may 23, 2019 volume 22, issue 4...may 23, 2019 volume 22, issue 4. etiquette center of the south,...

May 23, 2019 Volume 22, Issue 4

Etiquette Center of the South, LLC

Mary Chauvin403 Sugar Mill CourtyardHouma, Louisiana 70360(985) 856-6576Consulting

Once Upon a Time Antiques& Estate Sales

Theresa Zeringue300 East 7th StreetThibodaux, Louisiana 70301(985) 859-6872Antiques

Latter & Blum Realtors, Inc,Thibodaux

Christie Kliebert509 Canal BoulevardThibodaux, Louisiana 70301(985) 438-3360Realtor

Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Andy Mitts324 E. Lockwood StreetCovington, Louisiana 70433(985) 482-2525Restaurants

Moore Industries, LLC

Dylan Vaughn10037 Baringer Foeman RoadBaton Rouge, Louisiana 70809-5710(225) 412-5714Construction

Verizon Russell Cellular

Casey Johansen210 Unit B North Canal BoulevardThibodaux, Louisiana 70301(985) 788-0153

AppleGate Recovery

Michael Markey2000 Audubon Avenue, Suite CThibodaux, Louisiana 70301(504) 329-0412

2 Thibodaux Chamber Insight | Thursday, May 23, 2019 | www.thibodauxchamber.com

Pest Control

985-868-3920 www.terminix-houma.com

termite Prevention Home insulation

Award-winningPest Control and

Community Servants

Dan Foster of Terminix Services in Houma

was recently awarded the Paul K. Adams Award

of Excellence by the Louisiana Pest Management

Association. Terminix of Houma was also

awarded the 2014 Community Champion

by the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber

for the company’s

volunteer contributions and

commitment to Terrebonne

Parish and the Bayou Region.

Dan FosterBilly Foster

JUNE 9Hats Off to HOPE Brunch Benefit

11:00a to 1:00pThe Foundry, Thibodaux

$45/person

JUNE 13Business After Hours

5:00p to 7:00pCC's Coffee House

1050 S. Acadia Rd., Ste. A

JUNE 19Lunch -n- Learn: Business Etiquette

11:00a to 1:00pChamber Office

JUNE 26Ladies Football Clinic

5:00p to 10:00pNicholls campus

JUNE 26 - 30Manning Passing Academy

Nicholls campus

JUNE 28Boogie on the Bayou

6:00p to 10:00pDowntown Thibodaux

BOARD MEMBERS:Brandy Braud

Gaubert Oil Company

Crystal ChiassonLouisiana Workforce

Commission

Howell ChiassonPedestal Bank

Tommy EscheteCity of Thibodaux Mayor

Donna GravoisJohn Deere Thibodaux, Inc.

Kayla HenningerAdvance Physical Therapy

& Rehabilitation, LLC

Terrolyn MitchellThe Cove at Legacy Point

Monique CrochetNicholls State University

Danielle SteinThibodaux Main Street, Inc.

Rebecca ThibodauxSimply NonProfits

President and CEOTammy Ledet

[email protected]

Executive AssistantSarah Rodrigue

[email protected]

Membership AssistantRick Reso

[email protected]

Insight Managing EditorBen Jones Jr.

[email protected]

STAFF:

318 East Bayou RoadThibodaux, Louisiana 70302

(985) 446-1187Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm

If you are a member of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce and feel that you have a story or business-related story that would be of interest to our community, please let us know. If you are interested in becoming an advertiser in Chamber Insight, please contact Marian Long of the Daily Comet at (985) 857-2291. Anyone wishing to join the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce should call the Chamber of Commerce office for more information. Use Chamber Insight to promote your products and services. In addition to great advertising rates in Chamber Insight, members who wish to have their advertising flyers inserted into our mailing can continue to do so. Flyers are inserted into the Chamber Insight. A $100 fee assists in the mailing expenses. All flyers must be delivered to the Chamber of Commerce office by the second Monday of the month to be included in the next issue of Chamber Insight.

Contents 2 Welcome New Members

4 President's Perspective

5 From the Chair

6 City News

6 Louisiana Cajun Bayou

7 Thibodaux in Time

8 Nicholls News

9 Member Feature— St. Charles Elementary

10 Thibodeauxville Sponsorship

12 Cover Feature —Monique Crochet

15 Member News

16 Financial Focus

17 Great Food!

18 Out and About with the Chamber

21 Health Affairs

21 LA1 Coalition

22 Fletcher Food Pantry

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

LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Liz Arceneaux

The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect theofficial policies or positions of the Thibodaux Chamber

of Commerce Board of Directors and Staff.

OFFICERS: Chairman of the Board Donald Barrilleaux First American Bank

Chair Elect Kassie Barrancotto Synergy Bank

Treasurer Sandy Holloway BESE Board and B.C.A.

Secretary Napoleon Ortiz Thibodaux Regional Medical Center

Past Chair Cody Blanchard White Car Marketing

On The Cover:Monique Crochet, Executive Director for External Affairs at Nicholls State University.

—COVER PHOTO COURTESY OFJULIANA PENNISON

www.thibodauxchamber.com | Thibodaux Chamber Insight | Thursday, May 23, 2019 3

SPONSOR OF THE QUARTER:


TAMMY LEDETChamber President/CEO

May is always an exciting month. Between the hustle and bustle of schools coming to end for the semester or for the school year, we find time to remember mothers, grandmothers, godmothers and all who serve others in that role. Hopefully, you took a few minutes to recognize all these wonderful mother figures in your life, whether it was through a card, flowers, sharing a great meal or just spending time with them. It’s showing them how much you appreciate them and all that they do for you. In my case, it was remembering the memories we had and offering prayers for her.

Next, we celebrate all of the graduates in our lives and in our community. Whether it’s’ from Kindergarten, high school or college, we are so proud of each and every one of you! Ceremonies for graduating Kindergarten students are so precious. It’s the start of an amazing journey ahead of them. For High School and College graduates, you should be very proud of your accomplishments. When you think back on the number of hours you worked on essays or special projects, and participated in sports or band and it all worked out. It is truly an amazing feeling and gets better the day of graduation, when you receive the diploma. As in a book, when one chapter ends, another one begins. Here’s hoping that the next chapters for our graduates will be as rewarding as the last and may all of your dreams be fulfilled. To celebrate our high school seniors, we will be awarding a couple of scholarships to those attending either Nicholls State University or Fletcher in the fall. We also want to thank the Norman Swanner Foundation for funding one of these scholarships.

May concludes with Memorial Day which is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering and honoring those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May, will be celebrated on Monday, May 27th this year. It is also considered the unofficial start of the summer vacation season in the United States, while Labor Day marks its end on the first Monday of September. Moving into summer, here’s what’s in store for you at the Chamber! On June 12th, there will be a Legislative Breakfast at the Rendezvous featuring some of our representatives and senators, providing an update of the session. On June 13th, there will be a Business After Hours at CCs Coffee from 5 – 7 pm and on Wednesday, June 19th, sign up for a Lunch-n-Learn on Business Etiquette. This is one you won’t want to miss! Call us today at 985-446-1187 or visit us at www.thibodauxchamber.com.

Our members are truly the backbone of the Chamber’s success and that is why it is so important for our members to take the Membership Online Survey that was sent out. Your input is very valuable to us and is why we want to know how we can make things better. Please take a moment to help us help YOU!

A Special Time

Experience · Quality · Integrity Since 1979

Chris rodrigue, President1453 Tiger DriveThibodaux, LA 70301 985.447.2164

RODRIGUE’S ELECTRIC INC.RODRIGUE’S ELECTRIC INC.

Providing SolutionS forbuSineSSeS, governmentS and individualS

Since 1947.

Stagni & Company, LLC

Accounting · Auditing · tAxAtion

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207 Lafaye AvenueThibodaux, Louisiana 70301

Phone 985/447-7226 •• Fax 985/446-3032

email: [email protected]: www.stagni.com

DONALD BARRILLEAUX2019 Chamber Chairman

Due to the amazing success of our recent 2019 Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair, I wanted to forward the response from the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. Please read below: “Thanks Just Isn't Enough Thank you just doesn’t seem to be enough to describe our feelings we wish to express to all who came out to the 2019 Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair. As we effort to formulate the appropriate words of thanks we reflect on what makes someone wish to become something greater by giving of themselves the way we as members do and you as citizens who support our department do. Pride, honor, tradition, courage, and service are some of the values one thinks of when contemplating what comprises the fire service. Steeped in tradition, these values are present in the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department, without a doubt. There are a couple more values in the TVFD that do not get spoken of but are on full display the first weekend of May every year and this year was no different. These unspoken values were demonstrated by the family who worked the hamburger stand together for the entire weekend. Father, husband, mom, wife and children. They did this as a family because as the family said, “We do this because we love our father and son who are members and we believe in them and what they stand for. We are proud of them.” The “Deeds Not Words” of this family demonstrate how much they love their family. They were apparent on the parade route when firefighters spotted one of

their own senior men, a member, sitting ‘Ever Alert’ under a shade tree in full dress uniform reviewing the current generation he left in charge of the department he was instrumental in molding as they marched on parade day. Although he was not with them marching, members stopped to honor him and tell him, ‘It’s good to see you today Brother.’ The mystic values not spoken of until now were practiced by families earlier in the morning in their homes and on the parade route as they pinned flowers on members of the department in celebration of the tradition that began long ago. Precise execution of the often-overlooked ethos was carried out in the courage of one of our own who mustered up the will to leave the comfort and safety of his hospital bed where he continues to fight an illness. He wanted to be with his brothers and sisters on parade day because it’s what he has always done. If you’d have asked him he believes his service as Captain on this day was non-negotiable, a requirement. It was his duty to be there for his company whose motto is ironically “Friends in Need.” Why don’t we talk about the two values you may ask? We believe it is because in Thibodaux, we don’t need to write them on a wall to be reminded of them. It’s who we are and our ‘Action Speaks’ in the way we care for one another. We, the citizens of Thibodaux did it yet again. Our department, our fair was an overwhelming

See THANKS, page 16


A Special Thanks from the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department

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TIMOTHY BUSHLouisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Lafourche Parish

As part of National Travel and Tourism Week, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism (LCBT) honored four local tourism partners with awards in recognition for their dedicated service to the tourism industry in Lafourche Parish.

The Carmel Inn and Suites and the Hampton Inn and Suites, both of Thibodaux, were given the Outstanding Tourism Partner award. The award was presented to both accommodations partners who have been instrumental in helping Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou secure groups and meetings for Lafourche Parish. They have also worked with the tourism office in hosting journalists and travel writers and always go above and beyond to showcase the destination.

The Spirit of the Bayou award was given to Francis T. Martin, owner of La Famille Martin Bed Breakfast. This very special honor was created to recognized a tourism partner who lives out the Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou brand of true, authentic Cajun hospitality and embodies our unique culture and heritage every day.

Senator Norby Chabert was awarded the Governmental Friend of Tourism award for his support of tourism for Lafourche Parish on a statewide platform and his efforts in pushing tourism forward to create a stronger economic impact in Lafourche Parish.

“These awards celebrate partners who have an unwavering passion for our community and display exceptional customer service with all who visit Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou,” said Timothy P. Bush, president & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. “Without the support of our partners, we would not be able to promote, develop, and maintain Lafourche Parish as a destination and we appreciate their continued support.”

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Honors Tourism PartnersTOMMY ESCHETE

City of Thibodaux Mayor

With all the rain we have had this spring, I’m hoping for a less active summer so we can dry out some. I guess I should know the weather in South Louisiana by now. Well, we have all but wrapped up registration for our summer recreation programs and the current school year will soon end. I anticipate that our programs will again be a huge success and that Mother Nature will cooperate with us for the most part. My hats are off to our recreation department staff for making our programs second to none! Summer will soon be in full swing which means that it’s time for us in City government to begin working on our budget for the year 2020. It is my goal to gather as much input from the Council and interested citizens relative to projects which may be included in the proposed budget. The City Council will convene a special meeting for the purpose of holding a pre-budget conference. The meeting will be held the second week in July on a date to be determined. It will be held at 5PM in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. We want to gather input from our citizens and businesses prior to commencement of capital projects so as to address the actual needs and concerns of our citizens with little guesswork. I encourage all of our citizens and business leaders to keep us informed of your needs during the year even when the budget process is over. City Hall belongs to the fine people of our City. I and the City Council members only occupy your building as your elected representative. Please give us the guidance and ideas to lead in the best possible way! Our City employees are the backbone of your City government. From public works to recreation to police and all those departments in between, the dedication and effort of our employees never cease to amaze me. We truly have some of the most dedicated individuals working day and night to provide you with the safe and peaceful community we live in. Our success as elected leaders is absolutely a result of the hard work and effort of our City employees. When the opportunity presents itself please let our City workers know how good a job they do. We try to do it every day, but it means so much more when it comes from John Q. Public. Finally, let’s pray that our hurricane season is very uneventful. Regardless, please take all storm precautions as we do each and every year. Have your plan updated and ready to put into action. Although the number of storms may be very low, we must remember that it only takes one to devastate a community and a lifetime of investment of hard work!

City of ThibodauxUpdates

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PATTY WHITNEYBayou History Center, Inc. © 2019

LTA stands for Lighter-Than-Air, denoting a craft that flies with gases that are lighter than air. One type of LTA is a Dirigible, synonymous with the term Airship. This type of LTA craft has a source of power and is steerable. The word Dirigible comes from the French verb diriger, meaning to steer. Dirigibles include three general types: rigid, semi-rigid, and blimps. A rigid airship or dirigible maintains its shape by means of a metal framework which surrounds one or more gas cells. Sometimes the word Zeppelin is used to refer to a rigid airship, but this is an incorrect use of the word because Zeppelin is actually the name of a manufacturer of rigid airships. Just as not all photocopiers are Xerox, not all rigid airships are Zeppelins. The German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin is considered the father of the rigid airship. The most famous Zeppelin airship was the LZ-129 Hindenburg. The newest Goodyear airship in service today is actually a Zeppelin and not a blimp. A semi-rigid airship maintains its shape from internal gas pressure, but it has a partial rigid frame, usually in the form of a keel. The keel supports and distributes loads and provides structural integrity during maneuvering. A blimp is technically a pressure airship whose shape is maintained only by the pressure of the gases within its envelope. It is generally a large balloon. If the structure loses its gaseous pressure, the craft deflates and loses its shape. LTA’s, particularly blimps, played an important role in World War II serving in anti-submarine and reconnaissance roles. In the early years of WWII there was a major need for fuel to support the equipment needed in the war effort. Since Louisiana and the Gulf Coast were major suppliers of petroleum products, the waters of the Gulf were used to transport fuel products around the world as needed, mostly using Merchant Marine

ships and seamen. This made them a captive target for German submarines known as U-boats. The U.S. Navy nicknamed the region the “Gulf Sea Frontier.” According to C.J. Christ in his excellent book entitled “WWII In The Gulf of Mexico,” there were 41 ships sunk in the Gulf Sea Frontier just in the month of May 1942. In June the German submarines sunk more ships in that single month than in all the other theaters of the war combined. The intense attacks lasted for five months, during which time President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized creating a Civil Air

Patrol to use civilian help in patrolling the coastal waters. The Navy contracted to build a “Blimp Base” in Houma, which led to the creation of the Houma Naval Air Station. Local residents of Terrebonne and Lafourche still often refer to the current site of the Houma Municipal Airport as “The Blimp Base.” Mr. Christ recounts several interesting and/or amusing anecdotes in his well-researched book relating to blimp events. One story involves the very large, one-of-a-kind wooden doors of the huge hangar blowing open, causing several of the blimps to be blown around the Houma area and destroyed. Another story involves the crew of a blimp from Houma running into trouble as

they encountered a strong storm, ran out of fuel, lost their radio power, and began to sink while drifting wherever the wind blew. They ended up over Kosciusko, Mississippi but couldn’t land safely, so they sent a young ensign down a rope to talk to the townfolks and solicit help

f r o m all the strong men of the town. Someone went around town with a sound truck calling out for helpers. The entire football team from the local high school showed up. They finally got a fuel truck to load 500 gallons of road gas onboard and the blimp headed for Houma. When they neared Houma, however, they realized they were too heavy to land safely, so they had to drop things overboard; things like tools, a machine gun, chairs and gas. The weirdest drop though was a bomb that they heaved over onto the Houma golf course. Today there are only small sections of the giant hangar remaining as a reminder of the Gulf Coast’s importance to the war efforts and the loss of life here that was anything but a

“foreign” war. It’s amazing how many young people today have never even heard of the Houma Naval Air Station and the blimps that flew over the coast to protect America’s war efforts.


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A blimp near its hangar at the Houma Naval Air Station.—COURTESY PHOTO

DR. JAY CLUNENicholls State University President

The month of June brings such change. The Spring Semester has come to a close with more than 750 graduates walking across the stage to receive their associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Summer weather is officially upon us, although the heat and humidity have been back well before the summer solstice. And, this year, the legislative session has ended with little drama for higher education. Though many of our traditional students will still be on campus inching closer to their degree, the summer also welcomes other types of students to our campus. Through our various internal camps – such as our Colonel Campers, cheer, performing arts and even Harry Potter camps, to name a few – we will welcome more than 800 summer campers to our campus. Our renowned International Sugars Institute will begin this month with future leaders in the sugar industry receiving in-depth training on the sugar cane harvesting process. A flock of future football players will join us later this month as the annual Offensive/Defensive Line Camp, which brings about 500 campers to Nicholls, will be held June 22-25, and then the Manning Passing Academy, which brings more than 1,200 campers from across the globe, will be held June 27-30. Each of these camps is a boon to our local economy, and we are thrilled to welcome them to Nicholls. Last month, we unveiled to our campus our first food pantry. Food insecurity is a nationwide problem, with studies suggesting that as many as 50 percent of college students in the U.S. don’t have regular access to food. The think tank, Urban Institute, estimates that 11 percent of families who have a student in college also face some kind of food security issue. That is why the U.S. Government Accountability Office declared this February that food insecurity is a problem we must solve. That’s why we partnered with Mom’s Pantry, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping end hunger issues in the Bayou Region. The pantry will be open to all students at all hours of the day. I want our students to be concerned about their studies, not whether or not they have something to eat at the end of the day. For more information about what is happening at Nicholls State University, visit nicholls.edu as well as the Nicholls Facebook and Twitter pages.

From The Desk of the President


Nicholls Ranked Safest University in Louisiana By Security Resource Nicholls State University has been ranked the safest campus in Louisiana by online security resource, YourLocalSecurity.com. Using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security analysis and the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, YourLocalSecuirty.com looked at the main campuses of public, private and non-profit colleges that offer two- and four-year degrees and have at least 5,000 students. A total of 435 schools met the criteria, and from there, factors to determine safety included hate crimes per enrolled students, violence against women per enrolled females, property crime per population and violent crime per population. University Police Department Chief Craig Jaccuzzo said one impressive factor is that Nicholls is a four-year residential institution with every extra-curricular activity and a full list of athletic programs, and similar institutions struggle to make lists such as this. “UPD maintains the foundations of community policing, in that our officers are responsive to the particular needs of our university. We use out of the box critical thinking skills for the solutions instead of the traditional policing,” Chief Jaccuzzo said. “We are regularly recognized as a university with a low crime rate. It is because of the hard work from the men and women of UPD and because our administration, faculty and students will not stand for certain behaviors on campus.” An online safety advocate, YourLocalSecuirty.com promotes information to build safer environments and provides local security through ADT all across the country.

Nicholls Bank Case Study TeamSelected to Advance Nicholls State University’s Community Bank Case Study Competition student team is one of 15 nationwide that have advanced to a second round of the 2019 Conference of State Bank Supervisors competition. The team, selected by finance faculty, partnered with a local community bank to develop a case study using the bank’s story through media including essay, charts and video. This year’s competition examines how the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act has helped community banks foster economic growth. Teams advancing to the second round were chosen from a pool of 58 undergraduate student teams representing 44 colleges and

universities. The CSBS’ competition aims to give students first-hand knowledge of the banking industry. The students’ work will be judged by two additional panels of experts, with the top three teams being announced on May 23 at the CSBS State-Federal Supervisors Symposium in San Antonio. The announcement will be streamed live on Twitter, at @CSBSNews. Winners receive an academic scholarship, a chance to get their work published in an academic journal and an opportunity to attend the seventh annual CSBS-Federal Reserve Community Banking Research Conference, which will be in St. Louis in October.


St. Charles Elementary School is located at 1690 Highway 1 in Thibodaux. The school hosts grades Pre-K through 5th with 250 enrolled students, 18 dedicated teachers, and 55 staff members.

St. Charles Elementary School was recently awarded a National Blue Ribbon School Nomination. “Only six Louisiana schools stand out for their ability to either steadily improve student achievement over subsequent years or consistently remain one of the top performing schools in the state,” said State Superintendent John White. “This is a commendable achievement worthy of this distinguished honor.”

St. Charles is one of two schools recognized as "Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools."

They are among the state's highest-performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years. The school received

a Performance score of 99.9 in the 2017-2018 school year. It was also chosen as a Top Gains Honoree, meaning that the school demonstrated exceptional student progress earning

an “A” for student progress, ensuring that students meet or exceed their learning goals each year. Top Gains schools must also not be persistently struggling with subgroups or student behavior. Along with Top Gains Honoree, St. Charles Elementary is also an Equity Honoree. Schools on the Equity Honor Roll are demonstrating excellence in serving economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and/or English language learners. These schools must also not be persistently struggling with any student subgroups or student behavior.

St. Charles Elementary School’s Olivia Naquin, 5th grade, was also recognized as Student of the Year for Lafourche Parish.

— C —

ST. CHARLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL


2019 Sponsorship Form November 9, 2019 Name of Business:

Contact Name: Date: Address:

City, State, Zip:

Email Address: Phone/ Cell:

Please check selected Sponsorship level below and place your initials next to the amount:

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR · Company logo listed on bottom stage banner · One booth space included (excludes food court) · Entertainment Acknowledgement on stage · Includes Duck Crossing Bridge Sign · Logo on Chamber’s website and social media

INVESTMENT: $1,500

T-SHIRT SPONSOR (ONLY 1 available) · Name/logo on right sleeve of shirt · One booth space included (excludes food court) · Includes Duck Crossing Bridge Sign · Logo on Chamber’s website and social media

INVESTMENT: $1,250

QUACK SPONSOR (7 available) · Receives a Quack to display · Quacks are distributed on a first come, first serve basis

INVESTMENT: $1,000

FOOD COURT SPONSOR · Company name/logo displayed on banner · Logo on Chamber’s website and social media · Includes Duck Crossing Bridge Sign

INVESTMENT: $ 750

KID’S ZONE SPONSOR · Company name/logo displayed on banner · Logo on Chamber’s website and social media · Includes Duck Crossing Bridge Sign

INVESTMENT: $ 750

DUCK CROSSING BRIDGE SPONSOR ·Name on Duck “cut-outs” that will be on Canal Blvd. Bridge beginning one week prior to festival ·Logo on Chamber’s website and social media

INVESTMENT: $ 500

MAP NAME LISTING SPONSOR ·Company name listing on festival maps

INVESTMENT: $ 100

Fletcher Receives Grant to Purchase Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) Fletcher is excited to announce that grant funds recently received will assist in developing a Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training program.

Among the courses in this new program, is a ground and UAS pilot instructional course, which will serve as a preparation for the part 107 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private Pilot knowledge test. Course content includes, but is not limited to: FAA regulations, weather, radio communications and navigation, safety, aerodynamics, airspace, and emergency procedures. The part 107 training program will be available as both a credit and a non-credit course. Non-credit courses will be available this summer, with the full credit-based program release at a future date.

“We are excited to have received this grant which will enable Fletcher to purchase a number of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems that will be used in training the next generation of students for the world of high-tech, STEM related careers,” commented Fletcher Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland. “Our goal is to continue to be at the forefront of training for the jobs of the future. These efforts are supported by the diligent and progressive work of our team at Fletcher and the generosity of those who continue to help us provide the best training possible in the latest technological advancements.”

For more information on the Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, contact Dr. Clint Coleman at [email protected].

CENTER SPREAD


BY BEN JONES, JR.Managing Editor

Monique Crochet is the Executive Director for External Affairs at Nicholls State University. She is involved in numerous organizations across Lafourche Parish – one of them being a board position with the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.

Monique attained her Masters in Higher Education Administration in 2000 from Nicholls State University. When it came to being prepared for the education industry Monique said, “It all started with my undergrad internship because I had no idea how to have a career in higher education without being a faculty member.”

Monique originally returned to Nicholls State University as a full-time student in the late 90s. “I had no clue that I would end up working on a masters program in higher education. My goal was just to earn my four-year degree and look for a decent paying job. I had to complete an internship before I graduated and received one on campus in Student Life. I just fell in love with the idea of staying on campus and working with students. Dr. Eugene Dial and Dr. Alice Pecoraro suggested I start the newest masters program in higher education. They both agreed that this program would offer me a chance to start a career in higher education. I started my masters the same year I completed my undergrad. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to enter into a program that I knew I would enjoy.” Monique continued, “To be honest, I started my internship in 1998 and did not leave Nicholls until 2003. That was my first time working at Nicholls. I am so blessed and thankful that I was able to rejoin the Nicholls family in 2013 after working in medical sales in Houston. I always knew that I wanted to be back on our beautiful campus, but just didn’t know when. Well, I am back and just loving it!”

As for being the Executive Director of External Affairs, Monique briefly described her job as representing Nicholls State University every day as a proud Alum and as an employee for the State of Louisiana. “My written job description entails that I provide legislative outreach for the state and local government, serve on varies on-campus and off campus committees, manage Alumni Affairs, and develop and manage external partnerships that will continue to build relationships with the University. Last but not least, to make sure that my friends and family wear RED on Fridays!”

If she could have given herself a piece of knowledge or advice when she first started her career in higher education, Monique said to stay in college and earn your four-year degree. “I have no

doubt that if I had stayed on my education track when I was younger I’m sure I’d be called Dr. Crochet.”

When it comes to the best advice that she received recently that she still follows today, Monique said, “Love what you do…one of my favorite quotes is from a book entitled, Together is Better by Simon Sinek. ‘Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.’ I try and live this each and every day.”

As far as being a board member with the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, Monique said, “To be honest, when Mayor Eschete hired me in 2010, he encouraged me to become involved with the Thibodaux Chamber. I saw quickly how attending meetings, lunches, Business After Hours, and other events hosted by the Chamber would be an added value to my return to Thibodaux. I have since made lifelong friends as a chamber member and I

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Alumni Association Hosts Inaugural GraduationBrunch and Awards Ceremony Fletcher’s Alumni Association hosted the Inaugural Graduation Brunch and Awards Ceremony in the Fletcher Atrium on Saturday, April 27. Fletcher Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland provided opening remarks, and was followed by guest speaker Juan Clara, 2016 Fletcher graduate - Drafting and Design program. Mr. Clara currently serves as Vice President of the Alumni Association. Faculty and staff nominated students the 38 students for awards in the following categories: • Fletcher Outstanding Veteran Service Award (recipients: Lorenz'a Savage-Sevin; Joy Lymous) • Fletcher Student Philanthropy Award (recipients: Jason Connor-Flores; Brook Perrilloux) • Fletcher Student Excellence Award (recipients: Jaharri Guano; Jason Connor-Flores; Chance Lile; Megan Authement; Hope Delatte; Ronda Crockett; Mallory Bourgeois; James Dehart; Chase Adams; Janthan Door; III; Hunter Robichaux; Presley Wiese; Craig Denison) • Fletcher Service Award (recipients: Connie Monceaux; Lorenza Savage-Sevin; Kristen Belanger; JuanCarlos Primor; Brittany Candies; Presley Wiese; Joy Lymous) • Fletcher Outstanding Student Worker (recipients: Victor Steele; Bethany Johnson; Eboni Casimir)

• Fletcher Student Success Award (recipients: Sydney Jenkins; Laura Andrews; Raini Boudreaux; Lorraine Baker; Alissa Andras; Brelynn Martin) • Fletcher Pride Award (recipients: Holly Bentel; Jessica James; Salina Adams; Austin Verdin; Eboni Casimir; Britney Barrios) “The Alumni Brunch and Awards ceremony was a wonderful event,” commented Fletcher Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland. “There are few days in the year that are as special as those where we get to celebrate our students' successes with them and their families. Many of our graduating students will enter the workforce or transfer onto a University setting and no matter their path, we are honored to have shared a small part of their journey and hopefully have provided them with the tools to be successful in the future. We celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of the graduating class of 2019 and celebrate the contributions they have made to both Fletcher and our community.” The event concluded with closing remarks and a toast from the Alumni Association President, Jeanne Morgan-Gernon, welcoming attendees to the Alumni Association. If you would like to learn more or connect with the Fletcher Alumni Association, please email [email protected].

Fletcher’s Alumni Association officers are (left to right) W. Chandler LeBoeuf, Executive Director In-stitutional Advancement & Fletcher Foundation; John Warren, Treasurer; Jeanne Morgan-Gernon, President; Juan Clara, Vice President; Alexis Knight, Secretary; Joy Lymous, Ambassador.

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Creole Classic Seeking Grantees For Fishing Tournament The 35th Annual Creole Classic Fishing Tournament will take place on June 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 2019 at Bridge Side Marina in Grand Isle, Louisiana. The organization is currently seeking eligible non-profit organizations to submit applications in order to be a beneficiary of the charity fishing tournament. The web-based application can be viewed and completed by visiting www.creoleclassic.com , www.facebook.com/creoleclassicfishing , or by going directly to https://forms.gle/3WSbRuu6jTdYUgSB6 . Since its first year in 1984, the Creole Classic fishing tournament has evolved into one of the "Premier" fishing tournaments on Grand Isle. The concept of the rodeo has never changed since its first year. A "fun" family-oriented tournament whose funds are donated to worthy charities. In order to increase the organization’s efforts to assist our dedicated non-profit organizations. The Creole Classic Fishing Tournament includes 22+ fish categories, adult & children divisions, activities for kids, door prizes, live music, great food, and live auctions. “The Creole Classic Fishing Tournament has a 35 year history of

supporting local charities. Our goal as a board is to continue in that direction, ensuring that our local charities continue to benefit from our efforts for years to come. We hope everyone is able to join us at this year’s rodeo for a weekend full of family, food, fun, and fishing.” said Benton LeBlanc, CCFT Board Chairman. The idea of a fishing tournament came about in 1984 when several fishermen who had camps at the BBY Marina in Leeville were sitting around one afternoon and decided that a competition among themselves and anyone else who wanted to fish, sounded like the makings for a fun week-end. The name Creole Classic was decided upon, and the rest is history! The first tournament had 32 registered fisherman. After 3 years, in 1987, the popularity of the Creole Classic caused its headquarters to be moved to Bridgeside Marina in Grand Isle. The concept of the rodeo has never changed since its first year. A "fun" family oriented tournament whose funds are donated to worthy charities. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Benton Leblanc at 985.709.1023 or email at [email protected]

Mr. Phillip May Named 2019Commencement SpeakerFletcher Technical Community College is pleased to announce that the guest speaker at their 2019 Commencement Ceremony will be Mr. Phillip May, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana, LLC, which serves more than one million electric customers in the state. He is responsible for the company’s customer service, regulatory and public affairs, resource planning, economic development programs and charitable contributions, as well as its financial performance. May serves on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; GNO, Inc.; The Louisiana Nature Conservancy; Teach for America of South Louisiana; City Year Baton Rouge, and Second Harvest Food Bank. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. He also completed the mergers and acquisitions program at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, Pa. The ceremony will celebrate the graduation of more than 200 students, is open to the public and will take place at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Warren J. Harang, Jr. Municipal Auditorium in Thibodaux.

Phillip May

Fletcher Receives Grant forMarine Diesel Program Fletcher has been awarded over $144,000 from the Louisiana Board of Regents. This grant will be used for new simulators and other equipment for the Marine Diesel program, as we embark on the new Marine Diesel dual enrollment partnership with Lafourche Parish School District. Fletcher students enrolled in the Marine Diesel program will also benefit from the new equipment. “Fletcher Technical Community College is grateful to the Board of Regents for funding this grant opportunity,” commented Fletcher Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland. “With these funds, Fletcher will be able to purchase state-

of-the-art equipment to train the next generation of technicians. In addition, the partnership with Lafourche Parish School System in offering this program will provide an opportunity for our local high school students to learn and train on the best equipment possible.” Fletcher Technical Community College is committed to providing a highly skilled workforce in the high-demand, high-wage, and high-skilled jobs which are needed in the communities that we serve. To learn more about Fletcher’s Marine Diesel program, visit http://www.fletcher.edu/programs/marine-diesel-engine-technician/.

TONY TRANCHINAFinancial Advisor

To achieve any of your financial objectives, you need to save and invest – that much is clear. But just how you save and invest may differ from goal to goal. Let’s look at two common goals to see the differences in your savings and investment strategies. The first goal we’ll consider is a dream vacation – one lasting a couple of weeks or more, possibly to an exotic locale. So, for the investments you’ve designated to fund this vacation, you need two key attributes: liquidity and low risk. The liquidity requirement is pretty self-explanatory – you want to be able to get to your vacation funds exactly when you need them, and you don’t want to be slapped with some type of early withdrawal or tax penalty. The low-risk part of your vacation strategy means you want investments that won’t drop in value just when you need to sell them to use the proceeds for your trip. However, you need to be aware that those types of stable-value investment vehicles likely will not offer much growth potential. As you may know, the investments with the greatest possible rewards are also those that carry the highest degrees of risk. Yet, by starting to invest early enough in more conservative investments, and putting away money regularly, you may be able to compensate for the lack of growth opportunities. Now, let’s turn to your other goal – retirement. When you are saving for retirement, your primary objective is pretty simple: to accumulate as much money as you can. Consequently, you will need a reasonable percentage of your portfolio devoted to growth-oriented investments. But what’s a reasonable percentage? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution – the amount of growth investments in your portfolio should be based on several factors, including your

age, risk tolerance and projected retirement lifestyle. Furthermore, this percentage may need to change over time. When you’re just starting out in your career, you may be able to afford to take on the greater risk that comes with having a higher percentage of your portfolio in growth investments. But as you get closer to retirement, you might want to begin shifting some dollars toward more conservative vehicles – you don’t want to be over-exposed to the volatility of the financial markets just when you need to start selling investments to help fund your retirement. Nonetheless, you won’t want to give up all growth investments, even during your retirement years. You could spend two or three decades as a retiree, and over that time, inflation could take a big toll on your purchasing power. To counter this effect, you will need to own some investments that have the potential at

least to equal, and ideally outpace, the cost of living. The examples of taking that extensive vacation and enjoying a long retirement illustrate the importance of recognizing that you will have many goals in life – and you’ll need to prioritize and plan for them, sometimes following significantly different investment strategies. When you do, you’ll give yourself a better chance of reaching your destinations. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.


success. You ‘Trust in Us’ day after day and we trust in you year after year. Our patrons, our customers reflect ‘Service Above Self ’ by making the deliberate and conscious effort to come out and support our department so that we may remain ‘Here for Duty’ for years to come. You, us, we the citizens of Thibodaux are ‘Always Ready’ to love one another because we are family. We like to believe the values of Family and Love although often dismissed are synonymous with our department and city. So even though it doesn’t quite convey the depth and breadth of our gratitude to

all of our supporters; we the members of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department wish to share our heartfelt thanks with each and every person who visited our event and supported us in any way. With love, your family, The Members of The Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department” From the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce staff, board, and members we sincerely thank and appreciate our Thibodaux Fire Department for their hard work and dedication to our community

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Vacation and Retirement: Different Goals Require Different Investment Strategies

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CHEF RANDOLPH CHERAMIEChef John Folse Culinary Institute

I love late May and June for the beautiful weather and for the early evening walks with my dog Bernie, enjoying the smell of well-kept flower gardens. I love it for the first arrival of succulent soft-shell crabs (my favorite seafood), the May shrimp season, and visiting local farmer’s markets. But most of all, I love this time of year for Creole tomatoes! I love to cook with them making shrimp Creole and sauce piquant. I love to roast or grill them for salsa, sauté them with shallots and garlic to eat in simple pasta dishes or, my favorite way, simply sliced thick, drizzled with good olive oil, a little balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Yummm! I can’t wait! It’s been said that I’ve been known to take two slices of fresh Evangeline white bread slices, slather them with mayonnaise, and make a Creole tomato sandwich. I’ll neither confirm nor deny the accusation!

While there is a variety known as “Creole tomatoes,” in the markets, any tomato grown in the southern Mississippi Delta region can be called and marketed as “Creoles.” To local consumers, this distinction is perfectly acceptable because we know it’s not the variety that’s important, but where it is grown.

Vintners and wine connoisseurs have know for centuries that the terroir of a grape variety is every bit as important as the variety itself. So too it can be said of Louisiana tomato connoisseurs. It is only the mineral rich, dark, alluvial soils of the southern Mississippi Delta that can produce the aromatic, sweet and meaty tomatoes we call Creole. (Ever try to plant Vidalia onion bulbs in your garden? Bet your harvest was just not the same as the onions from Vidalia, Georgia!) Almost any heirloom variety grown in our rich soils will be absolutely delicious. I love to pick the ugly, misshapen ones in the farmers’ markets. I don’t know why, but some of the best tomatoes I’ve ever eaten were ugly tomatoes! Some say it’s because they have to try harder!

Here is a great recipe to enjoy our wonderful Creole tomatoes in their raw, aromatic splendor!

Tuscan PanzanellaIngredients• 4 cups torn pieces of sourdough or rustic peasant bread, 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide • 2 tablespoons olive oil • Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

• 1/4 tablespoons red wine vinegar • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 1 cup thinly sliced red onions • 5 medium Louisiana Creole tomatoes or assorted ripe heirloom tomatoes, halved or quartered, depending on size and shape (should be bite-sized)• 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped • 1/2 cup pitted and halved Niçoise olives • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves • 1/4 cup shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese• More olive oil to drizzle

Preparation1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. 2. In a bowl, toss the bread with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Spread the bread on a baking sheet and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until slightly crisp. (The pieces should not be as crispy as croutons.) Alternatively, spread the bread

cubes on a baking sheet and let them dry, uncovered, for about 24 hours.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, zest,

and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisking

constantly, add the ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil in a stream until

well incorporated. 4. Add the onion, tomatoes, cucumber,

olives, basil and bread to the bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Adjust the salt

and pepper. Toss to coat. Set aside for 20 minutes.

5. Divide the salad among 4 plates. Garnish each plate with shaved cheese and serve. If you prefer a moister salad, drizzle with a little more extra virgin olive oil. Randy Cheramie is the former owner/chef of Randolph’s Restaurant in Golden Meadow, LA and is currently the Senior Faculty Member of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University.


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Creole Tomatoes


Public officials attended and participated in a discussion panel for Business at Breakfast held at Rendez-vous sponsored by the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. From left: Mayor Tommy Eschete; Coun-cilman Gene Richard; Councilman and President Chad Mire; Donald Barrilleaux, Chamber Chairman; Tammy Ledet, Chamber President; Councilwoman Constance Johnson; Councilman and Vice President Mike Naquin; and Councilman Eric Tabor.

Public officials gave updates and participated in a discussion panel during Business at Breakfast held at Rendezvous in April sponsored by the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department.

A special thanks to the public officials who participated in a discussion panel during Business at Breakfast sponsored by the Thibodaux Volun-teer Fire Department. From left: Councilman Gene Richard; Councilman Chad Mire; Mayor Tommy Eschete; Councilwoman Constance Johnson; Councilman Mike Naquin; and Councilman Eric Tabor.

Chad Mire (at podium) along with other public officials participated in a discussion panel during Business at Breakfast held at Rendezvous in April sponsored by the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department.


Enjoying Business After Hours at Advance Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation this month were Patrice Oncale and Angela Rodrigue, both with Synergy Bank.

On hand at Business After Hours held at Advance Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation were Rhonda and Greg Gaubert, Carmel Inn & Suites.

Jason Jones wields the giant scissors surrounded by his wife, Jennifer (left), and team mem-bers Magan Hebert, Brittany Dinger, Kayla Henninger and Crystal Ola during a ribbon cutting ceremony for The PMLC Group, LLC.

Jason Jones is surrounded by friends, family, team members, and members of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce during a ribbon cutting ceremony for his new business, The PMLC Group, LLC.

Enjoying Business After Hours at Advance Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation are from left: Ruth Chiasson, HOPE for Animals; Deb Cibelli, Friends of the Library, and Rick Reso, Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.

From left: Cherie Glorioso, St. Joseph Manor; Ken Bourgeois, Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department, and Jane Bourgeois, Edward Douglas White Catholic High School, enjoyed socializing during Business After Hours held at Advance Physical Therapy and Rehabilita-tion.


On hand at Business After Hours held at Advance Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation were from left: Patrice Oncale, Synergy Bank; Crystal Chiasson, Louisiana Workforce Com-mission, and Howell Chiasson, Pedestal Bank.

A special thanks to Jason Jones and his team at Advance Physical Therapy and Rehabilita-tion for hosting Business After Hours at their business this month.

Chamber members gathered around for Chamber updates and door prizes during Business After Hours held at Advance Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation this month.

David Konur, CIS; Tammy Ledet, Thibodaux Chamber President and CEO; and Dr. Craig Walker, CIA; pose for a picture after their presentation at this month’s Business at Lunch held at Grady V’s American Bistro.

David Konur, CEO of Cardiovascular Institute of the South, was also a guest speaker at Business at Lunch held at Grady V’s American Bistro.

Dr. Craig Walker from Cardiovascular Institute of the South spoke at Business at Lunch held at Grady V’s American Bistro.


KATIE RICHARD MA, BSN, RNEducation and Training Coordinator

The Wellness Center of Thibodaux Regional offers a significant number of health care services integrating clinical care with wellness. A new program called WellFit integrates wellness into clinical care by providing a customized 8-week plan to help participants achieve their highest quality of life. This physician-referred program can be beneficial to those suffering from back and neck pain, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, heart conditions, orthopaedic conditions, cancer, breathing disorders, mental health, women’s health, after surgery or those seeking a lifestyle change to improve overall health.

WellFit includes an exercise plan customized by a certified fitness specialist to meet specific health needs. Participants will also receive two one-hour guided workout sessions per week and unlimited access to the Fitness Center. The customized WellFit plan also includes nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian to assist participants with their specific dietary needs. Smoking cessation options and behavioral health screenings are also available.

Studies have shown that following proper nutrition and exercise has many benefits and can: • Decrease pain • Increase mobility, flexibility and range of motion • Increase functional capacity • Result in weight loss reducing stress on the joints • Improve your emotional health • Potentially delay surgery

The goal of WellFit is to help people live the highest quality, most active lifestyle possible. When developing WellFit, physicians in several specialties were consulted to ensure the needs of unique medical populations were considered. Because of this input, and the ongoing feedback between the WellFit team and the referring physician, WellFit participants are assured that their doctor is an integral part of their wellness plan.

WellFit aims to optimize strengths, while lowering medical risks. Ongoing coaching and support from the specialized WellFit team enables participants to gain the abilities needed to implement healthy lifestyle habits that can be continued long term. Participants who have completed WellFit are walking farther, losing weight, and feeling more satisfied with their physical and mental health.

For more information on WellFit, or any of the Wellness Center services, please call 985.493.4765.

WellFit

HENRI BOULETLA1 Coalition

With our state’s roads and bridges in such dire need of repair, the LA 1 Coalition is excited to be supporting a statewide effort that would see roughly $692 million invested in our state’s road infrastructure over 13 years. House Bill 578 provides much needed transportation funding for projects throughout the state – without raising, or even using, a single tax dollar. The bill cleared the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee unanimously on April 30th. Hopefully as you read this article, it has gained full House of Representatives approval, and is under consideration by the Louisiana State Senate. A portion of the $692 million, roughly 20%, would be dedicated to the LA 1 Improvement Project and another 16% would be dedicated to LA 415 in parish of West Baton Rouge. $418 million (see chart) would be spent state-wide. The funds are set aside for economic damages incurred by the state resulting from the Deepwater Horizon spill and moratorium. Southern Lafourche Parish felt the brunt of those economic damages, and that is why one of the projects that would receive direct financial support from the bill is the LA 1 Improvement Project. In the LA1 Coalition’s ongoing work to educate policy makers on the criticality of a secured, functioning highway to Port Fourchon/Grand Isle, opportunities of this significance to fund part of the $340 million elevated highway between Golden Meadow and Leeville are few and far between. This state legislative funding measure would provide approximately 45% of the cost and is critical to the project getting matching funds from federal sources. Today legislators are being reminded that LA 1 serves as a means of transportation for residents of Grand Isle and a safe conduit for thousands of workers in the energy, seafood, tourism and coastal restoration industry sectors. It also serves as an evacuation route and a vital lifeline to the southern part of the state should another storm batter Louisiana’s coast. For our Bayou Region LA 1’s importance is even more dire. Completing Elevated LA 1 to our coast will help to support cost-effective bids on state coastal restoration master plan projects by ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient access to areas along the coast – helping to deliver successful large-scale restoration efforts such as the Caminada Headland project, the state’s largest restoration project to date. The LA 1 user community sends a huge thank you to HB 578’s co-authors, Representative Tanner Magee and Senator Rick Ward, and all of the bill’s co-authors including Representatives Amedee, Chad Brown, Davis, Edmonds, Gisclair, James, Richard and Zeringue, as well as State Senators Chabert and White. Our state’s infrastructure has consistently ranked as one of the poorest in the nation – including the latest “D” grade given by the American Society of Civil Engineers. We applaud the authors and co-authors of this legislation for doing something about it. You can visit LA1Coalition.org/take-action to get more information on HB 578 and find out how you can get involved in our effort to fix Louisiana’s infrastructure system.

Legislative Bill Could Yield Largest Investment in LA Roads in Decades

$3.3M $3.3M $3.3M $3.3M $3.3M

$28.3M

$53.3M $53.3M $53.3M $53.3M $53.3M $53.3M $53.3M

Approximate State Infrastructure Funding = $418M

Funding for preservation, bridge, safety, and new capacity projects throughout LA


Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Held for Fletcher Food Locker Following the donation of a commercial refrigerator from Healthy Blue Louisiana, a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Fletcher Food Locker was held May 13, 2019. Guest speakers at the ceremony were Good Samaritan Food Bank Director, Lawrence DeHart, and Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed.

Research from Loyola University New Orleans found that 46 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana have food insecurity rates of 15% or higher, and some as high as 34.4%. The national average in 2017 was 11.8%. The college is working with the Good Samaritan Food Bank to keep the shelves full of food. Students can select small items to help immediately, larger quantities to support a student for one week, and if the student needs to provide for a family, they will be given a month’s supply of food to take home. “Fletcher Technical Community College is proud to open a new food pantry for our students,” commented Fletcher Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland. “We know that 36% of all college students experience food insecurity and in the State of Louisiana that number is even higher. This pantry will provide students the opportunity to find nutritious food offerings for themselves and their families. Fletcher will continue to strive to remove the barriers that prevent students from successfully completing the training and education they need to strengthen themselves, their families and our community. We thank all of our generous donors for making this pantry a reality.” While the Fletcher Food Locker is located on the Schriever campus in the BP Integrated Production Technologies building (224 Weatherford Dr., Schriever), it is available to Fletcher students at all facilities. For more information on the Fletcher Food Locker or to request assistance, please contact Caitlin Bruce at 985-448-7919 or [email protected].

www.thibodauxchamber.com | Thibodaux Chamber Insight | Thursday, May23, 2019 23

Calling ALL Future ChamberAmbassadors

Be Seen

Be Heard

Become an Ambassador

For theThibodaux Chamber of

Commerce

The Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce is now seeking to grow its’ Chamber Ambassador program. The pay isn’t great (none), but the rewards are abundant! Chamber Ambassadors are volunteers who help Chamber staff at various Chamber and community events, such as Business atBreakfast, Business at Lunch, Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies. All Chamber members and their employees are eligible to participate.

Ambassadors are very visible at Chamber events, therefore giving your business greater visibility in the community and offers businesses the opportunity for growth. Kassie Barrancotto, aChamber Board Member and Chair of the Ambassador’s committee invites all interestedindividuals to contact the Chamber office for more details on how to sign up for this wonderfulprogram. Call the office today at 985-446-1187.

All Ambassadors must be Chamber members or employees of a Chamber member in good standing

318 E. BAYOU ROAD, THIBODAUX, LA 70301 Tel 985-446-1187 WWW.THIBODAUXCHAMBER.COM

WellFit from the Wellness Center of Thibodaux Regional can be beneficial for those suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, heart conditions, orthopaedic conditions, cancer, breathing disorders, after surgery or those seeking a lifestyle change to improve overall health.

Your personalized plan includes: • Nutrition Education • Fitness Education (including unlimited access to the

Fitness Center for the duration of your program)

WellFit Cost: $99 for 8 weeks.

Additional services may include physical therapy and behavioral health services.

Ask Your Physician about WellFit or Call 985.493.4765.

Improve Your HealthLower Your Medical Risks

Medically-Integrated, Customized Plan for Your Highest Quality Life

With WellFit

may 23, 2019 volume 22, issue 4...may 23, 2019 volume 22, issue 4. etiquette center of the south,...

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