FREE NOVEMBER 2021 | VOL. 15 • ISSUE 11 | POVHOUMA.COM
CONTENTS |
NOVEMBER 2021 • VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 11
HOME + LIVING
Page 12
12 CHATEAU CHIC A New Season
18 THE OBSERVER
FOOD + FUN
Page 22
22 LACHE PAS LA PATATE
The Hache Grant Association continues their mission to improve the quality of life for Terrebonne Parish.
table MIND + BODY
Page 30
30 FEED MY SHEEP
Catholic Charities responds to the needs of our communities.
36 WE SUPPORT A
Rejoice and Be Glad
HEALTHIER FUTURE
Healthy Holidays to You!
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of EXTRAS
ON THE COVER
WORD, YA HEARD
VESPERTINE [ ves-per-tin, -tahyn ] adjective of, relating to, or occurring in the evening.
WORD ON THE STREET The bonfire eliminated the vespertine darkness. The children’s vespertine routine includes reading books before bedtime.
NOTE 06 PUBLISHER’S Perseverance
Bishop Shelton Fabre sits in prayer during an outdoor mass, post-Ida.
08 INTERVUE Say What?
Photo: Submitted
38 UNDER THE SCOPE
Kicking and Screaming (Again)
42 RENDEZVOUS
Where you need to be around town
44 LOOK TWICE
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What side dish can’t you live without for Thanksgiving?
Rice dressing
To our patients, thank you for your continued support and patience as we navigated the challenges caused by Hurricane Ida. We are grateful to be back at work caring for our community.
PUBLISHER
Brian Rushing Mac and cheese. With ALL the cheese!
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Mary Downer Ditch EDITORIAL
Heidi Guidry STAFF WRITER ADVERTISING
Beth Tabor MARKETING CONSULTANT CREATIVE
Lauren Pontiff GRAPHIC DESIGNER SUBSCRIPTIONS
Point of Vue magazine is published monthly. Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues. For more information, email mail@rushing-media.com or visit rushing-media.com/subscriptions.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Misty Leigh McElroy DIGITAL MARKETING
Carlie Johnson DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
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Cornbread Dressing
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jaime Dishman John Doucet Bonnie Rushing CONTACT
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Our hearts are with those affected by Hurricane Ida. Thank you,
Thank you, Dr. Jeffrey Rau & Team
Copyright ©2021 Rushing Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of editorial and/or graphic content is strictly prohibited.
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.
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE |
MARY DOWNER DITCH • ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
PERSEVERANCE Before I sat down to write this column, I looked up various quotes on being thankful to help center my mind. After this season of loss and struggle, I wanted to write about being thankful. Man, some of those quotes just hit me hard…
of your faith and spirit produces perseverance. Wow. What a word. The simple definition is “persistence in doing something despite difficulty.” Perseverance perfectly describes the groups of individuals we highlight in this month’s issue.
“Be thankful for the struggles you go through. They make you stronger, wiser & humble. Don’t let them break you. Let them make you.”
The Hache Grant Association’s main focus is to facilitate specific, measurable, and actionable initiatives to improve the quality of life for Terrebonne Parish. Before the storm, their efforts were focused on the revitalization of downtown Houma. Post-Ida, their efforts naturally shifted to helping those most in need. The group was able to create a grocery store with free supplies, organize distribution locations in lower regions of the parish, and even provide showers and laundry services in Pointe-auxChenes. The group circles back to the motto: Lache Pas La Patate, which roughly translates to “don’t drop the potato.” Learn more on page 22.
Ummm… yeah… I don’t think I’m exactly going to stitch that on a sampler to hang in a parish base camp anytime soon. The more I read, honestly the more guilty I felt for the things in my life that I have that I usually count as things I am grateful for. The roof over my head. The electricity and water in our home. This year, I’m even thankful for the internet! How in the world was I supposed to feel thankful or grateful for these basic necessities that could now be considered luxuries? With all this conflict in my head and my heart, I turned to God. Sure, that may not be the solution for everyone reading this column, but in my faithfulness, turning to our Father was the best way for me. Oh, and using that internet! In a bible study on gratitude, I found what I needed. “The apostle Paul exhorts us in Scripture to give thanks for all things, in all circumstances (Eph 5:20; 1 Thess 5:18), even in suffering (Rom 5:3-5; James 1:1-4), and to do everything in the name of Jesus out of a spirit of gratitude (Col 3:17).” *biblestudytools.com Over the course of a week, I read and prayed on those recommended passages of scripture. I won’t go into detail here, but if you are struggling with being thankful and grateful this season, I encourage you to read your bible. One of the readings in James talks about how the testing
Catholic Charities of HoumaThibodaux exists to serve the missionary heart of the Church by addressing individual and family needs while providing opportunities for disciples to put their faith into action. Even where the physical church structure was damaged, the heart of the church – the faithful congregation – still gathered to start picking up the scattered pieces of their lives with the help of Catholic Charities. Learn more about the recovery process on page 30. As we move closer to Thanksgiving, let us gather to give thanks and be grateful however we can for the things that we do have. If you can find it in your heart to help others, please reach out in community to find ways to serve. If you are in need of help, don’t hesitate to ask. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! POV
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SAY WHAT?
Who has helped you become the person you are today, and what’s the top thing you’d thank them for? YASMEEN My Dad played a major role in helping me become who I am today. Watching him achieve so much academically and in his career inspired me to further my education and pursue my dreams & aspirations full force. The top things I’d thank him for always pushing me to succeed, his guidance, his ability to keep calm when I made mistakes, and the advice he’s given me over the years especially in adulthood.
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HAYLEY My parents have helped me become the person I am today by always pushing me to do better, supporting me in my aspirations and making sure I never gave up on what I loved. The things I would thank them for is loving me unconditionally without question and always telling me they were proud of me for trying my hardest even if I wasn’t the best.
OLIVIA While there are a lot of people who have helped mold me into who I am today, my first Crossfit coach, Michael O’Brien stands out. I’d like to thank him for instilling in me the commitment to always return to mastering the basics, and showing me what it looks like to continue to “plant seeds” even when you don’t immediately see fruit. This mindset has helped me in all areas of my life, not just fitness + athletics.
DOMINIQUE My parents are the people who have been there to help become who I am today. No matter how much we may not agree on things, my mom and dad have always picked me up when I was down to let me know I am destined for great things in life, no matter the obstacles that are in my way.
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MAGGIE My family! They have each taught me such valuable lessons! Most importantly, they’ve taught me kindness and love. and after all; love is what makes the world go round.
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TALVIN Well personally I would thank Jesus for helping me become the man I am today. He changed my life in so many ways. The top thing I would have to thank him for is saving my life and soul and changing my heart which in turn made me the man i am today.
HOME + LIVING
CHATEAU CHIC | 12 A New Season
THE OBSERVER | 18 Rejoice and Be Glad
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HOME + LIVING |
CHATEAU CHIC
A NEW SEASON BY MARY DITCH | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY
1 dolomite marble countertops and backsplash top the custom cabinets built by Coastal Cabinets. The custom hood/vent, built by Coastal Homebuilders, provides a focal point on the main kitchen wall. In the master bathroom, Bianco Rhino marble countertops, 30x30 wood-look parquet ceramic tile, and a custom shower with porcelain tile complete the relaxing space. Whitney Bouterie with The new construction was started in February 2019, and the Whitney Bouterie Interiors helped pick out paints, flooring, tiling, family of five was able to move into their home in October 2020. fixtures and other interior designing and decorating. The 4500 square foot living home features four bedrooms and an office, four baths and two half baths. Under roof, the home is In the outdoor living space, the brick fireplace separates a seating 8400 square feet. area from the outdoor kitchen. Mist black granite countertops and gray Starboard cabinets complete the streamlined look in the “We started building in February 2019 having just met Elton and outdoor kitchen. Angia Lee Tootle of Coastal Homebuilders for the first time shortly before we started,” shared Jenna. “Elton’s need for perfection is “We love our back porch and outdoor kitchen,” shared Jenna. “We what sold us right away and from that moment on, everything fell love our roll down screens from NRG Window and Screen that into place. Not many people can say they come out of building a keep the mosquitoes out, so we can still enjoy our porch even at house with an office full of friends, but that’s exactly what we got! night. We also love watching the horses in the pasture from our And the house of our dreams, of course!” back porch.” For Hunter and Jenna Parra, building the house of their dreams also came with an added bonus: new friendships! By using local businesses, the Parra family was able to be hands-on throughout the process and trust the professionals to guide them on suggestions to complete their home.
The Southern Traditional style home is accented by many Hunter and Jenna’s dreams were made possible with the help gorgeous and thoughtful details. Portofino white oak wood floors of many local businesses, including: Dishman with Dishman carry you throughout the house. In the kitchen, Swiss white Flooring; Whitney Bouterie with Whitney Bouterie Interiors; November 2021 12 povhouma.com
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Brad Arceneaux with Power Source Electrical Service; Ken’s Plumbing and Heating; Sonny Price with Sonny’s Custom Electronics; Sea Breeze Cooling and Heating; Morrison Terrebonne Lumber; Valley Supply Company; Rod’s Superstore; Colburn’s Supply Company; Allen Porche with Gulf Coast Shutters; Dufrene’s Building Materials; Nick J. Hebert Interior and Event Design; The Glass Doctor; and The Brick Yard. “People say building a house is stressful, but Coastal Homebuilders made building this house anything but that,” said Jenna. “Everyone in their office from Elton and Angia Lee themselves to the girls in the office, the stone work guys, the cabinet guys, the painters and every one of their employees went over and above to make our house everything we dreamed it to be.” POV
No. 1 Living Room No. 2 Living Room Detail No. 3 Kitchen No. 4 Dining Room No. 5 Detail No. 6 Master Bathroom No. 7 Guest Bathroom No. 8 Outdoor Living Space Enjoy more photos at povhouma.com.
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THE OBSERVER |
BY JAIME DISHMAN
REJOICE
AND BE GLAD I’m trying to press pause this month. Press a reset button. Remind myself to take a deep breath. Remember the things I’m thankful for. And rejoice. Rejoice is one of those words that can be a little lost in translation. I tried explaining it the other day. The word was on a Christmas card. But why do we only see it at Christmas? It seems a little appropriate for Thanksgiving, too. And maybe for January through October as well. The Apostle wrote it like this in a letter to the church at Philippi: “Rejoice. Again, I say rejoice.” I don’t want to take you back to English class, but for a little minute, let’s just go there and pretend like we are all learning the complexities of the English language again. “Re” is a prefix meaning “again or back.” So when you put it in front of a word, it means to do it again or go back and repeat. Take joy. And go back and take it again. And as though the word said once wasn’t enough, that verse in a letter written over two thousand years ago says go back and take joy. And go back and take it again. Maybe joy is given, but maybe sometimes you have to go back to where joy was found and make sure you take it again. There’s a little bit of action you need to take in order to find joy. It’s an appropriate word for Thanksgiving because the more I remember what I’m thankful for, my joy increases. Thankfulness reminds me of the joy I’ve known and have. So why do I forget? Why does Thanksgiving come each year, and I have to remind myself to be thankful? Remind myself to take joy. It’s human nature, I think. We forget the good things. We talk more about the negative than the positive. We discourage more than encourage.
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I don’t want that to be true about me, but I find myself wallowing instead of rejoicing. A little minute spent complaining turns into days of complaints. A list of things wrong with my life instead of a list of all the good things that are gifts. But I said similar things last year at this time. And the year before that. And the year before that. So why do I spend time reminding myself to be thankful only to forget again? Why do I continually veer toward a forgetfulness of the good things?
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I want to blame it on being human. But maybe the pause button needs to be an “off button” instead. No more wallowing. No more complaining. No more forgetting the good things. Retrain my brain toward thankfulness. Good things are all around us if we watch and notice. Kind people. Good days. Blessings that have gone unnoticed until we stop and pay attention. May we be people who remember the good things, notice the good times, pay attention to goodness all around. May we be a community of goodness and kindness instead of complaints and ungratefulness. I’ll remind you if you remind me. When I veer into forgetfulness and complaining, help me steer my life back into remembering the joy and finding the good. Joy is contagious and thankfulness is too. We can spread joy and spread thankfulness. We can be people known for the good things instead of people caught in the negative. We can be joy spreaders instead of joy stealers. The habit of thankfulness can replace the drudgery of an ungrateful heart. Joy stolen by repeated ungratefulness can be regained by a pattern of thankfulness.
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So here’s to new patterns, new habits, new hearts with thankfulness and joy stamped on them. May this year be the year it stays with us and becomes a part of who we are. POV
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FOOD + FUN
LACHE PAS LA PATATE | 22
The Hache Grant Association continues their mission to improve the quality of life for Terrebonne Parish.
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY HEIDI GUIDRY
Jason Bergeron described the first time he took a “bath” after Ida, which consisted of using wet wipes, “it felt so good. And then I was like, people need showers.” This is when it hit him that they needed to do something to help those affected by Hurricane Ida who didn’t have proper amenities. Jason is the Treasurer for the Hache Grant Association. The organization has always had the focus to facilitate specific, measurable, and actionable initiatives to improve the quality of life for Terrebonne Parish, however, hurricane relief wasn’t in its original wheelhouse. Hache Grant Association President, Noah Lirette, said hurricane relief wasn’t anything they decided to do, it just played out that way. They started receiving questions from people about where they can send donations. With help from individuals such as Nick Hebert and the ELH Group, they were getting an influx of supplies ready to be distributed to those in need. Noah is also the owner of Bayou Terrebonne Distillers in Downtown Houma and despite a portion of their roof being torn off, he said they were able to use the distillery as a depot for supplies. This kick-started hurricane relief efforts for the group. One of the first initiatives was the “Bayou Terrebonne Grocery” where supplies were set up in a grocery store fashion. People were handed bags upon entry, and they were able to “shop” for supplies they needed, free of charge. Once Houma started to get a little on their feet, Jason and Noah said the group then focused on running supplies down the bayou to the areas hit hardest, which meant a lot of driving. They said that it was tough especially when all communication was down. They would have to drive
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We all have our strengths and we all pulled together and pushed forward.
WE WOULDN’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. to areas, tag in with people they knew such as Johnathan Foret with the Helio Foundation and State Representatives Tanner Magee and Jerome “Zee” Zeringue. They would learn what was needed in what areas, collaborate with individuals and organizations, and find a way to get them what they needed. At first, they would find where a POD was, deliver supplies, go pick up another load, and continue to push further south into the communities that were hit the hardest. Jason reminisced about going to the fire station in Dulac where Ida blew out the doors, but they were still there distributing supplies. They unloaded there and continued to the lower-lying bayous. Jason said it was a group of them that included board members, and they got good at moving supplies quickly. “We all have our strengths,” he said, “and we all
pulled together and pushed forward. We wouldn’t take no for an answer, we knew there was a way to figure it out.” From there, people were hearing more and more about the Hache Grant Association, and the trust started growing. This meant more and more donations were flowing in and created an influx where they couldn’t separate supplies or deliver fast enough. They were then able to partner with the Houma Terrebonne Civic Center where they had an area to offload trucks, and the organization would come to load trailers of supplies. They then ventured into providing hot food and started receiving items such as generators, chainsaws, fans, dehumidifiers, which were donated by the Home Builders Association. The organization was able to get the supplies to those who needed
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them proving to the community they can be trusted. Through donations and fundraising efforts, the association was able to expand its lending hands. Jason spearheaded the PAC camp project in Pointe-aux-Chenes that provides residents with showers and laundry appliances. They also provide anything needed such as soap and towels. He said the toughest part was to find a trailer for the facility, and they finally found one in Lafayette, which was a sign because they couldn’t find one nationwide that would get here on time. After the three weeks it took to get the trailer in, they kicked off the initiative for 30 days and have since then extended the project another 30 days due to extra funding and the impact it has made on the community.
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Noah said he believes that downtown is the heart of Houma and the community is losing a lot of cultures and that if we don’t preserve the building and history, we’re going to be in dire straits. The Hache Grant Association is about the quality of life in Terrebonne Parish, but the organization originally started at the heart of the parish, which is downtown. The Maw Maw Walker was an event the organization started to plan pre-Ida. After the destruction was left behind from the slowmoving storm, it was decided to continue with the event, but they turned it into a Hurricane Ida relief
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effort. It kicked off with downtown clean-up efforts where they were able to collect a dump trailer load of debris. Attendees then put on their muu muus and strutted the cocktail trail that ended with live entertainment outdoors. They were excited the first community event following Ida was a success and raised money to further aid those who need it. The organization is also planning a Tailgate event on Saturday, November 6. They were approached by Buquet Distributing to do a relief benefit after
the Maw Maw Walker and the idea was to do another community-style event to bring people together. Their events depend on what’s going on that season, and they said they knew football is a big thing locally and that’s what led to them centering on the sport. They wanted to recreate the LSU parade route on game day. The adjacent parking lot to the Bayou Terrebonne Distillery will be turned into a green space with big TVs, beer trailers, and a big stage. They will also be hosting a wing eating contest,
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corn hole, and a nice community area. There will be great food too! Terrebonne High School will be providing the food and all proceeds are going to the athletic program since their fundraising efforts have been greatly affected by COVID. With Southdown Marketplace having to cancel their annual fundraiser due to hurricane damage, Rushing Media wanted to help provide an outlet for not only local artisans to sell the goods they have been working on all year but to host an event to promote shopping
HAVE CHANGED.
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GET ONLINE. locally. The Market will take place from 10 am to 4 pm on Main Street between Lumiere and Fakier and will work hand-in-hand with the tailgating event. Noah said they always strive for revitalization and they will continue to gather funds to use in specific ways in order to impact the community where they are needed most. He said, “We want to actually see things change, and use specific projects, and apply the philosophy to relief work.” Remember, Lache Pas La Patate! POV
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MIND + BODY
FEED MY SHEEP | 30
Catholic Charities responds to the needs of our communities.
WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE | 36 Healthy Holidays to You!
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WE ARE
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said,
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LET'S REIMAGINE THE FUTURE TOGETHER.
Hurricane Ida plowed her way onshore on August 31, 2021, devastating community after community, tearing apart homes and lives. Once the winds died down and the rain ceased, our people emerged and returned to view what was left behind. As we turned to one another in tears, seeking support and strength, many in our communities turned to the stronghold of our community: our church. Catholic Charities of Houma-Thibodaux exists to serve the missionary heart of the Church by addressing individual and family needs while providing opportunities for disciples to put their faith into action. Even where the physical church structure was damaged, the heart of the church – the faithful congregation – still gathered to start picking up the scattered pieces of their lives with the help of Catholic Charities. The Very Rev. Mark Toups has been at the helm for Catholic Charities Hurricane Ida relief mission. Serving as the Pastor of Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church
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some of the physical damage to their structures.
in Grand Isle, his home parish has been devastated. But he recognizes the role our churches play in our tight-knit communities. Rev. Toups explained there are three phases in disaster recovery: Respond. Reopen. Recover. Each phase has to happen in the lives of human beings. The Catholic Church aims to help meet each of these phases by walking side-by-side with our people. It’s important to realize that Respond was a number of weeks, Reopen was a number of months and Recovery is going to be a number of years. RESPOND “After the storm, we were faced with meeting basic human needs: food, water, and safe housing. People just naturally look to the church for help with those basic human needs,” shared Rev. Toups. “I can’t emphasize enough, even before Catholic Charities was able to mobilize a regional effort, our church parishes
started immediately responding to people’s needs. It was really beautiful to see pastors and their parishioners just kind of jumping in and feeding people and serving people.” In the Respond phase, Catholic Charities, along with the support of local church parishes, was able to serve approximately 200,000 meals throughout their 39 church parishes. “The people in this area just do what the people in this area do, which is they come together in a very beautiful way,” shared Rev. Toups. “And when they come together in a very beautiful way, they reach out to those who are in need. And that’s what we saw in the Respond phase. In that first phase, through the efforts in parishes, as well as in some of the support from Catholic Charities, we estimate that we fed close to 200,000 meals in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.” The Church also began to respond to November 2021 32 povhouma.com
“Every church is different, from their physical location to their building structures,” explained Rev. Toups. “The entire community of lower Lafourche, lower Terrebonne and Grand Isle was hit hard, not just churches, but neighborhoods and things like that. It took time to take assessments of our buildings and our locations and tarp roofs, and doing whatever we had to just to respond immediately to the needs that were there.” REOPEN As people’s humanitarian needs were met, Catholic Charities began moving into the next phase, Reopen. They were very intentional in this phase, focusing first on getting school back open. Along with the guidance of Superintendent of Catholic Schools Suzanne Troxclair, our parochial schools started to open as soon as possible. “We were super intentional about getting all of our Catholic schools back, which meant that some of us had to be real creative,” shared Rev. Toups. “Vandebilt platooned with E.D. White in Thibodaux. We had St. Gregory in Houma, which couldn’t reopen on property. So the pastor in Bourg reached out to the pastor at St. Gregory and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a facility here.’ They worked out the
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details amongst themselves! Similarly, the pastor in Raceland reached out to the pastor in Lockport at Holy Savior and said, ‘You can’t reopen at your school. How about you use my place?’ So through some real creative partnerships, we were able to get all our schools open quickly.” The Church was also very intentional about getting the Pastoral Center up and running quickly to serve as a hub for phase two and three. They also began to reopen each church parish as essential services came back online. “Some churches are celebrating mass with the lights and the air conditioner on, while some places are operating with the doors open and the power off, and some of our parishes are celebrating mass under a tent,” said Rev. Toups. “But we have had mass in all of our locations throughout this process. We know that people are in need of a lot of things, not only physical things, but emotional support in the recovery phase we are in now.”
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“The people in this area just do what the people in this area do, which is they come together in a very beautiful way...And when they come together in a very beautiful way, they reach out to those who are in need.” RECOVER The longest and hardest phase of disaster recovery is where we are now. Recover. “The focus now is on two primary things. Number one, in parishes who have been most affected, we are doing one-on-one assessments of their needs. Anybody who needs assistance or help, not just Catholics,” shared Rev. Toups. “For example, we have done individual assessments or casework. We’ve done that in Dulac, Dularge, Montegut, Golden Meadow, and and we’re continuing to do that in other locations. The Catholic Church was just there to say, ‘Hey, anybody who has needs, who would like an assessment, come and tell us your story and will tell us what your needs are.’” Once the individual and community needs have been assessed, the data from these thousands and thousands of assessments is placed into software that can help determine what the long-term humanitarian response will need to be.
They can begin walking with people oneon-one through the long process of the applications and the insurance claims “A lot of what happens with hurricanes and long-term recovery responses, people just get tired because they’ve never been through this and it can be complicated. And if you’re trying to do it alone, sometimes you just kind of give up, especially those who don’t have the resources to respond on their own,” explained Rev. Toups. “We will begin doing case management, where we’re going to be walking with people one-on-one as best as we possibly can. Hopefully, our long-term humanitarian response will be determined once we have that assessment complete. We’re working tirelessly on this stage at the moment.” FEED MY SHEEP Just as Jesus instructed Peter to feed his sheep as a testament of his love, our local priests have heeded the call to feed and serve. This particular call to serve in the aftermath of a disaster takes an emotional toll on everyone involved.
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“Our priests have done an amazing job with the resources they have, when it comes to responding to people’s needs. They have been doing heroic work,” declared Rev. Toups. “Bishop Shelton Fabre has also spent significant time with every priest, one-on-one, face-to-face, checking in on them to see how they are doing.” As Rev. Toups explained, there is a certain emotional rollercoaster to disaster relief that really only makes sense once you’re experienced it. “And so what happens is once you have the impact, there’s actually an uptake of emotions, right? There’s more hope, the community is coming together, we’re responding to people’s needs. During that uplifting of emotion, which lasts for about a month, maybe six weeks, there’s a lot of hope. And then, there’s a different emotion that sets in. The reality of how long this is going to take, and the reality of the needs that are out there. People begin to get frustrated with the process and how slow things are in long-term recovery. People out of their routine and all kinds of things. And then what usually happens is there
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TRACTOR is a long and slow emotional downslide. So our pastors are not only dealing with people’s physical needs, but they’re also facing communities that are struggling emotionally in lots of different ways. And so I think the challenges that our pastors face, compared to the first month after impact, are probably different now. The second and third month after impact, as people not only continue to need a lot of things physically, but a lot of people are beginning to struggle emotionally.” While the volunteers that flooded our community after the storm have all been forced to return to their lives in their states and cities, the Church isn’t going anywhere. As different sets of challenges arise in our communities, the Church has set itself up to continue to be of service for the long haul. “From the federal, state and local governments to the nonprofits and the faith-based organizations, to just volunteers – if we all come together right now and we make it a little bit easier for people to get through this next phase, then maybe they won’t be so isolated or feel like they are walking alone through this process. We have all been called to work together, to protect what we have in South Louisiana, and to preserve it for the generations to come.” POV
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WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE |
BY THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
HEALTHY HOLIDAYS TO YOU! For nearly two years, we’ve focused on our health or at least on trying to protect our health. This time last year, we eagerly anticipated approval of a COVID vaccine and ringing in a new year. Alas, neither met the high expectations. With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays just around the corner, let’s toast to health once again. But keep in mind that staying healthy—physically and mentally—depends on a balance of good nutrition, regular exercise, sound medicine and wise lifestyle choices. Following the guidelines Many of us will remain in a small bubble of close family and friends this holiday season. Others may feel comfortable traveling and socializing in large crowds. Whatever the choice, try to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): • Mask indoors and in crowded spaces; cover the mouth and nose as coronavirus first takes hold in the nose • Social distancing • Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water The best protection against the deadly virus remains the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC recommends a third “booster” shot after six months for people 65 and older and residents of long-term care facilities. Anyone 18+ with underlying medical conditions or at high risk due to their occupations should also consider the booster. Discuss any concerns about side effects or safety of the vaccines with your doctor. Protecting against the flu Holiday season means flu season. Health experts predict a worse flu outbreak this year because fewer
people than normal had it last winter. Other things to remember for protecting your immune system include:
sugar levels • Bring a healthy dish to holiday gatherings
• Ideally get a flu shot in early fall
• If you can’t resist sweet treats, cut back on other carbs
• Peak flu season is December through February
• Don’t skip meals to save up for the feast
• Discuss the timing of flu and COVID vaccines with your healthcare provider
• If you slip up, get back on track at the next meal, not next year
• Stay home if you are sick
• Keep up regular physical activity - aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
Influenza and COVID share most of the same symptoms except for loss of taste and smell. Check the CDC website for flu symptoms. A separate COVID-19 symptoms section includes a self-check chat box. Monitoring what you eat and drink Most of us tend to over-indulge at the holidays. Try maintaining regular eating and drinking habits this season, rather than “waiting until the new year.” Consider these tips: • Enjoy favorite holiday foods but limit your portions; resist second servings and get up from the table when finished • Have a healthy snack before going to a party, then limit yourself to three or four “polite” bites and sips while there • Drink water frequently to curb hunger and offset alcohol consumption Managing other health conditions If you have diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or other chronic conditions, keep to your routine, monitor vital signs and take prescribed medications on schedule. • Eat close to regular meal-time to maintain blood
Taking away the holiday blues Nearly two years of quarantining, social isolation and health fears, layered over normal seasonal stressors and added anxiety from a brutal hurricane, do not necessarily make us want to “deck the halls.” If visions of twinkling lights trigger your anxiety, close your eyes and breathe. Stress also impacts immunity. Consider ways to de-stress and de-compress: • Avoid crowds by shopping online, using curbside pickup or going to stores during off times • Make manageable lists and check off what you don’t have time to do • Set a gift budget and stick to it • Skip cooking multi-course feasts; one-pot meals are part of our Louisiana culture • Get plenty of sleep Many of us have experienced loss over the past couple of years. Acknowledge those feelings rather than bottling them up or trying to mask them with food or alcohol. Reach out to others who may also be grieving or feeling lonely. Your compassion and companionship may be the best holiday cheer they receive.
For more information on health and wellness services, contact Thibodaux Regional Wellness Education Center, 985.493.4765.
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November 2021 36 povhouma.com
FUN FACTS Kicking the holiday off by watching the Macy’s Day Parade is as much of a tradition as eating turkey and pumpkin pie for most. But, do you know the parade by the numbers?
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The number of balloons that debuted in 1927, the first time balloons were used in the parade.
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Well, it happened again. For those of you fortunate enough to have electricity and cable that particular day when it happened again, or who otherwise took a well-earned break from clearing your yard of fallen trees and roofing materials and listened through a radio, you may have heard that it happened again. And those of you may have screamed with remorse. It was Sunday, the 26th of this past September—not quite but just about one month since Ida struck, on a day in a month when just about any news would be welcomed as good news--that hearts were broken, tear ducts leaked, faces fell into frowning, and a football originating far away doinked across the crossbar of a goalpost. Yes, it happened again: Tom Dempsey’s long-standing, gamewinning record for the longest field goal in NFL history was broken once again. For those who follow the NFL closely, you’ll know that the record really no longer belonged to Dempsey. On that Sunday morning, the record then belonged to Matt Prater, who booted a 64-yarder for the Denver Broncos in 2013. Prater’s record has been widely criticized for being achieved at Mile-High Stadium in cold space with little air resistance compared to the subtropical, water-laden air suffered by Dempsey in New Orleans when he kicked a 63-yarder in 1970 at Tulane Stadium. Further, Prater’s subsequent off-field behavior was not quite between the uprights, earning a conviction and a suspension in years following the kick. While Prater may have been caught overly celebrating the record-holding fame of his air-density advantage, Dempsey, on the other hand, overcame disadvantages, including birth defects that included a toeless kicking foot, which, as his career would prove, adversely affected his kicking accuracy. Sometimes it’s tough to be the new guy in the record books. Things would only get worse for Prater on September 26th. Now playing for the Arizona Cardinals, he attempted a record-breaking 68-yard field goal, but it fell short and was returned for a record-tying (the other also caused by a Prater kick in 2018) 109yard touchdown run by the Jacksonville Jaguars. A few hours later, his field goal record fell when Justin Tucker’s 66-yard kick bounced up and over the end zone crossbar, giving Baltimore Ravens a 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions. On a day full of coincidences and ironies, it’s notable that 19-17 over the Lions was the same score and team by which Dempsey kicked the New Orleans Saints into the second of only two wins in 1970. For many boys and girls in PoV Country during Dempsey’s time (present company included), who spent autumn afternoons kicking footballs in their back yard using crawfish chimneys as kicking tees, the record-breaking efforts of Prater and Tucker are largely irrelevant. That record forever belongs to Dempsey. What Dempsey gave to the hapless New Orleans Saints in Tulane Stadium back in 1970 was nothing less than pure, emotional faith—faith that the Saints would someday muster more heroic actions like his and finally become a winning team. For fans of a team named for religious symbolism, Dempsey’s gift was more than simply a football record. Although Dempsey’s name may have now dropped into a tie for third place on the November 2021 38 povhouma.com
list of longest field goals in professional football, his momentous kick still holds a number of records. Among the now 25 field goals of 60 yards or more in NFL history, Dempsey’s is the only kick • That can claim the title of the first 60-yarder in NFL history. • Made at or below sea level. (Even coastal Jacksonville has 12-ft. elevation.) • Made from behind the kicker’s 40yard line. (Dempsey’s scrimmage was the Saints’ 37, and in 1970 goalpost crossbars were located at the goal line.)
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• That was greater than two yards over the previous record. (In 1970, Dempsey shattered the previous record by seven yards.) • Made by a non-soccer-style kicker. • Made by a player who had an NFL shoe rule named for them. (Dempsey wore a flat-fronted kicking shoe over his under-developed foot. In 1974, the “Dempsey Rule” declared that any specially-made kicking shoe must have traditional toe space and shape.) • Made by a player taller than 6’1’ and at times heavier than 260 lbs. (He was a big guy.) • Made by a team with the symbol of a flower on their helmets. • Made by a team whose mascot is named for a religious concept. • Made by a team with no previous winning season. (That would take another 20 years.) Not everything is captured in record books. Among 60-yarders, Dempsey remains the hero. POV
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RENDEZVOUS |
WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN
The Pelican State Goes to War
of craft and specialty brews from all of Louisiana’s craft breweries. The event begins at 11am with Reveille, the National November 1 – December 15, Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The festival features a homebrew contest that Ellender Memorial Library places brewer against brewer for the title This is a free traveling exhibit coming from of Best Home Brew. the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Using interactive displays and unique artifacts, the exhibit tells the story Thibodeauxville Fall of Louisiana’s impact and contribution Festival toward defeating the Axis powers in World November 13, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. War II. You can find the exhibit on the first Downtown Thibodaux floor of the Ellender Memorial Library at Pass a good time at the Thibodeauxville Nicholls State University. Fall Festival! Enjoy good Cajun food, art
Bayou Terrebonne Tailgate and Market Nov. 6, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Downtown Houma
A free downtown extravaganza for all audiences starting with a marketplace for arts, crafts, and food that will transition to the ultimate football game day tailgate experience. Come check out the wall to wall TVs showing football games all day, a Bayou College Gameday experience, live music, great food, and beverages. Proceeds benefit the Hache Grant Association.
Big Boys Main St. Cook Off Nov. 12, 4-11 p.m. Downtown Thibodaux
As a kickoff to Thibodeauxville Fall Festival weekend, dozens of chefs gather in Downtown Thibodaux to compete in a cook-off that showcases Cajun cuisine with local ingredients straight from the bayou. Your $10 admission gets you access to free samples from the cook-off teams and local entertainment as you partake in a true southern block party.
and craft vendors, live music, a car show and a rubber duck race.
Turkey Two-Step Nov. 14, noon - 5 p.m. Downtown Houma
Junior Auxiliary of Houma will host an afternoon of family fun and Cajun music! The Turkey Two Step event features Cajun music by: The Daiquiri Queens, Cajun Music Preservation Society, and the Cajun Company Band. There will be lots of delicious food and drinks, while the kids can enjoy games and activities.Don’t miss the Turkey Trot, a 2 mile run/walk and kids fun run. You can register at https:// jaturkeytrot.eventbrite.com.
Weir Removal Boat Parade Nov. 14, 2 p.m. Bayou Lafourche, Thibodaux
Having been delayed due to Hurricane Ida, the Weir Removal Boat Parade will finally take place on Sunday, November 14. The weir that restricted access to Thibodaux is gone and boats can now move freely up and down Bayou Lafourche. The free event is open to the public. Participants can launch a paddleboard or kayak from 8th annual Bayou Beer Fest the Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Nov. 13, 11 a.m. Center or a motorized boat from Leighton Fletcher Technical Community Boat Launch in Thibodaux. Spectators and College parade participants can enjoy live music at Get ready for the 8th Annual World Famous various areas along Bayou Lafourche. POV Bayou Beer Festival! Enjoy hundreds
November 2021 40 povhouma.com
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Find the six differences in this photo from our feature on page page 34. 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 December 17. The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank. Participants must be 18 years or older.
Congratulations to Vicky Rivet for winning last month’s contest.
November 2021 42 povhouma.com
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1. Removed Barilla logo from box 2. Added another pasta box 3. Changed color of lid on the peanut butter 4. Removed tuna logo 5. Changed color of woman’s baseball cap 6. Changed color of bucket
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