Thrive's August 2019 Issue by Thrive Magazine

August 2019

ROUGE ET RAISING KIDS BLANC TODAY GUIDE

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Rehabilitation Hospital

of Jennings

DIAgNOSeS THAT we TReAT

• Brain Injury

• Hip Fractures

• Strokes

• Osteoarthritis/DJD

• Amputations

• Neurological Disorders

• Burns

• Spinal Cord Injury

• Major Multiple Trauma

• Congenital Deformities

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Systemic Vasculidities

• Joint Replacements

Others who can benefit from inpatient rehabilitation are postoperative patients, accident victims and cancer patients. 24 Hour Nursing Care • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy • Nutritional Counseling and Monitoring Case Management Call for a free assessment today. One Hospital Drive, Ste. 101 • Jennings, LA 70546 • Phone: (337) 821-5353 • Fax: (337) 821-5355 or 5366 jenningsrehab@yahoo.com • www.jenningsrehab.com 2

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

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Contents In This Issue

Wining & Dining 6 - 19 Rouge et Blanc Guide Style & Beauty

Regular Features

38 Who’s News 64 Happenings 66 Business Buzz 67 Solutions for Life

20 Fall Fashion Preview 22 From Farm to Face 24 3-D Facial Masks

Places & Faces O r l e a Gold ns N 26 -e36 w Football Mind & Body

T hKonMari i r d Method Time’s 40 42 Back to School Means Back to Germs 44 Bike Library 45 Guide to Essential Oils

Money & Career

46 Education Super-Heroes 52 College Admissions Myths 53 Money Values to Share with your Kids

Home & Family 54 -62

RAISING

kTODAY ids @thriveswla | thriveswla.com

Thrive is designed for people focused on living a happy, healthy life, one that is balanced, full of energy and contentment. Thrive readers want to make the most of every day and to be successful in all areas of their lives – family, health, home and career. Submitted articles and photos are welcome. Thrive assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials and does not guarantee any submissions. 4

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

54 Managing Editor Angie Kay Dilmore Editors and Publishers Kristy Como Armand Christine Fisher Creative Director Barbara VanGossen Design and Layout Sarah Bercier Business Manager Katie McDaniel Stevenson Advertising Sales katie@thriveswla.com 337.310.2099 Submissions edit@thriveswla.com

“We got in and out very quickly and the service was fabulous.” Meagan Gardner Full-time busy mom, Actual patient of Avail Hospital, Native of Lake Charles

As the mother of three active boys, trips to the emergency room are not uncommon for Meagan Gardner. And that always meant waiting for hours in an overcrowded ER.

Then she found out about Avail Hospital. “I had driven by Avail but never knew what it was. A friend told me it was a wonderful emergency hospital where we could get in quickly. And, we did. The staff at Avail makes all the difference - they were very caring. It was like being in a nice hotel instead of a hospital.” At Avail Hospital, our patients are seen within five minutes of arrival. But don’t take our word for it, ask a friend like Meagan who has been here.

337.656.7700 | AvailHospitals.com | 3730 Nelson Rd. | Lake Charles

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Wining & Dining

Time to buy your tickets to Southwest Louisiana’s greatest social soiree of the season . . . Rouge et Blanc! McNeese Banners’ premier food and wine event takes place October 12 on Ryan Street in Downtown Lake Charles. Ticketholders will sample a fine selection of wines offered by numerous wineries and dine on delicious fare prepared by local favorite restaurants and food vendors. This event is Banners’ biggest annual fundraiser. Patrons can enjoy the party knowing they are supporting high quality arts and entertainment for both local students and the community.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Rouge et Blanc

is moving to downtown Lake Charles at a later time slot for 2019! Saturday October 12, 4-8 pm 1911 Historic City Hall

Tickets go on sale August 16 at 9am

rougeetblanc.us

All proceeds support Banners at McNeese banners.org

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS

WINE DISTRIBUTORS

WINE RETAILER

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Wining & Dining |

Rouge et Blanc Guide

What's New at

ROUGE? by Jody Taylor

By popular demand, Rouge et Blanc returns to downtown Lake Charles on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Southwest Louisiana’s premier wine & food festival, a sell-out event for 13 years running, is also moving to a cooler 4:00-8:00 p.m., in the shade of the historic 1911 City Hall building at 1001 Ryan Street. Held on the campus of McNeese State University since 2014, Rouge et Blanc gets back to its roots this year to showcase the Lake Area’s vibrant downtown cultural center, and, going forward, will alternate between the McNeese campus and the downtown area.

Tickets go on sale to the public at 9:00 a.m., Friday, August 16 at www. rougeetblanc.us. Last year’s online ticket sales went off without a hitch, but a ticket window will be maintained at the box office in the lobby of the historic F.G. Bulber Auditorium at McNeese for any patrons who prefer to purchase in person. As the flagship fundraiser for Banners at McNeese, Rouge et Blanc allows for funding to the organization’s annual Cultural Series in March and April, as well as off-season educational programming through Banners Engages.

For more information on tickets, Rouge et Blanc, or Banners at McNeese, visit our website at www. banners.org. We’ll see you in October!

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

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Wining & Dining |

Rouge et Blanc Guide

Du Lac Pre-Tasting Event by Jody Taylor

Rouge et Blanc’s popular pre-tasting soiree, Saveur du Lac, is expanding in scope for the event’s big move to downtown Lake Charles, set for October 12, 2019. Saveur du Lac, open to Imperial Imbiber patrons only, transforms this year into a guided tour through downtown and its restaurants, featuring enhanced gourmet food and wine pairings at each stop. All wine samples offered during Saveur du Lac will be sold at a retail price of $75 and up. The tour will kick off at 1:00 p.m. in the beautiful and historic Calcasieu Marine Bank building and for the first time, Saveur and Gold ticket holders will also get a preview of the Grand Tasting before the gates open to the public. Participating restaurants for Saveur du Lac include 1910, The Villa, Luna Bar & Grill, and Panorama Music House.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Rouge et Blanc is the primary fundraiser for the year-round cultural and educational programming from Banners at McNeese. For more information on tickets, the Rouge et Blanc Imbiber program, or Banners at McNeese, visit www.banners.org.

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1940

Service – Selection – Savings That’s The Magic of the Ghost!

Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm Friday-Saturday 10am-9pm

(337) 474-0447 1915 Country Club Road Lake Charles

T aste WEEKLY TASTINGS

Bigger and better than ever! Fridays 5-7pm

12 BEERS ON TAP

Grab & Fill Growlers Available

12 WINES ON TAP Try Before You Buy

Gift Baskets, Gift Cards, & Cigars Available thriveswla.com

Wining & Dining |

Rouge et Blanc Guide

Everyone knows that Rouge et Blanc is one of the best and most prestigious annual events on the Southwest Louisiana social scene. But do they know WHY the Banners team works so hard to plan this amazing event year after year? The answer is simple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so that Banners, a financially self-sustaining organization within McNeese State University, can continue to provide the community with access to exceptional arts and humanities programming, and education through the arts that is unique to the area. Banners is committed to lifelong learning and an appreciation of cultural diversity, with a focus on enhancing quality of life in the communities of Southwest Louisiana. Simply put, when you purchase a ticket to Rouge et Blanc, you support community services provided by Banners at McNeese.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;˘ August 2019

BANNERS CULTURAL SEASON Through their Cultural Season, Banners presents a series of performances each spring featuring a wide array of internationally acclaimed artists and engaging presenters. Cultural Season offerings include live music, readings, dance, illusionists, academic lectures, film screenings, and more. Each Season’s line-up is chosen by a group of volunteers who review possible artists to choose the best options for our community. Volunteers participate as ticket takers, hospitality providers, and outreach assistants. Due to the tireless efforts of the Banners team and enthusiastic support from patrons and volunteers, attendance for 2019’s Cultural Season increased by nearly 55%.

BANNERS ENGAGES One of the most important responsibilities of Banners is to engage local students in creative educational programming through arts and humanities performances. Banners Engages includes live presentations at no cost to public and parochial schools, appearances at Parish Public Libraries, demonstrations to students of McNeese State University, and events at other community venues. This program works to increase the number of students who experience

live cultural programming, increase the number of hours of arts and humanities programming, and supplement the curriculum with prepared materials. Its objective is to ensure that children develop creativity, innovation, and critical and entrepreneurial thinking. Studies have also shown that children involved in the arts are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, to be elected to class office within their schools, and to win awards for school attendance. Each year, more than 17,000 students reap the benefits of having Banners educational outreach performances as part of their learning environment. With approximately 60 outreach programs annually, Banners at McNeese brings arts and humanities to K-12 schools and homeschool students throughout Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis Parishes and the students of McNeese State University. When you support Banners at McNeese by attending Rouge et Blanc or purchasing a season subscription, you help provide our community with access to exceptional arts and humanities programming – as well as furthering the education of our children. For more information on Banners or Rouge et Blanc, visit their website at www.banners.org.

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Wining & Dining |

Rouge et Blanc Guide

Wine-Tasting

ETIQUETTE Everything You Need to Know An afternoon of wine tasting, paired with delicious food, music and great friends – sounds like the perfect way to spend an early fall afternoon, right? That’s exactly what Rouge et Blanc’s grand tasting offers. Long-time attendees have developed their tried-and-true routines for strolling through the various vendor booths. As the event has evolved over the years,

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

and as Southwest Louisiana’s population has grown, there are more and more people attending Rouge et Blanc for the first time. If you’ve never been to a tasting event, it can be overwhelming. Where to go? What to do? Wine tasting etiquette goes beyond social rules. These guidelines can help you help you make the most out of the tasting experience.

IT’S A TASTE

MOVE ASIDE

BE RESPONSIBLE

The wine offered at each booth is a tasting-size pour, which is about one ounce. That’s what the volunteers are trained to serve. So, don’t expect to receive a full glass of wine. It’s poor etiquette to ask for more than you are served, or to quickly drink your serving and request a refill. If you want a second taste of a wine you enjoyed, you can return to that vendor later.

Show consideration by stepping up to get a sample, and then stepping away or to the end of the next line to enjoy it. Other participants, as well as the vendors showcasing their wines, will appreciate this courtesy. If the vendor is offering more than one wine, either step to the side between pours or return later.

While you shouldn’t drink enough to get drunk at a tasting, you may consume a fair amount of wine during the afternoon. Designating a driver or planning ahead for a taxi or Lyft ride is the responsible thing to do.

DRINK WATER

Pour out (or spit out) wine after you have had a sufficient taste if it’s one you don’t want to finish. Your pourer will not be offended. Drinking too much wine will make it difficult to taste the differences after a while, which defeats the whole purpose of a wine tasting. Buckets are available at all wine booths, along with water to rinse out your glass. Rinsing is especially important if you are going back and forth between reds and whites.

Alcohol dehydrates the body, so sip water between wines to cleanse your palate and stay hydrated. Water is provided at several locations throughout the event.

EAT There’s delicious food served along with the wine for a reason. Alcohol enters the bloodstream quickly. When your stomach is empty, you’ll feel the effects much quicker, which means you’ll be able to handle less wine than you would on a full stomach.

DISCARD

All these suggestions have one goal in common – to help you enjoy every moment you spend at Rouge et Blanc.

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Wining & Dining |

Rouge et Blanc Guide

Unraveling the Mysteries of

Wine Buying by Michael Biddick

Walking into a retail wine shop or the wine section of a grocery store can be quite overwhelming. Whether you are looking for a bottle for a special date night or a case for a weekend party, there is a lot of pressure to choose something that everyone will like and not break the bank. Unfortunately, higher price does not mean higher quality and the variety of wines from different countries can make picking the right one intimidating for many people. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consider three steps to make that process a little less daunting:

Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;˘ August 2019

Consider the setting. Think about where you will drink the wine. Is it for an outdoor party in the summer, where a rosé or light white wine may work, or is it a romantic winter dinner, with roasted meat, suitable for a red wine? These environmental considerations will establish an overall framework and get you thinking about the direction you need to head in the store. Paring the wine with the food and even external factors like music, temperature and lighting all are part of the wine selection process. It need not be complicated. Just remember that warmer weather and lighter or spicy food is usually best for lighter white and rosé wines, whereas cooler temperatures and richer foods like meat and chocolate generally work well with reds. Determine the country of origin.

Classic wine regions in France, Spain or Italy have a certain flavor profile and wines from California, Australia, South Africa and other newer wine producing regions have another. While it’s hard to generalize thousands of wines from a region, classic wine producing areas focus more on displaying unique characteristics from their geography like the soil, climate and specific grapes. Newer wine regions tend to focus more on the expression of fruit. For a wine drinker, this usually means that newer wine regions will be fruiter while classic wine regions will display more earthiness, some in the wine industry call this terroir – or expression of place.

Choose a specific bottle. Here, the label is very important – unless you have the chance to taste the wines. Unfortunately, every label from every winery will be different. Even the type of information will be different. Classic regions will normally not place the names of the grapes on the level. They may only list a wine growing region. It is difficult for most buyers to know what grapes are in this wine, unless they consult a reference guide. For classic regions in Europe, look for an AOC or AOP designation on the label. This means that the wine maker needed to conform to specific standards to use that term on the label. For newer wine regions, look for specific grapes you may have tried in the past. A Pinot Noir will be lighter in color and flavor. A Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon will be deeper colored and richer in flavor. You will also find several blends that combine grapes. Winemakers realize that most wine is consumed quickly after purchase, so they have adapted over the years to produce styles that do not need to be stored in a dusty cellar for years. The best way to discover great wines is to explore, so don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way to uncover what you really like. If you start with these steps, it will make the wine buying process a little less intimidating. Michael Biddick is a sommelier and author of the award-winning book 43 Wine Regions.

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Wining & Dining |

Rouge et Blanc Guide

Be an Imbiber for the Ultimate Rouge et Blanc Experience So you’ve attended every Rouge et Blanc event for the past ten years or more and that four-hour tasting extravaganza is one of the highlights of your social calendar year. Are you ready to take your Rouge experience to the next level? Become an Imbiber! There are many perks to being a Rouge Imbiber and Gold Ticket Holder. First, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase tickets early next year, so you’re guaranteed a spot at the party.

Avoid those longer lines and enjoy earlier access to the booths, as gold ticket patrons enter the event through the VIP gate and receive special goodies like an extra-large wine glass – the perfect Rouge souvenir. Imbibers are also eligible to purchase a reservation for one of four VIP tables (while they last). To become an Imbiber, patrons must purchase $250-$499 in wine during the Rouge et Blanc event cycle. For even more perks, purchase $500 or more in wine to qualify as an Imperial Imbiber.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Patrons with Imperial Imbiber Status qualify to attend the excellent Saveur du Lac pre-tasting event, a same-day guided tour through downtown restaurants featuring wines over $75 in retail, paired with the best in Southwest Louisiana cuisine. Special ticket bundles are also available to purchase for Imperial Imbibers, which include early pre-sale access to extra Red tickets for friends and family who’d like to attend. Get your tickets today and be a part of the biggest social event of the year!

Tickets go on sale to the public on August 16 at 9:00 a.m. For more information, contact Banners at McNeese office via banners@mcneese.edu, (337) 475-5997, or see their website, www.banners.org.

PARTY

Responsibly

The Rouge et Blanc staff and Thrive magazine want you to have a great time at this annual premier party. But we also want you to be safe. We strongly encourage you – if you’ve been enjoying the wine all afternoon -- please don’t drive yourself home. There are plenty of other options. • Have a designated driver in your group. Arrange to have a friend or family member drop you off at the event and pick you up when it is over. • Hire a chauffeur. Many young drivers appreciate the opportunity to earn a little extra cash. • Make it fun by asking friends to join you in hiring a limo service. • Call a cab. Yellow Cab offers a Safe Ride Home rate within the Lake Charles city limits; 337-433-8282. Or check online for other taxi options – there are several. • Call for a Lyft. With a tap on an app, a Lyft driver will take you home . . . or wherever the next party might be.

benefitting the

Calcasieu Community Clinic

Refine your taste for wine in a fun, casual atmosphere. Get great tips on the basics of wine selection and enjoyment while you sample a specially prepared menu of hors d’oeuvres perfectly paired with incredible wine.

Wednesday, OctOber 9 6:00 p.m. Grand Ballroom at 777 Avenue L’Auberge | Lake Charles

Tickets: $75 Tickets available online at www.calcasieucommunityclinic.com under the ‘Support Us’ page, or by calling (337) 478-8650.

Presenting Sponsor:

Champagne Sponsors:

Magnum Sponsor:

Barbara and Raleigh Newman

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Style & Beauty

F all F a s hi o n PREVIEW It seems like summer only started, but soon, beach days will come to an end as kids are back in school and preparation for cooler weather begins. At least there are plenty of fun new fall fashion trends to get your wardrobe autumn-ready.

by Emily Alford

Ge t t heSlip There’s something about a slip dress that brings to mind the sultry summer setting of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but slip dresses work for fall and winter as well. The secret is layering. The slip dresses that are on-trend for fall are loose fitting, which makes them perfect layering pieces. Add a white tee shirt or sheer long-sleeved shirt underneath your favorite summer slip dress and add a denim or moto jacket on top, and viola, instant fall style that looks straight from the runways.

Sati nSeason Fall’s best slip dresses often come in satin-y fabrics that feel as great as they look. But if slips aren’t your thing, satin midi skirts, which are pencil skirts that hit just below the knee are also huge for fall. This season’s satin skirts are also incredibly versatile. Dress them up up with a romantic oversized sweater or down with a cropped concert tee and denim jacket.

Dressy Du ffe ls

For far too long, the duffel bag has been relegated to gym lockers. That’s a shame because the characteristic barrel shape can actually fit a lot of stuff without looking bulky. Fall’s duffel-shaped handbags are the rare fashion trend that combines utility with style, a nice break from the teeny cross body bags that have been in style the past couple of years.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Back to Buckets

If you’ve found yourself missing the bucket hats last spotted in 1999, well, you’re in luck because you’re about to see them everywhere, on both men and women alike. Look for sporty styles from brands like Columbia and The North Face. Or if you’re really into the classics, opt for an Adidas bucket hat that looks straight off the set of Clueless.

Je w e l Hues

The best thing about fall fashion is that a great new jacket or a few new accessories can turn those same sundresses or tee shirts you’ve been wearing all summer into a completely new look. Take stock of your favorite summer pieces to see how they might work with fall’s most fashion-forward trends.

After a few seasons full of soft pinks and floral prints, this fall’s most sought after colors are a bit bolder, which is a nice break from all the pastels. Fall’s best blouses, suiting, and even leather jackets come in deep shades of sapphire, ruby, emerald, and garnet. And if you can’t get enough color, pairing a bold jewel-toned suit with a bright bag in a complementary jewel hue is a fun way to play with the trend.

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Style & Beauty

From Farm

to Face

THE GROWING TREND OF ORGANIC & PLANT-BASED COSMETICS by Angie Kay Dilmore Most of us are aware that what we put into our bodies can affect our health and we try to eat wholesome, nutritious food. Consumers are now beginning to understand that what we put on our bodies is important, as well. There’s a growing collective fear of synthetic ingredients and chemicals with names we cannot pronounce. Consequently, a trend is growing toward natural, organic, plant-based products within the skin care/ cosmetics industry. Liz Kapelan owns Pure Vida, an online market that sells natural skin care products. She attributes this trend to the fact that our culture is more connected than ever, which has created an awareness and concern for each other, in the foods and drinks we consume, and the products we purchase. “There are legitimate concerns raised by researchers about chemicals in common skin care products such as BPA, parabens, and phthalates,” says Kapelan. “There have been lawsuits like the Johnson & Johnson ovarian cancer talc cases, where multimillion-dollar settlements have been given to people who claimed using baby powder for years caused their cancer. The hair care company Wen settled a $26 million class-action case because one of its products was allegedly making people’s hair fall out. Consumers have become fearful of chemicals and have started looking for products they think would be ‘natural’ or ‘safer.’” Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, and we absorb things through our pores. So, we need to be aware of what we put on our skin. Kapelan says there are many benefits of plant-based cosmetics over synthetic/chemical ingredients. We recognize

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

these benefits mostly by understanding what is harmful about the synthetics. Parabens, a common preservative in conventional cosmetics, are known to mimic our bodies’ natural hormones, and many researchers are concerned this can alter the functions of our own endocrine systems. Many of these ingredients are used to increase shelf-life, add fragrance, and improve adherence to our skin.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE INGREDIENTS LISTS Instead of looking for certain ingredients, Kapelan recommends you check the number of ingredients on the product label. Less is best in many scenarios, including skin care products. A multitude of ingredients may lead to skin irritation. You should be able to pronounce the ingredients; if you can’t, they most likely are synthetic. Also, steer clear of products that include ingredients simply labeled “fragrance” or “parfum”. “These represent an undisclosed mixture of scent chemicals and ingredients that companies can put into a product without revealing what exactly it is,” says Kapelan. And therein lies a major problem in the cosmetics industry. The FDA does not define or regulate the labels natural, organic, and clean. How can a consumer know a product is safe and effective? Kapelan, along with others in the industry, has challenged lawmakers to address this issue. “Cosmetic regulation laws in the US haven’t been meaningfully updated since 1938, and brands mainly regulate themselves. Just because a product is labeled, “natural, all

organic ingredients,” doesn’t necessarily make it true. This is where being a conscious consumer comes into play, and right now it is easier than ever to be one.” Kapelan recommends consumers visit the Environmental Working Group website and their app called EWG’s Healthy Living. They have created a cosmetic database that provides information on product ingredients from published literature and supplies rankings relative to the level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in the product. She also trusts the app, Think Dirty. Simply scan the product barcode and Think Dirty provides easy-tounderstand information on the product and its ingredients. Several ingredients have been creating buzz lately, but a few stand out to Kapelan, including rose hip seed oil (Rosa rugose and Rosa canina), aloe vera (Aloe Barbadensis), rose clay (Kaolinite), and marine algae, specifically seaweed extract. Kapelan reminds consumers that the natural cosmetic industry is indeed that – an industry. True, many companies are taking their ingredient lists seriously, however, sometimes it can be a marketing ploy. “Certification and verified labels are how we consumers navigate this market and make conscious choices for our health and the health of our families.” For more information, go to purevidaonline. com, email purevidaonline@gmail.com, for find on social media, @purevidaonline.

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Style & Beauty

3-D Facemasks

The Future of Customized Facials In the past few years, sheet masks have become a huge beauty trend. And while sheet masks are excellent for hydrating, soothing irritated skin, and even calming sunburns, they’re also often ill fitting and not quite suited to individual skin concerns. However, all that’s about to change with Neutrogena’s new customprinted sheet masks, available this fall.

How it works

First, customers download MaskiD, Neutrogena’s 3-D mask app onto their smartphones. Then, they use the app to take a selfie. Using the photo, the app can customize the shape of the mask to fit customers’ faces, no more awkward slipping or tugging to get those masks to stay put. From there, users can customize which type of treatment they’d like in each area of the mask. For example, if pores are an area of concern around the nose and dryness is a problem on the cheeks, these 3-D masks can address both concerns all at once. For additional customization, skincare lovers can purchase the Neutrogena Skin 360 system, which includes a tool that attaches to smartphones in order to analyze skin concerns and saves skin data in the Neutrogena app.

How it’s different

Neutrogena’s team of dermatologists, chemists, and biologists worked together to come up with the masks’ top five active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, feverfew, N-acetyleglucosamine, and vitamin C. This combination is proven to reduce redness and dark spots while also smoothing fine lines. And these custom-fit hydrogel masks, which are made with locust beans and red seaweed, can address each of these concerns individually across different parts of the face. Once users have settled on which components they’d like each area of their mask to contain, they submit their order directly through the app. While Neutrogena hasn’t listed prices yet, representatives for the company have said that they will be comparable in price to drug store masks. Skincare lovers who find themselves buying multiple masks for many different skincare concerns might even find themselves saving a bit of money on an all-in-one solution.

How to get one

Unfortunately, 3-D sheet masks won’t be available for another few months, but you can sign up to be one of the first to get your customized sheet mask by entering your email address at www.neutrogena.com/maskid. Until then, use Skin360 for even more personalized recommendations.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

by Emily Alford

LIVE AT THE L’AUBERGE EVENT CENTER

BIG & RICH

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 • 8PM Doors open 7pm | Show starts 8pm Tickets may be purchased at ticketmaster.comm See the Box Office for details.

/LAubergeLC

@LAubergeLC

GAMBLING PROBLEM? PLEASE CALL 800.522.4700.

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Places & Faces

FN eowo tO rbl eaa ln ls

Gold

Third Time’s

CALLING ALL FOOTBALL FANS! IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN AND THIS ISSUE IS FOR YOU. PICK UP A COPY, PULL OUT YOUR TEAM JERSEYS, AND PUT ON YOUR GAME FACE. THESE STORIES WILL GET YOU EXCITED FOR THE 2019-2020 GRIDIRON SEASON. IN THIS YEAR’S FOOTBALL GOLD COVER SECTION, YOU’LL FIND UPDATES AND SCHEDULES ON YOUR FAVORITE LOUISIANA TEAMS, BIOS OF LOCAL ATHLETES CURRENTLY IN THE NFL, AND A RUNDOWN ON WHERE TO WATCH THE BIG GAMES.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Committed to Fueling Good Things in Southwest Louisiana CITGO is fueling good things in our community. Education and health are two of our social responsibility focus areas, and we applaud the efforts of student athletes. We wish good luck to all of Southwest Louisiana’s football teams this season.

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Places & Faces | Football Gold

New Orleans

Saints Third Time’s the Charm by Matt Dye

by Matt Dye

For the past two seasons, my preseason Super Bowl pick has been Saints v. Patriots, and if not for two plays, I’d probably have been spot on. In the 2018 playoffs, the 11-5 Saints went to Minnesota and had the Vikings back on their heels and beaten. Down 24-23, the Vikings had the ball 3rd & 10 on their own 39 with only ten seconds. Out of timeouts, anything short of a touchdown on this play would nearly ensure the Saints heading to Philly to play the overachieving Eagles. And then Case Keenum threw up a prayer, Stefon Diggs made a miracle catch, and Marcus Williams, poor Marcus Williams, made perhaps the worst tackle attempt in history. Game over, Saints lose 29-24. The Vikings went on to lose to the Eagles, who would then embarrass Brady and company in Super Bowl LII. But the Saints bounced back last season went 13-3, had the number 1 seed in the playoffs, and . . . I’m sure the rest is still fresh in everyone’s mind. They attempted to change the pass interference replay rule in the offseason. Fans petition that the game

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

be replayed. Refs who weren’t even at the game were fingered in the conspiracy. Needless to say, it got ugly. And in the offseason, the Saints got better. The only major loss in the offseason might have been Mark Ingram, but that’s really addition by subtraction. Even before the Saints drafted Alvin Kamara two years ago, the writing was on the wall in a lot of ways for Ingram. He showed signs of new life having to compete with Kamara, but that also became somewhat of a detriment as Kamara continued to improve in his second year. No longer having a 1a/1b running back scenario will only make this team better and allow Kamara to continue to cement his place as the most versatile back in the league. At the same time, the Saints brought in Latavius Murray, who is a solid back-up to spell Kamara on 3rd down plays when needed. The X-factor addition is Jared Cook at tight-end. A journeyman tightend who’s played for Tennessee, St. Louis, Oakland, and Green Bay, he’s been productive everywhere he’s been. On the flipside, it could be argued that the Saints’ down-years

began when they started taking away Brees’ favorite weapons, i.e. Darren Sproles and Jimmy Graham. He’s now got his type of running back with Kamara doing an even better Sproles 2.0. If Cook can become even Jimmy Graham lite, this offense could be unstoppable. And let’s not forget Michael Thomas, who is quietly becoming the best wide receiver in the game. The defensive side of the ball is solid as well, boasting the number 2 rush defense last season, and bringing back bruisers like Cameron Jordan, Sheldon Rankins, Vonn Bell, and Marshon Lattimore. While in today’s NFL they’re bound to be in a few shootouts throughout the season, this defense should be more than capable of holding teams down if it stays healthy. So, before the window closes completely and Drew officially passes the torch to Zion and the Benson family switches priorities to the Pelicans, give it to me one more time: Saints v. Patriots in the Super Bowl, with the Saints winning it all.

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Places & Faces | Football Gold

McNeese C o w b o y s -A New Eraby Matt Dye

New McNeese head coach Sterling Gilbert has a smoldering fire effect to him. He’s not the in your face, loud, rah-rah-sisboom-bah type. But there’s an intelligence and intensity behind those eyes, and even without being the biggest personality, he’s impossible to mistake in a room. After the wheels came off the horse last season with McNeese losing four of its last five games after starting 5-1, a change was in the wind. Coach Lance Guidry was gone, and an expected long coaching search was on the horizon. But the administration knew whom they wanted, and in less than two weeks, the Cowboys had a new leader. Surprisingly, Gilbert breaks the string of Louisiana coaches that have graced the halls of McNeese football, and brings a different pedigree to the table. A former Texas college standout quarterback and much sought after offensive coordinator, Gilbert has worked with such quarterback talents as current 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and served the last few seasons under Charlie Strong, at Texas and then at USF. That said, his message is pretty familiar to those of us in Southwest Louisiana.

“It’s about family,” Gilbert tells the team. “When I say la familia, you’re gonna get up, and you’re gonna hug two people, and you’re going to say, ‘count on me.’” Gilbert also isn’t confused about what’s made McNeese great for so long. “When I was playing at Angelo State, I always heard those guys talking about playing McNeese and how tough it was and coming down and getting beat on.” In addition to a new coaching staff, McNeese will also embark on the start of a new era as Cody Orgeron finally takes his place as the starting quarterback for the Cowboys. Seen by many last season as the better option behind center, Orgeron waited his turn behind senior QB James Tabray, who started the season at a blistering pace before being hampered by injuries. Orgeron should be wellsupported with returning receivers such as Cyron Sutton, Trevor Begue, and Nate Briscoe. Unfortunately, perhaps the saddest news coming out of preseason was learning that Parker Orgeron, Cody’s older brother and standout wide receiver, would no longer be able to play football due to health reasons. There’s a

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

special alternate timeline where we all get to enjoy the Orgeron to Orgeron connection. Best of wishes to Parker as he joins the team as a graduate assistant. There’s a lot riding on this new era, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to be all high flying offensive ball. This McNeese defense still plans to be hard hitting, led by senior defensive end Chris Livings. A Lake Charles native and former Barbe standout, Livings is just 10.5 sacks away from the school record and only needs half a tackle for loss to move into the school’s Top 10. Cody Roscoe, Darion Dunn, and Jovon Burriss should be other leaders to watch on a defense that looks to get back to their head knockin’ ways. Coach Gilbert and company will have their work cut out for them as the Southland Conference continues to improve across the board, making it one of the most competitive conferences in FCS ball. Perennial bottom-dwellers Nicholls and Incarnate Word, who didn’t even have a football program ten years ago, tied for a share of the Southland Conference Championship last year, showing the parity that now exists in the conference. Even cross border

rivals Lamar, who were 2-9 in 2017, improved to 7-5 last year, while usual powerhouses such as Central Arkansas and Sam Houston were right there in the middle of the pack with McNeese at 6-5. And don’t think McNeese boosters aren’t aware McNeese’s last playoff win was all the way back in 2002. Looking at the schedule, things don’t look at all like an easy path for Coach Gilbert’s head coaching debut. McNeese starts with three nonconference games, all quality, with both Southern and Alcorn State coming to Cowboy Stadium, and a match-up at Oklahoma State in between. Then it’s non-stop conference action, starting on the road against Abilene Christian and ending with a two-game road stint at Nicholls and then Lamar. There’s too much uncertainty to make a steadfast prediction, but McNeese has all the talent to win the Southland this year . . . but it seems so do a lot of teams. Get ready for an exciting season as we move into the Sterling Gilbert era!

2019 SCHEDULE 8/31 | 6:00 PM SOUTHERN U.

10/12 | 4:00 PM @CENTRAL ARKANSAS

9/7 | 6:00 PM @OKLAHOMA

10/19 | 4:00 PM HBU

9/14 | 6:00 PM ALCORN ST.

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9/21 | 6:00 PM @ACU

11/2 | 4:00 PM NORTHWEST ST.

9/28 | 6:00PM SAM HOUSTON

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Turf!

Take care of your

BOOK YOUR FALL COLOR NOW

Pre-season is CRITICAL.

And we’re not just talking about football! Having a game plan for your lawn and landscape during the fall will help protect it during the colder winter months and ensure a lush, healthy yard when spring comes. Fall is the perfect time to fertilize and aerate the lawn, freshen up mulch in the beds, remove dead annuals, and lightly prune dead and dying branches. When the temperature begins to drop, it’s also a good time to plant certain trees and shrubs, allowing them to establish roots during the cooler season. Unsure about what you need to do for your yard this fall? We can help – just give us a call! We Plan. You Plant. Landscaping made simple for your home.

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Places & Faces | Football Gold

LSU

T i g e r s

One Game to Rule Them All by Matt Dye Coming into last season, Coach Orgeron couldn’t have been in a hotter seat. After a dismal first year that saw him replacing innovative offensive coordinator Matt Canada with former LSU quarterback and then tight ends coach Steve Ensminger, as well as losing to Troy – yes, Troy, you haven’t blocked that out, have you – many fans were questioning whether giving Orgeron the full-time position was the smart move. Enter Joe Burrows, a transfer from Ohio State, who put up passing numbers last season that hadn’t been seen since the days of Mettenberger. All of the sudden, it seemed that maybe LSU’s offense had finally transitioned to the passing attack of the 21st century, and behind Burrows’ arm, they won 10 of 13 games, and finished two plays from winning two more: a stop against Florida, and that wild 7 overtime game against Texas A&M that someone had to lose. The real lone blemish on the schedule? You guessed it. Alabama. 29-0. In Death Valley. Regardless, unlike last season, expectations for this season are sky high, and Coach O is quite aware. “The first thing we have to do is block out the noise . . . when we get back to camp, we have to forget all of that.” Coach O will admit that he let the criticism last year light a little bit of a fire under him. “It was an internal motivation, there’s no question about that.” Looking forward to this season, one of the most interesting additions to the team is on the coaching staff. New passing game coordinator/ wide receivers coach Joe Brady comes from

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

spending the past two years with the Saints and looks to help supplement Ensminger’s offense with more of the Run Pass Option that Joe Burrows was familiar with during his time in Ohio. That also means that yes, we will see a new look offense, one that Coach O said will look to take deep shots at least eight times a game. EIGHT! We aren’t too far removed from the days when LSU refused to take a deep shot even once a game! In addition, the offense brings back eight starters, and instead of being overly blown away by the running game this year, get ready to know your wide receivers. Joe Brady didn’t just leave the Saints for no reason. Justin Jefferson was just two receptions off Jarvis Landry’s sophomore season pace, while eclipsing both Landry and OBJ in TDs in the same stretch. In addition, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall should be looking to catch fire. On the defensive side of the ball, few come better than coordinator Dave Aranda, and he’s got what Coach O might be calling the best secondary he’s ever seen, led by Grant Delpit at safety. Look for freshman Derek Stingley to make an immediate impact at corner, as well. Matt Dye is the creator and host of The Tailgate Kings, a sports talk and food show that airs Sunday mornings from 8-11 on Rock 101.3. He is also a professor of English at SOWELA and an awardwinning actor around town. He’s been known to accept whiskey or wine in gratitude, but never both at the same time.

2019 SCHEDULE 8/31 | 6:30 PM GA SOUTHERN 9/7 | 6:30 PM @TEXAS 9/14 | 6:30 PM NORTHWEST ST.

9/21 | TBA @VANDERBILT

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10/19 | TBA @MS STATE

10/26 | TBA AUBURN

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11/30 | TBA TEXAS A&M

LSU Builds Impressive New Addition to Training Facility Not only is LSU updating its game on the field, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also looking to compete with Alabama when it comes to giving players the best amenities on the planet. The new look digs, which cost nearly $23 million and adds 25,000 square feet to the already impressive layout, has a new locker room, meeting room, cafeteria, and pods where the players can lay out and watch film or take a nap between classes. These new looks are going to be hard for future recruits to ignore.

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Places & Faces | Football Gold

Sw la At hlet es in t he

NFL by Nate Ellender

With the NFL season fast approaching, the public mind turns again to 120 yard sections of carefully managed (or manufactured), precisely graduated turf over which herculean efforts will be expended and dozens of weekly battles will be ground out in sweat and skill. CURRENTLY, FIVE NFL PLAYERS HAIL FROM SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

photo credit Andy Lyons

photo courtesy Washington Redskins

photo credit Al Bello

Name: Al Woods

Name: Deshazor Everett

Name: Damon Harrison

Hometown: Elton High School: Elton High School Position in High School: Defensive Tackle Year Graduated High School: 2005 NFL Team: Seattle Seahawks Current Position: Defensive Tackle Fun Fact: Al Woods spends his summers on a very different type of field, working on his family farm in Elton as a third-generation farmer and cattleman.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Hometown: DeRidder High School: DeRidder High School Position in High School: Defensive Back Year Graduated High School: 2010 NFL Team: Washington Redskins Current Position: Strong Safety Fun Fact: Deshazor Everett is the second person ever to be honored with the Key to the City in his hometown of DeRidder, Louisiana.

Hometown: New Iberia High School: Lake Charles-Boston Position in High School: Defensive Line Year Graduated High School: 2006 NFL Team: Detroit Lions Current Position: Defensive Tackle Fun Fact: Damon Harrison garnered the nickname “Snacks” due to a penchant for eating candy and treats during meetings. A bit of clever coaching helped turn his eating habits and field performance around, starting a climb to league-elite status in the following years.

Name: Dakota “Dak” Prescott

N ame: Trey Quinn

Hometown: Baton Rouge High School: Barbe High School Position in High School: Wide Receiver Year Graduated High School: 2013 NFL Team: Washington Redskins Current Position: Wide Receiver Fun Fact: Trey Quinn is a multisport athlete, having played baseball and run track during his high school athletic career, and currently trains in Mixed Martial Arts during his off-season. photo courtesy Washington Redskins

Hometown: Sulphur, Louisiana High School: Haughton High School Position in High School: Quarterback Year Graduated High School: 2011 NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys Current Position: Quarterback Fun Fact: Dak’s first name is not Dakota; it’s Rayne! Rayne Dakota Prescott. The middle name Dakota is actually a homage to a cartoon character, the “Dakota Dude”, a literal cow/boy hybrid with super strength and a cool head.

photo credit Tom Pennington

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Places & Faces | Football Gold

W h e r e t o Wat c h the Games:

Local Sports Bars by Kristian Bland

Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar 5313 Common Street Lake Charles, LA 70607

If there’s a game going on anywhere, you’ll find it on one of the roughly 1,000 screens lining every available surface at Walk-On’s. As much of a sports restaurant as it is a sports bar, every seat in the house has a clear view of multiple games going on at any time. The food is great, the beer is cold, and if you haven’t tried the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding yet, you’re living life wrong.

Pros:

Plenty of screens Friendly waitresses in short shorts

Cons:

Friendly waitresses in short shorts (if you’re there with your lady friend)

Buffalo Wild Wings 1776 W Prien Lake Rd Lake Charles, LA 70601

If you’ve been to one Buffalo Wild Wings, you’ve been to every Buffalo Wild Wings. Consistency is comforting, so if you’re not into trying new things, go ahead and stick with the familiar and check out the week’s game over some hot wings with your bros.

Pros:

No surprises Bros

Cons:

So many bros

Darrell’s

119 W College St Lake Charles, LA 70605 Darrell’s might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a sports bar as it’s not really much of a sports bar. However, they do have a few televisions they’re happy to play the big games on and they’ll always play a New Orleans game anytime 36

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

It might be difficult to visualize during the height of summer, but fall is on its way with cooler temperatures and, more importantly, the return of football. The NFL kicks off its 100th season on Thursday, September 5th when the Bears host the Packers at Soldier Field. A couple of days later, the 50th season of Monday Night Football begins with a doubleheader on September 9th, when the Saints take on the Texans and the Broncos battle the Raiders. ESPN will televise one game each Monday. While the best way to watch a game is from the sidelines, televised broadcasts can be just as much fun – if you know where to go. Here are a few of the best sports bars in Lake Charles.

the Saints take the field. With a full-service bar and the best po-boys this side of Lake Ponchatrain, Darrell’s is an excellent choice.

Pros:

That gravy, though

Cons:

Beer belly’s nothing compared to po-boy gut

Jack Daniels Bar & Grill 777 Ave L’Auberge Lake Charles, LA 70601

started sixteen years ago as DC’s Sportsbar and Steakhouse in Eunice, the first TaD’s took DC’s Louisiana cooking to Katy, Texas in 2014. Six years and four locations later, and Tad’s is back in the Bayou State. While primarily a restaurant, TaD’s sports bar roots are immediately recognizable the moment you walk in the door. From the large, central display of screens above the middle of the bar to others strategically placed around the restaurant, there are no bad seats in the house.

Pros:

Steak topped with crawfish étouffée

Cons:

New restaurant crowds Tucked away inside the L’Auberge Casino Resort, Jack Daniels Bar & Grill is a pretty great SERVING UP FINGER-LICKING FOOD FOR THREE DECADES place to catch a game. Whether you’re staying at the resort or just want to roll some dice before kickoff, you can’t go wrong with JD’s. With great food and drinks (including plenty of Tennessee whiskey) and the week’s games on the TV, it doesn’t & SPORTS BAR get much better.

Pros:

DARRELL’S TO-GO

Dry-rubbed, slowsmoked brisket burger

Cons:

Casino parking

TaD’s Louisiana Cooking

3624 Ryan St Lake Charles, LA 70605 TaD’s might be new to Lake Charles, but it’s no stranger to Southwest Louisiana. Originally

LARGE AND SMALL PARTY TRAYS AVAILABLE! We’re now available on Waitr! 119 West College Street, Lake Charles | (337) 474-3651 | darrellspoboys.com Monday – Thursday: 11am–10pm | Friday & Saturday: 11am-11pm Closed Sunday | Happy Hour 4–7pm

PPG is the

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of all our area teams Being part of a winning team has been our way of doing business at PPG Lake Charles for over 70 years. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud to be part of PPG, a worldwide industrial leader. Our PPG Lake Charles site provides silica products to manufacturers around the world, which means we improve the performance and safety of tires, extend the life of rubber belts and hoses and give tennis shoes more flexibility. Products you use every day are made better thanks to our employees. Being number one in safety and performance is our goal too, for our employees and our community.

Best of luck to all the teams in Southwest Louisiana.

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Places & Faces

Movers and Shakers in Southwest Louisiana... Who’s News? You tell us! Send press releases to edit@thriveswla.com Theatre Advocacy Day Kerry A. Onxley, Director of Theatre at Westlake High School, attended the 2019 Leadership Summit and Theatre Advocacy Day. Both events were presented by The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) and held in Washington D.C. July Kerry A. Onxley 15–19, 2019. Theatre Advocacy Day is a national advocacy and grassroots campaign organized by EdTA representing thousands of arts, cultural, business, civic, schools, teachers, educational groups and individuals nationwide. Onxley represented Louisiana, visiting offices of the Louisiana Congress delegation. The main focus of the event is to increase funding to arts in the classroom and encourage Congress to continue its support of arts in education, as well as, the National Endowment of the Arts.

Fontenot will be taking over her role from Doris Dr. Noble is the first clinician in Louisiana to join Stephens, who will be retiring after 15 years with HealthSYNC. The Pathology Laboratory of Lake Charles went online with the system in December Argent Trust. of last year. Amerisafe Names Senior Layne Hardin Vice President Announces Candidacy Recruitment and for District 12 Police Development Jury Seat in Calcasieu Ryne Jackson, DMD, Parish who recently joined the Layne Hardin has staff AMERISAFE, Inc., announced his a specialty provider of republican candidacy for workers’ compensation Calcasieu Parish Police insurance focused on Leon Lagneaux Jury, District 12. high hazard industries, Layne Hardin A resident of Sulphur today announced that Leon Lagneaux, Senior Vice for over 30 years, Hardin is a graduate of Sulphur President-Safety Operations, has been named Senior High School and McNeese State University. He Vice President – Recruitment and Development. Mr. has worked for Phillips 66 for more than 24 years, Lagneaux joined AMERISAFE in 1994, serving as Vice holding various positions and leadership roles President of Safety Operations from 1999 until 2005, including: Process Operator, Maintenance Planner, when he was promoted to Senior Vice President – Maintenance Supervisor, Assistant Plant Manager, Safety Operations. Mechanical Integrity Manager and Project Merchants & Farmers Construction Manager. In addition, Hardin has First Imperial Health Bank Promotes Bynog been a local small business owner for more than Physician Now to Assistant Vice Sharing Data Through 15 years. President HealthSYNC of For more information, follow Hardin’s campaign Ken Hughes, President/ Louisiana on his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ CEO of Merchants and Dr. John Noble of laynehardin4CPPJ. Farmers Bank has named Imperial Health Center April Bynog as Assistant Tiffany Fontenot Joins for Orthopaedics is Vice President. Argent Trust Company now a participant of Bynog is the bank’s in Lake Charles as Trust April Bynog HealthSYNC of Louisiana, Accounting Clerk and Dr. John Noble Administrator a health information Trust Company announced is responsible for Accounts Payable, maintaining exchange (HIE) created by the Louisiana State today that Tiffany Fontenot fixed assets, preparing regulatory reports, prepaid Medical Society in partnership with KAMMCO, a expenses, accrual items on a monthly basis, bank has joined the company company with a proven HIE platform. HealthSYNC settlement accounts, facilities management, and as a trust administrator is a physician-led HIE which allows providers to she assists the Chief Financial Officer with the in the Lake Charles more efficiently share patient health information Investment Portfolio. office. She will report to in a timely manner which ultimately helps Tiffany Fontenot vice president and trust improve care for patients. officer Jim Christman and will be responsible for In addition to the data exchange, HealthSYNC working closely with clients and the day-to-day also offers a patient health portal, extensive data administration of trust and investment accounts. analytics tools, and population health solutions. Fontenot joins Argent from the Calcasieu Parish HealthSYNC allows connected physicians and Sheriff’s Department, where she served as a senior hospitals to share patient information and extract administrative assistant for the past 19 years. While powerful analytic reports to help improve patient there, she was responsible for handling confidential encounters and clinical outcomes. It also assists correspondence, preparing memos and legal physicians as they transition to new models of health documents, and managing an active calendar of care delivery, quality reporting, and performanceappointments. based payments.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Candidacy for District 11 Police Jury Seat in Calcasieu Parish David Stutes has announced his republican candidacy for Calcasieu Parish David Stutes Police Jury, District 11. Born and raised in Sulphur, Stutes is a graduate of Sulphur High School and attended McNeese State University. He has more than 28 years of experience in industry and construction and is a former commissioned police officer for the Lake Charles Police Department and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Stutes grew up gaining a strong work ethic and sense of entrepreneurship from his mom, Vee McNabb, retired owner of the former Vee’s Donuts in Sulphur. He credits her for his choice to open his own business, CADS Construction, in Sulphur five years ago after working for several years across the country. His professional experience in drainage, water flow, ditching and traffic control planning, fostered a passion to put the knowledge he gained to work for the betterment of residents in his community.

A. RICHERT, JR., MD

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Follow Stutes’ campaign on his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ElectDavidStutes.

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Mind & Body

Tidy Your Spaces with the

KonMari Method Chances are, if you haven’t KonMari-ed or taken on decluttering your home already, you’re at least familiar with Marie Kondo and the KonMari Method™ – whether through her New York Times bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or through her Netflix special, aptly titled “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” Let’s take a look at this trend and learn what happens when you apply some of the top de-cluttering tips to your own life. Marie Kondo’s plan is an approach to organizing that encourages a complete mindset and lifestyle shift – it’s not just a one-time decluttering or purge of your belongings. Inspired by the Shinto religion, Kondo stresses the importance of celebrating and treasuring the spiritual value of our belongings, regardless of their monetary value. There are six straightforward rules that form this method:

1 2

Commit yourself to tidying up

Following this approach does take some commitment. Like any mindset and lifestyle shift, it requires time and effort.

Imagine your ideal lifestyle

Imagining your desired end state will help you make the decisions you need to as you embark on your decluttering journey. Keeping that end state in mind will also help you with step 1, committing to the process.

Finish discarding first

You’ll be tempted to cut corners and start organizing before you’ve assessed all your belongings and discarded those you no longer want or need. However, in doing so, you run the risk of having to go through this process again in the future – and you won’t have committed yourself to this mindset shift.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

before

4 5 6

Tidy by category, rather than by location When you tidy based on location, there’s a tendency to clean up by shuffling items from room to room – which, let’s face it, doesn’t really help. Instead, Kondo recommends you clean based on category so you have an objective view of the belongings you have and the volume of belongings in each category.

Follow the right order

Saying goodbye to your belongings is hard. Kondo recommends tidying your belongings in a specific order, which is designed to hone your skills as you go through the process: clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous, and finally, sentimental items – because clothing is generally less sentimental, and can be easily replaced. Start with clothing to help you work on your skills in a low-risk category before moving on to items that have more sentimental value. If the above order doesn’t work for you, that’s ok! The key is to organize by category and start with a category that’s easy for you to tackle – then move on to the more difficult categories.

Ask yourself if it sparks joy

This is the crux of the KonMari Method™. Kondo recommends holding each item in your hands and asking yourself if it sparks joy. This is your criterion for keeping an item. As you go through this process, you are deciding what to keep – not deciding what to discard.

29th Annual

after

Pro-Life Banquet Tuesday, October 1 Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum Doors open at 6pm Silent Auction 6pm Banquet 6:30pm

Perks of the KonMari Method™

David Dawson keynote speaker

• Can apply to our digital lives, ie cell phones and social media. • Being organized saves you time. • You may begin to think of joy in new ways • Financial benefits – the process may help you change the way you spend money. • Can declutter your mind and allows you to focus on the important things.

For tickets or more information:

337 474-7003 nlcbanquet@gmail.com

TICKET DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

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Mind & Body

Back to School Means Back to

Germs by Kristy Como Armand

Germs are a part of life, especially in public places like schools. In fact, many experts consider schools to be the “ground zero” for infectious disease transmission because of the increased exposure to germ-filled situations: public restrooms, shared desks, lunchrooms, door handles, sports equipment, band instruments – the list goes on and on. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the common cold alone causes 22 million lost school days annually, as it is easily spread from student to student. Darci Portie, APRN-FNPC, family nurse practitioner with Imperial Health’s Iowa Primary Care Clinic, says 80% of infections are spread by hand, not in the air as many people believe, which makes the school environment one with a particularly high risk due to the sheer volume of children sharing the same small, enclosed spaces. “Whether germs are viral, bacterial, or fungal, many can remain active on most surfaces for several days or longer. And it doesn’t matter whether the surface is stainless steel, wood, plastic, or even a piece of paper. When a child touches that contaminated surface, any germs on it are transferred to their hands. Then if they touch their eyes, rub their nose or lips, eat, or in any way get their fingers in contact with a mucous surface, they become infected, and can spread those germs to others." Also contributing to the problem is a lack of preventive measures – such as hand washing – that would remove germs before they enter the body. “Let’s face it,” says Portie, “getting kids to wash their hands repeatedly throughout the day is a challenge. It’s impossible for teachers to do this for the multitude of students in their classrooms every day.” She says it’s also important for parents and students to be aware of the high risk “germ zones,” that might be encountered during the school day. “Most would probably guess the bathroom, and while that is certainly a high-risk area, there are many others that are often overlooked.”

STAND

She gives an overview of some of these high risk areas:

Classrooms Think about all the classroom activities that involve hand-to-hand contact – everything from passing papers, pens and books, to sharing scissors, rulers and other tools. In some cases, students sit together at tables, in others, they share desks as they move from classroom to classroom. All of this sharing provides ample opportunity for direct and surface spread of germs in the classroom.

Lunchroom There’s almost no way to avoid germs in a lunchroom. Students are notorious for not only improper hand washing, but also for sharing food and drinks with one another. Hundreds of students pass through each lunchroom every day, using the same tables and touching the same shared surfaces, in an area where they will definitely be touching their mouths.

School Bus The bus ride to and from school carries many high risk opportunities, and a bus is not cleaned as often as a class room, bathroom or lunch table is. Sharing drinks, snacks and even cell phones can contribute to the spread of germs, and book bags on the bus floor can carry germs back into the home.

Band Room Instruments stored and shared in many schools' band and music classes may be crawling with potentially harmful germs if not cleaned properly. Woodwind and brass instruments are at highest risk to become breeding grounds for bacteria because many students share instruments.

Locker Room When dressing out for P.E. or sports’ practice, or using sports equipment, hygiene is not usually at the top of a student’s mind. Benches, lockers, equipment handles, mats, water bottles, face masks and many other potentially contaminated surfaces lurk in the athletic areas of schools.

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Portie says parents may feel like there is not much they can do about prevention while their children are at school, but they have more influence than they think. “The more you talk to your kids about preventing the spread of germs, the more they’ll remember. Practicing good prevention at home also helps your children adopt these behaviors as habits that they’ll take with them to school.” She offers the following additional suggestions:

Children should be taught to wash their hands every time the visit they rest room and before lunch – at a minimum. Make sure they know to wash for 15 – 20 seconds with soap and water. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands. Teach your children to cough or sneeze into a tissue, throw it away, and then clean their hands if possible. If a tissue is not available, teach them to sneeze or cough into the crook of their elbow, not into their hands. Ask children to try to hang their book bags or place on a bench or chair whenever possible instead of setting on the floor or ground. At home, store book bags away from the kitchen table or counter.

Children should be cautioned not to share food, drink or utensils with friends. No-sharing should also be the rule for towels and sports gear like helmets, gloves, or shin guards. If your child plays a school instrument, be sure they clean it frequently and according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. They should not share their personal mouth pieces. In the locker room or gym, athletes should put a towel down on a bench or a piece of exercise equipment before sitting on it. Send the supplies your child needs so they won’t have to share with others. Use mechanical pencils if allowed to avoid the need to use the shared pencil sharpener. Instruct your child to avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes during the school day.

2019 Keynote Speaker

Taya Kyle

Widow of U.S. Navy SEAL Sniper, Chris Kyle

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 LAKE CHARLES CIVIC CENTER

8:00am - 4:00pm

Featuring Various Inspirational Workshops Vendor Registration for MarketPlace Now Open!

WomensCommissionSWLA.com

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Mind & Body

SWLA CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES ANNOUNCES NEW BIKE LIBRARY

Community members now have free access to bike to promote healthy lifestyles SWLA Center for Health Services has rolled out a new bike fleet and the goal is a healthier community. Louisiana currently sits as #50 in the health rankings for the United States and Calcasieu Parish is ranked #20 in Health Outcomes among the state’s parishes. From the City Health Dashboard website, we know that only 17% of the citizens of Lake Charles have access to parks versus 60% nationwide. We can change those statistics by working to improve the opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating choices in our community. The SWLA Center for Health Services Bike Library will remove barriers to physical activity and create new behavior around a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, control body weight, improve blood sugar, improve memory and make you feel good in general. SWLA Center for Health Services CEO, JayVon Muhammad, says, “We have to be, and ARE being, the change we want to see in the community.” Thanks to funding from Healthy Blue, the new bike library fleet consists of 20 bikes and safety helmets. “Healthy Blue is pleased to partner with SWLA Center for Health Services to offer Lake Charles residents the opportunity to take steps towards living a healthy lifestyle by bike riding,” said Aaron Lambert, president, Healthy Blue. “Our hope is that by making these bikes available for short-term usage by the public, many riders will get hooked when they realize how fun and healthy biking can be. It opens up a whole new world of active living opportunities.” The bikes are for adult and youth cyclists. Community members will visit the Fitness Center at the SWLA Center for Health Services Lake Charles at 2000 Opelousas Street to check out a bike, then hit the road. Bikes are available free of charge to our community. The bikes are intended for short term recreational rides. It is a great opportunity for families to spend a few hours outside and make the first steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Local bicycle shop, Southern Bicycle Company, worked to provide a high-quality bike that will service our riders well. “As your local bike shop, we are excited to be a part of such a great program and hope to continue to outreach the benefits and love of cycling to our community,” says owner John Viator. SWLA Center for Health Services continues its commitment to the communities it serves through bringing programming that results in healthier neighbors. SWLA Center for Health Services is a 501(c) 3 non- profit organization whose mission is to provide quality, cost effective comprehensive primary healthcare and support services in an environment that embraces dignity and respect. SWLA provides health services to medically uninsured, underinsured and underserved residents. SWLA Center for Health Services has medical sites located in Calcasieu, Acadia, Allen and Lafayette parishes.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Essential Oils:

Ancient Healing Power in Today’s World by Stefanie Powers In our quest for good health and wellbeing, many of us search for natural remedies that will do the job without chemicals or side effects. One popular alternative that has actually been around since ancient times is the use of essential oils. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell and flavor of their source. Distinctive aromatic compounds give each oil its unique “essence.” These oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing. Once the aromatic elements have been extracted, they’re combined with a carrier oil to create a product that's ready for use. Carrier oils (such as base oil or vegetable oil) are used to dilute essential oils prior to aromatherapy and before they are applied to the skin in massage. This is a critical safety practice, as oil should not be applied directly to the skin unless it has been properly diluted. Essential oils work with the body to address issues and root causes on a cellular level, and can be used aromatically, topically, and internally. Cindy Webb was introduced to essential oils in 2016 when she started taking Yin Yoga classes. Her yoga instructor offered essential oils, and after trying them out, she was hooked. The following year, Webb became a Wellness Advocate for doTERRA Essential Oils. “After seeing the emotional benefits I was experiencing, I decided I wanted to use essential oils on a daily basis,” she explains. Webb attributes the popularity of essential oils to the

fact that people are looking for more natural solutions to address their health concerns. “I have been amazed at the relief essential oils have given me for my health issues,” she adds. As far as safety goes, Webb says that Certified Grade Pure Therapeutic (CGPT) Essential Oils are natural, effective, and safe without side effects. There’s an essential oil for almost everything that ails us. The key is to use it properly. “To decrease the likelihood of developing a skin sensitivity when using topically, use a carrier oil (such as Fractionated Coconut Oil) to dilute more potent oils and also when trying an oil for the first time,” Webb explains. “The recommended dilution ratio is typically one drop of essential oil to three drops of carrier oil.” Webb advises using several small doses throughout the day rather than a single large dose. “Start with the lowest possible dose, such as one or two drops,” she says. “A topical dose can be repeated every four to six hours as needed. Because every individual is unique, the dose will vary based on size, age, and overall health status.” Webb says she loves being able to reach for a natural solution first for any health issue that comes up. “Of course, you should always consult with your doctor before changing your routine,” she advises. Webb offers weekly classes on essential oils. See her Facebook page for more information, @cmwebbessentialoils or go her website, mydoterra.com/ cmwebb.

The Essential of the Essentials

Here are some popular essential oils and the health claims associated with them:

•

Peppermint: Boosts energy, helps with digestion.

• •

Lavender: Relieves stress.

•

Sandalwood: Calms nerves, helps with concentration.

Bergamot: Reduces stress and improves skin conditions such as eczema.

•

Rose: Improves mood and reduces anxiety.

•

Chamomile: Improves mood and encourages relaxation.

•

Ylang-Ylang: Helps headaches, nausea and skin conditions.

•

Tea Tree: Fights infections and boosts immunity.

•

Jasmine: Helps with depression, childbirth and libido.

•

Lemon: Aids digestion, moods and headache.

•

Rosemary: Boosts concentration.

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Money & Career Southwest Louisiana

EDUCATION Super-Heroes Calcasieu Parish employs over 5,000 people, all working toward one goal – to educate our children. And that figure doesn’t include charter and parochial schools! As we begin a new school year this month, we want to celebrate the profession of educators at large. They perform an incredibly vital role in our community and we appreciate them; all of them! This feature is but a small microcosm of the educational excellence our parish has to offer. There are hundreds of teachers and support personnel who are equally worthy of recognition. We wish we could tell all their stories! For now, we highlight these seven. And we hope all the educators, students, and parents have a wonderful school year!

Tiffani Carlin Brentwood Elementary School 5th Grade English Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher Twenty years in the field.

Background: Attended McNeese State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology and minoring in communication. Later, returned to McNeese and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching with an elementary concentration. Why education? “I love education and am passionate about learning. I love making a difference in a child's life.” Challenges: “It's important to keep lessons interesting to hold students' attention, and this is where technology comes into play. Many lessons can be enhanced with technology (computers, iPads) and this keeps students focused and motivated to participate in the lesson.” Rewards: “One of the most rewarding aspects of education is seeing student growth. This applies to academic growth such as content knowledge, grades, test scores, and it also applies to social/ emotional growth. Some students don't always have a positive outlook toward school and when I see a student begin to like school it's just as rewarding as academic growth achievements. I strive to grow the whole child. We have made so much progress at Brentwood and our students are growing every day. It is an amazing feeling to know I have been a part of this progress.” Recognitions: 2019 Calcasieu Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year; LEAP State Test growth recognition; M3 Mentor to new teachers. Education Superpower: Carlin believes that establishing strong student relationships is key to motivating students towards academic success.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Wendy Lannin Wicke

St. Margaret’s Catholic School principal for the past six years. Prior to that, 28 years as a teacher in Cameron Parish. Background: BS and MS degrees in elementary education and a Principalship Certification from McNeese State University. Why education? “I entered the field of education for many different reasons, but the one that stands out the most to me is the fact that I knew I wanted to marry and have children of my own one day. What better way to spend time with them than to be a teacher! I would have summers and holidays off. Little did I know that summers would be full of preparation for the next year and weekends would be spent preparing for the next week. There is no real time off in the field of education.” Challenges: “Our greatest challenge as a private Catholic school is teaching our students that it is more than okay to be different from the rest of the world. We work to make ourselves and our students the best versions of ourselves by teaching and practicing virtue. We cultivate prudence, fortitude, justice, and temperance. We want our students to be proactive, work together for the common good, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, and seek to understand before being understood. We practice taking care of our souls, our bodies and our minds. I don’t think it can get much better than that.” Rewards:“Being able to serve the families of St. Margaret by providing not only an education filled with academic vigor but also the spiritual guidance that comes with attending a Catholic school. I truly love what I do, but I have to say that the teachers and staff make my job easy.” Recognitions: “The best recognition any teacher could ever receive is having former students come back to you and tell you how important you were in their life. I cherish all the students I have ever taught and enjoy hearing from them. Being an educator is the best decision I have ever made.” Education Superpower: Wicke advocates for what is best for every student that passes through the halls of St. Margaret.

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Pre-K3 – 8th Grade Participant in Education in Virtues Program Excellent Student/Teacher Ratio Diverse Student Body Morning, Noon, Afternoon Prayer & Weekly Liturgy

“Nurturing All Children and Achieving Academic Success in the Spirit of Christ”

Special Education Services

2510 Enterprise Boulevard | Lake Charles, La. 70601 (337) 436-7959 | stmcs.com St. Margaret Catholic School welcomes all children regardless of race, creed, or nationality.

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Money & Career | SWLA Education Super-Heroes

Nicole Abshire Posch Our Lady Queen of Heaven School 2nd Grade Teacher Twenty years in the field.

Background: McNeese State University, studied elementary education. Why education? “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I absolutely adore children. All through high school and college I would babysit every chance I had. I had some pretty amazing teachers at OLQH that inspired me to share my love of learning. They also inspired me to share my love of God. When I graduated from McNeese, I knew exactly where I wanted to teach. OLQH is my home.” Challenges: Every child learns at a different level and has a different speed of mastery. This can be a challenge because I want every child engaged as much as possible throughout the day. This means hours of planning which takes time, and time is the challenge! My goal as a Catholic educator is to ensure every child feels loved and accepted. It is to make learning fun and make every child feel successful. ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ Proverbs 22:6.” Rewards: “Teaching is such a rewarding profession. I get to watch my students learn something new and make connections with the world around them. It is fun to see their little “light bulbs” go on! I am able to encourage, motivate and support those students that have low self-esteem and think they cannot do something. It is amazing when they succeed, and you see the joy in their eyes! I am surrounded by love EVERY day from my students. They always know when to give me that hug or that special little drawing! I am BLESSED to be a teacher and to share a small part in shaping their lives! Education Superpower: Posch puts her “cape” aside and says her students are the super-heroes. “They continue to teach me about myself each year. They help me to grow and become a better person.”

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Willona Jackson College Oaks Elementary School Principal for seven years. Twenty two years in the field. Background: Earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from McNeese State University. Why education? I have always wanted to be in the field of education. Growing up, I was one of those kids who played school even in the summertime. As the years went by, my conviction never wavered. I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a teacher, especially when I met my high school English teacher, Ms. Sybil Broussard. The way she captured the attention of every student in the classroom mesmerized me and my fate to becoming a teacher was sealed from that year on. Challenges: "Labels. We tend to put labels on schools without even walking through the front doors. People think they know about your school from simply reading a letter grade label from a website or newspaper article. There are so many great things going on inside our school, not only at College Oaks Elementary, but inside each of our Calcasieu Parish Schools. This is a noble and rewarding profession, but it is also a challenging one. For anyone embarking on a teaching career, know that you may not see the fruits of your labor every day, but when you get those smiles or hugs, or ‘a-ha’ moments from students, it pushes you to keep going and give even more.” Rewards: “Knowing that with a quality education, a child’s possibilities in life are limitless. Having the opportunity to be part of a child’s educational journey is a privilege and so exciting; to connect with a child in a way that changes that child's life is the ultimate gift for an educator.” Recognitions: 2019 Calcasieu Parish Elementary School Principal of the Year; College Oaks Elementary Teacher of the Year, 2002-2003; Calcasieu Parish 2nd Runner Up Teacher of the Year; 2004 Reading Teacher of the Year by the Calcasieu Reading Council; 2016 Region V Leader of the Year; 2019 TAP Principal of the Year, R3 Zone Schools. Education Superpower: Throughout her career in education, Jackson has desired to have an ever-greater impact on the lives of children, which ultimately led to her role as a school principal.

Hope Berry

Bell City High School Agricultural Sciences Teacher, Grades 8-12 Nineteen years in the field. Background: BS degree in Animal Science from McNeese State University; MS degree in Human Resource & Workforce Development from LSU; and a Plus 30 in School Counseling from Northwestern State University. Why education? “My desire to make a difference in the world of agriculture led me to education.” Challenges: “My goal for students, as I think it is for most parents, is that children become productive citizens who are happy in their work and personal life. When we teach our child how to use a spoon or ride a bike, success is measured by the child’s ability to carry out the task without assistance. In education, we call this performancebased assessment. Yet, as an educator, I never receive e-mails from parents about their child’s performance; I receive e-mails about their child’s grade. Education is so much more than a “letter”. Education is taking our most precious gifts, our children, and helping them grow. Grade obsession leads to cheating and constant failure to achieve grades leads to student apathy. Students memorize material in order to make the grade that will keep their parents happy. Parents focus on grades to maintain the top GPA for college admissions and scholarships. It is a vicious cycle that is truly an injustice to our students.” Rewards:“I have students who would have traditionally been dropouts, but instead go on to welding programs and cabinet making apprenticeships and become successful in their chosen fields. It is by these measures that I personally evaluate my teaching career.” Recognitions: 2019 Calcasieu Parish High School Teacher of the Year; Bell City High School Teacher of the Year in 2007, 2014, 2018; 2010 Learn & Serve Grant Recipient, Adopt-A-Park Community Service Event, Hayes Park; 2015 Tractor Supply Co. Grow Grant; 2003 Drew Grant Recipient, Adopt A Yard Community Service Event; NCCER Core Certified Teacher, 2014-Present; and numerous National FFA Chapter awards. Education Superpower: As a career and technical education teacher, Berry always strives to find her student’s strengths so they will become valuable contributors to society.

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Money & Career | SWLA Education Super-Heroes

Veronica Goodly

Oak Park Elementary 2nd grade teacher. Sixteen years in the field. Background: Attended Acadian Technical College and graduated in Computer Programming. Attended USL for a Nursing Degree. Why education? “I realized the hospital setting was not where my heart was. When I would pick up my son from daycare, I would see how he and his little friends were learning new things and how excited they were. So I enrolled at McNeese and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a teaching certificate. I love what I do and thank God that He has guided me to teaching His children.” Challenges: “Getting students who come to school with challenges that are no fault of their own to be receptive to me and what I am teaching, and to know that I have their best interest at heart. If they don’t know I really care about them, inside and outside of the classroom, it’s hard for them to receive anything I try to teach them. But once they realize they can trust me, and they can depend on me to maybe give them a hug or a heart to heart talk, that’s when they are most receptive.” Rewards:What I find rewarding about my role as a teacher is seeing students gain a confidence in their abilities to learn new things. They come in at the beginning of the year saying things like, “Reading is hard! I can’t do it!” or “I don’t understand this math!” Then, something clicks with them and the joy in their face when that struggling reader reads a story by themselves, or works out that problem that was confusing to them, giving me a high-five saying, I did it! Empowering a student is very rewarding! That’s what I wait for; that’s what warms my heart. Helping students understand that learning is life-long, beyond high school and preparing them for college is a great feeling. Encouraging them that they can become anything in life they want to be is very fulfilling. Getting letters from former students, or them coming to me telling me how I helped them, that’s my blessing. Knowing that I have played just a little part in a child’s life is a wonderful feeling. Recognitions: 2013-2014 Oak Park Elem. Teacher of the Year; M3 Mentor Teacher; TAP Mentor Teacher. Education Superpower: Goodly believes that teaching goes beyond the walls of a classroom. “It’s listening to their stories at recess, going to their basketball games, going to see them at gymnastics, or simply giving them a hug, some kind of encouragement, and listening to them. Once they realize you care, you can reach and teach them.”

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Lacey Blocker

Maplewood Middle School 6th-7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher Fifteen years in the field. Background: Graduated from Northwestern State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, certified in grades 1-8. Why education? “Both of my parents are educators, so watching their passion and dedication to the profession certainly inspired me to become a teacher! I entered the profession because I love planning creative lessons and seeing students work through challenges and learn new things.” Challenges: “A few challenges I have faced in education include a lack of parental involvement, lack of funding for educational technology or materials, finding creative teaching methods to motivate students, and always feeling like you need more time to teach the curriculum. Despite the challenges, I have learned from experience that my attitude and personal approach sets the tone for the entire classroom. My excitement about a lesson or activity increases my students' desire to learn. Like many areas of life, challenges are inevitable and unavoidable. However, my actions and attitude have a significant impact on my students' success!” Rewards: “It is extremely special to witness making a difference in students' lives and to build positive relationships with students knowing you have inspired them to become a better student or person. I know my work has a great impact on my students and continues to shape them into productive citizens of society.” Recognitions: National Board Certified Teacher - English Language Arts; 2019 Calcasieu Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year and LA State finalist; Maplewood Middle School Teacher of the Year 2019; Technology Showcase Teacher 2019; CPSB Integrating a Technology Enriched Classroom Model Teacher 2017; Louisiana American Legion Teacher of the Year 2011; Region VI Middle School Teacher of the Year 2010; Vernon Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year 2010; Pickering Elementary School Teacher of the Year 2010; Education Superpower: Blocker understands she has the power to bring out something unique in each of her students. “There is a quote that states, ‘A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.’"

EDUCATORS

Rising

CPSB piloting program for educational career path The Calcasieu Parish School Board is excited to offer a pilot program, Educators Rising, next school year for high school students interested in the field of education. In its first year, this pilot program will be offered at both Barbe High School and Sulphur High School. “There is likely not a more rewarding profession than teaching when the student has that defining moment when a concept finally makes sense,” says Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus. “We need to capture those successes and highlight them for our future teachers as we pique their interest in serving students. EdRising is a program that can help to cultivate that interest in teaching while a student is in high school considering career options.” The purpose of this national program is to build a pipeline of teachers. The district is working with McNeese State University to ensure students participating in the program receive education college credits after passing the micro-credentials associated with the course. The cost to secure those credentials will be covered by the district.

The Calcasieu Parish School Board employs over 2,300 teachers, making this program vital to the district’s future successes. Lori Benoit will teach the course at Barbe High School, while Andrea McFarlain will teach it at Sulphur High School. “EdRising is an important initiative to address the growing teacher shortage and to set future educators on the path early,” said Benoit. “Teachers do a great job of promoting professions in engineering, skilled trades, law, medicine – every field but our own. It’s time for us to start, and EdRising is a great way to do it. Even if these students decide not to become teachers, they will have a useful skill set that is transferable to any profession and a unique understanding of the teaching profession which will inform their decisions when they become voters, parents, and community leaders. We owe our future children great teachers, and those teachers are sitting in our classrooms today.” “I equate the program with the Renaissance – the rebirth of learning, when society looked back to the ancient Greek

scholars like Socrates and Aristotle (revered educators),” says McFarlain. “Educators Rising seeks to renew that reverence and pride in the noble profession of education. Our current society values a career in education as no more than a decent backup plan, but with EdRising, we'll redirect this way of thinking. Students will see how noble the profession truly is through firsthand experiences.” An additional benefit of the program is that participating students will not have to meet dual enrollment requirements or pay tuition to receive the credits. Over the course of one year, participating students can earn three to six hours of education college credits. Those interested in participating in the program can contact the course teachers at loris.benoit@cpsb.org for Barbe High or at andrea.mcfarlain@cpsb.org for Sulphur High

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Money & Career

5 College Admissions Myths Debunked If you’re like many other high school seniors across the country, you might be busy sending out college applications and writing the requisite essays. While you’re filling out the forms, it’s important to be aware that there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding college applications and admittance. Consider these five myths and put them in your mental trash folder.

like sending food, funny videos, scrapbooks, or live animals are more likely to annoy the staff than they are to open the doors of admission for you. Instead, spend your time thoughtfully answering the application's questions and revealing who you are. And unless a college specifically encourages you to send extra materials (some do), save the cookies for your friends.

CONNECTIONS GET YOU IN.

THE MORE ACTIVITIES YOU DO, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF ADMISSION.

If you had a dollar for every time someone told you, "We know someone," . . . well, you know the rest. That letter of recommendation from the alumnus who is also your father's business partner isn't likely to get you in. And neither is the fact that your neighbor knows someone on the admissions staff. Admissions officers are looking for motivated students who can add to their campus communities, not the ones who know the "right people." So, unless the brand-new research center at your dream school has your family’s name on it (which we admit would probably help), don't count on your connections to get you in.

APPLICATION GIMMICKS MAKE YOU STAND OUT. Ever heard of applicants sending cookies with their applications? How about students who ignore directions and write the application in the school's colors? Or those who send videos of themselves singing the schools' fight songs? These tricks make for good stories, but not for good applications. A hungry admissions officer might gladly eat your cookies (if you're a good baker), but that's not what's going to get you into college. In fact, tricks

Colleges aren't interested in students who dabbled in dozens of activities just to pad their resumes. In fact, it's much more effective for you to truly commit yourself to the activities you most enjoy. So if you love physics a whole lot more than sports, become the captain of your school's Physics Olympiad team and study Newton's playbook instead. Love art more than music? Drop your violin and get the brushes out. Students who are deeply committed to activities they sincerely enjoy are the ones most appealing to colleges.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE HIGH ENOUGH TEST SCORES, COLLEGES WON'T EVEN LOOK AT YOU. Yes, test scores can be very important, especially at the most competitive colleges. But a lot of good colleges are interested in more than just numbers. Don't necessarily assume that low test scores will keep you out. Instead, ask the counselor at your high school for advice about how your scores match up with your chosen colleges.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Every college is getting more competitive these days. While there are about 40 schools where the competition is more intense than ever, there are over 2,000 colleges in the country. You may be surprised to learn that all but about 100 of them take virtually everybody who applies. And you know what? A lot of them are great schools. Try to find the ones that fit you, rather than just the ones whose names you know. And don't assume that the hardest schools to get into are necessarily the best colleges for you.

Now, back to those applications!

MONEY VALUE$

to Pass on to your Kids

Financial education is more than just the ability to deal with the practical, economic realities of life. It starts with the underlying values that are ultimately going to help children grow into productive, independent, caring adults. What exactly are those values that you learned from your parents and want to pass on to your own children? An appreciation for hard work Work is a practical necessity and there's a tremendous satisfaction in knowing you can earn money and pay for what you need. But the value of hard work goes beyond a paycheck. It’s about fulfilling life dreams; and success generally comes through hard work. You want your kids to experience the thrill of earning their own money, to understand the importance of being responsible and living up to the expectations of their bosses. But you also want them to gain confidence by pursuing different avenues, exploring their talents, and knowing what it takes to succeed, even if that means failing along the way. From the first summer job to the first professional opportunity, work teaches you not only about the practicalities of managing a paycheck, paying taxes, and hopefully saving money, but also about yourself and your ability to be focused, resilient, and self-reliant. The confidence to make good money decisions Life is filled with decisions—and the older your kids get, the more important it is for them to feel comfortable making money decisions and confident in their ability to do so. How do they get this confidence? By doing. From the first time you let a child handle money and make a purchase to the first experience of being expected to manage an allowance to the first time you insist that your teen live on a budget (and you don't bail them out if they fail), you're teaching decision making. And those decisions just get more complex as they enter college and start their careers and

eventually their own families. It's often difficult as a parent to see your kids make money mistakes, but we need to let them do it. Of course, we need to guide them. However, their confidence will eventually come from making decisions—both good and bad—for themselves.

The ability to be independent It can feel great when your children need you—but it's even better when they don't. If they learn to work hard and make good money decisions, the result should be that they're able to carry their own weight. The ultimate goal is to help the next generation make their own way. Compassion and sharing Philanthropy and the idea of helping others is something you can teach your kids from an early age. Whether it's as simple as giving to a food bank or as sophisticated as establishing a family foundation, consider charitable giving to be an essential part of financial—and personal— education. If you can teach your kids to not only take care of themselves but to be willing to reach out to others, that is a truly valuable lesson. So what does all this add up to? All these values work together to help kids become financially independent and secure. But it's not only about money. Financial security means having the freedom to choose, to follow your own path and your own passions. That’s why financial literacy is so important.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP! 675

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Rediscover the value of your credit union membership.

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Home & Family

RAISING

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living â&#x20AC;¢ August 2019

As all those who have been there know, bringing up baby is simultaneously one of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest challenges and most fulfilling rewards. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard, and heartwarming; full of difficulties, yet so delightful; gritty and glorious, all at the same time . . . and absolutely worth every emotional roller-coaster moment. Here at Thrive magazine, we strive to be relevant to you, our readers, in moments of equipping you with useful information that might make your lives a bit easier. In this special section, we focus on raising kids from infants to toddlers, with topics from breastfeeding and when to start solid foods, to pediatric dentistry, financial concerns, and some fun products to help your baby learn and grow.

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Raising Kids Today

WORKING THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF

breastfeeding by Christine Fisher

Although the experience is unique for each person, most moms who breastfeed agree is it one of the best decisions they made. Breast milk has the unique combination of nutrients needed for each stage of a baby’s growth and it provides a strong bond between mother and baby. With all of the benefits, it’s no surprise that many women choose to breastfeed. Christa O’Neal, RN, Certified Lactation Counselor and Childbirth Educator at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital says she is available to help new mothers get a good start with breastfeeding. “New mothers go through so many emotions after the birth of their baby. They’re tired, excited, and overwhelmed, often all at the same time. They hear so much advice from friends and family and it’s hard to know what’s true.” A strong support system is one of the best things for a breastfeeding mother. O’Neal educates and assists all mothers delivering at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital who are interested in breastfeeding. She is also a resource after discharge if they have questions or need more assistance. “In addition to the one-on-one assistance, we also have a breastfeeding

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

class in our prenatal education series. The class is beneficial for moms to get an idea of what breastfeeding will be like and the benefits it will provide to both mom and baby; but there’s really no way to understand it until you actually do it, and then the mom may have more questions and that’s expected,” O’Neal says. “That’s why we’re here.” The best thing a nursing mom can do is to relax and communicate. “If breastfeeding is painful, let’s talk about what needs to change so it won’t hurt. If nursing doesn’t fit into the mother’s routine, we can look at other options such as pumping her breastmilk for future feedings. If the baby isn’t sleeping well, advice from well-meaning people may cause a new mom to think her milk isn’t meeting her baby’s needs,” explains O’Neal. “Some mothers think that breastfeeding is going to be difficult and they must endure frustration for six weeks before it gets better. In reality, there are a lot of problems that can be easily solved.” Fatigue is one of the most common challenges for a breastfeeding new mom. Most find a solution in the early days after delivery of viewing breastfeeding time as break time. “Find

a comfortable chair, relax, and enjoy a nutritious snack,” suggests O’Neal. Newborns nurse often, but as the weeks pass, mom’s will fall into a comfortable routine, making things easier. About this time, moms get more comfortable with feedings and can integrate breastfeeding into a daily schedule. “The technique of breastfeeding is worth figuring out so that the baby and the mother can gain the benefits,” O’Neal says. “Because there are so many benefits, I encourage women to choose breastfeeding, knowing that we’re here to support them and answer any questions they may have,” says O’Neal. “In previous generations, women were more accessible to each other and the ‘village mentality’ provided a strong support system as women relied on each other for encouragement, answers and strength. Today, we’re still here for each other but it takes a little more effort to seek out solutions.” West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital offers a monthly class on preparing for delivery and breastfeeding. Please call (337) 527-4361 for more information.

Capital One tOwer

THE BENEFITS TO THE BABY ARE NUMEROUS AND INCLUDE: • A strengthened immune system thanks to antibodies passed from the mother • A reduced likelihood of ear infections • Fewer cavities later in life • Better overall health throughout life, including lower blood pressure & lower risk of heart disease

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BREASTFEEDING ALSO DOES A MOTHER’S BODY GOOD, INCLUDING: • Losing weight after the pregnancy because nursing burns calories, between 200 and 500 per day • The return of the uterus to its prepregnancy size more quickly • Less likely to develop osteoporosis, diabetes and breast cancer later in life • Decreases risk of female cancers such as breast, uterine, and ovarian

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WOMEN & DEPRESSION There are many causes and effects of depression that women face today: • Lack of sleep • Persistent sadness • Excessive stress at home or work • Chronic low energy • Difficult pregnancy or childbirth • Difficulty concentrating • Relationship challenges • Irritability or anger • Hormonal changes • Financial problems

Support is Available! Counselors are here to help provide support and guidance to improve relationships and personal well-being. Our staff can also connect you with other helpful services in our community. Let us make a difference for you.

Contact a Counselor today. (337) 436-9533 | www.fyca.org A Division of

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Raising Kids Today

A SMOOTH TRANSITION: FEEDING YOUR BABY

from birth to birthday by Stephanie Kestel Karpovs, MCD, CCC-SLP

Babies are ever-changing in their first year of life. Think of the adorable facial expressions and milestones they meet—smiling, cooing, learning to sit, holding a spoon and eventually learning to feed themselves.

BIRTH TO 3 MONTHS: Most full-term babies are prepared to breastfeed in the first few hours of life. Babies get all the nutrition and hydration they need by breastfeeding and/or bottle feeding. They do not need extra water at this time. There are additional benefits of breastfeeding beyond nutrition, but there are many great formulas if that is not in your plan. Talk to your pediatrician to find the right one for your child. It may take a few trials. Plan to feed your baby formula for the first year, then switch to whole milk. Breastfeeding babies may continue to nurse beyond one year of age.

3-6 MONTHS: Breastfeeding and bottle feeding are still the main source of nutrition/hydration. Many babies hold a bottle independently around five months of age. Their mouths and digestive systems are preparing for the upcoming baby cereals, pureed foods, easily mashed foods and soft meltables appropriate around the six-month mark. Provide them with chew toys (with supervision) and increased tummy time to prepare for the first bites. Watch for signs of feeding readiness.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

6 MONTHS: The American Academy of Pediatrics sets this age as a standard benchmark for introducing solid foods. This is because your baby is typically sitting up with ease and has a better-prepared digestive system by now. These first bites are just a supplement to the breastmilk or formula so give small servings (1-2 teaspoons) initially. To decrease a preference for sweets, start with pureed vegetables instead of fruits and present them one at a time (with a shallow bowl spoon). Don’t add salt or sugar to the food. Rotate a new veggie into the mix every few days once you have time to monitor for any reactions. Be patient—it may take 8-15 presentations before a baby accepts a new food. Some people recommend you skip purees altogether, but pureed solids do allow babies to positively experience a variety of foods while following the normal pattern of development—babies learn to swallow before they learn to chew. Once they get the hang of purees, you can begin mashing foods for more texture and giving them soft meltables (ex. puffs), as tolerated.

6-12 MONTHS: Teeth start to come in; chewing develops and coordination improves. Your baby may hold and bang her own spoon around nine months old and will start to grab food off the tray. Keep offering a variety of fruits and vegetables and add in soft meats and grains. They are ready to begin self-feeding solids (ex. banana, avocado slice, mashed blueberries, soft cookies, steamed vegetables, soft fruits, pasta, casseroles and very tender meats). Prepare for a big mess and give them praise as they explore the new foods. By their first birthday, they should tolerate a safe version of most of the foods on an adult’s plate. Strive to have a variety of healthy, colorful foods at each meal.

Stephanie Kestel Karpovs is a speech-language pathologist/ pediatric feeding specialist and wellness coach. She enjoys helping families become happy, healthy and adventurous eaters.

WHEN IS IT TIME FOR A SIPPY CUP? Just skip it! These spouted, “no spill” cups are not part of the developmental process no matter what the packages say. They were designed by an engineer to prevent spills and they can actually hinder appropriate swallowing and dental development. Instead, opt for small, assisted cup sips of breastmilk or formula from an open cup. At 12 months, most kids should be drinking from open cups and straws—water is the healthiest and easiest to clean option!

TOOLS FOR

toddlers Businessman L. Tom Perry once said when speaking about young children that “Parents have the glorious opportunity of being the most powerful influence, above and beyond any other, on the new lives that bless their homes.” However, if you’re the parent of a toddler, you know that influencing them to learn and grow can sometimes be a challenge. Thankfully in 2019, there are many products out there created to make your job as a powerful parental influence a little bit easier.

MINIWARE- NON-TOXIC TABLEWARE FOR KIDS: Miniware solves problems facing modern parents who wish to raise healthy, independent, self-feeders. The innovative design provides a secure, safe surface for feeding, while generous sizing helps little fingers and novice utensil users improve their dexterity. Calm, pleasing colors place the emphasis on eating and food, not distracting cartoon characters. Remove the detachable suction base to advance with the child and offer a more “grown-up” experience. All materials are natural and sustainable, with an emphasis on long-wear and dishwasher-safe.

SAFETY-FIRST TALKING TUNES POTTY TRAINER: With an attached handle, real flushing sounds, and celebratory music, it’s no mystery as to why this toddler toilet trainer

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

makes little ones want to interact with it. It makes potty-training fun! In addition, parents can record an encouraging message for their child when they have success. Children are motivated by praise, and this trainer allows you to change the recorded message as often as needed to keep your child interested and focused on the goal.

TEACH MY TODDLER LEARNING KIT: This kit comes with 68 pieces that help you teach your toddler the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors. It includes posters, books, puzzles, and flashcards. If you’re worried about implementing it correctly, it comes with a step-by-step guide to make sure you are helping your toddler grow. Plus, it’s a great way to spend twenty minutes a day bonding with your growing child.

LEAP FROG SCRIBBLE AND WRITE: Getting children

acquainted with fine motor skills during toddler-hood is important, and Leap Frog makes that easy with their Scribble and Write tablet and attached stylus. On level one, it encourages them to scribble and get used to holding the pencil-like stylus. Once they’ve mastered this, they move up levels where they work on letter precision. These activities boost their hand-eye coordination and are great tools to help your toddler grow.

FISHER-PRICE LEARN WITH ME ZEBRA WALKER: A zebra toy that really earns its stripes, this two-in-one walker that steadies toddlers’ first steps and encourages them to keep walking is also great for sitting babies. With tons of hands on activities like light-up buttons, a switch to flip, a roller-ball, a spin, dial, and twist, as well as pages to turn to learn songs, this walker will get your little one up and moving.

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Home & Family |

Raising Kids Today

TIPS FOR KEEPING

tiny teeth healthy by Haley Armand Tarasiewicz

There is nothing quite like seeing your baby smile with that first tiny tooth peeking through! But, did you know healthy dental habits should begin before the first tooth cuts to prevent tooth decay? Tooth decay might first appear as white spots at the gum line. These spots are hard to see at first—even for a dentist without the proper equipment. “Tooth decay develops when a baby’s mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria that can be passed through saliva from parents and caregivers,” said Dr. Eric A. Sanders, pediatric dentist with Sanders Pediatric Dentistry. “The most common way this happens is sharing spoons or cups and cleaning off a pacifier in their mouth to hand back to the child. Tooth decay also develops when the baby’s teeth and gums are exposed to any liquid or food other than water for long periods. The most common way this happens is when parents put their child to bed with a bottle.” Preventing tooth decay should start as early as conception with the mother practicing good oral hygiene to prevent the risk of spreading bacteria—brushing twice a day, flossing daily and continuing with regular dental visits prior to delivery. Once the child is born, set them up for a lifetime of good oral health with these strategies for infants from Dr. Sanders. 60

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

CARING FOR YOUR CHILD’S TEETH: •

WIPE THEIR GUMS twice a day with a soft, clean cloth in the morning after the first feeding and right before bed

•

When teeth erupt, start brushing twice a day with a soft, SMALL-BRISTLED TOOTHBRUSH

- If they are under the age of 2, use a smear of toothpaste - If they are between 2 – 5 years old, use a pea-size amount of toothpaste - Be sure & use an American Dental Association (ADA)-accepted fluoride toothpaste & that your child does not swallow it

• • • •

BEGIN FLOSSING daily when any TWO TEETH TOUCH

LIMIT the amount of SWEET OR STICKY FOODS; serve juice only during meals or not at all

•

Visit the DENTIST by their FIRST BIRTHDAY

DO NOT put your child to bed with a BOTTLE OR FOOD DO NOT use BOTTLES OR SIPPY CUPS as pacifiers

Tooth decay can be prevented. Talk to your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dentist if you see any sign of decay or have questions about your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teeth. With the right care, your child can grow up to have healthy teeth for a lifetime of smiles! To learn more about the services Sanders Pediatric Dentistry offers or to schedule your first visit, please visit www.sanderspediatricdentistry. com or call 337-433-5437.

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Home & Family |

Raising Kids Today

FINANCIAL CHECKLIST FOR

new parents When it comes to providing financially for your new baby, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But take heart. Yes, it’s true that the USDA estimates that it can take about $235,000 to raise a child from birth to age 17. But you need not come up with that money all at once! With some forethought and planning now, you can more easily handle the day-to-day needs as well as put your growing family on a path toward financial security. Here are 10 things you can do to make life easier—and help ease financial worries. MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. If you checked "yes" and supplied the appropriate information when applying for your baby's birth certificate, the Social Security number should be on its way. If for some reason you didn't, you can apply at an SSA office, but you'll have to provide proof of your child's U.S. citizenship, age and identity, as well as your own identity. This is important because you'll need a Social Security number to get your child's health insurance, open a bank account on his or her behalf, or apply for government benefits. GET HEALTH INSURANCE RIGHT AWAY. If you have insurance through your work, notify your employer as soon as your child is born. Meanwhile, review your options to make sure you have the best combination of deductibles and coverage. If you provide your own insurance, don't delay in contacting your insurance provider. There are time frames for adding a new baby to your policy in order to provide coverage retroactive to the date of birth.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED. An emergency fund is more important than ever when you have a child. Strive to have enough cash in an easily accessible account to cover three-tosix months of necessary expenses in case of an unexpected financial crisis. CONSIDER LIFE AND DISABILITY INSURANCE. Consider buying a term life insurance policy with enough to at least pay off your mortgage and debts, replace your income for several years, and cover your child's education. Also think about disability insurance, either through your employer and/or an independent policy. What you are offered through work may not be adequate to fit your needs. There's a lot more riding on your salary now. CREATE A WILL AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCIAL AND HEALTH DECISIONS. Even if you don't have many assets, a will is essential to name a guardian for your child. It need not be a complicated document, but if it's not in writing, the state could decide who would care for your child. An attorney can also draft other basic estate planning documents such as powers of attorney that provide authorized parties the ability to act on your behalf for financial and health care decisions if you are not able to do so. COMPLETE AN ADVANCE HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVE. This is different from a health care power of attorney and is sometimes called a living will. It designates the type of care you want in a life-threatening situation and allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you if you can't speak for yourself. It can be your spouse or anyone you choose.

START SAVING FOR EDUCATION. Everyone thinks about the enormous cost of college, but what if you want to send your child to private elementary or high school? Fortunately, with the new tax law, 529 accounts can now be used for all three with certain limitations. A 529 is a great, taxadvantaged way to save—and provides an easy, tax-smart way for grandparents to chip in, as well.

This may sound like a lot, but it doesn't have to be done all at once. The main thing is to plan ahead, so you can enjoy every precious moment with your new baby.

PLAN FOR THE EXTRAS. While you're focusing on savings, don't forget about extras like music lessons, sports, and summer camps. Having a general savings account to cover these things will help you make choices that don't break your budget. You might also consider opening a custodial account in your child's name. SAVE FOR YOUR OWN RETIREMENT. Being prepared for retirement is as important for your children as it is for you. Contribute at least enough to a 401(k) to get the company match, and then contribute more to your 401(k) or an IRA if you can. Your kids will be financially independent one day. You want to make sure you're equally independent. CHECK YOUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Many employee benefits packages include tax-advantaged accounts that let you pay for health and childcare expenses with before-tax dollars.

Looking for Financial Independence? Let’s Build a Plan. Marty DeRouen CFP®, ChFC® Wealth Management Advisor (337) 437-7811 derouengirola.nm.com

David Girola CFP®, CLU® Wealth Management Advisor (337) 437-7811 derouengirola.nm.com

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Home & Family Pro Watercross National Championships Moved to Lake Charles, LA

HAPPENINGS MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Bipesh Koirala Exhibit to open August 1 at Central School

Bipesh Koirala’s solo exhibit, “A Long Stare,” will open August 1 in Central School’s First Floor Gallery. This exhibit will be on display until October 31. Native of a small village in Nepal, Bipesh Koirala comes from a background of science and mathematics, but over time, has developed a passion for art. Most recently, he has focused this passion on painting cityscapes of Lake Charles, where he now resides. While studying in an undergraduate microbiology program in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, he won an EDV lottery visa for the Unites States. Connecticut became his home for a while, and he studied psychology during his time there. He then moved to Poughkeepsie, New York upon the reception of a full summer scholarship to Vassar College. He completed his studies there, and then returned home to visit his family. Koirala finally ended up here in Lake Charles on a visit to his cousin. It was at this time that he developed an interest in art. Koirala started his artistic journey by self-teaching. Soon he wanted more, and he enrolled in the undergraduate visual arts program at McNeese. Searching to be even more challenged, Koirala again travelled to New York to study further. While in New York, he took master classes in painting and drawing at the New York Academy of Art. Koirala then enrolled in the 64

academy’s continuing education program and became an assistant to his instructor. Soon though, he grew weary of the city life and felt called back to Lake Charles. Koirala relocated back to Lake Charles and finished his undergraduate degree at McNeese in December of 2018. Since graduating, he continues to paint and develop his skills and style. He describes his style as very textured and abstract, and he enjoys painting many different subjects.

3rd Annual Bingo for Designer Purses Presented by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Beta Kappa Zeta Chapter

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Beta Kappa Zeta Chapter, presents the 3rd Annual Bingo for Designer Purses on August 10 at the Foreman Reynaud Community Center, located at 215 Albert Street in Lake Charles. Doors open for the event at 5:00 p.m., with bingo beginning at 7:00pm. All proceeds will benefit Zeta Phi Beta Stork's Nest programs and initiatives in Lake Charles. The event consists of 20 games of bingo with a chance to win from a selection of designer purses each game. In addition to bingo, the event will offer food, music, and door prizes. In 2018, attendees won more than $8,000 worth of designer purses. For more information, call (337) 515-6491.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced today that Pro Watercross will move its National Championships to Lake Charles due to unforeseen circumstances in College Station, TX. The 2019 event will take place August 10-11 at the North Beach of Lake Charles. Watercross is simply motocross on Personal Watercrafts (PWC) or jet skis. These athletes, though, compete on unpredictable liquid tracks varying from oceans to rivers to lakes. Competitors challenge the notion of what is possible on a PWC; utilizing the most advanced equipment and reaching speeds of over 85 mph against a full line of competitors. This sport is driven by their passion, creating an event that combines adrenaline and pure enjoyment of being on the water. AJ Handler, CEO of the Pro Watercross Tour, expressed his appreciation to Eric Zartler, sales director at the CVB and the bureau’s team for all the effort they put into making this transition happen in a timely manner. Pro Watercross and the CVB agreed to a three-year contract that will keep the National Championship in Lake Charles through 2021. Registration information for competitors can be found at Prowatercross.com/lc.

Freeze Sign Up Dates Announced

Calcasieu Parish Assessor, Wendy Curphy Aguillard, and Staff, will be at the following locations to provide an opportunity for our local Seniors, Disabled Veterans, & Disabled citizens to sign for "Special Assessment Level Freezes" without having to fight the "Bridge Traffic" to come to our Lake Charles office. "Special Assessment Level Freezes" freeze the value of your property against any future adjustments due to reassessment. Applicants need only apply if they have not previously applied for a special assessment level

freeze; if the household income is less than $75,594; recently reached the age of 65; become a disabled Veteran with a 50% or more service connected disability, or 100% disabled through the Social Security Administration. DeQuincy City Hall -September 10, 9-12pm Sulphur Senior Center September 11, 9-12pm Westlake City Hall -September 12, 9-12pm Iowa Town Hall September 24, 9-12pm Moss Bluff Senior Center September 26, 9-12pm Vinton Town Hall -September 31, 9-12pm For more information on the qualifications to file for these "Special Assessment Level Freezes" and the documentation needed, please call the Calcasieu Parish Assessor’s Office at (337) 721-3000.

Second Saturday Art Experience Schedule Set

Gallery by the Lake has updated the schedule of Second Saturday Art Experience classes to be held at the Creative Arts Center at 106 W. Pryce Street in Lake Charles every month through November. The introductory art classes are geared toward adults and older teens. Classes are from 10am-2 pm. For more information, visit gallerybythelake.org or the gallery Facebook page for more details and registration. Class Schedule: August 10 – Introducing Watercolor with Sue Zimmerman September 14 – Creative Collage with Pat Craft October 12– Imaginative Feathered Friends with Becky Robertson November 9 – Making Holiday Cards with Bridgett Vallery

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Property Auction Sale Announced for Land Along Mermentau River Nearly 4,000 acres of land, divided into 38 separate parcels, located in Acadia, Jeff Davis, and Vermilion Parishes, and situated along the Mermentau River and its tributaries between Lake Arthur and Interstate 10, will be auctioned to the public on August 28, 2019. There will be no minimum bid requirements and the present owners will reserve the minerals. The auction sale will take place at the Acadia Parish Courthouse in the “Police Jury” room on the third floor, starting at 10am. The properties are being sold pursuant to a court order issued in a partition suit filed by co-owners of the properties. A “partition” is a legal proceeding brought by a co-owner of property, seeking to force a sale of the property by sheriff’s auction in a manner similar to a tax sale. The tracts are generally situated along the banks of bayous and streams, and many have stands of timber. The properties were owned by Texaco throughout most of the 20th century until being sold into private hands in the 1990s. The properties will initially be offered as a package, and then individually. If the highest bid for the properties as a package exceeds the total of the high bids on the individual tracts, the properties will be sold to the high bidder for the properties as a package. Otherwise the properties will be sold to the individual high bidders. Additional information about the auction sale and the specific terms and conditions under which the properties will be sold can be found online at: “mermentaulandsale.com.” The Acadia Parish Courthouse is located at 500 North Parkerson Avenue, Crowley, LA 70526.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019

Sasol’s Lake Charles Chemicals Project Delivering on its Commitment to Louisiana Sasol’s Lake Charles Chemicals Project in Calcasieu Parish has delivered 700 jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in state and local taxes and billions of dollars to Louisiana businesses. And that’s only the beginning. Sasol started up two of the project’s seven units earlier this year, with the remaining units expected to come online later this year and early next year. To date, Sasol has hired 700 new employees, spent more than $4 billion with Louisiana businesses, supported 6,500 construction jobs and contributed over $230 million in taxes, infrastructure improvements and other benefits to the Southwest Louisiana community and the state of Louisiana— during the construction period alone. As Sasol brings its new units online, it is poised to kick off the next phase of growth for the area. During operation, the new facility will sustain more than 800 permanent jobs and an average of 1,000 contract positions. During operations, Sasol’s project will generate over $20 million annually in sales, employment and other taxes for local and state governments. Project impacts are in addition to Sasol’s existing chemical facility in Lake Charles, which employs about 450 people and will continue generating sales and property taxes for the region and the state. Sasol has also contributed more than $5 million to community projects focused on education, small business development and environmental sustainability.

Want Beer or Wine? Waitr intends to Start Delivering it to Your Door! Waitr, the local on-demand restaurant delivery service, intends to start delivering alcohol directly to its customers’ doors in Louisiana. Chris Meaux, CEO of the Louisiana-based company, made the official announcement on Waitr’s expansion of services this morning. Waitr currently partners with more than 3,500 restaurants in Louisiana. Since launching in 2015, Waitr has been popular throughout state, serving the cities and surrounding areas of Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, New Orleans, Alexandria, Monroe, Hammond, Houma and Thibodaux. Pulmonology Associates Moves Office Memorial Medical Group Pulmonary Associates has relocated to the 3rd Floor of the medical office building at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. Pulmonologists Craig Broussard, MD, Clifford Courville, MD, Gary Kohler, MD, and Ben Thompson, MD are now located in Suite 350 directly above their former office location.

Solutions for Life

from Solutions Counseling & EAP by Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, LPC, LMFT, CEAP

Blended Families – How to get a smooth outcome! (Part 1) In all my years of writing this column (15, give or take), I have never written about the topic of blended families. I’m not sure why – I do a lot of work with blended families; I wrote a course for divorcing parents where we discuss blending families; and I grew up in a blended family. I’m kind of an expert. Blended families are families where one or both parents have children from previous relationships. Blended families come in all shapes and sizes – mom already had kids, dad already had kids, mom and dad already had kids, and often the parents have children together. (Kind of a “yours, mine and ours” scenario.) Many, many, many people have no idea what they are getting into when they decide to blend a family. They think as long as the parents are in love, things will just work out. That is so not true. Just like marriage is hard work, blending a family is hard work. So much has already happened to all the people involved. And we all have our ideas of how parents are supposed to act, how children are supposed to act, and what the boundaries of the stepparent should be. We now have about four decades of research on this topic, and for the next three months I’m going to be sharing with you what we have found out. Here we go! For children, often the process of becoming a blended family is more difficult than the divorce was. Think about all the changes children have endured by the time a new stepparent enters the picture: loss from the divorce, not seeing at least one of their parents as much, having to get used to a new environment with whichever parent moved. If both parents moved, there

is nothing familiar – house, bedroom, neighborhood friends, school, etc. And then there is having to meet their parent’s various new love interests before the parent settles on a lasting one. That’s a lot of change for anyone, folks, much less a little person. We know that the more change children endure, the more their wellbeing decreases. This is why it is so important that your children do not meet everyone you date. They shouldn’t be meeting anyone until you are confident the relationship is going to be around for a long time. And you shouldn’t be getting engaged until you’ve been dating for a long time. And you should have a long engagement before you get married. Even if you didn’t have children, you should go slow (you can’t possibly truly know someone in under 1-2 years). But, because you do have children, it is even more important that the children have the time they need to process all the changes. Basically, if you want your kids to be ok, you have to S-L-O-W D-O-W-N! There must be a secure parent-child connection. When we adults fall in love with a new person, it is normal for that new relationship to be consuming. This usually means the parent pulls away from the child for a bit, which is the perfect scenario for the child to resent the new boyfriend/girlfriend. If your new relationship continues developing, your child may feel pushed away for an extended period of time. To combat this, you must have one-on-one time with each of your children. They need a dedicated time where they have your undivided attention. Schedule this time, and do not cancel it. You want your child to feel like a priority for you.

They also need to feel heard and understood during this time of transition. This can be difficult, because you are excited about your new relationship and you want your child to be as well. You must get out your empathy skillset and think about how your child must feel. Just acknowledging that the situation is not easy can be helpful: “This new blended family thing is not easy, huh?” “Isn’t it strange that even when you like someone, it’s still hard to have them around all the time?” Age and gender are important Research indicates that boys and young children have an easier time with the blended family concept. Girls and older children need longer to adapt. The amount of conflict between parents is also key – the more low-conflict the divorce was and co-parenting is, the easier children will adjust. Regardless of age or gender, children must be given the space they need to process a parent getting married to someone new. Smart parents and stepparents give kids that space. Next month, we’ll discuss parenting styles common in blended families, and the impact they have on children. Frankly, there is a lot of good information for all families, not just the blended ones!

thriveswla.com

Kids

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living • August 2019