Celebrating Locals

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CONTENTS |

MAY 2018 • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 5

CONT HOME + LIVING

Page 26

FOOD + FUN

Page 34

MIND + BODY

Page 54

14 POV PICK

30 POV PICK

46 POV PICK

16 CHATEAU CHIC

32 POV POP-UP

48 A HOME RUN ATTITUDE

22 THE OBSERVER

34 AND THE BEAT GOES ON

24 SEE YOU BE BRAVE

40 OH SNAP

Metropolitan

A Home Built for Hosting

For the love of all things loud

Where are they now?

Custom painted shoes

Join POV for their first Pop-up shop!

Do you know DeeJay Juice?

Kids Yoga

George Bergeron shows us how a positive attitude is everything.

52 Our Brother’s KEEPA

The Keepa family talks faith and fellowship.

Allons Danser

42 BON APPETIT Turkey, Take Two

56 YOUR DAILY APPLE

How to deal with holiday stress and depression

57 FOR YOUR HEALTH

Knowledge is power when it comes to diabetes

58 WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE: November 2018 4 povhouma.com

Quit for life

ENTS EXTRAS

ON THE COVER

WORD, YA HEARD NEXUS 1. A closely connected group of people or things, often forming the central part of something 2. the central and most important point or place

WORD ON THE STREET “Many feel that “The Simpsons” was the nexus of 90’s television. ”

Page 67

08 EDITOR’S NOTE Thankful for Ya

10 INTERVUE Say What?

Page 34 Justin Patterson takes a break from his industrious lifestyle to share his story.

Read more on page 34.

“If you look at the Billboard Hot 100, it would appear that hip-hop is the nexus of today’s popular music.”

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Photo: Misty Leigh McElroy

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60 UNDER THE SCOPE

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Steinbeck in Houma

62 RENDEZVOUS

tinyurl.com/povnewsletter

Where you need to be around town

64 SCENE IN

Look at ol’ so ‘n’ so!

66 THE ART OF SMART

It’s not an article it’s a smarticle.

67 LOOK TWICE

Sponsored by Synergy Bank

November 2018 5 povhouma.com

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing Rice dressing

EDITORIAL

Bonnie Rushing EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mary Downer Ditch MANAGING EDITOR Drew Miller STAFF WRITER ADVERTISING

Deanne Ratliff SALES MANAGER Harold Cancienne Michelle Hansen Linda Pontiff Cornbread dressing OFFICE/CIRCULATION MANAGER

Michelle Ortego

CREATIVE

Amber Duplantis SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nicholas Boutte GRAPHIC DESIGNER Paul Guidry GRAPHIC DESIGNER Candied pecan sweet potato PHOTOGRAPHY casserole Channing Candies Misty Leigh McElroy Brian Waitz CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jaime Dishman John Doucet Terry Trahan Jr.

Momma’s rice dressing

CUSTOMER SERVICE DIGITAL & SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Terry Trahan Jr. SUBSCRIPTIONS Point of Vue magazine is published monthly.

Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues.

For more information, email mail@rushing-media.com or visit rushing-media.com/subscriptions.

Kim Ross INTERN

Kristin Belanger CONTACT

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

Copyright ©2017 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.

November 2018 6 povhouma.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE |

MARY DOWNER DITCH • MANAGING EDITOR OF POV

THANKFUL FOR YA “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”

To Michelle and Kimberly: We are nothing without you; keep holding down the fort and making us smile.

In our lives we will encounter many extraordinary individuals. While they might not always stand out right away as being so, it doesn’t take long for us to realize that little bit of “extra” that they have. For me, those extraordinary individuals are those that I work with.

While I try to celebrate my coworkers every day, this issue of PoV also focuses on Celebrating Locals who are extraordinary in their own right.

Take a moment and flip back a page to our masthead… go on, I’ll wait…

The masthead is more than just a page eating space in this magazine. This space is where we recognize our “Most Talented”, if you will. I am surrounded by the best group of creative individuals you’ve ever met, and for these reasons, I am thankful.

To our publisher Brian and our editorial staff of Bonnie and Drew: Many thanks for your confidence in me and in our publication. We are constantly growing and evolving and I am thankful for your trust. Drew, this issue wouldn’t exist without your hard work, your genius ideas and the creativity in your writing.

To our creative team: Y’all never cease to amaze me with your designs and ideas. This month especially, thank you for helping to take an idea and make it into our stellar cover.

Your patience with my schemes and evil plans is endlessly appreciated. To my photographers: You make the impossible, possible. Your talent and skills in capturing the essence of every person’s story is immeasurable. To our writers: your words on a page are golden. We trust in you to tell the stories of our community and you always deliver.

To our entire sales team: Keep kicking ass! You make this magazine possible. Thank you for helping our customers put their best foot forward in their award-winning campaigns.

We start off celebrating individuals who set their sights on grand adventures that carried them away from the Bayou Region. But their bravery and perseverance in the face of difficulty have allowed them to achieve their dreams. Read more about Kristen Powell and Bon Wells starting on page 24.

While the name Justin Patterson might not ring a bell, I’m willing to bet Deejay Juice will. This talented young man has made a name for himself, not only for the beats he spins, but for the motivational impact he has on our area’s youth.

Learn more about Justin beginning on page 34.

You might know someone in the community that would “give you the shirt off their back.” But do you know the person that would give you his and then go find you two more? We find that kind of giving and caring spirit in George Bergeron.

Read about George’s winning attitude on page 48.

Finally, we introduce you to the Cheramie family. Their willingness to love thy neighbor and the heavy responsibility to be your brother’s KEEPA are what has held the family of friends together through tragedy. Learn how the family continues to give back to their community on page 52.

In this month of Thanksgiving, we have enjoyed celebrating the locals that are making a difference in our communities.

Please take a moment to tell those around you that you appreciate, Thank you.

November 2018 8 povhouma.com

You and your baby You and your baby areare You and your baby are in in thethe best hands. best hands. in the best hands.

Gregory Morris, MDMD Gregory Morris, (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) Gregory Morris, MD (OB/GYN)

Elena Mann, MD MD Elena Mann, (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) Elena Mann, MD (OB/GYN)

Natasha Goss,Goss, MD MD Natasha (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) Natasha Goss, MD

Kellin Kellin Reynolds, MD MD Reynolds, (OB/GYN) Kellin(OB/GYN) Reynolds, MD

(OB/GYN)

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Ochsner St. Anne Hospital is a Baby-Friendly Ochsner St. Anne Hospital is a Baby-Friendly GregPSZ Morris, MD designated facility.

Charles Faucheux, MDMD GregPSZ Elena Mann, MDMD Natasha Goss, MDMD Kellin Kellin Reynolds, MDMD GregPSZ GregPSZ Morris, MD Morris, MDbirthing Charles Charles Faucheux, Faucheux, MD Elena Elena Mann, Mann, Natasha Natasha Goss, Goss, MD Kellin Kellin Reynolds, Reynolds, Morris, MD Charles Faucheux, MD Elena Mann, MDMD Natasha Goss, MD Reynolds, MDMD GregPSZ Morris, MD designated facility.

Charles Faucheux, MDMD GregPSZ Elena Mann, MDMD Natasha Goss, MDMD Kellin Kellin Reynolds, MDMD GregPSZ GregPSZ Morris, MD Morris, MDbirthing Charles Charles Faucheux, Faucheux, MD Elena Elena Mann, Mann, Natasha Natasha Goss, Goss, MD Kellin Kellin Reynolds, Reynolds, (GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (GYN) (GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) Morris, MD harles Faucheux, MD Elena Mann, MDMD Natasha Goss, MD Reynolds, MDMD (GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN) (OB/GYN)

(GYN) (GYN) GYN)

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We are proud to invest in evidence-based programs that support infant bonding and safe We are proud to invest in evidence-based programs that support infant bonding and safe feeding practices so mom and baby get the best, healthiest and happiest start possible.

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INTERVUE |

SAY WHAT?

What are you most thankful for and why?

TARA FRANKS LEBOEUF | HAIRSTYLIST “I am thankful to be surrounded by the people that I love and inspire me daily! My friends and family are the best, and I couldn’t do life without them!”

GEORGE | PRESIDENT & CEO

I am most thankful for my faith, my family, and the opportunity to use my gifts and talents to lead and inspire others. I am also grateful for the unwavering love and support my parents provided for our family.

AMY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I am most thankful for my family and my faith. When I think about all of the blessings I have in my life, it’s is very hard to pick just one thing.

However, due to my faith in God, I have been blessed with an amazing family who fill my heart with such joy. My husband, David, and my two children, Michael (4) and Abby (2), make my world go round. My faith and my family have given me the strength to get me through anything life throws my way so without those two vital life components, I have nothing!

BETH | HOME

CONSULTANT I am most thankful for my partner Brian. He always has my back and takes such good care of me and my little Rory Dog. Our lives are so much better since he joined our pack!

DANIEL | PHYSICIANS ASSISTANT

I am most thankful for my wife, children, and our continued health.

November 2018 10 povhouma.com

LEADING EDGE TREATMENTS INNOVATIVE PROCEDURES CLINICAL RESEARCH

LEADING EDGE CARDIOVASCULAR CARE Top 10% in the Nation for Cardiology Expertise and Cardiac Care in Patient Safety Ranked by for Patient Safety An Independent Healthcare Ranking Firm

TG M C A N DC I S .CO M

HOME + LIVING

POV PICK | 14 Metropolitan

CHATEAU CHIC | 16 A Home Built for Hosting

THE OBSERVER | 22 For the love of all things loud

SEE YOU BE BRAVE | 24 Where are they now?

November 2018 12 povhouma.com

When we analyze data,

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We find answers in those numbers that can lead us to innovations or confirm new ways of doing things that can result in better care and health outcomes for our members.

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HOME + LIVING |

POV PICK

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HOME + LIVING |

CHATEAU CHIC

A HOME BUILT FOR HOSTING

BY BONNIE RUSHING | PHOTOS BY BRIAN WAITZ

1

Since purchasing their home in the early 90s, Kirk and Melanie Champagne have transformed their original, contemporary mid-sixties home into a more traditional home with transitional decor. Spending ample time entertaining family and friends, the couple embarked on a kitchen renovation, which includes both granite and steel countertops and brick flooring. While the original home featured a unique interior atrium, the couple enclosed the space to allow room for a formal dining area to accommodate their lifestyle and love for entertaining.

“We love hosting dinners and gatherings for our friends and family often. Whether we’re hosting a shower, a party or dinner, it’s something we both really enjoy,” Melanie said.

Friends and family often gather around the dining table in the formal dining room. Twelve guests can be seated and served at the same table that belonged to Melanie’s grandmother, making the meal even more meaningful. Additional cherished items from Melanie’s grandmother can be found throughout the home, including a baby grand

November 2018 16 povhouma.com

Love

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November 2018 18 povhouma.com

ings for our friends and family often.

Whether we’re hosting a shower, a party or dinner, it’s something we both really enjoy”

- Melanie Champagne November 2018 19 povhouma.com

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6 piano from 1922 with it’s original ivory keys, an antique Viennese china cabinet and two chandeliers that were salvaged and restored after Hurricane Katrina and now hang in the couple’s newly constructed master bath.

The addition of an enclosed screen porch and patio that overlooks the Bayou Country Club golf course in Thibodaux was the final touch in the lively hosts’ dream home. “The enclosed patio has made entertaining even more fun, especially this time of year,” said Melanie. “We enjoying cooking outside and enjoying the beautiful scenery that surrounds us.” POV

November 2018 20 povhouma.com

HUMAN BRAIN VECTOR DESIGN

No. 1 Screen Porch No. 2 Entry No. 3 Formal Dining Room No. 4 Master Bathroom No. 5 Detail No. 6 Kitchen No. 7 Master Bedroom Additional photos can be viewed at povhouma.com.

THE OBSERVER |

BY JAIME DISHMAN

FOR THE LOVE OF

ALL THINGS LOUD Life is loud.

At least, our life is loud. If you asked me to describe our life in one word, that would be the word I choose at this moment. And probably the next moment too.

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The people in my life are loud. There’s a clamor of people ages 13 and under living in my home who wouldn’t know the meaning of quiet if I made them write it 100 times. In fact, they would probably shout at me across the room asking what quiet means. I would be hard-pressed to tell them an accurate answer because quiet has changed lately.

Quiet used to be clear to me. It meant a lack of noise. But the older I get, it feels as though life itself screams at me to “hurry up, get more done, be more productive, scratch items off a to-do list that never ends.”

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But on a rare day, I spent a morning at my house alone, forcing myself to silence the siren call of productivity and replace it with the serenity of allowing time to slow and the noise to subside. It was harder than I thought. The whirring washing machine was the only noise that could be heard in my home. The mountains of dirty clothes made washing a requirement and as I walked around our home, entirely alone, it amazed me that I could actually hear the washing machine. When our home is full, the dishwasher is often on, but never heard.

That morning, I stopped to hear the other sounds of our home - softly spinning fans, the noises of nature heard through open windows and even neighborhood sounds. But after an hour of quiet, I realized I often turn to my own self-made noise.

As I clicked open to one of several social media apps on my phone, the noise began again. The noise of comparing myself to the lives of others in all of their Instagram and Facebook glory.

The noise of the advertisements screaming at me in my news feed about clothes I should buy, and a well-designed house that makes ours look like it needs an entirely new facelift.

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GIVE YOUR FEET A REASON TO BE

I clicked out of the apps, put my phone on silent and placed it on the charger in my room. I closed the door behind me, vowing to not create my own noise in the absence of noise created by others.

THANKFUL.

Instead, I began making a roux for a gumbo. Because it was the first few days of what actually felt like fall in south Louisiana, and a gumbo for supper always makes me feel an upside down world can somehow be turned right side up. As I slowly stirred butter and flour, creating a darkening base for what would later be a chicken and sausage gumbo, I gave thanks for the noise of our life. I thanked God for all the loud kids living in our home, the noise of a busy schedule, and the screaming demands of work.

Sometimes the noise indicates a life full of good things, a blessed existence that can be masked by grueling schedules and demands. Noise always indicates there’s something there. And those somethings (kids, activities, friends, work) are things I’m blessed to call a part of my life.

Kylie Slip On

The gumbo came out just fine after hours of slow-simmering in a quiet house, and kids came home and filled the house with noise. Friends came over later and added to the chaos, and through it, I smiled, remembering the silence and grateful for the noise of a full life. POV

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BY DREW MILLER | PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Bravery comes in all forms, but most often the strength to be brave comes from within. This month as we Celebrate Locals, we visited with two individuals who have taken huge leaps in continuing to become who they are meant to be. While their journey has brought them far from the bayous of their youth, adventure calls and they have bravely answered.

November 2018 24 povhouma.com

Los Angeles - December 2016: A young Houma-native undergoes an extensive life-altering surgery. Besides being under the needle for hours, the then 21-year-old college junior had to go through a year of strenuous preparation—doing various lab tests, physical conditioning and more—prior to his procedure.

After his surgery, he went through a grueling 12-day recovery process; however, you won’t hear him complain, as this always-positive young man bravely went through with this surgery—not to fight any illness or physical disability—but to physically transition into who he truly was all along.

Growing up, Bonnie “Bon” Wells felt like he might have been different from others around him at a very young age. He would often play field games with the boys instead of playing more “traditional” feminine games with the girls and would dress up in a boy’s uniform.

“All through grade school, I knew within myself what was going on. I definitely knew I had different feelings than everyone else around me,” he explains. “But my whole thing with my life was just like, ‘I will always try to have a really positive outlook on everything.’”

Although he says middle school was his hardest time in terms of finding his own identity, Bon was fortunate enough to not encounter much bullying throughout middle school. Bon

declared himself as gay during his time at middle school and throughout high school.

He describes his high school experience as very “high functioning.” He was involved in student council and was the school’s mascot, all while remaining himself.

Bon went on to attend LSU. It was during a sociology class his freshman year that he learned what it meant to be transgender and realized that was him. After going home and telling his girlfriend Shelby Paine, who Bon has been dating since he was 16 years old, he began researching.

Fully certain he wanted to transition, he told his family, who as always, supported his decision. The devoted at-the-time 20-year-old started hormonally transiting and physically conditioning, as the doctor instructed, on December 12, 2015—his birthday.

Feeling relieved and reborn after his transition, Bon returned to LSU to finish his education. He was highly involved in campus life—being a member numerous student organizations. His charismatic personality even led him to MC a yearly LSU music festival. His commitment to the university led him to be voted to LSU’s Homecoming Court his senior year—making him the first transgender person ever to receive this honor.

November 2018 25 povhouma.com

This past summer, the mass-communication-graduate was chosen out of thousands of applicants for an internship with the Television Academy Foundation, which placed him with Getty Images. This allowed him to be honored, along with nine other interns, at the 2018 Emmys. The industry-hopefuls got to walk the gold carpet and were placed center-staged in front of a celebrity audience and millions of other viewers around the world.

Today, Bon still lives in LA with Shelby and his older sister Hillary. Bon is thriving in the LA entertainment world—doing freelance videography and photography while also making documentary shorts on his YouTube channel.

“People will definitely recognize hardworking and heartfelt people, no matter what you look like, where you come from or what your life struggles are,” the inspiring trailblazer says.

Having an excellent support system around him, Bon still recognizes that many other transgender people might be experiencing troubling times. He urges those individuals to call the offical Transgender Suicide Hotline at (877) 565-8860.

Read the extended version of Bon’s story at povhouma.com.

On Tuesday and Saturday nights in Douliu City, Taiwan, locals flood the streets to shop at the popular Douliu Night Market. At this open-air temporary market, you can travel through this festival-type crowd and lose yourself in the eye-catching, vibrant banners and signs or by the vendors set up under these markers who may be able to sell you some food, toys, animals, gadgets, art, clothing or various other items.

On any given Tuesday night, while most of us here in the Bayou Region have just started our work day, a young American woman pulls up near the market in her silver Yamaha 125 scooter. Just getting off from teaching back-to-back classes from 2 to 9 p.m., she’s eager to enjoy the night market before she heads home and relaxes for the rest of the evening. She is traveling alone, but anyone she meets at the market might become her friend. She is a true South Louisianan wanderlust, bringing that southern friendliness and charm with her throughout her travels, while being able to make any place home— even though her actual hometown is over 8,000 miles away.

Houma native Kristen Powell’s journey teaching abroad started in Thailand in September of 2015. After living in Portland

for close to three years, she started to feel unhappy and remembered the idea a friend gave her about teaching overseas.

“I did some research and found a program in Thailand where you could get your TEFL [Teach English as a Foreign Language] certification with guaranteed job placement for six months,” the LSU graduate says.

“And here I am three years later.”

After she arrived in Thailand, it was not hard for Kristen to make friends. The TEFL program put Kristen in a group of 16 like-minded, aspiring teachers who did many group activities together and became close. She also was able to quickly adjust to the culture in Thailand.

“It wasn’t difficult for me. I went in very open-minded and willing to challenge any preconceptions,” she remembers. “I originally arrived ready to observe a new culture and see the world; I wanted the experience.”

Although her first experiences in Thailand were pleasant, it was her first experience teaching that made Kristen “terrified.”

She started her first day with just a little under three weeks of training and her new school gave her just a date to arrive and no other information.

November 2018 26 povhouma.com

For her second placement, staying in Thailand, she was more calm and ready. It was her move to her current school in Taiwan in April of 2017 that sent her into panic attacks.

“I’m pretty sure I was even in tears one day.

It was an entirely new method complete with pre-made lesson plans and structure—something I was unfamiliar with. It was very overwhelming…” she shares. “I’ve experienced all emotions when entering a new school. The thing about teaching in Asia is that no matter what country you’re teaching in, you’re going to be thrown into it.”

Since her first days, Kristen has gotten well accustomed to teaching and adores her students. She’s proud that she has students who couldn’t speak any English when they first entered her classroom and are now are able to communicate with her.

Just as her students have embraced her, so have the people in the different cultures she has come across. Many of the people in Thailand and Taiwan have shown Kristen the same hospitality that we southerners pride ourselves in having.

After being hospitalized due to bad scooter accident, the people of her community in Thailand checked on Kristen and brought her food every day while she was on bed rest.

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The Taiwanese people include her in all of the lunar calendar festivals. Kristen also notes another commonality with southern culture—the abundance of food served.

“Asian culture is delightful. If you’re ever invited to eat with them, they cook so much food. Then, food is constantly put on your plate, even when you’re saying your full,” she says.

Kristen seldom gets homesick, which she attributes to her awesome support system of friends and family, especially her mom Beth, whom she calls “my heart.” She, of course, misses them and was recently able to come to Louisiana for the first time since she started teaching abroad.

“When I was visiting with everyone, I felt like I had never left. Everything was exactly the same, and I was home,” she says.

“Then, when the trip came to an end, I was once again going home. Taiwan is home now.” POV

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POP-UP art•jewelry•fashion

Join Point of Vue magazine for our first PoV Pop-Up Party!

This fun event showcases local artisans who create art, jewelry, fashion and more at a one-day only Pop-Up Shop. Get your holiday shopping started and support our local artisans.

Thursday, November 8, 2018 from 5-7:30pm Spigots Brew Pub • 622 Barrow St. Downtown Houma

Sarah K Kreations Inspired by the beauty that is Louisiana, Sarah Hebert creates stunning abstract paintings using texture on canvas. Her paintings are mostly neutral with touches of gold leaf. Sarah also enjoys creating custom commissions to fit her clients’ interests.

Denise Cuartas Local purse designer Denise Cuartas creates one-of-a-kind custom bags and purses under her own label, D.C. Stitches.

Denise uses unique fabrics and trims such as hand painted leather and vintage silks, while combining gorgeous blends of colors and textures to create her works of art.

The Creative MissFit Sara Duthu took what was once a hobby reserved for her three daughters and has expanded into painting custom creations for the world! Her unique paintings cover topics stretching from Marvel to Disney, local sports teams to literary characters. Your idea can be her next masterpiece.

November 2018 32 povhouma.com

Art by Hans Geist Local artist Hans Geist has created some of the most recognizable murals around town, in our public spaces and both businesses and residences. He enjoys illustrating people and their history, especially veterans.

Ellen McCord Ellen McCord brings a unique take to her instantly recognizable creations. Ellen specializes in pulp paper painting, creating the paper she paints on. Ellen creates beautiful original paintings and also offers prints of some of her best works in various sizes, on notecards, as ornaments and more.

Donna Ortego For over 40 years, Donna Ortego has created hand-beaded works of art in her custom jewelry creations. What was once a hobby has taken center stage in the retired schoolteachers’ life, allowing her to offer jewelry to friends and family.

Southern Knots With designs crafted from imagery found in nature, artist Briana Sullivan handcrafts macramĂŠ items ranging from largescale wall hangings to smaller items like pacifier clips and key chains. Recently, she has created a different kind of textile art, using her macramĂŠ pieces and applying them to painted canvas.

November 2018 33 povhouma.com

AND THE

BEAT GOES ON

BY DREW MILLER | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY

Contrary to how many might feel, good disc jockeys do more than just plug in a playlist and press play. They have to know songs details such as beats per minute (BPM) or pitch to output seamless transitions. They must understand their audience and always be alert to the energy on the dance floor. A great DJ gets the crowd moving—each person in the crowd to their own style—to one cadence. One local DJ is succeeding in making an entire community move to one beat.

Do you know DeeJay Juice?

Of course you do—or at least you should. He is a prominent DJ in the Bayou Region that is not only making a name for himself in Louisiana but also across the country. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying one of his engaging sets from the dance floor, you might have driven through the night scene in Houma or Thibodaux and seen his name in lights above long lines of bar/club patrons, eager to enjoy the good rhythms and vibes Juice delivers.

“My philosophy is that the DJ is really like the puppet master of any situation; the DJ controls what the people are doing as far as the tempo of the party,” he explains. “Now people could come to a party with all kind of different things on their mind—positive or negative—and the DJ can just change their world within a matter of time.”

It’s not an accident that Juice has the stature to attract large crowds wherever he goes in South Louisiana. The skillful ear for music, effortless song transitions and attention to detail that go into his disc jockeying craft have been in the works since he was a young child.

November 2018 34 povhouma.com

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“When I was younger I used to collect cassette tapes and there were these little toys that Radio Shack used to sell…It was a little toy, but if you put it together the correct way, you could actually get some kind of AM or FM signal,” Juice remembers. “So, just basically playing with that, listening to the radio all night and then being in a musical family kind of put everything together.”

and added more skills and variety to his repertoire.

As his skills and knowledge grew, so did his popularity. The famous DJ is highly requested for parties, weddings, clubs, school dances and much more. Several locals even have rescheduled their own events just to get a day Juice wasn’t booked.

“I would possibly get another DJ; I can’t see it being that serious behind one DJ,” Juice smiles. “I guess people see something in me that they don’t see in others; so I just humbly roll with it.”

Juice was born into a gifted family. His mother sings in the church choir, and his father has taught music and plays for the local band Reauxshambo. His brother is a band director at Oaklawn Junior High, and his sister sings as well.

Many big names in the music industry have seen that “something” in Juice as well.

He has worked with famous musical artists such as Kevin Gates, Juvenile and Lil Wayne, just to name a few.

“It’s almost like the Jackson Five, except that my parents didn’t force it upon us. It was something that we were just groomed into,” Juice says.

He started DJing as a hobby when he was about 11 years old, but the H.L. Bourgeois graduate began to take it more seriously when he started college at Southern University. Although he did a few gigs in college, it was the different people he met from various other cities and states that he studied that were vital to his career. Juice was able to study different styles and genres that he had never been exposed to before, brought that knowledge back with him to the Bayou Region

November 2018 36 povhouma.com

“We toured all over the Northeast Region of the U.S. for 30 to 40,000 people, screaming to the top of their lungs,” Juice says about his 2016 tour experience with Lil Wayne.

His always-growing success and popularity have led him to perform at BET award show parties, Pelican pre-game events, various spots in Hollywood, and much, much more.

“I always give people their money’s worth,” Juice says about the key to his success.

“Whenever I’m put in a position where I feel

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“If God sent them to me, I won’t turn them down” like this is something I’ve never done before, I always do my homework. I never turned anything down.”

Do you know Justin Patterson?

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Once again—you should. He is a humble, thoughtful individual, who outside of being an entertainer is also a loving single father, special education teacher’s aide, coach, outstanding role model, community leader and philanthropist.

“Juice is a public person. I have to be social… I’m not stuck on myself; I just know that when I’m out in public a lot of people know me, so I’m not going to turn anybody down who wants a selfie or an autograph,” Justin shares. “But when I’m not DJing, I really rather just be with my kids and not anywhere else.

If I’m not doing anything I’m either in the gym or fishing with them.

Besides always being there for his own two sons, the Gray-native continuously strives to make a positive impact on the youth in the community. He started the “Character Tour”, where he goes around to different Tri-Parish schools and puts on a dance that awards the children for good behavior. These events are motivation for the kids to do well in school while also being tremendous fundraisers for the schools themselves.

This past July in the Downtown Houma area, Justin commenced the inaugural Juice Fest—an event that he created to once again give back to the youth while also bringing the entire community together—regardless of race or culture.

“So I figured I would combine all the genres and put it in a centralized location to where a white or black person can’t say, ‘Oh, we don’t go there.’” Justin explains. “I didn’t want to make it just

one sided, so I put it downtown because downtown in any city is the place to be.”

The family-friendly free festival brought in thousands of people who got to indulge in a night full of live entertainment and delicious food from local vendors. Through the event, Justin was able accomplish many charitable acts such as donate money to local schools, give away his personally designed backpacks full of school supplies and publicly acknowledged a young fan of his that is fighting a rare liver disease.

Being a well-known role model in the community, Justin often finds himself receiving messages from local parents to talk to their child who might be going through some troubling times. He, of course, never turns them away and counts it as a “blessing”.

“If God sent them to me, I won’t turn them down,” he says.

You can talk to local club owners, teachers, politicians or parents and be hard-pressed to find someone to say a negative word about this community influencer. Whether it’s touring around the country, performing at local venues, coaching, caring for his kids or students or creating groundbreaking events, Justin leaves a good impression by his strong character, willingness to help and leadership.

“God led me to being in that position to where I was able to have a strong voice and a strong image to where people will kind of follow my lead,” he says about his influence that motivates others. “It keeps me grounded, do the right thing and follow the path that I’m supposed to follow.” POV

November 2018 38 povhouma.com

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OH SNAP |

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November 2018 40 povhouma.com

ALLONS DANSER!

November 2018 41 povhouma.com

As Cajun music from Swamp Stomp fills the air, excited festivalgoers take the to dance floor to showoff their best two step!

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TAKE TWO Any “Friends” fans out there? Any one remember The One with Ross’s Sandwich? While the name of the secret ingredient in Geller’s Thanksgiving leftover sandwich is a little unsettling – The Moist Maker – the idea of all of my Thanksgiving leftovers on a sandwich seems pretty appetizing!

While the name suggests you will have all the ingredients for this delicious meal on hand from dinner the day before, be sure you have the proper bread in your kitchen. No ordinary slice will do. No, this behemoth of a sandwich

calls for thick slices of a substantial loaf such as sourdough or even pumpernickel.

This sandwich is not for the faint of heart. If you are the type of person who can’t have two food groups touching on your dinner plate, you might want to skip this month’s recipe. If you are a “pile it on” kind of person, this has your name all over it. Enjoy with Thanksgiving leftovers and repeat the recipe for Christmas leftovers. The sandwich goes great with a side of football and a nap.

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER SANDWICH Ingredients • 2 thick slices of bread (one more if you want a “moist maker” in the middle) • Chopped turkey, white and dark • Gravy • Sweet potato casserole (include the pecans and marshmallows if there’s any left) • Cranberry sauce • Mayonnaise • Lettuce (optional)

Directions 1.

Layer everything between the two slices of bread.

2. T o create the moist maker, pour gravy directly onto the extra

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November 2018 42 povhouma.com

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George Bergeron shows us how a positive attitude is everything.

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A HOME RUN

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November 2018 48 povhouma.com

BY TERRY TRAHAN JR. | PHOTOS SUBMITTED

“Strike three — batter’s out!”

Houma native George Bergeron has “rung up” many Little League batters in his dozen-plus years as a volunteer umpire.

While he enjoys watching his favorite sport from behind the plate, he has done his best work making calls from a coach’s point of view.

“I always taught my teams that it’s not always about winning,” George says. “If we lost, I would teach the kids that they still won if they learned something from the experience. It’s all about the attitude toward the game.”

George’s positive attitude extends beyond the baseball field and has touched the lives of countless kids seeking a mentor — often a father figure — to look up to. When not marking the fields at the Westside Softball Complex in Houma, volunteering as a weigh master for

benefit fishing rodeos or cooking a meal for the Terrebonne High School football team, George spends his time at Vision Christian Center in Bourg ministering to kids, many of whom attend because they want to hear his stories.

“I accepted the Lord over 30 years ago, and God really put in my heart to work with kids,” George says. “I have always encouraged kids to do better. I support them, especially in sports, because I believe it keeps them off the streets.”

From an early age, George learned the value of a great life lesson: you reap what you sow. When a friend needed help coaching a team, he was there. When a benefit tournament needed an umpire to call a full day of games to support a cancer patient, he

November 2018 49 povhouma.com

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was there. When his country needed him to serve for the Vietnam War, he was there — no matter what the cost.

“During my tour in Vietnam, there was a soldier who went berserk and hit me in the head with a big cooking pot,” George remembers. “I wound up in the hospital with a concussion for a couple of weeks.”

Upon release, George was reassigned to a position that required him to organize rations and supplies. He took it upon himself to build shelving units, thereby increasing the efficiency of the facility — a job that hadn’t been asked of him.

“I wound up with the Bronze Star because I went beyond the call of duty,” George says.

The giving spirit always defined the 69-year-old’s character, but one September night six years ago forced him to reverse roles. For once in his life, George was the one in need of what he could only receive from others — prayers and support.

“We were coming back from a football game in New Iberia,” George remembers. “I had been filming footage for coaches at Terrebonne High. We got hit head-on by a drunk driver in front of Ellendale, and we all ended up in hospitals. We survived by the grace of God.” George was traveling with his daughter, granddaughter and two other girls who had served as water girls at the football game. While all passengers sustained injuries, George had 11 broken ribs. Every bone in his right foot was broken. Both his back and neck were damaged.

“When I was in that wreck, I got boxes full of cards that the kids made for me,” George says. “A softball team put on a carwash to try and help me out. So many

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others donated. I didn’t look for none of it, but it meant so much. It look about a year before I got back into umpiring again, but they couldn’t keep me away.”

These days, George is doing more than ever. Retired from his career as a shipfitter and boat captain, he spends his extra time on a mower cutting local ball fields “so coaches and teachers don’t have to get out of school and do it.” Occasionally, he puts on his blue uniform and calls a few games. To encourage student-athletes to excel both on and off the field, annually he gives a $500 scholarship to a softball and baseball player from Terrebonne High School.

Derek Charpentier LUTCF, Agent

Todd Hebert LUTCF, Agent

Gene Gueniot Jr. Agent

Brandon Allen Agent

Natalie Wallace Licensed CSR

Beth Marie Licensed CSR

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“It’s always been about the kids,” George says. “I believe that when you give, it’s going to come back. What you sow, you reap.”

A home run attitude indeed. POV

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OUR BROTHER’S

K E E PA

November 2018 52 povhouma.com

T H E WAY W E A L L C A M E T O G E T H E R

AND

JUST FOUND

HOPE W A S T R U LY A M I R A C L E

BY DREW MILLER | PHOTOS BY CHANNING CANDIES

You often come across many people in the various communities that make up the Bayou Region that are willing to lend a helping hand. Whether it is for hurricane recovery, financial struggles, loss of a loved one or other reasons, many of us can think of a moment a family member, friend or neighbor has helped us in a tough time. What makes us so strong is our willingness to help one another even though we each encounter our own adversities. The embodiment of this strong South Louisianan willingness to help and “love thy neighbor” is the Cut Off-based organization Keepa—who have kept their faith and powerful bond despite facing their fair share of tragedies.

Although the organization officially started in 2015, the brotherhood’s origin goes back many years before that. The Cheramie household consisted of Jody (Big Jo) and Jill Cheramie and their two sons, Tyler (TC) and Korte. Life centered around this Cut Off home for not only the Cheramie family but also for many family friends such as Cullen and Tyler Rebstock, Russ Guidry, and Brandon Bouffanie.

“Their home was the place where we all gathered. No matter happened on the weekends, it started at the Cheramie house,” Tyler remembers about their childhood.

“We were a band of brothers; we grew up together. There was a special bond there that was noticed at a young age by Mr. Jody and Ms. Jill. Mr. Jody always told us, ‘No matter what happens, y’all always stick together.’

We did that.”

Big Jo laid the ground work for what Keepa is today. He instilled in the young men the thoughtfulness, love and respect for others that they still carry with them. He often said, “Keep those heads up boys,” through times of good or bad.

Unfortunately, on January 9, 2006, Big Jo passed away of a heart attack at the age of 47. This was a devastating blow to the family, but the tenacious group was able to persevere through this heartbreak.

“We all kind of went down a downward spiral together,” Tyler shares. “Korte found Christ in that moment, and it brought us all together.”

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After grieving the loss of their loving father, the Cheramie brothers began spreading and living to the values Big Jo had taught them.

They set out to get more involved in charitable works to help out their community. Always being passionate about the sportsmen lifestyle, Korte earned his captain’s license to start chartering offshore fishing trips.

Both Korte and TC didn’t hesitate to become first responders when disaster struck South Louisiana during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The brothers relentlessly worked to help restore the Gulf Coast—with TC running cleanup crews along the shores and Korte running response vessels out at sea. Korte even managed to help save a sinking vessel and the souls onboard, which

November 2018 53 povhouma.com

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earned him Coast Guard Certified Honors.

represented Christianity,� Jill adds.

After continuously supporting local efforts for the years that followed, the Cheramie family and Keepa brotherhood experienced another tragic loss. On January 28, 2015, TC lost his life due to a fatal car accident at the young age of 29. This sent the brotherhood into another state of depression.

However, it was through this tragedy and the imagination of Korte that the first visual of Keepa came about. He wanted to honor his older brother and the fishermen lifestyle they were both impassioned about, so he came up with the “TC Hook�, the logo Keepa still embraces today.

Korte’s faith and determination always shined bright and eliminated whatever dark shadows were cast over the group.

He also transformed into a “fisherman of men�.

“Korte wanted to remember his brother and so did we because we were all brothers.

What better way remember our fallen brother than coming up with a sick logo that when you looked at it was like, ‘Wow,’�

Cullen explains. “When Korte put the ‘t’ in the hook he first thought it represented Tyler Cheramie, but then he realized it

While on a boating trip with his brothers, an argument transpired between the members. Korte calmed the group down and asked, “What do we have to do in our lives so we can get to heaven and be with TC again?� After a long silence, one member of the crew said, “We need to be our brother’s keeper.�

Later on, the first fish of the trip was caught and someone yelled, “That’s a keepa!� Henceforth, they were Keepa—the fishermen of men.

Another dark cloud arose over the organization on February 25, 2017. Korte rejoined his brother and father in heaven after he passed away while sleeping in his bunk in

November 2018 54 povhouma.com

SM A L L B USIN ES S SA TU RD A Y 11 - 24- 18

a vessel at sea, at the age of 28.

However, the resilient organization’s strong bond did not deteriorate, as they remained strong and continued to honor the legacy of Korte, TC and Big Jo.

A local business for over 18 years, Outside and In provides customers with exceptional service, complementary gift wrapping and unique products.

“The way we all came together and just found hope was truly a miracle,” Russ says. “I lost two boys, but I gained many,” Jill shares.

Today, they spread their message and mission with Keepa apparel and decals on their website www.keepaoutdoors. com—raising money to give back— while constantly doing other charitable works. They are always there for the people of their community—willing to lend a helping hand and inspire hope.

“Faith, strength and hope is what Keepa means to me,” Jill says. POV

OF HOUMA

985.872.1431 1000 BARATARIA @ TUNNEL BLVD., HOUMA WWW.VALLEYSUPPLYCO.COM FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/VALLEY-SUPPLY-CO November 2018 55 povhouma.com

623 Corporate Drive Houma, LA 70360 985.876.7809

YOUR DAILY APPLE |

BY SOUTH LOUISIANA MEDICAL ASSOCIATES

HOW TO DEAL WITH HOLIDAY STRESS AND DEPRESSION During the holiday seasons, incidents of stress and depression typically spike. The mixture of financial strain, extra work, and dealing with increased expectations and commitments can lead to increased stress. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy ways to deal with that stress. Using the following methods can help you stay calm and keep stress under control in order to maintain your mental health during the holidays.

during the holidays. Watch your diet throughout the season and try to keep your holiday dishes as healthy as you can. If you’re going to a party, have a healthy snack before you head out to help resist the urge to eat too much later on. If you exercise regularly, try to stick to it and resist the urge to skip the occasional session.

Know Your Limits

Make A Budget

Making a budget at the start of the season for holiday shopping and expenses is one of the most effective ways to mitigate financial stress. This helps prevent accidental overspending and ensures reasonable expectations. Try to remember that quality time and happy memories are generally worth more than expensive gifts or parties, and focus on those things instead of simply spending money.

Limit Your Drinking

Many people increase their alcohol consumption during the holidays, usually because they are going to more celebrations where cocktails, wine and beer are available. That can make things worse because drinking can increase feelings of depression.

Maintain Healthy Habits Healthy habits typically take a backseat to other activities

We deal with a lot of different things the that compete for our attention during the holidays. From arranging parties, organizing gifts and family gatherings, we all run the risk of having too much on our plates and burning out if we agree to do too many things. It can be hard to recognize when you have hit your limit and simply cannot take on more responsibilities, but that is also vital to staying sane. Take the time to think before you agree to any new projects, and be honest with yourself when you are making the decision.

Seek Support A strong support network can lighten the load and help you deal with your stress. That support can come from a lot of places. Many people turn to their friends and families, while others find it in community organizations. Professional help can also be useful, especially when the stress begins to turn into a serious mental health issue.

IS IT TIME FOR YOUR ANNUAL DIABETIC FOOT EXAM?

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Make an appointment with your primary care physician for your annual foot exam to help prevent and manage any diabetes complications. Most payers accepted.

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985-262-1639

144 VALHI LAGOON CROSSING, HOUMA, LA 70360 November 2018 56 povhouma.com

WWW.SLMA.CC

FOR YOUR HEALTH |

ANGELIQUE TORRES, DNP, ANP-C: INTERNAL MEDICINE, OCHSNER ST. ANNE HOSPITAL

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER WHEN IT COMES TO DIABETES being physically active can help people lower your blood sugars.

Most people with Type 2 diabetes take diabetes pills and many also take insulin.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes means you have too much sugar in your blood.

High blood sugar problems start when your body no longer makes enough of a chemical, or hormone, called insulin. Your body changes much of the food you eat into a type of sugar. This sugar travels in your blood to all the cells in your body. Your cells need the sugar to give you energy. Insulin helps sugar move from your blood into your cells.

Without insulin your cells can’t get the sugar they need to keep you healthy. By moving sugar from your blood to your body’s cells, insulin helps keep your blood sugar level normal. When you don’t have enough insulin to lower high blood sugar levels, you have diabetes.

What’s my A1C? The A1C is a blood test you get at the provider’s office or health clinic. It shows your average blood sugar level for the past three months and your risk of having other health problems because of diabetes. Your A1C test results are the best way to know if your blood sugar is under good control over time. A good A1C number is 7 or less and your provider will decide the A1C number that is best for you.

Diabetes and exercise

What is Type 2 diabetes?

With type 2 diabetes, your body makes some insulin, but not enough. Or, the insulin your body makes does not work right. Much of the food you eat is changed by your body into a kind of sugar. The medical word for this sugar is glucose.

Insulin helps sugar move from your blood into your body’s cells. If you don’t have enough insulin to move sugar from your blood into your body’s cells, the amount of sugar in your blood goes up. When your blood sugar levels stay high, you have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults, but the number of children and young people with Type 2 diabetes is growing. Eating healthy foods, in the right amounts, and

Always talk to your provider before starting any exercise program. Start slow and warm up a few minutes before and after you exercise. Find a friend to be active with. It will help you stick with it. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes and carry ID showing you have diabetes. Check your feet before and after exercise. Try to exercise 1-2 hours after a meal when you blood sugar is high. Check your blood sugar before and after you are active.

Diabetes cannot be cured, but you can control it! People who control their blood sugar levels can lead full happy lives- just like everyone else.

Angelique Torres, DNP, ANP-C, focuses on treating adult patients at Ochsner Health Center – Lockport. She is a native of Lafourche Parish and has been on staff with Ochsner St. Anne since March of 2009. She provides the most current, proven medical care through focusing on the best clinical practices, education, and research. She received her DNP with a focus on diabetes. Angelique Torres is available for appointments in Lockport. To schedule an appointment, please call 985-532-1620.

November 2018 57 povhouma.com

WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE |

BY THIBODAUX REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

QUIT FOR LIFE

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer for both men and women in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 234,030 new cases of lung cancer are expected in 2018. At Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, we take an aggressive, multidisciplinary approach to treating and preventing lung cancer. Lung cancer detected early gives us the best opportunity for cure, emphasizing that early detection is key.

Cigarette smoking, by far, is the leading risk factor for developing lung cancer. The risk for lung cancer among smokers is many times higher than among non-smokers and the longer you smoke and the more packs a day you smoke, the greater your risk. If you don’t smoke, breathing in the smoke of others can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Exposure to other environmental agents, like asbestos, may also increase your risk.

Smoking cessation reduces not only the risk of certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer, but it also reduces other health problems such as the risk of stroke or coronary heart disease.

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center offers smoking cessation counseling.

Learning about and understanding the many facets of the smoking habit can lead you to a successful smoking cessation.

Lung cancer screening is now recommended for people considered high risk for developing the disease. Those who meet criteria are encouraged to talk with their physician about screening with a low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan. These high risk patients must be aged 55 to 77 years, have a smoking history equivalent to a pack a day for 30 years, and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Remember, screening is not a substitute for quitting and the most effective way to lower lung cancer risk is to stay away from tobacco.

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

November 2018 58 povhouma.com

FUN FACTS

FOR ALL YOUR

NEEDS • P resident George Washington was the first to proclaim Thanksgiving as a national holiday. However, it was President Abraham Lincoln that made it the fourth Thursday in November and later was President Franklin D. Roosevelt that signed the bill to make it official.

• Although it is the center of the meal for the modern Thanksgiving feast, historians note there was no turkey served at the first Thanksgiving.

Today an estimated 46 million turkeys are eaten every year for Thanksgiving.

• From 1924 to 1927, the first three years of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, featured mostly borrowed zoo animals from the Central Park Zoo and not giant floating balloons.

South Louisiana Bank is waiving the consumer mortgage appraisal fee on applications submitted before December 31st, 2018.

Has your bank stopped making home loans? Thinking about refinancing?

We can help.

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a longtime homeowner, we provide the unmatched service you need to choose a home mortgage plan that works for you.

• The Calorie Control Council estimated that the average American consumes about 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving.

• It is tradition in the NFL that the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions each host a game for Thanksgiving. The Cowboys hold a record of 30-19-1 for Thanksgiving games and the Lions’ record is 37-39-2.

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751 W. BAYOU RD. THIBODAUX, LA 70301

THANKFUL FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR

COMMUNITY

SINCE 1924

UNDER THE SCOPE |

BY JOHN DOUCET

STEINBECK IN HOUMA It’s not just every day that you can find a future Nobel Prize winner driving down the road. But on a few days between 1935 and 1960, folks of the future PoV country might have found one.

John Steinbeck, author of the famous novels “Of Mice and Men” and “The Grapes of Wrath”, knew the bayou roads of Terrebonne Parish. The world first learned of Steinbeck’s affection for Houma (or “Homer,” as he called it) in his 1960 book, “Travels with Charlie”, a travelogue of the road trip he took across the U.S. in a used pickup truck camper accompanied by his dog, Charlie. In late November toward the end of his trip, Steinbeck left Beaumont, Texas, in the aftermath of an ice storm on his way to New Orleans. Likely driving old U.S. Highway 90 on this leg, he reminisced as he crossed Terrebonne Parish: “There lives my old friend, …a gentle, learned man, a Cajun who has lifted babies and cured colic among the shell-heap Cajuns for miles around. …He makes the best and most subtle martini in the world by a process approximating magic.”

Who was this old Cajun friend who practiced medicine back in the day when living off the Gulf was so prominent that many had a pile of oyster shells in their front yards? It was Bayou Dularge native T.I. “Thad” St. Martin, physician and renowned child development expert, who practiced in Houma on the corner Barrow and Belanger Street in the first half of the 20th century.

St. Martin and Steinbeck had much in common. In 1935-36, they both published critically acclaimed novels—Steinbeck’s “Tortilla Flat” and St. Martin’s “Madame Toussaint’s Wedding Day”. Each novel was geographically set in the author’s native land, coastal California and coastal Louisiana respectively, and each captured the colloquial humor and speech of its region. And, ironically, each received its share of criticism from locals as well as others.

Steinbeck must have found a kindred intellect in St. Martin. Inscribing a first edition copy of “Tortilla Flat” (1935) to his friend, Steinbeck wrote, “Thanks for a very pleasant day and good thinking.” Regarding “Madame Toussaint”, he wrote in a letter to St. Martin, “This is a remarkable book. I liked every minute of it. …Thank you again for this good book.” And, in the same letter: “It was as pleasant an afternoon we spent with you as any I ever experienced.” In a later letter, Steinbeck promised to send “Madame Toussaint” to his screenwriter, who had received an Oscar nomination for adapting “The Grapes of Wrath” into a movie.

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Steinbeck must have visited multiple times “one of the pleasantest places in the world” where he would hear “the singing language of

November 2018 60 povhouma.com

Inspirations

Acadia which once was French and now is itself.” Inscribing a 1937 copy of “Of Mice and Men”, he wrote, “For the St. Martin’s, after a very beautiful afternoon, from a man to a mouse, J.S.” Inscribing a 1939 copy of “The Grapes of Wrath” for St. Martin, he wrote “It was a good time thanks to all of you.”

In “Travels with Charlie”, Steinbeck writes “I have eaten black duck at his table—two St. Martin martinis and a brace of black duck with a burgundy … in a darkened house where the shades have been closed at dawn and the cool night air preserved.” And in 1943, St. Martin visited his literary compatriot in New Orleans for the French Quarter wedding of Steinbeck to his second wife.

The 1960 road trip with Charlie seems a sad one, as a sickly Steinbeck likely knew it would be the last opportunity to visit St Martin in Houma. Of that late November morning, he wrote, “… it was a pale, yellow, frozen dawn in Houma, and I knew that if I stopped to pay my respects, my will and my determination would drift away to the particular lotus St. Martin purveys and we would be speaking of timeless matters when the evening came. And another evening. And so, I only bowed in the direction of my friend and scudded on toward New Orleans…”

Two years later, Steinbeck would win the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature. He would die six years later in December 1968 in New York, one month after the death of St. Martin in Houma.

It’s not just every day that you can find a future Nobel Prize winner driving down the road. So, fellow Cajuns, keep those heaps of oyster shells piled high and the martinis subtle. One may, instead, find you. POV

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November 2018 61 povhouma.com

debrushing1213@gmail.com 985-226-4463 Inspirationsbydebbie

JOIN US FRIDAY NIGHTS IN NOVEMBER FOR CANNATA’S

WINE & SPIRITS 6-8 PM

in our Wine & Spirits Dept.

NOV 2 THE SPIRIT OF

BOURBON TASTING RED BLEND WINES

NOV 9

Season S eason taste the

Cream-based Liquors and a selection of Pinot noirs. Mammoth cheese carving with a sampling of side dishes to complement the cheese.

NOV 16

GRAB YOUR

KILT!

and sip on some scotch and a variety of wines to pair with cheese (artisanal production wines)

NOV 30 Whiskeyed Away! get

at Christmas

Irish whiskey tasting and a selection of cabernet sauvignoN

RSVP

TO EVENTS ON

RENDEZVOUS |

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN

Louisiana Swamp Stomp Festival

Bayou Beer Fest

Nov. 3, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Lagers and porters and ales, oh my!

Welcome to the 6th annual Bayou Beer Fest, Houma’s premier beer festival sponsored by Spigot’s Brew Pub. Sample craft beers brewed from around Louisiana plus some rare beers from your favorite brands. Entertainment provided by Nonc Nu and da Wild Matous. Tickets are $35.

All guests must present their ID at the gate and must be at least 21 years old to enter.

Where: Southdown Museum, Houma

The Louisiana Swamp Stomp Festival enjoys its third year in Raceland for this one-day celebration of all things Cajun.

Highlighting local and regional Cajun bands, this year’s line-up features The Daiquiri Queens, Jourdan Thibodeaux et Les Rodailleurs, Les Ferrailles, and Les Freres Michot. This event is free and open to the public.

Where: Lafourche Central Market, Hwy. 90 at LA 1, Raceland Contact: laswampstomp.org

Nov. 10, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Contact:

BayouBeerFest.com

Purses & Pints

PoV Pop-Up!

Nov. 15, 6:30-9 p.m.

Nov. 8, 5-7:30 p.m.

Join Point of Vue magazine for our first PoV Pop-Up Party! This fun event showcases local artisans who create art, jewelry, fashion and more at a oneday only Pop-Up Shop. Get your holiday shopping started and support our local artisans!

Where: Spigot’s Brew Pub, Houma Contact: 985-868-7515

Thibodeauxville Fall Festival Nov. 10

Pass a good time at the 26th annual Thibodeauxville Fall Festival. Thibodaux is the place for excitement with dozens of arts and crafts booths, 5-and 10K races, music, food and more during Thibodeauxville. The music line-up includes Rockin’ Dopsie, Foret Tradition, and the Cajun Music Preservation Society.

The famous Duck Race takes place at 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is free.

Where: Downtown Thibodaux Contact: facebook.com/Thibodeauxville

Support TFAE’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library with this unique silent and live auction of new and gently used designer handbags. New to the event this year is the addition of signature cocktails and craft beer selections. Tickets are $55, which includes the sponsorship of one child for one year in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Where: Ellendale Country Club, Houma Contact: tfae.org/purses-pints

Hope Fest 2018 Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Hope Fest invites our community to be a part of the change happening at Hope Extreme in East Houma! This family event includes a 5K run, craft booths, live music, inflatables, food and guaranteed fun.

Where: Hope Extreme, Houma Contact: hopeextreme.org

& FOLLOW

US FOR MORE

DETAILS

6307 WEST PARK AVENUE HOUMA, LA 70364

November 2018 62 povhouma.com

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take your photo with a live gator! swamp tours gator farm tours birthday parties family gatherings

WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT IN OUR CALENDAR? Shoot an email to mary@rushing-media.com and we’ll help spread the word.

GROUP RATES AVAILABLE FOR TOUR TIMES CALL 985.804.0744

125 gator court • gibson, la November 2018 63 povhouma.com

1309 st. patrick st.

446-6256 • Thibodaux 868-4421 • Houma

SCENE IN |

LOOK AT OL’ SO ‘N’ SO!

HOPE FOR THE HAVEN 5K Thibodaux Regional Medical Center presented the Hope for The Haven 5K on September 29 to benefit The Haven in providing needed services for victims of domestic violence. More than 350 people participated in the event and proceeds totaled $10,000. Thibodaux Regional is committed to improving the health, wellness and safety of the communities they serve.

Place your holiday order today Send us your list, choose your delivery date, and we’ll do the rest!

985-785-8769 WWW.THEBASKETRY.COM

November 2018 64 povhouma.com

VISIT THE

OPEN Monday through Friday 10AM to 4PM Saturday 10AM to 2PM

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November 2018 65 povhouma.com

THE ART OF SMART |

IT’S NOT AN ARTICLE, IT’S A SMARTICLE

1 On November 1, 1995, the first all-race local government elections were held in South Africa, marking the end of what oppressive system?

Totalitarianism A Apartheid B

C Communism D Feudalism

2 What boxer became the youngest Heavyweight Champion with his knockout of Trevor Berbick on November 22, 1986?

Evander Holyfield A George Foreman B

C Larry Holmes D Mike Tyson

3 On November 19, 1980, CBS banned a Calvin Klein’s jeans ad featuring what model?

Brooke Shields A Cindy Crawford B

C Elle MacPherson D Janice Dickinson

4 On November 27, 1973, the U.S. Senate approved the appointment of Gerald R. Ford as the 40th vice president after the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew. What did Agnew plead guilty to?

Tax Evasion A Involuntary Manslaughter B

C Embezzlement D Money Laundering

5 What state became the 46th in the union on November 16, 1907?

New Mexico A Arizona B

C Oklahoma D Alaska

6 Pixar’s “Toy Story” was released on November 22, 1995.

Which of these is not a character in the first “Toy Story”?

Woody A Buzz B

C Slinky D Wheezy

7 On November 24, 1859, the scientific piece of literature “On the Origin of Species” was first published. Who was the author?

Isaac Newton A Albert Einstein B

HOW DID YOU DO?

C Charles Darwin D Stephen Hawking

1) B, 2) D, 3) A, 4) A, 5) C, 6) D, 7) C, 8) C

8 In November of 1582, William Shakespeare married what woman that shares the same name as one of today’s famous actresses?

Jennifer Lawrence A Margot Robbie B

C Anne Hathaway D Cate Blanchett November 2018 66 povhouma.com

# Correct 7-8 3-6 1-2 0

IQ 160 110 50 3

Your Score: Top of the Class You Get a Gold Star Did You Even Try? Oh Come On!

LOOK TWICE |

WIN A $50

COURTESY OF SYNERGY BANK

GIFT CARD

Find the six differences in this photo from our feature on page 16. Drop off your answers along with your name and daytime contact number at the PoV office, 6160 W. Park Ave., Houma. Stuck at the office? Fax it, 985.873.9009, or email it to us, looktwice@povhouma.com.

A winner will be picked by random drawing November 12.

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

Congratulations to Robin Reed for winning last month’s contest.

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1 Removed Mirror light 2 Copied peach bottle 3 Removed drawer handle 4 Changed bottle color to blue 5 Added Alexa 6 Changed bottle color to purple

Thankful for all of our blessings, customers and family.

#SynergyGivesThanks November 2018 67 povhouma.com

November 2018 68 povhouma.com