Vermilion Parish Feature

"I Remember When”

by Lisa Stewart

During Christmas of 2011, Daniel Duhon wrote a letter to his family members stating, “I remember when,” reminiscing about sixty years of togetherness with his family, and leaving them with the message, “Yes we do come from humble beginnings, but always remember your roots.”

Daniel, the youngest child and only boy was born in 1944 at the Villamez Clinic in Kaplan to Robley and Ruth Duhon. Mr. Robley was the proprietor of a CASE tractor supply company on Hwy 35 just south of Kaplan. Mrs. Ruth was a homemaker raising Daniel and his two older sisters, Jerone & Linda. Jerone lives in Phoenix Arizona and has two children, Jude and Ramone, while Linda lives in Slidell and is mother to Michelle and Michael. Daniel tells me he started school in 1950 and attended the one schoolhouse in Kaplan at the time. He remembers the school being two separate buildings, one housing grades 1-5 and the other 6-12. Kaplan High School is where he graduated in 1962. He started college right away attending USL that fall semester, residing in Richard Dormitory off campus. In the summer times he would carpool, stating the kids just always seemed to find a ride, someone always had a car that you could carpool with. Classmates and friends that joined him at USL were Stan Hardee, Richard Abshire, Carl Comeaux, Rayetta Broussard Meaux, & Patty Compete Doise. Daniel graduated in 1966 with a degree in Math and a minor in English, but he didn’t start teaching right away. Instead, he went to work with his dad at the tractor supply making a whopping $35.00 a week in income! He lived at home so he was able to save his money to buy himself a car. Daniel remembers going to Frenzel Motors in Abbeville with his dad and bought himself a brand new Olive green Plymouth Fury III, for about $4500.

Daniel worked in the implement business for about 12-13 years when his dad decided it was time to retire after forty years of service. Daniel knew he didn’t want to continue in the business his dad built, so he began making plans to teach. Sadly, Mr. Robley died of a massive heart attack in 1977, and December 20th was the last day the door was opened for business.

Daniel said it took about a year to close the shop and complete the tractor business. Once that was done, he returned to USL and received his teaching certificate in Education, still majoring in Math and English. His first years teaching were in Henry. It was during this time that Daniel began building a home of his own on some property that belonged to his father just off of Hwy 167 and Etienne Road outside of Maurice.

According to Daniel, his dad was raised on a farm and enjoyed dabbling in odd projects and doing things in a different way than usual. His dad raised pigs and sheep on this property and was one of the first few to start planting soybeans in the area. He says how his dad enjoyed experimenting with different fertilizers and such. He planted clover for feed and the neighbors always knew where Mr. Robley had placed the fertilizer because he would spell out the letters “RD” and the clover would grow higher and bigger in that shape. Mr. Robley had a catfish pond, raised corn, peas, and anything else that could tie him to his farming days when he was a child.

Daniel’s house was finished about the same time the new school, North Vermilion, was ready to be utilized, and he began teaching there its first year open as a Math & English teacher. He stayed at that school until his retirement twenty-one years later. It was also during this time that Daniel was the school tour guide bringing the children to Washington DC on annual trips. By this time Daniel has begun traveling more and becoming interested in tourism. He joined a group of people from Maurice and visited Europe. It was on a twenty-day trip to England, Scotland and Ireland when the travel bug hit him hard and began what he continues to do today - travel! Daniel joined forces with Sandy Sagrera who owned Cajun Tours south of Abbeville, and became an escort for about 12-14 years on those excursions. Daniel remembers 2001 as the year he could have probably rented out his house as he was away from it more then he was in it. It was in the fall season of that year that he, his mom, and his two sisters decided to start taking a fall trip as a family. The first adventures were Hawaii, Canada, Amish Country, Niagara Falls, and the Fall Foliage tour. It was in 2005 that he lost his mom, Ruth, but continued to travel to places such as Lake Tahoe, Cape Cod, San Francisco and Nova Scotia.

It was while traveling to Europe that Daniel became familiar with the David Winter collections of cottages. He bought his first one about 25 years ago and has been collecting every since. He owns hundreds of different pieces of the collection and is even a member of guild of these famous valuables.

Daniel still considers himself a Kaplanite, even though he lives in Maurice. He is actively involved in the Kaplan Museum, The Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop in Abbeville, the Maurice Museum - a work in progress, and the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission for about four to five years, holding the chairman seat for two years. He belongs to the Kaplan Arts Council and Kaplan Chamber of Commerce as well as the Retired Teachers Association and is a current member of Krewe Chic A la Pie.

Last year, Daniel had the honor of representing the Krewe as their KING GUMBO LVI, with his sister, Linda, serving as Queen Jambalaya LVII. He will be relinquishing that crown this carnival season at the annual Mardi Gras Ball in Kaplan on Feb 11th and invites all of you to come out and enjoy the festivities. He will also ride in the annual parade that rolls down Cushing Avenue in Kaplan on Mardi Gras day. About being King Gumbo, he says, “The best part was the actual crowning. I really enjoy riding the floats and throwing beads to the people on the street,” Daniel said with a twinkle in his eye. “I just want to be a part of all the fun and activities I remember experiencing as a child! I remember riding in a parade in 1951, although I don’t remember what parade it was. I was on a mini-make-shift float, and I am still doing that to this day.” He also remembers no one yelling, “Throw me something mister” like they do today. “I don’t know what we said, probably just yelled ‘HEYYYYY’ to get their attention!”

The best part of Mardi Gras? Daniel says the good family oriented fun for all ages, young and old, that can be celebrated year after year, a tradition that is steeped deep in our culture and carried on down the generations.

The best part about teaching? He says that it didn’t dawn on him how much he really enjoyed teaching until the children he taught would come back to visit him and tell him how much they enjoyed his classes and thanked him for guiding them in school.

His philosophy on life? “Think positive and never negative! I am thankful for all I have and am enjoying sharing what I have with others, my family and my friends.”

He Ain’t Heavy...He’s My Brother

by Elizabeth Dardeau

The title of this article is borrowed from a song you may have heard a long time ago. As this article begins to unfold you may agree that this is a very appropriate title as we begin to meet the family of Mr. Rene LeBlanc, Sr. (dec.) and his wife, the former Jeanne Vigneaux (dec.). Mr. LeBlanc and his wife were the parents of 6 children: 5 boys and 1 girl. The names of their children were Wilson, Rene Jr., Edwin, Pervis, Velma and John Ira or simply Ira, as his many friends and relatives know him. Unfortunately, the first four sons are now deceased and the sole remaining members of this family are Velma LeBlanc who married Luce Frederick in 1951, and Ira. Many residents of Vermilion Parish will recognize the name of Luce, Velma’s husband, as he was one of the founding members of the well-known Fredericks’ Brothers Barber Shop here in Abbeville. Ira was born on January 2, 1936 and will have celebrated his 76th birthday by the time this article is published.

Ira was the youngest child in a family of six. When he was born, his mother was 42 and his father 41. He was a seemingly healthy infant at birth, but his parents began to notice his developmental skills were not progressing at the expected “normal rate.”

He was slower to sit and stand in addition to all of the other motor skills that we all take for granted. It is believed that he was actually born with Cerebral Palsy although it did not become totally apparent until later. Development was slow but Ira persevered. He began to speak at 4 years of age and to walk at age six. Since Luce was courting Velma, he visited at the LeBlanc home frequently and grew fond of Ira, perhaps even viewing him as a younger brother and even taught him to ride a bike. Ira began school at Meaux Elementary at the age of 8 where he completed 6th grade. When it became apparent that his condition made “regular school” too difficult it was recommended that he attend the State School for Spastic Children in Alexandria. For a child to leave family and friends at the tender age of 14 must have been very difficult for all involved, but I have a feeling that his parents wanted Ira to have whatever options available for a better life for their son. He remained there until he was almost 20. Upon returning home for summer vacation, Ira began having great difficulty walking with frequent falls. This made going back to school in Alexandria impossible for him. Testing by physicians led them to the conclusion that Ira had contracted polio which made it necessary once again for Ira to leave his family for treatment at hospitals in Baton Rouge and then later New Orleans. Polio caused rapid deterioration of first his legs and then his arms. Having lived with Cerebral Palsy for all of those years, it seemed that God had sent another cross to Ira and his family. At this point Ira was wheelchair bound and needed complete one-on-one care. This was accomplished by his parents at home, and was not an easy task for elderly parents. In the meantime his father suffered a stroke at age 68, and also became wheelchair-bound needing complete care himself.

Considering the fact that Ira and his father both needed primary care, Mrs. LeBlanc became the sole caregiver. It was then decided that the family needed to move to Abbeville and build a home next to Velma and Luce who would be able to assist with care as needed. After the decision was made to move and construct a home, Ira decided that he wanted to draw the house plans himself. His brother, Wilson, constructed a special table for Ira that held his papers in place so he could draw and measure. That most certainly was physically difficult but a labor of love nevertheless. Upon completion, the plans were brought to Mr. Rigsby Frederick of Abbeville Lumber. When he saw Ira’s plans he knew his work was already done. No improvements were needed to the plans. All measurements and specifications were put in correctly. What an accomplishment for a 28-year-old “handicapped” individual.

The home was built and Ira and his parents were now in a new home which was accessible to both wheelchairs. He had his parents and extended family next door to help. Unfortunately tragedy struck again. Velma and Ira’s mother passed away in 1972. It is times such as these that call for “heroic measures.” The decision was quickly and unanimously made to move Ira and his father both into Velma and Luce’s home next door. Times like these bring out the true “heroes” in a family. There was no question about where these two beloved family members would be cared for.

Now imagine yourself and your family looking into the eyes of this situation realistically speaking. Velma and Luce were the parents of three young children (now grown with families of their own). At that time their ages were: Jeanne 18, Don 15 and Jude 9. A home with three young children can be a really hectic place and it would soon become much more hectic. Their entire lifestyle was going to change, with times when they would be called upon to help care for their uncle. To say that these kids stepped up to the plate would be an understatement. They learned how to perform basic care needed by their uncle, and were also living the example their parents were exposing them to; after all he was their beloved uncle. All of them adjusted very well and were happy to be of help.

As I said before, Velma was married to Luce Frederick, so there was to be no real problem with the situation because she is married to a prince of a man (which I guess makes her a princess or maybe even a queen). Neither one of them wavered in their decision to take both brother and father in. Neither one of them considered a nursing home even though it would have made their lives so much easier. Almost everything had to be turned upside-down. New living arrangements, and new routines of care for their 77-year-old father and 36-year-old brother, yet neither wavered. One year after moving in, Velma’s father passed away. Forty years have passed since then and they are still taking care of Ira.

Ira’s condition makes it necessary for him to have someone in attendance at all times. He must be turned on schedule, given many medications at certain times, and have his blood sugar checked as he is now diabetic, although he is not on insulin at present. His oxygen needs monitoring, too, and the list goes on and on. Being very hard of hearing, it is at times difficult to communicate with him but if you get his attention away from the TV, he is ready with a special smile. He has his own room equipped with everything that could possibly be needed for his care. He has a hospital bed, wheelchair, a Portalift with which to move him into and out of bed. He has his beloved TV set on, which he watches soap operas every afternoon after his lunch. He also enjoys action and sci-fi movies whenever they can find something he hasn’t already seen.

Ira has a really good sense of humor and enjoys verbally sparing with his brother-in-law, Luce, who enjoys nothing better himself. Ira is fortunate to have wonderful outside caregivers who tend to him as if he were their own. They are with him part of each day, which is a great relief for Velma and Luce as well.

To say that Luce and Velma have devoted the last 40 or more years to the care of Velma’s family, Ira in particular, would be putting it mildly. They have been an inspiration to me ever since I have known them. They have had to give up so much but have gotten so much more in return. You can see the love as they care for Ira, as they speak to him and as they plan their lives around him. What an example they have given their children. The most impressive thing about Luce and Velma is the fact that they do not realize how special they are. In their humility, they view their choice to care for Ira as the only thing to do and they do it with loving hearts.

In his own special way Ira is a very lucky individual even though some might see him otherwise. He has probably received more love than many other people. So I think I can speak for the Frederick family when saying “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” (and there is nothing I would not do for him).

A Bright and Shining Star
by Cindy Luquette

How many names can you remember? Can you put the correct name with the correct person? When you attended school did you know the names of all of your classmates? How about the names of all the students in your high school?

One young lady working as an office assistant at Erath High School knows the name of every member of the student body. Her name is Heather LeBlanc and she has a great memory, which makes her a great asset to Erath High School administrators and teachers.

Heather LeBlanc is shown here working at Erath High School. Photos by Jadie Breaux & Liz Vice

Heather was voted Homecoming Queen during her senior year, 2006-2007. “She walked with the graduates to receive her certificate of completion. She was also awarded a perfect attendance medal during the graduation ceremony. This award was given to her in honor of her perfect attendance record. She did not miss a day of school from Pre - K through 12th grade,” explained her mother, Pam LeBlanc.

Principal Francis Touchet first utilized Heather’s talents while she was still attending school. Hurricane Rita flooded the city of Erath and Erath High School. Classrooms were set up in portable buildings and there was no intercom system to link the office and the classrooms. With Heather in the office, an intercom system was not necessary. “If a parent came to the office and needed to either pick their child up for any reason or had something they were bringing for their child, Heather could tell them exactly where their child was located. If she needed to bring something to a child or needed to let the teacher know the child’s parent was waiting for them in the office, she would walk to the building where they were located and deliver the message,” Pam explained. Heather has also memorized the teacher’s duty schedule.

“Heather has an unbelievable memory. If there is anything I need to remember I tell Heather what I need to remember and she never fails to remind me,” reports Vice Principal, Liz Vice. “She also has a terrific personality and is a great asset to our school. She is always offering to help. If anything needs to be done, she is right there offering to help. She truly is a gift to our school.”

The office assistant position held by Heather is a volunteer position. She works from seven a.m. to two thirty p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year. Her duties include running errands, sorting the mail and placing it in the teacher’s mailboxes, running copies for the office staff and teachers. She says the thing she likes the most about her job is running errands and running items for teachers from the high school to the middle school. Heather does not drive a vehicle. Instead, she walks to and from the two schools. She makes the trips between the two schools several times a day. “I like walking from the high school to the middle school because I enjoy the exercise,” Heather said.

Heather has a big smile, a positive attitude and a willingness to help in every way she can. She truly is a gift to Erath High School. Her mom sees her volunteer position as a gift to Heather. “She is in a safe environment, doing something she enjoys. She is associating with others and she keeps up with what is happening in her community,” Pam explained.

Have you ever looked up into the night sky and seen the evening star shining brightly? Have you ever seen a beam of sunlight bursting through the clouds? Magnify that several times over and you will have Heather’s smile. It lights up a room and warms people’s hearts. Getting to know her is an exercise in humility and gives one food for thought.

Thank you Heather LeBlanc for volunteering your time and shining your light on Erath High School, its staff, faculty and students. Teachers often award students who do a good job in their classroom with a gold star. Well, you deserve a big gold star and our admiration. This world would be a far better place if we had more shining stars like you.

Music Man & Furniture Maker
by Robby Dardeau

If some people are more interesting than others, then Bobby Broussard of Gueydan has to be grouped with some people. He’s a talented and accomplished musician, an antique bottle collector, and a cypress furniture maker with an eye for design and an appreciation for our Cajun culture. He enjoys history, creativity and people, and loves his roles of husband and father. The guy’s got range.

Many blues and zydeco fans know of Bobby’s musical talent. He’s been playing guitar, lead and rhythm, since he was sixteen years old. Bobby is self-taught on guitar and attributes his learning to watching Freddie Benoit, and just listening to albums over and over until he got it right. For most of his life he’s made a living playing his six strings travelling much further than the boundaries of Vermilion Parish.

Blues Guitarist, Bobby Broussard of Gueydan, is proving he's got talent and skills in building furniture, too.

He has always had a deep passion for the old time blues music. Some of his favorite blues artists include John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and Freddy King. Bobby’s first recording was on a gospel album called “Hymn for Him” and soon after, his career expanded in different fields of music including rock, Cajun, blues and zydeco. Bobby began playing zydeco at age 17. He has worked with Rockin Sydney, C.J. Chenier, Chubby Carrier, Rockin Dopsie, Bobby Charles, Paul “Lil’ Buck” Sinegal, Sherman Robertson, Harry Hypolite, Andy Smith Jr., JoJo Reed, Geno Delafose and Jude Taylor just to name a few. He’s also had his own group called Bobby B. and the Blues Coalition. Bobby also recorded a song with Bobby Charles, Willie Nelson, Eddie Raven, and Sonny Landreth called “Wish You Were Here Right Now.” Playing music has allowed him to travel to Hawaii, The Smithsonian, The National Mall in Washington, D.C., The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Georgia, Belgium, Scotland, Spain, Amsterdam, the Bahamas, and Canada including Nova Scotia, Calgary and Vancouver just to name a few places.

Bobby has some good stories from his musical travels, but we only have room for two. He recalls a gig at age 19, playing with Sherman Robertson in Memphis when after a set, legendary blues man, Albert King, said to him, “You play good rhythm, son.” Humble and grateful for the compliment, Bobby says, “I could have quit right there. That...coming from him. That was good.” Many years later, at a casino in Mississippi, he and the band had just finished “playing a very bad version” of a ZZ Top song when Bobby realized Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top was sitting at the bar. According to Bobby, they spoke, and Gibbons asked Bobby to show him that last lick he had just played on the guitar, so he did. Bobby jokes, “Again, I could have quit right there.”

Before his music career ever began, Bobby has been collecting old bottles. He’s been doing this since he was ten, and got started because his late mother, Barbara Talley, who Bobby described as “very artistic in painting and sculpture,” would collect old bottles to cascade melted wax over, a popular trend of the 1970’s. “Mom would take me to look for old bottles around old farmhouses, old towns, railroad tracks,” he shares. Bobby loves the historical nature of old bottles and the stories they tell through their design, condition, and wording on the glass. Today, he still enjoys looking for them and wondering what’s hidden in the ground to find. He describes his collection of “3 to 4 hundred good ones” as a history lesson. Bobby loves looking for them, and has taken his probe and shovel with him on the road when playing gigs out of state. He says enthusiastically, “I even dug in Pennsylvania!” His collection is impressive and occasionally he will sell one to a fellow collector. One of his bottles dates back to 1790.

Bobby’s latest interest is growing in popularity, as he makes beautiful custom-designed cypress furniture. Give him a 100-year-old sinker log or some boards from an old house or barn and he will turn it into a piece of art. He mostly makes tables, benches, and cabinets, but has made many other pieces, too.

Bobby loves cypress wood, and likes to feature the character of each piece in his work. To him, each piece is different, with their grains, colors, and imperfections. He doesn’t go to the lumberyard for his wood, either. The cypress he uses can only be found on a river or in a pile of debris from a forgotten building of yesterday.

When asked what it is he likes about woodworking, Bobby says, “The process. Seeing it (the wood) with the mildew on it and falling apart, coming out of the mud, and seeing it come back to life.”

Bobby’s furniture is solid and strong with a style described as “sturdy, artistic-primitive, and Cajun flavored.” Although all of his pieces have a purpose, he says it’s “more about art and less about functionality.” As for the designs he’s come up with, he shares, “I let the pieces kind of talk to me. I look at them long enough to where they give me an idea of what they would best be used for.”

From looking at the quality of his work, it is hard to believe that Bobby has only been doing this for nine years, but he has. When he began, the only knowledge of woodwork he had came from his Gueydan High School Industrial Arts teacher, Ricky Hollier. Since then, he has learned much about construction, especially on older authentic Cajun homes, and credits AJ Primeaux and Brad Phillips for this knowledge.

What got Bobby started building furniture has to do with him collecting old boards from New Orleans and aged driftwood from the Lake Arthur area. Take a pile of fine lumber, add a request from a young lady he was dating who is now his wife, Jessica Meaux Broussard, and you have the beginning of Bobby Broussard, the furniture maker. She just wanted a plant stand, and he just wanted to impress her. So, he built one, and hasn’t stopped building things yet. Now, their home is filled with his work, and Jessica, an artistic and creative antique glass bead jeweler, lends a designer’s eye to many of Bobby’s pieces.

The need for a storage shed inspired the artistic structure that now stands tall in the Broussard backyard. Bobby and Jessica call it “the cabin” or “a glorified storage shed.” It’s made from, you guessed it, old cypress and is put together in an outdoor Cajun style. Bobby even laid the brick pillars that it sits on. It’s certainly unique. Bobby jokingly describes it as his most expensive work yet, saying, “Our insurance agent thinks it’s worth five grand.”

Bobby has incorporated salvaged metal into some of his pieces and is known to repurpose things. In their living room sits the iron base of an old Singer sewing machine topped with a smooth cypress board. What he loves most is when a customer shares their ideas with him and he has to come up with something he’s never built before. He enjoys the challenge.

There are differences and similarities in making music and making furniture. Bobby explains, “A good furniture piece is like a good gig where everybody danced and everybody was happy, and I put my heart in it. In music, you’re only as good as your last performance. I can always go back and fix a messed up furniture piece. I can’t fix a bad note.”

Just like Bobby’s musical career has been professionally complemented, so has his furniture. One of his tables was sold to an antique dealer, who then sold it to the set designers for the movie Secretariat. In the movie, after the dad dies, there is a scene with the housekeeper sitting at a table in the kitchen. According to Bobby, that table and bench were made and finished by his own hands. Jessica laughed saying, “We rented that movie just to see one of his pieces.”

One doesn’t have to rent that movie to see his work. Here in Vermilion Parish, you can see and purchase a variety of his pieces at Thibodeaux’s Town & Country in Abbeville. His work can also be seen at Good Fella’s in Crowley, and at the Lafayette Antique Market.

Bobby’s talents and skills have been passed down to the next generation. Bruce is Bobby and Jessica’s seven-year-old son, who loves music and woodworking with his dad. He even likes bottle collecting. Bruce plays the keyboard, harmonica, and the guitar, but he was quick to say, “I’m not that good on the guitar...yet.” The keyword is “yet.” It’s probably just a matter of time before he’s “good on the guitar,” because he’s very talented on the other two instruments. It’s understood that for Festival Acadiens, Bruce got on stage and jammed with Lil’ Buck Sinegal. Bruce spends lots of time with his dad and is known to be pretty creative with scrap pieces of wood, too. Last time Bobby pulled a log from the river, he let Bruce steer the boat. That should be a memory to last a lifetime.

There should be no doubt - Bobby Broussard certainly is one interesting man keeping his culture alive through music and woodwork.

Bookstore Helps Students
by Robby Dardeau

Let’s say you’re a student trying to better yourself at one of Louisiana Technical College’s many campuses in our area, and your access to cash is slim or non-existent. You have been awarded a Pell Grant or other form of Grant to cover your school expenses, but the money hasn’t come in yet to pay for your books, and classes will soon begin. What do you do?

Sean Gayle and his son, James, with Patti’s Book Nook in Gueydan.

Many have found a solution to this problem in the small town of Gueydan. At Patti’s Book Nook, Sean Gayle and his son, James, have found a way to provide help for students strapped for cash. First, Gayle, with his vast knowledge of buying and selling new and used books, has found books for half the price students were paying in Lafayette Parish and online. Secondly, and most importantly, Gayle has taken the risk of purchasing the books and giving them to the students with no money down. This is done after a promissory note has been signed saying the student will pay for the books once his or her Grant funds come in. Gayle explains, “To my knowledge, we are the only ones allowing students to take books and pay later. This isn’t layaway, it’s good faith policy.”

Several students, 90 to 100 so far, have taken advantage of this unique offer at Patti’s Book Nook. Most are from the Gulf Coast Area Campus in Abbeville, but since the word has gotten around, Gayle has seen students coming in from New Iberia, Crowley, and even Jennings.

Gayle believes Vermilion Parish could attract large companies to set up shop here if we had a larger and more specifically skilled workforce. That is one of the reasons he supports the trade school system. He also just wants to help. Gayle shares, “I know how badly some of these kids need a hand.”

In a book market filled with large soulless retailers, it is refreshing to know there are some businesses that care about their customers and their community at a grassroots level. Patti’s Book Nook is one of those businesses.

Patti’s Book Nook is the only bookstore between Lake Charles and Lafayette. They sell new, used, old, and rare books with personal service you can’t find anywhere else. A large collection of books by local authors can be found there, too. It’s extensive and many of the books are already signed by the writers, a value e-books do not have. There is a large gallery of local artwork including original paintings, prints, pottery, photographs and other artwork on consignment. Duck Capital Computers, run by the Gayles for fourteen years, shares the same roof as the Book Nook, and provides computer repair, networking, and just about anything else your computer could need. And as all good bookstores should do, they serve Community coffee that has been ground fresh daily and sugar-free cappuccino in their third store under the same roof.

So, spread the word. There’s help in Gueydan when it comes to books. Patti’s Book Nook, 410 Second Street, Gueydan, La. (337) 536-6600. You can check them out on Facebook, too.

Local 4-H Hall of Fame Member
by Cindy Luquette

Head, Heart, Hands, Health - these four words cover the bases of one beloved and distinguished organization, known simply as 4-H. The 4-H organization in Louisiana recently recognized 12 individuals for their service. James L. Dardeau of Abbeville, known to most as “Jimmy,” was one of those honorees and was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame by the LSU AgCenter.

Jimmy Dardeau and Paul Coreil

Dardeau’s first involvement in 4-H was as a youngster in his home parish of Evangeline. He was an active club member attending camps, demonstration contests, achievement days and livestock shows. His extensive and distinguished career began in 1964 and spanned 29 years. He served the LSU AgCenter as 4-H agent in Cameron, Natchitoches and Vermilion parishes. He was County Agent and Parish Chairman in Vermilion Parish and District Agent for the Southwest District.
As 4-H agent, Dardeau organized a club for special needs children, implemented a beef-grazing program and started award trips for junior leaders. As Parish Chairman, he spearheaded a successful campaign to pass a sales tax to fund a new extension office and barn. In 1983, he helped established the Vermilion 4-H Foundation to provide financial support to members. He worked as a hands-on administrator and during his tenure as an administrator Dardeau was a strong advocate of the advisory committee process and encouraged total staff involvement in major 4-H events and activities.

He was a visionary and implemented programs in Vermilion Parish that were later implemented by other 4-H programs throughout Louisiana. Terril D. Faul, Professor with 4-H Youth Development, shared his appreciation as follows: “Jimmy Dardeau was an outstanding Extension Agent with the LSU AgCenter, and excelled in all positions he served as a 4-H agent, County Agent, Parish Chair, an Southwest District Agent. Jimmy was a visionary and developed 4-H and Extension programs on a parish and regional basis that were later developed around the state by other parishes and regions.

He believed in developing 4-H programs that impacted the entire 4-H family and created a positive youth development experience for 4-H members. He was first in many areas, including developing the present Extension facility in Vermilion, Vermilion Parish 4-H Foundation, Annual Rice Field day, and parish 4-H scholarships. I enjoyed working with and for Jimmy. He was a great supervisor, fair, and always willing to help any coworker with their responsibility or any special request.
Jimmy is a true family man, very proud and supportive of his entire family. His strong faith in God and character was always evident his entire career. Jimmy is very deserving of being inducted in the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame, the highest award presented by the LSU AgCenter.”

Vermilion Parish farmer, David LaCour, adds, “His biggest accomplishment in my book was establishing the Annual Vermilion Parish Rice Field Day. He had the foresight of the need for such an event on the parish level. There was an annual field day held in Crowley for years, but it was on a statewide scale. The one he established for the parish enabled the farmers in Vermilion Parish to see all of the latest technology in one place and learn how it applied to our actual farming situation. This is very valuable to our farming operations here in Vermilion Parish and it is a legacy that continues to this day. He has numerous accomplishments, but for me this is the greatest of his accomplishments and one I really appreciate. Thank you Jimmy.”

Paul D. Coreil, PhD, Vice Chancellor of the LSU AgCenter and Director of Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service said, “Jimmy Dardeau was my immediate supervisor when I was a Fisheries and Wildlife County Agent in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. He was the most dedicated and professionally competent supervisor I ever worked for in terms of Extension Education work and transformational community education and outreach. He knew how to organize and work with advisory committees and he was very motivational in his management style. He demanded excellence but always urged us to take vacations with our families at least once a year and time off during the year to enjoy life. He had a great sense of humor and always told us to keep focused on why we work so hard always remembering it is to keep a strong family life and enjoy what God has provided to all of us.

Jimmy was the first supervisor to offer me an administrative job as parish chair (office director) of Cameron Parish. When he gave me this trust and responsibility, I felt he was recognizing my potential within Cooperative Extension and within the LSU AgCenter. From that job experience, I went on to receive my PhD at LSU and Extension Service. I attribute much of what I have been able to accomplish as an Extension professional to Jimmy Dardeau.

He demanded excellence and accountability and this ethic has continued to be one of the key hallmarks of my current position as Vice Chancellor and Director of LCES. Jimmy Dardeau had a major positive influence on my personal and professional life and for that, I will always be grateful. God Bless Jimmy Dardeau!”

Friends of Palmetto Island State Park
by Robby Dardeau

Who are Friends of Palmetto Island State Park?
Friends of Palmetto Island State Park (FPISP) is a non-profit corporation registered with the state of Louisiana made up of local people who are committed to not only keeping Palmetto Island State Park open, but making it the best park in our state.

The group began in February of this year with seven founding members – Shannon Neveaux, President; Sherrill Sagrera, Vice President; Jada Babcock, Secretary; Craig “Bud” LeBlanc, Bill Couvillion, and Ron & Marie Hebert. Today, they have a total of 25 members and are welcoming more.

Their purpose is “... to enhance the use and enjoyment of the Palmetto Island State Park for the people of Vermilion Parish, the State of Louisiana and all its visitors. More specifically, to create greater visibility of community support and in hope that such support, will protect and or mitigate against unnecessary budget reductions that may result in the closing of PISP. To fulfill this mission, FPISP shall generate and create additional resources, through gifts of time, money or in kind, all in support for and in the best interest of PISP through an unlimited variety of events and activities not inconsistent with the rights of a non-profit organization...but not necessarily limited to the following: ...enhancement projects, fundraising activities, etc. and in general to help support, enhance and expand upon the attractiveness of the park, its programs, activities and purpose....”

The group’s President, Shannon Neveaux, explains their purpose best, “We operate independently of the Community Foundation of Acadian’s Palmetto Island State Park Fund that so many of you have heard about. We directly communicate with the Park Manager, and have a defined and cooperative relationship with Office of State Parks. However, we have never donated or given any money to the state. We negotiate all purchases and donations through our Board of Directors and the Park, but always with the specific permission of Office of State Parks, to ensure that our activities are in line with the state park system. So when you become a member, sponsor an event or project or make a donation of your time or resources, you can do so knowing that local people who know and love the park are making the choices in cooperation with the park as to how the money is spent and time and resources are utilized. We invite members or anyone who enjoys the park to share their input, ideas and suggestions on how we can help make the park better. I often think of it as ‘the People’s Park.’”

Why should someone become a member of Friends of Palmetto Island State Park?
Neveaux shares, “The future of Palmetto Island State Park depends on people like you. Now, more than ever community support is a contributing factor in the decisions of a state park remaining open. So, community support got this park open...community support will have to keep it open. By becoming a “Friend” you can help us continue to send the message to Baton Rouge that “WE WANT TO KEEP PALMETTO ISLAND STATE PARK OPEN!”

How do I join?
E-mail friendsofpisp@yahoo.com or call (337) 652-2484 and an application for membership will be sent to you. Membership rates for 2011 are $10 for individuals and $25 for families, but being this year is almost over and membership is renewed on January 1st, if one were to join before December 31, the cost would be $5 for individuals and $15 for families. Membership fees will increase after January 1, 2012.
Contact them on Facebook or send them a letter at P.O. Box 33, Perry, LA 70575.

What has the group done this year?
· In May, they volunteered to help the small park staff when a large birthday party was held at the park. They supported the staff by manning the nature center, where an Arts and Crafts project had been provided and were available to guide guests on the nature trails.
· They held their first fundraiser on July 24 and sold over 600 pork jambalaya plate lunches and held a homing pigeon race.
· They meet monthly at the Park. Join them if you can. They are currently looking for members to take an active role in their organization through committee work.
· In mid September they will be offering FPISP T-shirts for sale and will have some available for the Stir the Pot event.
· As they look to the future, they see so much potential for the park. Just some of their considerations are: making more trails and helping to create primitive camping areas for scouting troops and other groups, make an outdoor educational playground, enhance the nature center, planning events for people to enjoy at the park, helping the park enhance their programs (like their Mardi Gras Fishing tournament) and the list goes on.
· They do have sponsorship/donation opportunities available which will help them manifest the park’s and the community’s “wish list” of projects and events. The next meeting is September 13, 6:30pm at the meeting room in the park.
· They are currently supporting the 2nd annual “Stir the Pot” cook off fundraiser by organizing and recruiting volunteers for the event.   So, if you are interested in eating some good Louisiana seafood and listening to some good music while you support Palmetto Island State Park then go to www.stirthepotccokoff.com <http://www.stirthepotccokoff.com/> and download the volunteer form or call (337) 652-2484.

An Affair of Art and the Heart
by Cindy Luquette

A true artist can look at a blank canvas, hunk of clay or large piece of wood and see the piece of art that resides within. Vermilion Parish native, Mike Stansbury, and his wife, Andrée, have spent the past 55 years utilizing their artistic talents in photography, painting, sculpting, carving and wood burning, and that’s just naming a few of the mediums they have worked with and developed.

Mike and Andrée Stansbury

Mike Stansbury was born in Abbeville in 1930. He attended Abbeville High School where he was a member of the football team, and like many young men growing up in Vermilion Parish he enjoyed hunting. His artistic interests first began as he walked through the wooded areas of our parish in search of his prey. “My interest in art began early on as I hunted in the woods. I was intrigued by driftwood and the development of wood in growing trees. My interest in carving wood began at that time and I enjoyed discovering the various types of wood, the various wood grains and colors. I taught myself how to carve and had some degrees of success with it. Also, during that same time period I began going to junkyards picking out interesting pieces of metal to be used in metal sculptures. I tried a little painting and sketching, but the two mediums I enjoyed the most were working with wood, especially oak burls. These are large growths found on trees. Burls have interesting grains and colors and do not split or crack as easily as other types of wood.”

Andrée Stansbury was a New Orleans native. She attended an all-girls school where she received an international award for an ink sketch. She attended Newcomb College, where she studied under Jules Struppeck and was inspired by the creativity of contemporary sculptural forms. Her family moved to Opelousas and during a visit to Lafayette she met the man who would become her artist partner and husband. Together they have collaborated on over 100 pieces of art spanning 55 years.
Mike and Andrée were married in 1956 and following their marriage Mike decided to pursue formal art training. “Andrée was signing up for classes at what was then S.L.I. and I decided to take classes with her. We took classes in painting and other mediums but we enjoyed the sculpting classes the most,” recalled Stansbury. He actually holds three degrees, one in 1954 from S.L.I. the College of Commerce, 1956 S.L.I. the College of Liberal Arts, and in 1960 he had taken enough art classes to earn a Bachelor of Science in Art.

They spent the next 55 years creating art, using items they found in nature and their environment. The Stansburys did not create art for sale. They created art to adorn their home and share with family and friends.

Mike and Andrée have traveled the world over and in their travels they found new insights and inspiration. Their scuba diving experiences have served to provide them with a never-ending source of inspiration. They became interested in photography and purchased Nikon cameras on a visit to Tokyo, Japan. Once they returned home they joined a local camera club and this lead to the couple being introduced to international competitions through the Photographic Society of America. Their work was featured in hundreds of international exhibitions and they won numerous first-place and best-of-show awards.

Many of their award winning photographs were taken in the marsh areas of Vermilion Parish and coastal Louisiana. “We spent ten years photographing nature and 50 percent of those photographs were taken in Vermilion Parish. The rest were taken along the coast from Grand Isle to Texas. Our number one choice were birds and we spent countless hours in the marsh taking photographs of the birds in their natural habitat,” Stansbury explained.

Rarely in their 55-year history of creating art did the couple exhibit their sculpture, but on Saturday, August 13, an exhibition opened at the Acadiana Center For The Arts in Lafayette. The exhibit entitled “ArtAffair - Mike and Andree Stansbury a 55 Year Retrospective” began with a private showing by invitation only. There were 150 to 200 people in attendance, many of these were friends of Mike some of whom were boyhood friends from Abbeville. Others in attendance were family of friends of the couple. The show opened to the public from 6 to 8 p.m. The art center staff estimates the total attendance ranged from 1400 to 1600 people.
There were various pieces of art that attracted attention. Two of the pieces that were very interesting were entitled “Birds on a Tree” and “Flame.” “Flame” was created in 1995 and is made of walnut burl and nutria teeth. Yes, you read it right - nutria teeth. “Nutria teeth are interesting looking material and have interesting shapes and color. We have used them to make jewelry and abstract work,” Mike explained.

The other piece is “Birds on a Tree.” It is exquisite with two birds perched on a tree made of driftwood. The birds are life-like and so detailed and delicate with their feathers so meticulously carved. They look natural. Mike reports Andrée worked on this piece alone and spent 705 hours working on the piece.
“There is no greater joy than expressing ourselves through the creation of original sculpture. From concept to completion our forms remain flexible to change as our materials offer surprises and challenges. Carving in wood, you never know how deep a rotten part might go, but as you strip the bark away and remove the defects, the piece reveals itself. We get a lot of help from nature, but we help it get where it wants to go,” Mike said.

ArtAffair will remain on exhibit at the Acadian Center For The Arts until October 8th, 2011. The artists will be present on two more occasions to meet with the public as they view the exhibit. The first is on the second Saturday in September 10, 2011 and on the second Saturday in October and the day the exhibit closes, October 8, 2011.

Mike and Andrée invite you to view the art they have spent 55 years creating. “With ArtAffair, we want to demonstrate that you don’t have to choose between pursuing art and pursing a life full of career, travel and deep experiences. We want to empower people interested in art to go for it, as we have, and to show that anything is possible in a creative partnership like ours,” Mike concluded.

Faces In The Window
By Lisa Stewart

We Cajuns are such lucky people to live and work in our small towns, cities and communities. Growing up we used to say that we knew everyone in our town. Well, that was long ago. Many people have come and gone, especially since the storms, so we have new neighbors that we did not grow up with.

I tell my kids, “I went to school with them,” when asked who so and so was that I was chatting with at the store. It is just easier to say that than trying to explain to him who someone is that he won’t know even after the twenty-minute explanation! Micah tells me I know everyone, I tell him different. I just never meet a stranger! I try to always make it a point to smile or speak to the person I run into. Why not churn up a conversation with someone? You never know what they will have to say. “Smiling to a stranger is like wearing tight underwear,” I always say, “It makes your cheeks go up!” I love chatting up the maid service in a hotel, the people greeters at doorways, and the faces in the window. Like Mr. Sorbet says, “If you know seven people...” And when I decided to investigate those faces in the window, I had a nice surprise. I will admit that 99% of the time I am glad I said “Hello, how are you,” but there is that 1% that are not happy to say “Hello,” and I just finish with a quick, “Have a nice day” and go on my way. Yes, I have been known to tell someone to smile, or ask them why are they not smiling. I’ll ask, “Did someone take your boudin?” I tell people to smile, it makes others wonder what you’re up to!

So hence I go forth with the idea of getting to know these faces in the window that I see almost on a weekly basis. I started out on an adventure and it was most enjoyable. The first smiling face I came across was Trisha Stelly at the Meaux Sneaux Shak. There she was in the window, all smiles shining brightly, in her lime green t-shirt, greeting me as though I was her best friend. “Such a nice person,” I thought to myself and asked her about her business. She told me that she originally had Sylvester’s in Abbeville that served snowballs and such, sold that business, and then opened up this new place so her family members, the nieces and nephews, would have a place to work. She works evenings to close the store while the others work the day shifts. We were pleased with our order and told her so, as I prepared to drive off she smiled and said, “Come back soon,” and I did! Trisha reminded me of a quote I once heard, “If you’re not using your smile, you’re like a man with a million dollars in the bank, and no checkbook!”

Another time I drove up at Capitol One Bank in Abbeville to find Sarah Frierson smiling through the window at me. She has such a welcoming smile. I’ve known her “as is” for a few years now, but this day I decided to ask her about her family. I knew she had children but didn’t know how many. Come to find out, Sarah has three children with her husband, Kody. They live here in Abbeville where she is from. Her parents are Billy & Willey Nelms, and when I asked her why she smiles so easily, she quickly replied, “Oh I love people! It’s easy to smile at folks.” Now here is my surprise, Sarah has a brother named John, who is a mailman in Kaplan, and has a dog named Socks who was the subject of my very first article with Bonnes Nouvelles seven years ago. Small world, huh? I can hear Mr. Sorbet saying, “If you know 7 people!” Sarah reminds me of a quote, “The shortest distance between two people is a smile.”

Drive thru at Sonic in Abbeville any early morning and you will be greeted by the friendliest smile you will come across all day. The lady behind that smile is Christine Mouton Vidalier. She is married to Rethman Vidalier from Kaplan and they have two children, Lucas 13 and Lindsey 12. They also have Rethman’s daughter, Amie, who is 20. Christine has been working at Sonic for three years and says how much she loves her job. She told me she smiles as she does because if she smiles at her customers, she gets a smile back and they will have a better day for it. How gratuitous is that? The quote, “A friendly look, a kindly smile, one good act, and life’s worthwhile” comes to mind when I think of Christine.

Another face in the window is Sherlyn Bergeron Colomb. She will meet and greet you eagerly with the most beautiful and tender smile you will ever come across. She works as the receptionist at Gulf Regional Occ Med in Abbeville, and lives in Erath with her husband, Karl, and their two children, Kevin and Kelsey. She has been working for five years in her position. I asked her why is it she continues to smile. Her reply was simple, “I enjoy my job, I like working with the public.” “Why not smile,” she says, “it’s better than crying!” The statement reminded me of the quote “Today, give a stranger one of your smiles; it might be the only sunshine he will see all day.”

So next time you see the face in the window, share a smile with them, and thank them for making your day, an unknown author once said, “Smiling is infectious, you can catch it like the flu, someone smiled at me today and I started smiling too!” Personally my favorite all time smiles quote comes from Dr. Seuss who once stated, “Don’t cry because it’s over...smile because it happened.”

Project First Day
by Cindy Luquette

The people of south Louisiana are no strangers to what remains when Mother Nature’s fury is unleashed. Perhaps having weathered many hurricanes and floods has enabled its residents to have a great deal of empathy for those who suffer her wrath.

A few months ago the residents of Joplin, Missouri had only a few moments notice before a huge tornado descended upon their city. Many lives were lost, 5,000 buildings were destroyed, including the high school and thousands of jobs were impacted. Naturally, the Red Cross and other relief organizations went in to offer aid. The relief efforts focused on providing food and water and temporary shelter. Residents made an effort to salvage whatever they could, but many found nothing but a vacant lot, where only minutes before they homes had stood.

The Cajun Sewing Friends of Vermilion Parish made dresses for children in Joplin, MO. From left: Norma Mayard, Catherine “Catsy” Broussard, Juliette Langlinais, Mary Lynn Saunier, Sandra Aucoin, and Yvonne Campbell. Photos taken by Cindy Luquette

Fast-forward to a couple of months later, June 2011. What happens once the national news media turns the spot light away from a disaster? What happens after the relief organizations offer all of the assistance they can provide? Residents of south Louisiana know how difficult it is to pick up the pieces and start all over rebuilding homes, businesses, schools, churches and lives.

One woman in Kansas, a state that has seen its fair share of tornadoes, asked one simple question - What about the children? She stopped and thought about how this tragedy impacted the lives of children and decided to do something that would bring a smile to their faces.

Susan Stewart thought about the children and how the first day of a new school year was rapidly approaching. Thoughts of her childhood lead to an idea to ask ladies who sew to make dresses and tops for little girls in Joplin. “I always had a new dress for my first day of school. My father always took a picture of me in my new dress,” she reported. These memories prompted her to develop Project First Day. She asked women she shares a sewing newsletter with to join her in making new dresses or tops for girls in Joplin from preschool sizes to size 10 or 12. She also asked the ladies to remember the plus size girls, too.

Her newsletter also included the following request: “This is an important part of Project First Day. Please include with each outfit a simple, personalized note written to the child who will receive it. Something like – ‘To a very special girl/young lady. I thought of you and prayed for you as I made this outfit for you to wear on the first day of school. I hope you have a very good school year. Love, Susan in Kansas.’ You can of course, write whatever you like, but I really want to have the notes included with each outfit so that a sense of ‘you are a special child’ is communicated to the kids.”

Vermilion Parish resident, Mary Lynn Saunier, is a recipient of Stewart’s newsletter and she is also a member of Cajun Sewing Friends. Cajun Sewing Friends is an offspring of a group that formed in August of 2007. Catherine “Catsy” Broussard explained the history of the group. “In August of 2007 we had the idea of getting a group of ladies together who like to sew. We knew the ‘art of sewing’ is decreasing and we wanted to keep up the art. We called our group Sharing Sewing Secrets. We met once a month on Saturdays. Hurricane Ike flooded many of our homes and we had to stop to repair our homes.”

In 2009 the women decided to begin meeting again and meet together on a monthly basis. The group consisting of six members, Mary Lynn Saunier, Sandra Aucoin, Catherine “Catsy” Broussard, Norma Mayard, Juliette Langlinais and Yvonne Campbell, took on a new name, Cajun Sewing Friends, and a new format.
“We began meeting once a month in each other’s homes from Thursday to Sunday and began calling it our sewing retreat,” Broussard explained. “Our husbands also attend our retreats and they often prepare the meals,” explained Langlinais.

The idea for the First Day Project was introduced to the group in June of 2011 and they immediately thought the project was a great idea and agreed to use their sewing talents to contribute garments for the children. Two area merchants heard about the project from the members of the Cajun Sewing Club and contributed bolts of fabric towards the cause. Members of the group contributed items they had in their sewing closets. After many hours of work, the Cajun Sewing Friends had 50 garments to contribute to the First Day Project.

The first day of school for Joplin, Missouri students is August 17th. Stewart requested the garments be shipped to her by August 1st to allow her time to distribute the garments to the children in Joplin before the opening of the new school year.
Several members of the Cajun Sewing Friends had planned to attend Martha Pullen School of Fashion in Huntsville, Alabama near the end of July. Susan Stewart was also attending the school, so they hand delivered 50 garments to her while they were in Huntsville. The school staff took the opportunity to display the garments on a wall for the week.

Just think. One lady who loved to sew and had fond memories of having a new dress on the first day of school, lead to six women in Vermilion Parish who loved to sew and also had fond memories of new dresses often made by their own mothers for the first day of school, joined together with other women from all over the nation to sew dresses, tops, skirts, tops and shirts for little girls and boys in a town hundreds or more miles away. They attached hand written, heart felt notes offering encouragement, love and prayers for children they have never met. Imagine the look on the faces of the children and their parents when they received the garments and the notes. Imagine the people of Joplin, Missouri discovering they are not forgotten, even though months have passed since their tragedy and the national spotlight is gone.

Sewing may be a lost art or decreasing in popularity, but it still is one of the most intimate and best ways to express something that money cannot buy and the electronic age cannot duplicate - Two human hands and One human heart expressing - LOVE!

A Labor of Love
by Cindy Luquette

What do you get when you combine three friends, (Janice Hulin, Reenie Esteb & Fran Nunez), some clay, a rolling pen, laughter and creativity? Give up? The answer is Trois Amis Pottery.

Janice Hulin began her love affair with working in clay over five years ago. After working with clay for several years she learned the process from start to finish and decided to pass on her knowledge by offering classes, mainly during the fall of the year. About a year ago, Reenie Esteb, a stay at home mom with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University, began taking classes with Hulin. She then told Fran Nunez, a recently retired Vermilion Parish School teacher, about the class. Nunez decided it sounded like fun and a good way to utilize some of her spare time.

Members of Trois Amis Pottery - from left: Reenie Esteb, Janice Hulin, and Fran Nunez. Photo Taken by Cindy Luquette

The three women quickly became friends and the classes became more than “just a class.” “We have a great time together, laughing and talking. Working with clay is therapeutic and we often say the time we spend together is like a therapy session because we can talk about whatever is bothering us. We also say, ‘What’s said in pottery, stays in pottery,’” Hulin said with a smile. “We meet together on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two or three hours. Sometimes we have breakfast first and then we start working on our pieces,” she explained.

Fashioning a piece of pottery out of clay is a lengthy process. The clay comes in a block, which is sliced with a tool consisting of a thin wire with handles on each end. The slice of clay is run through a machine called a slab roller. This process serves to flatten the clay and stretch it. After the slab roller does its work, the piece of clay is transferred to the worktable where the artist then takes a rolling pen to the piece of clay. Hulin explained, “The type of piece we are making determines how thin, long and wide the clay must become. Next the clay is worked with a tool called a rib. This tool is used to make certain all of the air bubbles are removed. Once the clay is the depth and size desired, the artist then fashions the vessel they have in mind.

When the clay is shaped into the desired form, it has to sit and dry. The next week the piece is cleaned using a tool with a metal blade to scrape odd excess clay and smooth out the edges. The piece is then dunked into a bucket filled with a glaze. The glaze helps to coat the pieces and determines the color or colors of the piece. Next the item is bisque fired in a kiln for 24 hours.

“We spend two or three hours twice a week creating our pottery pieces. It takes about three weeks to complete the process which produces one piece of pottery,” Hulin said.

“Sometimes we make a free form piece and other times we use something to serve as the mold. It all depends on where our creative thoughts take us,” Esteb explained.

“My mother, Anna Hebert, searches yard sales looking for old pieces and interesting or unusual pieces we can use. She has a good eye and always finds something special we can use,” Hulin said. Old pieces of lace and tatting contributed by Hulin’s Aunt Rena as well as an old alligator skin have been used by the women to make unique designs on their pottery. “Many of our pieces have alligator, crawfish, shrimp or fleur de lis designs which give our pottery a Cajun twist,” Nunez explained.

Janice Hulin’s son, Gavin, Esteb’s daughter, Izzy, and Nunez’s daughter, Mya Joy, have inherited their mother’s love for working with clay. Each one of them are utilizing their creativity and designing one of kind pieces of their own.

The trio recently decided to sell some of their pottery to the general public. Hulin, Esteb, and Nunez explained, “It takes a few months for us to make enough pieces to sell. We currently have pieces for sale at Thibodeaux Town & Country in Abbeville. Making pottery is our hobby. We do it for enjoyment, to relax. Although we are selling some of our pieces, we do not wish for this to turn into a ‘job.’ None of us want it to become something that is stressful. We want it to continue to be a ‘labor of love.’”

She’s A Powder Keg
by Lisa Stewart

Bob Hope once said, “If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble!” Those words ring true for me as well as my friend, Angela Adam Sistrunk. She is the daughter of a very good friend of mine whom I respect dearly. Having grown into a beautiful adult, I see her mother’s qualities shine in her so much so that I had to ask her “Why do you do all of this for others?” Her reply was as quick as her wit, “Why not?”

Angela was born to Paulette and Craig Adam in October of 1978. Now to some of us that is very young, but I guarantee you she has an old soul. She graduated from Kaplan High School as an active member of 4-H, the dance team and band. Angela married Anthony Sistrunk, son of Cecil and Sharon Sistrunk of Kaplan, and they have two children, Nathan and Molly Claire. Angie, as we affectionately call her, is the office manager of the Acadiana Women’s Health Group in Crowley and her children attend Redemptorist Catholic School there as well.

Paulette Adam hugging her daughter, Angela Adam Sistrunk, after the Avon Breast Cancer Walk for a Cure Marathon in Houston, Texas. Photo taken by Lisa Stewart

Back in 2005, September 24th, the day Hurricane Rita hit Vermilion Parish, Angie’s mom, Paulette, was due to have a lumpectomy to remove the tumor she was diagnosed with as breast cancer. Angie remembers the day well, she said, “Mom and Dad came into our house and handed me the positive results of the test.” Angie’s response to this was, “Okay, we’ll take care of this,” and immediately started making phone calls. An unsuccessful result was not a choice for either Paulette or Angie. So, Angie jumped on that bandwagon of support and continues to drive it to this day.

Although Paulette was teaching in Kaplan at the time, she never missed a day of work due to her chemotherapy. Angie made sure a nurse showed up at the house to give specified injections on certain days and prepared meals, cleaned house, did laundry and whatever else it takes to make a house run smoothly. This was done above and beyond her own duties as a mom, wife, sister, daughter-in-law and friend. “Life goes on,” she told me, “and you just do what you got to do to get it done!” Her positive attitude is magnified by her love of God and belief in service. Angie explains, “I’ve always been a giving person; I learned that from mom. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and friend, two fantastic children and great parents. I am blessed! I get great joy in giving, and since I am blessed that I can give, it’s what I do!”

After her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, Angie got busy raising money and awareness of this disease so that others would not have to go through what her mother did. She formed teams for the Susan B Komen Walk for Life in Acadia and Vermilion Parishes, she and her husband organized a volleyball tournament to raise money for the Kaplan Food Bank, she has worked with the Acadiana Games for the Miles Perret Center in Lafayette, she joined and walked the Camille Crossing Walkathon, and most recently walked the Avon Breast Cancer Walk For a Cure Marathon in Houston, Texas, paving 40 miles in two days.

I joined Angie and her mom that weekend in Houston. Angela raised $1800 for the walk. That Saturday we anxiously awaited her arrival at the end of the first half-day walk, but she was nowhere to be found. To our surprise, Angela decided to continue walking and put in 26 miles on the first day. She walked a complete marathon in one day in April, with no distress. Well, nurse nanny here was ready to take care of her when she returned to the hotel. Blisters, sore muscles, sunburn, and other ailments I prepared myself for, and when we eventually saw her come in, she was smiling and walking faster than me needing no medical attention at all. We shopped that evening and enjoyed a nice dinner before heading to bed. The next morning I awoke to no Angie in the room! I asked Paulette as to her whereabouts and she handed me a note that said, “I am going back to walk the last half again!” She had left the room at 5 in the morning to join her friends and others who walked for a cure. It was amazing to me what she accomplished in two days.

On our way home I spoke to Angie about her thoughts on raising money for a cancer cure and her enthusiasm for helping others. She is driven with charity and service and tells me she receives such great joy in giving. She is adamant about teaching her children the same ways. Nathan is in 4-H showing cattle, and Molly is a Daisy Scout, learning already the rewards of giving. Angela was the first to join me in sewing for my NICU babies in Breaux Bridge; she joined me crocheting baby hats for newborns, and then got me on board to help with her school’s bazaar making fun picture frames and other odds and ends. This woman is filled with energy and according to her mom, she’s a “Powder Keg” when it comes to getting a task done. She is presently selling t -shirts to raise money for her cancer walk again in Houston next year. She and Anthony recently organized a softball tournament with friends to raise more money and Paulette fondly remembers how she sold so many candles in the early days to raise money for other cancer walks. At the same time she is sewing pillowcase dresses for “Dress a girl around the world” where missionaries bring pretty dresses to little girls who don’t have any.

100% recovery was the only option for Angela when it came to her mother’s battle against breast cancer and she will accept nothing else. This year marked Paulette’s sixth year cancer free. Angie works feverishly to raise money for research and does not tire in working, volunteering and giving of herself for others. It is in her heart to teach her children to give from themselves and learn the joy of giving through service. She told me that at Christmas time her kids get only three gifts just like Jesus did. They also foster a family from the Miles Perret Center and make sure they have a good spirit-filled Christmas as well.
I asked Paulette to sum up her daughter, and this was her reply, “Angela has a positive outlook and is such a blessing to everyone who knows her, nothing is candy coated with her, she takes the bull by the horn and she will give you the shirt off her back, she is two feet ahead of making it happen and she’s going to save the world.”

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Cooyon!

by Robby Dardeau

Published in Bonnes Nouvelles of Vermilion Parish, July 2011

I’ve seen his YouTube video with the remote controlled rat. It’s funny. He catches people off guard and scares the graton out of them when his electronic rodent comes out from nowhere. So, while I visit with Cooyon Duhon, I’m ready, and I’ve got an eye out for his rat.

Cooyon Duhon is the creation of Kaplan’s own Keith Duhon. “Cooyon Duhon,” as Keith describes him, “is a clean, lighthearted, crazy, happy-go-lucky, Cajun guy.” For those of you who don’t know what he looks like, Cooyon’s got a straw hat, cover-alls, missing teeth, eyeglasses thicker than a Coke bottle made in 1977, and talks like he slept through every class in school. He won’t be winning a beauty contest any time soon, but there’s something about that ugly face of his that can make you smile.

This Cooyon madness all started because Keith designs t-shirts and sells them online at his website, cafepress.com/justthelook. Keith’s brother, Craig “Popeye” Duhon, was the one who talked him into putting Cooyon online to draw more attention to his site, without paying the high cost of internet ads. Since then, Cooyon has gotten some attention and Keith has sold some shirts, only now he’s selling more Cooyon shirts than any other.

Cooyon’s debut on the Internet began with him singing famous songs but with lyrics from Duhon’s own imagination. So far, some of the songs he’s torn up are: “Friends in Low Places,” “Staying Alive,” “Beat It,” “I Will Survive,” and several others. The most viewed online is “I Can’t Survive.” It went viral around the time DJ’s, Walton & Johnson, described it as “the video that won’t go away.” It’s Duhon’s message to President Obama all wrapped up to the tune of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

Keith isn’t limited to just songs. He writes, directs, acts, produces, and edits his own comedy skits and music videos. The filming is done with a digital camera that costs somewhere around a hundred bucks, and Keith is learning film technique as he goes. Check out “Cooyon Duhon Versus The Cajun Predator.” It probably won’t win an Oscar, but it is remarkable. Keith says he came up with the idea for Cajun Predator while driving home from his seven-day hitch offshore. That’s right, Keith has been working offshore for twenty years, and is now a lead operator for Apache Corporation. Who knew there was so much artistic creativity in the oil industry? Take away his hat, blacked-out teeth, and goofy glasses, and Keith looks like someone who would really enjoy being in a fistfight, so thank God he prefers making us laugh.

Many already know that Keith is a talented artist. He creates logos and illustrations, and he’s had his cartoons printed in national publications like The Globe, National Enquirer, Sun, Woman’s World, National Examiner, and more. He’s been doing “Bou & Thib” for this publication for many years now, too. Keith is self-taught when it comes to drawing, having no formal instructions, and is currently doing artwork for a greeting card company. Regarding his drawing ability, Keith says the late Earl Comeaux influenced him. The two of them got together on the book, “You Know You’re In Cajun Country If...” It was published in 1998 with Comeaux responsible for the text and Duhon doing all artwork.

Whether it’s drawing cartoons or playing a character, Keith enjoys making people laugh. “It makes me feel good to know I’ve made people laugh. Laura likes to laugh, that’s why we’ve been together so long,” Keith shares. Keith and Laura have been married for 33 years, and one would think that by now she would be immune to his humor, but she’s not. Keith can still crack her up. Laura was quick to share that this Cooyon Duhon character isn’t something that was just invented. Instead, it’s something Keith’s family has been living with for a long time. Cooyon is just new to the Internet world, but his antics, sayings, and silliness have been alive since Keith was a young boy growing up in Abbeville. Keith and Laura have three grown children and six grandchildren (two of them call him “Pawpaw Cooyon”). Laura is the owner and stylist of Just the Look in Kaplan. The two also own Cajun Storks and More, a yard sign rental company that helps announce the arrival of a new baby in the family, a party, and other fun events. Keith handles the creative side of this, too.

His uncle, Jimmy Duhon, was the one to first call him Cooyon. Keith admits, “I was always doing something...something to make them laugh.” As a kid, Keith took some cardboard and tried to fly off the roof of his home. He didn’t succeed, but he got some laughs. Keith and cardboard...He’s got another story that involves a bicycle, some cardboard, and his dad getting really mad, but he’ll share that one some time in the future. According to Keith, one word his childhood friends and family would describe him as was “crazy.”

Practical jokes and school seldom mix and Keith was a clown. Keith attended Abbeville High School and was always the kidder. He remembers once walking back in from P.E. class in front of his two coaches who had their hands full carrying softball bats. Keith, wanting to scare them, turned around, looked past them, faked a flinch, put his hands over his head, and ducked. This startled the two so much that they dropped the bats and covered their heads, too. As Keith remembers it, everyone got a big laugh, except for one of the coaches who called Keith some pretty bad words. Maybe somebody from the class of 1978 will remember that and get a laugh all over again.

After high school, Keith was in the Louisiana National Guard from 1978 to 1984. We’re uncertain whether his silliness was appreciated there or not.

Cooyon on YouTube isn’t the first time Keith goes public with a humorous performance. In 1983, at 52nd Street in Lafayette, Keith gave his first try at stand-up comedy and won the crowd over.

Keith’s wife, Laura, fighting back laughter says, “All the material he’s used, he’s used all of our lives. We live with that.” Many are familiar with the little backward skip Cooyon does in some of his videos. Well, according to Laura, Keith and his brothers were known to line up on the dance floor of the Star Mist Lounge in Abbeville over thirty years ago and perform that same backward skip for all to enjoy.

Some of Cooyon’s videos end with a conversation between him and an old Cajun lady. Well, if you didn’t know, that’s no lady. Keith can do some voices. Trust me, I have fallen for too many of them when I contact him by phone. The old Cajun lady voice is supposed to be Cooyon’s mama, and always concludes by telling Cooyon, “Oh, you so stupid, you.” Keith didn’t just pull that idea from the sky. The voice, tone, and that well-known line were taken from his own late grandma.

There are those who think it is wrong to make Cajuns look dumb and play up the “Cooyon” stereotype. To that idea, Keith says, “Cajun people are known for their humor and are the only group of people I’ve seen that can actually laugh at themselves.” Keith loves people, especially Cajun people. With a grin across his face he shares, “You know, my dad was like Troy Landry from Swamp People.”

All the publicity with Cooyon has been an experience for Keith. “We go into a parking lot and people holler ‘Cooyon’ – people I don’t even know.” For the Chic-a-la-pie Parade last Mardi Gras in Kaplan, they needed a police escort where there were no barricades because so many people were stopping the float to get a picture with Cooyon. “People were jumping in front of the float,” Keith says.

Keith’s parade experience was enlightening. He shares, “I realized how much children were watching me.” He saw how excited several kids were when he took the time and gave them just a little attention. It made him remember what it was like when he was a kid watching the Cattle Festival Parade in Abbeville and Polycarp (a fictional character played by John Plauche who hosted a local children’s show on KATC from the mid-60’s to the 70’s) was in it. Keith describes Polycarp’s celebrity and fame saying, “He was like Michael Jackson to us.” He continues, “So, if we were at a parade and I knew he was there, then that’s all I cared to see, and if he waved at me it was like I couldn’t believe it. ‘Polycarp was looking at me!’ I didn’t care for Santa Claus, but Polycarp was it!” Recalling this made Keith realize that he’s got a big responsibility being kids are watching him. That realization has purposed Keith to keep the Cooyon act clean.

Of all his videos, Keith’s favorites are “I Can’t Survive,” “Cajun Predator,” and “Prayer in School.” My own personal favorites are each and every commercial he did for Larry’s Super Foods in Kaplan. To be fair, I must warn you. If you are a really sophisticated person, and don’t laugh much to begin with, then Cooyon Duhon may not be for you. Also, if you’re ever at a crawfish boil with Cooyon and there is only one crawfish left, it would be wise to just let him have it. His latest video on YouTube explains it all.

At the end of my visit with Keith and Laura, I was starting to relax because at no time did a remote controlled rat roll out and scare me like I was anticipating. Then all of a sudden, Keith points behind me and shouts, “Rat!”

Thanks, Cooyon. It’s been a while since I jumped that high.

For more pictures, read our online publication here.

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