Chamber Insight — March

March 23, 2017 Volume 20, Issue 2

April 1 Art at St. John's

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

St. John's Episcopal Church 718 Jackson St., Thibodaux

April 6 Downtown Steppin' Out Fashion Show

6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Foundry on the Bayou 715 W. 1st St., Thibodaux VIP: $50 / General Admission: $30

April 10

Wal Mart Neighborhood Market Lynn Rhodes

224 West Main Street Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301 (985) 492-5305 Grocers

David's Glass Shop David Smith

902 Jackson Street Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301 Ph: (985) 492-2769 Fx: (985) 492-2730 Retail - Specialty

Chamber Board Meeting 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Chamber office

April 14 Chamber office closed

In observance of Good Friday

April 28 Bayou Country Children's Museum Pay It Forward Casino Night & Auction 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Buy Tickets at www.bccm.info

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Contents

Officers:

Chairman of the Board Cody Blanchard

White Car Marketing & Fathom Media

Chairman Elect Paula Rome

Treasurer Napoleon Ortiz

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center

Secretary Kassie Barrancotto

Synergy Bank

Past Chair Marguerite Knight

2 2 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 12 14 18 20 21 23

Calendar of Events Welcome New Members From the Chair President’s Perspective City News Campus Tracks Thibodaux in Time Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Member News Meet Mayor Tommy Eschete Out and About with the Chamber Coastal Restoration Management Matters Get It Growing!

South Lafourche

Morgan Stanley

BOARD MEMBERS: B.J. Antill

Bayou Country Club

Annette Arboneaux Nicholls State University

Crystal Chiasson

Donna Gravois

John Deere Thibodaux. Inc. Thibodaux Mayor Tommy Eschete

Kayla Henninger

Advance Physical Therapy Rehabilitation, LLC Bayou Community Academy

Howell Chiasson

Gaubert Oil Company

Tommy Eschete

LanceScaping, LLC

Greg Gaubert

Restore or Retreat, Inc.

City of Thibodaux Mayor Carmel Inn & Suites

Cover photo courtesy of Jacob Jennings

Sandy Holloway

Fletcher Technical Community College

Coastal Commerce Bank

On The Cover:

Josh Isbill

Lance Ledet

John Lombardo

staff: President and CEO

Membership Assistant

tammy@thibodauxchamber.com

rick@thibodauxchamber.com

Executive Assistant

Insight Managing Editor

sarah@thibodauxchamber.com

insight@thibodauxchamber.com

Tammy Ledet

Sarah Rodrigue

Rick Reso

Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm

If you are a member of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce and feel that you have a story or business-related story that would be of interest to our community, please let us know.

If you are interested in becoming an advertiser in Chamber Insight, please contact Marian Long of the Daily Comet at (985) 857-2291.

Anyone wishing to join the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce should call the Chamber of Commerce office for more information.

Use Chamber Insight to promote your products and services. In addition to great advertising rates in Chamber Insight, members who wish to have their advertising flyers inserted into our mailing can continue to do so. Flyers are inserted into the Chamber Insight. A $100 fee assists in the mailing expenses. All flyers must be delivered to the Chamber of Commerce office by the second Monday of the month to be included in the next issue of Chamber Insight.

Insight is a publication of and produced by the Daily Comet for the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.

LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Liz Arceneaux

Ben Jones Jr.

T h i b o d a u x C h a m b e r I n s i g h t / T h u r s d ay , M a r c h 2 3 , 2 0 1 7

318 East Bayou Road Thibodaux, Louisiana 70302 (985) 446-1187

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No New Sales Tax

by Cody Blanchard Chamber Chairman of the Board

that means that those Lafourche Parish businesses have to leave as well. Now, we’re not only losing the additional 1% sales tax, but the entire amount paid in sales tax previously. So for now, this proposed sales tax will increase revenue, but as more businesses and residents spend dollars outside of the parish because of higher rates, our revenue will then drop again, making this an unsustainable way for our School Board to do business during a down economy.

Again, I support our teachers and our public education system; however, as our businesses have become more efficient, so must the Lafourche Parish School Board during this economic downturn. Our parish cannot afford to tax ourselves to higher collections and bigger budgets.

As a community, we must be focused on helping to increase our collections by shopping local rather than outside of our parish and also by keeping our current tax rates as is so that Lafourche Parish can continue to remain an attractive area for businesses to locate and expand. If passed, I am concerned many residents will shop in neighboring parishes and contribute more to online sales rather than spending their dollars within out parish.

I encourage you to VOTE on April 29th and express your opposition of this tax so we can continue to move our business community forward. Early voting will take place April 15-22, 2017.

In December, the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce polled our membership to better understand the general stance on the Lafourche Parish School Board sales tax proposition. Of the responses received, when asked, “If passed, the sales tax rates in Lafourche Parish would increase to a range of 10.65% to 11.40% depending on your location within Lafourche Parish. Do you support increasing sales tax rates to these levels?,” 83% of our Chamber membership stated they oppose or strongly oppose the increase in sales taxes. Additionally, when asked “How do you feel the proposed 1% sales tax increase may impact your business?,” 70% indicated an increase in sales tax would have a negative or highly negative impact on their business.

Discussion of a new proposed sales tax throughout the community has been one met with its challenges. The general message I have received has been one of support and value of our teachers along with the public education system within Lafourche Parish; however, it has been followed up with concern for our business community. The surveys distributed produced many written responses encouraging the Lafourche Parish School Board to find ways to streamline and live with a little less in these tough times, just like our businesses and citizens have had to do.

If the proposed sales tax were to pass, the new sales tax throughout Lafourche Parish would range between 10.65% and 11.40%. These new rates would put areas of Lafourche Parish having the third highest sales tax rate in the United States. These additional rates would not only make goods more expensive, but the ability to attract new businesses and retain current businesses would become even more difficult.

If businesses are not deterred from maintaining operations here because of a higher tax, they will begin to seek other areas for commerce. For example, contractors building homes in Lafourche Parish may now look to purchase building supplies outside of the parish due to the rising sales tax. Companies in Port Fourchon, some of the largest contributors to the sales tax base will seek to rent equipment outside of the parish. This means a company who rents a piece of equipment for $10,000 per day may now rent it from a neighboring parish rather than here in Lafourche Parish due to increased sales tax rates – and

-K-

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Showcasing Your Business

by Tammy Ledet Chamber President/CEO Everyone is so busy these days. It almost seems that when a new week starts, it’s Friday already! What about the year? It’s hard to believe that we are almost done with March and are on the fast track to April.

This is why we feel it is so important for our chamber members to know that we are here to help them showcase their business. When was the last time you told your story? When was the last time you invested in your own company for advertising? If you stopped to answer these questions, then it’s the right time to consider some real opportunities the Chamber has to offer.

This year under new leadership, we have re-designed our events as mentioned before in other articles. We now have opportunities for our members to be sponsors at our Business After Hours, which will be held quarterly in the third month of each quarter. Sponsorships are available as follows: $1,000 for one business / $500 for 2 businesses / $250 for 4 businesses. So, some of you might ask, “What’s in it for me?” As a sponsor of this event, you would be named as Presenter of the event. You would be given time to tell your story and showcase your business at the event. What a better way to be visible and advertise yourself!

You would also receive ad space in our Chamber Insight Publication, which by the way is distributed to our 600 chamber members and inserted in the Daily Comet distribution to over 7000 members. An ad in Chamber Insight alone should be key to promoting your business. In addition to all of the other benefits already noted, let us not forget social media mentions and email promotion. So, whether you are in a position to be an exclusive sponsor or team up with others, what a great way to let the community know who you are. By the way, we have our second, third, and fourth quarter Business After Hours sponsorships available. We would like to thank our first Quarter Business After Hours sponsor - Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.

In addition to our Business After Hours sponsorships, we also have our Quarterly Sponsorships for $850 each. So, what are the benefits for this great opportunity to showcase your business? First, your name and logo appears on the Homepage of our website; thibodauxchamber.com for the entire quarter selected. Your name and logo will also be placed in our Chamber Insight Publication as sponsor of the quarter for the three months of the quarter. You will be given an opportunity to speak at our Business at Breakfast, which will be held the first month of the quarter. What a great way to start things off in the morning with YOUR story! In addition to all of these wonderful things, you would also receive a ¼ page ad in our Chamber Insight for each month of the quarter.

Remember, as I stated earlier, the Chamber Insight is distributed to many in our community, giving you every opportunity to showcase your business.

So, what are you waiting for? The community is waiting for you to tell your story and so are we.

Call us at 985-446-1187 or email us at info@ • Cats, Dogs, Horses, Bird & Exotics thibodauxchamber.com. Don’t forget to also visit us • On-Call 24 Hrs. for Emergencies at thibodauxchamber.com or Facebook to keep up • Complete In-House Diagnostics/Imaging Surgery, Exams with current events. Our next Business at Breakfast •• Medicine, Preventative Care & Vaccinations is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26th at the Envie Restaurant, which happens to be Administrative Professional’s Day. Our guest speaker will be Annette Fontana, Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court. We hope 919 Percy Brown Rd. Thibodaux, LA to see you there.

985.446.8824 www.ridgefieldanimalhospital.com -K-

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Full Service Glass Shop Auto | Residential | Commercial | Marine

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Locally Owned and Operated 523 St. Mary St. | Thibodaux, LA | 985.449.1945 www.thibodauxglass.com

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Spring Is In The Air

I Bet You Didn’t Know

by Tommy Eschete City of Thibodaux Mayor

by SAM Colonel Crawfish-in-Residence (Dr. Bruce Murphy)

The Mardi Gras season for 2017 is in our rear view mirror and I am so pleased to say that we had some of the best parades and crowds ever. Thanks go out to all of our local krewes for the excellent parades they organized this year. Our new consolidated and uniform parade route was employed with no logistics issues to report. I can’t mention Mardi Gras without thanking the fantastic employees of the City of Thibodaux especially my administrative staff and employees of our Police, Parks and Public Works Departments for the outstanding jobs they do so we can all enjoy our Mardi Gras season. What a great team we have!

The month of February is now behind us. That means we are again gearing up to host the annual 8-Year Old Biddy World Tournament at the Warren J. Harang Municipal Auditorium March 17th through the 21st. This annual event is always an excellent opportunity to showcase our community to our neighbors and individuals from across the entire region. Try and take some time to make one of the games during the week and you won’t be disappointed with the level of abilities that these children possess.

Now that we have made it through a very mild winter, it is evident by the blooms on our trees and the humming of lawn mowers that spring is here; be it a bit early. As we all know, spring in South Louisiana causes our residents to bring out hedge clippers, saws and other pruning devices. The use of these instruments will equate to a large amount of green waste for collection during the upcoming few weeks. Please be aware that the City will dispose of that waste should it be generated by the homeowner themselves. Should a homeowner hire a contractor to trim or remove trees or shrubs from a yard, it will be the responsibility of the contractor to haul this debris and green waste away. If you have any questions regarding the collection or disposal of green waste from your residence please call the City at (985) 446-7223 or (985) 446-7218.

In addition, we will continue our series of downtown community concerts in conjunction with Thibodaux Main Street. We will again hold our summer concert in conjunction with the Manning Passing Academy being held July 22-25. What an outstanding way to introduce our unique downtown and culture to our many visitors from across the country.

As we begin to embark on the busiest time of the year for our parks and recreation departments, please begin to consider the summer programs that might interest you or your children this year. It’s not too early to make these choices. Whether it is arts and crafts, swimming lessons, water aerobics, summer camp or baseball we have it all available for you and your family. Please visit our website at www. ci.thibodaux.la.us and click on our recreation tab to review all of the opportunities available to our children and adults alike.

Spring is in the air……take a deep breath!

What I love most about living on the Nicholls campus is getting to surprise even the most devoted Colonels with campus news and events that they have yet to hear about. Nicholls is a dynamic campus filled with new ideas, activities and initiatives each month. To get you up to speed, here’s some recent Colonel Crawfish trivia.

• Did you know that the Nicholls MBA program is now more accessible for non-business graduates? Nicholls has removed barriers that traditionally discouraged many non-business graduates from pursuing an MBA. Students without business degrees were previously required to take business prerequisite courses, which are now being folded into the existing MBA curriculum. As more industries look for business savvy employees, Nicholls is excited to offer its AACSB-accredited master’s program to even more students from diverse industries like health care, culinary, education and much more.

• Did you know that Nicholls is the first stop on the Lafourche Historic Live Oak Tour? The historic Acadia Plantation Oaks in front of the Ledet Culinary Arts Building on Highway 1 are the first stop on Lafourche Parish’s new selfguided driving tour. Designed to introduce visitors to the history and beauty of the oaks, the tour map can be found at liveoaktour.com.

• Did you know that Nicholls offers opera? Pretty classy, right? The Nicholls Opera Workshop has been putting on student and community opera productions for the past few years. Mark your calendar for this year’s production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute)” at 7:30 p.m. April 6 and 7 in Danos Theater.

• Did you know that your unwanted clothes could help a Nicholls student?

The Nicholls College of Business has launched the Business Closet program, providing students on a budget with free new or gently used business attire for interviews, career fairs, presentations, internships or employment. Isn’t this neat?

I’m hoping for a used bowtie in my size! To ensure that students are career-ready, business majors may select one outfit per year to keep as their own. If you have business attire that no longer fits or would like to make a donation of new clothes, stop by the Nicholls College of Business in White Hall.

• Did you know that the Alumni Crawfish Boil is coming up? Ahhh! I will be crawling into my campus mud hole as fast as possible to escape any accidental boiling, but I encourage you to attend. Featuring a new twist, the Alumni Boil and Colonel Crawl will be held Saturday, April 22. The traditional Alumni Crawfish Boil will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom, but the fun will continue with the Colonel Crawl pub crawl in downtown Thibodaux at 8:30 p.m. Visit nichollsalumni. org to purchase your tickets.

For more information about what’s happening at Nicholls State University: Visit nicholls.edu/calendar as well as the Nicholls Facebook and Twitter pages.

-K-

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-K-

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Tidbits From 100 Years Ago

by Patty Whitney Bayou History Center, Inc. © 2017 As I’ve previously stated, I just love reading over old newspaper articles. One thing I have noticed in doing historical research is that oftentimes some really interesting items can be found in old newspapers from areas surrounding the particular area I’m interested in researching. Here are some interesting tidbits from 1917 I found in old newspapers of parishes surrounding Thibodaux.

From The Morgan City Daily Review dated 22 February 1917.

Thibodaux King Uses S.P. Thibodaux, La., Feb. 21 --- Although the Thibodaux Carnival Club failed this year to take an active part in preparing a Mardi Gras festival, this place, nevertheless, had a king who held sway yesterday.

He arrived on the afternoon Southern Pacific train and a large crowd gathered to greet and cheer him upon his march over the streets of the town. At night he appeared at the ball given in his honor, and there his identity became known as Michel Fakier, one of the leading merchants of Thibodaux. He chose as his queen Miss Lillian Ber, the aides and maides being: Leonard Lasseigne and Miss Flavia Daigle; Arthur Costello and Miss Bertha Dugas; Mr. and Mrs. George Bergeron; Raoul Ber and Miss Laura Dantin. Several automobiles, tastefully decorated carrying maskers, were a feature of the parade.

P.L. Braud, president of the Thibodaux Carnival Club, has called a meeting to be held Monday night in the town hall to consider plans for next year.

From The Donaldsonville Chief dated 12 May 1917.

Little Misses Marguerite Keller and Lillie Bloomenstiel and Master Bernard Lemann, who made such a hit with their singing and dancing acts in connection with the high school benefit entertainment at the Grand Theatre (Donaldsonville) last Monday night, will go to Thibodaux this afternoon to present their clever specialties at the Grand Theatre in that town. They will be accompanied by their teacher, Miss Dora Kaffie. A treat is in store for Thibodaux patrons of the movies who witness the performance of these talented children.

From The Weekly Messenger at St. Martinville dated 14 July 1917.

Thibodaux, La., July 9 --- The Board of Alderman (sic) of Thibodaux has decided to raise the rate for electric current from 10 cents per kilowatt to 12-1/2 cents per kilowatt, the raise being made necessary

Strangers Hotel, after a on account of the high cost of fuel. strenuous trip through the From The Donaldsonville Chief dated 28 July marshes of Terrebonne 1917. and Lafourche parish, Grand Company Secures Another Theatre. they having started The Grand Theatre Company, Incorporated, from Morgan City. The operating the Grand motion picture theatres in gentlemen who arrived Donaldsonville and Thibodaux, this week bought here aboard a gasoline the Marvel Theatre in the latter town, thus acquiring launch are: Mr. C.F.S. possession of both the photoplay houses now Neal, Lebanon, Ind.; J.W. established there. The Marvel will be continued in Busard, Indianapolis, Ind.; and manager of the Inter operation under the management of Louis Boston, Mountain Oil Co., of Casper, Wyoming, in the Big who is in charge of the Thibodaux end of the Muddy Oil Field; and Mr. S.B. Forman, vice-president company’s business. It is pleasing to note that the of the Stark Oil Co., of Thibodaux La., but which is Grand concern is meeting with a liberal measure drilling now at Anse La Butte, La. They report that of success both in Donaldsonville and Thibodaux, due to the excellent pictures presented at its theatres and the generally efficient and high class manner in which the houses are conducted.

From The Morgan City Daily Review dated 28 August 1917.

Modern Hotel for Thibodaux According to press reports from Thibodaux, we learn that plans to build a modern hotel in that city is (sic) Construction of the Grand Theatre in Thibodaux.

(Photo donated to the Ellender Archives at Nicholls State University courtesy of Wayne Oncale) well underway, and the promoters after a meeting held Monday, announced that the new enterprise would they had quite an exciting time, as last Friday they be operated on the commonwealth plan, with club were caught in a windstorm that tossed them about features in connection. quite furiously. They were 48 hours without anything The new structure, it is said, will cost approximately to eat and the tire is what caused them to come up $75,000 and will have fifty rooms with private bath Bayou Lafourche, an old German woman, who lives for each room, as can be had in large city hotels in near the marshes affording them sufficient assistance this section of the country. We commend the civic and relief to enable them to reach Thibodaux. pride of Thibodaux folks, who are striving to fill a long want, that of hostelry.

-K From The Morgan City Daily Review dated 24 September 1917.

From Lafourche Comet We are assured that there is oil and gas in Lafourche Parish, which is something worthwhile. This information comes to us from several oil prospectors who registered Sunday at the

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Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Unveils New Live Oak Driving Tour

by Timothy Bush

trees that are 400 to 500 years old. The grant from the tourism office enabled him to develop a website, signs that will be posted at each location, and a brochure. The trees are numbered from north to south – “up and down the Bayou,” as locals like to give directions – but visitors can start their tour anywhere along the route. For example, one stop is at the E.D. White House historic site just outside of Thibodaux, a National Historic Landmark that served as home to Edward Douglas White, Louisiana’s governor from 1835 to 1839, and his son, Edward Douglass White, who was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1894 and served as its Chief Justice from 1910

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. “We’re proud of our people and our natural assets, and the Lafourche Live Oak Tour beautifully combines those two gifts. We’re eager for our visitors to use Bill’s program to learn more about our parish and its history.”

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is located just 45 minutes from New Orleans, in the coastal destination of Lafourche Parish. Visitors seeking authentic Cajun experiences are embraced by true Southern hospitality as they sample the outdoor adventures, culture, food, music and festivals that make any journey up and down Bayou Lafourche truly personal, memorable and distinctive. From fishing in the Gulf of Mexico to enjoying a big bowl of gumbo, from spotting an alligator on a swamp tour to learning how to blend cocktails with our locally made rum, Cajun runs deep here on the Bayou.

For more information about Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, please visit www.lacajunbayou.com. And to get a peek inside this destination, check out https:// www.youtube.com/embed/dGeZ9cuaR7c.

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou – part of what has always made this region along the Louisiana Coast so special and fascinating is its people – strong folks who have weathered countless storms and emerged better for it. But there’s something here that’s even sturdier than the people … hundreds of live oak trees that have been witness to history and heritage up and down Bayou Lafourche. It simply took the vision and dedication of one clever resident to figure out a way to share the oaks’ stories with a wide audience. With help from a grant provided by Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, William “Bill” Guion officially launched the Lafourche Live Oak Tour, a driving tour designed to help visitors and locals alike explore a fascinating new tourism route. Or maybe that should be tourism “root” – tree pun intended.

The tour is a project more than 30 years in the making. It all began when Guion became interested in photography and one of his early instructors advised him to find a subject he loved and photograph it over and over again. He selected the oak trees that had surrounded him since his childhood in Thibodaux, the parish seat of Lafourche Parish. Though Guion’s career took him far -Kand wide, he came back to visit the parish Monsignor Emile Fossier Oak in front of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Chuch located at 2085 Highway 1, about 4 miles north of downtown after Hurricane Katrina and was so affected by the loss of trees that had been a part of the Thibodaux.

(Photo credit: www.liveoaktour.com) landscape for generations that he decided to start documenting each of them and the history behind them. Eventually he returned to settle in Lafourche Parish and, of course, found himself a to 1921. The oldest home with a nice live oak tree in the yard. tree at this site, called “If these trees could talk, they’d have incredible appropriately “the E.D. stories to share,” said Guion. “They’ve provided White Oak,” has stood shade and shelter for generations, marked property for well over 400 years. lines, established meeting points and lined the paths It’s not just ancient, to the region’s lavish plantation homes. I wanted to but also enormous; it find a way to interpret these stories so the trees could measures more than 25 educate visitors and be appreciated not only for their feet in girth. natural beauty, but also for their role as witnesses to “Here in Louisiana’s our history.”

Cajun Bayou, we love to More than 400 trees in Lafourche Parish have celebrate what sets us been registered with the Live Oak Society, with apart, what makes us Coulon House Oak located at the corner of Highway 308 and Highway 3266 at the Tiger Drive Bridge about a quarter of those being more than a century unique and distinctive,” in Thibodaux old. As he worked to develop a tour that maps out said Timothy Bush, (Photo credit: www.liveoaktour.com) 40 locations, Guion was even able to include a few president and CEO of

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Exciting New Offering from Fletcher's Workforce Solutions Division: SHRM Certification Exam Prep Course for SHRM-CP/SCP Establish yourself as a globally-recognized HR expert in 2017 by earning your SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP®) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP®) certification.

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Nicholls Announces Partnership with Bayou Lafourche Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Nicholls State University and the Bayou Lafourche Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau have announced a partnership aimed at increasing tourism across the parish.

The agreement pairs Nicholls with the parish's leading tourism authority to promote campus events and programs that draw significant people to the region such as Nicholls athletic competitions, freshman orientations, commencements and summer camps.

"Lafourche Parish is home to one of the most enjoyable and unique cultures in Louisiana, and Nicholls is proud to be a part of that," Dr. Bruce Murphy, university president, said. "Our vision is to be the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Bayou Region, and thanks to our new partnership with the Bayou Lafourche Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Nicholls looks forward to hosting even more events and programs that attract new faces to the region."

The first of the bureau’s upcoming two headlining events is The Mardi Gras Invitational: Beads and Baseball on the Bayou. Held Feb. 23-26 at Didier Field, the six-team invitational will bring in players and fans from teams across Louisiana and New York.

The bureau will also sponsor the Welcome Reception for the Manning Passing Academy.

Scheduled for June 22-25, the Manning Passing Academy annually brings more than 1,200 campers and their families from across the globe and has an estimated impact of more than $4.5 million on the local economy.

“A lot of our visitors and tourists come to Lafourche Parish because of Nicholls. That makes this a perfect partnership,” said Marguerite Knight, chairman of the bureau's board of directors. “We’re really excited to get started with the Mardi Gras Invitational and to see our partnership grow.”

Nicholls generates an estimated $275 million annual

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economic impact, more than 3,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 voters.

“Our research has shown that Nicholls plays an important role in the Lafourche Parish economy and to tourism,” said Timothy Bush, the bureau’s executive director. “Partnering with Nicholls allows us to work together to help bring visitors to our community and expand on our economic impact.

-K-

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446-6256

1309 St. Patrick Street Thibodaux

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Meet Board Member

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Mayor Tommy Eschete

by Ben Jones, Jr. Managing Editor

days offer something new and unexpected. I actually like those types of days.”

Even though Eschete loves speaking to organizations and individuals about the community and issues, he remarks that, “I don’t like being the center of attention. My quiet time at home is something I really cherish.”

Outside of City Hall, Eschete enjoys most every sport, but golf is his passion. “It’s the most challenging sport I know of because you can’t rely on anybody but yourself. The New Orleans Saints and Nicholls State Athletics come in a close second.”

As for being a Board Member with the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, Eschete is proud to partner with another organization that has the best interest of Thibodaux at heart in addition to meeting and working with some fantastic people.

Eschete offers three tips to be a successful member of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce. “Utilize the benefits of the organization. Don’t be a member in name only.” Eschete also suggests setting a goal to serve as a board member.

“There is so much that can be accomplished by a diverse Board of Directors. My third tip is to make the organization accountable. Even if you aren’t on the Board, you can still share your ideas and visions to make the organization better service its members.”

W

hen it comes to serving his community, Tommy

Eschete is no beginner. Not only is he the Mayor of the City of Thibodaux, but he is also a member of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Eschete was born in the city of Houma and moved to Thibodaux in 1967. He is a 1975 graduate of Edward Douglas White Catholic High School and a 1980 graduate of Nicholls State University with a degree in Business Administration.

“I moved with my family to Thibodaux in 1967 because my dad was transferred here by Bell South,” said Eschete. “I love the ambiance of a small community and the kindness and generosity of the people who call Thibodaux their home.”

Eschete described his service to the city of Thibodaux.

“Administration in municipal government has been my profession for almost 32 years. My passion for public service is what guides the creation of my visions for the City of Thibodaux. It is always satisfying to know that you have the ability to help make your fellow citizens’ lives better.”

A typical day for Eschete is spent in his office at City Hall.

“Although I can’t operate without a great deal of structure to my days, there are many times that the majority of my time is spent on issues that are not set on my calendar,” said Eschete.

“These usually involve personal interactions with our citizens and business owners. Taking that into consideration most

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-K-

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Synergy Bank celebrated the grand opening of its newest location at 1070 South Acadia Road in Thibodaux.

Thibodaux Mayor Tommy Eschete shares his thoughts and remarks during a ribbon cutting and celebration for the opening of Synergy Bank’s newest location at 1070 South Acadia Road in Thibodaux.

Members of the community were invited to play games and have fun at the grand opening celebration of Synergy Bank’s newest location at 1070 South Acadia Road in Thibodaux.

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Kassie Barrancotto, Branch Manager, wields the giant scissors during a ribbon cutting ceremony held at Synergy Bank’s newest location at 1070 South Acadia Road in Thibodaux surrounded by coworkers, family, friends, and Chamber members.

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Members of the E. D. White Catholic High School Band performed during the ribbon cutting and celebration of Synergy Bank’s grand opening at its newest location at 1070 South Acadia Road in Thibodaux.

Members of the community were invited to attend the grand opening celebration of Synergy Bank’s newest location at 1070 South Acadia Road in Thibodaux.

Rhonda Dempster, The City of Thibodaux, wields the giant scissors during a ribbon cutting ceremony for The Market located outside of City Hall in Downtown Thibodaux.

Rhonda is surrounded by family, friends, members of The Market, and Chamber members.

Local kids took advantage of a photo opportunity with Colonel Tillou from Nicholls State University during Synergy Bank's celebration.

A “Welcome To The Market” sign greeted visitors at The Market’s new location outside of City Hall in Downtown Thibodaux.

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MyFoods, a vendor of The Market, showcased Vietnamese cuisine during The Market’s ribbon cutting ceremony last month.

Patrons shop at The Market during a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new location located outside of City Hall in Downtown Thibodaux.

Homemade and homegrown goods are sold at The Market held at its new location located outside of City Hall in Downtown Thibodaux.

Lynn Naquin wields the giant scissors during a ribbon cutting ceremony for his business, Lynn’s Interiors, located at 609 St. Mary Street in Thibodaux while surrounded by friends, family, and Chamber members.

The MAX Charter School recently completed its annual review with Louisiana Department of Education official Ms. Delaina Larocque. From left to right are MAX Data Coordinator Alison Boyne, Director Linda Musson, Ms. Larocque, Principal Rebecca Walker, and MAX Board President Karen Chauvin.

The MAX Charter School invited Ms. Mary Elizabeth Evans-- Senior Vice President for Community and Economic Development, Hope Credit Union and Enterprise Corporation-- to be its guest speaker at a recent MAX Board of Directors meeting. Posing with Ms. Evans is MAX Board member Dr. Cleve Hill and MAX Director Linda Musson.

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Nicholls SHRM Among the Best at Regional Competition Nicholls students finished in the top half of the competition in their first appearance at the regional Human Resource Case Competition held in Houston.

During the competition held on March 10-11, the Nicholls undergraduate team in the University’s Society for Human Resource Management chapter finished eighth out of 20 teams, while the graduate team finished fourth of nine.

“Our students represented Nicholls extremely well.

While watching them present to human resource

leaders from around the nation, I was overwhelmed with pride,” said Melanie Boudreaux, faculty sponsor and instructor of management. “I truly believe that our students will forever remember this experience.

We may be a small university, but our SHRM student group is definitely making a name for ourselves.”

Nicholls advanced to regionals after winning the first ever Louisiana Human Resource Case Competition in November.

With 120 active members, the Nicholls SHRM chapter is the largest in the state.

The Society for Human Resources Management helps to enhance the students' real-world human resources experience through attending various events and workshops, including conferences, an etiquette dinner, resume workshops, and mock interviews, among others.

-K-

Tammy Ledet, CEO and President of The Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, receives an award from Dr. Bruce Murphy, Nicholls State University, for being nominated by Colonel Jeanne Murphy for the Nicholls State University 2017 Women of Achievement Award - Community Category.

The following women were nominated for the Nicholls State University 2017 Women of Achievement Award. From left: Dr. Rebecca Lyons, who is holding a plaque for Dr. Sue Westbrook who was not in attendance, Faculty/Staff Category; Lauren Luce, Student Category; Tammy Ledet, CEO and President of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, Community Category; and Dr. Bruce Murphy, Nicholls State University, holding a plaque for Dr. Michele Theriot who was also not in attendance, Faculty Staff Category.

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Geaux Use Your Coastal Voice

PARISH FACT SHEET

LAFOURCHE PARISH

Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, or CPRA, ushered in the new year with the release of their much anticipated five-year update to its Integrated Coastal Master Plan. The plan, which is legislatively mandated to be revised in order to capture changes to ground conditions and updates to technology, remains the single most important, science-based, guiding document to help Louisiana prioritize risk reduction and restoration projects critical to our coast, communities and culture.

At a public meeting held by the CPRA in Houma which drew over 200 residents, plans were unveiled for large-scale, regional coastal projects including barrier island, marsh and ridge creation; freshwater and sediment diversions; and other foundational projects that will directly benefit our area. Also included was a more “non-structural” for Lafourche and Terrebonne Our goal is not,robust and has never been, to rebuildprogram the coast offramework the 1930’s or to maintain our current footprint.

We know that is not feasible.

The Parishes, which includes flood proofing businesses, 2017 Coastal Master Plan recommends a diversity of projects to build home elevations and voluntary acquisitions for those land and reduce flood risk in order to balance short-term needs with long-term realityareas is that this will not solve theimportant in goals. floodThe prone -- aplan program justallas challenges facing coastal Louisiana. It will take an unprecedented as restoration and protection for the Barataria and effort by government, the private sector, and coastal communities/ The master plan is keenly focused on Basins which are ground zero for the citizens Terrebonne to improve the sustainability of our coast.

However, Louisiana’s identifying and prioritizing high-performing people are resilient, and we are up to the challenge. projects that could be implemented over the worst land loss rates. next 10 years, while also planning for the next 50. Over the next 50 years, the 2017 Coastal

Outside of the project specifics, the 200+ page FACING A FUTURE WITHOUT ACTION. If MEDIUM SCENARIO Master Plan includes: the latest “worst case” sea level rise plan includes specific estimates facts prove about the national to be accurate, then coastal • $18 billion for marsh creation, $5 billion for around the world will all face sediment diversions, and more than $2 billion significance of our coast.communities Included are details about tremendous risks. for other types of restoration projects, providing land building benefits of more than some of our regional industries and economies, 800 square miles compared to no action.

Louisiana will be no different, especially considering the that much of our coast like oil and gas contributions tofactthe nation, theis • $19 billion for structural risk reduction and HIGH SCENARIO also experiencing some degree of $6 billion for nonstructural risk reduction; importance of our portssubsidence. and fisheries to lost notat least only We know we have these projects will save more than $8.3 billion 1,900 square miles of land since the 1930’s, in annual economic damage by year 50 and the state by nation, andand even impact of to a lose potential we know we are going more. In are expected to pay for themselves three fact, our latest predictions show that if we do times over the course of implementing the closure of Louisiana Highway 1.

The plan also plan. nothing, we stand to lose in the range of 2,250 to 4,100 additional square miles of land describes in detail the State's expanded outreach • Many restoration benefits that will support (for the medium and high environmental commercial and recreational fisheries, coastal scenarios). plan that Restore or Retreat was proud to participate wildlife, and the diverse habitats which enable

COMMITTED TO OUR COAST

WHAT THE PLAN PROVIDES

─Continue on page 19─

us to live, work, and play across the coast.

Lafourche Parish is located in southeast Louisiana and includes three incorporated municipalities: Thibodaux (parish seat), Lockport, and Golden Meadow. The parish is named for Bayou Lafourche that runs through the parish and created areas of high ground. Lafourche Parish includes marshes, sandy ridges, lakes, bayous, and natural levees. Known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise,” the parish boasts a natural habitat for a wide range of wildlife such as deer, alligators, waterfowl, fish, and shellfish.

POPULATION 98,325

POPULATION CHANGE

ECONOMIC DRIVERS

+7%

Ports & Shipping Oil & Gas Shipbuilding Fisheries Agriculture & Livestock

Information from: 1) U.S. Census Quick Facts (2015 Estimate) 2) U.S. Census (2000-2010); and 3) Lafourche Parish Government.

FUTURE WITHOUT ACTION LAND LOSS AND FLOOD RISK YEAR 50, MEDIUM ENVIRONMENTAL SCENARIO

2017 DRAFT COASTAL MASTER PLAN

Flood depths from a 100-year storm event for initial conditions (year 0).

Mandeville Slidell

Land change (loss or gain) for year 50 under the medium environmental scenario with no future protection or restoration actions taken.

Lake Charles

Lafourche Parish faces potentially severely increased wetland loss across most of the parish over the next 50 years under the medium Abbeville environmental scenario. With no further coastal protection or restoration actions, the parish could lose an additional 370 square miles, or 41% of the parish land area, with impacts to many coastal towns. Likewise, with Cameron no further action, the parish faces severely increased future storm surge based flood risk. Over the next 50 years (under the medium environmental scenario), 100-year flood depths increase to 13-15 feet and above in areas south of Golden Meadow. Raceland and Larose face significant flood risk, and flooding also encroaches closer to Thibodaux.

Laplace

Morgan City

RISK REDUCTION FLOODING FROMSTRUCTURAL STORM SURGE-BASED NONSTRUCTURAL RISK REDUCTION 0 $0.2B RESTORATION

MARSH CREATION RIDGE RESTORATION $0.4B SHORELINE PROTECTION 50 BARRIER ISLAND RESTORATION HYDROLOGIC RESTORATION $0SEDIMENT DIVERSION SEDIMENT DIVERSION 25

$1B

Raceland

New Orleans Jean Lafitte

Houma Flood depths from a 100-year storm event for year 50 under the medium environmental scenario with no future protection or restoration actions taken.

Chauvin Dulac

RISK REDUCTION& FUTURE ECONOMIC DAMAGE CURRENT

Year

by Simone Maloz

Leeville Port Fourchon

Venice Grand Isle

41%

Lafourche Parish may lose 41% of the parish land area over Loss of Parish TAKING ACTION TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S the next 50 yearsGOOD. In all, the Land Area medium value, approximately master plan outlines projects that(under cost, the in present scenario). For more $50 billion. These investments will not only provide direct restoration information on land and risk reduction benefits,change, but willflood also risk, provide and tremendous economic to reduce development opportunitiesresources for Louisiana andrisk, its residents. please visit:

The unprecedented investment in coastal restoration and protection wil cims.coastal.la.gov/ $2B continue to put Louisiana atmasterplan the forefront of using science and innovation to plan a sustainable future for our coastal communities and our valuable We are proactively preparing for a bright future Parish’s annual (EAD) Master from a 100-year event under the medium environmental scenario with noecosystem. future protection or restoration actions taken.

EAD is To learnexpected more about the damage 2017 Coastal Plan andstorm recommended the average amount of damage projected to occur from storm surge flood events for a community, expressed as dollars of damage per year. While every community will not projects, please visit www.coastal.la.gov/2017. an ever-changing flood every year, these statistical averages show the expected flood risk and the damage that would in be associated with that risk. landscape. $1B

Damage (Billions)

Page | 25

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! DOWNLOAD PLAN: COASTAL.LA.GOV

EMAIL:

MASTERPLAN@LA.GOV

WRITE:

COASTAL PROTECTION & RESTORATION AUTHORITY P.O. BOX 44027 BATON ROUGE, 70804

INTERACT:

CIMS.COASTAL.LA.GOV/MASTERPLAN

CONNECT:

YOUR FEEDBACK COUNTS. Share your thoughts on the 2017 Draft Coastal Master Plan and recommended restoration and risk reduction projects. Public comments will be accepted until March 26, 2017, and feedback will be used in the development of the final master plan.

THE COASTAL PROTECTION & RESTORATION AUTHORITY

2017

was formed by the Louisiana State Legislature in 2005 following the devastation brought to our state by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. CPRA holds responsibility for hurricane protection and the protection, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of coastal wetlands and barrier shorelines or reefs throughout southern Louisiana’s coastal area – the contiguous areas subject to storm or tidal surge.

CPRA is boldly addressing the root cause of Louisiana’s coastal crisis by pioneering large-scale restoration plans to build coastal habitats and to reconnect the river to its delta, as well as promoting increased coastal protection and community resilience.

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COASTAL MASTER PLAN LOUISIANA’S COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN FOR A SUSTAINABLE COAST DRAFT PLAN RELEASE

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─Continued from page 18─

in and support. One such example of expanded outreach is this fall, with financial help from the Bayou Community Foundation, ROR co-hosted seven Community Conversations with CPRA in towns across the coast to start talking about the Master Plan even before the draft’s release to help jump start this important conversation.

Overall, the plan is a good solid document that we should stand behind because of the multitude of benefits included for the Bayou Region. I hope you will stand with ROR in supporting the plan-- before the end of the comment period on March 26 and as the plan moves through the LA Legislature for passage during its regular session this Spring.

The plan is available on coastal. la.gov.

Flood risk and project information is easily accessible through

the CPRA’s Flood Risk and Resiliency Viewer, also on the CPRA’s website, where you can literally type in the address of your home or business in something similar to Google Maps to find out more about your flood risk as well as Master Plan projects planned for your area. Finally, on the CPRA’s website, you can submit your Master Plan comments through a new program called Citizen Reach. If you would like your own copy of the draft plan, we have some available at Restore or Retreat on handy thumb drives (saving the trees!) made possible with a grant from the Fourchon Oilman's Association and Greater New Orleans Foundation.

Now, more than ever, let your voice be heard in supporting our coast!

WHAT’S IN THE 2017 DRAFT COASTAL MASTER PLAN FOR LAFOURCHE PARISH? PROJECT TYPES

Barrier Island Ridge Restoration* Restoration

1

1

3

Marsh Creation

Sediment Diversion

Shoreline Protection

Restoration Projects: Year 1-10 + 002.SP.102: East Snail Bay Shoreline Protection + 002.SP.106: Bayou Perot Shoreline Protection + 03a.DI.01: Bayou Lafourche Diversion

Restoration Projects: Year 11-30 + 002.SP.103: West Snail Bay Shoreline Protection + 03a.HR.100: Grand Bayou Hydrologic Restoration + 03a.MC.07: Belle Pass-Golden Meadow Marsh Creation Note: Strategic maintenance of barrier islands and headlands will be addressed through CPRA’s Barrier Island Program. Lafourche Parish may also receive some benefits from sediment diversion projects in adjacent parishes.

FUTURE LAND CHANGE Land With Plan Land Without Plan Land Built or Maintained

Year

Square Miles

600

Land Loss By Master Plan

0

10

20

REDUCED

2017 DRAFT COAS $1B

50

30

40

REDUCED

$0.5B

$0

50

$1B

Damage Reduced (Billions) Reduction in Parish’s expected annual damage (EAD) over time with the implementation of the 2017 Coastal Master Plan projects under the medium environmental scenario.

Lake Charles

WHAT THE PLAN PROVIDES 2017 DRAFT COASTAL MASTER PLAN

For more information about the 2017 Coastal Master Plan and protection and restoration projects in your parish, please visit:

26 | Page

Abb

coastal.la.gov/2017

Cameron

The master plan is keenly focused on identifying and prioritizing high-performing projects that could be implemented over the Lake next 10Charles years, while also planning for the next 50. Over the next 50 years, the Abbeville 2017 Coastal Master Plan includes:

WHAT THE PLAN PROVIDES

Cameron

tremendous risks.

next 10 years, while also planning for the next

50. Over the next 50 years, the 2017 Coastal FACING A FUTURE WITHOUT ACTION. If Plan includes: the latest “worst case” sea level rise Louisiana will be Master no different, especially estimates prove to be accurate, then coastal • $18 billion for marsh creation, $5 billion for that much of our coast is communities around the considering world will all face the fact sediment diversions, and more than $2 billion tremendous risks. other types of restoration also experiencingforsome degree of projects,

subsidence.

We know we have lostto at least 800 square miles compared no action.

Louisiana will be no different, especially considering the fact that much of our coast is • $19 for structural risk reduction and 1,900 square miles ofbillion land since the 1930’s, also experiencing some degree of $6 billion for nonstructural risk reduction; subsidence. We know weand have lost least weatknow we these areprojects going more.

In willto savelose more than $8.3 billion 1,900 square miles of land since the 1930’s, in annual economic damage by year 50 and fact, our latest predictions show that if we do and we know we are going to lose more.

In are expected to pay for themselves three fact, our latest predictions show that if we we dostand times the course of implementing nothing, toover lose in the range ofthe plan. nothing, we stand to lose in the range of to 4,100 2,250 to 4,100 additional2,250 square miles of land additional square miles of land • Many restoration benefits that will support (for the medium and high(for environmental the medium and high commercial andenvironmental recreational fisheries, coastal scenarios). wildlife, and the diverse habitats which enable

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41% Reduction in

Land area (square miles) over time in Parish with and without the 2017 Coastal Master Plan projects under the medium environmental scenario.

or to maintain our current footprint. We know that is not feasible. The 2017 Coastal Master Plan recommends a diversity of projects to build land and reduce flood risk in order to balance short-term needs with A FUTURE WITHOUT ACTION. If FACING MEDIUM SCENARIO long-term goals. The reality is that this plan will not solve all the the challenges facing coastal Louisiana. It will take an unprecedentedlatest “worst case” sea level rise estimates prove to be accurate, then coastal effort by government, the private sector, and coastal communities/ The master is keenly focused citizens to improve the sustainability of our coast. However, communities Louisiana’s around theplan world will all on face identifying and prioritizing high-performing people are resilient, and we are up to the challenge. projects that could be implemented over the

us to live, work, and play across the coast.

$0.3B

Year

COMMITTED TO OUR COAST

scenarios).

REDUCTION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC DAMAGE 25

800

400

Our goal is not, and has never been, to rebuild the coast of the 1930’s or to maintain our current footprint. We know that is not feasible. The 2017 Coastal Master Plan recommends a diversity of projects to build land and reduce flood risk in order to balance short-term needs with long-term goals. The reality is that this plan will not solve all the challenges facing coastal Louisiana. It will take an unprecedented effort by government, the private sector, and coastal communities/ citizens to improve the sustainability of our coast. However, Louisiana’s Our goal is not, resilient, and has neverand been, we to rebuild the challenge.

1930’s people are are the upcoast to ofthe

HIGH SCENARIO

Hydrologic Nonstructural Structural Restoration Protection Protection

+ 02.HP.06: Upper Barataria Risk Reduction + 03a.HP.02b: Morganza to the Gulf + 03a.HP.20: Larose to Golden Meadow + LAF.01N: Lower Lafourche Nonstructural Risk Reduction + LAF.02N: Larose/Golden Meadow Nonstructural Risk Reduction + LAF.03N: Raceland Nonstructural Risk Reduction

-K-

providing land building benefits of more than

3

Risk Reduction Projects: Year 1-30

COMMITTED TO OUR COAST

HIGH SCENARIO

3

2017 MASTER PLAN PROJECTS

1000

MEDIUM SCENARIO

1

• $18 billion for marsh creation, $5 billion for sediment diversions, and more than $2 billion for other types of restoration projects, providing land building benefits of more than 800 square miles compared to no action.

RISK REDUCTION STRUCTURAL RISK REDUCTION • $19 billion for structural risk reduction and NONSTRUCTURAL RISK REDUCTION $6 billion for nonstructural risk reduction; these projects will save more than $8.3 billion RESTORATION in annual economic damage by year 50 and MARSH CREATION RESTORATIONto pay for themselves three areRIDGE expected SHORELINE PROTECTION times over course of implementing the BARRIER ISLANDthe RESTORATION HYDROLOGIC RESTORATION plan.

SEDIMENT DIVERSION

Mandeville Slidell

Laplace

Morgan City

New Orleans

RISK REDUCTION Raceland

Jean Lafitte

STRUCTURAL RISK REDUCTION NONSTRUCTURAL RISK REDUCTION Chauvin

Houma

Dulac

Leeville

RESTORATION Port Fourchon

Venice Grand Isle

MARSH CREATION RIDGE RESTORATION TAKING ACTION TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S GOOD. In all, the SHORELINE PROTECTION master plan outlines projects that cost, in present value, approximately $50 billion. These investments not only RESTORATION provide direct restoration BARRIERwillISLAND and risk reduction benefits, but will also provide tremendous economic HYDROLOGIC RESTORATION development opportunities for Louisiana and its residents.

SEDIMENT DIVERSION The unprecedented investment in coastal restoration and protection will SEDIMENT DIVERSION continue to put Louisiana at the forefront of using science and

SEDIMENT DIVERSION • Many restoration benefits that will support innovation to plan a sustainable future for our coastal communities and commercial and fisheries, coastal our valuable ecosystem. We are proactively preparing for a bright future To learn more about the 2017 Coastalrecreational Master Plan and recommended To learn landscape. more about the 2017 Coastal Master Plan and recommended projects, please visit www.coastal.la.gov/2017. wildlife, and the diverse habitats which enable in an ever-changing projects, please visit www.coastal.la.gov/2017. us to live, work, and play across the coast.

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Do You Know Who Your Beneficiaries Are?

by Marguerite Knight When was the last time you checked the beneficiary designations on your retirement plan or life insurance policy? It's an important - but often overlooked or forgotten - aspect of wealth transfer.

When was the last time you checked your beneficiary designations for your individual retirement account (IRA), employer retirement plan, annuity, or life insurance policy? If you haven’t examined it since the account was set up, you are not alone.

Due to changing circumstances and shifting priorities, you may find that your named beneficiaries are no longer in keeping with your estate plan or wishes. If you have switched jobs, become a new parent, divorced, or survived a spouse or a child, your current beneficiary designations may need to be updated.

Consider the “What If?” In the heat and emotion of divorce proceedings, for example, the task of revising one’s beneficiary designations can fall through the cracks. A court decree that ends a marriage also terminates the provisions of a will, but it does not automatically revise the beneficiary status of an employer-sponsored retirement account or an IRA. Some financial institutions, automatically cancel the designation of a spouse as the beneficiary of an IRA in the case of divorce, but not all do. So, for example, if an IRA owner remarries and has a new family, but fails to change the beneficiaries on the account, the original beneficiary may have a legal claim to the assets in the event of death.

Also keep in mind that the law requires that a spouse be the primary beneficiary of a 401(k) or a profit sharing account, unless he or she waives that right in writing. A waiver may make sense in a second marriage if a new spouse is already financially set, and the children from the first marriage may need the money.

Steps to Stay Current To ensure that your beneficiary designations are current and up-to-date, consider the following steps: 1. Make a list of all accounts that have named beneficiaries.

This may include 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457 plans, IRAs, pension plans, life insurance policies, annuities, and bank accounts.

2. Contact the plan administrator or financial institution that maintains or services your

account to verify your current beneficiary designations.

You may want to do this with the help of your tax advisor or estate planning professional to ensure that these documents are in sync with other aspects of your estate plan.

3. Keep it safe.

Store this list in a safe place with your other estate plan documents, such as your will, health care proxy and power of attorney, and make sure your designated executor has a copy.

4. Register for online access.

If you do not already have online access to your accounts with beneficiary designations, consider registering so you can view and update your account information whenever you need to.

5. Consolidate.

If you have changed jobs and left your assets in your former employers' plans, you may want to consider moving these assets into a rollover IRA. Consolidating multiple retirement plans into a single tax-advantaged account can make it easier to track your investment performance and streamline your records, including beneficiary designations.

Naming beneficiaries and keeping them up-todate is only one important aspect of estate planning.

Let me work with you to make sure your entire estate plan addresses your current wishes and circumstances.

Sources/Disclaimer Tax laws are complex and subject to change.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice and are not “fiduciaries” (under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise) with respect to the services or activities described herein except as otherwise provided in writing by Morgan Stanley. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a retirement plan or account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments made under such plan or account.

Typically, as a retirement plan participant who may be receiving an eligible rollover distribution from the plan, you have the following four options (and you may be able to engage in a combination of these options depending on your employment status, age and the availability of the particular option): 1. Cash out the account value and take a lump sum distribution from the current plan subject

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to mandatory 20% withholding, as well as potential taxes and a 10% penalty tax, OR continue tax deferred growth potential by doing one of the following: 2. Leave the assets in your former employer’s plan (if permitted), 3. Roll over the retirement savings into your new employer’s qualified plan, if one is available and rollovers are permitted, or 4. Roll over the retirement savings into an IRA. Each option offers advantages and disadvantages, depending on your particular facts and circumstances (including your financial needs and your particular goals and objectives). Some of the factors you should consider when making a rollover decision include (among other things) the differences in: (1) investment options, (2) fees and expenses, (3) services, (4) penalty-free withdrawals, (5) creditor protection in bankruptcy and from legal judgments, (6) Required Minimum Distributions or “RMDs”, and (7) the tax treatment of employer stock if you hold such in your current plan.

The decision of which option to select is a complicated one and must take into consideration your total financial picture. To reach an informed decision, you should discuss the matter with your own independent legal and tax advisor and carefully consider and compare the differences in your options.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact Marguerite Knight at the Morgan Stanley Houma Branch. The phone number is 985-360-4044 or you can visit the website at www.morganstanleyfa.com/ marguerite.knight.

The author(s) and/or publication are neither employees of nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley"). By providing this third party publication, we are not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement, approval, investigation, verification or monitoring by Morgan Stanley of any information contained in the publication.

The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article or publication has been obtained from ─Continue on page 22─

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Crawfish Production

by Michael C. Hebert Whether from managed ponds or wild habitats, Louisiana’s crawfish harvests are composed of two species – the red swamp crawfish (scientific name: Procambarus clarkii) and to a lesser extent the white river crawfish (scientific name: Procambarus zonangulus). Although scientists in other parts of the world use the term “crayfish” for these and all related species, we refer to these two species as “crawfish” to reflect not just their common names, but also the widespread use of the word by producers, marketers and consumers in Louisiana and elsewhere in the United States.

Louisiana’s crawfish farming industry has grown to include more than 1,374 farms occupying more than 236,095 acres. Production from wild habitats, mainly the Atchafalaya River basin, varies from year to year. Total production for the season was more than 141 million pounds, with almost 133 million pounds from farms and more than 8 million pounds harvested from natural habitats by approximately 1,900 fishermen. The farm-gate and dockside value of the harvest exceeded $199 million. In Lafourche Parish there are currently 70 crawfish farmers who have 7,850 acres in ponds. Last year’s production totaled over 4 million pounds with $5,825,175.

Crawfish ponds have no standard size, but most are between 10 and 40 acres, and most producers manage 150 or fewer acres. Occasionally, a single pond may include more than 1,000 acres, especially in bottomland areas where water levels are manipulated in natural habitats for crawfish production.

Formulated feeds are not used to produce crawfish. Instead, rice, sorghum-sudangrass or natural vegetation is grown in the summer (when ponds are drained) to serve as the base of a natural food chain for crawfish. Crawfish ponds are not stocked with hatchery-reared young as in other forms of aquaculture. Farmers rely on reproduction by unharvested crawfish from the previous year or on mature crawfish that are stocked to produce young naturally.

Crawfish are grown in shallow earthen ponds 8 to 24 inches deep. Relatively flat, easily drained land, with suitable levees, is required for production, harvesting and management of vegetation. Crawfish are cultured in areas where the soil has sufficient clay to hold water and accommodate burrow construction. Water requirements for crawfish

production are similar to those for other freshwater aquaculture ventures, with the possible exception of water quantity. Ponds are flooded in the fall and drained in the spring, and because of the oxygen demand from decaying vegetation, additional water exchanges are sometimes necessary.

Equipment requirements for culturing crawfish include irrigation systems, harvesting equipment (boats, traps, sacking tables, etc.) and agricultural implements to establish the forage crop and maintain levees. Access to sufficient labor and alternative marketing outlets are essential for successful commercial operations.

The life cycle of the crawfish is different from most crustaceans.

Burrowing activity can occur at any time but is most prevalent in late spring/early summer in Louisiana.

Although spawning can take place in open water, the burrow provides protection while the fertilized eggs or young are attached to the underside of their mother’s tail.

The hatching period depends on temperature and usually takes about 3 weeks. Hatched crawfish are attached to the female’s swimmerets through two molting phases, after which they resemble an adult crawfish and begin to feed. Hatchlings instinctively remain with the female for several weeks after their second molt although they are no longer attached.

It is critical that the female and her young leave the burrow within a reasonable time because little food is available in burrows. When conditions force the crawfish to remain in the burrow, increased mortality can occur.

Pond flooding or heavy rainfall is usually necessary to encourage female crawfish to emerge from their burrows. Females emerge with their young (or sometimes with eggs) attached to their tails, and advanced hatchlings are quickly separated from their mother as she moves about in the open water.

Because reproduction is somewhat synchronized in pond-reared crawfish, ponds are routinely flooded in autumn to coincide with the main period of reproduction.

Decomposing plant material, with its associated microorganisms (collectively referred to as detritus)

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is consumed to a much greater degree and has a higher food value.

The ability of crawfish to use detritus as a mainstay food item, however, appears to be very limited. Fortunately, in a typical crawfish pond environment numerous animals besides crawfish rely on the microbe-rich detritus as their main food source. Mollusks, insects, worms, small crustaceans and some small vertebrates depend on detritus and, when consumed by crawfish, these animals furnish high-quality nutrition. Scientists have realized that for crawfish to grow at their maximum rate, they must feed to a greater extent on these high-protein, energy-rich food sources.

Educational and technical assistance in all aspects of crawfish production and marketing is provided by the LSU AgCenter through the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service in every parish. Help is available through individual consultation, onfarm visits, production meetings and publications.

Anyone considering going into crawfish farming should review current financial budgets available from the LSU AgCenter and discuss the feasibility of their projects or business plans with an extension professional who can identify the best available data for making decisions as to how to proceed.

Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service agents are the best source of information on the feasibility of farming crawfish in our area.

-K-

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Nicholls Players Performed ‘Godspell’

sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation

by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentioned.

Article by Contently Inc. and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial

Advisor.

Marguerite Knight may only transact business, follow-up with individualized responses, or render personalized investment advice for compensation, in states where she is registered or excluded or exempted from registration, www.morganstanleyfa. com/marguerite.knight © 2016 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. -K-

HOW DOES YOUR BUSINESS

STAY AHEAD OF THE

students from various majors and some community members.

The production was presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

One of the featured songs, “Day by Day” spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, peaking at number 13.

First performed in 1971, “Godspell” was conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

Showings were Thursday, March 16, through Saturday, March 18, and a showing on Sunday, March 19.

-K-

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LV174515

The Nicholls Players performed the musical “Godspell” this week, the group’s first musical since 2011.

“Godspell” is a set of short stories based on the gospels of Matthew and Luke and told through a series of modern songs containing lyrics from traditional hymns.

“We’ve been wanting to do a musical for awhile. We chose this musical because it balances having a good message with being a fun opportunity to gain valuable experience for our students,” said Anna Broussard, instructor of speech and director of the Nicholls Players.

“We were especially excited to put on our first musical in the newly renovated Mary and Al Danos Theater.

The new sound system and revamped lighting allows us to do more than we were able to do in the past.”

Cast and crew of the Nicholls Players are made up of Nicholls

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ATTENTION ALL CHAMBER MEMBERS

YOUR VOTE = YOUR VOICE APRIL 29, 2017 Parish wide Proposition (Sales Tax)

Shall the Parish School Board of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana, under the provisions of Article VI, Section 29 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, and other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto, be authorized to levy and collect a tax of 1% (the "Tax"), in perpetuity, from and after July 1, 2017, upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption, and storage for use or consumption of tangible personal property and on sales of services in the Parish (an estimated $14,000,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), all as defined by law, with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying the reasonable and necessary costs and expenses of collecting and administering the Tax), to be used to supplement other revenues of the School Board for continuation of instructional programs, supplemental services, for the payment of salaries of teachers in the schools of the Parish, for the expenses of operating said schools, including payment of salaries of other personnel employed by the School Board, but excluding salaries of the School Superintendent and School Board Members?

Parish wide Consolidated School District No. 1 Proposition (Bond)

Shall Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana (the "District"), incur debt and issue bonds not exceeding Eighty Million Dollars ($80,000,000), in one or more series, to mature not exceeding 20 years from date thereof, with interest at a rate or rates not exceeding 8% per annum, for the purpose of purchasing, erecting and/or improving school buildings and other school related facilities within and for the District and acquiring the necessary equipment and furnishings therefor, acquiring and/or improving lands for building sites, playgrounds and athletic fields; including construction of necessary sidewalks and streets adjacent thereto; title to which shall be in the public, which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with no increase in the estimated millage rate to be levied in the first year of the issue above the 11.2 mills currently being levied to pay General Obligation Bonds of the District?

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