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6 POINT OF VUE OUR VUE DECEMBER 2015
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TABLE OF CONTENTS DECEMBER 2015 • VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 12
ABOUT THE COVER
18
Pre-K students at St. Bernadette Catholic School in Houma get to the heart of Christmas. Sort of. CHANNING CANDIES
SINGING OUT HOPE LOCAL VUE
FITLIFE
18 SINGING OUT HOPE
52 WHO AM I?
54 THIBODAUX REGIONAL
24 CHATEAU CHIC
64 TELL ME WHY
56 FITMIND
Vandebilt choir to sing for Pope Home Tour
Courtesy of Premier OB-GYN Answers to Life’s Most Perplexing Questions
Mindful eating through the holidays Holiday Season
68 TIMEOUT
Nuggets about ‘Nog
70 ‘ZAT YOU, MR. CLAUS?
Christmas Q&A with the kiddos
32 TAKING THE LEAP
Lindsey Norton takes on Singapore
38 A SERVANT’S HEART
Mae Smith retires
44 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
58 THE YOUNG GENERATION
Gift Ideas from Local Retailers
48 UNDER THE SCOPE
The Other December Holiday
74 OH SNAP
Hit the Lights
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76 PRIMED FOR MEMORIES
Chef Randy Cheramie shares his family Christmas feast
Youth basketball
62 WHAT’S SHAKIN’
How You Can Roday Around Your Community
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TABLE OF CONTENTS DECEMBER 2015 • VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 12
OUR VUE
YOUR VUE
13 12 EDITOR’S NOTE
13 THE VUEFINDER
Merry Christmas
14 14 IN TERVUE
For Real or Fake?
16 THE OBSERVER
Say What?
EXPERT VUE
Christmas Morning
REAR VUE
88
99
84 LIVING WELL
87 A VUE FROM THE VINE
90 SMARTY PANTS
85 CHECK IT OUT
88 BON APPÉTIT
92 REN DEZVOUS
Of Course There Will Be Leftovers ... Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Value Priced Gems from Australia Dulce de Leche Baked Donuts
86 BEHIND THE BREW
View back issues, Web-only content and a full distribution list. SCAN HERE:
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For When Your Thinking Cap Fails Where You Need To Be Around Town
94 SCENE IN
Holiday Gift Ideas for the Craft Beer Lover
POVHOUMA.COM
Look at ol’ so ’n’ so!
96 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
The Who and the Where
97 LOOK TWICE PUZZLE
Sponsored by Synergy Bank
98 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Rhett Williams
99 THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
7 Classic Christmas Carol Tidbits
NEWSLETTERS
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EDITOR’S NOTE PUBLISHER
SHELL ARMSTRONG
Brian Rushing publisher@rushing-media.com
Merry Christmas
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
It’s
that time of year … most folks have an extra pep in their step. Holiday colors, music and traditions are the norm and youngsters are counting down to the big day – Christmas. December is the month we set aside to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. Factor in a visit from Santa, loads of gifts, family gatherings and good times and you’ve got yourself a holiday. To get the real scoop on Christmas, PoV staffer Melissa Duet visited youngsters at St. Bernadette Catholic School in Houma to get the down low. Special thanks are due to Michele Lopez and Andre Hebert Trahan for opening their classrooms to us. It turns out the theory that Christmas is for the young does ring true. The Pre-K children set us straight on a number of looming questions inquiring minds have long wanted to know. For instance, Santa Claus will consume
between two and nearly two dozen cookies during his travels and the Wise Men would have done well to pack a puppy along with the gold, frankincense and myrrh. Want to know more? See page 70. For home décor ideas, Bonnie Rushing and Erica Seely visited Phillip and Dot Wu (see page 24). Their traditionalmeets-Asian take on Christmas is a splendid nod to the holiday accented by pieces from the couple’s world travels. It’s really something to see. And to whet your appetite, our favorite chef, Randy Cheramie of the John Folse Culinary Institute, has whipped up a Christmas Day menu that’s sure to delight (see page 76). This issue of PoV is packed with holiday fun and ideas. We hope you enjoy it. The entire Rushing Media family wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and best wishes long into the new year. POV
Shell Armstrong is the editor of Point of Vue magazine.
EDITOR@RUSHI N G-MEDIA.COM
Point of Vue magazine is published monthly. Subscriptions are available for $36 for 12 issues. For more information, email mail@rushing-media.com
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHY
Channing Candies, Casey Gisclair, Jacob Jennings, Misty Leigh McElroy, Erica Seely
WRITERS
Dwayne Andras, Shell Armstrong, Lane Bates, Carlos Crockett, Jaime Dishman, John Doucet, Melissa Duet, Dr. J. Michael Flynn, Casey Gisclair, Deana Leonard, Debbie Melvin, Janell Parfait, Bonnie Rushing, Becca Weingard
Copyright ©2015 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.
12 POINT OF VUE OUR VUE DECEMBER 2015
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THE VUEFINDER MELISSA DUET
For Real or Fake? If
you’ve driven around Kenner in the last few months, you’ve probably noticed a new resident in town. At Home, the holy grail for homeowners, and its robin egg blue sign peek out over the myriad other establishments along West Esplanade Avenue, beckoning you to step inside and empty your wallet immediately. There we stood, meandering through the Christmas tree display in the middle of the 200,000-square-foot store ... in the middle of October. We stroked the branches of each one, tilting our heads pensively, trying to imagine how the artificial Douglas Fir or Scotch Pine might look in our living room. There had to be just the right amount of lights and the branches had to look realistic enough to make us believe it wasn’t crafted in some overseas factory. Despite the concerted effort, it was hard to picture it without pining for a real Scotch Pine. Having a real Christmas tree is all I’ve ever known. As a child, I anticipated the weekend my parents finally broke down and ventured to the tree lot to pick out the perfect plant for the season. No holes messing up the overall look, average height and full, a bed of foliage waiting to nestle each of our handmade and Hallmark ornaments for the month of magic ahead. Some years, we sprung for flocking, the faux snow lightly dusting our entire house by Dec. 31. Other years, we kept it traditional, just ornaments and an angel on the highest bough. The Christmas tree adventure was my younger self’s recognition that the best time of year was upon us.
My husband’s childhood Christmas trees were of the kind we found ourselves deliberating over on that day in mid-October. Perfectly packaged in storage boxes, ready to spring alive in homes across America. Low-maintenance and the end result is equally beautiful. Standing in the middle of all that foliage, I realized I might not have to devise a grand tree swap overnight after all. My childhood memories weren’t even about the actual tree. They were about the process, the journey from bare branches to shimmering spectacle, slowly put together by every family member as a ceremonious welcoming of the Christmas season. So this year, we’ve got our eye on a seven-and-a-half-foot Kerrigan Spruce tree, complete with 700 pre-strung lights. No, it won’t shed needles or fill the house with that quintessential “tree” smell, but honestly, our dog is not to be trusted with anything that drops easily digestible objects and lugging that big ole thing inside is a more pleasant thought when someone else is doing the heavy lifting. Next year, I’ve been promised the real deal, a compromise for the sake of preserving Christmas traditions while making a few of our own. POV
Melissa is a writer for Rushing Media. She refuses to part with her 24-piece Barbie ornament collection despite her age.
MELISSA@RUSHI N G-MEDIA.COM
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INTERVUE
Practice Manager
GRETCHEN
Circulation Manager
Occupational Therapist
Regional Manager
DAWN
BEVERLY
When do you start breaking out the Christmas lights?
The minute live Christmas trees arrive
After Thanksgiving
Not until after Thanksgiving
First week of December
After Thanksgiving
Swim with sharks or dolphins?
You have to swim with sharks to be able to appreciate dolphins more.
Dolphins
Definitely dolphin
Both
Dolphins
What wakes you up in the morning?
Anticipation of the alarm going off an waking everyone else up
Alarm
Alarm - 4:30 a.m. running group
My alarm
Birds singing
Real - Love the smell
Artificia
Artificia
Artificia
Artificia
Starbucks and a massage
Everything. If you don’t treat yourself, you cheat yourself.
Fine dining
Travel
Traveling to Hawaii
A home-cooked meal
Clean laundry
Freshly cut grass in the summer
Cut grass
Jasmine
Skills?
Tied up with a bow
Tied up with a bow
Tied up with a bow
Gift bag
Artificial or rea Christmas tree?
If you treat yourself to “the fine things in life,” what would that be?
What smell reminds you of home?
How are your gift wrapping skills tied up with a bow or stuffed into a gift bag?
MICHELLE
ANGIE
Owner
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THE OBSERVER JAIME DISHMAN
Christmas Morning If
you’re reading this before Christmas morning, you should know that I am eagerly waiting on Christmas Day. I’m 35 years old, and even as I write this, there is a part of me that wants to start a countdown to Christmas. But it’s too early. And as my fingers type, Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet. Christmas morning. Please come. Because it feels like I’ve been waiting all year. There’s no logical explanation. My husband and I don’t exchange gifts. So there’s no big gift coming that might make my day. It’s one of our busiest days of the year. We celebrate early morning with our children, then celebrate with my husband’s extended family and spend the evening with my parents and siblings. It’s so busy. But the minute my eyes open on Christmas morning (which with our crew is at about 6 a.m. with them jumping on our bed), I think, “It’s here. I’ve been waiting all year.” I grew up with a sense that on Christmas morning, every wrong thing was somehow made right. We would attend our church’s candlelight service and get home late Christmas Eve. But I went to bed knowing that no matter how much of a brat I had been all year long, I would wake up forgiven by parents who graciously put gifts under the tree. Even when I in no way deserved them. My self-awareness of my brat-like behavior is true. As a moody, sarcastic and somewhat rebellious teenager, I knew what I was. And I knew that if there was a naughty/nice list, I might not make the “nice” list. I certainly hadn’t been nice to my parents all year. And friendships were questionable, too. I usually had only been nice if they had been nice to me. So I’m not sure that warrants a check in the “nice” box. But on Christmas morning, the gifts were there. My parents were smiling and gratitude erupted from a girl who showed little hope of ever turning out “well.” Seriously, even my grandmother had predicted to my parents that, “they would have trouble with that one.” And they did. But I was forgiven. Christmas morning felt like a fresh start, a chance to do it all over again. All my wrongs forgiven. Smiling parents. Undeserved gifts.
A little piece of me changed every Christmas through my teen years. Waking up feeling forgiven and given a clean slate changes the way you do things. It turned the sarcasm into concern for others. It changed the moodiness into gratitude. And eventually, it turned me into a daughter that my parents were glad to wake up to on Christmas morning. They could have quit giving me gifts and told me I didn’t deserve them. And that would have been true. But they didn’t. Every Christmas morning came, and they placed as much as they could afford under the tree. Really good gifts, too. Ones that I knew sometimes cost too much. It’s made me want to give good gifts to my own children. Really good ones that they don’t deserve. And not just Christmas morning. But every day of the year. Because not all gifts come in wrapping paper. Sometimes it’s the gift of a little extra undeserved grace. That Christmas morning feeling isn’t just a feeling. It’s a sign of new life, which is ultimately what Christmas morning is all about. Wise Men sought after a star, and I have to think they thought, “Please give me something new that will change the way I am now. That’s why I’m following this star so far.” I’m no wise man but I’d imagine following a star isn’t exactly the most logical decision on anyone’s part. But neither is gift giving. If I’m tallying points, about half my kids probably don’t deserve gifts this year. They’ve left their rooms sloppy, argued with each other, lied and yelled at me. But the gifts are there. Waiting. Wrapped. And they’re good ones, too. Ones they don’t deserve. Because I want them to know what a fresh start feels like. A morning when you wake up and realize you don’t measure up, but you’ve been given good things anyway. And that is why I’ve been waiting for Christmas morning. It’s the best day of the year. POV
Jaime Dishman believes in silver linings, no matter how gray the storm clouds. 16 POINT OF VUE YOUR VUE DECEMBER 2015
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MELISSA DUET JACOB JENNINGS
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Singing Out
Hope H
ealing, uplifting, life changing ... one song, its lyrics and melody melding together to create something transcendent, has immense power and students at Vandebilt Catholic High School are set to experience what thousands of beautiful voices can do.
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At the beginning of the 2014-15 school year, the school’s choir director Sarah Todd received an unanticipated invitation in the mail, its contents offering her choir students a trip of a lifetime. Sent from The International Federation of Pueri Cantores, the correspondence invited the students to travel to Rome for the 40th Annual International Congress, a gathering of officials working to maintain the musical identity within the
Catholic faith. In all, 127 choirs are set to proclaim this year ’s message of “Sing Out Hope” and Vandebilt is among the United States’ 33 participating choirs, the only group from Louisiana. The European tradition of boys’ choirs singing during liturgical services saw renewal in the early 20th century, thanks to Pope Pius X’s devotion to the art form. Les Petits Chanteurs a la Crois du bois, or Little Singers of the Wooden Cross,
became the first tasked with singing during services and on Nov. 11, 1944, the International Federation of Pueri Cantores was formed. In the 1990s, girls’ choirs were admitted to the federation and today, several hundred choirs of children, girls, boys and mixed groups join the organization’s mission to use music to worship. A group of roughly 100 local students are set to embark on the global journey
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Dec. 28 through Jan. 1 where they will gather with the other 126 choirs from places like Belgium, France and Sweden for an immersive trip that puts them at the forefront of the faith. “We’re kind of thinking of it along the lines of not just a fun choir trip,” Sarah says. “We’re gearing it toward a pilgrimage. A lot of Rome is steeped in religion and so we are going to, besides singing for the mass that the Pope is saying, we are going to be going and singing in churches and touring a lot of the religious aspects.” The trip begins with a solemn procession through the Holy Door of St. Peter ’s Basilica for the inauguration of the Congress. This is a momentous opportunity as the Holy Door is typically bricked up except for Holy Years of Mercy, designated times to strengthen the relationship between man and God. Pope Francis is set to open the door for the first time since 2000 during a Mass on Dec. 8, the official first day of the Holy Year. The choirs will sing during this opening procession, as well as for various individual concerts held at churches in the area and at a mass celebrated with the leader of the Catholic Church himself, Pope Francis. Since receiving the invitation, the group has been hard at work memorizing and perfecting songs that will serve as the music for the various programs throughout the five-day event. The students attend special practices twice a week after school, working not only on knowing the songs, but being able to pronounce the lyrics, many of which are in Latin, French or Italian. “Very little of it is in English,” Sarah laughs. “We’ve been doing well with it though. They’ve been doing a good job.” “It’s really exciting,” says Rod Russell, whose daughter Mary is in the choir. “It’s one of the those rare life opportunities and it’s exciting that they are given the opportunity to be able to go and be recognized and be able to sing in the Vatican.” Although the group has done several fundraisers to raise the amount needed for the trip, Sarah says the students and their parents are covering most of the expenses, an indication of how important the trip is to them. “For kids in a Catholic school, who have grown up Catholic, you tell them they are going to be singing at a mass the Pope is saying and that’s a really big deal,” Sarah explains. “They’re very excited ... Just the fact that the school is allowing me to take this trip … it is so important to the kids.” POV 22 POINT OF VUE LOCAL VUE DECEMBER 2015
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CHATEAU CHIC BONNIE RUSHING ERICA SEELY
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A
B
B
uilt by M.L. Funderburk and later sold to Dr. Rudolph Ellender, the home of Phillip and Dot Wu has a unique, eclectic style the homeowners refer to as traditional-meets-Asian. While decor found throughout the home has been acquired during world travels, Asian decor takes center stage. After moving into their home in 1992, Dot began decorating the three bedroom, three bath home herself. Using her creativity and talent to decorate as well as sew her own drapery, Dot has cultivated the decor to reflect her husband’s heritage. A variety of blue and white porcelain on display is from Hong Kong.
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C When decorating for the holidays, Asian and traditional decorations are combined for an uncommon, yet beautiful Christmas look. An Asian Santa at the front door greets guests as they enter the home. Once inside, a white bisque porcelain dragon sits proudly on the mantle waiting for Christmas. Â
D
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E Fueling Dot’s passion for decorating, each year her Christmas decor changes with a new color scheme. This year ’s color combination is silver and gold. Sparkling decor and elegantly arranged florals set the stage for an annual gathering of friends, called a hen party. For the past 15 years, Dot has hosted this special gathering of friends right before Christmas Eve. An elaborate design adorns
F
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G H
the formal dining room table where the evening is shared. This year, sugared green grapes and apples shine under the twinkling lights. After an evening of fun, themed dessert plates are gifted to guests as a memento of the celebration and their friendship. POV
A Living Room B Living Room Detail C Dining Room Detail D Nativity Set E Sitting Area F Master Bedroom G Front Door Detail H Exterior
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MELISSA DUET
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TA K I N G T H E L E A P
It’s 8:30 a.m. and Houma native Lindsey Norton is preparing for another day in Singapore.
N
early an entire day separates her from family and friends in Louisiana, but the world outside her window isn’t all that different from the one she left behind some 10,000 miles away.
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Lindsey earned a marketing degree and master ’s of business administration from Nicholls State University between 2003 and 2008, joining forces with a franchisee of Smoothie King in Lafayette shortly after graduation. Soon after, she was offered a position within the corporate office in Metairie, assisting franchisees across the country in establishing and successfully operating locations of the Louisiana-born beverage company. The position kept Lindsey on a constant rotation of week-long trips from Miami to Las Vegas, fueling her desire to explore more of the world. In 2012, the company was purchased by SK USA Inc., spearheaded by CEO Wan Kim, who was operating Smoothie King franchises in more than 100 locations, including Korea. The leadership change meant expansion into international markets and Lindsey quickly packed her bags for her first foray into international living. “That was really exciting,” she remembers of the consulting job that landed her in Singapore in January 2013 to launch the brand in the area. “One, it was a new opportunity for me, but also, I had never been outside of the U.S., outside of the Caribbean. Just to
be part of something that was going to eventually be great was really exciting for me.” By the beginning of 2014, Lindsey was asked if she would consider staying in Singapore for a long-term assignment, one that would eliminate the grueling trips back and forth to the U.S. corporate office while still maintaining contact with Singapore, a difficult task considering the 14-hour time difference. But Lindsey had fallen in love with the area and knew she’d found the place she was meant to be. Within the next year, the goals of Smoothie King’s international work shifted and Lindsey found herself at a crossroads: remain with the brand and move to North Carolina or remain in Singapore and begin a new chapter. “In retrospect, looking at what I had done for them, the constant travel, the constant pick up and go, it was exciting, but it was almost detrimental to a social life,” she says. “So after a lot of thought and prayers, I decided that Singapore was where I was supposed to be.” After leaving Smoothie King in mid-November, Lindsey began the search for an apartment and a new
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job, one that allowed her to continue her growth within the business world. She also made the trip back home, where she was faced with the challenging task of cleaning out, packing up and moving on. “When I got home in December, I actually went home to basically get rid of everything I didn’t want to bring with me and pack up everything I did,” she remembers. “Last Christmas was quite tough. The majority of the time was spent selling furniture, giving things away. It was quite an emotional Christmas last year just going through that.” The trip home included immense joy in seeing her family for the first time in months and coincidentally receiving a phone call offering her a job as the senior admissions manager at Stamford American International School on the day she landed in the United States. The school, which operates nursery through 12 th graders, opened in 2009 in Singapore. It utilizes cutting-edge educational practices to teach the children of expatriots, who make up the 40 percent of the population. Most of the students arrive in Singapore because of a parent’s job. “That [moment] was a really emotional thing and to be honest, if I hadn’t gotten the position, I’m not sure I would have been able to leave,” Lindsey says of her return to Singapore. “I think I would have struggled with doing what I did and not knowing whether or not I had a job.” Nearly a year into her new job, Lindsey spends most days at her office on Stamford’s campus overseeing the sales team
PRIMARY LANGUAGE: English SIZE: 277 square miles NICKNAME: The Little Red Dot,
adopted from a former Indonesian president’s comment that the citystate was just a “red dot.” POPULATION: Roughly 5 million people FUN FACT 1: Celebrated 50 years of independence in 2015 FUN FACT 2: Year-round temperature of 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit FUN FACT 3: Cars in Singapore are outrageously expensive. A Nissan, for example, will cost upward of $100,000. Cars are heavily taxed in order to keep consumption low because of the limited space.
for the school, analyzing sales goals and numbers and sitting in on appointments with potential students and their families in order to coach and train those she manages. Because she once was the one packing her bags and making the leap, she empathizes with those that come through Stamford’s doors, offering a unique perspective on life in Singapore. “Having worked in Singapore for nearly two and a half years now, I connect with people in a much better way because the people I meet on a daily basis are people that are doing exactly what I did a year ago,” she says. “We do meet a lot of Americans and, for some, especially mothers because typically they are the following spouse, it’s a difficult thing. It’s really nice to be able to con-
nect with that mother and say, ‘Here’s all the great opportunities your child is going to have and here’s all the other stuff that nobody tells you.’” That includes mentally preparing for the life-changing move, emotions Lindsey was surprised to experience in the wake of it all. “I had been doing it for so long so I never expected the emotional depth to be what it was,” she explains. “There were times this year that I really struggled, mainly with not having the support system that you have when you do live in the states ... FaceTime and Skype and phone calls are wonderful, but sometimes you just need that hug. That’s one thing I really miss and it’s really nice to be able to convey that to families. I think they really appreciate that.” Although being away from her loved ones is understandably difficult at times, her love for Singapore and the doors it has opened for her have made the emotional rollercoaster all worth it. What lies ahead for her is an unknown, but she’s eager to find out and share with her family and friends the experience along the way. “I know that they are really looking forward to me being home at Christmas and I’m also really looking forward to that,” she adds. “It’s taken awhile for them to get used to it, but I think we’re finally at a point where they get it and I definitely think that when my parents come over to Singapore, they’ll truly understand why I wanted to be here and why I enjoy it so much.” POV
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SPONSORED CONTENT
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SHELL ARMSTRONG JACOB JENNINGS
A SERVANT’S HEART
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M
ae Smith readjusts the black wristband on her frail arm, counting down the minutes until her shift ends at noon. It’s not that she’s watching the clock to go home. Mae’s saved her favorite job, readying First United Methodist Church of Houma’s altar for Sunday service, for last. A perfectionist at heart, the 91-year-old Dulac woman wants to ensure the job is completed to her standard. Time spent talking to a PoV reporter is time away from her work … and that’s made her mindful of the clock.
Time is winding down on Mae Smith’s career. For 37 years, the devoted Catholic woman has faithfully served First United Methodist. Days before her 92 nd birthday, Nov. 23, she retired as the church’s longtime housekeeper. Mae Smith was a young 17-year-old bride when she and Joseph W. Smith wed. Joseph would serve on a Navy ship in the South Pacific at the height of World War II. Mae stayed at home, waiting for his return. When the war ended, Joseph returned and took a job with an oil company. The Smiths had a
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daughter, Gerri, and life was good. Until 1978, that is, when Joseph was tragically killed in a car accident. A 55-year-old widow with a daughter to support, Mae had little choice but to seek work. “It wasn’t easy,” Mae recalls. “I didn’t have the money to bury him.” Chauvin Funeral Home worked out a payment plan, and Mae set out to find work. After all, the meager monthly widow’s pension the Navy paid wouldn’t cover the bills and support Mae and Gerri. That’s when the call came. A First United Methodist church member called Mae’s sister – the church was looking for a nursery worker. “My sister said she didn’t need the job, but I did,” Mae recalls. “I told them I didn’t have transportation, but if they could give me a ride, I’d take the job. God had a hand in it. I needed a job and He delivered one.” For a little more than $2 an hour, Mae Smith, born and raised in St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, joined the Methodist church family.
Saturdays were reserved for church services at St. Francis, but on Sunday mornings, Mae could be found rocking the infants in the nursery. “Today, I see some of those people I rocked when they were just little babies,” she says. “Now, they are all grown and have children of their own … and they aren’t babies, either.” In time, Mae’s duties shifted from the nursery to housekeeping. Her days have been spent readying coffee for the church’s many services, cleaning meeting
rooms, serving meals and picking up after funerals, weddings and school events. “Mae has been a faithful servant to our church,” the Rev. Don Ross, pastor of First United Methodist of Houma, says. “She’s been a strong, faithful employee.” Mae Smith personifies strength … figuratively and literally. At 100 pounds soaking wet, Mae tackles her chores with the vigor of someone half her age. “I never carry her mop bucket,” Ross says. “It’s not that I haven’t offered. She just wouldn’t hear of it.”
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Likewise, the strong-willed woman refuses to allow the pastor to call her Mrs. Mae. “She insists I call her Mae,” Ross explains. “She tells me I have to call her Mae because I am the boss.” It’s tough for the former Eagle Scout, Ross admits, to address an elder so informally. “My own dad is in his 80s. It is hard not to call her Mrs. Mae.” The respect between employee and boss is clearly evident. “Rev. Don is a wonderful pastor,”
Mae says, recalling the many ministers who’ve served the church in her 37 years. “He is a very warm person. To me, he is more like a friend than a boss.” She tells of his morning visits for coffee. If he’s running behind or tied up, Mae delivers a cup of hot joe to his office. “I drink a lot of coffee because Mrs. Mae makes it for me,” he says. The mutual respect and friendships Mae has shared at First United Methodist are what the Dulac native says she’ll miss the most.
“People are so nice here. I’ll miss that atmosphere, but I’m sure I’ll come back to visit,” Mae says. The decision to retire on her 92 nd birthday wasn’t an easy one, she says. Vision problems and less-than-perfect hearing have slowed her some. But mostly it’s not having time to visit her siblings – one of her brothers just retired last year – when she’s working. And retirement will give her more time to visit her daughter and her husband in Deville, Louisiana, not to mention her two granddaughters. “My daughter worked for awhile, but she is retired,” Mae says. “She kept telling me it was time for me to consider slowing down. I don’t think I’ll slow down. I’ll probably still get up early … just not at 5:30 a.m.” And Mae is looking forward to returning to the church for Agape bible study or Easter Sunday service. And maybe to check in on the new housekeeper. But on this particular day, noon is at hand. And the altar still needs cleaning. “That’s what I will miss the most,” Mae says. “Spending time in the sanctuary. It is so beautiful in there. I spend my time praying while I work. I feel so close to God, and so blessed and grateful for that. Our God is so good.” POV
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CONTACT US FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS POVHOUMA.COM 43
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2015 GIF T
1.
GUIDE
Outfit 1. Holiday Envy Boutique
2.
985.856.4717
Deck yourself or your loved one out this Christmas in apparel from Envy Boutique. This Piko Dress ($36.50), Mocha Lace Vest ($31.50), Fringe Shoulder Bag ($74) and Big Rim Hat ($19.50) make for an outfit that will keep you warm and looking great this winter.
Goods 2. Baked Chez Cake Bakery 985.262.4246
What better way to say “Merry Christmas” than with a delicious treat from Chez Cake Bakery? The Houma bakery offers a variety of cakes, pies, cookies, candy, cupcakes, dessert trays and gift cards.
3. Pioneer AVIS - 5100NEX In-Dash Navigation
3.
Sam’s Audio 985.851.3838
Get your guests to the dinner tablethis Christmas with this touchscreen navigation system. The device features Apple CarPlay for easy digital accessibility and Sam’s Audio has the best price guaranteed.
4.
4. Handmade Jewelry Old Estate Art Gallery 985.447.5413
5.
Give the gift of handmade jewelry this holiday season. These beautiful pieces were crafted with care and provide a touch of sparkle to any outfit.
5. Nouvelle Candles The Royal Room 985.637.8146
Nouvelle Candles create a warm, relaxing space with aromas common to the region – think cypress and moss. Let these candles accentuate your room, making guests feel right at home.
6. Bath and Body Bliss Ginger & Bee 985.402.1660
Stuff their stocking with fragrant, relaxing bath products from Houma’s bath boutique. Ginger & Bee has bath bombs, bath desserts, handmade soaps and more.
6.
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8. 7.
9.
10.
7. John Boos Butcher Block Table Home Hardware Center 985.223.6370
8.
Give your kitchen an upgrade this holiday season with this American-made butcher block from renowned manufacturer John Boos & Co. Home Hardware’s knowledgeable staff can help you select the perfect piece, fitting the style of any space.
The Companion Grill Emile’s Furniture & Appliances 985.446.7555
Tailgating, camping, backyard cookouts – this all-stainless-steel grill offers 212 square inches of space for all your cooking needs. The Companion includes a drip pan and the expanded cooking grill.
11.
9. Holiday Flower Arrangement Just For You Flowers 985.851.6012
This hand-painted Peanuts mug is a festive way to treat loved ones to a bouquet of red carnations, white mums and winter greens. Everyone is sure to love this 50th Anniversary “A Charlie Brown Christmas” keepsake.
11. Barlean’s Omega Swirl Heavenly Scent 985.868.2216
With the taste and texture of a smoothie, it’s never been easier to get vital nutrients. Barlean’s eliminates the oily flavor and incorporates fruitiness to support bones, the heart and more.
10. Coastal Holiday Elegance The Basketry 985.785.8769
This elegant holiday gift basket includes Aunt Gloria’s Sugar Cookies, Stonewall Kitchen BourbonPecan Caramel Sauce paired with dipping pretzels and a milk chocolate tortue, all wrapped beautifully on a Dana Wittmann Blue Crab Platter.
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12.
GUIDE
12. Gift Card
El Paso Mexican Grill 985.262.0542
Give the gift of dining out this year. These gift cards are perfect for those that love authentic Mexican food and make great stocking stuffers for the loved one in need of a night off.
Tote’n Mamas Concealed 13. Gun Carry Handbags
14.
13.
Sam’s Firearms 985.876.1148
Affordable, stylish, practical – women on your list will love this bag designed specifically to accommodate various gun sizes. The bags come in a variety of colors and sizes that never compromise on style.
14. Pedicure & Manicure Allies Day Spa 985.917.0009
Get pampered with a pedicure and manicure from the acclaimed Houma spa. Relax as Allie’s provides high-quality services to soothe stress and gets you looking your best this holiday season.
15. You Are Beautiful Gift Set Bellisima Salon/Spa 985.853.1111
In need of a little pampering? The set contains the Beautifying Body Moisturizer and Beautifying Creme Cleanser, both of which nourish the skin and provide all-day moisture.
IPV Vape Mod 16. D2 Salty Dog Vapor
15. 16. 17.
985.262.4867
Vape without worry with this newest addition from Pioneer4You. This IPV Mini V2 offers temperature control, more wattage and lower atomizer resistance.
Rum, Oryza Vodka & Gin, 17. Rougarou LA 1 Whiskey Donner-Peltier Distillers 985.446.0002
Grain to glass, cane to cocktail ... it doesn’t get any more Louisiana than these Thibodaux-based spirits. Products include Rougaroux Sugarshine, Full Moon Dark and 13 Pennies Praline rums and LA 1 Whiskey. POV
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UNDER THE SCOPE JOHN DOUCET
The Other December Holiday D
ecember issues of magazines are filled with pages upon pages of words and pictures focused on the major holiday of the month. No, I’m not talking about the day you finally throw out late-November turkey leftovers from your refrigerator. I’m talking about that late-December holiday that’s so big and so anticipated that I don’t need to mention it by name. Magazine pictures inevitably show people dressed in red and green, sometimes wearing a white beard or antlers or both, usually positioned in front of a snowy background or a large, tinseled tree with bulbs dangling. Advertisements occur on every page, focused on selling us sparkly, attractive things to fulfill our emotional obligation to give gifts to friends and family. And, like age, taxes and Alcatraz, we are absolutely helpless to escape from it. Except here on this page! Because here, I will not write about the month’s major holiday. Instead, I’ll spend these lines reminding you of a different December holiday, one that the other has overshadowed nearly to the point of oblivion. Here, I remind you of your other spiritual obligation – to celebrate National Bicarbonate of Soda Day. And, yes, that’s a real holiday. Bicarbonate of Soda is better known today as “sodium bicarbonate” or “baking soda” and its celebration is officially held around the U.S. on Dec. 30. Of course, in many states and municipalities, “Bicarb Day” is often observed on the Monday beginning the week in which Dec. 30 falls, so that workers can more easily share small gift boxes of baking soda with friends and family during a three-day weekend. Of course, if the 30 th falls on a Friday, then that means that the major December holiday (the one I’m not mentioning by name) falls on the preceding Monday. In that case, which happens every 7-10 years, you can absolutely forget about opportunities to celebrate Bicarb Day. Not even a UPS driver or an Amazon.com drone would deliver a gift box of baking soda to you on such a Monday. You chemistry types know that the “carbonate” of bicarbonate is a molecular combination of carbon and oxygen. When you heat bicarbonate, carbon and oxygen break away in the form of molecules of carbon dioxide, which even non-chemistry types know is normally a gas. For this reason, you baking
types out there know exactly why Bicarb Day is so important. Without bicarbonate, your flapjacks would be Frisbees, your cakes cinder blocks and your biscuits hockey pucks. The most common reason to celebrate Bicarb Day is on behalf of bicarbonate’s antacid properties. In water, bicarbonate has the clever property of stealing and thereby neutralizing acid ions from other chemicals, and drinking a little spoonful of it dissolved in water will work the same cleverness (some say miracle) on the stuff in your stomach. Of course, as with its use in baking, there’s a bit of carbon dioxide released when your dissolved spoonful rises from room temperature to body temperature. Most people, however, audibly agree that release of this rising gas helps relieve indigestion. Interestingly, the same phenomenon of rising gas makes bicarbonate of soda an excellent insecticide. Unlike bloated humans, insects like cockroaches are not at all inflatable and bicarbonate powder warmed in those firm insect bellies will work its cleverness with messy success behind your baseboards. Bicarbonate is used as a deodorizer in refrigerators, airconditioning vents, closets, shoes, carpets and kitty litter. It extinguishes grease and oil fires, tenderizes meat, makes beans more digestible, soothes sunburn and poison ivy, removes burned food from pots, makes cows happy and was the only substance that could remove uranium oxide from clothing during the Manhattan Project. Most importantly, used as a paste with a little water, it’ll neutralize the acidic bodies of smashed lovebugs on your car enamel and help you wash them away. How can we possibly spend another December neglecting celebration of this incredible substance? If the feeling of celebration overcomes you a few days early, consider a small-sized box of baking soda as a nice, little stocking stuffer. Keep the box open, and the stockings will smell fresher. If it spills, don’t worry: A little spilled baking soda looks a bit like snow. POV
John Doucet is the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Nicholls State University.
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OH SNAP Hit the Lights The Acadian Village in Lafayette shines bright with Christmas spirit. MISTY LEIGH MCELROY
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WHO AM I?
Courtesy of
You might think you know everyone
in the area, but some of our hometown’s most upstanding citizens (those you would know) sure have changed!
Who Am I? • I’m the youngest of 10 children. • I’ve been a practicing pediatrician for more than 20 years. • I’m the owner of a Louisiana distillery.
Check next month’s issue to learn my identity. Good luck!
Last month’s mystery young’n:
Kenneth Himel Chief, Bayou Cane Fire Protection District
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WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE DEANA LEONARD, RDN, REGISTERED DIETITIAN
Mindful eating through the holidays T
he holidays are here and most of us are excited about spending time with family and friends. We are all aware that food is the center of our celebration, and unfortunately this can lead to overeating and weight gain. These five tips can help build healthier plates and prevent the holiday weight gain.
1. PLAN: Prepare healthy snacks that are available throughout
the day, such as putting out vegetable and fruit trays for lower calorie nibbling. Keep in mind that not all the holiday foods need to be high in calories and fat.
2. CONTROL PORTIONS: You don’t have to deprive yourself but learning to build a healthier plate will allow you to enjoy your favorite holiday foods.
STEPS TO A HEALTHIER PLATE:
• Use a smaller plate • Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables • Include whole grains and lean protein such as turkey breast • Drink water or non-calorie beverages between each bite • Do not overfill your plate; make su e you can see each item.
3. SIT DOWN TO EAT: Prepare a nice setting to eat the holiday
meal. Being distracted with football games and family inter-
actions make it easier to lose track of how much you have eaten. Chew your food slowly. Stop talking. Tune in to the texture of the pasta, the flavor of the cheese, the bright color of the sauce in the bowl, the aroma of the rising steam.
4. TRULY SAVOR FOOD: Chew your food slowly and tune into
the beauty of your plate. Really think to yourself: • What is this food doing for my body? • How hungry am I? • Where did it come from? • How does it smell?
• SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY EACH BITE!
5. GET ACTIVE:
• Take family walks around the neighborhood. • Enjoy some park time with the children. • Get fun yard games for the family to play together • Play fun video games that involve moving, such as sports or
dancing games. All of these tips will help give the body enough time to signal the brain that it is satisfied. Planning your meals and snacks and balancing food intake while staying active will get you on your way to a happy and healthy 2016! POV
Deana Leonard, RDN, is a registered dietician at Thibodaux Regional, 985.493.4765.
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FITMIND DR. J. MICHAEL FLYNN
Holiday Season We
can all agree that holidays mean different things to different people. For many it is a festive time of celebrating with family and friends – taking time to relax from responsibilities of everyday living. For the Christmas holiday we experience colorful poinsettias and trees decorated with lights and ornaments, adding to the ambiance of a joyful holiday spirit. Music plays a big part as we find ourselves humming tunes about jingle bells and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Red-nosed reindeers appear and frosty snowmen, too, even in south Louisiana. It is a time to reflect on our personal faith and express gratitude for blessings. Christmas is an especially magical time with the right attitude. There are always those who will “scrooge” it and “bah humbug” the thought of having to fight the traffic and endure others’ merry times. One week following Christmas day is another special holiday – the beginning of a new year. What are your plans for the New Year? How much thought have you put into it?
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – MARIA ROBINSON
It is astonishing how many people walk around dehydrated. It is a simple fact that our bodies are two-thirds water: H2O, two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. The brain and heart are approximately 73 percent water and the lungs 83 percent. Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are among the beverages that cause us to lose water, as these liquids are flushed through the kidneys. Christmas and New Years are a most wonderful time of the year. Find reasons to smile and be of good cheer that will last the year long. Appreciate that we truly reap what we sow and there is great value to living the creed that it is far better to give than receive. Keep love in your heart and express it every waking moment.
“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the “Plan for the future because that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life.” – MARK TWAIN
Decide to make plans. Be specific, write them down or type them into your computer or smartphone. Review your plans often. Being healthier should be a priority. In the New Year, identify and break bad habits. Decide to work hard on breaking habits that are not good for your future – the place where you will spend the rest of your life. Reckless dieting on food with little, if any, nutritional value is wrecking many people’s future. The same can be said about not exercising regularly. You can be so much healthier by choosing to consume more fresh fruits and vegetables and moving more with regular exercise. If you are not already a consistent water drinker, then decide this year to be.
smile is the beginning of love.” – MOTHER THERESA
Plan for the New Year. Be mindful that you are in control of your life. Patience, persistence and perseverance are always necessary to be successful. All of us, at some point, will find ourselves challenged. As Norman Vincent Peale wrote, “Problems are not there to break you, but to create you.” Attitudes of optimism and hopefulness will give you strength. In the days ahead, make plans to create the life you have imagined. Decide to unburden yourself from worry and discard past hurts and grudges that weigh you down. Take advantage of each new day as an opportunity to do and be your best! POV
Dr. J. Michael Flynn practices at the Flynn Clinic of Chiropractic in Houma. He is available to “talk health” with your organization or club—call 985.855.4875 or visit WWW.DRMIKEFLYNN.COM.
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CASEY GISCLAIR CASEY GISCALIR & SUBMITTED
The Young
Generati 58 POINT OF VUE FITLIFE DECEMBER 2015
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READY. Set. Go! the woman’s voice blares in the empty basketball gym.
ti n
On command, 6-year-old Carter Cantrelle gets to work. Right beside him, his 5-year-old brother Kobie does the same. “Head up,” the instructor shouts. Carter listens. He dribbles his basketball with his eyes up so that he can see the entire floor. Kobie doesn’t at first, but sees his big brother ’s example and gets into form. “OK, and stop!” The boys pause immediately, which pleases the teacher. They are trained to hold their basketballs with one hand and to study their teacher ’s words when she speaks. “Great work, Carter,” she booms. “Great work, Kobie.” Then, the teaching moment occurs. “And why do we dribble with our head up?” she asks. Carter raises his hand. The teacher points, which is his cue to speak. “So that the defense can’t steal the ball,” Carter says fast. “And what else?” the teacher asks. “So you can see your teammates and pass them the ball,” Kobie interrupts, not wanting to be left behind. “Bingo!” the teacher says with a smile – a grin that’s filled with pride because she knows her mission for the day is complete. Local professional basketball player Sumar Leslie started a youth
training and fitness brand six months ago called The Young Generation – a program that now has close to 30 youngsters under its umbrella. She accepts boys and girls ages 5-18. Participants can be of any skill or experience level. Sumar bases the program’s curriculum on teaching basketball fundamentals, but she aims to do more than that in every session. Her goal is to use basketball as a way to impart life lessons and positive reinforcement to children, while also encouraging them to be active – something she says is key to living a healthy life. “I love basketball, and I wanted a way to give back,” Sumar says. “Kids need to learn the fundamentals, because if not, you’ll learn how to do things the wrong way and create bad habits that you’ll never break. I want to teach kids that they can do anything they want to as long as they commit themselves to hard work, positive energy and being active. I’m teaching basketball, but it’s about more than basketball. It’s about showing someone at a young age that life is going to be whatever you want it to be.” Sumar personifies positivity. No matter how many times a child struggles with a skill, she is patient POVHOUMA.COM 59
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and guides her words in a way that is never demeaning or discouraging. “I avoid anything negative in life,” she says. That mindset helped Sumar enjoy a decorated playing career locally. Leslie is the best Vandebilt Catholic women’s basketball player of all-time – the school’s career leader in points, assists and steals. She also was a standout, All-Conference player at Nicholls State University, who helped lead the Colonels to their firstever Southland Conference Tournament victory. After college, Leslie played professionally, spending a season in Puerto Rico and another with the Louisiana Bayou Angels. Though her playing career still isn’t complete, Sumar says she knew she had a gift to give back. In February, while watching her nephew play Biddy, she was turned off by the lack of fundamentals being taught and even more by the negative energy spewed by some of the coaches.
“So I took action,” Sumar says. She started TYG a few months later, but wanted it to be more creative than just a basketball camp type of atmosphere. “That’s where the mentoring and life lessons came in,” Sumar explains. “That’s where I also wanted to focus on teaching people the merits of staying active and heathy.” At first glance, it looks like it works. Sumar says her clientele has grown immensely since her beginning. She started with a couple of loyal clients, then through social media and word of mouth, it grew. Today, she has worked with almost 30 children in the Houma-Thibodaux area. Several of her clients over the summer are now playing Biddy Basketball and are showing immense improvement. Eight TYG clients were named South Lafourche Biddy Basketball Players of the Week in the 2015 season. Several others have tried out and made their middle school or high school teams. Sumar says she is warmed by the sup-
port she’s received, touting her biggest source of pride is when a parent calls after a session and expresses that their child is eager to return. “You know you’re doing something right when they want to come back,” she says. “That makes me feel so good.” Parents agree and say that Sumar and the TYG program are a huge bonus to the community. A quick cruise through social media shows multiple photos of Sumar with children posted on Facebook and Instagram. Attached to each photo are multiple comments from parents who express their thanks and gratitude. “Not only does this woman train my boys, but she cares about who they are,” Carter and Kobie’s mom Megan Cantrelle says. “Not just as players in the game of basketball, but as growing boys that will one day be men. We love Sumar Leslie.” “I want to cry seeing this,” Brandy Dantin said when shown a video of her daughter Louisiana working with Sumar. “Sumar does so much for Louisiana that I just don’t know how (she does it). I want to thank her so much.” To schedule a session, Sumar asks that people call her directly at (985)-991-8251. Folks can also visit www.facebook.com/ TYGTraining. She does charge per session, which lasts per hour. But the rates vary so that no child will ever be left out. “I charge so that I can pay for my mileage and gym fees and for equipment,” Sumar says. “But if someone can’t afford to come, I always work out a plan to make myself available. No child ever is deprived the ability to learn or to be active. That’s just not what this is all about.” POV
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WHAT’S SHAKIN’
WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT IN OUR CALENDAR? Shoot an email to EDITOR@RUSHING-MEDIA.COM and we’ll help spread the word.
Forum 35’s Reindeer Run & Jingle Bell Jog
5th Annual Freedom Run
FRIDAY, DEC. 4, 1 MILE: 7 P.M.; 5K: 7:20 P.M.
SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 8:30 A.M.
WHERE: Downtown Baton Rouge
WHERE: Corner of Julia and Baronne Streets, New Orleans
DETAILS: Forum 35, a non-profit dedicated to improving the
Baton Rouge community, is hosting its annual 5K and fun run. A Festival of Lights featuring Santa Claus, live music, fireworks, free outdoor ice-skating and more are featured. Also, in partnership with U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots, runners and spectators are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to be donated to the race site (no weapon toys, please). Registration is $25 for children ages 6 to 17 and $30 for adults. Pick up your race packet, including bib number and race shirt, on Dec. 3 at Beau Box, 5500 Bankers Ave., Baton Rouge. CONTACT: REINDEERRUNBR.COM, FORUM35.ORG, REINDEER@FORUM35.ORG
Baton Rouge Beach Marathon XXII SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 7 A.M. WHERE: Milford Wampold Memorial Park, Baton Rouge
DETAILS: The Baton Rouge Beach Marathon is a Boston Marathon
qualifier and will occur alongside its half-marathon. This flat double-loop course starts and ends at Milford Wampold Memorial Park, formerly Baton Rouge Beach, and passes through the LSU campus, around the LSU lakes and alongside waterfront estates. Chefs provide jambalaya, gumbo, pizza, salad and other food at the end of the races. Full marathon fees are $100, and half marathon fees are $90. All funds benefit Cancer Services and the YMCA.
CONTACT: BRBEACHMARATHON.COM
Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 3:30 P.M. WHERE: City Park, New Orleans
DETAILS: This 2-mile racecourse takes participants through New Orleans City Park during its annual Celebration in the Oaks Light Display, when the park is decorated with more than 500,000 lights. The day is filled with hot cocoa, pictures with Santa, a holiday costume contest and more. Fees are $30 for adults and $25 for children and military. Children ages 3 and under who are riding in strollers do not need to pay the registration fee, but they will need a bib number. CONTACT: CCC10K.COM
DETAILS: Participants will be able to compete for a grand prize drawing for a weekend at Biloxi casinos, and prize money will be awarded to the top men and women runners. Registration fees are $30 per person for either the 5K or fun run, and $25 for active military. Proceeds from this 5K race and 1-mile fun run benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. CONTACT: ACTIVE.COM, JPETE@NETSCAPE.COM
Reindeer Run 5K SUNDAY, DEC. 6, 2 P.M. WHERE: Southdown Plantation and Museum, Houma
DETAILS: Sponsored by Mighty Kids Triathlon, Inc., the Houma chapter of Girls on the Run presents its 5th Annual Reindeer Run 5K. The course begins and ends at Southdown Plantation, traversing through Regal Row, Polk Street and Autumn Drive before backtracking toward the plantation. Registration fees are $20 online and $25 on race day. CONTACT: GIRLSONTHERUNHT.ORG, 985.876.3536
Reindeer Run & Romp SATURDAY, DEC. 12, 9 A.M. WHERE: Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza, New Orleans
DETAILS: The Downtown Development District presents its annual holiday fun run for kids on Canal Street. Rudolph, Santa and friends will jingle their bells at the start of the race. Participants will receive antlers, a race shirt and a bag of holiday goodies. After the race, “romp” around the Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza and practice yoga, take pictures with Santa and play reindeer games. Registration fees are $12, and registration begins at 8 A.M. CONTACT: ACTIVE.COM
The Ross Mullooly Project – Outrunning Cancer SATURDAY, DEC. 12, 10:30 A.M. WHERE: Courthouse Square, Houma
DETAILS: This 5K and fun run benefits the Ross Mullooly Project, a non-profit named in honor of the Houma native, supports cancer patients and their families. Free food and drinks are provided with live music by Dulac Smack. Registration is $15 for children ages 12 and under participating in the fun run, and $20 for the 5K. CONTACT: ACTIVE.COM, 985.876.6070 POV
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TELL ME WHY JANELL PARFAIT
We
start asking “Why?” at a very young age. And, frankly, we never seem to grow out of the habit. So ... in the spirit of being inquisitive, we decided to keep on asking and searching for answers to some of life’s most perplexing questions.
Why is it called “soccer” in America, but “football” everywhere else?
Everyone’s favorite game of moving-the-ball-from-one-sideto-the-other-without-dying has gone through an evolution of rules, regulations and name changes for centuries. Most modern versions of football are believed to have begun in 12th century England. However, the game was so violent and unregulated that kings actually banned it. Football reemerged in the early 1800s – with actual rules this time – and became known as “association football.” Soccer is simply a clipping from the word “association” and was used to differentiate it from rugby football. Soon, both sports grabbed the attention of American universities. Harvard developed their own style of football with rugby-style rules, which eventually won over the other schools. The U.S. adopted the British terminologies for these sports – soccer for feet, football for hands – while Britain ultimately dropped the word “soccer” entirely to distinguish themselves from the U.S.
Why do vultures fly in circles?
Common knowledge tells us a venue of vultures will fly in a circle formation if something below them is dead or dying. Unfortunately, our school system has failed us. In 2012, Brazilian ornithologists surveyed black vulture and turkey vulture populations near six thermal power plants. The ornithologists concluded that vultures use artificial thermals as a way to gain elevation during flight as they travel from feeding sites to roosts. The largest number of birds congregated at the plants during the late afternoon. So if you see vultures circling overhead, don’t start questioning your mortality! You could just be near a power plant.
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TELL ME WHY JANELL PARFAIT
Why does Christmas take place on Dec. 25?
Nicholas 12:25-28 says, “25 And lo the infant Christ was totally born on Dec. 25. 26 Even though the Gregorian calendar hasn’t been invented yet. 27 In fact, given the time period, we’re still using the Julian calendar. 28 But by using context clues in the Luke passages, we can determine that Jesus wasn’t born in the winter at all [shepherds wouldn’t be out and about with their flocks on a cold winter night anyway].” Ok that might not have been said, but what did occur between Dec. 17-25 was Saturnalia, a weeklong festival to honor Saturn, the god of harvest. During Saturnalia, restrictions were relaxed: gambling was permitted, slaves enjoyed some down time, gifts were exchanged, public nudity was rampant and rape and human sacrifice was A-OK! By the 4th century, Christian leaders converted Rome’s pagan population, who were willing to have their holidays transformed into Christian ones. In the end, Christmas is Saturnalia under new management. POV
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Clinic
Personalized Obstetrical & Gynecological Care
Board Certified
James F. Donnell, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. Dr. Kristin Fortier, N.P.
Happy Holidays 985-876-1714
1007 Belanger St., Houma, LA 70360
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TIMEOUT
Nuggets about ‘Nog
As
soon as the creamy concoction that is eggnog hits the shelves for the first time in a Christmas season, most of the bottles are quickly swiped from store shelves. Americans love the rich, decadent drink, perhaps dashed with a bit of booze, even if it is the notoriously unhealthy sip of the season. Each year, nationwide consumption steadily teeters somewhere near 100 million gallons of the sugary sweet beverage, according to dairy marketing research by the University of Wisconsin. And that’s just in the two months when the drink is sold in stores. Let’s take a closer look at the finer details of the holiday’s signature sip: • Eggnog is a descendent of Posset, a medieval non-egg, hot milk libation loaded with ale, wine or something similar. • Americans had easy access to booze, dairy and chickens, quickly rendering today’s classic. • What’s nog anyway? It’s actually a shortened version of noggin, a small wooden cup used to serve ale. • George Washington was a huge ‘nogger. He was known to serve it at any occasion with a blend of whiskey, rum and sherry. • In 1826, a riot ensued at West Point when whiskey was smuggled into the academy and used to make eggnog for a party that quickly got out of hand. • Malaria fever? Dysentery? Medical texts in the 1800s recommended eggnog for a host of issues. Sip a few of these over the course of a holiday party and you’ll quickly agree with this nickname. In the 1932 book Cold Comfort Farm, one of the main characters whips up a Hell’s Angel, an early version of today’s beloved sip. POV
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CHANNING CANDIES
AU BR EY
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e bout th thing a ry e it v e a , but s ot know red suit e might n out th a in n crets b ous ma ll the se a e mysteri v e. a v h E ight tmas is Chris gsters m t n a u o th y y ut, da turns o the big tackles ta n a S how
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e-K students at wn with the Pr do t sa ly nt ns ce PoV re pick their brai ol ic School to th Ca te et nta’s ad Sa St. Bern about. From ay is real ly al l lid ho e th at ng ft-givi about wh ishes such a gi w he accompl how the t real age to ho ou ab everyt hing ow kn es on tle feat, the lit is created. holiday magic
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How old do you think Santa Claus is?
“7.”
– TRACE
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Should Santa Claus forgive those on the naughty list?
“That’s a big list.” – DARCEY
“He should forgive them and give them presents.” – BRAYDEN
Why doesn’t Santa Claus shave his beard?
“Because he’s Santa Claus!”
How many cookies does Santa eat on Christmas Eve?
“2.”
“He eats ‘em all ... 20.” – KAYLIN
– BRAYDEN
– MADILYN
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How does Santa Claus make it to every boy and girls’ house in one night?
“The reindeers fly!” – HAYLIE
YE HA
PAR K
ER
S
BR
YA N
NA
What reindeer games was Rudolph not allowed to play?
“Tick Tac Toe.” – CAMTON
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Who are Jesus’ mom and dad?
“Mary.”
– MADILYN
“Santa Claus.” – LUKE
“You can’t get to the North Pole because it’s in the sky.”
– LUKE
What gift would you bring to the Baby Jesus?
“With a sleigh. It flies really fast.”
How do we get to the North Pole?
– AVA
“A dog.”
– GIANNA
LILY
WYATT
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Merry
Christmas from
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SHELL ARMSTRONG MANDY LENS PHOTOGRAPHY
P R I M E D FOR MEMORIES
C
hristmas dinner is steeped in family traditions. Should the meal include turkey or ham … or, maybe, in south Louisiana, even seafood? At Chef Randy Cheramie’s home, nothing says Christmas like beef. The director of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University shared a few holiday favorites. “In my family, we did turkey with all the trimmings – cranberry sauce, cornbread dressing, candied yams, smothered greens, peas with pearl onions and pecan pie with Chantilly sauce – for Thanksgiving,” he recalls. “But for Christmas, a standing rib-rack of beef was the centerpiece.” Here are the recipes Chef Cheramie prepared last Christmas. “It was memorable, too, if I do say so myself,” he says.
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PRIME RIB DINNER FOR CHRISTMAS SERVES 6 TO 8
WHAT YOU’LL NEED 1 bone-in prime rib beef roast, 3 ribs, about 6 pounds 5 garlic cloves, smashed 1/4 cup grated fresh or prepared horseradish Leaves from 2 fresh rosemary sprigs Leaves from 4 fresh thyme sprigs 1/2 cup kosher salt 1/4 cup freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 T. all-purpose flou 2 cups canned chicken or beef broth
HOW TO MAKE IT Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lay the beef in a large roasting pan with the bone side down. (The ribs act as a natural roasting rack.) In a small bowl, mash together the garlic, horseradish, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil to make a paste. Massage the paste generously over the entire roast. Put the pan in the oven and roast the beef until the internal temperature of the meat registers 125 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer (medium-rare), 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove the beef to a carving board and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving. Pour off some of the pan drippings and place pan on stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the white wine and bring to a simmer, scraping the bits on the bottom of the pan. Reduce the wine by half. Whisk in the flour, then add the broth and continue to cook, whisking until sauce thickens into a gravy, about 10 minutes.
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S C AL LO PE D P OTATO GRATIN SERVES 6 TO 8 WHAT YOU’LL NEED 2 cups heavy cream 1 sprig fresh thyme 4 garlic cloves, chopped 1/2 t. ground nutmeg Butter 4 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for broiling
HOW TO MAKE IT Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a saucepan, heat up the cream with a sprig of thyme, chopped garlic and nutmeg. While cream is heating up, butter a casserole dish. Place a layer of potato in an overlapping pattern and season with salt and pepper. Remove cream from heat, then pour a little over the potatoes. Top with some grated Parmesan. Make 2 more layers. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Sprinkle some more Parmesan and broil until cheese browns, about 5 minutes.
ROASTED RED ONIONS WI TH BU TTER , HO NEY, AND BAL SAMIC VINEGAR 6 SERVINGS WHAT YOU’LL NEED 6 T. butter 3 T. balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup honey 1/2 bunch fresh thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 red onions, halved
HOW TO MAKE IT Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the butter, vinegar, honey, thyme, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute to reduce slightly. Place the onions, cut sides up, in a single layer on a baking pan. Drizzle the butter-vinegar mixture over and roast until soft and slightly caramelized, about 45 minutes.
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GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE SERVES 8 TO 10 WHAT YOU’LL NEED 3 lbs. green beans Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 T. butter 1 small loaf crusty bread 3 T. chopped fresh chives 3 T. chopped fresh thyme leaves 1 T. chopped fresh rosemary leaves 4 T. freshly grated Parmesan 5 T. extra-virgin olive oil 2 lbs. mixed mushrooms (such as button, cremini, shiitake), sliced 2 shallots, sliced 1 cup heavy cream
HOW TO MAKE IT Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add a big pinch of salt and the green beans. Cook for about 5 minutes, the beans should still be crisp, they will be cooked more in the oven. Drain them and set aside. Butter a baking dish large enough to hold the green beans with 1 tablespoon butter and set aside. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Tear the bread into 1-inch pieces, put them into a bowl, and add 1 tablespoon chives, 1 tablespoon thyme, 1 tablespoon rosemary, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Stir well to coat and spread onto a baking sheet. Bake just until the bread just starts to turn golden,
about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms have released their liquid, about 10 minutes. Pour in the heavy cream, add the remaining thyme and chives, and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the green beans and stir well. Put the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with the croutons, and sprinkle on the remaining Parmesan. Bake until everything is hot and bubbling, about 20 to 25 minutes. POV
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LIVING WELL DEBBIE MELVIN
Of Course There Will Be Leftovers … P
arties, family dinners and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. Since the cooking duties are often shared, people bring their holiday meal contributions with them. And always … there are leftovers. Consequently, prepared foods are sent home with everyone who attends the eating event, even if it is a party. Much can be said about the food safety infractions during food preparation, but many of the opportunities for foodborne illness occur after the food has been served and eaten the first time. According to the USDA, there is a window of time during which we need to take care of those quantities of food left over. That window is only two hours, and the clock starts ticking once food is removed from heat or the cool of the refrigerator. I’m all for conversation and visiting, but try not to linger over the dinner table any longer than necessary. Continue the chatting as you lead the way, deboning the turkey and packing the refrigerator with the excess meats, vegetables, starches, pies and even cut vegetables. So that no one will feel like they are being presumptuous, encourage guests to bring individual divided plates that can be filled for future microwavable quick meals, making sure everything inside can be safely microwaved. In other words, don’t include foods like potato salad, green salad or breads. Avoid densely packing foods like rice dressing in large containers to bring home. Instead, lightly fill shallow plastic containers, no more than 4 inches thick, so they will cool quickly when refrigerated. Some things can be put in freezer zipper-type bags for bringing home. Again, carry it on ice if you have a distance to travel. Primarily, be cautious of the old holiday habit of covering or wrapping everything and leaving it on the stove for a meal many hours later. Some toxins can survive the reheating of the food. USDA issues another time limit for consumption of most refrigerated holiday leftovers … four days, except gravy, which is two days. So if you don’t eat those filled divided plates you brought home, remove the cover and press a piece of plastic wrap tightly across the food before re-covering and freezing. This will prevent ice crystals from forming on top of the food in the airspace. Eat
within the month for best quality and flavor. Unfortunately, potato salad and any mayonnaise-containing foods do not freeze well. Package leftover turkey in chicken broth and place in an airtight container. Use within six months. Most frozen ham should be consumed within 1-2 months for best quality. It tends to become rancid and the texture changes when stored longer. Most individually packaged leftovers such as dressing, cooked vegetables and other meats have a freezer life of a month for best quality. Pies, except for pecan and fruit pies, like apple, do not freeze well. Individual cake slices freeze and defrost well, even if iced. Use within a couple of months. Any properly handled food that is suitable for freezing will continue to be safe in your freezer. Keeping it longer than the recommended storage times will simply affect the quality. So why even bother? What’s the big deal? Foodborne illness can strike within hours or even days of eating a contaminated food. Most people will write it off as a bug or virus going around, and most healthy people will get over it within 24 hours. Some bouts can be worse than others with symptoms lasting longer. But it can be severe and even life-threatening for someone with a weakened immune system due to cancer, diabetes or other chronic illness, or for those who are on medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Pregnant women, the elderly, infants and young children are most at risk. It’s just not worth taking a chance in my opinion. So stay safe and eat healthy! You want to be ready for the next opportunity to do it all over again … New Year ’s Eve! POV
Debbie Melvin, M.S., C.F.C.S., is a former extension agent for the LSU AgCenter. She specializes in nutrition.
DMELVI N @AGCTR.LSU.EDU
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CHECK IT OUT CARLOS CROCKETT
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption BY BRYAN STEVENSON
B
ryan Stevenson is beating the drums for justice and advocating for the need to reform America’s criminal justice system. Stevenson is the author of the book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending the rights of the poor and those facing unjust treatment in America’s jails and prisons. The core of Stevenson’s book is about the criminal justice system and its presumption of guilty when it comes to the poor, uneducated, mentally ill and people of color. It is about how we insulate ourselves and how we easily condemn citizens for their poor decisions and then exacerbate the injustices by allowing our fears, anger and detachment to shape the way we treat the incarcerated. Stevenson chronicles the real life stories of several people who experienced a miscarriage of justice and who successfully had their sentences reduced or were later determined innocent through the work of the Equal Justice Initiative. One of the main characters is Walter McMillian, a married black man with children living in Monroe County, Alabama. McMillian was falsely accused of killing Rhonda Morrison, a beau-
tiful young lady from a respected local family. Under pressure to solve the crime and despite having an alibi from family members and countless witnesses, Walter was arrested. His problems were made worse when the judge, local sheriff and district attorney all conspired by withholding critical evidence of his innocence, deliberately excluding African-Americans from the jury pool, and forcibly coercing false allegations. The book follows McMillian’s time on death row and The Equal Justice Intiative’s work on his case. “Just Mercy” is a moving testimony to the power of faith and the transformative power of mercy. McMillian was not afforded mercy and was convicted of a crime he was completely innocent of. Yet, it was the power of mercy that permitted McMillian to genuinely forgive people who had condemned him to die. Stevenson has done an excellent job researching the origins of capital punishment in America and exposing issues facing the criminal justice system. His book is very inspiring and a must read for those who care about humanity. Indeed, if we’re going to reform the criminal justice system and make it less inhumane, then mercy and compassion are the bridge that will get us there. POV
Carlos Crockett is the reference librarian at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library.
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BEHIND THE BREW DWAYNE ANDRAS
Holiday Gift Ideas for the Craft Beer Lover H
oliday gift selection can often be a fun and rewarding task, but shopping for the brew lover on your list can be challenging for someone not experienced in the expanding world of craft beer. Hopefully, this list of gift ideas will make your shopping easier and put a smile on the face of your favorite craft beer drinker.
For the aspiring homebrewer, consider:
MR. BEER HOMEBREW KIT – Mr. Beer makes brewing two gallons of beer easy with four easy steps … and the beer can be ready to drink in 14 days. Ingredients and recipes are included. Perfect for someone curious about the homebrewing process. ($45.99; Austinhomebrew.com) THE AHS BREWING EQUIPMENT KIT – A step up on quality, the kit includes the right amount of equipment needed to brew a 5-gallon batch of beer. Includes a bottle capper, two fermenters and a glass carboy for secondary fermentation. This is all the equipment needed to brew great beer from various malt extracts. However, it does not include ingredients for the actual beer. That can be purchased separately. ($109.99, Austinhomebrew.com)
For the craft beer reader …
MICHAEL JACKSON’S GREAT BEERS OF BELGIUM – Beer lovers who favor Belgian and Trappist beers will enjoy this expertly written and wonderfully photographed book compiled by the late Michael Jackson – no, not the King of Pop. Jackson was perhaps one of the foremost writers on beer and spirits. ($59; Amazon.com) THE BREWMASTER’S TABLE – Discover the pleasure of real beer with real food. Garrett Oliver, the brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, authored this book, which is considered by many to be the gospel of food and beer pairing. ($14.38; Amazon.com) NEW ORLEANS BEER: A HOPPY HISTORY OF BIG EASY BREWING – Written by craft beer experts Jeremy Labadie and Argyle Wolf-Knapp, this is a great resource chronicling the history of beer in the New Orleans area, from Jax and Dixie to NOLA and Abita. ($19.99; Amazon.com)
For the craft beer drinker ...
UKEG PRESSURIZED GROWLER – A growler is a vessel to store draft beer, which can be purchased (usually at a reduced cost) from various bars and breweries. This double-walled, stainless steel growler is pressurized with CO2. It will keep beer fresh for a week or more. Sizes range from 64 to 128 ounces. (Starting at $129; Growlerwerks.com) SPIEGELAU CLASSIC BEER GLASSES CONNOISSEUR GIFT SET – Yes, the correct glass does make a difference in the experience of drinking craft beer. These are top quality high-end beer glasses. Europe’s Spiegelau has been making glasses since 1521. ($44.99; Amazon.com) And, finally, for the craft beer drinker on the “Nice” list ... there’s always a bottle of Grand Reserve, one of Louisiana’s best craft beers. Brewed by Parish Brewery, this limited beer makes a perfect stocking stuffer! POV
Dwayne Andras is a home brewer and selftaught beer expert in continuous search of the perfect pint. Chat with him about your favorite brew at DWAYNE.ANDRAS@GMAIL.COM. 86 POINT OF VUE EXPERT VUE DECEMBER 2015
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A VUE FROM THE VINE LANE BATES
Value Priced Gems from Australia A
lthough Australian wines have fallen from favor over the last few years in terms of sales, that does not reflect a decline in quality. It just means consumers can find great values on great wines. Credit the low cost of Australian grapes. Here are a few labels currently available at Cannata’s.
Schild Shiraz Barossa Valley 2012, $19.99
Schild has been making wines for more than 60 years in Australia and produces great wines at excellent prices. This Shiraz is their flagship bottle, and comes through year after year. A dark, dense wine, this Shiraz is brooding with aromas of blackberry and plum on the nose. The dark fruit and spice linger to a complex, smooth finish. It is a great Shiraz to drink now or within four to six years. It would pair well with hamburgers, pizza and most grilled foods.
WINE SPECTATOR RATING – 90
Schild GMS Blend Barossa Valley 2012, $17.99
Schild brings us another gem with this blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. This wine is dark, full-bodied, smooth and inviting. Its rich and complex notes of licorice and plum delight the palate. It finishes soft and harmonious with subtle tannins. It is another great wine to drink now or over the next few years. WINE SPECTATOR RATING – 90
Greg Norman Shiraz Limestone Coast 2012, $12.99
Perennial value wine producer Greg Norman excelled in 2012. This dark and focused red has flavors of black cherry and spice and the mid-palate is soft, elegant and smooth with mocha and cedar flavors that sail on to the finish. Also try the Shiraz-Cabernet and Cabernet-Merlot blends from Greg Norman. All were superb in 2012. POV WINE SPECTATOR RATING – 90
Lane Bates is the wine and spirits specialist at Cannata’s. Feel free to visit him to find out mo e.
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BON APPÉTIT BECCA WEINGARD
Dulce de Leche Baked Donuts MAKES 1 DOZEN
M
ental solitude, an elusive clearing in a forest of hyper-connectivity. Hence the tranquility sought in bathroom visits. Bathroom therapy. Rejuvenating. A moment in your day when you HAVE to escape from the outside world, laden with strange wet spots as your hand unknowingly glides across the ONE time you choose to use the rail on the stairs. If only life were filled with mindful moments of peace such as these. I made a comment to a coworker yesterday regarding the mindlessness of baking. She replied that it’s actually quite mindful. Baking demands presence and peace of mind. Cooking is as therapeutic as a trip to a well maintained, nice smelling, fully-walled, single person bathroom. However, the opportunity for such serenity depends on your perspective. Is it mindless? Or mindful? Are you open to that? Or do your fears and apprehensions keep you from opening your mind to something wonderful? These donuts are BAKED. A joke, right? I huffed and I puffed, yet for some reason I pursued the challenge to make a baked donut into something truly magical. And here you are.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED 1 cup dulce de leche 1 cup toasted coconut 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flou 1 1/2 t. baking powder 1/2 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 t. cinnamon 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup butter, browned 1 large egg 1 t. vanilla 1/2 cup buttermilk
HOW TO MAKE IT Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown butter in a skillet and allow to set to room temperature. Expedite this process by placing it in a chilled bowl in the freezer for a moment. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside. In the mixer bowl, combine butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla until combined. Add 1/3 of flour mixture, then add half of buttermilk, mixing until combined. Add another third, the rest of the buttermilk, mix until combined. Add the rest of the flour and mix until combined. Spoon batter into a donut pan. Bake for 10 minutes until it springs back to the touch and a stick comes out clean. Allow to rest for 5 minutes then pop them out onto a cooling rack. Spread dulce de leche glaze on top and top with toasted coconut. POV
A catfish out of bayou wate , Becca Weingard shares adventures and recipes from her Cajun/ Italian kitchen in Washington, D.C., on her blog:
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SMARTY PANTS NO GOOGLING!
1
World AIDS Day is observed every Dec. 1. What is the universal symbol used to support individuals living with HIV and AIDS?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
3
[A] [B] [C] [D]
7
Last full moon of the year Earth and Mars align Cheddar Comet is visible to the naked eye Northern Hemisphere is angled farthest away from the Sun
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that begins on Dec. 6 this year. What is Hanukkah also known as?
[A] Festival of Eight [B] Festival of Lights [C] Festival of Latkes [D] Festival of Schmaltz
6
Human Rights Day occurs every Dec. 10 and was declared by the United Nations in response to human atrocities perpetrated by which war?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
Pope Benedict XVI Pope Innocent XIII Pope Pius IX Pope John Paul II
In the Northern Hemisphere, Winter Solstice falls on Dec. 21 or 22 and marks which astronomical event?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
4
Satan Claus The Grinch Krampus Chomper
Every Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception honors the Virgin Mary, who was conceived without sin so that she may later carry Christ. Which pope decreed this teaching in his apostolic constitution?
Every year on Dec. 5, this mythical Santa Claus lookalike visits the good Dutch boys and girls and fills their shoes with candies and presents.
[A] Père Noël [B] Krampus [C] Sinterklaas [D] Zandzeepsodemineraalwatersteenstralen!
DEC 1
But on that same night, this hairy devil-like creature visits the naughty boys and girls and drags them to hell! According to Germanic folklore, he is St. Nicholas’ dark companion.
[A] [B] [C] [D]
5
Red Ribbon Puzzle Pieces Semicolon Rainbow Infinit
2
8
World War I World War II Bosnian War Gulf War
Festivus is a parody holiday that “celebrates” commercialism and holiday stress every Dec. 23, and it is symbolized by an aluminum pole. What ‘90s sitcom introduced Festivus for the rest of us?
[A] Friends [B] Seinfeld [C] The Golden Girls [D] The Cosby Show
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German tradition calls for this food item to be hidden in a Christmas tree. The first child to discover it on Christmas morning gets a bonus gift.
10
[A] Pickle [B] Wedge of limburger cheese [C] Bratwurst [D] Cabbage leaf
11
In “A Christmas Carol,” Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present. The Ghost tells Scrooge that if he does not change his ways, this ill child will die.
[A] [B] [C] [D]
13
[A] Horus, Boris and Tauris [B] Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar [C] Barnabas, Artemis and Nicholas [D] Clement, Emmett and Chad
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14
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[A] Someone special! [B] A cardiologist [C] Why do you always sing on this?!? [D] Ooh, I love George Michael!
Gumbo Garlen Gaston Gilbert
How many gifts should you have by the end of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?
[A] 157 [B] 364 [C] 365 [D] 521
[A] Day of Salvation [B] World Aids Day [C] Almsday [D] Boxing Day Last Christmas, I gave you my heart; but the very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I’ll give it to
In “A Cajun Night Before Christmas,” Santa rides a skiff pulled by eight flying alligators. What’s the name of the lead alligator?
[A] [B] [C] [D]
Little Billy Orphan Annie Tiny Tim Peter Petite
On the day after Christmas, celebrants traditionally donate to charity and give gifts to the less fortunate. It is sometimes known as the Day of Goodwill or Second Christmas, but it is commonly known as
In a typical nativity scene, the infant Jesus is visited by three foreign scholars, otherwise known as the Three Wise Men. What are their names?
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) A 2) C 3) C 4) B 5) C 6) B 7) D 8) B 9) A 10) B 11) C 12) C 13) D 14) B 15) A
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RENDEZVOUS NSU Concert Choir Recital
Lockport Christmas Parade
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 7:30 P.M.
SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 5:30 P.M.
The Nicholls Concert Choir, directed by Dr. Kenneth Klaus, performs a free fall concert. WHERE: First United Methodist Church, 6109 La. Highway 311, Houma
Make way for Papa Noël. The route begins and ends on Church Street by Holy Savior Ball Park. A live Nativity is performed by Victory Life Church immediately after the parade on Church Street. The Lockport Christmas Parade is an alcohol-free event. WHERE: Downtown Lockport and Bayou Side Park.
Lockport Tree Lighting Festivities FRIDAY, DEC. 4, 6:30 P.M.
A giant Christmas tree is lit by Grand Marshal Wayne Bourgeois at Bayou Side Park. Every child age 12 and under gets a free gift. The Lockport Volunteer Fire Department is serving free popcorn and hot dogs with homemade chili. WHERE: Lockport Bayou Side Park CONTACT: WWW.TOWNOFLOCKPORT.COM OR CHIEF WARREN VEDROS AT 985-9799
Once Upon A Cajun Christmas
CONTACT: WWW.TOWNOFLOCKPORT.COM OR CHIEF WARREN VEDROS AT 985-532-9799
Thibodaux Christmasfest SUNDAY, DEC. 6
This free event features a Christmas parade beginning at NSU stadium, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, refreshments, faux snow and the lighting of the 160-year-old Dansereau House. WHERE: Downtown Thibodaux
FRIDAY, DEC. 4, 6:30 P.M.
CONTACT: WWW.THIBODAUXCHAMBER.COM OR SARAH RODRIGUE
Come stroll through downtown Houma for this evening parade. Catch the decorated floats, marching bands and candy. The parade route starts at Terrebonne High parking lot and rolls down Main and Barrow streets, and ends at School Street. WHERE: Downtown Houma
AT 985-446-1187
CONTACT: ANNE PICOU AT 985-873-6408
Breakfast with Santa SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 7 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M.
The Houma Kiwanis Club host a breakfast “all you can eat” with pancakes and sausage. Santa Claus is the star and is available for pictures. The event also includes face painting. Tickets can be purchased from Kiwanis members for $5 per person or at the door for $6 per person. WHERE: Vandebilt Catholic High School Cafeteria, 209 S. Hollywood Road, Houma CONTACT: WWW.KIWANISHOUMA.COM, OR MIKE D’ANGELO AT 985-858-3971
Want us to include your event in our calendar? Shoot an email to EDITOR@RUSHING-MEDIA.COM and we’ll help spread the word.
Christmas Concert By HoumaTerrebonne Community Band SATURDAY, DEC. 12, 6:30 P.M.
The Houma-Terrebonne Community Band presents its annual free Christmas concert. WHERE: JC Penney Court at Southland Mall CONTACT: INFO@HTCB.ORG
Ala Bayou Terrebonne Christmas Boat Parade SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 5:30 P.M.
This annual Christmas boat parade begins at dusk in Bayou Terrebonne at the Bourg Volunteer Fire Station and ends at Humble Canal Bridge. Local boats are decorated with Christmas lights, with families illuminating the bayou sides with bonfires and lights. WHERE: Bayou Terrebonne from Bourg Volunteer Fire Station to Humble Canal Bridge CONTACT: KEVIN BELANGER AT 985-209-1771 Newsletters Receive additional content and weekly events when you sign up. SCAN HERE:
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SCENE IN A Hundreds of antique cars rolled into
town for the Antique Automobile Club of America Central Fall Meet, held at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center Nov. 5 - 7.
B All things spooky took over down-
town Houma during Rougarou Fest on Oct. 24, the annual family-friendly affair to celebrate the swamp legend and support the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.
C Locals passed a good time Oct. 22 - 25
A B
at the French Food Festival in Larose.
D Fletcher Technical Community College supporters enjoyed an evening under the stars during The Fletcher Foundation’s annual Legacy Gala on Nov. 5.
E Dozens gathered to watch as the world record for the largest pot of gumbo, weighing in at 5,800 pounds, was cooked up Nov. 7 at the Larose Civic Center.
F Decked out in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, racers hit the starting line for the Susan G. Komen Bayou Region Race for the Cure Oct. 24 at Nicholls State University.
G Nicholls President Bruce Murphy,
along with art faculty and supporters, unveiled a $50,000 graphic design lab renovation on Nov. 5, which includes new computers, printers and a 3-D motion graphics editing room.
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C D
E F
G
Taking in the scene around town?
#POVPICKME
your interesting, cute, fun pics and we might feature you in PoV’s Scene In! Don’t forget to include the who, what, when, where, and why and a daytime contact number.
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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX ADVERTISER
PAGE
A&G Refrigeration.......................................... 15 A&H Paint...................................................... 68 Advanced Eye Institute.................................. 93 Allie’s Day Spa......................................... 46, 89 Allstate - Brian Mustin.................................... 17 Allstate - Charlotte Grace............................... 83 Allstate - Stephanie Hebert............................ 35 Ameriprise Financial....................................... 22 Audubon Nature Institute............................... 79 Bar Roussell................................................... 66 Basketry, The........................................... 45, 63 Barker Buick GMC......................................... 75 Bayou Black Electric Supply.......................... 43 Bayou Playhouse........................................... 63 Beasley Pest Control..................................... 13 Bellissima..................................................17, 46 Best Boat & RV.............................................. 52 Big Mike’s BBQ Smokehouse........................ 81 Blanchard’s Refrigeration............................... 43 Bueche’s Jewelry........................................... 40 Budget Blinds................................................ 81 Buquet Distributing........................................ 27 Cannata’s......................................................... 6 Cardiovascular Institute of the South............. 89 Carmouche Insurance................................... 96 Chateau Terrebonne...................................... 83 Chez Cake Bakery......................................... 44 Cindy Price.................................................... 85 Classic Cupboards........................................ 21 Clearwater Pools............................................ 53 Coastal Dentistry........................................... 49 Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom............. 53 Courthouse Chili Cook-Off............................. 21
Courtyard Marriott..........................................11
Made in the Shade......................................... 49
Cypress Bayou Casino & Hotel.................. 3, 37
Mitchell Family Eye Care................................ 69
Cypress Columns, The...............................7, 9 2
Morrison Terrebonne Lumber Center............. 45
Deep South Oil & Vinegar.............................. 23
Norby Chabert............................................... 35
Dermatology Clinic, The................................. 15
Ochsner St. Anne............................................ 4
Designs by Two.............................................. 42
Old Estate Art Gallery.............................. 44, 79
Digestive Health Center................................. 23
Pour Moi........................................................ 96
Dishman Flooring Center............................... 75
Powerhouse Gym.......................................... 61
Divinity Home Health Services....................... 47
Prejean Family Dentistry................................ 64
Donner-Peltier Distillers............................ 46, 65
Premier OB-GYN........................................... 52
Doug’s Refrigeration...................................... 22
Raising Cane’s............................................... 15
El Paso Mexican Grill..................................... 46
ReDoux, The.................................................. 87
Emile’s Furniture and Appliances............. 35, 45
Richard’s Restaurant Supply........................... 5
Envy Boutique................................................ 44
Royal Room, The......................................17, 44
Farm Bureau.................................................. 29
Salty Dog Vapor....................................... 46, 89
Felger’s Footwear.......................................... 98
Sam’s Audio................................................... 44
Flynn Clinic of Chiropractic............................ 61
Sam’s Firearms.............................................. 46
Frost Lumber................................................. 68
SLMA Health Clinic........................................ 80
Gastroenterology Center of the South............. 5
South Louisiana Bank.................................... 67
G.D.C. Programs............................................ 49
South Louisiana Financial Services................ 49
Ginger & Bee................................................. 44
Southland Dodge........................................... 83
Gold’n Gifts & Bridal Boutique....................... 90
Southland Drugs............................................ 23
Green Acres................................................... 36
Southland Mall............................................. 100
Ground Pat’i Grill & Bar, The.......................... 13
St. Matthew’s Episcopal School.................... 29
Haydel Spine, Pain & Wellness....................... 93
State Farm (Carreker, Brue, Bednarz)............ 47
Heavenly Scent........................................ 45, 61
Stire Office World........................................... 93
Heidi Broudreaux........................................... 40
Supreme Ornamental..................................... 67
Honeybaked Ham Co.................................... 17
Synergy Bank................................................ 97
Houma Digestive Health.................................. 9
Terminix......................................................... 43
Houma OB-GYN Clinic.................................. 67
Terrebonne General Medical Center.........31, 57
Houma Orthopedic Clinic................................ 2
Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.............. 54
Houma-Thibodaux Spine & Rehabilitation........ 9
Tint Masters................................................... 21
Iberiabank & Mortgage...................................11
Trapp Cadillac Chevrolet................................ 41
iiiCreative....................................................... 90
Valley Supply.................................................. 47
Jones Dermatology........................................ 81
Waggin’ Tails...................................................11
Just for You Flower & Gift Shoppe................. 45
Workout Co., The........................................... 55
Landmark Home Furnishings......................... 91 Louis Mohana Furniture................................. 69
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LOOK TWICE
Win a $50
Gift Card
Find the six diffe ences in this photo from Chateau Chic on page 24. Drop off our 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 DECEMBER 14. The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BRIDGETTE MARTIN FOR WINNING LAST MONTH’S CONTEST.
Courtesy of
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1 2 3 4 5 6
Extra rivets on beam Outlet missing Extra light Orange pumpkin now red Refrigerator handle longer Chair back missing
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Rhett Williams Montegut Middle School
F
or some, donating one’s own time comes naturally. That’s the case for Rhett Williams, a sixth grader at Montegut Middle School. Rhett, 11, who lives in Bourg, often helps a neighborhood family with their son, Devin Harvey, 8, who has adrenoleukodystrophy – a disorder that results in the accumulation of very long chains of fatty acids in tissues throughout the body. Many times, the afflicted person’s condition deteriorates into a persistent vegetative state. The Harvey family has a 2-year-old as well, whom Rhett helps watch. He also helps Devin with his feeding tube. Rhett is a member of Montegut Middle’s 4-H Club, Beta Club and the student council, each of which includes a service element toward which the 11-year-old gives time. And in the classroom, Rhett maintains a 4.0 grade point average. This spring, the Louisiana Department of Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education named Rhett Student of the Year. “I think (volunteering) is just in my blood,” Rhett says, noting that his parents Kathy and Richard Williams have also volunteered as first responders. “… Once you have the feeling that you’re helping somebody, you never lose the want to volunteer and help.” Just recently, Rhett learned about the ancient Egyptian practice of mummification in social studies class. “After looking at that, I think that I want to be a surgeon,” Rhett says of his future. For now, he spends free time playing football, basketball and, his favorite, baseball. POV
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THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
7 Classic Christmas Carol Tidbits P
iping cups of hot chocolate, choruses of “fa, la, la, la, la” wafting through downtown streets and department stores – Christmastime is upon us and with it comes one of the best soundtracks of the year. Christmas carols are at the heart
1
of what makes the time so magical and the stories behind the songs are just as delightful. Here’s how seven of the classics came to be.
You’re Outof-Tune, Mr. Karloff
2
Astronauts Wally Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Staffo d spotted what they believed to be a UFO while aboard Gemini 6 and promptly broke out into “Jingle Bells.”
Horror vet Boris Karloff is the voic of Dr. Seuss’s “The Grinch,” but Thurl Ravenscroft – Tony the Tiger – lent his pipes to the villain’s signature song.
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Do You Hear What I Hear?
4
From the Children’s Pages Rudolph was created for a coloring book for retail store Montgomery Ward, not for his same-named song.
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Irving B. Scrooge
Songwriter Irving Berlin couldn’t stand Elvis Presley and set out to ban his version of “White Christmas” from every radio station, failing miserably.
Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne Baker wrote this tune as a prayer of peace during The Cuban Missile Crisis.
5
Orbital Carol
6
13 Going on 30
Singer Brenda Lee was just 13 when she recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
7
Temporary Relief
“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” was written as a distraction during the heat wave of ‘44. POV
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