River PParishes arishes Magazine Winter 2022
• A special publication of L’OBSERVATEUR •
‘This is a warrior’s triumph’ After suffering stroke, Peggy Joseph shares testimony of healing BY BROOKE R. CANTRELLE
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here is no testimony without a test. Minister Peggy Joseph knows that all too well after enduring three years of challenges that tested her faith at every turn. Five months after a stroke left her at death’s door, Joseph now shares her testimony of healing to show others that every tragedy and triumph in life is part of God’s greater plan. Joseph’s trials started in 2019 with the passing of her 88-year-old father. She coped well knowing that her father lived a long, full life, but she wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of grief that would hit her three months later when her 19-year-old granddaughter drowned on a family beach vacation. Jayla Nicole Tassin graduated from East St. John High School in 2019 with a 30 on her ACT and aspirations to work in the medical field as an OB-GYN. She was two weeks away from starting a new chapter at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and had already picked out decorations for her dorm room. More than just a Grammy and granddaughter, Joseph and Tassin were best friends with an unbreakable bond. “She was just a joy. She was my heart,” Joseph said. “I’m a prophetic intercessor. I take phone calls all the time to pray for people. But when my granddaughter died, my flesh took over. I became angry with God because I couldn’t understand it for the life of me.” It took time for Joseph to reach a state of acceptance and repent. In turn, God gave her strength to take care of her son, Benny, as he grieved his daughter. “When I think of her now, I think of the fun times, like how she would jump on my bed to get on my nerves. I would make her stand on my bed and close my vent for me because I didn’t like it. Now I see Benny close the vent the same way Jayla did, and I see her,” Joseph said. The entire family was still grappling with the profound loss when the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world. Joseph was among the first individuals in St. John the Baptist to be hospitalized with the virus in March 2020, before medical professionals understood the extent of symptoms or how to treat the illness. After nearly two weeks in the hospital, Joseph was on the road to recovery, back at home and adapting to living in a pandemic. The Delta variant was still surging in August 2021 when Hurricane Ida struck Southeast Louisiana, presenting a monumental hardship for thousands of residents impacted by the storm. For Joseph, the week Hurricane Ida struck involved an entirely different set of challenges. The night of August 20, 2021 started out like any other. Joseph was in good spirits as she cooked, cleaned the kitchen, took a shower and settled down to watch some television. When her daughter
called at a quarter till 10, the unthinkable happened. “I answered the phone, but my daughter said I was talking out of my head. She couldn’t understand anything I was saying. Then she heard gagging,” Joseph recalled. “She called the ambulance and told them to meet her at my house. They found me on the floor in vomit. When they picked me up, my blood pressure was 200 over 218. I should’ve been dead right there.” Joseph slept through the next few days without waking as doctors performed extensive tests. “Everybody in that hospital saw death on me. They never thought I would pull through,” Joseph said. When Apostle Renita Graber of Victorious Life Family Worship Center visited Joseph in the hospital, her complexion looked lifeless and nearly unrecognizable. Joseph’s son approached her about planning funeral arrangements. Graber refused, saying, “We’re not going to receive that. We’re going to pray.” Prayer warriors took shifts around the clock to ensure someone was always by Joseph’s side. Chicago-based gospel singer Lemmie Battles was already traveling to LaPlace to sing at church when she learned Joseph was in the hospital. Battles knew just what to sing to wake her up – “Holy Ghost Power,” the same song she performed two years earlier at Jayla Tassin’s funeral. Sure enough, once Joseph heard that familiar tune, she started
Min. Peggy Joseph shares her story of healing for the first time with her church family at Victorious Life Family Worship Center in LaPlace. River Parishes Magazine 3
large-scale turkey giveaway and Christmas toy distribution at Victorious Life Family Worship Center. At the end of 2021, the Victorious Life Family came together to hear Joseph’s testimony and celebrate her healing. Less than four months earlier, her loved ones thought they would be gathering for a funeral. Joseph’s testimony was a similar type of gathering, with plenty of visitors and friends standing up to share how Joseph has impacted their lives. Several reflected on how Joseph always goes out of her way to help those in need, whether it involves lending money during hard times or something as simple as delivering a homecooked meal. “Why do we need to wait for a funeral to tell someone what we love about them? That’s why I had a living funeral. We need to celebrate people while they’re still alive,” Joseph said. She proudly shares her story to remind others to never give up, even when it seems like the odds are stacked against them. “This was a warrior’s triumph. I got through it by the grace of God,” Joseph said. “Things happen in people’s lives where they feel like they are at the end of the rope, but you’re not. You just have to keep faith.”
Peggy Joseph is seen in the hospital shortly after experiencing a stroke in August 2021. She has defied expectations in her recovery.
humming along. She finally came to on her fourth day in the hospital, much to the relief of her loved ones. Yet, the fight wasn’t over. Joseph was awake, but she had no recollection of who she was. She couldn’t recall the names of her husband or children, and no one knew if she would ever be able to speak again. “I start crying just looking at the videos of me from that time,” Joseph said. “When I starting talking, nothing made sense. I remember it sounded like the people around me were talking in a language I couldn’t understand.” Joseph encountered another setback when she suffered a seizure during her hospital stay. The initial days were rough, but Joseph’s condition steadily improved as August gave way to September. First came mumbled words, then slurred sentences she could piece together if she thought about it first. She couldn’t conjure up enough words for lengthy prayers, but one Bible verse cycled through her thoughts during her hospital stay: “I shall live and not die.” Doctors came to learn Joseph was a birthday fanatic. Her ability to recite the birthdays of nurses she had only met once before assured the medical team that her memory would make a full recovery. On September 5, Joseph was able to return to her home, which had thankfully been mostly spared by Hurricane Ida. The recovery process involved physical therapy to learn how to walk again. Months later, Joseph is still not walking perfectly. She’s on medication to help the right side of her body function the way it did before, but she’s thankful for every day, and the healing process hasn’t stopped her from being an active volunteer in her community. During November and December, Joseph helped coordinate a 4 River Parishes Magazine
According to Peggy Joseph, it’s important to celebrate people while they are still alive rather than waiting for a funeral to share kind words.
Welding program delivers hope BY BROOKE R. CANTRELLE
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elding instructor Courtney Branch believes St. John the Baptist Parish will one day be known as the welding capital of the world. When Branch looks at the welding students at East St. John High School, he sees determination, grit and the drive to succeed. A partnership with Turner Industries and the Associated Builders & Contractors campus in St. Rose has given this group of talented young men access to workforce education and training. Students willingly come to campus on weeknights and even weekends to perfect their craft. Kyle Cook, Kenneth Cooke, Roland Glover, Andrew Williams, Germaine Zeno and Julian Serrano are among the students working toward their structural welding certifications. Though Hurricane Ida threw an unexpected wrench less than one week into their industry training, the East St. John welders were back on campus by October 4. Branch oversees another eight students in welding 100 who are learning how to become helpers. After spending 18 years working as a welder in plants and refineries, Branch understands that the sky is the limit when it comes to a career path in the construction field. “The more experience you have, the faster you move. That’s the objective. We’re trying to get them into the industry so they can make some money and get started on a career path. Welding is a very honorable trade,” Branch said. “To me, these are East St. John’s finest. They are go-getters. They are really dedicated to the trade. They’re eager to learn. I’m just happy to be able to help change their lives. If I’m at East St. John for 20 years, I hope and pray I can continue getting groups like this.” Getting young adults career-ready while in high school is a win-win not only for students, but for the educators and industry professionals invested in their growth. Branch credits ABC and Turner Industries for making these opportunities accessible to local students. Chris Weber, vice president of the ABC New Orleans/Bayou chapter located in St. Rose, said the goal is to encourage students to continue their education.
ABC partners with high schools across the River Parish area, extending south to Houma and north across the lake. “We’re teaching good work ethic, safety, working on skills of housekeeping, good attitude, being at work on time. That’s what are we embedding into them, not just welding all the time. We’re trying to make a good employee for the company,” Weber said. Students may enter the workforce as a helper, making up to $60,000. By continuing to climb the career ladder, welding can easily open doors to an annual salary of at least $100,000. Becoming a structural welder is only one stop on the journey. The facilities at ABC’s St. Rose campus allow students to learn pipe welding and restrictive welds, building up to tig/combo welding. “If you become a tig welder, you’ll never want for a job. You’ll find a job any place you go. As long as you’re a person who performs and
Students from East St. John High School practice their craft on a Saturday morning at the ABC campus in St. Rose. RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE 5
Kyle Cook, Kenneth Cooke, Roland Glover, Andrew Williams, Germaine Zeno and Julian Serrano are among the students working toward their structural welding certifications. Students are pictured with welding instructors Devin Meyer and Courtney Branch, Bryan Gerace of Turner Industries and East St. John vice principal J. Vincent Brown.
shows up on time, they want you,” Weber said. According to Weber, many professional welders who got their start at ABC opt to return to the campus to share their knowledge with the next generation. One example is 25-year-old Devin Meyer, who participated in the welding program through Hahnville High School in 2012-2013. Meyer fell in love with welding within his first two weeks of classes at ABC. He considers welding to be a hobby that just so happens to pay a lot of money. He was on a job site days after his 18th birthday, and he has since received job offers from Great Britain, Argentina, Mexico and Australia. However, Meyer opts to work along the river from Baton Rouge to Venice so he can be home with his two young children each night. Over the past seven years, he has worked as a structural welder, a foreman and a certified welding instructor. “Doing this kind of work, you can literally travel anywhere in the world. No matter where you go, you will be recognized for your talent,” Meyer
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said. “A lot of people think that construction workers are uneducated, but in all reality, construction workers can do anything with their hands. The people here can build anything you want from houses to hospitals.” Meyer challenged this semester’s welding students to find five friends at East St. John and become mentors to them so the welding program can continue to blossom with each passing year. Bryan Gerace of Turner Industries reminded the East St. John welding students that they are bringing hope to their parents, friends, parish and state. With his 6-year-old son in tow, Gerace reminded the high schoolers that the children of today will look up to them as mentors in a few short years. During a campus visit shortly before Christmas, Gerace delivered supplies on behalf of Turner Industries to help students in their career training. In addition to providing materials, Turner also invests in students by covering registration costs for the welding program. “We are in industrial contractor with a large presence in the surrounding parishes. It makes sense for us to look to the younger generation to bridge that gap. We provide materials because want to make a commitment to them to try to support their education and training. Welding materials aren’t cheap. Sometimes that can be a hurdle to overcome,” Gerace said. “Right now, there are a lot of individuals who are retiring from the construction industry and it only makes sense for the new board to come in.” Gerace said the soft skills students are picking up at the ABC campus, including punctuality, communication and safety, will sharpen them into better employees down the line. Branch said discipline is another important component. “I tell them all the time that as soon as you graduate from high school, the real world is going to want you to be 30 years old immediately. They’re not going to want to give you time to grow up.” Branch said. East St. John Assistant Principal J. Vincent Brown looks forward to watching welding students announce their job offers at the endof-year awards ceremony, similar to how college-bound students announce scholarship offers. “The administration supports you fully in this endeavor,” Brown said. “We give this just as much importance as we do anything else on campus. We are trying to build a pipeline of skilled, smart young men and women who are ready for what Turner and ABC has prepared.”
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And the winner is… Best of the River Parishes
BY CHRISTINE BROWNING
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here is an old Chinese curse that says “May you live in interesting times.” Depending on your point of view this can be a curse or a blessing. There is another saying that says “God doesn’t give me more that I can handle, I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.”
unforeseen event occurred. LaPlace was hit by a little storm called Hurricane Ida. All the results were to be released in September, but the timing was not right as many of the winning businesses, as well as many residences, had sustained damage.
In May of 2021, L’OBSERVATEUR, for the first time ever hosted an online contest on lobservateur.com/contests which asked its readers who is the best in the parishes? The format provided categories and readers to name their favorite people and businesses in the River Parishes.
Not all of the winners listed are still in business, whether closed due to COVID, the storm or another reason. It is a testament to their impact on our community and how much they are loved and missed.
In July, the top three nominations in each category moved on to the voting round. Readers visited our website to vote for their favorites. At the end of the month, there were 45,744 votes. In August, the votes were tallied and the top winner in each category had begun to be notified. At that point perhaps 10 winners knew of their achievement, but then an 8 River Parishes Magazine
To all of the winners, congratulations! The nomination process for 2022 will begin again in May. Winners will have the opportunity to defend their title and others will have the chance to steal it based upon the popular vote. In the meantime, L’OBSERVATEUR will be posting photos of winners on its Facebook page and an online listing will be available at lobservateur.com/contests.
ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT Best Attraction Houmas House Plantation Best Entertainment Venue River Parish Community Theatre Best Family Entertainment River Parish Community Theatre Best Female Vocalist Faith Becnel Best Festival Andouille Festival Best Fundraising Event St. James Parish Relay For Life
Best Museum San Francisco Plantation Best Musician Peyton Falgoust Best Outdoor Event Sings and Strings Best Place to Get Married San Francisco Plantation Best Staycation Location Houmas House and Gardens Best Tourist Spot Cajun Pride Swamp Tours EATING and DRINKING
Best House/Cover Band Peyton Falgoust
Best Andouille Jacob’s World Famous Andouille
Best Live Theater Group River Parish Community Theater
Best Asian Restaurant Ruby Garden Chinese Restaurant
Best Local Band Peyton Falgoust Band
Best Breakfast Donut Hole
Best Local Event River Parish Community Theatre Summer Musical
Best Buffet Sicily’s Pizza LaPlace
Best Male Vocalist Peyton Falgoust
Best Business Lunch Bec’s at the Lake Restaurant and Catering
Best Cajun Restaurant Bec’s at the Lake Restaurant and Catering Best Catering Cajun Grill & Catering Best Chicken Wings Kajun Kidd Burgers & Wings Best Coffee PJ’s Best Crawfish BRS Seafood Best Curbside Service LaPlace Frostop Best Date Night Frenier Landing Restaurant and Oyster Bar Best Deli Matherne’s Market at Riverlands Best Desserts Fine Cakes By Cora Best Donuts Donut Hole Best Family Restaurant LaPlace Frostop
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Best Food Truck Kajun Kidd Burgers & Wings
Best Hamburger LaPlace Frostop
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant La Carreta
Best Fried Chicken Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Best Happy Hour Petra Restaurant & Lounge
Best Margarita El Paso Mexican Grill-LaPlace
Best Gumbo Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse
Best Home Delivery Domino’s Pizza
Best Mexican Restaurant La Carreta
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Best Outdoor Patio La Carreta
Best Dance Academy/School Yvonne’s Directions In Dance
Best Orthodontist Dr. Guy W. Favaloro
Best Pizza Rotolo’s Pizzeria
Best Day Spa Exhale Day Spa @ Cypress Lakes Country Club Destrehan
Best Pediatrician Rainbow Pediatrics
Best Salad Cajun Grill & Catering
Best Dentist Ory Family Dentistry
Best Seafood BRS Seafood Best Steak Petra Restaurant & Lounge Best Sub/Sandwich Mabile’s Restaurant Best Sushi Kobe Sushi and Hibachi Steakhouse
Best Eye Clinic Aslett Kurica Eye Center
Best Pharmacy The Medicine Shoppe® Pharmacy
Best Health & Fitness Club Anytime Fitness
Best Physician Dr. Michael Arcuri
Best Home Health Services Superior Home Health
Best Rehab Center Cypress Physical Therapy
Best Hospice Modern Hospice
Best Retirement Home Chateau St. James Rehab & Retirement
Best Take Out LaPlace Frostop
Best Hospital St. James Parish Hospital
HEALTH and FITNESS
Best In-Home Elder Care Services Superior Home Health
Best Assisted Living Facility Place Du Bourg Best Audiologist Jake Cavanaugh
Best Local Park Eastbank Bridge Park Best Long Term Care Facility Chateau St. James
Best Chiropractor Riverbend Chiropractic Dr. Adam Roussel
Best Medical Group LaPlace Medical Center Best Memory Care Ashton Manor Assisted Living & Memory Care
Best Clinic St. James Parish Hospital
Best Personal Trainer Laura Gardebled
Best Skilled Nursing St. James Parish Hospital Best Speech Therapy Superior Home Health Best Speech Therapy St. James Parish Hospital Best Urgent Care Riverside Urgent Care Best Yoga Studio Anytime Fitness
Three Convenient Locations
Gramercy LaPlace Hammond
cypresspt.net
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PEOPLE Best Church St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Best Council Member Warren Torres Best Local Actor Sean Roussel Best Local Actress Chrissy Carter Cifuentes
Best Locally Owned Restaurant LaPlace Frostop
Best Auto Body and Paint Jim’s Body Shop
Best New Business Black & Gold Nutrition
Best Auto Loan Provider Louisiana Federal Credit Union
Best Pastor/Priest Fr. John Marse
Best Auto Repair Jim’s Body Shop
Best Place to Take Out of Town Guest Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse
Best Bank Louisiana Federal Credit Union
Best Local Athlete Jared Butler
Best Place to Work Louisiana Federal Credit Union
Best Local Author Ali Vicknair Stein
Best Preschool St. Peter’s School
Best Local Cause Perry’s Posse Best Local Hero The Special Ed Teachers at ESJ High school Best Local Personality Harold Keller Best Locally Owned Company LaPlace Frostop 12 River Parishes Magazine
Best Private School St. Charles Catholic Best Public School Harry Hurst Middle School Best School Board Member Clarence Triche PROFESSIONALS Best Accounting Firm Schexnayder Wealth Advisors
Best Barber Brandon Terrio Best Bookkeeping/ Tax Service Accounting Services Unlimited Best Car Wash Express Clean Car Wash Best Commercial Bank First National Bank USA Best Computer & IT Services ACT Technologies Best Contractor A PLUS Construction, LLC Best Criminal Lawyer Becnel Law Firm
Best Customer Service Roussel’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts
Best Insurance Agency Riverlands Insurance
Best Motorcycle Dealer New Orleans Harley-Davidson
Best Employment Agency Express Employment Professionals
Best Jeweler Roussel’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts
Best Nail Salon Perfect Nail
Best Kitchen & Bath Remodeler LaPlace Glass
Best New Home Builder A PLUS Construction, LLC
Best Landscaper Four Seasons Groundworks
Best Oil Change Tire Town Auto Service
Best Law Firm / Lawyer Becnel Law Firm
Best Personal Injury Lawyer Becnel Law Firm
Best Local Construction Company A PLUS Construction, LLC
Best Pest Control Ross Louque Exterminating
Best Estate Planning Lawyer Leandre Millet Best Family Lawyer Becnel Law Firm Best Financial Institution Louisiana Federal Credit Union Best Financial Planning Schexnayder Wealth Advisors Best Funeral Home Millet Guidry Funeral Home Best Hair Salon Starz Hair Salon Best Hair Stylist Lisa Doming Best Heating & Air Conditioning Company Mayeux’s Air Conditioning & Heating, LLC
Best Local Credit Union Louisiana Federal Credit Union Best Mechanic Jim’s Body Shop Best Mortgage / Home Loan Provider Louisiana Federal Credit Union Best Mortgage / Home Loan Provider Regions Mortgage
Best Pet Boarding / Groomer / Grooming / Daycare Laplace Pet Shop and Grooming Best Photographer (Business) Romaguera Photography Best Place to Buy a Recreational Vehicle Bayou Ford Best Print Shop Advanced Marketing & Promotions
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Best Realtor Ched Edler
Best Antique Store Roussel’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts
Best Home Improvement Store Fisher’s Ace Hardware Inc
Best Realty Company Latter & Blum Realtors
Best Boutique Store Roussel’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts
Best Motorcycle Gear New Orleans Harley-Davidson
Best Retirement Facility / Independent Living Chateau St. James Rehab & Retirement
Best Children’s Clothing Store Onyx Boutique
Best New Car Dealership Bayou Ford
Best T-shirt screen printer Monster Ink
Best Clothing Store Oh So Cute Monograms Boutique
Best Place to Buy A Used Car Bayou Ford
Best Eyeglass Store Vision Store of La Place
Best Promotional Marketing Company Advanced Marketing & Promotions
Best Tattoo Studio Live Canvas Tattoo Parlour Best Used Car Dealership Bayou Ford Best Veterinarian Riverlands Animal Hospital Best Wedding Caterer Bec’s at the Lake Restaurant and Catering Best Wrecker Service Brock’s Automotive
Best Flooring / Carpet Store The Decor Shoppe Best Florist Hymel’s Florist Best Garden Store/Nursery St James Nursery Best Gift Store Roussel’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts Best Grocery Store Dons Country Store
SHOPPING and SERVICES
Best Home Appliance Store Haydel’s Furniture & Appliance
Best Accessories Store Oh So Cute Monograms Boutique
Best Home Furnishing Store Haydel’s Furniture & Appliance
Best Women’s Clothing Store Oh So Cute Monograms Boutique Best Work Boots Tractor Supply If you would like more information about this contest or how to promote your business, please e-mail Christine. browning@lobservateur.com.
Looking to grow your business? We can help you find the audience for your product or service. For more information, email christine.browning@lobservateur.com 985-652-9545 or 985-233-0809
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