Thrive November 2016 Issue

NOVEMBER 2016

g n i v i g s k n a h T s n o i t i Trad We’re Talking Turkey across the Country

UNLOCKING YOUR FAMILY HERITAGE p34

GOOD SAMARITANS p16 November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

1

Rehabilitation Hospital

of Jennings

DIAgNOSeS THAT we TReAT

• Brain Injury

• Hip Fractures

• Strokes

• Osteoarthritis/DJD

• Amputations

• Neurological Disorders

• Burns

• Spinal Cord Injury

• Major Multiple Trauma

• Congenital Deformities

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Systemic Vasculidities

• Joint Replacements

Others who can benefit from inpatient rehabilitation are postoperative patients, accident victims and cancer patients.

24 Hour Nursing Care • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy • Nutritional Counseling and Monitoring Case Management Call for a free assessment today.

One Hospital Drive, Ste. 101 • Jennings, LA 70546 • Phone: (337) 821-5353 • Fax: (337) 821-5355 or 5366 jenningsrehab@yahoo.com • www.jenningsrehab.com 2 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

IF IT HURTS HERE, WE CAN TREAT IT HERE.

WE’VE

RAISED THE BAR IN CARDIAC CARE

PREDICT YOUR

10-YEAR RISK FOR A HEART ATTACK IN MINUTES Heart calcium scanning is a noninvasive scan of your heart that detects calcium in the walls of arteries which is a leading indicator of heart disease. By determining your calcium score, this heart calcium scan can diagnose coronary artery disease with astounding accuracy, so that you can take the necessary steps toward preventing a heart attack, living a healthier life and having peace of mind.

800.831.1796

INJURIES seen same or next day

DO YOU NEED A HEART CALCIUM SCAN?

If you meet one or more of these risk factors but have experienced no symptoms and have no history of heart disease, this test is right for you.

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital and Imperial Health Center for Orthopaedics have joined

• Males 40-65 and females 45-70 • Family history of heart attack or stroke • LDL cholesterol greater than 130 • Blood pressure greater than 140/90 • Current smoker • Obesity • Diabetes

together to deliver the most advanced orthopaedic care across Southwest Louisiana. Our board-certified surgeons are dedicated to providing comprehensive, convenient orthopaedic services right here at home, personally customized just for you.

Call 888-996-4862 to schedule your heart calcium scan today for just $75* – it could

— More than a partnership, a milestone for Southwest Louisiana.—

save your life.

The most advanced orthopaedic care anywhere is right here.

November 2016

* $75 self-referral cash price does not require a physician order. Medicare or insurance may cover this service, with a physician order.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

3

Contents

22

14 In This Issue

Regular Features

12 First Person with Thanksgiving Mike Sperandeo 6 – 11 Cover Story & Special Section:Traditions 24 Who’s News

Wining & Dining

14 Great Harvest Bread Co. Opening Soon Places & Faces

16

Good Samaritans of Southwest Louisiana 19 On the Record with the Round About Record Store 22 SWLA Tours, Inc.

56 Business Buzz 64 Happenings 66 Solutions for Life 67 McNeese Corral

6

Mind & Body

26 Lake Charles Clinical Trials, Searching for Hope 28 The Psycological and Physical Benefits of Yoga 32 Sleep Testing: Home vs. Lab Home & Family

34 – 39 SPECIAL SECTION: Family Heritage 40 Flu Season: Are You Ready?

42 7 Tips for Black Friday Shopping

most It’s almost the e year! e of th wonderful tim age, promotion

Money & Career 48 Fall is the Perfect Season to Buy a New Car

be crafted mess With a well t, holiday advertising can ay d n and placeme ffective. Give us a call to gh u e ro ly th ib RIVE incred business TH to help your days! (337) 310-2099 the holi

50 Money Habits of Millennials 52 Avoid These 5 Real Estate Myths Style & Beauty

58 Sweater Weather: Hot Trends for Fall 2016 60 Barber Shop Shave 62 Nifty Accessories that Make Holiday Travel Easy DON’T JUST LIVE, THRIVE!

Thrive is designed for people focused on living a happy, healthy life, one that is balanced, full of energy and contentment. Thrive readers want to make the most of every day and be successful in all areas of their lives – family, health, home and career.

4 www.thriveswla.com

Editors and Publishers

Kristy Armand Christine Fisher

Advertising Sales ads@thriveswla.com 337.310.2099

Creative Director

Barbara VanGossen

Submissions edit@thriveswla.com

Managing Editor

Angie Kay Dilmore

Business Manager

Katie McDaniel Stevenson

Assistant Designers

Shonda Manuel Kris Roy Mandy Gilmore

Submitted articles and photos are welcome. Thrive assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials and does not guarantee any submissions.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

All our wonderful dogs are available for adoption through 4Paws Society.

Call 287-3552 for more information and to learn about other programs that are available.

SENIOR PROGRAM

4Paws has a senior program matching active senior persons with senior dogs. After adoption, 4Paws continues to help with food and medications with the adoption fee waived. Here are some spunky senior pooches.

T.J. T.J. is a sweet, fluffy, male yorkie who loves to be held.

Georgie Boy

As sweet as Georgie Boy is, he’d really appreciate a loving home that is a bit more on the quiet side of things.

Princess

The American account gives you the freedom to do your banking any time and anywhere duty calls, and includes:

Lakeside Bank proudly offers The American account to all law enforcement officers, fire fighters, active duty military, members of the National Guard & Reserve, military veterans and their family members.

• Free checking • Free online banking, mobile banking and estatements • Free bill pay • Just $50 to open • No minimum balance and no monthly fees • Free first order of The American checks • Free debit card – with no-fee access to any ATM in the country • 25 basis point decrease on any consumer loan offered by Lakeside Bank ** • Free Lakeside Bank patriotic gift • Free telephone banking access to a live local banker • Overdraft protection with RediReserve ** • Identity theft protection available • Free 24/7 Real-time fraud monitoring with SecurLOCK

The sacrifice of those who work to serve and protect our communities and our country is immeasurable.

We at Lakeside thank you for your courage and willingness to put others first. The American account is our humble way of recognizing and honoring your dedicated service.

Lakeside stands united with those who serve. Call or stop by any of our locations to learn more about The American account.

Lake Charles

(337) 474-3766 4735 Nelson Road

** Credit approval required

Join the Migration to Lakeside.

Lake Charles

(337) 502-4314

2132 Oak Park Blvd.

Westlake

(337) 502-4144

2203 Sampson Street

This precious dachshund is just a love bug. Better yet, she adores kitties.

November 2016

The Way Banking Should Be LakesideBanking.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

5

Wining & Dining

Thanksgiving Traditions Across the Country What You Eat Depends on Where You’re From

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

THERE IS NOTHING MORE AMERICAN THAN A THANKSGIVING FEAST LAID OUT ON A TABLE SURROUNDED BY LOVED ONES. FROM OYSTER DRESSING TO APPLE PIE, THERE IS SURE TO BE ONE DISH THAT YOU, YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THIS THANKSGIVING. THE DISHES YOU MOST ANTICIPATE ALL YEAR ARE LIKELY INFLUENCED BY YOUR FAMILY’S HERITAGE, AS WELL AS THE REGION WHERE YOU LIVE. (OR ONCE LIVED!) CULINARY TRADITIONS VARY FROM COAST TO COAST.

6 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

LET’S TALK TURKEY Though turkey crowns the table at most Thanksgiving feasts, the variations for this main dish are vast.

In California, families might enjoy a lemon-herb turkey or a turkey full of apple raisin-based stuffing. The West Coast abounds in produce, which influences traditional fare. Down South, you’ll likely find fried turkey, or turkey with oyster stuffing. A Texan Thanksgiving might include braised turkey in a green mole sauce, whereas a holiday meal in New England may feature a maple-glazed turkey.

Here in Louisiana, turkey might be stuffed with shrimp and cornbread dressing. Or Louisianans may forgo the traditional turkey altogether and opt for a turducken. This carnivore’s delight is a deboned chicken stuffed inside a deboned duck, which is then squeezed into a deboned turkey.

Maple-glazed turkey from New England

Southern-style stuffed turkey

Traditional blonde gravy can be found all over the US.

TAKE A RIDE ON THE GRAVY TRAIN Gravy sits like liquid gold in a boat on your holiday table, but like every Southern woman worth her salt has her own deviled egg recipe, every region of the United States has its own type of gravy. In Arkansas, you’ll find red-eye gravy (made from sausage, ham, or bacon drippings and occasionally made with the addition of coffee) or even chocolate gravy gracing your turkey and mashed potatoes. P. Allen Smith, native Arkansan, suggests adding roasted giblets and chopped hard-boiled eggs to a Thanksgiving Day gravy for a little depth. Travel to New Mexico for the holiday, and you might find a red chili gravy to compliment your turkey. (You may also want to pack your Tums.)

Hot and spicy New Mexico gravy Southern gravies are often dark and made of meat drippings.

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

7

Wining & Dining | Thanksgiving Traditions

Mid-West cranberry sauce is thick with a multitude of fresh ingredients.

THAT’S SAUCY Cranberry sauce is the quintessential side dish on Thanksgiving, but in the Midwest, cranberry sauce may resemble a compote including cranberries, shallots, and cherries. Not what you had in mind?

Southerners tend to prefer canned jellied cranberry sauce on turkey day. In California, persimmon cranberry sauce adds an exciting element to the meal. In New England, cranberry relish is often made with apple cider.

Southerners often prefer canned jellied cranberry sauce.

Your Smile

y t l a i c Is Our Spe

Cranberry sauce, relish-style, is a favorite among New Englanders.

At Crawford Orthodontics, We Give Thanks For Beautiful Smiles.

The end of the year is a great time to begin orthodontic treatment, allowing you to take advantage of flexible benefit account deadlines, as well as annual insurance deductibles that have been met.

We offer a variety of advanced orthodontic techniques that create great smiles. We accept most insurance and flexible benefit plans, and offer convenient payment options We’ll give you - and your kids - something to smile about.

(337) 478-7590 701 West College Street, Lake Charles www.drcrawfordorthodontics.com

8 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

CELEBRATE DESSERT! It’s no secret – dessert is the shining star of any meal, especially on Thanksgiving.

While pumpkin pie remains a country-wide staple, the varieties of desserts that grace tables across the nation are as diverse as the people who serve them.

In the South, lucky dinner guests might find a bourbon pecan tart next to the pumpkin pie, and maybe some delicious pralines. Sweet potato pie is another Southern staple coveted by both hosts and guests. Head to the Southwest and experience a show-stopping pumpkin flan or a slice of deep dish caramel apple pie.

Californians indulge in ricotta tarts with fruit compote or persimmon pudding. In Kentucky, rich derby pie, akin to a chocolate pecan pie, is a regional favorite. New Englanders serve a much-anticipated maple pecan pie.

America’s staple traditional pumpkin pie

Kentucky derby pie, or chocolate-pecan pie, is a delight no matter where you’re from.

Southwesterners enjoy pumpkin flan.

* This coupon ad good for one Big Easy Foods Tur-Duc-Hen, any flavor. Coupon cannot be redeemed for cash, at your grocer, or with another offer. This offer expires December 31, 2014.

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

9

Art

Wining & Dining | Thanksgiving Traditions

The

of the

Thanksgiving Sandwich

Thanksgiving dinner may be the main event, but leftovers from that meal become an opportunity for a lot of fun, creativity, and fighting over the last piece of turkey. In fact, most of us live for snacking on the leftovers, and nearly every person has their version of the perfect leftover sandwich. On the popular sitcom “Friends,” Ross’s favorite sandwich included a gravy soaked piece of bread. A few local chefs have shared with us what makes their favorite leftover sandwiches so special. Nic Hunter, owner and chef at The Harlequin in Lake Charles, starts with toasted wheat bread. He then loads white meat turkey, crispy bacon strips, cranberry sauce, and horseradish cream sauce to his succulent leftover sandwich. Paulina Siebarth, owner and chef at Nina P’s Café, puts piping hot grilled turkey between two slices of potato bread and adds candied apple slices, cranberry apple chutney, applewood smoked bacon, brie cheese, and tops off the sandwich with garlic mayo. Take a tip from these two amazing local chef’s and try your hand at making the perfect leftover sandwich after Thanksgiving this year.

We’re the Perfect Fit

for Any Real Estate Need

Whether you are buying or selling property, there are questions around every corner. CENTURY 21 Bessette Realty, Inc., and our staff of experienced agents have the answers. We’ve won numerous awards for superior service, sales excellence and community involvement.

Bessette Realty, Inc.

That’s what we’ve built our reputation on for over 20 years, and we’re ready to go to work for you.

3025 Lake Street, Lake Charles | 474-2185 10 www.thriveswla.com

century21-bessette.com Each office independently owned and operated.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

By the Numbers

Thanksgiving 1863

46million

The year President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a holiday

Average number of turkeys Americans eat on Thanksgiving

2

4,500 The ranking of Thanksgiving on the list of America’s favorite holidays.

(Christmas is No. 1.)

Number of calories the average person eats on Thanksgiving, including the meal and snacks

47million

Approximate number of people who travel more than 50 miles for the November holiday

50 million Number of people who watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Source: www.cnn.com/2012/11/21/living/thanksgiving-by-the-numbers/

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

11

Wining & Dining

Reviving The Villa

first person with

12 www.thriveswla.com

Mike Sperandeo

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

by Angie Kay Dilmore

November 2016

If

you were a resident of Southwest Louisiana prior to 2004, chances are you remember the Italian Villa. This restaurant was located in an old re-purposed house on Ryan St., and is the current location of Rikenjaks Brewing Company. Many have fond memories of the Italian Villa, affectionately known as “the Villa”. The restaurant had a reputation for great authentic Italian cuisine, and was the place to go for a special date or a quiet, relaxing dinner. The Italian Villa was owned by Mike Sperandeo’s father, Marco, who opened the business in 1986. Mike joined his father in the early 1990s and managed the establishment after Marco retired and then passed away after battling lung cancer.

Now, twelve years after he closed the Italian Villa, Mike is reviving his family’s restaurant in a new downtown Lake Charles location. He has named it, simply, The Villa. Thrive visited with Mike recently got the scoop on this exciting endeavor.

You grew up during the 1950s and 1960s.Tell me about your childhood.

What prompted you to resurrect The Villa?

It was a typical childhood of that era, with a hard-working dad and a stay-at-home mom.

We played outdoors, rode our bikes, hunted and fished with Dad. I was born in New Orleans and moved to Lake Charles in the 1st grade.

Then back to New Orleans, Baton Rouge for awhile, and finally back to Lake Charles my senior year of high school at LaGrange. But Lake Charles is home.

Four or five years ago, Nic Hunter came to me one day and asked me to re-do the Italian Villa with him. Over the next couple of years, we pursued several locations that, for one reason or another, just didn’t work out. Then Nic became engaged, got involved with politics, and had to back out of the venture. I didn’t think about it much after that, but I kept my ears open. One day, Rick and Donna Richard, who had bought the Noble Building, came to me and asked if I’d be interested in putting my restaurant there. I jumped at the opportunity.

Was your family always in the restaurant business?

My grandfather owned a restaurant in New Orleans, but he passed away when my dad was only four years old. And my family had a restaurant in Baton Rouge for awhile. But both my dad and I were primarily in the optical business. After we moved back to Lake Charles, Dad always dreamed of opening a restaurant where he could share the recipes of his father’s homeland, Sicily. He gathered all the old, authentic family recipes, became a chef, and opened The Italian Villa.

What led you to join your father at the Italian Villa?

My optical business had me traveling frequently, leaving my wife and kids at home.

Dad told me he wanted to retire in a couple of years and asked me if I’d join him and take over the Villa. The timing was right. He hit me at the right moment when I was ready to get off the road and I was excited to join him. He was like a good friend, not just a dad.

What kept you busy after you closed the restaurant in 2004?

I worked at the Harlequin with Nic Hunter for 11 years, mostly as a front house general manager.

November 2016

Italian Villa, due to demand. I can’t go anywhere without someone naming their favorite Italian Villa dish and requesting I keep that on the menu. So, a little old, a little new. We will also offer a bar and a nice wine list.

Please tell Thrive readers two things few people know about you.

I can be shy. And I like to skydive – have been three times so far.

The Villa is located at 322 Pujo St., Lake Charles. Watch for a Grand Opening soon!

The Villa is currently under construction and you hope to have it open soon.

Describe your new business.

It’s a gem of a building and a great location. The space is still under construction, but it’s starting to look like a restaurant. The Noble Building is a historic landmark so all the architecture has to remain the same. Even though the space was gutted, it had to be replaced to its original form. There is a mezzanine level, which gives us added seating capacity. We’ll have 90 seats, including the bar.

What can patrons expect to find on the menu at The Villa?

The old Italian Villa served traditional southern Italian and Sicilian specialties, and over the years I incorporated some northern Italian dishes. This new Villa is an evolution of the original. Indeed, the average diner has evolved.

People bring more sophisticated palates and are willing to try new things. So it will be a bit of what I call New Orleans Italian, with some Creole influence, using what is available and local. There will be some unusual Italian dishes, as well. I like to create! But there will also be a number of the old favorites from the original

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

13

Wining & Dining

Shelly and Michael Migues

OPENING SOON

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Michael and Shelly Migues are nearly set to open their new Great Harvest Bread Company franchise at the corner of Lake and Sale Sts. in Lake Charles. This locally owned bakery and cafe will offer fresh whole grain breads, baked goods, and made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls. Future outdoor seating beside the bayou, beneath oak and cypress trees, promises to become a popular lunch spot.

Great Harvest bakeries grind premium Montana wheat berries using a classic stone mill into wholewheat flour daily to ensure freshness, nutrition, and flavor. The fresh flour is used within two days to guarantee the best taste and nutritional value.

Great Harvest’s breads are also made without preservatives, additives or dough conditioners, providing a high quality, made-from-scratch product. “The fresh, healthy, whole food farm to table concept is very appealing,” says Michael.

“Hand-made from scratch products with no preservatives or additives are unique to Great Harvest.”

“We are excited to bring fresh, phenomenal tasting products with all the health benefits of milled fresh wheat to Lake Charles,” says Shelly. ”We believe it is all about the customer experience and we want to provide a comfortable gathering place 14 www.thriveswla.com

away from home and work -- a neighborhood place that bakes delicious products from scratch.”

The couple first discovered the Great Harvest whole grain philosophy in 2012 when they visited the Great Harvest in Lafayette. That piqued their interest and after much consideration, they decided to put a Lake Charles franchise in motion in late 2015. The Great Harvest mission statement, “Be loose and have fun, Bake phenomenal bread, Run fast to help customers, Give generously to others,” represents values they appreciate and will exemplify in their store. They are second-generation owners of Bare Wood Furniture who value locally owned businesses and appreciate the Southwest Louisiana community.

The opening day menu will include delicious bread like Seed-filled Dakota and Honey Whole Wheat, a signature bread crafted from five simple Thrive Magazine for Better Living

ingredients: water, honey, salt, fresh yeast, and wheat flour. Rotating specialty breads include Cheddar Garlic and Cranberry Orange. The bakery will offer a variety of other items including granola, brownie, and pancake mixes, and an assortment of cookies, muffins and scones with seasonal berries. From the cafe, customers will find salads, soups, and grain bowls. The daily made-to-order sandwich menu offers many choices including Baja Chipotle Turkey, Italian, Three Seed Veggie Hummus, Granny’s Chicken Salad and more. Also, look for a new hot sandwich line. The full espresso bar offers lattes and cappuccinos.

The couple will sell honey from Louisiana honey bees and fresh roasted coffee beans from Reve Coffee Roasters in Acadiana. When making Cheddar Beer bread, they plan to tap Lake Charles’ first and only brewery, Crying Eagle Brewing Company.

November 2016

Special vinegars and sauces from a local food boutique will also be used in the bakery.

“It is our goal to bring our community a locally owned café and bakery with a rustic, relaxed, ambiance. Customers will have healthy choices all day,” adds Michael. “The Great Harvest concept allows us freedom to give our bakery a special Lake Charles-owned feel.”

Originally founded in 1976 in Great Falls, Montana., Great Harvest has more than 200 bakeries located throughout the nation including Alaska and Hawaii. All bakeries are individually owned and operated and no two are alike. Great Harvest is known for handcrafted breads made with freshly ground whole wheat purchased from family-owned farms. These neighborhood bakery/ cafes create an array of legendary fresh-baked breads and treats, as well as specialty items during the holidays.

The Lake Charles bakery will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and will be closed on Sunday because man can’t live by bread alone! Find Great Harvest at 4112 Lake St., Suite 100, Lake Charles.

Large variety of bread loaves

For more information, visit the bakery’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GreatHarvestLakeCharles or website at www.GreatHarvestLakeCharlesLA.com.

Baja half with fresh meats and vegetables

Biscotti and coffee combinations

n and Schedule!

Check Facebook for Locatio

( Hi-licious street kitchen )

ed classics, Delicious originals, revitaliz eats! and simple downright good

Check Us Out!

Popular Dishes include: •Spicy Chicken •Crab Rangoon •Spicy Shrimp •Rib Plate ton Soup •Shrimp Fried Noodle •Won

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

15

Places & Faces

Good Samaritans of Southwest Louisiana

by Angie Kay Dilmore and Lauren Atterbery Cesar

I

n the Bible book of Luke, Jesus told his disciples a parable about an unlikely gentleman from Samaria who stopped to help an injured stranger he found along the side of the road, after several other passersby ignored the victim. It is from this inspiring story we get the common phrase, “Good Samaritan.�

Southwest Louisiana abounds with these kind-hearted souls who have a passion for helping others and going above and beyond what is expected.

Thrive magazine features four of these exemplary individuals here, in hopes their stories will encourage our readers to find their own ways to be blessings to others.

16 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Noelle Mills

Go Glean!

In a culture so inwardly focused, it is always a breath of fresh air to meet someone like Noelle Mills, whose mindset has always been to support others. From her school days as a young girl who had an encouraging word and smile for everyone, to her youth ministry days where she sowed seeds into tomorrow’s leaders, to today as the creator of Glean, an organization that coordinates area donations and supports local non-profit organizations, Noelle Mills has gracefully grown into the role of a community leader and philanthropist.

The idea for Glean emerged five years ago when Signatures Salon had a spa night and hosted the ladies of the Potter’s House (a Lake Charles women’s shelter). Noelle wanted a way to contribute to this night, so she collected donations for the Potter’s House and called it a “free garage sale.” The feedback she got from that one night ignited something within her and Noelle knew she needed to do more -- but where did she start? Noelle didn’t want to create a non-profit organization that would take away from the other ones in the Southwest Louisiana

Paul Pettefer Paul Pettefer is a local humanitarian and community activist. Through his four-location Laundry World business and his love of barbeque, Pettefer strives to change the world through initiatives in his own small corner.

Several years ago, one of his employees asked him to mentor her teenage son. He says he didn’t know how to do that. He and the boy had little in common.

But he said yes. “I was present and engaged, and welcomed the opportunity. That launched me into several other relationships where we intern young men at our company, teaching the fun of work and the power of earned dignity.” This lead to Pettefer’s program, Employment is Better, which helps local churches connect young men with entry level jobs, particularly in industrial construction with good wages.

Paul serves as a volunteer at T. H. Watkins Elementary School. “We want to help the kids grow and inspire them to lead themselves and their classmates well.

Some of the most fun has come with getting the 5th graders to help me cook for PTA meetings. The students help with planning, promotion, and on cook day, they

November 2016

area, so she decided to create an organization that supported them instead. Glean works with other organizations and collects the items those organizations need the most. They focus on one organization at a time, collect donations, and deliver them to that organization so the people of Southwest Louisiana can benefit to an even greater degree from its friends and neighbors who, like Noelle, just want to help.

The name Glean comes from the biblical story of Ruth and Boaz. Boaz allowed Ruth to glean from his field what Ruth’s family needed, bit by little bit. Noelle says, “It’s so easy for us to get wrapped up in ourselves. We tend to naturally focus on our lives and all of the things going on, so I wanted to create something that wasn’t about me. I came up with a way to give anonymously, and let other people join me in that.” Noelle realizes that some people may now know about her involvement with Glean, but the people who benefit from the items donated, collected, and delivered never know who they came from. Noelle has provided community members a way to give back, and she is an amazing asset to Southwest Louisiana.

Making the City Different wash their hands and put on gloves and help us rub the chicken and ribs we’re smoking for their parents.”

Pettefer calls this initiative The City Should Be Different.

Barbequing started out as a hobby for Pettefer and has morphed into a bona fide ministry. He learned food can bring people together and bond relationships. He smokes ribs before board meetings and grills frequently for friends. He offers “Ribs for 50”, an item charitable organizations can auction off to raise money. He’s raised $12,000 in the past 18 months for various groups. “Now I’m totally hooked,” Pettefer says. He plans to open a food truck called Paul’s Rib Shack Barbecue soon.

Pettefer also volunteers on the boards of Family and Youth Counseling Agency and the Profit and Loss Association, a Christian marketplace ministry, and is actively engaged at his church, Sale Street Baptist.

“I try to live an integrated life where my aspirations and values are present, whether I’m at Laundry World maintaining a washer, volunteering at a school, at home with my beautiful wife and daughters, at church leading a group, or tending the fire of a barbecue pit preparing to bring great food to a cool charity event.”

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

17

Places & Faces | Good Samaritans

Connie Durio For the Love of Dogs Connie Durio helps both dogs and the people who love them. As a child growing up in Moss Bluff, her father would train his hunting dogs. Durio learned this skill from her dad and now uses her ability to help countless others. She volunteers with numerous local canine organizations such as 4 Paws Dog Rescue and the Lake Charles Pit Bull program, as well as private citizens.

When central Louisiana experienced horrific flooding in August, many displaced dogs were funneled to an overcrowded, unprepared animal shelter in Crowley. Durio organized the canineloving community and gathered and delivered truckloads of donated food and supplies.

When an illegal pit bull fighting ring was busted recently in Ferriday, La., 42 dogs were rescued and taken to a nearby shelter, also poorly equipped to handle such a large influx of dogs. Durio once again took action. She rallied supplies to take to the shelter and has spent most every Saturday helping to assess the status of the dogs, teach them basic obedience, and also to instruct inmates from a

Mickey Shannon We all know people like Mickey Shannon -- those organized powerhouses who seem to squeeze 48 hours into everyone else’s 24 -- and they make it look effortless and easy. Shannon has always had a love for people and a desire to help them. She has a master’s degree in education and taught special education and worked with people with handicapped conditions. Through her mental health agency, Resource Management Services, she has had decades of experience helping the mentally ill. When she recently retired, her volunteer efforts kicked into full gear. She’s the room mother of her grandson’s class at Prien Lake Elementary. She co-chairs the Prisoner Re-Entry Coalition for the Mayor’s Office. She works with kids in foster care. At her church, University United Methodist, she’s part of a group called Encouragers who, among other things, serve coffee to the staff and parents at the church’s day school on Monday mornings. “Mondays are hard for families with small children. It’s a simple thing to do to make their morning a little happier.”

One of Shannon’s primary missions is a

local prison how to care for and train the dogs.

Durio manages a program called A New Leash on Life. This program brings dogs from Calcasieu Parish Animal Services to the Juvenile Detention Center. Through Durio’s guidance, the youth there care for and train the dogs. “The kids are not allowed to hit or yell at the dogs,” says Durio. “So through dog training, the kids learn to handle problems without violence.”

Durio says so many dogs are turned over to Animal Control because of behavior issues.

Her goal as a dog trainer is to help people keep their dogs. Durio is especially passionate about training deaf dogs. She goes to people’s homes and helps the owner and the dog correct any problems, and never charges for her services.

“Hopefully this results in fewer dogs being put down or put into homeless shelters,” she says. “I love all animals, but to me, dogs are so much fun.”

Durio says when it comes to pet rescue, everyone can do something. “Not everyone can foster or adopt, but you can donate your time or money or supplies. No shelter has everything they need. Anything you can do will help.”

Full-time Volunteer

church-based group called Circle Up, a spiritual support group for people with mental illness.

“We meet once a week and study scripture as a tool for people with mental illness to cope in their lives. We teach them how to be in positive relationships. We provide these people with ways to give to others. For example, we involve them in a literacy program with young children. We recently baked 15 dozen cookies to send to the men’s prison in Jackson, Mississippi, as part of the Kairos Prison Ministry. Our hope is that the people in our group will have a full life in faith and they become people who do for others. A life of giving, within appropriate boundaries, is a happy life.”

Shannon says service and volunteering give her meaning in life. She emphasizes that service should to be backed by passion. “Otherwise, it’s probably not something you need to be involved with. But I think everybody has something they can be passionate about. Passion gives you energy. You can make a difference in someone else’s life and paradoxically, they will make a difference in your life.” photo by Terry Gardner

18 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

On the Record

With The Round About Record Store

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

Music is the art of thinking with sounds, and nothing is more thoughtful than a stack of vinyl records. You may have fond memories of listening to your parents’ record collection, or perhaps your own collection of vinyl back before tapes, eight tracks, CD’s, and now iTunes and Spotify became popular. The way the world listens to music nowone song at a time- is so different from when a person had to take a musical journey, as the musician had intended, by listening to the whole album.

Kevin Lambert and Eric Daigle felt it was time for downtown Lake Charles to have a record store to reignite people’s love for music, as well as have a creative place where people could stop in and just listen to great music. They chose to open The Round About, a vinyl records store on Broad Street where any passerby can do just that; reacquaint themselves with their favorite artists and albums.

Kevin says, “I lived downtown for years and love all the different

November 2016

businesses in the area. Eric and I both really wanted to be a part of the downtown community. We were looking for a place that could serve as an outlet for finding new music, or some good blasts from the past, and also be a place where someone could come in and spend part of their day listening to records and chatting with other music lovers.” Eric and Kevin both agree that the response of the people in the Lake Area has been amazing.

What do they say to someone who has only used services like iTunes and Spotify to listen to their music, and has never experienced holding a record in their hands? According to Eric, those services provide a purpose and have their place. But they will never replace the experience of opening up a record and enjoying an album from beginning to end. For Eric, getting a record out and listening to it is on par with opening up a good book and diving in head first. It’s a journey and experience that is taken away with digital services.

Their shop is a place where people can get excited about music again, and the vibe is cool and relaxed. You can flop down on their red couch and listen to songs and sounds that transport you to another time or place. Don’t be surprised to hear the album “Modern Sounds in Country Music” by Ray Charles spinning or David Bowie’s “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” emanating from the speakers.

These are the albums that Kevin and Eric listen to and never tire of.

If you’re a passionate lover of music, stop in on one of their special event nights when bands like Wolfman Wonders or musicians like Kory Lambert take the stage. The Round About it a fun, family friendly place, open Tuesday through Sunday.

Kevin and Eric will help you become reacquainted with some of your favorite bands. After all, records are a sound purchase!

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

19

Places & Faces

Senator Ronnie Johns Honored with Congressional Angels in Adoption Award

Louisiana State Senator Ronnie Johns was recently recognized by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in Washington D.C. as one of its Angels in Adoption Honorees for 2016. Senator Johns accepted the award at the organization’s annual gala.

The Angels in Adoption Program recognizes the extraordinary efforts of individuals, couples, and organizations who work for advocacy on behalf of children in need of a family.

The celebration of those honored this year was held at the Reagan Center in Washington, and attended by hundreds of people from across the country. Senator Johns was chosen for his work in the Louisiana Legislature for his leadership and work on adoption and foster care issues. Most recently, he has become known for his leadership in the fight against human trafficking.

He was nominated for the award by U.S. Congressman Dr. Charles Boustany.

“I am extremely honored to be recognized for something this important as helping children in need of a loving family life,” said Senator Johns. “There can be no greater work than helping children realize the right of living in a family environment, secure in the knowledge that someone loves and supports them.”

The Louisiana Legislature has formed its own Legislative Coalition on Adoption, of which Senator Johns serves as Senate Chairman, along with Rep. Walt Leger of New Orleans, who serves as the House Chairman.

Since its inception in 1999, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption program has recognized almost 2,000 people. Past recipients include First Lady Laura Bush, Muhammad Ali, Kristin Chenoweth, Patti LaBelle, Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell and Jane Seymour.

20 www.thriveswla.com

Senator Johns with his wife Michelle and daughter, Clair.

Senator Johns with his wife Michelle and daughter, Clair.

Senator Johns and his family, Katie Mitchell and Gala hosts, Dr. Jen Arnold and Bill Klein of “The Little Couple.”

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

WayneGoke Goke Wayne Safety & EmergencyResponse Response Safety & Emergency

ThuNguyen Nguyen Thu Research Development Research &&Development

Eric Walker Walker Eric Senior Production ProductionManager Manager

We’rebuilding building... ...

We’re Careers Careers Theemployees employeesare arewhat whatmake makeany any ““The companygreat, great,and andSasol Sasolisisno noexception. exception. company Thesejobs jobsare arevery veryrewarding. rewarding.Sasol Sasollooks looks These forpeople peoplewho whoare arecritical criticalthinkers thinkersand and for who whotake takeinitiative. initiative.””

Eric EricWalker Walker Senior SeniorProduction ProductionManager Manager

Learn more more at at www.SasolNorthAmerica.com www.SasolNorthAmerica.com Thrive

November 2016

Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

21

Places & Faces

SWLA Tours, Inc. Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy Southwest Louisiana

by Angie Kay Dilmore

There’s a new sightseeing tour company in town and it’s not only for visitors. William Daigle started his business in August and he’s already in high demand. Daigle offers several tours for both locals and tourists. He also provides his services and party van for private parties such as proms, school or family reunions, and Mardi Gras festivities.

Louisiana Outback Tour

This four-hour tour ushers guests down to Cameron Parish via the Creole Nature Trail, a designated All-American Road. Daigle makes numerous stops along this scenic byway to bird watch, look for alligators, and simply enjoy the marshy vistas and sandy beaches.

“I love sharing the beauty that abounds in Southwest Louisiana,” Daigle says.

Lake Charles Sunset Tour

During the two-hour Sunset Tour, Daigle chauffeurs his guests around the city of Lake Charles, including noteworthy points such as the historic Charpentier and Garden Districts, the Civic Center and Lakefront, Shell Beach Dr., and maybe Prien Lake Park, if there is time. He regales his guests with stories and history trivia throughout the tour. “This trip is designed to be a ‘sit back and relax’ kind of evening,” says Daigle. “We make a couple of refreshment stops at some local restaurants and breweries along the tour.

Our permit is classified as a “party bus” so our passengers are allowed to drink while I drive.

You can bring your own beverage of choice or pick something up during our stops.”

Seasonal Tours

In October, Daigle offered a Boos and Brews Tour, where he took guests from the breweries of Lake Charles to the Haunted Gothic Jailhouse in DeRidder, and told ghost stories along the way. This month, he offers a Christmas Holiday Lights Tour.

22 www.thriveswla.com

Private tours can also be scheduled for trips to Avery Island and Jungle Gardens, Lacassine Refuge, Louisiana Spirits/Bayou Rum, Sabine Pass Lighthouse, as well as bird watching, photography, and general sightseeing tours.

He will basically take guests anywhere they want to go within southwest Louisiana.

Homegrown SWLA Native

Daigle was raised in Cameron and still calls this far southwest corner of Louisiana home. His grandfather, J. Berton Daigle, was the Cameron Clerk of Court for 28 years.

Daigle grew up in and around the Cameron Courthouse, from the old courtroom to the old jail. “I learned about the history of Cameron Parish and southwest Louisiana from him and his friends,” he says.

Daigle spent much of his childhood with his grandparents, who instilled in him a love for the land, culture, and history of Louisiana.

“My grandfather took me hunting and fishing in Calcasieu Lake and at one of his favorite areas called North Prong. While fishing we’d pull up to the bank and I remember finding Indian artifacts along the shoreline. My grandmother, Audrey Savoie Daigle, while teaching me to cook on Saturday mornings, told stories of growing up during the Great Depression, about food rationing during WWII, and surviving Hurricane Audrey in the attic of their house in Cameron.”

Daigle spent nearly 25 years working as a Cameron patrol deputy and in the Cameron Parish District Attorney’s Office. “During

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

this time period I was able to see firsthand the beauty that was in Cameron Parish -from the grassy prairies around Sweetlake, the oaks on the ridges of Little and Grand Chenier, the sandy shores of Rutherford and Holly Beach, and the dolphins and pelicans playing around Monkey Island.”

In 2014, Daigle retired from the judicial system. He worked a few odd jobs over the next couple years, but what he really wanted was to be outdoors and back in Cameron Parish. He worked with advisers at the SEED Center on a business plan and opened SWLA Tours. “I want to show people the beauty that I see and I want to tell people the stories I was told while growing up. I want people to know there is more to southwest Louisiana than just petrochemical plants and casinos.”

So sit back, relax, and let Mr. Daigle do the driving while you take in the sights, sounds, and smells of southwest Louisiana.

He emphasizes these tours are not solely for tourists. “I am surprised by how many of our native residents don’t know much of the history of southwest Louisiana. I am also surprised by the number of locals who have never been to the beaches in Cameron Parish or visited the Creole Nature Trail.”

Tour prices can be found on the website, swlatours.com. Book online or call Daigle at 337-415-9007.

November 2016

IndustryInsider

Straight Answers to Your Questions on Industry and the Environment

Q:

How safe is it to work at an industrial plant?

A:

Safety is the priority at every industrial plant.

Because of the safety mindset within the plant, an employee’s risk of injury decreases significantly once he or she enters the plant. According to research, a person is safer working in a plant than driving on the highway.

Before any job begins, multiple safety checks occur and continue throughout the job, daily. If anything seems unsafe, employees have the right and responsibility to stop the job. If an incident should occur, highly skilled and specialized emergency response teams are in place onsite and are ready to work with area first responders.

Safety is our culture, and it’s built into every job we do. The goal is to protect ourselves, our co-workers, our families and our community, because this is our home too.

Mary Burns

safety representative with area industry

Visit www.laia.com to learn more and submit your question about local industry and the environment.

All Tours are Family Friendly

Cajun Outback Tour KIDS 12 AND UNDER ARE FREE 2 Daily Set Tours Scheduled:

• Cajun Outback (Creole Nature Trail) Tour leaves at 11:45am • Daily Sunset Tour leaves at 6:15 pm

Private Event Tours Also Available:

Avery Island, Jungle Gardens, Lacassine Refuge, Rum Mill, Gothic Jail in Deridder, Sabine Pass Lighthouse, etc.

OLIDAY

AS H HRISTM

C

L

OUR T T H G I

ING START

15 Passenger Touring Vans Climate Controlled • TV Stereo • Reclining Seats Complimentary Beverages

SOON!

Book your tour now! (337) 415-9007 or SWLATours.com November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

23

Places & Faces

Movers and Shakers in Southwest News? You tell us! Send press releases to Louisiana... Who’s edit@thriveswla.com with the subject line “Who’s News.”

Jennifer Frick becomes NeuroIFRAH ® Instructor Jennifer Frick, a physical therapist at Hope Therapy Center who specializes in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation, was awarded the Neuro-IFRAH instructor ® designation.

Jennifer Frick Jennifer Frick is one of only 60 therapists in the world and the only therapist in the state of Louisiana with this highly respected designation.

The Neuro-IFRAH® approach is a “a highly effective treatment approach for patients affected by lesions at or above the brain stem.” To obtain this designation, one must first successfully complete the Neuro-IFRAH ®certification course in the treatment and management of adults with hemiplegia from a stroke or injury. Once certified, Jennifer participated in a rigorous, 2-year, instructor training candidacy program which involved presenting to and training under the creator of the approach, Mr. Waleed Al-Oboudi. Jennifer is now able to teach introductory Neuro-IFRAH ® courses to other therapists in the Lake Charles area.

Meghan Hanks Abraham Appointed to Non-profit Agency Board Meghan Hanks Abraham has been appointed to the board of directors of Direct Care Inc.

Abraham is a Lake Charles native and M. Hanks Abraham has over eight years of experience in the field of psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from McNeese State University in 2010. She then went on to study at the University of Houston-Victoria where she received a master’s degree in forensic psychology and has also received extensive applied behavior analysis training through the University of Chicago.

Direct Care Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides in-home personal care attendant and Medicaid waiver services to persons of all ages with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Chuck O’Connor Appointed as Arts Council Board President

Attorney Elizabeth K. Traub Joins Schrumpf Law Office

Elizabeth Traub

Schrumpf Law Office has announced that Elizabeth K. Traub has joined the firm as associate attorney.

Her areas of practice include criminal law, wrongful death, wills and successions, and personal

injury claims.

A native of Lake Charles, Ms. Traub graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from McNeese State University in 2004. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the Loyola University College of Law in 2008. In 2009, she was admitted to practice law in Louisiana. Ms. Traub is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and she speaks fluent Spanish (se habla español).

Schrumpf Law Office is a locally owned law office located in Sulphur. For more information, call (337) 625-9077.

24 www.thriveswla.com

Chuck O’Connor

The Board of Directors of the Arts Council of SWLA appointed Chuck O’Connor of Stockwell Sievert Law Firm as its 2016-2017 Board President during its

annual board meeting.

O’Connor has served on the Arts and Humanities board for five years and previously held the positions of Second Vice President and Vice President. A graduate of Montclair State University, in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, he is the Director of Administration for Stockwell Sievert Law Firm.

Dr. Benjamin Palombo Joins Lake Area Physicians Medical Group Family Medicine Physician, Ben Palombo, M.D. has joined Lake Area Physicians and the medical staff of Lake Area Medical Center (LAMC).

Dr. Ben Palombo Dr. Palombo comes from the Pineville area and has been practicing medicine Thrive Magazine for Better Living

since 2011, offering comprehensive medical care and preventive health services to patients of all ages.

The primary care providers at Lake Area Physicians offer services for the entire family including, but not limited to; disease management of diabetes, hypertension, asthma/COPD, heart disease and thyroid conditions, physical – well fit – and well women exams, adult and child vaccines, TB testing, school and sports physicals, flu and allergy related illnesses and more. Dr. Palombo has a special interest in the treatment of thyroid conditions.

Dr. Palombo is currently accepting new patients and offering same day appointments at Lake Area Family Medicine located at 4150 Nelson Road, Building G, and Suite 5 on the Lake Area Medical Center campus. For more information, call (337) 562-3761.

Stephen Lyons Completes Advanced Commercial Insurance Course Stephen K. Lyons, CIC, CPIA, president and senior account executive for Lyons Insurance in Lake Charles, completed the Advanced Stephen Lyons Commercial Insurance Course in Houston, Texas as part of his annual continuing education requirements of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.

To earn this designation, Lyons attended courses covering all phases of the insurance business and passed comprehensive examinations. Additionally, The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research requires annual attendance in the program to maintain the designation of certified insurance counselor.

Stephen is a 38-year veteran of the industry and has been a certified insurance counselor since 1992.

Lyons Insurance is located at 3100 Lake Street in Lake Charles. For more information call (337)478-4466.

Two Local Chefs Selected for Culinary Event Fusing Louisiana Flavors with South Carolina Culture Chef Kevin Thompson of L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles and Chef Jared Rising of Golden Nugget are two of eight premiere Louisiana chefs heading to Charleston, South Carolina, to feature the state’s world-class cuisine in several of the area’s November 2016

favorite restaurants.

The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, and the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association have partnered with Garden & Gun magazine to present “Louisiana in the Lowcountry Restaurant Night.” This extraordinary event combines the culinary expertise of chefs in Louisiana and Charleston to spice things up in the kitchen. And for one night, people can experience special menus featuring Louisiana seafood with a distinct flavor found only in the Bayou State. To be a of this culinary indulgence, dinner reservations futu o your part re, can be made by contacting any of the eight matter. participating restaurants. ially ng, espec n be overwhelmi For more information, or to reserve your table hris Craven, Agent New York Life at one of the eight participating restaurants, please th finances and numbers his entire r when visitmatte www.louisianaxlowcountry.com. ds that numbers

s ence.

Duplechian Named as JD Bank Mortgage Originator

1 Career.

an appointment today to start a at a time.

nts* overs ance, m Care e

Chris Craven Named to New York Life’s Chairman’s Council

Chris Craven has been named a member of the 2016 Chairman’s council of New York Life. Members of the elite Chairman’s Council rank in the top three percent of New Chris Craven York Life’s elite sales force of more than 12,000 licensed agents in sales (337) 475-6226 harles | achievement.

Craven has been a New York Life agent since 1993, and is associated with New York Life’s Louisiana General Office in Baton Rouge. He is Court of the Table for MDRT. He also received the 2016 award for the Mainstay Mutual Funds Production Leader.

Paul E. Hutchens Appointed to CVB’s Board of Directors

Paul Hutchens

Processor.

Duplechian is a Lake Charles native and graduated from McNeese State University with Bachelor of Science Degrees in Business and Finance. She has spent the majority of her professional career with Stutes & Lavergne Attorneys at Law, working with successions and estate planning.

Southwest Louisiana Credit Union Names President/CEO The Southwest Louisiana Credit Union Board of Directors announced the selection of Ronaldo Hardy as the credit union’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Hardy Ronaldo Hardy brings 14 years of industry experience to the organization.

Hardy has wide-ranging experience in the financial industry. He comes to Southwest Louisiana Credit Union after serving as President/CEO of Shell Geismar Federal Credit Union for the past five years.

Prior to that, he served in various capacities at La Capitol Federal Credit Union. During his tenure, Hardy was instrumental in the organization’s growth and financial success.

For more information, visit www.swlacu.com.

Michael Hardy Joins Lakeside Bank Michael Hardy has joined Lakeside Bank as a banking officer. Hardy, originally from Lacassine, Louisiana, brings 30 years of experience in the finance, accounting, information systems and Michael Harder property management fields to his new position. He has held senior leadership positions with investment and property management companies, most recently as an international project consultant for one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services firms.

Hardy earned a bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Business from McNeese State University, and a Masters of Science in agricultural economics from Louisiana State University. He is an inactive CPA (certified public accountant) and completed the LAN (Local Area Network) and web commerce certificate programs at DePaul University.

His office is located in the main branch at 4735 Nelson Road, Lake Charles. For more information call 474-3766 or visit lakesidebanking.com.

Dr. Michael Turner Published in Medical Journal

Paul E. Hutchens was appointed by the Southwest Louisiana Lodging Association to serve on the board of directors for the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention &

Visitors Bureau (CVB).

Hutchens is the vice president and general manager for the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel and was previously vice president of finance and administration of L’Auberge Casino Resort.

Hutchens has more than twenty years in the gaming industry, primarily in financial and operational roles in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Tunica, Miss., and Lawrenceburg, Ind. Prior to joining the gaming industry, Paul held a career in banking and trust operations.

For more information, visit www.visitlakecharles.org.

November 2016

Clarisse Duplechian

JD Bank has announced Clarisse Duplechian as a Mortgage Loan Originator.

She will be located at the Morganfield branch office in Lake Charles, where she had worked previously as a Mortgage Loan

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital and the Imperial Health Imaging Center. He is also co-editor of the “CT Rounds” section of Echocardiography.

Michael Turner, MD

An article submitted by Dr. Michael Turner MD, FACC, FSCCT, preventive cardiology specialist with Cardiovascular Specialists in Lake Charles was published last month in the medical journal

Echocardiography.

The article, “High Risk Plaque with Near Normal Coronary Angiograms,” appeared in the new “CT Rounds” section of the journal. In the article, Dr. Turner details the identification of a subgroup of patients who may be at risk for future cardiac events that may not have been discovered without the results of the Cardiac CT Angiogram (CCTA) during an emergency room evaluation.

Dr. Turner is the director of Cardiac CT at Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

25

Mind & Body Lake Charles Clinical Trials

Searching for Hope

by Angie Kay Dilmore

President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983. It is doubtful he could have known at that time that by 2016, an estimated 5.4 million Americans would suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and that it would be the 6th leading cause of death. One in nine people ages 65 and older has Alzheimer’s. For people over age 85, a sobering one in two is diagnosed with this tragic disease.

Southwest Louisiana is home to Lake Charles Clinical Trials (LCCT), one of a couple hundred drug research facilities across the United States. They test drugs for depression, mental illnesses, and dementia. But for anyone who either suffers from Alzheimer’s or has a loved one who has the disease, it is the thin strand of hope called Alzheimer’s research they cling to. Dr. Kashinath G. Yadalam, director of LCCT, says each patient is surrounded by an “army” of caretakers who are also affected by their loved one’s disease. Research is now at a “fever pitch” and the efforts are as much for the caretakers as the victims.

The crisis of Alzheimer’s stretches across the globe, and research is being conducted in countries around the world.

According to Dr. Yadalam, an estimated 5000 or more Alzheimer’s drugs are currently being tested. “But how many of these drugs actually pan out,” he rhetorically asks. The drugs are tested pre-clinically in animals. Of those 5000, only five drugs come to human testing stages. The majority are dropped in the animal labs due to safety reasons. The process is very rigorous and a tremendous amount of money is spent. Once in human trials, again, they look for safety, as well as efficacy. Ultimately, only one of those remaining five comes onto the market -- the other four are dropped due to lack of efficacy. “This is true for any disease drug testing,” says Dr. Yadalam.

Dr. Yadalam says Alzheimer’s research has shifted gears in many respects over the past 25 years. Years ago, all dementia was assumed to be Alzheimer’s.

Scientists have since learned dementia can be caused by many illnesses, such as diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, hypertension, and depression. Alzheimer’s disease is only one of many causes of dementia. This distinction allows researchers to more narrowly (and hopefully successfully) focus Alzheimer’s drug testing solely on those with true Alzheimers.

PROPER DIAGNOSIS When someone see a doctor for signs of dementia, they can be given a battery of cognitive tests in the form of verbal questions. Blood tests can be done. But true Alzheimer’s disease is defined by the discovery of beta amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, which are diagnosed with a PET Scan. Amalyoid accumulates around the neurons, choking them and rendering them ineffective. Tau protein lies within the neurons.

CURRENT STUDIES The stage of Alzheimer’s disease targeted has also shifted recently. Initially, research for effective treatment aimed at people with mild to moderate disease in hopes of finding a cure, a reversal, or a method to slow disease progression. Despite thousands of compounds tested, none have proven successful. Research now looks at younger patients 26 www.thriveswla.com

who are at risk or are only in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s, and the focus lies on prevention.

Dr. Yadalam is currently conducting two Alzheimer’s studies at LCCT. One drug trial seeks to thwart or slow the progression of the disease by improving the quality of a person’s sleep, also called the “sleep architecture,” in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Poor sleep is touted as a potential cause of or risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Specifically, researchers believe that Alzheimer’s victims may be deficient in one particular stage of sleep affecting a specific brain wave. It is during this phase that the brain eliminates amyloid. If someone is deficient in this phase, even if that person gets eight hours of sleep, he or she may be at risk for Alzheimer’s. The drug in this trial, piromelatine, is similar to the sleep aid melatonin.

The second trial studies an Eli Lily drug that binds specifically to amyloid protein and removes Thrive Magazine for Better Living

it from the brain, which hopefully will improve the function of the brain. A participant is given a monthly injection and followed for two years.

All studies are done in a double blind fashion.

Some subjects get the drug; some get a placebo.

That format is mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Yadalam is particularly excited about this drug trial because it aims at those who may be at risk or in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s but are still functional. “This is the first time we have been able to obtain a trial of this nature and hopefully catch the disease before it becomes full-fledged. We are so fortunate to be able to do these studies in our small town of Lake Charles. We are the only drug testing facility selected in Louisiana for this trial.”

November 2016

WHO SHOULD VOLUNTEER IN ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH? Why would someone subject themselves to testing if they may not even receive the drug? Dr. Yadalam says many come in because they are worried. Maybe a parent has Alzheimer’s. Others participate in hopes of helping other people, often their children.

Study participation has declined steadily over the past 20 years. Because so many Alzheimer’s drugs have failed, people have grown wary and doubtful. But without participants, studies cannot be completed and the drugs brought to market. “This is the only way we know how to bring new drugs to the market,” says Dr. Yadalam.” The more people participate in the studies, the more we learn.”

People who have a strong family history of Alzheimer’s disease, age 55 or older, and who feel they have memory loss that is affecting them are encouraged to participate.

All testing and care at LCCT is free – a $10,000 value! Patients complete an initial clinical interview, blood test, neuro-cognitive test, and a PET scan, which definitively rules out or confirms Alzheimer’s. “75% of people tested do not have Alzheimer’s,” says Dr. Yadalam.

SWLA Caregiver Support Group Chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s often affect not only the person diagnosed but their family and friends, as well. Caring for someone with a chronic illness can be incredibly stressful.

There’s a support group for that. The Caregiver Support Group meets monthly for one hour at three locations: the 3rd Wednesday of every month, noon, at The Gardens; the 3rd Thursday of each month, noon, at the Sulphur Senior Activity Center; and the 4th Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., at Brookdale Senior Living. Speakers share information on topics such as symptoms of dementia, caregiver burnout, how to deal with resistive behaviors, stress management, community resources, grief and coping skills, care for the caregiver, and they answer caregiver questions. The group is open to anyone who cares for someone with a chronic illness. Refreshments provided. Call group facilitator Annette Tritico at 337-474-2583 for more information or to register.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE NOW? In the meantime, there are measures one can take to stave off or slow Alzheimer’s.

The best thing to do while researchers scramble for a solution is to maintain a general healthy lifestyle. Be active and exercise regularly. Eat a nutritious balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Scientists also recommend brain exercises – anything from daily crossword puzzles, math challenges, and memory games to popular brain workout apps such as Lumosity. Dr. Yadalam also suggests socialization as an important remedy against dementia. Take time for friendships, attend events, join a church, participate in clubs or service groups. Interaction with other people is key.

Dr. Yadalam prefers not to be pessimistic, but he is also honest with the current state of research. “At this point, there is nothing that can stop Alzheimer’s disease, let alone reverse it. All attempts so far to reverse moderate Alzheimer’s have been unsuccessful.”

But he also adds that with continued studies and new drug trials, there is reason for optimism. “There is hope for the patient, for us, for everybody.”

For more information, call LCCT at 337-564-6405.

Grand Cove Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a health care and rehabilitation center located in Lake Charles.

Our staff specializes in providing skilled nursing, long term care, and short term rehabilitation such as physical, speech, occupational, and restorative therapies.

REHABILITATION

Recovery from surgery such as a hip or knee replacement or a medical event such as a stroke can move along much more quickly in a rehabilitation setting. Nursing care combined with rehabilitation services are best suited to ensure smooth transitions from hospital to care facility and from care facility to home.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Our occupational therapists focus on helping our residents eventually manage as independently as they can the activities of daily living. We work with our patients on the skills necessary for walking, bathing, dressing, eating and other common household activities, again with a goal of making the return home safe and comfortable.

TRANSITIONING HOME

We want your recovery to continue to be successful, even after you leave us. Our interdisciplinary team will evaluate each resident to help ensure they will be able to live safely once they return home.

OUR THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

Our therapists are aware of the challenges residents face when they begin a course of therapy to regain skills and abilities after orthopedic replacement surgery. The days can be tiring and discouraging at times.

That’s why our therapists take a kind and steady approach to motivate each resident to progress and recover as fully as possible after an injury, medical event or surgery.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Our physical therapists treat residents with both firmness and encouragement as they progress with the hard work needed to regain strength and mobility after an illness or surgery. We develop an individualized therapy plan for each rehab patient that respects the individual challenges facing each patient, with a goal of ensuring a smooth transition home.

November 2016

1525 W. McNeese Street • Lake Charles, La

(337) 474-6000 | WWW.GRANDCOVECENTER.COM

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

27

Mind & Body

by Olivia Heinen

“Yoga is the oldest structured form of exercise and can help you maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle,” says Chelsea Boudreaux, an eleven-year certified yoga instructor and owner of the Yoga Center of Lake Charles. According to the Seattle Yoga News, about 36.7 million Americans currently practice yoga in order to receive the many benefits that lead to this happiness and good health.

In terms of happiness, yoga helps to calm and focus the mind. This calming effect stems from the rewiring of the parasympathetic nervous system via deep breathing. The positive intentions within the yoga positions equate to positive thoughts in both the mind and body. Meditation not only removes the negative thoughts; it also reshapes them. Those who practice yoga receive this calming effect and positive thoughts as the serotonin and oxytocin levels in the body increase. Serotonin and oxytocin are responsible for the chemical reactions in the body that result in happiness and an improvement of mental health. In many cases, happiness increases physical health as well.

Yoga is great exercise for anyone; from beginners to certified instructors, children to the elderly, and healthy individuals to those suffering with chronic illnesses. Deep breathing exercises help routine respiration become more efficient, which leads to all the body’s systems functioning more efficiently, as well. The yoga positions strengthen the muscles and increase flexibility. Those with a variety of health issues have also gained some relief from practicing yoga. Simply twisting the body or massaging the stomach improves digestive problems. Yoga also addresses the physical and psychological effects of insomnia, resulting in improved total sleep times and quality of sleep, as well as reduced night awakenings. Sciatica, or pain in the leg, hip, and back, can be improved by doing hamstring stretches.

Blood pressure, weight, stress, and anxiety at any magnitude can be reduced by spending time in this relaxed state.

Boudreaux offers these tips for those considering starting yoga. “First, don’t go out and spend a lot of money on supplies and clothes,” she advises. “Second, find a beginner’s class where you can learn the poses with modifications to suit your body’s needs. There are many different styles of yoga and types of yoga instructors.

Find what works best for you.”

28 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss if left untreated.

Ophthalmologists at The Eye Clinic specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Fortunately, early detection and appropriate treatment can prevent vision loss.

Call us for more information or to schedule an exam.

(800) 826-5223

• (337) 478-3810

www.theeyeclinic.net

Lake Charles • Sulphur • Moss Bluff • DeRidder • Jennings

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

29

Mind & Body

Memorial Breaks Ground on New Behavioral Health Hospital According to Robert Prehn, PhD., Vice President of Specialty Services at Memorial Hospital, mental illness is a major issue in this country.

The American Medical Association says 1 in 4 Americans will suffer a debilitating mental illness at some point in their lives. At any given time, 10% of the population—30 million people -- is either in treatment or seeking treatment. It’s a significant problem in Southwest Louisiana. Memorial currently has 40 beds for psychiatric inpatients, plus an intensive outpatient program. On any given day, they refer out more patients than they can accept. “We send more people away from our community to seek mental health treatment than we can take care of,” says Prehn.

That dilemma will change sometime next year.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System is moving forward with a $19 million behavioral health hospital in South Lake Charles. Memorial officially broke ground on the new facility on September 21.

Memorial’s new behavioral health hospital is under construction adjacent to the Memorial Hospital for Women campus at Gauthier and Nelson Rds. A team of architects and medical staff took a year designing the new hospital by looking at some of the best facilities in the nation.

“This one was designed from the ground up specifically with patient needs in mind and current state-of-the-art psychiatric care,” says Prehn. “We can do things with this facility that we would not be able to do with a facility that we were renovating.”

Psychiatrist Dr. Dale Archer, Jr, made a major donation towards the new hospital through the Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial. The facility will be known as the Archer Institute at Lake Charles Memorial Health System to honor 30 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Dr. Archer’s legacy as a leader and mental health advocate in Southwest Louisiana.

“When I started my practice, I had two mission statements. Number one, I wanted to help patients.

And number two was to help destigmatize mental illness,” says Dr. Archer. “Mental illness is often due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, it can be evaluated medically, and it can be treated with medication just like any other condition. We’ve certainly come a long way. This facility, starting out with thirty-some beds and eventually expanding to over 100 beds at its completion, will not only be your one-stop-shop for mental illness here in Southwest Louisiana; it will be on par with any facility anywhere in the United States – truly state of the art.”

The first phase is set to open in 2017 and will consist of two units: a 28 bed adult unit and a 14 bed adolescent unit. The current adult unit on the 10th floor of Memorial’s main campus will be converted to a 30-bed geriatric unit.

Two other phases will be added to the behavioral health hospital in the future: two additional 28 bed units and a medical office building for outpatient programs. When all phases are completed, a total of 65,000 square feet and 102 beds will be available to treat the behavioral health needs of Southwest Louisiana.

Patients will no longer need to go to the emergency room to access behavioral health services. They will be able to go directly to the new hospital and receive a free assessment and recommendation on the type of treatment they may need, whether that is outpatient care, day program, or inpatient hospitalization.

November 2016

Don’t Let the Sneeze Keep You from Seeing the Changing Leaves

Email or Text Notification when your RX is ready!

ThriftyWay PHARMACY #2

Friendly service from your home town pharmacy.

• Citywide Delivery Service • Drive-Thru Pick-Up Window • E-Mail and Call in RX Service

When the leaves change and the inviting fall weather arrives, you and your family will probably be spending more time outdoors. If you struggle with allergies and nasal congestion, Dr. Suman Golla, otolaryngologist from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, recommends the use of oral antihistamines prior to outdoor exposure. Taking an oral antihistamine 30 minutes to an hour prior to exposure, can be very helpful in symptom reduction. “I strongly believe in the use of saline products to wash out the nasal passages. Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Nasal Relief is available at most retailers and is very effective,” says Dr. Golla.

601 S. Pine Street • DeRidder, LA 70634 • (337) 463-7442 www.thriftyway.com • thriftyway2@thriftyway.com

Change your day.

Change your sleep.

When you don’t sleep well, it’s a struggle to make it through the day.

Staying focused at work, finding the energy to get up and get moving and even making healthy food choices can be a challenge.

The sleep specialists at the Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana can prescribe a sleep regime for your sleep problems and help you turn good nights into great days.

Make a change. Call us today!

November 2016

Change your life.

Sleep Specialists Jana P. Kaimal, MD Phillip Conner, MD Michelle Zimmerman, NP

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

4820 Lake St., Lake Charles (337) 310-REST sleepdisordercenterofla.com www.thriveswla.com

31

Mind & Body

Sleep Testing:

Home vs. Lab Understanding the Difference

by Christine Fisher

SUFFERING FROM DIABETES COMPLICATIONS? If you or a loved one is suffering from diabetes complications, the wait is over!

Complications from diabetes can be stopped and even reversed! People with diabetes (either type 1 or type 2) can NOW regain a more normal life—FREE of the lifeshortening complications of the disease.

Artificial Pancreas TreatmentTM has had 27 years of development, 16 clinical studies, and 32 supportive studies. Our Patients and their families can get their lives back... “a second bite of the apple.”

PUBLIC INFORMATION NIGHT

General information session presented by Trina Health founder and inventor, G. Ford Gilbert, JD, PhD. Thursday, November 17, 2016 | 6–7:30 PM 3700 West Prien Lake Road

(337) 240-9511 | infolc@trinahealth.com 1714 Wolf Circle Lake Charles, LA 70605 32 www.thriveswla.com

Americans aren’t sleeping well. Whether it’s sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, sleepwalking or insomnia, sleep difficulties plague an estimated 50 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Finding a remedy for these sleepless nights used to require spending the night in a sleep clinic for testing and observation. While that’s still the gold standard for a comprehensive sleep disorder diagnosis, today, many people opt for a sleep study in the comfort of their home.

“Home sleep testing is a service we’ve provided for several years,” explains Dr. Phillip Conner with the Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana, located in Lake Charles. “In fact, some insurance carriers require a home sleep test first, in spite of its limitations.”

The primary difference between the home and in-lab tests, other than the location, is that the home test is only capable of testing for breathing disorders such as sleep apnea. It doesn’t measure signals for other sleep disorders. “It’s a good first place to begin for many patients,” says Dr. Conner.

After a consultation with a physician with the Sleep Disorder Center, the patient receives a testing machine to take home. The equipment is much less cumbersome than an in-lab sleep study. The machine used for home testing consists of a tube to measure airflow that attaches below the nose, a belt around the upper chest to measure respiratory effort and a finger clip to measure oxygen saturation in the blood.

The equipment is easy for the patient to use, and most people don’t find it obtrusive or a hindrance for sleeping.

The results are recorded throughout the night. The patient returns the machine the next day, then an appointment is made for the patient to receive the report from the sleep specialist. Because of the limitations of the home sleep study, if further testing is warranted, the physician will discuss it with the patient at that time.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

In an in-lab sleep study, a registered polysomnographic technologist is on-hand in a monitoring station to observe the sleep activities of the patient and to monitor the readings of the equipment. “Our lab provides us with the ability to measure much more than a home test,” explains Dr. Conner. “Here at our clinic, we can measure brain activity, eye and jaw muscle activity, breathing effort, leg muscle movement, heart rate and rhythm, oxygen levels and snoring.”

Home sleep studies work well in picking up moderate to severe sleep apnea. They aren’t as adept in evaluating those patients who might have a low level of sleep apnea.

“Home studies are helpful for determining the severity of sleep apnea, but if the cause of sleeplessness or insufficient sleep is not known, the ideal method is to get a full diagnostic evaluation in our sleep lab,” says Dr. Conner.

Both home sleep studies and in-lab sleep studies have benefits and drawbacks.

“Many patients are glad to know that we offer both here and have been doing so for several years. Whatever method is chosen, we’re here to find the root cause of insufficient sleep so that we can provide effective treatment,” Dr. Conner says.

Solving those sleepless nights is beneficial for both emotional and physical well being. People with sleep problems are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, obesity, not to mention reduced quality of life and poor productivity.

According to data from the National Health Interview Survey, nearly 30 percent of adults reported an average of less than six hours of sleep per night, when they should be getting between seven and eight hours of sleep. Those who reported getting a low amount of sleep also reported difficulty in performing many daily tasks.

“Determining why sleep is difficult and then providing treatment can dramatically improve someone’s life,” explains Dr. Conner. “We’ve had patients who aren’t able to work anymore because of sleep problems. Once it’s diagnosed and treated, they’re able to lead normal, fulfilling lives.

It’s exciting to see the transformation that takes place when someone who struggled with sleep for years begins to sleep well consistently. Their body and their mind function so much better.”

For more information, call the Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana at (337) 310-7378.

November 2016

We’re proud to be honored with

The Gift designation to support healthy moms & babies.

At West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, we know that bringing your new addition into the world is a labor of love. That’s why we’re helping you create a unique birthing experience with quiet time, skin-to-skin and room-in initiatives as well as breastfeeding education support and guidance. Your childbirth experience should be exceptional, and at WCCH, we’re ready to deliver.

The Gift is a program for birthing facilities that is used to help promote breastfeeding and enhance patient-centered care.

To learn more about The Gift designation, please visit thegiftla.org.

701 Cypress Street, Sulphur

wcch.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

33

Home & Family Discovering Your Family Heritage

DELVING INTO FAMILY HISTORY How to Discover The Princes, Paupers And Horse Thieves In Your Family History

Genealogy websites that help people trace their family histories love to focus on fortunate souls descended from royalty, or related in some distant and indirect way to George Washington.

Yet genealogical research is just as likely to turn up horse thieves, drifters, and scandals of every sort.

“You’re going to find stuff you don’t want to know,” says Ceil Lucas, a sociolinguist, amateur genealogist, and author of How I Got Here: A Memoir. “But who knows, those might be your most fascinating finds.”

Genealogy is experiencing a resurgence of popularity with TV shows such as Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots, but it’s never really been out of fashion.

Lucas began working on her family history three decades ago, about the same time she began making notes on what would become a memoir of her childhood in Guatemala City and Rome, Italy, from ages 5 to 21. This upbringing left her with a sense of “I’m not from here” —“here” being the U.S., where she was born.

But her genealogical research, which revealed her first ancestors coming to the U.S. from Scotland in 1654 and England in 1679, showed her just how “from here” she is. Lucas realized the stories of her ancestors needed to be included in her memoir, as they give the broadest picture of how she got here. The result was a genealogical memoir.

“The thing is, once the genealogical story is learned, it simply can’t be unlearned,” she says. “It’s a large and integral part of how I understand my life and how I see myself.”

She has suggestions for others who want to delve into their family histories: 34 www.thriveswla.com

TALK TO RELATIVES. The best place to start is with what you already know, Lucas says. You’re probably aware of at least some of your family’s history, especially as it pertains to your mother and father. An excellent way to begin adding to that is to speak to your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who can fill in some of the blanks.

CHECK CENSUS RECORDS. Every 10 years since 1790, the census has taken a snapshot of who’s living in the United States. Valuable information can be found in census records, and you might even discover relatives you never heard about.

SIGN UP FOR A GENEALOGY CLASS. Many community colleges offer non-credit courses in genealogy that will help you understand how to research your family and interpret what you find.

DNA TESTING. People often think they know their ethnic lineage, but discover surprises when they have a DNA test. Lucas’ DNA test revealed that she is descended not only from people who hailed from England and Scotland, but also the Iberian Peninsula.

“It also probably doesn’t hurt if you are a nerd about these things like me,” Lucas says. “I found an ancestor who was involved in the Oklahoma Land Rush, so I researched that and found newspaper articles about the land rush. I think it’s important to put your family story in the historical context, especially if you plan to write a memoir. That stuff is just really interesting to me.”

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Unlocking Your Heritage through

DNA Testing

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

Genetic Genealogy is a relatively new trend in researching your ancestry and discovering potential health issues. Some people spend years working on their family trees only to run into a roadblock that can derail their research and leave them feeling frustrated. Others simply want to know if they may be prone to health problems later in life. Now, with DNA kits available through places like Ancestry.com and 23andMe, researchers can get the information they need to push their family trees out a few branches or to take preventative steps concerning their future medical health.

The real question when it comes to genetic genealogy testing is which kit will best serve your needs? There are several resources out there to pull from, so doing research before you purchase your kit is crucial.

If you’re serious about using DNA testing as a tool in your genealogy toolbox, but you feel like taking more than one test is not very cost effective, you may want to check out Family Tree DNA. This business boasts a large number of what they consider to be serious genealogists, and their website is easy to navigate. They offer forums for frequently asked questions, and they are known for good customer support. They also offer the widest range of tests to fit your exact needs. In addition,

users seem to agree that contacting genealogic matches is simple.

You may be using DNA testing primarily to find out percentages of your heritage. If this is the case, consider using something other than Family Tree DNA. Ancestry.com and 23andMe are great resources to do this because the test is simple. Within six to eight weeks, you will have results that reveal information about your heritage.

Their websites do warn that the results you get are actually estimates, but most reviewers of the products agree that the results are eye-opening and fun. While 23andMe seems to give you the percentages of your heritage with the ability to tweak what they call “confidence intervals”, Ancestry.com gives you the percentages and allows you to look at a breakdown of your results by area.

Note that both of these tests require quite a bit of saliva, so if you are eager to test a very young child or if you’re incapable of producing a test tube full, you might look into another service.

If you’re researching your DNA hoping to expand the branches on your family tree and to find distant cousins based on the match, Ancestry.com is a great place to do this because it is a very wellknown site with more than 2 million users. This site uses suggested matches that make your work a bit

easier, and you can discover family members you didn’t know you had.

Perhaps you are researching your DNA for health reasons. Promethease.com and DNAland.com are sites that allow you to enter your test data from 23andMe, Ancestry.com, and Family Tree DNA. However 23andMe also does aspects of this when they send your results. Promethease breaks down your DNA results and compares your personal genomics with a single-nucleotide polymorphisms database called SNPedia. When using this service, you will receive a report with your personal attributes and your propensity to diseases. This can be valuable because it can provide you with the information you need to take preventative steps when it comes to your health and wellness in the future.

No matter which test you choose, you are likely to make discoveries you did not expect, like distant relatives, or that you are part Scandinavian, or if you have certain genetic markers for disease. One thing is certain—genetic genealogy can hold a lot of answers you may not have anticipated, and it is more accessible and affordable now than it has ever been.

TEST YOUR DETECTOR

ONCE A MONTH

A+

safetycouncilswla.org November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

35

Home & Family | Family Heritage Recent surveys indicate approximately 73% of Americans have an interest in learning more about their family history.

Genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States.

Count Healthy Image Marketing/ Thrive owners and staff members among those curious! We recently participated in these heritage decoders – some of us used 23andMe DNA test kits, others used Ancestry.com kits. Yes, one small tube of spit can reveal ancestral makeup! We share what we discovered and what surprised us the most.

Who Do We Think We Are Katie McDaniel Stevenson used an Ancestry.com kit. She knew she had some Irish heritage, but was surprised to find out she is 45% Western European and only 21% Irish. She also is 15% Italian and Greek. “It was really interesting to see the map where my ancestors came from and traveled.

From the boisterous beer gardens of Munich to the sun-soaked vineyards of Bordeaux and the alpine dairy farms of Switzerland, I believe that my ancestors lived in a region of charming cultural diversity. After spending some time on Ancestry.com, I was able to connect with other relatives and possible DNA matches all over the world. The option to build a family tree and connect it to other’s family trees is a really neat feature. I’d like to give my immediate family these DNA tests and see how we compare and differ.”

Robin Barton had no idea about her family heritage, but she guessed she was European. Ancestry.com confirmed this for her. “The biggest surprise was how much of my DNA matched to Great Britain (88%-I’m choosing to interpret this as a connection to British royalty!). The other surprise was the trace amounts of DNA from Scandinavia, Ireland, and the Middle East (Caucasus region).”

Kris Roy grew up being told he was French and Spanish, which the Ancestry.com DNA test confirmed. What he didn’t know was that there is also Irish and Italian running through his veins. “I’m 8% Italian, which must be why I love olives!”

36 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE FOR ATHLETES

Barbara VanGossen was always told she was Dutch/Irish.

“Both my parents have unusual last names (Ingalls - father), (Button - mother); I’m also supposedly related to Laura Ingalls Wilder.” But what Barbara’s 23andMe test revealed shocked her. “I am the most diverse in the office! Who knew?!” She discovered she is over 2% Native American and over 2% West African. “I would have never guessed that. I have done some investigation on Ancestry.com, but I’d like to do more.”

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Pat’s of Henderson • 1500 Siebarth Drive, Lake Charles, LA Doors open at 6:00pm | SEMINAR BEGINS AT 6:30PM Tickets $28 (Dinner Included) • LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE! Purchase Tickets online at championathlete.eventbrite.com Text or call (337) 319-6642 for more information!

Dr. Kyle Daigle is a chiropractor who utilizes a special treatment which combines multiple fields of science. His primary focus is to help his patients regain a sense of Neurological balance by making sure your muscles, joints, and spine are able to send signals throughout the spinal cord without “interference”.

Dr. Daigle is from Sulphur, LA and was very active in baseball and football in high school. He went on to play college baseball at McNeese State University where he was a member of the 2006 Southland Conference Championship Team.

The practice is

growing!

For more than 11 years, Dr. Prestia & her staff have been committed to providing the best, most up-to-date care possible, and thanks to all of you, the practice is growing and thriving! To continue to offer you professional, compassionate, and timely care, Anne B. Griepsma has joined our staff as Nurse Practitioner. She is available for annual exams, routine primary care, and together with Dr. Prestia, new comprehensive weight loss services!

Call us for more information and to schedule your appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Alice Babst Prestia, M.D. APMC Anne B. Griepsma, APRN, FNP-C 4150 Nelson Rd. Suite E - 3 Lake Charles, LA 70605 337.475.8949 ph · 337.475.8946 fax November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

37

Home & Family | Family Heritage Christine Fisher had been told her family came from England, and sure enough, she is 99% European with 41.3% British and Irish heritage. “Grandma was right. I’m also 16.8% French and German, but the majority, 38.4%, comes from Northwest Europe, including Finland and Norway. No wonder I melt in the Louisiana summers.”

Christine was surprised how much information her 23andMe test provided. “The report contained information about muscle composition (I am likely a sprinter – ha!), lactose tolerance (I’m quite tolerant), and that I likely have light colored hair.”

Mandy Gilmore assumed her family came from France, with a bit of Dutch on the side. “I was shocked when my results showed 51% Great Britain and only about 24% French. And I had no idea that I would be 12% Italian. It felt like my whole perception of my ancestry was wrong, and I had a little bit of an identity crisis.”

The results of her Ancestry.com test prompted Mandy to do further investigation. “I’ve already done some digging. (See identity crisis above) I had to find out where all of these pieces to the puzzle were coming from, and I went on a hunt. I was able to trace both sides of my family’s ancestry back to 1600s France.

My dad’s side was a bit more colorful and I traced his ancestry further back to 1500s Transylvania, and another branch of his tree led back to 1400s Italy. It was really fascinating!”

INTERESTING GILMOREROBICHAUX DISCOVERIES: Descendent of Jacques Arnaud, founder of Arnaudville, LA Descendent of Cardinal Pietro Bembo, A scholar, poet, literary theorist and cardinal from Venice who influenced the development of modern Italian language and secular music from the 16th century. Cardinal Bembo also had a well-known affair with the infamous Lucrezia Borgia. Fun Fact: The typeface Bembo is named after him.

Mandy also unearthed a Count Gabany from Transylvania, Romania, in her family tree.

38 www.thriveswla.com

Prior to the test, Caroline Landry was fairly certain her ancestry would be primarily European. Her family had already traced their lineage to 13th century Scotland on her father’s side and to England in the 1800s on her mother’s side. Indeed, her Ancestry.com kit indicated she is 99% European. What she didn’t know was she has 1% genetic markers from North Africa, which stems from a family connection to Spain. Using these results as a tool to genealogy, Caroline plans to continue her family history research. “It’s exciting to see how much information can be collected.”

Caroline’s maiden name is McKim. the McKim’s are descendants of the Fraser clan from Scotland.

Simon Fraser was a Scottish knight who fought alongside William Wallace in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, for which he was hung, drawn and quartered in 1306 (the same manner as Wallace) by the English. McKim is derived from MacShim, which means son of Simon. Sim is a short form of Simon. Because he was a hero, his descendants became known as sons of Simon, which evolved into McKim. Thomas McKim’s wife was from the Iberian Peninsula. They married in the 1700’s, before coming to America, and most likely brought in the North African line.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Kristy Armand was especially interested in taking a DNA test. She was adopted and knew only that she was born in New Orleans. “As you could easily guess from my coloring, I’m 98.7% European. It was interesting to see how that broke down, with British and Irish being 78.6% of that. It was also interesting to see the other percentages in the mix that is me.”

Kristy chose to do a 23andMe test because it gives more health information. “This test lets you know if you are a carrier for a lot of diseases (fortunately, I’m not). This was important to me because I have no health information about my biological parents and their families. It also breaks down a large number of traits – from taste and smell, physical features, responses. One interesting finding validates my dislike of most vegetables.

Some people perceive extreme bitterness when they taste compounds known as PROP and PTC, which are similar to compounds found in certain vegetables like broccoli or brussel sprouts. Other people perceive these compounds as completely tasteless. Because of a gene I have, I’m much more likely to be able to taste the bitterness. There are a lot of reports with this test; that’s just one example.

I will definitely dig deeper into it.”

November 2016

Shonda Manuel says she is a Simien on her father’s side and is a part of the few remaining full Creoles living in Louisiana today. She expected her Ancestry.com test to show French, African, and Native American heritage or Creole. “I didn’t think my results would stray much from that. As I expected, the majority of my lineage came from France and Africa, however, I was very shocked to see that I had a significant Irish influence that was greater than the concentrated areas in Africa. I was also extremely shocked to see such a minimal percentage of Native American. I thought my results would have been much greater than 3% in that category.”

Shonda wondered about the accuracy of the tests, and quickly got the answer to that question. “One of the elements to the test is that it will show you who your relations are if they have taken the test on the site and registered their data.

I had a first cousin match with guess who… my first cousin!

I thought that was pretty fantastic and reassuring. The other thing that seemed quite special to me also occurred that same day I received results. I had a Facebook message from someone who saw that we were 4th-6th cousin matches.

She had her father take the test to find out more about his family because he was adopted. After some correspondence, we quickly found out he was related to my father and was born in the same city. I thought that was pretty special. I am so fortunate to know my family’s lineage so well and was thrilled for her to give her father some insight into his own background.”

Taking the DNA test has piqued a new interest in ancestry with Shonda. And now she can truly celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Together, we lost 349 pounds!

When you choose weight loss surgery at Lake Area Medical Center, we’re here to support you throughout your journey. In addition to skilled medical care and ongoing guidance from the staff, you have the support of people experiencing the same things you are. “It’s like gaining a second family,” Theresa says.

For more information on surgical weight loss options, visit LakeAreaMC.com/WeightLoss.

M

— Matthew, Theresa and Diane Weight Loss Surgery Successes 4200 Nelson Road • Lake Charles, LA • LakeAreaMC.com An Accredited Bariatric Surgery Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Results may vary. Consult your physician .

November 2016 94306_LAMC_Bari_8x4_875c.indd 1

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com PM39 10/20/16 3:39

Home & Family

ARE YOU READY? Immunization is your family’s best line of protection against the flu, which can cause serious illness. Uncover the truth behind three common flu vaccination myths.

MYTH: You don’t need a flu shot every year.

FACT: The types of flu viruses circulating in the air — and the vaccine that’s prepared — can vary from year to year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults, including moms-to-be, and children ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every year.

MYTH: The flu shot can give you the flu.

Fact: The fragments of virus found in the flu shot are inactivated, which means they can’t make you sick. Some people run low-grade fevers, feel achy or develop soreness near the injection site after vaccination. Developing these side effects doesn’t mean you have the flu.

MYTH: The nasal spray flu vaccine is a good alternative for people who don’t like shots.

Fact: A panel of experts known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended earlier this year that the flu nasal spray shouldn’t be used during the 2016–2017 flu season. Why? Recent studies revealed that the nasal spray offers much less effective protection, especially for children, than the flu shot.

Call your primary care doctor to schedule your flu shot today. Need a doctor?

Visit LakeAreaPhysicians.com.

40 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Overlooked reasons

to Quit Smoking

by Kristy Armand

IF YOU NEED MORE INCENTIVE TO QUIT SMOKING, THERE MAY BE SOME HEALTH-RELATED REASONS BEYOND THE OBVIOUS THAT YOU HAVE NOT CONSIDERED. EVERYONE KNOWS SMOKING CAUSES LUNG CANCER, EMPHYSEMA, AND HEART DISEASE BUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO LIGHT UP EVERY DAY, IN SPITE OF THE WELLPUBLICIZED RISKS. DR. STEVE SPRINGER, FAMILY PHYSICIAN WITH IMPERIAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE SMOKING TREATMENT CENTER, SAYS SMOKING ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO MANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT SMOKERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. “FROM AN INCREASED RISK OF BLINDNESS TO A FASTER DECLINE Alzheimer’s Disease IN MENTAL CAPABILITIES, THERE The rate of mental decline among the elderly is up ARE MANY OTHER CONSIDERABLE, to five times faster in smokers than in nonsmokers, AND OFTEN SURPRISING, REASONS according to a study of 9,200 men and women over TO QUIT SMOKING THAT AREN’T AS age 65, reported in the journal Neurology. Researchers WELL-KNOWN AS LUNG CANCER.” believe smoking likely puts into effect a vicious cycle of artery damage, clotting and increased risk of stroke, causing mental decline.

Impotence Men who continue to light up could be increasing their risk of erectile dysfunction, commonly known as impotence. A study of nearly 5,000 men presented at the American Heart Association’s Annual Conference showed that men who smoked more than a pack a day were 60% more likely to suffer erectile dysfunction, compared with men who never smoked cigarettes.

Overall, 15% of past and present smokers had experienced erectile dysfunction.

Macular Degeneration Numerous studies have found that smokers are four times more likely to become blind because of agerelated macular degeneration than those who have never smoked. Age-related macular degeneration is a severe and progressive condition that results in loss of central vision.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Acid Reflux People who smoke for more than 20 years are 70% more likely to have acid reflux disease than nonsmokers, researchers reported in the journal Gut.

Breast Cancer In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the prevalence of breast cancer among current smokers was 30% higher than the women who had never smoked -- regardless of whether the nonsmokers had been exposed to secondhand or passive smoke.

Dr. Springer said if these reasons aren’t enough, you should also know that smoking is believed to be linked to many other medical conditions, including certain colon cancers, depression and thyroid disease, to name a few. “The more we learn, the more evidence we have about the growing list of serious health risks associated with smoking. It goes far beyond your lungs and heart. Quitting today is easier than ever before,” he adds. “We have many more tools to help smokers break their addiction, and you may qualify for free treatment through the Louisiana Tobacco Trust Fund. All you have to do is make the decision to quit.”

For more information about services at the Smoking Treatment Center, call (337) 312-8690.

People whose genes make them more susceptible to developing rheumatoid arthritis are even more likely to get the disease if they smoke, say researchers. In fact, certain genetically vulnerable smokers can be nearly 16 times more likely to develop the disease than nonsmokers without the same genetic profile, according to the study reported in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

41

Home & Family

7 TIPS FOR BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING

by Sylvia Ney

Smart holiday shoppers know Black Friday can be the best time to score great deals on gifts. However, getting those deals may mean hours of waiting in line surrounded by hundreds of cranky strangers, and ultimately result in regretted purchases. Fortunately, these seven tips can help ease some of your holiday buying stress.

1 S tart Early – many online sites offer great holiday deals, sometimes as

early as three weeks ahead of the “big dark day” of shopping. In recent years, chain stores such as Gap and Toys “R” Us offered 20 to 60 percent off in the first few weeks of November. Check shopping websites for the latest deals and steals.

2T eam Shopping - If queuing at the crack of dawn is part of the thrill

for you, you’ll love the trend of rewarding early birds with extra discounts.

Many stores give the first “X” number of people in line special discounts, or even freebies. If you go with friends and family, the wait will seem shorter. But chances are you’ll want to hit more than one store on Black Friday. While it’s fun to shop with pals, quantities of advertised products will be limited―in some cases as few as 10 or 20 per store – so you’re more likely to snag scarce deals if you fan out. Swap lists, divvy up the stores, stay in touch by cell phone, and meet for coffee or lunch afterward.

3 S mart Budgeting - Carrying cash is a great way to stay on budget, but

it’s also less secure: if it gets stolen, it’s gone. Carry a purse that closes securely and keep it in front of you at all times. Debit cards are one alternative, but fraud protection is weaker than for credit cards. While credit cards are safest, they make it easy to blow your budget. To find this year’s bargains and plan a budget, peruse local newspapers, magazines, and online sites for printable coupons to pack in your purse. Have a list of what you are looking for and a dollar figure in mind for how much you want to spend. When you’ve reached your budget limit, it’s time to go home.

42 www.thriveswla.com

4 S mart Purchases – Don’t assume a door buster is a deal.These items

may sell for low costs just to lure in customers, but they are often non-brandname models, with lower specs than a standard manufacturer’s line. Make sure prospective purchases have everything you want. You may be tempted to grab an item because it seems like a good deal, figuring you can return it later, but that may not work. Although return policies generally don’t change, some retailers do charge restocking fees as high at 15%, especially for electronics bought on Black Friday. Know the store’s return policy before committing.

Look on its website or check signage at the customer service desk. You can always ask a sales clerk, but if you get false information, the written policy will trump whatever a well-meaning sales clerk has told you.

5 B e Prepared - Yes, there will be amazing bargains. But there will also be

crowded stores, out-of-stocks, and long lines at the register. Bring along an iPod or a book to pass the time while you’re waiting to pay, and pack snacks, water, and extra toilet paper in case the public restrooms run out.

6 P ocket Venues – Instead of hitting the chain stores, try shopping smaller locally owned businesses. You may not be able to find as many discounts, but you’ll avoid the larger crowds, support your local community, and find more unique gifts to purchase.

7 S elf – Indulgence – Instead of spending Black Friday shopping for others, pamper yourself with a day at the spa, see a new movie release, or dine at your favorite restaurant. Before you leave, grab a gift card and give a friend or family member the gift of self-indulgence, as well.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Simple Self-Defense Skills Women Need for Shopping Alone Leaving malls and shopping centers with hands full of bags can be dangerous if the shopper is not aware of the surroundings. Every year around 300,000 women are raped and over half of these crimes go unreported. It is important women know how to protect themselves. Krav Maga Worldwide, a leading selfdefense organization, offers these basic self-defense tips.

Be aware of your environment. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Scan the parking lot before walking to your car.

Park in well lit areas - even if it means that you have to walk a bit further. Bring a friend or family member with you when shopping after dark. Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows. Avoid parking next to tall shrubs or plants that could block views of your vehicle.

Don’t wear your purse so that the strap crosses your body. Wearing a purse strap across your body makes you more connected to your bag. If someone tries to steal your purse, you will be pulled with the strap. If your purse is draped on one shoulder you can easily let go of it.

Dress casually and comfortably. Leave the high heels and flashy statement-making pieces at home. Jeans and sneakers will help you blend in and if necessary enable you to make a quick getaway. Avoid wearing large expensive-looking jewelry that can draw additional attention to you.

Don’t hesitate to ask a security guard to walk you to your car. Always better to be safe.

Thursday, Dec. 4 – Saturday, Dec. 6 Beaumont Civic Center Thursday, Dec. 1 – 4Saturday, Dec. Thursday, Dec. – Saturday, Dec.36 Shopping, Entertainment, Beaumont Civic Center Beaumont Civic Center Food, and FUN! Shopping, Entertainment, Shopping, Entertainment, ONLY $8Food, Admission FUN! Food andand FUN! ONLY $8 Admission $10 Admission

($3 off with a donation of canned food for the SETX Food Bank) www.JuniorLeagueBeaumont.org409.832.0873 409.832.0873 www.JuniorLeagueBeaumont.org

Purchase a ticket for a CHANCE to WIN

Purchase aaGolf ticket aa CHANCE to Cartfor or $500 Visa Gift Card!

PurchaseA ticket for CHANCE to WIN WIN Tickets $25 each A AGolf Cart or $500 Visa Gift Card!

Golf Cart or $500 Visa Gift Card!

The drawingTickets will be at$25 the close eachof the market Dec. 6 Tickets $25 each The willbe beatatthe theclose close market Dec. 36 The drawing drawing will ofof thethe market on Dec. November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

43

Home & Family

How to Take

Great

Holiday Photos

by Lauren Atterbery Cesar

Holidays make for marvelous photo opportunities, and people always try to get just the right picture to include with their holiday greeting cards. However, not everyone is a naturalborn photographer. How can you guarantee your holiday picture looks like a million bucks? Photographer Shonda Manual, with Healthy Image Marketing, offers the following tips to ensure phenomenal photos you’ll treasure for years to come.

Your subject doesn’t have to be directly in the center of the photograph. Positioning the subject to the left, right, or bottom of the frame adds emphasis and makes the image more interesting. When there is a huge empty wall, vast field, or lots of sky, your eye will be drawn to the people in the picture.

Try to keep that space simple. A busy background complicates the photo and takes away the focus that was originally intended.

Should you get up-close and personal, or take the picture from a distance? There is a warmth and communal feeling you get from a photo that is taken up close. You can see so much of a subject’s personality when a photo is cropped in tight. However, images shot from afar highlight the location in which the photo was taken and you get a true sense of mood and atmosphere. If you chose a beautiful location for your photograph, include it in at least one picture!

Lighting is important. Shooting outdoors will always be easier than shooting indoors because of the amount of sunlight to work with. Most people see a clear blue sky and think it’s the best time to take pictures. Actually, an overcast day will give the best results. Even distribution of light decreases the amount of shadow on people’s faces and is less harsh. Now that fall is here, take advantage of the evening

44 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

sun by photographing in late afternoon or that magic golden hour when the sun is setting. If you can’t avoid shooting in bright sunlight, look for a shaded area for your subjects to stand in.

When it comes to filters, what should I use? Less is always more when it comes to using filters. You should look at filters to accentuate color or convey a memory. Most often, if you’re taking an action shot or a candid photograph, converting the image to black and white resonates as a moment to remember. If the people in the photo are posed and looking directly at the camera, full color images tend to look best.

Manuel also recommends planning ahead and keeping the weather in mind for your photo session. Look to Pinterest for interesting picture ideas if you are stumped. With tips like these, you are sure to have a picture perfect holiday photo you’ll be proud to share with friends and loved ones.

Deck Our FacebookWall

Walnut Grove Holiday Photo Contest Oh, come, all ye picture takers, to Walnut Grove!

We’ve trimmed our trees and tied all of our ribbons with care.

Now we invite you to capture holiday memories in our winter wonderland. Post your photos on our Facebook wall to be entered into a drawing for a some very merry holiday prizes.

Who: You! Snap a photo of yourself, your friends, your kids (you get the picture) at Walnut Grove.

What: Facebook holiday photo contest at Walnut Grove.

Where: Take the photo in front of your favorite exterior holiday decorations at Walnut Grove and post it to www.facebook.com/walnutgrovelc.

When: November 28 through December 22, 2016.

Why: Prizes, of course. Every jolly photo post will be entered to win one of our very merry prizes. We’ll be holding drawings each week.

For more contest details and to post your photo, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walnutgrovelc.

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

45

Money & Career

Lakeside Announces New Checking Account for Those Who Protect and Serve LAKESIDE BANK HAS CREATED THE AMERICAN ACCOUNT TO OFFER SPECIAL BENEFITS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED SERVICES, VETERANS, AND THE FAMILIES OF THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Gameface—Got it!

Shopping List—Done!

CASH—Thanks to a CSE Holiday Loan!

Get your Holiday Loan before Black Friday!

Visit csefcu.org or call a CSE Lender for details on this loan promotion. Ask about KICKOFF SPECIALS available ONLY on Monday, November 21, 8 am—5 pm.

Membership and Eligibility Required—Inquire Today.

Federally Insured by NCUA. Subject to Credit Approval. Some Restrictions May Apply. CSE reserves the right to discontinue this offer at anytime, without notice. Offer ends DEC 30, 2016.

46 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Lake Charles | Sulphur | Moss Bluff

Visit csefcu.org or Call 337.477.2000 November 2016

According to Mike Harmison, President and CEO of Lakeside Bank, the account was created as a small way to say, “Thank you,” to those who dedicate their lives to protect and serve our community. “These are the people who keep us safe every day; the brave individuals who rush into danger when the rest of us are fleeing from it,” said Harmison. “We count on them and want them to know they can count on us, and that we at Lakeside appreciate their sacrifice more than we can ever adequately express.”

The American checking account provides exceptional benefits for those who are eligible, including: • Free checking, online banking, bill pay, mobile banking, estatements • $50 to open, with no minimum balance and no monthly fees • Free first order of The American checks • Free patriotic debit card – with nofee access to any ATM in the country • 25 basis point decrease on any consumer loan offered by Lakeside Bank * • Free telephone banking access to a live, local banker • Overdraft protection with RediReserve * • Identity theft protection available • Free 24/7 Real-time fraud monitoring with SecurLOCK • Free Lakeside Bank patriotic gift *credit approval required

Thank You!

We would like to thank our patrons, sponsors and vendors for a spectacular 2016 Rouge et Blanc.

Information about The American account is available at any of the bank’s locations in Southwest Louisiana, or by calling (337) 474-3766.

Wine Sponsors Wine Retailers

Lake Street Liquor

SAVE THE DATE October 7, 2017

rougeetblanc.us November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Insta

www.thriveswla.com

47

Money & Career

by Daniel Garrett

Looking to buy a new car? Maybe your expanding family wishes to upgrade to an SUV. Or you’ve decided to trade in your college clunker for a sleeker sportier model. Better still, you’re in the market for an eco-friendlier car, perhaps switching to a hybrid or fully-electric vehicle.

No matter the reason, timing is important to get the best deal.

Generally, it’s financially smart to buy a new vehicle near the end of the year for a lower price.

The best months to a buy a new car are in September, October, or November. By December, it may be a tad too late. New models are coming in, and car dealers hustle to move older models off the lot to make room for the new. With this rush, buyers can find discounts and more aggressive rebates.

Matthew O’Brist, general sales manager at Volkswagen of Lake Charles, agrees.

He says the dealership had 60 cars in stock in October – only 4 were 2016 models.

A customer shouldn’t stop at timing. It’s equally important to come prepared for the meeting between you and the car salesperson. Of course, the salesperson needs to make a profit for the dealership. That’s part of the business. But it doesn’t mean you can’t find a bargain. For best results, have your finances in order and know how to haggle before you step foot on the car lot.

Below are a few tips to help you prepare to buy that new car:

Set up a low-interest loan in advance.

The Best Gifts Don’t e Always Fit Under The Tre

High interest rates catch up to you if you fail to pay attention to the initial financing terms. Before you know which vehicle you’ll buy, compare rates and acquire a pre-approved loan. Do so at your local bank or credit union. While negotiating terms, seek to keep the loan length to a short time span, with affordable monthly payments.

Find the most accurate trade-in value for your used car.

The value of your current car depends on its age, mileage, condition, trim level, and your area. To gain a better idea of your car’s worth, check its book value on sites like Kelley Blue Book and the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Next, check local classified and dealer ads for models similar to yours or visit used-car departments for appraisals.

Set a target price.

2016 Cadillac CT6

Lake Charles | (337) 474-1999 1310 E. College Street

Sulphur | (337) 527-5754 1620 Beglis Parkway

48 www.thriveswla.com

Find the invoice of the car you wish to buy. The invoice can be found on printed pricing guides or on car-pricing websites. Next, subtract any dealer rebates or holdbacks from the invoice. If you’re fuzzy on the math, a site like Consumer Reports can help. It’s definitely possible to buy a new car that’s below, even far below, the vehicle’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

As a new car buyer, if you desire the best financial deal (and who doesn’t!), end-of-the-year sales are a great place to start. But do your homework before you take that shiny new vehicle for a test drive. Research can make all the difference in cost.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

These yappy little ankle biters may not care to follow our lead, but business owners from just about every Louisiana industry have trusted LCI to provide expert guidance, exceptional service and custom programs for more than 25 years. :: lciwc.com :: 985-612-1230

Put us to work for you.

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

49

Money & Career

MONEY HABITS OF The Millennial generation includes those who were born between 1980 - 2000. Currently, they make up the majority of the workforce in the nation. While often labeled as entitled and lazy, this generation holds more college degrees than any other. Despite being well educated, many Millennials suffer financially due to college debt, skyrocketing rental prices, and stagnant wages.

Even with these problems, Millennials manage to make the most of their financial situations by carefully monitoring and prioritizing their spending.

Millennials want to experience new things. A 2014 study released by Eventbrite reports that 78% of Millennials surveyed would rather spend money on experiences than material objects.

Experiences range from traveling abroad to learning a new skill, so costs can be manageable in any budget. By prioritizing experiences, Millennials get more for their money. Satisfaction from material items fades as we adapt to them, whereas satisfaction from experience lingers. Furthermore, experiences leave lasting impressions on Millennials and help to shape their identities.

Millennials want to help others, even if it costs them more. Millennials may not earn enough income to donate large amounts of money to

50 www.thriveswla.com

by Felicite Toney

charities, but they’re able to contribute to the welfare of others by purchasing items they need from organizations that donate products or part of their profit to help others. Take for example Toms Shoes. The company’s website states, “With every product you purchase, Toms will help a person in need.” This “one-for-one” model allows consumers to purchase products from companies that share their values. Today, Toms has expanded beyond giving a pair of shoes to someone in need for each pair purchased. The company also uses profit to improve health, education, and overall well-being of others.

By doing so, Toms and other “one-for-one” companies have earned the trust and loyalty of many Millennials.

Millennials save money. According to a 2015 Better Money Habits Millennial Report by Bank of America and USA Today, 41% of Millennials worry about money and feel “chronically stressed” about their finances. One reason why they stress about money may be because Millennials witnessed their family struggle during the recession. Older Millennials graduated college during the recession and were jobless with thousands of dollars in student loan debt. A 2016 study from Bankrate.com reports that Millennials are saving more than other generations. The

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

report found that 62% save more than 5% of their income -- an increase of 20% from the previous year.

Millennials spend less whenever possible.

They use apps on their smartphones to compare prices, collect coupons, and earn rebates. They also gain free access to events by choosing to volunteer. In addition to free access, volunteers may get free merchandise, such as a t-shirt, and may receive complimentary drinks and food. The 2015 Millennial Impact Report found that 70% of Millennial employees spent at least an hour volunteering in 2014. Volunteerism aligns with Millennial values, so it’s a win-win situation.

Millennials are open and honest about their financial situations. A Fidelity survey of 152 Millennials reported that 3 out of 4 Millennials have no problem discussing finances with their parents. They’re willing to talk to their parents and financial advisors about money habits and ways to plan for the future.

Even if Millennials aren’t rolling in money, they’re making the best of their situation by spending less and saving more while sticking to their values and shaping their identities.

November 2016

SM

2.51% .15% % .05 APY

*

ON BALANCES UP TO $10,000* THAT MEET QUALIFICATIONS

APY

*

ON BALANCES ABOVE $10,000* THAT MEET QUALIFICATIONS

APY

*

ON BALANCES THAT DON’T* MEET QUALIFICATIONS

ZYDECASH was designed to help you benefit from the growth potential of your money.

FEATURES OF ZYDECASH CHECKING High interest-bearing checking with a monthly qualification cycle: • No monthly service fees • Refunds on ATM fees nationwide*

• 24/7 Access to online and mobile** banking • No minimum balance required

To earn 2.51% APY* on your ZYDECASH Checking account, you must meet the following transaction targets each monthly qualification cycle: • Have at least 10 debit card transactions • Have at least one (1) direct deposit or automatic payment

• Receive e-statement notices • Access online banking

carlyss | EUNICE | IOWA | JENNINGS | KINDER | LAFAYETTE | LAKE ARTHUR LAKE CHARLES | MAMOU | MOSS BLUFF NEW IBERIA | SULPHUR | VIDRINE VILLE PLATTE | WELSH | WESTLAKE | OPELOUSAS (LOAN PRODUCTION OFFICE)

*Minimum to open account is $100 for ZydeCashSM CHECKING. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of 9/6/2016. ZydeCash CHECKING rate tiers are as follows: 2.51% APY applies to balances of $0.01-$10,000 and 0.15% APY applies to balances over $10,000 if qualifications are met during monthly qualification cycle. 0.05% APY applies to all balances if qualifications are not met. All balances will earn 2.51% APY – 0.15% APY if qualifications are met. The advertised ZydeCash CHECKING APY is based on compounding interest. The actual interest paid may be less than the advertised APY. Qualifying transactions must post and settle in ZydeCash CHECKING during monthly qualification cycle. Transactions may take one or more banking days from transaction date to post to an account. Intra-bank transfers do not count as qualifying transactions. ATM-processed transactions do not count as debit card transactions. Rates may change after account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings. Unlimited domestic ATM Fee refunds provided only if qualifications are met within monthly qualification cycle. Maximum ATM fee refund per transaction is $5.00. Limited to one account per social security number. Overdraft and returned item fees may apply.

ZydeCashSM is a Service Mark of Jeff Davis Bancshares. Member FDIC **Mobile carrier charges may apply.

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

51

Money & Career

Avoid These Real Estate

by Christine Fisher

Buying or selling a home is a rare event for most people. It might happen once a decade or maybe not even that often. Despite the fact that most people rarely deal with real estate, some consider themselves “armchair experts”.

“Most people know enough to be dangerous,” explains Sharel Hebert, Realtor with Century 21 Bessette Realty. “Friends and family will share their experiences, but every situation is unique. Also, technology and trends change over the years, so what worked great a few years ago might not work as well today.”

For some aspects of real estate, the transaction is the same as it was years ago; for others, things have changed. “If it’s been a while since you bought or sold, you might be surprised,” says Hebert.

Even though it might be a rare event, most people have bought or sold a home in their lifetime. Armed with the knowledge of their own experience, they pass along information that may or may not apply to another situation.

52 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Hebert debunks these common real estate myths that can be a roadblock to buyers and sellers: MYTH: It’s on the Internet, it must be true.

FACT: If it’s on the Internet, read it with a grain of salt.

The Internet has made information available so readily, it’s easy to get caught up in a scenario that’s not quite accurate or applicable to your situation. Whether it’s real estate advice or photos, nothing beats getting advice from your personal real estate agent or seeing a home in person.

MYTH: Set the price of your home higher than what you expect to get.

FACT: Price your home fairly from the beginning.

Buyers are suspicious of homes that sit on the market for a while. As the weeks turn into months, they wonder if the house has costly issues or what might be hidden that is deterring other buyers.

MYTH: You should renovate your bathroom and kitchen before you sell.

FACT: In many cases, sellers don’t recoup the cost of home renovations.

If the kitchen and bathroom function and are in working order, a major remodel could backfire. “Prospective buyers might not share your taste, and they might not want to redo something that has just been renovated,” says Hebert. “It’s better to adjust the price accordingly. Most buyers want to put their own stamp on the aesthetics of a home.”

is proud to announce the addition of

ERIN HARGRAVE & HEATH DORSEY. Erin Fruge Hargrave was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2004. Erin went on to obtain her Juris Doctorate and Bachelors of Civil Law degree at Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2008.

Heath Dorsey joined the Law Office of Brad A. Guillory in September of 2016. Heath is a 1998 graduate of McNeese State University with a degree in History. Heath graduated cum laude from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2004. During his time in law school, Heath worked at Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and was a member of the ABA Appellate Advocacy competition team.

After graduating from law school, Erin served as a judicial clerk for the 14th Judicial District Court in Lake Charles. Erin has practiced in the areas of municipal liability, insurance defense, and corporate counsel before joining the Law Office of Brad A. Guillory in February 2016, where she mainly practices family law and personal injury.

After graduating from law school, Heath served as a judicial law clerk at the 14th Judicial District Court in Lake Charles, where he worked on many complicated criminal matters, including a capital murder case and the re-trial of a murder that originally occurred in 1961.

Erin and her husband Kevin were married in 2011 and blessed with a daughter in 2015. Kevin is a professor of Sports Medicine at McNeese State University, as well as an athletic trainer for local high school athletics.

Heath has spent the last number of years exclusively practicing criminal law and has handled various types of felony matters for his clients, along with select appellate matters.

In addition, Heath has represented clients in cases ranging from 1st Amendment law to administrative hearings, from contract matters to appellate matters, and personal injury.

WE ARE ALL YOU NEED FOR: Family Law • Personal Injury • Criminal Defense • Contractual Disputes • General Litigation / Trial Work bradguillorylaw.com | 940 Ryan Street • Lake Charles, LA 70601 | (337) 433-5297 November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

53

Money & Career

Center for Orthopaedics Selects Better Day™ Health to Improve the Physician-Patient Experience

LEADING LOUISIANA ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC IS LEVERAGING CLINICAL WORKFLOW SOFTWARE TO DECREASE COMPUTER TIME & TRANSCRIPTION COSTS Better Day™ Health, a provider of interoperable software and services for medical clinics, announced last month that Imperial Health’s Center for Orthopaedics (CFO), one of the largest orthopedic clinics in Louisiana, signed a 10year agreement after Beta testing the software.

The physician-designed system is enabling the clinic to streamline front-office and back-office workflows, resulting in lower costs, more productive employees, and more satisfied patients as due to more effective patient care.

Better Day™ Health represents the next wave of post-electronic health record (EHR) era applications with a focus on automating EHR data capture and significantly compressing the amount of time it takes physicians to complete the documentation and billing processes for their patients.

“We chose to switch to Better Day™ from a leading EHR vendor to help us better manage workflow and reduce the ever-increasing burden of medical record documentation,” said John Noble, Jr, MD, with Center for Orthopaedics. “Not only were we impressed by the ease-of-use of the Better Day™ platform, but we are also confident that it will improve the productivity of team members and deliver measurable improvements by reducing overtime pay and improving patient and staff satisfaction.”

“Due to clinical documentation demands, which increased with the Affordable Care Act, doctors have become the world’s most expensive clerical workers, as they devote more and more of their valuable time filling out patient records and compiling medical histories,” said Peter Ragusa, MD, MPH, CEO and co-founder of Better Day™. “Our goal is to help doctors see more patients, in less time, without getting bogged down in data entry and paperwork.”

CFO recently presented the practice impact results at the 2016 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference at the Nuance 54 www.thriveswla.com

Healthcare booth in Las Vegas. They highlighted the reduction in time and cost on EHR documentation and Better Day’s™ impact on improving bottomline revenue.

In addition to software that met their needs, CFO also needed the company they chose to be more than a supplier of programs. They needed a technology partner that could consolidate 18 different IT systems into one system.

“We required a partner committed to providing a results-driven clinical operating system to meet our group’s evolving needs,” said Dr. Noble.

“As impressive as the functionality of the Better Day™ platform is, we were also pleased with the responsiveness we received during training and roll-out. We are convinced Better Day™ is the right partner to help us gain the productivity and speed essential to meet the requirements of the new datadriven reimbursement models.”

“At Better Day™ Health, we are reinventing the relationship between providers and software with structured data, analytics, communications, connectivity, patient engagement, payments, and

workflow optimization all in one unified system,” said Dr. Ragusa. “Partnering with the Center for Orthopaedics will help us continue to realize our vision to provide modern, easy-to-use software designed by physicians and other healthcare professionals that dramatically reduces screen time while putting patient care first.”

Better Day™ Health is headquartered at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. For more information, go to www.BetterDayHealth.com, or call 504.710.8564.

Dr. John Noble with a patient at Center for Orthopaedics. The ultimate goal of Better Day Health is to allow doctors to spend more time talking to their patients and less time on documentation tasks.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Can you Handle a

Cash-Only Christmas?

by Kristy Armand

The holly jolly holiday season is approaching, but if you’re like most Americans, it’s also the season of overspending and under-budgeting.

If so, you may want to consider a cash-only Christmas this year, says Christa Comeaux, assistant vice president with Lakeside Bank.

“It may not seem practical to carry cash when we’ve all become so reliant on our debit cards, but it’s been proven that people spend less when they have actual paper money in their hands,” Comeaux says. “We’ve become so accustomed to debit cards that we sometimes use them for one- or two-dollar purchases. Imagine carrying cash and seeing that money actually leave your hands. You become much more aware of how much you’re spending when it’s a more tangible transaction.”

Still not convinced? Consider these additional reasons from Lakeside Bank: In most situations, the majority of the time, cash is much more preferable to credit cards. There’s no hidden fees or interest rates associated with cash. You spend what you spend. End of story. “It’s also much easier to underestimate how much you’re actually spending when you use a credit card,” Comeaux says. “For some reason consumers don’t view credit cards as ‘real money.’ They think of it as something they can worry about later. Unfortunately, ‘later’ usually includes high interest rates and additional fees.”

It’s easier to keep track of cash. Let’s say you budget $200 for a shopping trip. If you use your credit or debit card, it’s easy to give yourself a little leeway; throw in November 2016

an extra twenty bucks, sight unseen.

You can also quickly lose track of where you are in the process, unless you painstakingly record every purchase. “When you have the money in your hands, you know exactly how much you’re spending,” Comeaux says.

You spend less. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, the average person saves as much as 20 percent when they spend cash. “It’s harder to let go of cold, hard money,” Comeaux says.

To encourage the use of cash over cards, leave the debit and credit cards at home before you leave the house. That way you don’t have the option of defaulting to trusty plastic.

“Shifting to cash is easier than you think,” Comeaux says. “It just takes a corresponding shift in your mindset. But now’s an ideal time to make the change. It’s always tempting to spend more than you have during the holidays, and switching to cash can help you prevent that, making your holiday season much merrier.”

Capital One tOwer

For more information about personal savings, or starting a Christmas savings club account, call Lakeside at (337) 474-3766.

Typical floor plan

• Class “A” office space • 6-story parking garage for tenants plus ample visitor parking • Affordable lease rates • Direct access to I-10 • Prominent location • On-site security • On-site banking • Level 5 Salon, Renee’s Café & Gift Shop, Black Tie Drycleaning pickup and delivery • Beautifully Landscaped • Flexible office design • On-site professional management • Overnight delivery drop stations • Nightly cleaning services

L e a s i n g i n f o r m at i o n : M a r k p O l i t z , C p M ® 3 3 7 - 4 3 7 - 1 1 4 2 | M a r k @ h e r t z g r O u p. C O M One lakeshOre Drive | lake Charles, la 70629 Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

55

All you need to know to stay in the know!

Walnut Grove Invites the Public to take Holiday Photos and Enter Contest

Parish Unveils New Website Focused on Services

Walnut Grove, a traditional neighborhood development located at 1500 West Sallier Street in Lake Charles, will be decorated for the holiday season in early November.

The public is invited to take holiday photos in the neighborhood at any of the parks, common areas or around the commercial buildings. In addition, Walnut Grove will again host the “Deck our Facebook Wall Holiday photo contest” running November 28 through December 23. To enter, take a photo in front of the exterior holiday decorations at Walnut Grove, then post it on their Facebook wall at www.facebook. com/WalnutGroveLC before the deadline. Use of the hashtag, #WalnutGroveLC is also requested, but not required for contest entry. Both amateur and professional photos are welcome. Winners will be chosen randomly from among entrants to receive holiday gift cards and items from local businesses and restaurants.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has officially launched its new website at www.cppj.net incorporating a fresh design, new navigation and a mobile version optimized for easy viewing on smaller screens. Developed in partnership with Vision Internet, which specializes in government website design, the site puts detailed Parish information at the residents’ fingertips.

The new look incorporates large “call to action” buttons in the center of the page to make finding popular services such as job listings, our mapping application, parks, pet adoptions, the C-GOV TV channel and permit information easy to locate.

Calcasieu web users will also be able to find what they’re looking for based on whether they live here, work here or are just visiting Southwest Louisiana.

The Skin Studios Hosted Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting

CITGO School Uniform Drive Supports E.K. Key Elementary

CITGO Lake Charles employees donated 390 school uniform items to CITGO Partner in Education, E.K. Key Elementary School during the annual CITGO Back-to-School Uniform Drive. The uniform drive is coordinated by the CITGO Safety Directors and is part of the CITGO Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to support education by providing structure and guidance to students as they pursue academic excellence.

CITGO promotes and participates in a variety of socially responsible programs. The company also promotes the spirit of volunteerism and encourages employees to take active roles in their communities.

56 www.thriveswla.com

The Skin Studios, Southwest Louisiana’s premier medical spa, celebrated their grand opening September 22. The event included a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by members of the Chamber of Southwest Louisiana. Guests were treated to tours and demonstrations of the latest anti-aging technology and skin care products available from Dr. Allison Clement, Amber Littlefield, FNP-C and their team of skin care experts. Located at 2640 Country Club Road in Country Club Centre, The Skin Studios offers medical and non-medical treatments and products for advanced aesthetics and antiaging skin care. For more information, call (337) 474-1220.

The Ihles Townhomes are Now Leasing The Ihles Townhomes are open and leasing to tenants. Located off of Ihles Road on Petite Rue in Lake Charles, these new, upscale townhomes are available with one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include large, walk-in closets, Thrive Magazine for Better Living

granite countertops and attached garage. These townhomes are ideal for families or business people.

Fully furnished town homes are also available for short and long-term corporate housing needs.

Floor plans and details are available at www.theihles. com, or by calling (337) 249-2443.

Port of Lake Charles Announces Winners Of 19th Annual Rice Cook-Off

In celebration of September as National Rice Month, the Calcasieu-Cameron Rice Growers sponsored the 19th Annual Rice Cook-Off. The Port of Lake Charles hosted the event and sponsored the awards luncheon. Family and Consumer Science students from thirteen area middle schools and high schools participated in the event.

1st place for the “Best Dish” category went to Kierra Walker of S.J. Welsh Middle School; 2nd place went to Rachel McVey of Iowa High School; 3rd place was awarded to Makayla Hodge of South Beauregard High School; and “Most Heart Healthy” dish went to Evie Talbot of Moss Bluff Middle School. Farmers Rice Milling Co., Inc. sponsored rice cookers for each contestant.

For more information, call (337) 493-3501.

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Awarded Accreditation by Joint Commission West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals.

WCCH underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in May of this year. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated WCCH for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management.

To learn more about The Joint Commission, visit www.jointcommission.org.

November 2016

Listen Hear Hosted Grand Opening

The Eye Clinic Moves to New Office in Sulphur

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Listen Hear, LLC recently held its ribbon cutting at the SEED Center.

The communication training company is an SEED Center Business Incubator client operating out of the SEED Center located at 4310 Ryan Street in Lake Charles.

Madelaine Landry, a retired educator, created the business to assist companies and organizations in developing more effective interpersonal communication skills among their managers and employees. Listening skills form the core of the company’s training sessions.

Employers, managers and directors interested in services can browse the complete listing of topics, session information and contact information at www. listenhear.biz.

November 2016

The Eye Clinic, the region’s largest provider of comprehensive family eye care, has relocated in Sulphur. The group celebrated the move to their new larger office at 720 Cypress Street with a ribbon cutting on October 24.

The Eye Clinic has provided comprehensive eye care for the entire family in Southwest Louisiana for nearly 60 years. The group opened their first satellite office in Sulphur 27 years ago. The new, expanded office located across from West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital features more exam rooms, a larger waiting area, expanded Optics Unlimited eyewear, a full-service contact lens department, additional diagnostic and treatment services, and additional parking.

The Sulphur office is open Monday – Friday, from 8am – 5pm daily. Call (337) 625-8948 for additional information.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

It turns out there may be some truth in the old saying that laughter is the best medicine, says the Association of Mature American Citizens. And, Celeste Greene seems to agree.

Greene, Master Trainer and creator of the LaughActive wellness program, says that “laughter is an enjoyable activity and it carries with it so many health benefits, so we incorporated intentional laughter into this [exercise] program to put the fun in fitness for older adults.”

www.thriveswla.com

57

Style & Beauty

Sweater Weather: Hot Trends for Fall 2016

by Emily Alford

When pumpkin spice starts hitting the shelves and school busses circle the block, it’s time to consider getting those sweaters out of storage. A break in the heat means a perfect opportunity for updating cooler weather wardrobes.

If last year’s sweaters are looking a little stretched and sad, here’s the hottest in cold weather wear to grace the runways for fall 2016.

Tan

Form met function on the fall 2016 runways, and autumn’s musthave piece for editors and fashion bloggers alike is a simple, cozy tan sweater. This year’s style is longer, hitting the upper thigh, which makes it a great layering piece for other looks since it can be dressed up for the office with statement jewelry or worn more casually with ankle booties on the weekend.

Turtlenecks

If you left all your turtlenecks in 2002, it might be time to consider stocking up again! Solid color turtlenecks seem to be the look of the season everywhere from Tory Burch to Alexander Wang. If you’ve got a floral slipdress you loved in the summer, throw a turtleneck underneath for an instantly updated look.

Long Sweaters Over Dresses

This year, menswearinspired layers are making a sleek comeback. One of the hottest fall looks on Pinterest and Instagram is the aforementioned long tan sweater layered over a crisp, tailored white or denim shirtdress. The resultant look is perfectly polished and deceptively simple.

58 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

Embellishments

No need to wait for Christmas to pull out the wacky sweaters. Leather accents, fur, and flowers decorate fall and winter’s flashiest sweaters. Bold is beautiful right now, so don’t feel pressured to dim your fancy sweater with dressed-down bottoms. Louis Vuitton and Escada felt free to pair bright, pattered sweaters with floral print, floor length dresses.

Piercing Inspired

One of the weirdest trends for fall 2016 is “pierced sweaters.” The look is exactly what it sounds like: hoops, barbells, and studs pierced through hoodies and sweaters, normally somewhere near the shoulder. The look has a cool rocker vibe without the pain of actually getting pierced.

Trends come and go, but a well-made, comfy sweater can be an investment that keeps on giving for years to come. If you’re looking to pay a little more for high quality material, this year’s trend toward classic styles in neutral colors means there are a lot of options for buying a new favorite sweater. However, the proliferation of wilder looks and embellishments means that fast-fashion retailers, like Forever 21, should have some fun, inexpensive options for this year’s office Christmas party!

November 2016

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

59

Style & Beauty

BARBER SHOP SHAVE: Everything You Need to Know About the Hottest Grooming Trend

look forward. see brilliantly. iLASIK is now available at The Eye Clinic.

Bring your world back into focus with the advanced iLASIK procedure.

Now is your opportunity to see life’s moments as they were meant to be seen—without the hassle of contacts or glasses.

This all-laser procedure combines custom vision-correcting technologies to correct the broadest range of vision imperfections, including mild to severe nearsightedness, farsightedness and all types of astigmatism.

A Difference You Can See:

Introductory Pricing Available on iLASIK for a Limited Time!

• 100% of patients see 20/40 or better after iLASIK, the standard requirement to drive without prescription lenses.

• Approved by NASA and the U.S. Military.

1-877-95 FOCUS | theeyeclinic.net | BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS l FINANCING AVAILABLE

60 www.thriveswla.com

Razor burn, tiny cuts, ingrown hairs . . . men’s shaving is an oftenoverlooked pain point in many morning grooming rituals. Lately, scores of men have taken to combating shaving annoyances not by testing out the newest shaving technologies, but by embracing the shave of yesteryear and trying out hundredyear-old barbershop techniques.

Everyone from The New York Times to Esquire has been touting the benefits of the old-school safety razor. A safety razor, unlike the plastic models usually found in drug stores, is often made of metal and contains a detachable double-edged razor with two sharp sides. While they’re often more expensive than the disposable models, many men are finding a simpler shave much easier on the skin.

The reason a safety razor shave feels so much better, with less irritation, razor burn, and painful ingrown hairs, is because shaves have gotten a bit too close for comfort in recent years.

Those drug store razors, which often come with upwards of five blades, are great at shearing facial hair. However, they’re also great at shaving off multiple layers of skin, according to dermatologists. It turns out we need those top layers to prevent ingrown hairs as well as to lock in moisture. Dry skin is much more prone to irritation and the harsh effects of heat and cold.

And while many may balk at the cost of a safety razor (high-end models can go for as much as $160) a more expensive razor could actually save men money in the long run. While the razors are costly, replacement blades only run a few dollars, so as long as users keep the razor itself clean and free of errant hairs, a good razor could last indefinitely.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

by Emily Alford

November 2016

Care That Makes You SMILE

Seki Edge Feather All Stainless Steel Double Edge Safety Razor Available at Amazon.com

Lather & Wood Shaving Soap - Barbershop Scent Available at Amazon.com

As many men shift to throwback razors, they’re also tossing out all those cheap cans of chemical-packed shaving cream and replacing them with gentler stuff. Subscription plans like the Dollar Shave Club, which delivers monthly blades and grooming products right to users’ doors, include customizable butters, calming creams, and even cleansers to soothe skin before and after shaving.

With old-school shaving products, however, come new techniques.

Many men, used to pressing hard on disposable razors for a close shave, can end up learning a painful lesson when shaving with safety razors. The key, according to experts, is to hold the razor at a 30-degree angle and shave with the hair, never against the grain. Don’t push it; let the blades gently do their work.

Though the process may take a little longer, safety razor enthusiasts swear by the end result, saying it’s a much more soothing way to start the day.

November 2016

Your smile is your trademark; it lights up your face and expresses your joy and friendliness.

Put your smile in safe, experienced hands: the hands of the team at Lake Area Dentistry.

Dr. Jeffery Hennigan and Dr. Nathan Bray, along with their team of hygienists and dental assistants, provide outstanding, comprehensive dental care. Your comfort and confidence is their priority. Perfect your smile with Lake Area Dentistry.

We offer all aspects of General Dentistry including:

Family | Preventive | Restorative | Sedation Implant | Emergency | Minor Orthodontics Same Day Procedures

LAKE AREA DENTISTRY 337-478-8470 700 W. McNeese Street | Lake Charles lakeareadentistry.com Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

61

Style & Beauty

NIFTY ACCESSORIES

Let us tell your story. advertising public relations graphic design media relations

social media copywriting photography strategic planning

video production website development event planning corporate communication

(337) 312-0972

836 University Dr., Lake Charles

THAT MAKE HOLIDAY TRAVEL EASY

by Emily Alford

ehealthyimage.com

B

etween buying the perfect gifts, returning not-so-perfect gifts, basting the turkey and candying the yams, the holidays can seem more like an endurance marathon than a relaxing time to enjoy family. Add travel to the mix, and the holidays seem even more like a race. But packing for holiday travel doesn’t have to be a chore. Here are some accessories to simplify shuttling from one city to the next. Plus, they make great gifts for the busy traveller in your life!

Holidays can be stressful, but traveling can be much easier with thoughtful planning and the right organizational accessories. And while a portable charger might not be the most exciting stocking stuffer, it might just come in handy on the journey home!

U. S. Chamber Top 100 Small Business • SWLA Chamber Small Business of the Year LA Department of Economic Development • Regional Small Business of the Year

62 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

One of the best ways for frequent flyers to save money is to invest in reusable travel bottles, like the GoToob. These two-ounce bottles meet TSA guidelines for liquids and can be filled again and again with your favorite liquid products.

Found at Amazon.com

Cancelling out noise with headphones is often the key to getting rest while traveling. Unfortunately, earbuds or headphones don’t really make for comfortable sleeping.

Sleepphone headbands lay flat against the head to make for more comfortable sleep that will block out the sounds of the noisy passengers three rows back. Found at Amazon.com

Grid-It by Cocoon is an inexpensive way to organize all of your little items. It’s a flat surface with snug elastic strips for keeping important, but tiny, items in place.

Found at cocooninnovations.com

One of the true joys of travel is blocking everyone else out and taking a plane or car nap, and while those doughnut shaped neck pillows are readily available at every airport, they’re not always the most comfortable way to sleep. The Travelrest Ultimate Travel Pillow turns a seatbelt into a pillow, and is the next best thing to laying your head on a seatmate’s shoulder.

Found at Amazon.com

If you’ve got a loved one who’s always losing chargers, a charger organizer might help him or her both keep track of chargers and save precious room in a small carry-on.

Found at Amazon.com

Airports can be difficult places to charge phones, with thousands of travelers fighting for limited wall outlets, and because more people use mobile boarding passes than ever before, a dead phone could become a major hassle.

Investing in a portable “juice pack,” which looks like a regular phone case but recharges phones, is a smart investment for any traveler, since a dead phone on a road trip could also mean getting very lost.

Found at Amazon.com

Look

Fabulous this Fall

Our services include: • • • • • • • •

Chemical Peels Microdermabrasion Cosmetic Injections Dermapen Targeted Skin Care Treatments PCA Home Care Products Jane Iredale Mineral Make-up Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Revive your skin for the new season.

It’s time to get focused on looking your best this fall and for the upcoming holiday season.

Months of fun in the sun can drain the skin of nutrients and lead to premature aging – wrinkling, dryness, discoloration and an overall faded, tired appearance.

Freshen up for cool-weather season with a little help from the Aesthetic Center. Our skin care specialists will asses your skin and recommend rejuvenating treatments and products to restore a healthier, more youthful appearance.

Call 310-1070 for more information or to schedule your appointment.

Dr. Mark Crawford,

Medical Director

(337) November 2016

310-1070 l facehealth.net

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

63

Mark Your Calendar!

Holiday Art Market Scheduled Holiday Art Market will be held on December 9-11 at Central School in Lake Charles. The market will return with an array of fine and handmade items crafted by area artists. Artisan/vendor applications are now being accepted at www.artscouncilswla. org. Holiday Art Market is presented annually by the City of Lake Charles and the Arts Council of SWLA. For more details, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787.

L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles to Honor United States Veterans and Service Personnel L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles will honor veterans and active duty military personnel by offering complimentary lunch at their awardwinning buffet on Veterans Day, November 11 at Le Beaucoup Buffet from 11am-2:30pm.

A veteran’s card or valid military ID should be presented to the buffet cashier to qualify for the complimentary meal; one per person.

Complimentary meal valid for veterans or active duty military personnel only; companion meals at full price. Not valid with any other offers; alcohol not included. Must be 21.

St. Paul Lutheran Church Annual Christmas Bazaar The Annual Christmas Bazaar will be on November 11 from 9am-4pm and on November 12 from 8am2pm. An evening preview will be held on November 9 from 5-7pm for a dollar or more donation to Potter’s House, a local women and children’s shelter.

St. Paul Lutheran Church is at 1601 East Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles.

Gingerbread House Competition Scheduled The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau’s annual Gingerbread House Contest is a wonderful way for visitors to feel the community’s Christmas spirit when they see the houses on display at the Welcome Center throughout December.

Entry forms are now available for the Annual Gingerbread House Contest, which will be held at noon on December 3. The awards ceremony, sponsored by the CVB, will be held at the bureau located at 1205 North Lakeshore Drive in Lake Charles. The deadline to register for the contest is November 16.

Entries must be delivered to the Convention & Visitors Bureau between 1-4:30pm on December 2.

For more information or to register, c all (337) 436-9588.

64 www.thriveswla.com

Isle of Capri Announces November Lineup 11/2 Karaoke 11/3 Will Wesley and the Juke Box Band 11/4 The Prime Time Band 11/5 Herbie Stutes and The Grand Shin 11/9 Karaoke 11/10 Orphan Annie 11/11 David Joel 11/12 The Pookie Marceaux Band 11/16 Karaoke 11/17 Tomplay 11/18 David St. Romain 11/19 The Kadillacs 11/23 Karaoke 11/24 Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krew 11/25 Deuce Jacko’s Zydeflo 11/26 Deuce Jacko’s Zydeflo 11/30 Karaoke

L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles Announces November Entertainment Jack Daniel’s Bar and Grill 11/1 DJ Verrett 11/2 Josh Taylor 11/4 LA Yard Dogs 11/5 DJ Crush 11/6 Chester & Jarius Daigle, Brittany Pfantz 11/8 DJ Verrett 11/9 Street Side Jazz Trio 11/11 Rusty Metoyer 11/12 Dj San-D 11/13 Chester & Jarius Daigle, Charlie Wayne 11/15 DJ Verrett 11/16 Kris Harper and Frankie Randazzo 11/18 The Kings of Mojo

11/19 11/20 11/22 11/23 11/25 11/26 11/27

11/29 11/30

Paws teh Cat Chester & Jarius Daigle, Kevin Johnson DJ Verrett Kory Fontenot LA Express DJ CaGe Chester & Jarius Daigle, Kris Harper and Matt Moss DJ Verrett Kevin Johnson Duo

Ember Grille & Wine Bar 11/1 Chip Radford 11/2 Chester Daigle 11/3,4,5 Julie Williams 11/7 Bryan Trahan 11/8 Kevin Lambert 11/9 Chester Daigle 11/10,11,12 Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 11/14 Kenneth Espree 11/15 Kay Miller 11/16 Chester Daigle 11/17,18,19 Rusty Yates 11/21 Stacy Beardon 11/22 Chip Radford 11/23 Chester Daigle 11/24,25,26 Kay Miller & Aaron Home

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

November 2016

The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. announces

Mistletoe & Moss HOLIDAY MARKET

November 17th - 19th, 2016 Lake Charles Civic Center

General Marketplace Friday, November 18th 9:00am to 8:00pm

& Saturday, November 19th 9:00am to 6:00pm Admission is $11 per person, children under 8 are free, no stroller fee

Preview Party Gala

a musical history of swla

Thursday, November 17th 7:00pm to 10:00pm, $63 per person

Ladies Night

Friday, November 18th 5:00pm to 8:00pm / $26 per person

Thursday, November 10 | 7–9 PM Benjamin W. Mount Theatre

(This event includes 10% off from merchants)

Historic Central School, Lake Charles

Local band Sinners, whose influences are deeply rooted in Cajun, swamp pop and country music, will be the house band as talented vocalists and guest musicians from all genres are welcomed to the stage to share the music of Southwest Louisiana’s past.

Cookies with Santa & Friends

Guest musicians include members of Lost Bayou Ramblers as well as more Lake Area favorites.

Saturday, November 19th 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm $16 per person

Limited seating is available.

Presented by

(Don’t forget your camera to get pictures with Santa)

Tickets available at Eventbrite.com lehlogo.pdf

10/5/09

1:49:18 PM

KnowLouisiana.org

artsandhumanitiesswla.org | (337) 439-ARTS |

November 2016

The Magazine of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

The Digital Encyclopedia of Louisiana and Home of Louisiana Cultural Vistas

Funds raised at Roots Revival are reinvested back into the SWLA community through the Arts Council’s services and events .

- Tickets are available at The Junior League of Lake Charles office, The Civic Center Box Office or online at www.jllc.net.

- All proceeds benefit the community programs of The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc.

- Prices listed reflect the ticket price and 4% sales tax.

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

www.thriveswla.com

65

!

Solutions for Life

from Solutions Counseling & EAP

by Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, LPC, LMFT, CEAP

Letting Go of Unfair Fighting So here we are: month 11 of my “Letting Go Of” series. This past month, I feel I have seen so many couples who are arguing more and more. Usually it’s because of increased stress in other areas of life: the job, aging parents, issues with children, money woes, etc.

And when we are stressed, who do we take it out on? Why, the person we supposedly love the most – our partner!

Conflict within relationships is to be expected. You come from different backgrounds, and the families you grew up in had different rules. Differences and diversity, while very important and good, often breed conflict. It’s normal.

Frankly, when I have a couple who tells me they never argue or disagree, I get worried. One thing I know is that when you care about something or someone, conflict will arise. I worry that couples who are not disagreeing have grown apathetic – and that is much harder to work with than the couples who argue all the time.

Once you accept that conflict is normal within relationships, you can begin to deal with it more effectively.

As long as you freak out whenever there is a disagreement (because in your mind, “good” relationships don’t involve arguing), you will never be able to resolve things in a healthy way.

Here are some tips for dealing with conflict (or fighting fair) in a healthy way: 1. Commit to dealing with the issues.

I see so many couples where one person avoids conflict like it’s the plague. So the other person reacts by confronting in bigger ways (louder, angrier, etc.).

And still nothing gets resolved – because now the couple is arguing

66 www.thriveswla.com

about why one never wants to deal with anything and the other makes such a big deal about everything.

The first step is to agree that if something is bothering one of you, that person will bring it up appropriately to the other person. The key word here is “appropriately.” No yelling, no sulking, no weeks of silent treatment.

2. Create the right environment.

Make sure you have enough time and enough privacy to deal with things. If there are kids running around and you only have 5 minutes, I can guarantee it won’t work. If, due to your busy lives, it won’t happen spontaneously, schedule time to discuss important things.

Location is important too. Choose a neutral, pleasant place to have difficult discussions. Weather permitting, a walk outside is great. Many people are uncomfortable looking face-toface at the person they are unhappy with. Walking beside that person will increase their likelihood to engage.

Holding hands is even better!

Another aspect of creating the right environment involves sharing with each other the things that would increase the likelihood of successfully addressing issues as they arise. Maybe it’s a “no yelling” rule, or maybe it’s the right to call “time out” if things are getting too tense (with the agreement to reconvene at a certain time). Fair fighting includes agreeing upon the rules of engagement.

3. Speak for yourself!

Remember to use “I” statements – a way of communicating that does not blame, but focuses on you taking responsibility for your feelings. Avoid using the word “you” as much as possible. “You handled

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

that terribly!” becomes “I feel irritated when things are handled that way.”

Read both of the proceeding statements out loud and you will undoubtedly hear that the second sentence is much less accusatory. When the person you’re speaking to doesn’t feel accused (which leads them to feel defensive), they will be much more able to focus on resolving the issue. Remember, the goal is to solve the problem, not make the other person feel bad.

4. Repeat, then respond. Most people don’t listen to their partner very well when the partner is upset. Oh, they get the general idea that he/she is angry, but they lose the details. Additionally, most people are so focused on their own response that they tune out on what the other person is saying. This guarantees the argument will continue because the person speaking never feels truly heard. I suggest, instead, that you both adopt a new rule: repeat back what your partner has said to you before you respond. This accomplishes two things: one, you truly understand what the issue is; two, your partner feels heard and understood (which is more important than you understanding, trust me). When you repeat what you’ve heard, give your partner a minute to confirm or tweak what you’ve said. I am always amazed at the number of arguments where the couple doesn’t even really know what they are arguing about!

Now, let’s get ready to rumble (in only the nicest and healthiest way, of course)!

November 2016

CITGO Awards McNeese Students with Scholarships

The CITGO Lake Charles Refinery awarded $15,000 in scholarships to McNeese State University (MSU) Business and Engineering students. The 14 scholarships included five Business scholarships and nine Engineering scholarships to Mechanical and Chemical Engineering students. All scholarship winners received their scholarships through application and based on CITGO scholastic criteria.

The MSU business scholarship recipients each received a $1,000 scholarship towards their college education – a share of $5,000 scholarship funds CITGO awards to Business students annually. The students also received their name on a plaque to be hung in the

November 2016

MSU College of Business. Business students awarded included, Savannah Carter, senior in Management and CITGO Procurement Buyer Intern; Olivia Karam, senior in Management and CITGO Human Resources Intern; Hannah Smith, senior in Management; Alla Voth, junior in Management and Tevin Wilson, senior in General Business Administration.

The MSU Engineering scholarship recipients each received a $1,111.11 scholarship towards their college education – a share of $10,000 annual scholarship funds CITGO awarded to the Mechanical and Chemical disciplines at MSU ($5,000 per discipline). Engineering students awarded included six Mechanical Engineering students: Daniel Decareaux, senior; David Fontenot, May 2016 graduate; Coye Huber, senior; Garrett Soileau, May 2016 graduate; Cory VanNetta, senior; Casey White, senior; and three Chemical Engineering students: Rebecca Ardoin, May 2016 graduate; Stephen Carrier, senior; and Cameron Conley, senior. All of the engineering scholarship winners also recently worked in co-op positions at CITGO. The CITGO scholarships are one more example of how CITGO supports education

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

both locally and at the national level. CITGO Lake Charles Refinery is very active in supporting education at all levels in Calcasieu Parish.

McNeese Banners Receives Donation from Entergy Banners at McNeese State University is annually supported by donations from area corporate sponsors.

Entergy has donated $12,500 for Patricia Prudhomme, Banners director, accepts the spring the donation from Chip Arnould, Entergy senior 2017 Banners region manager.

Cultural Season and 2016 Banners Engages educational programming for students.

www.thriveswla.com

67

Jessica McBride NMLS# 416713 Kristin Farlow NMLS# 1159991 Mandi Grueber NMLS# 1244866

68 www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Magazine for Better Living

Magan Whaley NMLS#1486969 Channing Moore NMLS#1235512 Jessica Marcantel, LO Assistant

November 2016