Thrive Magazine January 2017 Issue

JANUARY 2017

Be

7 1 0 2 n i U O Y t s e B e h t

NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH January 2017

first person

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

with Donna Edwards www.thriveswla.com

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January 2017

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Contents 10

6 In This Issue

Regular Features

Wining & Dining

12 First Person with First Lady Donna Edwards 18 Who’s News 36 The New Family Tree 56 Business Buzz 57 Solutions for Life 64 Happenings 66 McNeese Corral

6 Brown’s Food Center 8 Winter Wines Places & Faces

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A Title, a Crown, and a Hometown Girl 12 Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival 16 Community Foundation’s Lock Family Endowment Fund

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Mind & Body

20 LifeShare Celebrates National Blood Donor Month 24 Boost the Big T (Testosterone Levels) 26 Innovative Treatment offers New Hope for Diabetes Home & Family 28 Throw a Winning Superbowl Party 32 Complete Streets Coalition Aims to Improve Quality of Life 34 Tidy les Toilettes - 6 Tips to Organize Your Bath

38 – 49 Cover Story & Special Section: Be the Best YOU in 2017 Money & Career 50 Financial Tips for Women Who Outlive their Spouse

According to a Nielson study, these are the top ten most popular New Year’s Resolutions. To help you meet your own goals for the new year, see our cover story, Be the Best You in 2017, starting on page 38.

52 Find Your Path at McNeese State University 54 Take the Tedium Out of Tax Return Preparation Style & Beauty 58 Find the Perfect Lip Shade 62 Beauty Tips for Mature Skin DON’T JUST LIVE, THRIVE!

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 be successful in all areas of their lives – family, health, home and career.

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Stay fit and healthy Lose weight

Enjoy life to the fullest Spend less, save more Build relationships

Get organized

Don’t make resolutions Learn something new Travel more

Read more

37% 32% 28% 25% 19% 18% 16% 14% 14% 12%

Editors and Publishers

Kristy Armand Christine Fisher

Advertising Sales ads@thriveswla.com 337.310.2099

Creative Director

Barbara VanGossen

Submissions edit@thriveswla.com

Managing Editor

Angie Kay Dilmore

Business Manager

Katie McDaniel Stevenson

Assistant Designers

Shonda Manuel Kris Roy Mandy Gilmore

Submitted articles and photos are welcome. Thrive assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials and does not guarantee any submissions.

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January 2017

Though we don’t know the proper calibration of a welding torch used to roast wieners, business owners across Louisiana have trusted us for more than 25 years. Working with companies in virtually every industry, LCI provides expert guidance, exceptional service, and custom programs to help keep them growing.

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January 2017

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5

Wining & Dining Last Stop for Provisions before Entering Louisiana’s Outback

by Mitch Thomas -- photos by Angie Kay Dilmore

Two hurricanes couldn’t keep Jim Brown and his family from sticking with their friends and serving their customers. Though buildings and products were lost, they rebuilt their business, Brown’s Food Center, and continue to thrive, learning along the way what it takes to serve their community.

Situated on La. 27 along the Creole Nature Trail in Hackberry and on Gulf Highway in Grand Lake, these independent family-owned businesses feature prominently in their communities because of what they provide -- from breakfasts and lunches served from their deli in the absence of nearby restaurants, to supplies for hunters, fishermen, and shrimpers, and even tips on the best places to go crabbing.

The Hackberry store opened in 1978 as a 3600-square-foot building purchased by Brown from his brother Frank, who bought the property in 1976. Jim graduated from McNeese State University in 1977 and intended to work as a

coach or teacher but instead worked at Conoco, until Frank approached him with the Hackberry property. Jim said, “Why not?”

“It’s been a learning curve since I started, and it continues to be a learning curve,” he said.

In 1983, Brown expanded the Hackberry grocery store to 10,000 square feet and created a supermarket that today employs 38 people.

Through lifelong learning, attendance at seminars, and plenty of advice and encouragement from vendors and customers, Jim and his family grew Brown’s into a successful business by keeping pace with customers’ needs. They cater to the local fishermen, hunters and tourists along the Creole Nature Trail, as well as the residents of Hackberry, by selling gasoline, snacks and drinks, grocery staples and other provisions. Another key -- they treat their employees well. “Always treat your employees like you want to be treated,” Jim said. “I put myself in their shoes because I’ve been there before, and I’ve worked many jobs along the way.”

Among Jim’s employees are his children; his daughter Jamie, who handles office work, and his sons Chris and Brian, who not only help manage the stores but also work Brown’s meat market, making it a staple service of which Jim is particularly proud. “Our meat departments -- I would compare them to anybody in Southwest Louisiana. I would say ours is equal to or better than anybody around.”

The secret to their market, according to Jim, comes from good quality meats and prepared specialty meats, such as the Hackberry location’s

Tomahawk Ribeye, a 2-foot-long cut of bone-in beef customers often order for special occasions.

The Browns have been tested by hurricane disasters twice. In 2005 Hurricane Rita flattened both a grocery and convenience store in Cameron which Brown and his brother Pat had opened in 1991 and 2000, respectively. Only months before Rita devastated Southwest Louisiana, the brothers had also opened a branch on Nelson Road in Lake Charles. The combined loss of the Cameron stores and the sheer amount of wasted product from the Nelson Road location prompted the brothers to sell the Lake Charles store. The Hackberry store fared much better than the other locations during Rita, and in 2007 Jim and Pat purchased a building in Grand Lake for a new store.

Then Hurricane Ike barreled in, September 2008. The Hackberry location experienced flooding like never before. Water climbed up to 18 inches inside the store, while the Grand Lake location remained dry. With the help of their community, who no doubt wanted their neighborhood grocery store back, the Hackberry store was back in operation by October.

With industrial projects on the horizon for Southwest Louisiana, the Hackberry community will continue to develop. Jim Brown and his family will be there to serve them. “I really enjoy working with my family,” Jim said. “That’s really one of the best things I like about it. The community has grown, and we’re blessed right now because of all the new people coming in.”

Pictured from left to right: Jim Brown, Jamie Thomas, Chris Brown and Brian Brown

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

this Winter with

by Angie Kay Dilmore

As cool winter weather settles over Southwest Louisiana, our morning appetites turn to warm comfort food. Oatmeal often finds its way into our breakfast bowls, though we may not always have time to cook oats the old-fashioned way. Instant oatmeal to the rescue! Here’s a roundup of several brands you’ll find in lake area cereal aisles.

Quaker may be considered the quintessential oatmeal brand. And deservedly so. This breakfast staple has been around since 1877! While most are familiar with popular flavors such as maple brown sugar and apple cinnamon, Quaker continues to reinvent the brand. They recently sponsored a “Bring your Best Bowl” contest. Finalists included these three daring flavors – Vanilla Chai, Apple Cheddar Rosemary, and Lemon Ricotta Pancake.

The winner will be announced in February.

While very popular, Quaker Instant Oatmeal contains more artificial fillers and flavors than some of the healthier options. 150 calories, 2

January 2017

grams fat, 30 grams total carbs, 3 grams fiber, 4-5 grams protein. It’s found most anywhere oatmeal is sold.

Kathleens’s Quick Oats offers an all-natural instant oatmeal with a very short ingredient list.

The Ancient variety contains whole grain rolled oats, brown sugar, flaxmeal, hulled hemp seeds, and chia seeds. That’s it. Other flavors include Brown Sugar, Cinnamon Raisin, and Oats & Quinoa Crumble. 170 calories, 4 grams of fat, total carbs 29 grams, 4 grams fiber, 5 grams protein. Recently found at Big Lots for $2.00 a box. (A bargain!)

Bakery on Main Oatmeal and Muesli comes from a dedicated gluten free, non-GMO, kosher, natural foods bakery in Connecticut. They feature fun flavors like Strawberry Shortcake, Apple Pie, Maple Multigrain Muffin, and Blueberry Scone.

Each variety’s ingredient list includes healthy ancient grains – chia seeds, flax meal, quinoa, and amaranth. Kudos for natural ingredients, high

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fiber, and protein, but demerits for excess sugar.

200 calories, 3 grams of fat, 37 grams total carbs, 5 grams fiber, 6 grams of protein. While a bit trickier to find locally, it can be ordered online at bakeryonmain.com.

Also called porridge, McCann’s Irish Oatmeal has a rich texture and nutty flavor. It comes in Regular, Apple Cinnamon, and Maple Brown Sugar flavors. 100 calories, 2 grams of fat, 19 grams total carbs, 3 grams fiber, 4 grams protein. It can be found at select Kroger and Market Basket stores.

One of the healthiest instant oatmeals on the market is Nature’s Path Organic. Also non-GMO and vegetarian. It comes highly recommended on the “Eat This Not That” website and includes several tempting varieties including Optimum Power Blueberry Cinnamon Flax. 160 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 30 grams total carbs, 3 grams of fiber, 9 grams protein. Sold at Kroger, Albertson’s, Big Lots, and Target.

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Wining & Dining

Winter Wines

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

Wine has a way of warming your body from the inside out. It can be the perfect accompaniment to the soothing hearty meals we call comfort food in cold weather. Whether snacking by a crackling fireplace, hosting a crowd around the supper table, or dining out with friends, local experts can help you choose a wine that compliments your winter cuisine.

A robust beef stew after a bout around town in coat-worthy weather pairs well with a Malbec or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Some reds tend to have dark fruit and strong tannins that are delicious with beef. Crave Gourmet Baskets and Gifts of Lake Charles offers some great options to make your meal complete, like the Smith and Hook Cabernet Sauvignon for less than 30 dollars a bottle.

If you’re having folks over for a celebration and serving appetizers like cheese and smoked salmon, a little bubbly can brighten every bite. An NV Maurice Bonnamy Brut Rosé Cremant de Loire, which you can pick up for around 15 dollars a bottle, might be just what your gathering needs. This wine showcases a grape whose herbal side shows up in a subtle way, like lemongrass or lotus tea, balanced by plenty of ripe fruit. In other bubbly delights, try the Sios Brut Rose, a sparkling pinot noir Crave carries for about 30 dollars – sure to please any crowd!

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Sharing a little lobster or poached salmon with friends? Top off the wine glasses surrounding these festive plates with an extravagantly oaked chardonnay. This wine is aged in new oak barrels and demands to be paired with rich, luxurious food. A Clos Du Bois North Coast bottle of Chardonnay fits this criterion and can be had for less than 20 dollars.

Another bottle to include on your winter wine list is a Stags’ Leap Winery 2011 Petite Sirah from Napa Valley, which can be found for around 40 dollars a bottle. With cumin, dried chili and vanilla aromas along with flavors like Mexican spice, vanilla, and blackberries, these bold flavors will tickle your palate and quickly become a well-loved favorite.

Finally, if you’re looking for a seasonal taste, look no further than the Don and Sons Pinot Noir. With its aromas of nutmeg, espresso, and hints of plums and crushed berries, every taste bud will be delighted whether you are cozying up on the couch with a glass and a good book, or hosting a little soiree. With the cost of this wallet-friendly bottle, you’ll feel like Santa is still working his magic well into the new year.

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January 2017

COOKING Backyard fire pits have grown in popularity over the past several years. And why not?

They are the perfect place for friends and family to gather outdoors, especially in these cooler winter months. And who doesn’t want to feel like they are camping from the convenience of their own home now and then?

Get-togethers are great, but add food to the mix and now you have a party!

We all know how to roast weiners and marshmallows on a stick. Here are a few recipes to add some pizzazz to the pit!

Fire Pit Cinnamon Roll-Ups – For an alternative to s’mores, separate crescent rolls and wrap around a skewer. Roll in a cinnamon sugar mixture. Rotate and cook over coals for 5 minutes. Drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze, if desired.

January 2017

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Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs – Soak wooden skewers in water for an hour. Marinate 1 lb. chicken cubes in a mixture of 1/4 cup each pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, 2 Tbsp ketchup, 4 Tbsp olive oil, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 Tbsp minced ginger, 1 tsp sesame oil, salt, and a splash of Sriracha.

Skewer meat with pineapple cubes, bell pepper, and red onion. Cook on a grate over coals.

Corn on the Cob is super easy to grill over a fire pit, but heat it up a few degrees by slathering the cooked corn with a spicy seasoned butter to which you have added some cilantro, parmesan cheese, a squeeze of lime juice and chili powder.

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Places & Faces

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

The lights of the auditorium reflected off of the new crown atop her head. Bethany Trahan, a Lake Charles native, had won the title of Miss Louisiana USA 2017! It was a dream come true for Bethany, who had always watched the Miss USA pageants and idolized the titleholders in the Miss USA system.

When Bethany was young, she fantasized about walking across that stage, but admittedly did not have the confidence to consider chasing her dream. She did not grow up in the pageant system like other competitors, and suffered with mental health issues which, for a time, held her back. This twenty-one-year-old McNeese State University public relations major had a defining moment two years ago that prompted her to go for her dreams. Watching the pageant in Baton Rouge, she was inspired by the Miss Louisiana USA women walking across the stage.

She decided to push aside her fears and finally give the pageant a try. Bethany immediately texted her father, “I’m going to compete to be Miss Louisiana.” Her dad had his reservations and told her that it took a lot of training -- she could not just become Miss Louisiana. To this she replied with two words: “Watch me.”

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January 2017

Bethany’s tenacity and determination paid off in a big way. Brittany Guidry and Michelle West, both former Miss Louisiana USA titleholders and people that Bethany looked up to, took Bethany under their wings and became like family to her.

Their wealth of information helped pave the way for Bethany’s path to victory. The first time Bethany ever competed in 2015, it was in the Miss Louisiana USA pageant. She came home as the first-runnerup. This year, she walked across the stage a second time, and walked away with the crown. “It’s like a dream that I never want to wake up from,” she says.

This passionate traveler who loves to learn about other cultures would like the world to know a few things. Bethany says, “I’m very passionate about mental health awareness. I struggled with depression and anxiety for so long, and I suffered in silence. It isn’t something to be ashamed of, and it isn’t a flaw.”

Bethany sought help and received treatment and now hopes that by sharing her message she can help others who also struggle. She wants to break the stigma about mental health and let everyone know, “It’s okay not to be perfect. Perfection doesn’t exist. Embrace your imperfections and love yourself!

That’s what I did, and look where it got me.”

You might see Bethany around town enjoying local cuisine. She says she is a major foodie who loves to eat. In addition to enjoying all of the amazing restaurants Lake Charles has to offer, Bethany will spend the next few months taking a break from school in order to focus on her duties as Miss Louisiana USA, which include helping out with the Buddy Walk for Down’s Syndrome, working with Toys for Tots, judging the Miracles Beauty Pageant, reading to children at schools, and speaking at the Beautiful You Conference to encourage young girls. She will also prepare for the Miss USA pageant which will air live on Fox this summer. Her hopes for the future are to work with a major designer in the fashion industry and continue to encourage people to embrace their imperfections and use them for something amazing, because she believes that nothing is impossible.

! l l o R s ’ t Le B 28

NOW - FE

Swlamardigras.com

January 2017

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Places & Faces

LOUISIANA Fur & Wildlife Festival

by Angie Kay Dilmore

12 www.thriveswla.com

The annual Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival takes place in Cameron on January 13-14. In addition to the usual festival fare of tantalizing food, amusement park rides and games, craft vendors, a gumbo-cookoff, live music, pageantry, and a parade, you’ll also experience, either as a spectator or participant, duck and goose calling, nutria-skinning, trap shooting, and oyster shucking competitions, as well as a 5K/1 mile run/walk. This year will specifically celebrate Louisiana’s fishing industry. The festival has been named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for the third year in a row.

For more information, see their website, lafurandwildlifefestival.com

photos by Parker Brand Creative, courtesy of the SWLA Convention and Visitors Bureau

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January 2017

FREEs & X-Rays New Patient Exam 30 e: 0150, 0272, 03 $236 Value -Codbe 18 or older Must

Insurance accepted including Medicaid

Financing available Ask about our VIP Dental Plan

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017 6:00 PM

Little Miss and Mr. Cameron Parish / Miss Cameron Parish Pageants CPSB Conference Ctr. 512 Marshall St., Cameron/ Admission $5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 10:00 AM

Deb, Teen and Junior Miss Fur Queen Pageant CPSB Conference Ctr. 512 Marshall St., Cameron/ Admission $5

10:00 AM

Dog Trials (registration begins- end of Earl Rd.)

11:00 AM

Dog Trials Begin- Junior Puppies/ Seasoned Dogs to follow

12:00 PM

Gates Open- Main Fairgrounds $5 per person/ $15 weekend pass- (includes admission to Friday evening pageant)/ children 12 & under free Trap Shooting-Southeast Fairgrounds • Carnival Opens-Main Fairgrounds

7:00 PM

LA Fur & Wildlife Fur Queen Contest/ Crowning of King Fur CPSB Conference Ctr., 512 Marshall St., Cameron/ Admission $5

7:00 - 10:30 Richard LeBoeuf performs- Main Fairgrounds

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017 7:00 AM

Late Registration 3rd Annual Fur Festival 5k Run- and 1 mile fun walk Cameron Jetty Pier, end of Davis Rd. (For Early Registration and additional information: register.cajuntiming.com)

9:00 - 4:00 Antique Vehicles Showcase • No admission 9:00 AM

Gates Open- Main Fairgrounds $10 per person/ children 12 & under free Gumbo Cook-Off (cooks allowed in at 6:30 AM)

Trap Shooting-Southeast Fairgrounds • Carnival Opens- Main Fairgrounds

HONORING THIS YEAR’S CAMERON PARISH

NATURAL RESOURCE. . .

10:00 AM Muskrat & Nutria Skinning Competition –Main Fairgrounds

Trap Setting Competition –Main Fairgrounds • Oyster Shucking Competition–Main Fairgrounds 11:00 AM

Cypress Band- Featuring Warren Storm and Willie T

11:30 AM

Gumbo Cook-Off Judging Main Fairgrounds

1:30 PM

Parade- Downtown Cameron (line up at Cameron Construction Yard)

3:00 - 6:30

Steel Shot performs- Main Fairgrounds

3:00 PM

Duck and Goose Calling Competition- Southeast Fairgrounds

7:00 - 10:30 Flamethrowers performs- Main Fairgrounds

All events will take place on the fairgrounds located at the former Pat’s of Cameron (513 Marshall Street) in Downtown Cameron, unless otherwise stated.

ICE CHESTS, OUTSIDE FOOD AND BEVERAGES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE FAIRGROUNDS.

January 2017

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Places & Faces

C

itizens of Louisiana began to take notice of Donna Edwards in 2015 when she appeared in campaign commercials with her husband, John Bel, a candidate for Governor of Louisiana at the time. As you are aware, Edwards won the election and Donna became Louisiana’s First Lady.

Thrive spoke with Ms. Edwards recently and she talked about her family, her passions, and how her life has changed over the past year since moving into the Governor’s Mansion.

first person with

Donna Edwards

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Louisiana’s First Lady 14 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?

I was born in Mississippi. My dad worked for International Paper Company as a forester.

We moved to Alabama, and from there to Amite, Louisiana. My mom stayed home with me and my two older brothers. She was one of the best homemakers. I grew up in a very strong household with strong faith, involved with our church, my dad was in Kiwanis.

We did a lot of things together. I remember Sunday afternoons walking through the woods, picnics, and going to the park.

When did you and John Bel meet?

I met my husband in 6th grade when my family moved to Amite. We started dating in high school. He went on to United States Military Academy at West Point. I attended University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and graduated with a business degree in Industrial Management. After John Bel’s Ranger School, we got married. Our first tour of duty was at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. We lived there until our first child, Samantha Bel, was born. After 3 ½ years, we moved back to the mainland and moved around a couple different places. Our last tour of duty was at Fort Bragg, N.C., where our second child Sarah Ellen was born. We were eight years in the army, active duty.

Then we moved back to Amite, where John Bel went to LSU law school. We had our third child, John Miller, right after 9/11.

How has your life changed since the election and moving into the Governor’s Mansion?

While I was a stay at home mom, I was a professional volunteer – PTO, church and school activities, Jr. Auxillary . . . I helped build a park in our community. People kept saying I should go into education because I love children. So I went back to school and became certified and taught eight and a half years before leaving to go on the campaign trail. So I’m no longer in the classroom as a teacher. But I still have those desires to support teachers and make our schools successful. During the historic Louisiana floods this past year, I was able to partner with a lot of different groups to raise money for classroom supplies and needs.

What are some changes you didn’t expect?

I didn’t anticipate the 24/7 security, not being able to take a drive whenever we feel like it or going shopping without anyone knowing.

What are your goals as First Lady?

I’ve started the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion Preservation Foundation. There’s a lot of upkeep on this home – painting, leaking roof and porch – those necessary repairs come out of private funding because we have no money in the budget right now. So I’m trying to raise awareness and money. Our first fundraiser was last month, called A Christmas Evening in the Mansion. We will have Evenings

at the Mansion two to three times a year to raise money to repair and preserve the state’s home. Second, I will be starting up the Louisiana First Foundation to support art, music, and movement in our schools. My third goal is to focus on our foster care program.

In 2016, we had the most foster children adopted out of the foster care program ever – 735 children. We’re very proud of that.

Describe how you found a balance between your own career and supporting a husband in public service.

Being First Lady has become my new career. It’s a full-time job. I have a desk and I go to work every day. I make calls and appearances and I try to make a difference as a public servant alongside my husband in trying to promote our state and make it a better place for all Louisianans.

You have a full, often stressful scedule.

How do you relax and unwind?

I love tea and I love candles and I start each day off with meditation and scripture. That gives me peace.

Name three things on your bucket list.

That’s hard because I haven’t had much time to think about my bucket list. I’ve been enjoying traveling to more states and hope to do more of that. I’ve been encouraged to learn how to play tennis. And I’d like to write a couple of books, maybe a children’s book.

Your daughter Samantha has spina

bifida. How is she now and how did you and John Bel raise her to be as strong and independent as possible?

Samantha had a lot of obstacles to overcome.

After she was born, I decided not to go back to work, stay at home, be a part of her everyday life, and make sure she had whatever she needed physically, mentally, and spiritually to be successful. She beat a lot of the odds and is considered quite a miracle. Now she is married, working on her master’s degree, and will become a school counselor.

January 2017

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15

Places & Faces

Community Foundation’s Lock Family Endowment Fund

Donates Playground Equipment to Lock Park The City of Lake Charles and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana co-hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lock Park, 1535 Ryan St., on December 20, 2016, at 11 a.m.

Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach and other community leaders unveiled improvements to existing playground facilities, including the addition of new toddler slides, climbing walls and spring toys. Inter-generational swings have also been added that will enable parents to enjoy the park with their small children.

Lock Park was given to the city in 1917

by Ellen Martha Lock in memory of her husband, Capt. George Lock. At that time,

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Lock setup a fund to provide perpetual care for the park. In 2015 the family established the Lock Family Endowment Fund so that the money dedicated in 1917 will be certain to give back to the Lake Charles community for years to come. George Paret is now chairman of the fund and a descendent of Capt. George and Ellen Martha Lock.

The playground equipment was made possible by a $20,000 donation from the fund through the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana. “We are fortunate to have families like the Locks and Parets as well as a Community Foundation that can work with

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families to ensure that the causes they care about may be supported long after our lifetimes and be of benefit to future generations,” said Mayor Roach. “I’m sure Mrs. Lock would be proud to know that almost 100 years after her original gift, her family is still supporting its community.”

Lock Park is one of 28 parks overseen by the City of Lake Charles. Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www. cityoflakecharles.com. For more information on the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana or to learn more about creating an endowment fund, visit www.foundationswla.org or call 491-6688.

January 2017

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation

Reveals Donor Wall The CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation held a celebration of thanks last month for donors who gave time and money to make the “Healthcare and Hope…Here at Home” fundraising campaign, held from 2014-present, a success. During the campaign, $14 million was donated toward the purchase of the latest technology for Cardiology, Neuroscience, and Oncology. To honor donors, a stained glass donor wall by glass artist Frank Thompson was unveiled in the CHRISTUS St. Patrick front lobby.

Donors gave close to $7 million and $7 million was matched by CHRISTUS Health toward new technology. Of the nearly $14 million raised, over $7 million was invested in the Regional Cancer Center for more comprehensive oncology services and advanced technology so that patients from Southwest Louisiana can be treated here rather than traveling out of town for treatment.

Over $3.5 million was invested in the Regional Heart Center to develop the first accredited chest pain center with technology that is the gold standard in cardiac care that is used to quickly and accurately detect heart attacks. The naming rights of the Regional Heart Center have been underwritten by John and Sylvia Stelly, who donated $1 million to improve cardiology services in this region.

January 2017

“Since 40% of people from Southwest Louisiana die annually from cardiovascular disease, we need to change that statistic by having the advanced technology here to care for patients and to also bring awareness of the importance to regularly monitor and improve our health as individuals,” states John Stelly. Also in development is the region’s first Hybrid Surgical Suite, which will be dedicated in memory of Coach Max Caldarera.

Finally, over $1.5 million went toward the creation of a technologically advanced and more precise Neurosurgical, Spine and Orthopaedic program.

The “Healthcare and Hope…Here at home” capital campaign donor wall, which was designed and developed by acclaimed glass artist Frank Thompson, resembles the flow of the CHRISTUS ministry and the progress being made to bring advanced healthcare service to Southwest Louisiana. The donors’ names stream through the design with the ebb and flow in the current of the design. “This piece is from a design that has won some awards nationally, called Oceanic Splendor,” said Thompson. “The feeling behind it is fluid and encourages healing. The colors, particularly purple, are healing colors.”

“We are so grateful to all the donors who Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Glass artist Frank Thompson

have supported our fundraising efforts,” said CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation Director Kay Barnett. “Through their donations, we are able to give our patients the latest treatments here, in their community, with the family and friends they need for support and the comfort of home.”

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Places & Faces

Movers and Shakers in Southwest News? You tell us! Send press releases to Louisiana... Who’s edit@thriveswla.com with the subject line “Who’s News.”

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Honors Two Employees

nominations submitted by faculty and staff of the College.

Rau Attends LPL Financial’s Women Advisors Leaders Forum

Courntey Henagan

Lindsey Hamilton

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) recently recognized its September and October Employees of the Month for 2016, Courtney Henagan, RN, and Lindsey Hamilton, COTA. Courtney serves as a registered nurse in the hospital’s Women’s Center where she provides exceptional care to patients and also assists in the training and mentoring of new nursing staff. She has been with the organization for 10 years.

Lindsey serves as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) in WCCH’s Physical Medicine department. She has been with the organization for 12 years.

Lake Area Medical Center Welcomes New Chief Quality Officer LaTosha Mackey, RN, BSN, MSN has joined the leadership team and named the Chief Quality Officer and Facility Compliance Officer at Lake Area Medical Center.

LaTosha Mackey Mackey brings to Lake Area Medical Center 15 years of nursing experience, with 5 of those years in healthcare leadership. Prior to arriving at Lake Area Medical Center she served as Quality Director/Infection Prevention & Control Director for Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, TX, and most recently as the Director of Operations for SouthernCare Hospice in Lake Charles.

Collins Receives SOWELA’s Customer Service Star Award Christine Collins, Director of Student Support Services at SOWELA Technical Community College, received the Customer Service Star Award for the Fall 2016 semester at the Annual Employee Christmas Luncheon. SOWELA’s Customer Service Committee selects award winners from 18 www.thriveswla.com

Denise Rau, CFP, of Rau Financial Group recently attended LPL Financial’s inaugural Women Advisors Leaders Forum, an invitation-only Denise Rau conference for top female advisors hosted by LPL Financial, a leading retail investment advisory firm. Hosted in Carlsbad, Calif., more than 100 female advisors, LPL executives and industry leaders convened at the forum with the goal to further empower some of the top women advisors in the industry. The keynote speaker was Judy Smith, founder and president of leading crisis communications firm, Smith & Company, author of Good Self, Bad Self, and inspiration for the hit television show “Scandal.”

“As a business owner, my top priority is serving the needs of my clients,” said Rau. “By attending events such as this, I am able to gather best practices from other successful women advisors and demonstrate my commitment to supporting my clients as we work together toward their financial goals.”

Memorial Welcomes New Vice President of Finance

LaTosha Mackey

Brian Kirk, CPA, MBA, FHFMA, FACHE, CMPE has joined Lake Charles Memorial Health System as its new Vice President of Finance. Kirk comes to Memorial with more than 20 years of healthcare financial and operational experience for profit/ nonprofit hospitals and

health systems.

Prior to joining Memorial, he served as the chief financial officer for university hospital and clinics at Lafayette General Health System. He is a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Kirk is also a certified medical practice executive.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Lake Area Medical Center Announces 2016 Employee and Managers of the Year Lake Area Medical Center recently named: Amie Proctor, Shipping and Receiving Clerk in the Purchasing Department as the 2016 Employee of the Year Dawn Matte, B.S., R.T., (R), (M), Director of Imaging Services as the 2016 Clinical Manager of the Year Lisa Guerrero, B.E.S., Director of Marketing and Public Relations as the 2016 Non-Clinical Manager of the Year

Amy Proctor

Lisa Guerrero

Dawn Matte

The award is the highest honor bestowed on a hospital employee each year. Proctor, Matte and Guerrero were nominated for the award by their hospital peers based on their dedication to patient care, their professionalism and their contributions on the job.

Merchants & Farmers Bank Announces The Retirement of Dr. Otis Biggs Claude “ Buddy” Leach Jr., Chairman, Merchants and Farmers Bank Leesville announced the retirement of Otis Biggs, MD from the bank’s Board of Directors.

Otis Biggs, MD Dr. Biggs was immediately elected Director Emeritus of the bank.

In making the announcement, Chairman Leach praised Dr. Biggs for his 38 years of loyal service to the shareholders, customers and staff of Merchants & Farmers as well as his many years of dedicated service to the community as a physician and civic leader. Dr. Biggs was elected to the bank’s board in December of 1978. His career has spanned revolutions in banking, beginning before the first January 2017

computer was used and ending when transactions can be completed entirely via the Internet.

St. Margaret Catholic School Announces New Jr. Beta Club Members

St. Margaret Catholic School would like to congratulate all of the new members of the St. Margaret Catholic School Jr. Beta Club. The following students were inducted in December.

J.R. Brandon Collin Churchman Michael Desormeaux Julian Jones Kenneth Nguyen Genesis Bass Eian Dowden Emma Freeman Amerie Guillory Bryson Hardy

Aiden McDonald Ray Melerine Niraj Mitchell Spence Nixon Elijah Palmer Princess Riggs Jacob Robinson Ann-Margaret Rosteet Megan Roy Shelby Willis

Memorial Foundation Awards Scholarships

Pictured L to R: John Henning, Dwayne Henry, Scholarship Fund Advisor, Alexandria Goodley, Matthew Fontenot, Elisia Smith and Leif Pedersen, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at Memorial.

The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial awarded full tuition scholarships to three students of St. Louis Catholic High School through the Dwayne Henry Scholarship Fund. Alexandria Goodley, Matthew Fontenot and Elisia Smith all received 2016/17 scholarships.

SOWELA Foundation Welcomes New Board Members The SOWELA Technical Community College Foundation announces four new members to its 2017 Board of Directors.

Taylor Alexander is a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones in Sulphur. She is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and has a certification from LSU as a High Level Communicator.

Daniel “Dan” Frick is a Financial Advisor at Financial Management Professionals. He is a January 2017

Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Financial Planner.

J. “Hardtner” Klumpp is the Project and Leasing Manager for The Investors Group of Louisiana. He is a licensed real estate agent and is working toward acquiring his Certified Commercial Investment Member designation.

Elizabeth McLaughlin is the Community Relations Manager at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles. Prior to her position with Golden Nugget, Elizabeth was a pharmaceutical sales representative, a campaign strategist, and an executive director of a non-profit organization.

For information, visit http://www.sowela.edu/give or call (337) 421-6903.

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Names 2016 John Greene Martin Award Recipient CHRISTUS St. Patrick named David Buttross III, M.D., the 2016 John Greene Martin Compassionate Care Award recipient at the David Buttross III, MD Annual CHRISTUS St. Patrick Family Christmas Celebration held on December 3 at the Lake Charles Pioneer Club.

Dr. Buttross is a Board Certified Adult Psychiatrist at Lake Area Psychiatry, LLC and has been on the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Medical Staff for 20 years. He is the Medical Director for CHRISTUS St. Behavioral Health Services and has served on many committees, currently serving on the PIQC Committee.

Dr. John Greene Martin was the founding physician of St. Patrick’s Hospital in 1908 with the Sisters of Charity. The honor is annually bestowed upon a current physician by secret vote of the Medical Staff and associates for excellence in care, patient-centered kindness, leadership, stewardship and service.

Anne Taber Klenke Appointed to National Advisory Committee For Travel & Tourism Infrastructure Anne Taber Klenke, tourism director at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau was Anne Taber Klenke recently appointed to serve on the National Advisory Committee for Travel & Tourism Infrastructure on behalf of the National Scenic Byways Foundation.

With 28 years of experience in tourism, working collaboratively in private/public partnerships and with entities such as the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Office of Culture, Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Recreation & Tourism, the Louisiana Seafood Board and the Federal Highway Administration, she will be able to offer extensive experience and knowledge to the committee in intermodal connectivity for travel and tourism.

For more information on the National Advisory Committee for Travel & Tourism Infrastructure, log on to www.transportation.gov/NACTTI.

Nic Hunter Announces Run for Lake Charles Mayor A life-long resident of Lake Charles, small business owner, and public servant, Nicholas “Nic” Hunter has officially announced his candidacy for the office of Mayor of Nic Hunter the City of Lake Charles.

In 2011, Nic was elected to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to represent the citizens of Lake Charles and portions of Ward 3. He is currently in his second term.

Over the course of the campaign, Nic will roll out his plan for Lake Charles which includes feasible lakefront development, protecting taxpayers, responsible budgeting, improving infrastructure like drainage and roads, enhancing waste management programs, and ensuring public safety.

For more information, call (337) 502-8449.

Eligha Guillory Jr., Announces Candidacy for Mayor Eligha Guillory, Jr., announced his candidacy for the office of mayor of Lake Charles to a crowd at the Lake Charles Transit Center. The election is set for March 25, 2017.

Eligha Guillory Jr. He most recently served as assistant city administrator of the City of Lake Charles but resigned his position in November to enter the mayor’s race.

Guillory said that with Lake Charles experiencing a surge of economic activity and new residents, his blueprint for the city focuses on responsible and sustainable growth for the community.

For more information, visit www.ElighaGuillory.com or call (337) 478-7396.

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19

Mind & Body LifeShare Celebrates

National Blood Donor Month

by Frank DiCesare

In the medical field, life or death situations are often measured in seconds.

Sometimes they’re measured in pints.

Whether inside a hospital operating room or at a trauma center on the other side of town, it is often the pints of blood delivered at the scene that saves a person’s life.

But supplying that blood rests on the shoulders (and veins) of the community.

“We can never have enough blood,” said Chisa Evans, manager of LifeShare Blood Center in Lake Charles. “I think at this point, especially around the holidays, we are trying to get as much supply as we possibly can because we are supplying blood to hospitals across Southwest Louisiana. And that requires a lot of participation from our community. Without them we do not survive.”

January is National Blood Donor Month and LifeShare wants Southwest Louisiana’s residents to consider giving blood. The blood bank holds mobile drives every day throughout the Lake Area and services between 20 and 60 donors, depending on the location, during each event.

Despite the generous donations of some, LifeShare still needs more blood to keep the region’s hospitals well stocked, especially during winter.

“Traditionally we see low blood supplies in December, January, and February,” said Tina Hooper, LifeShare’s executive director of marketing and communications. “This concerns us because if a patient is in the hospital and we don’t have their blood type, or if there’s a major trauma, or accident, or disaster, we need to ensure that there’s enough blood on hand right away.”

LifeShare is especially in need of O negative blood. Known as the universal donor, O negative is accepted by all patients. Ironically, O negative patients can only receive O negative blood. But with less than 7 percent of the population being O negative, it is typically the type that blood banks need most.

20 www.thriveswla.com

“When we do have those unexpected accidents or disasters and we don’t know the blood type, the medical team needs to administer the O negative blood transfusion,” Hooper said. “It is the one the medical team will go to in those events.”

In order to meet current hospital inventory demands, LifeShare needs about 2,000 blood donors each month. Hooper said the blood bank often fails to meet that goal.

In 2016, LifeShare’s donors provided more than 156,000 units of blood to hospital patients in Southwest Louisiana and beyond. In addition to the Lake Area, LifeShare’s Lake Charles blood bank serves hospitals across the state and as far west as Beaumont, Tx. Blood donors must be at least 110 pounds and 16 years of age or older.

They must also be in good health. All blood donated to LifeShare must be tested according to FDA regulations.

The blood is screened for bloodborne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, and is tested for its antibodies and type.

In Louisiana, the blood is also tested for Zika virus. Hooper said the testing process takes between 24 and 48 hours to complete.

“We hold those blood donations to make sure we can release it for the safety of the patient,” she added. “So it takes one to two days before we can make a new donation of blood available. But if there’s a major accident or disaster, we can’t wait. That’s why it’s so important that we proactively keep the blood supply strong.”

In addition to its blood drives, LifeShare also takes donations at its center on Dr. Michael Debakey Drive in Lake Charles. The center’s hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

The center currently averages about 10 donors a day.

“We try to schedule donors to come back in, based on the type of donation they give, to be consistent donors with us, repeat donors,” Evans said. “We also encourage them to bring someone else in with them. That is only way that we grow.”

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

214 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 436-4932 | (800) 256-4932 Location Hours: 8am-5pm M-F | 8am-12pm Sat Appointments every 3rd Sunday

Amount of blood in an average adult’s body

10PINTS

Blood Donation By the Numbers

43,000 Number of donated pints used each day in U.S. and Canada

Up to Number of lives one pint of blood can save

37%

4.5 million Number of Americans who need a blood transfusion each year

Approximate amount of the U.S. population that donates blood each year

1 in 7

5%

About1hour Length of time required for blood donation, from sign in to post-donation snack

Number of patients entering a hospital who will require a blood transfusion

13

Number of tests performed on each unit of donated blood

January 2017

Percent of U.S. population eligible to donate blood

Source: The 2007 Nationwid Blood Collection and Utilization Survey Report, Deparment of Health & Human Services

Sponsored Content

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21

Mind & Body

COMMUNICATION THROUGH DIALOGUE—

Some Assembly Required

by Madelaine Brauner Landry

22 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

The fable of the Blind Men and the Elephant has been used for centuries to debunk myths about assumptions. In the world of interpersonal communication, it is also useful as a parable for introducing the concept of schemata, a term used by researchers to describe the framework for our thoughts, feelings and preconceptions.

Our schemata organize what we hear in our personal storehouses of knowledge. They are part of a process that assists us in encoding and retrieving memories—a process that affects how we speak, listen and respond to all communication.

Like the wise men in the parable who had never seen an elephant, imagine being with others who are blindfolded and led to touch this strange creature for the first time. You may feel its trunk, another its tail, and still others its tusks, legs, or face.

You describe what you touched and are startled to find the others each “felt” something different. In much the same way, we feel our emotions, perceive our assorted thoughts, and retrieve various images constantly in our minds. These feelings, perceptions, and memories are unique to us, yet we are amazed when others do not share our personal schemata.

And if that isn’t confusing enough, we are relentlessly adding, examining, and discarding what resides in our mind, causing our schemata to evolve and change constantly; never static.

No wonder we do not always “hear” what someone else is trying to say!

Communication experts have been researching Schema Theory for decades. Think of it as the instructions that come with the “Some Assembly Required” items you purchase. You turn to a picture that shows how and where Thingamabob ABC fits into Thingamajig XYZ. A schematic is a visual interpretation of how to connect, as well as the steps and tools necessary to complete assembly.

If, when we communicate with another person, we seek to “assemble” new understandings, be aware we will not always share meaning. This makes interpersonal communication especially challenging, yet we have the necessary tools to communicate if we choose to use them.

Have you ever entered into a dialogue with someone only to end up frustrated because they are being so difficult? Dialogue is defined as through to meaning: (dia - through + logue - word or meaning). To enter into dialogue is to enter into a relationship. If you want it to be successful on any level, challenge yourself to let go of the idea of certainty in exchange for the opening up of new possibilities. Dialogue does not mean anything needs to be changed or fixed about the other person. It means participating with another as one would participate in a dance, finding ways to move in synch.

You know why.

WE KNOW HOW.

This synchronized dance is what makes active listening so crucial and so difficult at times. If we demand to have things only our way, to always lead the dance, then we fail to hear other’s opinions. We fail to respect their expressions or interpretations.

Yet, we demand these considerations for ourselves.

Why are we so surprised that the other person wants the same?

Like the parts of an elephant are interrelated, so too is the process of entering into a dialogue.

Our schemata link us together, but only if we allow them to by listening with ears that want to learn, share, and understand. How amazing to think this complex network of memory and awareness we call mine can connect to theirs! A collective new thing emerges when we allow that dynamic to occur.

Solutions can be discovered and differences can be bridged when we listen, really listen, to the other person.

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23

Mind & Body

Boost the Big 24 www.thriveswla.com

Drug-Free Tips to Increase Testosterone Levels

by Mitch Thomas

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

If men find themselves more often crashing on the couch than pounding the pavement, low testosterone could be the culprit.

Lower levels of this hormone will frequently leave men feeling fatigued and less active.

Boosting testosterone levels can improve overall well-being. Hormone replacement therapy is one solution, but it isn’t for everyone. Fortunately, there are drug-free options one can try before going the route of replacement therapy.

Low levels of testosterone are often associated with other symptoms, such as weight gain, chronic fatigue, and depression.

Lake Charles endocrinologist Dr. Timothy R. Gilbert says to help bring up testosterone naturally, healthy lifestyle changes may improve production of the hormone, in addition to promoting better quality of life.

Does low testosterone result in weight gain, chronic fatigue, and depression, or do these maladies cause low T? “It’s the chicken or the egg there,” Dr. Gilbert said. “A lot of people will become fatigued and gain weight because of a sedentary lifestyle, based purely on low testosterone, so it’s kind of a snowball beginning to roll down the hill.”

If you suspect your T levels aren’t where they should be, consider making these healthy lifestyle changes.

LOSE WEIGHT—Weight loss is a great way to bring up testosterone levels, according to endocrinology nurse practitioner Clay Hill. “Almost universally, if somebody comes in overweight and most of the excess weight is through their middle, if we can get them to lose weight, their endogenous testosterone will go up on its own,” Hill said.

SLEEP WELL—IIt is recommended men get 7-8 hours of quality sleep a night. If you frequently feel fatigued, see a physician to rule out sleep apnea, a common disorder defined by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep, which interrupts the quality of sleep. Hill says poor sleep can dampen a number of hormone levels, including testosterone. Weight gain can also contribute to sleep apnea.

KEEP MOVING —Staying active enhances T levels. Physical activity prompts the body to keep bones and muscles strong, which in turn releases more testosterone. A brisk walk for 10-20 minutes a day is a good place to start.

The normal range for testosterone levels is 250-1100 nanograms per deciliter. Higher levels are expected in younger men; levels naturally decline as men age. If lifestyle changes don’t sufficiently raise levels, replacement therapy may be the best course. It can be administered via patches or gels applied to the skin, pellets implanted in soft tissue, or weekly or bi-monthly injections.

Whether lifestyle changes or replacement therapy, higher testosterone levels can be worth the effort. Hill says higher T levels provide more energy, decreased depression, a better sense of well-being, and more lean muscle mass.

“The ultimate goal is to start feeling better.”

DECREASE STRESS —Stress increases cortisol levels in the body, a hormone which hinders testosterone production. Cut back on work hours or engage in anxiety relieving activities to keep stress down.

MANAGE DIABETES— For those with diabetes, Dr. Gilbert says properly managing the condition will help boost testosterone levels.

Enhancing your face requires the skill of a surgeon and the eye of an artist.

ACADIAN ENT Making skin smooth and tight again is only a part of facial

plastic surgery. Also, consider the balance and proportions of your face – the relationship of your chin, nose, eyes and ears to your total appearance. Adjusting this balance creates a face that is more youthful, more delicately shaped, more gently perfected. You want to look better, not different.

Jeffrey J. Joseph, md, facs

The hands of a surgeon.

The eye of an artist.

1000 W. Pinhook Road • Lafayette 337-237-0650 www.acadianent.com

board-certified & fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon jeffrey j. joseph, md, facs January 2017

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25

Mind & Body

Innovative Treatment offers New Hope for Diabetics

photos by Shonda Manuel

Six eye surgeries. A stroke. Numbness on one side of the body. These are just some of the complications Kristen Orndoff has experienced as the result of diabetes. And she is just 30 years old. “I was diagnosed at age 3, so I’ve been in treatment for this disease and dealing with the limitations that result from it for basically my entire life.”

She is not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and 25% of those people are unaware they have the condition. People with diabetes can’t properly process carbohydrates. The effects of diabetes vary from patient to patient, but everyone diagnosed with the disease is very aware of its potential impact on their body. Common complications include neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, wounds, chronic fatigue, hypertension and more. For patients who can’t control their blood sugar with conventional therapy, blindness and amputation are very real possibilities.

Kristin Orndoff during a treatment at Trina Health

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Orndoff has tried a multitude of treatments, including a pump which constantly gives her body insulin, but now she is adding something different. Artificial Pancreas Treatment® (APT®) at Trina Health of Lake Charles. APT does not replace insulin treatment, but helps it work more effectively by addressing the core problem of their disease – improper metabolism, explains Trina founder Dr. Ford Gilbert. “The reality is, diabetes is not a disease of improper blood sugar. That’s just a symptom. Diabetes is a disease of improper metabolism. And that’s how we treat it,” he says.

“In a healthy person, the pancreas signals the liver to produce enzymes when needed to allow the body to metabolize carbohydrates. This does not happen in someone with diabetes. APT restores that communication and offers hope for a healthier life for those with diabetes.”

APT uses an FDA-approved Bionica Microdose infusion device to mimic the function of a healthy, non-diabetic pancreas, which signals the liver in a distinct microburst pattern. “The end result is prevention, reduction and even elimination of common diabetes complications,” says Dr. Phillip Conner, medical director of Trina Health of Lake Charles, which opened in November of last year.

Orndoff says she noticed improvement after just a few treatments, and now, after 8 treatments, her blood sugars are more stable, her appetite has improved, her energy level is higher, she is sleeping better, and she is regaining sensation in her right side, where diabetic neuropathy had been diagnosed.

Another patient, John Willis, who has had Type 2 diabetes for 10 years, had been battling a non-healing surgical wound for five months, with several different treatments attempted with no success. “After just two APT treatments, my wound was closed. It’s now completely healed and I also feel better than I have in years – more energy, better appetite and I can feel my feet again! It’s really been amazing to me.”

Dr. Conner explains that APT is monitored by frequent glucose levels and metabolic measurements. “A typical treatment lasts about four-and-ahalf hours. Patients usually have two to four visits every month, which may decrease over time, depending on their specific disease severity and results.”

The treatment room features comfortable, reclining chairs, wide open windows and flat screen televisions.

Trina Health of Lake Charles is the only clinic to offer APT in Louisiana, but Dr. Conner says Trina clinics are located across the country. “With over 300,000 treatments provided since APT was first made available 25 years ago, it’s significant to note that there have been no serious adverse reactions to the treatment, and there is a documented record of success in its ability to minimize the complications of diabetes. It’s our goal to offer that same benefit to patients in Southwest Louisiana.”

An open house is scheduled at Trina Health of Lake Charles on January 11, from 5:30-7pm. The public is invited to attend, meet the staff and learn more about APT. Trina Health is located at 1714 Wolf Circle in Lake Charles. Call (337) 240-9511 for more information, or visit www.trinahealth.com.

Care That Makes You SMILE

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Put your smile in safe, experienced hands: the hands of the team at Lake Area Dentistry.

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LAKE AREA DENTISTRY 337-478-8470 700 W. McNeese Street | Lake Charles lakeareadentistry.com January 2017

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27

Home & Family

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Throw aWINNING Super Bowl Party

by Sylvia Ney

Super Bowl LI takes place close to home in Houston this year, but if you can’t score tickets, follow these tips to throw a great Super Bowl party at home.

1

Plan ahead Determine how many people you can comfortably accommodate. Take into account your available seating, number of televisions, and the number of bathrooms they’ll be sharing.

2

create a budget

3

Send invitations

4

clean your home

Decide if you’ll be hefting the cost of the whole experience, or if you want to plan a potluck. If you expect help with food and drinks, be sure to state that clearly up front.

The easiest thing to do is send a mass photo invitation stating the time and address.

Request an RSVP for ease in planning. Have guests sign up for their contributions if you are hosting potluck. Consider creating an “event” on Facebook.

Be sure your home is in decent condition when guests arrive. Welcoming them into a messy space won’t set the tone for a game day atmosphere.

January 2017

5

go shopping

6

set-up your space

7

include everyone

8

recruit help for clean up

If you’re ordering food like pizzas to be delivered, remember, a lot of others will do the same. Call ahead (maybe a day or two) and place your order.

Otherwise, prepare hand held foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches. Account for any special dietary needs or preferences such as sugar-free treats for diabetics, meat-free choices for vegetarians, beverages such as soda and juice for kids and non-drinkers, and various kinds of beer for adults. Consider providing themed paraphernalia such as team necklaces, jerseys, pom poms, flags, and even desserts. If you’ll have guests supporting both teams, have appropriate décor for both.

Organize any extra chairs or tables you’ll need for guests. Consider covering floors by food tables with disposable or easy-to-wash cloths. Have garbage bins readily available. Decorate with team names and colors. If your favorite team is playing, go all out and decorate the front door, entry way, and mailbox.

While you may have thought about having additional fun with your fellow sporting fans (such as side bets, point spreads, drinking games, “I Spy”, Team Bingo or trivia, etc), you may have non-sporting fans or kids attending and you want them to enjoy this time as well. Set aside a quiet area somewhere else in the house where they can gather and chat, rest, watch something they’d prefer to see, or just decompress from the exciting game. This is especially helpful for very young children, elderly, or those caring for them.

Ask people if they want to take home any leftover food and drinks. If you’ve used disposable ware, simply empty the garbage cans. If not, load and run the dishwasher immediately. As soon as everyone has left, make a light cleaning pass around the house, and then relax!

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29

Home & Family

Promotes Learning and Physical Fitness

by Angie Kay Dilmore

photos by Shonda Manuel

Children’s Miracle Network of the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation has funded GoNoodle for Calcasieu and Jeff Davis Parish schools.

GoNoodle is an online suite of interactive movement videos that helps teachers motivate and engage students with 3-5 minute moderate to vigorous exercises they can perform next to their desks.

Students across Calcasieu Parish are celebrating the incredible milestone of more than six million minutes of physical activity documented with GoNoodle last school year while students in Jeff Davis Parish are enjoying their first year with GoNoodle. Kay Barnett, Executive Director of Development for CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation, says when the GoNoodle concept was first developed, it was a curriculum-based program and an adjunct to lesson plans and handouts. “It has transitioned into a more interactive program, combining academics with exercise,” she says. “Statistics show that our youth are not getting enough exercise. This program gets them moving and excited about learning. Movement activates the brain and adds a different dynamic to learning.”

GoNoodle gets kids moving to be their smartest, strongest, bravest, silliest, best selves. The interactive movement videos make it simple and fun to incorporate movement into every part of the day with dancing, stretching, running and even mindfulness activities.

When asked how GoNoodle made them feel, many 1st grade students in teacher Beth Hargett’s class at A. A. Nelson Elementary said they felt “happy” and “excited.” One astute youngster said GoNoodle made her feel “ready to learn.” They run in place to Mega Math Marathon, pantomime letters with Body Spell, and dance along to music videos for indoor recess when it’s too cold or wet to go outside.

Teachers use GoNoodle to keep students energized, engaged, and active inside the classroom. “The way our day is scheduled, there are chunks of time when the students are sitting,” says Hargett. “I like to break those up with movement. Kids weren’t made to sit for long periods of time.” In addition to the movement segments, GoNoodle offers uplifting videos with positive messages. Hargett uses these to motivate the children prior to tests.

At home, GoNoodle turns screen time into active time, so families can have fun and get moving together. Second grade student Mason Fontenot says, “It has so much to choose from and you can use it for pretty much everything. It gets us moving and teaches us stuff while we’re moving. My favorite channel is Koo Koo Kanga Roo.” Currently, 10 million kids use GoNoodle each month in all 50 states and 168 countries. Learn more at www.gonoodle.com

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

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

OPEN HOUSE

Wednesday, February 1 at 6pm Thursday, February 2 at 10am

NEW FAMILY REGISTRATION OPENS Monday, February 6

• Pre-K4 – 8th Grade • Excellent Student/Teacher Ratio • Participant in Education in Virtues Program • Diverse Student Body • Morning, Noon, Afternoon Prayer & Weekly Liturgy • Special Education Services

2510 Enterprise Blvd. | Lake Charles, La. 70601 • (337) 436-7959 • www.stmcs.com • kfontenot@stmcs.com Thrive Magazine for Better Living www.thriveswla.com 31

January 2017

Home & Family

Complete Streets Coalition Aims to Improve Quality of Life for SWLA Residents

by Angie Kay Dilmore

THE PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHIER SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND THE NATIONAL COMPLETE STREETS COALITION RECENTLY HOSTED A DAY-LONG SEMINAR AT THE SEED CENTER ON THE BENEFITS OF THE CONCEPT OF COMPLETE STREETS. Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design initiative, including bicycle and pedestrian traffic, public transportation, and freight, that’s intended to shift transportation thinking to moving people, not cars. “The current infrastructure in Southwest Louisiana is designed to move cars and freight as quickly as possible. But we need more,” says John O’Donnell with Partnership for a Healthier SWLA. “We need a better quality of life and healthier 32 www.thriveswla.com

lifestyles. In order to do that, we need to change our infrastructure.”

Statistics show Louisiana is the most overweight state in the nation -- 36.2% of the population is obese. Obesity causes a myriad of chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The cost of those diseases to Louisiana taxpayers is about 2.38 billion dollars. Hence the need for a solution. From a behavioral economics perspective, it’s very difficult to get people to move

more – a key to losing weight.

67% of people in Louisiana with gym memberships don’t use them.

People need to move more in their everyday lifestyles; for examples, biking to work, walking to the bus stop or the store. That’s where Complete Streets comes into play. If bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is built, Southwest Louisiana can become a healthier community.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Mayor John Robert Smith, senior policy advisor for Smart Growth America, stresses the need for walkable accessible streets. Most early cities were built on a grid to make it easy to walk from Point A to Point B. After WWII, people began moving to the suburbs and the focus shifted from walking around to driving around. It changed the way we live. Developers stopped putting sidewalks in neighborhoods. As a result, obesity rates have gone through the roof. Smith adds, both millennials and baby boomers – the two largest groups of our population – are looking for similar types of housing in the same general areas, namely neighborhoods within walking or biking distance of amenities, and a city with a “cool downtown and a strong sense of place.”

Emiko Atherton, Director of National Complete Streets Coalition, says street networks are inadequate and we need to create streets that work for everyone, where taking the bus, walking, or bicycling creates the same access to opportunity as a car does. The concept helps all segments of our population, notably the elderly, children, families, and the disabled. Atherton cited three primary benefits of Complete Streets to a community.

Safety -- Between 2013-2014, 47,000 people died while walking on America’s streets. The southeast had the highest incidence.

Health -- Neighborhood residents are 65% more likely to walk if there are sidewalks, decreasing obesity and disease.

Economy -- Transportation is the second largest expense for most families.

Complete Streets concepts use less fuel, decrease car maintenance costs, and lower healthcare costs.

O’Donnell says Complete Streets involves many organizations in the community because it affects so many different aspects of our lives.

“Complete Streets checks off a lot of boxes – from quality of life and economic development to healthier lifestyles.”

For more information, call the Partnership for a Healthier Southwest Louisiana at 337-478-4822 Ext. 16.

A Catholic Elementary and Middle School Pre-K – 8th Grade Experience OLQHS… • Student-led Weekly Liturgies • One-to-One Technology • Focus on Student’s Academic and Spiritual Development • Outstanding Fine Arts Program New Student Application Process Begins February 6, 2017 UPCOMING TOURS Tuesday Tours: January 10, 17, 24 – 8:30 am Evening Tour: January 30 – 5:00 pm RSVP: admissions@olqhs.org

LEARN MORE 337.477.7349 | www.olqhs.org

January 2017

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Home & Family

Tidy les Toilettes

SixTips to Organize your Bath

34 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Is your bathroom a bit “cozy’? Does it lack cabinet and drawer space? Or are there a large number of people using the same bathroom? These all-important household spaces tend to easily become cluttered and disorganized. Follow these tips to transform your messy necessary into an organized sanctuary. t

Repurpose an old wooden runged ladder into a hanging overthe-door organizer.

Find containers with lips (often in the kitchen supply sections of stores) to fit over the rungs to hold combs and brushes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and other bathroom basics.

Each member of the household can have their own container. Color coding makes it even easier. Hang towels and washcloths on other rungs. This frees up space on your counter and other towel bars.

t

With a little bit of creative ingenuity, your bathroom will be neat and tidy in no time!

To keep counter clear of clutter, tuck away items that are not used daily into drawers or cabinet shelves.

Collect and organize the daily essentials into tiered wire baskets that hang over the counter or a stand that sits on the counter. These can be found in kitchen gadget aisles.

If there is no room for towels in the cabinet because the toilet paper takes up too much space, use a toilet paper roll organizer that neatly stacks the rolls near the toilet.

Create more storage in the room by utilizing available wall space. Hang simple shelves from home improvement stores. Paint the shelves to add an interesting pop of color.

Affix tall metal tumblers to a painted board and hang on wall near sink to corral makeup brushes and other cosmetics. t

January 2017

Use decorative baskets to organize everything from towels to toiletries.

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Home & Family

Glaser Receives Louisiana Angel Award Britney Glaser received the Louisiana Angel Award from the Louisiana Institute of Children in Families (LCIF) at the annual Louisiana Angels Gala celebration. The event, which is the organization’s hallmark event, took place at the National WWll Museum in New Orleans.

LICF encourages and supports members of the Louisiana Legislature to nominate individuals or organizations from their legislative districts who are making an extraordinary difference in the lives of children through adoption and foster care. Glaser was nominated and received her award from State Senator Ronnie Johns, who serves as the Senate Chair of the Louisiana Legislature’s Adoption and Foster Care Caucus. Johns nominated Glaser for her “New Family Tree,” segment, which was a driving force in helping over 100 children in the foster care system in Southwest Louisiana find their forever families in 2016.

In addition to drawing attention to the hard work and dedication of the Louisiana Angel nominees on these important issues, the gala raises awareness for the need of every child to know the love, safety and wellbeing of a family.

Britney Glaser and Senator Ronnie Johns

Each day, an abused or neglected child is removed from an unsafe home and placed in Louisiana’s foster care system. They remain in the system until their home environment is safe—but for many, that never happens. Of the 4,000 children currently cycling in state foster care, about 350 are ready to be adopted today. More than 60 of them are in Southwest Louisiana, right here in our community.

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QUICK FACTS ON ADOPTING A FOSTER CHILD

• Minimum age is 21.

• Single people can adopt.

• Many of the children in state custody are considered “special needs,” which is defined as the following: older child, race/ethnic background, sibling group, medical conditions, and/or physical/mental/emotional handicaps.

• Children in foster care are there as a result of abuse, neglect or abandonment.

• The certification process typically takes 90 days to complete. Once matched with a child, the process to legally adopt a child takes about one year.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Ask about same-day appointments.

With four primary care locations, Lake Area Physicians offers convenient, quality care in Lake Charles and Grand Lake. Whether it’s for a sore throat, fever or annual wellness visit, you don’t want to wait long. Medicare and most insurance plans accepted.

Ask about same-day appointments or request an appointment online at LakeAreaPhysicians.com.

Lake Area Family Medicine

Lake Area Internal Medicine

4150 Nelson Rd., Bldg. G, Suite 5 • Lake Charles

4150 Nelson Rd., Bldg. G, Suite 4 • Lake Charles

337-562-3761

337-562-3709

Lake Area Family Medicine/Wound Care 4150 Nelson Rd., Bldg. I • Lake Charles

337-475-4001

Grand Lake Medical Clinic 10071 Gulf Highway • Grand Lake

337-905-2151

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11/7/16 8:10 AM

We’re the Perfect Fit

for Southwest Louisiana’s Real Estate Needs Whether you are buying or selling property, there are questions around every corner. CENTURY 21 Bessette Realty, Inc., and our staff of experienced agents have the answers. We’ve won numerous awards for superior service, sales excellence and community involvement.

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That’s what we’ve built our reputation on for over 20 years, and we’re ready to go to work for you.

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century21-bessette.com Each office independently owned and operated.

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37

Be the Best YOU in 2017 Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? Are they the typical, “Eat less, exercise more,” mantras?

Absolutely, eating healthy and being active are vital to good health. But overall wellness encompasses so much more than just physical fitness. We want you to be healthy in every aspect of your life – physically, mentally, spiritually, even financially.

Here in our special cover section, you’ll find stories on fun local exercise alternatives, the importance of mindfulness and living in the now, the health benefits of spirituality and financial fitness. So, read these articles and strive to be the best YOU in 2017 – body, mind, and soul!

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Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Infuse your Fitness with Fun

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Are you tired of the treadmill and elliptical trainer? Bored on the bike? Has your walking route become a bit too routine?

The truth is, working out need not be a ho-hum chore. Fitness centers across the nation have come up with creative ways to add excitement to exercise. Throwback Fitness in New York City brings back playground games such as dodge ball and capture the flag. Daybreaker (in several major cities) hosts daily 6:00 a.m. dance parties, complete with spinning mirror ball and glow sticks. Hiking Yoga (also in cities across the U.S.) takes downward dog to the deep woods. In San Diego, Paddle

Allie Ieyoub Davis opened Project Fit at 3814 Ryan Street. They offer several unique small group training programs, consisting of up to 12 participants. Two of those specialized programs are Allie’s REAL DEAL Bootcamps, and SwingFit. Allie’s REAL DEAL Bootcamps are similar to military Bootcamps and focus on building strength, endurance, and stamina through a variety of intense group intervals. Participants work together and encourage each other to push harder than they might individually. SwingFit suspends a participant’s four limbs completely off the ground. While airborne in “the swing”, the participant moves through a variety of exercises designed to improve their range of motion, flexibility, and overall core strength. SwingFit exercises can be easily modified for various levels of fitness. 337-564-6967

into Fitness offers yoga classes on standup paddle boards. Now that’s balance training!

Several Lake Charles companies have stepped out of the old school fitness studio and offer exercise enthusiasts adventurous alternative workouts. Try these classes and infuse fun into your fitness in 2017!

January 2017

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Bring out your inner ballerina with Barre at CHRISTUS Louisiana Athletic Club on Nelson Rd. It’s a fun energetic workout fusing dance, pilates, and yoga techniques that will tone and define the whole body.

Barre is the perfect combination of strength and flexibility training with an added cardiovascular element. 337-474-6601 Channel your childhood with jumping bouncing trampoline workouts at Altitude Trampoline Park. Gravity Aerobics use trampolines to improve flexibility, strengthen and tone muscles, and increase heart rate. Suitable for all fitness levels. Trampoline Boot Camp is a higher intensity workout, but just as fun. 3009 Gerstner Memorial Hwy, 337-602-6650

Your Kid. Your Choice.

Make the right one.

Your young athlete is one-of-a-kind. And you should know, you’re their biggest fan, behind them all the way. So when they have a sports injury, don’t stay on the sidelines. Take an active role in getting them back in the game and choose the region’s most experienced orthopaedic and sports medicine team: Center for Orthopaedics.

www.centerforortho.com Lake Charles • Sulphur • DeRidder

40 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Team Physicians: McNEESE ATHLETICS & 14 AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

January 2017

Go full warrior mode at Performance Evolution at 4730 Common St. They’re a martial arts facility with classes in kick boxing, karate, and circuit training, and they focus on a strong tight-knit sense of family and community. To add to the fun, they’ve built a demanding outdoor military-style obstacle course called a Dragoon Challenge.

337-564-5261

Take a break from your usual spin class at Roll Cycling in Lake Charles. Experience a virtual training ride with Spivi Indoor Cycling Software on top-of-the-line bikes. Amp up the sensory input with their invigorating sound system and LED lighting. Two massive HDTV displays track your heart rate, power, and calories burned. Their Roll Revolution class gives participants 25 minutes of high intensity cardio work out, then 25 minutes of full body training off the bike..

At 2801 Ryan St. Suite 800. 337-429-5260.

January 2017

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41

The Importance Mindfulness

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Mindfulness has been a buzzword in current pop culture for the past several years. But what exactly is mindfulness and how can we achieve it? MerriamWebster defines the concept as the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.

In other words, to live in the here and now. Leave the past in the past, take your focus away from the future, and live fully in the present. It is an idea often associated with Buddhism and the practice of meditation, but is equally relevant in Christian tradition, as Jesus encouraged his followers to not worry about tomorrow.

Mindfulness became mainstream in part due to the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his MindfulnessBased Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, which he launched in 1979. Since then, numerous studies have reported the physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness. Kabat-Zinn’s program has been modified to benefit those in schools, prisons, hospitals, veterans’ clinics, businesses, and the daily lives of people who simply want to live a positive healthy lifestyle.

The practice of mindfulness is linked to a greater sense of well-being and better health. It decreases the negative habits of fret and worry, ultimately decreasing stress and depression. It boosts immune systems, improves memory, promotes compassion and empathy, improves the quality of relationships, can ease the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder . . . who wouldn’t want all that?

How does one practice and achieve mindfulness?

Does one sit in the lotus position for extended periods and “clear the mind”? Zabat-Zinn says it is much more than meditation. “It’s about living your life as if it really mattered, moment by moment by moment by moment.”

Begin by incorporating some of these simple steps into your daily routine. Practice until the steps are daily habits and become second nature to you.

Be aware of your breathing. How does it relate to your emotions? Notice how it is quiet and slow when you are relaxed; quick and heavy when you are stressed.

Take purposeful notice of what your body senses. The sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and textures around you all day. Take delight in the positive experiences and allow them to bring you joy.

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Understand that your thoughts and emotions are temporary and do not define you. Find freedom from negative thought patterns.

Be sensitive to how your body feels at any given moment. Is there any pain? Are you slouching? Are you feeling strong or weak? Are you hungry or thirsty? How does your foot feel as you take a step forward?

Take frequent walks and be aware of your surroundings. Hear the birds, smell the air, see the colors in your world.

Be creative. You don’t have to be an artist!

Write poetry, sing songs, try new recipes, color in a coloring book . . . there is no limit to creativity.

Ditch the desire to multi-task. When our attentions are divided, we are pulled away from the present and ultimately less productive.

Detach yourself from the digital world now and then. Put away your phone when you eat or interact with friends and loved ones. Resist the urge to start and end each day checking email.

Leave technology out of your bedroom. Take cyberbreaks!

Try something new. Unfamiliar experiences and adventures encourage you to focus on the present and become more mindful.

Allow yourself to feel whatever emotion you are experiencing, even the negative ones. Mindfulness isn’t about being happy all the time. It is about acceptance of each moment.

Eat slowly and purposefully. Take time to taste each bite. Notice and appreciate the spices, the sweetness, the textures.

Be equally mindful of what you feed your brain. Beware of excess television, social media, and video games that all amount to psychological empty calories.

Maintain a sense of humor. Lighten up and laugh easily, especially at yourself.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Improving

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

Spiritual Health & Well Being New Year’s resolutions run rampant around this time of year, and some of us spend time deliberating on how we want to make changes in ourselves during the upcoming months. Often we make resolutions like, “I want to lose ten pounds by Valentine’s Day,” or “I plan on joining Gigi’s Downtown and actually going this time (and not just for the juice or snacks).” These are all fantastic goals, but this year you may want to consider how to improve your spiritual health as well as your physical health.

Studies show that spirituality, no matter which way it is practiced, improves one’s overall health. Noted psychiatrist and author Jean Shinoda Bolen said, “When you discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough to make room for it

continued on p42

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January 2017

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43

in your life.” A multitude of scientific studies agree with this sentiment. According to the University of Maryland’s Medical Center, in a ten year study of Seventh Day Adventists in the Netherlands, researchers found that Adventist men lived 8.9 years longer than the national average, and Adventist women lived 3.6 years longer. For both men and women, the chance of dying from cancer or heart disease was 60 to 66 percent less than the national average, which is an incredible statistic.

Clearly, spiritual health impacts physical wellbeing, but how can one exercise the spiritual muscle? Follow these simple soul-nourishing tips below to improve your overall well-being in 2017.

Make Time to Meditate. Take ten minutes out of your day to sit quietly and find your center. Leave the television off and put your phone away. Close your eyes and relax. You may find yourself praying according to your religion, or reflecting on positive thoughts and words. Meditation reduces stress, prolongs life, and contributes to your overall wellbeing.

Laugh as Much as Possible. It’s been said that laughter is the best medicine, and there is some truth to the old adage. Laughter can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, strengthen your immune system, and diminish pain. If you can’t remember

the last time you laughed, make an effort to share an embarrassing moment with a friend, host a game night with friends, or watch a funny movie.

Life is too short not to make room for laughter.

Make Giving to Others a Priority. Helping others just feels good. When you take time to help someone else -- whether holding open a door or donating to an organization that helps those in need -- you may experience what is called a helper’s high. Research affiliated with the American Psychological Association by Daniel Gilbert suggests doing random acts of kindness for others on a weekly basis directly impacts a person’s happiness.

Surround Yourself With Positive People.

Negativity breeds negativity, so when you are around those who are negative, you will find yourself in a negative mindset, as well. Conversely, if you surround yourself with positive people you will begin to look at setbacks through a positive lens, contributing to your overall happiness.

Consider making your spiritual well-being a priority in 2017. It will improve your overall quality of life.

The Ear Pull.

It’s a classic move, and one that could be a sign of a cold, allergies, sinus problems or even an infection.

Specialized treatment for little ears, noses and throats.

If you notice your child pulling or rubbing their ears, that’s your signal to take them to an experienced ENT specialist. Dr. Bridget Loehn, ENT & Allergy Specialist with Imperial Health, offers advanced diagnostic and treatment options for a wide range of pediatric ear, nose and throat problems, along with comprehensive allergy testing and treatment.

Call Dr. Bridget Loehn

ENT & Allergy Specialist

1747 Imperial Blvd., Lake Charles (inside CFO) • (337) 419-1960 44 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 2017

Make Your Financial Resolutions a

Reality

When all the glitter has settled and the sparkling lights have faded, many people emerge from the holiday spending frenzy shocked at the dismal state of their finances.

Rather than dwell on your shortcomings, financial experts say the end of the year is the perfect time to take stock of your finances and chart a course for improvement in the new year.

“Financial resolutions are among the most popular New Year’s resolutions, usually falling right behind losing weight and exercising,” says Liles McDaniel, senior vice president with Lakeside Bank. “And whether your goal is following a monthly budget, paying off credit cards, saving more, or investing for retirement, the beginning of the year is the perfect time to set realistic financial goals.”

He recommends a few basic strategies for getting started:

January 2017

by Kristy Como Armand

Review Your Credit Report Get a current copy of your credit report to review it, correct any errors, and develop a plan to improve it if it’s not where you want it to be.

“Credit scores determine far more about our lives than we realize,” says McDaniel. “Not only do these computerized three-digit measurements of credit-worthiness influence how much you’ll pay for a credit card or a house or car loan, today many non-lenders, including future employers, like to check that information as well.”

You can get a free copy of credit reports at a web site called www. annualcreditreport.com. This particular site accesses all three credit bureaus, Experian (www.experian.com); Equifax (www.equifax.com), and TransUnion (www.transunion.com). McDaniel recommends responding quickly to inaccuracies in writing either by mail or online. “The end of the year is a good time to do this. It won’t affect your credit score if you do this more than once, but it’s a good idea to mark a specific time to do this each year and follow through on getting corrections made.”

Eliminate Multiple Credit Cards ”The more credit cards you have, the more interest rates and bills you have to keep track of,” says McDaniel. He recommends having only one or two cards. “The other key is to change your habits and not charge more than you can pay off each month to eliminate interest rate charges.” continued on p44

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Consolidate Your Accounts The more scattered your money is, the more work you have to do to keep track of it. Having numerous savings accounts, checking accounts, and different types of investments at several financial institutions, for example, creates more paperwork and increases the risk of mistakes. Instead, McDaniel recommends moving different accounts to one financial location, and combining any accounts that you can.

Get overdraft protection Bounced checks are expensive and embarrassing. Protect yourself and your checking account by setting up overdraft protection at your bank. Most overdraft protection comes in the form of a line of credit that kicks in when you write a check for more than the balance in your account. You’ll pay a small annual fee for the service, plus interest charges on whatever amount is charged to the line of credit. McDaniel say if you avoid even one bounced check each year, the account will probably pay for itself.

Pay bills automatically This can save time and eliminate late fees. There are three basic ways to do this: online-bill payment that you manage through your bank, authorized debit payments by the biller, and credit card charges. Online bill payment systems through your bank typically offer the most flexibility, and McDaniel says if you use a credit card, be sure to pay the balance off every month. “You don’t want to pay added interest on a bill you’ve already paid.”

BE A

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Get organized “Keeping organized records is critical regardless of the format – paper or digital,” says McDaniel. Paid bills and other financial documents should be filed away in logical order. To avoid years of accumulated clutter, he recommends a yearly purge of your files.

“Go through your filing system, pack away the old documents you need to keep, and throw out the paperwork you don’t need.”

Although it may take time to get your finances in better shape, McDaniel says investing a few hours now can save you time, money, and headaches, and position you for greater financial success in the year to come.

SUPER SAVER

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January 2017

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This is your home, where you’ve built a wonderful life. Shouldn’t your money have a local home too?

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Lakeside is local and proud of it. Personal attention and strong relationships set us apart from bigger, non-local banks.

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We’re fully invested in helping you achieve your financial goals. We offer flexibility, quick decisions and a depth of community banking experience and resources that only a truly local bank can deliver.

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LakesideBanking.com January 2017

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47

Super Foods

Gotta Have-

for 2017

You know you should eat healthy. But diets can be tedious, and the lists of “foods you should eat” often include exotic, hard to find, expensive items. What is a jackfruit, anyway?

Here’s the good news: Eating healthy need not be a costly grocery store scavenger hunt. Some of our most common fruits, veggies, and grocery items truly are economical super foods. The keys to healthy eating are fairly simple. Look for bright rich colors. Buy natural unprocessed foods -- the fewer ingredients, the better.

And eat a wide variety of produce, beans, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and lean meats. This list can help you get started.

Eggs – These versatile refrigerator staples are an excellent source of protein, B vitamins, choline, lutein, selenium, and iodine.

Lentils – Legumes such as lentils pack a serious protein punch and are also high in fiber, folate, and iron.

Kale – Foods don’t get much more super than this leafy green. High in vitamins K,A,C, and the Bs, as well as copper, manganese, calcium, lutein, xeaxanthin, and fiber.

Broccoli – It’s one of those veggies that kids develop a taste for over time, hopefully, because it’s chock full of vitamin C, chromium, and fiber. Also high in vitamins K and A, which support the metabolism and storage of vitamin D – a nutrient many diets lack.

Bananas – One of the most inexpensive of fruits, this go-to snack is a favorite among all, from athletes to the lunchbox set. High in fiber and loaded with potassium.

Potatoes – This most popular of veggies often gets a bad rap due to its high carbohydrate content and the way we eat them (chips, French fries, mashed with butter, loaded with cheese and bacon . . . ) But a simple unadulterated spud is loaded with energizing complex carbs, B vitamins, copper, vitamin C, fiber, and twice the potassium as a banana.

Greek yogurt – This dairy aisle darling is better for you than other yogurts because it contains twice the protein and is rich in probiotics, essential for gut health. Greek yogurt is also high in calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

Cinnamon – Don’t ignore the spice cabinet when searching for super foods.

Many spices are loaded with antioxidants. In a study that compared 26 spices for their antioxidant properties, cinnamon topped the list, outranking super foods like garlic and oregano.

Blueberries – You’ll find this miniature bombshell of nutrition on nearly every list of super foods, and with good reason. They are touted as one of the highest antioxidant foods known to man. High in resveratrol, gallic acid, lutein, xeaxanthin, vitamins K, C, and manganese. And of course, like most super foods, fiber.

Don’t let this list limit your journey to a healthy diet – apples, peppers, tomatoes, onions, berries . . . they are all super good for you! Enjoy the wide variety of fruits and vegetables year around. Oh and by the way, a jackfruit is a large yellowgreenish spiny-looking egg-shaped fruit native to Southeast Asia. It’s related to mulberries and figs, high in manganese and vitamin C, and can grow up to 80 pounds!

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January 2017

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

Okay, maybe you’re not the type for high intensity adventure when it comes to exercise. But staying active is nonetheless important. Simply taking a daily walk is an excellent step in the right direction. Studies show brisk walking offers the same benefits as running by lowering the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. A German study showed a daily 25-minute walk at a quick pace can add three to seven years to your life.

Most of us know this in theory, but in reality, it is often hard to find the time. The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week with an additional 75 minutes of more vigorous activity each week. If you make health and fitness a priority, it can be done. Here are some tips to help you squeeze steps into your busy schedule.

January 2017

10 + 10 + 10 = 30 If you can’t find a 30-minute chunk of time in your day to walk, split the time into 10-minute segments. Take the dog for a 10 minute walk in the morning, walk 10 minutes at lunch, and another 10 minutes in the evening. Some studies show this method is actually more beneficial than one 30 minute walk.

Every Step Counts Consider ways to add extra steps into your day. Walk to the post office, grocery store, or other errands. Take the stairs instead of the elevator Park your car far from the building entrance instead of near.

Walk While you Talk Try walking around your office or home while you talk on the phone. Are you meeting a friend for coffee? Meet at a park for a walk instead.

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Accountability Partners Ask a friend to commit to walking with you. If you know someone is expecting and counting on you, you’ll be less likely to bow out of your commitment.

It’s Not Just for Kids If you have children in sports, walk around the perimeter of the field during their practices instead of sitting on the bleachers.

Plan Ahead If you keep a spare pair of sneakers in your car, you’re ready for a walk anytime anywhere. You never know when you might unexpectedly find yourself with an extra 10 or 15 minutes. Put that time to good use and get moving!

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Money & Career

The importance of women taking an active role in a couple’s financial planning represents more than just jockeying over who gets to control the checking account.

“Women on average live longer than men, which means they are going to need more money in retirement or else risk outliving their savings,” says Cristina Acosta, co-owner with Nancy Fromm of Money Wise, a financial planning firm. “That means they have a lot at stake. And women – men, too, for that matter – often don’t realize just how long retirement might last. If you retire around age 65, it’s possible your retirement is going to last 25 or 30 years.”

The death of a spouse can pose

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numerous financial difficulties. First, the survivor has to deal with the emotional issues associated with grieving, which means some financial decisions may be put on hold. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Fromm says. “You don’t want to rush into any decisions you don’t have to make immediately.”

But it won’t take long to start experiencing some of the financial consequences. If both spouses were drawing Social Security, one of those monthly checks is about to disappear. If the spouse had a pension, the amount of the check may be reduced for the survivor, or it could be eliminated.

January 2017

Acosta and Fromm have made improving the retirement outlook for women a significant part of their work. They just recently launched a division of their company called Woman’s Worth, designed to focus on not only a woman’s finances, but also her physical and mental health, and her total well being.

Acosta and Fromm say there are plenty of things worth knowing about finances before and after a spouse dies -- from long-term care planning to tax minimization planning. Here are just three that women should keep in mind: Seek professional advice. This is especially important for women who left finances up to their husbands. A financial professional can help you get a better handle on the options for making retirement more secure. “Find someone you’re comfortable with,” Acosta says. “You’ll want someone who can help you plan strategically and will take the time to understand you, your situation and your needs.”

Understand the importance of life planning.

For women, it’s more than the money. It’s about understanding the emotional and even physical health issues that woman face when dealing with finances. Having an integrated approach to the planning process empowers women to address the connection between their health and wealth.

Protect your assets. If you’re nearing retirement or already in retirement, it’s critical to protect the assets you already have. Review how much risk you have in your investments and decide whether you need to reduce that risk, and more importantly, validate whether your assets are laying the foundation towards a clear journey to achieving your goals.

“It’s vital that women appropriately manage what they have,” Fromm says. “It needs to last and provide the retirement lifestyle they’re after.”

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January 2017

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51

Money & Career

Find your Path at

Career and Student Development Center

by Austin Price

Lindsley Burgess, coordinator of McNeese’s Career and Student Development Center [CSDC], says most students who stop by the CSDC only want to know one thing -- how will this help me get a job? She wants them to think about the services they offer a little differently, though. “We’re not a job placement center,” says Burgess. “We’re a career and development center; emphasis on the development. We’re here to teach.” Their approach to this is twofold. They advise students on what they can do with their abilities and help them learn the professional skills they need to land the jobs they want.

Regarding advisement, that means career exploration. Burgess sees so many students’ one-track focus on employment as a major detriment to their growth. “Engineers might think the only jobs open to them are work at the plants, while English majors might think the only jobs they can get are in academics. The CSDC shows students there are a lot of different paths open to them and how to take those paths.”

To that end, the center offers free access to TypeFocus – a test that shows students the career paths they’re most suited to based on several factors, including personality and skills.

They send out emails to relevant majors about career opportunities in the area and hold

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presentations with student organizations.

Perhaps most importantly, they offer spring and fall career fairs so all students – from Freshman to Seniors – have opportunities to talk one-onone with employers in Southwest Louisiana and from across the country. Burgess says, “These are great opportunities not only for students to see what’s out there, but to practice their interviewing skills as well.”

The CSDC provides students one-on-one opportunities to work on the nuts-and-bolts of career finding. Any student who wants to write a resume or update and enhance an existing resume is welcome to schedule an appointment. The same is true for students struggling with cover letters.

The CSDC’s services aren’t limited to current students. Alumni are also welcome and offered the same opportunities as students, free of charge. “Alumni can even just drop in; most of the time you don’t have to have an appointment,” Burgess says.

Though the CSDC does not currently offer courses that address career development or frequent career panels due to a lack of manpower, they are presently implementing a long-term plan that could make these and other services a reality. They are also currently working with the Student Employment Center to create a pilot program to match students with positions relevant to their field of study.

Burgess stresses the CSDC is most useful for students who take advantage of their services as often and as early as possible. “We’re trying to get students focused from their first years; we’re even talking to their parents, and showing up at orientation. A long, stable career starts early, and we want to give students that opportunity.”

January 2017

5 Lessons for Achieving a Successful Career without Sacrificing Happiness One bit of conventional wisdom has it that to achieve success people must take a nose-togrindstone, burn-the-midnight-oil approach.

Personal happiness is an afterthought – if it’s a thought at all. But that’s the wrong way to look at things, says Scott MacDonald, a seasoned CEO and author of Saving Investa: How An Ex-Factory Worker Helped Save One of Australia’s Iconic Companies.

“Hard work absolutely is important, but I’ve met plenty of people who worked hard and never made much money or achieved satisfactory career objectives,” he says.

“Working hard is just one part of the equation for success. You also need to be organized, plan, work smart and choose to focus your effort where there’s reward.”

From his decades of experience, MacDonald says he learned numerous lessons that helped him achieve both career success and personal happiness. Here are just five of those lessons:

Don’t expect anyone to give you anything. In grade school and junior high, MacDonald earned money by doing yard work for neighbors, handling a paper route and washing dishes at his junior high school. As a teenager, he bagged groceries, stocked shelves in a pharmacy and worked in a fiberglass factory. “If you want something, work for it,” MacDonald says. “You will appreciate it more and not be indebted to anyone.”

You make your own luck. Former University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal was fond of saying, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” MacDonald agrees. “Nothing in my life that I can think of has been the result of luck.”

Losers have the best excuses. Winners find ways to succeed despite the many roadblocks and unexpected difficulties they encounter. People who are unsuccessful reach for excuses. “Whenever things go wrong, and things always go wrong at some point, look in the mirror for answers,” MacDonald says. “Successful people focus on what they can do to respond to setbacks and don’t waste time playing a blame game or feeling sorry for themselves.”

Players score points, but teams win games. To be successful, any organization must have a culture of teamwork. Individual stars need to be supportive of the team concept, or those individuals should be moved on. MacDonald once fired a top chief financial officer who was good at his job, but didn’t see the necessity of working with colleagues and was dismissive of others’ ideas. “The entire company performed better after he was gone,” MacDonald says.

Life is too short to deal with “jerks.” No matter how important the project, if someone can’t deal with you professionally and ethically, just pass on the deal and move on. “There will be other deals,” MacDonald says. “I may have lost an occasional deal, but overall my companies enjoyed good success and reputation, which led to other and better opportunities.”

Ultimately, people can moan about how unfair the world is, he says, but all that griping won’t get them anywhere.

“There’s no doubt the competitive work environment places huge pressures on your time and energy,” MacDonald says. “But the quicker you understand that you’re responsible for your own destiny, the happier you’re going to be.”

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53

Money & Career

by Madelaine Brauner Landry

You know the aphorism about death and taxes. Like making and breaking New Year’s Resolutions, tax prep tedium is inevitable and frustrating. The good folks at the IRS wait, watch, and want it all done by the dreaded April 15 deadline. Lessen anxiety by getting all the necessary documents organized as soon as possible.

Tax organization is a year-round chore, so there’s comfort in knowing procrastination is a universal flaw. We recommend tackling your paper bag filled with receipts by pairing the tortuous task with one of life’s more pleasant necessities. To sustain life, one must eat and drink. To sustain sanity, accompany your tax organization with good cuisine, fine wines, or craft beers. It renders the job more palatable.

Note: Every taxpayer’s situation is different, as are personal preferences for drinking. Specialty waters or fruit juices may be substituted for alcoholic beverages.

1. No one wants to pay taxes, but neither does anyone want the IRS keeping their money if a refund is due. Preparation means you can file at the earliest possible moment; the IRS accepts returns as early as mid-January.

Proper reporting starts with knowing the numbers -- namely identification numbers, either social security or business tax ID numbers.

Ensure you have access to numbers for all dependents you claim, including your spouse and children. Numbers for individuals or businesses that provide child care are necessary to obtain the child care credit. Wrong or missing numbers can delay processing.

Prepare hearty roasted foods for this initial chore. Pair with medium red wines or German Bock beers.

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2. By February 1, you should have received all documents related to employment and income. W-2 data include earnings, taxable income, and taxes withheld. Independent contractors and self-employed filers need receipts for business-related expenses, including equipment, supplies, and rent, as well as mileage records. If you have more than one job source, ensure you have received all required documents.

Our incomes support us, as do red meats and other proteins. These go well with bold red wines or red Belgian ales.

3. The IRS is keenly interested in all your assets; they also know where you live. Collect documents that report earnings from interest (1099-INT), brokers (1099-B), and dividends (1099DIV). Are you saving for college, a home, or retirement? Documents relating to these lifestyle milestones are equally significant. Check for available tax deferments.

Savings make us feel rich, so pair richly flavored foods with Rose wines, pale or brown ales.

4. Organize documents for all homerelated costs, such as mortgage interest statements (1098). This applies to your vacation homes and home equity loans. End-of-year escrow papers should accurately depict any additional payments you may have made.

Responsible adults pay bills and eat their veggies. Acceptable accompaniments are dry white wines, Irish stouts, and German schwarzbiers.

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5. Other tax payments reduce federal income tax. Statements proving payments of annual real estate taxes, state and local taxes, and/or personal property taxes are essential for reporting on Schedule A. Reducing tax liability is sweet, so indulge yourself with dessert wines, barley or fruit beers.

6. Good deeds not only make us

feel good, they are also allowable deductions: a. Cash to qualified charities—over $250 requires a receipt. b. Donations of clothing and household items—get a receipt. c. Mileage recorded for volunteering— 14-cents per mile. Mileage can be recorded on a calendar.

Volunteering makes you special -- a community’s crème-de-la-crème! Pair creamy foods with rich white wines, Bavarian hefeweizen, or an English pale ale.

Once you’re finished organizing your paperwork, download free tax prep apps to make this chore easier next year. Apps are available with tax tips, refund charts, mileage trackers, and even updated filing information.

Next, put your feet up and relax with some salty snacks paired with a sparkling wine or a good Bohemian Pilsner. You got this!

Thanks to www.winefolly.com and www.craftbeer.com for their helpful charts.

January 2017

January 2017

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All you need to know to stay in the know!

SOWELA Automotive Technology Program Launches National Partnership The Automotive Technology program at SOWELA Technical Community College recently became an educational site for Mopar CAP (Career Automotive Program) in cooperation with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). The initiative enables Automotive Technology students to complete modules related to vehicle inspections at various points in their higher educational path and take three certification exams, preparing them to work as Level 1 Technicians upon graduation.

SOWELA’s Automotive Technology program provides specialized classroom instruction and shop experience that prepares students to engage in the servicing and maintenance of all types of vehicles. Students also learn the highly sophisticated technology and science that goes into building cars and computing diagnostics, engine performance, and drivability solutions. For more information, call (337) 421-6550.

Memorial Opens Todd Terrace Lake Charles Memorial Hospital opened a new courtyard space called the Todd Terrace at the main hospital campus on Oak Park Boulevard.

The terrace was built in place of a former designated smoking area and now includes umbrella tables, chairs, outdoor music, sculptures and all new landscaping. Visitors and employees can use the terrace to step out into the outdoors while enjoying lunch or a snack. The space is now a NON-smoking area as are all of the Memorial campuses.

For more information, call (337) 494-3226.

Dermatology Associates Receives MGMA ‘Better Performer’ Status Dermatology Associates was named a “better performer” by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) due to superior operational performance compared with similar medical group practices nationwide.

The categories of cost management and productivity, capacity and staffing were recognized with honors. Nationwide, only 121 other practices were recognized in two categories. This is the first year Dermatology Associates has received this honor from the MGMA. The MGMA report, a benchmarking standard among medical groups for more than a decade, was produced using data from respondents to the MGMA 2016 Cost Survey as well as data from a questionnaire that assessed management 56 www.thriveswla.com

behaviors, practices and procedures of better performers. The report profiles medical practices that have demonstrated success in one or more areas: profitability and cost management; productivity, capacity and staffing; accounts receivable and collections; and patient satisfaction.

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center Receives Heart Failure Accreditation CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center has received full Heart Failure Accreditation status from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). SCPC’s Heart Failure (HF) Accreditation helps facilities: manage the heart failure patient population more effectively and efficiently; reduce readmissions; and improve patient outcomes.

Through receiving accreditation, CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding an array of stringent criteria and undergoing a comprehensive onsite review by a team of SCPC’s accreditation review specialists. Hospitals that receive SCPC’s HF Accreditation status employ an evidence-based, protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient management. This allows clinicians to reduce time to treatment and to better risk stratify patients while also reducing length-of-stay.

Heart Failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Approximately 5 million adult Americans have heart failure and that number is rapidly increasing as our population ages. In addition, heart failure patients account for 12 to 15 million physician’s office visits per year, 6.5 million hospital days, and a cost of over $21 billion per year.

Lake Area Dentistry Announces Partnership in DeQuincy Dr. Jeffery Hennigan with Lake Area Dentistry announces a partnership with Dr. Peter Bayles at 824 W. 4th Street in DeQuincy. Patient appointments will continue as usual as Dr. Hennigan and his team joins Dr. Bayles in providing exceptional dental care for DeQuincy and the surrounding areas.

Lake Area Dentistry of DeQuincy will serve the Lake Area in conjunction with the Lake Charles office located at 700 W. McNeese Street. Lake Area Dentistry offers comprehensive dental care for all ages. For questions, call the DeQuincy office at (337) 786-6221 or the Lake Charles office at (337) 478-8470.

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January 2017

!

Solutions for Life

from Solutions Counseling & EAP

by Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, LPC, LMFT, CEAP

Life Lessons from Mother So, my mom died. There, got that out of the way. It’s been about 5 weeks as I write this. I’m still in shock and still overwhelmed by sadness at times. She was a vibrant 71 year old who was working 2 part time jobs when she passed away. One of the jobs was at my office, so it’s been a bit hard to escape the fact that she’s gone and I have this really big void in my life.

I decided to write this month’s article on the things I want to carry with me from my mother. Frankly, it’s all I can write about because it’s all I can think about. But, it’s not a bad deal for you – my mom was pretty amazing.

Life was never easy for my mom.

She struggled financially the majority of her life. She was a single parent to my brother and me, and my father was required to pay very little child support.

She managed to make our childhood happy, and somehow she knew not to burden us with the money issues or the unfairness of my father’s requirements.

In my adulthood, she shared with me how dire things were at times, and I know she must have been so scared.

Another area of struggle for Mother (that’s what she wanted to be called, and really, she wasn’t a “Mom” or “Mamma”, so it suited her) was men. She had a difficult time figuring out romantic relationships and making them work.

But she never gave up on love. She was married more than once, and always seemed to believe that this marriage was going to work. When she finally did meet the true love of her life a few years ago, she had much too little time with him before he died unexpectedly. She mourned his death until her own. One of my first thoughts after we discovered her death was, “At least now she can be with Tom.” My mom wasn’t a typical mom. As a single parent, she had to work full time, which was different from most of my

January 2017

friend’s moms. There also wasn’t a lot of cookie baking or other “traditional” things going on at our house. On the weekends, the three of us cleaned the house together (again, different from my friends), then we would hit the road for whatever adventure we could think of and afford. She was the same kind of grandmother: untraditional. All the grandkids remember the camping trips they took with her, all the games played and all the activities (including white water rafting and zip lining). One of my son’s prized stories is the time his grandmother taught him to spit. (When I bemoaned the fact that she had done this, her response was, “Keri, every boy needs to know how to spit.”)

So as I say goodbye to my mom multiple times every day, I wanted to honor her with passing along to you three life lessons I learned from her: Happiness is a choice. As I indicated, my mom had a tough life at times. And she would get upset or sad for a little while.

But then she would pull it together, put a smile on her face and go on. There was never a lot of sympathy at my house.

There was empathy: “I know you are sad that this happened, and I can understand that. But feeling sorry for yourself is not doing you any good. You need to learn from this and decide what you want to do about it.” She very much applied this philosophy to herself. As I mentioned before, she was still deeply mourning the loss of her last boyfriend when she died.

But she managed to laugh, sing, find joy, and move forward with her life.

Deal with things head on. I really don’t know how my mom figured this one out.

She wasn’t raised to deal with conflict effectively. Somehow, she realized that dealing with issues is much better than letting them fester. She always made my brother and me sit down and talk when we were arguing. We had to tell

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each other what we were upset about, apologize when we were wrong, and promise to do better. She probably made us hug each other too, ugh! It has been so helpful personally and professionally for me to not be afraid of conflict.

The show must go on. Due to several circumstances, I was back at work the day after we buried Mother. Mother was back at work the day after we buried her boyfriend too. I remember her saying, “I’d rather be here than sitting at home being all depressed. At least here, I can maybe get a little break from everything.” I’ve handled her death much the same way. Oh, I’ve had my moments, don’t get me wrong. And after I’ve had those moments, I’ve gotten up and gotten busy. I allow myself to be sad, then I take a big breath and get back to the business of life. I watched my mom have several setbacks in life. I also watched her get up, dust herself off, and start all over again.

These life lessons are just the start of my mom’s impact and legacy. Her visitation and funeral was “chock full” (one of her favorite phrases) of people telling me how wonderful a person she was, how happy she always was “with such a great smile”, and how special she always made them feel. Mother, I’m going to do my best to carry on in your style!

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Style & Beauty

Find Your Perfect Lip Shade in

Ever bought a lipstick that made you feel like Cinderella in the bright department store light but left you looking like the evil stepmother in daylight or in front of the bathroom mirror?

Bad lighting, coupled with clashing skin tone, has caused many a case of lipstick buyers’ remorse. Different shades of red, orange and pink look better or worse depending on the color of the skin they’re sitting next to, but knowing exactly what shade your skin is, no matter the light, can help ensure a flattering shade.

Ultimately, feeling comfortable is key. “Just wear whatever you love most,” says Lauren Edwards, esthetician at Signatures Salon. Fancy a lipstick that clashes with your skin tone? Wear it!

Find Your Skin Tone

Easy Steps

by Emily Alford

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We hear the terms fair, medium, and dark thrown around a lot in regards to skin tone, but what do these mean, exactly? The answer lies in how well your skin handles the sun. If you burn easily and can spend a week at the beach without getting a tan, you’re fair-skinned. If you burn first but then tan or tan easily without really trying, you probably have medium skin. If you rarely burn in the sun and tan easily, you have dark skin.

Three people with different skin tones can wear the exact same shade of lipstick and have completely different experiences, according to Emily Reeves, senior makeup artist and esthetician at Blush Blow Dry and Beauty Bar. “For example, someone with darker skin and lips may wear a nude lipstick, and it appears to be a light, nude color,” Reeves says. “Conversely, someone with lighter skin and lips may select the same lipstick, and

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it will appear to be a darker nude - perhaps even brown - against their skin tone.”

So, no matter the skin tone, finding a color that pops is key.

For fair-skinned folks, going bold with bright reds or pinks is the best lipstick solution. Pale pinks and “nudes,” or any color that’s too orange might lead to that most dreaded beauty judgment: “You look tired.”

Medium-skinned people tend to look great in all those colors that don’t quite work for their fair-skinned sisters.

Think about all the great colors of fall: orange, deep red, even peachy-pinks. These are all flattering against skin that’s a little bit darker.

So many colors look great against dark skin! From bright pink to deep purple, there are a myriad of options. However, some lipsticks might seem too subtle or even non-existent against deeper skin tones, so it’s important to try before you buy.

January 2017

Uncover Your Undertone To find your undertone, look at the inside of your wrist. If the veins appear blue or purple, then you have cool undertones.

Blue-green veins indicate neutral undertones, and green or olive indicate warm undertones.

So what’s in a tone? It’s actually key to picking a great shade of lipstick. For cool tones, ask if the lipstick in question would look good next to purple or bright blue. For neutral undertones, ask how the color would complement a blue-green blouse. The same goes for warm undertones: would the lipstick

look perfect with an olive green top? If the lighting is weird in the department store or you can’t try the product in a drug store, hold the lipstick in question against your wrist. Does the color clash or complement? The answer could save you a few bucks.

According to Edwards, there are several shades that pop depending on undertone.

“People with cool undertones look good in berry shades,” Edwards says, “but warmer undertones look great in red and purple blends.”

Thanks for voting us Best Salon in SWLA!

MAKE UP Our estheticians are also highly trained and super great in all things makeup and skincare. They can help you with your make up needs from weddings, special events or photo shoots. Come in for a make up class to learn what palettes best fit your skin tone. We also offer complimentary color matching for your day to day foundation needs.

Matte or Glossy?

In the early aughts, most lipstick was so shiny it looked in danger of slipping right off, but these days, mattes (or flat, zero-gloss colors) are all the rage. Matte lipsticks are great when paired with shimmery eye shadows and blush but can be unforgiving of fine lines and chapped lips. Before applying matte shades, it’s best to lightly exfoliate lips with an old toothbrush and massage in a little lip balm to make lips as supple as possible.

Likewise, a glossy lipstick looks

January 2017

lovely with a more subdued eye and cheek. But beware, high gloss formulas can be runny; remember to blot with a tissue and use a matching lip liner to keep your makeup in place. Also, any lipstick can go from glossy to matte with the careful application of a little translucent powder after applying. And any matte can become a gloss with a dab of petroleum jelly in the center of the bottom and top lips.

SKIN We also offer a full array of facials and skin care services custom tailored to your specific skin care needs. We do a thorough consultation to assess what areas of concern you may have and how to create a system that works to treat it. Services are complete in a private and relaxing room with every aim to get you relaxed and tranquil.

803 West McNeese Street Lake Charles, LA 70605 www.signaturessalon.biz 337.478.4433 Thrive Magazine for Better Living

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Style & Beauty

STYLING HACKS to Spiff Up Your Wardrobe

by Emily Alford

The Half-Tuck There are two ways you can half-tuck. Next time you’re wearing a button down shirt with jeans or even an A-line skirt, leave the last two buttons undone. Tuck one side of the shirttails in and leave the other hanging. The resultant look creates a nipped in waist that isn’t too fussy. The second way (as seen above) creates a more polished look with both shirttails tucked into your jeans.

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The middle of winter is a tricky time for fashion. Most wardrobes are stocked up on sweaters, coats, and flannels, so buying anything new can feel superfluous, but wearing the same winter gear day after day can start to feel a little boring.

However, adopting a few tricks of the trade from professional stylists can add a much-needed punch to winter wear that’s starting to feel stale. Adopting a few fashion hacks to spruce up cold weather basics could help you stave off the urge to splurge on after-Christmas sales and keep outfits looking fresh right into early spring.

The Denim Roll Booties have become a wintertime staple, but they often look a bit awkward with non-skinny jeans, since pant legs that aren’t tapered bunch at the top of the boots.

But there’s no reason not to wear booties with boyfriend jeans! Just roll the hem a few times for a stylishly messy solution. And right now, it’s totally on trend for socks to show, so pair rolled jeans with a cute pair of trouser socks to flash some ankle!

You don’t have to hide taller boots under wide leg jeans. To tuck them in, just fold the hem tight around the ankle and then roll the hem up twice over the folded fabric. Voila! Do-it-yourself skinny jeans that tuck right in to calf or knee-high boots.

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January 2017

Perfect Sleeves Ever looked at a J Crew catalogue and wondered how the rolled sleeves on their button downs look so perfect?

It’s because they’ve perfected the art of the tight roll.

Instead of starting at the cuff and making tiny rolls up the arm, fold the cuff all the way up to the elbow, and then starting at the bottom of the sleeve, roll as many times as needed for a more polished “roll up your sleeves” look.

Belted Layers Long cardigans are a blessing in winter months when outdoor temperatures clash with cranked heaters and cause small tornadoes in office doorways. However, it’s easy to get lost in all those layers. Consider cinching the waist of a long cardigan with a skinny belt for a slightly more professional yet still cozy winter look.

Don’t Mask Your Imperfections.

Transform them.

Let the Aesthetic Center be your fairy godmother. Our cosmetic injections and facial treatments can minimize fine lines, plump lips, and smooth away the years, leaving you looking more youthful, vibrant and ready for the ball.

Dr. Mark Crawford, Medical Director

(337)310-1070 facehealth.net

January 2017

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Style & Beauty

Experience MATTERS

Choose Louisiana’s Only Full-Time, Comprehensive Vein Specialist

Beauty at Any Age:

Tips for Mature Skin

Dr Carl Fastabend’s practice is totally dedicated to VEIN CARE, and he has spent years developing his diagnostic and treatment skills for venous disorders. Dr Fastabend founded the Vein Center of Southwest Louisiana, and it is recognized as a training center of excellence for physicians from across the country.

If you have varicose veins, heavy or achy legs, swelling, itching, cramping or restless legs, the Vein Center can help. Call Dr. Fastabend today!

by Emily Alford

Trust your Legs to Experience www.VeinCenterSWLA.com LAKE CHARLES (337) 312-VEIN LAFAYETTE (337) 534-VEIN TOLL FREE 888-499-VEIN

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Carl Fastabend, MD

Medical Director

Covered by most insurance.

It’s a fact of life that skin changes as we age. There are dry patches that used to be smooth, discolorations from days we forgot sunscreen, and creases in places that used to be flat. Skin bears the marks of a life well-lived, and signs of getting older are nothing to be ashamed of. However, sometimes our makeup routines stay stuck somewhere in high school as time marches on, leaving something to be desired in an adult’s beauty regimen. Here are a few tips for updating beauty routines for mature skin.

Beauty comes in many forms, and looking younger doesn’t always equal looking better, as many of our high school yearbook photos prove. But as we grow and learn, our beauty routines should evolve as well. Keep what you love about your look, but don’t be afraid to try something new!

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January 2017

Start With a Primer

Strong Brows are Always in Style

Facial moisturizer is essential for any beauty routine; it soothes dry areas and can even calm redness caused by cold, but it doesn’t do anything to keep makeup in place. Primer is a lightweight gel or cream that fills in fine lines, minimizes pores, and creates a smooth surface for applying foundation. It goes on after morning moisturizer and helps keep skin looking fresh all day. There are also primers for specific parts of the face, like under eye primer, which keeps concealer from pooling in wrinkles beneath the eye and prevents mascara from migrating as the day wears on.

Brows naturally thin as we age, whether it’s all over or just at the “tail.” Couple this natural thinning with years of brow trends, like over-waxing into teeny little commas, and many women find themselves with patchy, partially missing brows.

Missing or pencil-thin brows can make faces look harsh. But filling in sparse areas with a few strokes of a brow pencil can add fullness to your

entire look, making eyes look wider and cheeks rounder. To fill in brows, pick a pencil or powder that’s closest to your natural brow color and fill in sparse patches with quick strokes that mimic the look of actual hairs. Follow your natural brow shape and resist the urge to draw on entirely new eyebrows. Harsh, fake brows can detract from a look just as easily as thin or patchy eyebrows.

Try a Highlighter Highlighters are iridescent creams or powders applied to the tops of cheekbones to reflect light, resulting in the appearance of higher cheekbones and dewy skin. Right now, it seems like only the cool twenty-somethings of Instagram are using highlighters, but in reality, older women with drier skin who want a youthful glow should consider following suit.

To try highlighter, pick something light. Cream highlighter is the easiest to use and comes in a range of colors from bronze to peach or even translucent with a touch of shimmer. Apply foundation and blush as usual and then use your fingertips to apply just a touch of highlighter to the very tops of cheekbones (the place that gets burned first in the sun). For an even dewier look, apply just a touch more highlighter straight down the bridge of your nose. Don’t blend too much, highlighter is supposed to catch the light and rubbing it in could just look like an oily face.

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Mark Your Calendar!

Cooking Demonstration to Provide Tips on Making Cooking Easy and Healthy On January 17, at 11am, West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) will provide a free cooking demonstration in the WCCH Cafeteria Conference Room, located at 701 Cypress Street in Sulphur, for individuals looking for ideas for quick and healthy dishes. The class will last approximately 45 minutes, and will cover healthy meal planning, provide step-by-step tactics to make cooking easy, and demonstrate how quick and fun cooking can be. Samples will be provided to attendees. This cooking demonstration is free and open to the public.

For more information, or to sign up for a class, please call (337) 527-4261 or email flandry@wcch.com.

Tickets Now On Sale for Kia of Lake Charles Chennault International Airshow Back by popular demand, the Kia of Lake Charles Chennault International Airshow is thundering back to Lake Charles for heartpounding thrills and chills April 28-30, at Chennault International Airport.

Headlining the 2017 show will be a return of awesome aerobatics by the Thunderbirds—the U.S. Air Force’s premier jet demonstration team. The Thunderbirds squadron is internationally known for their hard-charging demonstrations featuring precision formation flying that pushes their signature red, white and blue F-16 Fighting Falcons to the limit.

To purchase tickets online or to learn about the 2017 event lineup, visit the Airshow’s website at www.chennaultairshow.com.

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Isle of Capri – Lake Charles Announces January 2017 Entertainment Lineup For more information, call (337) 430-2330.

January 4 January 5 January 6 January 7 January 11 January 12 January 13 January 14 January 18 January 19 January 20 January 21 January 25 January 26 January 27 January 28

Karaoke The Coleman Brothers The Coleman Brothers The Coleman Brothers Karaoke Twangsters Union Twangsters Union Twangsters Union Karaoke Joe Harmon and The Harmonics Joe Harmon and The Harmonics Joe Harmon and The Harmonics Karaoke Will Wesley and the Juke Box Band The Kadillacs The Kadillacs

Golden Nugget – Lake Charles Announces January 2017 Entertainment Lineup Grand Event Center January 1 Temptations and

The Four Tops January 6 Jerry Lee Lewis January 13 Cheap Trick January 14 Martina McBride January 20 Roots & Boots Tour

8:00 PM 8:30 PM 8:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM

featuring Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippen and Collin Raye

January 21

January 27 January 28

KC & The Sunshine Band Foreigner Tracy Lawrence

8:00 PM 8:30 PM 8:00 PM

Rush Lounge January 1 The Fuse 8 PM January 2 Josh Taylor 8 PM January 3 Charlston & Derek 8 PM January 4 Roger Tienken 8 PM January 5 3HG 8 PM January 6 3HG 9 PM January 7 3HG 9 PM January 8 3HG 8 PM January 9 Caleb Paul 8 PM January 10 Brittany Pfantz 8 PM January 11 Trey Rose 8 PM January 12 Zipties 8 PM January 13 Allison Collins 9 PM January 14 Allison Collins 9 PM January 15 Orphan Annie 8 PM – January 16 Racheal & Ian 8 PM January 17 Charlston & Derek 8 PM Thrive Magazine for Better Living

January 18 January 19 January 20 January 21 January 22 January 23 January 24 January 25 January 26 January 27 January 28 January 29 January 30 January 31

Roger Tienken 8 PM The Fuse 8 PM The Fuse 9 PM The Fuse 8 PM The Fuse 9 PM Josh Taylor 8 PM Sofa Kings

8 PM Trey Rose 8 PM Live5 8 PM Live5 9 PM Live5 9 PM Live5 8 PM Racheal & Ian 8 PM Caleb Paul 8 PM

January 2017

LET'S RODEO! Tickets on sale now.

New “Groovin’ at the Grove” Concert Series Announces Spring Line-up Groovin’ at the Grove, Lake Charles’ new, outdoor live music series, has announced their 2017 spring line-up. The concerts will be held at Walnut Grove, a traditional neighborhood development. Musicians will perform on Walnut Grove’s Great Lawn, overlooking the beautiful Contraband Bayou. The music series is family-friendly, free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to put down. No ice chests please. The live performances will be held from 5:30-8:30pm.

The schedule of dates and performers is: March 2, Jamie Bergeron & The Kickin’ Cajuns April 6, Louisiana Red May 4, Nik-L Beer For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ groovinatthegrove or call (337) 656-9602.

January 2017

lAKEcHARLESrODEO.COM

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McNeese Presents Honorary Doctorate

Swift has also served as an outstanding leader in civic and professional organizations through his service on numerous boards and organizations at the local, state and national levels.

Westlake Chemical Donation to College of Engineering

McNeese State University President Dr. Philip C. Williams, right, presented George Swift with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during McNeese’s fall commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 10, at Burton Coliseum.

McNeese Photo

McNeese State University conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to George Swift, president and CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, during the 147th commencement ceremony in December.

Today, the Alliance is an umbrella organization comprised of three groups - the Chamber Southwest Louisiana, the Southwest Louisiana Alliance Foundation, which serves as the chamber’s nonprofit fundraising arm, and the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development, which is comprised of regional elected and appointed officials involved in economic development.

The Alliance – under Swift’s leadership - has been recognized as one of the top 10 economic development organizations in the nation three of the last four years. Currently with over $100 billion in announced projects, Southwest Louisiana leads the nation in projected growth. The Chamber SWLA is now a Five-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber, and with over 1,500 members, the Chamber SWLA now has the largest membership in its history.

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Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for RN (NCLEX-RN) and be prepared to enter the workforce as a registered nurse. Students at both higher learning institutions receive hands-on experience and learn under qualified faculty who meet the accreditation requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

For more information about the Nursing Concurrent Enrollment program, call (337) 421-6594.

McNeese Foundation Announce Officers for 2017 Left to right: Wayne Ahrens, vice president of operations at Westlake Chemical, Richard H. Reid, vice president for university advancement and executive vice president of the foundation, Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the college, and Joe Andrepont, senior community affairs representative at Westlake Chemical.

Westlake Chemical has donated $10,000 to the McNeese State University College of Engineering and Computer Science through the McNeese Foundation for the college’s future engineering student study center.

SOWELA and McNeese Launch Unprecedented Initiative New Agreement In an effort to enable Nursing students to complete their bachelor’s degree, SOWELA Technical Community College and McNeese State University have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Dr. Neil Aspinwall, SOWELA Chancellor, and Dr. Philip C. Williams, McNeese President, were on hand for the official signing.

SOWELA’s ASN program is designed to prepare students for immediate employment in the healthcare arena and to lay the foundation for transferring coursework to a BSN program.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

The McNeese State University Foundation Board of Directors has elected new officers for 2017.

Willie Mount will serve as president, Dr. Eric Sanders, vice president and president-elect, William E. Rose, treasurer, and Judy Fuller, secretary. Dale “Butch” W. Ferdinandsen II, Tom Henning, Ben Marriner, Dr. Lee J. Monlezun Jr., Mount, Angela Queenan and Rose were elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors.

Foundation donors vote to elect board members.

The McNeese Foundation was incorporated in 1965 with the primary mission of raising funds to support endowments for student scholarships.

The McNeese Foundation, with total assets exceeding $73 million, annually awards over $1 million in student scholarships, faculty development awards, campus improvements, stateof-the-art technology and academic enhancements in support of the university’s core values.

For more information, visit www.mcneesefoundation.org or call (337) 475-5588.

January 2017

Phillips 66 Donation to College of Engineering and Computer Science Phillips 66 has donated $25,000 to Left to right: McNeese President Philip C. Williams. Megan Hartman, Phillips the McNeese State 66 public relations manager, Dr. Seyed Aghili, associate dean of the college, and Richard G. Harbison, Phillips 66 plant manager.

University College of Engineering and Computer Science through the McNeese Foundation.

USPOULTRY Foundation Grant Awarded to Harold and Pearl Dripps School of Agricultural Sciences Left to right: Agricultural sciences students Spencer Albert and Heidi Gruspier, The Harold and Pearl Dr. Chip LeMieux, school director, Angela Queenan, McNeese Foundation board Dripps School of of directors member, and agricultural sciences instructor Devin Gandy

Agricultural Sciences at McNeese State University has been awarded a $3,000 grant by the USPOULTRY Foundation as part of its Industry Education Recruitment Funding program, which provides annual recruiting and retention funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs.

The McNeese grant was made possible by an endowing gift from CalMaine.

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music | performance | film | lecture

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Broaden your mind, learn something new, and experience unique events with Banners at McNeese.

Shadow Theatre is an exciting journey into the world of shadows. In unexplored planets human shadows live different exciting lives.

Matt Mogk: Zombies, Run! is a walking catalog of important modern developments in zombie research.

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is composed of some of America’s top brass musicians dedicated to bringing the joyous experience of great music to a wide range of audiences.

Acrobats of Cirque-tacular is a heartstopping, mind-boggling display of artistry and athleticism.

Tickets and Memberships on Sale Now! 68 www.thriveswla.com

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January 2017