Point of Vue Magazine - April 2024

[ tuh-ney-shuhs ] adjective holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold

In the face of adversity, the tenacious woman persisted, breaking through barriers and carving her own path.

Her tenacious spirit powered her adventurous journey, pushing her to conquer new challenges.

Pippi Longstocking

Miranda Priestly

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Mary Downer Ditch

EDITORIAL

Bonnie Rushing Editorial Director

Isabelle Pinto

CREATIVE

Hermione Granger

Lauren Hemstreet

Lucy Ricardo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Channing Candies

Misty Leigh McElroy

Riley Thompson

Luke Mauer

DIGITAL

Madison Pontiff

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Evan Cressionie

Jaime Dishman

John Doucet

CONTACT

Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com

Editorial: mary@rushing-media.com

Creative: graphics@rushing-media.com

Sales: sales@rushing-media.com

Elle Woods

THE WOMEN'S ISSUE

Welcome to the Women's Issue of Point of Vue Magazine! This edition is a celebration of the indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements of women across diverse fields, each leaving an indelible mark on our communities.

As a woman at the helm of this publication, I am particularly proud to showcase the stories of strong, ambitious, and visionary women who are making waves in their respective fields. From groundbreaking entrepreneurs to passionate activists, from a creative pioneer in STEM to a resilient marathon runner, the women we feature in this issue embody courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to their goals.

In our society, where the narrative of women's empowerment continues to evolve, it's crucial to recognize and amplify the voices of those who are breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes. (It ' s also worth mentioning that I am watching the Taylor Swift Eras Tour while writing this, feeling pretty badass myself, today!) As a wife and a mother, I am constantly inspired by the countless women who navigate the complexities of family life while pursuing their dreams with unwavering dedication.

one or more official marathons in North America, Europe, and Asia. Learn more about how Chequita plans to run the world starting on page 14.

Caroline Leblanc is racing through the glass ceiling, doing what most people

to vehicle dynamics which include things such as the wheels, tires, and everything that connects the body of the car to the ground. Check out all that Caroline has accomplished so far, starting on page 24.

Louisiana boasts a rich tapestry of women-owned small businesses, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of our local economy. Did you know that there are over 160,000 women-owned businesses in Louisiana alone? These enterprises not only drive economic growth but also embody the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of women in our community. Here in the bayou region, there is no shortage of Women Who Mean Business! In this issue, we feature nine women who strive each day to make a difference, in their chosen fields, each in their own amazing way! Our Women Who Mean Business special section begins on page 17.

In this issue, we first introduce you to Chequita Gretna Martin. Chequita is a Terrebonne Parish teacher who is working towards her goal of running a marathon on each continent, including Antarctica! At 62 years young, she has already completed

would think is unexpected from an average college girl. Attending the University of Alabama, Caroline works tirelessly as a member of the university's SAE Crimson Racing team. Lately, she has been working on the electric vehicle side of things. A mentor of hers recently introduced her

As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, let us continue to uplift and support one another, celebrating each other's victories and offering solace in times of challenge. Together, we can forge a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive, where barriers are dismantled, and where equality is not just a distant aspiration but a lived reality.

May the stories within these pages ignite your passions, broaden your perspectives, and reaffirm your belief in the limitless potential of women everywhere. POV

Locals know locals best. We are the ones who live here and shop at the businesses, utilize local services, and attend local events. We want to know what the People’s Choice is for your favorite local businesses, local hot spots, local restaurants and so much more!

The Point of Vue People’s Choice 2024 places the voice of the people first! In over 80 categories, we ask you to share your favorites in Terrebonne and Lafourche.

No more cookie cutter contests run by national companies.

Let the locals take care of business!

What empowers you as a woman to strive for greatness in your chosen career?

ALLY

As a teacher, my students empower me to aim for success in my work each day. The responsibility of assisting a younger generation as they learn and grow is not something to be taken lightly. Whether it is listening to a student who needs advice or journeying with them as they read their new favorite book, each day holds a new opportunity to do my best in encouraging them to share their valued stories. My most successful days in my career have been when I feel like I have created a community in my classroom that fosters trust and a love of reading that can last a lifetime.

ANNA

The women that surround me, empower me. I am lucky enough to be friends and work with the strongest, most inspiring women and you can't help but to want for us all to be the best versions of ourselves.

NICOLE

LAURIE

As a woman, I strive for greatness for many reasons. My children are my drive to be the best version of myself not only as a mother, but as "Mom" with a successful career with my family's Century 21 real estate brokerage, so they can always be proud. I thoroughly enjoy and love my career, it allows me to help people, educate them, and it's also constantly changing so it pushes me to always stay on top of things to be the best that I can be. I strive to know that I can provide for my family as an independent woman, and I get to help my community while doing what I love.

What empowers me as a woman to strive for greatness in my chosen career are the women I surround myself with personally and professionally. They say iron sharpens iron and in my experience, having positive relationships with women who also strive for greatness keeps me on my toes. These women are a daily reminder that I can do whatever I put my mind to as long as I set goals and work daily at achieving those goals.

KRISTEN

Mentoring and helping others on their career journey in Marketing has been a major part of why. It's ultimately why I have chosen to continue my career in a university setting. In everything that I do I strive to be the best version of myself so I can empower others to be the best version of themselves.

Showroom Hours: Mon-Tues: 7am - 5pm Wed: 7am - 7 pm • Thurs-Fri: 7am - 5pm

Paige Pipsair MSN, FNP-C

THE SECRET GARDEN

BY MARY DOWNER DITCH | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY

Each year, the stunning gardens at the home of Ed and Cindy Daigle come to life with thousands of blooms– and a special twist! A labor of love for Ed, the gardens are meticulously planted each year following a new theme that holds a special meaning for their family. This year's theme is "Butterflies and Unicorns," which was decided upon with the help of their granddaughters. This playful and unique idea was then carried out in striking shades of pink, yellow, and orange, with Gerbera daisies, snapdragons, petunias, and more lining the garden beds. The gardens surround the patio and the swimming pool, and even reach beyond the garden gate to the sitting area of the Daigles' home–perfectly setting the scene for a morning coffee or a visit with friends.

The garden beds in the Daigles' yard are not only special because of their explosion of color and commitment to a fresh yearly theme, but because they have also been built around memories of family and friends that have passed. The rosebush and snapdragons are to honor Ed's mother's favorite color, the flower cross planted this year is in memory of Rhoda Rau, a rose bloom in the yard represents a gift of family friend Ursula Breaux, the bird bath, 'old' rose, and althea tree honors Cindy's Grandmother Gautreaux, the St. Joseph statue hails from St. Francis Boys' School, and the Mary statue is from Cindy's Aunt Cathy Gautreaux. Each corner of the Daigles' garden beds tell a special and personal story.

The Daigles' garden will be a part of the Terrebonne Garden Club's 'Beyond the Garden Gate' Backyard Garden Tour on April 28, 2024 from 2:00-5:00 p.m, for those wishing to see these blooms in person. Tickets can be purchased from Terrebonne Garden Club members.

For the Daigles, their exceptional backyard blooms are a great way to bring family and friends together, particularly during the springtime in celebration of Easter, to celebrate the Risen Lord. Not only is the garden a beautiful place for all to enjoy, but Ed and Cindy have found it provides a great way to exercise and get fresh air, and that despite the occasional challenges, take joy in seeing their beloved plants in bloom. The Daigles wish to thank Melissa Boudreaux and her team for their help in the garden this year. POV

BY ISABELLE PINTO PHOTOS BY CHANNING CANDIES

For Chequita Gretna Martin, adventure isn't a choice-- it's a lifestyle! The local Terrebonne Parish school teacher and dedicated world traveler is well on her way to her goal to run a marathon on every continent, including Antarctica. Chequita is already a certified World Marathon Major Runner and has been to countless countries across the world, and won't be stopping anytime soon.

Chequita originally was born in Suriname, a small country on the North Atlantic coast of South America, and describes her fearless attitude as being prevalent long before she began her journey as a marathon runner. "I moved from Suriname to the United States in 1982 when I was in my early 20's, because there was a military coup in my country," explained Chequita. "I decided that it was time to move on because I didn't want to be held back. I'm very freedomoriented and very outspoken-- so I told my parents I was going to the United States and I wasn't going to return to Suriname. They were skeptical, but I knew it was the right decision for me."

Chequita then moved to south Louisiana to begin her new life, eventually enrolling in college and obtaining her four year bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Nicholls State University, before beginning her 27-year career as a teacher at South Terrebonne High School. Chequita is also married with two sons and two grandchildren, and fluently speaks an impressive five languages (Dutch, Surinamese, Afrikkans, Spanish, and English). Chequita successfully built a rich and stable life in her new home, but her adventurous personality and love of travel stayed strong--particularly after developing a new hobby while in Louisiana.

prominent marathons offered around the globe-- the Boston, New York, London, Berlin, Chicago, and Tokyo Marathons. I knew I had to do this challenge, despite injury setbacks and COVID-19." Chequita started quickly ticking these marathons off her list, completing Boston and New York in 2018, Berlin and Chicago in 2019, London in 2021, and Tokyo in 2023.

"I have always been a fast and avid walker, and I walked several 30 minute 5k's in the area. But I got bored with walking quickly," chuckled Chequita. "I decided to join a running club called Solemates here in Houma, but I told the group leaders I would never, ever run-- I was a walker. As I kept going, I started to get really close with the group, and in 2017 they told me they

Although it may seem that Chequita has completed her goals, she is not close to slowing down-- even after completing the World Majors, the 62-year-old teacher has officially made plans to run a marathon on every single continent in the coming years. She further plans to retire from her teaching position soon, which will free up more time for her to pursue

her passion for travel and running. "There is nothing I love more than the challenge of travel. I love going to a new country and figuring out the language, how to get around, the cuisine, the culture, everything," said Chequita. "Running is the same way. There are always unexpected challenges you have to face, and I love that. I knew I didn't want to stop once I finished the World Majors."

Chequita has already completed one or more official marathons in North America, Europe, and Asia, and has begun adding the final few continents to her list. She recently flew to South Africa in October of 2023 for the Cape Town Marathon, and is planning to run the Rio de Janeiro in June of 2024, the Australian Outback Marathon in July of 2024, and the Antarctic Ice Marathon in 2025. With those races under her belt, Chequita will have completed a marathon on all seven continents across the world.

The local runner, traveler, and teacher possesses an astounding and inspirational sense of drive, and attributes her

personality traits to her late mother. "I come from a very, very strong mother, who recently passed away," said Chequita. "She was humble and the kind of person who never gave up. She put herself and my father through school, and as a child, I was simply not allowed to give up-- quitting was not in our vocabulary. Because of that, I became stronger and more determined. I will always draw inspiration from my mom as I continue my journey."

Chequita also attributes a large source of her inspiration to the United States, and what the Land of the Free represents to her. Out of all her incredible experiences, Chequita remembers the New York Marathon as the most special of her career. "I will always hold the New York Marathon close to my heart, because I remember passing the Statue of Liberty, which represents what America is all about," said Chequita. "And as someone who was not born in the United States but is a citizen here, passing the Statue of Liberty reminded me that if you work

hard, you can become anything you want. This is my second home, the country that gave me my education, my family, and a chance at freedom when I needed it."

As she continues her race around the globe, Chequita playfully hinted that even completing this goal would not be the end of her career-- and she is planning to go back to the ancient roots of marathon running itself. "The idea of our modern marathon came from the legend that Pheidippides, a Greek herald during the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, was sent to run 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce their victory," said Chequita excitedly. "Nowadays it is called the Athens Classic Marathon in honor of the tale, and I am going to run it after I complete my marathons on each continent. It'll be very rewarding to run such an important race."

With determination in her stride and the world as her track, Chequita continues to chase new horizons with no end in sight-and everyone in Houma can't wait to see what she'll do next! POV

Our area boasts numerous women-owned and women-run businesses, including retail, medical, construction and oil and gas, and that number is on the rise! Women serve our community in many positions of leadership all the way up to CEO and president of the board.

When it comes to women-owned small businesses, Louisiana ranked eighth in the country in 2022 with 3,886 women-owned small businesses per 100k people. These women inspire us and represent us at some of the highest levels. We are grateful for their dedication to our communities both professionally and philanthropically.

SPONSORED CONTENT

SARA PARSON

BRUSH A BLOWDRY BAR

As the proprietor of Brush a Blowdry Bar, Sara Parson finds fulfillment in inspiring others and making a positive impact in the beauty industry. Originally from Thibodaux, Sara's commitment to her community runs deep. For her, staying local is about building strong connections, contributing to the local economy, and providing personalized services tailored to the needs of her customers in her Thiboduax and Houma locations.

At Brush, guests can experience professional blowout hairstyling services, alongside makeup application, hair extensions, and other treatments. The salon offers various styles, from sleek and straight to voluminous curls, catering to diverse preferences and occasions. Sara prides herself in providing affordable luxury options making her guests look and feel their best.

As a family-owned business, she takes pride in fostering a supportive atmosphere where stylists can grow and reach their goals. Whether it's through providing mentorship, offering training opportunities, or simply being a listening ear, helping her team succeed brings Sara immense joy. Being a salon owner allows

her to combine her love for beauty, business, and community, making each day fulfilling and inspiring.

Sara's dedication to success has been recognized, with Brush being named Thibodaux Chamber's Small Business of the Year in 2022. Looking ahead, Sara is eager to continue growing her business and team, staying ahead of industry trends while prioritizing family and community.

Balancing family and career is Sara's top priority, with faith and family always coming first. With the support of her family, including her husband and one-year-old son, Sara navigates the challenges of entrepreneurship while cherishing every moment with her loved ones.

Reflecting on her journey, Sara acknowledges her father's pivotal role in helping her pursue her passion and turn it into a successful business venture. With his support and guidance, Sara continues to build both beauty and community in her Thibodaux and Houma locations.

Sara also credits her team for their talent, dedication, and invaluable contributions to Brush's success.

HOLLY SEEBODE EDGAR

THE LEARNING CENTER & BRAIN TRAIN CENTER

For Holly Seebode Edgar, a lifelong passion for witnessing the success of others transformed into after-school tutoring sessions, beginning with a dear friend's nephew who was struggling to learn how to read. Following this, Holly established The Learning Center of Houma. Thirteen years later, The Learning Center has had the privilege of offering interventions to thousands of students across the

A Houma native, Holly graduated from Ellender Memorial High School. She attended Nicholls State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science s +30 in Education. Her areas of certification include Educational Diagnostician, Reading Specialist, Supervisor of Student Teaching, Child Search Coordinator, and Mild/Moderate Teacher.

Being an educator for 28 years and seeing an increase in diagnoses of dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, and autism, just to name a few, prompted Holly to begin researching how to further assist students in the community. She stumbled upon Neurofeedback and knew that this was something that would help not only students, but adults as well. After a year of training, Brain Train Center Houma was formed in 2023, and it has been an amazing journey ever since.

Brain Train Center provides Neurofeedback, or “brain training,” to children and adults who desire to have healthy brain functioning. Neurofeedback is a process of the brain training itself to heal. Brain maps are completed to identify areas of dysregulation, which is often the cause of a variety of symptoms. Once the areas of dysregulation are pinpointed, brain training begins. Brain training works on getting brain waves into organized patterns to minimize symptoms.

When it comes to being a female business owner, it is often difficult to balance work and home. Holly has been blessed with a wonderful husband, Keith, who always supports her ambitions. Her two children, Raegan and Cullen, have spent years sacrificing things to allow Holly to pursue her dreams and passions. She will be forever grateful for those sacrifices and for their unwavering

Holly has earned many achievements throughout her career for her dedication and expertise. When teaching in Terrebonne Parish, Holly was nominated as Teacher of the Year. While working at The Learning Center, Holly was nominated as an Inspirational Teacher by a student who had been tutoring at The Learning Center. Holly shared that being recognized by your peers is always humbling, but being acknowledged by students whose lives you have truly impacted is an exceptional honor.

Exciting developments are on the horizon for both The Learning Center and the Brain Train Center. Holly envisions employing education majors at The Learning Center in the near future. This initiative aims to better prepare these students for entering the field by providing them with a deeper understanding of how to teach students with learning disabilities or those who simply struggle. Additionally, Holly has plans to expand the Brain Train Center to other areas.

s message to other women or young girls is to always remember, the best preparation for tomorrow is doing your

KELLY BARKER

PERFECTA MEDICAL AESTHETIC LAB

Kelly Barker, a Louisiana Licensed medical esthetician and restaurateur, is dedicated to helping people live their best and most beautiful lives. Born and raised in Houma, she is also a devoted mother and loves spending time with her five grandchildren, all while successfully running several businesses.

Kelly has been a practicing medical esthetician for 30 years and prides herself on knowing the science behind the most advanced techniques for the face and body. She brings a personal aspect to her work to help make sure each client at Perfecta Medical Aesthetic Lab receives the assistance they need. Kelly specializes in working with teenagers, particularly educating them on the proper ways to take care of acne and prevention of skin diseases. It is extremely important to Kelly to be able to teach more about how to Pre-Juvenate skin instead of trying to rejuvenate the skin. She emphasizes the importance of taking care of the skin you have now in a simple and affordable way instead of trying to unwind the clock.

As her esthetician business has grown, she has been working to create her own skincare product line, Compounding ingredients for more specialized results. The need arose due to the wide variety of inventory from various lines. No brand had exactly the active blend Kelly desired. Her extensive experience and knowledge of ingredient effects on the complexion pushed the research. While she admits that this venture has taken a lot of time and energy, it has also been extremely rewarding and something she's very passionate about.

The local businesswoman and entrepreneur also co-owns the Houma-based restaurant Cristiano's. The intersection of food and aesthetics has always gone hand-in-hand for Kelly. Blending ingredients to get the perfect recipe in the kitchen was similar to what it feels like in her own skin care treatment room laboratory. Through her experiences, Kelly fully understands that what we put in and on our bodies has a huge impact on our skin, and on our overall health.

Kelly plans to continue sharing her passion and to inspire others to lead their happiest and healthiest lives.

MISTY GUIDRY

SYNERGY BANK • NMLS#450025

Misty Guidry, Synergy Bank Assistant Vice President and Mortgage Loan Originator, has been assisting Synergy customers for 15 years. A Houma native, Misty has called Gibson home for two decades, drawn to the unique South Louisiana culture and her close-knit extended family.

At Synergy Bank, Misty helps individuals finance their future homes or refinance their existing ones. The best part of her job is witnessing customers achieve their dreams of homeownership. While federal regulations present challenges, Misty sees these obstacles as opportunities to collaborate with customers, provide coaching, and help them make a plan to reach their goal.

Mortgage lending is seeing more successful women leading the way in recent years. Misty often speaks about her career with her preteen daughter and her daughter 's friends about her career to inspire them and let them know there's no limit to what a woman can achieve.

Misty's proudest professional achievement is Synergy Bank's recognition as the Best Mortgage Lending institution locally for multiple years, showcasing excellent service and support. She also serves as Treasurer on the Leadership Terrebonne Board of Directors, contributing to community growth and fostering leadership.

She has been happily married for 17 years to her husband Jeremy, and is a proud mother of two: Colby, 16, and Olivia, 11. Despite chaotic schedules with various activities, Misty cherishes every moment. She is grateful for Synergy Bank's belief that family comes first, and she is able to be present while balancing her professional career.

Looking ahead, Misty envisions continued professional growth as a servant leader in the community. She aims to offer more educational sessions, emphasizing homeownership's attainability for all. Reflecting on her journey into finance, Misty is excited about the future, driven by patience, determination, and a love for helping others achieve their homeownership dreams.

BROOKE'S SNO-WORLD

With over 26 years of experience in the food service industry, Brooke Carrere, the Founder and CEO of Brooke's Sno-World, launched her first establishment in Houma in 2007. Her delicious sno-balls quickly became a community staple, and Brooke's business flourished to more than 10 locations across Louisiana.

Originally from Grand Caillou, Brooke began working at a sno-ball stand at 10 years old, and really found joy in it. Years later, she decided to open her own business, allowing her to be the creative boss. Today, Booke continues to find happiness in putting a smile on her customer 's faces.

Despite the economic challenges faced as a small business, Brooke has become a master of maneuvering difficult situations to ensure her business' success. Because of this success, she consistently gives back to the community that supports her.

As for Brooke's Sno-World, continued growth is the name of the game-- Brooke plans to continue franchising her popular

BROOKE CARRERE KARLIE ADAMS

shop across Louisiana and into other states. She has also recently introduced "Brooke's Snow Cones on the Go," packaged snow cones available in their most popular flavors including Blue Bubblegum, Cotton Candy, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Wedding Cake. The snow cones can be purchased in 60 grocery stores regionally and statewide including Rouses, Cannata's, and Marcels, and more. Alongside these inspirational entrepreneurial pursuits, she is also a devoted mother to two daughters, one pursuing higher education to become a doctor and one working as an RN.

Brooke hopes to inspire young women, particularly in our community, to become women business owners, and to be passionate about their careers. Seventeen years later, she still has the same love and passion for her business as the day she started.

Discover how you can be a part of this thriving business venture by visiting Brookessnoworld.com. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or someone looking to embark on a new journey, Brooke's SnoWorld offers a proven model for success backed by years of experience and a commitment to quality and community.

JANI-KING OF SOUTH LOUISIANA

Karlie Adams, Thibodaux native, returned home after completing her college education to pursue a franchise opportunity in the commercial cleaning industry with the goal of taking care of her family's financial future. At 18, she became the youngest franchise owner in the Jani-King Gulf Coast Region.

In her professional role, Karlie serves as one of the Franchise Owners for Jani-King of South Louisiana and holds the position of Technology Ambassador for Jani-King Gulf Coast. She manages the day to day challenges of keeping up with the current trends of the industry, whether it's chemicals, equipment or procedures all while making sure the needs of her team members and customers are taken care of.

Once a month, Karlie takes time from operating her franchise to teach a training class for all brand-new franchise owners across the Gulf Coast Region. Karlie leads by example, always willing to mentor other franchise owners and to empower them to reach their goals.

What Karlie loves most about being a business owner is the ability to provide employment opportunities,

allowing others to support their families with flexible work schedules. Building client relationships is another highlight, where she personally addresses cleaning-related issues and ensures the consistent delivery of high-quality service.

Her list of achievements include the Jani-King Gulf Coast Franchise of the Year 2022, where she became the youngest recipient of this award. Additionally, she received recognition in various community choice awards for Best Cleaning Service.

Being a woman in her field brings both fortune and challenges. While the commercial cleaning industry is dominated by women, Karlie, a single mom, acknowledges the dedication and strong support system required for success.

Karlie balances her personal and professional life by working during school hours, so that she can be home to get her two daughters on and off the bus and to various activities. Additionally, she finds time to be a community servant by being actively involved as a firefighter in both Chackbay and the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Departments, and coaching her girls' softball team.

SHANTELLE ABSHIRE

REALTOR, LATTER & BLUM

Shantelle Abshire, a dedicated Real Estate Agent with six years of experience in both commercial and residential sectors hails from the heart of Houma. Rooted in her community, Shantelle is committed

Choosing a career in real estate was not a traditional path for Shantelle, but it aligns with her core desire to empower and serve others. Her journey, from the service industry to yoga and then real estate, has unfolded organically, guided by a passion for community service and a commitment to positive change. Each step has contributed to Shantelle's unique and fulfilling career as a

As the Founder and Owner Operator of Root2Rise for the past eight years, Shantelle is not only a Real Estate Agent but also an entrepreneur and a small business owner. Balancing these dual roles, she finds satisfaction in positively impacting people's lives. Whether guiding clients through real estate transactions or fostering a supportive yoga community, Shantelle embraces the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

The best part of her job is witnessing clients achieve their goals and leaving a lasting legacy in the community. Actively involved in revitalization efforts, Shantelle sees real estate as a tool to shape the fabric of Houma positively. Recovering from the pandemic and Hurricane Ida have presented significant challenges in the real estate industry, but she remains steadfast in her commitment to being an integral part of the community's revitalization and creating a future landscape that we can all be proud of.

Shantelle's recent achievements include standing out among nearly 4,000 agents in the Gulf Coast region, ranking in the top 100, and being honored with the Ruby Award for her exceptional sales performance, having sold over $10 million in production. Additionally, Shantelle holds the prestigious ERYT-500 Yoga instructor certification. Her leadership shines through as a 2023 Leadership Terrebonne Graduate, where she played a pivotal role in organizing Christmas decorations for the Rotary Centennial Plaza. Currently serving as vice chair of the Houma Downtown Development Corporation, Shantelle is actively involved in the organization's mission to revitalize and foster economic development in the historical downtown area, contributing

Looking ahead, Shantelle is laser-focused on achieving the coveted CCIM designation for commercial investments, a rigorous program that will equip her with advanced financial and investment analysis skills. With experience in facilitating commercial investments across various sectors such as medical, industrial, and retail industries, she aspires to become the go-to agent for making connections to revitalize our community. Shantelle is passionate about helping people see the potential in their investments and empowering them to make a positive impact on the quality of life for everyone.

In her personal life, Shantelle finds strength and inspiration in her family. Married to her husband Mike for ten years, he serves as her biggest supporter, as they support their three children, Logan, Isabella, and Maggie to fulfill their future aspirations. Balancing a career and family is all about having a strong support system, and Shantelle is incredibly fortunate to have that in spades. Spending as much time together as possible, traveling, adventuring, and simply cherishing each other's company, Shantelle's family fuels her fire and serves as her motivation to thrive every single day.

CINDY LUKE

CRUMBL COOKIES

Cindy Luke is the proud co-owner of CrumblHouma, alongside her husband Kade, who runs his own business. Cindy is deeply rooted in the community where they are raising their two sons, Cohen and Colin.

In her role as Owner Operator of Crumbl-Houma, Cindy relishes the best parts of her job—building a dynamic team that prioritizes both hard work and fun. The selective hiring process paid off, fostering a close-knit crew that cares about each other and delivers top-notch customer service. Celebrating their first anniversary in March 2024, Crumbl-Houma faced many challenges during their first year, such as ingredient shortages, unexpected demand fluctuations, and equipment malfunctions, but Cindy takes pride in how she overcame these hurdles with her dedicated team.

Cindy and her management team, including her husband Kade, provide guidance and support to young team members, recognizing

their job as a stepping stone and aiming to instill a sense of pride and passion in their work. She values reliability, teamwork, integrity, initiative, and customer service skills in her crew, emphasizing the importance of leading by example.

Reflecting on the business's accomplishments, Crumbl-Houma earned first place in the POV People's Choice contest and received nominations for Houma's Best of the Bayou in 2023. Looking ahead, Cindy is excited about the future, embracing the new challenges and opportunities Crumbl brings.

Outside of her professional life, Cindy values worklife balance, prioritizing family time and attending her sons' sporting events. Before venturing into the bakery business, Cindy spent over 14 years as a healthcare analyst. When her husband proposed the idea of opening Crumbl, Cindy initially thought it sounded stressful, but her readiness for a change led her to say, "Let's do it!" Now, as she reflects on the past year, Cindy has no regrets and is loving every moment of the Crumbl journey.

DEANNE BENOIT-WEBB

SOUTHERNHR

Deanne Benoit-Webb, a proud Houma native and Nicholls State University graduate, has forged a unique path in the realm of Human Resources. As a Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR), she founded SouthernHR, an HR firm dedicated to providing essential services to small to mediumsized businesses.

Despite holding executive roles in various companies, she recognized her potential to excel and make a broader impact, and ventured into entrepreneurship. Deanne believed that operating as a consultant on her own timeline would enable her to share her expertise more efficiently and help a broader range of people and companies.

SouthernHR assists businesses that may not require a full-time HR professional on staff or cannot afford one. Deanne and her team offer comprehensive HR guidance and tactical assistance, covering areas such as company policy and procedures, HR best practices, recruiting, workforce planning, employee and manager training, change management, compliance, and risk management.

The most rewarding aspect of her job lies in the diversity of working with various companies and management styles. She takes pride in entering businesses facing employee issues, morale problems, and lacking policies and procedures, and transforming them into more structured, efficient, and profitable entities with a positive culture. Even long standing small, medium-sized, or family-owned companies often lack the knowledge needed for compliance and effective workforce management, and SouthernHR steps in to bridge that gap.

Family and faith are paramount in Deanne's life. She makes several trips a year to London to visit her son Chris, who also happens to be her partner in SouthernHR, along with his family, including three young grandchildren. Additionally, she spends quality time with her son Matt in Houston. Deanne's love for her Catholic faith is evident in her daily Mass attendance and her role as an original Board Member of Holy Trinity Academy in Houma/Thibodaux, a Catholic Classical School that recently opened after five years of dedicated effort.

BY EVAN CRESSOINE PHOTOS BY RILEY THOMPSON AND LUKE MAUER

Caroline Leblanc is a nineteen year old from the Houma-Thibodaux area doing what most people think is unexpected from an average college girl. Attending the University of Alabama, Caroline works tirelessly as a member of the university's SAE Crimson Racing team. She chose to attend the University of Alabama primarily due to the merit scholarship she was awarded by achieving a good score on the ACT. Her hot take is that she originally wanted to attend Auburn University though now she knows the University of Alabama was ultimately the best decision.

In her studies, Caroline is majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in automotive engineering. Her father owns Leblanc Associates, a refrigeration and HVAC company based in Houma, which was a company started by her grandfather. She credits a portion of her engineering interests to her father and also to the fact that she was simply a tomboy growing up who always played with legos.

“One of my core memories is just going into my dad's office, finding junk in his drawers, and building little forts out of it,” Caroline said. “I just love what I do and it just happens to be a maledominated field.”

While one might get the impression that engineering was her passion from the beginning, Caroline actually admits to second guessing her path a number of times. From aspiring to be a veterinarian to an oceanographer to a chef, she ultimately felt that engineering was a safe option when applying to college. Little did she know, she would fall in love with it.

Her freshman year, Caroline joined Alpha Omicron Pi: the same sorority her mother was in. There, she met a sorority sister who was on the Crimson Racing team. While she had never worked on cars before, Caroline was up for the challenge and followed her AOII sister to the team.

“Being in an environment where everyone was willing to teach you, I just fell in love with it and I fell in love with cars and learning about all of the different systems they have,” Caroline said.

The team advisor was also the head of the automotive minor which is how she found her way to the automotive concentration. Hearing about the opportunities in the automotive field encouraged her to pursue that path and expand on those opportunities later in her career.

Though as of now, Caroline is a sophomore at the University of Alabama, she intends to graduate in 2026 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Another aspect that drew her to the college in the first place was their Stem Create Path to the MBA program where, after completing a couple of MBA courses in her undergraduate years, she will only need to complete one year of graduate school in order to graduate in 2027 with a master 's degree in business administration.

Caroline is unsure of her exact plans after graduation, but she has plenty of time to learn more and grow. “I would love to get a masters in motorsports,” Caroline shared. “Something I really love learning about is vehicle dynamics and vehicle simulation which is basically how the car operates, how it stabilizes and balances through different forces. All the technical, science-y things that everyone thinks is so scary–and yes it is so scary–but it's so cool! A master 's in motorsports would let me dive into that knowledge more.”

The most ironic part of her story is that Caroline truly has no idea where this love of cars and racing originated. She joined the team knowing absolutely nothing about this type of work, and yet she persevered through the learning curve to get where she is now.

“I love hands-on work; learning things and then getting my hands on a car. I don't know if I specifically like working on cars or if I like working on a racecar. Not sure which one sounds cooler,” Caroline quipped.

Lately, she has been working on the electric vehicle side of things. A mentor of hers recently introduced her to vehicle

Crimson Racing is a completely studentrun team where they are responsible for designing, manufacturing, and racing. The first person Caroline met on the team was the EV (electric vehicle) power systems lead Chris Rodriguez. He was one of her first friends on the team and she learned a lot from him. Another teammate, Justin Trammell introduced her to the suspension side of things and Luke Mauer, who Caroline coins as a genius, has always been a great mentor to her. “It's so cool to have these people who are my friends and my family,” she said.

dynamics which include things such as the wheels, tires, and everything that connects the body of the car to the ground. She found it fascinating and knew she wanted to go on working on things like this forever.

Of course, the biggest challenge Caroline first encountered was filling in that knowledge gap, but her team made it easy. There are some who join the team with lots of knowledge and others who go in knowing nothing, but all are welcomed. Their team truly comes together when they must work on designing, constructing, and competing in a formula SAE design competition. The SAE organization holds competitions that the Alabama team participates in regularly.

She would also love to jump at the chance to work with racing teams in the future as well. “That's the dream for now. We'll see where it takes me!” Caroline said.

When Caroline first joined the team, she was one of only four girls and found it fairly intimidating. However, she found the guys on the team to be very nice and welcoming. The number of women on the team has since increased. Caroline shared, “They have become my family and I think that's why I like being on this team so much, and working on cars with them has been so much fun.”

“Of course, it's not F1. It's not as high speed as that. We're not going 200 mph, but it's definitely strenuous as students. It's usually a one year cycle and you don't have that much time to design. Most of our stuff is in-house manufacturing so sometimes we're up really late designing or manufacturing or fixing the car. Last week, we had a steering rack problem, and I had to do a drive day check, and I was there til we closed,” Caroline shared. She explained the challenge of having something you work so hard on fall apart, and the resilience it takes to be able to pick it back up and remind yourself it will be okay. Another challenge Caroline finds

that a few team members come across is balancing the team responsibilities with their academic studies. When you're so dedicated to an extracurricular like this, students must remind themselves that school comes first.

“It's always hard, but at the end of the day we love it, and that's why we still do it,” Caroline said. She spends nearly all of her time stowed away in Hardaway Hall— even on the weekends—designing and fixing things. She describes the work as constant, but she can't help it because she loves what she does. Her main motivation is seeing all of the freshman and new members' enthusiasm for the team. “I can't give up because they need a team to continue. Everyone motivates each other because things need to get done and we're here to support each other,” she said.

Now, Caroline is the assistant lead of EV power systems. Because the international competition is moving toward electric vehicles (Germany has completely cut out internal combustion) they created the EV power systems sub team to get ahead. On this sub team, Caroline and her teammates design and assemble

safety shutdown circuits by testing and validating all safety systems to shut down the car if something bad should happen.

“Realistically, with electric systems, we're running a maximum of 420 volts through the car, and if anything bad happens, we could kill someone. So we're trying to keep it as safe as possible,” Caroline said.

She is also currently working on the suspension subteam where she works on kinematics and geometry design which is where she studies the force and acceleration pertaining to all of the suspension components. She's hoping to get even more involved in geometry design.

Another aspect of the team that Caroline is involved in is the driver development team. This is actually a new program they instilled so that anyone who wants to learn how to drive the car can have that opportunity. To be a part of this program, one must attend a lecture, take a test and if they pass, they get to continue to attend lectures training them to drive. In this program, Caroline has been able to create a track of her own and explain why she made it the way she did. They also have

access to a virtual reality headset and software that allows them to “drive” on a track made by one of their teammates. Caroline said, “It's not the real thing, but very helpful in figuring out where you race and how you should race and what your body should be doing.” She has not yet driven the car, because not just anybody can, but does hope to in the future.

Last fall, Crimson Racing competed in the Pittsburgh Shootout and are looking forward to two more competitions this year: the Formula South invitational in April, hosted in Georgia, and the big competition held in Michigan. Caroline likes being able to have these experiences as well as the camping they get to do there.

While the Crimson Racing team demands most of her attention (and she's happy to give it), Caroline also dedicates her time to her sorority AOII. Her big and little sister are some of her best friends and she likes to spend her time at their sisterhood events. Being involved there is really her escape from the formula team. She also loves to read, cook, and watch Criminal Minds.

Although it seems Caroline has everything going for her, she vulnerably admits that things have not always been this way for her. “ I struggled a lot in high school. I went to three different high schools. [...] I was feeling really self conscious. I developed anorexia and had really bad mental health. I ended up going to the hospital during Covid,” Caroline shared. “I never talk about it, and it's still kind of hard to talk about, but it's something I feel like people should know. People think I have it all together but I'm not perfect at all. Everyday is a struggle for me. What pulls me through it is just trying to stay positive and trying to stay motivated and doing what I love with the people I love.”

With girlhood comes a multitude of struggles from high school cliques to college careers, and Caroline has had her fill of them. She did grow up with her younger brother and with engineers around her who were mostly men, but that doesn't mean she has not fallen victim to imposter syndrome in this line of work. “There's always that fear that they won't accept me because I'm a woman or that I won't learn anything because I'm too scared to ask questions,” Caroline said. Though she isn't completely sure how she's gotten over that, she credits a great portion of her progress to how accepting her team has been of her. “I've experienced that in other places and that's where the fear is from. There's always those few people, but the people I looked up to were very welcoming. They let me ask questions.”

Houma Family Dental

To other young girls or even older women out there who are interested in a maledominated field and feel intimidated, Caroline's advice is to just go for it. “Don't let fear stop you. You might be as lucky as me and get people who are so supportive. The guys and girls. I love the girls on this team. Even if you don't get that lucky and you run into issues, don't let that stop you. There are going to be people who support you. Get out of your comfort zone. I'm really shy! One thing I regret is not asking as many questions in the beginning even though I wanted to. So go for it. Who cares?!” POV

OBSERVER | BY JAIME DISHMAN

Peace of mind, knowing your loved one is home.

A CART FULL OF KINDNESS

I'm a Sam's junkie.

Honestly, it's not that I want to be, it's simply that our family goes through food like it's free. Which it's not, and our Sam's bills testify to that fact. Not free. But all the people who live at my home (and their friends – just keeping that real) eat like there's no tomorrow. I want to tell them all to quit eating to help us save money, but that's probably not what teenage boys and girls want to hear.

So it's off to Sam's I go. (Also keeping it real – I do a lot of Sam's orders that get direct delivered or picked up). But on the days when I go in, it's not pretty. I'm distracted by the clothes, the décor, the gardening supplies.

Earlier this week, it was one of those days. The people I call my kids were texting me from school in the family group chat. (Anyone wish we were still in the ‘80s and kids couldn't text you their requests from school? Just this mom? Ok then.) So they're texting: “Mom, we need more muffins.” Next kid chimes in. “Also, those guacamole cup things. I like those on top of my rice cakes.” Next kid (the non-texter of the family) sends one word: Chips.

So I embark to Sam's knowing my buggy will weigh what feels like 1,000 pounds to push through the store and will ring up a bill of what feels like $1,000. It is what it is. But one day, I will go to all of their homes and eat all their food. One day. Just not this day.

I meander through the aisles, finding all the things we need. And a few things we don't need. But those dahlia bulbs are a necessity, right? Maybe I'll tag that as a grocery expense.

I'm pushing my 1,000-pound buggy out of the store, and I'm stopped by three ladies on the way out who check my receipt to make sure I didn't steal anything. I didn't. So why do I get a little nervous every time? I'm a scan-and-go girl, so I truly do get nervous that I forgot to scan something. But if I did go to jail, then food would be free? Hmmm… that's a joke. But also. Free food?

I'm waiting to have my cart scanned when they start talking amongst themselves. I can't help but overhear, but the fact that they're talking about the elderly lady who walked out in front of me makes me curious and I hone in on what they're saying.

“She comes in here all the time,” says one scanner girl.

“She's so nice, too,” chimes in another.

It's worth noting that the nice, also frequent Sam's shopper that they're speaking of had only two items in her cart as she rolled out. Obviously not a house full of hungry people, possibly just one elderly person on her own.

“She always tells me she's praying for me,” says the third girl.

That's when the middle girl pipes in again.

“Sometimes she even slips me a $5 tip.”

They keep making comments about her as I use (all my strength) to push my very heavy buggy through the doors. I see the elderly lady loading up her few items in her car, and I head in the opposite direction, thinking about her. I've never seen her before, certainly don't know her, but the impact she made on me is impossible to deny.

In a world with so much to complain about, this lady (who honestly probably doesn't really need a Sam's membership at all based on her small purchases) is a frequent shopper, who takes time to be nice, overly generous (let's be honest, a $5 tip to people who typically don't receive tips is over the top – especially when her total bill was probably $20). At her age, loss is inevitable. She ' s lost friends, some family, possibly a spouse. But she's not bitter. She's out making our world a better place. She was unremarkable in appearance, and I certainly would scarcely have noticed her if the workers at the door hadn't started speaking about her after she rolled out. But her impact lasted with me all week, and I'm sure it has lasted with those Sam's employees even longer.

She's not a social media influencer, probably has never used the Tik Tok platform or most of the ways we think we have to go about influencing the world. But she's surely making a difference right where she is, with what she has to offer. She's one life impacting others for good. May all our stories be written like hers – with love, compassion, and kindness to others. POV

BY KATIE RICHARD, MA, BSN, RN, DIRECTOR

IT HURTS HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE: ACHES AND PAINS NOT TO IGNORE

Do you ever have those mornings when your body feels like you've gone 10 rounds in the ring? There's a pain around the SI joint that wasn't there yesterday. And why are the knees crackling and the hip popping?

Aches and pains can result from normal aging and wear and tear of the body. Maybe you need to scale back on exercise or add flexibility and stretching movements into your daily routines. To keep your body healthy, carve out at least 20 minutes a day for some type of movement—a walk, bike ride, yoga, strength training, or gardening. There are certain aches and pains you should never ignore.

Chest pain

Don't ignore chest pain, whether a dull throb, sharp stab or pressure like an elephant sitting on your chest. Pain, particularly in the left arm, can signal heart conditions from angina—decreased blood flow to the heart—to cardiac arrest. During a heart attack, there may be pain in either or both arms, along with sudden shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea.

It's tempting to self-diagnose chest pain as heartburn or reflux. It's wiser, however, to call 911 and let medical professionals diagnose the cause.

Pain in the lower leg

Soreness in the back of your leg after exercise is one thing, but persistent tenderness and pain could be signs of a blood clot. Watch for warmth and redness of the skin in the affected area. Blood clots can break loose and travel to the lungs, causing sometimes deadly pulmonary embolisms.

Muscle and joint pain

Even healthy people experience muscle and joint aches. Pain affecting a small area of the body is typically caused by overuse or minor injuries. If the entire body aches, likely causes are infection, illness or maybe a reaction to certain medications.

Here are some common conditions to be aware of if you have muscle and joint pain:

• Arteriosclerosis—occurs when there's a blockage in arteries carrying blood to the muscles and results in pain in your arms, legs or both.

• Arthritis—can affect all ages as athletes in their teens may develop arthritis as a result of injury and overuse. Osteoarthritis, the most common type, occurs when protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bone wears down, resulting in pain, stiffness, bone spurs, loss of flexibility and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints and often causes bone loss. Patients may have pain and inflammation throughout the body, and joints may swell into deformed shapes. Psoriatic arthritis, a combination of joint inflammation and psoriasis skin disorder, causes pain, stiffness and throbbing in the hands, fingers, feet, knees and other areas of the body. Different types of arthritis can be treated with physical therapy, medications, steroids, joint replacement surgeries and topical creams.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome—has becoming increasingly common with increased use of mobile devices and keyboards. It results with repetitive wrist movements that damage the

main nerve in the hand. Typical symptoms are numbness, tingling, weakness and pain in the wrist and arm.

• Covid and flu—aching muscles in the back, legs and arms and sometimes accompanied by fever, cough and congestion could indicate flu, Covid or other infections. Home test or see the doctor before spreading your germs.

• Medications—prescribed to treat one condition may cause other issues. About 30% of patients taking statins to control high cholesterol report muscle pain. Talk with your provider if you notice significant muscle pain that impacts movement.

• Neck and shoulder pains—if you haven't suffered a recent accident and start having chronic pain in the neck, arms and shoulder, possible causes could be:

• Herniated disk in the neck resulting in pain, numbness or tingling in the arms

• Pinched nerves also cause pain, numbness and tingling in the arms

• Rotator cuff injury results from tendons in the rotator cuff becoming inflamed and triggering pain in the shoulder, elbow or wrist

• Tendinitis also occurs from inflamed tendons in the shoulder or arm and causes pain in the shoulder, elbow or wrist

As a rule of thumb, don't ignore persistent pain. As with other medical conditions, the success of treatment increases when caught early. Listen to your body; you know when something just doesn't feel right. To find a physician, visit www. thibodaux.com WE

Hats off to these trailblazing women who defied conventions and left an indelible mark on history!

In 1921, Edith Wharton achieved the historic milestone of being the first woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize.

In 1961, Geraldyn "Jerrie" Cobb was the first woman to pass astronaut testing.

In 1966, Bobbi Gibb became the first woman to run a marathon at just 23 years old after secretly joining the Boston Marathon.

In 1972, Katharine Graham became the first woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

In 1975, Junko Tabei was the 36th person to summit Everest and the first woman.

In 1987, Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Best Choice

UNDER THE SCOPE | BY JOHN DOUCET

TWO-FOR-ONE BROODS THIS MONTH!

stroke, fall, or other medical condition, our customized rehab program helps you recover quickly so you can get back home. If you’re getting ready for long-term living, we make the transition from home to our community as rewarding as possible. A variety of spacious resident suites offer the ultimate in privacy and comfort.

AMENITIES INCLUDE:

THERAPY

Who doesn't like a two-for-one sale? Who turns one of their two eyes away from advertisements declaring “Two for One Price” or “Buy One Get One Free”? No one! Whether we buy or not, advertisers are teasing “Ha! Made you look!” in hopes that we'll buy. And often we do.

If you're like me, you like bargains. I get excited when I drive by Burger King and see two Whoppers for $6 or two Croissan'wiches for $5 bucks. And now that Lent is over, I get even more excited! Getting two-for-one is like what Jack Black teaches his students in the movie, “School of Rock”: Getting two-for-one is “Sticking it to the man!” For those who have not seen this movie, I looked this up for you: “stick it to the man” is an idiomatic verb meaning “to take some action intended to defy a source of oppression.”

Beginning this month, we'll be witness to perhaps the biggest Two-for-One of our lifetimes. That's right: It's two-for-one season on cicadas! You know cicadas: they're those big, stout-bodied flies with transparent wings that emerge from the ground, crawl up your trees, and start a screeching symphony that echoes across the neighborhood. The instruction manual for a cicada reads like this: hatch from egg, fall to ground, burrow, live underground for many years, get fat sipping rootlet juice, emerge from ground, crawl up tree, split shell, squeeze out of shell, unfurl wings, fly off at high speed, screech to attract mate, mate, pierce twig to lay eggs, die. After emerging from the dirt, it all takes about 1-2 weeks. Some populations of cicada are notorious for emerging all-at-once a certain number of years after they hatch from their eggs. When such cicadas emerge together in a given year, sometimes in the millions, they're called a “brood.” This year, 13-year cicadas and 17-year cicadas (Broods XIX and XIII, respectively, so named by entomologists who attended the National Brood-Naming Convention in Vegas a long time ago and were allegedly sober during naming discussions) are in-sync and will emerge together. What this means is that much of the U.S. will see (and hear) not millions, not billions, but trillions of these fat, sap-sucking flies between April and June this year. Get ready: It's about to get noisy!

How frequently does this humongous entomological two-for-one convergence happen? Well, if you remember your differential calculus, matrix algebra, and stochastic modeling, then you'll come to realize that none of that is necessary to calculate this frequency. All you need is straight-up arithmetic: 17 times 13 equals 221. Thus, 17-year cicadas and 13-year cicadas emerge at the same time every 221 years.

Two hundred twenty-one years ago--the last time this great two-for-one season occurred--was in the year 1803. Why does that sound so familiar? With trillions of cicadas merging like hordes of screeching banshees in the wilderness forests of the Louisiana Territory, it's no wonder that Napoleon sold the land on the cheap. “Ces maudites cigales de Louisiane vont me render sourd!” as Napoleon told James

moon right-side up. “Law and Order” will enter its 252nd season. Forever postage stamps will cost more. And, most regrettably, just like they were in 1803 and 1582, Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Terrebonne will be shorter in length than they are today. POV

TRACTOR

RENDEZVOUS | WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN

Twin Fest Louisiana

April 6, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Downtown Houma

The secret is out: Louisiana will host the first-ever Twin Festival! Festival attractions include food, live music, vendors, a kid zone, horseback riding, contests, and more!

Jackie Bartels’ Kids

Conservation Fest

April 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Bayou Country Children’s Museum

Join the 8th annual festival and enjoy lots of outdoor and conservation games, activities, fun and access to the museum!

Relay For Life of Terrebonne Parish

April 6, 3 - 10 p.m.

Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center

Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The event is open to the public and offers food, children's activities, a Relay For Life Team Cook-off, live auction, live entertainment, and a luminaria memorial.

Orchid Show & Sale

April 12 –14

Southland Mall

The annual show is presented by the Terrebonne Orchid Society.

Ladybug Ball

April 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

86 Valhi Blvd, Houma

The 18th annual Ladybug Ball is a familyfriendly event that celebrates the diverse environment that exists along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana. The celebration will include kid's activities, music, food, a petting zoo, arts and crafts booths, a costume contest, and the release of 100,001 ladybugs at 1 p.m. In the event of rain, festivities will be held on Sunday, April 21.

Big Brims & Healthy Skin

April 21, 12 - 3 p.m.

Ellendale Country Club

Aimed at expanding melanoma awareness, guests will learn from an educational speaker and hear from a skin cancer survivor about risk factors, signs and safety. Enjoy drinks, lunch, bingo, fabulous swag and wear your

biggest and best decorated hat to participate in the hat contest. Event proceeds will stay in the Bayou Region to fund cancer prevention and education efforts at Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Thibodaux Regional Health System presents the second annual Festival of Hope event! It consists of three special events designed to offer hope and inspiration as well as honor cancer survivors and their families.

Festival of Hope Golf Classic

April 22

Ellendale Golf Club, Houma

Beginning at 8 a.m., the event will take place rain or shine, and feature special guest Mike Detillier.

Festival of Hope Run for the Ribbons

April 27

Thibodaux Regional Cancer Institute

Registration opens at 8 a.m. The event will include a 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, 5K Fun Run/ Walk, and a survivor celebration.

Festival of Hope Concert for the Cause

April 27

Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex

Gates open at 9 a.m. Music by Soul Survivors at 10 a.m., The Groove at 1 p.m., then a Cancer Survivor Tribute prior to The Lena Prima Band at 3 p.m.

Pirate & Boots Festival

April 27, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Houma Downtown Marina

Set your course for a day filled with excitement, fun, and community spirit! The festival will offer vendor booths, music, activities for kids, and food, while celebrating our bayou heritage and raising money to further the mission of Keep Terrebonne Beautiful.

To see more local events, head to the Houma Times Community Calendar, at houmatimes.com/calendar!

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH:

1. Removed logo on chef's hat

2. Changed color of pen in pocket from red to blue

3. Changed glasses to book

4. Removed blue sign from wall

5. Added picture frame

6. Added silver bowl

7. Changed color of button from red to green

8. Added additional watch

9. Added person in background