January 25, 2018 Volume 20, Issue 12...Music’s Unsung Hero Mr. Ellis LaRose Teenager of the Year Mr. Ethan Naquin Frank Kennedy (Outstanding) Citizen of the Year Mr. Neal Swanner

January 25, 2018 Volume 20, Issue 12

2T h i b o d a u x C h a m b e r i n s i g h T / T h u r s d a y , J a n u a r y 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 w w w. t h i b o d a u x c h a m b e r. c o m

February 4Krewe of Shaka Parade

1:30p, Thibodaux Parade RouteKrewe of Ambrosia Parade

Following Krewe of Shaka

February 5Board of Directors Meeting

4:00p to 5:00pChamber office

February 11Krewe of Cleophas Parade 12:30p, Thibodaux Parade RouteKrewe of Chronos Parade

Following Krewe of Cleophas

February 13Krewe of Ghana Parade

1:00p, Thibodaux Parade RouteKrewe of Maasai Parade 2:00p, Thibodaux Parade Route

February 13Happy Mardi Gras! Chamber office closed

February 21Organizational Affairs Committee Meeting

8:15a to 9:15aChamber office

February 22Governmental & Public Affairs Committee Meeting

8:15a to 9:15aChamber office

February 22Chamber Quarterly Luncheon

11:30a to 1:00pLocation to be determined

Speaker: Thomas Meyer with Meyer Financial Group

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i iCongratulations Award Winners

The following award recipients were honored at the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce’s Awards and Dinner Banquet,

held on January 18, 2018 at the Warren Harang Auditorium:

Business of the YearThe Wellness Center of Thibodaux Regional

Member of the YearFirst American Bank and Trust

Music’s Unsung HeroMr. Ellis LaRose

Teenager of the YearMr. Ethan Naquin

Frank Kennedy (Outstanding) Citizen of the YearMr. Neal Swanner

i i

3

BOARD MEMBERS:Brandy Braud

Gaubert Oil Company

Crystal ChiassonFletcher Technical

Community College

Howell ChiassonCoastal Commerce Bank

Tommy EscheteCity of Thibodaux Mayor

Greg GaubertCarmel Inn & Suites

Donna GravoisJohn Deere Thibodaux, Inc.

Kayla HenningerAdvance Physical Therapy

& Rehabilitation, LLC

Sandy HollowayBESE Board and BCA

Lance LedetLancescaping, LLC

Terrolyn MitchellThe Cove at Legacy Point

Matt RoanNicholls 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

5 President's Perspective

6 City News

6 Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou

7 Thibodaux in Time

8 Nicholls News

11 Meet Member Tracy Brupbacher

12 Cover Feature — Kassie Barrancotto

14 Out and About with the Chamber

17 Member News

19 Health Affairs

20 Great Food!

21 LA 1 Coalition

22 Financial Focus

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

LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Liz Arceneaux

OFFICERS: Chairman of the Board Cody Blanchard White Car Marketing

Chair Elect Donald Barrilleaux First American Bank and Trust

Treasurer Napoleon Ortiz Thibodaux Regional Medical Center

Secretary Kassie Barrancotto Synergy Bank

Past Chair Marguerite Knight Morgan Stanley

T h i b o d a u x C h a m b e r i n s i g h T / T h u r s d a y , J a n u a r y 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 w w w. t h i b o d a u x c h a m b e r. c o m

On The Cover:Kassie Barrancotto with Synergy Bank and member of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB JENNINGS

SPONSOR OF THE QUARTER:


CODY BLANCHARDChamber Chairman of the Board

Last year was filled with much growth and at the same time a deeper understanding of the purpose of our Chamber of Commerce. I am grateful you have trusted me as your 2017 Chairman of the Board. The beginning of 2017 encompassed our campaign in opposition of the 1% increase in the parish wide sales tax proposition for Lafourche Parish Schools. Combined with the efforts of the Lafourche Chamber, the proposition failed and stopped our parish from having the third highest sales tax rate in the United States. Our public schools continue to face budgetary challenges during this economic downturn but we are and will continue to work with the Lafourche Parish School System. A Blue Ribbon committee was formed with representatives from the entire parish and school system where we are currently exploring cost-saving options and ways to increase needed revenues. Following the beginning of our diversity and inclusion program in 2016, and with a generous grant from John Deere, we hosted our first program in 2017 featuring Kim Boyle of Phelps and Dunbar whom presented current issues of diversity and inclusion within the workplace. We were happy to work with Kim and the many participants at this informational session and look forward to continuing this work moving forward. This year your Chamber revised the way our networking events are held. We now have three events per quarter — a breakfast, a lunch, and a business after hours. Our hopes are that this structure has allowed everyone at least one opportunity per quarter to attend a networking event with your business colleagues. This allowed

your Chamber to focus on our lunch and learn series. Hosting such educational opportunities allows access to you and your team, as members of the Chamber, to experts in certain fields at a very minimal cost. It is my belief that an investment in our workforce is crucial to growth and with this added benefit we are striving to build upon our resources and benefits that the Chamber provides. We’ve hosted political forums, special legislative breakfasts, monthly Governmental and Public Affairs and Organizational Affairs meetings to just name a few. I’d like to thank Melissa Cloutet and Nestor Navarro for co-chairing GPA, Lance Ledet for chairing the Organizational Affairs, Kassie Barrancatto for chairing the Ambassadors Program, and Paula Rome for chairing Thibodeauxville. In November we held our 25th annual Thibodeauxville Fall Festival. The weather was perfect and we featured great entertainment, delicious food, crafts and as always brought thousands into downtown Thibodaux to encourage shopping locally and investing into our community. We finished the year with our annual Christmas Parade which had over 40 group participants this year including many of you as local business owners and we thank you for your participation. I’d be remised not to thank our Chamber staff and board members. Tammy Ledet has been our President and CEO for almost a year and half now and has

See ONWARD, page 23

Onward

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TAMMY LEDETChamber President/CEO

Now that the holidays are over, its’ back to a fast track of excitement as we roll right into 2018! Let’s start with Nicholls State University and having a new president, Dr. Jay Clune. We were so excited to have him as our guest at our banquet on January 18th and interviewed by Ms. Jennifer Hale. Hopefully you were there to witness first-hand his remarks concerning the path for our university and if not, there will be many chances to hear and see him within the community. Welcome home, Dr. Clune! The excitement doesn’t stop there. If you haven’t heard, Thibodaux Main Street also has a new director, Danielle Stein who is moving in the fast lane of getting acclimated to the job and certainly looking forward to working with the downtown businesses as well as the community. Congratulations Danielle! Now, full steam ahead are our committees of the chamber and how they have already begun meeting to plan out the year with all sorts of wonderful events, including some repeats as well as some new exciting ones. Last year we shifted our networking events to three per quarter, with a breakfast in month one, a luncheon in month two and a business after hours in month three, which seemed to work out fine. Our goal is to repeat this same schedule for 2018, starting with a luncheon in February. We are working on a couple of details for each and as soon as we have them confirmed, we will announce a date and location for each. I can tell you that we will be exploring a couple of new venues in town. So stay tuned as we don’t want you to miss these great opportunities to get to know one another and develop business relationships for future growth of your company. Speaking of growing your company, having the right resources, finances, and education are key. That is why we will have more educational sessions at our office this year to help our members with social media, accounting, Excel and more. This also gives our members who are experts in these fields a chance to share their knowledge with those who sign up. So, if you are interested in helping us, call the office today at 985-446-1187. In keeping up with today’s technology, the Chamber will also be doing more creative things on social media, especially Facebook. Each month we will give our members a chance to offer a “giveaway” and in turn be highlighted. This will certainly open the advertising doors for some on a very affordable budget. Don’t wait. Sign up today. This year is also very important for our chamber as we will be working on renewing our accreditation, which is a very long and lengthy process. For those of you who

may not know, the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce is a four-star accredited chamber, which represents the commitment and dedication to reviewing, improving, and promoting strong business practices as well as recognizing leadership and outstanding contributions to the community. It also means establishing best practices and staying in-step with industry changes. There are over 7000 chambers nationwide and only 200 of them are accredited. This is how important our members are to us. Our membership continues to increase and we cannot thank the business community enough for supporting our chamber. So, if by chance, you haven’t signed up yet, please reach out to us. There are annual membership rates very affordable, from $130 and up depending on your company and number of employees. We want you to be a part of the fast track of excitement this year! Lastly, speaking of excitement, Mardi Gras is right around the corner and so is Valentine’s Day. Have a fun and safe Mardi Gras and don’t forget your loved ones on February 14th!


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TOMMY ESCHETECity of Thibodaux Mayor

As I embark on my eighth year as Mayor, my staff and I have matured and developed as a result of the interaction between our citizens and business leaders. Although my 32 years’ experience in municipal government has taught me much, my policy of transparency and accessibility has enabled me to learn even more. Being a leader in a small community like Thibodaux brings challenges to me that are unlike those of much larger cities. Although we all face similar issues like crime, an aging infrastructure, and traffic; the manner in which we address these issues is very different. Our citizens have grown to expect that they will get personal attention from their elected officials and I certainly feel that they have the right to demand it. Unlike Mayors and other elected officials of much larger cities, many times our citizens make appointments to visit personally with me to explain their concern or give their input. This is the part of the job that I enjoy the most. Although many times it may take a few days for the scheduling to work out, I must confess that each and every visit is worth the time I spend with the individual(s) simply because they truly participated in the most basic ideal of a democratic society. Even though it would, more than likely, not be possible to meet personally with every citizen each time they had a concern, I certainly want to continue to encourage participation and input from our citizens whether it be through a telephone call, e-mail, social media, or attendance at a hearing or City Council meeting. I have had so many individuals who have attended our hearings and meetings whose first comment is, “I never thought the meeting would be so interesting.” Many individuals do not realize that the airing of their concerns helps to develop new ideas and policies. It is my hope that our citizens will come to embrace the concept that their idea or concern is important enough to discuss with their elected officials. The concept that your idea is not important leads to apathy and that is where our democratic system breaks down. I sincerely believe that it is our responsibility, as elected officials, to instill in our citizens the desire to contribute and participate in government. After all who will we be serving if no one cares how we administer government? Unfortunately, all elected officials are branded politicians and I completely understand the concept, but I would hope that most elected officials would brand themselves as “public servants.” After all that is what we were elected to do! My request to our citizens is to help us do our job by letting us know how to better serve you and meet your needs. That can be accomplished by being an involved citizen and participating in the democratic process. Be a voice in our city. Take ownership in all the opportunities to participate that the City and other local government has to offer, after all, it is your government.

How Can We Better Serve and Meet Your Needs?

TIMOTHY BUSHLouisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Lafourche Parish

Happy New Year! Tourism in Lafourche Parish grew in 2017, thanks in large part to many of you, our tourism partners. The launch of the Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou brand, built to position Lafourche Parish as the destination where Cajun culture runs deeper than anywhere else in Louisiana, has transformed our marketing, sales, and communications efforts. And visitors are responding to our marketing shift in big ways. To view our 2017 Year in Review highlights, visit our YouTube channel to view the video, then download our 2018 Tourism Marketing Plan from our website, lacajunbayou.com, to stay updated with marketing efforts. As always, I invite you to let us know how we can better assist you in promoting your attraction, restaurant, or festival to a larger audience. Drop by or give us a call, the Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou team is ready to help. Here are some other noteworthy tourism updates: Festival Organizers Meeting Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Lafourche Parish’s official destination marketing organization, plans to focus on elevating the local “festival story” through our advertising and social media by focusing on what makes each festival unique. On February 1, 2018 at 4:30 PM, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou will host a meeting for festival organizers to share our plans for marketing festivals during 2018. This will be an opportunity for you to learn more about what our organization does, as well as help our organization better understand your event so that we can drive more visitation to your festival or event. For questions or to RSVP, please call 985-537-5800 or email [email protected] New Sales Manager Announced Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou announces the promotion of Melissa Chiasson Durocher to the position of sales manager. Durocher joined the bureau in May 2017 as a travel counselor. As sales manager, Durocher will be responsible for the bureau’s outreach to a variety of groups to generate overnight stays to the destination. She will also assist with ongoing destination development projects designed to expand tourism opportunities for the parish. Durocher, who grew up down the bayou in Larose, brings a diverse background to her new role. She previously served as the Thibodaux Main Street executive director, as well as a graphic design and communication specialist for the Louisiana Restaurant Association. “Since joining our team in May, Melissa has added so much value to the bureau through her diverse background and professional experiences,” said President & CEO Timothy Bush. “Melissa has a clear understanding of the Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou brand and will be a wonderful ambassador to represent our area moving forward.”

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou: Highlights and Updates

PATTY WHITNEYBayou History Center, Inc. © 2018

The Works Progress Administration was created to help bring America out of the Great Depression of the late 1920s. During the 1930s and up until 1942 when WWII took precedence, the WPA sponsored a wide diversity of projects designed to put people back to work while at the same time building up communities and infrastructure. There were numerous projects undertaken in Thibodaux as part of the WPA. A new sewer system was installed and extended in the city, which included a new waste disposal facility. The LSU Agricultural Extension Service building was built. Earthen levees were rebuilt. A new raw water supply line was installed to the city. Roads were constructed and paved. Photographers and historians were brought in to document the people, buildings, lands and way of life in the area. I found a document entitled Description and History of Thibodaux, Louisiana from the 1930s, written by a Mr. or Ms. Moore for the WPA. It is an interesting look back at Thibodaux from that time, so I am including the report here for posterity, word for word and as written (so please don’t blame me for the errors!). Since it is fairly long, I am dividing it into two parts. Part 1 is provided this month, and I will insert Part 2 next month. “Moore. Thibodaux, LA. Railroad Station: No passenger service into the town itself; nearest junction, Southern Pacific Railway, three miles south at Shriever. Bus station: (blank) Accommodations: One centrally located hotel. Recommended restaurant: Blue Parrot, St. Philip St. at Bayou Lafourche. Theaters: (blank) Golf: (blank) Swimming: (blank) Baseball: (blank) Located on Bayou Lafourche, a tributary (?—former outlet) of the Mississippi, Thibodaux was the first trading post established between New Orleans and the Teche country. When the Parish of the Interior was formed in 1807, the small settlement already here became the seat of parochial government; and upon the division of the Interior Parish in 1822, it continued as seat of Lafourche Parish. The village, first known as Thibodeauxville, was named in honor of Henry C. Thibodeaux, a wealthy planter and legislator living nearby, who in 1820 donated two squares for the courthouse and jail and sufficient land for a market-house. By the middle years of the century, Thibodeauxville had assumed importance as a trade, political, and social center. Recognizing its prominence, Henry Clay, during his campaign for presidency, had made

a special point of visiting the community and was royally entertained by the citizens. Living within a radius of a few miles and claiming it as postoffice and general place of business, were such prominent planters and historical personages as Edward Douglas White, Francis Tillou Nicholls, Leonidas Polk, and Braxton Bragg. In the town itself were able lawyers and physicians, among the latter two interesting characters. These were foreigners who had first settled in New Orleans but spent their last years in Thibodaux: Dr. Pierre Rouanet, a noted French physician and scientist credited with the discovery of heart pulsations, and Richard D’Alton Williams, an Irish patriot expelled from his country on a charge of treason against Queen Victoria, who had previously won some renown in Ireland as poet and editor of the Irish Tribune. In addition to practicing medicine, Williams also contributed to the local press. Thibodeauxville was an early educational center. Three schools existing prior to the Civil War have continued to function to the present day: Guion Academy, established 1848; Mt. Carmel Convent, 1855; and St. Joseph’s College, 1857. Characteristic of the time and place was the reaction to the first railroad built through South Louisiana, shortly before the Civil War. Prominent citizens, taking strenuous measures to prevent this element of dirt, noise and general nuisance from cluttering up their pretty little village, were successful in diverting it to a point three miles south. Later, with the disappearance of the steamboat trade from the bayou, they came to regret this action; but even today no main railway line passes through the town. During the Civil War, Thibodaux was headquarters for the Confederate troops under Brigadier Alfred Mouton, who had been placed in charge of operations on Bayou Lafourche. Cutting through the center of Thibodaux, and constituting the main residential thoroughfare, is Canal Avenue, which extends on both sides of an historic transportation canal. This was a privately owned waterway known as the “Barrow Canal,” which connected Bayou Lafourche with Bayou Terrebonne at a point just above the town. During the early years it was

the only means by which freight and passengers were transported to Houma and other points in Terrebonne, thus forming an important link in the water trade along the Mississippi and Bayou Lafourche. In time, however, it had deteriorated into a rather unsightly drainage canal. It is now being filled in, and Canal Avenue converted into an impressive avenue, by the Works Progress Administration. As was commonly the case in South Louisiana, the wealthiest citizens here were the planters, who built their homes on the outskirts of the village, or a few miles beyond. Consequently, among the residences of Thibodaux, though many are attractive and typical of the early Louisiana French architecture, there are few that are really pretentious. An unusually large number of old public buildings remain. The business section has still the marks of the early village, with narrow streets, low wooden buildings, and a quiet, lazy appearance that somewhat belies its real character. Situated at the convergence of four important highways, with freight and bayou transportation available, Thibodaux is an important distributing center for the rich agricultural and commercial territory about it, and has retained through the years much of its prosperity. Lately, due to important oil developments in the parish, it has even enjoyed a mild boom.” (…to be continued) Cultural or Historical Calendar of Events • The Lafourche Heritage Society’s Genealogy Committee, headed by Ms. Mary Musso, meets in the

See HISTORY, page 9


Description and History of Thibodaux from the 1930s

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DR. JAY CLUNENicholls State University President

It’s surreal to be writing to you from the President’s Office in Picciola Hall on Nicholls campus. When I left Nicholls in 1986 I never imagined I would be returning more than three decades later as the President. This February, I won’t be the only former Colonel coming home. Veterans and Nicholls alumni will kick off our Black History Month with a roundtable discussion on African American impact during times of war. Andetrie Hicks, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran; Brandon Randolph, a Navy veteran and current Nicholls student; Marcus Robertson, who survived two campaigns in the middle east; and Richard Adams, who retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2010 after 22 years are the featured speakers. The discussion will begin at noon on Thursday, Feb. 1 in Le Bijou Theatre and is free and open to the public. On Feb. 7, New Orleans jazz legend Ellis Marsalis Jr. will return to campus for his second performance. For a full list of Black History Month events at Nicholls, visit Nicholls.edu. Our Nicholls baseball alumni game will be held Saturday, Feb. 3 in conjunction with our annual First Pitch Banquet. This will be the first ever game held on the newly named Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray Didier Field. Two-time World Series champion Ryan Theriot will join us for the banquet as the guest speaker. The new season will get underway two weeks later as our Colonels host Stony Brook for a 3-game series on Feb. 16. Information and tickets for each event can be found at GeauxColonels.com. The Nicholls community is sure to pack the Mary and Al Danos Theater on Feb. 15 for the third installment of our Oh Lá Lá series. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is a full-scale symphonic orchestra located in New Orleans. Formed in 1991, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is the oldest full-time musician-governed and collaboratively-operated orchestra in the United States. Later this month, talented Baton Rouge jazz musician and Nicholls alum George Bell will come home on Feb. 18 for a concert in the Mary and Al Danos Theater in Talbot Hall. The Thibodaux native who spent three decades working in healthcare has been playing trumpet since he was nine and plays concerts with a collection of professional musicians across Louisiana. Tickets are still on sale for the event. Call 448-4600 for more information. Seeing so many great activities coming to campus reminds me of when I was a student all those years ago. I look forward to seeing old faces and making new friends. I couldn’t be prouder to be the president of Nicholls State University. For more information about what’s happening at Nicholls State University: Visit nicholls.edu as well as the Nicholls Facebook and Twitter pages.

From the Desk of the President

ews Nicholls State University has been named one of the top universities and colleges in Louisiana in an inaugural report by College Consensus. A new, online college review aggregator, College Consensus combines rankings from respected college ranking publishers with student reviews to create their unique rating system. “While it is no surprise to us that Nicholls is among the best universities in the region and the state, it is gratifying to see the hard work of our faculty, staff and students validated publicly,” said

Nicholls President, Dr. Jay Clune. “We pride ourselves in giving the Bayou Region access to an affordable, high-quality education.” College Consensus creates a Publisher Rating, comprised of the most recent rankings from Academic Ranking of World Universities, Center for World University Rankings, Forbes, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, U.S. News and World Report and Washington Monthly. The Publisher Rating is then combined with a student

rating score collected from resources such as Unigo, Cappex and Niche to produce the overall score. Nicholls student score of 76 is tied for second in the state of Louisiana and ranks among the top 200 in the country. “As a regional university, Nicholls State University focuses on practical, market-ready degree programs in areas like nursing, teaching and business,” the report states. “Nicholls knows what the residents of Cajun country need, and have been meeting those needs for generations.”

Nicholls named a top five college inLouisiana

Nicholls awards 600 degrees at 101st Com-mencement

Nicholls State University awarded 600 degrees to students during its fall commencement ceremony on December, 16. Darrell Domingue and Nicolette Orgeron received the President’s Medal of Honor for graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Domingue graduated with degrees in finance and accounting, and Orgeron graduated with a degree in nursing. In addition to Domingue and Orgeron, eight students graduated summa cum laude for graduating with a 3.9 GPA or higher and is the highest academic honor a student can achieve. Those students are Katherine Robichaux, biology and music; Amanda Boquet, elementary education; Shannon Gros, psychology; Brayah Lorraine, birth-to-5 early intervention, special education; Nicole Dupin, communicative disorders; Deseray Guillory, accounting; Bernard Wezeman, psychology and business administration; and Abby Albritton, health science.

Nicholls partners with Friends of BayouLafourche to improve bayouside

Nicholls State University and a local nonprofit will partner to enhance more than seven acres of the university’s bayouside property. Nicholls President Dr. Bruce Murphy signed a cooperative endeavor with the Friends of Bayou Lafourche to allow the group to develop a plan for the future of the property, which runs along La. 1 from the Audubon Street bridge to Nanny Price Road. “Part of our mission is to be the cultural heart of this region and Bayou Lafourche is front and center in that culture,” said Dr. Murphy. “The Friends of Bayou Lafourche have some great ideas on how to enhance the image of the bayou, which serves as the front porch of this university.”

See BAYOU, page 9


upstairs Genealogy Room of the Thibodaux Library on the first Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m to noon to assist anyone with genealogy. All are welcome. • On January 23, 2018 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Jean Lafitte National Park, 314 St. Mary St., there will be a presentation and discussion of the documentary “Can’t Stop the Water” about the loss of indigenous communities because of encroaching water and land loss. All are welcome. • Thibodaux’s Table Francaise (Cercle Francophone) meets every Tuesday (except Mardi Gras and on federal holidays) at Jean Lafitte National Park, 314 St. Mary St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The group gathers to speak French and host activities. On Tuesday, February 20, 2018, there will be a presentation by Edgar Benoit regarding engineering projects significant to the lifestyle of Acadians, the expulsion and relocation to Louisiana. All are welcome. • On March 10, 2018 there will be a gathering of people interested in the history and genealogy of the

Breaux, Hebert and Guidry families of this area at the Thibodaux Library. • To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Thibodaux-Loudon Twinning Program, the members from Thibodaux will head to France to visit their friends in Loudon beginning April 5th. Congratulations to the association, the oldest continuously active twinning group in the state.• The Lafourche Heritage Society will hold its Annual Meeting at the end of April. Date to be announced. Membership Drive is currently underway. Their Annual Genealogy & History Seminar will be held in August with the date to be announced. • The Terrebonne Genealogical Society, which covers this area, meets on the last Saturday of each month except November and December, at 1 pm at the Main Branch Library in Houma. All are welcome. • On October 20, 2018 there will be a seminar on the history and preservation of the historic St. John Episcopal Church Cemetery on Jackson Street. More info will follow later.

HISTORY | Con’t from Page 7

Friends of Bayou Lafourche will conduct key stakeholder meetings that will include the Nicholls community, as well as outdoor enthusiasts. From there, the nonprofit will develop a master plan and establish programming along the bayou with help from a $25,000 grant from Louisiana’s

Cajun Bayou. Possible projects include boat launches, outdoor classrooms, an amphitheater and “other venues that promote Bayou Lafourche.” “Because Nicholls represents a regional effort enhancing education and culture, they were the perfect partner for this project,” said John

Lafargue, president of Friends of Bayou Lafourche. “This will be real, significant improvement for the bayou side. We expect, through community input, to implement a cutting-edge design that gives the community significant access to Bayou Lafourche.”

BAYOU | Con’t from Page 8

Nicholls State University today announced changes to its administration and plans to begin a national search for a new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Lynn Gillette will move from his current position as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to the role of special assistant to Nicholls President, Dr. Jay Clune. Dr. Sue Westbrook, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, will

serve as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Dr. Gillette's leadership brought innovative change to increase student retention and improve teaching and advising practices. I look forward to working closely with him to continue that positive momentum moving forward,” Dr. Clune said. “Dr. Westbrook is a well-respected leader who oversees some of our largest and most successful programs. Under her watch,

our nursing graduates regularly pass the national licensure exam at rates greater than both the national and state average, and have a 100 percent employment rate after graduation.” A Nicholls alum, Westbrook was named dean in 2004 after working as a nurse and an instructor at Nicholls. She was named one of The Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana in 2016.

Nicholls announces changes touniversity leadership



BEN JONES, JR.Managing Editor

W hen it comes to propane or Cajun cookware, Tracy Brupbacher is the one to talk to. Tracy is a Chamber member and the manager of Gary’s Propane and Cajun Cast Iron Cookware located at 1071 Jackson Street in Thibodaux. Hailing from Schriever, Tracy attended H. L. Bourgeois from 1999 to 2001 and then moved on to college at the local Nicholls State University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 2007. Being involved in the family business, Gary’s Propane and Cajun Cast Iron Cookware, is what brought Tracy to Thibodaux. “The thing I enjoy most about Thibodaux is the culture and atmosphere that surrounds the people,” said Tracy. As for his job at Gary’s Propane and Cajun Cast Iron Cookware, Tracy said, “It’s a great job and a great place to work. I love to work over here in the store and enjoy checking out all of the inventory we have to offer.” A typical day for Tracy is very busy with customers tending to ask him to problem-solve propane-related issues as well as answering questions about cookware cleaning, maintenance, and needs on a daily basis. Outside of the store, Tracy enjoys hunting, gardening, and anything outdoors related. “It helps me relax and unwind being outside and enjoying mother nature.” What Tracy enjoys most about his membership with the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce is that as a small business manager, he can turn to anyone in the Chamber organization, including its’ members, for help on problems that he may come across in the business world. As far as three tips to be successful, Tracy recommended being fair and honest and said, “It gets you a long way.” Tracy also recommended becoming a problem solver and learning to help others with that knowledge learned. Finally, Tracy recommended to plan ahead and do your homework. “Planning ahead and knowing where you want to go will give you the quickest route to achieve your goals.”

Meet MemberTracy Brupbacher


BY BEN JONES, JR.Managing Editor

Y ou’ve seen her around town at almost every function possible. She’s a go-getter and always striving to better the community. Some may call her a superhero, but others call her Kassie Barrancotto. Born and raised in Vacherie, Kassie became a student at St. Joseph Elementary School and then moved up to Edward Douglas White Catholic High School in 1998. From there she attended Nicholls State University. She ended up graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Even though she hails from Vacherie, Kassie still loves the atmosphere that Thibodaux has to offer. “In Thibodaux you can experience all the advantages of small town life but do not have to sacrifice state of the art medical, education, and recreational experiences that are often only found in larger cities. Thibodaux offers the best of both worlds.” Today, you can find Kassie at Synergy Bank’s South Acadia Office, where she holds the title of Assistant Vice President. “Working for Synergy Bank is fulfilling in all aspects of my life. I get to help customers realize their dreams - whether it be purchasing their first home or building their dream home; or starting a business from scratch to growing their existing business to the next level. In addition, Synergy Bank also allows me to volunteer and advocate for the community. The bank has a profound commitment to the growth and prosperity of our community and its citizens. Personally, I get to have a rewarding career and be involved in all aspects of my family and children’s daily lives. I am lucky to be able to raise my family and work in the same local community that we serve at Synergy Bank.”

Kassie wears numerous hats on a day-to-day basis. “After dropping off a carpool of six children (two are my own), I report to work most days at 8:00 AM. Although my official title is ‘Assistant Vice President,’ I am a branch manager, loan officer, business developer, customer service representative, or anything that I need to be to ensure our customers have the top-notch service that they deserve. I have the most amazing co-workers who help me accomplish this goal daily. No two days are alike but that is one of my favorite things about this job. There is always plenty to do! There is so much more to banking than vaults and teller transactions - although those can be fun too. After the bank closes my day does not end. Besides the normal ‘family’ duties of homework, dancing, Tae Kwon Do etc., I am also a board member of The Bayou Country Children’s Museum and The Kiwanis Club of Thibodaux. I make the most of every day of this crazy life and love every minute of it!” Kassie also adds that thanks to Nicholls State University Culinary Institute she was able to marry a California boy who fell head over heals in love with the local community and culture. Outside of work, Kassie enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children. “We love to cook and entertain as well as travel when we get the chance!”When it comes to being a member of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, Kassie says that the thing she enjoys most is the relationships that she gets to build with other Chamber members and members of the community that the Chamber works closely with. “There are so many people in so many backgrounds I am always learning something new and growing from them.” As for three tips to be successful that Kassie would like to give Chamber members? “Be involved, listen, and ask questions. It’s the only way you’re going to learn!”

Meet Board MemberKASSIE BARRANCOTTO



Chamber members join Grady Verret for a ribbon cutting at his newest business MakeSpace Self Storage, located at 1608 Ridgefield Rd. in Thibodaux.

From Left: Donald Barrilleaux, First National Bank; Cody Blanchard, White Car Marketing; Tammy Ledet, Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Dalmau, Cinclare.

From Left: Cody Blanchard, White Car Marketing; John Bogen, and Ter-rolyn Mitchell, The Cove At Legacy Point.

From Left: Brooke Huddleston, Lafourche Parish School Board; Howell Chiasson, Coastal Commerce Bank, and Crystal Chiasson, Fletcher Tech-nical Community College.


Donald Barrilleaux, Tod Clement, and Gerald Rome, First American Bank; and Angela Clement, Office of Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court.

Sue Prosperie, Melanie Champagne, Kim Lafleur, and Rhonda Gaubert, Carmel Inn & Suites.

Wanda Berthelot and Mike Berthelot, Thibodaux Glass; Tammy Ledet, President/CEO of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce; Monique Crochet, Nicholls State University; and Jerry Sanders.

Sarah Rodrigue, Executive Assistant Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce; Melanie Harang; Ben Harang, Donnes Real Estate; Katherine Harang, Bourgeois, Murphy Appraisal Ser-vices; and Kassie Barrancotto, Synergy Bank.

On hand at Business After Hours from left were: Lance Ledet, Lancescaping, LLC; Vickie Cancienne, Donnes Real Estate; Carole Anne Dansereau, Donnes Real Estate; Stephen Ar-ceneaux, MKE Architects, LLC; Denise Fox; Monique Crochet, Nicholls State University, and Tammy Ledet, Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.

Nolan Falgout, First American Bank; Melanie Champagne; Greg Gaubert, Carmel Inn and Suites; Kirk Champagne, Crown Exterminating, Inc.; and Rhonda Gaubert, Carmel Inn and Suites.


Royalty Aromas celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony at their new location at 1602 Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux.

A group of Chamber members enjoyed Business After Hours held at Cinclare back in De-cember.

A group of Chamber members enjoyed Business After Hours held at Cinclare back in De-cember.

Donald Barrilleaux, First American Bank; Ana Lorena Kearns; and Tammy Ledet, Presi-dent/CEO of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.

Marguerite Knight Erwin, Morgan Stanley; and Brooke Huddleston, Lafourche Parish School Board.

Cody Blanchard, White Car Marketing and Chairman of the Thibodaux Chamber of Com-merce Board of Directors; Tammy Ledet, President/CEO of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce; and Nolan Falgout, First American Bank.

Wanda Berthelot and Mike Berthelot of Thibodaux Glass.


The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) recently signed an agreement to support pollution prevention practices in Minnesota. A formal Letter of Understanding was recently signed recognizing the importance of coordinating pollution prevention efforts throughout the Mississippi River watershed both locally in Minnesota and in distant downstream areas including the ultimate receiving waters of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. The MDA currently assists landowners and farmers through low interest loans under the Agricultural Best Management Practices (AgBMP) Loan Program that can be used to finance practices that prevent pollution to the state’s lakes, rivers, and groundwater. The AgBMP Loan Program started in 1995 and has issued more than 13,000 loans to Minnesota businesses and landowners financing over $220 million for projects addressing erosion, runoff, manure management, septic treatment, and drinking water problems. BTNEP has developed a Comprehensive

Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) recommending practices that can be implemented from the headwaters of the Mississippi River to the delta and will ultimately reduce sediment and nutrient loading to the estuary area and the gulf. With Minnesota’s formal recognition of the Barataria-Terrebonne management plan, eligibility for AgBMP loans to finance pollution prevention practices in Minnesota will be expanded to include livestock operations holding National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits or those operations with more than 1,000 animal units. “Not many people realize it but the whole Mississippi River drainage is the watershed of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program,” said BTNEP Senior Water Resources Coordinator and Quality Assurance Manager Andrew Barron. “Work done to prevent pollution runoff in Minnesota as part of this agreement and the BTNEP CCMP is a simple, obvious, and great step towards improving water quality in the watershed and in our Louisiana Estuary.” This Letter of Understanding recognizes that

pollution does not stop at state boundaries and that a multi-state perspective should be considered when addressing pollution problems. In addition to the expanded eligibility options and guidance, the understanding establishes regular reporting and communications between the two organizations.

BTNEP Works with Minnesota on More Pollution Prevention

2018-’19 NEW STUDENT ADMISSIONS PERIOD!

100 Afton Drive, Nicholls State University Campus

PO Box 2072, Thibodaux, LA 70310 PHONE: 985-227-9500 FAX: 985-227-9515

E-mail [email protected]

January 8, 2018—March 1, 2018

PRIMARY FOCUS—DYSLEXIA , characteristics of dyslexia, or a co-morbid learning difference related to dyslexia and as identified under Bulletin 1903

SERVING GRADES 1-8

MISSION—To empower the lives of students who learn differently

CURRICULUM—Multi-sensory, highly structured, sequential, cumulative, research-based curriculum delivered through direct, explicit instructional techniques

BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE

No applicant will be excluded on the basis of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.


Nicholls State University received a $50,000 donation from the Lorio Foundation on Tuesday, bringing the total donations from the Thibodaux nonprofit to more than $3 million. Members of the Lorio Foundation Board toured the Nicholls campus to view the outcome of projects they assisted in funding in 2017. Those projects included resurfacing of tennis courts, renovating the steps at the Donald Bollinger Student Union and building a pavilion at Ayo Pool. “What’s great about these projects is that it’s not just for Nicholls but for the community as well,” the Lorio Foundation said in a statement. “We gave money thinking about the kids who use the pool and the schools that also use the tennis courts. We were thinking about student safety when we helped with the steps.”

The latest donation will provide a new van for Nicholls athletics to transport teams and equipment. That brings the nonprofits total donations to Nicholls over $3.3 million. “These donations are important for Nicholls because they help us do things we otherwise would not be able to,” said Nicholls President Dr. Bruce Murphy. “To have an organization like the Lorio Foundation contribute means we can leverage our own abilities and go beyond that and do something important.” Established in 1997 to honor the memory of Thibodaux resident Lloyd Lorio, the nonprofit has spent the last 20 years awarding annual grants to religious, charitable, educational and governmental agencies in the Bayou Region.

Lorio Foundation surpasses $3million in donations to Nicholls

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MAX Charter School Accepting Student Enrollment Applications MAX Charter School will be accepting student enrollment applications for the 2018-2019 school year through Thursday, March 1, 2018. The MAX Charter School will offer educational services for school children in Grades 1-8 who have a primary diagnosis as identified under Bulletin 1903 of the following: dyslexia, characteristics of dyslexia, or a co-morbid learning difference related to dyslexia. The MAX Charter School will admit

students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin. As a Type 2 Charter School, The MAX Charter School will admit students residing in any parish located in Louisiana. Application forms are available online at www.maxcharter.org or can be picked up at the school site. The enrollment lottery will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. For more information, please contact the school at 985-227-9500 or

email [email protected] .

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426 HIGHWAY 308THIBODAUX, LA 70301PHONE: (985) 447-2628

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CHRISY MYHANDDirector of Wellness Services, Thibodaux Regional Medical Center

It’s that time: With a new year comes the inevitability of setting resolutions, and breaking them within a matter of days or weeks. Many look at New Years as a blank page, a way to write a new, healthier story for themselves. Each January, you resolve to better yourself in some way – by losing weight, exercising more, quitting bad habits like smoking, or eating healthier. Here are some tips that might help make those resolutions stick.Be Realistic Be realistic about what you’d like to accomplish. Don’t try, for example, to quit smoking and lose weight and eat healthier and… and… and… …And suddenly, you’re so overwhelmed, you give up on any hope of accomplishing any of your goals. Having unrealistic goals sets you up for failure. Set smaller goals, and be specific. Instead of, “I want to lose weight,” try, “I want to lose 15 pounds by Memorial Day.” Instead of, “I’m cutting out red meat,” try, “I’m only going to eat a burger twice a month.” By keeping your resolutions realistic, you’ll have a far greater chance of success, and you won’t feel as stressed out. Have a Support System Ask for the support you need. Family and friends can help you stay motivated on those difficult days, and they can even join you in your pursuit of a better self. If, for example, you’ve resolved to work out more in the new year, have a friend sign up for some exercise classes with you. On the days you just don’t feel like exercising, that friend could be the catalyst to get you up and moving (and vice versa). You could also consider working with a personal trainer to set up an exercise plan that best fits your needs and your life. Working with a certified personal trainer can help you reach your personal health and fitness goals for the new year. And even better: You’ll have someone who can help motivate and encourage you every single step of the way. The Fitness Center of Thibodaux Regional offers a variety of personal training options. Call 985.493.4950 to find out more. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you feel like you need it. If you’re trying to quit smoking, know that Thibodaux Regional Medical Center has a smoking cessation program to help you quit smoking for life (call 985.449.4686 for more information). Asking for help does not mean you are weak – quite the opposite. It means that you know your weaknesses, and recognize that you can’t do it alone.

Accepting help takes great strength, and it can, in turn, strengthen your resilience. Celebrate Success If you’ve successfully gone two weeks without smoking, for example, or if you’ve lost those first five pounds, reward yourself in some small way. Give yourself credit for the step forward. Doing so can help shift the focus away from the end goal, and on the smaller, and equally significant, steps you take along the way. As a result, you’ll likely remain motivated to soldier on and eventually attain your bigger goal. Work on Whole Health January is the time for resolving to be healthier, and it’s the perfect time to schedule those annual doctor appointments. After all, you’re working to get healthier, inside, and out. Challenge yourself in 2018. Take the steps you need to take to be a healthier you. Ask for the help you need, celebrate your successes along the way, and if you do slip-up, realize you are human. Slip-ups are bound to happen, but don’t let them lead to abandoned commitments. Big changes often come in small increments. Here’s to a happy, healthy new year! For more information contact Chrisy Myhand, Director of Wellness Services at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, 985.493.4950.


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New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Just Make Them – Keep Them: Here’s How

CHEF RANDOLPH CHERAMIEChef John Folse Culinary Institute

I think it would be safe to say that in my 64 years (come March) on earth, I have lost a good amount of weight (probably a ton or so), only to gain it back, plus a few pounds more (1.1 tons or so). I know I’m not alone in this. Too many Americans are riding that rollercoaster of broken dreams, hoping to revisit their body form of yesteryear! But what does one do? So many diets to choose from! So many are unhealthy! I remember going on the low carb Atkins Diet. I nearly jumped out of a moving vehicle as it passed my favorite pizza joint! That’s no way to live! Besides, I didn’t achieve this, … ahem…full figure, by eating sweets! I did so by eating French bread and rice and potatoes and pasta and all the wonderful sauces you eat with them! What’s a carbo junkie to do? For me (and maybe you too!) I knew I needed to eat smarter and move more. But I didn’t want to go on a “diet”. I hate diets. I’ve failed every diet I ever started! I didn’t want to go through that pain again! Instead of a diet I wanted to adopt a lifestyle of eating real food, cooked in a manner that would be safe and flavorful, while adopting a sensible-for-me exercise plan. Why can’t I do this? After a lot of research, I think I’ve found it! It’s a way that I can enjoy those carbs in moderate amounts while also eating a lot of vegetables and lean meats. Then I go to the gym, when my schedule permits for a 40-minute stationary cycle workout three times a week, or a vigorous walk when I can’t make the gym. You know the lifestyle! It’s the one Oprah recently bought a big chunk of! For me, it just makes the most sense because I’m eating real (not packaged) food that has a lot of flavor. But my food is cooked sensibly and I never eat anything that has more letters than the alphabet! No packaged or processed foods! Nothing that comes out of a box with a 4-inch ingredient list of foods no one can pronounce! I’m proud to say that in about 4 months time I’ve lost over 50 lbs. and I feel great. And I lost it by eating dishes just like this one:Crispy Chicken Thighs with Spring Vegetables, Yield - 4 servings Equipment - 2 rimmed baking sheets, large skillet (12 inch), tongsIngredients 8 small bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 pounds) 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 1 pound asparagus, trimmed 1 pound baby new potatoes, halved if larger than 1/2" 1 bunch radishes (about 1/2 pound), halved 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 tablespoon anchovy paste, or 6 fillets, finely chopped 1/4 (1 stick) cold butter, cut into 1-teaspoon pieces, divided 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley, plus more for servingPreparation 1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Using kitchen shears, remove bones from chicken thighs, keeping skin and flesh intact; discard bones. Season chicken all over with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. 2. Toss asparagus, potatoes, radishes, 1 Tbsp. oil ( or a healthy spray of Pam), and remaining 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a large bowl. Transfer everything but the asparagus to a rimmed baking sheet and roast 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, grease another rimmed baking

sheet with 1 tsp. oil or spray with Pam. Heat remaining

1 tsp. oil or a good spray of Pam in a large skillet over medium-high.

Working in batches, sear chicken skin side down until skin is crisp and golden brown, 5–7 minutes. Transfer skin side up to prepared sheet. After all chicken is seared (reserve fat in skillet), transfer baking sheet to oven and roast until chicken is cooked though, 8–10 minutes. 4. When you open oven to roast chicken, remove baking sheet with vegetables, arrange asparagus over potatoes and radishes, then continue to roast until asparagus is crisp-tender and potatoes and radishes are well browned and tender, 8–10 minutes more (it should take the same amount of time to finish as the chicken). 5. Meanwhile, carefully pour off excess fat from reserved skillet, leaving browned bits on the bottom. Add garlic, anchovy paste, and 1 Teas. butter to skillet and cook over medium heat until garlic is softened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine, scraping up browned bits with a spatula or wooden spoon, and continue to cook, stirring, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in lemon juice. Add remaining butter one piece at a time, swirling and stirring after each addition to fully emulsify sauce. Stir in 1 Tbsp. parsley. 6. Transfer chicken and vegetables to a platter, then pour sauce over. Top with more parsley before serving. Cooks' Note: You can keep the bones in your chicken thighs if you prefer—roast in oven 12–14 minutes instead of 8–10.


Healthy and Flavorful

HENRI BOULETExecutive Director, LA1 Coalition

The LA Dept. of Transportation and Development opened construction bids for Segment E of the LA 1 Improvement Project in December. James Construction Group of Baton Rouge submitted the low bid of $13,248,581.59. Road users should see construction activity in the area in April or May. Segment E is the southernmost segment of Phase II and is located in Leeville. It includes the widening of the existing bridge at the current 90-degree curve for approximately 1,400 feet where the roadway will taper back to two lanes. The widening of this structure is needed to allow for a tie-in with the three-lane wide connection from the north. The elevated highway from the north will be three lanes wide to accommodate a left turn lane at this future intersection. An immediate benefit to drivers is that the widening will provide a broader curve when driving southbound. The current curve formation was intended to be temporary in anticipation that, when all of Phase 2 opens, most traffic will get on the elevated structure in Golden Meadow and drive straight through this intersection. The LA 1 Coalition thanks Governor Edwards for prioritizing the continued build-out of the LA 1 Improvement Project through this segment's construction. The majority of the $13 million segment cost is being funded by the State of Louisiana. Critical to the state's ability to build this segment was the Governor's decision to provide $5 million of state capital outlay funds for the project this summer. We recognize the immense request for capital outlay funds and thank Governor Edwards and the administration for recognizing the need to make continued progress on this critical public works initiative. The Coalition would also like to thank the Greater Lafourche Port Commission for continuing their support in underwriting the mitigation work for the project. The port recently took bids to complete the build-out of the required mitigation acres for the project. LA 1 Coalition and Port Fourchon officials met with Congressman Steve Scalise and five other members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation in late November. The Greater Lafourche Port Commission has applied for a U.S. Department of Transportation Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to fund, in part, Phase 2 of the LA 1 Improvement Project. This is an important opportunity for the LA 1 Project as INFRA will provide considerable more funding ($1.5 billion) than previous DOT grant programs. In addition, there is a rural set-aside for which the LA 1 Project qualifies. The project has the support

of the entire Louisiana delegation. We thank the delegation for recognizing the criticality of LA 1 to Louisiana's working coast industry sectors of energy, coastal restoration, commercial and recreational fishing, and eco-tourism. Louisiana DOTD has continued to make progress on designing the remaining 8.3 miles of structure. The design of the northernmost 3,700-foot segment, which ties into Highway 3235 and crosses the Larose-Golden Meadow Levee System, is complete. The large six-mile section between Golden Meadow and Leeville will be 95% complete in January 2018, and the one-mile overpass just north of Leeville is expected to be 95% complete in June 2018.


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TONY TRANCHINAFinancial Advisor, Edward Jones

If you could accomplish all your financial goals just by putting your paycheckinto the bank every couple of weeks, you wouldn’t need the services of a financial advisor. But life isn’t that simple – and so, at some point, you may realize you need some professional assistance. But when? Actually, you might benefit from the services of a financial advisor during many life events, including the following: • Starting your career – When you’re starting out in your career, you may encounter several questions related to your benefits package. Should you contribute to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan? If so, how much, and where should you invest your money? Are the life and disability insurance policies offered by your employer sufficient for your needs? A financial advisor can help you answer these and other questions you may have. • Getting married – When you get married, you’ll have to decide if, and how, you want to combine your finances. Also, you and your spouse may have different attitudes about investing and different tolerances for risk. A financial professional can help you find common ground. • Changing jobs – When you switch jobs, what should you do with your old employer’s retirement plan? And how should you invest in the plan offered by your new employer? As was the case when you first began your career, you may find that a financial professional can help you make the right choices. • Facing a layoff or buyout – You may never go through a layoff, or take a buyout offer from an employer – but if either of these events happen, you will face some financial decisions. And during such a potentially stressful period, you may be tempted to make some financial moves that won’t be beneficial. A financial advisor can suggest some strategies that may help you keep your investment situation relatively intact until you land your next job. • Saving for college – If you have children whom you’d like to send to college someday, you’ll probably want to start putting money away as early as possible. A financial professional can show you the various college-savings vehicles, and help you choose the ones that are most appropriate for your needs. • Getting divorced – If you are fortunate, you won’t ever experience a divorce, but, if it does happen, you’ll want to get the professional assistance necessary to ensure fair outcomes for everyone. You’ll obviously need to work with an attorney, but you may find that, in the area of investments, a financial advisor also can be useful.

• Entering retirement – As you near retirement, your key questions will switch – but not entirely – from putting money in to taking money out. How much can you withdraw each year from your 401(k) and IRA without running the risk of outliving your resources? When should you start taking Social Security? If you were to work a couple of years longer than you had originally intended, how would it affect your withdrawal strategies? Again, a financial advisor can help you with these issues. As you can see, most important life events will carry some financial concerns. But you don’t have to face these challenges alone – and by getting the help you need, when you need it, you can ease the transition from one stage of life to another. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.


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done a fantastic job in leading our Chamber. Her staff - Sarah Rodrigue, Executive Assistant, Rick Reso, Membership Assistant, and Ben Jones, Jr., Insight Managing Editor - With their dedication and the many advances we’ve made this year, our membership has seen one of it’s highest points in the past 10 years. Our Chamber is currently 619 members strong. I thank all of you for your commitment to our Chamber and our Community. Without your continued support and membership, we could not make any of this happen. Now is the time I’d would typically pass the hat, get the gavel plaque and say ‘Bye y’all - but I’ve been honored again to remain as your Chairman of the Board for 2018. I’d like to thank our Board of Directors for the commitment they’ve made and the confidence they’ve instilled in me. A special thank you to my entire Executive Board for their dedication and pledge to ensure our Chamber operates as efficiently as possible. And a special

thank you to the beautiful woman who stands by my side and puts up with me, my girlfriend, Meagan. Many nights and weekends she’s had to deal with me saying we can’t go to dinner with friends or attend this event because I have something to do for the Chamber and she’s been so supportive about it. One of her favorite things to tell me, and if any of you have worked with me, you can probably understand, is that “I’m not going to always like you, but I’ll always love you”. When I told her I’d be Chair of the Board again in 2018, I think this phrase probably came to mind, but as always she continues to support all of my endeavors. As I said last year, never would I have thought I’d fall in love with Thibodaux the way I did when I moved from the big city of Pierre Part over 10 years ago. Thibodaux has given me so much. My education, my business, amazing colleagues and mentors, my wonderful and supporting girlfriend, and a place to call home. What more can you ask than to be

given the opportunity to invest in and contribute to the place you want to grow your business and raise a family? So for this, I say ‘Thank you’— for the opportunity to lead our Chamber of Commerce again this year. We have much ahead of us. Our board met for our annual retreat in early December and one of the main focuses was determining what will be the purpose of our Chamber going forward. So in 2018, we will focus on recreating our mission and vision and outlining what it is our Chamber should be doing to serve you — our membership. And we want all of you to be a part of that vision. The biggest outtake we had is that we need to be a more active voice for our membership while providing growth opportunities. Done are days of the Chamber simply being a networking group. We are here to support you as businesses and professionals through advocacy, educational opportunities, and professional development. A major task this year will also be our reaccreditation from the U.S.

Chamber. Of the over 7,000 Chambers of Commerce in the United States, only the top 3% have reached accreditation. Of those, 59 have reached 4-star and 112 have reached 5-star. We currently sit at 4-star and are anticipating a 5-star accreditation year. In 2018, our Chamber of Commerce will continue to work with the Blue Ribbon Committee and support our School System, continue to work with state and federal legislators to ensure the voices of the businesses we represent are heard, our Diversity and Inclusion program will continue, events will be improved upon, and our educational opportunities will grow. Our chamber is healthy, our community is thriving, and we have so much on the horizon. Again, I thank you for your commitment to our chamber and community. And I thank you for your trust in me to serve as the 2018 Thibodaux Chamber Chairman of the Board.

ONWARD | Con’t from page 4

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Documents

January 25, 2018 Volume 20, Issue 12...Music’s Unsung Hero Mr. Ellis LaRose Teenager of the Year Mr. Ethan Naquin Frank Kennedy (Outstanding) Citizen of the Year Mr. Neal Swanner