Acadiana Profile August-September 2015

the business of fun 6 people who love their jobs

hospitals of acadiana P. 24

37 hospitals in 18 parishes P. 41

Cajun Corridor From Delcambre to Gueydan: Traveling Along Highway 14

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A photographic journey along Highway 14, aka the Cajun Corridor, reveals quaint towns, beautiful natural elements, animals, restaurants and interesting buildings.

contents A little extra Editor’s note Nouvelles de villes Newsbriefs Le visiter Calendar lagniappe

NOTE DE L’EDITEUR

home+style 15 À la mode

Watches

pour la maison Beer glasses la maison

Poolscapes

food+drink 29 Sports bar fare Back to school recettes de cocktails Bayou Soutside Fizz sur le menu

de la cuisine

culture 85 personnes Rob Perillo les artiste Mare Martin en francais

Souvenirs de Betsy

features cajun corridor 38 A journey along Highway 14

by James Shaw

the business of fun 49 Meet 6 people who love what they do by will kalec and claire salinas

hospital guide 61 Our annual compendium

hospital list compiled by staff doctor profile by Lani griffiths

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

lagniappe

learn french école

Football season is here! what’s your favorite team and tailgating spot?

august/september 2015 vol. 34 | № 4

Editor in Chief

Managing Editor

Associate Editor

Art Director

Lead Photographer

Web Editor

[ey-kawl] n. school example: Le temps est venu de retourner à l’école.

Sales Manager

Errol Laborde Sarah Ravits Melanie Warner Spencer Sarah George

The New Orleans Saints...I usually go to friend’s houses or bars in my neighborhood.

Kelly Massicot Rebecca Taylor

(337) 298-4424 My favorite teams are UL, LSU and

(337) 235-7919 Ext. 230 the Saints. I enjoy tailgating at Rebecca@acadianaprofile.com the Cajundome to the Sales Intern Noelle Savoy and going Mercedes-Benz Superdome whenever I can!

Traffic Manager Jess DeBold The New

Distribution Manager John Holzer Orleans Saints.

I like tailgating Director of Marketing & Events Cheryl Lemoine at Champions Square (in New

Administrative Assistant Denise Dean Orleans).

Subscriptions

Production/Web Manager

Production Designers

did you know?

Danley Romero

September is the most active month during hurricane season, with the climatological peak around September 10th. The most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history was 2005, the year in which Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Katrina was the 11th named storm, 5th hurricane of the season and the costliest natural disaster in United States history. This year marks the 10th anniversary.

Sara Kelemencky Staci McCarty Ali Sullivan

Monique DiPietro

Chief Executive Officer

Todd Matherne

President

Alan Campell

Vice President

Errol Laborde

Vice President of Sales

behind the scenes

Colleen Monaghan

Like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/AcadianaProfile) and follow us on Twitter (@acadianaprofile) for daily updates, happenings in the area and other news!

We want to hear from you, and we’ll post a question every week – post your answers and you could be published in the magazine!

Renaissance Publishing LLC • 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123 • Metairie, LA 70005 • (504) 828-1380 • (877) 221-3512 128 Demanade, Suite 104 • Lafayette, LA 70503 • (337) 235-7919 ext. 230 Acadiana Profile (ISSN 0001-4397) is published bimonthly by Renaissance Publishing LLC, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 and 128 Demanade, Suite 104, Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 235-7919 ext. 230. Subscription rate: One year $10; Foreign Subscriptions vary. Periodicals postage paid at Lafayette, LA, and additional mailing entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Acadiana Profile, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright 2015 Renaissance Publishing LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark Acadiana Profile is registered. Acadiana Profile is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork, even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in Acadiana Profile are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or owner.

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

Lead photographer Danley Romero at the KATC studio goofing off during a lighting check before his photo shoot with weatherman Rob Perillo, pg. 86.

Your Engagement Ring Specialist

3803-B Moss Street, Lafayette 337-534-4551 Tues – Fri 10am – 6pm Sat 10am – 4pm

www.hallmarkcustomjewelers.com

note de l’editeur

gearing up Celebrate entrepreneurs, football & food In most places around the country,

AUGUST 1 Les Mains Guidées : Beekeeping AUGUST 9 Acadian Culture Day AUGUST 29 Healing Traditions in Acadiana AUGUST 31 Les Vues Free Film Series SEPTEMBER 12 Les Mains Guidées : Canning SEPTEMBER 26 Native American Culture Day

EXPLORE THE LIVING HISTORY OF THE ACADIAN, NATIVE AMERICAN AND CREOLE CULTURES Historic Homes • Gardens Artifacts • Costumed Craftspeople Gift Shop • Restaurant • Boat Tours 300 Fisher Rd (Across From the Airport) (337) 233-4077 • Vermilionville.org 8 |

acadiana profile august/september 2015

SEPTEMBER 28 Les Vues Free Film Series

people are enjoying the waning days of summer. While the season technically ends in September, we are lucky to have a bit of extended warmth that carries us back to school (or work) and into football season. In this issue, we have a wide range of late-summer seasonal topics for you to peruse and enjoy.

A great thing about this area is that, during football season, there’s no shortage of places to watch games.

Jyl Benson, our restaurant columnist, scoped out several cool bars in the area that serve food, and she offers you advice on where to go and what to eat.

There’s even a spot that serves free home-cooked meals, so be sure to check that out on pg. 30.

One exciting adventure we embarked upon was exploring and supporting local businesses that are owned and operated by truly passionate individuals whose enthusiasm drives them to succeed and attract a loyal clientele.

Some of these ventures might seem unconventional, but they fit seamlessly into Acadiana, an area that fosters creativity among its entrepreneurship.

Check out pg. 49 to read their stories.

We also sent a prolific photographer, James Shaw, on a road trip along the Cajun Corridor, aka Highway 14 – the stretch of road from Delcambre to Gueydan. His stunning photos reveal an area that is timeless and full of natural beauty on pg. 38.

This issue also offers you an area hospital guide which we expand each year; an interview with popular weatherman Rob Perillo (pg. 86); back-to-school recipes (pg.

32) and much more. We always welcome your feedback, so let us know what you think – and if you have any stories you’d like to share, we’d love to hear them!

Sarah Ravits Managing Editor

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nouvelles de villes

by lisa leblanc-berry

Celebrate Shrimp Delcambre and Houma

Hurricane Museum Underway Lake Charles

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

Keeping Traditions Alive for your entertainment

The filmmakers of the acclaimed documentary Acadian Brown Cotton, A Cajun Love Story, which premiered to a full crowd at Vermilionville, have announced future screenings Oct. 3 in Eunice at the St. Landry Parish Tourism Commission, Oct. 8 at the Louisiana Marketshops in Henderson, October 9 during Grand Réveil Acadien at the Cajundome Convention Center and Oct. 17 at the Historic New Orleans Collection. It explores the rich traditions, history, origins and use of natural brown cotton among the people of Acadiana (acadianbrowncotton.com).

Eucharistic Procession, Historic Docking St. Martinville and Arnaudville

St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church celebrates its 250th anniversary Aug. 15 (the National Day of the Acadians) with a boat pilgrimage and special church processions along Bayou Teche starting in Leonville with Holy Mass by Bishop Glen John Provost of Lake Charles. It proceeds through Arnaudville, Cecila, Breaux Bridge and concludes in St. Martinville at the Evangeline Oak (stmartindetours.org). In Arnaudville, view The Hermoine, in which the Marquis de Lafayette sailed to America in 1780. It recently docked at NUNU Arts and Cultural Collective and was donated by the City of Lafayette.

Lafayette, Vermilion and Terrebonne

ReptiDay, created by the same team that has produced Repitcon reptile expos across the U.S., stages a reptile show in Lafayette Aug. 15. The show at the Ramada Conference Center features everything from giant anacondas to seminars and live demos (reptiday.com). Want to see the largest duck call in the world? It’s on view at the Gueydan’s Duck Fest Aug. 27-30, which has duck calling contests and open wild game cookoffs (duckfestival. org). Take that toy alligator out of the tub and enter it in a race down bayou Terrebonne to win amazing prizes for the fastest floating critter during Houma’s Best of the Bayou fest Sept. 26-27 featuring national and local acts, a car show and Cajun food galore (bestofthebayou. la/the-festival). If you prefer live baby gators, check out Luling’s Alligator Fest Sept.

25-27 (alligatorfest.org).

Back to the ducks: the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced the rules and timeframes for the 2016 duck stamp contest Entries will be accepted Oct. 12-20, 2015 (wlf.louisiana.gov/ hunting/2016-louisianaduck-stamp-contest).

photos courtesy: National hurrican museum and science center; acadiana brown cotton, a cajun love story

As South Louisiana residents recall Hurricane Rita during its 10th anniversary in September, on the heels of hurricane Katrina’s 10th in August, a positive development is taking place in Lake Charles that’s designed to save lives and protect property via an interactive education center and electronic hub equipped with timely hurricane information at the National Hurricane Museum and Science Center (NHMSC).

It’s slated to open along the city’s shoreline, with construction anticipated in the coming year. Following a recent pledge of $1,000,000 by a prominent Louisiana family, the Axiall Foundation has announced its first installment of $100,000 in a five-year pledge to NHMSC. “It’s one of the largest commitments the Axiall Foundation has made to an education center,” says Jim Rock, works manager.

Homeowners take note: Consider downloading the continually updated Louisiana Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards, prepared by Louisiana Sea Grant (available online; also in print).

The Twin Parish Port Commission is operating the newly developed “North per Marina” just three blocks south of the Delcambre Shrimp Festival grounds, so boats can pull right up to the dock (contact the Port Director, (800) 884-6120 for space). Highlights of the fest, held Aug. 12-16 (shrimpfestival. net) include the Blessing of the Fleet, regional bands and delicious local seafood. Morgan City’s Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, held Sept. 4-7 on Labor Day weekend (shrimpandpetroleum.org), features down-home cooking, a big boat parade and over 100 artists plus live music.

Hail Critters

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calendar

by judi russell

around acadiana Gatherings and activities around Acadiana. august 1-2. Acadiana Barrel Race Association; Bayou Classic. SugArena@Acadiana Fairgrounds, New Iberia. (337) 365-7539.

7. Purple Heart Day Ceremony. Bouligny

Plaza, New Iberia. (337) 365-1428.

8. Acadiana Barrel Race Association.

SugArena@Acadiana Fairgrounds, New Iberia.

(337) 365-7539.

12-16. Delcambre Shrimp Festival.

Delcambre Shrimp Festival Grounds, Delcambre. (337) 685-2653.

15-16. SugaSheaux. SugArena @ Acadiana

Fairgrounds, New Iberia. (337) 365-7539.

15. Arts & Crabs Festival. Lake Charles Civic Center, Lake Charles. (337) 439-2787.

27-30. Gueydan Duck Festival. Duck Festival Grounds, Gueydan. (337) 536-6456.

28. Fall Shadows-on-the-Teche Arts & Crafts Festival. Shadows-on-the-Teche, New Iberia. (337) 369-6446.

september 4-5. 33rd Annual Original Southwest

Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. South City Park Civic Center, Plaisance. (337) 948-6263.

4-7. Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival.

Downtown Historic District, Morgan City.

(985) 385-0703.

18-19. Pepper Festival. 203 New Market St.,

St. Martinville. (337) 394-7408.

23-26. Tinsel & Treasures. Cajun Dome

Convention Center, Lafayette. (337) 988-2739.

23-27. Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival.

Various Venues, New Iberia. (337) 369-9323.

24-25. Chennault International Air Show.

Chennault International Airport, Lake Charles.

(337) 491-9961.

26. Breaux Bridge Chamber of Commerce

Jambalaya Cookoff. Parc Hardy, Breaux Bridge. (337) 332-8500.

27. Calca Chew Food Festival. St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, Lake Charles.

(337) 436-9588.

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

This sleek, tapered glass works best for pilsners, which are pale lager beers. To find out more about the proper way to drink each beer, check out pg. 14.

style+home Ă la mode 16 Timekeepers

by noelle savoy

pour la maison 18 Glasses for every type of brew

by sarah george and sarah ravits

la maison 20 4 pools in paradise

by lisa leblanc-berry

style+home À DEla LAmode CUISINE

3. Nixon Sentry Chrono

features a genuine alligator skin leather strap with a stainless steel case. Found at Buckle.

1

4. These Daniel

Wellington watches are a unisex collection, have interchangeable straps and a slim design. Shown in silver with black leather band. From Mignon Faget

5. This Citizen Eco-Drive

is fueled by light, requires no battery and features a camel leather strap from Hallmark Custom Jewelers.

2

1. The Kensington (shown

in Peppermint) is a classic, simple design from Nixon and features a stainless steel case and band from Maven Womensware.

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2. These Daniel Wellington watches are a unisex collection, have interchangeable straps and a slim design. Shown in rose gold with brown leather band. From Mignon Faget

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Timekeepers 5 stylish watches

by noelle savoy photo romero & Romero

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Buckle. Acadiana Mall, 5725 Johnston St., Suite 176, Lafayette.

(337) 981-9016. buckle.com Hallmark Custom Jewelers. 3803-B Moss St., Lafayette. (337) 534-4551. hallmarkcustomjewelers.com Maven Womenswear. 201 Settlers Trace Blvd., Suite 2021, Lafayette. (337) 704-2668. themavenstore.com Mignon Faget. 1921 Kaliste Saloom Rd, Suite 124, Lafayette. (337) 534-8753. Mignonfaget.com 16 |

acadiana profile august/september 2015

The Citizen Eco-Drive is not only fueled by light (natural and artificial) but it is also radio-controlled, meaning that it receives a time signal from one of the signal stations and automatically adjusts the time and calendar. This is the ideal watch for the frequent traveler.

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style+home pour DE LA la CUISINE maison

Parish Brewing’s Canebrake, a wheat-style brew, highlights hints of sugarcane with notes of honey, spice, and citrus on the finish. Fun fact: Canebrake was the first commercial beer in the world brewed with locally made Steen’s sugarcane syrup.

beer glasses how to serve your favorite brew by sarah ravits & sarah George photo romero & romero

most of us drink beer straight

out of the can or bottle, but if you’ve been looking to expand your palate and knowledge about this age-old popular beverage, that comes from a variety of brewing methods and ingredients with expansive flavor profiles, here are some basics on the brews and suggested glasses in which to serve them.

Parish Brewing’s Pale Ale Parish Envie is brewed with loads of citrusy American hops to create an assertive, yet balanced American pale ale. Sweet caramel malts mesh with a dominant hop taste and aroma.

how to pour

1. Tilt a clean glass to a 45° angle and pour down the side of the glass.

2. When half way full, slowly start to tilt the glass to a 90° angle.

3. Gradually increase the distance between the bottle and the glass to ensure a good head on the beer. Serve and enjoy.

tulip

weizen

the vessel The stem allows drinkers to hold the beer without warming it, while the mouthe design promotes a hefty head, trapping flavor within the beer

the vessel “Weizen” means “wheat” in German, so as the name suggests, the Weizen glass is designed for drinking wheat beers. A thick head really increases the flavor of a wheat beer, holding in all those aromas to complement its light, refreshing taste.

the beer Ale, Pale Ale, Strong Ale, IPA, Lambic, Gueuze

the beer Weizen, Heffeweizen, Witbier, Weizenbock, Goze 18 |

acadiana profile august/september 2015

Covington Brewhouse’s Pontchartrain Pilsner is a blend of German Perle and Czech Saaz hops which gives it a mellow, herbal hop aroma.

NOLA Brewing’s Irish Channel Stout is an American style stout that has sweet malt flavors of caramel and chocolate, complemented by a crisp bitterness produced by roasted barley and hops.

Abita’s Andygator is a unique, high-gravity brew made with pale malt, German lager yeast, and German Perle hops.

Andygator is fermented to a dry finish with a slightly sweet flavor and subtle fruit aroma.

nonic

chalice

pilsner

the vessel Also known as the English pub glass, this receptacle has an easy-grip design. The wide mouth allows for the proper amount of head to form.

the vessel Scores in the bottom of the glass allow continual carbonation. The opening assists in analyzing the overall flavor profile and aromas.

the vessel The height of the glass allows the beer to show of its color and carbonation. The wider top opening will trap the aroma of the beer.

the beer Lager, Ale, IPA, Stout, Porter

the beer Belgian IPA, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Dubbel, Tripel, Quadrupel, Bock, Dopplebock

the beer Pilsner, Lager, Bock, Dopplebock, Hellesbock

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style+home la DE LA maison CUISINE

poolscapes as personal resorts Creating a small slice of paradise in your own backyard by lisa leblanc-berry

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St. Martin Parish Home Designed for Outdoor Parties

“So many elements came into play when designing the swimming pool and outdoor living areas,” says Monique Breaux, owner of Posh Exclusive Interiors. She orchestrated and created the design of the 10,000-squarefoot home’s interior as well as the outdoor living areas and cabana.

“There are lounge areas in the pool, and there’s a large concave wall with a waterfall, so you hear a lot of lovely sounds outside,” Breaux observes. “The house is nestled off the street, and renders a resort feel. A lot of my clients want to feel as though they are at a resort.”

The backyard’s elaborate open living

photos by chipper hatter

area near the main house has a fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Visitors cross the yard to the cabana via a bridge. The homeowners’ objective was to create an informal dining, cooking and entertaining area at the cabana that was different from the formality of the main house. French doors surround the cabana, which has a large living room and a media room upstairs, and is devoid of a bedroom.

It was designed solely for entertaining and relaxing with the family.

“Where the house is situated, there is an organic feel, so we tapped into that thought process,”

Breaux says. “We needed to visually connect the home proper to the cabana, so the bridge was created.

The deck is rounded and soft, and goes with the arch of the bridge. Then you go to the shallow end of the pool, where we created a rock wall. If they are having a dinner party at the main house, they would serve drinks on the back gallery. But if they wanted a more casual environment, guests cross the bridge to the cabana, which was designed and constructed after the main house was built.”

In this St. Martin Parish outdoor oasis, guests cross the yard to the cabana via a bridge. The shallow end of the pool features a rock wall that gives it a natural, elegant feel.

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Lafayette Oasis

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with my husband. He wanted a pool for some time. He’s a contractor. This is a typical story of the cobbler’s wife has no shoes! I literally drew the pool on a piece of paper, and then we built it!”

Breaux’s alluring, multi-level back yard is among the various elements that render interest, with its different levels of landscapes that include box hedges and bamboo positioned behind a Buddha sculpture near the pool.

acadiana profile august/september 2015

The overall effect is exotic and soothing.

An outdoor lounging bed near the pool serves as an enticement for relaxation.

“There were many things I wanted to accomplish,” Breaux states. “This includes creating a glass Italian tile wall with 24-karat gold tiles that shimmer in the sunlight behind the Buddha’s head. For me, there’s nothing better than going out there in the afternoon and taking a little nap

by the pool. I can’t tell you how many naps my children have taken on that bed,” she exclaims. “I wanted there to be a sunning area, a resting area, and a peaceful area, so I integrated various elements that give a warm, rich feel but are still a little edgy.”

above The multi-level backyard in this home includes box hedges, bamboo, and a Buddha sculpture, giving it an exotic, relaxing vibe. facing page, top When considering elements for the night time mood, professional landscape lighting can change the entire feel of a pool area.

They can create drama by up-lighting the landscaping to acheive a ‘wow’ factor. bottom The spacious brick setting surrounding the pool offers an area for friends and family to sit and relax under the stars after a pleasant evening swim.

photos by melissa oivanki

The outdoor living area and pool at Monique Breaux’s residence in Lafayette was designed on the way to catching a plane to New York, where she has a sizeable client base that includes a recent interior design project with the Trumps. “I would never do that for a client, design a pool area that fast!” she laughs. “My entire back yard was designed on a scrap piece of paper in the car when I was on the way to the airport

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Thibodaux Family Haven

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the porch. They have two children and a large, extended family.”

“When setting up the pool house in the corner, it did two things,” Hymel says. “It established an edge to the yard, and it also blocked some views.

The position of the spa, which can comfortably hold eight people, and the tanning shelf were designed so that you can look out from the pool toward the lake. A future phase will be the trellis between the existing house and pool house,

acadiana profile august/september 2015

to create a background.”

Hymel selected Brazilian quartzite and Old St. Louis brick to match the existing house. “The quartzite is a durable pool deck material that’s cool to your feet. It’s different from natural stones and it’s not slippery.”

A large, six-inch-deep sunning shelf was created in the pool, with four ledges to accommodate the family of four.

“I believe a property owner gets

more value in advice and material choices when the designer isn’t influenced by a builder or a contractor who may be influenced by sales or quotas, or cutting corners,” Hymel states. “The contractor is selling you a product, which is usually the ones that are most profitable... The most important element in the design process is listening to the clients and getting to know about their lifestyle.”

above The homeowners have two children and a large extended family, so the pool is spacious and features an oversized 8-by-10 foot spa, which can comfortably hold eight people. facing page, top Hymel says that fire features are a fairly new trend. “We weren’t doing things like that 10 years ago.”

He also notes that resort-style furniture – think lounge couches – are popular additions. bottom Hymel selected Brazilian quartzite and Old St. Louis brick to match the existing house.

photos by chad cheneir

“On this project, there was nothing in the back yard, just grass and no fences,” says Richard Hymel, owner of Ferris Land Design and Ferris Engineering and Surveying, who designed the poolscape and outdoor living areas. “The homeowners, Bart and Wendy Broussard, wanted to have a pool house with a party room and a full kitchen, a full bath and a covered outdoor kitchen and living area, with a fireplace under

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A negative edge pool creates the illusion of a seamless waterline surrounding the Italian-style formal gardens.

Italian-Style Manse

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lines with a negative edge pool,” she says.

“We didn’t want to see a water line, and when you look at it, it resembles a pond.

The only thing that would rise above that would be the hot tub, which almost looks as

acadiana profile august/september 2015

though it is floating on top of the pool.”

“Since the main structure is so dominant, we just wanted to tap into softening the space to create a calming feel,” Breaux reflects. “It was a challenge. But my

vision was crisp and clear. The challenge with everything I do, overall, is seeing things in completion. I make everything that I see in my head come to life,” she reflects. “In this case, we did not want the pool area

to compete with the house, with its ominous cast stone details, but rather, we wanted to create something that became a seamless part of the landscape.”

photos by chipper hatter

For Lafayette homeowners with a sprawling Italian-style mansion, Breaux created a more formal approach to the outdoor setting, with the objective of blending into the natural environment.

“We wanted very clean

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

Check out our variation of a Southside Fizz. Traditionally, it’s made with gin, but our version features Bayou Rum, as a tribute to the region for a refreshing late-summertime cocktail.

food+drinks sur le menu 30 Sports bar fare by jyl benson

de la cuisine 32 Back-to-school recipes by marcelle bienvenu

recettes de cocktail 36 Bayou Southside Fizz by sal agnello

FOOD+DRINK

DE LA sur leCUISINE menu

chicken salad sandwiches and wraps

sports bar fare Where to watch the game and what to eat by jyl benson | photos romero & romero

With a greater

inclination to imbibe than our less boisterous Yankee brethren and college campuses lavishly dotting the landscape, it’s a fair and accurate assumption that establishments where you can catch the game and eat well are commonplace throughout Acadiana. No matter the sport, televised games

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

are best enjoyed in the presence of a cheering crowd. Even if you arrive solo, the immediate unifying camaraderie ensures a great time.

Zob and Davis Munnerlyn took over the 50-plus year-old E&E Sports Bar on Main Street in New Iberia two years ago. Long a favorite local gathering spot, the Munnerlyns added

a large courtyard and filled it and the existing bar with comfortable furniture you can really sink into – à la living room. Though E&E does not sell food it is offered up for free (yes, free) for No Cook Tuesdays with Lauren (she’s the bartender) when Zob will have cooked up anything from red beans and rice with smoked sausage, to

red beans and rice with smoked sausage

E&E’s Sports Bar on Main Street in New Iberia hosts No Cook Tuesdays, during which the staff offers complimentary red beans and rice, stuffed turkey wings, shrimp and grits and more.

stuffed turkey wings and shrimp and grits, and she is justifiably famous for her chicken salad sandwiches.

She recently added Dogs Days of Summer with free hot dogs offered on Thursdays, and platters of sliders are set out for Slider Sundays. Between the comfortable environs, free grub and multiple 65-inch flat screen televisions, what’s not to love? “I will put my courtyard up against any big sports bar in Baton Rouge and Lafayette,” Zob says. “And our ladies room is decorated with vintage ladies’ hats and handbags.

It is a must-see. These are the things that make us unique and set us apart.”

The draw at the Corner Bar – with locations in Lafayette and Youngsville – is, oddly, somewhat health-related. Owned and operated by well-known tri-athlete, Stan Lerille, son of Red Lerille (Mr. America, 1960), who owns the South’s largest health club, Corner Bar has become a meeting place for running groups, cycling time trials and duathlons. Always clean and smoke-free, Corner Bar offers 24 beers on tap that

Corner Bar 3103 Johnston St., Lafayette (337) 456-3063 and 1700 Chemin Metairie Parkway, Youngsville, (337) 451-4149, cornerbarla.com E&E Sports Bar 842 W. Main St., New Iberia, (337) 322-2522 Okra Festival 203 N. New Market St., St. Martinville, 337-394-2233 or 337-3942230, info@stmartinville.org Route 92 Bar 2600 East Milton Ave., Youngsville, (337) 857-5025 Wawee’s on the River 411 W. Milton Ave., Milton (337) 856-8336

bonus bite Aug. 6-8, the Okra Festival will be held on the grounds along the beautiful Bayou Teche in St. Martinville. An okra cookoff will be held on Saturday morning and there are crafts, carnival rides and dance performances.

rotate seasonally and 15 gigantic LCD televisions in both locations. Though the typical roster of bar food is available the standouts are the super-premium hotdogs offered on French bread and the marinated Snyder’s hard cider pretzels that Took’s Meat Market prepares exclusively for The Corner Bar. Live music and pool tournaments draw crowds to the cavernous Route 92 in Youngsville. It matters not that the place is somewhat cave-like: It features seven pool tables, picnic tables on a covered front porch, expansive spaces for dancing to live music, and televisions indoors as well as out.

Boiled seafood is offered on the cheap on Thursday nights and raw oysters make a regular appearance. The limited everyday bar food menu is what you would expect: fried mozzarella, jalapeño poppers and the like. Sometimes that’s just exactly what you want.

Traveling by boat but ready to hit a bar for the game? In addition to docking slips, the out-of-the-way Wawee’s on the Vermillion River features the requisite bank of flat-screens as well as a gigantic outdoor deck, live music and tasty versions of fried bar food favorites.

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FOOD+DRINK

CUISINE DE LA CUISINE For the sausage and zucchini pizza, you can use frozen pizza dough or substitute those pre-made pizza crusts available at the supermarket.

back to school Recipes to cook for, and with, the kids by marcelle bienvenu | photo eugenia uhl

Where has the summer gone? Okay, it’s not officially over, but school is about to begin, and although you might not have noticed it, the days are becoming almost imperceptibly but relentlessly shorter as the daylight wanes through the summer.

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

And with fall approaching the family’s schedule will become more hectic and meals will most likely be taken on the run. Although it’s always easier to go through the drive-thru at fast-food outlets, it’s not always the healthiest alternative.

While it probably isn’t realistic to think that the entire family will be available for meals taken together every day of the week, certainly one weekend day supper and a couple over the weekend isn’t too much to ask for.

With a little planning and organization, family meals can not only be nourishing but also tasty and fun, yes fun. Get the whole family involved.

Ask children for some ideas of what they like and have them participate in the preparation.

Homemade pizzas, pasta dishes, salads and simple desserts are a great way to introduce children of all ages to new ideas. Think pizza that incorporates sliced mushrooms, chopped vegetables (asparagus, zucchini, squash), and low-fat cheeses. Try different kinds of pastas with shrimp, cubed ham, or chicken. Salads don’t have to be ho-hum.

Rather than the usual salad greens, think of those made with fruit and vegetables. Ice cream is fine sometimes for dessert, but why not combine plain yogurt with honey, berries and nuts. Top store-pound pound cake with this mixture! Yum! And don’t turn up your nose at casseroles.

Make a couple to stash

in the freezer now and then to pull out when time is of the essence.

Another fun thing is to cook things en papillote (in a bag).

Make a pouch with aluminum foil or parchment paper and fill it with fish or chicken and vegetables, shove it in the oven or slap it on the grill and you have a meal in no time.

And my favorite new thing is to buy one or two of those roasted whole chickens that are offered at many

Sausage and Zucchini Pizza Arrange oven racks in lower and upper third of the oven. Preheat to 475 degrees.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add sausage and cook, stirring, until all pink has just about disappeared, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface to two 10-by-14-inch rectangles or 12-inch rounds and transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Put equal amounts of sausage on each of the dough pieces, and arrange zucchini and bell peppers on top of sausage. Sprinkle with thyme and basil, and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake pizzas for 15 minutes and remove from the oven. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and return to the oven.

Bake until the cheese melts, about 3 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool for a minute or two before slicing to serve.

supermarkets. Bring it home, drizzle with a bit of good olive oil, sprinkle with your favorite dry herb (rosemary, thyme or oregano), loosely wrap it in foil and put in a 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Voila! You can use any leftovers to make chicken sandwiches, chicken salad to plop on thick slices of tomatoes, or toss pieces with your favorite pasta, olive oil and some grated Parmesan cheese. Easy enough!

Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil 12 ounces sweet Italian sausage, cut crosswise into ¼-inch slices 2 (10-ounce) portions frozen pizza dough, thawed 2 medium-size zucchini, thinly sliced 2 red or green bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips ½ teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon dried basil Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Makes 4 to 6 servings

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Turkey or Chicken Tetrazzini Ingredients

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a skillet, combine butter and flour over medium heat and stir constantly for three to four minutes or until smooth. Add salt and black pepper. Slowly add broth, stirring until the mixture thickens. Add mushrooms and pimientos.

Stir to combine. Lightly oil a two-quart casserole.

Make alternate layers of turkey, spaghetti, mushroom sauce and cheese. Sprinkle the top with the bread crumbs. (At this point the casserole can be frozen.)

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. Serve immediately.

3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 ½ cups chicken broth (about) 1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, undrained 2 tablespoons chopped pimiento 2 cups cooked, chopped turkey or chicken 6 ounces cooked and drained spaghetti 1 cup grated cheddar cheese ¼ cup dry bread crumbs

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Chicken in a Bag

TIP FOR THE tetrazzini

You can substitute shrimp or fish, and even strips of beef or pork for the chicken here. Use whatever vegetables strike your fancy, or any leftover vegetables hanging around the fridge.

If you have fresh herbs like basil, dill or oregano, by all means use them!

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are just tender 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain. Set aside. Cut aluminum foil into four large (14 inches or so) rounds. Put equal amounts of potatoes, green beans, tomatoes and onions in the center of each round. Sprinkle each with an equal amount of the herbs.

Arrange an equal amount of chicken strips over the vegetables and top with a sprig of parsley. Season each serving with salt and pepper.

Drizzle each portion with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bring edges of the aluminum foil together to form a pouch or bag and seal by crimping.

Place the bags on a baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. You can place each bag on a dinner plate and cut them open at the dinner table to add a bit of flair!

Makes 4 servings

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

Ingredients

4 small red potatoes, thinly sliced 6 to 8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 medium-size ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced or cut into chunks 1 cup coarsely chopped onions 2 teaspoons mixed dry herbs (basil, oregano, tarragon) 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips 4 sprigs fresh parsley Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste ¼ cup olive oil

Orzo Salad With Corn, Feta and Tomatoes Combine dressing ingredients in jar and shake vigorously to blend.

Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add corn and cook about 2 minutes more or until the pasta is still firm to the bite. Drain and place in large bowl.

Add half the dressing and toss to coat. Cool a bit, then add the remaining ingredients and the rest of the dressing. Toss to coat. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Makes about 8 servings

This pasta salad may sound a bit exotic for youngsters, but give it a try; they just might like it because of the pasta shape that resembles rice.

Ingredients Dressing

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Creole mustard ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 3 garlic cloves, crushed Salad

1 cup uncooked orzo 2 cups fresh yellow corn kernels (about 4 ears) 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half ½ cup sliced red onions ½ cup sliced black olives ½ cup hearts of palm, cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

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FOOD+DRINK

recettes de cocktails DE LA CUISINE

bayou southside fizz A local twist on a late summer classic recipe by sal agnello | photo eugenia uhl

single serving

1.5 ounces Bayou Rum .75 ounces lime juice .75 ounces simple syrup Soda water Mint Shake all together and pour into a tall glass with ice. Top with soda and garnish with sprig of mint.

For pitchers

1 bottle Bayou Rum 500 millileters lime juice 500 millileters simple syrup Soda water Mint

Normally, a Southside Fizz uses gin, but Bayou Rum is a delicious substitute.

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

Make it by the pitcher for events. Infuse bottle of Bayou Rum with fresh mint for 5 hours at room tempterature, then strain out mint leaves. Add simple syrup and lime juice. Pour into tall glasses with ice 80 percent to the top. Top with soda water and a mint leaf.

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Cajun Corridor y e n r u o j c i h p A photogra

by James Shaw

4 1 y a w h g i H g n alo

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Richard's Meat Market (117 Park Ave., Abbeville), serves boudin balls (right) along with fresh cuts of beef and pork, specialty items, a variety of fresh sausage and house-made cracklins. Below: Twelve miles east of Abbeville on the Highway 14 is the town of Delcambre. Facing page, top: Sean Gayle, owner of Patti's Book Nook. Facing page, bottom: Cows at rest off the side of Highway 14.

Above:

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Above, left:

St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville, 300 Pere Megret St. Above, right: Stained-glass window inside the church The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court, 100 S. State St. Facing page: Interior of St. Mary Magdalen Church

Below:

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

Facing page:

Oyster decorations inside of Dupuy's Seafood (108 S. Main St.) in Abbeville.

Exterior of Dupuy's. Below: The restaurant's fried alligator platter

Above:

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

Facing page, above: Farmhouse near the town of Wright, off Baker Road. Facing page, below: The Gueydan Museum (212 Main St.) is housed in a building that was built in 1902. Its original use was as the Bank of Gueydan; today the Romanesque structure houses rare photographs and cultural artifacts, with changing exhibits. This page, above: Both of these photographs were taken in Wright. Below: The Steen's Pure Cane Syrup business is in its fourth generation of ownership (119 N. Main St.) in Abbeville.

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by wi phot ll kalec os by a romend claire ro & rome salinas ro

Jane Doe Place 123 There names will be somewhere but not sure until i get all the pieces to form the whole

Melodie McMath

Emerge Juicery evolvelafayette.com

Not quite sure yet how i want to open the feature... maybe similar to the area of text... see comment o'er yonder

Melodie's life changed for the better when she started to drink organic juice. Here, she hams it up with a Matcha green smoothie (with extra chlorophyl) and a raw chocolate chip cookie.

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

At the end of all of the portraits will be all of the text. i want to have some of their goods individually shot on white so that i can photoshop them together based on amount of text

Ross Fontenot Genterie Supply Co. genterie.com

Tastemaker Ross sports a Life After Denim shirt, Brixton fedora hat, Forage bowtie and a Daniel Wellington Watch.

He uses a safety razor made by Baxter.

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Business partners and good friends Robbie and Nick created their dream business of making desserts that incorporate puns and music.

Robbie Austin pops and rockets popsandrockets.com

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

Nick Villaume pops and rockets popsandrockets.com

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Derek Curry sneaker politics sneakerpolitics.com

A self-described sneaker nerd, Derek's business thrives due to his knowledge about shoes coupled with boundless enthusiasm.

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

Jeanne Lousao Feed n seed feednseedlafayette.com

Jeanne Lousao is the director of events and operations at a repurposed warehouse that showcases a range of interesting, artistic performances.

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NAME CHANGE, JUICE SAME Owner Melodie McMath rebrands her business from Evolve to Emerge Juicery, but sticks to the healthy principles that changed her life.

Give Lafayette’s Melodie McMath a few minutes and she’ll thoroughly explain all the ways juicing can improve the way you look, feel, think and see the world.

“This has been like, a 10-year evolutionary process,” McMath says. “And the first transformation happened within myself.”

A loyal juice disciple after she witnessing firsthand the ways in which a cleanse healed some ailments and improved her overall health, McMath has served as an enthusiastic shepherd for the juice lifestyle, easing it into a market known for its rich, flavorful and fattening cuisine.

Since 2013, McMath’s Evolve Juicery has carved its niche in Lafayette, serving pressed raw fruit and vegetables concoctions out of Bibi's Patisserie on Pinhook Road and at the Lafayette Farmers Market at the Horse Farm on weekends. After a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $25,000, McMath plans to open her own storefront later this year. Once it's up and running, she intends to provide more menu options, including raw foods. With a laidback, no-pressure approach, McMath built up her once-skeptical customer base, and now she has a loyal following of juicers. That mission – to change longstanding bad eating habits – continues, even though McMath is renaming the business to “Emerge Juicery” this fall.

“I wanted people to evolve in mind, body and spirit when we started this, so that name fit,” McMath says. “There’s a lot of magic to truly experience out in the world, but we’re so foggy and full of toxins that it clouds much of our view and outlook of the stars and the sky and the moon.

But when you get clear in your body, you’re able to detect the world around you. When you reach that point, you emerge, which is the next step.”

All of the juice pressed at Emerge is organic and free of pesticide. Bottles are made of recycled glass materials and All the colors can be returned in of the rainbow: Emerge’s buyback Melodie McMath program. Unused uses only portions of fruits the highestand vegetables are quality, organic turned into compost ingredients with for local farmers. an emphasis on McMath proudly sustainability. says, “sustainability is a mindset.” Because people are particular about what they eat and drink, many curious potential customers enter Emerge with hints of trepidation. McMath suggests newbies dangle their toes in the water rather than cannonball in the pool, starting with a gradual implementation of juice into their diet.

“It’s all about figuring out where you are on your evolutionary journey,” McMath says. “If someone comes to me, and they’re (eating) Sonic and McDonald’s every day, I will actually suggest not to cut out the burger and fries, but instead of the normal drink, take a juice with you. That’s where we start. So it’s not overwhelming. It’s not a mountain to climb all at once.

And once you embrace that, you’re on your way.

“Living a healthy lifestyle is just a way of showing love – showing love for yourself,” McMath continues. “It’s a way to open up and work to our full potential, and from there, you reach your full potential spiritually.”

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

"Racer" shave cream, "Whiskey" aftershave, "Victory" moisturizer, and "wood" hand cream from Portland General Store in a dopp kit from Izola

THREADS COUNT Since it opened five years ago, Genterie Supply Co. has been outfitting today’s modern Louisiana man (and the occasional woman now, too).

That shirt isn’t just a shirt.

It’s a lifestyle, according to Genterie Supply Co. owner Ross Fontenot. And that lifestyle comes with a philosophy attached.

Fontenot subscribes to the belief that every great man is a great storyteller, and that our own stories are transmitted through who and what we surround ourselves. The clothes and products at Genterie, therefore, intend to be part of that story – necessary elements in penning life’s chapters for the man who carries himself with a little more pride, a little more care and a little more confidence than the rest of us.

“Our store is everything man,” Fontenot says. “And when we looked around the market, there wasn’t a place for this, but there was a need for a place like this. There are brands and products here that you won’t find in most stores. It’s a store designed for someone with particular taste.”

Ever since Fontenot opened shop in 2011, Genterie Supply Co., has catered to the needs and wants of complex, layered individuals – men who are equal parts rugged and refined. The interior décor reflects that. The retail

floor resembles your grandfather’s study, accessorized with deer heads, dark leathers and rich, stained woods. The products for sale almost blend seamlessly into the motif of the building.

From clothing to grooming products to accessories like sunglasses and backpacks, pretty much everything in Genterie Supply Co., is impossible to find anywhere else in Acadiana. Genterie leans heavily on buying from independent manufacturers, ensuring a unique product line and shopping experience for its customers.

“There are stores similar to ours in other cities, but there’s nothing like it here,” Fontenot says. “Lafayette is probably one of the smaller towns to have this type of store, but my customer has shown me that they’re here. I generally buy pretty limited amounts, so my customers pretty much knows that when they come here, they’re going to leave with something they probably aren’t going to see over and over again when they go to dinner or go to drinks. You can go to other boutiques, but I don’t think anyone has the feel or mix that we do.”

An anchor business in Lafayette’s blooming downtown corridor, Genterie Supply Co. moved a couple blocks over this past December to a larger facility on Jefferson Street. The new digs feature an expanded floor space, which has allowed for the gradual inclusion of a few female-oriented products in addition to Genterie’s traditional masculine staples.

“I have faith in this (downtown area),” Fontenot says. “I love this area.

And love this part of town. Yeah, River Ranch and some of the other retail areas are nice. There’s nothing wrong with them. But between the history and the aesthetics of downtown, it has a lot to offer. And it just fits us, and what we’re trying to convey.

“For what I was doing, it just seemed so much more organic to open up in an old building downtown rather than a development. It wouldn’t have the same charm if it wasn’t downtown.”

By William Kalec

"Pulling Peanuts (From A Shell)" (Thai peanut)

"Just Can't Mint Enough" (cantaloupe and mint)

Chicory and Ivory (chicory coffee and cream)

"I Cran (So Far Away)" (cranberry, lime, vanilla and ginger)

NOSTALGIA ON A STICK What happens when ‘80s pop and glam rock serve as the inspiration behind a line of frozen desserts? Pops and Rockets in Lake Charles.

One glance at the ever-evolving menu friends and business partners Robbie Austin

and Nick Villaume thought up, and a couple things become crystal-clear, quickly.

These guys sure love making pops. And these guys sure love puns.

Subscribing to the notion that even the best-tasting desserts need a hook to stand out in a competitive, oversaturated market place, Austin and Villaume – a pair of Lake Charles natives, and the co-owners of Pops and Rockets – attach a blast from music past to every frozen flavor they whip up inside their nonscientific “Pop Lab.” Each dessert is named after an 1980s band or an old song.

HAPPY SOLES Sneaker Politics’ Derek Curry turns a footwear "obsession" into a thriving business.

Derek Curry has had NFL Players, rappers and people from around the world sport the shoes he sells and helps design at his company, Sneaker Politics.

The easygoing yet enthusiastic personality of the 32-year-old native New Iberian makes being nationally recognized and highly sought after seem like a breeze.

For instance, if you’re looking for something savory, stick a Choc Blobster pop in your mouth (an ode to the quirky B-52’s song “Rock Lobster.” Rather something fruitier and tart? Try the sweet tea/ mango/cherry hybrid pop known as “Every Little Tea She Does Is Mango.” And both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar would agree that “Cran Halen” (cranberry and satsuma) is the perfect relief to the summer heat.

“We’re not re-inventing anything, but I think we are treading new ground for Acadiana,” Austin says. “But this isn’t the first frozen pop business, and it won’t be the last, so paying homage to the music

and the times we grew up in and remain fond of is kind of our thing.

“Even though our product is top-of-theline and we use great ingredients, in the end, you’re selling a feeling,” Austin continues. “And so that’s what we’re selling – that memory of eating treats off a stick as a kid, and reminding you of the music that might have been playing in the background when you did.”

Pops and Rockets celebrated its anniversary in July, and seems to be trending toward more exponential growth in the coming year. By the end of the summer, Austin and Villaume should be selling pops wholesale to specialty stores in and around Lake Charles and Lafayette – offering another commercial piston to the treats they sell at the Cash and Carry Farmers Market

Curry explains his drive to open his first location back in 2006 in Lafayette, as being fueled by him being a “huge shoe nerd.”

After returning to Lafayette from a three-year stint in the military and getting serious about his finance degree, Curry started working at Sidelines while attending school.

During his time there, the shoe aficionado mourned when customers’ inquiries about shoe features were met with blank expressions.

In his mind the shoe shopping experience should be a more personalized one.

and out of the Pop Lab on Pujo Street.

“People get the concept, which was really refreshing for us,” Villaume says. “There is a place for gourmet frozen desserts in Acadiana, and that’s rung loud and true thanks to the engagement of our fans.

It doesn’t matter if you’re 15 years old or 50 years old, everybody always has flavor ideas and names, and we love that. It creates a buzz factor.”

As far as nuts and bolts are considered, Pops and Rockets produces 400 to 500 desserts a week, though production capacity will certainly be ramped up in the coming months to meet the demand of wholesale orders. An ample portion of the week is spent tinkering with new flavor combinations – a necessity considering how fluid the Pops and Rockets flavor list is month to month. But beyond that, Austin and Villaume

spend time researching and digging into the media and music of the 1980s. In a way, Austin explains, the duo acts as amateur archivists.

“We didn’t want to let Urban Outfitters dictate what '80s culture is," Villaume says. “When we started, I said, ‘I don’t care if we sell a single pop. What we created here is so cool and so awesome that I’m proud just to have done this.’

Then, we went to the market. And in two hours we sold $700 worth of popsicles.

“Now, what I said earlier was still valid, but holy heck, it was nice to get that kind of response.”

By William Kalec

Curry explains, “No one knew the product, but I used to talk to people and have a story for everything.

I wanted more of that fun vibe. People come to our store and hang out for an hour sometimes, and they’ll stay in there just talking to us.”

After graduation, Curry was offered the opportunity to attend Rice University for his MBA, but turned it down to open his first store.

He says, “I did the numbers and figured out if I could sell two pairs of shoes per day I could break even, and I was like, ‘Man I could do that for sure.’

I thought it was worth the risk. The first three years were tough, but everything after that started to click.”

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TAKING THE SPOTLIGHT Feed N Seed, the people’s venue

Sneaker Politics counts rappers and NFL players among its clientele.

Although the store has had their brand sported by NFL players at press conferences and Lil Boosie frequents the Lafayette store, recognition for the brand didn’t come right away.

“The first thing that put us on the national map was when Lil Wayne had an artist that left his label and went out on his own. We started doing T-shirts for him. His name is Curren$y and he still raps today. He had a huge following, and some of those shirts did real well. That was like our first big break.”

Curry doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge the stellar team behind him that has helped make the brand a success. “Sam was my first employee who came to work with me because he would come sit for four hours on the couch just talking to me and I was like, ‘You might as well start working here.’ We’re known around the nation for our photography, and Dustin does everything in-house. Also, we designed a shoe and Lee actually came up with the idea and then we worked together to come up with exactly how it worked.”

The shoe designed by Lee Trahan was the first one released by Sneaker Politics in collaboration with a major brand.

The shoe was based on the Rougarou, a Cajun folklore of a werewolf, and the 500 pairs of $180 limited edition shoes sold out within minutes of being posted online.

For Curry, much of the joy that comes from designing and selling shoes, stems from being able to tell the story behind them.

“In my opinion the most successful shoe designer that Nike had is this guy Tinker Hatfield; he was an architect beforehand. He’s the one who made Air Max and he got all those ideas from buildings. If you know the thought process that goes behind the shoes sitting on the shelves it’s kind of cool to me. Some people grab our shoe and say they would never wear it, but they just thought the story was cool. It’s more of a collector’s thing than them putting it on their feet. They’re premium material and they’re a little different from the shoes that sit on the shelves at Foot Locker.”

Later this year the brand will be releasing a New Balance inspired by True Detective, which was filmed in Louisiana, and two Sauconies based on the Battle of New Orleans, to commemorate this year’s bicentennial. There are also plans in the works to open up another location in New Orleans later this year.

Curry says, “It’s more of a family and its fun now. It’s not just looking out for myself, anymore, it’s making sure they’re fine, too.

So we’re all growing together.”

by Claire Salinas

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

What used to be a feed store in the early 1900s has been converted to an arts venue that hosts everything from local and international bands to dance lessons and variety shows.

Feed N Seed was birthed out of owner Richard Young’s desire to have a space for all ages to perform their art.

Young explains, “I am an extremely open individual when it comes to ideas. We pretty much entertain the bulk of what comes our way as long as it doesn’t get us in trouble. We’re always looking for people who want a stage to perform on.”

Young’s vision came from his extensive exposure to the arts and his desire to bring that to the Lafayette area.

“I’ve always considered myself a dynamic person for my interest in the arts. One night my girlfriend and I could be in Houston seeing a rock concert and the next minute we could be in New Orleans watching a burlesque show. I like for our clients to come to the venue and not know what to expect. I want them to think, ‘What crazy thing is going on at The Feed N Seed tonight?’ In Manhattan you can go from one block to the next and get any form of entertainment you can dream of. I want Feed N Seed to be a venue for everybody and a venue for the people.”

The acquisition of a liquor license bumped the venue’s entrance age to 18, but all ages can still perform at the venue.

Jeanne Lousao, director of events and operations for the Feed N Seed, explained that although The Feed N Seed serves alcohol, the focus is more on the performances.

“I don’t want to run a place where I’m encouraging people to come drink their hearts out. I really want to run a place where people can come enjoy something unique as well as give people an opportunity to perform.”

The Feed N Seed has been open on and off since around 2010, and gone through some ownership changes, but in October

Feed N Seed serves alcohol, but the real focus is on its artistic performances.

of 2014 it began to operate on a consistent Thursday to Sunday schedule.

Lousao explains how far the venue has come in that short amount of time.

“I’m pretty proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in pretty much less than a year. Everything we’ve done has been through social media and word of mouth. It’s kind of been like a little hidden gem in Lafayette that not many people know about yet.”

For Lousao working at the repurposed warehouse is part of her passion for preserving the Acadian culture.

“I’ve always had this strong connection to the French culture. It’s part of my heritage, I’m French. I’m not Acadian, but we definitely adopted that culture whenever our family moved here back in the early 1800s, so it’s always been a big passion of mine. My No. 1 role model is probably my grandfather, he’s passed away now, but he was a doctor of agriculture at LSU and he was very passionate about Louisiana and preserving the state and our culture.”

When it comes to role models, Young feels he pretty much had to figure it out on his own.

“I didn’t have a lot of role models for some reason. I didn’t really have wealthy parents, and I kind of had to do it on my own. My key to success is something my brother used to always tell me, ‘Perspiration over inspiration.’

I’ve always been real scrappy. From a young age I learned to work as hard as I could until I got it. I have competitors who are smarter and wealthier than me, but I beat them time and time again because I outwork them.”

The inspiring messages on the chalkboard bathroom walls, the red plush couches and the decorative shutters gathered from throughout Acadiana all make The Feed N Seed feel like a sweet escape from reality, where things are simple, but mostly sweet.

Those interested in performing at The Feed N Seed can direct messages their Facebook page (search for Feed N Seed Lafayette) to pitch ideas.

By Claire Salinas

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www.blubasilwineandgrill.com acadianaprofile.com

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Henry J. Kaufman IV, M.D., F.A.C.S.

E. Paul Breaux III M.D., F.A.C.S.

Jason A. Breaux, M.D. F.A.C.S.

Lafayette Surgical Specialists

specialize in general surgery and surgical oncology. Our practice consists of three physicians, two Nurse Practitioners, three office-based nurses, and our office management staff. We treat each patient like family, with the goal of providing the highest level of care and compassion possible.

457 Heymann Boulevard Lafayette, La. 70503 Office 337-237-5774 www.hkaufmanmd.com

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acadiana profile june/July 2015

checking up on hospitals a guide to regional health care

Acadia Parish Acadia General (formerly American Legion Hospital) • 1305 Crowley Rayne Hwy., Crowley • alh.org A part of the Lafayette General Health (LGH) system since 2014, Acadia General Hospital is licensed for 140 beds. The hospital provides a 24-hour Emergency Department, as well as acute medical and surgical care with services in obstetrics, gynecology, oncology, pediatrics, orthopedics, cardiology, nephrology and ophthalmology. Since joining LGH, Acadia General has added a new Imaging Center, expanded cancer treatment services and brought more physicians to the Acadia Parish area.

Offsite outpatient departments of the hospital include Acadia General Imaging and The Center for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine. Acadia General is currently raising funds to construct and equip a proposed 9,768 square-foot Emergency Department addition.

Allen Parish Allen Parish Hospital 108 Sixth St., Kinder allenparishhospital.com Allen Parish Hospital is an acute and specialty care hospital that serves the tri-parish area of Allen, Beauregard and Jeff Davis parishes. Along with rural health clinics in Kinder, APH offers home

health post-op care for orthopedic, cardiac and general surgeries and homebound individuals. It provides group and individual therapy in addition to professional counseling in its psychiatric recovery unit for mental illness and addiction. APH also works with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to provide a free Family-to-Family Education Program that covers a range of issues, from medication side effects to current research on mental illness causes.

Oakdale Community Hospital 130 Hospital Drive, Oakdale oakdalecommunityhospital.com This 60-bed hospital was recently recognized and awarded for performance related to positive patient experience. The hospital offers inpatient and outpatient services. Through the American College of Radiology the hospital houses a certified mammography unit which uses lowenergy X-rays to detect abnormalities.

The hospital consistently ranks as a top performer in Louisiana for heartfailure treatment and offers a variety of non-invasive cardiology services.

Ascension Parish St. Elizabeth Hospital 1125 West Hwy. 30, Gonzales steh.com St. Elizabeth Hospital is a 78-bed acute care facility. The hospital is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady

Health System, an 1,800 bed, five-hospital system serving nearly 60 percent of Louisiana’s population. St. Elizabeth Hospital currently employs over 500 team members and is affiliated with St. Elizabeth Physicians, a primary care and specialist practice employing over 35 physicians and practitioners.

St. Elizabeth Hospital has been recognized four times as the Hospital of the Year by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation, has twice been named to the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare® by Modern Healthcare Magazine, and has received numerous other awards for quality. The hospital has continued to strive to live out its mission to serve those most in need by providing the highest quality healthcare delivered in a compassionate manner.

Assumption Parish Assumption Community Hospital 135 Hwy. 402, Napoleonville (985) 369-3600 Assumption Community Hospital is a critical-access hospital with six beds.

Assumption Community Hospital operates as a nonprofit hospital.

Outpatient services includes a stopsmoking program and breast cancer screenings and mammograms. As part of their community outreach, they also provide health fairs and health screenings to Assumption Parish.

Calcasieu Parish Christus St. Patrick Hospital 524 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive, Lake Charles christusstpatrick.org Named for the patron saint of Ireland upon the insistence of Dr. John Greene Martin, Christus St. Patrick Hospital was dedicated on St. Patrick’s Day in 1908 and joined the Christus Health system in 1999 along with the Sisters of Charity Health and the Incarnate Word health care systems. The hospital’s latest offers behavioral health services with an inpatient geriatric program and outpatient care for seniors and a pediatric unit, as well as a diabetes management center, longterm acute care in the Dubuis Hospital within Christus St. Patrick Hospital. It also houses a rehabilitation center and offers lung cancer screenings. The hospital partnered with Southwest Louisiana Imaging to provide MRI and CT services.

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 1701 Oak Park Blvd., Lake Charles lcmh.com The largest, community-owned, nonprofit health system in southwest Louisiana has four campuses: Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, Memorial Specialty Hospital and Moss Memorial Health Clinic. These entities employ over 2,500 people with over 250 physicians on staff. The hospital

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TOUGHEST CASE SAVING A PREMATURE BABY

Dr. Kenneth Falterman Pediatric Surgery Women’s and Children’s Hospital Lafayette

For Dr. Kenneth Falterman, his most difficult case involved a baby girl who weighed only 12 ounces. In the human heart there is something called the ductus arteriosus – a blood vessel in the chest close to the heart that is supposed to close spontaneously after birth.

Unfortunately this particular baby was born extremely preterm and required surgical closure of her ‘patent’ (or ‘open’) ductus arteriosus, which, if left opened, could be harmful to the heart and lungs. The surgery to close the ductus arteriosus is long and difficult, but it was imperative in order to save the baby girl from suffering, and save her heart and lungs long enough for her to recover in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Dr. Falterman describes this journey, not as ‘life-changing,’ but as a “reaffirming event in

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which you know you must be absolutely focused, precise and at the top of your game to accomplish your goal without error … then you can breathe again.” He attributes much of his success to a fully functional and supportive team of pediatric specialists, saying, “A pediatric surgeon can’t work in a vacuum.”

Dr. Falterman says he picked pediatric general surgery because of its skill-level and the for the reward he gets by knowing that parents have entrusted their children in his hands. He considers it a great compliment, and rewarding on both a personal and professional level. He enjoys practicing at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Lafayette, not only for its safe, friendly and clean environment, but also for the community that the hospital has created. Dr. Falterman says,

“My hospital is not too big and not too small, which makes it easier to provide efficient and excellent quality care.”

Dr. Falterman grew up in New Orleans, raised by parents who came from Acadiana, both of whom spoke French.

He attended University of New Orleans for his bachelor of science degree, and Louisiana State University Medical Center for his medical degree, followed by an internship at Duke and a surgical fellowship at The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg.

He says the reason he wanted to stay local to practice medicine was to ensure that “families would not have to travel away to get excellent care for their babies and children.” Dr. Falterman practices in Lafayette to start and grow the number of pediatric specialty trained physicians in Acadiana, which is why he moved

to Lafayette in 1999 after 19 years at Ochsner and Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.

Dr. Falterman attributes his success as a pediatric general surgeon to the hardworking and interdependent teams that he works with: “Neonatal and Pediatric Intensivist along with Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Pediatric Oncologist, and nursing support must be part of this team…this work does teach one the necessity of team play!”

Dr. Falterman appreciates the local community in Lafayette and at Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and so works everyday towards adding to this community in a positive way through his passionate treatment of the children and the babies within the Lafayette area, to ensure they don’t have to go far for excellent professional care. - By Lani Griffiths

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was awarded the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval recognizing its dedication to the commission’s high standards. Health care specialties include inpatient and outpatient services, as well as a full-service emergency department and urgent care facility. Diagnostics and pathology services available include CT scanning, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, MRI, endoscopic, sleep studies, cardiovascular and cancer diagnostics.

From pediatric to geriatric care, Memorial is a full-service health care delivery system. Specialty services include cardiovascular, cancer, family medicine, ENT, urology, cardiac, orthopedic trauma and general surgery, psychiatry, rehabilitation, pulmonology, orthopedics and sports medicine, gynecology and obstetrics, neurology, neurosurgery, nephrology, rheumatology, internal medicine, pain medicine, behavioral health and pediatrics. In addition, home health, wound card and long-term acute care services are also available.

Lake Area Medical Center (formerly Women’s and Children’s Hospital) 4200 Nelson Road, Lake Charles lakeareamc.com This 88-bed full-service acute care hospital opened its doors in 1984 and offers inpatient, outpatient, medical and surgical care for men, women and children. With over 200 physicians on the medical staff covering 49 specialties, Lake Area Medical Center's key services include; Cardiology, Labor & Delivery, a Level III Neonatal ICU, Surgical Services including Robotic-Assisted Surgery, a 24-hour Emergency Department, and Wound Care. It is an accredited Bariatric Surgery Center, offering three weight loss surgery options. It also serves patients at the Grand Lake Medical Clinic, Urology Center of SWLA, Lake Area Physicians and Surgicare of Lake Charles – an ambulatory outpatient surgery center.

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital 701 East Cypress St., Sulphur wcch.com The 109-bed West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently became the first community hospital in the nation to implement 128 Slice Philip Ingenuity, CT technology, computing a more accurate CAT scan. It also recently launched the area’s first specialized program for breast cancer patients, designating a single nurse or other health professional to help patients navigate the path to recovery. WCCH also has a sleep center and both cardiac rehabilitation and cardiology services, along with servicing rural health clinics in Hackberry, Vinton and Johnson Bayou. It is the first hospital in Southwest Louisiana to have computer-assisting technology for joint replacement and is home to one of the largest joint replacement programs in the region. It also provides therapeutic equestrian services through the Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center for patients with developmental disabilities or brain injuries. WCCH also participates

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in Shots for Tots to provide cheap or free immunization for children.

Evangeline Parish Mercy Regional Medical Center (two locations) 3501 Hwy. 190 E., Eunice; 800 E. Main St., Ville Platte mercyregionalmedicalcenter.com The nonprofit Mercy Regional Medical Center formed when Ville Platte Medical Center and Acadian Medical Center merged in 2010 and now serves more than 97,000 patients annually under LifePoint Hospitals. Between the two campuses, in Euince and Ville Platte, the hospital offers a 24-hour emergency room, a cardiology center, pain management, imaging, dialysis, gastroenterology, gynecology, obstetrics, oncology and more.

Savoy Medical Center 801 Poinciana Ave., Mamou savoymedical.com Savoy Medical Center possesses a number of amenities that rival large-city hospitals, including a 24-hour emergency room and critical care unit. It also offers patient diagnostic services 24 hours a day, including mammography and bonedensity testing. Savoy also offers services for inpatient and outpatient surgery, mental health for both patients and family members and social services to help with hospitalization, childbirth, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and physical, pedodontic, podiatry, plastic and reconstructive, vascular and urological surgeries.

Iberia Parish Dauterive Hospital 600 N. Lewis Ave., New Iberia dauterivehospital.com This 103-bed full-service facility is an affiliate of The Regional Health System of Acadiana. The New Iberia facility’s services include cardiovascular, general surgery, orthopedics, emergency care, obstetrics and gynecology surgery and rehabilitations. It recently implemented the American Orthopaedic Association’s bone health quality improvement program, helping to identify, evaluate and treat patients with low bone density or osteoporosis.

Iberia Medical Center 2315 E. Main St., New Iberia iberiamedicalcenter.com This 99-bed hospital received the Women’s Choice award for Best Patient Experience in 2013 and 2014 and was awarded a 2014 Excellence in Patent Care Award for Doctor Communication by outcomes firm Studer Group. It is a full-service, acute care hospital, providing medical, surgical, obstetrical, gynecological, pediatric, and emergency services; critical care, cardiac care, gastroenterological care; and outpatient diagnostics. The facility also operates a full service Cardiac Cath Lab, an outpatient Rehabilitation Center, an Advanced Wound Center and the Jeanerette Rural Health Clinic and

partners with Acadiana Diagnostic Imaging, Iberia Extended Care Hospital, the New Iberia Surgery Center and the Louisiana Stroke Network.

Jefferson Davis Parish Jennings American Legion Hospital 1634 Elton Road, Jennings jalh.com Jennings American Legion Hospital is the only American Legion Hospital in the United States. It houses the only cardiac catheterization lab between Lake Charles and Lafayette, where Jennings American Legion Hospital can offer interventional procedures along with nuclear stress testing and echocardiograms for those who have recently undergone heart procedures.

The 24,000-square-foot medical office building and 32,000-square-foot patient tower allow JALH to provide patients with an emergency room, cardiology unit, surgical care, maternity ward and radiology services.

St. James Parish St. James Parish Hospital 1645 Lutcher Ave., Lutcher sjph.org This nonprofit hospital opened its doors in 1955. It is a Joint Commission Accredited 25-bed critical access hospital serving the river region and beyond through its motto “large enough to serve, small enough to care.” Acute care services include a 25-bed floor with a progressive care unit for more acute patients and skilled nursing/swing bed services. The ER is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offers telestroke technology.

The cardiopulmonary department is equipped to offer local cardiology and respiratory testing, the radiology department provides MRI, CT Scans, ultrasounds, digital mammography, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine and bone density testing and the rehab department offers physical, occupation and speech therapy. The surgery department offers a range of procedures including general, orthopedic, endoscopic and ophthalmological surgeries. The hospital also owns several primary care clinics, a urology clinic, a surgery clinic and offers wound care and sleep studies. In addition, several independent specialists see patients in the hospital's medical plaza.

St. John the Baptist Parish River Parishes Hospital 500 Rue de Sante, LaPlace riverparisheshospital.com River Parishes Hospital offers a full-range of services for surgeries and treatments.

The cardiac center has a comprehensive program, including echocardiography, an exercise testing vascular laboratory and nuclear studies. The gastroenterology department treats gastroenterological organs and also treats liver diseases, including Hepatitis B and C. It also provides services out of an occupational medical center in LaPlace to treat work

injuries and illnesses. Surgical specialties include procedures for the head, neck, neurology, gynecology and breast cancer.

Lafayette Parish Heart Hospital of Lafayette 1105 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette hearthospitallaf.net The Heart Hospital of Lafayette is faith-based and entirely focused on and designed for the cardiovascular health of its patients and was named one of the top 50 cardiovascular hospitals in the country by Thomson Reuters.

Along with a 24/7 heart emergency center, it boasts a 64-slice Aquilion CT scanner in the Chest Pain Center, where patients are taught to recognize and react to the early symptoms of heart attacks. The Heartsaver CT scans the heart while beating to uncover heart disease at its earliest stages, and the HEARTVantage free wellness program is the only free nationally accredited specialized care facility that focuses on heart health for patients.

Lafayette General Medical Center 1214 Coolidge St., Lafayette lafayettegeneral.com Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC), the flagship hospital of the Lafayette General Health system, is the largest full-service, acute-care medical center in Acadiana. The hospital runs the busiest Emergency Department in Acadiana and houses an Intensive Care Unit staffed 24/7 by physicians specializing in critical care. The Women’s & Children’s Services Department boasts Labor & Delivery and Mother/Baby Units, as well as a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Partnered with Cardiovascular Institute of the South, LGMC has introduced many new cardiac procedures to Lafayette. Additionally, LGMC holds advanced certifications or accreditations in gynecology, cancer, stroke, orthopedics and bariatric surgery. In 2013, LGMC became a Major Teaching Hospital through a partnership with LSU’s School of Medicine.

Lafayette General Surgical Hospital 1000 W. Pinhook Road, Suite 100, Lafayette lgsh.us Lafayette General Surgical Hospital (LGSH) is an 18,500-square-foot short-stay hospital, including four operating rooms, 10 beds, radiology, EKG and lab services.

A joint venture between Lafayette General Medical Center and local physicians, LGSH is part of the Lafayette General Health system. Services offered include ENT, facial plastic surgery, general surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pain management and gynecology services. The hospital ranks in the 99th percentile in both employee and patient satisfaction surveys nationally.

At Acadiana Aesthetics, microsurgeons Stephen J. Delatte, M.D., and Hugo St. Hilaire, M.D., D.D.S, are providing comprehensive cutting-edge breast reconstruction techniques and procedures to the communities of Acadiana, offering women with breast cancer new options post-mastectomy.

“Our goal for reconstruction is for the patient to have reconstructed breasts that both look and feel natural and are symmetrical in volume and shape,” says Dr. Delatte.

Acorrding to Dr. Delatte, breast reconstruction is a broad term that encompasses a number of restoration techniques, each with their own pros and cons. The DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction is one of several methods offered at Acadiana Aesthetics.

Combined with a nipple or skin-sparing mastectomy, using a patient’s own tissue (from the abdomen, thigh, or other places) presents numerous benefits to those who are good candidates.

The DIEP uses the patient’s own abdominal skin and fat to reconstruct a natural, soft, warm, breast after mastectomy, which offers the added bonus of a tummy tuck. Since the DIEP-reconstructed breast is the patient’s own tissue, it can fluctuate in size with body weight and is permanent, unlike a breast implant.

Acadiana Aesthetics encourages breast cancer patients to learn more by visiting AASurgeons.com or by scheduling a consult.

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Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette lafayettesurgical.com Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital (LSSH), located at 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road, is a patient focused and physician directed hospital specializing in orthopedic, neurological, ear, nose & throat, urological, gynecological, plastics, and general surgical procedures and pain management. The hospital also operates Imaging at LSSH which is a full-service imaging facility located next door. Since opening its doors, the hospital has established a strong reputation and presence in the Acadiana community by exceeding patients' expectations for treatment, comfort, safety and cost.

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center 4801 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette lourdesrmc.com Founded by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady in 1949, Our Lady of Lourdes employs more than 1,200 people and offers a medical staff of over 400 active physicians in a variety of medical and surgical specialties. Lourdes provides a wide-ranging network of facilities and services including Centers of Excellence in the areas of Orthopedics, Stroke and Bariatric Surgery. The hospital is home to the only burn unit in Southwest Louisiana and a Commission on Cancer accredited oncology program. Other community services include four imaging locations, a primary care physician network and community outreach health programs like Northside High School Health Center and St. Bernadette medical clinic for the underinsured and those in need.

Park Place Surgical Hospital 901 Wilson St., Lafayette parkplacesurgery.com What started as the Ambulatory Surgery Center in 1999 has grown to the physician-owned Park Place Surgical Hospital, after joining with Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in 2003. Park Place boasts 42 doctors who perform colon, rectal, ENT/ otolaryngology, general, OB/GYN, plastic, vascular and orthopedic surgeries, along with occupational and physical therapies. It is the official surgical provider for Ragin’ Cajun Athletics Regional Medical Center of Acadiana 2810 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette medicalcenterofacadiana.com Regional Medical Center of Acadiana is the first in Acadiana to be accredited a Cycle III Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers and was recently a Top 100 hospital for coronary bypass surgery and major cardiac surgery and treats patients for a variety of heart conditions. The hospital also specializes in geriatric services with a range of

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services specially designed for the aging through inpatient, rehabilitation and nursing home programs. Other services include emergency services, hemodialysis, laser surgery, neurology, orthopedics, radiology and medical and surgical intensive care units. It was most recently honored by eQHealth Solutions for its improvements to quality and care.

University Hospital 2390 W. Congress St., Lafayette lsuhospitals.org/hospitals/ umc/umc.htm University Hospital & Clinics (UHC) is a full-service, acute care hospital offering charity care, allowing persons to receive medically necessary care at no charge or at a reduced charge when they meet financial eligibility requirements. The hospital has been managed by the Lafayette General Health system since 2013. UHC serves as Acadiana’s primary graduate medical education center, training residents and fellows and cultivating physicians for the future.

Other services include emergency, interventional radiology, orthopedics, ENT, intensive care, physical therapy, general surgery, infectious disease, cancer and infusion, cardiovascular and GYN. UHC also offers several outpatient clinics and a medical detox unit. A referral from an emergency or primary care physician is required to access most of the hospital’s clinics and/or patients must meet certain criteria to be accepted.

Women’s & Children’s Hospital 4600 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette womens-childrens.com For more than 30 years, Women’s & Children’s Hospital, a campus of the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana, has focused on one thing: providing the specialized health care Acadiana women and children need. With more than 75,000 births to date and counting, Women’s & Children’s has grown from its humble beginnings to one of the largest birthing centers in the state.

It is the only Acadiana hospital with a Level III Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, dedicated unit providing intensive care for high-risk pregnancies, pediatricfocused Emergency Department and a growing list of pediatric specialists.

The hospital’s Elaine M. Junca Women’s Imaging Centre is home to the area’s first breast-dedicated MRI and offers award-winning breast and bone health services in a spa-like atmosphere.

Lafourche Parish Lady of the Sea General Hospital 200 W. 134th Place, Cut Off losgh.org Lady of the Sea General Hospital caters to patients in South Lafourche through the main campus and medical clinics in Larose, Golden Meadow and Cut Off. Through a partnership with the Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Lady of the Sea provides cardiology

and cardiopulmonary services to the area. Other services include diabetes support, home health, an ICU, a renal dialysis center and wound care.

services include an ICU, angiography and vascular procedures, adult behavioral health unit, dialysis and physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation.

Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital

St. Landry Parish

4608 Hwy. 1, Raceland ochsner.org/locations/ st_anne_general Ochsner St. Anne provides a wide-range of primary and specialized medical services to the residents of Lafourche Parish and surrounding communities. St. Anne is part of the Ochsner Health System, which has been recognized by US News and World Reports in Cardiology & Heart Surgery and seven other specialties.

Ochsner St. Anne provides life saving services including a 24-hour fullservice emergency department, stroke care, intensive care unit, and multiple surgical specialties including general surgery, orthopedics, pain management, urology, and ENT. Additional services include maternity suites with stateof-the-art monitoring for mothers and babies, behavioral health services and many advanced medical technologies.

Clinics are conveniently located in Raceland, Lockport and Cut Off. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center 602 N. Acadia Road, Thibodaux thibodaux.com Thibodaux Regional Medical Center is a nationally recognized health care leader. There are 250+ physicians on the medical staff. It is the only medical center in the region to be rated an “A” for patient safety by The Leapfrog Group this spring, and is ranked in the Top 5% in the nation for patient safety by Healthgrades.

Additionally, Thibodaux Regional has received the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience award seven years in a row. Its comprehensive Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and is the only cancer program in Louisiana to receive the College’s Outstanding Achievement Award three times. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center continues to be an innovator and take a leadership role in improving the health of our region by constructing a state-of-the-art Wellness Center. The first of its kind in the Bayou Region, the Center is designed to improve the health and well-being of the region through education, prevention, rehabilitation, and sports and wellness services.

St. Charles Parish St. Charles Parish Hospital 1057 Paul Maillard Road, Luling stch.net A 20-minute drive from New Orleans, St. Charles Parish Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and also operates the Eastbank Medical Office in Destrehan to provide specialties for allergies, asthma, ENT, internal medicine and orthopedics. Other

Opelousas General Health System 539 E. Prudhomme Lane, Opelousas opelousasgeneral.com Since 1957, Opelousas General Health System has been dedicated to the provision of quality health care through its strong commitment and high standards. Central to the success of OGHS's commitment for excellence is the presence of an outstanding and highly qualified staff of physicians, nurses, technologists and other personnel who provide professional treatment in a caring environment. Serving as the region's referral medical center, OGHS is a 207bed, full service medical center, and the area's most comprehensive community health care facility offering a wide range of medical specialties and state-of-the-art technology. OGHS is officially designated as Acadiana's ONLY Baby Friendly facility, and has been awarded Gift Designation, as well as The Gift's "Above and Beyond Award" for Excellence in Promoting the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

OGHS and Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) became the first in the state of Louisiana to provide a revolutionary technology for cardiac patients called “The Chocolate Balloon," which treats complex blockages in both the heart and leg arteries. Opelousas General is the first in Acadiana to provide “Cellutome," a new revolutionary technology in wound care involving skin harvesting.

St. Martin Parish St. Martin Hospital 210 Champagne Blvd., Breaux Bridge stmartinhospital.org St. Martin Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital, which maintains a staffed 24-hour Emergency Department (the only one in St. Martin Parish), including a staffed physician. Services include state-of-the-art imaging with equipment including a CT scanner, MRI and digital mammography machine and a 24/7 Skilled Nursing Unit. Outpatient services include cardiopulmonary, radiology, lab-testing and physical/speech/ occupational therapies. The hospital also provides respiratory therapy, infusion and Coumadin services. In 2009, St. Martin Hospital was fully acquired by Lafayette General Medical Center and is now part of the Lafayette General Health system. In 2014, St. Martin Hospital was named one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare magazine.

St. Mary Parish Franklin Foundation Hospital 1097 Northwest Blvd., Franklin franklinfoundation.org

Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPS) for its world-class cardiology and cardiovascular surgery; a comprehensive Women’s Health Center internationally recognized with top honors as a designated Baby Friendly USA™ hospital- the gold standard in maternity care; outpatient services; surgery center; emergency care services and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Additionally, TGMC provides the Healthy Lifestyles Center, which offers the Community Sports Institute, Health and Sports Performance, Wellness for Life, Workout 360, Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation, Diabetes Management and Weight Management.

Serving the western St. Mary Parish, Franklin Foundation Hospital offers multiple clinics including Women’s Health, Medical Specialties and a Family Care Center in Baldwin. It provides a 22-bed critical access hospital and became the first in the area to offer the LightSpeed 16 CT system. Among its other services, FFH offers maternity services and a newborn nursery and an online medical dictionary, a drug encyclopedia and a physician directory accessible through the website.

Vermilion Parish

Teche Regional Medical Center 1125 Marguerite St., Morgan City techeregional.com

Abbeville General Hospital 118 N. Hospital Drive, Abbeville abbgen.net

This tobacco-free hospital on the east side of Acadiana serves St. Mary Parish with 157 beds and a 24-hour emergency department. It utilizes a state-of-theart heart catheterization lab that uses minimally invasive procedures, seven birthing suites and digital mammograms, along with inpatient rehabilitation, bone desitometry, an ICU, a behavioral health unit and a cardiopulmonary department.

Abbeville General (AG) has provided care for almost 50 years and boasts 60 beds, an ICU, Interventional Pain Therapy for pain in the lower back and extremities, a labor and delivery unit and surgical services. AG also has an Infusion Therapy Center, Cancer Center through a partnership with Lafayette General, a Sleep Center, as well as Joint Commission certified Primary Care Medical Homes, located in Abbeville, Maurice, and Erath. The newly renovated Emergency Department encompasses over 9,000 sq. ft. and operates with a “Forward Progression Philosophy,” for a better patient experience. Among recent awards earned is the coveted Top Performer Award by the Joint Commission for Pneumonia and Surgical Care.

Terrebonne Parish Physicians Medical Center 218 Corporate Drive, Houma physicianshouma.com Physicians Medical Center (PMC) is located in Houma, the heart of Bayou Country, 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. Opened in 1997 by a group of leading community physicians , PMC was the state's first Ambulatory Surgery Center, (ASC). PMC has since expanded into a 30-bed, multi-specialty, acute care hospital performing in excess of 5,000 procedures annually. The hospital has 6 operating suites, 1 endoscopy suite, 1 cysto suite, 1 Litho suite and several procedure rooms. It also has a full service breast care center and Imaging Department. With over 100 physicians credentialed, specialties include general surgery, pain management, ENT, neurosurgery, urology,orthopedics, anesthesiology, gynecology, bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, ophthalmology, plastic surgery and radiology. In mid2015, the hospital earned a Medicare rating among the top 50 hospitals in the country for patient satisfaction.

Terrebonne General Medical Center 8166 Main St., Houma tgmc.com Terrebonne General Medical Center, award-winning and nationally recognized health care organization, has built a reputation based on quality and its initiatives to strengthen the health and wellness of the community. The medical center is a nonprofit acute care facility, offering a complete range of services such as the Accredited Chest Pain Center which was recognized by the Society of

Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital 1310 W 7th St., Kaplan In June, 2015, Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital became the newest affiliate to join the Lafayette General Health system.

The full-service, general acute-care facility is licensed for 35 beds. Services include pediatrics, general surgery, (including laparoscopic), lab services, digital radiology, CT scanning, digital mammography, ultrasound, endoscopic and colonoscopy procedures, physical rehabilitation, home health, inpatient psychiatric services and extended stay. For two consecutive years, Abrom Kaplan was named among the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the Country in Financial Stability by the National Rural Health Association.

If you know of a great regional hospital that didn't get included on the list, let us know. Our staff makes every effort to be as comprehensive as possible, but our hospital guide is always evolving and changing.

Email the managing editor, sarah@ acadianaprofile.com for more information or to be updated in our database.

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At Colon & Rectal Clinic of Acadiana, Drs. Kenneth Champagne and Matthew Boudreaux specialize in the medical and surgical management of diseases of the colon and rectum. Our Doctors have over 30 years of extensive training in the treatment of complaints and diseases of the colon and rectum.

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NEW LOOK - NEW FEEL!

Servicing Acadiana for over 41 years

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Inside and Out!

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culture les personnes 86

For decades, Lafayette TV weatherman Rob Perillo has been Acadiana’s source when it comes to storms and sunshine. by will kalec

la musique 90

Big sounds from T’Monde by michael patrick welCh

les artistes 92 Mare Martin’s art touches upon the complexities and beauty of the plant world.

Thanks to a retrospective exhibit at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Opelousas’ Mare Martin finally reunites with pieces that usually hang both near and far. by will kalec

en français 96 Souvenirs de Betsy par david cheramie

culture LES personnes

face of the forecast For decades, Lafayette TV weatherman Rob Perillo has been Acadiana’s source when it comes to storms and sunshine. by will kalec | photo by romero & romero

We know him even

though most of us don’t know him, because we’ve seen him even though most of us have never actually seen him, because he’s in our homes all the time, even though most of us have ever extended an invitation.

Therefore, as everyone’s weatherman, Rob Perillo pushes his shopping cart down the produce aisle, today’s forecast calls a partially elongated Walmart run with a 90-percent chance of recognition.

For 25 years, the affable Rob Perillo has kept Acadiana informed about weather patterns.

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“Think about it,” Perillo says. “I’ve been in living rooms throughout Acadiana for a quarter-century now. How lucky is that? That’s awesome. They’re complete strangers, but they’re not, because we don’t speak like strangers, we speak like friends. They invite me to crawfish boils.

And then my wife and kids will say, ‘Do you know that person?’ And no, I don’t.

“So it’s an honor, especially in a business where there’s a lot of turnover and pressure,” Perillo says. “But I’ve gotten to be here. Every tropical storm.

Every hurricane. Every meteorological event. I’ve been here. And for a people-person like me, it doesn’t get any more special than Acadiana.”

Easily one of the most trusted and second-guessed men in Cajun Country (hey, it comes with the job description, he says) Perillo has been the region’s weather authority for more than a generation, working at both major Lafayette TV news stations during his tenure. As the current chief meteorologist at KATC-3, Perillo is the most decorated meteorologist in Louisiana, hauling in close to two dozen Associated Press awards, which includes distinctions for “Best Weathercast” and “Breaking Weather.”

And at no other time of the year does Perillo shine as much as he does in August and September – the height of Gulf hurricane season. Leaned upon to provide accurate and up-to-date information flying in from multiple angles and sources, Perillo’s disciplined pre-storm routine – which typically involves truckloads of caffeine and thimbles of sleep – ensures he’s ready for whatever Mother Nature tosses his direction.

“I’ve done more than 100 tropical storms, so you don’t remember all of them,” Perillo said in June 2015. “Like this past one, Bill. I won’t remember Bill. I’ve probably done some Bills before. But there are some you just don’t forget, and for me, that first one that left a mark on me was Hurricane Andrew, because I couldn’t sleep.

“I stayed up for 44 hours straight,” Perillo recalls. “And I vividly recall every one of those hours.”

A natural storyteller, Perillo’s tales surrounding notorious storms like Rita, Katrina, Lili and Gustav are equally as entertaining, fair doses of terrifying and triumphant. In each retelling, Perillo drips heavy amounts of praise on colleague Dave Baker, the KATC engineering, reporting and production teams, as well as mentor Dick Faurot – Lafayette’s Rob Perillo before Rob Perillo. acadianaprofile.com

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LES personnes “Dick was a weather nerd first and a broadcaster second, and I was like, ‘That’s what I want to be!’” Perillo recalls. “I was actually looking at old tapes a little while back, and these are from 15 to 20 years ago, and the New York accent is much more pronounced. So that’s changed for sure. The energy and delivery is a little different. But one thing Faurot told me – and I try to live it to this day – is be the same person on-air as you are off-air and you’ll be very successful in that business.

“And, it’s worked,” Perillo says. “The viewers respond to that, so when they see me in public, they see the same guy they’ve seen on TV. It’s not a character.

It’s just me.”

The manifestation of Perillo’s love affair with the weather was really rooted in his family’s move out of the Bronx and into a more suburban section of downstate New York while he was still in grade school. He nailed his initial (non-airing) forecast, correctly predicting a snow day.

It was his first taste of stardom, he says tongue-in-cheek.

From there, Rob purposely attended college in an area traditionally pummeled by lake-effect snowfalls, later landing a job as an Emergency Planning Meteorologist for local nuclear power plants. Intrigued by different domestic weather phenomenon, Rob interviewed with a firm in Houston, cramming on tropical weather the entire flight down south. It worked.

Perillo served as a Marine and Industrial Meteorologist for Wilkens Weather Technologies and also as an Aviation Forecaster for Air Routing International before landing on-camera in Lafayette.

What once was an 18-month contract without much of a guarantee has blossomed into a unique relationship Perillo both cherishes and takes quite seriously as the busy part of his calendar beckons.

“It’s more adrenaline than anything else,” Perillo says of hurricane season.

“At first, it’s almost youthful excitement.

You’re hoping it comes close enough to us so we can be involved. But 30 years later, when you have a house and a bunch of things you don’t wanna lose your perspective changes.

“The rush is still there, though,” Perillo says. “The information coming in and out of my realm is constant, and it just seems each storm gets crazier and crazier.”

To see more of Rob Perillo, tune in to KATC or visit their website at KATC.com

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

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culture DE LA CUISINE

big sounds from t’monde Lafayette’s traditional Cajun trio tears it up at dancehalls, festivals and weddings.

By Michael Patrick Welch | By romero & Romero

From Lafayette, the

relatively young trio, T’Monde, play mostly traditional Cajun music primarily from the early 1900s, but stretching into to present day.

Bandleader Drew Simon, 31, began T’Monde (French for “little world” or “little

people”,) in 2011 as a side project during his time as the drummer and singer in the Pine Leaf Boys. He also performs every Wednesday at Randol’s Cajun Restaurant in Lafayette with the group Low Maintenance.

In T’Monde though, Simon sings and plays the accordion that his wife bought him as a surprise wedding gift, six years back.

“Pineleaf boys have lots of instruments and the music is up-tempo

To listen to T-Monde, visit acadianaprofile.com.

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acadiana profile august/september 2015

Cajun. Then Low Maintenance is purely Cajun dancehall – while T’Monde is not what I’d call traditional but rather … stripped down,” says Simon of his trio’s quietly energetic twosteps, three-part vocal harmonies, waltzes and blues vamps. “T’Monde

is very listenable,” says Simon matter-of-factly.

“Meaning, you can sit down and listen to it as well as dance to it.

Though every now and then we will play with a drummer, if it’s a bar or a festival where they want a little higher energy.”

Not griping at all, Simon points out the obvious: “In this group

I’m outnumbered by the ladies,” he says, explaining that he’s known Kelli since she was 17. Kelli brought her guitar playing friend Megan Brown into the group.

“While me and Megan first started playing music around 18, Kelli Jones-Savoy (now 27) started playing music around 15,” Simon says. Kelli Jones-Savoy’s father was an authentic Appalachianinfluenced fiddler in their home state of North Carolina.

She told allthingsstrings.com, “I started playing old-time music [on the fiddle because of my dad, and then] when I moved to Lafayette in 2006, I got interested in Cajun music.” Her interest in the music piqued when she met and married her her husband Joel Savoy of the Savoy Family Band. The husband and wife now often perform as a duo, when Jones-Savoy is not busy as the singer, fiddler, and guitarist of Feufollet, replacing the band’s original singer Anna Laura Edmiston.

Megan Brown, 26, has performed since her teens in Tepetate, at her grandparents’ Cajun restaurant. She has gone on to serve as a guest musician with groups as illustrious as Steve Riley’s Mamou Playboys, the Pine Leaf Boys and the Lafayette Rhythm Devils. “Megan is a really good rhythm guitar player – she’s the one who controls the band’s rhythm,” says Simon.

“There aren’t a lot of chords in this music – it’s not difficult chord-wise, but it’s difficult rhythm-wise. Megan is very good, very modern. She pushes a little bit.” One review of T’Monde even called Brown’s guitar style “grunge.”

Brown doesn’t hear the grunge in her playing, and downplays her importance in T’Monde: “Guitar is the main rhythm instrument since you don’t have drums,” she admits.

“But I am certainly following Drew and Kelli. I wouldn’t consider my guitar playing that unique, really. There are

two types of acoustic rhythms in Cajun music,” Brown explains: “either open strumming – the style that Christine Balfa is known for. Whereas I do a ‘choke chord’ rhythm, which sounds like boom-chuk, book-chuck. And it’s pretty typical for Cajun music.”

In 2012, T’Monde released its debut album, Making Believe. The trio just finished recording its second album, Yesterday Is Gone (Valcour Records) last February. “We were more creative with this one,” says Simon. “It’s sung 90 percent in French but with a lot of different Cajun genres; there’s some dancehall.

But we also we did a lot of older country tunes like “I Don’t Care” and a George Strait cover in French.”

“There a lot more harmony singing on the new album,” adds Megan Brown, “and just a lot more collaboration, singing-wise. There’s a little more country influence, and we also added drums and bass to half the record. With the extra instruments, this one took a little more time. It wasn’t that it was more difficult, it just wasn’t as rushed – we wanted to take our time with it.”

Currently T’Monde lead a jam session at club Vermilionville in Lafayette every Saturday (“on the north side of town by the airport,” Simon clarifies). There’s also the trio’s standing gig at Prejean’s every Tuesday.

Mostly they play a lot of festivals, “and we play a lot of weddings,” Simon attests.

What makes T’Monde the best band for the biggest day in any Louisiana couple’s life? “It’s a lot cheaper to book three people instead of five people,” laughs Simon.

“And we dress well, we’re professional lookin’, we got two good-lookin’ girls in the band. Most of all, you don’t often see a traditional Cajun band three piece, meaning, we’re not loud,” he says, “but we can be loud if need be!”

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culture les artisteS

firmly planted roots Thanks to a retrospective exhibit at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Opelousas’ Mare Martin finally reunites with pieces that usually hang both near and far. by will kalec

At Mare Martin’s

Homecoming, there is no dance. No outlandish date proposals. No eagle-eyed chaperones.

No nerve-racking slow songs. No tacky streamers lining the gymnasium. No regrettable, awkward photos taken by your parents.

Heck, there’s not even a big game.

But there is a winner.

And that’s Martin.

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Speaking with a innocent glee absent from most folks her age, (or even half her age, for that matter) Martin willingly shares the details in the rewarding process of wrangling up her old works for a retrospective exhibit at the Acadiana Center for the Arts that runs through mid-September. One by one, paintings Martin hadn’t seen in years

acadiana profile august/september 2015

started arriving back in Lafayette – on loan for the extended showing – carefully buried in Styrofoam peanuts and enough bubble wrap to entertain a 4th grade classroom until winter.

“It’s like that old show, ‘This Is Your Life,’” Martin says. “I don’t know if anyone remembers that TV show, but I sure do.

And a retrospective

is basically that show in real life. Except you don’t have to say a show, you can just show your life on a gallery wall.”

Martin doesn’t care if this sounds silly, but the first sight of paintings she hasn’t seen in decades nearly brought her to tears.

“These are my children, and now I have my children around me,” Martin says. “It’s

a wonderful thing. As a mother of children, this is a familiar feeling to me – to have all these wonderful things back in my position, if only for a little while. And that’s all thanks to the people kind enough to loan this paintings out. Because some of these pieces came from far places.”

San Diego, Los Angeles, North Carolina,

Colorado, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas and New Mexico, to be exact. All of the exhibit pieces – painted between 1989 and 2015 – are borrowed from private collections. Thankfully, Martin documented the whereabouts and owners of her work years previously, a tip she learned while in art school abroad.

“There’s value in everything you do,” Martin says.

“This is personal. If you don’t document your work, it’s gone; it’s lost. It’s like a lost child. Even when my work is finished and belongs to someone else, I’ll always have a relationship with the piece.

“And now they’re back.

It’s like a reunion. I’m filled with delight and joy.

And I almost feel like (the paintings) are glad to be back with their mother.”

The full, official ACA exhibit title reads, “Sustained Intimacy, A Retrospective.”

Martin is asked if the word choice “retrospective” makes her feel old. She pauses, caught a little off guard by the question, before politely

answering no, it doesn’t.

The key word, she says, is intimacy – because this passion to create originated at an early age and over years developed into a unique relationship in which art and nature encompass Martin’s spirit and being.

Raised on a small farm in the agro-dependent community of Opelousas, Martin’s pieces touch upon the complexities and beauty of the plant world. According to the exhibit brochure, nature (and all that grows from it) “enchants” her. She speaks of plants with genuine reverence. An avid gardener – in fact rows of vegetables and flowers bloom steps away from her art studio – Martin began sketching pencil drawings of various plants at various stages of development. In time, those black and white pieces blossomed onto canvas, bursting with familiar, earth-tone colors.

“It’s a dual world that I’ve brought together,” Martin says. “Inspiration, artist inspiration, was and

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is right outside my door. Plants are very complex, and the best way to understand it is up close: observing the different stages of growth, connecting with it and gather information from the plant. It’s a deep experience – an honest-to-god connection with nature.

“It’s simple, but it took me 10 years to get to where I am. It’s like understanding a new language. Now, I’m not

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connecting with the plants as an entity. I’m not connecting with my friend the elderberry.

I’m connecting with an intelligence there, which is represented by the plant.”

Though not overly detailed, Martin’s paintings possess depth and layers – qualities only attainable when the artist reaches a harmony with their subject. Martin paints with a heavy-hand,

acadiana profile august/september 2015

creating texture and movement. Elements from the world of which she paints are incorporated into the work. For instance, clay from crawfish chimneys help form many of Martin’s frames.

Her artistic rhythm is erratic and unscheduled, always willing (and many times eager) to step away from the easel and escape into her nearby backyard, whether it be to examine

a soon-to-be painted paint more thoroughly, or to simple get dirt under her fingernails as cathartic relief.

“When you’re a cook, and you’re using fresh ingredients, you want you garden as close to your kitchen as possible,” Martin says.

“Well, when you’re an artist, and you paint plants, it’s a good idea to

have my garden close to my studio. Plant matter is my subject matter.

“Inspiration is right outside my window.

Sometimes, you need to go touch it.”

To see more of Mare Martin’s work, visit maremartin.wordpress.com

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culture en français, s’il vous plaît

souvenirs de betsy par david cheramie

Ici photographié en 1965, l’Archevêque Hannan de La Nouvelle Orléans, à droite, découvre en bateau les alentours de la paroisse de St. Bernard dévastés par l’ouragan Betsy. Il fut nommé 11eme archevêque de la Nouvelle-Orléans 20 jours après que Betsy ai frappé le sud de la Louisiane.

La moquette était

râcheuse contre ma peau. Je dormais parterre parce que presque toute ma famille, la moitié de mon voisinage au Canal Yankee étaient entassés dans une seule chambre d’hôtel en ville. Je me suis réveillé au milieu de la nuit quand mon petit cousin qui n’avait pas encore six mois s’est mis à brailler. Son lit était deux fauteuils placés face à face. Sa mère l’a réconforté et je me suis rendormi en frottant ma main sur cette moquette rude.

Je sentais le plancher bouger et je ne le trouvais pas étrange. Ça m’a bercé. Quand le soleil rentrait par la fenêtre le lendemain matin quelques heures plus tard, ma sœur et moi, nous avons pressé nos visages contre la vitre à plusieurs étages d’hauteur. La rue toute trempe en bas était complètement déserte, du débris partout et des carreaux cassés au Kastle Burger sur Baronne. C’était le 10 septembre 1965, j’avais six ans et Betsy venait de passer. Ce sont quelques uns de mes souvenirs de notre évacuation à l’Hôtel Roosevelt. Les adultes disaient qu’on ne pouvait pas rentrer à la maison, si on avait toujours une maison, pas avant quelques

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jours, pas avant que les eaux ne se retirent et surtout pas avant qu’on n’eût des nouvelles des hommes de la famille.

Mon parrain, qui était avec nous parce qu’il a conduit les femmes et les enfants en ville dans le dernier char à traverser le pont du Mississipi, croyait que le gouvernement avait ensemencé l’ouragan; c’est pour ça qu’on n’en avait jamais vu d’aussi effrayant.

Je ne sais pas combien de jours on est resté là, mais les nouvelles arrivaient à compte-gouttes. Tous nos proches ont survécu; notre maison était toujours là, mais elle avait pris de l’eau, à tel point que mon père avait trouvé de grosses crabes et une serpent dedans.

La Garde nationale allait nous dire quand nous pouvions rentrer. Nous sommes éventuellement retournés chez nous pour retrouver

acadiana profile august/september 2015

notre maison et notre voisinage qui s’en étaient pas mal tirés de l’affaire. Nous avions une maison, mais pas grand-chose d’autre : pas d’électricité, pas de manger et pas d’eau potable. La danse de la flamme, la lumière et les ombres des lampes à globe restent dans ma mémoire. Souvent après le passage d’un ouragan, le temps devient torride; l’après-Betsy n’a pas failli à la règle. La recherche de gros blocs de glace nous occupait beaucoup. La fraîcheur était une denrée rare.

Un soir, n’en pouvant plus de la chaleur, toute la famille est allée s’asseoir à l’entrée de la manche près du bayou dans l’espoir d’attraper une fraîche.

Cela n’aurait rien eu d’étonnant sauf que nous ne portions que nos sous-vêtements.

Nous sommes restés là jusqu’à ce que la

Garde nationale passe pour nous inviter à respecter le couvre-feu et de rentrer chez nous.

Je ne sais pas ce qu’ils pensaient de nous.

Malgré la destruction et la pénurie autour de nous, la vie s’est reprise. Le marchand Duffy Lafont avec son magasin éponyme, Duffy’s Supermarket, a rouvert ses portes le plus vite possible. Il n’y a pas beaucoup de produits à offrir et les murs à l’arrière s’étaient séparés à un coin. Je ne peux pas imaginer un propriétaire de nos jours qui laisserait rentrer des gens avec son magasin dans un état pareil, mais on manquait de tout et M. Lafont faisait tout son possible pour aider la communauté. Ce n’est qu’un petit exemple parmi des milliers de la culture de solidarité qui nous a permis, encore une fois, à surmonter un coup dur.

Pour un enfant de six ans, c’était des expériences plutôt amusantes.

Avec cinquante ans de recul, ils m’évoquent une drôle de nostalgie.

Asteur je me rends compte que nous étions plus chanceux que d’autres. Nous sommes restés trois semaines sans électricité, le monde de la Pointeaux-Saucisses beaucoup plus. Certains ont tout perdu, la plupart n’avait que peu pour commencer. Le reste, tout moisi, était jeté dans le bayou.

En tout, 81 personnes sont mortes et les dégâts s’élevaient à 1,42 milliards de piastres en 1965, dix fois plus en argent d’aujourd’hui.

D’autres ouragans avant et après ont fait plus de ravages, comme Katrina et Rita desquels on commémore les dix ans aussi, mais c’était Betsy qui m’a bercé dans ses bras cruels la première.

For an English translation, visit acadianaprofile.com.

CNS photo | Frank J. Methe, Clarion Herald