The Spirit Issue

FREE SEPTEMBER 2019 | VOL. 13 • ISSUE 9 | POVHOUMA.COM

SPIRIT issue

the

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CONTENTS |

SEPTEMBER 2019 • VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 9

CONT HOME + LIVING

Page 16

FOOD + FUN

Page 34

MIND + BODY

Page 46

14 POV PICK

32 POV PICK

44 POV PICK

16 CHATEAU CHIC

34 BROTHERS, ON AND OFF THE FIELD

46 BORN TO RUN

Team Spirit T-shirts

Life By the Water

22 GATOR PRIDE

Coach Curlin celebrates 30 years as STHS head coach.

28 UNDER THE SCOPE Ole Skule Scrums

Fudge

Ja’Khi Douglas and Jaylin Lucas support each other on and off the football field.

40 THE OBSERVER

South Louisiana Pastime

September 2019 4 povhouma.com

Essential oil bracelets

Runner Brynn Kelso makes a name for herself in the cross country world.

52 WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

ENTS EXTRAS

ON THE COVER

WORD, YA HEARD TORTUOUS 1. marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns; winding 2. marked by devious or indirect tactics

WORD ON THE STREET “The path through the mountains was tortuous, with an estimated 20 percent gradient at the top.”

“The politician’s long-winded speech was full of tortuous explanations of government expenditures.”

Page 56

08 EDITOR’S NOTE

Brynn Kelso pauses on the trail to count her medals.

10 INTERVUE

Photo: Channing Candies

Pre-K, Here We Come!

Say What?

54 RENDEZVOUS

Where you need to be around town

56 SCENE IN

Look at ol’ so ‘n’ so!

59 LOOK TWICE

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VISIT US ONLINE: povhouma.com

What was your favorite subject in school?

PUBLISHER

Brian Rushing Home Economics

EDITORIAL

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

FOR THE

HEAD CHEF IN YOUR HOME

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Michelle Ortego SUBSCRIPTIONS Point of Vue magazine is published monthly.

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CREATIVE

Amber Duplantis SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nicholas Boutte GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amber Knight GRAPHIC INTERN PHOTOGRAPHY

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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Kim Ross CONTACT

Honor’s Chemistry with Mrs. Janet Bowman

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Copyright ©2017 Rushing Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of editorial and/or graphic content is strictly prohibited.

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

September 2019 6 povhouma.com

New Pain Treatment at Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness Center Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness Center is excited to offer a new state of the art minimally invasive treatment for lumbar stenosis. Dr. Michael S. Haydel specializes in minimally invasive spine procedures and is one of only five physicians in the entire state of Louisiana who is certified in this advanced procedure. Dr. Haydel is also certified by the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians, Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice and American Board of Anesthesiology.

The procedure is Vertiflex, an indirect decompression system, FDA approved and covered by Medicare. It’s a new alternate treatment for lumbar stenosis, providing patients with a minimally invasive approach that puts your comfort and safety first, offering the only treatment on the continuum of care between conservative care and more invasive surgery. This treatment is especially helpful for older patients with significant limitation in walking distance due to pain, which is also relieved by sitting and resting. If you have leg/hip/glute/groin pain with standing or walking, which is relieved by bending forward at the waist and no more than two vertebral levels are involved, then you could be a candidate. This procedure requires only a 3⠄4-inch incision, takes about one half an hour to complete and is completed in an outpatient facility making it a favorable alternative in treatment. Clinical trials indicated 90% patient satisfaction through 60 months post procedure evaluation. They experienced 75% successful reduction in leg pain, which makes this procedure an excellent alternative to the more invasive options.

This new therapy allows Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness Center to provide customized and optimal pain reduction or relief utilizing state of the art and groundbreaking minimally invasive healthcare, which can result in improved quality of life.

MICHAEL S. HAYDEL, MD, FIPP, ABIPP 1022 Belanger Street, Houma, LA 70360 985-223-3132 www.painspecialty.net

EDITOR’S NOTE |

MARY DOWNER DITCH • MANAGING EDITOR OF POV

PRE-K, HERE WE COME! Last month, the day finally came: The first day of school for our baby. As Jackson enters Pre-K, all I hear in my head are the voices telling me, “Enjoy every moment; they go by so fast.”

I’m still not ready to stop calling him my baby. Sure, all the visible signs of being a baby or even a toddler are long gone. The unruly mop of ringlet curls has been replaced with thick, neatly trimmed hair. That rolly, polly pot belly that popped the snaps on his onesie romper is now a slender, long torso that requires a size larger shirt for length. Speaking of length, pants are now a nightmare, as the length we need no longer corresponds with the scrawny reality of his waist measurement.

Despite all the physical changes that are a sign of the years passing, there are still some things that haven’t changed.

Jackson still loves to snuggle with Mommy and Daddy any chance he gets. There are still boo-boos that must be kissed.

My baby still sits and listens intently when a book is being read aloud. Bedtime is still our special time. Sure, all the parenting books say let him go to his room and fall asleep on his own. But in the still darkness of his nursery-turnedbig-boy room, it’s our moment to reconnect. As a nursing mother, the nighttime was always ours. Long gone is the rocking chair and lullabies I sang, as we now talk about his day and say our prayers together.

This August just came too quickly. Despite buying uniforms in June, Pre-K snuck up on me. It still feels like yesterday I was dropping him off, still in an infant carrier, at the Little White House. But there we were, on the front porch on a steamy August morning, taking pictures with our sign that will forever remind us of that first day. And off he went! No tears, no concerns, no looking back – our baby, our big boy, our greatest adventure.

As we all embark on new adventures this fall, September’s issue focuses on the spirit of this season… Sports! As the Friday Night Lights glow brighter than ever on our home fields, we explore some of the great stories they have to tell. We also take a closer look at another often overlooked fall sport, cross-country.

Our Spirit Issue begins with a celebration of the coaching staff at South Terrebonne High School. Head coach Richard Curlin is entering his 36th season of coaching and his 30th as head coach for the Gators. The coaching staff on the field is pretty unique too, being comprised of alum, a father and son, and a longevity that is rarely seen. Learn more about the team leading the Gators on page 22.

It’s not uncommon to hear teammates refer to one another as brothers or family. In the instance of teammates Ja’Khi Douglas and Jaylin Lucas, there’s a bit more to it than that.

These brothers are creating a legacy on the local level at Terrebonne High School. Always pushing one another to achieve more, this pair is an asset to their team, both on and off the field. Read more about their accomplishments on page 34.

While football is the main sport we think of in the fall, cross country is also picking up speed in our area. With several local middle schools introducing teams to the sport, shining stars have emerged. One of those stars is 14-year-old Brynn Kelso. A ninth grader this year at Vandebilt Catholic, the local teenager has already made quite the name for herself, taking home the silver at the state level last year and helping her team to win the State Championship. Learn more about Brynn and her future plans starting on page 46.

As the spirit of the fall season captures us all, let us not lose focus on the main goal: have fun and enjoy every moment! POV

September 2019 8 povhouma.com

DINING

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INTERVUE |

SAY WHAT?

Who was your favorite teacher and why?

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My favorite teacher was Ms. Bonnie Skidmore at Southdown Elementary. She went above and beyond to make sure that students learned, but also had a good time.

JACOB | MEDICAL STUDENT

My favorite teacher was Mr. Gary Phillips who taught 11th grade American History. Not only was he the most energetic teacher I had in high school, but he was also the wisest.

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

DAVID | MARKETING CONSULTANT

My wife! First of all, she is a middle school teacher.

But more than that, we like to travel and she likes to research. So she will teach me everything she knows about a city before we visit. I’ve learned a majority of what I know about places we’ve visited from her.

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My favorite teacher in school was April Gold because she always believed in me and she pushed me to believe in myself. I think she is the reason I am who I am today!

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HOME + LIVING

POV PICK | 14 Team Spirit T-shirts

CHATEAU CHIC | 16 Life By the Water

GATOR PRIDE | 22

Coach Curlin celebrates 30 years as STHS head coach.

UNDER THE SCOPE | 28 Ole Skule Scrums

September 2019 12 povhouma.com

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HOME + LIVING |

POV PICK

TEAM SPIRIT T-SHIRTS Chic Chateau, Thibodaux

With so many local sports teams to root for, your wardrobe is your first line of defense when showing off what side of the field you want to bring home that “W”! No matter if the stadium you’re sitting in is high school or collegiate, there’s a shirt available in your team’s colors.

Stand up and cheer!

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HOME + LIVING |

CHATEAU CHIC

LIFE BY THE WATER

BY BONNIE RUSHING | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY

1

Fulfilling a dream to live on the water, one local couple purchased land in a unique neighborhood with water access to the Intracoastal. After building a boat slip and dock, they decided to accelerate the timeframe in which they planned to build their dream home. “We weren’t supposed to build out the house as soon as we did but we got excited and decided to start,” shared the homeowner.

Expansive porches and outdoor living areas flow seamlessly into the interior with thoughtful

selection of materials and the keen eye of interior designer Linsi Cenac Matherne of Linsi L. Cenac Interiors.

“The homeowners have several grandchildren and their home is most often the gathering place for everyone,” said Linsi. “Knowing this would truly be an indoor, outdoor living home, we carefully selected quality materials that would hold up to the wear and tear of everyday life, plus outside activities like swimming, boating and fishing.”

September 2019 16 povhouma.com

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Dr. Jody Simon is excited to join the Southern Eye Institute. She is the first and only fellowship-trained cornea specialist in the Bayou Region.

Dr. Simon, a Lafayette, Louisiana native, trained at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Simon specializes in the most advanced, cutting edge corneal transplant surgeries available in the world. She also performs cataract surgery and treats dry eye disease.

In addition to providing surgical services in the Bayou Region, Dr. Simon is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Tulane University in New Orleans where she trains aspiring ophthalmologists.

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Using durable materials such as large scale, wood-look porcelain tile for the main flooring of the home and leather finished countertops in the kitchen and the pool house, as well as marble look porcelain tile in the master bathroom for easy upkeep, Linsi balanced the homeowner’s need for elegance and practicality.

To achieve the homeowner’s vision, Linsi combined

transitional elements to give the traditional home a classic, timeless feel. Southern country décor polishes the space with clean yet rustic southern details. In true southern fashion, this home is a gathering place for family and friends to share meals and memories. On occasions when the homeowners aren’t busy entertaining, they enjoy the slower pace by having supper on the patio and watching the boats pass by. POV

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GATOR PRIDE

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HEAD COACH HEADING TOWARD 30TH YEAR SURROUNDED BY ALUMS, LONG-TIME ALLIES STORY AND PHOTOS BY CASEY GISCLAIR

There’s something happening at South Terrebonne High School right now that’s not happening anywhere else in the state.

Heck, and there’s a pretty good chance it won’t ever happen again anywhere else in the future, either.

Gators football coach Richard Curlin is entering his 36th season in Bourg — his 30th season as the team’s head coach.

Around Coach Curlin are several guys who have been with him for more than a decade-plus, guys like Francis Labat, Stephen Barba Sr. and Archie Adams.

Coach Curlin said the longevity and loyalty within his staff makes him feel good, adding that it’s easier to show up to work each day when you’re working with people you trust.

But Coach Curlin said that what makes it even better is that there’s a “new guard” forming of mostly former Gators’ players — guys he and the ol’ staff coached back in the day.

Those new guys like Justin Lirette, Stephen Barba Jr., Caleb White and others are studying the old regime and are even bringing a little new flavor to the program — a mix of young and old that Coach Curlin said makes him proud.

“We rely on each other,” Coach Curlin said when asked about the longevity on his staff. “Everyone understands

their role. You don’t have to write everything out all of the time. And for us, damn near the whole staff are former players now. If you’ve been in the system, you know the system and how it works and I think that makes it easier to teach it to the players. For us, it works.”

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Doing it this way isn’t an accident.

It’s something Coach Curlin said is by design.

FLASH BACK TO THE 1980S Peoples’ hair was bigger then, the price of gas was cheaper and a young Richard Curlin was an assistant coach with the Gators.

After several seasons as an assistant, Coach Curlin got his crack at being the head coach in 1989 — his first season with the team.

“Fresh caught Louisiana shrimp right off the boat, straight from our dock to your table”

Coach Curlin said in the early days of his career, hiring coaches to a school was pretty easy.

“If a teaching job was open and the applicant was a coach, in those days, that person was going to get the job,” Coach Curlin said.

But somewhere between the time that he became an assistant coach and a head coach, that changed and principals started to prioritize

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classroom ability, which made “career coaches” harder to find.

To fight that, Coach Curlin said he knew he had to build his program with Gators — guys who have a passion for the program and who want the team and its players to succeed.

With Francis and Stephen Sr., by his side practically since day one, the Gators have slowly collected coaching talent. Archie started as a “young” coach, but has now been with the team for several seasons.

Coach Curlin said Archie has graduated and is now one of “the old guys.”

That core has been together for countless seasons now and has won district titles, playoff games and has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success.

Also on the staff now are the newer guys, who also have a passion for the program, because they played within it.

The older coach said coaching his son was fun, but he regrets that he missed being able to be a dad.

This past summer, Coach Curlin said several members of his staff took time to help players work out and stay in shape.

That buy-in, Coach Curlin believes, is because of the love for the Gators’ program.

Stephen Jr. was a remarkable player who went on to play two sports at the collegiate level.

“We were fortunate to have guys here who wanted to come back,” Coach Curlin said. “And we knew they were good, solid people. … And I think we have an extremely hard working staff right now.”

YOUNG MEETS OLD Stephen Barba Sr. remembers coaching his son, Stephen Barba Jr. at South Terrebonne.

September 2019 24 povhouma.com

“I missed things, not watching from the stands,” Stephen Sr. said. “I didn’t get to cheer and scream like other dads do. It was always on to the next play.”

Now, they’re making up for lost time.

Both of the Barbas coach offense for the Gators.

Stephen Sr. said he loves coaching with his son. He said the two meet and talk football all of the time.

“That’s a lot of fun,” Stephen Sr. said. “I

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enjoy working with him. We sit down and talk all of the time. We go over plays and different things. I take so much pride in being about to share that time with him.”

The game of football has changed since the 1980s when Coach Curlin and the “old guard” started leading the Gators’ program, and South Terrebonne, like everyone else, is not immune to those changes.

Coach Curlin said having those younger coaches in house helps massage that process and keep the team modern.

The system is the system in Bourg and it always will be.

The Gators run the Wing-T and will always be a run-heavy offense.

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“IF YOU TRUST YOUR GUYS, YOU CAN LET THEM COACH.” -RICHARD CURLIN But Stephen Jr. said this summer that the team will throw it more than in years past, joking that “they’re finally listening to me.”

At a recent Friday practice, South Terrebonne spent the first 30-45 minutes of drills on throwing the football out of their Wing-T look.

Curlin said pointing to his office.

Civics teacher.

With the right people in house, Coach Curlin said he trusts his guys and that’s lessened his role, which, he believes, has allowed him to be around as long as he has.

He said if anything flushes him out of the job, it will be the classroom work and not his work on the field.

Both Barbas coached aggressively during the drills. Coach Curlin took pride in the successes of the team.

Coach Curlin shrugs away from talk that he’s some wizard because he’s been around 30 years. He said our area is blessed with a plethora of quality coaches.

“If you trust your guys, you can let them coach,” Coach Curlin said. “I trust our guys. So I let them coach.”

“The only thing that makes me different is that I’ve been around such a long time,” he said with a laugh.

THE TEST OF TIME Being a CEO-style head coach wasn’t always Coach Curlin’s way to do it.

Coach Curlin said his early coaching days were long because he felt like he had to do everything on his own.

“Lots of nights where I’d be here until 11 p.m., or sleeping right here,” Coach

So, for how much longer?

Coach Curlin said he feels good physically and believes he could coach for “another decade”, if that was the only thing he had to do.

But it’s not.

Where most football coaches in the state teach just a handful of classes a day, Coach Curlin is actually a 6-period a day September 2019 26 povhouma.com

“I have two teams. I have my team of about 200 students who I teach and all the papers I have to grade and then, the team of 100 players over here that I have to worry about,” Coach Curlin said.

“If it’s anything that gets me, it’ll be the teaching.”

When pressed for a timetable, Coach Curlin said he honestly doesn’t know, adding that he’s just enjoying each moment while it’s here.

“I’ve always done this because I enjoy it,” Coach Curlin said. “It’s not about a record or a good season. When you win, they think you’re a genius. When you lose, they say you’re dumber than dirt.

But I do this because I enjoy it. We’ve had our good moments here and I think we’ve done it the right way. That’s all we can look back on.” POV

Because time is money.

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UNDER THE SCOPE |

BY JOHN DOUCET

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I never watched that critically-acclaimed television series Friday Night Lights, which used the backdrop of high school football in small town Texas to dramatize cultural and social issues of our times. After two seasons, however, NBC punted on the series, as dramatizing a single, small town football experience resulted in a fumble. As if here in PoV country our football experiences would be the same as those of Texiens!

I find it difficult to watch dramatized or “invented” football action when real football has such a rich history. I can’t help thinking about the great, historical American game, played by men with names like Knute and Bronko and Ditka—men who played just for the chance to hit somebody, who wrestled for scrimmage in pits of wet mud at stadiums held together by rusty girders and bat nests. Those were the days when nearby lightning would never delay a game. That was the time when bones didn’t break, they just got wrapped tighter.

It was the era when blood and sweat made bweat, and it was a sign of pride to leak it. I’m talking football “back in the day.”

Back in the day, there were no spherical helmets with face guards.

Football was played beneath helmets that were narrow at the center and bulged outward over the ears, like a plasticized Princess Leia hairdo from Star Wars. That’s right: Forget the cerebrum and the cerebellum and the cervical vertebrae. Back in the day, helmet designers believed that the outer ears were the most important thing to protect on a head—a lesson they never learned from Vincent Van Gogh. They likely skipped art class in high school to go to practice.

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Back in the day, you could run a wedge and didn’t have to line up everyone on the scrimmage. And you could drop-kick. At a real game, the marching band played Sousa and Fillmore marches and not “Theme from Love Boat” with snare and bass drum accompaniment. In the day, popcorn was made with natural animal fats in a cast-iron skillet over an open flame—not with hydrogenated plant oils in an electric contraption with a gummy, aluminum pot hung in a Plexiglas cabinet with a lighted, yellow canopy. And in a real stadium, there were only as many bulbs in the pole lights as there were incisors and canines in the smiles of the linebackers.

Importantly, however, we can find unique social and cultural lessons about our land and people when we look back at football on the bayous.

In the lower latitudes, players often had to miss spring training to help families earn a living during trawling season—and that was brown shrimp season. When white shrimp season came along, they’d have to miss fall training camp for the same reason. The seasons are always in conflict: Clearly, football was invented in some meat-packing town far

September 2019 28 povhouma.com

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from warm, crustaceous waters.

Our old high school stadiums were made of welded iron, and bleacher seating used the same splintering wood planks as the boat docks that frequently jutted from the bayou sides.

While you might not find alligators crawling beneath your seat, there was plenty evidence of crawfish burrowing, nutria gorging, and armadillo digging.

Our fight songs even reflected local culture. Take my junior high school anthem, for instance: “We are the Lions from the bayou land! / We’re here to make you understand: / We’re on our way to victory / And we won’t be denied a score!” If it weren’t for the special geographical comment of the first line, none of the promises of our song would be consistently fulfilled in those tough, formative years. My high school fight song was also culturally significant. Although more famous as the staple of LSU marching bands, the lyrics to “Hey, Look Me Over” were adapted from a 1960 Lucille Ball musical named Wildcat, the story of which centered around oil drilling—a fixture of our landscape that not only provided jobs to a multitude of post-football players but also altered the natural environment of their hometowns forever.

Here, where tarpons and gators and pirates fight other beasts and men on striped fields of reclaimed swampland, where pigskins are as often tossed into hot oil as they are across a field, our football has a unique history. Unlike television Texas, here in PoV country, football—real, bweaty football—IS the social and cultural issue. Here is where that great, historical American game was played by men with names like Bobby and Tommy and Bé-Bé. POV

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FOOD + FUN

POV PICK | 32 Fudge

BROTHERS, ON AND OFF THE FIELD | 34 Ja’Khi Douglas and Jaylin Lucas support each other on and off the football field.

THE OBSERVER | 40 South Louisiana Pastime

September 2019 30 povhouma.com

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HERS

ON & OFF THE FIELD

STORY & PHOTOS

BY DREW MILLER The brother-to-brother sibling relationship is complex. It can cause teasing, rivalries and fights.

But the relationship, in most cases, produces mostly positive effects: laughter, motivation, drive, safety and so much more.

Local siblings, athletes and teammates – Ja’Khi Douglas and Jaylin Lucas – have a special bond that pushes them to new heights, on and off the football field.

“They work hard in the weight room; they work hard during the agility drills,” says Gary Hill, Terrebonne High School football coach. “They push each other; they help push the team. They work hard through our team drills, and then they also work hard in the classroom.”

Although one is soon to make a name for himself at Terrebonne and the other has his legacy already cemented there, Jaylin and Ja’Khi continue to push each other, motivate each other and be proud of each other.

If you are from the Houma-Thibodaux area, or perhaps anywhere in the South, you’ve most likely have heard or read the name Ja’Khi Douglas.

By this past summer, the 4-star recruit and No. 8 ranked player in Louisiana for the 2020 recruiting class had scholarship offers from over 30 college programs across the country. Ja’Khi says the recruiting process was “rough” but he enjoyed it, especially because programs scouting him in turn shed more spotlight on his teammates.

He ultimately decided to commit to Florida State University in July. “I just felt like that was the best fit for me and my family,” he shares.

September 2019 35 povhouma.com

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September 2019 36 povhouma.com

Although the senior committed to FSU as a wide receiver, Ja’Khi does it all for the Tigers. He has been known to line up as a WR, quarterback and running back, and play defense, too.

His stardom sparked in 2017, when as a sophomore, he completed 62-of-100 passes for 12 touchdowns (TDs) and rushed 70 times for 598 yards and 5 TDs. The gifted athlete’s national recognition grew even more last season when he completed 77-of-127 passes for 8 scores, ran 149 times for 685 yards and 11 TDs, caught 12 passes for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns and led the Tigers to an 11-2 season and a Class 5A State Quarterfinals appearance.

For his upcoming sophomore season, Jaylin – who also plays the WR position at Terrebonne and played for the Dumas Tigers and Houma Junior High School, like his brother – says there’s no pressure from following his brother’s footsteps. In fact, he says he’s proud of his brother – who is also one of his biggest motivations.

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Not receiving too much playtime due to his freshman status last year, Jaylin is sure to be seen on the field a lot this year due to his dedication and hard work he put in during this offseason – attending football camps while working on his strength, conditioning, skills and more.

Ja’Khi acknowledges the tremendous potential in Jaylin and makes sure to pass on the lessons he has learned to his brother.

“I’ve been pushing him to be a great player on the field,” Ja’Khi says. “He has a bright future.”

Already multi-talented athlete, Jaylin also runs track and plays basketball.

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For football, Ja’Khi and Jaylin both are doing whatever they can do for their team to bring home a state championship for Terrebonne this season.

to carry that same mentality to FSU – where he plans to become valuable for his future team, even though he will be a true freshman.

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Coach Gary says that the two are leaders that any team would be happy to have and are vital to the Tigers’ success.

Jaylin aims to play collegiate football, too, and set a goal for himself to make it to the professional level.

“They're both very humble kids. They're a joy to be around and carry themselves really well. They communicate well and are very respectful kids. They've just been a joy to have and a blessing to have on our team,” he says. “When you got team leaders that can behave and do things like that, with the ability to lead not with just their mouth but also by their actions, it’s great.”

“There's no telling where they will end up,” Coach Gary says. “But I can tell you this, they're both going to be successful at whatever they attempt to do just because that's the way they're made. They're not made to accept not reaching where they want to be. They set goals, and they work until they finish them. That has to be admired in today's society – that they have that kind of work ethic and that kind of desire.” POV

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THE OBSERVER |

BY JAIME DISHMAN

SOUTH LOUISIANA

PASTIME I need to tell you about my newfound favorite pastime.

If I’m honest, it’s not completely new, as I’ve done it before. But now that we are in September and the hottest months of summer are behind us, I can say my favorite pastime has filled our Saturday mornings more often than not over the past months of June, July and August.

My sweet family expects to sleep in on a Saturday, and this mamma has rigorously gone from bed to bed waking up all the people in the house. This has even included friends who are sleeping over for the night. (They come back, so they must not be that mad.)

“It’s 5:15 a.m.,” I chirp. “Let’s go!”

They roll their eyes, but they get out of bed. They know where we’re going before their feet even hit the ground.

It’s 5:15, and I want to be out of the house by 5:30. You have 15 minutes to wash your face, brush your teeth and grab a granola bar. Before long, the husband and I are ready, the children are groggy but gathered in the kitchen, and we look at each other and say “let’s go.”

We pile into our truck, pull the boat and head “down the bayou” to catch some crabs. It’s been the best part of this past summer. We’ve caught dozens of crabs before 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning more times than I can count. It’s been delightful to put a string with some chicken in the water and pull in crab lines loaded down with crabs.

It’s even more delightful to invite over friends and family to enjoy a crab boil later that day.

As the sun rises over south Louisiana on those Saturday mornings, I truly think there’s no place I’d rather be. These bayous have always been my home, and I’m thankful that a 45-minute drive puts me at the bottom of the boot where the Gulf meets the smaller waterways that curve into our landscape and dominate our state.

If you’ve never caught a crab on a line of string with some chicken at the end, you’ve not really experienced the greatness of our state.

You might not agree with that sentence, but there’s something about it that elicits squeals of joy from even grown adults. I promise I’m telling the truth.

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A few weeks ago, we were at our spot, and finished catching for the day, and the hour was a little after 8 a.m. Done before it gets too hot and ready to get back home, we were starting to pack up when a boat of four adults joined us. It had been years since they’d gone crabbing and they wanted to see if they could “catch a few” they said.

(Because the number one bayou rule for you uninitiated is “when on the bayou you talk or wave to everyone else on the bayou”).

We told them they could use our lines and put out their own. The woman who pulled in her first line of crabs sounded like a 50-year-old turned 5 years old again when she pulled in the first line.

“Ya’ll!! There’s two on the line,” she shouted to the three other adults.

It’s as though you can’t even help but get a little excited over the multiple crabs you’re about to toss into the ice chest. She laughed and then got serious about pulling in some lines, as her friends joined her. We pulled out of our crabbing spot and let them take over. There’s enough in the waterways to share.

We’ve shared our crab catch all summer. It’s been the best part of the weekends and what we talk about doing all week. Vacations are fun, but this is home-grown goodness that’s a short drive and boat ride away.

And the crabs are hot and always spicy and the conversation over crab peeling is always good. It’s south Louisiana at its finest. People at their best. And life at its loveliest. POV

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Runner Brynn Kelso makes a name for herself in the cross country world.

WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE | 52 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

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FUN FACTS

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•T he total audience for the first televised football game in 1939 was 500.

• The first professional football player was William “Pudge” Heffelfinger. He was paid $500 to play in a game in 1892.

• I f you’re talking to a mathematician, the shape of a football is best described as a “prolate spheroid.” But everyone will know what you’re talking about if you just say “football-shaped.”

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“We noticed Brynn’s talent before she even came to Vandebilt...We knew she would be something special when she came to us the following year, and we were right.”

-Jeremy Ezell

STORY BY DREW MILLER | SUBMITTED PHOTOS Many great athletes call the Bayou Region home. We root for these athletes during their high school, collegiate and professional careers, as they represent our area and give us something to cheer for, even when times are tough.

14-year-old athlete says. “I did it previously at St. Francis [de Sales Cathedral School], but we would go to a couple of little meets.

It was just to kind of introduce you to the sport, but it's always something that I’ve really loved to do.”

Some shine brightly before they reach those levels, however, and spark that appreciation from us when they are remarkably young, such as Houma native Brynn Kelso — who gained attention as one of the top runners in the state when she was just in middle school.

Brynn made headlines while in the seventh grade at St. Francis when she won the 2017 Middle School State Championship in cross country, being the first to cross the finish line in a field of over 200 runners.

“I guess you could say I was introduced to it [cross country] really young but not training until about a year ago,” the

During her middle school career, Brynn’s future coaches at Vandebilt Catholic High School witnessed her gift.

“We noticed Brynn’s talent before she even

September 2019 48 povhouma.com

came to Vandebilt...We knew she would be something special when she came to us the following year, and we were right,” says Jeremy Ezell, assistant cross country and track and field coach at Vandebilt.

“She has a grit that’s hard to teach a lot of kids, especially her age. She is just really determined, wants to win and very competitive, but in a good way.”

Brynn’s competitive drive led her to accomplish major feats at Vandebilt in cross country and track and field, despite it being her first year at the school.

Her second-place finish in the Class 4A state cross country meet last year helped her team secure the 2018 State

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“Last year for cross country, we had very good team,” Jeremy remembers. “As an eighth grader, I don't think she felt any pressure at all. I think she just wanted to go out there and run her race, and she did.

Every girl on that team was vital.”

Later that athletic season, Brynn placed first overall in the 1600-meter run during the Class 4A track and field state meet. At the event, she also was a part of the 4x800meter relay team that brought home the state trophy for the Lady Terriers. She finished third in the 800-meter run as well.

“I would say the 1600-meter is probably my

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biggest accomplishment, just because it’s such a big and competitive race,” Brynn shares. “So, to win that was pretty amazing.”

Although she has already achieved several goals athletes in her field hope to accomplish, Brynn — who also plays soccer for Vandebilt — strives to reach even higher, aiming to run on the collegiate level, participate in bigger national competitions and doing whatever she can ensure her Terriers keep finishing on top.

Danette Kelso, Brynn’s mother, says she and her husband Matt Kelso are extreme proud of her, not just because of her accomplishments but also because Brynn knows how to push herself.

"Brynn is very self-driven and motivated,” says Danette, who also ran cross country and track in high school. “She has goals, and it's amazing for somebody at her age to have goals and to want to be part of a team and be successful.”

Long-distance running is a lot more than just running fast, trying to cross the finish line first.

Runners must understand the mindset of those they are competing against, Jeremy explains, not just try to beat them on athleticism alone.

The sport is also grueling, Brynn notes, and participants must be mentally tough to push themselves, even when their tanks are empty.

“It's about telling yourself that your body is more capable than what you think it is,” she says.

It’s almost unfathomable to know the mental fatigue these young, exceptional athletes like Brynn have after their multi-mile runs and strenuous workouts virtually every, single day — while balancing school, friends, family and whatever else comes up in their adolescent lives. They quickly develop hardworking and dedicated mindsets, allowing them to grow up fast.

But perhaps it is the quote — albeit usually attributed to old age — by three-time Olympic gold medalist Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee that describes it best: “Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.” POV

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WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE |

BY THIBODAUX REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Every September, National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month focuses attention on the disease and ways for men to safeguard their health. Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Often there are no early symptoms.

Risk Factors Age is the biggest risk factor for prostate cancer, particularly for men over 50. Family history also increases their risks.

African-American men and Caribbean men of African descent have the highest rate of prostate cancer. Louisiana has among the highest incidence rates in the country.

Diet seems to play a role in prostate cancer, which occurs more frequently in countries with high meat and high-fat dairy diets. American Cancer Society guidelines recommend limiting processed and red meats and eating at least 2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day to reduce cancer risks.

Symptoms Prostate cancer often grows slowly. In more advanced stages, symptoms can include: •Frequent urination, especially at night •Difficulty starting or stopping urination •Weak or interrupted urinary stream •Painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation •Blood in urine or semen •Deep pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

Screenings The American Cancer Society advises men to talk with their doctors about screening tests beginning at: •Age 50 for average-risk men who expect to live at least 10 more years •Age 45 for men at high risk, including African-Americans and men with a father, brother, or son diagnosed before age 65 •Age 40 for men with more than one first-degree relative diagnosed at early ages Doctors may perform digital rectal exams to feel for bumps or hard spots on the prostate and blood tests to measure prostatespecific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by prostate cells.

Survival Rates According to the American Cancer Society, after lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. However, the five-year survival rate is 100 percent when the disease is confined to the prostate or nearby tissues. When it spreads to distant organs, that drops to 29 percent.

Treatment Treatment options for prostate cancer are largely dependent on the size or stage of the cancer, the results of the PSA test, and whether the cancer is confined to the prostate gland. Options may include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/ or radiation.

For more information contact the Cancer Center of Thibodaux Regional at 985-493-4008.

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FUN FACTS

PROTECT WHAT MATTERS

• D ating back to the 1860s, cheerleading was originally a male-dominated sport. In fact, the first “cheer leader” fraternity, Gamma Sigma, was all male.

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• Franklin D. Roosevelt (Harvard College), Dwight D. Eisenhower (West Point), Ronald Reagan (Eureka College) and George W. Bush (Phillips Academy) were former cheerleaders.

• The University of Minnesota allowed women to join their cheerleading squad in 1923.

During World War II, the shift to mostly female cheer squads began.

• According to statistics from Active Market Group, there are more than 3.3 million cheerleaders in the U.S. alone.

Of those cheerleaders, 83 percent keep a B average and 70 percent play a second sport.

• T he National Cheerleader Association (NCA) was founded by Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer in 1948. Herkimer had previously cheered for Southern Methodist University.

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“Let There Be Peace on Earth” Patriot Day Concert Sept. 8, 3 p.m.

Regional Military Museum, Houma

Enjoy an afternoon concert presented by the South Louisiana Community Orchestra. The orchestra will perform their program “Let There Be Peace on Earth” to celebrate their annual Patriotic Concert under the direction of conductor Glynn “Rip” Dagenhardt. Piano accompaniment will be provided by Sarah Todd with Julianna Korn providing the vocal accompaniment for the title song.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Military and First Responders in uniform are welcome to attend for free.

Trivia Night Sept. 8, 4 p.m.

Terrebonne Sheriff’s Rifle Range

The Krewe of Hyacinthians presents Trivia Night! Teams consist of up to six people and registration is $150 per team. Concessions are available. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the game starts at 4 p.m. For more information, please call 985.852.5462.

Duckin’ Out for the Arts Sept. 12, 6 p.m.

Waterlife Museum, Houma

The 4th annual Duckin’ Out for the Arts is a fundraiser event to support the Bayou Regional Arts Council. Local artists decorate ducks and donate art to be auctioned off in this unique event!

Entertainment will be provided by Frank Ball. Tickets are $40 or $60 for two.

Gala Goes Gatsby Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m.

Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center

Get ready to be transported back to the 1920’s to have a roaring good time! The annual gala benefiting the Mary Bird Perkins TGMC Cancer Center has taken on an exciting change! Introducing the inaugural event and its theme, “Gala Goes Gatsby”! Guests will experience an intimate atmosphere where men and women can sip on libations from the period, dress in their 20’s best, and mingle in a cocktail party styled setting. Mission moments centered on our patients and survivors will be highlighted throughout the evening. DJ Rhett will be the emcee for the enchanted evening and The Gatsby Gang Jazz Band is sure to get you on your feet. Tickets to the exciting evening are $75/person and can be purchased at mbptgmc.org/gala.

Back to School Fishing Rodeo Sept. 27-28 Coco Marina, Cocodrie

Saint Matthew’s Episcopal School presents their 5th annual back-to-school fishing rodeo to help raise funds for the school. The rodeo features kids and adults inshore and kayak divisions. Adult tickets are $30 and youth tickets (13 and under) are $15. Your ticket purchase includes rodeo entry, plate lunch on Saturday, a chance at door prizes, and the opportunity to join in the after party. Scales are open 12-3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Awards presentation will be at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

To register, visit fishforsmes.eventbrite. com

Art After Dark Sept. 14, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Downtown Houma

Enjoy this annual evening with arts and music. Over 75 artists will showcase their creations such as paintings, drawings, photography, jewelry, and woodturnings such as bowls, vases, carved ducks and birds. Artists will be exhibiting at locations along Main Street from Barrow to Canal.

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READY. Our team is ready to help before, during and after any disaster. Protect your home.

CALL TODAY.

Some things just work better together.

Like a hammer and nail, some things are just better when they work together.

Mike Bednarz, Agent 907 Jackson Street Thibodaux, LA 70301 Bus: 985-447-6221 mikebednarz.com

Here at South Louisiana Bank, we take the time to understand unique circumstances.

your

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

Darryl Brue, Agent 1950 Prospect Blvd Houma, LA 70363 Bus: 985-851-2584 darryl.brue.b3cs@statefarm.com Annette Dupont Mortgage Loan Originator NMLO #487985

Rene Carreker Ins Agcy Inc Rene Carreker, Agent 1221 Museum Drive Houma, LA 70360 renecarreker.com

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

State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL

1501431

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Stop in or call our Mortgage Specialist, Annette Dupont.

She will match you with the perfect loan to meet your needs.

Better (Banking) Together ayeee.com • 985.851.3434

SCENE IN |

LOOK AT OL’ SO ‘N’ SO!

COLONEL CARAVAN The Colonel Caravan rolled through Houma in August, making a stop at Spigot’s. Sponsored by Morgan Stanley, Tim Emerson and Marguerite Knight, Financial Advisors, the free event allowed Colonel alumni a chance to visit before the Fall semester began. Attendees were joined by Dr. and Mrs. Clune, Coach Tim Rebowe, and other Nicholls administrators, alumni and staff.

Tackle Pests this Fall!

Call the Terminix Team for a Free Quote.

OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE New Location! 119 Rome Commercial Place Servicing all major brands of outboards.

Dan Foster

Coach Tim Rebowe

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Billy Foster

VCHS ALUMNI TOURNAMENT Vandebilt Catholic High School alumni gathered in August for a very hot, but very fun, weekend of softball. Congratulations to the class of 1999 for their win!

CLASS OF 2002

CLASS OF 1999 CLASS OF 1998

Welcome back, Colonels!

Fast, Friendly, Local Service That No One Else Can Beat!

SOUTHLAND DRUGS

1117 Audubon Ave. • Thibodaux • 985-447-5852

BEASLEY

PEST CONTROL

• Pest control • termite control • wood destroying insect reports

VISIT THE

Complete Pest Control Services Locally Owned & Operated Serving the Tri-parish & Surrounding Area Houma (985) 872-5019 • Thibodaux (985) 446-1811 September 2019 57 povhouma.com

OPEN Monday through Friday 10AM to 4PM Saturday 10AM to 2PM 1154 Barrow St., Houma, LA (985) 873-8200 regionalmilitarymuseum.com

TERREBONNE FINE ARTS GUILD INVITES YOU TO AN

Evening with the Arts

IInspirations nspirations

Custom embroidery & monograms Unique Gifts for Weddings, Baby, Housewarming, Birthdays & Just Because

• The Harvest Moon is the full moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox, which marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

ERREBONNE FINE ARTS GUILD INVITES YOU TO AN

NE FINE ARTS GUILD INVITES YOU TO AN

FURNITURE Evening with the Arts PAINTED & FABRIC

ning with the Arts Saturday, September 14, 2019 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

CUSTOM BAGS

Downtown 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Houma

Saturday, September 9th

• Depending on your time zone, the autumn equinox for 2019 falls on Sept. 22-23. The moon will reach its full phase in North America on Sept. 13.

• As the full moon rises for several nights in a row at or near sunset, the moon will appear larger to observers near the horizon than it does high in the sky — a much-discussed phenomenon that is sometimes called “the moon illusion.”

• Sometimes the moon turns orange, just like a fall pumpkin, because of clouds and dust in the atmosphere close to the horizon.

Downtown Houma TOWELS & NAPKINS Supported by Houma Downtown Development Corporation.

FUN FACTS

debrushing1213@gmail.com 985-226-4463

Inspirationsbydebbie

urday, September 9th

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• The September full moon has also been referred to as the Full Corn Moon or the Barley Moon.

LOOK TWICE |

COURTESY OF SYNERGY BANK

WIN A $50

GIFT CARD

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

looktwice@povhouma.com.

A winner will be picked by random drawing September 14.

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

Congratulations to Linda Lee for winning last month’s contest.

Free checking with CASH

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1 Removed spoons 2 Added Pug to painting 3 Tree knot added 4 Removed pillow from the chair 5 Added dog on the floor 6 Changed the color of the doilie

REWARDS. *

Yes, FUR real.

banksynergy.com 985.851.2217 *Qualifications, limits, and other requirements apply. Contact us for more information. Kasasa is a trademark of Kasasa, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A.

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September 2019 60 povhouma.com