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Point of Vue Magazine

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Contents

MARCH 2016 • VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 3

Columns:

On the Cover:

10 Editor’s Note

Joy to Come

32 Under the Scope

Grubbing for Grabons

12 PoV Picks

Expert picks to enhance your life

34 Rendezvous

Where you need to be around town

14 DIY

Mason Jar Wall Planter 16 Paws

Training an older dog

36 The Spoon

Make Mine Big Mike’s 38 Bon Appétit

Grilled Herb Pork Chop 40 A Vue from the

The Wine in Spain

Vine

41 Behind the Brew

I’ve Found My Perfect Pint

18 Intervue

Say what?

20 Smarty Pants

For when your thinking cap fails

Channing Candies

Visit us online: povhouma.com

Facebook: /povmagazine

Instagram: @povmag

22 The Vuefinder

Giving Up on Giving Up

Twitter:

24 The Observer

Life in the Middle 26 Volunteer

Janis Bland

Artist Kelly Pierre holds one of his original pieces of art inspired by the vibrantly-hued wildlife of his childhood.

@povmag

Pinterest:

Spotlight

/povmag

Issuu:

28 Oh Snap

Dinner is Served

/rushing-media

42 Chateau

Home tour

Chic

48 I Thee Wed

Celebrating all that it means to say “I do”

Check out our newsletter: Receive additional content and weekly events when you sign up.

TINYURL.COM/POVNEWSLETTER

80 Scene In

Look at ol’ so ‘n’ so!

30 Then & Now

St. Lawrence

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83 Look Twice

Sponsored by Synergy Bank

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Contents

MARCH 2016 • VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 3

Features:

FitLife: FitLife seeks to encourage, educate, and motivate readers to achieve their health and fitness goals

76 74

We Support a Healthier Future Colorectal Cancer

56

Sensory Overload

60

True Colors

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Sensory Solutions helps kids

Artist Kelly Pierre

66

Make Life Happen Emily Sanchez gains a heart

76

Beer Run

78

FitMind

Mahony’s Run Club

Press On

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Editor’s Note

Publisher

Shell Armstrong

Brian Rushing publisher@rushing-media.com

Joy to Come

Editor-in-chief Shell Armstrong editor@rushing-media.com

Creative Director Gavin Stevens gavin@rushing-media.com

Graphic Designers Mariella Brochard Todd Rowan

Sales Manager Deanne Ratliff deanne@rushing-media.com

Circulation Manager Michelle Ortego michelle@rushing-media.com

Subscriptions Point of Vue magazine is published monthly.

Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues. For more information, email mail@rushing-media.com

Fhigh-functioning Asperger’s or, as ull disclosure, my 22-year-old has

the DSM refers to it, autism. Fortunately, she’s on the high end of the spectrum, meaning she’s able to handle her own affairs, communicate easily and enjoy time with friends. She’s in her final semester at Nicholls State University and is doing quite well.

But it hasn’t always been that way.

Benchmarks were always a bit off, b t not alarmingly so. And it was difficult to convince physicians and pre-school providers that something wasn’t right when all they saw was a bright, happy and imaginative young child before them.

Public school was equally frustrating.

Sadly, most of the people we dealt with were more comfortable with labeling the problem ADD and seeking a pharmaceutical solution. Toss in a hurricane, a few geographical moves and it would be nearly high school before someone suggested Asperger’s.

That’s why I nearly wept when I first met Ashley Waguespack. It was incredible to see how far we’ve come to putting 10

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words – not labels – to the challenges many children face. It’s heart-warming to know solutions are within reach and that every youngster can celebrate his or her full potential.

Big life changes are a theme in this month’s Point of Vue. Grand Caillou artist Kelly Pierre left his father’s shrimp business to pursue his passion for painting. The couples in our I Thee Wed bridal section made life-altering changes, to say the least.

And Emily Sanchez, a 21-year-old Lafourche woman, underwent a heart transplant – probably the biggest change of all.

It’s a reminder of how joyous change can be when we’re brave enough to stick our foot out and take the next step. Change is a good thing … don’t believe me, ask a caterpillar. POV

SHELL ARMSTRONG is the

editor of Point of Vue magazine.

This issue’s contributors Photography Jessica Brenner, Channing Candies, Jose Delgado, Cherie Holton, Jacob Jennings, Misty Leigh McElroy, Erica Seely

Writers Dwayne Andras, Shell Armstrong, Lane Bates, Jaime Dishman, John Doucet, Melissa Duet, Dr. J. Michael Flynn, Casey Gisclair, Laura Gros, Cherie Holton, Bonnie Rushing, Hillary Scott

Copyright ©2016 Rushing Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of editorial and/or graphic content is strictly prohibited.

Business address: 6160 West Park Ave., Houma, LA 70364 985.868.7515 Point of Vue magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material such as manuscripts or photographs, with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. The opinions expressed in Point of Vue magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Rushing Media, our employees or any of our advertisers. No employee or family member(s) of employees of Rushing Media are permitted to partake in any contests, giveaways or sweepstakes.

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Picks

Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo amazon.com

Bull Run Jambalaya Mix

Ever get halfway to work and think, “Hmm, I wonder if I turned the coffee pot off?” With WeMo, technology that can power off just about anything you can plug into it or sync with Wi -Fi, worry-wart anxiety is no more. That includes stressing if you want to cook a meal low and slow while you’re gone. The WeMo app syncs with this Crock-Pot, allowing you to adjust the slow cooker’s temperature, turn it on or off and receive notifica ions when dinner is ready, all while sitting in traffic

under-the-weather.com

The Market, Thibodaux; bullruncajunspice.com

Getting caught in a spontaneous afternoon rain shower on the soccer field wi hout an umbrella isn’t exactly a parent’s idea of a day well spent. When the creators of this pop-up protection system bared a 29-degree rainstorm and were so miserable they considered hiding out in a portable restroom, they knew there had to be a better way. These tents are guaranteed to keep users 30 degrees warmer while sitting inside, offering SPF 50 sun protection and resistance against the rain and wind. Need seating for more than one? The SquadPod comes in pairs with the ability to connect as many tents as needed.

There’s nothing better than a steaming pot of homemade jambalaya. When you’re in a time crunch, however, it can be easy to settle for second-best. This Chacahoula-made mix of spices and rice makes dinnertime a cinch and will make your guests think you’ve been slaving away in the kitchen for hours whipping up the family’s top-secret recipe.

Impossible Instant Lab Universal Photo Printer urbanoutfitters.co

Slowly but surely, what’s old is new again. More people are transitioning back to printing their photos and this portable device will do just that. As you’re reminiscing over coffee the morning after your best friend’s wedding, whip out this go-anywhere printer, lay your phone on top and watch that image of the wedding party develop on the spot. The device connects with an app and uses old-school Polaroid film to make your memorable moments live on forever.

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Under the Weather Tents

ezpz Mini Mat ezpzfun.com

New parents often shy away from dinners out with little ones who love to play with their food. This all-in-one suction plate aims to give adults their nights back by making feeding time a little less messy. This miniature version of ezpz’s original Happy Mat, ideal for stashing in diaper bags, sticks to any solid surface, holds in place as tiny fingers snatch snacks and wipes clean. The compartments are even portioned to the appropriate ounces for growing babies. POV

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DIY

Mason Jar Wall Planter

Tissue Paper Pom Poms Clean out your gift-wrapping stash and create these accent pieces perfect for decorating any living space or adding a special touch to any party. Hang in the corner of your kid’s room or dangle from the ceiling at your upcoming St. Patrick’s Day party.

What you need:

• Easy care house plants (ie. Philodendron) or herbs (ie. Basil) • Quart mason jars • Heavy duty all-purpose hose clamps • Nail the size of clamp screw hole

• Screwdriver • Wooden boards • Potting soil • Rocks or gravel

Eoutdoors by putting together this

the clamps to the board. Screw the board to the wall.

Add rocks to the bottom of jar, adding potting soil and the plant on top. Add more potting soil around the plant.

Hold the jar in place and tighten the clamp around it.

njoy spring gardening without going

display, which is not only therapeutic but a great aesthetic accent. Take a piece of wood, lay the clamp on it and hammer the nail into one of the slits in the clamp. After opening the slit, screw

Visit pinterest.com/povmag to find these DIY projects and more!

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Coffee Filter Flowers The more flowers you need, the more expensive it can get. This low-cost option is just the thing for weddings or events where the budget is tight – and they look so good, your guests won’t even know the difference. POV

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CONTACT US FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS povhouma.com

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Paws

I recently adopted an older dog. How should I go about training him?

Pet Tree Houses Make your cat feel right at home with these handcrafted masterpieces that will put pet store tree houses to shame. Cats are able to leap from level to level on the largest of the houses, nestle within the branches on the Deluxe Seedling or stretch and claw on the trunk of a dragonwood tree. An estimated 1,000 cuts are made to shape the wood into intricate, towering feline homes with silk greenery and carpeting added to make each piece as comfortable as possible.

Dto teach your dog a few new tricks.

espite the saying, it’s never too late

Cathy Lee-Stephens, certified dog trainer and owner of local training company Canine Etiquette, says the key is how owners approach the process.

Dogs of any age can benefit from positive training, a method that praises pets for doing something you want them to do, but Cathy says the two age groups that benefit most are older dogs and puppies.

“Adopting of a dog is a very stressful time, and they need gentle guidance as they adapt to their new home. Shock collars and even underground fences can confuse and upset your new family member and often they don’t work,” she explains.

In addition to working with the animal, she says its also critical to set a schedule and give your pet good, nourishing food to ensure they are at their healthiest to learn how you want them to behave in their new surroundings. If owners decide to seek guidance from a pet trainer, Cathy recommends doing research and making sure the trainer is properly certified and is willing to make the experience enjoyable and suited to the dog’s age.

Above all, what makes training successful at any age is a mutual understanding and respect.

“Some rescues come with ‘baggage’ from their lives before you, and you need to learn to understand your dog’s body language and what the animal is telling you it needs,” Cathy explains.

“Dogs talk to us via body language. Your dog is talking. Listen and get someone to help you understand when needed.”

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Pet Acoustics Bluetooth Speakers It can be hard to figu e out what’s stressing out your pet when you rely solely on body language to communicate. With the click of a button, however, this tiny speaker could be just the thing to sooth furry friends. Dogs, cats, birds and horses have their own specific Pet Tunes speaker pre-loaded with scientifica ly-curated tunes tailored to each type of animal’s hearing. Soft, melodic orchestrations calm dogs and cats, while lively beats meant to mimic a bird’s call-and-response nature and a horse’s gait give pets peace of mind all day long.

Fly-Free Zone Collar Pesky flies a e banished from playtime with this perforated collar designed to create a no-fly zone a ound your pooch. Made with natural deterrents, including citronella and cottonseed oil, the collar creates long-lasting protection for your dog’s ears, neck and face. Have a goat, horse or cow? Fly-Free Zone manufactures collars fit for hose guys, too. POV

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Intervue

Kenneth

Celeste Florist

Business Owner

Restauranteur

Graphic Designer

Hair starts growing where it’s not supposed to

You start waking up before the alarm clock goes off

Your idea of a night out is sitting on the deck

You stop fixing your hair

You get excited to get socks for Christmas

Shihtzu because they get spoiled, pampered, and taken care of

Yorkie

Golden retriever

Wild

Pembroke Welsh Corgi, for vertically challenged reasons

Chocolate rabbit

2 foot chocolate bunny with a pink bow

Pecan Eggs

Peanut butter egg

Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs

What picture is on your phone’s lock screen or background?

Me and my wife standing in front of a plane before we took off

My mom

Grandchildren

My kids

A little vector design I made one day

What is the coolest/most unique thing in your house?

My Harley Davidson man cave party room

A 100+ year old light bulb that still works

An antique armoire

My wife

My grandpa’s really old nylon stringed guitar

Sales Manager

You know you’re getting older when ...

If you were a dog, what breed would you be?

Best thing you ever found in your Easter basket as a child.

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Donna

Donald

Ross

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Smarty Pants No Googling!

1

“Friends” was a sitcom that originally aired on NBC from Sept. 22, 1994, until which year?

2

A 2000 B 2002 C 2004 D 2006

3

A Penny Past B Penny Paste C Penny Pound D Penny Black

Which continent has the greatest amount of countries?

4

A Africa B Asia C North America D South America

5

Which of the following periodic elements was discovered first?

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Which actor has not portrayed Batman in a movie?

A Adam West B George Clooney C Ralph Fiennes D Val Kilmer

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What German Baroque composer penned the “Brandenburg Concertos”?

A Johann Sebastian Bach B George Frideric Handel C Johann Friedrich Fasch D Ludwig van Beethoven

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A Sodium B Iodine C Phosphorus D Calcium

7

The birth of the postage stamp dates back to May 1840, when the British issued the first one, which was called the:

Who is credited in U.S. history with first suggesting Daylight Saving Time in 1784?

A Thomas Jefferson B John Adams C John Hancock D Benjamin Franklin

8

In Disney’s 1959 movie “Sleeping Beauty,” the fairy Flora bestows which gift upon the infant Princess Aurora?

A Beauty B Grace C Courage D Song

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The February issue of POV’s Smarty Pants erroneously suggested that President George Washington was the brains behind instant coffee. In fact, George Constant Louis Washington is the creator of instant coffee. We bet our Founding Father would have been delighted if George C.L. Washington had been on hand to pass him a piping hot cup of joe as he made his way across the Delaware. Never mind heat packs, but that’s a Smarty Pants question for another day.

Which team is the lowest seed to ever win “March Madness,” the NCAA championship basketball tournament?

10

A Help B Heart C Head D Hands

A Northwestern B Villanova C Marquette D Kentucky

11

What’s the ballet term for a 360-degree turn on one foot?

12

A Grand jeté B Pirouette C Arabesque D Chassé

13

Everyone knows Bigfoot exists … right? What is the pseudoscience that studies animals whose existence hasn’t been proven?

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A MacBeth B Romeo Rumi C The Tempest D Othello

Who wrote the “Goosebumps” series?

A Anne Rice B R.L. Stine C Edgar Allen Poe D R.J. Conner

Which city is hosting the 2016 Olympic summer games?

A Rio de Janeiro B Beijing C Tokyo D London

A Folkloristics B Zoology C Pseudozoology D Cryptozoology

What board game, featuring black- and white-sided circular pieces, is named after a Shakespearean title character?

The official 4-H emblem is a green four-leaf clover with a white H on each leaf. Which of the following is not represented on the clover?

Well, how’d you do? # Correct IQ

Your Pantsyness:

11-15

160 Pants on Fire

6-10

110 Smarty Pants

1-5

50 Pants on the Ground

0

3

Did You Forget Your Pants?

Answers

1. C 2. D 3. A 4.

A 5. C 6. D 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. A 11. B 12. B 13. D 14. A 15. D

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The Vuefinder Melissa Duet

Giving Up on Giving Up A come and gone and those of us who nd just like that, Fat Tuesday has

prescribe to the Mardi Gras diet all year long can be heard sobbing softly at the thought of having to give up our beloved sweets, yet again.

But this year is different, I told myself recently. I’m not giving up anything. Instead, I’m taking up something, a habit that inflicts just as much pain as passing up the pints whipped up by my pals Ben and Jerry that beckon my attention in the frozen food aisle. For the next 40 days, I have vowed to work out and eat better, a promise that sounded a lot like my resolutions from many, many New Year’s past.

My forays into the wellness world have always been admirable but ultimately abandoned at the first sight of a flashing hot doughnut sign or new frozen coffee concoction. Some wise and well-fed foodie once said, “I’d rather be fat and happy than skinny and sad” and I certainly own that T-shirt. In fact, I’ve got a whole closet full of evidence in a variety of sizes ready to suit whatever feast is planned for the day.

Now, to those who make a living off f chowing down competitively, my diet probably looks tame. I’m not ingesting large pizzas alone night after night or binging on a Sam’s Club-sized box of chips, but don’t think I haven’t considered spinning through the drive-thru for one of everything off he Taco Bell menu. In fact, I was willing to buy and consume an entire king cake by myself

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on Mardi Gras day because the more reasonably-portioned sizes were long gone.

When I turned 25 in January, it was as if overnight, my body went into downward spiral mode and legitimate aches and pains suddenly accompanied the snaps, crackles and pops I used to blame on years of dance classes. As I hobbled to the kitchen one morning, begging my limbs to come back to life, I knew it was time to get serious about this healthy living thing.

The reason most of my previous attempts have crashed and burned has to do with the fact that no one ever gave me a good reason to put down the cake in favor of carrot sticks. Sure, carrots are fine but they taste way better in a ginger-infused slice slathered with vanilla icing.

I need to know what makes certain things good for you and why running at a variety of intervals is believed to burn more calories than a steady jog. I need to know the names and characteristics of the substances manufacturers are polluting our food with and what happens when we repeatedly consume those nasty ingredients. Why should I choose extensive prep time when a fivecourse meal is available at the drop of a “How can we serve you today?”

“Healthy” food is usually pretty nasty, too. Like wet cardboard nasty. Why stomach bland veggies and previously unknown grains I can’t even pronounce when I can just turn the novel-length

ingredient list on that box of Cheez-Its around and act like it’s not there?

Lent seemed as good a time as any, however, to get serious about making a change, at least for 40 days. So far, this change consists mostly of saving links to recipes I have every intention of trying before settling for yet another salad and partaking in whatever torturous exercise is on the night’s schedule.

There’s a very real reason why fitness junkies are a tiny sector of the world’s population. It’s hard and it’s not very fun. But with every sliver of lettuce I eat, there’s a glimmer of hope. It doesn’t last, but it tastes like a step in the right direction and one step is all it takes to kick those bad habits once and for all. POV

MELISSA DUET is a writer for

Rushing Media. She is now accepting invitations to children’s birthday parties and strangers’ wedding receptions, as special occasions are the exception to the less-sugar rule.

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The Observer Jaime Dishman

Life in the Middle Tson. He’s right smack in the middle

onight, I layed down with my middle

of our family. Two in front of him and two behind him. The truest middle child if there ever was one.

When he went to bed, he asked if I would lie with him for “just a few minutes.” It’s his usual request, one I can’t grant every night. He followed it with, “I want to talk with you.”

And that’s where he had me. With the “I want to talk” line. I’ll lie there all night if you’ll talk to me, son. If you’ll tell me more than two sentences about your day, if you’ll tell me why you were so angry earlier, if you’ll tell me what it feels like to be 9 with your whole life in front of you.

Because honestly, I can’t remember what it feels like to be 9. I don’t even know that I can remember more than one or two events from that entire year of my life.

So I lay down with him for a few minutes in the bottom bunk bed, as he told me of the book he was reading, his soccer practice and why his sisters aggravate him so much.

Nothing important, but it was his world. And I felt honored to be a part for the few minutes I lay there, listening.

Our day together hadn’t been smooth.

It was one of our hardest in a while.

But somehow, his stories at the end made everything seem a little better.

And maybe he really wanted me to lie down and listen all day long. Maybe his anger from earlier was his 9-year-old way of saying, “Pay attention to me.

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Make me your world. Can we pretend like we don’t have anything to do or anywhere to go?”

Time stands still at the bottom of a bunk bed.

We lay side by side, looking at the underneath of the top bunk. He’s asleep now, and I wish I could go back and listen again. I’m so afraid that it’ll all be gone before I know it, and I’ll lie there by myself, wishing I could hear him talk about his day just one more time.

Our day had been filled mostly with me talking. Lecturing. Threatening.

But when I lay side by side with him, we’re equal. One heart listening, while the other heart talks. The years between us fade, and I can almost imagine being in third grade again. When he tells me about his broken lead pencil, I get it.

When you’re in third grade, a broken lead pencil is the worst.

He finishes talking, and waits. I don’t really have anything to say that seems to matter. I want to whisper into his heart.

I have nothing to say, yet everything.

When does a boy stop asking his mamma to lay with him for a few minutes to talk?

So many things they tell you are important wind up not being as important as they said.

No one told me my greatest moments would have nothing to do with grades, scholarships, achievements, job positions or success.

The moments I wish I could go back and relive are these. I would do anything to go back just a few hours in time and lie there again. Hear one more broken lead pencil story.

I want to tell him to spend time with the people he loves. I want to tell him that good grades are good, but gratitude is better. Scoring goals is great, but helping an opponent up will really make you a winner. Be kinder than you think you need to be.

But I don’t say anything. Instead, we both just stare at the underneath of his brother’s bunk bed for a while. Maybe silence sometimes communicates more than our millions of words ever will.

Because he looked at me, and smiled.

“It was a good day, wasn’t it, mom?”

“Why yes. Yes it was.” POV

JAIME DISHMAN has five chi -

dren. It sometimes feels like too many, and other times, not nearly enough.

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Volunteer Spotlight Channing Candies

Janis Bland

Nominate Someone!

To submit someone who’s doing incredible things, email us at EDITOR@RUSHING-MEDIA.COM

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center Auxiliary

BBland dons her pink volunteer

right and early each Tuesday, Janis

jacket and heads to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center to lend a hand to those who work and visit the bustling hospital.

Her volunteer efforts are an extension of the services she provided during her long tenure as an employee of the medical center.

Janis spent more than 30 years working as a Licensed Practical Nurse within the hospital’s diabetes program before retiring eight years ago. After a year of rest and relaxation, she was eager to get involved again and opted to join Thibodaux Regional’s Auxiliary, a group 26

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of devoted women and men who have been giving their time in nearly every part of the hospital since 1962.

Most days begin at 7 a.m. in the internal care unit, where Janis tidies the kitchen, makes the first pot of coffee and welcomes family members who arrive to visit loved ones. By mid-morning, she heads to the education center where she creates reminders and newsletters to send to those involved in the diabetes program.

As part of the Auxiliary, Janis also helps organize two annual fundraisers – jewelry shows that generate money for various hospital requests. From buying

equipment to purchasing the piano that greets every guest at the main entrance, the Auxiliary has made a host of purchases over the years to help Thibodaux Regional function at the highest level possible.

Whatever the task, for Janis, it’s all about serving others.

“The first and foremost thing is that you have a love for people and you want to serve your community,” she explains.

“This is an area where you can do both of them. (Patients and visitors) have issues that come up and you can try to comfort them or talk to them or help them in whatever way you can.” POV

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Oh Snap Dinner is Served Paradegoers score the makings of a hearty meal as they catch delicious loot from fl at riders during the annual Irish Italian Parade in Houma.

Misty Leigh McElroy povhouma.com

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Then & Now

St. Lawrence Chacahoula, LA

KCatholique de Saint

nown locally as “Leglise

Laurent,� this petite white church is a historic gem situated along the winding Bull Road Road in Chacahoula.

The present church was built in 1911, making it one of the oldest in the Diocese of

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Houma-Thibodaux. In 1998, the congregation of St. Patrick in Gibson merged with the congregation of St. Lawrence.

The unified churches took on the name of St. Lawrence the Martyr, marking the first merge of its kind for the diocese to date. POV

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Under the Scope John Doucet

Grubbing for Grabons I papère cleaning fish. One day out in

have vivid childhood memories of my

the back shed, he had an assortment of fresh-smelling fish on the tabletop. He would sharpen his special knife against a file and then proceed to surgically remove perfect filets for Maw-Maw either to fry or pack under a layer of water to freeze in repurposed gallon ice cream tubs. Papère’s surgical skills were efficient and quick to protect as much “fresh” as possible. One particular type of fish was last to undergo filet-ectomy because so much care was needed to remove all the splinters. These fish were stout and black-striped animals with hideous, human-like teeth.

“Don’t clean dat!” Maw-Maw would say. “I don’t eat dat. Dat eats des grabons.”

“Mais, dat don’t matter!” Papère answered indignantly. “It taste good!”

Many cycles of “Mais non!” and “Mais yeah!” ensued, unnerving the yard ducks to quack incessantly and causing them to withhold laying new eggs for a week or so to come. Then, suddenly, Papère skipped his turn in the bickering and instead winked to me. We both knew that if Maw-Maw wasn’t going to fry the ugly fish for supper, then he would.

Those black-striped fish were sheephead. And the reason that they have big, hideous teeth is so that they can eat anything. Maw-Maw didn’t like to eat them because part of their natural diet is barnacles (grabons). Right across La. Highway 1 from her front porch in Golden Meadow were a couple of boat docks

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supported by a dozen or so creosote pilings that were covered with barnacles.

The thought of ingesting bits of black tar or shards of rust from the hulls of the many boats that crossed the bayou every day must have been too much for her to palate that splintery fish.

In general, however, sheephead have an excellent shellfish diet, consuming enough vitamins and omega-3s to make their primary care fish happy.

Although barnacles apparently disgusted my grandmother, they have fascinated people for centuries. Cute and pudgy little animals secure and content in their comfort-fitting chitinous shells, calmly flailing their feathery arms not only to catch the constant waves but also to catch healthy meals of microscopic organisms that float by. Living off the water, fully protected, never having to relocate homes, and never having to call or wait for fast food delivery. Add an iPad and a data plan and I’m there.

More famous people were there as well. Charles Darwin was so enthralled by these unique critters that he wrote and illustrated entire books on them.

James Joyce was smitten with a critter named Norah Barnacle. He married her, and she inspired his great novel, Ulysses.

Even SpongeBob SquarePants has a critter friend who’s a retired crime-fighting superhero named Barnacle Boy. And history tells of a one-time Greek king of questionable composure who would wear a barnacle-shaped limestone swimming apparatus to spend whole days at a time flailing his arms at the

Aegean surf. But that’s probably just something the Trojans made up.

So maybe it’s not these docile and innocuous critters themselves that caused Maw-Maw’s sheepishness toward sheepheads. Maybe it’s this: I remember Papère telling me an unbrotherly story about his older brother who was so cheap that when his teeth fell out as an old man he refused to go to the dentist.

Instead, he began to wear the lips and teeth of a sheephead so that he could eat. My great-uncle soon began behaving like a sheephead, too: a hankering for hard-shelled crabs, oysters on the whole shell and barnacles off he piling, which he would crunch with his fish dentures and wash down with little gulps of bayou water.

I recently came to remember these stories because this time of year is particularly good for sheephead fishing.

But as the weather warms up, you gotta get out of the lakes and bayous to find them. You gotta throw some shrimp and popping corks offshore but near the coast. This is where you’ll find sheephead having fun this month. Barnacles beware! March is peak spawning season for sheephead.

I don’t even want to imagine that my great-uncle knew that. POV

JOHN DOUCET is the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Nicholls State University.

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Rendezvous Want us to include your event in our calendar?

Shoot an email to editor@rushing-media.com and we’ll help spread the word.

A Night for Goodness Sake

K.I.M.‘s Playhouse Eggstravaganza

The Chabert Medical Center Foundation hosts this annual benefit in support of the Houma-based hospital. The night includes live music, a premium bar, silent and live auctions and food from Houma’s top restaurants. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. Parking is available on St. Charles Street near Taco Bell with limo service to the event.

Children of all ages can enjoy a day of Easter-themed activities at this seventh annual event. Activities include crafts, pictures with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, hayrides and more. An Easter outfit and hat contest is held at 2 p.m. and an egg hunt begins at 3 p.m.

Admission is free; tickets may be purchased for activities. Proceeds benefit Kids In Motion Playhouse Discovery Mobile Museum.

Friday, March 11, 6:30-10 p.m.

Where: 5 Glen Oaks Drive, Houma

Contact: 985.209.6327, facebook.com/kimsdis-

Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne Trivia Night

Arts Walk

p.m.

The Houma-based theatre hosts this inaugural event to support the renovations of its building. Trivia is from a variety of categories and celebrity readers lead the contest. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Cost is $150 for a six-person team. All participants must be 18 or older.

Where: Evergreen Cajun Center, Houma Contact: houmalittletheatre.com

Friday, March 18, 5-8 p.m.

Take a stroll through historic Downtown Thibodaux for this annual display of original artwork. Local artists are on-hand to mingle with attendees and live music is provided to entertain crowds.

Where: Downtown Thibodaux Contact: 985.413.9886

53rd Annual Spring Art Show

March 20 - April 5

Snag unique throws during this annual parade to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The parade begins at Cannata’s on West Park Avenue and follows the west side parade route onto Main Street, finishing at Town Hall.

Contact: 985.637.3401

Contact: 985.851.2198 POV

Sunday, March 13, 12 p.m.

Where: Houma Westside

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coveryplayhouse

Local artists may show off heir best work at this annual art show and competition hosted by the Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild. Those wishing to register may do so at Gallery 360 March 16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Entries are displayed during regular business hours, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., through April 5.

Irish Italian Parade

March 2016

Where: Ardoyne Plantation, Schriever

Contact: 985.688.7111, samhotard1@gmail.com

Saturday, March 12, Doors: 5:30 p.m., Game: 6:30

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Sunday, March 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Downtown Art Gallery 630, Houma

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The Spoon

Make Mine Big Mike’s Tfamily and friends tend to be shared he most casual meals shared with

around a barbecue grill.

The Saints reaching the Super Bowl.

Post-graduation celebrations. Birthdays, homecomings and reunions. The charcoal was hot, the beer cold and the conversation fluid.

That’s the same experience I’ve had at Big Mike’s BBQ Smokehouse dating back to his days in the old Tastee Donuts store on Barrow Street. Fire claimed that cramped eatery, but Mike and Judith Lewis regrouped and, with the community steadfastly in their corner, set out to reopen further down the road.

It’s a roomier spot open to an array of wooden tables, a few booths and, along one side wall, a raised setup for single diners that easily converts to a stage for some of the region’s hottest live blues on occasion. And, one of my favorite parts, the walls include framed posters of blues musicians, roadside ads for old-time barbecue joints and messages from regulars and visitors who’ve passed through Big Mike’s doors. (Note to self: next time, bring a Sharpie!)

Big Mike’s has since become a staple in a region that loves its Cajun cuisine.

And it was with that in mind that my guests and I went out one late Saturday evening to enjoy great barbecue.

The abundant menu teamed with the tantalizing smell of smoked meats and the sight of cooks chopping away at huge portions of ribs, chicken and sausage right before customers’ eyes makes it a challenge to decide on one item.

Fortunately, Big Mike’s has a solution with the BBQ Pit Plates, which include a Tri-Plate and Smokehouse Double, 36

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which allow guests to choose three or two of the meats Mike’s got on the grill: spare ribs, brisket, sausage, pulled pork, shrimp or a chicken leg or breast.

Normally, turkey is on the list, too. But post-Thanksgiving, gobblers have been in short supply.

My guests opted for the two platters ($14 and $12.95, respectively) so they could try a sampling of everything. Each of the meats was flavorful, moist, delicious and ample. Big Mike’s immediately scored two new converts. Add a side of barbecue baked beans – with bite-sized meats mixed in and that hint of brown sugar soaked into the sauce, some down South green beans and a loaded baked potato (the potato alone could have served as an entire meal) and we found a winner.

Likewise, the barbecued shrimp was a hit. Six medium-sized, peeled shrimp cooked over a fire and served hot aside a serving of fall-off- he-bone baby back ribs … yum yum. Perfectly seasoned and smoked, the entrees, including my chicken and sausage, were a hit around the table.

On the heels of that meat fest, we decided to give dessert a try. The Sweet Potato Pie ($3) was a creamy delight.

But the Bread Pudding with White Chocolate and Rum Sauce ($3.50) was to die for. Big Mike’s scores again.

If it’s a homey, unrushed setting, fantastic barbecue and service second to none, Big Mike’s Smokehouse is head and shoulders above the rest. And if you go on the right night, you can enjoy a side of live blues at the joint. POV

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Bon Appétit Hillary Scott

Grilled Herb Pork Chop with Cherry Wine Reduction Wsonal ingredients. Cherries are always high on my list

hen spring arrives, I go on the hunt for my favorite sea-

and pair well with pork, always popular with my family back in Texas. When spring turns to summer and fresh cherries aren’t as plentiful, you can easily substitute with frozen cherries to achieve the flavors that’ll have your family requesting seconds.

What You’ll Need 4 pork loin chops 1 T. minced fresh rosemary 1 t. salt, additional to taste 1 t. freshly ground black pepper, additional to taste 1 t. finely minced garlic 3 T. unsalted butter 1 T. minced shallot 1 cup fresh cherries, stemmed, pitted and halved 1/2 cup fruity red wine (Zinfandel)

How To Make It Pat chops dry and rub a mixture of the rosemary, salt, pepper and garlic.

Cover and marinate for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Bring the chops to room temperature before grilling.

Heat one side of a grill, and put the rack about 4 inches from the heat. Cook the chops over the hottest part, 3-4 minutes per side. Move the chops to the cool part of the grill, cover and cook until done.

Transfer the chops to a platter and cover with foil.

Put 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the shallots; cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the cherries, wine and any juices around the chops. Stir occasionally until the liquid reduces to a thin syrup. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of cold butter into the sauce. Season chops with salt and pepper and pour sauce on top. POV HILLARY SCOTT, a graduate of Nicholls State University’s Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, has worked for Nestle Toll House, Foundry on the Bayou, Weeping Willow Café and Restaurant R’Evolution, among other pubs and restaurants. A native of Allen, Texas, Hillary is currently pursuing her master’s in education at Nicholls.

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A Vue from the Vine Lane Bates

The Wine in Spain Sworld. Like Australia, it is amazing to experience the qualpain produces as many value wines as anywhere in the

ity of wines shipped across the sea, and at such great prices.

Here are a few value-priced selections from Spain:

Bodegas Franco Bordón Reserva Rioja 2009 – $15.99 Wine Spectator Rating: 91

This super value Rioja Bordón hails from the superb 2009 vintage, maybe the best in the past 10 years or so. It is soft, subtle and easy drinking with focused, harmonious flavors of cherry and spice. This is not a big, brawny wine, but it does have great intensity and length with good structure and light tannins.

It is good now or it will easily hold up for the next six or seven years.

Cellars Can Blau Montsant 2013 – $11.99 Wine Spectator Rating: 88

This Can Blau hails from the lesser-known Montsant region, and is another great example of what Spain has to offer. This full-bodied, yet easy drinking, well-balanced red has flavors of cherry, cola and spice. It has great acidity and subtle tannins with spicy flavors that sail on to the finish.

Drink it now or over the next several years.

11,000 cases made.

Bodegas Ateca Old Vines 2013 – $14.99 Wine Spectator Rating: 88

From Calatayud, the Bodegas Ateca is among the many smaller Spanish regions that produce exceptional wines. Th s full-bodied, dense red offers rich flavors of cherry, blackberry and anise. It’s mouthfeel is thick and heavy, but simultaneously has soft tannins that linger.

This wine is drinkable now or over the next five years.

5,500 cases made. POV

LANE BATES is the wine and spirits specialist

at Cannata’s. Feel free to visit him to find ou more. Or call 985.209.9762 or email him at LANEBATES@CANNATAS.COM. 40

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Behind the Brew Dwayne Andras

I’ve Found My Perfect Pint Felusive perfect pint of beer.

or the past 20-plus years, I have been on a quest to find the

The journey began when I concluded I wanted more selection than the three major beer brands had to offer in the 1980s in Louisiana. Coors, Miller and Budweiser were the main choices of the day.

The fix: homebrewing.

Homebrewing wasn’t as easy then as it is today. There were no Internet groups, apps for recipes or online brewing supply shops to access. Everything was old school – it required wordof-mouth tips and cooks.

But, luckily for friends and family, I was able to produce some very drinkable, if not very good, beer … but not the perfect pint.

Fast forward a few years into my quest, the nation’s craft beer market began to grow. I sampled great, new styles of beers when I traveled across the USA. With each sip, my interest deepened and I began to research the science behind the brewing process.

Despite tasting some of the highest rated beers in the U.S. and around the globe – Piney the Younger, Heady Topper, Bourbon Country Brand Coffee Stout and even Westvleteren 12, a Belgium export once rated No. 1 in the world – the perfect pint had still evaded my grasp.

Until the final week of January 2016; the week my father passed away.

I realized the reason why I hadn’t found the perfect pint of beer. Turns out I had already enjoyed it. It was as a teen, the first time I shared a beer with my dad’s dad. It may have been a Miller pony or a can of Schlitz. It doesn’t matter. What is important is the people we share beers with. Those special moments make each pint perfect in their own way.

It is sad it took me all this time to realize that I had enjoyed the perfect pint of beer all along, but I know the lesson will not be forgotten.

Cheers, Dad … POV

DWAYNE ANDRAS is a home brewer and self-taught

beer expert in continuous search of the perfect pint. Chat with him about your favorite brew at DWAYNE.ANDRAS@GMAIL.COM.

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Chateau Chic Bonnie Rushing Erica Seely

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A

B

Thouse online and was inspired by its style

atum Arcement saw a photograph of a pool

and size. She and her sister-in-law sat down and sketched the house she would call home after a year of planning and another year and half of construction.

Tatum opted for a house with quality versus quantity. Its size is just right for her. The two-bedroom, one-bath 1,408-square-foot home is packed with personality and passion. povhouma.com

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C “I just love it because when I look around, every part of that house is me, from the locks, to the kitchen sink, to the door knobs, to the lights. There is a memory for me in every single thing in it. This place gives me a great sense of accomplishment in completing it,” Tatum says.

One neutral color was used throughout the entire home – including on the 12-foot ceilings, which makes the dwelling feel open and sizable. Antique pine flooring is used throughout, except in the washroom and bathroom, where marble replaces wood. The doors and transoms in Tatum’s home are antique cypress rescued from old buildings and homes in the New Orleans area.

Likewise, the locks and hardware on the doors are, in large part, antiques.

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F Tatum’s eclectic style blends antiques with modern furnishings and accessories, creating a unique space that feels old and new. Plans for the front and backyards are still in the works. And Tatum is thoroughly enjoying using her creativity to create spaces that are uncommon and personal. POV

G

A Kitchen B Accent Wall C Bedroom D Bedroom E Bathroom F Living Room G Exterior 46

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CHIC PEEK DIY

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Visual Comfort Fixture VALLEY SUPPLY 985.872.1431 Visual Comfort is one of the leading lighting companies in higher end lighting fixtures.

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SUPREME ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKS 985.526.0056 Customize your home with a New Orleans style wrought iron stair rail.

Create your dream kitchen — Real innovations for real cooks!

Indoor/Outdoor Décor GREEN ACRES NURSERY & GIFT SHOP 985.447.6771 Enhance your home and yard for Spring.

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wed I thee

HE GOT DOWN ON ONE KNEE, YOU SAID “YES,” and just like that … you’re a bride! Planning a wedding is an exciting time and having the right tools and tips to make each piece of the dream day come together is key.

This special section is filled with expert tips, a few organizing tools and even a walk down lover’s lane for the sake of celebrating all that it means to say “I do.” Cheers to a wonderful wedding and an even greater marriage.

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Point of Vue Magazine

Jessica Brenner

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I THEE WED

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I THEE WED

with this ring

Abby Thibodaux Stephen Morris

+

Cindy Morris

Mo and I met at what used to be called Confederate Memorial Medical Center, which is now LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. I was an R.N. in the Emergency Department and Mo was an intern. That is where we shared our first kiss on Christmas Day in 1976 … under the mistletoe!

He would always leave me notes on my car when we were dating. When he proposed, he wrote a note asking me to marry him and left it on my car window. Thirty-nine years later, he still likes to joke and say he put it on the wrong car.

Today, Mo is still working in orthopaedics and I have changed professions to photography. Our greatest accomplishment is our family. We have three daughters, Megan, Caitlin and Kelsey; a son-in-law, Jeffery; along with our granddaughter, Vera. There is no way to accurately describe the joy they have added to our lives.

When you’re young and getting married, you think about life and about what will happen in the next 10 years or so … not necessarily almost 40 years later. Having grown children and grandchildren are rewards we really didn’t imagine.

Marriage is an ongoing project that is worth working on.

That person becomes such a part of you that you can’t imagine being without.

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+

Buddy Trauth

One day after work, we had plans to see a movie. I don’t know how this didn’t set off n alarm because Buddy hates to go to the movies and he thinks all of the “Taken” films are the same. At any rate, he pitched that we have this movie night on a random weekday, Sept. 3, 2015.

As soon as I got home from work, I found Buddy “napping.”

My first reaction was to yell at him to get up because I cooked dinner that we had to eat before the movie. After making him shovel his food down and yelling, “I’m not your momma!” when he asked me to iron his shirt, we headed to the theater.

(Now I know I really should’ve ironed that shirt and been a little nicer).

We sat down in the first row of the same theater that we had our first date. As the movie was about to start, Lee Brice’s “I Don’t Dance” came on with a slideshow of Buddy and I from the past five years. I was a little nervous because THIS couldn’t possibly be happening ... NOW ... in the middle of the week ... in front of all these random strangers.

After the last slide, Buddy dropped to one knee ...

COULDN’T find my ring, then found it somewhere in his jean pocket and popped the question. The crowd clapped and cheered and I apologized for taking their time until I looked up to realize it was ONLY my family and friends in the audience. My entire family from down the bayou and even my old college friends were there. We celebrated with everyone at The Bulldog after and are finally coming up to our big day on June 4.

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I THEE WED

Ariel Matherne

+

Cody Plaisance

Cody and I have been together since September 2012. We were always friends and had gone on dates on two separate occasions in high school, but never hit it off. I uess it is true, the third time is a charm.

We had discussed marriage a few times over the years and it was well known that it would eventually happen, but I just never knew when. On New Year’s Eve, I was supposed to work, but ended up taking myself off he schedule and by doing so, I messed up Cody and our families’ plans to work on the big surprise. I spent the day at my mom’s house writing addresses for my sister’s wedding, not knowing I was also gathering addresses for my own! My mom and sister tried convincing me I did not have to work on them that day, but I insisted.

I eventually went home to get ready for a New Year’s Eve party at Cody’s parents’ house. Cody left before me to go “hang out with the guys,” while I waited for his mom to pick me up. When we arrived at the house, I brought the food and drinks inside and I noticed that no one was in the house. I put on some 2016 glasses I had for the occasion and, when I walked out of the back door to look for everyone, suddenly everything lit up. I saw Cody on his knee holding a ring box, and a giant sign that read, “ARIEL, MARRY ME?” in lights. I looked around and saw all of our family and friends smiling and laughing. My first thought was, “What is going on?” Then I thought, “Oh my gosh, why did I put these ridiculous glasses on?!” I immediately became emotional once I realized what was happening. I was in such shock, I forgot to say “YES” until his brother yelled, “Well? What’s it going to be?”

The twist to the story is that about 10 minutes after Cody proposed, half of Raceland lost electricity. He’s lucky he proposed when he did!

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Mary Edrington

+

Nick Edrington

My husband, Nick, and I were married nine months after we met.

We met when he was in the Marine Corps stationed in California. Nick had signed up to be a Marine Embassy Guard before and when the orders came down for him to go, I had a Zippo lighter engraved with an EGA (eagle, globe and anchor) and “Love, Mary” on the back. The engraver had the idea to add a tiny “me” below my name so it read, “Mary me,” a little play on words.

I gave him the lighter along with a silver ring and nervously laughed as I read the engraving to him and got down on one knee. I was serious but knew he had to keep his commitment.

Embassy guard duty is a 3-year, unaccompanied tour and he had signed a contract not to marry. He left his favorite boots with the promise to return in three years.

Nick left for training in Quantico, Virginia, calling me when he could. It quickly became evident that he wanted to come home and marry me. He called and said, “Hey, were you serious when you said you wanted to marry me?” I told him that I was and he dropped from the program, returned to California and we secretly eloped right away.

We planned a big wedding for our family and friends to attend, but unfortunately he deployed to Iraq a month before the day. He served two combat tours before coming home for good.

We now have three beautiful children and will celebrate our 14th anniversary this summer. Our proposal and wedding are not at all what I pictured as a young girl, but being together and marrying my best friend far outweighed a fancy party and a big dress. POV

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I THEE WED

tricks of the trade In be no battle over who makes it on the guest list, the menu

a perfect world, planning a wedding would be a cinch. There’d

wouldn’t have to be narrowed from a dizzying array of appetizers and entrees and the perfect dress would be the first one you try on.

For most of us, however, putting the big day together comes with at least one or two headaches.

To help keep your wedding woes at bay, Bridget Williams of Southern Belle Events LLC shares her best advice on where to start and how to make the journey to the altar truly enjoyable.

HERE’S A SIMPLE VERSION OF BRIDGET’S BUDGET BREAKDOWN TO HELP YOU GET STARTED:

MONEY MATTERS

First off, congratulations!

You need to establish your budget and discuss who is contributing – whether you are paying for the wedding yourselves, your parents are helping or whatever the arrangements. Work out a simple budget breakdown to help show you where and how your money will be spent.

PICK ‘EM

Once you have that settled, sit down as a couple and pick the three most important aspects of your wedding. Maybe it’s the ceremony and reception locations, food, an open bar or the flowers. Identifying the things you hold dear will help you determine where you want to spend the majority of your money and where you are OK with cutting back.

WHO MAKES THE CUT?

Once you have prepared a budget and chosen your most important parts of the day, then sit down and make a rough draft of your guest list. This will help ensure the budget you set is realistic or whether you need to adjust your guest list or budget. POV

Estimated C ost CE R EM O NY: R EC EP TI O N: AT TIR E & B E AU FL O W ER S:

Actual C ost

TY:

M U SI C: P H O TO S & VID STAT IO N AR Y:

EO :

G S: W ED D IN G R IN O N & H O TE L: TR AN SP O R TATI G IF TS : H O NE YM O O N:

BRIDGET WILLIAMS, a big city

girl married to a country boy, is the owner of Southern Belle Events LLC. Her company offers a variety of wedding planning services, as well as coordination of parties, showers and more.

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southern wedding traditions

Tradition runs deep in the South, and weddings are no exception.

GROOM’S CAKES

CAKE PULLS

SEERSUCKER

While the mention of a groom’s cake always brings to mind the infamous red velvet armadillo with grey icing from “Steel Magnolias,” groom’s cakes can actually be traced back to Victorian times. Formerly decorated by the groom and his attendants, groom’s cakes are now a gift from the bride and showcase a talent or hobby. Alma maters, fishing and hunting themes are most popular.

Some brides forego the cake idea entirely, and instead serve the groom’s favorite treat, such as donuts, candy or popcorn.

The cake pull also gets its roots from Victorian times. While tradition calls for the bride’s single female family members and friends to participate, modern brides may ask anyone they wish to pull a silver charm from the wedding cake’s bottom layer. Each pull charm has a special meaning, like an anchor for adventure, fleur-de-lis for love and the ring, an indicator that the recipient will be the next to marry.

Southern groom’s attire need not be only black tie. For spring and summer weddings, one can often find the groom and his groomsmen in light colored and breathable fabrics, such linen or seersucker.

THE HANDKERCHIEF There’s nothing sweeter than a cherished memento passed from generation to generation. Originally intended for men to carry in their pocket, the handkerchief has found new life as often-monogrammed keepsakes passed between mother and daughter.

marriage must-haves ARTHUR COURT PEWTER OYSTER TRAY

RETURN ADDRESS STAMP

Sign, seal and deliver your thank you notes with a custom stamp showing off your new last name.

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LIVE WEDDING PAINTING

Bella Cosa Fine Gifts

Never forget that memorable night with a handcrafted piece for your living space.

649 Corporate Drive, Suite A&B, Houma

Tracy Wisehart-Plaisance

985.868.1944

Etsy.com 54

Fine servingware is a memorable gift for any newlywed and this intricately-crafted pewter serving tray is no exception. Exclusively at Bella Cosa Gifts, the handmade dish is ideal for serving appetizers during a dinner party and can be chilled or put in the oven at 350 degrees.

tracywisehart-plaisance.com POV

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Shell Armstrong Jacob Jennings

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S E N S O R Y

Tmindful of the texture of the tiny Dole wo-year-old Jacob wrinkles his nose,

peach cube he’s chewing.

“Yum, yum, yum!” Ashley Waguespack enthusiastically cheers. The toddler’s mom Mary, sitting cross-legged on the floor nearby, claps and mimics Jacob’s therapist. “Yummy!”

Jacob sets his spoon beside the fruit cup, swallows and joins the clapping.

It’s a big celebration for a small step, the first of many in Jacob’s young life.

At 2, the autistic child has a food aversion.

His preferred meals consist of Banquet dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and turkey hot dogs – both made at home only – dry cereal, graham crackers and, in a pinch, junk foods.

“We just spent a week in Disney World and all he would eat was popcorn and Fruit Loops,” Mary says.

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O V E R L O A D

If not for Jacob’s current diet, “he’d starve,” Ashley says.

Ashley has a special affinity for the children she sees at her Thibodaux practice, Sensory Solutions. Children arrive with a full spectrum of concerns – ranging from food aversions to attention issues to visual/perceptual concerns to autism – problems few understood or had suggestions to handle not that long ago.

“They may scream when they get dressed; they can’t stand to brush their teeth; or they only eat five foods; they can’t go to sleep at night or stay asleep at night; or they are not potty training,” Ashley says. “All of these things are in the scope of what an occupational therapist can look at.”

Just like adults, she explains, children have an occupation. “Two- to 5 year olds’ main

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Signs occupational therapy may help occupation is to play. If they are not playing as a child, they are missing out on a huge part of their development.”

Ashley’s interest in sensory integration issues can be traced back to a lecture at Louisiana State University where she was training to become an occupational therapist. When she heard about work Dr. Anna Jean Ayres began in the 1950s, she immersed herself in learning more – even training at Ayres’ Southern California clinic for several months.

“At that point, there was nobody in the Houma-Thibodaux area doing sensory integration therapy,” Ashley says.

In 2013, she opened shop in the Cherry Building.

The dynamic blue and red hues teemed with swings, a huge carpeted ball bin, rope ladders and oversized tire inner tubes resemble a play haven, but each piece – down to a bin filled to the brim with red beans – serves a therapeutic purpose.

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strength and body coordination as they pull themselves back up the ramp.

“That heavy work is really organizing for a child,” Ashley explains.

Children sensitive to touch are exposed to a variety of textures. That red bean bin, for instance, can be used to hide objects that they must find. Or the mirror, sprayed with a dab of foam, provides a perfect space to draw or stick objects.

For youngsters, the process is fun, but the work is vital to assisting them in developing life skills and confidence.

“What’s so awesome about working from a sensory processing standpoint is it is a very brainstem place to start with developing organization, attention, focus and connection with another person. Everything builds from that,” Ashley says.

Wins are small to outside observers but huge to families at the epicenter of sensory issues. “I am overjoyed when someone tells me they were able to go as a family to a restaurant to eat or a movie (while their child wears) noise-cancelling headphones. That’s life … that’s getting to enjoy their life again.” POV

• Difficu ty with cutting, writing, manipulating clothing fasteners or feeding oneself.

• Difficu ty completing puzzles or matching col ors, shapes or sizes.

• Overly sensitive or under reactive to touch, movement, sights, sounds, tastes or smells.

• Difficu ty playing with age appropriate toys.

• Difficu ty tolerating a prone (on stomach) position.

• Appears clumsy or akward.

• Difficu ty with gross motor functioning, sitting upright in their desk or playing on a play ground.

• Does not demonstrate established hand dominance.

• Difficu ty focusing attention (or over-focused) and unable to shift to the next task.

• Activity level that is unusually high or low.

• Difficu ty following instructions.

• Difficu ty making transitions from one situation to another.

• Impulsive, lack of self control or inability to unwind or calm one’s self.

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TRUE COLORS

Melissa Duet

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Channing Candies

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A small white metal bucket filled with paint bottles sits at Kelly Pierre’s feet as he methodically puts the finishing touches on a piece he spent most of the night before toiling over.

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A cabin-style home similar to the thatched-roof house he says his grandmother lived in sits at the forefront of the canvas; a murky bayou runs nearby. The details are so precise, so intricate that observers can almost hear the rustle of the tall grass, the chirp of hidden songbirds and the distant ripple of the water lapping the banks as a boat approaches.

It’s a scene straight out of a collection of memories from the artist’s south-Louisiana soaked family history, which has been infused into the work he crafts today. After all, what better imagery is there to paint than those inspired by real events?

Kelly was raised just like any other Grand Caillou youngster.

Time was split between school homework and learning the family business aboard his dad’s shrimp boat, a lifestyle that brought him face-to-face with the vibrantly-hued wildlife that hangs in living rooms and over dining room tables all over the country today. povhouma.com

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Want to see more of Kelly Pierre’s work?

Visit his website at www.truecolorsstudio.org

“Just like everybody else, I started with Crayolas,” Kelly says as he stands among a handful of his original works, pieces he often carries with him as he travels, setting up shop at various businesses that have offered him a spot to work any time he’s in town. “I noticed that all kids liked to draw and color. The only difference was in art contests, I would win or, sometimes I didn’t, but I never gave up. It didn’t matter if I won a contest or not. I just really enjoyed drawing so much that it was what I wanted to do all the time.”

Aboard his dad’s boat, Kelly helped scrub the deck or keep things tidy, but when fishing slowed, he’d find a quiet spot and draw what he saw. Birds, turtles, dolphins all made their way to his notepad and, soon, he became curious about what lurked below the water’s surface and began focusing attention on the changing colors of the fish swimming by.

Being out on the open water was inspiring.

It played a large part in Kelly’s decision to eventually leave the family trade in pursuit of his creative passion.

“My dad would tell me, ‘You better do a good job scrubbing this boat because it’s gonna be your boat,’” Kelly recalls. “I started thinking, ‘I don’t know if I want to do this.

This is going to be the rest of my life.’ I remember I’d be on the back of the boat and I’d be praying. I was probably about 16 years old. I was tired; sometimes we didn’t get to sleep.

Sometimes it was 24 hours and you’d stay up without any sleep. My mom always said, ‘Work hard and you can accomplish whatever you want.’ I worked hard on the boat and I 62

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started praying and said, ‘God, if I could use my talent to work, if I could some kind of way use my talent to make a living, that would be great.’ I felt like God gave me the approval and said, ‘You can do that, son. Do it.’”

To pay his bills in the interim, he accepted a construction job, but it wasn’t long before his work selling in a few stores around town generated more money than his day-job. Kelly packed his bags and headed to Biloxi, a city he had frequented many times on the family shrimp boat and recognized as a place prime for those seeking a creative outlet.

Success wasn’t immediate, the artist admits, but it was a step in the right direction. At one point he found himself sleeping in a tent at a local campground, painting during the day to gain exposure. Visitors encouraged him to head to Gulf Shores, Alabama, a well-known tourist destination with plenty of opportunities for budding artists.

In Alabama, Kelly found work at Fric N Frac Airwear, a once-popular airbrush business that catered to the throngs of summer visitors. With hundreds of onlookers, Kelly was expected to airbrush fast and well. It was a test of skill but a challenge he gladly accepted.

“They put me up on the stage right away.

There were hundreds of people around and, at that time, I was still learning, so I hadn’t really developed my skill. They paint so fast on the beaches. They want you to paint fast and it has to be good,” Kelly reminisces. “When I got up there, I was thinking, ‘If I mess this up, everybody’s going to see it.’ I remember trying to hold my hand still while I was painting. I

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felt like I was going to pass out when I got in front of all those people and you had to talk to all those people at the same time. I did it and, as I left the fear of it, I started to really enjoy it because the people, they’re having fun, they’re on vacation.

It was just so much fun to be there once I realized I could do it.”

With plenty of skills and business know-how under his belt, Kelly knew it was time to branch out on his own. He convinced Biloxi’s Edgewater Mall to give him a storefront, despite not having the money for a deposit for the space. It was there Kelly’s life changed. He abandoned his reckless 20s, met and married his wife Jennifer, and adopted a belief system that demonstrates his faith with every brush stroke.

Finally, little by little, Kelly’s passion for art developed into a career he credits to divine intervention. By the 1990s, Kelly moved his Thibodaux airbrush business back home to Southland Mall and and garnered a handful of local large-scale projects, including a mural at Montegut Middle School. As a respected airbrush artist, Kelly had finally arrived.

But he still longed to paint.

For a fresh start, he relocated to the sandy shoreline of Destin, Florida. True Colors Studio, Kelly’s latest venture, in Harbor Walk Village, a premier shopping and entertainment hub. Any given day, visitors will find Kelly, a straw hat keeping the sun out of his eyes, painting away on the boardwalk as tourists leisurely stroll by. From time to time, he’s also spotted in Houma or on Royal Street in New Orleans, painting details of his journey. It’s there the sights, sounds and flavor of south Louisiana life come alive, despite the miles from Grand Caillou. In this place, where craft and passion thrive, Bayou Terrebonne is only a brush stroke away.

“It’s like I’m home [in Destin]. There are so many people who come from Houma while I’m over there, so it’s like I’m still here,” Kelly says as he puts a few final brown strokes on the newly-created cabin piece. “Being from Louisiana is so awesome because when you say that you’re from Louisiana or they just hear you talk, people from all over the world, you already have their attention because so many people are fascinated with Louisiana.

It’s a real blessing to me that I’m from here.” POV

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E

mily Sanchez, a 21-year-old pharmacy major at Nicholls State University, was in the ninth grade when doctors told her that she needed a new heart.

Health problems had plagued her since the fourth grade. By seventh grade, one doctor attributed her heart palpitations to anxiety.

Instead of conducting tests, he wrote her a prescription for Zoloft. Two years later, Emily was diagnosed with left ventricular non-compaction, a congenital heart disease characterized by sponge-like heart walls that present a high risk of blood clots. A heart monitor, event monitor, medications, a defibrillator and revolving trips to doctors and hospitals kept Emily alive.

Jennifer Sanchez, Emily’s mother, bravely held back tears in October 2012 when a medical assistant told her Emily’s best hope was a new heart.

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Ch

er ie

H

ol to

n

M L A H IF K A E E PP E N “I didn’t know what to tell her,” Jennifer recalls. “She’s always been so positive through all of this. I didn’t want to scare her.”

Health setbacks kept Emily off the list initially. More medication helped lower her blood pressure to make her eligible again.

“I prayed, and I know God has been in this since day one,” Jennifer says.

On May 13, 2013, Emily was officially added to the organ list. She was admitted to the hospital on July 3 – a 90-day stay that would test the entire family.

Th ee hearts became available. Th ee times, the Sanchez’s hopes where high.

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Give life Mvisiting New Orleans Aug. 14, 1992, when a gunman robbed them

anchester, England, textile designer Julie Stott and her fiancé were

and then shot Julie in the head.

An ocean away, Julie’s parents got the nightmare phone call. After being told of their daughter’s fatal injury, the Stotts were asked to consider donating her organs. They reluctantly agreed. It was only after discovering a donor card in her luggage two days after arriving in New Orleans that the couple was assured they’d followed their daughter’s wishes.

The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency aims to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation. LOPA provides education on the importance of donating and encourages others to give the gift of life. Its primary focus, however, is to assist bereaved families on both sides of the issue making critical connections. Just one person can save eight lives and enhance 50 others through such donations.

Organs are allocated according to medical need, blood and tissue type and height and weight. With compassion and respect, the agency recovers organs and tissue from donors and matches them to recipients on transplant lists.

More than 123,000 Americans are on transplant lists; 150 are added daily and 22 will die because organs are not available in time. The good news is that 81 transplants are performed every 24 hours, giving more than 29,000 people a year more time, and corneal transplants restore the eyesight of 50,000 people annually.

Anyone can be a donor regardless of age or medical history. To register, visit www.lopa.org.

In the meantime, LOPA is hosting its 4th Annual March Mad Dash for Life 5k and Fun Run March 12 at Nicholls State University. The fundraiser begins at 8 a.m., and Nicholls culinary students are cooking jambalaya. Details are available at www.lopa.org.

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And three times, they were bitterly disappointed.

Emily’s blood type – O-negative – and petite body size worked against her. Although someone with O-negative blood is able to donate to another blood type, she can only accept O-negative donor matches.

Emily dug deep, prayed and waited.

“My mom and dad; my brother, Matthew; my best friend, Harley Guidry; and getting to eat Popeye’s once in a while,” Emily replies when asked what made the wait bearable.

On Sept. 30, 2013, with no donor, Emily was discharged and sent home with strict instructions.

“They say it happens when you least

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expect it,” Jennifer says of “the call.”

News that an O-negative, petite 30-year-old female’s heart was available arrived on Jan. 22, 2014. Emily was rushed to the hospital and prepped for surgery.

“What does a mom say at that moment,” Jennifer remembers. “I told her that she was the greatest blessing in my life and that everything was going to be OK. And then they took her away.”

Fear washed over Jennifer like a tsunami in the waiting room. In the rush,

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she hadn’t considered she may have just spoken to her daughter for the last time.

Nearby, another family was waiting. A woman was awaiting a lung transplant from Emily’s donor.

Five hours later, renowned heart surgeon Gene Parrino emerged to report Emily’s operation had been successful.

Two weeks later, Emily – healthy heart and all – headed home.

“I can breathe. I can go 30 minutes on a treadmill. I can do things I never thought I’d be able to do again,” Emily

says, hugging Luna, her Chihuahua pup, a gift from her parents in celebration of the six-month anniversary of her transplant.

Today, Emily and Jennifer are staunch advocates for the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. With genuine gratitude and acknowledging God’s grace, mother and daughter know they are among the lucky ones. One woman’s good deed was able to make Emily’s life happen. POV

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Walters, Meyer, Trosclair & Associates Ameriprise Private Wealth Advisory Practice

Gregory A. Walters, CFP®, MBA, APMA®, Private Wealth Advisor | Thomas J. Meyer, CFP®, APMA®, Private Wealth Advisor Ray A. Trosclair, CFP®, APMA®, Private Wealth Advisor | Lloyd J. Kern, III, APMA®, CMFC®, Financial Advisor David M. Ponson, Financial Advisor | Andrew C. Walters, Financial Advisor | Denise A. Badgerow, Associate Financial Advisor John T. Meyer, Associate Financial Advisor | Christopher M. Callahan, Associate Financial Advisor Nathan C. Walters, Associate Financial Advisor

132 Rue Colette, Ste. A • Thibodaux, LA 70301 985.446.1968 • 985.446.1989 fax 37410 Ascension Parish Rd., Ste. A • Prairieville, LA 70769 225.744.4482 • 225.744.4480 fax www.wmta-getadvice.com Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. The initial consultation provides an overview of financial planning concepts. You will not receive written analysis and/or recommendations. © 2014 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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fi life For a special group of folks in the Houma-Thibodaux area, the end of a weekend isn’t quite as bad as it’s made out to be.

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We Support a Healthier Future Laura Gros, Patient Care Coordinator, Cancer Center of Thibodaux Regional

What to Know About Colorectal Cancer Cpotentially life threatening disease. olorectal cancer is a common and

This year, an estimated 134,490 adults in the United States will be diagnosed.

These numbers include 95,270 new cases of colon cancer and 39,220 new cases of rectal cancer. It is estimated that 49,190 deaths will occur. The death rate from this type of cancer has been declining, possibly because it is usually diagnosed earlier now and treatments have improved.

Individuals with colorectal cancer may present with or without symptoms.

Symptoms include:

• • • • •

Red blood in the stool or tarry stools Abdominal pain Unexplained weight loss Changes in bowel habits Unexplained iron deficiency

With regular screening, colon cancer can be found early or prevented by fi ding and removing polyps before they become cancer. And if cancer is present, earlier detection means a chance at a longer life.

Screening Recommendations

Treatment Options Surgery is typically the only treatment needed for colon cancer that has not spread to other organs; however, chemotherapy may be needed if it has spread to the lymph nodes. Chemotherapy along with radiation treatment is recommended prior to surgery in patients that have rectal carcinoma.

Screening colonoscopy, beginning at age 50, is the key to detect colorectal cancer early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for colorectal cancer using high sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy beginning at age 50 and continuing until 75.

Help us beat colon cancer by talking to your physician about how to reduce your risk and about when to begin screening. POV

For more information contact the Cancer Center of Thibodaux Regional, 985.493.4008.

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Casey Gisclair Jose Delgado

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Mdaunting 24-hour period marking ost people hate Mondays – that

the official end of the weekend and the dreaded return to work or school.

But for a special group of folks in the Houma-Thibodaux area, the end of a weekend isn’t quite as bad as it’s made out to be.

In fact, these people look forward to Sunday night’s departure and Monday’s arrival. With close family and friends by their side, this crew celebrates the widely unpopular day every single week, without hesitation.

Meet the Mahony’s Run Club – a quickly growing fleet of fitness fanatics who gather every Monday for a quick 5K through downtown Houma and then subsequent victory celebration at the local Irish pub, located at 7832 Main St. in Houma.

The club originated at the Boxer & the Barrel, and was created by Joey Hamner.

Today, Mike McNabb does most of the organizing for a group that prides itself

on creating a fun-loving, family-like feel for anyone who aims to get in better shape.

The club is 100 percent free and is always seeking new members. After each Monday 5K, Mahony’s offers drink specials to club members – the perfect cap to what Mike says is always a great day.

“It really is a lot of fun,” he says. “I’ve met quite a few people over the years through the run club. We have a wide range of fitness levels within the group, and because of that, no one should be scared to join because they’re afraid of being too slow. The only thing you need to bring is a positive attitude, a willingness to move and a love for beer – and that part is optional.”

For the local club, it’s all about using running and socializing as a tool to create the seeds for a healthy, longer-lasting lifestyle in as many local people as possible.

One of the success stories is Houma native Tony Chouest – a local man who

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swears the group is helping to save his life.

In May 2015, Tony was straddled with health problems, which were affecting his day-to-day life.

Tony knew Mike through work, which led to an open invitation for Tony to join the club.

Tony recalls being hesitant to show up at first, but he followed his instincts and got involved.

Now 10 months later, Tony is in much better shape, and has made a slew of new friends – men and women that he considers to be family. He is also a member of two other running clubs, calling his new hobby a “bug” that he’s been bitten by.

“I found out I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and, according to the doctor, I was on the verge of a heart attack,” Tony says. “When I started out, I wasn’t even able to run a 10th of a mile – not even one side of a city block. Now, I just ran 13 miles on a training run. It’s amazing. My friends here have been

behind me supporting me, inspiring me and pushing me the whole way.

“This is the best decision I’ve ever made. … This is my family.”

Houma native Ashlee Champagne has a similar story. She, too, believes the local club has directly touched her life in a positive way.

For Ashlee, the decision to join the club wasn’t directly because of a doctor’s visit, but it was because of a change in her body.

Two years ago, Ashlee suffered a neck injury in a traffic accident – an injury that kept her on the couch for a prolonged period of time. That inactivity, she says, changed her body in a pretty bad way.

“I gained a lot of bad weight after the wreck,” Ashlee recalls. “I lost all the motivation to workout.”

She joined the Mahony’s Run Club, and it ignited a renewed passion for fitness and wellness.

Since joining the group one year ago, Ashlee says she has succeeded in shedding pounds. She’s also run two triathlons, numerous 5K races, as well as a 15K. Those goals were accomplished because of the love and support she’s been given by the group.

Ashlee vows the best thing about the club is the positive energy, which flows through Mahony’s walls every Monday night. She describes the vibe as are contagious, and swears it’s impossible to join the club and not see an increase in personal will-power and self-esteem.

“It is so much fun,” Ashlee says. “The members are extremely welcoming. I didn’t feel pressured to do anything but my best. We are all a family. … It doesn’t matter if you are a walker or a runner. It doesn’t matter if you are ordering a beer or ordering a water. At the end of the day, we motivate each other to get off the sofa and get moving, and we have so much fun doing it.”

So for anyone wishing to get involved, the format is pretty simple.

All you’ve got to do is show up – no matter if you’re an experienced runner or not.

The club has its own Facebook group, and throughout the week, Mike plans the following Monday’s itinerary. Club members can vote in Facebook polls within the group to decide which 5K route they’d prefer to run the next week.

Mike has about a half-dozen routes measured, which keeps things from getting stale.

From there, you just have to go to downtown Houma and give it your best shot.

Mike says that beginners are never turned away, and even walkers are welcomed with open arms. If a 5K is too much distance, that’s no problem either.

Folks in that situation are welcome to cut the route short.

“As long as you put in an effort to do the course, you’re part of the club,” he says.

Then, once all the running is done, the victory party begins inside the bar. Mike says that all club members are welcomed to socialize and celebrate after the weekly run. Inside Mahony’s, 2-for-1 beer specials are offered to club patrons.

The social time allows club members to get to know one another on a more personal level.

Mike says the club has about 10 participants on an average Monday, but numbers sometimes fluctuate in either direction, depending on weather, the time of the year and other factors.

“We’ve had as many as 30 on some nights,” he says. “We hope to continue to grow.”

Tony hopes so, too.

He says he looks back at the strides he’s made in the past 10 months and marvels at how far he’s come. The Mahony’s Run Club is perfect, Tony adds, because it combines two great things in life and makes them one – something he considers to be life’s best win/win situation.

“Everyone in our club has two things in common: a love of running and a love of beer,” Tony says, chuckling. “It’s an amazing thing. I’m so proud and happy to be a part of it. These people are so supportive and are so amazing.” POV povhouma.com

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FitMind Dr. J. Michael Flynn

Press On

Icessful people? Authentic folks who

sn’t it special to be around happy, suc-

have challenges, too? They also have goals in their life – for happiness and success – in most all they do. They’ve found the attitude of persistence. They keep moving forward in the face of adversity. Sure, they get disappointed, but they never get discouraged – that is persistence.

This is an attitude that more of us should embrace. Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Never give in, never, never, never – in nothing small, large or petty – never give in except to conviction of honor and good sense.” The quote came during World War II when Churchill’s country needed him the most.

If you have habits you know are not good for you, break them. You may have to persist to achieve a change. If you know that you need to exercise regularly, eat healthier, drink more water, be more positive or complete a task, then persist

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until you do.

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the U.S., had a unique take on tenacity.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Persistence is often the difference between a successful or failed outcome.

It’s not a question of whether you will get knocked down; it’s whether you can get back up. Persistent people will.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, in his book published in 1952 “The Power of Positive Thinking,” mentions how he learned during his boyhood a lesson that framed his life as a minister for 53 years in New York City. Upon hearing of the 95-year-

old Peale’s death in 1993, President Bill Clinton said, “The name of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale will forever be associated with the American values of optimism and service.”

When Dr. Peale was in the fifth grade, his teacher, George Reeves, would write the word “CAN’T” each day on the blackboard. Reeves would then turn to the class and ask, ‘Now what do I do?’ In unison, they would say, ‘Erase the apostrophe and the ‘T.’ The teacher would and then he’d say, ‘Always remember you CAN if you think you CAN.’” In his wonderful poem “Don’t Quit,” Edgar Albert Guest includes this encouragement to forge ahead, especially when the going gets tough: “When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt, and when you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst, you must not quit.”

Something to think about as you press on … POV

DR. J. MICHAEL FLYNN

practices at the Flynn Clinic of Chiropractic in Houma.

Call him at 985.855.4875 or visit DRMIKEFLYNN.COM.

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Scene In A

Teams go head-to-head during the annual Downtown Houma Chili CookOff an. 23 in the Courthouse Square.

Money raised goes toward purchasing Christmas decorations for the historic area.

B

Racers and walkers make their way to the finish line Feb. 13 at Lockport Bayou Side Park during the Run to Your Own Beat 5K, a fundraiser for the Central Lafourche High School Trojan Lancers Band.

C

Fletcher Technical Community College employees Angie Pellegrin, Ashley Douglas, Caitlin Toups, Krista Cormier and Brittany Rhodes go red Feb. 5 in support of Wear Red Day, a nationwide initiative to increase awareness of heart disease in women.

D

Members of Krewe of Titans toss throws to the throng of people lining the streets for its annual roll Jan. 31.

E

Brickz for Kidz rolls through the Broadmoor neighborhood during the Krewe of Panda parade at St. Bernadette Catholic School on Feb. 5.

F

Nicholls Marine and Environmental Biology master’s students and The Nature Conservancy lead Grand Isle Elementary students on a hike through the area Feb. 6.

A B

C

G The South Louisiana Wetlands Dis-

covery Center and partners host a World Wetlands Day event Feb. 2 for students from St. Matthew’s Episcopal School, St. Francis de Sales School and Honduras Elementary School.

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Queen Hyacinth LXV Nicole Emerson waves to the crowd during the Krewe of Hyacinthians parade in Houma on Jan. 31. POV

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Look Twice Win a $50

Gift Card

Find the six differences in this photo from our feature on page 56. Drop off your answers along with your name and daytime contact number at the PoV offices, 6160 . Park Ave., Houma. Stuck at the office? Fax it, 985.873.9009, or email it to us, editor@rushing-media.com.

A winner will be picked by random drawing March 15.

The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank.

Congratulations to Katie McClanahan for winning last month’s contest.

Courtesy of

Answers to last month’s contest 1 2 3 4 5 6

Top of phone missing Extra dot on crown Purple crown now blue Extra bead Gold bead missing Car bigger

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