READY FOR SUMMER FUN!

BY MARY DITCH | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY

Inside the impeccable home of Victoria Giglio is a wonderful oasis that beacons you to bask in the natural sunlight pouring in and relax in the cozy feels of this vacation paradise.

“I wanted my home to be light and airy,” shared Victoria. “I wanted to feel like I was on vacation everyday. I stayed in a beach house in Alys Beach and never wanted to leave. I knew I wanted my home to feel the same way.”

The three bedroom, two bath home was built by Travis Buquet Home

Builders, but the interior was designed and brought to life by Victoria, who owns Indigo Boutique and Interiors. She was able to put her own finishing touches on the home, including the custom shower in the master bath and all the lighting fixtures. She knew she also wanted the light floors and white kitchen but with a hint of black to match a china cabinet, and also to make all the gold features pop. Victoria’s favorite color is blue and it was included in the color scheme. She also loves oversized, abstract art, which can be found hanging around the home.

The backyard is truly Victoria’s favorite place in the home. The courtyard-style oasis includes a custom pool and patio designed by VIctoria and brought to life by the Spa Center of New Orleans. It includes large tiles and artificial turf for easy maintenance. “I’m so excited about this space! I can’t wait for all the fun pool parties and summer festivities I plan to host in the backyard!” POV

BY STAFF | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Fifty years of commitment. Fifty years of making a difference. Fifty years of women united under the goal of providing charitable services to our community.

This year, the Junior Auxiliary of Houma celebrates its golden anniversary, paying homage to their membership and their mission. Founded in 1973 under the leadership of Glenny Buquet, JA of Houma is a service organization of women who desire to make a lasting difference by providing support for the underserved in our community with a particular emphasis on children. Our local chapter is one of nearly 100 Junior Auxiliaries that span across seven states.

JA of Houma members facilitate many service projects throughout the year to provide physical and emotional support to those in need throughout Terrebonne Parish. Over the last five decades, this has added up to approximately 530 local women volunteering tens of thousands of hours in 158 service projects.

One of the original members and third president, Lynn Cinnater, shared that she is in awe every day that the group has been in existence for more than fifty years. “I think it’s sort of unbelievable that it’s come this far,” Lynn said. “When it started, we were hoping it would be a lasting thing and that it would help the community.”

Lynn recalls dedicating time to the organization and having to remind her children that the time that she spent volunteering was to help others that were in need. Currently, active members are required to complete 24 service hours a year; however, most members can tell you that they volunteer far beyond those hours because they enjoy making a difference in our community. While these ladies certainly deserve a crown for their dedication and impact, a crown has an entirely different meaning to its members. The Junior Auxiliary Crown has five points, each representing values of the organization: health, service, youth, leadership and charity.

JA members vote on service projects the chapter will orchestrate and execute during the year based on community needs. The chapter currently has eight projects, including a sensory-safe Mardi Gras event for children called Krewe of You, and providing mentorship to the teenagers of MacDonell Children’s

Home, and spending time with the residents of Terrebonne ARC residents. Santa’s Sneakers – a JA of Houma project for more than 30 years – provides brand new pairs of tennis shoes for hundreds of local children in need at Christmas. The event also includes a Christmas party that includes crafts, food, and a visit with Santa for families to enjoy together.

“Santa Sneakers has such an incredible impact for so many families over the last 30 years,” says current President Katie Portier. “I enjoy this project especially because I love to see the twinkle in the children’s eyes when they visit with Santa and experience a little bit of Christmas magic.”

Another popular current service project is Sweet Seniors, where members visit with residents of local nursing and assisted living homes to spend time, make crafts, play games, and simply enjoy conversation.

“One of my favorite service projects is Sweet Seniors,” shared JA member Dawn Prosperie. “I don’t have any grandparents so it’s kind of like having a step-grandparent.”

Members agree that the opportunity to volunteer with other women who share a passion to serve is a gift.

“One of the most important lessons that JA has taught me is to not necessarily be afraid to try and do something different,” shared Felicia Zenthoefer, Vice President. “It can be scary to step outside your comfort zone from time to time, but the work we do is so rewarding.”

JA of Houma will be celebrating their 50th anniversary throughout the summer. They’ll spotlight members and milestones throughout the years on their website and social media. During mid-May through end of June, JA will host a temporary exhibit in the foyer of Terrebonne Main Library. The community is invited to a reception at the library on June 3rd at 1 p.m. The 50th year celebration will culminate at the chapter’s fundraising event Dancing With The Stars on August 19. This event features local celebrity dancer teams who compete for their very own mirror ball trophy, as well as silent auction, prize drawings, and more to fund the community outreach programs of JA. To learn more, visit www.jaofhouma.com

“The impact of Junior Auxiliary in Terrebonne Parish can be seen in education, community safety, child welfare, and beyond,” Katie said. “What an honor to carry on the legacy of our founding members and all those who have served. We’re proud to continue the call to serve our community for generations to come.” POV

THE BAYOU COUNTRY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM LOCATED IN THIBODAUX HAS SOMETHING FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!

Several toddler exhibits will keep your little one entertained for hours and our brand-new Challenge Course will keep your older children and their friends coming back for more! We also hold Summer Camps all summer long. Get your one-day pass or membership by visiting our website.

Bayou Country Children's Museum

211 Rue Betancourt, Thibodaux bccm.info

DA SWAMP IS HOUMA’S PREMIER ENTERTAINMENT AND PARTY CENTER, FEATURING 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF TRAMPOLINES. Stop by and let your kids burn off the calories today!

Da Swamp

2764 Coteau Rd, Houma 985-333-3013

DaSwamp.com

Summer is a great time to venture out with the family and try new things! With no school and often no schedule, it’s up to you to fill hours with entertainment. Check out this list of fun things to do in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. Plan your day and be sure to send us your pictures as you check activities off your list!

IT IS SUMMERTIME, Y’ALL!

Experience the thrill of holding a baby gator and seeing Tim “the Gator Man” feed a pen of 50 large hungry gators at Greenwood Gator Farm and Tours! Perfect for the entire family, explore the alligator farm that hatches up to 10,000 gators a year, and adventure through the winding bayous of the South on an airboat tour to witness gators in their natural habitat!

Greenwood Gator Farm & Tours

985-804-0744

For a full list of things to do in Terrebonne Parish, visit explorehouma.com!

YOU GOTTA TRY THIS!

Make the Cajun Bayou Food Trail part of your plans this Summer in Lafourche Parish. Download your passport and stop in at five Food Trail restaurants to earn a special prize. Learn more by visiting our website at lacajunbayou.com/foodtrail or stop in at our Visitor’s Center in Raceland!

Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Tourism

4484 LA-1, Raceland 985-537-5800

TERREBONNE FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IS HOSTING THE SUMMER'S NUMBER ONE FESTIVAL AND RUN! Join us on Saturday, May 13 in downtown Houma for our annual Food Festival and Run for Excellence to raise money to support teachers in the Terrebonne Parish School District. The festival features the Battle of the Bands high school competition, over 30 food booths, a 5K Run through historic downtown Houma and music from the Kings of Neon! Tickets are now available!

TFAE Run for Excellence and Food Festival

May 13, 2023

RunForExcellence.com

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED, SICILY’S PIZZA & MORE IS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT WHICH FEATURES A WIDE SELECTION OF ALL-YOUCAN-EAT PIZZAS AND MADE-FROM-SCRATCH CAJUN/CREOLE DISHES.

Sicily’s also offers seafood on Fridays and healthier options, including the biggest salad bar in Houma.

Sicily's Pizza and More

1539 MLK Blvd. Houma 985-262-0159

THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM AT TERREBONNE PARISH LIBRARY FEATURES FREE PERFORMERS, STORY TIMES, SNACKS, CRAFTS, AND PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES. Sign up from May 30 - July 31 at mytpl.org/srp

Terrebonne Parish Library 151 Library Drive, Houma 985-876-5861

THE HOTTEST PLACE FOR THE COOLEST TOYS IS FOUND RIGHT HERE IN HOUMA.

Hi-5 Toys and Candy is a full-service, locally-owned toy and candy store located in Southland Mall. Filled to the brim with both trendy and nostalgic candies to satisfy any sweet tooth, Hi-5 also features freeze dried candies that are locally made.

On the toy side, there's nothing like stepping foot into the largest toy store around. With something for every age group, including those tricky teenagers, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for.

Hi-5 Toys and Candy

Southland Mall, Houma 985-333-4185

MARKET AT THE MARINA IS AN OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKET CO-HOSTED BY TERREBONNE GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUMA DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION THAT PROVIDES A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EXPLORE LOCAL VENDORS WHO PRODUCE FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD AND NON-FOOD HEALTH ITEMS.

Located at the Marina, across from Terrebonne General Health System, the market offers stunning waterfront views and a perfect setting for a fun and interactive shopping experience. Visitors can expect to find an array of locally grown fresh produce, meats, and seafood. The Market is held on the first Saturday of each month.

Market at the Marina Downtown Houma Marina @MarketattheMarina

AT ZACK'S, WE'RE MORE THAN JUST A FROZEN YOGURT SHOP.

Established in 1983, we've spent the last few decades bringing people together in the bayou community through the highest-quality frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelato, speciality milkshakes and more. Located on St. Charles Street in Houma, we're on the move to make things bigger and better with a new location right next door to our current one!

Zack's 1297 St. Charles Street, Houma 985-746-5066

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS FOR THE BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY FISHING RODEO IN TERREBONNE PARISH!

The 15th Annual Bubba Dove Fishing Rodeo will be held June 8-11, hosted by the Gordon Dove, Jr. Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization created in memory of Gordon "Bubba" Dove, Jr. by his friends and family. The Foundation sponsors this annual rodeo in hopes to preserve our fondest memories of Bubba, an avid fisherman, while working toward raising money to fund the foundation's charitable donations. Since our inception in 2009, the Foundation has been able to give more than $390,000 to local charities or to local students through scholarships to support such causes. Rodeo tickets are $30 per ticket.

$1,000 Prize for 1st Place Bull Red, $1,000 for the Biggest Fish Overall. Ticket includes: Rodeo entry fee & Rodeo t-shirt; Entry into door prize drawing (includes a $500 Cash Drawing winner must be present); Food and soft drinks at the rodeo during scale times; Shrimp boil on June 11.

15th Annual Bubba Dove Fishing Rodeo

Falgout Canal Marina www.GordonDoveJr.Foundation

WITH TRUE TO THE BOOT LOUISIANA SPIRITS, BAYOU TERREBONNE DISTILLERY IS A PILLAR IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, HOSTING EVENTS SUCH AS LIVE MUSIC ON THE WEEKENDS, COMEDY NIGHT, TRIVIA NIGHTS, SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS, WRESTLING, KARAOKE AND MORE. This summer, the Distillery will be the place to go for non-stop fun!

Bayou Terrebonne Distillers

8043 W Main St, Houma 985-790-7722

@bayouterrebonnedistillers

LUMINATE HOUMA IS A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE THAT ILLUMINATES THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN HOUMA, EVERY SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. As the sun sets over the bayou from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM, families gather in the Memorial Park between Lumiere Blues & Jazz Bistro and Houma Massage Co. for an enchanting evening of candlelit music, art, and community. Children enjoy the hands-on arts & crafts provided by CASA of Terrebonne and Lumiere. At the same time, parents take in the vibrant creations of local artists from the Bayou Regional Arts Council. With the fantastic sounds of live music floating through the air and bayou, Luminate Houma offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a moment of peace and beauty to savor under the stars. This event wouldn’t be possible without the sponsorship of the Houma Downtown Development Corporation, Lumiere Blues & Jazz Bistro, and Jam Up Marketing.

Luminate Houma

Memorial Park, Houma @LuminateHouma

@luminatehouma

BY TARA MORVANT | PHOTOS BY JASON COHEN

As the weather warms and the daylight stretches longer into the evening, it’s the perfect time to experience the waterways of Louisiana’s Bayou Country from a different perspective. Grab your paddle and enjoy a nice and easy trek around the coastal marshes of PointAux-Chenes and focus on the ecology and southern scenery of our area with PAC Kayak Rentals.

Meet Eddie and Lisa Mullen, owners of PAC Kayak Rentals down in PointAux-Chenes, Louisiana. For years, the Mullens made their living off the land as commercial crabbers, earning themselves a positive reputation amongst locals along the way. One day, as they were unloading from a day of crabbing, they noticed a kayaker fall and skin his elbow on the concrete as he attempted to launch his kayak down a slippery, slanted boat launch – at that moment, an idea crossed Eddie’s mind.

In January 2016, Eddie purchased supplies and built a custom, first-in-thestate floating kayak launch with two bays that allowed kayakers to back their truck up directly to the launch to safely unload. By building the bays level with the dock and including an assistance bar, Eddie wanted to ensure no one else fell and hurt themselves at his launch. “God told me to build it,” Eddie said.

On April 1, 2016, PAC Kayak Rentals welcomed their first customer. Equipped with a bait shop, kayak rentals and a houseboat for rent, business quickly began to boom, ultimately resulting in the Mullens taking on a full-time business and expanding to eight bays in 2019. The ingenuitive couple even developed their own line of mosquito and gnat spray, knowing all too well that they are unavoidable and relentless around water, along with other balms and sunscreens available for purchase in their bait shop.

While PAC Kayak Rentals is open yearround, the best time to paddle along the coast runs from October through May, when the water is shallow and clearer, and you have less chances of running into bad weather. Located in one of the top fishing destinations in the world, PAC Kayak Rentals brings in folks from all over the globe to paddle our distinctive waterways and to discover swamp wildlife around every bend and curve of the marshes.

One visitor, a 14-year-old boy from Jerusalem, was granted the fortunate opportunity to visit anywhere in the world for his birthday. He packed his bags and traveled thousands of miles to Point-Aux-Chenes to fulfill his birthday wish to see the dolphins. “We were truly honored that he wanted to spend his birthday with us,” stated Lisa Mullen when reflecting on the memory. “We planned to bring him out by boat if he didn’t see them while kayaking, but sure enough, he saw the dolphins and his face lit up as he said it was his best birthday!” Others have traveled from France to see the wild horses roaming the waters, some travel from Montana to see a beautiful and serene sunrise over the horizon of the Gulf of Mexico. “We see things every day that we don’t appreciate, and then people visit, and they remind me of how special it is here.”

Today, Eddie and Lisa enjoy sitting on the front porch of their bait shop, cooking up a jambalaya and visiting with their guests. They have two sons and 10 grandchildren who help out when needed and may one day take over the family business, but for now, Eddie and Lisa continue to make waves in the kayak community and look forward to offering the opportunity for others to explore Houma. POV

BY ISABELLE GAREIS PHOTOS PROVIDED

When you have a story to tell, you’re in the midst of a national pandemic, and you’re Jonathan Foret, you write a book. The original story is beautifully illustrated by Alexis Braud, a Cut Off-based professional artist, bringing Jonathan’s story to life in the pages of The Fly that Flew Off the Handle.

Jonathan, who is also the Executive Director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, is proud to present his newly published children’s book, The Fly that Flew Off the Handle. “The story is about a little fly named Lester who feels angry a lot, but doesn’t quite know why or what to do about it,” explained the author. After a long journey of trying and failing to feel better, Lester meets a little butterfly Seymour who helps him figure out what’s wrong by asking him two simple questions: “What makes you angry?” and “what makes you happy?” Maybe the little fly Lester was just landing on the wrong surfaces this whole time!

“The book was inspired by my time serving in the Peace Corps from 2004-2006. There were lots and lots of flies where I lived and they made me very upset!” laughed Jonathan. “So the idea for the book was born. This has been in the works for years— I kept imagining an angry fly as a character who was trying to be happy.” Jonathan went on to discuss how his main character was inspired by the “journey of the hero” displayed in other famous works, such as Joseph Campbell’s work in comparative mythology and George Lucas’s “Star Wars” series. “If you read the book through that lens, you can see that this little fly in a children’s book is similar to a character like Luke Skywalker. He meets different characters, eventually finding one who helps him along his way. It’s a hero’s journey,” he said. “However, I want to mention that I couldn’t have brought this book to life without the beautiful illustrations of Alexis Braud.”

Alexis is a children’s book author, illustrator, and Nicholls

State University graduate with a BA in Art and a focus in painting and sculpting. Alexis finds inspiration for her work in the characters, critters, and inherent mysteries of the bayous, swamps, and marshes she calls home…her paintings capture the characters of her home state in their animal guises filled with all the mysterious energy, beauty, and curiosity of the wild. “The most wonderful part of working on this book was collaborating with an author who respected my work,” explained Alexis. “Jonathan gave me the time and space to not only illustrate his words, but contribute to the story. This book was a mid-COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida undertaking, so we both faced many challenges and trials through those years. Somehow, Jonathan kept us afloat and the bugs played on! Any book is a collaborative product, and I could not be happier with what Jonathan and I have created.”

The pair unveiled the first 100 printed copies of The Fly that Flew Off the Handle at the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center’s Ladybug Ball on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The book will be available for purchase soon, so everyone can enjoy the little fly Lester’s inspiring journey and have a beautiful piece of southern Louisiana in their homes! POV

Whether recovering from a stroke, fall, or other medical condition, our customized rehab program helps you recover quickly so you can get back home. If you’re getting ready for long-term living, we make the transition from home to our community as rewarding as possible. A variety of spacious resident suites offer the ultimate in privacy and comfort.

THE OBSERVER | BY JAIME DISHMAN