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TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2015 • VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 10
ABOUT THE COVER
36
Team Phoenix Rising prepares model Courtnee Smith for her reign as the 2015 Rougarou Queen. CHANNING CANDIES
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD LOCAL VUE
FITLIFE
16 RENAISSANCE LAWMAN
46 THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME
58 WARM UP
24 CHATEAU CHIC
52 UNDER THE SCOPE
60 FITMIND
30 VOW
54 OH SNAP
61 THIBODAUX REGIONAL
36 LA 1 TOUR
56 WHO AM I?
Author BJ Bourg Home Tour
Voice of the Wetlands A drive down Hwy. 1 to discover LA
Breast cancer survivor Jennifer Cavalier The Road to Indian Summer En Guard!
Fuel Up Wisely What Will You Decide Today? “40 and Fabulous.”
Courtesy of Premier OB-GYN
68 TELL ME WHY
Answers to Life’s Most Perplexing Questions
70 LOCAL HAUNTS
Fact or Fiction?
76 TIMEOUT
The Makings of the Pumpkin Spice Latte
78 IT TAKES A VILLAGE
42 PROTECTING THE MASTERS OF THE SKIES
Falconer Gregory Wojtera
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The Making of the Rougarou Queen
88 IT TAKES AN ARTIST
Rougarou poster artist Magwire
62 CAJUNS WITH SWORDS?
Les Lames De La Fourche
66 WHAT’S SHAKIN’
How You Can Roday Around Your Community
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TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2015 • VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 10
OUR VUE
YOUR VUE
21 10 EDITOR’S NOTE
Causes Worth Celebrating
11 THE VUEFINDER
The Case of the Candy Hoarder
POV PICKS
20 CHOCOPerfection 21 Archipelago Botanicals,
12 12 IN TERVUE
14 THE OBSERVER
Say What?
We Can Make a Diffe ence
Weathervanes, Bloody Bayou, Simply Noelle Sunglasses
EXPERT VUE
REAR VUE
94 92 LIVING WELL
Honey Do?
93 CHECK IT OUT
Meet Sullivan ‘Sully’ Carter
95 A VUE FROM THE VINE
98 SMARTY PANTS
96 BON APPÉTIT
100 REN DEZVOUS
Washington a Red (wine) State Gumbo Pizza
94 BEHIND THE BREW
View back issues, Web-only content and a full distribution list. SCAN HERE:
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For When Your Thinking Cap Fails Where You Need To Be Around Town
102 SCENE IN
Ales or Lagers?
POVHOUMA.COM
107
Look at ol’ so ’n’ so!
104 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
The Who and the Where
105 LOOK TWICE PUZZLE
Sponsored by Synergy Bank
106 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Sarah Legendre
107 THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
7 New Words to Add to Your Vocabulary
NEWSLETTERS
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EDITOR’S NOTE PUBLISHER
SHELL ARMSTRONG
Causes Worth Celebrating
Brian Rushing publisher@rushing-media.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Shell Armstrong editor@rushing-media.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Gavin Stevens gavin@rushing-media.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mariella Brochard Danielle Evans
SALES MANAGER
Deanne Ratliff deanne@rushing-media.com
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Brooke Adams brooke@rushing-media.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Point of Vue magazine is published monthly. Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues. For more information, email mail@rushing-media.com
Y
ou’ve got to love October. Kids are back in school, we’re anxiously awaiting those couple of weeks of cool, crisp weather and fall festivals are in high gear. And there’s plenty to celebrate locally this month. The PoV staff is ready for the threeday Voice of the Wetlands Festival. Tab Benoit knows how to throw a party, and this year ’s event looks to be no exception. The festival has a new home base at 5403 W. Park Ave., which translates into more room, which means a second stage, which means non-stop music. And guests have the option to camp on the festival grounds. Read about VOW’s mission to bring attention to our perilous wetlands and disappearing coastline on page 30. As you surmised from this month’s cover, Oct. 24-25 is Rougarou Fest time. Ghosts and ghouls are welcome at the
family-friendly festival – ranked by USA Today as one of the Top 10 Best Costume Parties in the nation and selected by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event among 11 states in the southeast U.S. PoV takes a closer look at what it takes to create a Rougarou Queen on page 78. Team Phoenix Rising is responsible for this year ’s winner. October also marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness of the disease. About 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to breastcancer.org. Breast cancer survivor Jennifer Cavalier bravely shares her story on page 46. This month, encourage the women in your life to get a mammogram. Early detection is essential. POV
Shell Armstrong is the editor of Point of Vue magazine.
EDITOR@RUSHI N G-MEDIA.COM
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHY
Shell Armstrong, Channing Candies, Jose Delgado, Jacob Jennings, Pam Negrotto, Erica Seely
WRITERS
Dwayne Andras, Lane Bates, John Culhane, Jaime Dishman, John Doucet, Melissa Duet, Esther Ellis, Dr. J. Michael Flynn, Casey Gisclair, Mary Cosper LeBoeuf, Debbie Melvin, Janell Parfait, Bonnie Rushing, Becca Weingard
Copyright ©2015 Rushing Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of editorial and/or graphic content is strictly prohibited. BUSINESS ADDRESS: 6160 West Park Ave., Houma, LA 70364 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.
10 POINT OF VUE OUR VUE OCTOBER 2015
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THE VUEFINDER MELISSA DUET
The Case of the Candy Hoarder T
here are few things I hate more than Halloween. OK, hate may be a strong word, but the excuse for grown men to don tutus (unless you have an infant who insists on family costumes) has never been a day I wait with bated breath to arrive. Perhaps I get it from my grandmother, who hides out each year in her darkened home, shades pulled down tight so the little ones running up her driveway don’t notice her movements inside. I undersand this ... the thought of masked monsters and comic book heroes ringing my doorbell doesn’t sit well with me either. There was a point in time, however, when I loved the ghoulish festivities, the cool fall wind hitting my face as I rode in a Radio Flyer wearing matching pink Power Ranger costumes with my best friend. When we’d hoarded enough sugary loot, I’d wind up on the floor in my parent’s living room, splitting up my earnings and plucking out the “old-people candy” with my brother. It was every child’s dream to roll around in a bed of Tootsie Rolls and Sweetarts and we enjoyed every minute of our sugar-induced high. As I grew older and could affo d to buy my own bags of candy any time I wanted, however, the holiday wasn’t so cute anymore. As a new homeowner, my husband and I have been deliberating over what to do for the approaching holiday. Do we fill a silver mixing bowl, like my parents always do, and greet each of our little visitors at the door, inquiring politely about their princess gown or ninja attire? Do we hide in the back like my grandmother, leaving the bowl on a stool out front to be politically correct? We’ve even tossed around the idea of getting tickets to the a NBA game to avoid the whole thing all together.
Whether we decide to be adults about this impending celebration remains undecided. More times than not, we like feeling responsible – paying our bills, watching the 6 a.m. newscast and setting up retirement plans. Look at us being all grown up, we say to each other most days. But sometimes, we just want to be kids again and if we feel like hiding in the dark and eating all the Milk Duds and Kit Kats ourselves come Oct. 31, we just might do it. POV
Melissa is a writer at Rushing Media. If the local grocery store’s Halloween candy aisle is bare, you know she’s been there.
MELISSA@RUSHI N G-MEDIA.COM
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INTERVUE
KIRBIE RN
Loan Processor
KRISSY
CHARLOTTE Insurance
Nanna
Practice Manager
One candy you always got way too much of on Halloween:
Tootsie Rolls or Tootsie Pops
Tootsie Rolls
Candy Corn
Candy Corn
Tootsie Rolls
Describe your Halloween costume:
What is left over from my kids’ costumes
Always unique and the best on the block because my mom usually made it
Princess
Realistic witch
Probably just ‘Mom’ again
If you could only eat breakfast for the rest of your life, what would it consist of?
Fresh farm eggs with pepper jack cheese and Applewood turkey bacon
Bacon, eggs, grits and biscuits
Hashbrowns and eggs
Grits and eggs
Grits, bacon and toast
Not really
Yes, black cats crossing in front of me. I will turn around and go the other way
No
Broken mirrors and Friday the 13th
Nope
My life
Don’t have a trunk
Everything
Sewing Machine
Empty bags
Monday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Monday
Blue Bell and Mary Janes
Candy Cigarettes
Charlie’s Chips
Roman Taff
Planters Cheez Balls
Are you superstitious? If so, about what?
What’s in the trunk of your car?
Which day of the week best represents your current mood?
Favorite discontinued junk food you wish would come back:
NITA
KYLIE
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THE OBSERVER JAIME DISHMAN
We Can Make a Difference It’s
all one ocean, I thought. If you take away the borders of Atlantic, Pacific and the other names man has given, it’s all the same ocean that laps against the shores of every country on Earth. My youngest child lay in the surf along the shore of Grand Isle. Waves pushed her inshore, and she would run out knee deep and ride on her belly back to the safety of the shore. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Just days earlier a picture of a 3-year-old boy on a beach halfway across the world shocked me into paying attention to a crisis happening across the ocean. This child was face down in the sand, but he wasn’t running back out to play. His name was Aylan, a refugee from Syria, who drowned at sea. His body was plucked off the shores of Turkey, where he was reportedly trying to flee to Canada with his family. His country is being torn apart by civil war, his fellow countrymen being continually threatened by Islamic State (ISIS) forces who, even as I write this article, are threatening to capture a crucial road connecting government-held territory in Damascus to the north and west of the country. Millions more will flee. It’s hard to imagine. Some are calling this refugee crisis the worst since World War II. People across the ocean need our help. These refugees are not leaving in hopes of a better life with more economic opportunities. They are leaving their country because they want to live. Syrians trapped in their country count themselves as dead already, as basic human rights have been stripped away in a country ravaged by militant groups. Pope Francis has asked families across Europe to open their doors to fleeing refugee families in order “to express the concreteness of the Gospel and welcome a family of refugees.” He’s right. The Gospel is always best told by the actions of the people proclaiming its message. It’s also equally told by the inaction of the people proclaiming its message.
Refugees aren’t fleeing to America because we are an ocean away. But it’s all the same ocean, and refugees across the world are begging for help. Have you heard of Christopher Catrambone, the Louisiana millionaire from Lake Charles? In 2013, he and his family were on a luxury cruise in the Mediterranean and noticed a winter coat floating in the water. When they learned it probably belonged to a refugee who died trying to escape Syria, they did something about it and set up the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, a nonprofit organization helping to rescue refugees and migrants. He and his family have invested $8 million of their personal assets, according to Daily Mail reports. But I’m not a millionaire. But here’s a little secret. You’re probably in the top 1 percent of income earners in the entire world. No way, not me, you’re thinking. What are we doing with that kind of wealth? What am I doing with that kind of wealth? Are we helping those most in need? There are families dying and crying out for help. I picture my family in that situation. It seems so far away and foreign from anything I’ve ever known. The father of Aylan survived. The heart-broken dad said he hopes the photo of his son changes everything. It may not change everything, but it has changed some things. Many organizations offer help. Partner with it. Give what you would want given to you if it was your country being terrorized and torn apart as innocents suffer. Google the images of the Syrian refugees. Learn their names. Read the stories. This is our hour. It’s the chance for our generation to help. History is being made, and lives are changed when millions of people join together and each do one thing. POV
Jaime Dishman believes our contributions, no matter how small, can make a difference. 14 POINT OF VUE YOUR VUE OCTOBER 2015
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Renaissance lawman nails killers
16 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
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JOHN CULHANE BJBOURG.COM
B
illy “BJ” Bourg is living life on his own terms. The 44-year-old Mathews native is a boxer, a SWAT sniper, a former detective, investigator, self-defense instructor, freelance writer, novelist and, most importantly, a family man. A modernday Renaissance man, he’s made of the same grit and determination that made Theodore Roosevelt, Rudyard Kipling and Ernest Hemingway so memorable. They, too, were men who battled life and lived to tell about it. BJ is far too humble to equate himself to those prior greats, but microcosmically, he has achieved an extraordinary level of competency, if not actual greatness.
“During those impressionable years of my youth, I learned more about real life from his fiction than from anywhere else. I learned how to treat a woman with respect, to persevere even in the bleakest of circumstances and to be courageous in the face of grave danger. I learned to be loyal to my family and friends, and to ‘ride for the brand.’” The Western novelist imparted valuable lessons on perseverance that remain with the Bayou Blue resident to this day. “I learned to stand on my own and achieve my goals through hard work and dedication, and to never give up on my dreams,” BJ says. “The attributes instilled in me through
The middle of three children raised in a single-parent home, BJ sought refuge in books. At age 10, “The Swiss Family Robinson” opened a whole new world to the boy. He devoured every book at the Lockport and Raceland libraries and the old book exchange. Then it happened. He discovered Louis L’Amour, America’s storyteller. BJ dreamed of writing like his hero. He penned poems about the Old West and wrote several adventure stories. “I grew up without a dad, and I tell everyone who’ll listen that Louis L’Amour raised me,” BJ says.
his novels really set the tone for who I would eventually become and how I approach every aspect of my life.” And while books taught BJ how to live, it was a chance encounter with a shoplifter that paved his early career path. BJ worked at a large retail store as a teen bagging items and retrieving shopping carts. When the sticky-fi gered thief ran, BJ gave chase. Still high on the adrenaline rush, BJ decided a job in law enforcement would be exciting. It would also serve as the foundation for his career as a writer.
wi th his keyboard
BJ has more than 24 years of law enforcement experience under his belt. He’s worked as a Lafourche Parish sheriff’s pat ol deputy, detective, sheriff’ academy instructor and, more recently, as the chief investigator for the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office. He’s investigated rapes, robberies, kidnappings and murders. As a detective, BJ achieved a 100 percent arrest and conviction rate on murder cases assigned to him. Additionally, he investigated officer-involved shootings, accidental deaths, justifiable homicides, autoerotic asphyxiation fatalities and suicides. BJ landed roles with the Lafourche department’s SWAT (he was certified in 1991), sniper team, explosives search unit, homicide squad and the Honor Guard. A certified sniper since 1996, BJ graduated from seven sniper schools, including the FBI’s Basic Sniper School, where he was awarded Top Gun honors, and the agency’s Advanced Sniper School. He also served as the sniper instructor for the Louisiana Tactical Police Officer Association’s 4th annual Training Conference. The entire time BJ was honing his policing skills, he continued to read. “Being a self-starter who wasn’t afraid of hard work and wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of failing helped me grow into who I am today, but the key to all of my successes can be directly linked to one activity – reading,” BJ says. “When I wanted to learn to fight, I POVHOUMA.COM 17
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bought every book I could find on fighting and studied each of them. I did the same with investigative work, sniping, SWAT tactics and officer safety. I then put the information to the test and discovered what worked and what didn’t work for me. If a technique or tactic worked, I adopted it as my own and tweaked it to make it better fit my specific needs. If it didn’t work, I developed my own way of doing things to achieve the results I desired. I had a ‘don’t trust until I verify’ approach to everything I read and studied, and this kept me from practicing and sharing things that were ineffective.” Putting what he’d learn to paper helped BJ perfect his writing. Although the dream of writing full-time took a backseat to supporting his family, BJ hadn’t abandoned it. And when he ran across an article about a mystery writer teaming with a sheriff’s department to learn about procedure, the wheels in his head began turning. BJ spent months pouring through writing books and refining his skills. Babs Lakey, former owner of Future’s Mysterious Anthology Magazine, even provided detailed lessons. “Muddy Waters” would be BJ’s first published short story. It appeared in 2003 in Lakey’s publication. More than 150 short pieces would soon follow, including several printed in Woman’s World. Behind the scenes, BJ began working on “Hollow Crib,” his first novel. Completed in 2005, the book wouldn’t be printed for 10 more years. BJ has since released “The Seventh Taking” and, most recently, “James 516.” In between working on his next release, BJ freelances articles on aspects of law enforcement for magazines. He’s also a great resource for other crime writers. Helping others – whether in law enforcement, writing or talking to local schoolchildren – remains BJ’s chief aim. “… I love sharing what I’ve learned if I think it can help others,” he says. “Mystery writers and editors have always been so generous when it came to answering my writing questions, so I’m always happy to help them out with police procedural issues or fi earms information. More than that, it just feels good to help others.” When he’s not at the keyboard pounding out his next tale, BJ enjoys hanging with his family – wife Amanda; son, Brandon; daughter, Grace; and step-daughter, Kate – German Shepherd Krostof, Bichon Frise Linus and chickens. “Whether it’s a 10-day vacation, a weekend getaway, or a day spent kicking around the house, I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by my wife and kids,” he says. It’s not a bad life for a guy with a passion for reading. “I’m just a regular guy who, through hard work, perseverance and a lot of luck, was blessed enough to have realized some of his goals and dreams,” BJ says. “In fact, other than having more scars, less hair and being a whole lot wiser, I’m no different than that kid who was pushing buggies all those years ago.” POV 18 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
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POV PICKS
CHOCOPerfection HEAVENLY SCENT, HOUMA, 985.868.2216
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o matter how much willpower we have, we all crave a little sweetness from time to time. With this sugar-free European chocolate, you can enjoy your favorite candy without the guilt. This decadent delight is sweetened with plant components, like chicory root fiber, and comes in a variety of flavors such as dark orange and dark mint to satisfy any sweet tooth, any time. POV
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POV PICKS
Archipelago Botanicals Milk Products DESIGNS BY TWO, HOUMA, 985.868.9438
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imple is often better and these indulgent bath products are a testament to that. Archipelago Botanicals’ Milk line includes body washes, conditioners and more, all enriched with dried milk solids, soy and oat proteins to get that luxurious glow. The products gently exfoliate to add skin rejuvenation, and the fresh, clean scent makes any of the products easily workable into your everyday beauty routine.
Simply Noelle Sunglasses THE WISHING WELL GIFT SHOP, HOUMA, 985.851.1110
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taying fashion forward doesn’t have to come at a hefty price tag. Simply Noelle has been crafting a variety of vibrantly colored women’s clothing and accessories since 2005 with the goal of making every customer feel beautiful. These sunglasses come in various colors and add a pop of color to any outfit.
Weathervanes Bloody Bayou GORDON’S DAIQUIRIS, CHACKBAY, 985.633.9951
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ou’ve probably had your fair share of Blood Marys, so finding one that stands out from the rest can be a bit of a challenge. Gordon’s, a hidden gem on the outskirts of Thibodaux, however, has you covered. Their version of the cocktail, the Bloody Bayou, uses the traditional tomato and vodka ingredients, tossing in a combination of Cajun delicacies to make a simply unforgettable sip.
FROST LUMBER, THIBODAUX, 985.447.3791
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ive your home a touch of nostalgia with these beautifully constructed weathervanes from Whitehall Products, the world’s largest manufacturer of the item. More than 200 different styles of the instrument, first used to indicate the direction of the wind, are available and include a variety of color options to suit the color scheme of your home. With more than 65 years of manufacturing excellence, Whitehall takes pride in depicting the country’s natural beauty in each of its intricately-crafted pieces. POV
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CHATEAU CHIC BONNIE RUSHING ERICA SEELY
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A
B
F
ollowing Hurricane Katrina, while then-New Orleanians Drs. Don and Wendy Gervais were still evacuated, they viewed and purchased their current home via photographs. They were searching for a space large enough to help relatives also displaced by the storm. Nelson Wilson Interiors was selected to personalize and transform the 4,000-plus-square-foot home. Although work began in 2005, it has taken place over time. The interior of the house was designed to reflect the clients’ love of classic elements and to achieve a formal, European feel with a collected and traveled aesthetic. The renovation began with the transformation of the dining room into a custom library and home office. Designed by Nelson Wilson Interiors and fabricated by Weimar Contractors, the original dining room was turned into a library with custom-designed floor-toceiling mahogany bookcases. Later, the entrance, living room and master bedroom changes followed, with a nursery being completed in fall 2007 and an additional bedroom in 2010. POVHOUMA.COM 25
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C Custom drapery was hand selected for each space throughout the home and light fixtures were upgraded from standard builder-grade fixtures to individually sourced and selected lights representative of the design aesthetic of each space. In the living room, custom glass wall platters were blown and shaped by a master glass blower from Romania, which were specifically designed for the space above the cast stone mantel crafted in the style of Louis XV. The sofa is custom by Lee Industries with linen damask fabric from Lee Jofa. Opulent layered drapery treatment frames the gorgeous view of the resort-like back courtyard. A custom-designed French display cabinet with a whitewashed exterior and cherry wood interior displays collectables and is flanked by framed Gould Hummingbird prints.
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A French caned daybed with custom corona and plaid silk interior sets the stage in the Gervais’ oldest daughter ’s bedroom. A Canopy Design’s fanciful chandelier with beaded flowers, butterflies and insects adorns the space. The soft green ceiling and flirty chair compliment the bedding and drapery. In the nursery, mirrored furniture, a Brat Decor silver leaf sleigh bed and framed Italian hand-painted animal prints make a statement. A custom valance, drapery panels and sheer linen Austrian shades soften the sunlight and add elegance. POV
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Karin Nelson and Troy Wilson
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ESTHER ELLIS
Woodstock had Max Yasgur’s Farm. Voice of the Wetlands has the Rouse family’s field on West Park Ave. in Houma. Festival-goers can expect a second stage, translating into more great music; a camping area; and Cajun food, crafts and art. Tab Benoit’s throwing a party and the country is invited to visit and pay attention to our plight.
C
oastal erosion is a subject that many in south Louisiana are passionate about and Tab Benoit is no exception. Each night, the Houma native and noted bluesman takes a moment during his stage show to talk about our region’s disappearing coast and wetlands. In the glare of the white spotlight, Tab pleads with listeners in land-locked and surrounding states to consider their neighbors in the South. And each October, he invites the world to join us in Terrebonne Parish to see the problem firsthand in hopes that these new recruits will help spread our message. “The goal has always been to celebrate the culture and coast of south Louisiana and to bring people from out of state and let them meet the locals and see that there are people that live south of New Orleans,” Tab says with a chuckle. “They don’t know about [our eroding coastline] until
something happens on the news. My goal has always been to bring people down here to see it for themselves; have the locals and the land tell the real story.” This year the non-profit organization hosts its 12th annual Voice of the Wetlands Festival on Oct. 9-11 in Houma. After spending more than a decade at Southdown Plantation, VOW is moving to a new plot of land at 5403 West Park Ave. in Houma, which provides a greater opportunity for growth. “This is where the original location was going to be but we weren’t able to do it in the beginning,” Tab says. “At this spot, we can do camping and go later than 11 p.m. It will allow us to grow and get bigger ... It’s the biggest area of any festival in the south.” The 200-acre festival grounds allows festival-goers to stay closer to the action by camping on site, an enticing offer for those out-of-town visitors, giving them more reason to stay.
Another first for the VOW fest is the addition of the Red Dog Saloon, a second stage. Visitors will enjoy continuous entertainment by local musicians from a variety of genres – Cajun, country, blues, jazz and rock. Friday night showcases artists Tab Benoit, Randy Jackson, Bart Walker, Mia Borders and Lightnin Malcolm. Saturday’s lineup includes artists Josh Garrett Band, Honey Island Swamp Band, Raw Oyster Cult and more. After a Sunday filled with shows, the night will close out with the traditional performance by the VOW Allstars, a group of talented New Orleans area artists who make the final plea to bring awareness to the troubling issues of the coastal land. The group consists of Tab, Cyril Neville, Corey Duplechin, Johnny Vidacovich, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone and Waylon Thibodeaux. If music is the heart of the VOW, the food, art and culture represented are its POVHOUMA.COM 31
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For more information on the Voice of the Wetlands organization and festival visit VOICEOFTHEWETLANDS.ORG. soul. Visitors will enjoy American fare and all of the Cajun classics: gumbo, shrimp etouffée, alligator sauce piquante and jambalaya. The expanded fairground also allows for carnival rides. Attendees can see the culture through the eyes of artists and crafters, whose works are for sale, as well as educational and environmental exhibits. “If the weather is good, the festival’s successful and it really just comes down to that,” Tab says. “Admission is free so there’s no real way of counting how many people we get, but usually it’s about 10,000 visitors. It’s all about awareness, celebrating the food and the music and not money. I do fundraisers to keep this free and I want to try to continue to keep it free to the public.” The Voice of the Wetlands got its start in 2004 when Tab and a group of musicians, activists, and businesspeople came together in an effort to bring awareness about the coastal erosion of Louisiana. Festivalgoers were kept safe from
remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew by a tent. Since then, VOW members have brought international attention to the cause, performing at political events and even being featured in a film, “Hurricane on the Bayou,” which was narrated by Meryl Streep. Every day, Louisiana’s coast is whittled away by the elements. And every day, VOW renews its vow to give voice to the ongoing threat in the hope that others will join in the effort to save our coast. “The first place that I played music in f ont of people is gone,” Tab says. “It’s always been about educating the public outside of Louisiana. I have seen how they have learned about our area and I am amazed by what they take home with them. They’re out there, actively involved and telling the truth. Being a pilot and seeing the coast, I know more about anything than what a politician could tell me. That truth is indisputable and that’s what we need when making big decisions. Our future is at stake.” POV
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VOICE OF THE WETLANDS LINEUP MAIN STAGE FRIDAY, OCT. 9 6-7 p.m.
Mia Borders
7:45-9 p.m.
Southern Cross w/Randy Jackson of Zebra
9:30-11 p.m.
Friday Night Guitar Fights
Tab Benoit, Mason Ruffner, Lightnin Malcolm, Randy Jackson, Albert Castiglia, Josh Garrett, Tyrone Vaughan and Bart Walker
SATURDAY, OCT. 10 1-2:15 p.m.
Josh Garrett Band
2:45-4 p.m.
Mason Ruffner
4:30-5:45 p.m. Honey Island Swamp Band 6:15-7:30 p.m. Samantha Fish featuring Albert Castiglia 8-9:15 p.m.
Raw Oyster Cult
9:45-11 p.m.
Tab Benoit
SUNDAY, OCT. 11 1-2 p.m.
Heath Ledet Band
2:30-3:30 p.m. Lightnin Malcolm 4-5 p.m.
Mike Zito & The Wheel featuring Albert Castiglia
5:20-6:30 p.m. Royal Southern Brotherhood 7-8 p.m.
Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
8:30-9:45 p.m. VOW Allstars
RED DOG SALOON, SECOND STAGE FRIDAY, OCT. 9 7-8:30 p.m.
Johnny Sansone
10-11:30 p.m. Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous midnight
Wetlands Ramble Jam Session
SATURDAY, OCT. 10 3 p.m.
CC & the Mullets
5 p.m.
Jenna Guidry
6:30 p.m.
Dave Jordan & the Neighborhood Improvement Association
8:15 p.m.
Indian Blues with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone and John Fohl
10:30 p.m.
Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous
midnight
Wetlands Ramble Jam Session
SUNDAY, OCT. 11 2:30-3:45 p.m. Raymond George & the Blue Flames 4:15-5:30 p.m. Honey Island Swamp Trio 6-7:30 p.m.
The Fuzz Police Tribute
8-9 p.m.
CC & the Mullets POV
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MANY THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD SHELL ARMSTRONG AND PAM NEGROTTO
ALEXANDRIA LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
ST. F
EVERYTHING AT A PRICE Jimmie “Big Daddy” DeRamus is a bit of a pack rat, and it’s paid off big time. The bass player-turned-insurance salesman-turned-pawn shop owner-turned reality TV star scours the globe looking for unique finds. He’s got a bit of everything, too. Clark Gable’s fishing license. The first watch Elvis Presley wore on TV. The Tin Man’s oilcan from “The Wizard of Oz.” The General Lee from “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Old coins mentioned in the Bible. The handcuffs used during Rosa Parks’ arrest when she refused to vacate her bus seat. But it’s the lost hearse used to escort Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to his final resting place that attracts the most visitors. Jimmie’s penchant for finding prized goods began during his music days. He toured with a number of artists – mostly country – when he was younger. He and his wife, Peggy, would visit garage sales and the like during the day.
OPELOUSAS “There was nothing else to do,” Jimmie says. “I’d find a strap or a guitar or an amplifier, buy it and stick it in my trunk. At the next stop, I’d mention I had it and, most times, the other guys would end up pooling their money to buy it off of me.” Jimmie traded his road job for
something closer to home when his first son was born. After trying his hand at insurance sales, Jimmie settled into his current gig, owner of Silver Dollar Pawn & Jewelry Center in Alexandria. The entire DeRamus clan runs the shop: Jimmie and Peggy, their daughter, Tammie DeRamus-Credeur, and
LAKE CHARLES LAFAYETTE
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ALEXANDRIA
KENTWOOD ST. FRANCISVILLE
ST. FRANCISVILLE Jimmie’s youngest brother, Johnnie. Until his death in an airplane crash, the couple’s oldest son, Chad, also worked at the shop. He was the one who found the MLK hearse. More than 25 years later, the family-run operation is packed into a 20,000-squarefoot, two-story shop, three warehouses and a restoration facility. It’s a frequent stop for school field trips and bus excursions – just as much for the one-of-a-kind items as for the DeRamus family’s newfound fame from “Cajun Pawn Stars,” which aired on the History Channel. The History Channel deal is a bit of sore subject for Jimmie. The production attracted record ratings; the producers attracted headaches, beginning with Silver Dollar ’s signage. A man of strong faith, Jimmie proudly displays the 10 Commandments on the wall outside his store. The producers wanted to paint over it and Jimmie refused. They also wanted to blur any religious item or
ZAC
ZACHARY OPELOUSAS BATON ROUGE
mention of God inside the store. Jimmie refused. “Everything I am, everything I have, it’s all a gift from God,” Jimmie explains. “I will not deny Him. I will not hide Him. God got me here. He is my strength.” The rift grew when Jimmie refused to script the show. “We have enough interesting things going on every day,” he says. “You don’t need a script.”
LAFAYETTE
The day PoV visited, a family brought in a weapon reportedly dating back to the MexicanAmerican War in the mid-1800s. Eventually, the History Channel pulled the plug on the show mid-season. “We couldn’t even tell people coming into the store when or if it would air again,” Jimmie recalls. But the derailed TV gig hasn’t slowed business. “We love what we do here, and it’s great meeting people and walking them through the store,” Jimmie says. “This place is as much a museum as a pawn shop.” POVHOUMA.COM 37
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ALEXAND LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
OPELOUSAS SARTO OLD IRON MARVEL Big Bend, Louisiana, was the victim of frequent flooding in the early 1900s. To make it easier for residents along Bayou des Glaises to evacuate, the Sarto Old Iron Bridge, an elevated permanent steel truss swing bridge, was built in 1916. The one-lane wide span allowed vehicles and pedestrians to safely cross the bayou. A sight to behold, the bridge’s lifespan was relatively short. In the 1930s, Bayou des Glaises was no longer considered navigable and the horizontal cog that rotated the bridge allowing for bridge traffic to pass was disconnected. Vehicular use of the bridge ended in 1988 after it fell into disrepair. The Sarto Old Iron Bridge is the state’s first bridge to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
AROUND THE BIG BEND ST.COMING FRANCISVILLE
After the Great Flood of 1927 destroyed everything in its path, Moreauville resident Adam Ponthieu built a new grocery store and postal service. For years, the Ponthieu Grocery Store and Post Office served the Big Bend community. Adam Ponthieu Sr. was a savvy businessman who sold everything from nails and tires to fabric and vegetables. His was the only store along Big Bend, and the hub of the farm region. After Adam Sr.’s death in 1994, his son, Adam Jr., donated the property to La Commission des Avoyelles. The site was deeded to the Avoyelles Police Jury in 1999, which turned it into a museum, tourist information center and community meeting place. The site still serves as a polling place each election, as well. The museum curator, Jimmie Bernard, is a well-informed, affable man who, as a child, knew Adam Sr. and spent many hours at the small grocery/post office.
LAFAYETTE LAKE CHARLES
“I came here as a kid,” he recalls, in between describing how the handcranked drill worked. “I guess I know a lot about [the grocery’s] history because I was a part of much of its history.” The museum is an eclectic collection of relics common in the days before electricity powered Avoyellians’ lives. Jimmie begins describing the inventory: bird, squirrel, coon and bear traps; a corn shucker and grinder, a sausage stuffer; an old Coca-Cola box and gasoline-powered Maytag washing machine complete with a kick-start pedal. Most of the museum’s treasures are donated. The washing machine, for example, was a gift from a local man. “You better come get it or I’m gonna put it out on the street,” the man told Jimmie during a phone call. “I told him to leave it right there, I was on my way.” The tour includes interesting information about Big Bend’s rich history, too. Jimmie traces the area’s origins back to the LaBorde, Bordelon, Rabalais, Lemoine and Normand families. The peaceful ride down La. Highway 451 leads right to yesteryear. It’s well worth veering 15 miles off the La. Highway 1 path.
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW IBERIA
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ALEXANDRIA
HYPOLITE BORDELON WELCOMES YOU Travel La. Highway 1 and you’ll see many Creole houses. Stop in Markesville, and they’ll welcome you into the home of Hypolite Bordelon, one of the early pioneers of Avoyelles Parish. Mr. Bordelon’s homestead was built circa 1820. The tiny house managed to survive the scorched-earth policy of Union troops, and includes many of the tools and household items common to the era. Behind the house sits a small chapel an Avoyelles resident built near his wife’s grave, where he would often sit and pray. The structure later served as a playhouse for his greatgreat-granddaughter until it was moved to the Bordelon site. The site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980.
KENTWOOD
ST. FRANCISVILLE ZACHARY
OPELOUSAS
UGE
BATON SLIDELL
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA PoV 10-15.indd 39
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NEXT MONTH WE COMPLETE POV’S LA 1 ADVENTURE AS WE HEAD SOUTH TO GRAND ISLE.
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHA
ANCIENT MOUNDS Situated just yards away from a subdivision sit the Marksville Mounds. Two earthen ridges are enclosed with seven mounds representing the ceremonial center of the ancient mounds are still standing. These earthworks – built by Native Americans between 100 BC and 400 AD – covered 200 acres and included other mounds. Louisiana is believed to be home to the oldest earthen mounds in North America, even older than Stonehenge or the Great Pyramids.
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE TRUE THEN, TRUE TODAY Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father and third president of the United States, was a thinking man. His quote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects that which never was and never shall be,” is displayed on the outside of the District Attorney’s Office in Markesville. The remainder of the quote, according to Monticello.org, reads, “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.” Wise words then, and equally applicable today.
CASE OF THE BUNKIE BLUE MOON HEIST Casually ride through Bunkie any sunny afternoon and you’ll likely find 91-year-old John Boatner on his carport feeding the ducks in the nearby bayou. The former Bunkie assistant district attorney was just starting out when he was handed the case of the Blue Moon hold-up. The particulars have become a bit fuzzy with time, but Mr. Boatner still recalls crime boss Al Capone’s gang visiting the dancehall. “The Blue Moon was a nice place,” he says. “You had to dress nice and you knew you had better be on your best behavior.” It seems Capone’s gang often sought refuge in central Louisiana, near the McIllhenny plantation. Capone and the Tabasco family were related. One night, Capone’s gang robbed the Blue Moon, making off with cash, jewelry and other valuables. The Blue Moon’s owner, however, had the foresight to outsmart robbers. He installed three safes – two fakes and the real one. “Capone’s gang took the money from the fake safes,” Mr. Boatner recalls. “They didn’t get all the cash.” The robbers were later captured just over the Louisiana/Mississippi state line. Most of the stolen items were returned to their owner. “Money all looks the same,” Mr. Boatner chimes. “[The victims] were told by police they’d best get back to Bunkie.” POV
NEW IBERIA
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KENTWOOD
LE ZACHARY BATON ROUGE
THIBODAUX PoV 10-15.indd 41
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MELISSA DUET JACOB JENNINGS
Protecting the
MASTERS OF THE SKIES MIKE SITS QUIETLY
in the corner of Gregory Wojtera’s living room, blinking periodically and contemplating his upcoming nap. A barred owl that lost his eye after being hit by a car in Missouri, the owl, which shares his name with the one-eyed blue animated character from Disney/Pixar ’s “Monsters, Inc.,” is the centerpiece of Gregory’s education program, a passion project of the licensed falconer ’s commitment to protecting birds of prey. A Lafourche Parish French teacher who moved to the area from Paris, France 10 years ago, Gregory has always dreamed of working with these often misunderstood and fascinating animals ... literally. “When I was a kid back in France, I had this recurring dream for many, many months that I was riding on the back of a giant eagle,” he remembers. “When I got here, there was this documentary on National Geographic where they had put this tiny camera on the back of a falcon. You could see, it was like you were the falcon. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is crazy! This is exactly what I was dreaming when I was a kid!’” After conducting online research on the possibility of possessing such birds,
Gregory discovered one must first become a licensed falconer. A series of workshops, exams, inspections by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and permits followed, and, in 2009, Gregory became licensed, giving him the ability to trap birds of prey and rescue ones that are too injured to survive in the wild. “Falconry is probably one of the most tightly regulated sports,” Gregory says. “All of the birds are protected by federal laws so that means that everything that you do from the equipment, the licenses, the way you trap them – everything has to be approved by Wildlife and Fisheries.” Mike, the barred owl, has been with Gregory for one year, sharing his home with Bharati, a red-tailed hawk captured in Morgan City four years ago that spends much of her time on a perch outdoors. Bharati has a keen sense of sight – seeing roughly eight times better than humans – and Gregory works diligently to get her into optimal hunting shape. The art of hunting with birds of prey dates back thousands of years to the high steppes of Mongolia and the Middle East, long before firearms were invented. The
practice moved into the United States in the early 1900s and there are currently only several thousand licensed falconers throughout the country, according to Gregory. In preparation for the state’s falconry hunting season from November to February, Gregory focuses on Bharati’s diet and weight, a balance that must be achieved to give the bird the best chance of hunting success. “When you trap a juvenile bird, they’re not an adult yet, but they’re not a baby anymore,” he explains. “They’re just at that stage where they know how to fly, they know how to hunt ... because they are really in a world of sight, just like us, and are really responding to food, the whole thing about training is food and weight management. Training with a freshly trapped bird like her can go as fast as three or four weeks.” With Mike, much of the focus is on telling his story to educate others on why birds of prey are important and how humans can better protect them. Gregory brings Mike to presentations at various locations throughout the year and also does a two-month stint at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival in Hammond to show birds of prey to attendees. POVHOUMA.COM 43
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIRDS OF PREY THAT CALL LOUISIANA HOME AT MASTERSOFTHESKIES.ORG.
During educational programs, Gregory speaks about allowing wildlife to do their intended jobs and how being observant of one’s daily routine can keep the populations of these animals from eventually being eliminated. “Just because you have a fly in your house doesn’t mean you have to get the Army, the Navy and the FBI involved,” he says. “It’s just a fly. You open your door and it goes away. For me, it’s the same with birds of prey.” The primary hazards facing birds like Mike and Bharati, Gregory says, are outdoor cats, which are responsible for killing approximately four billion birds in the United States each year, and rat poison, which not only kills the rat, but poses a risk to any animal that feeds on it. Tossing food from cars is also a
major concern, especially for owls which swoop down at night to hunt the small animals looking for the tossed-out food. When owls hone in on their target, they are often struck by vehicles during their descent. Although Mike and Bharati look quite docile as they rest easily at their home, the animals are far from cute creatures to play with. “They’re not pets,” Gregory says. “That’s actually one of the first things I talk about in my programs. They are not like a cat or a dog. They don’t care for you. They don’t show affection and they don’t give love. Basically, they tolerate you and that’s about it. They are not social. They do not care for human interaction.” Although the birds show no signs of
affection to the falcone , it is clear Gregory cares deeply for the animals. Nurturing these birds is a full-time commitment, but he doesn’t mind giving up vacations or evenings out. In fact, he plans to get several more birds, focusing on those native to Louisiana, in an attempt to get people to recognize just how essential these birds are to our way of life. “I don’t want any birds from the deep corners of Brazil that no one has heard about,” he says. “I want people to really be able to see the birds that we have here ... I want people to understand that we are sharing this world with other creatures and not because we are here means that we can kill anything that moves ... Humans must become aware that every single one of our actions has an impact on wildlife.” POV
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MELISSA DUET ERICA SEELY
fighte
strong aourageous
Inspirational
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the
journey
utiful
healthy
of a
lifetime
aware OPTIMISTIC Jennifer Cavalier has known her entire life that she stood the risk of getting breast cancer.
Her mother was diagnosed a little more than 20 years ago. Jennifer ’s scheduled yearly checkups since her early 20s to keep tabs on her health in an effort to be proactive.
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In late 2012, the then-37-year-old Thibodaux native discovered a lump and immediately alerted her doctors. A mammogram showed no indication of concerning growth, but five months later, Jennifer returned to the doctor ’s office, certain something wasn’t right. A biopsy was conducted and on Jan. 28, 2013, she received the phone call confirming her suspicions: the once undetected lump had grown significantly and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “It went fast from there. They were pretty shocked at the size,” Jennifer remembers. “I didn’t even have time to think that I had breast cancer.” A breast MRI determined the cancer was in Stage 2 and was triple positive, a term used to describe cancers that are estrogen receptorpositive, progesterone receptor-positive and have too much HER2 protein. The presence of these three factors is believed to speed up the growth of cancer cells. On Feb. 13, 2013 – 20 years to the date that her mother had a similar surgery – Jennifer underwent a double-mastectomy at a clinic in Baton Rouge, followed two months later by treatment at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. Dr. James Ellis oversaw her regimen, which included eight months of chemotherapy using the drug Herceptin, a proven treatment for those diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, followed by radiation. Throughout the process, Jennifer, a Napoleonville-based hairstylist, never missed work, except to recover from surgeries. “I’d leave [the hair salon] at 2 p.m., go get my radiation and come back ...,” Jennifer remembers. Throughout the process, the hair stylist donned a variety of doo-rags as she lost her hair. “When I had to be laid up at home, I was more depressed. I wanted to
be here because this is what I do. My clients didn’t ask a whole lot of questions. They let me talk, which was good.” During the two-year journey, there were moments when Jennifer admits it wasn’t easy for her or her family. Somewhere in the thick of it all, her husband Derek’s mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer and the family lost a close friend, events Jennifer now believes has made them all a little stronger. The unwavering support of Jennifer ’s husband and children, Konner and Kollyn, and her mother ’s cancer journey inspired her to continue fighting. Her son set up a surprise tribute to his mother by getting his Assumption High School football teammates to wear breast cancer wristbands during a football game last year. Also, her husband tried to retain a sense of normalcy by continuing the activities the family enjoyed together. “My husband never let me give up. We always did camp, so he said, ‘We’re still camping.’ He would make trips for us all the time and would make me go. It wasn’t my treatments that exhausted me,” she laughs, “he did.” Following her mastectomy surgeries, Jennifer lived without her breasts for one year, per doctor ’s orders. “You say, ‘Oh, just take them off. It’s going to be so much easier,’” Jennifer says. “I just felt like something was amputated. I wouldn’t look in the mirror. That was a rough period of time for me. Looking forward to my reconstruction was exciting for me.”
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In January 2014, she took the first step toward life after breast cancer with reconstruction procedures done in New Orleans. Jennifer opted for a flap surgery, which uses a patient’s body fat and skin and is known to reduce the severity of recovery. Four months later, she received her final chemotherapy and radiation treatments and by August, she was officially living in remission and looking forward to the days ahead. In the year since, Jennifer has opened a clothing and accessory boutique in her hair salon and is enjoying the newest chapter of her journey. She continues to keep the
conversation about breast cancer going, just as her mother did and just as she does now with her own daughter, encouraging anyone who approaches her to see a doctor and be proactive, a move that could ultimately save a life. “Because my mom had it doesn’t mean the next person is safe,” she says. “For a lot of people, it doesn’t run in the family, either. So don’t think you are safe because your mom or grandmother didn’t have it, so I don’t have to worry about it. You do.” POV
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UNDER THE SCOPE JOHN DOUCET
The Road to Indian Summer O
ctober is here, and it looks like we’re headed for an Indian summer. Most people call it “Indian summer” simply when autumn weather is warmer than usual. But, technically, Indian summers occur in November after a hard frost. Some books say the term originated in early New England, when settlers hunkered down for the first hard frost, leaving their livestock unattended. When warmth unexpectedly returned in November, all their animals were gone and in their place was a ceremonial headdress with a few well-manicured bird feathers strewn about. I recently experienced what you might call a “real” Indian summer. It was on one of those blistering days with a heat index of 115 when I drove up to northeast Louisiana to see the largest prehistoric earthworks in all of North America – at Poverty Point. The Native American Poverty Point builders thrived over many generations for about 500 years. After the builders vanished 3,000 years ago, they left behind a series of mounds, the most massive of which is a 72-foot tall structure shaped like a great bird aligned with the setting solstice sun. Behind the mound were six large hills opening to some ancient body of water. Apparently, at the same time prehistoric Brits were building Stonehenge to host their wild druid parties, our native Louisiana folk were building a serious city, carrying millions of baskets of dirt by hand to refashion the earth into not only a home but also a trading hub for other cultures. And I couldn’t wait to see it! So, I Googled a map. Down here in PoV land, highways make sense. They either meander with the bodies of water they follow or cross them if the watersides are not too far away. But up in north Louisiana, roads are more geometrically square, as if designed by an Etch-a-Sketch player who couldn’t use both dials at once. So to get there from, say, Vicksburg, Mississippi, you’ve gotta take I-20 west, then LA 17 north, then LA 134 east, and then LA 577 north for about a mile. And then something really awful happens. It’s like fire rising up your spine, a drum pounding in your chest and a thousand arrows of regret piercing your brain. I try to use Indian
metaphors to explain, but maybe it’s the spirits of the ancients working the keyboard on this laptop. It’s hard to tell. As satellite images confirm, Poverty Point visitors end up driving right over and through the center of the ancient Indian city. That’s right! Of all the cockamamie acts of state government over the past 200 years, Louisianans can now enjoy a straight, uninterrupted drive on LA 577 across the center of a National Park and World Heritage Site – and not at a respectable 30 mph like the drive through historic downtown Golden Meadow but rather at an impudent 55 mph! The paved road we see today was probably an old dirt farm road laid long ago during planter times. And the hills were plowed over many times by a succession of unsuspecting farmers. It was probably a constant struggle for the planters to pull any kind of plow across hills raised by “those dang’d Injuns.” But I imagine that the unvanquished spirits of the dang’d Injuns would appreciate the planters’ struggle as payment in kind for the desecration of their hard work. And so, the great bird has been much eroded by rain and time, and the semicircles have been worn down to just about 2-3 feet high. But perhaps the most sorrowing feature is the proud LA 577 rising high above the sacred plain as a misplaced ribbon of asphalt – not too different from the substance of the tar pits known to the ancestors of Poverty Point who hunted mammoth and mastodon. Nonetheless, Poverty Point is a hallowed place, too awesome to express in words despite the best attempts of rest area brochures. As the archaeologists say, no one knows why the inhabitants left after creating such a grand spectacle of a city. But, as I regrettably discovered, tourists can more easily leave because of LA 577. On the drive home, the fried chicken plate at that famous restaurant in downtown Vicksburg made some of the regret go away – at least for a moment. Talk about great birds. POV
John Doucet is the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Nicholls State University.
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OH SNAP En Guard! Fencing? In Louisiana? Turn to page 62 to find out more. JOSE DELGADO
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WHO AM I?
Courtesy of
You might think you know everyone
in the area, but some of our hometown's most upstanding citizens (those you would know) sure have changed!
Who Am I? • I’m very tall in stature. • I’m not sensitive about my height. • My profession deals with marine vessels.
Check next month’s issue to learn my identity. Good luck!
Last month’s mystery young’n:
Rhonda Rogers Registrar of Voters
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WARM UP
Fuel Up Wisely
Choosing Wisely CORN
C
arbohydrates sometimes get a bad rap thanks to lowcarb diets that swear off anything loaded with the nutrient. Carbohydrates are actually essential to living a healthy lifestyle, however. The nutrient acts as one of the body’s main energy sources, providing adequate fuel to power through the day. Not all carbohydrates keep you feeling energized for long periods of time, though, so choosing the good-for-you types is key to prolonged energy. Complex and simple carbohydrates are separated by chemical makeup and how the body processes the food. Complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, contain longer sugar molecules, which takes more time to break down and use, prolonging energy. Simple carbohydrates, like cookies, however, are easily broken down and wear off quicker. Don’t go overboard on the carb intake, however, just because good options are out there. Some researchers believe high carbohydrate diets may lead to a higher risk of heart disease. POV
Fresh corn is a healthy whole grain, packed with fibe , vitamin C and antioxidants that promote better vision
BANANAS
Good source of potassium, fibe and vitamin B6, which help stabilize blood sugar
GREEN PEAS
Anti-inflammator and antioxidants are rich here, believed to help ward off cancer
SWEET POTATOES
Beta carotene is the star here, essential for a healthy immune system and eyesight
LEGUMES
Fill up on these rich fibe and protein sources * Although fruits and vegetables are often considered simple carbohydrates, the fibe present slows down digestion, making them more like complex carbohydrates. Fruit is often loaded with sugar, though, so moderation is key. *Sources: Everyday Health, Health, New York Times, Shape, Food Network
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FITMIND DR. J. MICHAEL FLYNN
What Will You Decide Today? In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, ... and the worst thing you can do is nothing. —TEDDY ROOSEVELT
B
ig or small, all day long, there are decisions that need to be made. Some decisions are routine, while others take some thought. Abraham Maslow, a famed psychologist, wrote that each person has a hierarchy of needs that must be met. Addressing the heirarchy, he described the most important need as being physiological, followed by safety, love/belonging, esteem and self-actualization. Physiological needs must be met first for survival. Physiological needs are air, water and food. He surmised that if these are not met, the human body cannot function properly and will ultimately fail. So how much consideration do we apply each day to meeting our greatest needs, like breathing? Respiration is the process that allows us to breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Oxygen is ultimately the fuel that allows our cells to produce energy. Not only do we need oxygen to avoid air pollution, but we should also be careful of any environment that is toxic. A positive action step is to focus on your breathing. Deep breathing has a calming effect and exercise is one of the best ways to improve breathing. A recent special health report from Harvard Medical School had the headline, “What’s the one prescription that can lower your risk for 5 major diseases with NO side effects? If you guessed exercise, you’re absolutely right.” The article went on to say that exercise has the power to keep you from developing high
blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and many other things. Make the decision to exercise regularly. Water makes up about 60 percent of our body weight and our bodies depend on it. Lack of water leads to dehydration. Even mild dehydration can result in a loss of energy, joint pain and stomach distress. Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol will not hydrate you, so make the decision to drink more water each day. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” He probably did not consider all of the “junk” food in our diets today. Unhealthy eating and inactivity are leading causes of disease and death. Regular exercise expands lung capacity and cellular oxygenation. Daily hydration with water and nourishing food allows the body to function as it should. Decide to meet these basics needs while adding a positive attitude and live well. POV Dr. J. Michael Flynn practices at the Flynn Clinic of Chiropractic in Houma. He is available to “talk health” with your organization or club—call 985.855.4875 or visit WWW.DRMIKEFLYNN.COM.
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WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE LAURA GROS, RN, CBCN
“40 and Fabulous.” “L
ife begins at 40.” “40 is the new 20.” I’ve heard it all! Hitting the 40-year-old milestone is surreal, to say the least. Running kids everywhere, managing a busy household, working full-time. Wow … wait … now I have to find time to get a mammogram. My sentiments are that of so many women. I don’t have time. I can’t stop and take care of myself right now, or, I’ll put it on my calendar and do it later. Well, guess what? Later frequently turns into even later, until one day, reality hits. For too many, that reality is a breast cancer diagnosis. Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common type among American women. One in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. The American
Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2015, approximately 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women. It’s not all bad news though. The ACS also reports there are currently more than 2.8 million U.S. breast cancer survivors and survival rates are expected to continue improving. This is believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening, increased awareness and improved treatment. These statistics create a strong case for promoting risk reduction behaviors such as eating right, staying active and avoiding excess alcohol and tobacco. I’m not sure Ben Franklin really knew the impact of his statement, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” but when talking about breast cancer,
nothing could be truer. Practicing self breast awareness and adhering to screening recommendations are the easiest ways for you to be in control. The ACS recommends that in their 20s, women should learn about breast self-examination and should have a breast exam by a health-care provider every three years in their 20s and 30s. And yes, at 40, women should have an annual exam by their physician, as well as a mammogram. Mammograms may be recommended earlier if you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other risk factors. So, knowing the facts, I’m going to see my physican, have a mammogram, exercise, do my best to eat right and keep my weight in check, because I’m in control of my health, and I want to make 40 and beyond FABULOUS! POV
Laura Gros, RN, CBCN, is the Patient Care Coordinator for the Cancer Center of Thibodaux Regional.
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CASEY GISCLAIR JOSE DELGADO
W I T H SWORDS? CAJUNS WIT At Les Lames De La Fourche, it happens all the time
Golden Meadow native Mike St. Pierre has an interesting hobby. He likes to put on a mask and relentlessly attack his closest friends with a sword.
T
here is no cause for concern. The attacks are planned and 100 percent legal. The friends on the receiving end actually enjoy the onslaught, and dish out a little punishment of their own in the heat of the sometimes highly competitive battle. Mike founded Les Lames De La Fourche – a local fencing club that teaches the fundamentals of the sport to anyone in the Houma-Thibodaux area willing to try something new. The club practices at the Cut Off Youth Center a couple times a week, and anyone is invited to attend – regardless of whether one has any experience or fencing equipment. The instructor is as passionate about fencing as one could be. It’s a sport he’s competed in for about 15 years. Mike says he enjoys it so much because it’s a sport of unity – one that literally any man, woman or child can compete in. “You can fence all of your life,” Mike explains. “I fenced against a gentleman once who was 87. He beat me 5-2. … He didn’t even have to move. He had the control and the expertise to go behind it.
That’s the beauty of this. It’s something that anyone – literally anyone can do. The only thing you need to start is the motivation to want to do it.” The local instructor picked up the sport in his late 50s thanks to his nephew, who excelled in fencing and even made it to the Junior Olympics.
Through following his relative’s career, Mike recalls something immediately caught his eye. A lot of the folks who practiced the sport weren’t teenagers, but were actually men either middle-aged or older. “I saw a lot of guys older than me fencing,” he says. “At that point, I said to myself, ‘If they can do it, I can do it, too.’
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That’s how I got started.” Since then, the instructor has been hooked. He’s now in his 70s, but still can compete at a high level. Mike has trained with some of the best competitors in the sport, and he’s qualified for Nationals multiple times. When not competing, he’s assisting in tournaments. Mike owns a National Referee’s License, and says he’s always tried to stay active in the sport. The biggest way he does that is through Les Lames De La Fourche, which has a handful of steady members and others who pop in from time to time. The club started in 2000, and Mike says his goal was to try to grow the sport locally – an attempt to give folks nontraditional options to stay active. “Not everyone is meant to play football or basketball,” he maintains. “This is something every person can do.” Mike works tirelessly throughout sessions – often arriving an hour before
workouts start to setup all of the electronic equipment needed for fencing. During sessions, he’s not afraid to strap on the headgear and don a sword himself, if necessary, to teach a point to a pupil. By the time sessions are over, the short, stocky instructor ’s salt-and-peppercolored hair is soaked, and he’s put in a good day’s work. “This isn’t as easy for me as it used to be,” Mike says with a laugh. The instructor emphasizes attending a session is 100 percent free, and participants are welcome to attend as many times as they’d like in an effort to learn if the sport is for them. Once that decision is made, there is a membership fee to actually join the club, and lessons are also offered for a small fee to teach the sport’s basics. Mike warns that fencing is an expensive hobby and buying suits, swords, masks and other equipment does sometimes cost more than equipment for other sports.
But once that’s out of the way, the club itself is affordable. The equipment is also durable and lasts for several years, if maintained properly. “What we charge for three months is equivalent to what you’ll pay for one month in Baton Rouge and New Orleans,” Mike says. “We’re reasonable. We want anyone to have the chance to do this.” Members of the club say it’s worth it. Martin Griffiths has been a member of Les Lames for several years, touting that he continues to come back because of how competitive the sport is. He also loves the family-like touch that Mike brings to the club. Martin competes with his 16-year-old son Stephen, who is also a member of the club. ‘There’s a lot of camaraderie within our group,” Martin says. “I like that about our club. I like that a lot.” The fencing pupil and club member add that fencing is the best cardio he’s ever experienced. As one might imag-
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ine, it gets incredibly hot inside that thick, hefty suit. Moving around, while carrying around that heavy, thick equipment conditions one’s body in a hurry. “It’s an excellent way to stay fit,” Martin says. “I definitely love the workout side of this.” “I tell this story all of the time – I once fenced in a tournament and drank a gallon and a half of water and never used the bathroom,” Mike adds. “At the end of the tournament, you could wring the sweat out of my jacket. It takes a toll. It wears you out.”
Is It Dangerous? Yes, It Is
Mike cautions this sport isn’t for anyone afraid to get a bruise. The art of fencing pits one human against another in a sword fight. Mike likes to call it mental chess – a matchup of competitor ’s minds. The goal, of course, is to penetrate an opponent’s guard and poke his body with the sword, while also protecting your own guard so that you don’t get hit yourself. Nine times out of 10, a successful poke will innocently strike a fencer ’s nylon suit, and will cause no pain. But there are other times when the sword hits an uncovered piece of flesh – the small parts of the body that the suit fails to cover. When that happens, fencers are left with a common battle bruise – a bright red circle-shaped raspberry mark. The circle shape is because of the circular tip of the sword, and the red mark usually lasts a few days before healing. Martin displayed one across his chest when interviewed. Mike’s body was wound-free, but he says he’s gotten similar bruises up and down his body throughout his career. “It hurts,” he notes. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t. It’s probably similar to a BB or maybe a paint ball.”
Is It Worth It? Competitors Say Yes, It Is
Competitors say the injury risk isn’t enough to deter them. Club members tout that they’ll keep coming back for more. “We love coming,” Martin says. “It’s something I’m happy I got involved in.” Mike vows that people in the Houma-Thibodaux area should do the same. The club founder encourages anyone interested to visit www.lldlf.com to find out information about the club’s history and goals. Interested fencers are also welcome to call Mike at (985)-691-2246 with any questions. If all else fails, future fencers are also welcome to just show up to the Cut Off Youth Center and attend a session. “I’m more than happy to talk to anybody,” Mike says. “That’s what we’re here for.” POV 64 POINT OF VUE FITLIFE OCTOBER 2015
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WHAT’S SHAKIN’
WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT IN OUR CALENDAR? Shoot an email to EDITOR@RUSHING-MEDIA.COM and we’ll help spread the word.
Walk Like MADD
We Run Dis Bayou 5K
SATURDAY, OCT. 3, 7:30 A.M.
SUNDAY, OCT. 18, 7:30 A.M.
WHERE: Houma Downtown Marina, Houma
WHERE: Little Caillou Fire Department, Chauvin
DETAILS: Join in the fight to end drunk driving at this stroll
through downtown Houma. Participants may register as a walker, team captain, volunteer or as a virtual walker if unable to make it to the event. Registration for adults is $25 and $20 for youth ages 5 - 18. CONTACT: WALKLIKEMADD.ORG
Running for Robbie
DETAILS: Terrebonne Advocates for Possibility sponsor this 5K as part of the annual Chauvin Culture and Heritage Festival. Children ages 5 - 11 may jog to the finish line during a onemile fun run at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8 a.m. Registration is $15 for fun run participants, $20 for youth 5K participants and $30 for adult 5K participants. A pancake breakfast and music will follow. CONTACT: LEELEET@CHARTER.NET
SATURDAY, OCT. 10, 4 P.M. WHERE: NSU Harold J. Callais Student Recreation Center,
Thibodaux
DETAILS: The ladies of Sigma Sigma Sigma host this annual 5K
to provide play therapy for hospitalized children. In addition to the 5K, community members may also participate in a jambalaya cook-off, with prizes awarded to the top three dishes. Adult registration is $25, and child and student registration is $20. CONTACT: 6THANNUALRUNNINGFORROBBIE.ITSYOURRACE.COM
Komen Bayou Region Race for the Cure 5K
Steeple Chase 5K
SATURDAY, OCT. 24, 8:30 A.M.
SATURDAY, OCT. 17, 7:30 A.M.
DETAILS: Breast cancer survivors, those affected by the disease and supporters of breast cancer research come together for this annual portion of the global breast cancer movement through Susan G. Komen. A one-mile fun run begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 9:30 a.m. Both races wind through the Nicholls State University campus and nearby areas. The Party in Pink pre-registration event will be held Oct. 23 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the stadium and participants may pick up race bibs, shirts and goodies at this time. Post-race music is provided by the River Rats Band.
WHERE: St. Matthew’s Episcopal School, Houma
DETAILS: Support the downtown Houma school and its teachers at this half-mile fun run and 5K. The run winds through the annual community festival, Just Kids at Art, and runners are encouraged to wear costumes reflecting the “Dress Like It’s 1990” theme. 5K registration is $25 through Oct. 3 and $35 after. Fun run registration is free. CONTACT: IMATHLETE.COM
Run for the Health of It 5K
WHERE: NSU John L. Guidry Stadium, Thibodaux
CONTACT: KOMENBAYOUREGION.ORG
SUNDAY, OCT. 18, 11 A.M. WHERE: Peltier Park, Thibodaux
DETAILS: Advance Physical Therapy’s JC Foundation presents
the first in a three-part series of races to encourage health and wellness in the community. All proceeds from this event benefit schools and teachers in Lafourche Parish. Participants are also encouraged to enjoy post-race activities, refreshments and visit with adoptable dogs from HOPE for Animals, which will host its Dog Day Fall Fling in conjunction with the race. CONTACT: RACEWIRE.COM
Missions Possible 5K SATURDAY, OCT. 31, 9 A.M. WHERE: Bayou Blue Assembly of God, Houma
DETAILS: Help raise money to benefit missions doing charitable work for others as you make your way to the finish line at this 5K race. Registration is $25 for the 5K and free for the fun run. Proceeds benefit Chi Alpha at Nicholls State University, Firewind Ministries, Hope Extreme in East Houma, Matthew 25 International and Louisiana Teen Challenge. CONTACT: SPLITSECONDLLC.COM
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TELL ME WHY JANELL PARFAIT
We
start asking “Why?” at a very young age. And, frankly, we never seem to grow out of the habit. So ... in the spirit of being inquisitive, we decided to keep on asking and searching for answers to some of life’s most perplexing questions.
Why is this puppy so gosh darn cute?
Have you ever seen something so adorable that it feels like your head is about to have a nuclear meltdown? This is called “cute aggression.” The sight of something so infantile can evoke such extreme emotions that we literally cannot contain our excitement; thus, we begin displaying negative reactions.
Why do zebras have black and white stripes?
One popular theory is that zebras use motion dazzle: to a predator, distinguishing an individual zebra from a running herd becomes the most frustrating game of “Where’s Waldo” ever because the stripes can distort the observer ’s depth perception.
Why is today’s music garbage?
Those darn kids and their proto-doo-wop grunge-step! As it turns out, musical taste is often established in our younger days, coming from Top 40 stations. By your mid-30s, your tolerance for mainstream music wanes and your aging brain starts responding negatively to consonant sounds. POV 68 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
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Local Haunts
Fact or
Fiction? It’s hard not to love a good ghost story. Cooler winds begin to blow, leaves begin to turn and, if you listen carefully, the whisper of a long-ago resident might be heard, reminding us of what used to be.
Just in time for Halloween, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite local folklores, those stories that were passed down from generation to generation. The tales are inevitably changed, family sightings and hearsay tossed in, as the story makes it way down the bayous. Voices echoing in hallways, faces appearing in windows of some of the area’s most famous establishments ... It’s up to you to decide: fact or fiction?
Ardoyne Plantation 2678 LA. HIGHWAY 311, SCHRIEVER
This cottage-style home nestled among the oaks on the northern end of Houma’s La. Highway 311 is one of Terrebonne’s most recognizable icons, standing as a reminder of the parish’s beginnings in the sugar industry. The home is open to the public for guided tours where one will see an impressive collection of original furniture and artwork … and might even get a visit from the home’s resident ghost.
Laurel Valley Plantation 595 LA. HIGHWAY 308, THIBODAUX
This former sugar plantation was once a bustling hub for some of the sweetest sugar around. The area was also the scene of a strike by sugar workers in the late 1880s in which some 300 strikers were killed. Word has it a few spirits, presumably from this violent incident, still roam near the general store as well as the nearby winding dirt road.
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Devil Swamp Road
Gheens Tree
OFF LA. HIGHWAY 20, THIBODAUX
LA. HIGHWAY 654, GHEENS
Local legend has it that Devil Swamp Road, a curving throughway near the border of Thibodaux and Schriever, without a doubt, lives up to its name. For those who dare venture down the road after nightfall and park along the railroad tracks, reports claim ghosts, believed to be slaves from nearby plantations, may jostle vehicles and leave handprints on the windows.
Most natives of the area know about the big tree that sits right near the big curve on the main thoroughfare, set apart from nearby foliage and sugarcane plots. Word in these parts is a house once stood underneath the tree’s mossy limbs and many a man met his fate in its hanging branches. Stand near it after dark and the temperatures in the area are said to drop, an indication of a paranormal presence.
Insta
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Southdown Plantation 1208 MUSEUM DRIVE, HOUMA
It’s no surprise the legendary pink house has a few ghost stories of its own. Figures have reportedly been spotted in the windows of the sugar plantation-turned-museum, thought to be the lingering presence of slaves who died on the property.
Nicholls State University NEAR LA. HIGHWAY 1, THIBODAUX
Students and alumni are no stranger to the whispers of hauntings in various buildings on campus. In fact, several ghosthunting courses have been conducted on the grounds because of the curiosity surrounding some of campus’ older buildings. Some have reported seeing the ghost of a girl wandering the floors of Ellender Memorial Library, while those in Ellender Hall, one of the university’s on-campus housing facilities, are known to witness flickering lights and hear scratching noises from time to time.
L’ombrage de Chene 4535 LA. HIGHWAY 308, RACELAND
Situated beneath the U.S. Highway 90 overpass on La. Highway 308 in Raceland, L’ombrage de Chene’s haunting lies more in the rich soil. The story goes that a two-story home of antebellum fashion, now replaced by an elegant cottage-style home and oil field boat business, once stood on the land in the 1870s, the owner of which was notorious for beating his slaves. One day, the slaves, in a possible attempt to befriend their master, told the man if he spared them from the beating, they would tell him something that might change his life. The slaves warned that the owner should watch his wife at night. The evening after the owner recieved the message, the couple went to bed as usual and the wife, near midnight, slipped outside into the rain to sneak below to the home’s prison to visit the slave overseer. As the overseer moved to embrace her, you could hear the chains restricting him rattle in the night air. The next morning, the overseer was hung high in one of the property’s oak trees and buried below it. To this day, some claim to hear the faint rattle of chains and see the ghost of the wife wandering the property on particularly stormy evenings. The current home, L’ombrage de Chene, or Shading of the Oaks, is outfitted with so many lights, some say, to ward off the ghostly spirits. POV
Have a diffe ent version of the stories here or have your own paranormal encounter to tell? Share with us on Facebook or email us at EDITOR@RUSHING-MEDIA.COM.
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IT’S BACK!
the makings of the
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE made with real pumpkin
F
or the forever-loyal pumpkin spice latte drinkers of the world, prepare to feel duped. With the introduction of the annual fall favorite last month, Starbucks announced it was adding real pumpkin to the blend. That’s right – that fall flavor you’ve craved year after year was void of the sip’s signature ingredient until now. After a barrage of complaints, Starbucks took the hint and made an announcement in August that the drink had been reformulated to include pumpkin spice flavored sauce, a combination of sugar, condensed skim milk, pumpkin puree and a host of other ingredients to create a more authentic taste. This got us thinking ... what exactly is pumpkin spice, anyway? According to The Institute of Food Technologists, what is being marketed as pumpkin spice in everything from bagels to gum is more times than not a blend of spices reminiscent of pumpkin pie. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and vanilla, or a similar variation, are often used, and to achieve that warm, creamy taste filling those white ca dboard coffee cups, you mus use just a portion of the compounds normally included when making the holiday dessert. POV
This taste and smell is achieved commercially by separating the top notes from the more than 340 compounds present in pumpkin pie and blending them together into easy-to-use sauces and syrups. It only takes approximately 10 percent of the compounds to create the taste and smell and to trick the mind into thinking of cooler temperatures and turning leaves.
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MELISSA DUET CHANNING CANDIES
It Takes a
Village The Making of the Rougarou Queen
T
he rougarou is known and feared in these parts, but the festival that honors the mythical swamp creature, Rougarou Fest, is anything but an excuse to tarnish the name. In fact, the festival even crowns its own Rougarou Queen, the lady of the hour who has the duties of not only embodying the ghoulish theme but also informing others of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center’s mission in saving the region’s precious coastlines. Team Phoenix Rising, made up of Le Bijou Salon & Day Spa owner J.B. Daigle, Yoli Funderburk, Natalie Dupre and Mike Slage, walked away with the crown at the second annual Rougarou Ball on May 2, a precursor to the two-day music and arts festi-
val appropriately planned annually near Halloween. The team selected local model Courtnee Smith to stand as their queen, who showed off a insanely intricate tribal-inspired outfit, an ensemble comprised of dress, leg bands, shoulder and arm pieces, cape and headdress. Recently, the team gave PoV a behind-the-scenes peek at what it takes to create the entire look, inspired by this year ’s theme “GrisGris,” talismans at the center of Voodoo and some African cultures. From everyday girl to swamp royalty, the look slowly comes together over approximately three hours to create a stunning sight that certainly commands the attention of all those who cross the Queen’s path.
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J.B. crimps Courtnee’s hair in small sections to give the overall look texture. Meanwhile, strands of fake black, red and yellow hair are adhered together in circular sheets with hairspray. The most important step of all ... the selfie
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Foundation and concealer are applied to Courtnee’s face as a primer for the heavy makeup that is to follow. Natalie, a cosmetology student, starts with the eyes, using red, black and yellow cream eye makeup to create a striking winged effect. Hashmarks are added to Courtnee’s cheeks and eyes and the look is completed with black lipstick and a golden stripe down the middle. 82 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
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Courtnee’s hair is then twisted in small sections and pinned at the back of her head. J.B. fits the elaborate headdress onto Courtnee’s head, adjusting the hair slightly to ensure the piece rests evenly. The sheets of fake hair are then tucked at the nape of her neck and adhered to her real hair with bobby pins to give Courtnee’s hair length and volume. The headress, the foundation of which is the metal base of a Vegas showgirl style headpiece, is comprised of roughly 100 feathers, with approximately 1,000 more sprinkled throughout the rest of the costume. J.B. purchased the feathers at a
wholesaler in New York City’s Garment District while there for a conference. Small bits of alligator spine and authentic voodoo dolls purchased from a New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival vendor adorn the front of the headdress, while an alligator head peeks out from behind the feathers in the back. J.B. hopes to add a few glimmering spirals from the crown the selected queen receives to the headdress, another masterpiece created by team member Mike Slage. “It’s a story,” J.B. says. “It’s not just put together. It took a lot of time and it cost a fortune.”
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A deer skull serves as a bit of arm candy, complete with red light-up bike axles to represent the rougarou’s piercing crimson stare. The cape, one of the quicker parts to create, according to Mike, is an understated nod to royalty, complete with feathers. All of the white pieces decorating the black bodice and shoulder piece are real animal bone parts.
Although the entire look took many late nights to complete, the work was well worth it when Courtnee stepped onto the stage at the Rougarou Ball. “I don’t know how they chose but we went last,” Mike remembers of the ball. “When she came out, you could literally hear the people gasp. That’s exactly the reaction that we wanted.” POV 86 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
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It Takes an
Artist MELISSA DUET
R
ougarou Fest posters have become a coveted piece of the family-friendly spook fest and this year, the presenting organization South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center extended the opportunity to create the commemorative piece to New Orleans-based artist Molly McGuire. Molly, a Big Easy transplant by way of Ontario, Canada who works under the name Magwire, is no stranger to the odd, the supernatural and the all around strange. Her work, circus banners fashioned from recycled drop clothes and recycled home paint, a nod to her previous work as a house painter, recently made it into living rooms across the country as part of the fourth season of the FX horror anthology, American Horror Story: Freak Show. The season, set in 1952, tells the story of one of the last remaining groups of human oddities in the United States.
The interpretation of the man-turnedwerewolf for this year ’s festival poster was inspired by a night out at iconic New Orleans restaurant, Ralph’s on the Park. The meal started ordinarily enough but what the artist saw transpire on that evening was what fueled the depiction of the dapperly dressed yet grizzly man
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Meet Molly and see her whimsically offbea works for yourself during Rougarou Fest, which takes place Oct. 24 - 25 in downtown Houma.
drudging through the swamp. “It was really weird. There was this woman sitting at a table, waiting and it looked like a blind date situation,” she remembers. “This guy came in and he sat down with her, ordered some food, they kind of hung out for a minute and then he just took off. It was a full moon that night and I just figured he was transforming into a werewolf and had to get out of there. The first time I came up with this image of the rougarou, that’s what inspired it.” The piece, in addition to a bonus creation of a swamp queen formed from a cypress stump, depict not only the folklore of the area, but also the wetlands scenery the discovery center works tirelessly to save, making the artist an ideal fit for the ghoulishly good time. POV 90 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
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LIVING WELL DEBBIE MELVIN
Honey Do? M
any people tout honey as a healthier substitute for sugar, which may even be a miracle food that helps with weight loss and cures seasonal allergies, but does science back up these claims? Let’s take a closer look. Honey is calorie-dense … meaning it has lots of calories for a relatively small serving size. One tablespoon contains 64 calories and 17 grams of sugars. Using a measuring tablespoon, notice it is thick and tends to stream, so it’s very easy to get more than you intend. Granulated sugar has 45 calories in a tablespoon, with 12 grams of sugars. So even though honey is sweeter, which means that you could replace the same amount of sugar with a smaller amount of honey, the calories wouldn’t necessarily be reduced because sugar has fewer calories per serving. In terms of vitamins and minerals, that calorically-dense serving of honey doesn’t offer any with a Daily Value (DV) of more than 1 percent (and that’s only one vitamin: manganese).
What about honey’s impact on health? In analyzing the historical uses of honey as medicine since ancient times, it has been known to possess antimicrobial properties as well as wound-healing activity. Two noted studies support the health claims that honey is effective as a topical antimicrobial agent. It also appears that when honey is ingested, it is effective against bacterial pathogens that cause gastric infections. In the second study, researchers took their review further, exploring the antioxidant properties of honey as well. It turns out that honey could be an effective tool to fight oxidation, since natural honey contains many flavonoids, phenolic acids, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and others that work together to provide a synergistic antioxidant effect.
But really, is honey effective in weight and fat loss? A couple of rat studies indicate there is a modest difference when subjects were fed honey instead of sugar or a sugar-free diet, presumably due to lower food intake. So is honey more satisfying, so people tend to eat less? Well rats aren’t people, and the reactions may be different in humans. A noted study with humans showed
that consumption of natural honey did not increase body weight in overweight or obese subjects. An increase in the hemoglobin A(1C) in diabetes patients was observed however. The use of honey did reduce some cardiovascular risk factors, particularly in subjects with elevated risk factors, perhaps due to the antioxidants present. But again, the effects were modest and could not be deemed miraculous.
Can local honey help with allergies? Honey has been anecdotally reported to lessen symptoms in people with seasonal allergies. But these results haven’t been consistently duplicated in clinical studies, according to the National Honey Board. The expert consensus is that bees do not make honey from pollen, but from nectar. Yes, pollen gets stuck to their legs in the process, which is how they pollinate the next flower they land on. But when it comes to the actual honey-making, the amount of pollen in honey is minuscule. In addition, the pollen in honey is the wrong kind. It’s generally the pollen blowing in the wind that triggers seasonal allergies, not the pollen in flowers carried by bees. So even local honey won’t have much, if any, of the type of pollen setting off your allergies.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE ON HONEY: Again, moderation is recom-
mended. Although honey may have some slight positive benefits over sugar, it is still calorie- and carbohydratedense. Enjoy the flavor in your tea or on your toast, but use care with the amount and frequency, especially if you are diabetic. Importantly, don’t give honey to children younger than one year because of the risk of infant botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning. Is honey natural? You bet. The bees do all the work. Sort of like those other kinds of honey-dos. POV
Debbie Melvin, M.S., C.F.C.S., is a former extension agent for the LSU AgCenter. She specializes in nutrition.
DMELVI N @AGCTR.LSU.EDU
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CHECK IT OUT MARY COSPER LEBOEUF
Meet Sullivan ‘Sully’ Carter BY NEELY TUCKER
S
ullivan Carter, Sully, has a drinking problem, needs an attitude adjustment, and carries lots of baggage, but you can’t help but like the guy. A reporter for a national newspaper in Washington, D.C., Sully reports on the crimes and murders that take place in the nation’s capitol. He is introduced in “The Ways of the Dead,” a book written by Washington Post reporter and Mississippi native Neely Tucker. “The Ways of the Dead” focuses on the murder of a teenage daughter of a Federal judge. However, nothing is ever what it seems and Sully’s instinct tells him this murder may be linked to some cold cases. The mystery has lots of twists and turns, taking the reader into the drug world, race relations and political power. Tucker writes well-developed characters from the newsroom to the drug trade, and each character is believable without clichés. “Murder, D.C.” is the second Sully Carter crime novel. A Louisiana native and former war correspondent, Sully finds his past exposed little by little. The devastation from his childhood and losses during his war coverage form the demons that haunt him. When the death of Billy Ellison, the son of a prominent Washington family, doesn’t add up to what the police believe and what Ellison’s family is saying, Sully is reminded of his own past. Sully is told to abandon the investigation, but that only makes him more determined to find out what really happened to Billy. Who is telling the truth? Or is anyone telling the real story? Sully takes to the streets and backroads of D.C. to find answers. However, there are people who don’t want him to unravel the Ellison family legacy. Lawyers, newspaper editors, police and the drug world will all try to stop Sully. But can he be stopped? “Murder, D.C.” is worth the read. POV
Mary Cosper LeBoeuf is the Director for the Terrebonne Parish Library System.
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BEHIND THE BREW DWAYNE ANDRAS
Ales or Lagers? T
here are two basic categories of beer: Ales and Lagers. The malts, the hops nor the alcohol content define ales or lagers. It’s the type of yeast used in the brewing process that makes the difference. Top fermenting yeast is used to make ales. These beers generally ferment at higher temperatures – 65 to 75 degrees, which allows the yeast to convert the fermentable sugars in the mash to alcohol, heat and carbon dioxide. Ale yeast also produces byproducts, or esters, that can impact the flavor of the beer. These flavors are often sought after in some beer types; Hefeweizen styles, for instance. Be warned: if left to ferment at temperatures too high, the esters can produce off-flavors. Ales are one of the most common beers craft and home brewers make because it easily, quickly ferments at near-room temperature. Lagers, meanwhile, are made with bottom fermenting yeast. Lower temperatures – 45 to 60 degrees – are required for fermentation. Fermenting at lower temperatures takes a longer time – often many months. The slower process often results in a clean, crisp beer. The term lager originates from the German word “lagern,” which means “to store.” Lagers originated in colder European countries where cooler temperatures occur naturally. So, how do you know if you are drinking an ale or a lager? Check the style.
Ale Beer Styles: Stouts IPAs (India pale ale) Porters Trapist Hefeweizens
Lager Beer Styles: Pilsners Bocks Marzen (Oktoberfest) Malt Liquor American Lagers
Ales dominate the craft beer market. According to BeerAdvocate, an online site that ranks beers based on global beer drinkers’ reviews, the top 25 rated beers are ales. Actually, I’m anxiously awaiting the next expansion of lagers in the craft beer market. Because of the competitive, growing market, I predict bigger brewers will begin to push the envelope and develop more lager offerings. Slow and costly fermenting times make it a challenge for new and smaller breweries to create quality lagers. And because lagers are crisper and cleaner beers, there is less room for error. Off-flavors are harder to hide. But more lagers would be a welcomed change to the glut of IPAs that dominate the craft beer universe. POV
Dwayne Andras is a home brewer and selftaught beer expert in continuous search of the perfect pint. Chat with him about your favorite brew at DWAYNE.ANDRAS@GMAIL.COM. 94 POINT OF VUE EXPERT VUE OCTOBER 2015
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A VUE FROM THE VINE LANE BATES
Washington a Red (wine) State S
eeking a great red? Consider Washington’s best cabernets and red blends. I recently taste tested several wines from some of Washington’s top small producers. These wines highlight the overall excellent quality of the state’s 2012 vintage.
Sleight of Hand the Illusionist 2012, $ 49.99
This blend is from a boutique winery that never ceases to amaze with its superb quality. The Illusionist is 92 percent cabernet with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine is dark, dense and full-bodied, yet offers rich, ripe and generous flavors of cedar, tobacco and vanilla that explode on the palate. Balanced and elegant on the mid-palate, its fine, firmly integrated tannins linger on to an extended finish. The richness and ripeness make the Illusionist a joy to drink now or allow to gracefully age over the next 10-12 years. It is pretty much everything you’d expect from a top-flight cabernet and will easily rival the best Napa has to offer.
WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 93
Mark Ryan Long Haul 2012, $ 46.99
Mark Ryan is another of Washington’s top producers who’s consistently turned out award-winning wines since opening in 1999. Long Haul is mostly a Merlot and Cabernet Franc with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. It is dense, dark and broad shouldered with flavors of black cherry, cedar and spice. Long Haul has lots of structure, which ensures it will age for the next 10-plus years. Although drinkable now, Long Haul is certain to improve greatly over the next few years as it hits its stride. The tannins will soften and the wine will open to reveal many more subtle flavors. POV
1,225 CASES MADE WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 92
Lane Bates is the wine and spirits specialist at Cannata’s. Feel free to visit him to fin out more.
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BON APPÉTIT BECCA WEINGARD
Gumbo Pizza MAKES 1 PIZZA
A
nybody out there familiar with the ombre trend sweeping the country right now? The slow color fade … did y’all know that TREES invented ombre? Crazy. I admit, fall is amazing. I perpetually stand in awe at the beauty surrounding me. Like an aspiring actress walking through New York City for the first time, it’s hard to keep my jaw from hitting the ground. And what’s the first thing that comes to mind while wandering amongst the beauty around us? Can I get that on a pizza? I gotcha … it’s called a gumbo pizza. It’s everything delicious in the world painted onto an edible canvas.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED 4 oz. andouille sausage 2 T. cold butter 2 T. flou 1/3 cup diced onion 1 t. minced garlic 1/2 cup chicken stock 1 cup half and half 1/4 cup chopped green onions 1 1/2 t. chopped sage 1 t. chopped parsley 1/4 t. black pepper 1/2 t. salt 2 dashes hot sauce Dash of cayenne 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup grated provolone cheese 2 T. diced bell pepper 3 baby bella mushrooms, sliced 1 grilled chicken breast
HOW TO MAKE IT With a pizza stone in the middle rack, preheat oven to as high as it will go, at least 500 degrees. Slice sausage and cook in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Reserve 2 teaspoons of sausage drippings. Heat sausage drippings in 12-inch skillet over medium heat and add cold butter. When butter melts, whisk in flour, stirring constantly. Cook for 2 minutes over medium high heat or until chocolate brown color is achieved. Reduce heat to medium and add 1/3 cup of diced onion. Sauté 5 minutes, add minced garlic and sauté 1 minute. Whisk in chicken stock
until well blended, then add half and half and reduce heat to low. Stir in chopped green onions, sage, parsley, pepper, salt, hot sauce and cayenne, letting flavors marry for about 5 - 10 minutes. Top 12-inch pizza dough with sauce, add cheeses, bell pepper, mushrooms, sausage and chicken. Cover the pizza stone with semolina flour or corn meal to keep the pizza from sticking. Cook pizza 5-9 minutes, or until cheese is browning. If you don’t have a stone, just add more cooking time and place the pan in the oven when pizza is ready to cook. POV
A catfis out of bayou water, Becca Weingard shares adventures and recipes from her Cajun/ Italian kitchen in Washington, D.C., on her blog:
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SMARTY PANTS NO GOOGLING!
1
Which of these elements is not part of the eleven most common elements found in the human body?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
3
2
Magnesium Phosphorus Lithium Chlorine
The year 1848 was a year of political upheavals throughout Europe. What major event did not occur in 1848?
[A] Emperor Nicholas II [B] Emperor Alexander II
4
[A] The firs attempted unificatio of the German states [B] Hungary’s war of independence from the Austrian Empire
What is the name of the volcano that has been erupting on the island of Hawaii since 1983?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
7
Kīlauea Humuhumunukunukuapua’ Kamehameha Okolehao
What is the average gestation period for the African and Asian elephants?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
6
12 months 17 months 22 months 27 months
Venus Express Venera 9 Cassini-Huygens New Horizon
In musical terms, this is the rapid descent or ascent of the scale, creating a sliding effect.
[A] [B] [C] [D]
8
[C] Empress Catherine II [D] Czar Ivan IV
What unmanned spacecraft successfully landed on Venus and captured the first pictures of the planet’s surface?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
[C] Napoleon III is elected the firs President of France [D] Belgium establishes itself as an independent kingdom
5
Which Russian monarch sold Alaska to the United States, liberated the peasants and was ultimately assassinated by revolutionaries via explosion?
Tortellini Mussolini Glissando Vito Corleone
Which of the following surnames is not a patronymic, or named after one’s father?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
Ivanovich Jensen bin Yahya Juenemann
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Which of the following European empires never colonized what is now the United States?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
11
13
Which of these big cats is unable to truly purr?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
12
10 13 14 12
Which of these gems is not named after the location from where it was originally found?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
15
Russia Portugal Sweden Netherlands
How many provinces and territories does Canada have?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
10
Mountain lion (Puma concolor) Canadian lynx (Lynx canadenisis) Tiger (Panthera tigris) Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
This former Beatle popularized the use of benefit concerts by organizing the Concert for Bangladesh, a charity event that raised awareness and funds for those displaced by the Bangladesh Liberation War.
[A] Paul McCartney [B] John Lennon
14
Andalusite Turquoise Alexandrite Tanzanite
[C] George Harrison [D] Ringo Starr
With the exception of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, who was the third member of the Apollo 11 crew?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
Alan Shepherd Chris Hadfiel John Glenn Michael Collins
Well, How’d You Do? What would you do if I sang out of tune?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
Huh? Stand up and walk out on you! Finally! An easy question for once! The person above me lies! These questions are hard!
# CORRECT IQ
YOUR PANTSYNESS:
11-15
160 PANTS ON FIRE
6-10
110 SMARTY PANTS
1-5
50
PANTS ON THE GROUND
0
3
DID YOU FORGET YOUR PANTS?
ANSWERS 1) C 2) B 3) D 4) B 5) A 6) C 7) C 8) D 9) B 10) C 11) B 12) C 13) B 14) D 15) ?
9
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RENDEZVOUS Voice of the Wetlands Festival OCT. 9 - 11, FRIDAY: 6 P.M., SATURDAY & SUNDAY: 1P.M. WHERE: 5403 W. Park Avenue, Houma
DETAILS: After more than 10 years of music and arts, this internationally acclaimed festival has a new home on W. Park Avenue in Houma. The annual Voice of the Wetlands Festival is a balance between cultural celebration and realworld environmental awareness for the disappearing Louisiana Coast. There are no parking or entry fees, and ATMs and ticket booths will be available for concessions. CONTACT: VOICEOFTHEWETLANDS.ORG
Five Bayous Fishing Rodeo SATURDAY, OCT. 17, 12P.M. - 3P.M. WHERE: Houma Airbase Pavilion, Houma
DETAILS: Fish for a cause, particularly the Dulac
Community Center. This new light tackle and saltwater fishing rodeo will highlight the beautiful bayous of lower Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana’s Bayou Country and Saltwater Fishing Capital of the World. Tickets for adult participants and anglers using pirogues are $20 and youth tickets are $10.
French Food Festival OCT. 22 - OCT. 25 WHERE: Larose Civic Center, Larose
DETAILS: Celebrate the best in Cajun food with live music, carnival rides, art contests, auctions, pageants, a petting zoo and a bull-riding tournament. There are no parking fees or gate fees, but be sure to bring enough money when you visit any of the 40 booths. Overnight camping is available with advance reservations. CONTACT: FRENCHFOODFEST.COM, 985.693.7355
CONTACT: 985.563.7483
Chauvin Culture and Heritage Festival OCT. 17 - 18, SATURDAY: 10 A.M. - 10 P.M., SUNDAY: 10 A.M. - 9 P.M. WHERE: Ward 7 Fairgrounds, Chauvin
DETAILS: The Terrebonne Advocates for Possibility, or T-Possibility, is a non-profit organization whose goal is to ensure the survival of Chauvin’s living heritage and to support the community’s arts and culture. T-Possibility’s 6th Annual Chauvin Festival will feature a jambalaya cook-off, a 5K run, a showcase of local artists and, of course, live music. CONTACT: T-POSSIBILITY.ORG, 985.594.5000
Rougarou Fest OCT. 24 - 25, SATURDAY: 10 A.M. - 10 P.M., SUNDAY: 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. WHERE: Downtown Houma
DETAILS: The Rougarou Fest is an annual familyfriendly festival with a spooky flair that celebrates south Louisiana’s rich folklore. Browse the vending booths and art galleries, don a wacky costume, listen to some live music, crack open a cold craft beer (if you’re over 21), watch the Krewe Ga Rou parade and run from a horde of costumed zombies like your life depends on it. Registration fees for Rougarou Runners is $30 before Oct. 9 and $35 after. The costume contest is free but is limited to 100 contestants for each category – pets, most creative, funniest, scariest, movie characters and kids’ costumes. CONTACT: ROUGAROUFEST.ORG, 985.580.7289
Want us to include your event in our calendar? Shoot an email to EDITOR@RUSHING-MEDIA.COM and we’ll help spread the word.
Newsletters Receive additional content and weekly events when you sign up. SCAN HERE:
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SCENE IN A Paddlers took to Bayou Lafourche on
Sept. 5 for Pushing Paddles for a Cure, an event to honor Cut Off native Dillion Schicksnider, who passed away from muscular dystrophy in 2010.
B Members of the Bayou Playhouse
starred in a Louisiana-inspired version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” held at John Schneider Studios in Holden on Aug. 27 - 29.
C The Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter
broke ground on its new facility along West Park Avenue on Sept. 9. Once completed, the shelter will have space for homeless and sick animals all under one roof.
E D
D The Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival crowned their 80th King and Queen, John Armato and Anna Washburn, during coronation on Aug. 29 in Morgan City.
E More than 60 local artists displayed
their work and entertained crowds with music during Terrebonne Fine Art Guild’s Art After Dark in downtown Houma on Sept. 12. Muralist Hans Geist also installed an alligator piece in the water near the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government building during the event.
F Local restaurants and bars prepared
their best sips during the Best of the Bayou Festival’s Signature Drink Contest on Aug. 28. Bar Roussell’s Bayou Blueberry Lemonade was selected and served during the downtown Houma music festival on Sept. 26 - 27. POV
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F E
A F
B
C F
Taking in the scene around town?
#POVPICKME
your interesting, cute, fun pics and we might feature you in PoV’s Scene In! Don’t forget to include the who, what, when, where, and why and a daytime contact number. POVHOUMA.COM 103
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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX ADVERTISER
PAGE
A&G Refrigeration.................................... 49, 69 A&H Paint...................................................... 97 Aaron Pools................................................... 77 Acadian Total Security................................... 29 Advanced Eye Institute.................................. 89 Allstate - Brian Mustin.....................................74 Allstate - Charlotte Grace............................... 18 Allstate - Donna Owens................................. 49 Allstate - Stephanie Hebert............................ 33 Ameriprise Financial....................................... 85 Bar Roussell................................................... 72 Basketry, The..................................................74 Barker Buick GMC......................................... 91 Bayou Black Electric Supply.......................... 21 Bayou Dularge KC Fair................................... 21 Bayou Home Care......................................... 51 Bayou Playhouse........................................... 18 Bayou Surgical Specialists............................. 53 Beasley Pest Control....................................... 9 Big Mike’s BBQ Smokehouse........................ 19 Blanchard’s Refrigeration............................... 77 Brenda Leroux Babin..................................... 93 Bueche’s Jewelry........................................... 99 Budget Blinds................................................ 89 Cannata’s................................................... 4, 69 Cannibas Solutions........................................ 69 Cardiovascular Institute of the South............. 81 Carmouche Insurance....................................11 Chateau Terrebonne...................................... 97 Cindy Price.................................................... 86 Clearwater Pools............................................ 13 Coastal Dentistry............................................. 9 Coastal Home Builders.................................. 57 Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom............. 53 Corporate Office Park...................................... 5 Courtyard Marriott......................................... 19
Cypress Bayou Casino & Hotel........................ 3 Darrin Guidry................................................. 75 Deep South Oil & Vinegar...............................74 Dermatology Clinic, The................................. 13 Designs by Two.............................................. 34 Digestive Health Center................................. 33 Dishman Flooring Center............................... 77 Divinity Home Health Services................. 15, 49 Donner-Peltier Distillers.................................. 81 Double Oak Garden Center........................... 89 Doug’s Refrigeration.................................21, 51 E. D. White Catholic High School................... 13 Emile’s Furniture and Appliances................... 90 Endless Summer Tanning & Day Spa............. 49 Evolution Marine............................................ 49 Farm Bureau.................................................. 57 Felger’s Footwear.................................... 60, 91 First United Methodist Church....................... 88 Flynn Clinic of Chiropractic............................ 64 Fon’s Pest Management................................ 51 Frost Lumber................................................. 73 Gastroenterology Center of the South............. 5 G.D.C. Programs............................................ 98 Gold’n Gifts & Bridal Boutique........................11 Grace Lutheran Church................................. 34 Green Acres................................................... 29 Ground Pat’i Grill & Bar, The........................ 104 Haydel Spine, Pain & Wellness....................... 88 Heart & Soles Marathon................................. 67 Heavenly Scent.............................................. 67 Heidi Broudreaux........................................... 68 Houma Credit................................................ 49 Houma Digestive Health.................................. 7 Houma OB-GYN Clinic............................ 35, 49 Houma Orthopedic Clinic................................ 2 Houma-Thibodaux Spine & Rehabilitation........ 7 Iberiabank & Mortgage................................ 104 iiiCreative......................................................... 9 James “JJ” Buquet......................................... 71 Jones Dermatology........................................ 90 Just for You Flower & Gift Shoppe................. 98 LaRussa Real Estate Agency......................... 49
Lil’ Sweet Pea’s Boutique.............................. 53 Live 4 Sports.................................................. 67 Louis Mohana Furniture................................. 68 Louisiana Gumbo Festival.............................. 15 Made in the Shade......................................... 85 Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center................ 101 Mitchell Family Eye Care................................ 93 Morrison Terrebonne Lumber Center............... 9 Norby Chabert............................................... 83 Ochsner St. Anne.................................... 23, 95 Old Estate Art Gallery.................................... 73 Pour Moi........................................................ 44 Powerhouse Gym.......................................... 64 Premier OB-GYN........................................... 56 ReDoux, The.................................................. 32 Royal Room, The........................................... 99 Rudolph’s Route............................................ 35 Salty Dog Vapor........................................... 101 SLMA Health Clinic........................................ 91 South Louisiana Bank.............................. 33, 51 South Louisiana Financial Services................ 44 Southland Dodge........................................... 15 Southland Mall............................................. 108 St. Matthew’s Episcopal School.................... 87 State Farm (Carreker, Brue, Bednarz)............ 81 Stire Office World........................................... 35 Supreme Ornamental..................................... 83 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure............... 87 Synergy Bank.............................................. 105 Terminix....................................................... 101 Terrebonne General Medical Center.............. 65 Terrebonne Historical & Cultural Society . .. 49, 97 Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.........41, 61 Thieler Orthodontics...................................... 83 Tina DeSalvo.................................................. 48 Trapp Cadillac Chevrolet................................ 85 Valley Supply.................................................. 73 Vino! Piano Bar.............................................. 51 Waggin’ Tails.................................................. 68 Wetland’s Discovery Center....................27, 100 Workout Co., The..................................... 45, 59
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LOOK TWICE
Win a $50
Gift Card
Find the six diffe ences in this photo from our Rougarou Queen feature on page 78. Drop off your answers along with your name and daytime contact number at the PoV office 6160 W. Park Ave., Houma. Stuck at the offic Fax it, 985.873.9009, or email it to us, EDITOR@RUSHING-MEDIA.COM. A winner will be picked by random drawing OCTOBER 16. The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDA HENDERSON FOR WINNING LAST MONTH’S CONTEST.
Courtesy of
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1 2 3 4 5 6
Orange marbles missing “6” now “9” Price tag missing Blue marble now yellow Extra reflectio on marbles Shelf in back shorter
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Sarah Legendre CASA of Lafourche
C
ourt-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are voices for some of the youngest community members in desperate need of someone to depend on during difficult times. A CASA volunteer since 2009, Sarah Legendre advocates for children within the Louisiana 17th Judicial District Court (Lafourche Parish) and Thibodaux City Court, working closely with birth or foster parents, other family members, schools, doctors and counselors to make certain the rights and needs of each child is being met, with the hope of eventually seeing the minor in a loving home. Before becoming a Napoleonville-based attorney, Sarah learned about the work of these volunteers and has since become an important piece of the Lafourche Parish program. “When I was in law school, I had a classmate whose son was in CASA,” Sarah remembers. “She started telling me about it and I thought that would be something that I
would definitely want to get involved with. As an attorney, [volunteering] is something that’s encouraged as a way to give back to the community in some type of form or fashion.” Sarah has already advocated for six children and maintains contact with them to ensure their lives continue to improve. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get anything out of it myself. It is very rewarding, especially when you see these kids that come from broken homes either get adopted or you help the family out to get the services that they need,” Sarah says. “As a productive citizen, you should give back, especially if you are blessed with what you have. CASA is definitely one of those [organizations] that I’m heartfelt with because I have friends and family members who have been through the state system and I realize that one constant person in a child’s life does make a difference.” POV
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THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
7 New Words to Add to Your Vocabulary A
ll that mumbo-jumbo we’ve come up with over the last year is making its way to dictionary pages, solidifying it as much more than just slang. The Oxford Dictionary added
1
more than 1,000 new words recently to its beloved tomes and the words are far from ordinary. Can you figure out how to work these seven selections from the list into a sentence?
2
Mic drop
Deliberately or metaphorically dropping one’s microphone following a particularly impressive performance.
Fur baby
Your four-legged pup, kitten or other equally-furry pet.
3
4 Bruh
That male friend that doesn’t care that you don’t use his real name.
Hangry
Hungry + angry.
5
Awesomesauce Exceptionally excellent.
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6
Rage-quit
Angrily abandon a pursuit that has become frustrating.
7
Brain fart
A temporary mental lapse or failure to reason correctly. POV
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