Point of Vue - September 2026 by Rushing Media

FREE SEPTEMBER 2026 | VOL. 20 • ISSUE 9 | POVHOUMA.COM

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CONTENTS | SEPTEMBER 2026 • VOLUME 20 • ISSUE 9

CHIC 10 CHATEAU A New Southern Classic

INTO THE SUN 14 STEP Voodoo Bayou releases their newest record.

YEARS OF GROWTH 18 55 Ganier's leaves a lasting legacy in our community.

22 A HOMECOMING ON THE BAYOU The Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building looks ahead to their new location.

EXTRAS

ON THE

COVER

WORD, YA

HEARD

NOTE 06 PUBLISHER’S The Art of Creating

PHANTASMAGORIC

08 INTERVUE Say What?

[phan·tas·ma·gor·ic]

26 WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE

(Adj.) Characterized by fantastic and incongruous imagery.

5 Healthy Habits for Healthy Aging

THE SCOPE 28 UNDER Our Man in Chicago

30 RENDEZVOUS

WORD ON THE STREET

Where You Need to Be Around Town

“The phantasmagoric shadows in the forest created a spooky atmosphere.”

31 LOOK TWICE

Find the 9 differences Photo by Channing Candies

VISIT US ONLINE: povhouma.com

September 2026 3 povhouma.com

If your personality came with a warning label, what would it say?

WARNING: Will enthusiastically volunteer for more things while already doing approximately 47 things. Side effects include: excessive Canva use, overthinking captions, and saying “I have an idea…”

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Mary Downer Ditch EDITORIAL

WARNING: Will always choose the hardest possible way. Side effects may include overcommitting, unnecessary projects and an unreasonable amount of confidence in my own abilities.

Bonnie Rushing Editorial Director Isabelle Pinto

CREATIVE

Ashley Bourgeois

WARNING: Contains dangerously high levels of caffeine and sarcasm. Side effects may include fast talking, questionable decisions, and zero patience for nonsense.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

John Doucet Julianna Parker PHOTOGRAPHY

Channing Candies Misty McElroy

WARNING: Subject is perfectly content to remain at home for days on end. Side effects include unmitigated relaxation, reality TV watching, and wondering, “When was the last time we grocery shopped?”

CONTACT

Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: maryditch@rushing-media.com Creative: graphics@rushing-media.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com

BUSINESS ADDRESS: Rushing Media, P.O. Box 5013, Houma, LA 70361 • 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.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE | MARY DOWNER DITCH • ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

THE ART OF CREATING What is art? I remember discussing that very question in my art appreciation class at Nicholls. We talked about the obvious answers—the visual and performing arts—but also the literary arts and all of the creative expressions that don’t always fit neatly into a category. And the more you think about it, the harder it becomes to define. Maybe that’s the beauty of art. Art can be something you see, hear or read. It can make you laugh, cry, wonder or feel something you didn’t expect. It can tell a story, preserve a tradition, transform a space or simply make you stop for a moment and appreciate the world around you. At its heart, art is creativity and we are blessed as humans to have so many ways to create and to receive.

blend of genres titled “Step Into The Sun.” Learn more about their sound starting on page 14. For 55 years, the Ganier family has served Houma and Thibodaux, welcomed first into people's gardens and eventually into their families. Gary and Sue Ganier opened Southdown Gardens on St. Charles Street in the winter of 1987. Sue's brother, Mark Womack, joined the business after college. Pam Taylor and her sister, Christine Martin, have spent years working the shop alongside them. The team also included Sue and Mark's brother, Dougie, up until his passing. The legacy of Ganier’s Southdown Gardens carries on, starting on page 18. Founded in 1979, the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building is working to make sure that the history of wooden boats in our region is not forgotten. The Center began on the campus of Nicholls State University with a simple but important mission: to preserve the traditional methods of wooden boat building in Louisiana and document the lives and livelihoods connected to those boats. Learn about their return to Thibodaux and the ways you can help, starting on page 22.

For this month’s Artist’s Issue, we decided not to take the idea of “art” too literally. Instead, we went looking for the creativity that exists in the people, places and passions around us. Inside these pages, you’ll meet a local band releasing a new record and turning their creativity into music. You’ll discover a plant nursery and landscaping business that has spent 55 years transforming the spaces around us. And you’ll meet the people working to preserve the art of traditional Louisiana boat building while making sure those skills and stories are passed on to the next generation. Voodoo Bayou was originally formed in 2010 by singer/songwriter Kyle Domangue, guitarist Michael Klaus, and bassist Jody Naquin, with the goal to craft a blend of southern and indie music while finding a sound that was uniquely their own. They added drummer Sam LeCompte in late 2013, and in 2022 welcomed keyboardist Billy Stark into their ranks, both bringing significant experience and energy to the band. The Houma-based band has released their first album in 13 years, a fun and exciting 12-song

Three very different forms of art. Three very different stories. And yet, each is a reminder of what happens when people care deeply about creating something and about sharing it with others. One of my favorite things about putting together each issue of Point of Vue is wondering how it will be received. What will make someone stop and turn the page? What story will stay with them? What will make them feel something? Maybe, in its own little way, this magazine is an art form, too. And maybe that is the best part of art: it is open for interpretation. I hope you find a little inspiration in these pages and perhaps a new definition of what art can be. POV

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INTERVUE | SAY WHAT?

If you could instantly become really good at one thing, what would you choose and why?

MICHAEL Fishing. The variables change constantly, and becoming a really good fisherman can take a lifetime. Between saltwater and freshwater, changing conditions, and trying to target specific species found in South Louisiana, there’s always something new to learn.

D’ANN Well I am kinda doing that now! Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of decorating for weddings and playing a role in the most important day (decision) of someone’s life. Making the day a person has dreamed about a little more convenient is the most amazing and rewarding feeling ever! I give all the glory to God!

JACOB Probably a better learner of new things. I haven’t been too quick to learn how to be a better partner, a better friend, a better athlete, a better disciple, better at time management. The ability to push beyond the dabbling to do any and all of these really good and with excellence is really what I’d like to get good at.

STACIE I’d choose to be really good at helping others see themselves the way God sees them—loved, worthy, and created with a beautiful purpose. I’d want my words and actions to encourage people, strengthen their faith, inspiring them to live in fullness and adventure, and always pointing them back to Him.

TYLER If I could instantly become good at one thing, it would be singing. I’m always down for a karaoke session, especially when it comes to Hamilton. Performing on Broadway would honestly be a dream! Music has always felt like one of the most powerful ways to bring people together, no matter where they come from or what language they speak. I remember once being with a group from Denmark while touring the Chauvin Sculpture Garden. They started singing “You Are My Sunshine,” and even though many of them didn’t speak English, they knew every single word. It was such a beautiful moment to witness and a perfect reminder of how music can connect people without needing a shared language. September 2026 8 povhouma.com

HOME + LIVING | CHATEAU CHIC

A NEW SOUTHERN CLASSIC BY MARY DITCH | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY

1 There is something special about a home that feels as though it has a story to tell, even when it is brand new. The vision for this home was to create a space that felt timeless, welcoming and distinctly Southern while still embracing the ease of modern living. The result is a transitional Southern home where traditional character meets fresh, thoughtfully considered design and where nearly every room offers its own moment. Designed by Whitney Bouterie Interiors and architect Jessica Kennedy Becker and brought to life by builder Travis Buquet, the four-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath home was designed with both beauty and lifestyle in mind. Its location along a neighborhoodwide canal makes boating and outdoor living a natural part of everyday life, while the interiors provide a warm, sophisticated retreat from the water. One of the most intentional elements of the design was incorporating pieces with a past. Rather than starting from scratch, many of the couple’s antiques from their previous home were brought into the new

space and paired with carefully selected new furnishings. The combination gives the home a collected quality, one that feels personal and established rather than overly polished. That balance between old and new is at the heart of the home’s transitional style. Throughout the house, statement spaces create moments of personality and surprise. The foyer sets the tone upon arrival, while the dining room makes a memorable impression with custom lighting created by Chris Wynne. In the office, built-ins are elevated with wallpaper by Ashley Lasseigne, adding another layer of pattern and character to the space. The powder room is another standout, proving that even the smallest rooms can make a big impact when given thoughtful attention. The master suite continues the home's sophisticated aesthetic, creating a private retreat that feels both luxurious and comfortable. Outside, the home's relationship with the water takes center stage. Designed with boat life in mind, the patio and pool area extend the living space outdoors and provide September 2026 10 povhouma.com

a natural gathering place for enjoying the water, entertaining friends and simply taking in the surroundings. Landscaping by Jeff Authement completes the outdoor setting, seamlessly connecting the home to its waterfront environment. The homeowner also plants and takes special care of his plants surrounding the outdoor living space and the pool. Perhaps what makes the home most successful is the way all of these elements work together. The architecture provides a timeless foundation, while antiques bring warmth and history. Custom details add personality, and the waterfront setting keeps the home grounded in the laid-back lifestyle of South Louisiana. It is a home that proves new construction doesn't have to feel new. With a thoughtful mix of treasured pieces, custom touches and classic Southern sensibility, this retreat feels as though it has been part of the landscape for years while offering everything its owners need to enjoy the next chapter of life on the water. POV

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No. 1 Kitchen

No. 8 Living Room

No. 2 Detail

No. 9 Main Bedroom

No. 3 Bird of Paradise

No. 10 Office

No. 4 Detail

No. 11 Outdoor Living

No. 5 Dining Room

No. 12 Powder Room

No. 6 Bar

No. 13 Pool

No. 7 Foyer & Staircase No. 14 Main Bathroom Enjoy more photos on houmatimes.com/ publications/pointofvue.

14 September 2026 13 povhouma.com

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BY ISABELLE PINTO | PHOTOS SUBMITTED Voodoo Bayou, an eclectic local band born in the heart of southern Louisiana, is proving that it's never too late to share your art with the world. The Houma-based band has released their first album in 13 years, a fun and exciting 12-song blend of genres titled “Step Into The Sun.” Voodoo Bayou was originally formed in 2010 by singer/songwriter Kyle Domangue, guitarist Michael Klaus, and bassist Jody Naquin, with the goal to craft a blend of southern and indie music while finding a sound that was uniquely their own. The band began when Kyle, a lifelong musician, began to pick up the craft of songwriting. “We started around 15 years ago and really just wanted to create a group to write, perform, and record original music. I was always the person in college that would play the acoustic guitar at all the bars and clubs and had so much fun. I wanted to get into writing my own music,” said Kyle. “I had some material that I had brought home with me from a band I was in while living in Phoenix, and before we knew it, my friends and I found ourselves in the studio and Voodoo Bayou was born.” The three musicians began their work at the famous Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, which has played host to many famous musicians including Kansas, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and more. Over three years, the band wrote, recorded, and released their debut album, “Southern Style,” in 2013– a defining

moment which marked the band's personal sound and voice. “It was a really neat feeling beginning to dabble in making music back then,” said Kyle. “Playing remarkable instruments with your best friends in a studio setting was very cool. But, careers and families and life began to happen. Trying to find the right moment to get in the studio and record after that, especially with so many people, became challenging.” Despite difficulties getting back into the studio, the band began an exciting, decadelong journey of performing and shaping the soul of Voodoo Bayou. They added drummer Sam LeCompte in late 2013, and in 2022 welcomed keyboardist Billy Stark into their ranks, both bringing significant experience and energy to the band. Voodoo Bayou also began to perform nationally, sharing the stage with well-loved bands such as Restless Heart, Eddie Money, and Phil Vassar. The band’s members have also opened for acts such as The Doobie Brothers, Gin Blossoms, LeRoux, Zebra, The Cowsills, and Anders Osborne. “We supported our album “Southern Style” for almost five years, and continued to play here and there over the past couple years,” explained Kyle. “But these guys are my brothers. We are all fantastic friends and have always stayed in touch, but it has just been in the last two years that we have really started working together on a regular basis again.” That studio time paved the way for their second album, “Step Into The Sun,” released on June 15, 2026 on all streaming platforms. 13 years following their debut and unrestrained to a particular genre of music, “Step Into The Sun” explores a variety of musical themes over 12 original songs. “The music is so eclectic. You'll hear something country inspired, and then the next song will be gospel inspired or sound just like it came from Santana,” said Kyle. “Some of it's funky, some of it's rock and roll, some has a twist. The music really moves around and explores a lot of genres, so there's something for everyone.”

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The songwriting process for “Step Into The Sun” was as unique as the band itself, with Kyle's wife Lisa Domangue serving as inspiration and co-writing three of the songs on the album. “One song, “Louisiana Queen,” is all about a passionate young man who's involved with a beautiful lady surrounded by our rich Louisiana culture,” said Kyle. “There's also one really beautiful song on the album called “Easy to Love,” which just truly expresses how I feel about her. The song came together when all the other musicians put their touch on it and it's just very special.” As “Step Into The Sun” enters its third month in the world, Voodoo Bayou has also hit the festival circuit for the first time in years with several exciting live performances. They kicked things off headlining the Helen Keller Festival on June 26, 2026, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and also opened for Rickin’ Dupsie at the Good Earth 4th of July Festival at Houma's Bayou Country Sports Park. If you’re looking to catch Voodoo Bayou this fall, the group is also scheduled to perform at La Carreta restaurant in Houma for their official CD release party on September 12, 2026. This will be followed by one of their largest performances yet on the beaches of Gulf Shores for the Alabama National Shrimp Fest. Lastly, Voodoo Bayou will also be headlining the 2026 award-winning Rougarou Festival, right here in Houma. Even amidst the excitement of an album release and a slew of live performances, for Kyle, Voodoo Bayou has always been about one thing: the music. “We are just happy to be out here doing our thing. We hope people hear our music and know they’re not alone,” said Kyle. “It's all about just exploring your heart, developing your craft, and being fearless. Whether your music sells one copy or one million, you just have to believe in who you are.” POV

“Step Into The Sun” is now available on all streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Youtube Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. September 2026 16 povhouma.com

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BY JULIANNA PARKER | PHOTOS BY CHANNING CANDIES For 55 years, the Ganier family has served Houma and Thibodaux, welcomed first into people's gardens and eventually into their families. Gary and Sue Ganier opened Ganier's Southdown Gardens on St. Charles Street in the winter of 1987, but their journey in the gardening business started long before that. In the 1960s, Gary's father retired from a chemical plant and bought a small nursery in Thibodaux. Gary grew up working there, then earned a degree from Nicholls State University.

Gary and Sue eventually married and opened their own nursery on Oakshire in Houma. Sue's brother, Mark Womack, joined the business after finishing college. The family later moved to their current location on St. Charles Street, building it themselves from the ground up. “We didn’t hire a worker,” Sue said. “The whole building, my father, everybody built it.” That do-it-yourself spirit never really left the business. Decades later, each family September 2026 18 povhouma.com

member still has a hand in nearly every part of how Ganier's runs. Gary handles landscape design, sketching customers’ yards and drawing up plans. Mark manages the installation crews who bring those designs to life. Sue handles the financial side of the business, managing the bookkeeping, a role she never expected after nearly 29 years as a school teacher. It isn't the paperwork that keeps her going, but being part of the business itself.

“I wasn’t a part of the business at first, but then I started the bookkeeping,” Sue said. “It's probably one of the most fulfilling jobs I've done.” The Ganiers aren’t the only ones who’ve built a career at at the nursery. Pam Taylor and her sister, Christine Martin, have spent years working the shop alongside them. Pam runs the counter and holds decades of plant knowledge in her head, according to Sue. She also teaches informal vegetable gardening classes, walking customers through any garden-related issue.

Christine worked in the greenhouse for years, propagating and planting thousands of plants each season before retiring this summer. Sue still marvels at the scale of her work.

across the region asking for it by name, a product the family still calls “Doug's dirt.” Dougie often wore a sign that read “director” and greeted regulars every day until he died about four years ago.

“It is truly amazing,” Sue said.

“He was so confident, and customers loved him,” Mark said.

One employee left a mark on the community that the Ganiers still talk about. Sue and Mark's brother, Dougie, had Down syndrome and worked at the nursery for years, mixing his own soil blend and labeling it himself. Customers came from September 2026 19 povhouma.com

Sue and Mark's father worked at the nursery well into his 90s, unable to sit still after retirement. Between him and Dougie, the shop became something more than a place to buy plants.

“It's like a bunch of your friends that you come over to and talk with,” Sue said. “You know people by name and then talk about your families, your children.” That loyalty carried the business through real disasters. Hurricane Ida hit Ganier's hard in 2021, tearing the covering off the greenhouses and flooding the shop days later during a rainstorm. The nursery lost its water system and leaned on growers for help to recover from the loss. “Every hurricane season is trying,” Mark said, “but Ida took everything. We had no water system, so growers loaned us tanks just to keep our plants alive.” The COVID-19 pandemic tested the business differently. Schools shut down and people stayed home, but Louisiana treated nurseries as essential businesses. Customers who suddenly had extra time turned to their yards and gardens, some for the first time, and many kept gardening once the pandemic eased. “I think a lot of people in general now are doing a lot more with their gardens,” Sue said. “Maybe it started with COVID, but I think it's carrying on right now, people wanting fresh food, not processed.” Ganier's built its reputation on more than plants. Gary wrote a gardening column in this magazine for almost a decade, sharing tips with readers across the region. The nursery pulls customers from across the bayou region, including Morgan City and towns down the bayou from Houma, and many return multiple times a year as the seasons change. September 2026 20 povhouma.com

“They’re not one-time customers,” Mark said. “That's what makes it what it is.” Now, after 55 years, Gary and Sue are ready to slow down. None of the couple's three sons, nor anyone in Mark's family, wants to take over the nursery. Sue and Gary raised three sons, each with their own promising careers as a banker, a lawyer and a doctor. The family is preparing to put Ganier's on the market, though they have not set a firm closing date and are still tending to fall inventory in the meantime.

TRACTOR

“We’re not really looking for a buyer,” Mark said. “We’re getting ready to put it on the market, so to speak, but we’re not in a rush.” Gary and Sue hope to spend more time at their hunting camp and fishing spot in Mississippi. But selling a business built by hand, one that shaped an entire community, is not a simple transaction. “After 55 years, it's like a family,” Sue said. “It's a difficult decision, but you have to do what's necessary when you get up there in life.” What matters most to the family is finding a buyer who will keep serving Houma the way Ganier's always has. For Sue, the nursery was never just about the money.

802 HWY 182 Houma, LA 70364 (985) 851-1242 www.spehouma.com

“Our goal is to find an individual or an organization who wants to continue to carry on our tradition,” she said. “We owe it to the community that has served us.” POV September 2026 21 povhouma.com

BY MARY DITCH | PHOTOS SUBMITTED There was a time when a boat was not a luxury in South Louisiana. It was a necessity. Along Bayou Lafourche and the waterways that weave through the region, boats carried families to fishing holes, hunters into the marsh, trappers through the swamps and neighbors from one community to the next. For generations of Cajuns, building a wooden boat was not simply a craft—it was a way of life. Today, the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building is working to make sure that way of life is not forgotten. And in many ways, the Center’s own story is coming full circle. Founded in 1979 by Tom Butler and Dr. John Rochelle, the Center began on the campus of Nicholls State University with a simple but important mission: to preserve the traditional methods of wooden boat building in Louisiana and document the lives and livelihoods connected to those boats. From 1979 until 2007, boat builders were invited to Nicholls to construct skiffs, pirogues, luggers and other traditional vessels. The university’s maintenance barn became a gathering place filled with the unmistakable sounds of hammering and sawing.

classes and watch traditional skills being practiced by craftspeople who had learned them through generations. The Center also offered art classes, paddle-making classes and other educational programs for children and adults. Its collection even included a Native American dugout believed to be more than 400 years old. For Ernie Savoie, the tradition is personal. A third-generation carpenter born along Bayou Lafourche, Savoie specializes in building cypress pirogues, carving paddles and constructing miniature boats. He also speaks Cajun French and regularly demonstrates traditional boat-building techniques at festivals throughout Louisiana. But in 2021, the sounds of the workshop stopped. Hurricane Ida heavily damaged the Lockport facility, forcing the Center to close. Its collection was moved into storage, and for several years the organization operated without a permanent home. The loss was more than the loss of a building. It meant losing the place where people could gather around the craft, hear the stories and watch the traditions being passed from one set of hands to another.

The Center eventually outgrew its original home.

The Center’s board, however, had no intention of letting the tradition disappear.

In 2007, it moved down the bayou to Lockport, where a former Ford dealership on Main Street was transformed into a museum and workshop. The larger space allowed the collection—and the Center’s educational offerings—to grow. Residents from throughout the bayou donated boats, tools, artwork, antique motors and other artifacts connected to Louisiana’s maritime history. At its height, the collection included more than 70 boats, including dugout pirogues, oyster luggers and other vessels that tell the story of life along South Louisiana’s waterways.

In 2025, the organization officially unveiled plans for a new home on the banks of Bayou Lafourche at Nicholls State University—the same campus where the Center began nearly five decades ago. The announcement was celebrated with Bateaux en

The museum was more than a place to look at old boats. It was a place to learn. Visitors could see boats being built and restored in the workshop, participate in September 2026 22 povhouma.com

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Bois, a flotilla of Cajunstyle boats that traveled approximately 20 miles up Bayou Lafourche from Lockport to Nicholls. The journey served as both a celebration of Louisiana’s boat-building heritage and the kickoff of a $2 million capital campaign for the new Center. It was a fitting homecoming! The planned facility will include a state-of-the-art workshop, exhibition spaces and areas designed to engage visitors of all ages. Its location beside Bayou Lafourche is intentional. The same waterway that once made these boats essential to daily life will become part of the educational experience, allowing visitors to connect the craft with the landscape and culture that created it. The Center also envisions opportunities for visitors to experience the waterways themselves. Future plans include handcrafted boat rentals, giving people the chance to travel Bayou Lafourche from the same perspective their ancestors once knew. A hands-on workshop will allow participants to learn traditional techniques and, eventually, build boats of their own. For now, the Center is continuing its work wherever it can. The Center is currently operating from a temporary location in Jean Charles while plans move forward for its permanent Nicholls home. The Center remains active in demonstrating traditional skills, including through appearances at Louisiana festivals. Ernie Savoie, for example, continues to share traditional boat building and cypress paddle-making with the public, including through the Louisiana Folklife Village at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. That matters because traditional boat building is about much more than knowing how to construct a vessel. It is knowing which materials to use. September 2026 24 povhouma.com

Understanding the water for which a boat is designed. Knowing how a pirogue should sit in the marsh or how a paddle should feel in the hands. It is remembering the people who came before and understanding why they built the way they did. The Center’s collection is, in many ways, a physical record of those lives. Its archives also contain oral histories collected by the Center between 1979 and 1985, documenting boats and the history of southern Louisiana, particularly Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. And perhaps that is why the Center’s mission feels especially meaningful today. As South Louisiana continues to change, some traditions become harder to find in everyday life. The boats that once carried families through the bayous are no longer necessities for most people. But they remain reminders of a culture shaped by water. The Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building wants those reminders to remain more than artifacts behind glass. It wants the hammering and sawing to begin again.

It wants children to see a boat being built by hand. It wants visitors to understand why a pirogue looks the way it does and what it meant to the people who used it. It wants the stories of the old boat builders to be heard. And ultimately, it wants the next generation to pick up the tools and carry the tradition forward. As the Center says in its mission, the goal is to promote traditional methods of wooden boat building in Louisiana “along with the associated livelihoods and activities that were supported by these boats.” That makes the planned return to Nicholls more than a change of address. It is a return to where the story began— and an opportunity to ensure the story keeps going. Because on Bayou Lafourche, the boats have always carried more than people. They have carried history. And now, the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building hopes to keep that history afloat. POV

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WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE | BY KATIE RICHARD, MA, BSN, RN, DIRECTOR OF SPORTS & WELLNESS

5 HEALTHY HABITS FOR HEALTHY AGING When opening a magazine, scrolling social media or watching television, you likely become the target of anti-aging marketing. It may be magic face creams, miraculous knee sleeves or 5-exercises-in-5-minutes to look 5 years younger.

minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly plus 2 days of musclestrengthening activities. Even a short walk can get your blood pumping and brain engaged.

Miracles and magic aside, the reality is that you age each day. However, by adopting healthy habits over time, you can age healthily. How you move, eat, manage stress, sleep and interact socially all impact how you age.

Eating the same foods every day can affect how you age. Your body and brain need nutritional variety. Select foods that supply fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to boost immunity, control inflammation, increase metabolism and enhance memory.

The United Health Foundation's 2026 Senior Report ranks Louisiana as the 50th unhealthiest state for seniors. The report notes that physical inactivity increases risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes and premature death. Physical activity is considered the number one habit to prolong a healthy life. 1. Get Moving Moving your body helps reduce inflammation, protect against chronic disease, manage weight, support brain health and promote longevity. Along with cardio activities such as walking, cycling, jogging or swimming, also prioritize resistance and strength training to preserve muscle mass. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 150

2. Eat a Variety of Foods

Consider a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet that includes plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Foods rich in calcium and vitamin D also support healthy aging. Include healthy protein at each meal to preserve muscle mass and strength. 3. Manage Stress Unmanaged chronic stress ages the body from inside out, leaving you exhausted and with decreased cognitive function. Stress also causes the skin to age faster and affects eating behaviors, either decreased appetite or increased stressed eating. Stress impacts sleep, blood pressure, blood sugar and immune functions. Learning to cope with stress helps you keep a positive mindset that benefits overall health. Give

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your nervous system a break with deep breathing, yoga, mindful walks, journaling or avoiding stressful situations. 4. Stay Socially Connected Staying socially active tends to lower mortality risk and boost emotional and physical health. Maintaining close connections with family and friends can help reduce anxiety and depression, as well as stave off dementia. Connect with others who share your interests. Try joining a book club, playing mahjong or other games, meeting friends for coffee, volunteering or finding an exercise buddy. 5. Get Some Sleep Consistently getting less sleep than your body needs often results in physical signs such as dull skin, under-eye circles and wrinkles. It can also affect blood pressure, inflammation, metabolism, cardiovascular health and even cancer risks. A recent study reveals that both getting too little sleep (less than six hours nightly) and too much sleep (more than eight hours) can increase aging. Researchers settle on 6.4 to 7.8 hours a night as "just right." For resources on improving your health, contact Thibodaux Regional Wellness Education Center, 985.493.4765.

NO PAYWALLS. NO SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Keep up with The Houma/Thibodaux times at houmatimes.com

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UNDER THE SCOPE | BY JOHN DOUCET

OUR MAN IN

CHICAGO

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About eighty years ago, somebody got it right: Connecting two major U.S. cities by a northsouth passenger train. Better yet, the Illinois Central Railroad called it the “City of New Orleans.” Nowadays, you can leave at noon from the Crescent City and get to the Windy City in time for morning coffee. This is great, because coffee from the train's dining car is pretty harsh. On the ride north, we stop at stations in Greenwood, Matoon, Carbondale, and Kankakee, and somehow each of those names describes how train coffee tastes. Even the stop at Hazelhurst failed to add a palatable flavor. When Arlo Guthrie first sang “Good morning, America, how are you?” he must have carried a cinnamon dolce latte from Starbucks aboard this train. And Frank Sinatra was probably drinking something else from a cup when he famously sang that Chicago was a “toddling town.” Aboard and in my seat, scanning headlines from the complimentary newspaper, it's apparent that Chicagoans will be walking with a different sort of toddle when I arrive, as they struggle to dodge smoke from Canadian wildfires, find cool reprieves from a heat dome, and avoid food-borne outbreaks of cyclospora and salmonella. Note to self: Avoid eggs, lettuce, heat, and breathing. In addition, our friendly exterminators at Orkin have declared Chicago the U.S. city with the highest number of bed bug infestations. Updated note: Find good coffee to avoid beds. Suddenly, Sinatra's voice is replaced in my head by Charlton Heston's from The Ten Commandments when he's forecasting plagues on Egypt. And next to the complimentary newspapers, the Gideons have left a Bible. This is scary coincidence. After 20 hours, I'm released from bondage, as Heston calls it in the movie. At morning, I disembark, send my luggage away to the hotel in an Uber, and proceed to eggless breakfast

and promising coffee. The morning city is wet from a nasty storm last night, and combined with wildfire smoke it smells like an old cigar box that has not aged well—just like what I once found in my grandfather's backyard shed back in Golden Meadow back in the day. The smell is such a vivid memory that in the midst of this immense city I am helpless but to envision a time and place in PoV Country. But that's not so difficult, even before caffeine starts to antagonize the adenosine receptors in your brain, because historical similarities between these two places are also scary coincidence. For instance, a river runs through this city-the Chicago River—that forks into north and south branches. In the PoV, we have a former river that forks into Bayous Lafourche and Terrebonne. The only difference is tall buildings—yes, taller than even Ellender Dorm at Nicholls or the old Bayou Towers in Houma. And speaking of such things, Chicago has a 110-story skyscraper formerly known as the Sears Tower, and we have a large space in Southland Mall formerly known as the Sears Outlet Store. They have the NFL Bears and the MLB Cubs and we have Louisiana Black Bears which seasonally birth cubs. They also have the MLB White Socks and I'm pretty certain I packed a few pair. There's a public park in Chicago named the Midway Plaisance, and I actually know someone from Golden Meadow named Midway Plaisance. The Midway in Chicago runs at a right angle into the larger Jackson Park. This is on the southside, where Jim Croce's bad, bad Leroy Brown hung out. Here, I find people laughing and people talking and a man selling ice cream singing Italian songs, just as described in the famous song by the band named Chicago. I'm visiting the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, a sprawling complex with a central rotunda atop a portico supported by a halfmile of Romanesque columns. At nearly a half-million square feet, it's home to several race cars, several airplanes, a submarine, a locomotive, and an Apollo command capsule. If that's not enough occupied square footage, one of its largest exhibits, “Science Storms,” simulates tornados, avalanches, and tidal waves. The Griffin is one of the last remaining buildings of the historic World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. That world's fair, running from May 1st to October 30th of that year,

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spanned 700 acres with 200 buildings housing exhibits from 46 countries. It boasted the world's first Ferris Wheel, the first moving sidewalk, the first USPS commemorative postcard, the first US Mint commemorative coin, and the first souvenir penny squashing press. Of its day, it was the largest all-electric event (powered by Westinghouse's AC, much to the dismay of Edison and his DC). The fair popularized instant oatmeal, shredded wheat, Juicy Fruit Gum, and Vienna sausage. In those six months, 27 million people visited—751,000 on October 9th alone. Meanwhile, on that date, 1000 miles way, my eight great-great grandparents, together with other survivors, struggled to recover their decimated village at Cheniere Caminada following the deadliest hurricane in Louisiana history, which struck overnight on October 1st and 2nd. It's odd to think about events happening in the rest of the world at that tragic time, but the eventfulness of 1893 for both Cheniere and Chicago is quite scary coincidence. One of the villages that emerged from survivors of the Cheniere hurricane sits on the west bank of Bayou Lafourche near present-day Cut Off. Using white boat paint on the front faces of their new homes, relocated Cheniere villagers created a “white coast" along the bayou that came to be called “Côte Blanche.” Similarly, using white paint on the plaster facades of their new buildings, builders in Chicago created a vista of the Columbian Exposition that came to be known as the “White City.” After a few days of business, visiting, and climate and food challenges, I find myself again boarding the historic trainline developed by the Illinois Central Railroad and realizing yet more scary coincidences between home and here. It was a land agent for the Illinois Central who, at the turn of the 20th century, developed a land reclamation project called “Golden Meadow Farms,” which was drained by a dredged waterway that locals called “Yankee Canal.” That's my hometown, and regarding my home state: The guy who first committed the name “Chicago” to print, 17th century French explorer Robert de La Salle, is the same guy who named Louisiana for Louis XIV and Queen Anne. The name “Chicago” is actually La Salle's French approximation of the Native American word “shikaakwa.” Now, in my seat on the train, with a complimentary newspaper and a Gideons Bible nearby, I have come to realize that the sound of this Native American word is the most accurate description of the taste of train coffee. POV September 2026 29 povhouma.com

RENDEZVOUS | WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN

Treasures on the Bayou September 11-12 Warren J. Harang, Jr. Auditorium, Thibodaux Formerly the TAWASI Antiques & Art Show, the show has expanded, renaming it to Treasures on the Bayou. The show features timeless antiques, inspiring art, and unique gifts! New this year: Early Bird tickets on Friday and Saturday from 9 AM to 10 AM, featuring coffee and pasties, a shopping tote, a first look at the show, and vendor specials. Early Bird tickets are sold in advance on Eventbrite or from members- $20. Early Bird tickets are good for the entire day. General Admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite or at the door. Louisiana Through Wild Eyes: A Dual Vision of Lens & Brush! September 11, 6-8 p.m. Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum Louisiana Through Wild Eyes is a collaborative, traveling art exhibit by photographer Dave McNamara and watercolor artist Katherine Klimitas that explores the rich and untamed beauty of Louisiana wildlife. Each show features a unique pairing of Dave’s striking wildlife photography with Katherine’s expressive watercolor interpretations, offering two distinct yet harmonious perspectives of the same subject. Through Wild Eyes invites viewers to see Louisiana’s animals through both the lens and the brush—two visions, one wild story. A paint party will also be held during the event. Together, patrons will paint an elegant Great Egret based on an original painting that will be hanging in the gallery as part of the exhibit—making this a truly unique opportunity to create art while immersed in the exhibition itself. Tickets should be prepurchased online.

Terrebonne ComicCon September 12, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Terrebonne Parish Main Library Come out for a fun, free comic con experience at the Terrebonne Main Library! See cosplayers, shop nerdy vendors, and attend comic con style panels and programs. This program is free to attend and open to the public and vendors will be selling items. Be sure to sign up for teh Costume Contest! Hero Fest September 18-20 Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center Hero Fest 2026 is an event aimed at supporting the first responders of Terrebonne Parish. Attendees can enjoy a range of attractions, including live music, food, rides, a 5K run, and a craft show, offering a weekend of fun for the entire family. This year’s music line-up includes John Foster, Eli Young Band, Drowning Pool, Thomas Cain, and Wayne Toups. The funds raised from Hero Fest will be used to fund scholarships for children of first responders, support for families of first responders in need, and more. For information and a detailed events and music line-up, visit facebook.com/ terrebonneherofest. Brunch Under the Oaks: A Cook-off to Benefit St. Matthew’s Episcopal School September 26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. SMES Campus Join the fun of this delightful fundraiser featuring a unique cook-off of delectable brunch foods. Teams of four are invited to compete in one of three categories: Sweet, Savory, or Both. A Kids in the Kitchen Zone will see cook-off teams composed of four children (7th grade and below) and one adult competing for awards in categories like Most Creative, Healthiest, Most Unique Ingredient, and more. Don’t miss out on this delicious event! POV

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LOOK TWICE

Find the 9 differences in this photo from our feature story on page 18!

ANSWERS TO JULY:

1. Changed faucet color

4. Removed teapot

7. Changed island color

2. Removed vase

5. Removed cup

8. Added pitcher

3. Added flowers to pot

6. Added floor runner

9. Changed chair color

YOUR SUCCESS STORY

STARTS HERE. LOGOS & BRANDING | DIGITAL MARKETING | PRINT | WEBSITES

9 8 5 - 8 68 -75 15 | reima gin emarket in g .com

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