated veteran. We salute Paul Hilliard and thank him for his service to our country!d t
Jan Swift with Tom Green
Paul Hilliard at the WWII Museum
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
3
Upper Lafayette Endorsed Lafayette Airport Tax Initiative: Please Vote on December 6! Voters have the opportunity to support the expansion of our Lafayette Airport by voting “Yes” on December 6. The 1 cent tax is limited to a term of 8 months, from April 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015. By law, it cannot be extended beyond November 30. After due consideration, Upper Lafayette’s board voted to support this important economic development initiative. The reasons we are supporting the tax: 1. The Lafayette airport is outmoded, having been built 55 years ago in 1959 and remodeled 25 years ago in 1989. While Lafayette has the fourth largest airport in Louisiana, it is the state’s second largest airport in terms of economic impact on the local economy. And that total impact of the airport owned by the citizens of Lafayette Parish is over $1.1 billion dollars a year. 2. With five straight years of record growth, parking is already at 95% of capacity 4 days a week and passenger counts are expected to increase another 40% over the next 11 years. The current terminal is no longer adequate to support the volume passengers it currently serves. 3. Our airport has three boarding gates serving three airlines. Lake Charles and Alexandria have four boarding gates and Monroe has six. Lafayette has more passengers than Lake Charles and Alexandria combined and twice the number of passengers as Monroe. The Aviation Demand Forecast says the airport will have another 40% increase in passengers between now and 2025, just 11 years from now. 4. Sixteen of the top 30 businesses in Lafayette are in the oil and gas industry. 100% of them use Lafayette Regional Airport. The airport is home to the world headquarters of PHI and will be the only place in Louisiana where aircraft are assembled when Bell Helicopter completes its new plant on airport property. Please join us in passing this measure. And most importantly, please go vote!
4
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
Carencro Veterans Memorial Dedication Ceremony
Crowd enjoys dedication on 11/11/2014
The Carencro Veterans Memorial
was dedicated on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 before a crowd of several hundred people gathered to remember the brave men and women who fought to protect our precious freedoms. Inspired by a phone call in January 2013 from L. J. and Annette Melancon who wanted to donate a granite bench to honor military veterans, Carencro now has its memorial with 16 granite columns that stand 4 feet high with names of local fallen military men etched in stone; hundreds of red bricks with donors’ names lie in squares; and six granite benches, including the one from the Melancons. The beautiful memorial is located at City Hall in Carencro at 210 E. St. Peter Street. When you face the memorial, you also are faced squarely with the 140-year-old St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, another icon of this beloved community. Among those honored are 17 men from Carencro area who were killed in U.S. wars: 11 in WW II; five in the Korean War; one in Iraq.
Lynn Guidry, Carencro architect and avid supporter of Upper Lafayette, designed the memorial and oversaw construction, and said architects are taught to speak to the monuments they build and to listen to what they say. He said that while it may have looked to others like he was talking to himself at times during construction; he really was having a multiparty conversation with the stone and bricks he was working with. “There is a dialogue between us and our buildings,” Guidry said. Guidry said he also listened to what the fallen soldiers had to say about where to locate the memorial. The front of City Hall, where the memorial eventually was built, was one of three locations under consideration. Guidry said that one day at dusk, sunlight reflected off the tower at St. Peter Church and created extra-worldly shades of light. “It was almost like God had kissed the tower,” Guidry said. “We realized the veterans had picked this site a long time ago.” Special thanks to Billy Gunn of the Advocate for content in this story and coverage of this wonderful event.
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
5
Clockwise from above: US Army Veteran Kinney Benoit remembered by his family. Photo by Brian Tuck/Advocate; Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux; Woodman of the World donate a flag; Carencro dedicates Veterans Memorial.
6
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
Latter & Blum Generously Donates to UL-Lafayette College of Business On behalf of The Ruth U. Fertel Foundation in New Orleans, Latter & Blum, Inc. CEO Robert Mer-
rick recently presented another donation to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s B.I. Moody III College of Business in the amount of $25,000. This check followed closely on the heels of Merrick’s personal donation of $60,000 made in April to the College of Business. Latter & Blum is the parent company of our local Van Eaton & Romero, a member of Upper Lafayette. Fertel was founder of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. In answer to her wish to aid needy students, the funds will be made available as scholarships within the university’s Hospitality Program, according to Merrick who heads up the Fertel Foundation. Special thanks to KATC.com for content of this story.
On hand for the presentation were: (seated, l. to r.) UL President Dr. Joseph Savoie; Latter & Blum CEO Robert Merrick; and Van Eaton & Romero, a member of the Latter & Blum family of companies, Broker/Owner Gail Romero; (standing l. to r.) Moody Professor Geoffery Stewart; Moody Dean Joby John; UL Provost Jim Henderson; Van Eaton & Romero President William Bacqué; and Van Eaton & Romero Broker/Owner Nancy Van Eaton Broussard.
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
7
“I joined the Quality Forum board in order to improve patient outcomes starting from the field by making paramedic data sharing seamless. To be able to push data to the hospitals and backward to the EMS providers, we will be able to obtain outcome data and properly implement relevant quality measures. This will improve the level of health care, increase transparency in hospitals and provide the best patient care possible,” said Dr. Burnell. “The challenge is to have everyone sharing this data in the same format as seamlessly as possible. From a quality standpoint, LaHIE is a way to leverage technology to improve patient outcomes. It will be beneficial to large systems and especially smaller, rural systems with limited patient care databases available to many of those providers.” Development and broad implementation of LaHIE may take one to two years. Over 85 Louisiana hospitals, affiliated clinics and other health care providers are already exchanging data through LaHIE.
Acadian Ambulance Medical Director Dr. Charles Burnell
has been named as a board member of the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum. Serving as a physician representative for pre-hospital patient care, Dr. Burnell joins a diverse board comprising hospital executives, attorneys, insurance executives and doctors. Dr. Burnell joined Acadian Ambulance in 2010 after serving as the emergency department director at Our Lady of Lourdes where he worked for 13 years. As medical director at Acadian, he oversees the medical staff and all operational protocols, ensures up-to-date course curricula and training for the National EMS Academy, works to implement HSE initiatives companywide and delivers medical direction in matters related to Risk Management.
Through the efforts of more than 40 health care and consumer groups, Louisiana State Legislature formally recognized the Quality Forum in 2007. As a neutral, private, not-for-profit organization led by a Board of Directors, the Quality Forum was tasked with planning, promoting and conducting quality improvement initiatives in Louisiana. Other focuses of the Quality Forum are Louisiana Medical Home, Louisiana Health Information Technology and LaPOST. Since 1971, Acadian has provided the highest level of emergency medical care and transportation possible. In the past decade, the company has expanded to include a diverse suite of services in health, safety, and transportation. Acadian’s six divisions are Acadian Ambulance Service, Acadian Total Security, Air Med, Executive Aircraft Charter Service, National EMS Academy and Safety Management Systems.
One of the Quality Forum’s missions is to improve population health care through building up the Louisiana Health Information Exchange, a secure network that links patient care data, enabling authorized health care providers and organizations to access and share health-related information from authorized locations. LaHIE was implemented as part of a multipronged plan to improve outcomes, lower costs and achieve higher patient satisfaction.
8
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
EarthShare Garden Sets Up New Home In Scott After many years of tending their organic community garden and fostering Community Supported Agriculture (CFA) projects on Carmel Drive, EarthShare Gardens has relocated to its new home at 241 Encore Lane in Scott. The McMath family has leased four acres of land, which will provide a permanent and long term home for EarthShare. This ten year lease will afford the community garden group stability and the chance to continue its mission of getting people of Lafayette back to locally grown and healthy produce. “It’s a new start for us,” said EarthShare board member Julie LaFleur. “It’s a blank slate, an empty field that has not had anything in it for 40 years.” Established in 2004, EarthShare Gardens has provided fresh local organic food to shareholders, vegetable donations to those in need of food, gardening as horticulture therapy, and a place for community gardeners to grow their own vegetables. According to its website, the mission of EarthShare Gardens is to “produce organic food as a way of caring for ourselves, each other and the Earth.” In 2013, Earth Share donated more than 3,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to Food Net. EarthShare Gardens depends on the generosity of community members to continue its work. If you would like to support the garden with a contribution, please visit http://earthsharegardens.org.
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
9
Wyatts Working to Improve Vermilion River
Sometimes it takes "outsiders" to point out the obvious. For us here in Acadiana, it is the
unbelievable amount of trash that litters our roadways, byways and bodies of water. So we want to take a moment to stop and thank Charles and Jan Wyatt for their efforts to jumpstart cleaning up the Vermilion River, at one of our Upper Lafayette meetings. An elegant couple with a lovely home in Oakbourne, they have lived here for almost a decade, having relocated to Lafayette to be close to their son, Dr. Charlie Wyatt and his family. The appeal of living close to the Vermilion was replaced with the realization that tons of trash flows through the river, day in and day out. “We saw a bunch of trash floating,” Charles said. “Enough small garbage was pulled from the river in Lafayette Parish to fill 1,100 55-gallon drums during clean-up efforts last year. Besides that, there were also stoves, microwaves, refrigerators and cars.” The Wyatts took action. They started by talking to the Master Gardeners group and the Garden Club and wrote up a proposal to preserve the local aquatic ecosystem. Charles said that proposal won first place in a national competition and that provided the seed money for the Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association.
the area’s natural environment by providing education and outreach to the general community about ways to conserve, protect and enjoy the Bayou Vermilion Watershed. The couple are also focused on better ways to use what little funds are dedicated to keeping the river clean. The Wyatts point to the property tax millage for the Bayou Vermilion District that goes towards cleaning up the trash. About 75 percent of those revenues are dedicated to that task. But they say, that is money that could be better spent. The Wyatts said the condition of the river has improved immensely since they started the BVPA, thanks to numerous cooperative efforts by the Bayou Vermilion District, Lafayette Consolidated Government, and the Vermilion River Alliance, which brings together leaders from Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Landry and Vermilion parishes. The Bayou Vermilion Preservation Alliance is currently holding a membership drive for those interested in helping preserve the Vermilion. For more information visit http:// www.bayouvermilionpreservation.org
The Wyatts said they helped start the BVPA because they have always been concerned about water preservation. Back in Houston, they volunteered with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, a nonprofit organization revitalizing and transforming Buffalo Bayou, one of Houston’s most significant natural resources. The mission of the Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association, Inc., a nonprofit association, is to create awareness of
10
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
Getting Real with Northside High Principal Melinda Voorhies On November 20, 2014, Upper Lafayette’s Jan Swift was able to sit and meet with Northside High Principal Melinda Voorhies, along with Upper Lafayette Board Member Brenda Foulcard, and community leaders Erica Williams and Skyra Rideaux to discuss the issues facing Northside and what we, in the community, can do to help. The state issues annual high school “report card” scores based on students’ performances on tests such as the ACT and Advanced Placement exams, and on graduation rates. Northside’s performance score for 2013-14 was a 48.8 or an F, a drop from 51.6 or a D in 2012-13.
garding the scores. She explained that the teachers are frustrated and that students’ morale is low when they are undeservedly labeled “failing.” She recounted the efforts of one student, when corrected for wearing cargo shorts, told her that he didn’t have anything else to wear. Voorhies responded that due to a security regulation, he’d have to be taught separately for the day. Shortly thereafter, he returned to her, having cut the pockets off of his shorts so that he could return to class. “They want to learn,” Voorhies vehemently explains.
Principal Voorhies explains that the numbers aren’t as simple as they seem. The state grades schools on four 25% parts. Two parts are student based (EOC and ACT test scores) and two parts are graduation based. Factors that affect those scores, but are not being fairly addressed, are 1. Attendance: In addition to numerous tardies and early dismissals, approximately 100 of the 800 students at Northside are absent for a full day every day. WIth a 20% absentee rate, this not only affects learning, but test attendance. 2. EOC: Every student is required to take all 6 End of Course (EOC) assessments. Students must pass 3 out of the 6 to meet graduation requirements. Although students may retake the assessment as many times as needed, schools only get credit for their first attempt. Additionally, if a student is absent for that “first attempt,” the school earns no points, regardless of the student’s score when they make up the assessment. 3. ACT: Although Northside’s scores are improving, schools only get credit for seniors who score an 18 or higher on the assessment. Although 44 students didn’t attend either the original or make-up assessments, 33% of those who took the exam had a score of 18 or higher, and the average NHS score is 17.4. When asked what we, as a community, can be doing, Principal Voorhies said that first, we can understand the numbers and actively help to disseminate the correct information re-
Lunch at Northside. Left to right: Brenda Foulcard, Erica Williams, Jan Swift, Melinda Voorhies, Skyra Rideaux
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
11
Northside High School’s Hall of Honor
Upper Lafayette On the Move Features Acadian Middle Principal Linda Nance Jan Swift recently had the pleasure on welcoming Linda Nance, Principal of Acadian Middle School, on Upper Lafayette On the Move. First airing on Thanksgiving night, the show may also be watched on Upper Lafayette’s website here. Nance is an accomplished professional, having taught for over 30 years before her retirement. At the behest of Northside High Principal Melinda Voorhies, she came out of retirement in 2012 to work first with Voorhies’ on the turnaround of Northside High before being tapped to work at Acadian as its principal when the school was reconstituted in 2013. Under Nance’s leadership, Acadian Middle has experienced a double-digit increase in its score from the 2012 – 2013 school year, rising 14 points from a 58.5 to a 72.5. With Upper Lafayette’s focus on education, it is rewarding to have the opportunity to work with Linda Nance and the many other dedicated educational professionals who care deeply for our students and strive to give each child the best education possible. Thank you for all you do!
12
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
Stirrin’ it Up by Cecile Walters Hebert
Last month I had the privilege to be a guest judge at the 2nd Annual “Collar”nary Cookoff, a fundraiser benefitting John Paul the Great Academy’s scholarship fund. Eleven priests plus a handful of seminarians from across Acadiana competed for bragging rights in Best Gumbo, Best Dressed, Best Decorated Tent, and People’s Choice. Patrons would purchase tokens to drop into each tent’s jar to “vote”. Held at Vermilionville, the cookoff was really well received by the community, with close to 350 people attending on a picture perfect night for gumbo. Co-chairperson Laura Buller confirmed that the event doubled the funds raised from last year. “When we first started throwing ideas around, we were looking for a way to appeal to people from outside of our school’s community in our fundraising efforts. Because we are not affiliated with a particular church parish we must raise funds from other sources, and we thought getting the priests involved would be a good way to garner attention from those that aren’t familiar with our little school,” said Buller.
The committee sent out letters to all the area priests asking for participation. They had no idea just how competitive it would become. Internet memes trash talking each other popped up on the Facebook event page almost instantly with the advent of early voting online. It was as fun for the participants to trade insults in jest as it was for those attending to read of the growing rivalry! So how does one even begin to compare a shrimp and crabmeat to turkey and sausage gumbo? With a spoon of course! I sampled them all. In my very humble opinion, Fr. Chester Arceneaux’s seafood gumbo took the cake, closely followed by Fr. Andre Metrejean’s duck and sausage. Ultimately though, my vote wasn’t the only one counted, and Father Bryce Sibley walked with the People’s Choice Award for Best Gumbo. Cheers to John Paul the Great Academy for putting on such a successful event, and looking forward to “stirring the pot” for next year!
Photos top to bottom: Contestants at cookoff; (left to right) Judges of the Lagniappe event Steve Santillo, Rob Macko, Eli Cure, Cecile and Matt Hebert; Winner Father Bryce Sibley.
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014
13
Thank you for your generosity Platinum Patrons ($5000)
Halliburton IBERIABANK Island Operating, Inc. Schlumberger Stone Energy
Platinum Members ($2400)
Acadian Companies Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc. Aries Marine Corporation ASH/Badger Oil Company Couret Farms Cox Communications Delta Media Home Furniture Hub City Ford Lafayette General Medical Center McDonald’s of Acadiana MidSouth Bank Our Lady of Lourdes Republic National Distributing Company Schilling Distributing Company Whitney National Bank
Gold Members ($1200)
Acadiana Rubber & Gasket Atmos Energy Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Dupré Logistics, LLC Fenstermaker & Associates Gulf Coast Bank Home Bank Omni Energy Services Pixus Digital Printing The Southwest Group Tobacco Free Living Van Eaton & Romero
Silver Members ($600)
Ace Plumbing, Inc. Arsement Machine and Supply, Inc. BBR Creative Cajun Harley Davidson Coburn’s Supply Company Edward Jones/Bob Crist Excelerant
14
Silver Members
Bronze Members
($600)
Gauthiers’ RV Center Guidry’s Uniforms Master Builders & Specialists, Inc. Oakbourne Country Club Prejean Creative Rader Solutions Shelf Energy, LLC SLEMCO Stella Maris Stirling Properties Total Pump and Supply, LLC Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company Walters Funeral Home
Bronze Members ($300)
Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. Acadiana Symphony Orchestra Advancial Federal Credit Union Anytime Fitness Upper Lafayette Aspen Clinic Associated Travel Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana Jean C. Breaux, Jr. & Associates Breaux’s Mart Bridge Ministry of Acadiana, Inc. Community Foundation of Acadiana Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering Dale Carnegie-The Winner Institute Davis Property Management Taylor Davis, Northwestern Mutual Derek Development Corp., LLC Joey Durel Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Lynn Guidry, Architect John Paul The Great Academy Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro Lafayette Animal Aid Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Lafayette Youth Soccer Association Lee Verret/State Farm Insurance Agency Lowry’s Printing and Copying Flo Meadows, Coldwell Banker Iqbal Merchant, CPA Melancon I-49 Storage Center Petroleum Club Chad Romero, Northwestern Mutual Ron J. Gaubert Realtors W. W. Rucks, III Sarah Schoeffler Schools of the Sacred Heart SMILE John Swift
($300)
Sylvan Learning Center Teche Electric Supply, LLC Dr. Brent Jason Toups, LLC Valerie Gotch Garrett, APLC WorldPay
Sponsors PLATINUM Lafayette Airport Commission LEDA GOLD AT&T Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Dupré Logistics Hub City Ford The Southwest Group Tobacco Free Living SILVER Acadian Companies Advancial Federal Credit Union Schilling Distributing Company
City of Carencro City of Scott
BRONZE
A special thanks to the Lafayette Economic Developement Authority (LEDA) for being our Program of Work partner for 2014.
www.upperlafayette.com • December 2014