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Fighting Back NOVEMBER 2020 | VOL. 14 • ISSUE 11 | POVHOUMA.COM
CONTENTS |
NOVEMBER 2020 • VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 11
CONT HOME + LIVING
FOOD + FUN
Page 12
MIND + BODY
Page 36
12 CHATEAU CHIC
Casual and Comfortable in the Country
18 THE OBSERVER Consider the Heavens
Page 46
36 FIGHTING BACK
46 FALLEN HERO
42 BON APPETIT
52 WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE
Lt. Valerie Martinez-Jordan fights against domestic abuse.
Thankful for Slow Cookers
The Robert L. Barrios Jr. Foundation
American Diabetes Month
22 HOMETOWN HERO: MILITARY
28 HOMETOWN HERO: HEALTHCARE
24 HOMETOWN HERO: POLICE
30 HOMETOWN HERO: FIRST RESPONDER
C.J. Christ
Deputy Melanie Leblanc
The Staff of The Homestead Assisted Living
26 HOMETOWN HERO: VOLUNTEER Lawrence Dehart
November 2020 2 povhouma.com
Nathan Richard
ENTS EXTRAS
ON THE COVER
WORD, YA HEARD
BENEFIC buh-NEF-ik adjective producing good or helpful results or effects
WORD ON THE STREET Jane knew that reviewing the material one more time before the final would be benefic. It’s benefic to extend kindness to coworkers.
06 EDITOR’S NOTE Honoring Our Heroes
08 INTERVUE
Somber. Stoic. Sincere. Photo: Keely Diebold
Say What?
SNAP 34 OH Burning Fields 46 UNDER THE SCOPE Fowl Play
48 RENDEZVOUS
Where you need to be around town
50 LOOK TWICE
Sponsored by Synergy Bank
November 2020 3 povhouma.com
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Keely Diebold Misty Leigh McElroy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Keely Diebold Jaime Dishman I’m so sorry John Doucet turkey, but it’s all the Jennifer Hunter hamway! Bonnie Rushing CONTACT
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Business address: Rushing Media, P.O. Box 5013, Houma, LA 70361 • 985.868.7515 Point of Vue magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material such as manuscripts or photographs, with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. The opinions expressed in Point of Vue magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Rushing Media, our employees or any of our advertisers. No employee or family member(s) of employees of Rushing Media are permitted to partake in any contests, giveaways or sweepstakes.
November 2020 4 povhouma.com
YOUR CANCER EXPERTS
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Learn more about strength from within or schedule an appointment at MBPTGMC.org/strength or call (985) 876-9045.
EDITOR’S NOTE |
MARY DOWNER DITCH • EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF POV
HONORING OUR HEROES What is a hero? In past years, I have included the dictionary definition of this word. This year, it weighs a little stronger on my heart, reaching for emotions not conveyed by a simple definition.
We also introduce you to two more local heroes within the pages of the magazine. You may need to grab your tissue for these stories.
While we typically use this issue to recognize the heroes that serve us in segments such as the military or the police force. This year, we added two new categories where we feel heroes serve as well: Health Care and Volunteers. With the novel coronavirus sweeping across our country, our health care systems were at the forefront of the battle. Doctors, nurses, therapists, down to the service and janitorial staff of our hospitals were pushed to the edge as health care systems were forced to adapt to ensure the safety of our communities. Volunteers have come forward as well to serve selflessly to ensure our community never went without. From making sure our health care workers were properly fed, to bringing supplies to hurricane ravaged areas, individuals in our community have become heroes to those in need. In our third annual Honoring our Heroes issue, we recognize those hometown heroes with a special section dedicated to them, selected from nominations by you, our readers. In these five profiles, we honor our military, police, fire, healthcare and volunteer heroes. Take a look at the advertisers featured on these pages that support our hometown heroes and please give them your support in return.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Valerie Martinez-Jordan never set out to become a hero. Recently featured on the Today show in October, she is making waves nationwide for her work fighting domestic violence through laws that are taking guns out of the hands and homes of abusers. A survivor herself of physical and sexual abuse from her father, and domestic violence at the hands of her ex-husband, Valerie uses her personal story to push herself to make a difference in the lives of the women and families in Lafourche Parish and beyond. We recognize our second hero posthumously. Sergeant First Class Robert “Bobby” Barrios Jr. returned home from 12 years of service in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret, only to take his own life one year later. Not wanting his death or his story to be in vain, a group of Bobby’s close friends formed the Robert L. Barrios Jr. Foundation in August of 2019. The Foundation’s goal is to bring awareness to the community about suicide and also provide college scholarships to Terrebonne High School students. There are so many more heroes in our communities than we could ever honor within the pages of a single issue. We hope to provide you with a snapshot of the brave men and women who step up each day to protect us. For your service and the service of others like you, we recognize, honor and salute you. POV
November 2020 6 povhouma.com
peace of mind.
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We would like to welcome Dr. Aubrey Orgeron III to the team. Whether you’re seeking help for depression, anxiety, a failing relationship disorder, Dr. Blanchard and Dr. Orgeron are here to help you through the process.
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INTERVUE |
SAY WHAT?
Who is your hero and why?
CHARLEY My Hero is my Grandmother Linda Fredieu Butts. She grew up poor in Central Louisiana and owned 2 pairs of shoes when she left home. She built an amazing, beautiful life and thriving commercial real estate appraisal business with my Grandfather who is my other hero. Throughout her life she learned how to do many things out of her own sheer will to. She is a fighter, she has taught me to be a fighter and never stop pursuing your dreams and a better life. She tells me life is too short and to eat the dessert and that God always has a plan. She reminds me of who I am even when I seem to forget. Out of all the things that are built to keep women down she has risen above it and demanded respect and she gets it. My grandparents have taught me to be kind to everyone, to share with others when I have been blessed and that a helping hand and smile goes a long way. I’m proud to be my grandparents’ granddaughter and to have the morals and the values they instilled in me. I would not be who I am today without both of them. They have built the American Dream and helped everyone along the way. That’s a hero and that’s what being an American is about.
HAYES I’d have to say my hero is my son Hayden. There is no one I look up to more other than “MY UNCLE MIKE”. Hayden is already my hero and I know he’s destined for great and amazing things.
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JONI My hero is my dad. He’s that hardworking man who has passed on my strong work ethic and many other important life lessons, but he’s also the answer to every question I have. The first place I turn when I need guidance or help. I know he’s there to rescue me anytime I need him.
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I would say my heroes are my parents. Growing up an only child, they always supported and encouraged me to do my best. They set a great example and showed me that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything. I am forever grateful!
November 2020 8 povhouma.com
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HOME + LIVING
CHATEAU CHIC | 12
Casual and Comfortable in the Country
THE OBSERVER | 18 Consider the Heavens
November 2020 10 povhouma.com
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HOME + LIVING |
CHATEAU CHIC
CASUAL AND COMFORTABLE IN THE COUNTRY BY BONNIE RUSHING | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY
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Having cattle in the country for years, Britt and Lacee Cavalier dreamt of having a home in the county as well. Earlier this year, that dream became reality for this young family of five. Admiring the home since he was a child, Britt was thrilled when he got a call from the former owners. “When we first walked through the house we immediately fell in love. The house had good bones!” Lacee explains. Sharing a vision of what
the house could become, Britt and Lacee decided to sell their home in the city and transform the home into the modern farmhouse of their dreams. “Overall this has been an amazing experience for our family,” Lacee shares. After purchasing the home in March of this year, they began a smooth, three month renovation in April and moved in this July. The removal of wallpaper and a consistent, airy color
November 2020 12 povhouma.com
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palette throughout made the 5,037 square foot home feel even larger. Sourcing materials from local vendors such as Dishman Flooring and Valley Supply, all of the flooring was updated throughout, the master bathroom was completely renovated and all of the lighting was changed as well. In the heart of this country home is the kitchen. By enlarging the entrance from the kitchen to living room and adding a brick archway, the kitchen is warm and welcoming. “My favorite room in our home is our kitchen! I love how spacious it is. It makes it so comfortable to entertain!” Lacee says. Spacious enough for a built in desk for the kids to do their homework while Lacee and Britt cook dinner as well as a dining table and a large island, it’s easy to see why the family spends most of their time in this room.
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With three young children, Rowan, Lucy and Rush, Lacee tried to keep everything in their home practical. She enlisted the help of her friend Lauren Larpenter with Lovely Spaces by Lauren for interior decor and Todd Bryan for seasonal decor. From adding a mudroom at the back entry to banning breakables, the Cavaliers keep things casual and comfortable. POV
No. 1 Kitchen No. 2 Entry No. 3 Stairwell No. 4 Living Room No. 5-7 Detail No. 8 Cattle No. 9 Coffee Cupboard No. 10 Dine in Kitchen See more photos and pre-renovation photos online at povhouma.com.
1539 MLK Blvd • Houma 985.851.1559 Mon - Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-4 (Closed Sundays) November 2020 17 povhouma.com
THE OBSERVER |
BY JAIME DISHMAN
CONSIDER THE
HEAVENS I slept under the stars for two nights. The stars shone brighter than I remembered. It’s been years since I spent the night under the canopy of stars, with moonlight and stars providing the nightlight. But with cooler weather, one of my sons convinced me to give it a try. We have hammocks, he said. They even have nets, he said.
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So we zippered up in our netted hammocks (because even in cooler weather, South Louisiana has mosquitoes that will carry you away.) It felt loud and quiet all at the same time. Like nature whispers and shouts, and you wonder how you’ve missed it all for so long. Our hammocks swung over the water. Owls hooted throughout the night. Boats passed, and waves lapped against the boat dock. Brown pelicans played some kind of night time game that sometimes sounded like a screaming match between wild animals. But the last bright light I saw before my eyes finally closed for the night was the light of a thousand stars and the beam of the moon. I realized then what my nights have often become. It’s an image on a screen that usually gives me my final light for the day. A quick read of an email or a scroll through social media. My eyes shut with someone else’s life being last on my mind. But under the stars, with no phone, my mind rested. My soul stirred. I remembered to “consider the heavens” and contemplate their maker. How had I forgotten how simple it could all truly be? I read similar words in the words on the page of a book: “…the practice of reminding ourselves he is the creator of everything we love will be a rescue of our faith,” says John Eldredge in “Get Your Life Back.” Under the stars and undistracted, I knew I needed more than my life back. My soul needed rescuing as well. Because it felt undone. Tired. Worn out. Close to giving up the faith. This “blistering pace of life” as Eldredge phrases it has worn me thinner than I care to admit. But the stars didn’t ask anything of me. Only gave me their light by which to spend the night. The moon beamed and it reminded me of all the good things I love. I was in the place I call “my favorite place on this side of heaven.” Other people call it Cocodrie, but I call it paradise. So when the second night came, and my son asked if I wanted to sleep out November 2020 18 povhouma.com
Celebrating
The second night went much the same as the first. I tried counting stars, only to remember it’s impossible. I saw the moon rise over the horizon, slowly creeping from the edges of the earth to the center of the sky. I didn’t mind the screaming of the birds over the water, and even the passing of the boats seemed a little more like nighttime magic than ordinary noise. And the night went quiet. My soul fell still, and the beauty that surrounded me still put on a show even when my eyelids could no longer remain open to see its glory. The beauty all around us is always there, it’s simply our job to look. POV
40
YEARS
there again, I was all in. By this point, people started thinking I was losing my mind. My mom asked why. My other kids rolled their eyes. But I knew I needed to be reminded of the creator who creates. And I needed to be reminded of a faith that once shone bright as the stars, but lately feels as lackluster as my worn-out soul.
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THANKFUL FOR OUR HEALTHCARE HEROES
Even in uncertain times, the one true constant has always been our team at Terrebonne General Medical Center. These Healthcare Heroes have gone above and beyond the call this year, showing their true mettle through the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud to call these individuals the TGMC family. For over 65 years, we have had the great honor of caring for the bayou region, and we look forward to with hope, the many years to come.
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While “hero� is the word given to figures such as Hercules or Achilles, a hero to us is someone just a little more humble than that. A hero is an individual of service, to his country or his community. A hero is someone who believes in, defends and fights for our rights and freedoms. A hero is someone who often times puts the lives of others before his or her own. A hero is someone to whom we owe a debt of gratitude, but for one reason or another, we might never have the chance. A hero could be the person standing next to you right now, an every day person who was in the right place at the right time.
MILITARY
C.J. CHRIST A IR FO RC E, KO R E N WAR BY KEELY DIEBOLD | PHOTO SUBMITTED
Koren War veteran C.J. Christ doesn’t like to ma community and has continued to grow consider himself a hero. through the addition of various expansions over the years. To the Houma community, though, the former Air Force pilot has played a vital role in C.J.’s preservation of history hasn’t stopped preserving the history of World War II as it with the Regional Military Museum, though, and his passion for war history began long relates to South Louisiana. before the museum opened its doors. Now serving as its President Emeritus, C.J. was a founder of the Regional Military Mu- Born in the small farming town of Mowata, seum on Barrow St.—one of many manifes- La., where the only buildings in sight were a church and a grocery store, C.J. developed tations of his deep love of war history. a love of airplanes from an early age. As a “When you study WWII in Houma and in Terchild, he says that and his brother would rebonne Parish...There was nothing written build airplane models together. about it that I could find any place, so when I started finding things about WWII in the Gulf When C.J. was 14, Mowata became part of of Mexico, and I started doing more and more the United State’s WWII civilian Observer research, then the idea was that, when we Corps, so the owner of the town’s grocery gather all this information, we need a place store built a 15-foot watch stand to watch for to put it permanently,” C.J. says. aircraft. The only avid airplane lover in the town, 14-year-old C.J. was chosen to lead the Several decades ago, C.J., began gathering town’s corps, select its members and use the what now totals 174,000 pages of authentic town’s only phone to report aircraft sightings. WWII documents from the National Archives in Washington D.C., including logs from Ger- “There was an armband that you wore if you man u-boats. were a member of that organization, and of course, being in charge of that organization, With such a high volume of records, C.J. I would brag all the way to school and back,” knew an expansive location was needed to C.J. says. “When I got on that telephone and store such important documents. With the said ‘war emergency alert,’ everybody had to help of other community members, buildget off the phone. Talk about a big wheel.” ings were secured, and the museum would become a reality. C.J. went on to participate in two years of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) during The museum has become a staple of the HouWWII in high school before continuing with November 2020 22 povhouma.com
his ROTC involvement in college at what was formerly Lake Charles Junior College. When he was in medical school at LSU, he encountered Air Force recruiters and decided to enlist to learn how to fly a plane. To his surprise, and the surprise of his superiors, the Korean War would begin a few months later. “They told us in the auditorium, ‘We don’t even need half of you. In sixth months, half of you will be washed out of the program’... and then a war started, and then they had to have us all,” C.J. laughs. It’s been a lifetime since C.J.’s service in the Air Force, but his passion for war history has lived on through years of researching, studying and reading about wars. That passion even translated into authorship of two books: one detailing the history of the Gulf of Mexico in WWII through newspaper articles written by C.J., and an upcoming one detailing 1,582 summaries of sinkings of boats in the Gulf of Mexico. Above all, C.J. loves his work with the Regional Military Museum and welcomes the opportunity to keep history alive for future generations. “I think it’s something that needs to be done, something the community needed...It’s a niche of its own,” C.J. says. “I enjoy it.” POV
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POLICE
DEPUTY MELANIE LEBLANC
S A F E T Y VILLE C O O RDIN ATO R; LAFOUR CH E PAR ISH SH E R IFF’S OFFICE BY JENNIFER HUNTER | PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Most people can recall at least one childhood hero who inspired them. Maybe it was a character in a favorite book or movie or someone in real life, like a teacher or a firefighter. Heroes can come from many walks of life, but their effect on us is usually universal in this way: they make us want to be better and do better. Melanie LeBlanc certainly seems to have this same effect on the lives of those she reaches. As a deputy with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office for the past 18 years, she has been able to positively impact the lives of thousands of children through her work as a school resource officer, with the D.A.R.E. program, and in her current position as Safetyville Coordinator at the Bayou Country Children’s Museum in Thibodaux. The Safetyville program is a special partnership between the sheriff’s office and the children’s museum. Through it, Deputy Mel, as she is fondly known, teaches daily lessons to children at the
museum on a variety of topics related to staying safe in emergency situations. The partnership, in her words, “gives children the chance to see a police officer as a friend, someone who cares and wants to help them.” “Deputy Mel’s superpower is that she makes you feel so comfortable,” says Marcus Lawson, Business and Development Manager at the museum. He says her nurturing ways are like those of a mother. “She’s everything that a child could want in someone to look up to.” Deputy Mel brings this warmth and love of children to each lesson she teaches, whether it be a colorful puppet show for toddlers on the dangers of touching things that are hot or a more in-depth presentation on weather safety for school-age kids. “Although some of the topics she tackles are very serious like how to call 911 or interacting with strangers, Deputy Mel creates a safe environment for both parents and children. The kids and families November 2020 24 povhouma.com
love Deputy Mel and we do too!” said Arianna Mace, the museum’s director. LeBlanc says she has never viewed herself as a hero but says thinking back on the things she has done in her career has made her reconsider her definition of a hero. She recalled a time when she was working with the D.A.R.E. program, teaching kids about calling 9-1-1, and one of her students, a 5-year-old girl, found her mom unconscious and called 9-1-1, which ended up saving her life. When asked how she knew what to do, the little girl said, “Deputy Mel taught me what to do.” “That’s what it’s all about,” says LeBlanc, reflecting on the value of what she does. A hero doesn’t always have to be that person we naturally think of who goes out on the front lines of an emergency. It can be someone like herself in the background, empowering children with information that could one day save lives. POV
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VOLUNTEERS
LAWRENCE DEHART
TER R EB O N N E C H UR C H E S U NI T E D F O O D BANK BY DREW MILLER | PHOTOS SUBMITTED
For a food bank that serves 1.2 million pounds of food to 10,500 people in a year, at any given day, challenges can arise. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 brought a new set of challenges for Terrebonne Churches United (TCU) Food Bank and its Executive Director, Lawrence DeHart.
The organization switched to a drive-through distribution system and began giving out packages of food that could last a family 30 days -- a new system Lawrence and his managers had to come up with within just two days. “We got four hours of sleep in 48 hours,” Lawrence remembers.
“This year has been unreal,” Lawrence shares. “Year to date, we have served 16,000 people and have handed out $1.7 of food and are on pace to cross the 19,000-mark [of people served] and hand out 2 million pounds of found.”
Needing some extra hands, members of the National Guard and Air Force also assist the food bank with the distribution.
Lawrence and his team not only had to find additional revenue for the food bank, which had a major uptick in demand as the pandemic affected the local economy, but they also had to replace 70 percent of their volunteers -- many of which are age 60-plus and decided to sit out over concerns of catching the virus. Additionally, due to COVID restrictions and not wanting to spread the virus, the lobby of the facility had to close – which is no small feat as each distribution session sees anywhere from 25 to 40 families. Nonetheless, the TCU Food Bank overcame those challenges to serve the people of Terrebonne Parish.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is the fact that we never closed. We never shut down any one of our 19 programs,” Lawrence expresses. “We came up with a very safe way to where none of our volunteers come in direct contact with a client.” The director also notes that the TCU Food Bank also added a program that delivers food to COVID-19 positive individuals so they don’t go searching for food and expose other people and supplies the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness during emergencies, which saw plenty of action this year due to the many tropical storm threats. Because of their high risks of exposure, Lawrence and his staff and volunteers all had to make sacrifices in their personal lives. “In the middle of all of this, we could not see November 2020 26 povhouma.com
anyone outside of our families because of our high-exposure rates,” he shares. “I’m a brand new grandfather for the first time. And for the first six months, I never got to hold my grandbaby. We have more than a few stories just like that...Everyone who volunteered here had to make a very conscious decision; they paid the price with stuff like that.” He’s also very proud of the fact through all of this, the food bank hasn’t had one volunteer, staff member or client that has had interaction or contact with COVID, he says. Everyone involved with the TCU Food Bank, including the members of the military, all became close and like family through the pandemic, Lawrence shares. Lawrence says anyone wishing to make a donation can do so through tcufoodbank. org and volunteers are still needed. “We love this community. We love the people we serve. We are honored and blessed,” he adds. “Anybody who volunteers here, I promise you with every fiber of my body, your life will be forever changed and you know you’re making a difference because we’re here for Terrebonne Parish. We’re not just giving a handout; we’re giving a handup...We’re there for them. We’re there to help them.” POV
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HEALTHCARE
THE STAFF
TH E H O MEST E AD AS S I S T E D LI V I NG BY MARY DITCH | PHOTO SUBMITTED
The coronavirus hit Terrebonne Parish this spring fast and furious. Within a few weeks of the first case being recorded, schools were closed and shortly after, our state went into lockdown. For the residents of The Homestead Assisted Living, their quarantine began on March 11, 2020. As harsh as it might seem to some, the fifty-six residents of The Homestead were protected. The facility has yet to report a single case of coronavirus. “For the health and safety of our residents and our staff, we made the decision to lockdown the facility to outside visitors on March 11,” shared Rusty Talbot, Director of Marketing and Admissions. “This meant no more visitation in the building, along with temperature and pulse ox checks on our residents every day.” The entire staff at The Homestead stepped up and started working extended days, extended hours, making sure the residents were taken care of in the building. If a family needed to send something, it went to a front office where it was sanitized before being delivered to the resident. All visitation was done over FaceTime or through windows. The staff had to get creative on how they were going to do activities for residents. They called bingo over the loudspeaker to residents as they sat with a mask on their face in the hallway. They hosted an ice cream sundae
cart on Fridays where they gave resident a bowl of ice cream and choices of toppings. “For the first couple of months we passed what we called our hospitality cart, which is like the stewardess on the airplane where daily, we would walk around the building, room to room, with snacks and toilet paper and paper towels and other toiletries that they needed,” shared Rusty. “Some of our staff incorporated a few personal touches as well. One staff member, when she delivers meals, she plays gospel music on the cart to brighten their day. She’s not just here to deliver your meal; she’s singing to them and doing extra stuff for them.” It was a huge transition for their staff. According to Rusty, the staff really had to self-quarantine as well when not at work, to aid in keeping COVID out of the building. Oftentimes, they were forced to even be away from their own families, to continue to care for their newfound family back at work. “I can’t say enough for the morale in the building during these trying times. Everyone has stayed upbeat for our residents,” shared Rusty. “In a sense, we become their only family. You know, we are the people that all of the residents see every day. The staff really stepped up, setting the bar a little bit higher and going that extra mile. We’ve not only become their caretakers, but their family.”
November 2020 28 povhouma.com
Raising that bar also raised a few hairs! With their usual hairdresser unable to visit the facility, the activities director and Rusty stepped up and helped residents with hair washing and drying. Rusty laughs, recalling their efforts at curling and styling, but was proud to report their residents were happy with the outcomes. The “family” at The Homestead went one step further to help their residents connect with their real families again. The staff organized a drive-through parade where families decorated their vehicles and drove in front of the building. Each resident was allowed to come outside and visit with their loved ones through the car windows. The staff rose to the occasion, making sure each resident was ready and waiting in the wings to be brought outside to their awaiting family. The management team at The Homestead struggled to find the words to express what their staff meant to them during these challenging times. “I want to say thank you,” said BJ Jennings, Administrator. “We are filled with gratitude because they are the heart and soul of what we do here. We literally can’t do it without them. We can’t find the right word or enough words to properly spread the gratitude that we have.” POV
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To Thibodaux Volunteer Firefighter Nathan Richard, the word “hero” is defined by those who have given their lives in the line of duty. That’s why Nathan has dedicated his service with the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department, which now spans over 20 years, to those heroes. “At the end of the day, the heroes are the ones who didn’t make it home. Those guys are the heroes. What I do is just something to thank them for their service. They died for our country, our community. It’s the least I can do,” Nathan says. “One thing I do every morning is I climb stairs to honor the line-of-duty deaths in our country or the first responders who died on 9/11.” A native of Thibodaux, Nathan says his family always emphasized the importance of helping others when he was growing up. That sentiment, coupled with the presence of uncles who were first responders, led him to become a volunteer firefighter when he turned 18. What Nathan found through volunteer fire service was a brotherhood dedicated to a common cause. “People from all over the world have your back. It’s really cool. To serve your community is another great thing. There are
so many bad things that are happening in the world...and to do good is pretty good,” Nathan says. “Our [fire] company motto is… ‘Deeds not words,’ and I kind of ingrained that into my head as a firefighter.” The department’s oath to protect its community extends beyond only fighting fires, Nathan says. Nathan and his company participate in salvage work for broken hot water units at homes and distribute smoke alarms to the community. In addition, they spearhead training for new firefighters and offer scholarships through the Student Firefighter Association at Nicholls State University.
of Cuvée Wine Bar & Bistro in Thibodaux and has earned the titles of both the King of Louisiana Seafood and King of American Seafood in his career. “I sleep fast,” Nathan laughs. “You’re only as good as your team, so if I don’t have the team and the support of a great restaurant, then I can’t do what I do, so I have to put a lot of trust and a lot of faith in the people that I have.” Though he does not see himself as a hero, Nathan recently received recognition from the Louisiana House of Representatives for his efforts as a first responder - an honor that he says came as a “complete shock.”
Over the last few months, the TVFD has distributed masks to community members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and engaged in disaster relief efforts for those affected by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Nathan says it has been an joy to serve the community in which he grew up and to see that community come together in support of the TVFD through fundraisers like the Thibodaux Fireman’s Festival.
Though it was unable to visit schools this year due to COVID-19, the department traditionally participates in National Fire Prevention month in October, educating schoolchildren on proper responses to fires.
At the end of the day, he says the most rewarding part of his service is coming home every day.
For Nathan, being a volunteer firefighter includes balancing his service with his work in the culinary industry. Nathan is the executive chef and general manager
November 2020 30 povhouma.com
“One is coming home, and second is just making a difference in our community,” Nathan says. “Unfortunately, as a firefighter, when we get called out, it could be somebody’s worst day. To do what we can to stop it, to prevent it, is amazing.” POV
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FIGHTING BACK | 36 Lt. Valerie Martinez-Jordan fights against domestic abuse.
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FIGHTING
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STORY & PHOTOS BY KEELY DIEBOLD Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Valerie Martinez-Jordan says she had no intention of becoming a police officer in her younger days. Now, she is making waves nationwide for her work fighting domestic violence through laws that are taking guns out of the hands and homes of abusers. However, the Colorado native does not see herself as a hero. “I’m nothing special....I don’t even feel like it’s above and beyond. I just feel like this is my role. This is my job,” Valerie says. “I want to leave the world a little better than when I found it. It’s all I want to do.” As the avid animal lover was pursuing a law enforcement certification to become a game warden in Colorado, Valerie says that law enforcement “found her.” “I met an elderly gentleman. He was just sitting in a chair at a disturbance, and everybody was talking to the family, and they were yelling and screaming...so I went over and talked to him, and somebody passed a comment [that] he was old, he was stupid. Pretty much being demeaning toward him, so I went over and told him hello,” Valerie says. “There was a call that they wanted to commend the officer that took the time to extend courtesies to an old man that had kind of just been ignored...If I could just make a difference smiling and saying hello to just one elderly person, then maybe there’s just a little bit something more to policing.” When Valerie finished her training at the academy, she returned home and obtained a job with the local sheriff’s office, officially beginning her law enforcement career.
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Her life would then take a turn, though, that would set her on a course toward her advocacy for victims of domestic violence. Throughout her childhood, Valerie was a victim of both physical and sexual abuse at the hand of her biological father. She disclosed the horrors to her boyfriend at the time, telling him that the way to help her was to get her out of her home. On the day she graduated from high school, Valerie moved out of her home, married her boyfriend and never returned. The horrors did not end there, though. “My knight in shining armor became my monster,” Valerie says. “There were red flag indicators now that I look back.” Valerie says her then-husband began exhibiting violent and controlling behaviors, including anger issues, aggression and criminal damage to property. His behavior worsened as she became involved in law enforcement, growing jealous of the male law enforcement officers with whom she worked. When Valerie would return from her secondary part-time job, he accused her of lying about her whereabouts. The abuse reached a peak when he pushed Valerie down and began beating and punching her, hitting her in the chest so hard that she damaged her sternum.
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Valerie says that her youngest daughter Anaya, who was three years old at the time,
“We should be so disgusted by the act that we should be thankful when a victim, male or female, is willing to disclose. Never remain silent when it comes to abuse. Speak out. Speak up. Be there. Support [victims]. Empower them.” - Valerie Martinez-Jordan
tried to help her, but her then-husband shoved Anaya as well, causing her to step on a piece of glass and begin bleeding. Valerie managed to fight him off of her, crawling over to protect her daughter. He then began to threaten Valerie with the broken head of a ceramic eagle. “I told him the words, ‘You don’t have to kill me because you already did,’” Valerie says. Valerie says he used the eagle head to bust the windows of her car, knowing she would be unable to flee in the winters of Colorado with her two daughters with broken car windows. Valerie called a friend in law enforcement who was on duty for help. Her thenhusband was found, arrested and later
convicted of his crimes. In the meantime, Valerie obtained protective orders and a divorce. Her abusive ex-husband moved away, and roughly a year later, Valerie met the man who would become her second husband. However, her first ex-husband returned and attacked Valerie in the presence of her second husband. When he began stalking Valerie and violating the protective order, Valerie knew she needed to leave Colorado for good. Valerie’s second husband was originally from Louisiana, so the pair left with Valerie’s daughters and arrived in Louisiana in 2001. One month later, Valerie was hired by November 2020 38 povhouma.com
LPSO. Only a few years later, tragedy would again strike in her life. In 2005, Valerie’s niece Phenia moved to Louisiana to live with Valerie and her husband. Valerie says her niece had been struggling with getting into fights, finding herself in youth detention and engaging with drugs. When she became of age, Phenia moved back to Colorado, due for her first child in January of 2015. Phenia’s boyfriend stabbed her to death, killing the baby as well. Her family buried them both on the baby’s due date. “I promised her when we buried her that I would honor her, and I would not let her death be in vain,” Valerie says.
And Phenia’s death would not be in vain, as Valerie began working with Sheriff Craig Webre toward getting laws passed in Louisiana that would remove guns from the hands of abusers. LPSO began dissecting the numbers for domestic homicides in Louisiana and discovered that firearms played a substantial role in such cases. However, no action was being taken to combat such violence. “In 2009, we knew that we didn’t have state laws. We only had federal prohibition, so that meant we had to partner with ATF, so ATF came in and we kind of devised a process, and we started just doing notifications on behalf of ATF, partnering with them,” Valerie says. When a gun was involved with a case, LPSO officers would arrive at the scene with ATF agents, informing perpetrators of the laws and offering them a chance to surrender. ATF would investigate and forcefully remove perpetrators if needed.
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In 2013, a quadruple homicide in Terrebonne and Lafourche launched advancements surrounding the necessity of state prohibition, which was obtained. The official legislation prohibited the possession of firearms following a qualifying protective order or conviction for abuse, allowing firearm possession to be monitored at a local level. Valerie then pushed for additional laws enabling a state-mandated divestiture process, which were passed as well. Within the first few years, over 200 firearms were removed from the hands of people with convictions or qualifying orders against them. “We developed the state program, and we traveled the entire state and trained hundreds upon hundreds of people on the mandatory divestiture process, the prohibitions, the laws, the ins and outs and how they work, so it’s just been a long process,” Valerie says. Valerie, who began her role with LPSO’s domestic violence unit in 2008, says that the work she has done has all been fueled by the need to help victims of domestic
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violence. The unit has gone above and beyond, escorting victims to doctors appointments and court dates, as well as arranging daycare efforts for children of victims for their court dates. Valerie is proud of the waves that LPSO, based out of a small town in a small parish in Louisiana, has been able to make on a national level. She sees opportunity for the parish’s efforts to be replicated on a national scale.
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“If we can help this many people, 1,200 victims out of this office, imagine what we could do if people would expand upon our program to other agencies,” Valerie says. “If Lafourche Parish in little old Thibodaux can do this, so could they...We pride ourselves on being a bridge, not an island...We’re willing to share and help foster and nurture other programs and replicate what we have. We are proving that it can be done, and it should be done.” Today, Valerie describes herself as a “homebody” who is also in school full time with the hopes of traveling and aiding in creating and developing programs nationwide. She married her third husband in 2013 and says she enjoys doing repurposing projects in her free time.
both gone on to serve in law enforcement themselves. Anaya’s area is corrections, whereas Ayanna is on patrol. When Anaya first told Valerie that she had intentions of applying for the sheriff’s office, Valerie says it “crushed her,” as she knew firsthand what her daughter would have to experience. Nonetheless, Valerie is undoubtedly proud of her daughters and their commitment to being the best they can be at their jobs. “You treat everybody with respect, you treat everybody fairly and you take pride in your job, no matter what it is you’re doing - if you’re roofing a house or if you’re the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company, Valerie says. “You do your job as if it is the most important job in the world, and I’ve always held on to that, and I told that to my daughters, too. If there is anything that she wants victims of domestic violence to know, it’s that speaking up and acknowledging one’s victimization should not be embarrassing. If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who is or may be a victim, please report to Valerie at LPSO at 985-4494479. POV
Her daughters, Ayanna and Anaya, have November 2020 40 povhouma.com
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THANKFUL FOR SLOW COOKERS Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that is centered around the meal. Sure, we say it’s about family or even football, but it’s really about the food we serve. It’s one of my most favorite holiday meals. Turkey, ham, those delicious veggies, pies…. Seriously, I love this holiday!
What I don’t love is being stuck in the kitchen! This super easy stuffing has a little bit of prep work involved, but most of the time the dish is cooking in the slow cooker! A little bit sweet, a little bit savory, this stuffing will have your family convinced you spent your entire morning in the kitchen.
SLOW COOKER CRANBERRY PECAN STUFFING Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 2. Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place into the oven
and bake until crisp and golden, about 4-5 minutes; set aside and let cool. 3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add leek, celery,
carrots, sage and thyme. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-4 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add Italian sausage and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks; drain excess fat.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in cranberries, pecan halves, chicken stock, butter
and bread cubes until well combined. 5. Place the bread mixture into a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for
3-4 hours. 6. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired. November 2020 42 povhouma.com
Ingredients • 1 (12-count) package King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Dinner Rolls, cubed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 leek, thinly sliced • 2 stalks celery, diced • 2 carrots, peeled and diced • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries • 1/2 cup raw pecan halves • 2 cups chicken stock, or more, as needed
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• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
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Houma native Robert “Bobby” Barrios Jr. was a sportsman, scholar, patriot -- and hero. For his closest nine friends, known simply as “The Guys,” he was also the glue that kept them together. Though, even after taking his own life in 2019, he is still finding a way to keep the group together, as they continue his legacy through a foundation aligned with Bobby’s lifelong mission: helping and protecting others. A 2005 graduate of Terrebonne High School, Bobby excelled in school, taking honors courses, and also enjoyed athletics, playing basketball and football during his time at Terrebonne as well. But the true calling for Bobby, even from a young age, was to serve his country. “When he wasn’t hanging out with us or working, he could be found training for the Army,” says one of The Guys, Bobby Rock. “He would often run to and from high school. He was very determined.” Two days after he turned 18 years old, Bobby enlisted in the U.S. Army, with a goal to become a Green Beret, the special
forces division in the Army. Not an easy feat, the young soldier had to go through an array of rigorous training to achieve the prestigious title. “He had an unmatched discipline about him with almost anything he did in life,” Rock says. Bobby’s military career, during which his specialties were sniper and intel, took him around the world, including being stationed in Japan, Australia, Germany and England, among other foreign lands, and he served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I would say that he was very excited in the beginning because of the unknown and what was to come was to come. I know that there were a lot of current events going on in the world at the time that probably made him persuade a career in the Army a little bit more,” another longtime friend of Bobby’s and one of The Guys, Brady LeBoeuf recalls. “He was really excited to serve.” Although his service led him to be away from home for months, sometimes years, at a time, when he would come back and hang out with The Guys like old times. November 2020 48 povhouma.com
“Everybody would get excited when he would come back,” Rock shares. “He could walk in the room and have this aura of confidence about him.” Brady adds: “He was built with confidence by the things went through and overcame, things that guys like us would never experience.” Bobby reached the rank of Sergeant First Class before exiting the Army in May of 2018 with 12 years of service. That fall, he enlisted into Nicholls State University to study engineering, bringing that same high level of determination he carried his whole life into his studies. “After being out of school for 12 years, he was still able to get a 3.6 GPA,” Rock says. “He wanted all A’s. He even retook a couple of classes just to get an A.” Nicholls awarded Bobby with an honorary degree after his death. Rock and Brady recall boat rides, barbecues, card games, pool games, nights out on the town and other fun times with their best friend, who they described as unselfish and always wanting to spend time with his family and friends. “Anything he could find that his friends enjoyed, he
“I would say that he was very excited in the beginning because of the unknown and that was to come. I know that there were a lot of current events going on in the world at the time that probably made him persuade a career in the Army a little bit more ... He was really excited to serve.”
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- Brady LeBoeuf wanted to be a part of that and enjoy it with them,” Brady says.
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On May 25, 2019, at 1:27 a.m., the group, unfortunately, lost their fun-loving, brother.
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“So I was with him that night with my wife. We were downtown; we were hanging out. And nothing was out of the ordinary,” Rock remembers. “...That next morning I was awoken by his sister. She called me and asked to come over.”
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After she arrived at their home, Bobby’s sister told them that he committed suicide the night before, Rock says. “And my first reaction: I looked at my wife and I was like, ‘What? We were just with him. What do you mean?’ Rock was then asked to inform the rest of The Guys, and he says when he broke the news to Brady, he collapsed into his arms. “It took us all by surprise,” Rock shares. “Everybody was kind of beat down by it.” Bobby is survived by his parents, Robert Sr. and Rachael Sothern Barrios; brother, David Matthew Barrios; sister Nicole Marie Maronge; “The Guys;” and other family and friends. Sadly, suicidal thoughts and actions have not been uncommon with many of America’s veterans. According to the 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report published by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the number of veteran
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“You never know what’s going on in somebody’s life, so you have to engage with them and know what’s going on...Our goal one day is to have a foundation where people feel they can reach out to.” - Brady LeBoeuf suicides exceeded 6,000 each year from 2008 to 2017. The report also says that In 2017, the suicide rate for Veterans was 1.5 times the rate for non-Veteran adults, after adjusting for population differences in age and sex.
has already been able to donate two $1,500 scholarships, -- in Bobby’s name -- to two support South Louisiana Veterans Outreach events and help sponsor a LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) class. Although the COVID-19 has slowed down their plans, The Guys are still Not allowing the tragedy of their fallen aiming to host their own events, such as a brother to split them up, The Guys decided 5K race or golf tournament, to raise money to stay together and create something for the organization. positive in his memory. From his experiences, Rock says, “After we laid Bobby to rest, I think a lot of sometimes someone might just not know if us were dealing with it in our own ways,” someone they are close to might be having Rock shares. “We came together and said, suicidal thoughts. “[Bobby’s death] opened ‘Okay, let’s do something to not forget him, my eyes a little bit in a sense of trying to be not just because he was our friend but for there for people more, listening and staying all of the sacrifices that he made to serve involved,” he continues. the country.” “You never know what’s going on in Thus, the Robert L. Barrios Jr. Foundation somebody’s life, so you have to engage was formed in August of 2019 by The Guys, with them and know what’s going on,” aka Bobby’s closest friends: Rock, Brady, Brady adds. “Our goal one day is to have Chad Bascle, Kenny Bergeron, Andrew a foundation where people feel they can Bowen, Blake Geist, Scott Jenkins, Jaime reach out to.” POV Miller and Justin Ramirez. Anyone wishing to support the Robert The organization’s goal is to bring L. Barrios Jr. Foundation can visit the awareness to the community about suicide Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ and also provide college scholarships RobertLBarriosJrFoundation to Terrebonne High School students. Although it is still young, the Foundation November 2020 50 povhouma.com
BUILT FOR AMERICA
WWW.ROBICHAUXFORD.NET
November 2020 51 povhouma.com
WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE |
BY THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a chronic disease caused when the pancreas makes little or no insulin or the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. Warning signs of diabetes include:
People with diabetes have much higher rates of serious complications from COVID-19 and death than people without diabetes. With that concern, consistent management of the disease is crucial to lessen severe symptoms
following information available: • Glucose reading • Ketone reading • Tracking of fluid consumption • Details about symptoms
• Frequent urination
• Questions about managing your diabetes.
• Unusual thirst • Tiredness
Team Approach to Managing Diabetes
• Blurry vision
The Diabetes Self-Management Program of Thibodaux Regional is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and is committed to helping you learn how to care for your diabetes. A Registered Nurse and Dietitian, who are both Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, assist you in developing a diabetes management plan that works for you. Our focus is to assist patients to instill lifestyle choices that support healthier lives. In addition, WellFit Diabetes Care integrates medical care with wellness practices such as nutrition and exercise to help you manage diabetes and lower risks.
• Extreme hunger • Very Dry Skin • Numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes. For some 30,000 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, the coronavirus pandemic has added more layers of stress to health concerns. Risks of contracting COVID-19 increase with age, and the severity of the virus seems to increase with underlying medical conditions including diabetes.
from COVID or any viral infection. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that you call your doctor immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and have the
For more information visit, https://www.thibodaux.com/centers-services/diabetes-self-management or call the Wellness Education Center at 985.493.4765.
Only Hospital in South Louisiana to Earn 5 Stars for Highest Quality Care
A five-star quality rating from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the highest possible score awarded. With less than 9% of hospitals in the nation earning 5 stars, we were one of only three in the state of Louisiana to achieve this distinction.
thibodaux.com/about-us/awards
November 2020 52 povhouma.com
FUN FACTS
282 Corporate Drive Houma, LA 70360
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING! “I think that we all do heroic things, but hero is not a noun, it’s a verb.” - Robert Downey Jr.
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GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS BIGGEST IN STOCK DINING ROOM IN TOWN!
UNDER THE SCOPE |
BY JOHN DOUCET
NOTE TO WATSON My cat has died. She was 20 years old in human years. That’s pretty good for cats. Not so good for humans. You get attached. Twenty years for a cat is almost 100 for a human. When she was born, America Online (AOL) was the largest internet provider. In sports, the new Saints coach was Jim Haslett. In science, the first draft of human genome sequence was announced. In newspapers, the final Peanuts comic strip appeared, having never featured a cat. And while here in her Louisiana back yard there was hanging moss, in Florida there were hanging chads. Her name was Callie. As a newborn, she appeared calico. Over time she never quite became calico. She was kind of calico, kind of tortie, kind of tabby, and kind of other, with a bit of zebra on the tail. Her paws were each of a different pattern and color. Hers was a diverse background. Her mother must have been popular. Sometimes, Hillary, it really does take a village. Callie was a smart cat. She could speak. She sounded like Jimmy Cagney in a film noir saying “You dirty, double-crossing rat!” She likely used that line on a few rodents in her day—especially the ones she captured and presented as gifts on the doorstep. She could also recognize her name. I tested her on multiple occasions. Though she also responded to valley, tally, rally, Hallie, and Nepali, we never really used those words around her so those test results didn’t matter. In response to her name or to get our attention, she would speak a raspy “Reer! Reer! Reer!” If the moment was appropriate, he would speak more calmly with a gentle “Reeeeer.” When she heard us talk in French, sometimes she would speak a sophisticated “Raire.”
6667 West Park Ave. Houma, LA 985-851-2443
She was also a very considerate cat. If you were holding her and she would need to scratch, she would hop off not confer any blood-sucking parasite to you. And she would always come back to your arms, as if to say “Reer. I know that blood-sucking parasite didn’t come from you.” Humans should be so considerate. Her consideration extended beyond humans to the environment as well. She was a conservationist. She hated to waste fresh water by taking a bath. A little of her own saliva daily was good enough. Besides, when you’re 100 years old, you need help to recognize your own smell. Although she ate canned cat food, she shunned the idea of aluminum waste, often showing a distinct preference for the taste of her own fur. And she was happy to return her body’s waste nitrogen to the lawn. She was humble about her environmentalism, always seeking to bury her fertilization efforts with swipes of the paw. In springtime, she liked to jump high among the wild clover and buttercups in the back yard and challenge passing butterflies to flutter
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November 2020 54 povhouma.com
to higher paths. Not physically, but she surely dreamed this while lying on the back porch, flattened out against the cool concrete in one of her afternoon-long naps, always taken in a slant of shade. I know these dreams to be true: I could see the thought cloud above her sleeping head as her jumping legs twitched. She was resolutely an outside cat. She was born outside back in the day when it was fashionable as cats’ favored way-of-life. She liked ruffing it. That also described her grooming. Ruffing it has its dangers, especially if you live in the woods like us. I know this because I once lived among the kudus near Kilimanjaro. No, maybe I read that in a Hemingway novel. Nevertheless, when you’re outside, you find that other outside animals are angry and cruel. They want your food and they want your sleeping box, and, just so you can’t have it, they’ll vindictively spray it. But Callie was supreme protector of our territory. Mice and shrews stood no chance. Larger animals, unlike Julius Caesar, would veni and vidi but could not vici, and left our territory forever in a slow backwards retreat with tails tucked. Even plants bowed their fronds in homage. Around the time Callie was born, I met Nobel Prize winner James Watson, first director of the Human Genome Project, which was well underway. I asked him which animal’s genome would be studied after the human genome was complete. “Dogs,” he said. Why not cats? “Dogs express human-like behaviors, like love,” he said, then chuckled: “Cats are in it for themselves.” I begged to differ with Mr. Nobel laureate. Adult Callie would have hissed and fanged. Her doing so may have seemed like proving his point, but I know she would instead be proving mine. POV
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Good news. Rates just got lower.
GENERAL SURGERY 985-868-4890
ENDOCRINOLOGY 985-360-3755
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We’re excited to announce auto insurance rates just went down. We can help you find coverage that works for you. LET’S TALK TODAY.
Rene Carreker Ins Agcy Inc Rene Carreker, Agent 1221 Museum Drive Houma, LA 70360 rene@renecarreker.com
beauty from the inside out Mark Andrepont, Agent 5947 W Main Street Houma, LA 70360 Bus: 985-876-5815 markandrepont.com
181 Corporate Drive Houma, LA 70360
Darryl M Brue, Agent 1950 Prospect Blvd Houma, LA 70363 Bus: 985-851-2584 darrylbrue.com
985-219-7546 (SKIN) State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas, 1901156 Richardson, TX
November 2020 55 povhouma.com
RENDEZVOUS |
WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN
YOUR HOLIDAY
Houma Hustle
Nov. 14-15 Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
The Elite Redfish Series is headed to Houma! The 100 max team field will fish the two-day tournament, weighing in each day right here in Houma. Teams and their families will be treated to a Sportsman’s Festival and Expo as well.
PARTY&
GIFT SHOP
BRINGING YOU THE BEST HOLIDAY SELECTION OF WINE, LIQUOR & CRAFT BEER
CASE DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!
Southdown Fall Marketplace
Nov. 7, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Southdown Plantation & Museum
Southdown Marketplace is a one-day arts & crafts festival that features approximately 300 booths from local and national vendors with unique hand-made products including jewelry, clothing, wood crafts, original art, garden items, seasonal products and more! $5 Entry Fee - Kids 12 and under are free.
Main Street Market
Nov. 28, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Downtown Thibodaux
Help celebrate Small Business Saturday by shopping with the Thibodaux downtown businesses and a variety of local vendors to kick off the holiday season! HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS?
WE DELIVER!
Save the Date: Purses and Promises
HOMES, CAMPS OR BIZ!
IN AS LITTLE AS 1HOUR
Dec. 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Courtyard Marriot, Houma
QUESTIONS? CALL 985-873-9189
WWW.CANNATAS.COM
Craftin’ Cajuns Indoor Craft Show & Marketplace
Nov. 14, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
Enjoy shopping with over 180 vendors in an indoor venue! Free admission and free parking. Outdoor food and dining will be available. This event will operate in accordance with government safety mandates for the safety of staff, vendors, and shoppers.
FOR QUESTIONS, INQUIRIES & ORDERS CONTACT:
LANE BATES
985-209-9762 LANEBATES@CANNATAS.COM
Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence (TFAE) is hosting their annual Purses and Promises: A Girls’ Night Out for Children’s Literacy fundraising event. The event will feature gently used designer and brand name purses for sale and silent auction, while guests can also enjoy shopping pop up shops from local boutiques and door prizes. Delicious hors d’oeuvres and wine are included with ticket purchase.
All events are subject to cancelation and/or date/time changes to due to current COVID-19 phases or mandates. November 2020 56 povhouma.com
205 Venture Boulevard Houma, LA 70360 Tel: 985-868-0430 Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM www.fleetsupplywhse.com
LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1974
November 2020 57 povhouma.com
LOOK TWICE |
WIN A $50
COURTESY OF SYNERGY BANK
GIFT CARD
Find the six differences in this photo from our feature on page 12. Email your answers to us at looktwice@povhouma.com or drop it in the mail: Rushing Media, P.O. Box 5013, Houma, LA, 70361. A winner will be picked by random drawing November 20. The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank. Participants must be 18 years or older.
Congratulations to Amanda Rhodes for winning last month’s contest.
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1 Removed the Nike swoosh 2 Removed belt detail 3 Added spooky ghost 4 Changed the color of the dish 5 Changed the color of the headlight 6 Removed Ghostbuster logo from door
Thankful This Thanksgiving season, we are joyful for life’s blessing and grateful for our family, friends, and customers.
#SynergyGivesThanks November 2020 58 povhouma.com
Giving Thanks to Our Loyal Customers We Couldn’t Do It Without You!
6161 WEST PARK AVE., HOUMA, LA | 876-1817
November 2020 59 povhouma.com www.southlanddodgechryslerjeep.com
November 2020 60 povhouma.com