108
| Date post: | 23-Jul-2016 |
| Category: |
Documents |
| Upload: | rushing-media |
| View: | 223 times |
| Download: | 2 times |
PoV 10-15.indd 1 9/18/15 11:33 AM
PoV 10-15.indd 2 9/18/15 11:33 AM
PoV 10-15.indd 3 9/18/15 11:33 AM
PoV 10-15.indd 4 9/18/15 11:34 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 5
PoV 10-15.indd 5 9/18/15 11:34 AM
OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 10
TABLE OFCONTENTS
16 RENAISSANCE LAWMAN Author BJ Bourg
24 CHATEAU CHIC Home Tour
30 VOW Voice of the Wetlands
36 LA 1 TOUR A drive down Hwy. 1 to discover LA
42 PROTECTING THE MASTERS OF THE SKIES Falconer Gregory Wojtera
46 THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME Breast cancer survivor Jennifer Cavalier
52 UNDER THE SCOPE The Road to Indian Summer
54 OH SNAP En Guard!
56 WHO AM I? Courtesy of Premier OB-GYN
68 TELL ME WHY Answers to Lifes Most Perplexing Questions
70 LOCAL HAUNTS Fact or Fiction?
76 TIMEOUT The Makings of the Pumpkin Spice Latte
78 IT TAKES A VILLAGE The Making of the Rougarou Queen
88 IT TAKES AN ARTIST Rougarou poster artist Magwire
THE LONG AND WINDING ROADCHANNING CANDIES
ABOUT THE COVERTeam Phoenix Rising prepares model Courtnee Smith for her reign as the 2015 Rougarou Queen.36
LOCAL VUE FITLIFE
58 WARM UP Fuel Up Wisely
60 FITMIND What Will You Decide Today?
61 THIBODAUX REGIONAL 40 and Fabulous.
62 CAJUNS WITH SWORDS? Les Lames De La Fourche
66 WHATS SHAKIN How You Can Roday Around Your Community
PoV 10-15.indd 6 9/18/15 11:34 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 7
PoV 10-15.indd 7 9/18/15 11:34 AM
10 EDITORS NOTE Causes Worth Celebrating
11 THE VUEFINDER The Case of the Candy Hoarder
POV PICKS20 CHOCOPerfection21 Archipelago Botanicals, Weathervanes, Bloody Bayou, Simply Noelle Sunglasses
12 INTERVUE Say What?
14 THE OBSERVER WeCanMakeaDiffe ence
OUR VUE YOUR VUE
92 LIVING WELL Honey Do?
93 CHECK IT OUT Meet Sullivan Sully Carter
94 BEHIND THE BREW Ales or Lagers?
95 A VUE FROM THE VINE Washington a Red (wine) State
96 BON APPTIT Gumbo Pizza
98 SMARTY PANTS For When Your Thinking Cap Fails
100 RENDEZVOUS Where You Need To Be Around Town
102 SCENE IN Look at ol so n so!
104 ADVERTISERS INDEX The Who and the Where
105 LOOK TWICE PUZZLE Sponsored by Synergy Bank
106 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Sarah Legendre
107 THE FINAL COUNTDOWN 7 New Words to Add to Your Vocabulary
EXPERT VUE REAR VUE
21
94 107
OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 10
TABLE OFCONTENTS
POVHOUMA.COMView back issues, Web-only content and a full distribution list. SCAN HERE:
NEWSLETTERSReceive additional content and weekly events when you sign up. SCAN HERE:
12
PoV 10-15.indd 8 9/18/15 11:35 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 9
PoV 10-15.indd 9 9/18/15 11:35 AM
10 POINT OF VUE OUR VUE OCTOBER 2015
Shell Armstrong is the editor of Point of Vue magazine. [email protected]
PUBLISHERBrian Rushing
EDITOR-IN-CHIEFShell Armstrong
CREATIVE DIRECTORGavin Stevens
GRAPHIC DESIGNERSMariella Brochard
Danielle Evans
SALES MANAGERDeanne Ratliff
CIRCULATION MANAGERBrooke Adams
SUBSCRIPTIONS Point of Vue magazine is published monthly.
Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues. For more information, email
Copyright 2015 Rushing Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of editorial and/or graphic content is strictly prohibited.
BUSINESS ADDRESS: 6160 West Park Ave., Houma, LA 70364 985.868.7515
Point of Vue magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material such as manuscripts or photographs, with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. The opinions expressed in Point of Vue magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Rushing Media, our employees or any of our advertisers. No employee or family member(s) of employees of Rushing Media are permitted to partake in any contests, giveaways or sweepstakes.
Youve got to love October. Kids are back in school, were anxiously awaiting those couple of weeks of cool,
crisp weather and fall festivals are in
high gear.
And theres plenty to celebrate locally
this month.
The PoV staff is ready for the three-
day Voice of the Wetlands Festival. Tab
Benoit knows how to throw a party, and
this years event looks to be no excep-
tion. The festival has a new home base
at 5403 W. Park Ave., which translates
into more room, which means a second
stage, which means non-stop music.
And guests have the option to camp
on the festival grounds. Read about
VOWs mission to bring attention to
our perilous wetlands and disappear-
ing coastline on page 30.
As you surmised from this months
cover, Oct. 24-25 is Rougarou Fest time.
Ghosts and ghouls are welcome at the
family-friendly festival ranked by
USA Today as one of the Top 10 Best
Costume Parties in the nation and
selected by the Southeast Tourism
Society as a Top 20 Event among 11
states in the southeast U.S.
PoV takes a closer look at what it
takes to create a Rougarou Queen
on page 78. Team Phoenix Rising is
responsible for this years winner.
October also marks Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, a time to increase
awareness of the disease. About 1 in
8 women in the United States will de-
velop invasive breast cancer over
the course of her lifetime, according
to breastcancer.org. Breast cancer
survivor Jennifer Cavalier bravely
shares her story on page 46. This
month, encourage the women in
your life to get a mammogram. Early
detection is essential. POV
Causes Worth Celebrating
SHELL ARMSTRONG
EDITORSNOTE
THIS ISSUES CONTRIBUTORS
PHOTOGRAPHYShell Armstrong, Channing Candies,
Jose Delgado, Jacob Jennings, Pam Negrotto, Erica Seely
WRITERSDwayne Andras, Lane Bates, John Culhane, Jaime Dishman, John Doucet, Melissa Duet,
Esther Ellis, Dr. J. Michael Flynn, Casey Gisclair, Mary Cosper LeBoeuf,
Debbie Melvin, Janell Parfait, Bonnie Rushing, Becca Weingard
PoV 10-15.indd 10 9/18/15 11:35 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 11
Melissa is a writer at Rushing Media. If the local grocery stores Halloween candy aisle is bare, you know shes been there. [email protected]
There are few things I hate more than Halloween. OK, hate may be a strong word, but the excuse for grown men to don tutus (unless you have an infant who insists on family costumes) has
never been a day I wait with bated breath to arrive.
Perhaps I get it from my grandmother, who hides out each year
in her darkened home, shades pulled down tight so the little ones
running up her driveway dont notice her movements inside.
I undersand this ... the thought of masked monsters and comic
book heroes ringing my doorbell doesnt sit well with me either.
There was a point in time, however, when I loved the ghoulish
festivities, the cool fall wind hitting my face as I rode in a Radio
Flyer wearing matching pink Power Ranger costumes with my best
friend. When wed hoarded enough sugary loot, Id wind up on
the floor in my parents living room, splitting up my earnings and
plucking out the old-people candy with my brother.
It was every childs dream to roll around in a bed of Tootsie Rolls
and Sweetarts and we enjoyed every minute of our sugar-induced
high. As I grew older and could affo d to buy my own bags of candy
any time I wanted, however, the holiday wasnt so cute anymore.
As a new homeowner, my husband and I have been deliberating
over what to do for the approaching holiday. Do we fill a silver
mixing bowl, like my parents always do, and greet each of our little
visitors at the door, inquiring politely about their princess gown or
ninja attire? Do we hide in the back like my grandmother, leaving
the bowl on a stool out front to be politically correct? Weve even
tossed around the idea of getting tickets to the a NBA game to
avoid the whole thing all together.
Whether we decide to be adults about this impending
celebration remains undecided. More times than not, we
like feeling responsible paying our bills, watching the 6
a.m. newscast and setting up retirement plans. Look at us
being all grown up, we say to each other most days. But
sometimes, we just want to be kids again and if we feel like
hiding in the dark and eating all the Milk Duds and Kit
Kats ourselves come Oct. 31, we just might do it. POV
The Case of the Candy Hoarder
MELISSA DUET
THEVUEFINDER
PoV 10-15.indd 11 9/18/15 11:36 AM
12 POINT OF VUE YOUR VUE OCTOBER 2015
Favorite discontinued junk
food you wish would come back:
Which day of the week best
represents your current mood?
Whats in the trunk of your car?
INTERVUE
KIRBIERN
KRISSYLoan Processor
CHARLOTTEInsurance
NITANanna
KYLIEPractice Manager
One candy you always got way too much of on
Halloween:
Describe your Halloween
costume:
If you could only eat breakfast for
the rest of your life, what would it
consist of?
Are you superstitious? If so, about what?
Tootsie Rolls or Tootsie Pops
Tootsie Rolls Candy Corn Candy Corn Tootsie Rolls
What is left over from my kids costumes
Always unique and the best on the block
because my mom usually made it
Princess Realistic witchProbably just Mom again
Fresh farm eggs with pepper jack cheese
and Applewood turkey bacon
Bacon, eggs, gritsand biscuits
Hashbrowns and eggs
Grits and eggsGrits, bacon
and toast
Not really
Yes, black cats cross-ing in front of me. I will turn around and
go the other way
NoBroken mirrors and
Friday the 13thNope
My life Dont have a trunk Everything Sewing Machine Empty bags
Monday Monday Wednesday Friday Monday
Blue Bell and Mary Janes
Candy Cigarettes Charlies Chips RomanTaffPlanters
Cheez Balls
PoV 10-15.indd 12 9/18/15 11:36 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 13
PoV 10-15.indd 13 9/18/15 11:36 AM
14 POINT OF VUE YOUR VUE OCTOBER 2015
Jaime Dishman believes our contributions, no matter how small, can make a difference.
Its all one ocean, I thought. If you take away the borders of Atlantic, Pacific and the other names man has given, its all the same ocean that laps against
the shores of every country on Earth.
My youngest child lay in the surf along the shore of Grand Isle.
Waves pushed her inshore, and she would run out knee deep and
ride on her belly back to the safety of the shore.
I couldnt take my eyes off her.
Just days earlier a picture of a 3-year-old boy on a beach halfway
across the world shocked me into paying attention to a crisis hap-
pening across the ocean. This child was face down in the sand, but
he wasnt running back out to play.
His name was Aylan, a refugee from Syria, who drowned at sea.
His body was plucked off the shores of Turkey, where he was
reportedly trying to flee to Canada with his family.
His country is being torn apart by civil war, his fellow country-
men being continually threatened by Islamic State (ISIS) forces who,
even as I write this article, are threatening to capture a crucial road
connecting government-held territory in Damascus to the north and
west of the country. Millions more will flee.
Its hard to imagine.
Some are calling this refugee crisis the worst since World War II.
People across the ocean need our help. These refugees are not leav-
ing in hopes of a better life with more economic opportunities. They
are leaving their country because they want to live. Syrians trapped
in their country count themselves as dead already, as basic human
rights have been stripped away in a country ravaged by militant
groups.
Pope Francis has asked families across Europe to open their doors
to fleeing refugee families in order to express the concreteness of
the Gospel and welcome a family of refugees.
Hes right. The Gospel is always best told by the actions of
the people proclaiming its message. Its also equally told by the
inaction of the people proclaiming its message.
We Can Make a Difference
Refugees arent fleeing to America because we are an
ocean away. But its all the same ocean, and refugees across
the world are begging for help.
Have you heard of Christopher Catrambone, the Loui-
siana millionaire from Lake Charles? In 2013, he and his
family were on a luxury cruise in the Mediterranean and
noticed a winter coat floating in the water. When they
learned it probably belonged to a refugee who died trying
to escape Syria, they did something about it and set up
the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, a nonprofit organization
helping to rescue refugees and migrants. He and his family
have invested $8 million of their personal assets, according
to Daily Mail reports.
But Im not a millionaire. But heres a little secret. Youre
probably in the top 1 percent of income earners in the
entire world.
No way, not me, youre thinking.
What are we doing with that kind of wealth? What am I
doing with that kind of wealth?
Are we helping those most in need? There are families
dying and crying out for help.
I picture my family in that situation. It seems so far away
and foreign from anything Ive ever known.
The father of Aylan survived. The heart-broken dad said
he hopes the photo of his son changes everything. It may
not change everything, but it has changed some things.
Many organizations offer help. Partner with it. Give what
you would want given to you if it was your country being
terrorized and torn apart as innocents suffer.
Google the images of the Syrian refugees. Learn their
names. Read the stories.
This is our hour. Its the chance for our generation to
help. History is being made, and lives are changed when
millions of people join together and each do one thing. POV
JAIME DISHMAN
THEOBSERVER
PoV 10-15.indd 14 9/18/15 11:36 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 15
PoV 10-15.indd 15 9/18/15 11:36 AM
16 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
Rena issance lawman na ils killers
PoV 10-15.indd 16 9/18/15 11:36 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 17
B illy BJ Bourg is living life on his own terms. The 44-year-old Mathews native is a
boxer, a SWAT sniper, a former detec-
tive, investigator, self-defense instruc-
tor, freelance writer, novelist and, most
importantly, a family man. A modern-
day Renaissance man, hes made of the
same grit and determination that made
Theodore Roosevelt, Rudyard Kipling
and Ernest Hemingway so memorable.
They, too, were men who battled life
and lived to tell about it.
BJ is far too humble to equate him-
self to those prior greats, but microcos-
mically, he has achieved an extraordi-
nary level of competency, if not actual
greatness.
BJBOURG.COM
JOHN CULHANE
wi th h is keyboard The middle of three children raised
in a single-parent home, BJ sought
refuge in books. At age 10, The Swiss
Family Robinson opened a whole new
world to the boy. He devoured every
book at the Lockport and Raceland
libraries and the old book exchange.
Then it happened. He discovered
Louis LAmour, Americas storyteller.
BJ dreamed of writing like his hero.
He penned poems about the Old West
and wrote several adventure stories.
I grew up without a dad, and I
tell everyone wholl listen that Louis
LAmour raised me, BJ says.
BJ has more than 24 years of law
enforcement experience under his belt.
Hes worked as a Lafourche Parish
sheriffs pat ol deputy, detective, sheriff
academy instructor and, more recently, as
the chief investigator for the Lafourche
Parish District Attorneys Office. Hes
investigated rapes, robberies, kidnap-
pings and murders. As a detective,
BJ achieved a 100 percent arrest and
conviction rate on murder cases assigned
to him. Additionally, he investigated
officer-involved shootings, accidental
deaths, justifiable homicides, autoerotic
asphyxiation fatalities and suicides.
BJ landed roles with the Lafourche
departments SWAT (he was certified
in 1991), sniper team, explosives search
unit, homicide squad and the Honor
Guard. A certified sniper since 1996, BJ
graduated from seven sniper schools,
including the FBIs Basic Sniper School,
where he was awarded Top Gun hon-
ors, and the agencys Advanced Sniper
School. He also served as the sniper
instructor for the Louisiana Tactical
Police Officer Associations 4th annual
Training Conference.
The entire time BJ was honing his
policing skills, he continued to read.
Being a self-starter who wasnt afraid
of hard work and wasnt intimidated
by the prospect of failing helped me
grow into who I am today, but the key
to all of my successes can be directly
linked to one activity reading, BJ
says. When I wanted to learn to fight, I
During those impressionable years
of my youth, I learned more about
real life from his fiction than from
anywhere else. I learned how to treat
a woman with respect, to persevere
even in the bleakest of circumstances
and to be courageous in the face of
grave danger. I learned to be loyal to
my family and friends, and to ride for
the brand.
The Western novelist imparted
valuable lessons on perseverance that
remain with the Bayou Blue resident
to this day. I learned to stand on my
own and achieve my goals through
hard work and dedication, and to
never give up on my dreams, BJ says.
The attributes instilled in me through
his novels really set the tone for who
I would eventually become and how I
approach every aspect of my life.
And while books taught BJ how to
live, it was a chance encounter with a
shoplifter that paved his early career
path.
BJ worked at a large retail store as
a teen bagging items and retrieving
shopping carts. When the sticky-fi -
gered thief ran, BJ gave chase. Still high
on the adrenaline rush, BJ decided
a job in law enforcement would be
exciting. It would also serve as the
foundation for his career as a writer.
PoV 10-15.indd 17 9/18/15 11:36 AM
18 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
bought every book I could find on fighting and studied each of
them. I did the same with investigative work, sniping, SWAT
tactics and officer safety. I then put the information to the test
and discovered what worked and what didnt work for me.
If a technique or tactic worked, I adopted it as my own and
tweaked it to make it better fit my specific needs. If it didnt
work, I developed my own way of doing things to achieve the
results I desired. I had a dont trust until I verify approach to
everything I read and studied, and this kept me from practicing
and sharing things that were ineffective.
Putting what hed learn to paper helped BJ perfect his writ-
ing. Although the dream of writing full-time took a backseat
to supporting his family, BJ hadnt abandoned it. And when
he ran across an article about a mystery writer teaming with a
sheriffs department to learn about procedure, the wheels in his
head began turning. BJ spent months pouring through writing
books and refining his skills. Babs Lakey, former owner of
Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine, even provided
detailed lessons.
Muddy Waters would be BJs first published short story.
It appeared in 2003 in Lakeys publication.
More than 150 short pieces would soon follow, including
several printed in Womans World.
Behind the scenes, BJ began working on Hollow Crib, his
first novel. Completed in 2005, the book wouldnt be printed
for 10 more years. BJ has since released The Seventh Taking
and, most recently, James 516. In between working on his
next release, BJ freelances articles on aspects of law enforce-
ment for magazines. Hes also a great resource for other crime
writers.
Helping others whether in law enforcement, writing or talk-
ing to local schoolchildren remains BJs chief aim. I love
sharing what Ive learned if I think it can help others, he says.
Mystery writers and editors have always been so generous
when it came to answering my writing questions, so Im always
happy to help them out with police procedural issues or fi earms
information. More than that, it just feels good to help others.
When hes not at the keyboard pounding out his next tale, BJ
enjoys hanging with his family wife Amanda; son, Brandon;
daughter, Grace; and step-daughter, Kate German Shepherd
Krostof, Bichon Frise Linus and chickens. Whether its a
10-day vacation, a weekend getaway, or a day spent kicking
around the house, Im happiest when Im surrounded by my
wife and kids, he says.
Its not a bad life for a guy with a passion for reading.
Im just a regular guy who, through hard work, persever-
ance and a lot of luck, was blessed enough to have realized
some of his goals and dreams, BJ says. In fact, other than
having more scars, less hair and being a whole lot wiser, Im
no different than that kid who was pushing buggies all those
years ago. POV
PoV 10-15.indd 18 9/18/15 11:36 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 19
PoV 10-15.indd 19 9/18/15 11:37 AM
POV PICKS
HEAVENLY SCENT, HOUMA, 985.868.2216
CHOCOPerfection
No matter how much willpower we have, we all crave a little sweetness from time to time. With this sugar-free European chocolate, you can enjoy your favorite candy without the guilt.
This decadent delight is sweetened with plant components, like
chicory root fiber, and comes in a variety of flavors such as dark
orange and dark mint to satisfy any sweet tooth, any time. POV
PoV 10-15.indd 20 9/18/15 11:37 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 21
PoV 10-15.indd 21 9/18/15 11:37 AM
22 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
POV PICKS
Archipelago Botanicals Milk ProductsDESIGNS BY TWO, HOUMA, 985.868.9438
S imple is often better and these indulgent bath products are a testament to that. Archipelago Botanicals Milk line includes body washes, conditioners and more, all enriched with
dried milk solids, soy and oat proteins to get that luxurious
glow. The products gently exfoliate to add skin rejuvenation,
and the fresh, clean scent makes any of the products easily
workable into your everyday beauty routine.
Bloody BayouGORDONS DAIQUIRIS, CHACKBAY, 985.633.9951
Youve probably had your fair share of Blood Marys, so finding one that stands out from the rest can be a bit of a challenge. Gordons, a hidden gem on the outskirts of
Thibodaux, however, has you covered. Their version of the
cocktail, the Bloody Bayou, uses the traditional tomato and
vodka ingredients, tossing in a combination of Cajun delicacies
to make a simply unforgettable sip.
Simply Noelle SunglassesTHE WISHING WELL GIFT SHOP, HOUMA, 985.851.1110
Staying fashion forward doesnt have to come at a hefty price tag. Simply Noelle has been crafting a variety of vibrantly colored womens clothing and accessories since 2005
with the goal of making every customer feel beautiful. These
sunglasses come in various colors and add a pop of color to
any outfit.
WeathervanesFROST LUMBER, THIBODAUX, 985.447.3791
G ive your home a touch of nostalgia with these beautifully constructed weathervanes from Whitehall Products, the worlds largest manufacturer of the item. More than 200 differ-
ent styles of the instrument, first used to indicate the direction
of the wind, are available and include a variety of color options
to suit the color scheme of your home. With more than 65 years
of manufacturing excellence, Whitehall takes pride in depicting
the countrys natural beauty in each of its intricately-crafted
pieces. POV
PoV 10-15.indd 22 9/18/15 11:37 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 23
PoV 10-15.indd 23 9/18/15 11:37 AM
24 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
ERICA SEELY
BONNIE RUSHING
CHATEAUCHIC
PoV 10-15.indd 24 9/18/15 11:37 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 25
Following Hurricane Katrina, while then-New Orlea-nians Drs. Don and Wendy Gervais were still evacu-ated, they viewed and purchased their current home
via photographs. They were searching for a space large
enough to help relatives also displaced by the storm.
Nelson Wilson Interiors was selected to personalize
and transform the 4,000-plus-square-foot home.
Although work began in 2005, it has taken place over
time. The interior of the house was designed to reflect
the clients love of classic elements and to achieve a
formal, European feel with a collected and traveled
aesthetic.
The renovation began with the transformation of the
dining room into a custom library and home office.
Designed by Nelson Wilson Interiors and fabricated
by Weimar Contractors, the original dining room was
turned into a library with custom-designed floor-to-
ceiling mahogany bookcases. Later, the entrance, living
room and master bedroom changes followed, with a
nursery being completed in fall 2007 and an additional
bedroom in 2010.
A B
PoV 10-15.indd 25 9/18/15 11:37 AM
26 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
Custom drapery was hand selected for each space
throughout the home and light fixtures were upgraded
from standard builder-grade fixtures to individually
sourced and selected lights representative of the design
aesthetic of each space.
In the living room, custom glass wall platters were
blown and shaped by a master glass blower from
Romania, which were specifically designed for the space
above the cast stone mantel crafted in the style of Louis
XV. The sofa is custom by Lee Industries with linen dam-
ask fabric from Lee Jofa. Opulent layered drapery treat-
ment frames the gorgeous view of the resort-like back
courtyard. A custom-designed French display cabinet
with a whitewashed exterior and cherry wood interior
displays collectables and is flanked by framed Gould
Hummingbird prints.
C
D
PoV 10-15.indd 26 9/18/15 11:37 AM
PoV 10-15.indd 27 9/18/15 11:38 AM
28 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
A French caned daybed with custom
corona and plaid silk interior sets the stage
in the Gervais oldest daughters bedroom.
A Canopy Designs fanciful chandelier with
beaded flowers, butterflies and insects adorns
the space. The soft green ceiling and flirty
chair compliment the bedding and drapery.
In the nursery, mirrored furniture, a Brat
Decor silver leaf sleigh bed and framed
Italian hand-painted animal prints make a
statement. A custom valance, drapery panels
and sheer linen Austrian shades soften the
sunlight and add elegance. POV
SPECIAL THANKS TO:Karin Nelson and Troy Wilson
A LibraryB FoyerC Living RoomD BedroomE Dining RoomF Nursery
E
F
PoV 10-15.indd 28 9/18/15 11:38 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 29
PoV 10-15.indd 29 9/18/15 11:38 AM
30 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
PoV 10-15.indd 30 9/18/15 11:38 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 31
Woodstock had Max Yasgurs Farm. Voice of the Wetlands has the Rouse familys field on West Park Ave. in Houma. Festival-goers can expect a second stage, translating into more great music; a camping area; and Cajun food, crafts and art. Tab Benoits throwing a party and the country is invited to visit and pay attention to our plight.
ESTHER ELLIS
Coastal erosion is a subject that many in south Louisiana are passionate about and Tab Benoit is no exception. Each night, the Houma native and noted bluesman takes a moment during his stage show to talk about our regions disappearing coast and wetlands. In the glare of the white spotlight, Tab pleads with listeners in land-locked and surrounding states to consider their neighbors in the South. And each October, he invites the world to join us in Terrebonne Parish to see the problem firsthand in hopes that these new recruits will help spread our message. The goal has always been to cel-ebrate the culture and coast of south Louisiana and to bring people from out of state and let them meet the locals and see that there are people that live south of New Orleans, Tab says with a chuckle. They dont know about [our eroding coastline] until
something happens on the news. My goal has always been to bring people down here to see it for themselves; have the locals and the land tell the real story. This year the non-profit organization hosts its 12th annual Voice of the Wet-lands Festival on Oct. 9-11 in Houma. After spending more than a decade at Southdown Plantation, VOW is mov-ing to a new plot of land at 5403 West Park Ave. in Houma, which provides a greater opportunity for growth. This is where the original location was going to be but we werent able to do it in the beginning, Tab says. At this spot, we can do camping and go later than 11 p.m. It will allow us to grow and get bigger ... Its the biggest area of any festival in the south. The 200-acre festival grounds allows festival-goers to stay closer to the action by camping on site, an enticing offer for those out-of-town visitors, giving them more reason to stay.
Another first for the VOW fest is the addition of the Red Dog Saloon, a second stage. Visitors will enjoy con-tinuous entertainment by local musi-cians from a variety of genres Cajun, country, blues, jazz and rock. Friday night showcases artists Tab Benoit, Randy Jackson, Bart Walker, Mia Borders and Lightnin Malcolm. Saturdays lineup includes artists Josh Garrett Band, Honey Island Swamp Band, Raw Oyster Cult and more. After a Sunday filled with shows, the night will close out with the tradition-al performance by the VOW Allstars, a group of talented New Orleans area artists who make the final plea to bring awareness to the troubling issues of the coastal land. The group consists of Tab, Cyril Neville, Corey Duplechin, Johnny Vidacovich, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone and Way-lon Thibodeaux. If music is the heart of the VOW, the food, art and culture represented are its
PoV 10-15.indd 31 9/18/15 11:38 AM
32 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
soul. Visitors will enjoy American fare and all
of the Cajun classics: gumbo, shrimp etouffe,
alligator sauce piquante and jambalaya.
The expanded fairground also allows for
carnival rides. Attendees can see the culture
through the eyes of artists and crafters, whose
works are for sale, as well as educational and
environmental exhibits.
If the weather is good, the festivals
successful and it really just comes down to
that, Tab says. Admission is free so theres
no real way of counting how many people we
get, but usually its about 10,000 visitors. Its
all about awareness, celebrating the food and
the music and not money. I do fundraisers to
keep this free and I want to try to continue to
keep it free to the public.
The Voice of the Wetlands got its start in 2004
when Tab and a group of musicians, activists,
and businesspeople came together in an effort
to bring awareness about the coastal erosion of
Louisiana. Festivalgoers were kept safe from
remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew by a
tent. Since then, VOW members have brought
international attention to the cause, perform-
ing at political events and even being featured
in a film, Hurricane on the Bayou, which
was narrated by Meryl Streep.
Every day, Louisianas coast is whittled away
by the elements. And every day, VOW renews
its vow to give voice to the ongoing threat in
the hope that others will join in the effort to
save our coast.
The first place that I played music in f ont
of people is gone, Tab says. Its always been
about educating the public outside of Louisiana.
I have seen how they have learned about our
area and I am amazed by what they take home
with them. Theyre out there, actively involved
and telling the truth. Being a pilot and seeing the
coast, I know more about anything than what a
politician could tell me. That truth is indisput-
able and thats what we need when making big
decisions. Our future is at stake. POV
For more information on the Voice of the Wetlands organization and festival visit VOICEOFTHEWETLANDS.ORG.
PoV 10-15.indd 32 9/18/15 11:38 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 33
PoV 10-15.indd 33 9/18/15 11:38 AM
34 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
MAIN STAGEFRIDAY, OCT. 9
6-7 p.m. Mia Borders
7:45-9 p.m. Southern Cross w/Randy Jackson of Zebra
9:30-11 p.m. Friday Night Guitar Fights Tab Benoit, Mason Ruffner, Lightnin Malcolm, Randy Jackson, Albert Castiglia, Josh Garrett, Tyrone Vaughan and Bart Walker
SATURDAY, OCT. 10
1-2:15 p.m. Josh Garrett Band
2:45-4 p.m. Mason Ruffner
4:30-5:45 p.m. Honey Island Swamp Band
6:15-7:30 p.m. Samantha Fish featuring Albert Castiglia
8-9:15 p.m. Raw Oyster Cult
9:45-11 p.m. Tab Benoit
SUNDAY, OCT. 11
1-2 p.m. Heath Ledet Band
2:30-3:30 p.m. Lightnin Malcolm
4-5 p.m. Mike Zito & The Wheel featuring Albert Castiglia
5:20-6:30 p.m. Royal Southern Brotherhood
7-8 p.m. Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
8:30-9:45 p.m. VOW Allstars
RED DOG SALOON, SECOND STAGEFRIDAY, OCT. 9
7-8:30 p.m. Johnny Sansone
10-11:30 p.m. Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous
midnight Wetlands Ramble Jam Session
SATURDAY, OCT. 10
3 p.m. CC & the Mullets
5 p.m. Jenna Guidry
6:30 p.m. Dave Jordan & the Neighborhood Improvement Association
8:15 p.m. Indian Blues with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone and John Fohl
10:30 p.m. Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous
midnight Wetlands Ramble Jam Session
SUNDAY, OCT. 11
2:30-3:45 p.m. Raymond George & the Blue Flames
4:15-5:30 p.m. Honey Island Swamp Trio
6-7:30 p.m. The Fuzz Police Tribute
8-9 p.m. CC & the Mullets POV
VOICE OF THE WETLANDS LINEUP
PoV 10-15.indd 34 9/18/15 11:38 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 35
PoV 10-15.indd 35 9/18/15 11:38 AM
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
36 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
T H E L O N G A N D W I N D I N G R O A DSHELL ARMSTRONG AND PAM NEGROTTO
Jimmie Big Daddy DeRamus is a bit of a
pack rat, and its paid off big time.
The bass player-turned-insurance sales-
man-turned-pawn shop owner-turned
reality TV star scours the globe looking for
unique finds. Hes got a bit of everything,
too. Clark Gables fishing license. The first
watch Elvis Presley wore on TV. The Tin
Mans oilcan from The Wizard of Oz. The
General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard.
Old coins mentioned in the Bible. The hand-
cuffs used during Rosa Parks arrest
when she refused to vacate her bus seat.
But its the lost hearse used to escort Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. to his final resting
place that attracts the most visitors.
Jimmies penchant for finding prized
goods began during his music days. He
toured with a number of artists mostly
country when he was younger. He and his
wife, Peggy, would visit garage sales and
the like during the day.
There was nothing else to do,
Jimmie says. Id find a strap or a
guitar or an amplifier, buy it and
stick it in my trunk. At the next
stop, Id mention I had it and,
most times, the other guys would
end up pooling their money to buy
it off of me.
Jimmie traded his road job for
something closer to home when
his first son was born. After trying
his hand at insurance sales, Jimmie
settled into his current gig, owner
of Silver Dollar Pawn & Jewelry
Center in Alexandria. The entire
DeRamus clan runs the shop:
Jimmie and Peggy, their daughter,
Tammie DeRamus-Credeur, and
EVERYTHING AT A PRICE
PoV 10-15.indd 36 9/18/15 11:39 AM
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
POVHOUMA.COM 37
Jimmies youngest brother, Johnnie.
Until his death in an airplane crash, the
couples oldest son, Chad, also worked at
the shop. He was the one who found the
MLK hearse.
More than 25 years later, the family-run
operation is packed into a 20,000-square-
foot, two-story shop, three warehouses
and a restoration facility. Its a frequent
stop for school field trips and bus excur-
sions just as much for the one-of-a-kind
items as for the DeRamus familys new-
found fame from Cajun Pawn Stars,
which aired on the History Channel.
The History Channel deal is a bit of
sore subject for Jimmie. The production
attracted record ratings; the producers
attracted headaches, beginning with
Silver Dollar s signage. A man of strong
faith, Jimmie proudly displays the 10
Commandments on the wall outside his
store. The producers wanted to paint
over it and Jimmie refused. They also
wanted to blur any religious item or
mention of God inside the store. Jimmie
refused.
Everything I am, everything I
have, its all a gift from God, Jimmie
explains. I will not deny Him. I will
not hide Him. God got me here. He is
my strength.
The rift grew when Jimmie refused
to script the show. We have enough
interesting things going on every day,
he says. You dont need a script.
The day PoV
visited, a family
brought in a weapon
reportedly dating
back to the Mexican-
American War in the
mid-1800s.
Eventually, the History Channel
pulled the plug on the show mid-sea-
son. We couldnt even tell people com-
ing into the store when or if it would
air again, Jimmie recalls.
But the derailed TV gig hasnt slowed
business. We love what we do here,
and its great meeting people and walk-
ing them through the store, Jimmie
says. This place is as much a museum
as a pawn shop.
PoV 10-15.indd 37 9/18/15 11:39 AM
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
38 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
COMING AROUND THE BIG BEND
Big Bend, Louisiana, was the victim of
frequent flooding in the early 1900s. To
make it easier for residents along Bayou
des Glaises to evacuate, the Sarto Old
Iron Bridge, an elevated permanent steel
truss swing bridge, was built in 1916. The
one-lane wide span allowed vehicles and
pedestrians to safely cross the bayou. A
sight to behold, the bridges lifespan was
relatively short. In the 1930s, Bayou des
Glaises was no longer considered navi-
gable and the horizontal cog that rotated
the bridge allowing for bridge traffic to
pass was disconnected. Vehicular use of
the bridge ended in 1988 after it fell into
disrepair. The Sarto Old Iron Bridge is
the states first bridge to be listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
SARTO OLD IRON MARVEL
After the Great Flood
of 1927 destroyed
everything in its path,
Moreauville resident
Adam Ponthieu built a
new grocery store and
postal service.
For years, the Pon-
thieu Grocery Store
and Post Office served the Big Bend
community. Adam Ponthieu Sr. was a
savvy businessman who sold every-
thing from nails and tires to fabric
and vegetables. His was the only
store along Big Bend, and the hub of
the farm region.
After Adam Sr.s death in 1994, his
son, Adam Jr., donated the property
to La Commission des Avoyelles. The
site was deeded to the Avoyelles Po-
lice Jury in 1999, which turned it into
a museum, tourist information center
and community meeting place. The
site still serves as a polling place each
election, as well.
The museum curator, Jimmie
Bernard, is a well-informed, affable
man who, as a child, knew Adam Sr.
and spent many hours at the small
grocery/post office.
I came here as a kid, he recalls, in
between describing how the hand-
cranked drill worked. I guess I know a
lot about [the grocerys] history because
I was a part of much of its history.
The museum is an eclectic collection
of relics common in the days before
electricity powered Avoyellians lives.
Jimmie begins describing the inven-
tory: bird, squirrel, coon and bear traps;
a corn shucker and grinder, a sausage
stuffer; an old Coca-Cola box and
gasoline-powered Maytag washing ma-
chine complete with a kick-start pedal.
Most of the museums treasures are
donated. The washing machine, for
example, was a gift from a local man.
You better come get it or Im gonna put
it out on the street, the man told Jim-
mie during a phone call. I told him to
leave it right there, I was on my way.
The tour includes interesting infor-
mation about Big Bends rich history,
too. Jimmie traces the areas origins
back to the LaBorde, Bordelon, Rabal-
ais, Lemoine and Normand families.
The peaceful ride down La. High-
way 451 leads right to yesteryear. Its
well worth veering 15 miles off the
La. Highway 1 path.
PoV 10-15.indd 38 9/18/15 11:39 AM
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
POVHOUMA.COM 39
Travel La. Highway 1 and youll see many Creole houses. Stop
in Markesville, and theyll welcome you into the home of Hypo-
lite Bordelon, one of the early pioneers of Avoyelles Parish.
Mr. Bordelons homestead was built circa 1820. The tiny house
managed to survive the scorched-earth policy of Union troops,
and includes many of the tools and household items common to
the era. Behind the house sits a small chapel an Avoyelles resi-
dent built near his wifes grave, where he would often sit
and pray. The structure later served as a playhouse for his great-
great-granddaughter until it was moved to the Bordelon site.
The site has been listed on the National Register of Historic
Places since 1980.
HYPOLITE BORDELON WELCOMES YOU
PoV 10-15.indd 39 9/18/15 11:39 AM
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
40 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
NEXT MONTH WE COMPLETE POVS LA 1 ADVENTURE AS WE HEAD SOUTH TO GRAND ISLE.
Situated just yards away from a subdivision sit the Marksville
Mounds. Two earthen ridges are enclosed with seven mounds
representing the ceremonial center of the ancient mounds are
still standing. These earthworks built by Native Americans
between 100 BC and 400 AD covered 200 acres and included
other mounds. Louisiana is believed to be home to the oldest
earthen mounds in North America, even older than Stonehenge
or the Great Pyramids.
Casually ride through Bunkie any sunny afternoon
and youll likely find 91-year-old John Boatner on
his carport feeding the ducks in the nearby bayou.
The former Bunkie assistant district attorney was
just starting out when he was handed the case
of the Blue Moon hold-up. The particulars have
become a bit fuzzy with time, but Mr. Boatner still
recalls crime boss Al Capones gang visiting the
dancehall.
The Blue Moon was a nice place, he says. You
had to dress nice and you knew you had better be
on your best behavior.
It seems Capones gang often sought refuge in
central Louisiana, near the McIllhenny plantation.
Capone and the Tabasco family were related.
One night, Capones gang robbed the Blue Moon,
making off with cash, jewelry and other valuables.
The Blue Moons owner, however, had the fore-
sight to outsmart robbers. He installed three safes
two fakes and the real one.
Capones gang took the money from the fake
safes, Mr. Boatner recalls. They didnt get all the
cash.
The robbers were later captured just over the
Louisiana/Mississippi state line. Most of the
stolen items were returned to their owner.
Money all looks the same, Mr. Boatner chimes.
[The victims] were told by police theyd best get
back to Bunkie. POV
Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father and third president of the
United States, was a thinking man. His quote, If a nation expects
to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects that
which never was and never shall be, is displayed on the outside
of the District Attorneys Office in Markesville. The remainder of
the quote, according to Monticello.org, reads, If we are to guard
against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every
American to be informed. Wise words then, and equally appli-
cable today.
ANCIENT MOUNDS
TRUE THEN, TRUE TODAY
CASE OF THE BUNKIE BLUE MOON HEIST
PoV 10-15.indd 40 9/18/15 11:39 AM
SHREVEPORTMINDEN
RUSTON MONROE
BASTROP
RAYVILLE
WINNSBORO
JONESBORO
WINNFIELD
MANSFIELD
NATCHITOCHES
MANY
ALEXANDRIA
JENAFERRIDAY
LEESVILLE
DERIDDER
LAKE CHARLES
OPELOUSAS
LAFAYETTE
NEW IBERIA
ST. FRANCISVILLE
ZACHARY
BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
SLIDELL
THIBODAUX
HOUMAMORGAN CITY
GRAND ISLE
KENTWOOD
PoV 10-15.indd 41 9/18/15 11:39 AM
42 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
PoV 10-15.indd 42 9/18/15 11:39 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 43
Protecting the
MASTERS OF THE SKIES
JACOB JENNINGS
MELISSA DUET
MIKE SITS QUIETLY in the corner of Gregory Wojteras living room, blinking periodically and contem-plating his upcoming nap. A barred owl that lost his eye after being hit by a car in Missouri, the owl, which shares his name with the one-eyed blue animated char-acter from Disney/Pixars Monsters, Inc., is the centerpiece of Gregorys education program, a passion project of the licensed falconers commitment to protecting birds of prey. A Lafourche Parish French teacher who moved to the area from Paris, France 10 years ago, Gregory has always dreamed of working with these often misunder-stood and fascinating animals ... literally. When I was a kid back in France, I had this recurring dream for many, many months that I was riding on the back of a giant eagle, he remembers. When I got here, there was this documentary on National Geographic where they had put this tiny camera on the back of a falcon. You could see, it was like you were the falcon. I was like, Oh my gosh, this is crazy! This is exactly what I was dream-ing when I was a kid! After conducting online research on the possibility of possessing such birds,
Gregory discovered one must first
become a licensed falconer. A series of
workshops, exams, inspections by the
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries and permits followed, and, in
2009, Gregory became licensed, giving
him the ability to trap birds of prey and
rescue ones that are too injured to sur-
vive in the wild.
Falconry is probably one of the most
tightly regulated sports, Gregory says.
All of the birds are protected by federal
laws so that means that everything that
you do from the equipment, the licenses,
the way you trap them everything
has to be approved by Wildlife and
Fisheries.
Mike, the barred owl, has been with
Gregory for one year, sharing his home
with Bharati, a red-tailed hawk cap-
tured in Morgan City four years ago that
spends much of her time on a perch out-
doors. Bharati has a keen sense of sight
seeing roughly eight times better than
humans and Gregory works diligently
to get her into optimal hunting shape.
The art of hunting with birds of prey
dates back thousands of years to the high
steppes of Mongolia and the Middle East,
long before firearms were invented. The
practice moved into the United States in
the early 1900s and there are currently
only several thousand licensed falcon-
ers throughout the country, according
to Gregory. In preparation for the states
falconry hunting season from November
to February, Gregory focuses on Bharatis
diet and weight, a balance that must be
achieved to give the bird the best chance
of hunting success.
When you trap a juvenile bird, theyre
not an adult yet, but theyre not a baby
anymore, he explains. Theyre just at
that stage where they know how to fly,
they know how to hunt ... because they
are really in a world of sight, just like
us, and are really responding to food,
the whole thing about training is food
and weight management. Training with
a freshly trapped bird like her can go as
fast as three or four weeks.
With Mike, much of the focus is on
telling his story to educate others on
why birds of prey are important and how
humans can better protect them. Gregory
brings Mike to presentations at various
locations throughout the year and also
does a two-month stint at the Louisiana
Renaissance Festival in Hammond to
show birds of prey to attendees.
PoV 10-15.indd 43 9/18/15 11:40 AM
44 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
During educational programs, Gregory
speaks about allowing wildlife to do
their intended jobs and how being
observant of ones daily routine can
keep the populations of these animals
from eventually being eliminated.
Just because you have a fly in your
house doesnt mean you have to get the
Army, the Navy and the FBI involved,
he says. Its just a fly. You open your
door and it goes away. For me, its the
same with birds of prey.
The primary hazards facing birds like
Mike and Bharati, Gregory says, are
outdoor cats, which are responsible for
killing approximately four billion birds
in the United States each year, and rat
poison, which not only kills the rat, but
poses a risk to any animal that feeds
on it. Tossing food from cars is also a
major concern, especially for owls which
swoop down at night to hunt the small
animals looking for the tossed-out food.
When owls hone in on their target, they
are often struck by vehicles during their
descent.
Although Mike and Bharati look quite
docile as they rest easily at their home,
the animals are far from cute creatures to
play with.
Theyre not pets, Gregory says.
Thats actually one of the first things I
talk about in my programs. They are not
like a cat or a dog. They dont care for
you. They dont show affection and they
dont give love. Basically, they tolerate
you and thats about it. They are not
social. They do not care for human
interaction.
Although the birds show no signs of
affection to the falcone , it is clear Grego-
ry cares deeply for the animals. Nurturing
these birds is a full-time commitment, but
he doesnt mind giving up vacations or
evenings out. In fact, he plans to get sev-
eral more birds, focusing on those native
to Louisiana, in an attempt to get people
to recognize just how essential these birds
are to our way of life.
I dont want any birds from the deep
corners of Brazil that no one has heard
about, he says. I want people to really
be able to see the birds that we have here
... I want people to understand that we
are sharing this world with other crea-
tures and not because we are here means
that we can kill anything that moves ...
Humans must become aware that every
single one of our actions has an impact
on wildlife. POV
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIRDS OF PREY THAT CALL LOUISIANA HOME AT MASTERSOFTHESKIES.ORG.
PoV 10-15.indd 44 9/18/15 11:40 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 45
PoV 10-15.indd 45 9/18/15 11:40 AM
ERICA SEELY
MELISSA DUET
fighte strong aourageous
Inspirational beautiful
PoV 10-15.indd 46 9/18/15 11:40 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 47
the of ajourney lifetime
Jennifer Cavalier has known her entire life that she stood the risk of getting breast cancer. Her mother was diagnosed a little more than 20 years ago. Jennifer s
scheduled yearly checkups since her early 20s to keep tabs on her health
in an effort to be proactive.
Inspirational beautiful healthy aware OPTIMISTIC
PoV 10-15.indd 47 9/18/15 11:40 AM
In late 2012, the then-37-year-old
Thibodaux native discovered a lump and
immediately alerted her doctors. A mam-
mogram showed no indication of concerning
growth, but five months later, Jennifer
returned to the doctors office, certain some-
thing wasnt right. A biopsy was conducted
and on Jan. 28, 2013, she received the phone
call confirming her suspicions: the once
undetected lump had grown significantly
and she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
It went fast from there. They were pretty
shocked at the size, Jennifer remembers.
I didnt even have time to think that I had
breast cancer.
A breast MRI determined the cancer was in
Stage 2 and was triple positive, a term used
to describe cancers that are estrogen receptor-
positive, progesterone receptor-positive and
have too much HER2 protein. The presence of
these three factors is believed to speed up the
growth of cancer cells.
On Feb. 13, 2013 20 years to the date that
her mother had a similar surgery Jennifer
underwent a double-mastectomy at a
clinic in Baton Rouge, followed two months
later by treatment at Thibodaux Regional
Medical Center. Dr. James Ellis oversaw her
regimen, which included eight months of
chemotherapy using the drug Herceptin, a
proven treatment for those diagnosed with
HER2-positive breast cancer, followed by
radiation. Throughout the process, Jennifer, a
Napoleonville-based hairstylist, never missed
work, except to recover from surgeries.
Id leave [the hair salon] at 2 p.m., go get
my radiation and come back ..., Jennifer
remembers. Throughout the process, the
hair stylist donned a variety of doo-rags as
she lost her hair. When I had to be laid up
at home, I was more depressed. I wanted to
be here because this is what I do. My clients didnt ask a whole lot of questions.
They let me talk, which was good.
During the two-year journey, there were moments when Jennifer admits it
wasnt easy for her or her family. Somewhere in the thick of it all, her husband
Dereks mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer and the family lost a close
friend, events Jennifer now believes has made them all a little stronger.
The unwavering support of Jennifer s husband and children, Konner and
Kollyn, and her mothers cancer journey inspired her to continue fighting. Her
son set up a surprise tribute to his mother by getting his Assumption High
School football teammates to wear breast cancer wristbands during a football
game last year. Also, her husband tried to retain a sense of normalcy by continu-
ing the activities the family enjoyed together.
My husband never let me give up. We always did camp, so he said, Were
still camping. He would make trips for us all the time and would make me go.
It wasnt my treatments that exhausted me, she laughs, he did.
Following her mastectomy surgeries, Jennifer lived without her breasts for one
year, per doctors orders.
You say, Oh, just take them off. Its going to be so much easier, Jennifer
says. I just felt like something was amputated. I wouldnt look in the mirror.
That was a rough period of time for me. Looking forward to my reconstruction
was exciting for me.
48 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
PoV 10-15.indd 48 9/18/15 11:40 AM
PoV 10-15.indd 49 9/18/15 11:40 AM
50 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
In January 2014, she took the first step toward life after breast
cancer with reconstruction procedures done in New Orleans.
Jennifer opted for a flap surgery, which uses a patients body
fat and skin and is known to reduce the severity of recovery.
Four months later, she received her final chemotherapy and
radiation treatments and by August, she was officially living
in remission and looking forward to the days ahead.
In the year since, Jennifer has opened a clothing and
accessory boutique in her hair salon and is enjoying the
newest chapter of her journey. She continues to keep the
conversation about breast cancer going, just as her mother did
and just as she does now with her own daughter, encouraging
anyone who approaches her to see a doctor and be proactive, a
move that could ultimately save a life.
Because my mom had it doesnt mean the next person is
safe, she says. For a lot of people, it doesnt run in the family,
either. So dont think you are safe because your mom or grand-
mother didnt have it, so I dont have to worry about it. You
do. POV
PoV 10-15.indd 50 9/18/15 11:40 AM
PoV 10-15.indd 51 9/18/15 11:40 AM
52 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
October is here, and it looks like were headed for an Indian summer. Most people call it Indian summer simply when autumn weather is warmer than usual. But, technically,
Indian summers occur in November after a hard frost. Some
books say the term originated in early New England, when
settlers hunkered down for the first hard frost, leaving their
livestock unattended. When warmth unexpectedly returned in
November, all their animals were gone and in their place was a
ceremonial headdress with a few well-manicured bird feathers
strewn about.
I recently experienced what you might call a real Indian
summer. It was on one of those blistering days with a heat
index of 115 when I drove up to northeast Louisiana to see
the largest prehistoric earthworks in all of North America
at Poverty Point.
The Native American Poverty Point builders thrived over
many generations for about 500 years. After the builders
vanished 3,000 years ago, they left behind a series of mounds,
the most massive of which is a 72-foot tall structure shaped
like a great bird aligned with the setting solstice sun. Behind
the mound were six large hills opening to some ancient body
of water. Apparently, at the same time prehistoric Brits were
building Stonehenge to host their wild druid parties, our native
Louisiana folk were building a serious city, carrying millions
of baskets of dirt by hand to refashion the earth into not only a
home but also a trading hub for other cultures.
And I couldnt wait to see it! So, I Googled a map. Down here
in PoV land, highways make sense. They either meander with
the bodies of water they follow or cross them if the watersides
are not too far away. But up in north Louisiana, roads are more
geometrically square, as if designed by an Etch-a-Sketch player
who couldnt use both dials at once. So to get there from, say,
Vicksburg, Mississippi, youve gotta take I-20 west, then LA
17 north, then LA 134 east, and then LA 577 north for about a
mile.
And then something really awful happens. Its like fire rising
up your spine, a drum pounding in your chest and a thou-
sand arrows of regret piercing your brain. I try to use Indian
The Road to Indian Summer
JOHN DOUCET
UNDERTHE SCOPE
John Doucet is the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Nicholls State University.
metaphors to explain, but maybe its the spirits of the ancients
working the keyboard on this laptop. Its hard to tell.
As satellite images confirm, Poverty Point visitors end up
driving right over and through the center of the ancient Indian
city. Thats right! Of all the cockamamie acts of state govern-
ment over the past 200 years, Louisianans can now enjoy a
straight, uninterrupted drive on LA 577 across the center of a
National Park and World Heritage Site and not at a respect-
able 30 mph like the drive through historic downtown Golden
Meadow but rather at an impudent 55 mph!
The paved road we see today was probably an old dirt farm
road laid long ago during planter times. And the hills were
plowed over many times by a succession of unsuspecting farm-
ers. It was probably a constant struggle for the planters to pull
any kind of plow across hills raised by those dangd Injuns.
But I imagine that the unvanquished spirits of the dangd
Injuns would appreciate the planters struggle as payment
in kind for the desecration of their hard work.
And so, the great bird has been much eroded by rain and
time, and the semicircles have been worn down to just about
2-3 feet high. But perhaps the most sorrowing feature is the
proud LA 577 rising high above the sacred plain as a misplaced
ribbon of asphalt not too different from the substance of the
tar pits known to the ancestors of Poverty Point who hunted
mammoth and mastodon.
Nonetheless, Poverty Point is a hallowed place, too awe-
some to express in words despite the best attempts of rest area
brochures. As the archaeologists say, no one knows why the
inhabitants left after creating such a grand spectacle of a city.
But, as I regrettably discovered, tourists can more easily leave
because of LA 577.
On the drive home, the fried chicken plate at that famous
restaurant in downtown Vicksburg made some of the regret go
away at least for a moment. Talk about great birds. POV
PoV 10-15.indd 52 9/18/15 11:40 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 53
PoV 10-15.indd 53 9/18/15 11:41 AM
54 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
En Guard!Fencing? In Louisiana?
Turn to page 62 to find out more.
OH SNAP
JOSE DELGADO
PoV 10-15.indd 54 9/18/15 11:41 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 55
PoV 10-15.indd 55 9/18/15 11:41 AM
56 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE OCTOBER 2015
Courtesy ofWHO AM I?
You might think you know everyone in the area, but some of our hometown's most
upstanding citizens (those you would know) sure
have changed!
Who Am I? Im very tall in stature.
Im not sensitive about my height.
My profession deals with marine vessels.
Check next months issueto learn my identity. Good luck!
Last months mystery youngn:
Rhonda RogersRegistrar of Voters
PoV 10-15.indd 56 9/18/15 11:41 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 57
PoV 10-15.indd 57 9/18/15 11:41 AM
58 POINT OF VUE FITLIFE OCTOBER 2015
Carbohydrates sometimes get a bad rap thanks to low-carb diets that swear off anything loaded with the nutrient. Carbohydrates are actually essential to living a
healthy lifestyle, however.
The nutrient acts as one of the bodys main energy
sources, providing adequate fuel to power through the
day. Not all carbohydrates keep you feeling energized for
long periods of time, though, so choosing the good-for-you
types is key to prolonged energy.
Complex and simple carbohydrates are separated by
chemical makeup and how the body processes the food.
Complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, contain longer
sugar molecules, which takes more time to break down
and use, prolonging energy. Simple carbohydrates, like
cookies, however, are easily broken down and wear off
quicker. Dont go overboard on the carb intake, however,
just because good options are out there. Some researchers
believe high carbohydrate diets may lead to a higher risk
of heart disease. POV
Fuel Up Wisely
WARM UP
Choosing WiselyCORNFreshcornisahealthywholegrain,packedwithfibe ,vitaminCandantioxidants that promote better vision
BANANASGoodsourceofpotassium,fibe andvitaminB6,whichhelpstabilizeblood sugar
GREEN PEASAnti-inflammator andantioxidantsarerichhere,believedtohelpwardoffcancer
SWEET POTATOESBeta carotene is the star here, essential for a healthy immune system and eyesight
LEGUMESFillupontheserichfibe andproteinsources
* Although fruits and vegetables are often considered simple carbohy-drates,thefibe presentslowsdowndigestion,makingthemmorelike complex carbohydrates. Fruit is often loaded with sugar, though, so moderation is key.
*Sources: Everyday Health, Health, New York Times, Shape, Food Network
PoV 10-15.indd 58 9/18/15 11:41 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 59
PoV 10-15.indd 59 9/18/15 11:41 AM
60 POINT OF VUE FITLIFE OCTOBER 2015
DR. J. MICHAEL FLYNN
FITMIND
What Will You Decide Today?
Dr. J. Michael Flynn practices at the Flynn Clinic of Chiropractic in Houma. He is available to talk health with your organization or clubcall 985.855.4875 or visit WWW.DRMIKEFLYNN.COM.
B ig or small, all day long, there are decisions that need to be made. Some decisions are routine, while others take some thought.
Abraham Maslow, a famed psychologist, wrote that each person
has a hierarchy of needs that must be met. Addressing the heirarchy,
he described the most important need as being physiological,
followed by safety, love/belonging, esteem and self-actualization.
Physiological needs must be met first for survival. Physiological
needs are air, water and food. He surmised that if these are not met,
the human body cannot function properly and will ultimately fail.
So how much consideration do we apply each day to meeting
our greatest needs, like breathing? Respiration is the process that
allows us to breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Oxygen
is ultimately the fuel that allows our cells to produce energy. Not
only do we need oxygen to avoid air pollution, but we should also
be careful of any environment that is toxic.
A positive action step is to focus on your breathing. Deep breath-
ing has a calming effect and exercise is one of the best ways to
improve breathing. A recent special health report from Harvard
Medical School had the headline, Whats the one prescription that
can lower your risk for 5 major diseases with NO side effects? If you
guessed exercise, youre absolutely right. The article went on to
say that exercise has the power to keep you from developing high
blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and many other things.
Make the decision to exercise regularly.
Water makes up about 60 percent of our body weight and
our bodies depend on it. Lack of water leads to dehydra-
tion. Even mild dehydration can result in a loss of energy,
joint pain and stomach distress. Coffee, tea, soft drinks and
alcohol will not hydrate you, so make the decision to drink
more water each day.
The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates said, Let food
be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. He probably
did not consider all of the junk food in our diets today.
Unhealthy eating and inactivity are leading causes of dis-
ease and death.
Regular exercise expands lung capacity and cellular oxy-
genation. Daily hydration with water and nourishing food
allows the body to function as it should. Decide to meet
these basics needs while adding a positive attitude and live
well. POV
In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, ... and the worst thing you can do is nothing.TEDDY ROOSEVELT
PoV 10-15.indd 60 9/18/15 11:41 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 61
LAURA GROS, RN, CBCN
WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE
40 and Fabulous.
Life begins at 40. 40 is the new 20. Ive heard it all! Hitting the 40-year-old milestone is surreal, to say
the least. Running kids everywhere,
managing a busy household, working
full-time. Wow wait now I have to
find time to get a mammogram.
My sentiments are that of so many
women. I dont have time. I cant stop
and take care of myself right now, or,
Ill put it on my calendar and do it later.
Well, guess what? Later frequently turns
into even later, until one day, reality
hits. For too many, that reality is a breast
cancer diagnosis.
Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is
the most common type among American
women. One in eight women in the Unit-
ed States will develop invasive breast
cancer in their lifetime. The American
Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in
2015, approximately 231,840 new cases of
invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed
in U.S. women.
Its not all bad news though. The ACS
also reports there are currently more
than 2.8 million U.S. breast cancer survi-
vors and survival rates are expected to
continue improving. This is believed to
be the result of earlier detection through
screening, increased awareness and
improved treatment. These statistics
create a strong case for promoting risk
reduction behaviors such as eating right,
staying active and avoiding excess alco-
hol and tobacco.
Im not sure Ben Franklin really knew
the impact of his statement, An ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure,
but when talking about breast cancer,
nothing could be truer. Practicing self
breast awareness and adhering to screen-
ing recommendations are the easiest
ways for you to be in control. The ACS
recommends that in their 20s, women
should learn about breast self-examina-
tion and should have a breast exam by a
health-care provider every three years in
their 20s and 30s. And yes, at 40, women
should have an annual exam by their
physician, as well as a mammogram.
Mammograms may be recommended
earlier if you have a strong family his-
tory of breast cancer or other risk factors.
So, knowing the facts, Im going to see
my physican, have a mammogram, exer-
cise, do my best to eat right and keep my
weight in check, because Im in control
of my health, and I want to make 40 and
beyond FABULOUS! POV
Laura Gros, RN, CBCN, is the Patient Care Coordinator for the Cancer Center of Thibodaux Regional.
PoV 10-15.indd 61 9/18/15 11:41 AM
62 POINT OF VUE FITLIFE OCTOBER 2015
There is no cause for concern. The attacks are planned and 100 percent legal. The friends on the receiving end
actually enjoy the onslaught, and dish
out a little punishment of their own in
the heat of the sometimes highly com-
petitive battle.
Mike founded Les Lames De La
Fourche a local fencing club that teaches
the fundamentals of the sport to anyone
in the Houma-Thibodaux area willing to
try something new. The club practices at
the Cut Off Youth Center a couple times
a week, and anyone is invited to attend
regardless of whether one has any experi-
ence or fencing equipment.
The instructor is as passionate about
fencing as one could be. Its a sport hes
competed in for about 15 years. Mike
says he enjoys it so much because its
a sport of unity one that literally any
man, woman or child can compete in.
You can fence all of your life, Mike
explains. I fenced against a gentleman
once who was 87. He beat me 5-2. He
didnt even have to move. He had the
control and the expertise to go behind it.
Thats the beauty of this. Its something
that anyone literally anyone can do.
The only thing you need to start is the
motivation to want to do it.
The local instructor picked up the sport
in his late 50s thanks to his nephew, who
excelled in fencing and even made it to
the Junior Olympics.
Golden Meadow native Mike St. Pierre has an interesting hobby. He likes to put on a mask and relentlessly attack his closest friends with a sword.
CAJUNS WIT SWORDS?At Les Lames De La Fourche, it happens all the time
W I T H
JOSE DELGADO
CASEY GISCLAIR
Through following his relatives career,
Mike recalls something immediately
caught his eye. A lot of the folks who prac-
ticed the sport werent teenagers, but were
actually men either middle-aged or older.
I saw a lot of guys older than me
fencing, he says. At that point, I said to
myself, If they can do it, I can do it, too.
PoV 10-15.indd 62 9/18/15 11:42 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 63
Thats how I got started.
Since then, the instructor has been
hooked. Hes now in his 70s, but still can
compete at a high level. Mike has trained
with some of the best competitors in the
sport, and hes qualified for Nationals
multiple times.
When not competing, hes assisting
in tournaments. Mike owns a National
Referees License, and says hes always
tried to stay active in the sport.
The biggest way he does that is
through Les Lames De La Fourche, which
has a handful of steady members and
others who pop in from time to time.
The club started in 2000, and Mike
says his goal was to try to grow the sport
locally an attempt to give folks non-
traditional options to stay active.
Not everyone is meant to play football
or basketball, he maintains. This is
something every person can do.
Mike works tirelessly throughout
sessions often arriving an hour before
workouts start to setup all of the elec-
tronic equipment needed for fencing.
During sessions, hes not afraid to strap
on the headgear and don a sword himself,
if necessary, to teach a point to a pupil.
By the time sessions are over, the short,
stocky instructors salt-and-pepper-
colored hair is soaked, and hes put in a
good days work.
This isnt as easy for me as it used to
be, Mike says with a laugh.
The instructor emphasizes attending
a session is 100 percent free, and par-
ticipants are welcome to attend as many
times as theyd like in an effort to learn if
the sport is for them.
Once that decision is made, there is a
membership fee to actually join the club,
and lessons are also offered for a small
fee to teach the sports basics.
Mike warns that fencing is an expensive
hobby and buying suits, swords, masks
and other equipment does sometimes cost
more than equipment for other sports.
But once thats out of the way, the club
itself is affordable. The equipment is also
durable and lasts for several years, if
maintained properly.
What we charge for three months is
equivalent to what youll pay for one
month in Baton Rouge and New Orleans,
Mike says. Were reasonable. We want
anyone to have the chance to do this.
Members of the club say its worth
it. Martin Griffiths has been a member
of Les Lames for several years, touting
that he continues to come back because
of how competitive the sport is. He also
loves the family-like touch that Mike
brings to the club.
Martin competes with his 16-year-old son
Stephen, who is also a member of the club.
Theres a lot of camaraderie within our
group, Martin says. I like that about
our club. I like that a lot.
The fencing pupil and club member
add that fencing is the best cardio hes
ever experienced. As one might imag-
PoV 10-15.indd 63 9/18/15 11:42 AM
64 POINT OF VUE FITLIFE OCTOBER 2015
ine, it gets incredibly hot inside that thick, hefty suit. Moving
around, while carrying around that heavy, thick equipment
conditions ones body in a hurry.
Its an excellent way to stay fit, Martin says. I definitely
love the workout side of this.
I tell this story all of the time I once fenced in a tourna-
ment and drank a gallon and a half of water and never used
the bathroom, Mike adds. At the end of the tournament, you
could wring the sweat out of my jacket. It takes a toll. It wears
you out.
Is It Dangerous? Yes, It IsMike cautions this sport isnt for anyone afraid to get a bruise.
The art of fencing pits one human against another in a sword
fight. Mike likes to call it mental chess a matchup of competi-
tors minds. The goal, of course, is to penetrate an opponents
guard and poke his body with the sword, while also protecting
your own guard so that you dont get hit yourself.
Nine times out of 10, a successful poke will innocently strike
a fencers nylon suit, and will cause no pain. But there are
other times when the sword hits an uncovered piece of flesh
the small parts of the body that the suit fails to cover.
When that happens, fencers are left with a common battle
bruise a bright red circle-shaped raspberry mark. The circle
shape is because of the circular tip of the sword, and the red
mark usually lasts a few days before healing.
Martin displayed one across his chest when interviewed.
Mikes body was wound-free, but he says hes gotten similar
bruises up and down his body throughout his career.
It hurts, he notes. Id be lying if I said it didnt. Its prob-
ably similar to a BB or maybe a paint ball.
Is It Worth It? Competitors Say Yes, It IsCompetitors say the injury risk isnt enough to deter them.
Club members tout that theyll keep coming back for more.
We love coming, Martin says. Its something Im happy I
got involved in.
Mike vows that people in the Houma-Thibodaux area should
do the same.
The club founder encourages anyone interested to visit
www.lldlf.com to find out information about the clubs history
and goals.
Interested fencers are also welcome to call Mike at
(985)-691-2246 with any questions.
If all else fails, future fencers are also welcome to just show
up to the Cut Off Youth Center and attend a session.
Im more than happy to talk to anybody, Mike says. Thats
what were here for. POV
PoV 10-15.indd 64 9/18/15 11:42 AM
POVHOUMA.COM 65
PoV 10-15.indd 65 9/18/15 11:42 AM
66 POINT OF VUE FITLIFE OCTOBER 2015
WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT IN OUR CALENDAR?Shoot an email to [email protected] and well help spread the word.
Walk Like MADDSATURDAY, OCT. 3, 7:30 A.M.
WHERE: Houma Downtown Marina, Houma
DETAILS: Join in the fight to end drunk driving at this stroll
through downtown Houma. Participants may register as
a walker, team captain, volunteer or as a virtual walker if
unable to make it to the event. Registration for adults is $25
and $20 for youth ages 5 - 18.
CONTACT: WALKLIKEMADD.ORG
Running for RobbieSATURDAY, OCT. 10, 4 P.M.
WHERE: NSU Harold J. Callais Student Recreation Center,
Thibodaux
DETAILS: The ladies of Sigma Sigma Sigma host this annual 5K
to provide play therapy for hospitalized children. In addition
to the 5K, community members may also participate in a
jambalaya cook-off, with prizes awarded to the top three
dishes. Adult registration is $25, and child and student
registration is $20.
CONTACT: 6THANNUALRUNNINGFORROBBIE.ITSYOURRACE.COM
Steeple Chase 5KSATURDAY, OCT. 17, 7:30 A.M.
WHERE: St. Matthews Episcopal School, Houma
DETAILS: Support the downtown Houma school and its teach-
ers at this half-mile fun run and 5K. The run winds through
the annual community festival, Just Kids at Art, and runners
